FAR LIGHT
I amar prestar aen
The world has changed
Han mathon ne nen I feel it in the water
Han mathon ne chae I feel it in the earth
A han nothon ne gwilith
I smell it in the air **************************************************************************** ************ They left behind them the last glimmer of light that was Rivendell as they traveled onwards towards Mount Doom. The fellowship walked in silence, each of its members, including Elen who was the last of the line, left to their own thoughts. Boromir, who was walking in front of the elven ranger, turned and looked behind them to glance at Rivendell for one last time.
"We leave behind the last smite of sanity that exists in this land", he told her.
"Rivendell still holds it, Boromir, but Lothlorien is the trueness of us and of all of this land. We will see it before long, do not lose hope, son of Denethor". She walked on encouraging him to join her and to continue the journey by her side. They failed to see Legolas turning to look at them.
"Naa rashwe?" is there trouble? Gandalf asked him stopping beside the young elven prince.
"No, why do you ask?" Legolas answered with a question of his own.
"Oh nothing, you just keep looking behind us. If you wish to speak to her do so and get it over with'. Gandalf told him sternly, for he had seen Legolas turn many times to look at her and did not fail to notice the Elf's annoyance at Elen's growing friendship with Boromir. Gandalf knew that Legolas was becoming jealous but having known Elen for many years the wizard was certain that the Prince had nothing to worry about; Elen would not betray the love of her heart. And she also distrusted men. But if she had offered her friendship to Boromir, there was a reason for doing it, Elen did not do things at half measures or for no reason at all.
"May I ask you something Elen?" Boromir asked her softly. "What is it?" she asked eyeing him. "Why do you not like the Mirkwood elves? I thought all elves were friends". He asked her bending his head. "It is a long story, Boromir". She told him at length "We have a long journey ahead of us". He persisted. "My father and brother were of the royal guard, and I wanted to be like them, I did not want to be a courtesan awaiting on the favors of the royals, so they taught me everything they knew, and I became one, like them. I became Legolas' personal guard - he trusted me like he did no other and we soon became good friends. We were always together, wherever he went, I followed. I treasured every moment spent with him as he was not only my liege but a friend as well. There was one who did not like me, I do not know whether it was out of jealousy or not, but she always made fun of me, mocking me and laughing at the fact that being the elven maiden that I was I wished to be soldier. I took offense to that because my father and brother were soldiers and they thought of being nothing else, and they were proud of what they were. I took offense to it for I knew that what she really meant was that I was not good enough for the prince of Mirkwood. My father and brother taught me well and I could swear that I was performing my duties better than any of the male guards in the whole kingdom. But I was proud and it was my pride that had driven me to the extremes" One of the hobbits stumbled and Elen gave him a hand up, she broke off her story to the knight to do so. Once that was done she continued with her tale. "We had a fight. I had her on the ground with my knife to her throat and she was taunting me to kill her. I would have done it had her cousin not intervened, and as he was also a head of the prison guard, he threw me in a cell and left me there for 2 weeks, without food, without water and without light. Legolas was told that I had tried to steal from him while he slept, his father proved him wrong, but the damage was done and as soon as I was set free I left Mirkwood and haven't been back since, for on that day many things had happened".
"And during your duties as his personal guard, you fell in love with him". Boromir nodded knowingly
"Yes, I did, I have loved him for over 2000 years, but the pain of his betrayal is still strong in my heart, we were friends, and that friendship was broken when he told me I was a thief and a liar".
"That is a pain indeed, Elen, if there's anything I have learnt about the elves, it's that they grieve deeply, and give without thought of payment". He told her.
They picked up pace when they realized that they had somehow fallen behind the rest of the group. Legolas stood perched on a nearby rock, watching them. But if you had questioned him, the prince would of said he was keeping guard. "Tell me of Elyssia" Boromir looked at her in surprise. "And how would you know of her?" He asked her with raised eyebrows. The maiden kept surprising him. "I met her when I was last in Gondor and we became good friends, she also knows of another elven friend, Nightsword, my sister in blood". "Nightsword. yes I remember her. She is half elven, isn't she? She always keeps to herself. Now my elyssia.. she is like the sun on a stormy day, she brings laughter and hope to all of us, I love her dearly".
