The Lord of Mirkwood and his son entered the castle and walked quickly to the library. The servants on their ways though the halls rejoiced at seeing Legolas and Ohtar, and said many things like "My lord, it is good to see you back and healthy" but neither of the elves paid their comments attention, for they were both eager to see Gwilith. They entered the throne room, but she was not there, so then they tried the library and there was the Lady, sitting on a large comfortable chair, her long blond hair nearly sweeping the floor.
"Símen," Legolas said. Gwilith turned quickly and when she saw her husband, she smiled and ran up to them, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. (We're here.)
"Oh, how long has it been?" she asked, not necessarily looking for an answer to her question. "How long has it been since I have seen you?" She looked at Ohtar and opened her arms. The boy hugged her. "Where are your sisters?" she asked. "Let me see them."
"Gwilith," Legolas said. "They… Wien and Galia, they are gone."
Gwilith looked up at him. Her smile was gone, and she no longer looked joyful at all. "How could you let this happen?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to. Galia… I honestly don't know what happened. They took her. She may be dead or alive, maybe we will never know. And Anywien, she…" Legolas's tears gathered at his eyes. "She dropped dead, on her horse. Syrus killed her, the spirit seeking Arwen. But he did not want her in any case, he wanted the necklace that signified her immortality. He is gone now, we believe."
Gwilith searched his eyes as she let the reality of the matter sink in. "Are you all right?" she finally asked.
"Yes."
"Ohtar?"
"Yes."
"Are either of you hungry?"
Legolas showed no sign of an answer, but Ohtar nodded. "Yes, mother."
"Go to the kitchen."
Ohtar looked at his mother, surprised. She seemed so commanding right then. But deciding he shouldn't argue with her, he nodded and left his parents alone.
Gwilith stared at Legolas. "What happened?"
"He demanded the Evenstar and I told him we would not give it to him. Then she collapsed on her horse, unbreathing. I'm sorry."
"You have much to tell me." Then they each sat down on a chair, and Legolas told her all he could bare to. He told her only about the most recent things, because the beginning of their journey barely seemed important anymore. After he told her most of the details of their daughters' deaths and Gwilith felt that she could bare it no longer, she ran out of the library, with her head in her hands crying. Legolas wasn't sure of where she ran off to, for he did not follow her, but he had a feeling that she went to their bedroom to lie down and cry.
Ohtar slowly opened the door and saw his father sitting on his chair in silence. He was staring ahead of himself looking like stone, thinking and only thinking. But at the creaking of the door he turned to see his son.
"How is mother?" Ohtar asked quietly.
"She will be all right in time, but it may be awhile."
Ohtar nodded. "I fear I can't say that I'm unaffected by it, either."
"Nor I. But 'tis a good thing, it shows they were loved."
"I suppose."
Legolas stood. "You can get back to you lessons tomorrow. I will speak with Nónd about your combat training."
Ohtar's heart sunk. All he wanted was to relax, but no. Once they got home he had to start lessons again the next day. "Fine," he muttered.
"I must go." Legolas started to the door.
"To where? And when will you be home again?"
Legolas stopped and turned. "What?"
"We have only just arrived. You can't have started a war already."
"I'm not leaving Mirkwood, son, I'm going to check on your mother."
"Then when are you leaving Mirkwood?"
"Never. I promised her that if I survived this mission I would never leave again, and to that I hold. I'm not leaving this time." With that he opened the doors and went into the hallway and continued on to where he assumed Gwilith had gone.
Ohtar snorted. "I wonder how long that shall last."
