Author's Note: I wasn't going to post this until tomorrow but I thought,
what the hey, so you get it a day early! Yea! Oh, and a HUGE thanks to
'G' for pointing out a glaring error in my story, I already fixed it and am
still beating myself over the head for making such a stupid error. Don't
know why in the world I mixed those up.anyways, here it is, another chapter
! And oh yeah, not even remotely related to Tolkien so whatever.
Chapter 31
A week's time slowly crawled by, the bulk of which Legolas spent lying down. His leg wound had proven to be more serious than he had anticipated and the healer would not stand for Legolas being up and about. But Legolas could not say he wholly minded the orders too much, he relished the rest.
On the day after both Maeglin and Eirien died, Thranduil had come to Legolas. Legolas was situated comfortably in his bed, his leg cleaned and wrapped thoroughly, and gazing out of the bright window into the well- tended gardens.
Legolas turned his head toward the door when he heard it open and smiled in welcome when he saw his father standing in the doorway. Thranduil stepped into the room and closed the door behind him before coming to sit on the edge of the bed. He was smiling as well and appeared as though a large weight had just been lifted from his shoulders.
"I am very glad to see you home once again," Thranduil said after a moment's silence. Legolas broadened his smile and grabbed onto the hand his father extended toward him. Legolas could just make out the white edging of bandaging that was wrapped around his father's shoulder underneath his tunic, and his smile darkened.
Thranduil caught the slight change in expression and guessed well at its cause. "There is no reason for you to feel any responsibility at all for any of this."
"If I had merely paid more attention to our surroundings when we had gone on that hunting trip," Legolas started but was interrupted by his father.
"Then Maeglin would still be alive and still plotting something, perhaps something that would have turned out even worse. As it was this way, a battle was avoided and many lives spared. You saved a lot of bloodshed my son." Thranudil's voice was clam and soothing and Legolas felt his own mood lift.
They both sat silent for a few moments and Legolas' gaze once again wandered back over to the window. He felt he would never take the sight of the trees outside and the warmth of the sun for granted again.
"How fares Glorfindel?" Legolas suddenly asked quietly.
"Lord Elrond has been attending to him non-stop since the incident. He has pulled through the worst of it and Elrond is hopeful for the best."
Legolas nodded, still looking out of the window. Another question came to him and this time he turned to his father, "Did you know what that powder was?"
Thranduil nodded gravely. "I had only heard tales of it and thought it to be a myth, but from what Lord Elrond has told me, Maeglin made it very much real. It is a mix of dried herbs and crushed plants that are grated very fine. But the most potent ingredient is that of small particles of galvorn that has been mixed in as well. It is the black iron that cuts into your insides once inhaled. It proves to be most effective, as you now know."
"Black iron," Legolas repeated softly. The galvorn was the black metal Legolas had seen so much of when being held by Maeglin. It seemed very fitting, Maeglin's love had been his death.
"And the rest of the Avari?" Legolas asked.
"They left Mirkwood when Glorfindel prompted them to. No word has been heard of them since. Hopefully without a leader they will merely disperse and go back to their original colonies."
"They do not wish to leave Middle-Earth," Legolas said.
Thranudil nodded. "That is why they are called the refusers or unwilling," he shrugged, "it is how they feel and we cannot affect that. We can only wish that if they choose on remaining they can do so peacefully."
Legolas once again turned to the window. He felt as though he had a million more questions to ask, but he held his tongue. He did not particularly feel like speaking at the moment, even to his own father.
Thranduil noted the silence and understood.
He stood lightly off of the bed before reaching down to rest his hand on Legolas' shoulder. He squeezed it lightly as he spoke, "Rest easy my son, Valar knows you deserve it after all you have been put through. Simply remember the worst is all over and you have done the best you could. Few have accomplished what you have, and you will be recognized as a hero at a formal celebration next week when all has settled down."