Elen stopped suddenly. Bringing Boromir up short. She faced him and he could see the grief in her eyes. "Boromir, heed me, do not take chances, and do not fall into temptation with the ring, if you find yourself being taken by the darkness, take my hand and I will guide you back to the light". She told him, desperation evident in her eyes. "Why do you say this to me, maiden?" he stepped closer to her. "I feel it, the Uruk Hai will hunt us down, and if we are not careful it will be our end, if you fall, Elyssia will never see you again, and if that were to happen she would doubtlessly kill me". Elen added with a faint smile, trying to break the cold impact her words had on him. "I thank you maiden, I will heed your words and hold you to your promise that you will hold my hand in the hour of our darkness". He placed his hand over his heart. She smiled. "I take heart in that mellonamin". They started walking only to find that the rest of the group had already set up the camp for the night in a glade. Boromir moved off to speak to Aragorn. Legolas overtook her and took up guard on the other end.
Elen looked around, paying special attention to where everyone was seated. Gandalf was sitting by the fire and obviously deep in thoughts. Frodo with his companions sat around the fire making food for them all. And last of the companions - Gimli the dwarf, was soundly sleeping. His watch would soon be on.
She walked over to Aragorn and Boromir. They looked at her. Aragorn nodded at her, acknowledging her arrival. "And how do you fare, Elen?" he asked her. "Well enough Aragorn. And you?" she asked in return, stopping by him. She felt comforted by his presence. She knew what it was that had attracted Nightsword to him in the first place. "Alert, I fear there is something following us". He told her, his eyes peering into the darkness. Elen turned and following his example looked out into the darkness. Thanks to her keen elvish eyes she were able to spot a familiar looking dark shadow . "It may be the creature Gollum that escaped from Mirkwood". She told them unable to stop the disgust she felt for the fallen creature from entering her voice. Legolas heard it all too well from his end.
Aragorn nodded agreeing with her. "There is only one way to find out". He told her requesting silently that she checked it out. She nodded and stepped into the darkness, towards the creature. Legolas, who was observing the whole scene from the other side of the camp, ran over to them looking out into the darkness where she had gone. "Where is she going?" he asked Aragorn. "To the shadow". Aragorn told him. He trusted that the elven ranger knew what she was doing. In front of their eyes, she disappeared and while they could no longer see her they were still able to see the creature. They heard a squeal, and a crash. The creature darted away into the nearby bushes. Legolas and Aragorn ran down to where they thought Elen was. Soon she came into view once more. "I thought nothing could see you once you cloaked its mind". Aragorn told her, slightly confused with the events that had just taken place. They bent down and helped her up. Aragorn on one side and Legolas on the other. "He felt my presence, I do not know how". She said in disgust that her own weakness had betrayed her. Legolas retrieved her weapons and handed them to her. "Diola lle". Thank you. She said to him and then turned to look at Aragorn.
"It is Gollum, and he is after his precious". Elen told them.
"Precious?" Boromir asked as he came to join them.
"The ring". Aragorn explained As they started walking back to camp, Legolas noticed a stain on her arm. He stopped her. "You are wounded". She looked down at her arm. "It is only a scratch, liege, do not worry" she turned, brushing the matter of her wound off, and they kept walking. It had not escaped anyone's notice what she had called him. Referring to him as liege, she was on a non personal level with him.
Boromir handed her a skin of water, and she washed the superficial scratch. Legolas watched from afar. "I am not one to give advice, maiden, but his concern for you is obvious, was he aware of your feelings for him?" "He was". "And does he have any for you?" the knight asked, not knowing if she would respond as elves in general were quite unpredictable. "He did". She told him looking at Legolas.
Legolas had had enough, he walked over, purpose in his step.
