The Last Days of the Elves by Alicia Wood
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The Worst Possible Fate
The next morning the Council of the Elves assembled in the long white throne room. Those present consisted of King Legolas and Rengolas, King Aragorn and his son Eldarion, Merry and Tom, Pippin and Faramir, Sam and Frodo, and seven other elves. They sat in a circle facing each other.
Legolas stood, "I call to order this assembly of the Elf Council. We welcome King Elessar, also known to many of you as Aragorn, and his son, and heir, Eldarion. And I want to personally extend a welcome to my friends, the Hobbits of the Shire.
"Now, tell us of the news brought to Gondor which you brought to me," said Legolas, taking a seat. He had changed since the days of the War of the Ring. He seemed older, more commanding. A true king.
Merry addressed the Council and told of the news of war.
"We must now decide what to do," said Legolas.
"We must fight this, and fight hard," said Aragorn, talking hold of the hilt of his sword for a moment before adding, "What do you want my men to do, Legolas? We have always been close friends and allies. That will never change. We will fight beside you, no matter what."
Aragorn was aging, his beard and long hair streaked with gray. But he had lost none of his strength, He was still a tall, strong man, and his voice rang true.
"Thank you, Aragorn," a faint smiled traced across Legolas' lips.
One of the elf Council members began to speak, "The problem is, we don't know what to expect. How many men are we going up against? Where are they coming from?"
"The enemies are massing beyond Khand, under the leadership of King Tremborne," said Merry.
"King Tremborne, who is he?" It was the first time Eldarion had spoken. His voice was rich and commanding, like his father's. He resembled Aragorn in many ways. His hair fell nearly to his shoulders. His eyes were brown and they gleamed with a fiery courage.
"King Tremborne," Aragorn answered, "Is the son of the late King Sremborne. He is the ruler of Khandras beyond Khand."
"He wants to take-over all Middle-earth, which includes the elves," said Pippin.
"I think that before we make any major decisions, we should find out more of what they are planning to do," said one of the Council elves.
"I agree," said another Council member.
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"Alright," said Legolas, "It has been decided."
The Council talked on for most of the morning. They ended in time for lunch, which quite agreed with Sam, whose stomach was beginning to growl.
The meeting ended with only two certainties. First, that some elves should be sent to Gondor (and Khand, if needed) to gather more information on the war plans. And second, that the Council should meet again after they returned.
Four elf warriors were chosen. They were the swiftest and the most silent. If they were to resort to spying, they were perfect.
One of the elves chosen for the mission was Seranduil. When he received word that he had been chosen, he began to prepare for the trip by gathering the things he might need. As he was preparing, Marawyn entered his chambers. She stood in the doorway, looking at him silently. He stopped packing and looked at her.
She was beautiful, the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen. It pained him to leave her here.
A silent tear slid down Marawyn's delicate cheek, "Why must you, of all the in Mirkwood, go on this mission?" She asked as another tear welled up in her eye.
Seranduil came over to her and put his hands on her waist, "Because you father trusts me to carry out this mission. He knows I will not fail."
"But what if you do fail?" Marawyn dared to ask the question that had been on her mind since she discovered he was going. What if he really didn't come back? What would she do without him?
"I am strong, I will succeed. But, if indeed I should fail, I know you are strong, too."
He looked deep into her blue eyes. He could see everything when he looked into her eyes. He could see the sky and the earth, the sea and the mountains. He could see the joy of love and the fear of death. He could see himself, and he could see her. The real Marawyn shone out from those eyes.
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Marawyn waved to Seranduil as he rode off with the other elves, into the east. He turned to look at her one last time, before spurring his horse on into the growing dusk of the forest. She closed her eyes, picturing his handsome face smiling down at her. She loved him more than anything. She would die for him, if she could.
Marawyn turned back to the Elf City. She called on the power of her people to protect him, to bring him back to her.
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At dinner that night, Marawyn could not eat. Her mind was not on food, but on Seranduil. Legolas sensed this as he watched her from the head of the table. He knew that the pain she felt was great, and that losing him was the worst possible fate. Even though the mission was not completely fraught with danger, there was still a very likely chance that Seranduil could be slain.
Legolas already knew Seranduil's fate; he had seen it from the beginning. But one could not prevent fate, and that was why Legolas had delivered him unto it. Soon it would be time to reveal his knowledge to Marawyn, but not yet.
