Chapter 18: Home At Last
Legolas leaned against a thick tree trunk; his eyes focused on the ground at his feet. He was well aware of the many eyes that were looking upon him with pity, but he did not care. A dark orange glow was about the forest, for the sun was quickly setting in Mirkwood forest and night was settling in.
She had been gone only a few hours, Legolas sighed. Only a few hours ago he was holding her in his arms.
"Legolas," the voice of his father, Thranduil broke through and interrupted his thoughts.
Legolas slowly brought his eyes to meet those of his father's, yet he seemed to be looking past him, his eyes vacant.
"Perhaps it is best that we head for home, the hour grows late." His father said gently. Trying not to upset his son.
Legolas said nothing; he turned his gaze back down to the ground.
Thranduil came and placed a hand upon his son's shoulder. "Come Legolas, we cannot stay here any longer."
Legolas let out a sigh; he nodded and moved to the horses that stood bunched together. He came to Morwing and looked up into the black face, he smiled a little and stroked the horse's dark muzzle. He leaned in and breathed in his scent before leaping lightly onto the strong back of Morwing.
"You do not wish to ride your own horse?" questioned Aragorn.
"Morwing is all I have left of her, and there for, he is dear to me, I will ride him." Legolas stroked the strong black neck. Ever since the incident with the orcs, Legolas and Morwing had become close friends and for the first time, Morwing trusted another besides his dear Aireromen.
Legolas lead his horse behind Morwing; he waited for the others to mount their horses as well. All but Gandalf were now ready to leave.
"Will you not be joining us Mithrandir?" asked Thranduil.
"I will follow you in a while, I must tarry behind and close this gate." Said the Wizard grabbing hold of his staff.
"Very well, we will see you soon." Thranduil nodded and lead the others out of the grove.
They went on a ways, until they were about a mile and a half from the gate; Morwing's head flew up suddenly, his ears pricked forward as he turned his head behind him. He starred off into the distance where Aireromen had crossed, he snorted loudly. His feet prancing in place anxiously.
Legolas patted the horse's neck. "She is not coming back Morwing, now come, let's go home." Legolas tried to get the big black horse to move but Morwing stood his ground. "Come Morwing, we must go." Legolas commanded. Digging the heels of his elven boots into the horse's sides.
Morwing reared suddenly, throwing Legolas from his back. He neighed loudly and bolted off back to the grove. Legolas scrambled to his feet and started after the horse.
"Morwing!" shouted Legolas.
"Let him go, my son." Said Thranduil.
"But he is all I have left!" Legolas cried. Stopping at his father's command
"Gandalf is closing the gate, he won't get far." Thranduil reasoned.
Gandalf heard the sound of pounding hooves coming from behind him; he turned to see the giant black figure of Morwing sweep by him neighing happily. A smile spread over the old wizard's face as he watched Morwing run into the mist.
************************************************************
Aireromen was nearing the willows when she saw the dark figure emerge from within. Her heart leapt, a smile came to her face, she slowed down to a stop and watched as Morwing galloped up to her.
She flung her arms around his neck and his silky black mane fell over her, mixing with her own golden hair.
She looked into his red eyes; she laughed and kissed his nose. Without saying a word she leapt onto his back, her white gown standing out against his black coat.
"Noro lim" she whispered, and he took off at a full gallop back to the trees.
The company was slowly traveling, Gandalf was just catching up with them, Legolas was now riding his own horse. His head down as he watched the ground between his horse's perked ears. They picked up the pace a little; the sky was now turning a brilliant dark blue.
A sound came to Legolas's elven ears; he pulled his horse to a stop and listened. For a moment his ears strained but heard nothing more, then as he was again beginning to ride away he heard it again. His eyes widened and again he stopped, listening. They others looked back at him, wondering why he had stopped. Then they too heard it.
Legolas breathed in.The soft haunting melody floated around him, and the sweet voice of Aireromen came to his ears.