"Excuse us Boromir, I have need to speak with her". He pulled her up and pulled away, in the forest beyond. "Let go of my arm, Legolas". He stopped, turned and faced her. "The time for playing games is over, Elen". He hissed. "And who is playing games, liege?" she asked pulling her arm out of his grip. "There was a time you called me Legolas". He whispered softly. "That time is past, I was naïve then. and we were friends". "We were more than friends, my feelings for you have not diminished, I was a rash youth then, intent on not being a prince". He argued. "So you played along the game that the courtesan had set her mind upon?" Elen asked him. "I thought it was true, until my father told me the truth. But when I went to find you, your father told me you had already left, and that he did not know where you headed". He told her. He still couldn't shake off the feeling of shame that would engulf him whenever he thought of the way he behaved that day. He had always prided himself upon his good manners, loyalty and tolerance, and yet, he acted that day like he had lacked all three. Elen looked at him searching his mind. He was telling the truth. "No Legolas, I will not fall again". She tried to walk past him but he pushed her against a tree and held her there with his body. "Elen, you are my star, I have missed you all these years, I am sorry if I had hurt you, but it was unintentional". He told her, his face inches away from her own. "She nearly killed me Legolas, you banned the sunlight from me, if it had not been for your father I would not be here now!" For to take the sunlight away from an Ithil'quessir of which the moonlight was just as life giving as the sun was worse then death. She had been near death when she had escaped the dungeons of Mirkwood. Lorien once she had reached it, brought back to life, but Elen knew just as Galadriel did, that the damage was done, that time would show just how much that had had an impact on her inmortal life, for the process of death had begun in her soul, and slowly her light would diminish.
"What more must I say?" he asked her. She could feel his desire for her. "I will not fall for you again Legolas, I am not human, they fall for their weaknesses, elves do not" she told him heatedly. "you insult me when you compare me to them" he replied. "i do not compare you to Elessar, he is the only human I will ever trust, but your actions speak louder than your words, hear me well Legolas, your betrayal has festered for over the ages, I will not die of a broken heart". She promised. "you already are, do you not think that is why Gollum felt you?, your powers are leaving you, you will diminish if you do not stop this silliness". Elen looked at him in disbelief. "leave me Legolas before I put an arrow through your heart, i have no weakness, you are weak, your own heart leads you to believe what is not there, i am beyond that". "do so, for my heart is dead if it is to never love you again". He told her softly. He was right she knew, now she understood truly why Gollum had indeed felt her. She was dying unless she forgave him his errors and did as her heart dictated. He leant in to her and whispered softly into her ear. 'Amin mela lle Elen" I love you. "I always have and it will never end, I will follow you to the ends of the earth if you ask me". He told her softly. 'then you shall follow for the rest of your days legolas, put your heart at the matter at hand, the ringbearer needs elven instincts to guide him through, mortal fears will endanger us all" she told him and moved off but turned to him once last time to end their conversation well. She glanced at him up and down. "Perhaps you should stay here for a while Legolas, your condition would not go unnoticed by Estel". She told him looking at him skeptically. He looked down at himself and had the decency to blush. He looked at her.
"It's your fault you know". He said matter-of-factly. "I will take the blame gladly, Legolas, see you back at the camp". With that final statement she wandered off. Boromir and Aragorn stood up, their hands on their swords ready for battle when they heard a rustle in the bush, they were surprised when they saw her, elves were usually light footed and silent. She shrugged at them as if to say she knew what they were thinking and that she couldn't be bothered with elven ways at the moment. "Manke naa Legolas?" where is Legolas? Aragorn asked. "Amin n'sinta" I don't know. She responded and went to sit next to Gandalf who eyed her with interest. She ignored him and went to sleep. Her thoughts drifting for an instant to Nightsword, and how she was faring alone in Gondor, Elen had taught her to trust again, to be amongst the people. Sleep overcame her before she thought on it too much.
Legolas arrived in camp an hour later. He was glad to see that only Aragorn remained awake. No one would question his return. The ranger looked at him. "Is it all out of your blood Legolas?" Aragorn asked him softly, so no one else would hear him if anyone was still awake. "We spoke, and cleared a misunderstanding we had". Legolas told him. "Don't explain yourself to me, I understand, she is beautiful and you love her, that is enough for any man". Aragorn had guessed the in-betweens in the elf's words. Legolas looked over his shoulder at her. "She is my light Aragorn, I would not spend another millennia without her, but if she does not yield to the truth she will die, already her light fades". Aragorn looked at him sharply, he did not understand the race of Moon Elves. 'i do not understand legolas" 'they are like all elves, but with them grievances are mortal, what happened between us was enough to break her soul, she has been dying for 1000 years and will not acknowledge it, it is her way, always putting others ahead of her own needs, but i intend to stop this". Aragorn nodded and they both watched the sunrise.
