Chapter 16: Goodbye To You
The hall was dark, a few torches were lit, but the light they gave off was weak. Gandalf walked slowly, the lack of light unfazed him. He heard soft footsteps echoing off the walls from further down, and soon Thranduil came into view.
He smiled and came to the wizard. "Good evening Gandalf! I was hoping I would find you, how is Aireromen?"
"She is awake," he said flatly.
"That is well," Thranduil replied, the orange glow of a torch shinning off his golden hair. "I would like to speak to you about Legolas and Aireromen's wedding….since it is tradition for the parents to arrange the celebration. I was thinking of next month, the autumn leaves and the cool weather will be quite pleasant. Not to mention beautiful."
There was a moment of silence as they walked on.
"Gandalf?" Thranduil looked at the wizard, who's gaze never left the ground.
"There will be no wedding," he said shaking his head.
Thranduils face was filled with surprise, he did not understand, nor did he believe what his own ears had just heard. "W…What?" he finally stuttered out.
"There will be no wedding" Gandalf repeated. " Aireromen has told me that she wishes to go back." He gazed at the confused expression upon Thranduil's face.
"I do not understand, I thought she wanted to stay, after seeing her mother and father again I was sure she would. How can she just leave without even caring?" Thranduil said loudly.
"You are wrong Thranduil, she cares very much. I do not believe she came to this conclusion lightly. No, I think this is very difficult for her." Said Gandalf softly.
"But why then, does she wish to leave? Is her life there better? Does she not love it here?" Thranduil questioned. His eyes piercing Gandalf's, seeking answers.
"She did not say it, but I believe, nay, in truth I KNOW that it is guilt that sends her away, guilt about leaving the people that chose her as their child. She told me when we journeyed here that she could never find peace if she were to go back, her heart would forever long for this place…….no, I am sure of it, it is guilt that makes her wish to return. I pity her for that." Gandfalf sighed.
Thranduil looked off down the hallway. "What will I tell my son?" he asked. "This will crush him."
"I was thinking the same thing myself, however, I believe it is Aireromen who should tell him." Said Gandalf.
"Yes, I believe you are right, I will have him go to her when he wakes." Said Thranduil. "I do not think he will take it well."
"What do you mean your going back!" Legolas yelled as he stood up from the chair he had been sitting in next to Aireromen's bed.
"I cannot leave my family-" Aireromen began to say.
"But you would leave me?" Legolas cut her off, his voice filled with anger and hurt.
Aireromen was not sure how to respond to this, she felt horrible, she had hurt him, if only he could understand, she did not want to go, every thing inside her heart screamed to stay, but the guilt, yes, she hated to give it that name but that was what it was….guilt. She felt obligated to go back; simply because they had adopted her. She loved them, but she loved this place, this life more than anything, and she loved Legolas; she loved him more than life itself. This was her home.
She stood and walked slowly to Legolas, who leaned against the rail of her balcony, looking out into the early morning sunlight. She placed a white, slender hand on his strong lean shoulder, he turned to her, looking deep into her eyes. At last he sighed.
"You do not wish to go?" his voice was now soft and calm.
Aireromen shook her head, "No, I do not."
"Then stay, stay here." His expression upon his face was pleading. "I cannot bear to be without you." He kissed her hand and pulled her slender form to him closely.
"I must go, I cannot abandon them, not this way." She whispered.
For a long while he said nothing, he merly held onto her, savoring the moment that could not last.
"When do you leave?" he finally asked.
"This afternoon" she responded.
"Then, if you will allow me, I will come with you, I wish to be there when you leave." He said.
A simple nod from her was his answer.
The afternoon sun of that same day shone bright and cheerful, unlike the small company whom traveled through the forests of Mirkwood. Among the company was Gandalf; who rode in front, Aireromen; who rode next to Legolas, and Thranduil, followed by Aragorn.
Gandalf pulled to a stop; the others did the same. They had come to the grove of ancient trees that Aireromen had seen when they first emerged out of the mist. She could see ahead of them, a spot where the trees looked darker and blurry, that must be where she would have to cross.
They dismounted and all was quiet, save for the sounds of the woods.
Aireromen walked ahead a few paces, then turned to face the others.
"This is farewell." She said softly.
She came to each of them in turn, she hugged Gandalf and kissed him lightly on the cheek; she also gave a hug to Aragorn, who bowed to her in respect. Tears were forming in her eyes as she hugged Thranduil.
"We will greatly miss you Princess. May the wind ever guide you on." He said to her, his hands on her shoulders.
Aireromen nodded and moved to Legolas, she had to bit her lip and clamp her jaw to keep from bursting out into tears. She did not wish for him to see her face red and soaking wet from crying, to be his last memory of her.
