The Lovers of Mirkwood
Often during his travels with the Fellowship of the Ring, had Legolas yearned for his beloved Mirkwood and his love, Arasgwenn. To Legolas, Arasgwenn was fairest of all the Children of Iluvatar. Her eyes, of grey, shone brighter than the ancient Telperion. Her long, brown hair was the colour of the bark of the trees, in which they sat together. Arasgwenn also loved Legolas more that anything in all of Middle-Earth or beyond. Long had Legolas dreamt of arriving home victorious into Arasgwenn's loving arms.
The long-awaited moment had come. Legolas and Gimli stood on the very doorstep of Thranduil. With great surprise, the guard allowed them entry and took them into the inner halls. Thranduil recognized his youngest son as soon as he gazed upon him. Rushing from his throne, he ran and embraced his son, never wanting to let go of him again. Legolas was joyous to be in his father's arms once more. After their reunion, Gimli was introduced and shown to a guestroom. As soon as Gimli had departed, Legolas inquired as to where he could find Arasgwenn.
A pained look came over Thranduil's face. He returned to his throne and took a seat. 'While you were away,' Thranduil explained, 'you're vile brother, Lyghun, told Arasgwenn that you had found a maiden more fair than she and you intended to return home never again.' 'This would be impossible if I searched all of Middle-Earth and the abyss for all of my years,' answered Legolas. 'Aye, but Arasgwenn believed him. She departed that same, dreadful night, giving us not a way to stop her. We did not yet have the knowledge of any such happening. She left for the Grey Havens, according to her closest family. I am sorry, my son,' consoled Thranduil. 'Where is this rogue that I once called a brother? I shall kill him with naught a weapon, but with my naked hands!' fumed Legolas. 'Thinking his duty done, Lyghun killed himself that very night,' spoke Thranduil. 'He is of great fortune that I did not first have his vile throat!' decreed Legolas. 'I realize how dearly you have paid for this act of jealousy and hatred, my son,' sympathized Thranduil.
Legolas excused himself to his bedchamber. He laid his grieving body down on his bed. He thought of his beloved Arasgwenn. Legolas recalled the many times that they had walked together in the wood or perched together on a low branch of a tree, content to be near each other. He would climb onto a low limb and lifted Arasgwenn after himself into the tree. She would always sing as sweetly as a nightingale, singing of love and courage, defeat and victory. After much time alone together, Legolas' older brother, Lyghun, would come calling him home. Arasgwenn and Legolas would stay perched on the branch until Lyghun was nigh. Legolas would then jump atop Lyghun, knocking him down. Arasgwenn would leap into Legolas' arms and they would race Lyghun to the royal house.
Lyghun had always been jealous of his younger brother. He also loved Arasgwenn, whose entire heart was for none but Legolas. Lyghun knew this and his hate for his brother only brooded and grew more. At every chance, he separated the two lovers. Thranduil knew this, but knowing not what to do, he left things to go their course. He loved Legolas dearly. Seeing his son and Arasgwenn together made him glad. Albeit the young woman was from a common family, Thranduil saw how Legolas looked at her and he knew that his son was deeply in love. He also saw the envy in Lyghun's eyes.
The Mirkwood elves had been set charge of the creature Gollum. As result of their kindness, he had escaped. A messenger of Thranduil was to be sent to Rivendell to inform Elrond of the unfortunate happening. Under a guise of thoughtfulness, Lyghun had suggested that Legolas go in the stead of a messenger. Legolas, eager to aid his father, agreed. Thranduil consented, albeit against his best judgment. Legolas prepared, bade farewell to Arasgwenn, and departed.
He arrived at the council and told Elrond of the great misfortune. Legolas then joined the Fellowship of the Ring and embarked on the journey. He had returned to his home, only to find his love gone because of his brother's treachery. She was gone forever because of Lyghun, the Deceiver. Legolas wept uncontrollably. The very thing that he loved most was gone from him forever. He wept for the entire night. When he awoke the morning after, Legolas went to his father and pleaded that he might leave Mirkwood, his family, and all of Middle-Earth to seek his love in the Grey Havens. His father sank into his throne and wept. 'I foresaw this,' breathed Thranduil. 'My son, you will be dearly missed. I understand your intent and motivation. I wish you good fortune, Legolas, that you might find your love and hold her in your arms once more. Fare ye well, my dear son.' Thranduil embraced his son. 'I shall see you again. In the Grey Havens, we will meet. Our people will soon be leaving this wood,' reassured Thranduil.
Legolas, once again, prepared and embarked on a journey. Bidding everyone farewell, Legolas and his companion, Gimli, departed from Mirkwood and traveled towards the Western shore. From the coast, they set sail to the Grey Havens. Stepping on the sand of crumbled jewels, the companions made began to travel inland from the shores of Tol Eressea to the village of Koromas. Legolas searched for years for Arasgwenn, while burying Gimli, reuniting with family, and wandering all of Tol Eressea.
Having given up hope, Legolas sat in a wood weeping. He thought of his love, her beautiful face and voice, her elegance and cleverness. He thought of all that he had lost and would never have or hold again. He wept in the wood, by himself. Hearing a beautiful bird singing, Legolas stopped. It was a familiar song, but he could not name the beast from which such a lovely, yet sad, music came. He forgot his sorrow and followed the haunting sound. He wandered until he came upon a moonlight glade. 'From whence does such sorrowful song come?' inquired Legolas, nearing despair. A shadow stepped from behind a tree, into the moonlight glade. 'From me does this song of loss and grief come,' answered a voice belonging to the shadow. Legolas recognized the beloved sound. Running toward the shadow, he once again held Arasgwenn in his arms.
