Chapter 24
Legolas concentrated hard and bowed his head again. Deep in the mountainous forest of Rivendell Legolas knelt before the alter to the Valar as he concentrated his thoughts on the Parthenon of Gods and Goddesses. He thought of each and his thoughts rested on the only one he had ever had the privilege of seeing. Varda, the queen of the Valar, had laid a charge upon him. Legolas had done his part and had kept Tarin safe as long as she was in his company. He even grew to love her as a sister when they met again in the battle for Moria. The anger and resentment he held towards her melted from his heart when he greeted Gimli the dawn before the battle and Tarin came up and slipped her hand into his. Around her throat was a necklace of marriage. The crystal he had given to Gimli incased by the finest Mithril he had ever seen, and inside of the clear crystal laid the three hairs of Galadriel. It was so skillfully wrought that even with his elven eyes Legolas thought that the hairs were suspended in air. There was no doubt in Legolas's mind that only his friend would have the skill to make that necklace and it was then that Legolas welcomed Tarin into his family and heart. Nurhyandoien embraced her friend immediately and the two didn't leave the others side for most of the battle. The battle was hard fought and fierce but thankfully there were only two dwarven casualties and one elf. All three were laid out in state in the great throne rooms and then buried outside in the nearby wood. But that was years ago and Legolas once more bent his head seeking the peace of the woods.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. As an elf no one had ever snuck up on him and having a creature succeed made him leap into action. He whirled around, his hands flying to his knives but as soon as he recognized her he sank to his knee again. Varda smiled down at him, she was in her full splendor and she shined in her deep purple gown, everything shined with an inner light, her skin, her eyes, even her hair. "Legolas, rise." Legolas did as he was told. He stood there unsure of what to do in the presence of his goddess, "Aaye Varda, Amin naa tualle." Hail Varda, I am your servent Varda smiled and raised his head so he finally met her eyes, "Walk with me Legolas."
The two walked together, side by side for many miles in silence until they reached the precipice of the mountain. Varda and Legolas overlooked on one side Rivendell, lying peacefully and serenely . . . protected by the might of Lord Elrond. On the other side lay the Misty Mountains and Moria. The now home of Gimli and Tarin. Varda paused and looked out to the Misty Mountains, "Lle ume quell Legolas taren en' Mirkwood, (you did well Legolas prince of Mirkwood) but there is more for you to do." Legolas bowed his head again but met her eyes when he said in a clear voice, "Amin naa lle nai tariamin" (I am yours to command my queen) Varda took a moment to regard him with amusement at the fact that he met her eyes, something only Tarin could do up till now. "You have a new task Legolas, Tarin has given birth to a girl, Rorin is her name. Go to them and give the child the elvish blessing that she should have by right. Take this to Tarin," she held aloft what appeared to be a small mithril necklace with a green pendant that shimmered and glowed no matter how it was looked upon with an inner light, and a ring of gold with a blue stone set in it that had a flickering fire within it. Varda smiled as Legolas reverently took the gifts, "my blessings upon the child," she nodded towards the necklace, "and the mother," she gestured to the ring. Legolas carefully put them into his inner pocket and bowed once more preparing to leave but Varda stopped him, "Legolas, this is for you," she took his hand and encompassed it in her hands. When she removed her hands a band of mithril surrounded his middle finger with small white lights coming out of it, "I make you the keeper of Eärendil, guard the most beloved star well and it will service you as it did Galadriel." Legolas looked in awe at the ring resting on his middle finger, he clutched his hand in a fist and put his fist to his chest saying, "Amin harmuva onalle e' cormamin" (I shall treasure your gift in my heart) Varda smiled at his simple but sincere thanks. "Use it well." He nodded and bowed low, taking his leave of the goddess. He straightened up and looked at her, "There is something you wish to ask Legolas?" Legolas nodded, Varda smiled and nodded her permission. Legolas hesitated only a moment before he asked, "Varda, would you have sent Tarin back if she had asked it of you?" Varda frowned for a moment in thought before replying, "If Tarin had gone to Rivendell and had asked it of me I would not have sent her home with such regret in her heart. Helena was my dear friend on earth and I would never have brought her here if she was unhappy. I would send her home in an instant if she truly wished it but. . . " The goddess smiled at Legolas, "I haven't heard any requests yet." Legolas let himself slip into a smile his goddesses words, he bowed once more and then left Varda at the top of the mountain as he made his way down the other side of the mountain towards Moria.
Varda watched the warrior elf steadily disappear from even her view as he jumped from boulder to boulder with the agility only a true elf could posses. Ah Tarin she thought, you wanted the grace and beauty of this elf, you were meant for other things and your gifts serve you better than all the beauty and grace the elves possess ever could Varda smiled and rose above the mountains and into the sky.