He smiled down at her, and held her hand, he gently kissed her forehead. "I love you" he whispered. "Nothing will change that."
She breathed in, her lips trembling. 'NO!' she told herself 'Don't cry'.
"And I love you." She said softly trying not to choke on the tears that she was holding back. "Forever"
Legolas bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. He pulled her to him, so close that she could hear his strong elven heart beating. She wanted to stay there in his arms forever, but she knew she could not. Slowly she backed away and he reluctantly released her, a single tear rolled down her face, she fought hard to keep the rest from following.
Aireromen last came to her beloved horse, Morwing. She placed a hand upon his head; the horse let out a soft nicker. Aireromen wrapped her arms around his strong, powerful neck, breathing in his sweet smelling scent. She pulled away and gently kissed his velvet muzzle.
"Goodbye Morwing, I'll miss you." She turned and looked over her shoulder one last time at the ones she loved.
Then, Aireromen walked briskly away, she did not know if she could stand it. Morwing let out a shrill, sorrowful neigh; she hesitated for a moment. Everything inside her screamed not to go any further, screaming at her to turn back and run to them.
She walked faster, trying to get away from her own feelings, trying desperatly to escape the pain. It was then that everything went blurry, she had entered the mist. Aireromen let it envelop her, she allowed herself to become lost in it, even allowed her own feelings to become lost.
Legolas watched her fade away, slowly disappearing infront of his eyes, which were red with tears.
Aireromen cradled her arms as she walked, before she knew it she was in the open field, she had left her love behind. She sank to her knees and cried. The tears flooded out of her, never had she cried so hard in her life. Aireromen struggled back up onto her feet, she turned to the willows, then began to walk away. As she walked a song that she remembered hearing once, played over and over in her head, it brought her some peace. She looked up at the stars as she sang the words softly.
A lot of things I believed in
I just wanna get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
I can't let the memories pass me by,
I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old,
Feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I say,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
I used to get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
I close my eyes
And you chase my thoughts away
To a place where I am blinded by the light
But it's not right,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
And it hurts to want everything
And nothing at the same time,
I want what's yours
And I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold onto.
Aireromen sighed, whipping her eyes that were now red and burning from the tears that she cried.
"Goodbye" she whispered.
The hall was dark, a few torches were lit, but the light they gave off was weak. Gandalf walked slowly, the lack of light unfazed him. He heard soft footsteps echoing off the walls from further down, and soon Thranduil came into view.
He smiled and came to the wizard. "Good evening Gandalf! I was hoping I would find you, how is Aireromen?"
"She is awake," he said flatly.
"That is well," Thranduil replied, the orange glow of a torch shinning off his golden hair. "I would like to speak to you about Legolas and Aireromen's wedding….since it is tradition for the parents to arrange the celebration. I was thinking of next month, the autumn leaves and the cool weather will be quite pleasant. Not to mention beautiful."
There was a moment of silence as they walked on.
"Gandalf?" Thranduil looked at the wizard, who's gaze never left the ground.
"There will be no wedding," he said shaking his head.
Thranduils face was filled with surprise, he did not understand, nor did he believe what his own ears had just heard. "W…What?" he finally stuttered out.
"There will be no wedding" Gandalf repeated. " Aireromen has told me that she wishes to go back." He gazed at the confused expression upon Thranduil's face.
"I do not understand, I thought she wanted to stay, after seeing her mother and father again I was sure she would. How can she just leave without even caring?" Thranduil said loudly.
"You are wrong Thranduil, she cares very much. I do not believe she came to this conclusion lightly. No, I think this is very difficult for her." Said Gandalf softly.
"But why then, does she wish to leave? Is her life there better? Does she not love it here?" Thranduil questioned. His eyes piercing Gandalf's, seeking answers.
"She did not say it, but I believe, nay, in truth I KNOW that it is guilt that sends her away, guilt about leaving the people that chose her as their child. She told me when we journeyed here that she could never find peace if she were to go back, her heart would forever long for this place…….no, I am sure of it, it is guilt that makes her wish to return. I pity her for that." Gandfalf sighed.
Thranduil looked off down the hallway. "What will I tell my son?" he asked. "This will crush him."
"I was thinking the same thing myself, however, I believe it is Aireromen who should tell him." Said Gandalf.
"Yes, I believe you are right, I will have him go to her when he wakes." Said Thranduil. "I do not think he will take it well."
"What do you mean your going back!" Legolas yelled as he stood up from the chair he had been sitting in next to Aireromen's bed.
"I cannot leave my family-" Aireromen began to say.
