Chapter 9
Decision and Choice
To Galadriel's promise, Mithrandir did come to Laurelindorenan. Legolas rejoiced to see him, and Legolas and Gimli hugged him with merriment that Legolas had not had for weeks, since teaching Madai to use a bow. After all in the wood had calmed down from Mithrandir's return, Legolas sought to speak with him for council. "Mithrandir, what is Methlea? For my love told me she was going there to wait for me to rescue her." Quickly he told him of Madai and the great battle of the Harad Orcs. "Hmm.I believe I have heard of such a place called Methlea. Oh, yes. I remember now. It is a place the dead go. The murdered, that is." He cast a dark glance at Legolas. "It is not a merry place, from what I hear. There is one particular city where the kings and queens, princes and princesses go when they die. It is called Calea." Legolas shivered hearing the name of the city. It gave him a dark sense of misfortune. Mithrandir continued. "If you are living and step into the pool of the dead, you will instantaneously be transferred to the land of Methlea. You would then have only seventy-two hours to live there, before you are dead. The dead cannot escape from there alone." "Then why did Madai wish for me to go there and rescue her?" asked Legolas, extremely confused. "Because the dead may leave there only with a living mortal accompanying them. Here," said Mithrandir, searching through a book he carried in his back. The cover was old and worn, and in Elven letters embroiled in gold, it said: Maps of Distant Realms. "This," said Mithrandir, turning to a page near the end of the book, "is a map of Methlea. It is a rather beautiful place, but it is overrun in Elseves, which are-" "Galadriel told me of the dreadful creatures. I know about them. It disgraces all elves to have them in the world, or in an underworld or realm." Said Legolas, and he had a look on his face of like a young hobbit with its pride hurt. Legolas thought for a moment of Merry, or Pippin. He smiled, remembering his adventures with the cheerful young hobbits. Legolas asked Mithrandir, "Do you know of Merry, Pippin, or Sam? It would be a great pleasure to see them again." "I recently visited the Shire to check upon our hobbit friends. They are doing just splendid. Sam and his wife Rose have just added to their collection of children. Her name is Robin, their twelfth child." Mithrandir chuckled. "Twelve children." Then he burst out laughing. "It is quite ridiculous really." He said, and tried to calm down. Legolas smiled, for he had noticed of late that Mithrandir laughed more, much more than he did. Now that the lord of the darkness had been destroyed, he was much less solemn, and often had more time to laugh, and more things to laugh about. Legolas felt they ought to return to the subject. "But tell me Mithrandir!" he said. "Is there any prospect of me making it across this water, the Jorkele Sea, to Colsingard Isle, where you say Calea is located, and getting to Madai?" Legolas asked. He was feeling desperate, for the sound of Mithrandir's laugh was like Madai's; joyful and tinkering. Mithrandir sighed. "Legolas," he said. "If you wish to find Madai, you must do it. You will make friends on the way, and in Methlea itself. I pledge this. If you are so in love with her that you will give up your possible mortality for her, than I am sure you can achieve this great thing that you hope to accomplish." Legolas thanked him, and, sensing that Mithrandir was tired, as was Legolas, he felt they should close their conversation. Legolas slept with a heavy heart. He thought often of Madai since her death, but none so as this. Visions of her were going through his head, like the time he watched the battle for the elf children from his window. And when he taught her to use a bow and arrow. And when he saved her from the Southern Orc Demon. And when he placed her crown of gold on her red hair, a giant contrast with her pallid white face. And lastly, when he saw her ghost departing for Methlea. He wished greatly to see her again, even as a dead spirit. He smiled, thinking of the valiant look on her face, and her sweet smile, and her shinning grey eyes. Legolas was so weary he slept through most of the next day. When he finally did get up, Gimli ushered him away at once. "Legolas, I know your going to do this, and don't deny it at once, don't, because I know your going to do this. Your going to the sea!" cried Gimli. "Yes. I am going to the sea. Alone." said Legolas. "Yep!" said Gimli, "And I'm coming with you!" Legolas laughed. "I guess you are. Pack up! We're going to sea!" Gimli and Legolas laughed together. Then Legolas remembered that he wasn't going to sea, just near the shore. He told Gimli this, and Gimli looked horrified. "What is it, Gimli?" Legolas asked. "Galadriel told me that if you see the sea you will never come back to the woods! I can't let