Thranduil hoped that the news of a celebration specifically for Legolas would brighten his mood, but he was slightly disappointed when Legolas only flashed him a brief smile. Not wishing to disturb his rest any longer than necessary, Thranduil quietly exited the room and softly closed the door on his way out.
Legolas looked over when he heard the door shut. "Glorfindel is more of a hero than I," he commented softly to the empty room before once again turning his bright eyes to the open window.
Thranduil's proclaimed celebration in honor of his son came to take place faster than Legolas anticipated. Indeed time as a whole seemed to pass swifter when one was not confined.
Legolas was dressed in some of the finest clothing he owned, and he almost blanched when he saw himself in the mirror. The outfit resembled that of the one the Moriquendi had mockingly dressed him in with silver coloring.
Legolas closed his eyes and reminded himself that those days were now behind him, they should hold no effect over him any longer. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Legolas walked out of his room and down to the Grand Hall where the feast was to be held.
Elves greeted him as he came out of his room and he was escorted to the Hall. He was to be announced formally when he walked in, everybody else was already there. As Legolas followed his escorts, he thought dismally over why his father chose to have the celebration in the Grand Hall. Of course it was the only room large enough to hold everybody, but considering the circumstances Legolas would have much rather had it held outdoors underneath the trees and stars.
The doors were pushed open for him and Legolas walked in the Grand Hall amidst cheers and applause, yet he hardly heard any of it. The minute the doors were opened his eyes were fixed on the one spot before the platform where both Maeglin and Eirien had fallen. The spot had been immaculately cleaned of course, but Legolas had a distinct feeling that he would never be able to look at it again without seeing the blood of the two elves mixed upon the floor.
Passively, Legolas was marched up straight to the platform where he ascended to stand next to his father and acknowledge the cheering of his people. On the outside, he stood proudly and bowed to the applause like a true prince and hero should, on the inside his mind was elsewhere.
He paused when he spotted Lord Elrond standing with the Noldor elves near the front. They had stayed in order to attend the celebration. Elrond had been in to see to Legolas when he had been resting of course and had administered herbs to his leg wound so that it may heal faster. And Legolas accredited the fact that he could now stand easily upon his leg and without pain to Elrond, and though he was grateful to Elrond and pleased to see him in attendance, Legolas did not see the one he was searching for.
Glorfindel was nowhere in sight.
Elrond had assured him later in the week that Glorfindel had recovered and was as well as he could be, but that he would be leaving Mirkwood soon. Legolas had hoped he would have another chance to speak with Glorfindel before he left, but apparently he had already gone. The fact was disquieting to Legolas.
All throughout the feast Legolas could not concentrate. He smiled and acknowledged those when he should and he even ate the delicious food placed before him where he sat at the head of the table. But he tasted none of it and he did not hear the new tales about his heroic deeds put into song that the minstrels sang.
When the evening was halfway over, Legolas pleaded exhaustion and excused himself and he left the room with the noise of raucous applause following him. It seemed as though his people truly thought him to be a hero, he thought to himself as he walked away. If only they knew of his many failures during his capture, then they would not think him to be so grand.
As he passed out of the Hall, he had every intention of going straight to his room and gaining some rest. Creating a façade of heroism was more draining than he had thought.
Yet as he turned to go to his room, he paused. Making a sudden decision, he reversed his direction and instead walked outside of the palace and into the soft darkness outside. He had not been outside since the night when Eirien had grabbed him from behind.
Legolas walked silently as he made his way to the huge gardens that grew within the borders of Mirkwood. It was a favorite place of his and he knew it would be abandoned as everybody else was still inside, enjoying the festivities that continued.
Legolas paused right before he reached the gardens. The soft sound of singing came to his ears, but it was not of the same type that was going on inside of the Hall. It was a lament, and no sounds of joy or valor could be found within it. Curious, Legolas stepped forward and towards the sound.
He looked to his right, and there seated on a small stone bench before a clear pond was Glorfindel.
