Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.
My Friend, My Brother
Chapter 14 Return to Minis Tirith
King Elessar had received word from the watch that Prince Legolas had entered the gates of the city and with almost child-like eagerness he made his way hastily to the tower roof and waited for his friend to come into view. After the Fellowship had parted for the last time at Isengard, Legolas and Gimli had journeyed together through Fangorn on their way homewards. They had both vowed to return, to aid in the rebuilding of his city. Gimli and his folk had already settled in Aglarond and begun their work, but there had been no word from the Elf, until now. A part of him had feared that his closest friend would not return, that he would answer the call of the sea longing, so it was with great joy and relief that he saw the graceful movement of the Elf in the distance, his golden hair gleaming in the sun.
A smile lit his face as he saw Legolas look up towards the tower and wave, his keen eyesight easily spotting the figure standing there. Raising his own hand in greeting, Elessar was about to make his way to the entrance hall to welcome his guest, when he noticed that Legolas had stopped to talk to a group of children, who were obviously fascinated by the Elf. The King sighed, it would be some time before he would see his friend now, for the children had settled themselves on the benches in front of one of the many fountains, and were listening intently as Legolas told them a story.
It was almost an hour later before the happy reunion of the two friends took place.
"Legolas, it is so good to see you!" exclaimed Elessar holding his friend by the shoulders and drawing him into a brotherly embrace, which was returned in kind. "You have been away far too long," he said as he held him at arm's length and studied him closely. Judging by the light in his eyes that there was nothing disturbing the Elf.
"I am also pleased to see you again, King Elessar," responded Legolas with a courtly bow. Elessar scowled at the formality from one so close, before realising this was just some form of his friend's elvish humour.
"There is no need for such formality between us," he stated with a wicked gleam in his eye, "my friends call me Aragorn, unless they want to see the inside of my dungeons!"
"Such a harsh punishment that would be, Aragorn," laughed Legolas, "but one my father would approve, I think. He sends you his regards."
"Thank you." Aragorn said, indicating for Legolas to sit as he poured them both a glass of wine.
"Tell me, how are you coping with the role of King of Gondor?" asked Legolas. "Is it as unpleasant a chore as you suspected it would be?"
"In fact, no. I have to admit that being a ruler in time of peace is a much simpler and more pleasant task than I imagined. I have my friends and my beloved Arwen to thank for that." Aragorn replied looking thoughtful. "I know I did my best to avoid my destiny, but the path I travelled to find my inner strength was a necessary one."
"That is true. I always felt you would be a great king, although not one who would resort to using dungeons." Legolas said with a smile. "Gimli assures me you are well-loved by your people, but he thinks that perhaps not as much as the beautiful Queen Arwen."
"I am sure he is right, but hopefully you will be here long enough to judge for yourself," he said, thinking once more of sea longing, which Arwen had done her best to explain.
"Have no fear, I will often pass through the Gates of Minis Tirith as long as you are King, nin mellon." Legolas answered, wondering at such a strange statement. "Where else would I be, except in Ithilien with my people?"
"Back in Mirkwood." Aragorn answered, not willing to broach the more painful subject at this time. "Gimli tells me that your forest home did not fare too well during the War." Aragorn stated. The pained look that passed across the fair features of the Elf was not lost on Aragorn, nor was the sadness in his voice as he described the devastation of his home.
"No, my father's realm was invaded by Orcs and parts of the city destroyed. The foul minions of Sauron also set my beloved forest to burn; leaving the trees as only charred and blackened remains of their former beauty."
"Do you still feel guilty for not being there to defend your home?" Aragorn asked. Legolas merely raised an eyebrow, surprised at the question he had thought resolved many years earlier.
"Nay, it was more sorrow than guilt I felt. That is why I have been away so long, for although the Shadow has lifted, the power and light of all the Woodland Elves was needed for the restoration work."
"I assume that all is now well?"
"Yes, the city is almost rebuilt and there is new growth everywhere; Eryn Lasgalen is a fitting name for the reborn forest of the Woodland Elves. The work gave us so much pleasure that many of my people have decided to follow me to Ithilien, to help in its restoration."
"Faramir will be pleased to hear that," commented Aragorn, knowing that the Prince of Ithilien was looking forward to having Fair Folk in his forest once more.
"Yes, he was. I visited his court on the way here to tell him to expect the arrival of my friends in the near future." Legolas explained in answer to the questioning look Aragorn had given him.
"I think you will also make a fine ruler. Shall we call you King of the Forest in Ithilien?" Aragorn asked lightly, smiling at the almost horrified look on the Elf's face.
"Certainly not!" he exclaimed. "I will accept my responsibility as the son of Thranduil, the King of Eryn Lasgalen when my people arrive, but that is all."
"As you wish, Prince Legolas," Aragorn said formally, teasing his friend in return, knowing full well that Legolas also preferred to be addressed by his name, not his title.
"It appears that I may need a dungeon or two as well. Beware Aragorn. I intend to keep spiders in mine!" Legolas warned with a wicked grin, as he stood and moved to the window to let the cool evening breeze ruffle his hair.
"Speaking of restoration," he said changing the subject as he watched two Dwarf stonemasons add some finishing touches to a wall, "I must do something about this city of yours before I tend to the forest. I notice that Gimli and his friends have been hard at work, and the mithril gates are really a work of art, but there is far too much stonework for my liking," he said with more than a hint of amusement in his voice. Aragorn laughed heartily at the look of distaste that accompanied the words.
After many months of hard, yet pleasant work, the trees and gardens of the White City were flourishing to Legolas' satisfaction and he left to join his friends in Ithilien.
