DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of Tolkien's characters……
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I'm sorry to inform you, but its almost the end……..there are only a few more chapters in this story, but there will be a sequel!!!!! It's already being thought about and almost in the making!! My beta reader would have it no other way! So keep a lookout for it!
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The song is "Big, Big World" by Emelia, the poem at the end was written by an unnamed author. I will also be using a lot of song lyrics in the last chaps to help with the effect. You may skip them if you like.
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~~~
ALIYA
~~~
It was dark and cold in the dungeon, but that is not what bothered me. What bothered me was being alone. Again. It seemed nothing I did could save me from being alone. Of all the sorrows I have endured, this was the worst and most frequent.
I wasn't afraid of what would happen, even though I knew what Thranduil's decision would have to be.
Execution. I knew how it felt to hold another's life in my hands. I have had to more than once. Valaë. Thane. Miama. I know how it is to have to make the correct choice first, because there is no turning back.
~~~
I can see the first leaf falling
it's all yellow and nice
It's so very cold outside
like the way I'm feeling inside
~~~
I watched the ground and I was surprised to see one of my own tears add to its dampness as I huddled, knees to my chest, against the stone, dirt wall.
Then I realized why my tears had come. Not for me, for Legolas. I was leaving him alone once and forever finally. Something that I had promised, in my heart, never to do.
"I love you so much…" I whispered to the air, hoping that somehow he would understand, "I love you more than life, and maybe that is why I choose to end it for you. I will miss you so much. I will never forget what you did for me, and I had hoped I could somehow pay you back, but its too late. Please, My Love, never forget me. For I will never forget you."
I buried my face in my knees, sobbing. He had given me the life I never thought I could have. I loved him for it.
~~~
Outside it's now raining
and tears are falling from my eyes
why did it have to happen
why did it all have to end
~~~
I looked up quickly from the ground as a shadow entered my cell, the torch they held was dim, and the movements were hurried.
I drew back against the wall warily. Surely it could not be dawn already?
The figure kneeled down in front of me and removed the hood of his cloak. It was Legolas.
I looked down, "I......" I started sullenly, but realized I was too tired and grief stricken to go on.
He put a finger to his lips and nodded, signaling it was okay. He took my hand, and my eyes flashed as he pulled me up and led me out of the cell and into the hallway.
"What are you doing?" I breathed, trying to pull away from him, "Do you want to get myself and you killed?"
He only brought his finger to his lips and moved so I was in front of him. He placed a hand on my shoulder and directed me, not up the stairs to the main hall, but through another, less noticeable, door across from the stairs. If he hadn't opened it, I never would have known it to be there.
He opened it and forced me through and up the narrow stairway that was inside. I tried once again to pull away from him. Why was he doing this to me? Where were we going?
But I didn't have to wonder long, because it was only a moment later that we emerged, this time into a stall at the south end of the Stable. In the stall was a horse, its dark bridle shadowy against a dapple-grey coat.
With one swift motion Legolas picked me up and placed me on the horse. He climbed up behind.
We took off out the south doors and sped rapidly through the trees. If his arm wasn't wrapped around me protectively, I would have fallen off the racing horse.
It wasn't until 20 minutes later that Legolas stopped under a dark canopy. The castle gates were no longer in sight. It was now that I realized what he was doing.
I turned as easily as I could and watched as he let go of me and dismounted. He took off his cloak and reached up to wrap it around me.
"I love you," he said, his face stained with tears.
"I can't. You can't make me do this!" I cried, trying to get down, but he wouldn't let me.
"Do not make this any harder than it is!" he retorted, frustrated, "I will not see you die. It was not your fault. I'd rather know that you are somewhere else, alive, happy, rather than here, dead. I love you too much." He turned to storm away but thought better of it.
"Legolas, please…" I pleaded.
He reached up again, to pull me against him. He kissed me, his tears mingling with my own, "I love you. I will never forget."
"Please…" I begged, but it came out as a whisper, lost in the breeze.
"Go…" he said, releasing me, "Fly away and don't look back…"
"I love you…" I cried, and kicked the horse into a gallop.
I could hear him yell "Fly away" from behind me but I dared not look back.
I sobbed as I looked forward into the darkness. I didn't know what was to come, but whatever it was, it would be without Legolas. I was alone again.
"For me you did this
How can I forget
The love we shared together
Is one that I will miss.
Any life you think is better
Than not a life at all
But this life I'll live
Is nothing at all.
No matter what will happen
As much as I want it to be
death is no life
Not a blessing, now, for me
I love you for now
forever and more
forget me not
In our dreams may we soar."
I whispered to the trees, hoping that the message would get back to him, somehow, someday.
~~~~FLASHBACK
"Dreams are not reality…You will always wake up to see the people who love you, my Father, Kendre, me… We will always be there for you, and we will never leave you alone…"
~~~~END FLASHBACK
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THIS IS NOT THE END!!!!! THERE IS MORE TO GO!!!!!!! REVIEW!!!!!!
Thank you to my Beta-rah for helping me get through these final chapters…..