Tarin finished suckling her baby, her Rorin. "You are the most greedy child I've ever met," Tarin groaned as she massaged her breast but smiled as she laid the now sated and sleeping child into her stone carved cradle, "and the sweetest, most beautiful one too." Tarin kissed her sleeping daughter and stroked her small dark curls. Smiling she shut the door silently behind her. The room was veiled in darkness. Slowly a soft light filled the room. . . the light of a star seemed to slowly fill up every corner of the room until out of the middle of it Varda came. She lifted the sleeping girl up and examined her. "Rorin," she said, "be an elf- friend, a dwarf from a human and a blessed of the gods, you are the future and may your future be a bright one." She kissed the infants cheek to seal her blessing; a small silver line appeared at the point of where the goddess's lips touched her skin. Slowly the mark faded but it would forever remain ingrained in her skin, her mark of favor from the goddess. Varda smiled at the child, she truly was beautiful, with dark hair and fair skin, looking almost porcelain in the starlight, she held the child up to look at her little ears lying flat against her head, Rorin woke up and true to her name she screamed right into the goddess's ear. Varda almost dropped the child as she clutched her ringing ear, when the pain subsided the great goddess looked down at Rorin and remarked with a smirk, "You are your mothers' daughter, a rebel. Just be a little more careful how you rebel." With that Varda disappeared just in time to miss Tarin opening the door to see what Rorin needed.
Legolas was still two days from Moria where he could deposit the precious gifts with the recipients. He smiled and thought of his own little son, Rinlossion. His son had celebrated his 2nd year on middle earth and Legolas was eager to see both him and his beloved Voronda. His gaze lifted to the sky as he reached out and found his wife among the stars. Nurhyandoien and Rinlossion were in Moria now. And soon the two families would meet once more. Legolas moved through the night, eager to see his wife and son. He had a soft smile on his face as he moved, "Rorin" he tested the name on his tongue and found he liked it. "I do hope you take after your parents very strongly. I have no doubt your temper will be something to be reckoned with."
Pippin and Merry jerked their heads up as they traveled. That was the sound of an elf's laughter, nothing else was as sweet or joyous. "Hey Pip? Think that was Legolas?" Pippin grinned, "Don't know Merry, we can ask him when we all get to Moria." Merry nodded and the two continued their slow track towards the gates. They had to get back to Gondor and Rohan. Traveling through Moria would be the easiest way now that Gimli was lord of it. The two traveled long but were not weary when they were finally greeted at the gates by their friends and one very headstrong dwarf.
The End
Legolas concentrated hard and bowed his head again. Deep in the mountainous forest of Rivendell Legolas knelt before the alter to the Valar as he concentrated his thoughts on the Parthenon of Gods and Goddesses. He thought of each and his thoughts rested on the only one he had ever had the privilege of seeing. Varda, the queen of the Valar, had laid a charge upon him. Legolas had done his part and had kept Tarin safe as long as she was in his company. He even grew to love her as a sister when they met again in the battle for Moria. The anger and resentment he held towards her melted from his heart when he greeted Gimli the dawn before the battle and Tarin came up and slipped her hand into his. Around her throat was a necklace of marriage. The crystal he had given to Gimli incased by the finest Mithril he had ever seen, and inside of the clear crystal laid the three hairs of Galadriel. It was so skillfully wrought that even with his elven eyes Legolas thought that the hairs were suspended in air. There was no doubt in Legolas's mind that only his friend would have the skill to make that necklace and it was then that Legolas welcomed Tarin into his family and heart. Nurhyandoien embraced her friend immediately and the two didn't leave the others side for most of the battle. The battle was hard fought and fierce but thankfully there were only two dwarven casualties and one elf. All three were laid out in state in the great throne rooms and then buried outside in the nearby wood. But that was years ago and Legolas once more bent his head seeking the peace of the woods.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. As an elf no one had ever snuck up on him and having a creature succeed made him leap into action. He whirled around, his hands flying to his knives but as soon as he recognized her he sank to his knee again. Varda smiled down at him, she was in her full splendor and she shined in her deep purple gown, everything shined with an inner light, her skin, her eyes, even her hair. "Legolas, rise." Legolas did as he was told. He stood there unsure of what to do in the presence of his goddess, "Aaye Varda, Amin naa tualle." Hail Varda, I am your servent Varda smiled and raised his head so he finally met her eyes, "Walk with me Legolas."