I amar prestar aen
The world has changed
Han mathon ne nen I feel it in the water
Han mathon ne chae I feel it in the earth
A han nothon ne gwilith
I smell it in the air **************************************************************************** ************ They left behind them the last glimmer of light that was Rivendell as they traveled onwards towards Mount Doom. The fellowship walked in silence, each of its members, including Elen who was the last of the line, left to their own thoughts. Boromir, who was walking in front of the elven ranger, turned and looked behind them to glance at Rivendell for one last time.
"We leave behind the last smite of sanity that exists in this land", he told her.
"Rivendell still holds it, Boromir, but Lothlorien is the trueness of us and of all of this land. We will see it before long, do not lose hope, son of Denethor". She walked on encouraging him to join her and to continue the journey by her side. They failed to see Legolas turning to look at them.
"Naa rashwe?" is there trouble? Gandalf asked him stopping beside the young elven prince.
"No, why do you ask?" Legolas answered with a question of his own.
"Oh nothing, you just keep looking behind us. If you wish to speak to her do so and get it over with'. Gandalf told him sternly, for he had seen Legolas turn many times to look at her and did not fail to notice the Elf's annoyance at Elen's growing friendship with Boromir. Gandalf knew that Legolas was becoming jealous but having known Elen for many years the wizard was certain that the Prince had nothing to worry about; Elen would not betray the love of her heart. And she also distrusted men. But if she had offered her friendship to Boromir, there was a reason for doing it, Elen did not do things at half measures or for no reason at all.
"May I ask you something Elen?" Boromir asked her softly. "What is it?" she asked eyeing him. "Why do you not like the Mirkwood elves? I thought all elves were friends". He asked her bending his head. "It is a long story, Boromir". She told him at length "We have a long journey ahead of us". He persisted. "My father and brother were of the royal guard, and I wanted to be like them, I did not want to be a courtesan awaiting on the favors of the royals, so they taught me everything they knew, and I became one, like them. I became Legolas' personal guard - he trusted me like he did no other and we soon became good friends. We were always together, wherever he went, I followed. I treasured every moment spent with him as he was not only my liege but a friend as well. There was one who did not like me, I do not know whether it was out of jealousy or not, but she always made fun of me, mocking me and laughing at the fact that being the elven maiden that I was I wished to be soldier. I took offense to that because my father and brother were soldiers and they thought of being nothing else, and they were proud of what they were. I took offense to it for I knew that what she really meant was that I was not good enough for the prince of Mirkwood. My father and brother taught me well and I could swear that I was performing my duties better than any of the male guards in the whole kingdom. But I was proud and it was my pride that had driven me to the extremes" One of the hobbits stumbled and Elen gave him a hand up, she broke off her story to the knight to do so. Once that was done she continued with her tale. "We had a fight. I had her on the ground with my knife to her throat and she was taunting me to kill her. I would have done it had her cousin not intervened, and as he was also a head of the prison guard, he threw me in a cell and left me there for 2 weeks, without food, without water and without light. Legolas was told that I had tried to steal from him while he slept, his father proved him wrong, but the damage was done and as soon as I was set free I left Mirkwood and haven't been back since, for on that day many things had happened".
"And during your duties as his personal guard, you fell in love with him". Boromir nodded knowingly
"Yes, I did, I have loved him for over 2000 years, but the pain of his betrayal is still strong in my heart, we were friends, and that friendship was broken when he told me I was a thief and a liar".
"That is a pain indeed, Elen, if there's anything I have learnt about the elves, it's that they grieve deeply, and give without thought of payment". He told her.
They picked up pace when they realized that they had somehow fallen behind the rest of the group. Legolas stood perched on a nearby rock, watching them. But if you had questioned him, the prince would of said he was keeping guard. "Tell me of Elyssia" Boromir looked at her in surprise. "And how would you know of her?" He asked her with raised eyebrows. The maiden kept surprising him. "I met her when I was last in Gondor and we became good friends, she also knows of another elven friend, Nightsword, my sister in blood". "Nightsword. yes I remember her. She is half elven, isn't she? She always keeps to herself. Now my elyssia.. she is like the sun on a stormy day, she brings laughter and hope to all of us, I love her dearly".
