Chapter Twelve

Legolas lived the next day alone, riding out early in the morning. He took the path he had been taking since he first discovered Rose, and as he came to the tree line he stopped. His heart was holding him back from seeing what he dreaded. His mind was screaming at him as he stood in the woods, starring at the edge of the trees. His horse stomped it's foot impatiently and Legolas finally rode forward, breaking the tree line. He approached the house slowly, barely able to breathe. The ashes were no longer smoking. He passed the human carcasses, standing just before where the steps used to be. There was an Elvin dagger underneath a few of the ashes, still shining bright. He picked it up, seeing Kiyala's name engraved into it. He gripped the dagger and fell to his knees, tears gently falling from his eyes. A warm breeze wrapped around him and comforted him, and he looked heavenward. He shut his eyes, seeing Rose's smiling face. As the image disappeared, he walked to the beach. He lied in the sand, hearing the ocean play before him. He shut his eyes, clearing his mind and eventually drifting into a soft sleep.

Rose approached him slowly in a white Elvin dress, a soft smile on her face. She sat beside Legolas, gently running a finger down his cheek. He opened his eyes, looking at her.

"It seems I will be the one watching you from now on." She said quietly.

"We should not have had to watch one another from the beginning." Legolas said, touching her hand and pressing it against his face. She gently shushed him, touching his lips.

"Do not trouble your mind with those worries. Remember what we had." She said.

"It is not fair." He whispered.

"Nothing is fair, Legolas." She said. "We walk the course of our lives with snarls and tears in the way. It is up to us to overcome them and live on."

"I will never overcome this pain. It saddens me to no end that I have lost my only love. I will never forget it." He said, touching her face.

"I am not asking you to forget me." She said. "I am asking you to live you're life with a smile."

"I cannot smile if you are not beside me." He said. She smiled, and gently touched his heart.

"I am no longer beside you, because I am inside of you."

Legolas awoke with a start, reaching out for her. His hands were outstretched to the sun as it left the sky, disappearing into the ocean. He slowly lowered his hands, touching his cheek where her hand had been. He slowly rose to his feet and mounted his horse; taking one final look at the house that had once been Rose's, and that had brought her back to the dangers of the human world. Without a sound he rode back through the woods, making it to Rivendell as the sky fell into complete darkness. He went to his room, gathering his sword and his own dagger, placing Rose's underneath his bed. Arwen stood by the door, watching him.

"Where are you going, Legolas?"

"Do not worry your mind with my actions." Legolas said, not looking at her. He threw his arrows in their case over his back, and hung his bow from his side. Arwen starred at him intensely.

"You are going to kill that man." She said.

"I told him I would." Legolas said. "Rose told him I would."

"Legolas, seeking revenge will not soothe your aching heart." Arwen begged, walking with him down the hall. "Stay here, I am begging you." She had to practically run to keep up with him. He mounted his horse, looking at her for the first time.

"I will not be able to rest until this is finished." He said, and took off into the woods. Arwen watched him go, and then ran back into the house. Elrond was kneeling in front of Kiyala's statue, his eyes shut. She stopped in front of him and he looked up, rising when he saw her troubled face.

"What is wrong, my daughter?" He asked.

"Legolas has ridden to town." She said, and from her eyes Elrond knew the rest of Legolas' plans. Elrond left the house quickly, mounting a horse and leaving the city and galloping towards the town of the humans. Arwen ran to a balcony, watching Elrond take off through the woods as a look of worry spread through her face and over her heart.

Brendan lied asleep in his bed until he heard a floorboard creak. His eyes flew open, and his body froze. He heard nothing more for several moments, but he could feel the presence.

"Who's there?" He called out into the dark. Legolas stepped into the moonlight with his cloak over his head, his eyes hard. Brendan sat up, recognizing him. Legolas took off the hood, and Brendan pressed against the wall frozen in fear once again. "You're a…" He stuttered.

"Rose spoke to you as the light of her life faded." Legolas said. "She spoke to you in Elfish, but in your mind you know what she said."

"I am not ready to die." He whispered, terrified. Legolas drew his bow.

"Neither was she." He said, aiming. A look of fury was in his eyes, and he starred at Brendan's terrified face.

"Legolas!" Another voice called from the shadows, and Legolas spun around, his bow still raised. Elrond stepped into view, his hands visible. "Think of what you are about to do."

"I know what I am about to do." Legolas said, turning back to Brendan and aiming at his throat again.

"You think having this revenge will cure your worries?" He asked. "After him, who will be next? The fury of revenge never dies."

"He will be the end." Legolas said.

"You know that is not true." Elrond said, stepping towards Legolas. "This is not going to mend your heart."

"Nothing will. Rose spoke of his death."

"She spoke of his suffering. She did not speak of you killing him; she spoke of you haunting him, as you have done. He will suffer more realizing what he has done more with a full life than he ever will if you kill him now." Legolas still starred down the arrow at Brendan, who was beginning to tremble as beads of sweat formed on his brow. Legolas lowered the bow, looking away and breathing heavily. Elrond approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Come, Legolas." He said softly. "Forget of the humans."

When he awoke the next morning, the sun was shining brightly upon his face. He opened his eyes, and saw a small bird perched on the bed frame, overtop of the pillow Rose had used. The bird flew to the window and Legolas sat up, following it over. Once Legolas was standing at the window, the bird flapped its wings and took flight, flying up and towards the heavens. Legolas watched it go, and with the light sparkling in his eyes, he allowed himself to smile.

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