I've searched the mountains,
The forests and the sea,
Seeking the homeland
Of my memories
Haunted by visions
Longing like the sea
Time passes by me
And still I am not free
Lift the veil of Elfame,
Let me see the light
Lift the veil of Elfame
Guide me home tonight.
How can I soar alone
When my wings are at rest?
I yern to be there
In the land of the blessed
So light me a candle, Watch the dark shadows fade
And I must journey on
For the choice I have made
Lift the veil of Elfame
Let me see the light
Lift the veil of Elfame
Take me home tonight.
My love heart guides me
Brings me home through the night
Carries me onward
And into the light
To wander the shadows
To see the truth from afar
To sigh in the moonlight
Dancing magic of stars
Lift the veil of Elfame
Let me see the light
Lift the veil of Elfame
Guide me home tonight.
Legolas turned and searched the woods.
Out of the mist rode Aireromen, her white form glowing in the failing light, she rode ever nearer to them. Legolas's eyes widened and he smiled brightly.
"Aireromen!" he exclaimed.
The others turned to see her coming to them; Legolas leapt from his horse's back and ran to her. Aireromen pulled Morwing to a stop and slid off, at that moment he reached her, Legolas scooped her up into his arms, and he cradled her body against his warm chest and kissed her.
Their lips parted and he slowly let her down, his eyes searching her for answers.
"I couldn't go." She whispered to him.
He smiled, his eyes looking down at hers; he bent down slightly and kissed her again. "I thought I had lost you forever." He said. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the forehead.
Aireromen smiled up at him, "I love you" she whispered into his ear.
Legolas hugged her; Aireromen sank into his chest. She breathed in deeply, listing to his steady breathing. Legolas rested his head upon hers and wrapped his arms around her.
'Yes,' Aireromen thought. 'This is where I belong.'
Gandalf and Thranduil looked at each other and exchanged smiles.
"I suppose I now have a wedding to plan" remarked Thranduil laughing.
"Yes, I believe you do." Gandalf chuckled. "So the Princess has returned, and now, she is here to stay."
Author's note: * Don't think that this is the end..the FINAL TWO chapters are coming VERY SOON!* So be patient.
Legolas leaned against a thick tree trunk; his eyes focused on the ground at his feet. He was well aware of the many eyes that were looking upon him with pity, but he did not care. A dark orange glow was about the forest, for the sun was quickly setting in Mirkwood forest and night was settling in.
She had been gone only a few hours, Legolas sighed. Only a few hours ago he was holding her in his arms.
"Legolas," the voice of his father, Thranduil broke through and interrupted his thoughts.
Legolas slowly brought his eyes to meet those of his father's, yet he seemed to be looking past him, his eyes vacant.
"Perhaps it is best that we head for home, the hour grows late." His father said gently. Trying not to upset his son.
Legolas said nothing; he turned his gaze back down to the ground.
Thranduil came and placed a hand upon his son's shoulder. "Come Legolas, we cannot stay here any longer."
Legolas let out a sigh; he nodded and moved to the horses that stood bunched together. He came to Morwing and looked up into the black face, he smiled a little and stroked the horse's dark muzzle. He leaned in and breathed in his scent before leaping lightly onto the strong back of Morwing.
"You do not wish to ride your own horse?" questioned Aragorn.
"Morwing is all I have left of her, and there for, he is dear to me, I will ride him." Legolas stroked the strong black neck. Ever since the incident with the orcs, Legolas and Morwing had become close friends and for the first time, Morwing trusted another besides his dear Aireromen.
Legolas lead his horse behind Morwing; he waited for the others to mount their horses as well. All but Gandalf were now ready to leave.
"Will you not be joining us Mithrandir?" asked Thranduil.
"I will follow you in a while, I must tarry behind and close this gate." Said the Wizard grabbing hold of his staff.
"Very well, we will see you soon." Thranduil nodded and lead the others out of the grove.
They went on a ways, until they were about a mile and a half from the gate; Morwing's head flew up suddenly, his ears pricked forward as he turned his head behind him. He starred off into the distance where Aireromen had crossed, he snorted loudly. His feet prancing in place anxiously.
