Chapter 20

The Ending of the Shadow

A/N:: *SIGH*… we're nearing the end of the line here. Usual disclaimers apply and have a wonderful read.

***

Laera shuffled to the base of the hill, stumbling every now and then on the odd upturned root of a weed. She found Legolas's horse grazing quietly near their campsite and it was than that Laera realized that Rhovan had brought her own horse. It was fortunate… since Laera had no idea how she would have travelled home without it.

She walked calmly to where the horse nibbled at the green grass and stroked it's long mane. "You have no idea just how close you were to ending your simple life," sighed Laera to the horse. The horse pricked it's ear at the breath that tickled it and neighed softly as if agreeing.

Mounting the horse, Laera urged the horse forward, towards home.

***

"How many days have passed since Galadriel's departure?" asked Arwen, glancing anxiously out of the window.

"It is the fifth day, Arwen," answered Aragorn softly.

Arwen turned from the window and began to pace the room, wringing her hands in dismay. "Should she not be home by now?"

"Patience, Arwen," soothed Aragorn, taking a glance out of the window himself. "She is a strong girl, as she has proven to us all."

"I know!" said Arwen, falling into a chair. "It is just that I worry."

"You need not. She must be close by now. Soon, her and Legolas will return."

"Galadriel said that Legolas could not be reached, which is why they spoke to Laera. What if something had happened to him?"

"It is best not to think such things. Legolas is a skilled warrior."

Arwen shook her head, as if doubting his words. "She needs me, I know it, Aragorn."

Aragorn raised an eyebrow and knelt at her feet. "And why would she need you?"

"It is just a feeling I have. Like that time I knew she was hurt when Legolas struck her in her eye long ago." Arwen smothered a smile that crept to her lips. "It is the same feeling. Perhaps it is Nimhorn forest that stops her."

"You told me yourself that you gave her the stone."

"I did."

"Then what is it?"

"You must take me to the other side of that forest, Aragorn," Arwen said suddenly, rising quickly out of her chair.

Laughing, Aragorn stood and placed a strong hand on her shoulder. "Arwen, what is it that worries you?"

"I do not know myself, Aragorn. But I must meet her. If you do not take me, I will go myself." To prove her point, Arwen strode quickly to the door before Aragorn could reply. She stopped when he took her hand.

"Of course I will take you, if you are so concerned. I would not want to face Nimhorns after all that she has been through either."

Arwen wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him softly on his rugged cheek. "Thank you."

***

The fifth day of her journey home passed and Laera gave a choked cry of thanks when she saw the green edge of the Nimhorn forest. She hadn't paused to rest at Rhovan's cabin. It was the truth of Legolas's condition that stopped her from visiting. Besides, the lure of her family waiting for her return was too much for her to bear.

She halted the tired horse and dismounted. It struck her that she no longer had Arwen's protective stone. How will she get past? With a cry of frustration, Laera fell to her knees exhausted. Over the tops of the trees, Laera could see the tip of Imladris rising tall against the sky. She was so close and yet so far! Misery quickly overwhelming her, Laera lay on the yellowed grass of the Plain, too weary to think.

Suddenly, a strange sight met her eyes. Emerging from the trees was an angel, lovely and beautiful, perched on a horse. At her side, a handsome knight held the reins, leading the horse in her direction. Blinking furiously, Laera shakily rose and swallowed the painful lump that rose in her throat.

She watched through eyes blurred with tears as the angel alighted from her horse. Through the haze of confusion and exhaustion that enveloped Laera like a cloak, she heard the angel give a choked cry before she gathered her skirts. Laughing, Arwen ran, tripping over the tall grass, to her nearly unrecognisable sister.

Joining in her laughter, Laera rushed to Arwen, her arms outstretched. As she felt her sister's arms about her, Arwen's lips giving repeated little kisses on both her cheeks, Arwen's tears mingling with her own, Laera wondered if she were going to burst with happiness.

"Oh, sister!" wept Arwen. "I was so afraid!"

"There was nothing for you to fear about, sister," wept Laera. "It was not so hard."

"It has only been a fortnight and you appear so strange to me," said Arwen, studying her sister's browned skin and chapped lips. She suddenly noticed another odd difference. "Your hair!"