Elen stopped suddenly. Bringing Boromir up short. She faced him and he could see the grief in her eyes. "Boromir, heed me, do not take chances, and do not fall into temptation with the ring, if you find yourself being taken by the darkness, take my hand and I will guide you back to the light". She told him, desperation evident in her eyes. "Why do you say this to me, maiden?" he stepped closer to her. "I feel it, the Uruk Hai will hunt us down, and if we are not careful it will be our end, if you fall, Elyssia will never see you again, and if that were to happen she would doubtlessly kill me". Elen added with a faint smile, trying to break the cold impact her words had on him. "I thank you maiden, I will heed your words and hold you to your promise that you will hold my hand in the hour of our darkness". He placed his hand over his heart. She smiled. "I take heart in that mellonamin". They started walking only to find that the rest of the group had already set up the camp for the night in a glade. Boromir moved off to speak to Aragorn. Legolas overtook her and took up guard on the other end.
Elen looked around, paying special attention to where everyone was seated. Gandalf was sitting by the fire and obviously deep in thoughts. Frodo with his companions sat around the fire making food for them all. And last of the companions - Gimli the dwarf, was soundly sleeping. His watch would soon be on.
She walked over to Aragorn and Boromir. They looked at her. Aragorn nodded at her, acknowledging her arrival. "And how do you fare, Elen?" he asked her. "Well enough Aragorn. And you?" she asked in return, stopping by him. She felt comforted by his presence. She knew what it was that had attracted Nightsword to him in the first place. "Alert, I fear there is something following us". He told her, his eyes peering into the darkness. Elen turned and following his example looked out into the darkness. Thanks to her keen elvish eyes she were able to spot a familiar looking dark shadow . "It may be the creature Gollum that escaped from Mirkwood". She told them unable to stop the disgust she felt for the fallen creature from entering her voice. Legolas heard it all too well from his end.
Aragorn nodded agreeing with her. "There is only one way to find out". He told her requesting silently that she checked it out. She nodded and stepped into the darkness, towards the creature. Legolas, who was observing the whole scene from the other side of the camp, ran over to them looking out into the darkness where she had gone. "Where is she going?" he asked Aragorn. "To the shadow". Aragorn told him. He trusted that the elven ranger knew what she was doing. In front of their eyes, she disappeared and while they could no longer see her they were still able to see the creature. They heard a squeal, and a crash. The creature darted away into the nearby bushes. Legolas and Aragorn ran down to where they thought Elen was. Soon she came into view once more. "I thought nothing could see you once you cloaked its mind". Aragorn told her, slightly confused with the events that had just taken place. They bent down and helped her up. Aragorn on one side and Legolas on the other. "He felt my presence, I do not know how". She said in disgust that her own weakness had betrayed her. Legolas retrieved her weapons and handed them to her. "Diola lle". Thank you. She said to him and then turned to look at Aragorn.
"It is Gollum, and he is after his precious". Elen told them.
"Precious?" Boromir asked as he came to join them.
"The ring". Aragorn explained As they started walking back to camp, Legolas noticed a stain on her arm. He stopped her. "You are wounded". She looked down at her arm. "It is only a scratch, liege, do not worry" she turned, brushing the matter of her wound off, and they kept walking. It had not escaped anyone's notice what she had called him. Referring to him as liege, she was on a non personal level with him.
Boromir handed her a skin of water, and she washed the superficial scratch. Legolas watched from afar. "I am not one to give advice, maiden, but his concern for you is obvious, was he aware of your feelings for him?" "He was". "And does he have any for you?" the knight asked, not knowing if she would respond as elves in general were quite unpredictable. "He did". She told him looking at Legolas.
Legolas had had enough, he walked over, purpose in his step.