Legolas patted the horse's neck. "She is not coming back Morwing, now come, let's go home." Legolas tried to get the big black horse to move but Morwing stood his ground. "Come Morwing, we must go." Legolas commanded. Digging the heels of his elven boots into the horse's sides.
Morwing reared suddenly, throwing Legolas from his back. He neighed loudly and bolted off back to the grove. Legolas scrambled to his feet and started after the horse.
"Morwing!" shouted Legolas.
"Let him go, my son." Said Thranduil.
"But he is all I have left!" Legolas cried. Stopping at his father's command
"Gandalf is closing the gate, he won't get far." Thranduil reasoned.
Gandalf heard the sound of pounding hooves coming from behind him; he turned to see the giant black figure of Morwing sweep by him neighing happily. A smile spread over the old wizard's face as he watched Morwing run into the mist.
************************************************************
Aireromen was nearing the willows when she saw the dark figure emerge from within. Her heart leapt, a smile came to her face, she slowed down to a stop and watched as Morwing galloped up to her.
She flung her arms around his neck and his silky black mane fell over her, mixing with her own golden hair.
She looked into his red eyes; she laughed and kissed his nose. Without saying a word she leapt onto his back, her white gown standing out against his black coat.
"Noro lim" she whispered, and he took off at a full gallop back to the trees.
The company was slowly traveling, Gandalf was just catching up with them, Legolas was now riding his own horse. His head down as he watched the ground between his horse's perked ears. They picked up the pace a little; the sky was now turning a brilliant dark blue.
A sound came to Legolas's elven ears; he pulled his horse to a stop and listened. For a moment his ears strained but heard nothing more, then as he was again beginning to ride away he heard it again. His eyes widened and again he stopped, listening. They others looked back at him, wondering why he had stopped. Then they too heard it.
Legolas breathed in.The soft haunting melody floated around him, and the sweet voice of Aireromen came to his ears.
I've searched the mountains,
The forests and the sea,
Seeking the homeland
Of my memories
Haunted by visions
Longing like the sea
Time passes by me
And still I am not free
Lift the veil of Elfame,
Let me see the light
Lift the veil of Elfame
Guide me home tonight.
How can I soar alone
When my wings are at rest?
I yern to be there
In the land of the blessed
So light me a candle, Watch the dark shadows fade
And I must journey on
For the choice I have made
Lift the veil of Elfame
Let me see the light
Lift the veil of Elfame
Take me home tonight.
My love heart guides me
Brings me home through the night
Carries me onward
And into the light
To wander the shadows
To see the truth from afar
To sigh in the moonlight
Dancing magic of stars
Lift the veil of Elfame
Let me see the light
Lift the veil of Elfame
Guide me home tonight.
Legolas turned and searched the woods.
Out of the mist rode Aireromen, her white form glowing in the failing light, she rode ever nearer to them. Legolas's eyes widened and he smiled brightly.
"Aireromen!" he exclaimed.
The others turned to see her coming to them; Legolas leapt from his horse's back and ran to her. Aireromen pulled Morwing to a stop and slid off, at that moment he reached her, Legolas scooped her up into his arms, and he cradled her body against his warm chest and kissed her.
Their lips parted and he slowly let her down, his eyes searching her for answers.
"I couldn't go." She whispered to him.
He smiled, his eyes looking down at hers; he bent down slightly and kissed her again. "I thought I had lost you forever." He said. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the forehead.
Aireromen smiled up at him, "I love you" she whispered into his ear.
Legolas hugged her; Aireromen sank into his chest. She breathed in deeply, listing to his steady breathing. Legolas rested his head upon hers and wrapped his arms around her.
'Yes,' Aireromen thought. 'This is where I belong.'
Gandalf and Thranduil looked at each other and exchanged smiles.
"I suppose I now have a wedding to plan" remarked Thranduil laughing.
"Yes, I believe you do." Gandalf chuckled. "So the Princess has returned, and now, she is here to stay."
Author's note: * Don't think that this is the end..the FINAL TWO chapters are coming VERY SOON!* So be patient.