"My hair…" laughed Laera.

Arwen smiled and brushed a lock of hair from Laera's eyes. "How I have missed you…" she whispered.

"Not a day passed for me that I did not yearn to see your face and the grand halls of Imladris. How alone I have felt!"

"You had Legolas, sister. Surely that was not bad." Arwen's sly smile faded at Laera's face which had suddenly looked as if she knew a great and terrible sadness. It was then that Arwen noticed her sister had returned alone.

"Legolas…? Where has he gone?"

Before Laera could reply, Aragorn approached them. He had watched a few feet away, blinking back tears of his own, letting Laera and Arwen have their moment. He too had noticed the absence of the Mirkwood Prince.

"He did not make it," he realized.

"That is why Galadriel could not reach him…" spoke Arwen.

Amidst her sadness, Laera grasped Arwen's words. "Galadriel! That is how I knew."

"Come, sister," beckoned Arwen, wrapping an arm about her sister's shoulders. "We have much to discuss."

***

Laera's reunion with her family had been very wonderful. But their happiness was quickly tainted with the news of Legolas's fall. After hearing Laera's story, Lord Elrond had sent men to Rhovan's cabin to fetch the Prince and to find out his condition. Laera had wept tears of relief in Arwen's arms when she had received news that he was doing very well. Rhovan's father's herbs and medicines had done wonders and they sent the prince back to Mirkwood to recover with his family.

Becoming accustomed to life at the palace proved a trifle difficult for Laera. The very first day she returned, she slipped on her true clothes to find they hung loose on her thinned body.

On that very day, she meekly made her way to her brother where she returned his clothes.

"I am sorry, Elrohir," said Laera, handing the newly washed tunic to her brother.

"It is quite all right, sister," laughed the tall Elf. "This is Elladen's, not mine."

Laera smiled and the clothes slipped unheeded to the floor. Throwing her arms around her brother's slender neck, she kissed him lightly on his cheek. "It is so good to be home."

***

"Send her in," said Gandalf, propping himself into a sitting position on the bed. A week had passed since Laera's return to Rivendell and he still had not seen her.

The servant bustled to the large door and opened it wide, allowing access into the room for the anxious Elven maid who waited on the other side. Peeking her head in, Laera smiled broadly when she saw Gandalf's cheeks flushed with life and his eyes twinkling the way they used to.

"Good evening, Gandalf," greeted Laera, stepping into the room and pausing at the foot of the bed. "Are you feeling quite well?"

He gave an exaggerated frown and shook his head. "I was, but now I'm quite hurt. Come closer, my girl, and embrace your old friend!"

Laughing, Laera rushed to Gandalf's side and hugged him warmly. "I am so glad!"

"As am I… to see you have returned safely. You are quite a naughty Elf."

"If it were not for my naughtiness you would certainly be dead by now." Laera shuddered at the thought.

"Pluck up, my girl. As you can see I am quite alive. Besides, I would never have died without lecturing you at least one more time." His chuckle died at her saddened face. "You aren't laughing."

"It is not funny." Laera lowered her eyes as two tears slipped down her cheek.

"Now, now." Tenderly, he wiped away her tears. "The danger for many of us is over. Thanks to you, and Legolas."

A few more tears fell upon the cheeks the old wizard had just dried. "Oh, Gandalf. If it were not for me, perhaps Legolas would be here. I was such a trial to him! You will never know how close the mission was to failing all because of my accompanying him."

"I rather doubt that Legolas ever regretted you being there. He will recover, I heard. And you will have a joyous reunion, then I will attend your wonderful wedding."

Despite of her hot blushes, Laera forced a laugh. "A wedding? Can you imagine me the wife of anybody? Why, Legolas nearly killed me at times, I infuriated him so. No, I believe I will just ride away and see the rest of Middle-earth."

"I remember you as children," said Gandalf, looking fondly at Laera. "I could only imagine what arguments you two had. But, Laera, I do not see you seeing the ends of Middle-earth alone."

"You are right, Gandalf. I will drag you along with me." Her laughter died as her sadness returned. Quickly, her eyes lowered and she gazed at her hands. "Besides, even if I did want Legolas to accompany me… maybe even marry me… it does not mean he would. Who would want to marry me?"

