Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places
thereof.
Zelda123: Thanks! And quite right you are.
Alyssa-Anime-Angel: Thanks, and I think I understand about crying. Hope to hear from you soon!
Erhothwen: Picturing Gimli in a cheerleading outfit. . .many laughs! Highly disturbing! And as for Legolas and Aragorn in cheerleading outfits. . .as Matt (a boy at school) says, "Delicious!"
Eveyen: Thanks. It hardly seems to matter my age, anyway, but how old did you think I was?
MorothewolfGod: Okay!
The Wanderer: The book entitled "The Wanderer" by Sharon Creech. That's coincidental!
ElvenPrincessofLegolas: Right. . .makes mental note. . .uh-oh, my mental post-it is losing it's stickiness! Burns Megan's reminder into brain. . .yeah, Ardana's a b*tch. You can't deny it, she is! Sl*tty Elven wh*re. . .sorry, that was going a bit far. It's actually quite fun to read, even if they do keep being f*cky at the end of chapters.
Reginabean: Well, if you aren't responsible tell who ever is that giant ears are MONKEYS!! That was random. . .
Tadriena of Mirkwood: Yes, the silly Eldar and Edan are finally snapping out of their weird lack-of-self-esteem phases! Thank you for your prayers-- faith in humanity is as good as faith in any deity, for me. Yes, I am thirteen, but in a few months I'll be fourteen. Thanks!
Soulsearcher-arbariel: That is precisely the reason I used Legolas for these stories! He is so powerful, so. . .admirable. Does that make sense? That is an interesting idea. . .the sequel will probably be largely based on the films. Thank you. And friends really do matter. Mine are my life, also.
Tini-Angel: Thank you. It is good to know that you are above your suffering. More strength to you for it.
Earendilstar: Thanks! I am not dealing as well as I should like. Yesterday I sliced my leg in two places. But thank you for your words of strength and kindness. (Yeah, why does my age always surprise people like that?)
939597: Everyone has problems, although some hide them so much it seems not so. You are certainly welcome, and thanks to you as well.
SilverSpirit: Well, he is Numenorean. They age slower, in a way. . .he will live to be 210! Which speech? The only think I "borrowed" was Gimli's line, "you have no corner on suffering", as stated at the start of the chapter. No, not a psychiatrist--my great-aunt is, though! Yup, that is precisely why Legolas was eleven.
Lady-Daine: Thank you for your strong, kind, and philosophical words. It means much to me that there are people out there who are not frightened by such an idea as masochism.
S: You are welcome, and thanks to you as well. My friends, as far as I can see, are more of a gift than any ever granted. It is grievous that we must be so parted.
Angel of the Elves: They feel they cannot stop, but they can. It is hard, harder than many other things, in fact harder than most other things, but it can be done. Stand by them. Support them. And thank you.
JavaGalxy: It seems I have. Aw, no, The Lady does not approve of violence, being all Elf-ly as she is.
Ola: Thanks!
Estelle Yavetil: Thank you, and thank you for admitting that--it takes real guts (courage, if you prefer). Try hard for others and especially for yourself. Be strong.
Tbiris: I love that poem!! A metaphor is a comparison using is. For example "Legolas is an anteater". He is not literally, but that metaphor means that he is like one. He's not, but it's the first thing that came to mind.
ZeroCool: That's just it: being King worries him so much that Aragorn acts irrationally. He is unsure of himself and thus unable to deal well. But don't worry. He'll learn.
Torture-the-Elf: Thanks. I'll read your fic when I can--I don't have a lot of online time.
Jessica Greenleaf: Cut was. . .a good book, but I found it to be not incredibly accurate. Not all (or most) hospitals are like that, and not all cutters are, either. Thanks!
*****
"We apologize for our inability to accompany you," Elladan said.
"We have a few errands to finish up first," Elrohir added, "but perhaps we shall not be parted for long after all?"
"With hope," Aragorn said. The Lothlorien farewells were being said for Elladan and Elrohir, who had stolen a few moments to speak alone with their friend and brother. At Aragorn's comment the twins smiled.
"Yes, Estel, you conceited monkey," Elladan teased. Aragorn laughed and attempted to imitate a monkey's face. Elladan nearly split his sides. "You look like a goose!"
"Honk," Aragorn protested. "Very much honking!" Elladan and Aragorn stayed by themselves for a while, satisfied to make a few rather dirty jokes about geese and each other. Elrohir and Legolas drew away from them to speak of more serious matters.