Legolas stood respectfully where he was until Glorfindel's song was over. He did not wish to interrupt. When the elf lord ceased his singing, Legolas felt he wanted to say something, but was once again unsure as of what to say. Yet even though Legolas was standing silently behind him and off to the side, Glorfindel looked over his shoulder when his song was completed at Legolas and beckoned him to come closer. Legolas readily complied.
Glorfindel moved a little to the side when Legolas reached him and Legolas sat down gingerly. He felt awed by the close presence of Glorfindel, for he was no longer holding anything back and his aura was almost tangible in its power. Legolas immediately understood that Glorfindel had been working under a huge pretense in order to fool Maeglin.
Glorfindel glanced over at Legolas and smiled faintly. "Maeglin's perception was so sharp he could all but read minds," Glorfindel guessed correctly at the awed look on the younger elf's face, "I had to keep everything tightly withdrawn inside of myself so as not to alert him to what I really had planned."
"And what was your plan all along?" The question was out before Legolas gave himself proper time to think. He felt abashed as soon as he heard himself say it, not sure if the older elf would think it to be disrespectful.
But Glorfindel only smiled again and turned so that he was facing Legolas fully. "I assumed you held many questions. I am sorry I was unable to ever tell you more of what was happening, but as I have said before, Maeglin would have picked up on it. He was especially suspicious after the first night I came to see you, even though I did not tell you anything of import then, and I am most sorry to say that it was his suspicion that led me to betray you back to him. That is the one deed I truly regret, but it was the only way to assuage Maeglin for at least the moment. He was very wary of myself, and I knew he was contemplating killing me before we even reached Mirkwood. If I wished to have any sort of advantage over him, I had to be the first to attack." Glorfindel paused, "Do you understand?"
Legolas nodded slowly. He did understand, and from a strategic standpoint it was the only thing Glorfindel could have done. Yet he still felt he needed the entire story, only then would he be able to trust Glorfindel completely.
Glorfindel read this in Legolas' expression and gave a small nod. "I will tell you the entire story, though it is too lengthy for complete detail."
Glorfindel took a small breath and paused to look up at the bright stars before continuing. "Maeglin first contacted me around fifty years ago. Imagine my surprise when the betrayer of Gondolin asked for my help. At first I could not understand why he would request such a thing, or even how he was still alive. He could not have possibly gone through the Halls of Mandos, for Mandos would have never permitted him to return to Middle- Earth, at least not so soon. So I came to the conclusion that though he had died when Tuor overthrew him, his spirit had remained and with the help of Morgoth with whom he had forged his dark alliance, he was able to return to his body and heal in time.
"Yet I digress from my story. I knew that he knew I had died while slaying the balrog, so I imagined that he thought my memory of my first life had not yet returned to me. He was a very greedy individual and he wished revenge on all those who had wronged him. As it was, I was the only one left from the Fall of Gondolin, so he thought it best to first use me and then betray me again to another death. My assumption of him proved to be correct when I agreed to meet up with him. He is not as sly as he imagines himself to be when blinded by vengeance.
"I knew he still held to his alliance with Morgoth even though Morgoth himself had been overthrown, and I knew that his lack of love for the second-born was what drove his ambitions. When he began to speak of the darkness in Mirkwood and to turn the Avari who had joined with him against the Silvan elves, it did not take me long to guess at his plans. He still longed to rule his own kingdom, and he used the Avari's desire to stay upon Middle-Earth to lead them to believe that if they 'saved' Mirkwood from the Silvan elves who were encouraging the darkness, they could have their own realm to dwell in for the rest of their days while the rest of the world changed around them.
"And as you know he formulated a plan against Mirkwood that involved capturing its prince to use against his own father into surrendering the kingdom. For my part, I could only convince Maeglin that I was on his side and then strike when his thoughts were completely gone from me. That happened when you spoke with him in the Hall and revealed his true intentions to the Moriquendi." Glorfindel paused here and gave Legolas a smile, "I was surprised to hear that you had figured him out as well, and you had given me an opening to finally try to take down Maeglin. I underestimated the role you would play in this, you far surpassed my expectations."
