Title: Chapter Two: The Farewell Letter

Author: Nefertili

Author's Notes: Okay, 2 out of 4! Thanks for waiting; sorry for all the errors in Chap. 1. ^_^' The songs used here are the following: Stay (by Carol Banawa, if you know her) and an adaptation from Passenger Seat (by Stephen Speaks). Warning, please understand that the main characters are rather 'dazed in the mind' in this episode, so don't think of them as emotional or OA. Still no flames allowed, O.K.? Baskets of thanks to Saqqara who helped me with the Elvish words I used here!J

**********

Aragorn awoke from his dreamless sleep. However, he, after retiring that night, he just stared at the grand ceilings of his room for like an eternity before drifting into an uneasy slumber, waking up several times that night.

Aragorn tossed the delicate silk blanket around him and tried to get back to sleep, but he found out it was impossible to him. He stood up and stared at the sky outside his window. He opened the glass shutters to breathe the cold morning air. The hour was early, the Earendil (Morning Star) was still in its vigil up the heavens, brighter than he had ever seen before. The eastern corner of the soundless universe had been painted with a rosy, golden glow that chased away the light of the full moon. The sun will soon rise and begin a new day.

Aragorn slowly went out of his enclosed chamber and strolled out of the mansion to the garden. He walked as though in a trance, as if some kind of unseen force was pulling him to the spot where he and Legolas talked that evening, under the shade of the sturdy weeping willow trees whose gently drooping branches were nearly touching the mossy crystal stones beneath them. He kept going over Legolas' words that were engraved in his heart, and will remain in there for all eternity.

"Aragorn, this love will lead us to nowhere…It feels better if love will cause us to make new life…My heart sincerely hopes the niphredil will remind you of me…I will never forget you, Aragorn, I loved no one but you."

Along with it, he had in his mind that he could still feel Legolas' supple, golden hair and his smooth, delicate complexion beneath his fingers; and most of all, see his silver-blue eyes that seemed to have captured the light of the stars in them…those eyes that he first saw shed tears that lonely evening.

Aragorn eyed all the scenic highlights that were softly echoing the melodies of triumph about him without truly seeing the beauty in them. All that he saw are the images he had of the Prince of Mirkwood he had in his thoughts. He thought of all the times they had spent together, from their meeting in the Great Council to their parting which happened so recently that he could recount each word they exchanged with their fine meaning.

After some expressionless time of eying all the wonders of nature that lay about him, a soft rustle of fallen leaves suddenly came up from behind him. Aragorn would have dismissed it for a mere gust of wind if not there were sounds of faint footfalls. He looked behind him to see who was approaching and saw an Elf in a hooded cloak that stood out from all the surroundings.

"Legolas?" Aragorn muttered even before he was aware that he was speaking.

"What, King Elessar?" the Elf asked in a bewildered voice. A smooth hand went out of the cloak and pulled down the hood that covered his face…but it was not a he, it was a woman; Arwen Evenstar, daughter of Lord Elrond. "I am Arwen. Clearly, you shouldn't jump to conclusions right away. Well, good morning, Elessar."

Amidst her positive greeting, her face still had the look of disappointment that had stayed in her pale face since Aragorn had called off their wedding several days ago. Aragorn, however, simply nodded in reply with an expression of dazed dismay and kept on his sullen face.

Arwen tried to call off her irritability towards the heir of Isildur's dreary attitude. "The dawn's magnificent, isn't it? Much more beautiful than before, evidently. Nature seems to celebrate Sauron's defeat as well. Is that why you are here, to watch the glory of the sunrise?"

Deep inside him, Aragorn wished she would just depart from him and not mind what he was thinking or doing. He was there, peacefully reflecting on some distressing things and annoying no one; and out come an Elf; and Arwen at that, to disturb him.

"Yes," he replied emptily. He didn't even try to conceal his irritation from the Evenstar of the Elves.

Arwen wasn't able to keep her feelings at bay much longer. Apparently, her patience had thinned the past days and it became rather unsafe for anyone to aggravate her when her mood was beyond normal. "Look," she said sardonically. "The day's just beginning to awake from her slumber. I want to begin it with lifted spirits, and here you are, frowning and destroying my mood." Her face expression then softened. "Elessar, if your spirits are miserable, you must do something about it, rather than pine and fret and make others share your depression. That is a very undesirable attitude, especially to a King."

Aragorn, however, paid no heed to what Arwen told him. "If you came here to reprimand me for this peculiar attitude of mine, well, I am sorry. You have no idea what this King Elessar is coming through. Leave me then, if I annoy you. No one's making you stay, Lady Arwen. And besides, it is you who walked in here and destroyed your mood rather than me walking in on you and destroyed your-''

Arwen's eyes blazed. She raised her hand with fury as if to slap Aragorn on the face. Her hand was only a few inches from Aragorn's face when she stopped and sighed. Aragorn stared at her just the same, unflinching and steady, as though daring her to continue it.