"But you would leave me?" Legolas cut her off, his voice filled with anger and hurt.
Aireromen was not sure how to respond to this, she felt horrible, she had hurt him, if only he could understand, she did not want to go, every thing inside her heart screamed to stay, but the guilt, yes, she hated to give it that name but that was what it was….guilt. She felt obligated to go back; simply because they had adopted her. She loved them, but she loved this place, this life more than anything, and she loved Legolas; she loved him more than life itself. This was her home.
She stood and walked slowly to Legolas, who leaned against the rail of her balcony, looking out into the early morning sunlight. She placed a white, slender hand on his strong lean shoulder, he turned to her, looking deep into her eyes. At last he sighed.
"You do not wish to go?" his voice was now soft and calm.
Aireromen shook her head, "No, I do not."
"Then stay, stay here." His expression upon his face was pleading. "I cannot bear to be without you." He kissed her hand and pulled her slender form to him closely.
"I must go, I cannot abandon them, not this way." She whispered.
For a long while he said nothing, he merly held onto her, savoring the moment that could not last.
"When do you leave?" he finally asked.
"This afternoon" she responded.
"Then, if you will allow me, I will come with you, I wish to be there when you leave." He said.
A simple nod from her was his answer.
The afternoon sun of that same day shone bright and cheerful, unlike the small company whom traveled through the forests of Mirkwood. Among the company was Gandalf; who rode in front, Aireromen; who rode next to Legolas, and Thranduil, followed by Aragorn.
Gandalf pulled to a stop; the others did the same. They had come to the grove of ancient trees that Aireromen had seen when they first emerged out of the mist. She could see ahead of them, a spot where the trees looked darker and blurry, that must be where she would have to cross.
They dismounted and all was quiet, save for the sounds of the woods.
Aireromen walked ahead a few paces, then turned to face the others.
"This is farewell." She said softly.
She came to each of them in turn, she hugged Gandalf and kissed him lightly on the cheek; she also gave a hug to Aragorn, who bowed to her in respect. Tears were forming in her eyes as she hugged Thranduil.
"We will greatly miss you Princess. May the wind ever guide you on." He said to her, his hands on her shoulders.
Aireromen nodded and moved to Legolas, she had to bit her lip and clamp her jaw to keep from bursting out into tears. She did not wish for him to see her face red and soaking wet from crying, to be his last memory of her.
He smiled down at her, and held her hand, he gently kissed her forehead. "I love you" he whispered. "Nothing will change that."
She breathed in, her lips trembling. 'NO!' she told herself 'Don't cry'.
"And I love you." She said softly trying not to choke on the tears that she was holding back. "Forever"
Legolas bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. He pulled her to him, so close that she could hear his strong elven heart beating. She wanted to stay there in his arms forever, but she knew she could not. Slowly she backed away and he reluctantly released her, a single tear rolled down her face, she fought hard to keep the rest from following.
Aireromen last came to her beloved horse, Morwing. She placed a hand upon his head; the horse let out a soft nicker. Aireromen wrapped her arms around his strong, powerful neck, breathing in his sweet smelling scent. She pulled away and gently kissed his velvet muzzle.
"Goodbye Morwing, I'll miss you." She turned and looked over her shoulder one last time at the ones she loved.
Then, Aireromen walked briskly away, she did not know if she could stand it. Morwing let out a shrill, sorrowful neigh; she hesitated for a moment. Everything inside her screamed not to go any further, screaming at her to turn back and run to them.
She walked faster, trying to get away from her own feelings, trying desperatly to escape the pain. It was then that everything went blurry, she had entered the mist. Aireromen let it envelop her, she allowed herself to become lost in it, even allowed her own feelings to become lost.
Legolas watched her fade away, slowly disappearing infront of his eyes, which were red with tears.
Aireromen cradled her arms as she walked, before she knew it she was in the open field, she had left her love behind. She sank to her knees and cried. The tears flooded out of her, never had she cried so hard in her life. Aireromen struggled back up onto her feet, she turned to the willows, then began to walk away. As she walked a song that she remembered hearing once, played over and over in her head, it brought her some peace. She looked up at the stars as she sang the words softly.
A lot of things I believed in
I just wanna get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
I can't let the memories pass me by,
I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing
Are starting to get old,
Feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I say,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
I used to get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
I close my eyes
And you chase my thoughts away
To a place where I am blinded by the light
But it's not right,
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
And it hurts to want everything
And nothing at the same time,
I want what's yours
And I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold onto.
Aireromen sighed, whipping her eyes that were now red and burning from the tears that she cried.
"Goodbye" she whispered.