Legolas took in all that Glorfindel had just told him. Especially the last part. He slowly realized that Glorfindel thought him to be a hero as well, and that thought made the nagging guilt that had been eating inside of him to let up somewhat.
"I could have done so much more," Legolas said quietly.
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. "Like what? None of the lives of your own people were spent. I sadly anticipated that some would die even if I was able to overthrow Maeglin. This turned out far better than I expected, and that is in all thanks to you young prince."
Legolas looked down to the clear pond that sat before them. His mind rapidly went through what Glorfindel just told him, and though he had heard it from his father as well, something inside of his mind finally clicked, and he immediately felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Legolas looked back up at Glorfindel, his eyes brighter than they had been and erased of the pain and anxiety that had been plaguing them. Glorfindel smiled at the change and stood.
"Come," he told Legolas, "go back to the celebration that is busy exalting your name without you."
Legolas stood as well, "Only if you come with me."
Glorfindel nodded and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I had not wished to take any of the attention away from you, but if it is your will I will indeed escort you in."
Legolas smiled and placed his own hand on Glorfindel's shoulder, "It is my will," he said with more sincerity and happiness than he had been feeling for almost a month's time now.
Together, the two elves turned and walked away from the glittering pond and out of the comely garden back to the Grand Hall. This time, Legolas only felt joy at returning to his people and father.
The End
Author's Note Part Deux: Yea, I finally finished the story! I know some of you may not be happy, but I sure as heck am, it's rare that I can even finish a story and I have to thank you all for pushing me to keep me going. I thought of abandoning the story way in the early days, but I'm so glad I didn't!
Anyways, there has been some requests for a sequel. I am sorry to say that I will not be writing a sequel, however..(dramatic pause)...I already have another story in the works and though it is not a sequel persay, it involves plenty of the good stuff like Legolas angst and torture. I will have the first chapter up within a few days and if you wish to look for it it will be entitled, "A Killer in me". So there you are, I hope you really enjoyed my story and if you wish to check it out I hope you will enjoy the next story as much. Once again, thanks to all of you and I will be posting individual remarks to you all in the review section, though it may take me a moment to get it up, I don't want to miss anybody.
Namarie~ (for now) :)
.
Chapter 31
A week's time slowly crawled by, the bulk of which Legolas spent lying down. His leg wound had proven to be more serious than he had anticipated and the healer would not stand for Legolas being up and about. But Legolas could not say he wholly minded the orders too much, he relished the rest.
On the day after both Maeglin and Eirien died, Thranduil had come to Legolas. Legolas was situated comfortably in his bed, his leg cleaned and wrapped thoroughly, and gazing out of the bright window into the well- tended gardens.
Legolas turned his head toward the door when he heard it open and smiled in welcome when he saw his father standing in the doorway. Thranduil stepped into the room and closed the door behind him before coming to sit on the edge of the bed. He was smiling as well and appeared as though a large weight had just been lifted from his shoulders.
"I am very glad to see you home once again," Thranduil said after a moment's silence. Legolas broadened his smile and grabbed onto the hand his father extended toward him. Legolas could just make out the white edging of bandaging that was wrapped around his father's shoulder underneath his tunic, and his smile darkened.
Thranduil caught the slight change in expression and guessed well at its cause. "There is no reason for you to feel any responsibility at all for any of this."
"If I had merely paid more attention to our surroundings when we had gone on that hunting trip," Legolas started but was interrupted by his father.
"Then Maeglin would still be alive and still plotting something, perhaps something that would have turned out even worse. As it was this way, a battle was avoided and many lives spared. You saved a lot of bloodshed my son." Thranudil's voice was clam and soothing and Legolas felt his own mood lift.
They both sat silent for a few moments and Legolas' gaze once again wandered back over to the window. He felt he would never take the sight of the trees outside and the warmth of the sun for granted again.
"How fares Glorfindel?" Legolas suddenly asked quietly.
"Lord Elrond has been attending to him non-stop since the incident. He has pulled through the worst of it and Elrond is hopeful for the best."