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That evening, Rengolas found his sister sitting on the balcony of the Royal House, which overlooked the Elf City. Marawyn had heard his coming with her keen elf ears, though she did not reveal it. Rengolas come and stood behind her chair. He looked up at the glittering stars.
"The stars are never sad," he said, "They go on, smiling, sparking down on us. They give me comfort."
"They bring me none," said Marawyn, "Bitter is my temperament this night."
"I do not know what Seranduil's fate may be, but I know there is hope. Hope is what I hold to, hope will see you through," said Rengolas.
"Hope," said Marawyn softly, "What hope do I have left? Seranduil was my hope, but now he is gone. And he may be gone forever.
"Do you not also have hope in me, dear sister? We have always been close."
Marawyn looked up at Rengolas and smiled, "Yes, my dearest brother, I also have hope in you."
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Seranduil and the other elves; Landirel, Celendel, and Nirandin, had stopped for the night. They had reached the eastern edge of Mirkwood.
Seranduil climbed a nearby tree, in which he made his hammock bed. As he lay down, he looked up at the stars and wondered if Marawyn was looking at them as well. It had torn his heart to leave her. Each time he saw her cry, his heart broke.
"But this is what I should be doing," he reminded himself. Following King Legolas' orders was his duty.
"I will return to you, my love," he whispered as he closed his eyes. He knew that the worst possible fate for both of them was for him not to make it back to her.
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Frodo lay in his bed, unable to sleep, thinking about the Council meeting. What was going to happen to all of them? Would they be killed off by the race of men?
Many unanswered questions floated around in Frodo's head that night. Questions that were shared by others in Mirkwood.
The only creature not questioning everyone's fate was Legolas. He sat alone in the dark throne room, thinking. Quietly, the door to the vast room opened, and in stepped his wife, Leyona. She came quickly toward him.
"I shouldn't have let him go," said Legolas.
"His fate is not in your hands. We do not know yet what the outcome will be," said Leyona.
"I know what it will be," said Legolas.
"And yet it may change," said Leyona, "Let it go, and leave his fate to a stronger force."
"Mmm," murmured Legolas thoughtfully. His wife always spoke words of wisdom and truth. She was right; Seranduil's fate did not lie in his hands.
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The Worst Possible Fate
The next morning the Council of the Elves assembled in the long white throne room. Those present consisted of King Legolas and Rengolas, King Aragorn and his son Eldarion, Merry and Tom, Pippin and Faramir, Sam and Frodo, and seven other elves. They sat in a circle facing each other.
Legolas stood, "I call to order this assembly of the Elf Council. We welcome King Elessar, also known to many of you as Aragorn, and his son, and heir, Eldarion. And I want to personally extend a welcome to my friends, the Hobbits of the Shire.
"Now, tell us of the news brought to Gondor which you brought to me," said Legolas, taking a seat. He had changed since the days of the War of the Ring. He seemed older, more commanding. A true king.
Merry addressed the Council and told of the news of war.
"We must now decide what to do," said Legolas.
"We must fight this, and fight hard," said Aragorn, talking hold of the hilt of his sword for a moment before adding, "What do you want my men to do, Legolas? We have always been close friends and allies. That will never change. We will fight beside you, no matter what."
Aragorn was aging, his beard and long hair streaked with gray. But he had lost none of his strength, He was still a tall, strong man, and his voice rang true.
"Thank you, Aragorn," a faint smiled traced across Legolas' lips.
One of the elf Council members began to speak, "The problem is, we don't know what to expect. How many men are we going up against? Where are they coming from?"
"The enemies are massing beyond Khand, under the leadership of King Tremborne," said Merry.
"King Tremborne, who is he?" It was the first time Eldarion had spoken. His voice was rich and commanding, like his father's. He resembled Aragorn in many ways. His hair fell nearly to his shoulders. His eyes were brown and they gleamed with a fiery courage.
"King Tremborne," Aragorn answered, "Is the son of the late King Sremborne. He is the ruler of Khandras beyond Khand."
"He wants to take-over all Middle-earth, which includes the elves," said Pippin.
"I think that before we make any major decisions, we should find out more of what they are planning to do," said one of the Council elves.
"I agree," said another Council member.
Everyone nodded their agreement.
"Alright," said Legolas, "It has been decided."
The Council talked on for most of the morning. They ended in time for lunch, which quite agreed with Sam, whose stomach was beginning to growl.