My Friend, My Brother
Chapter 14 Return to Minis Tirith
King Elessar had received word from the watch that Prince Legolas had entered the gates of the city and with almost child-like eagerness he made his way hastily to the tower roof and waited for his friend to come into view. After the Fellowship had parted for the last time at Isengard, Legolas and Gimli had journeyed together through Fangorn on their way homewards. They had both vowed to return, to aid in the rebuilding of his city. Gimli and his folk had already settled in Aglarond and begun their work, but there had been no word from the Elf, until now. A part of him had feared that his closest friend would not return, that he would answer the call of the sea longing, so it was with great joy and relief that he saw the graceful movement of the Elf in the distance, his golden hair gleaming in the sun.
A smile lit his face as he saw Legolas look up towards the tower and wave, his keen eyesight easily spotting the figure standing there. Raising his own hand in greeting, Elessar was about to make his way to the entrance hall to welcome his guest, when he noticed that Legolas had stopped to talk to a group of children, who were obviously fascinated by the Elf. The King sighed, it would be some time before he would see his friend now, for the children had settled themselves on the benches in front of one of the many fountains, and were listening intently as Legolas told them a story.
It was almost an hour later before the happy reunion of the two friends took place.
"Legolas, it is so good to see you!" exclaimed Elessar holding his friend by the shoulders and drawing him into a brotherly embrace, which was returned in kind. "You have been away far too long," he said as he held him at arm's length and studied him closely. Judging by the light in his eyes that there was nothing disturbing the Elf.
"I am also pleased to see you again, King Elessar," responded Legolas with a courtly bow. Elessar scowled at the formality from one so close, before realising this was just some form of his friend's elvish humour.
"There is no need for such formality between us," he stated with a wicked gleam in his eye, "my friends call me Aragorn, unless they want to see the inside of my dungeons!"
"Such a harsh punishment that would be, Aragorn," laughed Legolas, "but one my father would approve, I think. He sends you his regards."
"Thank you." Aragorn said, indicating for Legolas to sit as he poured them both a glass of wine.
"Tell me, how are you coping with the role of King of Gondor?" asked Legolas. "Is it as unpleasant a chore as you suspected it would be?"
"In fact, no. I have to admit that being a ruler in time of peace is a much simpler and more pleasant task than I imagined. I have my friends and my beloved Arwen to thank for that." Aragorn replied looking thoughtful. "I know I did my best to avoid my destiny, but the path I travelled to find my inner strength was a necessary one."
"That is true. I always felt you would be a great king, although not one who would resort to using dungeons." Legolas said with a smile. "Gimli assures me you are well-loved by your people, but he thinks that perhaps not as much as the beautiful Queen Arwen."
"I am sure he is right, but hopefully you will be here long enough to judge for yourself," he said, thinking once more of sea longing, which Arwen had done her best to explain.
"Have no fear, I will often pass through the Gates of Minis Tirith as long as you are King, nin mellon." Legolas answered, wondering at such a strange statement. "Where else would I be, except in Ithilien with my people?"
"Back in Mirkwood." Aragorn answered, not willing to broach the more painful subject at this time. "Gimli tells me that your forest home did not fare too well during the War." Aragorn stated. The pained look that passed across the fair features of the Elf was not lost on Aragorn, nor was the sadness in his voice as he described the devastation of his home.
"No, my father's realm was invaded by Orcs and parts of the city destroyed. The foul minions of Sauron also set my beloved forest to burn; leaving the trees as only charred and blackened remains of their former beauty."
"Do you still feel guilty for not being there to defend your home?" Aragorn asked. Legolas merely raised an eyebrow, surprised at the question he had thought resolved many years earlier.
"Nay, it was more sorrow than guilt I felt. That is why I have been away so long, for although the Shadow has lifted, the power and light of all the Woodland Elves was needed for the restoration work."
"I assume that all is now well?"
"Yes, the city is almost rebuilt and there is new growth everywhere; Eryn Lasgalen is a fitting name for the reborn forest of the Woodland Elves. The work gave us so much pleasure that many of my people have decided to follow me to Ithilien, to help in its restoration."
"Faramir will be pleased to hear that," commented Aragorn, knowing that the Prince of Ithilien was looking forward to having Fair Folk in his forest once more.
"Yes, he was. I visited his court on the way here to tell him to expect the arrival of my friends in the near future." Legolas explained in answer to the questioning look Aragorn had given him.
"I think you will also make a fine ruler. Shall we call you King of the Forest in Ithilien?" Aragorn asked lightly, smiling at the almost horrified look on the Elf's face.
"Certainly not!" he exclaimed. "I will accept my responsibility as the son of Thranduil, the King of Eryn Lasgalen when my people arrive, but that is all."
"As you wish, Prince Legolas," Aragorn said formally, teasing his friend in return, knowing full well that Legolas also preferred to be addressed by his name, not his title.
"It appears that I may need a dungeon or two as well. Beware Aragorn. I intend to keep spiders in mine!" Legolas warned with a wicked grin, as he stood and moved to the window to let the cool evening breeze ruffle his hair.
"Speaking of restoration," he said changing the subject as he watched two Dwarf stonemasons add some finishing touches to a wall, "I must do something about this city of yours before I tend to the forest. I notice that Gimli and his friends have been hard at work, and the mithril gates are really a work of art, but there is far too much stonework for my liking," he said with more than a hint of amusement in his voice. Aragorn laughed heartily at the look of distaste that accompanied the words.
After many months of hard, yet pleasant work, the trees and gardens of the White City were flourishing to Legolas' satisfaction and he left to join his friends in Ithilien.