Legolas nodded, still looking out of the window. Another question came to him and this time he turned to his father, "Did you know what that powder was?"
Thranduil nodded gravely. "I had only heard tales of it and thought it to be a myth, but from what Lord Elrond has told me, Maeglin made it very much real. It is a mix of dried herbs and crushed plants that are grated very fine. But the most potent ingredient is that of small particles of galvorn that has been mixed in as well. It is the black iron that cuts into your insides once inhaled. It proves to be most effective, as you now know."
"Black iron," Legolas repeated softly. The galvorn was the black metal Legolas had seen so much of when being held by Maeglin. It seemed very fitting, Maeglin's love had been his death.
"And the rest of the Avari?" Legolas asked.
"They left Mirkwood when Glorfindel prompted them to. No word has been heard of them since. Hopefully without a leader they will merely disperse and go back to their original colonies."
"They do not wish to leave Middle-Earth," Legolas said.
Thranudil nodded. "That is why they are called the refusers or unwilling," he shrugged, "it is how they feel and we cannot affect that. We can only wish that if they choose on remaining they can do so peacefully."
Legolas once again turned to the window. He felt as though he had a million more questions to ask, but he held his tongue. He did not particularly feel like speaking at the moment, even to his own father.
Thranduil noted the silence and understood.
He stood lightly off of the bed before reaching down to rest his hand on Legolas' shoulder. He squeezed it lightly as he spoke, "Rest easy my son, Valar knows you deserve it after all you have been put through. Simply remember the worst is all over and you have done the best you could. Few have accomplished what you have, and you will be recognized as a hero at a formal celebration next week when all has settled down."
Thranduil hoped that the news of a celebration specifically for Legolas would brighten his mood, but he was slightly disappointed when Legolas only flashed him a brief smile. Not wishing to disturb his rest any longer than necessary, Thranduil quietly exited the room and softly closed the door on his way out.
Legolas looked over when he heard the door shut. "Glorfindel is more of a hero than I," he commented softly to the empty room before once again turning his bright eyes to the open window.
Thranduil's proclaimed celebration in honor of his son came to take place faster than Legolas anticipated. Indeed time as a whole seemed to pass swifter when one was not confined.
Legolas was dressed in some of the finest clothing he owned, and he almost blanched when he saw himself in the mirror. The outfit resembled that of the one the Moriquendi had mockingly dressed him in with silver coloring.
Legolas closed his eyes and reminded himself that those days were now behind him, they should hold no effect over him any longer. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Legolas walked out of his room and down to the Grand Hall where the feast was to be held.
Elves greeted him as he came out of his room and he was escorted to the Hall. He was to be announced formally when he walked in, everybody else was already there. As Legolas followed his escorts, he thought dismally over why his father chose to have the celebration in the Grand Hall. Of course it was the only room large enough to hold everybody, but considering the circumstances Legolas would have much rather had it held outdoors underneath the trees and stars.
The doors were pushed open for him and Legolas walked in the Grand Hall amidst cheers and applause, yet he hardly heard any of it. The minute the doors were opened his eyes were fixed on the one spot before the platform where both Maeglin and Eirien had fallen. The spot had been immaculately cleaned of course, but Legolas had a distinct feeling that he would never be able to look at it again without seeing the blood of the two elves mixed upon the floor.
Passively, Legolas was marched up straight to the platform where he ascended to stand next to his father and acknowledge the cheering of his people. On the outside, he stood proudly and bowed to the applause like a true prince and hero should, on the inside his mind was elsewhere.
He paused when he spotted Lord Elrond standing with the Noldor elves near the front. They had stayed in order to attend the celebration. Elrond had been in to see to Legolas when he had been resting of course and had administered herbs to his leg wound so that it may heal faster. And Legolas accredited the fact that he could now stand easily upon his leg and without pain to Elrond, and though he was grateful to Elrond and pleased to see him in attendance, Legolas did not see the one he was searching for.