"Excuse us Boromir, I have need to speak with her". He pulled her up and pulled away, in the forest beyond. "Let go of my arm, Legolas". He stopped, turned and faced her. "The time for playing games is over, Elen". He hissed. "And who is playing games, liege?" she asked pulling her arm out of his grip. "There was a time you called me Legolas". He whispered softly. "That time is past, I was naïve then. and we were friends". "We were more than friends, my feelings for you have not diminished, I was a rash youth then, intent on not being a prince". He argued. "So you played along the game that the courtesan had set her mind upon?" Elen asked him. "I thought it was true, until my father told me the truth. But when I went to find you, your father told me you had already left, and that he did not know where you headed". He told her. He still couldn't shake off the feeling of shame that would engulf him whenever he thought of the way he behaved that day. He had always prided himself upon his good manners, loyalty and tolerance, and yet, he acted that day like he had lacked all three. Elen looked at him searching his mind. He was telling the truth. "No Legolas, I will not fall again". She tried to walk past him but he pushed her against a tree and held her there with his body. "Elen, you are my star, I have missed you all these years, I am sorry if I had hurt you, but it was unintentional". He told her, his face inches away from her own. "She nearly killed me Legolas, you banned the sunlight from me, if it had not been for your father I would not be here now!" For to take the sunlight away from an Ithil'quessir of which the moonlight was just as life giving as the sun was worse then death. She had been near death when she had escaped the dungeons of Mirkwood. Lorien once she had reached it, brought back to life, but Elen knew just as Galadriel did, that the damage was done, that time would show just how much that had had an impact on her inmortal life, for the process of death had begun in her soul, and slowly her light would diminish.
"What more must I say?" he asked her. She could feel his desire for her. "I will not fall for you again Legolas, I am not human, they fall for their weaknesses, elves do not" she told him heatedly. "you insult me when you compare me to them" he replied. "i do not compare you to Elessar, he is the only human I will ever trust, but your actions speak louder than your words, hear me well Legolas, your betrayal has festered for over the ages, I will not die of a broken heart". She promised. "you already are, do you not think that is why Gollum felt you?, your powers are leaving you, you will diminish if you do not stop this silliness". Elen looked at him in disbelief. "leave me Legolas before I put an arrow through your heart, i have no weakness, you are weak, your own heart leads you to believe what is not there, i am beyond that". "do so, for my heart is dead if it is to never love you again". He told her softly. He was right she knew, now she understood truly why Gollum had indeed felt her. She was dying unless she forgave him his errors and did as her heart dictated. He leant in to her and whispered softly into her ear. 'Amin mela lle Elen" I love you. "I always have and it will never end, I will follow you to the ends of the earth if you ask me". He told her softly. 'then you shall follow for the rest of your days legolas, put your heart at the matter at hand, the ringbearer needs elven instincts to guide him through, mortal fears will endanger us all" she told him and moved off but turned to him once last time to end their conversation well. She glanced at him up and down. "Perhaps you should stay here for a while Legolas, your condition would not go unnoticed by Estel". She told him looking at him skeptically. He looked down at himself and had the decency to blush. He looked at her.
"It's your fault you know". He said matter-of-factly. "I will take the blame gladly, Legolas, see you back at the camp". With that final statement she wandered off. Boromir and Aragorn stood up, their hands on their swords ready for battle when they heard a rustle in the bush, they were surprised when they saw her, elves were usually light footed and silent. She shrugged at them as if to say she knew what they were thinking and that she couldn't be bothered with elven ways at the moment. "Manke naa Legolas?" where is Legolas? Aragorn asked. "Amin n'sinta" I don't know. She responded and went to sit next to Gandalf who eyed her with interest. She ignored him and went to sleep. Her thoughts drifting for an instant to Nightsword, and how she was faring alone in Gondor, Elen had taught her to trust again, to be amongst the people. Sleep overcame her before she thought on it too much.
Legolas arrived in camp an hour later. He was glad to see that only Aragorn remained awake. No one would question his return. The ranger looked at him. "Is it all out of your blood Legolas?" Aragorn asked him softly, so no one else would hear him if anyone was still awake. "We spoke, and cleared a misunderstanding we had". Legolas told him. "Don't explain yourself to me, I understand, she is beautiful and you love her, that is enough for any man". Aragorn had guessed the in-betweens in the elf's words. Legolas looked over his shoulder at her. "She is my light Aragorn, I would not spend another millennia without her, but if she does not yield to the truth she will die, already her light fades". Aragorn looked at him sharply, he did not understand the race of Moon Elves. 'i do not understand legolas" 'they are like all elves, but with them grievances are mortal, what happened between us was enough to break her soul, she has been dying for 1000 years and will not acknowledge it, it is her way, always putting others ahead of her own needs, but i intend to stop this". Aragorn nodded and they both watched the sunrise.