you risk that!" said Gimli, and he started to sob into his hands. Legolas sighed. "Gimli, sometimes the Lady Galadriel's predictions are not sure. I have already seen the sea, and heard the gulls on the shore. And I dwelt in Mirkwood after Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin went home." explained Legolas. "Well, why do you only wish to go to the shore?" "There is a place I take mind to visit. Then I shall return to Gondor, perhaps." said Legolas. Gimli looked down-hearted. He wished to ride a boat on the waves, but it looks like he would not get there any time soon. Nonetheless, they packed there bags, and bid Laurelindorenan good-bye, and gave Mithrandir a special hug farewell. He wished Legolas luck, and a extremely confused Gimli asked what the good luck was for. "You'll find out in good time." laughed Mithrandir. Legolas and Gimli walked out of the wood and to the stables. Legolas pulled out Arod. Gimli grumbled, for it is a well known fact to Legolas that Gimli did not like horses, but Legolas explained to him that he very well could not leave Arod behind, and besides that it would be quite some walking time before they reached the Linlight River, near to Fangorn (and when Legolas said Fangorn Gimli gave another groan), then they could go to Minis Tirith to get a boat from Aragorn. Gimli was cheered by the news that they were to see Aragorn, but Legolas hushed him, saying they were only staying for a few hours, and that Aragorn already promised to have the boat prepared. Gimli sighed, feeling it was more trouble than it was worth. The rode for a few hours, then they crossed the Linlight, and continued riding to the next day. Legolas felt hasty, and he did not stop to rest. But they made it to Minis Tirith by noon the next day. Legolas saw on the edge of the city, by the Anduin's banks, Aragorn and Arwen standing beside a large grey boat. Aragorn and Arwen ran to hug them both, and they had a joyous reunion, though it didn't last long. Legolas wished to leave immediately, and Aragorn had no way to change his wishes. When Aragorn had asked where precisely he expected to go, Legolas said no other but this: "To reclaim the princess of the land." And he turned and boarded the ship. Gimli followed behind, and waved to Aragorn as they set down the Anduin. They sailed for many days, and at last making it to the basin of the Anduin, where it emptied to the sea. Legolas looked upon the small island of Tolfalas.
To Galadriel's promise, Mithrandir did come to Laurelindorenan. Legolas rejoiced to see him, and Legolas and Gimli hugged him with merriment that Legolas had not had for weeks, since teaching Madai to use a bow. After all in the wood had calmed down from Mithrandir's return, Legolas sought to speak with him for council. "Mithrandir, what is Methlea? For my love told me she was going there to wait for me to rescue her." Quickly he told him of Madai and the great battle of the Harad Orcs. "Hmm.I believe I have heard of such a place called Methlea. Oh, yes. I remember now. It is a place the dead go. The murdered, that is." He cast a dark glance at Legolas. "It is not a merry place, from what I hear. There is one particular city where the kings and queens, princes and princesses go when they die. It is called Calea." Legolas shivered hearing the name of the city. It gave him a dark sense of misfortune. Mithrandir continued. "If you are living and step into the pool of the dead, you will instantaneously be transferred to the land of Methlea. You would then have only seventy-two hours to live there, before you are dead. The dead cannot escape from there alone." "Then why did Madai wish for me to go there and rescue her?" asked Legolas, extremely confused. "Because the dead may leave there only with a living mortal accompanying them. Here," said Mithrandir, searching through a book he carried in his back. The cover was old and worn, and in Elven letters embroiled in gold, it said: Maps of Distant Realms. "This," said Mithrandir, turning to a page near the end of the book, "is a map of Methlea. It is a rather beautiful place, but it is overrun in Elseves, which are-" "Galadriel told me of the dreadful creatures. I know about them. It disgraces all elves to have them in the world, or in an underworld or realm." Said Legolas, and he had a look on his face of like a young hobbit with its pride hurt. Legolas thought for a moment of Merry, or Pippin. He smiled, remembering his adventures with the cheerful young hobbits. Legolas asked Mithrandir, "Do you know of Merry, Pippin, or Sam? It would be a great pleasure to see them again." "I recently visited the Shire to check upon our hobbit friends. They are doing just splendid. Sam and his wife Rose have just added to their collection of children. Her name is Robin, their twelfth child." Mithrandir chuckled. "Twelve children." Then he burst out laughing. "It is