Glorfindel was nowhere in sight.
Elrond had assured him later in the week that Glorfindel had recovered and was as well as he could be, but that he would be leaving Mirkwood soon. Legolas had hoped he would have another chance to speak with Glorfindel before he left, but apparently he had already gone. The fact was disquieting to Legolas.
All throughout the feast Legolas could not concentrate. He smiled and acknowledged those when he should and he even ate the delicious food placed before him where he sat at the head of the table. But he tasted none of it and he did not hear the new tales about his heroic deeds put into song that the minstrels sang.
When the evening was halfway over, Legolas pleaded exhaustion and excused himself and he left the room with the noise of raucous applause following him. It seemed as though his people truly thought him to be a hero, he thought to himself as he walked away. If only they knew of his many failures during his capture, then they would not think him to be so grand.
As he passed out of the Hall, he had every intention of going straight to his room and gaining some rest. Creating a façade of heroism was more draining than he had thought.
Yet as he turned to go to his room, he paused. Making a sudden decision, he reversed his direction and instead walked outside of the palace and into the soft darkness outside. He had not been outside since the night when Eirien had grabbed him from behind.
Legolas walked silently as he made his way to the huge gardens that grew within the borders of Mirkwood. It was a favorite place of his and he knew it would be abandoned as everybody else was still inside, enjoying the festivities that continued.
Legolas paused right before he reached the gardens. The soft sound of singing came to his ears, but it was not of the same type that was going on inside of the Hall. It was a lament, and no sounds of joy or valor could be found within it. Curious, Legolas stepped forward and towards the sound.
He looked to his right, and there seated on a small stone bench before a clear pond was Glorfindel.
Legolas stood respectfully where he was until Glorfindel's song was over. He did not wish to interrupt. When the elf lord ceased his singing, Legolas felt he wanted to say something, but was once again unsure as of what to say. Yet even though Legolas was standing silently behind him and off to the side, Glorfindel looked over his shoulder when his song was completed at Legolas and beckoned him to come closer. Legolas readily complied.
Glorfindel moved a little to the side when Legolas reached him and Legolas sat down gingerly. He felt awed by the close presence of Glorfindel, for he was no longer holding anything back and his aura was almost tangible in its power. Legolas immediately understood that Glorfindel had been working under a huge pretense in order to fool Maeglin.
Glorfindel glanced over at Legolas and smiled faintly. "Maeglin's perception was so sharp he could all but read minds," Glorfindel guessed correctly at the awed look on the younger elf's face, "I had to keep everything tightly withdrawn inside of myself so as not to alert him to what I really had planned."
"And what was your plan all along?" The question was out before Legolas gave himself proper time to think. He felt abashed as soon as he heard himself say it, not sure if the older elf would think it to be disrespectful.
But Glorfindel only smiled again and turned so that he was facing Legolas fully. "I assumed you held many questions. I am sorry I was unable to ever tell you more of what was happening, but as I have said before, Maeglin would have picked up on it. He was especially suspicious after the first night I came to see you, even though I did not tell you anything of import then, and I am most sorry to say that it was his suspicion that led me to betray you back to him. That is the one deed I truly regret, but it was the only way to assuage Maeglin for at least the moment. He was very wary of myself, and I knew he was contemplating killing me before we even reached Mirkwood. If I wished to have any sort of advantage over him, I had to be the first to attack." Glorfindel paused, "Do you understand?"
Legolas nodded slowly. He did understand, and from a strategic standpoint it was the only thing Glorfindel could have done. Yet he still felt he needed the entire story, only then would he be able to trust Glorfindel completely.
Glorfindel read this in Legolas' expression and gave a small nod. "I will tell you the entire story, though it is too lengthy for complete detail."
Glorfindel took a small breath and paused to look up at the bright stars before continuing. "Maeglin first contacted me around fifty years ago. Imagine my surprise when the betrayer of Gondolin asked for my help. At first I could not understand why he would request such a thing, or even how he was still alive. He could not have possibly gone through the Halls of Mandos, for Mandos would have never permitted him to return to Middle- Earth, at least not so soon. So I came to the conclusion that though he had died when Tuor overthrew him, his spirit had remained and with the help of Morgoth with whom he had forged his dark alliance, he was able to return to his body and heal in time.