"All right, have your way, Your Majesty," Arwen whispered under her breath frigidly. "I am not going to trouble you any further." She rolled her eyes away from him and pushed her dark locks behind her pointed ears. She became rather cold to everyone under her father's domain, be it Lord Elrond or the lowest servant the past days due to her tremendous displeasure towards Aragorn and what he declared to her people. Without a doubt, she had just tried, and failed to revitalize her bright and pleasant self. She brought her hood over her head and turned away from Aragorn.

Excellent, Aragorn thought as he turned to face the dawn again.

"By the way, Elessar…"

Aragorn reeled again behind him and faced Arwen with a look of great frustration. "What is it now?"

Arwen sighed and threw him a piece of folded paper. Her expression, however, was really fuming amidst her calm proceedings. "From Legolas. He asked me to give it to you. If not for my consideration for a kinsman and my conscience, I wouldn't have done it or even accepted it." She walked away with her nose in the air.

Aragorn's face contorted into a frown. He sighed and looked at the piece of fragile paper. He with the greatest care, unfolded it. "I have a very unpleasant feeling that Arwen opened this beforehand. If Arwen's not the daughter of Elrond Peredhel, whom I owe my life to, I would have done something to her for attempting to-'' He stopped to read what Legolas had written. It turned out to be a short letter written under the pressure of time. Short, it may be, but Aragorn had all of himself completely undone to what the words meant.

Farewell, Aragorn. I will never forget thee.

I don't know how I will say this to you,

  so I thought of writing it.

But I just can't find the right words…

Aragorn, amin mela lle.

 

                        -Legolas

Amin mela lle in Elvish, I love you, in Common Tongue. For Aragorn, that was what he was longing to hear from Legolas. The words mattered so much to him, no matter how simple. He noticed that some of the words, including Legolas' signature, was rather smudged. He gently ran his fingers over it, and he felt dampness.

My beloved, Aragorn thought, did your tears fall while your hand was writing this farewell?

Out of a sudden, a great light burst forth from the mountains, so bright that Aragorn had to shield his eyes; making shadows in the mist that cloaked the mountains. It was the light emitted by the sun once it rises above the peaks of the Misty Mountains.

Just then, a dreading truth struck him like lightning, as fast as the glories of the mountain light touched him. Legolas wrote his farewell…he meant his words that he was leaving.

I can't be too late, Aragorn thought as he ran in his fastest speed to search for Legolas, in case he had not gone far. Legolas, you're probably just going out of Rivendell by this time…Legolas, why are you doing this? Doing this to yourself, doing this to me? 

Aragorn spotted King Elrond walking down the steps that led to the gardens of Rivendell to take his morning stroll just as he dashed out of the tall willow trees that shaded his place of refuge.

"Lord Elrond," he said breathlessly. "Please, tell me…where is Legolas? It-er, seems he has forgotten something and I have come to give it to him." He chose to hide his true purpose in searching for the Prince of Mirkwood.

Elrond looked at Elessar with a baffled expression. "Why is the newly-crowned King of Gondor in such a hurry? Is the matter really that important? Legolas couldn't have left something of great value behind, especially now that he is about to leave us. You were too late, I am sorry. He just

left-''

"Thank you," Aragorn immediately said to end the dialogue. He hurried out of Elrond's House, hardly caring what or who he bumped against or nearly ran over. He didn't even say a proper apology to Elrond when he accidentally pushed him aside in his haste. Everything that lay around him seemed to vanish in a swirl of dark colors the way an artist mixes his paints, and all were blurred and indistinct. The only thing that remained clear in his vision is Legolas, though only in his imagination; the Prince of Mirkwood whom he loved with all his heart.

          I want you to stay,

Never go away from me,

          Stay forever…

Aragorn set his foot outside Elrond's House, frantically searching all the places that his eyes can see for any sign of an Elf walking away from Rivendell, walking away from him. He heard someone calling out his beloved's name in a strident voice that echoed clearly against the mountain range.

"Legolas! Legolas!"

He realized that it was coming from his own throat; unknown to him, he wept as he called on Legolas. Tears were running down his weather-beaten face as he crossed the bridge that leads out of Rivendell, searching in vain for his Elf-love.

          But now, now that you're gone,

          All I can do is pray for you,

          To be here beside me again.

**********

Legolas strolled out of the bridge of Rivendell, taking his time in savoring all the beauty that were scattered all over the fine-looking valley. He looked back at him and saw the grand dwelling of Elrond and the waterfall that lay beside it which sang hymns and songs that ordinary ears couldn't comprehend or understand. He was never going to see it again. He also knew Aragorn was still inside the mansion.

I wonder how he is now, Legolas thought, I hope Arwen gives him my farewell unblemished and unread.

Legolas was miserable yet grateful at the same time at the thought of leaving his only love without saying goodbye straight from his lips. Miserable, of course, because he was leaving someone he loved above the rest without him even seeing and hearing him speak for one last time. But he was grateful that Aragorn was not there to bid him farewell. Legolas had taken care of the matter by writing to him a note of farewell, though he wrote hastily in order to let go of his thoughts and calm his mind right then and there that the words turned out rather disorganized; he even shed a few tears to let go of the pain that stabbed him deep inside. He was anxious that if he saw his beloved, he would turn back from his journey knowing that he shouldn't.