"I know you hate to talk about it, but he may ask questions," Elrohir told Legolas. "Now that he knows, it would be wrong not to answer his inquiries."
"And this I will do," Legolas replied, "with borrowed strength and will."
Elrohir gently placed a reassuring hand on Legolas's shoulder. "I have faith in you, mellon-nin."
"And well placed," Legolas said. "Perhaps you underestimate your brother, though. He is no child."
"Aye, yet you travel with four companions which, by my observation, are not unlike young Estel--mind you, by this I mean when he was a young boy," Elrohir pointed out. Both thought of the hobbits.
"They do not know, Elrohir," Legolas reminded him.
"And you plan not to tell them?"
These words struck Legolas, and for a time he was quiet. Slowly he wandered away to a pond where he could sit and see himself. In the water he saw a younger Elf, his sleeves longer than his arms, his hair in dirty clumps, and his face worn with toils of inner struggle. Elrohir came, and stood behind his friend. In the water Elrohir saw himself younger, pulling his arm back and throwing something to the center of the lake. But that was a different lake, and both of those boys were many years gone.
"Come, Legolas," Elrohir said, offering his friend a hand. "In my absence, look to Aragorn, for in my influence he has developed as strong an understanding as possible through empathy. You will trust him, won't you?"
"Oh, Elrohir," Legolas sighed, embracing his friend, "you worry far too much for me. I am grown."
"Aye," Elrohir placated, "'tis only love, comrade."
"Aye."
*****
"Estel, solemnity for a moment, if you would grant it? Legolas is in your hands now. I trust that you will not disappoint me," Elrohir said.
"I will do my best," Aragorn promised.
"See to it that you do."
Then as the Elven twins, the two sons of Elrond, left the forest of Lothlorien, Aragorn and Legolas stood by each other in mutual sorrow, and deeply regretted their leaving. "But come," said Legolas, the first to rouse himself from reverie, "we have yet each other."
"And always will," Aragorn added. The two put each an arm around the other's shoulders, and as they had so often as young ones silently dared the world to stand in their way, one last time.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The sequel is up! Yay! If you liked this story, Nightly Gleams the Blade is now up.
Zelda123: Thanks! And quite right you are.
Alyssa-Anime-Angel: Thanks, and I think I understand about crying. Hope to hear from you soon!
Erhothwen: Picturing Gimli in a cheerleading outfit. . .many laughs! Highly disturbing! And as for Legolas and Aragorn in cheerleading outfits. . .as Matt (a boy at school) says, "Delicious!"
Eveyen: Thanks. It hardly seems to matter my age, anyway, but how old did you think I was?
MorothewolfGod: Okay!
The Wanderer: The book entitled "The Wanderer" by Sharon Creech. That's coincidental!
ElvenPrincessofLegolas: Right. . .makes mental note. . .uh-oh, my mental post-it is losing it's stickiness! Burns Megan's reminder into brain. . .yeah, Ardana's a b*tch. You can't deny it, she is! Sl*tty Elven wh*re. . .sorry, that was going a bit far. It's actually quite fun to read, even if they do keep being f*cky at the end of chapters.
Reginabean: Well, if you aren't responsible tell who ever is that giant ears are MONKEYS!! That was random. . .
Tadriena of Mirkwood: Yes, the silly Eldar and Edan are finally snapping out of their weird lack-of-self-esteem phases! Thank you for your prayers-- faith in humanity is as good as faith in any deity, for me. Yes, I am thirteen, but in a few months I'll be fourteen. Thanks!
Soulsearcher-arbariel: That is precisely the reason I used Legolas for these stories! He is so powerful, so. . .admirable. Does that make sense? That is an interesting idea. . .the sequel will probably be largely based on the films. Thank you. And friends really do matter. Mine are my life, also.
Tini-Angel: Thank you. It is good to know that you are above your suffering. More strength to you for it.
Earendilstar: Thanks! I am not dealing as well as I should like. Yesterday I sliced my leg in two places. But thank you for your words of strength and kindness. (Yeah, why does my age always surprise people like that?)
939597: Everyone has problems, although some hide them so much it seems not so. You are certainly welcome, and thanks to you as well.
SilverSpirit: Well, he is Numenorean. They age slower, in a way. . .he will live to be 210! Which speech? The only think I "borrowed" was Gimli's line, "you have no corner on suffering", as stated at the start of the chapter. No, not a psychiatrist--my great-aunt is, though! Yup, that is precisely why Legolas was eleven.
