Elviondel wiped her tears away and looked up to the Elven King of Mirkwood. "And now?" she asked.
"Our work is done here," Legolas said. "Let us go home."
The company had won, but it did not feel that way. For they had lost 3 precious lives – Anywien, Galia, and Yrinvan – and had also failed to retrieve Viennen and, quite possibly, the Lady of the Wood, Galadriel. It was a victory, but a very sad one indeed.
No one said a word. Not even the children. Everyone walked to where Syrus had the Ums put their horses, mounted their own, and Legolas lead the way out in silence. Ohtar watched Zerameth's tears fall for the loss of Yrinvan, and then felt guilty for all the hate that he'd poured onto the boy. That had been Zerameth's friend, and, quite possibly, her betrothed, even. And now that he was dead, Ohtar wished that he could apologize for everything. He'd seen Yrinvan as the enemy, for they were fighting over the princess, but now he wished more than anything that the mortal were alive. For Zerameth, he wished it. But it was too late.
Amethyst should have been unaffected by the deaths, for she knew no one and in any case Angmarians did not put a high value on life anyway, but everyone was surprised when they saw her crying as well. Perhaps she was crying not for her loss, but the loss of others. Perhaps she felt bad for Zerameth and Legolas and Ohtar and Elviondel, and perhaps she was trying to lessen their pain through her tears. But no matter why she shed tears, she shed them just the same.
Arwen also did cry, for she did not know if her grandmother had been amongst the Ums that had died or not. If so, she cried for her loss. If not, she cried because now she was somewhere, but no one knew where to find her. Possibly, Syrus and maybe the head of his order were the only ones that knew where they kept her. And if that was true, then none now lived that knew.
Everyone in the company wept, some more bitterly than others. Ohtar did not cry much, for though he lost both of his sisters he'd convinced himself that heirs of powerful kingdoms do not cry, so he did his best to hold back, though his insides were twisted in agony. But he did shed tears, however few they be. Elviondel had cried the most out of all of them, and maybe that was expected. But the company was now weary, tired, and ever distrustful. And each of them wanted to be home.
~*~
Aragorn and Legolas stopped their horses and the rest did so as well, for ahead of them lay 2 separate paths. One to Gondor, one to Mirkwood. They'd considered either Aragorn going to Mirkwood with Legolas or Legolas and Ohtar coming with Aragorn to Gondor, but then decided it wasn't worth it. Everyone wanted to be in their own beds, and they decided the sooner, the better.
"Take Amethyst," Aragorn told Legolas.
"She won't replace my daughters. And Zerameth and her are friends, there's no point in splitting them up," Legolas responded.
"Maybe, but Zerameth is going to be married when we arrive back in Gondor anyway, so it hardly matters."
Legolas looked at him, surprised. "Married?"
"Yes. I promised her and Laesien away."
"And who to take the throne?"
Aragorn took a deep breath. "I had hoped Yrinvan, but perhaps not. Some other young man, I imagine."
"The kingdom will not rejoice in one other than a Child of Isildur taking the throne upon himself, you know that. They love you enough to the point where they wouldn't riot, but they will certainly not be thrilled."
"What would you have me do?"
Legolas shook his head. "I do not know, but it does not matter. Take Amethyst."
Aragorn turned and saw her and his daughter talking. They were friends, and he decided it inhumane to separate them. "All right. Be careful, and take care of yourself."
Legolas nodded. "And you."
Aragorn smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. "The best of luck with Ohtar. He has a firey spirit that will bless him, and he will be a good man. I wish you luck in reasoning with him. For his spirit causes him to be very one-minded as well."
"Thank you, my friend. Maybe I will visit you at a later time."
"It had better be soon, for I will not be here for many more years." Then Aragorn turned and said, "All right, say your goodbyes. This is where Mortals and Elves go their own ways."
Ohtar looked to Zerameth. "I'm sorry about Yrinvan," he said. She nodded.
"Thank you."
Ohtar sensed that she didn't believe him, and he wanted her to know that he was sincere. "No, I mean it. I know we weren't the best of friends, but I would never wish death upon him. I really am sorry."
"Belegpant lle," she said with a faint smile.
Ohtar sent back the same smile. "Althang."
With that, they separated. Legolas and Ohtar going to Mirkwood, and the rest set off to continue on to Gondor.