Often during his travels with the Fellowship of the Ring, had Legolas yearned for his beloved Mirkwood and his love, Arasgwenn. To Legolas, Arasgwenn was fairest of all the Children of Iluvatar. Her eyes, of grey, shone brighter than the ancient Telperion. Her long, brown hair was the colour of the bark of the trees, in which they sat together. Arasgwenn also loved Legolas more that anything in all of Middle-Earth or beyond. Long had Legolas dreamt of arriving home victorious into Arasgwenn's loving arms.
The long-awaited moment had come. Legolas and Gimli stood on the very doorstep of Thranduil. With great surprise, the guard allowed them entry and took them into the inner halls. Thranduil recognized his youngest son as soon as he gazed upon him. Rushing from his throne, he ran and embraced his son, never wanting to let go of him again. Legolas was joyous to be in his father's arms once more. After their reunion, Gimli was introduced and shown to a guestroom. As soon as Gimli had departed, Legolas inquired as to where he could find Arasgwenn.
A pained look came over Thranduil's face. He returned to his throne and took a seat. 'While you were away,' Thranduil explained, 'you're vile brother, Lyghun, told Arasgwenn that you had found a maiden more fair than she and you intended to return home never again.' 'This would be impossible if I searched all of Middle-Earth and the abyss for all of my years,' answered Legolas. 'Aye, but Arasgwenn believed him. She departed that same, dreadful night, giving us not a way to stop her. We did not yet have the knowledge of any such happening. She left for the Grey Havens, according to her closest family. I am sorry, my son,' consoled Thranduil. 'Where is this rogue that I once called a brother? I shall kill him with naught a weapon, but with my naked hands!' fumed Legolas. 'Thinking his duty done, Lyghun killed himself that very night,' spoke Thranduil. 'He is of great fortune that I did not first have his vile throat!' decreed Legolas. 'I realize how dearly you have paid for this act of jealousy and hatred, my son,' sympathized Thranduil.
Legolas excused himself to his bedchamber. He laid his grieving body down on his bed. He thought of his beloved Arasgwenn. Legolas recalled the many times that they had walked together in the wood or perched together on a low branch of a tree, content to be near each other. He would climb onto a low limb and lifted Arasgwenn after himself into the tree. She would always sing as sweetly as a nightingale, singing of love and courage, defeat and victory. After much time alone together, Legolas' older brother, Lyghun, would come calling him home. Arasgwenn and Legolas would stay perched on the branch until Lyghun was nigh. Legolas would then jump atop Lyghun, knocking him down. Arasgwenn would leap into Legolas' arms and they would race Lyghun to the royal house.
Lyghun had always been jealous of his younger brother. He also loved Arasgwenn, whose entire heart was for none but Legolas. Lyghun knew this and his hate for his brother only brooded and grew more. At every chance, he separated the two lovers. Thranduil knew this, but knowing not what to do, he left things to go their course. He loved Legolas dearly. Seeing his son and Arasgwenn together made him glad. Albeit the young woman was from a common family, Thranduil saw how Legolas looked at her and he knew that his son was deeply in love. He also saw the envy in Lyghun's eyes.
The Mirkwood elves had been set charge of the creature Gollum. As result of their kindness, he had escaped. A messenger of Thranduil was to be sent to Rivendell to inform Elrond of the unfortunate happening. Under a guise of thoughtfulness, Lyghun had suggested that Legolas go in the stead of a messenger. Legolas, eager to aid his father, agreed. Thranduil consented, albeit against his best judgment. Legolas prepared, bade farewell to Arasgwenn, and departed.
He arrived at the council and told Elrond of the great misfortune. Legolas then joined the Fellowship of the Ring and embarked on the journey. He had returned to his home, only to find his love gone because of his brother's treachery. She was gone forever because of Lyghun, the Deceiver. Legolas wept uncontrollably. The very thing that he loved most was gone from him forever. He wept for the entire night. When he awoke the morning after, Legolas went to his father and pleaded that he might leave Mirkwood, his family, and all of Middle-Earth to seek his love in the Grey Havens. His father sank into his throne and wept. 'I foresaw this,' breathed Thranduil. 'My son, you will be dearly missed. I understand your intent and motivation. I wish you good fortune, Legolas, that you might find your love and hold her in your arms once more. Fare ye well, my dear son.' Thranduil embraced his son. 'I shall see you again. In the Grey Havens, we will meet. Our people will soon be leaving this wood,' reassured Thranduil.
Legolas, once again, prepared and embarked on a journey. Bidding everyone farewell, Legolas and his companion, Gimli, departed from Mirkwood and traveled towards the Western shore. From the coast, they set sail to the Grey Havens. Stepping on the sand of crumbled jewels, the companions made began to travel inland from the shores of Tol Eressea to the village of Koromas. Legolas searched for years for Arasgwenn, while burying Gimli, reuniting with family, and wandering all of Tol Eressea.
Having given up hope, Legolas sat in a wood weeping. He thought of his love, her beautiful face and voice, her elegance and cleverness. He thought of all that he had lost and would never have or hold again. He wept in the wood, by himself. Hearing a beautiful bird singing, Legolas stopped. It was a familiar song, but he could not name the beast from which such a lovely, yet sad, music came. He forgot his sorrow and followed the haunting sound. He wandered until he came upon a moonlight glade. 'From whence does such sorrowful song come?' inquired Legolas, nearing despair. A shadow stepped from behind a tree, into the moonlight glade. 'From me does this song of loss and grief come,' answered a voice belonging to the shadow. Legolas recognized the beloved sound. Running toward the shadow, he once again held Arasgwenn in his arms.