Lady-Daine: Thank you for your strong, kind, and philosophical words. It means much to me that there are people out there who are not frightened by such an idea as masochism.
S: You are welcome, and thanks to you as well. My friends, as far as I can see, are more of a gift than any ever granted. It is grievous that we must be so parted.
Angel of the Elves: They feel they cannot stop, but they can. It is hard, harder than many other things, in fact harder than most other things, but it can be done. Stand by them. Support them. And thank you.
JavaGalxy: It seems I have. Aw, no, The Lady does not approve of violence, being all Elf-ly as she is.
Ola: Thanks!
Estelle Yavetil: Thank you, and thank you for admitting that--it takes real guts (courage, if you prefer). Try hard for others and especially for yourself. Be strong.
Tbiris: I love that poem!! A metaphor is a comparison using is. For example "Legolas is an anteater". He is not literally, but that metaphor means that he is like one. He's not, but it's the first thing that came to mind.
ZeroCool: That's just it: being King worries him so much that Aragorn acts irrationally. He is unsure of himself and thus unable to deal well. But don't worry. He'll learn.
Torture-the-Elf: Thanks. I'll read your fic when I can--I don't have a lot of online time.
Jessica Greenleaf: Cut was. . .a good book, but I found it to be not incredibly accurate. Not all (or most) hospitals are like that, and not all cutters are, either. Thanks!
*****
"We apologize for our inability to accompany you," Elladan said.
"We have a few errands to finish up first," Elrohir added, "but perhaps we shall not be parted for long after all?"
"With hope," Aragorn said. The Lothlorien farewells were being said for Elladan and Elrohir, who had stolen a few moments to speak alone with their friend and brother. At Aragorn's comment the twins smiled.
"Yes, Estel, you conceited monkey," Elladan teased. Aragorn laughed and attempted to imitate a monkey's face. Elladan nearly split his sides. "You look like a goose!"
"Honk," Aragorn protested. "Very much honking!" Elladan and Aragorn stayed by themselves for a while, satisfied to make a few rather dirty jokes about geese and each other. Elrohir and Legolas drew away from them to speak of more serious matters.
"I know you hate to talk about it, but he may ask questions," Elrohir told Legolas. "Now that he knows, it would be wrong not to answer his inquiries."
"And this I will do," Legolas replied, "with borrowed strength and will."
Elrohir gently placed a reassuring hand on Legolas's shoulder. "I have faith in you, mellon-nin."
"And well placed," Legolas said. "Perhaps you underestimate your brother, though. He is no child."
"Aye, yet you travel with four companions which, by my observation, are not unlike young Estel--mind you, by this I mean when he was a young boy," Elrohir pointed out. Both thought of the hobbits.
"They do not know, Elrohir," Legolas reminded him.
"And you plan not to tell them?"
These words struck Legolas, and for a time he was quiet. Slowly he wandered away to a pond where he could sit and see himself. In the water he saw a younger Elf, his sleeves longer than his arms, his hair in dirty clumps, and his face worn with toils of inner struggle. Elrohir came, and stood behind his friend. In the water Elrohir saw himself younger, pulling his arm back and throwing something to the center of the lake. But that was a different lake, and both of those boys were many years gone.
"Come, Legolas," Elrohir said, offering his friend a hand. "In my absence, look to Aragorn, for in my influence he has developed as strong an understanding as possible through empathy. You will trust him, won't you?"
"Oh, Elrohir," Legolas sighed, embracing his friend, "you worry far too much for me. I am grown."
"Aye," Elrohir placated, "'tis only love, comrade."
"Aye."
*****
"Estel, solemnity for a moment, if you would grant it? Legolas is in your hands now. I trust that you will not disappoint me," Elrohir said.
"I will do my best," Aragorn promised.
"See to it that you do."
Then as the Elven twins, the two sons of Elrond, left the forest of Lothlorien, Aragorn and Legolas stood by each other in mutual sorrow, and deeply regretted their leaving. "But come," said Legolas, the first to rouse himself from reverie, "we have yet each other."
"And always will," Aragorn added. The two put each an arm around the other's shoulders, and as they had so often as young ones silently dared the world to stand in their way, one last time.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The sequel is up! Yay! If you liked this story, Nightly Gleams the Blade is now up.