"Yet I digress from my story. I knew that he knew I had died while slaying the balrog, so I imagined that he thought my memory of my first life had not yet returned to me. He was a very greedy individual and he wished revenge on all those who had wronged him. As it was, I was the only one left from the Fall of Gondolin, so he thought it best to first use me and then betray me again to another death. My assumption of him proved to be correct when I agreed to meet up with him. He is not as sly as he imagines himself to be when blinded by vengeance.
"I knew he still held to his alliance with Morgoth even though Morgoth himself had been overthrown, and I knew that his lack of love for the second-born was what drove his ambitions. When he began to speak of the darkness in Mirkwood and to turn the Avari who had joined with him against the Silvan elves, it did not take me long to guess at his plans. He still longed to rule his own kingdom, and he used the Avari's desire to stay upon Middle-Earth to lead them to believe that if they 'saved' Mirkwood from the Silvan elves who were encouraging the darkness, they could have their own realm to dwell in for the rest of their days while the rest of the world changed around them.
"And as you know he formulated a plan against Mirkwood that involved capturing its prince to use against his own father into surrendering the kingdom. For my part, I could only convince Maeglin that I was on his side and then strike when his thoughts were completely gone from me. That happened when you spoke with him in the Hall and revealed his true intentions to the Moriquendi." Glorfindel paused here and gave Legolas a smile, "I was surprised to hear that you had figured him out as well, and you had given me an opening to finally try to take down Maeglin. I underestimated the role you would play in this, you far surpassed my expectations."
Legolas took in all that Glorfindel had just told him. Especially the last part. He slowly realized that Glorfindel thought him to be a hero as well, and that thought made the nagging guilt that had been eating inside of him to let up somewhat.
"I could have done so much more," Legolas said quietly.
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. "Like what? None of the lives of your own people were spent. I sadly anticipated that some would die even if I was able to overthrow Maeglin. This turned out far better than I expected, and that is in all thanks to you young prince."
Legolas looked down to the clear pond that sat before them. His mind rapidly went through what Glorfindel just told him, and though he had heard it from his father as well, something inside of his mind finally clicked, and he immediately felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Legolas looked back up at Glorfindel, his eyes brighter than they had been and erased of the pain and anxiety that had been plaguing them. Glorfindel smiled at the change and stood.
"Come," he told Legolas, "go back to the celebration that is busy exalting your name without you."
Legolas stood as well, "Only if you come with me."
Glorfindel nodded and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I had not wished to take any of the attention away from you, but if it is your will I will indeed escort you in."
Legolas smiled and placed his own hand on Glorfindel's shoulder, "It is my will," he said with more sincerity and happiness than he had been feeling for almost a month's time now.
Together, the two elves turned and walked away from the glittering pond and out of the comely garden back to the Grand Hall. This time, Legolas only felt joy at returning to his people and father.
The End
Author's Note Part Deux: Yea, I finally finished the story! I know some of you may not be happy, but I sure as heck am, it's rare that I can even finish a story and I have to thank you all for pushing me to keep me going. I thought of abandoning the story way in the early days, but I'm so glad I didn't!
Anyways, there has been some requests for a sequel. I am sorry to say that I will not be writing a sequel, however..(dramatic pause)...I already have another story in the works and though it is not a sequel persay, it involves plenty of the good stuff like Legolas angst and torture. I will have the first chapter up within a few days and if you wish to look for it it will be entitled, "A Killer in me". So there you are, I hope you really enjoyed my story and if you wish to check it out I hope you will enjoy the next story as much. Once again, thanks to all of you and I will be posting individual remarks to you all in the review section, though it may take me a moment to get it up, I don't want to miss anybody.
Namarie~ (for now) :)
.