quite ridiculous really." He said, and tried to calm down. Legolas smiled, for he had noticed of late that Mithrandir laughed more, much more than he did. Now that the lord of the darkness had been destroyed, he was much less solemn, and often had more time to laugh, and more things to laugh about. Legolas felt they ought to return to the subject. "But tell me Mithrandir!" he said. "Is there any prospect of me making it across this water, the Jorkele Sea, to Colsingard Isle, where you say Calea is located, and getting to Madai?" Legolas asked. He was feeling desperate, for the sound of Mithrandir's laugh was like Madai's; joyful and tinkering. Mithrandir sighed. "Legolas," he said. "If you wish to find Madai, you must do it. You will make friends on the way, and in Methlea itself. I pledge this. If you are so in love with her that you will give up your possible mortality for her, than I am sure you can achieve this great thing that you hope to accomplish." Legolas thanked him, and, sensing that Mithrandir was tired, as was Legolas, he felt they should close their conversation. Legolas slept with a heavy heart. He thought often of Madai since her death, but none so as this. Visions of her were going through his head, like the time he watched the battle for the elf children from his window. And when he taught her to use a bow and arrow. And when he saved her from the Southern Orc Demon. And when he placed her crown of gold on her red hair, a giant contrast with her pallid white face. And lastly, when he saw her ghost departing for Methlea. He wished greatly to see her again, even as a dead spirit. He smiled, thinking of the valiant look on her face, and her sweet smile, and her shinning grey eyes. Legolas was so weary he slept through most of the next day. When he finally did get up, Gimli ushered him away at once. "Legolas, I know your going to do this, and don't deny it at once, don't, because I know your going to do this. Your going to the sea!" cried Gimli. "Yes. I am going to the sea. Alone." said Legolas. "Yep!" said Gimli, "And I'm coming with you!" Legolas laughed. "I guess you are. Pack up! We're going to sea!" Gimli and Legolas laughed together. Then Legolas remembered that he wasn't going to sea, just near the shore. He told Gimli this, and Gimli looked horrified. "What is it, Gimli?" Legolas asked. "Galadriel told me that if you see the sea you will never come back to the woods! I can't let you risk that!" said Gimli, and he started to sob into his hands. Legolas sighed. "Gimli, sometimes the Lady Galadriel's predictions are not sure. I have already seen the sea, and heard the gulls on the shore. And I dwelt in Mirkwood after Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin went home." explained Legolas. "Well, why do you only wish to go to the shore?" "There is a place I take mind to visit. Then I shall return to Gondor, perhaps." said Legolas. Gimli looked down-hearted. He wished to ride a boat on the waves, but it looks like he would not get there any time soon. Nonetheless, they packed there bags, and bid Laurelindorenan good-bye, and gave Mithrandir a special hug farewell. He wished Legolas luck, and a extremely confused Gimli asked what the good luck was for. "You'll find out in good time." laughed Mithrandir. Legolas and Gimli walked out of the wood and to the stables. Legolas pulled out Arod. Gimli grumbled, for it is a well known fact to Legolas that Gimli did not like horses, but Legolas explained to him that he very well could not leave Arod behind, and besides that it would be quite some walking time before they reached the Linlight River, near to Fangorn (and when Legolas said Fangorn Gimli gave another groan), then they could go to Minis Tirith to get a boat from Aragorn. Gimli was cheered by the news that they were to see Aragorn, but Legolas hushed him, saying they were only staying for a few hours, and that Aragorn already promised to have the boat prepared. Gimli sighed, feeling it was more trouble than it was worth. The rode for a few hours, then they crossed the Linlight, and continued riding to the next day. Legolas felt hasty, and he did not stop to rest. But they made it to Minis Tirith by noon the next day. Legolas saw on the edge of the city, by the Anduin's banks, Aragorn and Arwen standing beside a large grey boat. Aragorn and Arwen ran to hug them both, and they had a joyous reunion, though it didn't last long. Legolas wished to leave immediately, and Aragorn had no way to change his wishes. When Aragorn had asked where precisely he expected to go, Legolas said no other but this: "To reclaim the princess of the land." And he turned and boarded the ship. Gimli followed behind, and waved to Aragorn as they set down the Anduin. They sailed for many days, and at last making it to the basin of the Anduin, where it emptied to the sea. Legolas looked upon the small island of Tolfalas.