The Last of the Elves by Alicia Wood
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The Hearts of Men
A blanket of darkness floated over the forest of Mirkwood. The stars were sparkling diamonds, keeping watch over the elves as they sat around a bonfire in a small clearing.
Despite the disturbing news that had arrived with the hobbits, Legolas celebrated their arrival. The company sat around the fire, talking quietly and eating lembas bread and pears.
Frodo, Tom, and Faramir sat with Rengolas, Marawyn, and Rashaina.
"Master Faramir, what is life like in the Shire?" asked Rashaina, who was the youngest of Legolas' children.
"Life is very pleasant," said Faramir, "We hobbits live in homes in the sides of hills. We love good food and good pipes."
"And what of Gondor?" asked Rengolas, "Did you travel there with your fathers?"
"Tom and Faramir went along, but my father did not go, so I didn't either," said Frodo, looking sad. He had wanted to go so badly, but his father had urged him to remain in the Shire.
"Gondor is a dwindling kingdom," said Tom, "Not much can be said for it."
"Hmm, that is not the best of news," said Rengolas.
"What is life in Mirkwood like?" Frodo asked Marawyn.
"Each day is fairly nearly the same as this one has been," Marawyn said, "It is also very pleasant. We love to walk through the trees and along the banks of the Forest River."
"And there has not been any talk of war here, until now," said Rengolas.
"It seems that after the War of the Ring, men would want peace," said Marawyn.
"The hearts of men are corrupted easily. Men want power and wealth, and they want to get rid of elves forever," Rengolas said bitterly.
"Yes, we will soon be forced to leave Mirkwood," said Rashaina, "After this war, I believe the age of elves will end. Those that do not die at battle will retire to the Western Shore."
"You mean the Grey Havens?" asked Frodo.
"Yes," she replied.
"Rengolas shook his head, "I am bound to this land. I will never leave."
"I know how you feel, Rengolas, but when all our people have left, you will want to leave too," said Rashaina.
"Perhaps you are right, but I do not agree. I could never leave," he said.
"I wonder if we will ever travel across the sea," said Tom. He had never considered leaving the Shire for good.
"Hobbits have made the journey to the Grey Havens," said Marawyn.
"Yes, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins have made the journey," said Frodo, "They still live there."
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"What hope do we have in your allies, Legolas?" asked Merry.
"We must call on Aragorn and his people," said Legolas, "How many hobbits can you assemble from the Shire?"
"A good hundred or more," said Pippin. He knew that with a little persuasion, many of the male hobbits would come to the elves' aid.
"Hmm, I am beginning to think that this will be the end of our time in Middle-earth," said Legolas, sad to admit it.
"What do you mean?" asked Sam, sounding distressed, "Won't you always be with us, Legolas?"
"No, Sam," he answered quietly, "If men set their hearts to destroying us, or at least taking over us and our lands, it will happen. We may be immortal, but our time here will come to an end."
Sam hung his head, "Will everyone go to the Grey Havens and leave me behind?"
Legolas smiled, "One day, Sam, you will journey to the Grey Havens and be reunited with Frodo."
Sam seemed to brighten a little, but he said, "It seems like it has been so long since Frodo left the Shire."
"And so long since the Fellowship assembled at Rivendell that fateful day," added Merry, recalling the events that had taken place.
"Come, my friends," said Legolas as he rose to his feet, "You must rest. I am sure you are weary from your journey."
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Marawyn walked silently through the woods. Beside her walked Seranduil, a handsome, dark-haired elf who was to marry her one day.
Marawyn came to a stop under a tree surrounded by Starflowers that glowed brightly. She gazed up at the stars and thought about what was to happen. She knew Seranduil would go into battle against the men. Would he make it back to her alive?
Seranduil stood in front of her, taking both her fair hands in his. He looked deep into her blue eyes.
"Many years have we lived in these woods," she said, "We grew up here. I wanted our home to be here."