"You are a heroine, Laera. A beautiful one at that." Gandalf sighed and settled down amongst the pillows. "But if you won't listen to me, you won't listen to anybody."

Laera brought the covers to the wizard's shoulders and tucked him in. He looked up at her with a smile as she adjusted his pillows. "There was a time you were the one who I tucked into bed. You, your sister and brothers. How you've grown so!"

"Still growing," whispered Laera as she watched the wizard's eyes close.

***

Laera sat in front of her vanity, smoothing down her hair. Was it her imagination or did her hair actually get curlier and more unruly after the hair cut? Biting her lip, she gathered every lock and tied it behind her head. She studied the result in the mirror. She certainly looked far from regal and even farther from refined. But ever since her return, her perspective on beauty had noticeably changed. She found she liked her slightly browned skin and roughened hands. They were a testament to her adventure, her bravery.

She jumped as Arwen burst into the room, breathless. "Oh, Laera!" gasped Arwen, taking a seat on Laera's bed. "Where were you? I have searching everywhere for you!"

"By everywhere, where exactly do you mean? I have been in here for quite a while."

"Well, you know what I mean. But, sister, Gandalf is to do it today! He is going atop the bridge for the purification. It is to start very soon and your presence is mandatory."

Laera smiled and turned back to the mirror. "I do not think I will go, Arwen," said Laera quietly. "…Knowing who will not be there."

Arwen rose from the bed to join her sister. "I understand. And so will father. It will not matter anyway, Laera. It will be a most spectacular show. You will probably see it from your very window."

Laera nodded and smiled up at her sister. "Tell Gandalf I am sorry."

Arwen bent and placed a kiss atop her sister's dark head. "I doubt he will understand as much as I would. It is your moment, Laera. You should be there."

"I should, but I will not. I cannot."

With a sigh, Arwen strode to Laera's door before pausing. "I will tell Aragorn that you are doing better. He has been worrying about you."

"Tell Aragorn I can now probably beat him in an arm wrestle after all I have been through," laughed Laera. She saw the sparkle in Arwen's eyes and slight coloration at the mention of his name. "Have you told father?"

Arwen shook her head and smiled. "No, not yet. I believe he suspects something. Oh, Laera, I am so worried he will disapprove."

Laera rose from her vanity to embrace her older sister. "You need not worry. Father only wants you to be happy, as do I. Are you happy?"

"Hopelessly happy," admitted Arwen, not being able to meet her sister's gaze.

"Then go to the purification at once," ordered Laera, leading Arwen to the door. "He is probably missing you."

Laughing, Arwen gave her sister a final, quick kiss on her cheek before departing. When she was gone, Laera sighed and plodded to the open doors which lead to her balcony. The curtains fluttered lazily in the early autumn breeze like fair ladies-in-waiting on either sides of the doors. Passing through the doors, Laera stepped outside to a world alit with the fire of a slowly setting sun. Her dark eyes gazed hungrily at the beauty that was Rivendell, wondering how in the world could she have wanted to leave it.

After a few moments, she watched as a light, warm and complete with the promise of happier tomorrows shone in the distance. Laera gasped as the light lit up the darkening sky, turning the evening into a spectacular display of fire and fervour. Bright as it was, she found she needn't had to close her eyes from it.

As the light engulfed her and her surroundings, she was filled with a great comfort. When the energy grew stronger, she did not fail to hear an unholy wail from all sides, as if the light were having the opposite effect on an unknown being. As the wail grew stronger, she realized that it was the Shadow that battled with the loving energy of the light that emanated from Gandalf's staff.

For a few terrible moments, it seemed as though the Shadow would win, but Gandalf was just too strong. Soon, Laera could no longer hear the howling and the night was dark once more. It was done.

"Legolas, you should be here," sighed Laera, gripping the edge of the railing. "It should have been our moment of triumph, our moment of victory. What I would not give to have you here with me."

She closed her eyes as the wind, which had slowly grown stronger, pulled at the loose tendrils of hair that framed her face. "Our journey is not over." And as she spoke those words, a smile finally crossed her lips as she realized that it indeed was not.