The meeting ended with only two certainties. First, that some elves should be sent to Gondor (and Khand, if needed) to gather more information on the war plans. And second, that the Council should meet again after they returned.
Four elf warriors were chosen. They were the swiftest and the most silent. If they were to resort to spying, they were perfect.
One of the elves chosen for the mission was Seranduil. When he received word that he had been chosen, he began to prepare for the trip by gathering the things he might need. As he was preparing, Marawyn entered his chambers. She stood in the doorway, looking at him silently. He stopped packing and looked at her.
She was beautiful, the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen. It pained him to leave her here.
A silent tear slid down Marawyn's delicate cheek, "Why must you, of all the in Mirkwood, go on this mission?" She asked as another tear welled up in her eye.
Seranduil came over to her and put his hands on her waist, "Because you father trusts me to carry out this mission. He knows I will not fail."
"But what if you do fail?" Marawyn dared to ask the question that had been on her mind since she discovered he was going. What if he really didn't come back? What would she do without him?
"I am strong, I will succeed. But, if indeed I should fail, I know you are strong, too."
He looked deep into her blue eyes. He could see everything when he looked into her eyes. He could see the sky and the earth, the sea and the mountains. He could see the joy of love and the fear of death. He could see himself, and he could see her. The real Marawyn shone out from those eyes.
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Marawyn waved to Seranduil as he rode off with the other elves, into the east. He turned to look at her one last time, before spurring his horse on into the growing dusk of the forest. She closed her eyes, picturing his handsome face smiling down at her. She loved him more than anything. She would die for him, if she could.
Marawyn turned back to the Elf City. She called on the power of her people to protect him, to bring him back to her.
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At dinner that night, Marawyn could not eat. Her mind was not on food, but on Seranduil. Legolas sensed this as he watched her from the head of the table. He knew that the pain she felt was great, and that losing him was the worst possible fate. Even though the mission was not completely fraught with danger, there was still a very likely chance that Seranduil could be slain.
Legolas already knew Seranduil's fate; he had seen it from the beginning. But one could not prevent fate, and that was why Legolas had delivered him unto it. Soon it would be time to reveal his knowledge to Marawyn, but not yet.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
That evening, Rengolas found his sister sitting on the balcony of the Royal House, which overlooked the Elf City. Marawyn had heard his coming with her keen elf ears, though she did not reveal it. Rengolas come and stood behind her chair. He looked up at the glittering stars.
"The stars are never sad," he said, "They go on, smiling, sparking down on us. They give me comfort."
"They bring me none," said Marawyn, "Bitter is my temperament this night."
"I do not know what Seranduil's fate may be, but I know there is hope. Hope is what I hold to, hope will see you through," said Rengolas.
"Hope," said Marawyn softly, "What hope do I have left? Seranduil was my hope, but now he is gone. And he may be gone forever.
"Do you not also have hope in me, dear sister? We have always been close."
Marawyn looked up at Rengolas and smiled, "Yes, my dearest brother, I also have hope in you."
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Seranduil and the other elves; Landirel, Celendel, and Nirandin, had stopped for the night. They had reached the eastern edge of Mirkwood.
Seranduil climbed a nearby tree, in which he made his hammock bed. As he lay down, he looked up at the stars and wondered if Marawyn was looking at them as well. It had torn his heart to leave her. Each time he saw her cry, his heart broke.
"But this is what I should be doing," he reminded himself. Following King Legolas' orders was his duty.
"I will return to you, my love," he whispered as he closed his eyes. He knew that the worst possible fate for both of them was for him not to make it back to her.
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Frodo lay in his bed, unable to sleep, thinking about the Council meeting. What was going to happen to all of them? Would they be killed off by the race of men?
Many unanswered questions floated around in Frodo's head that night. Questions that were shared by others in Mirkwood.
The only creature not questioning everyone's fate was Legolas. He sat alone in the dark throne room, thinking. Quietly, the door to the vast room opened, and in stepped his wife, Leyona. She came quickly toward him.
"I shouldn't have let him go," said Legolas.
"His fate is not in your hands. We do not know yet what the outcome will be," said Leyona.
"I know what it will be," said Legolas.
"And yet it may change," said Leyona, "Let it go, and leave his fate to a stronger force."
"Mmm," murmured Legolas thoughtfully. His wife always spoke words of wisdom and truth. She was right; Seranduil's fate did not lie in his hands.