The two walked together, side by side for many miles in silence until they reached the precipice of the mountain. Varda and Legolas overlooked on one side Rivendell, lying peacefully and serenely . . . protected by the might of Lord Elrond. On the other side lay the Misty Mountains and Moria. The now home of Gimli and Tarin. Varda paused and looked out to the Misty Mountains, "Lle ume quell Legolas taren en' Mirkwood, (you did well Legolas prince of Mirkwood) but there is more for you to do." Legolas bowed his head again but met her eyes when he said in a clear voice, "Amin naa lle nai tariamin" (I am yours to command my queen) Varda took a moment to regard him with amusement at the fact that he met her eyes, something only Tarin could do up till now. "You have a new task Legolas, Tarin has given birth to a girl, Rorin is her name. Go to them and give the child the elvish blessing that she should have by right. Take this to Tarin," she held aloft what appeared to be a small mithril necklace with a green pendant that shimmered and glowed no matter how it was looked upon with an inner light, and a ring of gold with a blue stone set in it that had a flickering fire within it. Varda smiled as Legolas reverently took the gifts, "my blessings upon the child," she nodded towards the necklace, "and the mother," she gestured to the ring. Legolas carefully put them into his inner pocket and bowed once more preparing to leave but Varda stopped him, "Legolas, this is for you," she took his hand and encompassed it in her hands. When she removed her hands a band of mithril surrounded his middle finger with small white lights coming out of it, "I make you the keeper of Eärendil, guard the most beloved star well and it will service you as it did Galadriel." Legolas looked in awe at the ring resting on his middle finger, he clutched his hand in a fist and put his fist to his chest saying, "Amin harmuva onalle e' cormamin" (I shall treasure your gift in my heart) Varda smiled at his simple but sincere thanks. "Use it well." He nodded and bowed low, taking his leave of the goddess. He straightened up and looked at her, "There is something you wish to ask Legolas?" Legolas nodded, Varda smiled and nodded her permission. Legolas hesitated only a moment before he asked, "Varda, would you have sent Tarin back if she had asked it of you?" Varda frowned for a moment in thought before replying, "If Tarin had gone to Rivendell and had asked it of me I would not have sent her home with such regret in her heart. Helena was my dear friend on earth and I would never have brought her here if she was unhappy. I would send her home in an instant if she truly wished it but. . . " The goddess smiled at Legolas, "I haven't heard any requests yet." Legolas let himself slip into a smile his goddesses words, he bowed once more and then left Varda at the top of the mountain as he made his way down the other side of the mountain towards Moria.
Varda watched the warrior elf steadily disappear from even her view as he jumped from boulder to boulder with the agility only a true elf could posses. Ah Tarin she thought, you wanted the grace and beauty of this elf, you were meant for other things and your gifts serve you better than all the beauty and grace the elves possess ever could Varda smiled and rose above the mountains and into the sky.
Tarin finished suckling her baby, her Rorin. "You are the most greedy child I've ever met," Tarin groaned as she massaged her breast but smiled as she laid the now sated and sleeping child into her stone carved cradle, "and the sweetest, most beautiful one too." Tarin kissed her sleeping daughter and stroked her small dark curls. Smiling she shut the door silently behind her. The room was veiled in darkness. Slowly a soft light filled the room. . . the light of a star seemed to slowly fill up every corner of the room until out of the middle of it Varda came. She lifted the sleeping girl up and examined her. "Rorin," she said, "be an elf- friend, a dwarf from a human and a blessed of the gods, you are the future and may your future be a bright one." She kissed the infants cheek to seal her blessing; a small silver line appeared at the point of where the goddess's lips touched her skin. Slowly the mark faded but it would forever remain ingrained in her skin, her mark of favor from the goddess. Varda smiled at the child, she truly was beautiful, with dark hair and fair skin, looking almost porcelain in the starlight, she held the child up to look at her little ears lying flat against her head, Rorin woke up and true to her name she screamed right into the goddess's ear. Varda almost dropped the child as she clutched her ringing ear, when the pain subsided the great goddess looked down at Rorin and remarked with a smirk, "You are your mothers' daughter, a rebel. Just be a little more careful how you rebel." With that Varda disappeared just in time to miss Tarin opening the door to see what Rorin needed.
Legolas was still two days from Moria where he could deposit the precious gifts with the recipients. He smiled and thought of his own little son, Rinlossion. His son had celebrated his 2nd year on middle earth and Legolas was eager to see both him and his beloved Voronda. His gaze lifted to the sky as he reached out and found his wife among the stars. Nurhyandoien and Rinlossion were in Moria now. And soon the two families would meet once more. Legolas moved through the night, eager to see his wife and son. He had a soft smile on his face as he moved, "Rorin" he tested the name on his tongue and found he liked it. "I do hope you take after your parents very strongly. I have no doubt your temper will be something to be reckoned with."
Pippin and Merry jerked their heads up as they traveled. That was the sound of an elf's laughter, nothing else was as sweet or joyous. "Hey Pip? Think that was Legolas?" Pippin grinned, "Don't know Merry, we can ask him when we all get to Moria." Merry nodded and the two continued their slow track towards the gates. They had to get back to Gondor and Rohan. Traveling through Moria would be the easiest way now that Gimli was lord of it. The two traveled long but were not weary when they were finally greeted at the gates by their friends and one very headstrong dwarf.
The End