"I know, Marawyn, but if it is not safe from men, it is no home for our children," said Seranduil, touching her silken hair.
"Yes, you are right," she admitted, looking into his green eyes. There she saw the strength and courage she had seen all those years ago when they first met.
"But we still have each other, and with you by my side, I will never be lonely," he said.
Their lips met in a soft but luscious kiss.
"But, what if-" Marawyn began.
Seranduil drew her near to him, "I know. I will be strong in battle, and I will come back to you."
They stood there for a long moment, her head on his shoulder, before they parted for the night.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Rengolas watched his older sister, and friend, Seranduil, from the shadows of the underbrush. He felt sad to think that she and Seranduil would probably never make their home in Mirkwood. He felt enraged that men would take their home away from them.
"It is foolish to hope that the Grey Elves of Mirkwood could live on," Rengolas told himself, "What point is there to fighting? We should just give up and let them have this land."
It was as if men hated elves and had no respect for them. It felt, to Rengolas, that men wanted to get rid of the elves forever. Well, it was about it happen, he knew it. Even if the elves defeated the men and won the war, the elves would still leave for the Western Shore.
Rengolas climbed a nearby tree to rest for the night in a hammock he had made. He felt most comfortable here, in the open night air among the leaves, than in the chambers of the Royal House.
This was where he had been born, in the forest of Mirkwood, and it was where he would die, even if it was at the hands of a man. Rengolas took in a deep breath of air and closed his eyes, drifting off into a deep sleep.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
At breakfast the next morning, Legolas informed the hobbits of his plans.
"Last night we sent out our swiftest riders to Aragorn. If all goes well, they should return by late evening. Tomorrow morning, we will hold the council," he said.
"Then let us hope that all goes well," said Merry.
Legolas nodded. After a moment of silence he added, "I suggest that today, you should try to enjoy yourselves. Wander the woods and explore our city. It will be good for you. We will have much to worry about soon enough."
"Yes, I should like to spend some time in your kingdom peacefully, Legolas," said Pippin, "For I fear it may be my last chance."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The Hearts of Men
A blanket of darkness floated over the forest of Mirkwood. The stars were sparkling diamonds, keeping watch over the elves as they sat around a bonfire in a small clearing.
Despite the disturbing news that had arrived with the hobbits, Legolas celebrated their arrival. The company sat around the fire, talking quietly and eating lembas bread and pears.
Frodo, Tom, and Faramir sat with Rengolas, Marawyn, and Rashaina.
"Master Faramir, what is life like in the Shire?" asked Rashaina, who was the youngest of Legolas' children.
"Life is very pleasant," said Faramir, "We hobbits live in homes in the sides of hills. We love good food and good pipes."
"And what of Gondor?" asked Rengolas, "Did you travel there with your fathers?"
"Tom and Faramir went along, but my father did not go, so I didn't either," said Frodo, looking sad. He had wanted to go so badly, but his father had urged him to remain in the Shire.
"Gondor is a dwindling kingdom," said Tom, "Not much can be said for it."
"Hmm, that is not the best of news," said Rengolas.
"What is life in Mirkwood like?" Frodo asked Marawyn.
"Each day is fairly nearly the same as this one has been," Marawyn said, "It is also very pleasant. We love to walk through the trees and along the banks of the Forest River."
"And there has not been any talk of war here, until now," said Rengolas.
"It seems that after the War of the Ring, men would want peace," said Marawyn.
"The hearts of men are corrupted easily. Men want power and wealth, and they want to get rid of elves forever," Rengolas said bitterly.
"Yes, we will soon be forced to leave Mirkwood," said Rashaina, "After this war, I believe the age of elves will end. Those that do not die at battle will retire to the Western Shore."
"You mean the Grey Havens?" asked Frodo.
"Yes," she replied.
"Rengolas shook his head, "I am bound to this land. I will never leave."
"I know how you feel, Rengolas, but when all our people have left, you will want to leave too," said Rashaina.
"Perhaps you are right, but I do not agree. I could never leave," he said.
"I wonder if we will ever travel across the sea," said Tom. He had never considered leaving the Shire for good.
"Hobbits have made the journey to the Grey Havens," said Marawyn.
"Yes, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins have made the journey," said Frodo, "They still live there."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"What hope do we have in your allies, Legolas?" asked Merry.
"We must call on Aragorn and his people," said Legolas, "How many hobbits can you assemble from the Shire?"
"A good hundred or more," said Pippin. He knew that with a little persuasion, many of the male hobbits would come to the elves' aid.
"Hmm, I am beginning to think that this will be the end of our time in Middle-earth," said Legolas, sad to admit it.
"What do you mean?" asked Sam, sounding distressed, "Won't you always be with us, Legolas?"
"No, Sam," he answered quietly, "If men set their hearts to destroying us, or at least taking over us and our lands, it will happen. We may be immortal, but our time here will come to an end."
Sam hung his head, "Will everyone go to the Grey Havens and leave me behind?"
Legolas smiled, "One day, Sam, you will journey to the Grey Havens and be reunited with Frodo."
Sam seemed to brighten a little, but he said, "It seems like it has been so long since Frodo left the Shire."
"And so long since the Fellowship assembled at Rivendell that fateful day," added Merry, recalling the events that had taken place.
"Come, my friends," said Legolas as he rose to his feet, "You must rest. I am sure you are weary from your journey."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Marawyn walked silently through the woods. Beside her walked Seranduil, a handsome, dark-haired elf who was to marry her one day.
Marawyn came to a stop under a tree surrounded by Starflowers that glowed brightly. She gazed up at the stars and thought about what was to happen. She knew Seranduil would go into battle against the men. Would he make it back to her alive?
Seranduil stood in front of her, taking both her fair hands in his. He looked deep into her blue eyes.
"Many years have we lived in these woods," she said, "We grew up here. I wanted our home to be here."
"I know, Marawyn, but if it is not safe from men, it is no home for our children," said Seranduil, touching her silken hair.
"Yes, you are right," she admitted, looking into his green eyes. There she saw the strength and courage she had seen all those years ago when they first met.
"But we still have each other, and with you by my side, I will never be lonely," he said.
Their lips met in a soft but luscious kiss.
"But, what if-" Marawyn began.
Seranduil drew her near to him, "I know. I will be strong in battle, and I will come back to you."
They stood there for a long moment, her head on his shoulder, before they parted for the night.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Rengolas watched his older sister, and friend, Seranduil, from the shadows of the underbrush. He felt sad to think that she and Seranduil would probably never make their home in Mirkwood. He felt enraged that men would take their home away from them.
"It is foolish to hope that the Grey Elves of Mirkwood could live on," Rengolas told himself, "What point is there to fighting? We should just give up and let them have this land."
It was as if men hated elves and had no respect for them. It felt, to Rengolas, that men wanted to get rid of the elves forever. Well, it was about it happen, he knew it. Even if the elves defeated the men and won the war, the elves would still leave for the Western Shore.
Rengolas climbed a nearby tree to rest for the night in a hammock he had made. He felt most comfortable here, in the open night air among the leaves, than in the chambers of the Royal House.
This was where he had been born, in the forest of Mirkwood, and it was where he would die, even if it was at the hands of a man. Rengolas took in a deep breath of air and closed his eyes, drifting off into a deep sleep.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
At breakfast the next morning, Legolas informed the hobbits of his plans.
"Last night we sent out our swiftest riders to Aragorn. If all goes well, they should return by late evening. Tomorrow morning, we will hold the council," he said.
"Then let us hope that all goes well," said Merry.
Legolas nodded. After a moment of silence he added, "I suggest that today, you should try to enjoy yourselves. Wander the woods and explore our city. It will be good for you. We will have much to worry about soon enough."
"Yes, I should like to spend some time in your kingdom peacefully, Legolas," said Pippin, "For I fear it may be my last chance."