         

          And now, I must move on,

          Trying to forget all the memories

          Of you near me…

Oh well, at least I have a memory of Estel. Legolas held the Elven dagger, Aragorn's farewell present to him, affectionately. He ran his fingers over the hilt and sheath, which were adorned with various designs and motifs he couldn't decipher from which Elvish race it was passed down. How well he knew he will remember Aragorn with this; Aragorn, the courageous warrior who led them to overcome the Dark Lord and be crowned as the new King of Gondor afterwards.

          But I can't let go of your love

          That has taught me to hold on.

The Elven Prince sighed and continued on his way. There was no sound heard in the valley but the roaring and singing of the waterfall of Rivendell. He looked up and felt the gentle rays of the morning sun that just rose a few minutes ago. He longed to watch the dawn, but his preparations for his departure prevented him from doing so.

He felt and breathed the fresh mountain air deeply. He whispered to himself, "This is my last time in this dale. The last time I am going to feel the sun's rays from here, the last time I am going to breathe the wind of the valley with the scent of its trees."

Abruptly, the silence of the surroundings was shattered by a piercing voice which called out the name of the Prince of Mirkwood repeatedly.

"Legolas, please; come back! Legolas!"

Legolas need not turn back to see who it was. He knew it was Aragorn, not only by the keen sense of hearing that was bestowed upon his race, but also by the indissoluble bond that had formed between him and the son of Arathorn. Undeniably, not a few moments later, Aragorn came running towards the bridge that spans out from the realm of Imladris. He was rapidly looking about him, apparently searching for Legolas, his cries bouncing off the slopes of the Misty Mountains.      

       

For a split second, Legolas thought he had been spotted, but Aragorn continued to call out his name and gaze around the place. The Elf found out what he must bring to action.  

              

Legolas looked about him in panic for a place to hide from view, and his eye caught sight of massive boulders that littered the side of the path. Quicker than a flash, he leaped behind one particularly hefty stone and waited; his heart banging against his rib cage that his chest hurt.

"Legolas, did you not say we were meant to be? That you will never go away from me?"

The voice of the King of Gondor was nearer by this time. Legolas closed his eyes and put his hands over his ears to deaden all the words that came into his ears. Don't allow yourself to be seen, Legolas, don't give in…

He dreaded that Aragorn will look behind the rocks and find the Elf crouching amongst them, but his cries were replaced by…it sounded like soft weeping…and just behind his rock.

Legolas could not help but sneak a quick look at Aragorn, for his concern for the Man still in his heart. He cautiously peered from behind the huge white boulder and his heart softened at what his eyes saw.

Aragorn was leaning against the stone that had concealed Legolas; his head was hunched, his hands were covering his face with his hair strewn about…and from the gaps of his fingers trickled tears. So haggard did he look that Legolas was so moved with pity that he was tempted to rush out of his hiding place, place his arms around Aragorn and have him out of his miserable state.

But if I reveal myself…Legolas pondered himself. When he made the decision to finally divulge himself, several people were rushing out of the House of Elrond, right at them!

Legolas shrank back into his place of escape as Aragorn quickly wiped his tears and stood tall and erect in order to hide all his emotions beneath his outside appearance from Elrond and his daughter Arwen.

"Elessar!" Elrond alleged as they came to Aragorn's side. He stared, bewildered at how the heir of Gondor looked. He was smiling weakly, but his face seemed to go blank and expressionless and his grey eyes looked deadened and they stared at empty space. "'What happened?"

This time, Arwen spoke up; her face looked rather hurt and upset. "I know it, Father. It was Legolas, Estel loves him!"

"What?" Elrond asked, his face frowning slightly. "What made my daughter say so?" 

Arwen did not waste her time in explaining all the proofs she found out. "Well, that's why Estel cancelled our wedding, because he loves another, because he loves Legolas! I read it in Legolas' letter-''

Legolas' face burned as hot blood rushed up to his face. Why had he ever trusted Arwen!? What humiliation will he receive because of her?

However, Elrond was the first one to contradict Arwen. "Arwen, did you read the letter just to find these things out? Well, I am not pleased; you should have respected Aragorn's and Legolas' rights. You shouldn't have brought to light what should be kept hidden."

Legolas then heard a sound like a sharp slap pierce the air, followed by a shriek which belonged to Arwen.

"What did you do that for, Elessar? Don't you have any respect left for me?" she said with tears in the eyes.

"He has the right to get mad," came Elrond's unyielding voice. "After what you did, you must know that others deserve respect as well."

Then came Aragorn's voice, his tone was resolute and balanced amidst Arwen's soft sobs. "I am leaving."

"Leaving?" Elrond said, taken aback. "Where?"

"For Minas Tirith."

"Are you not going to go after Legolas? He only left a while ago; he could not have gone that far, you can still draw near him."

"No, I think not. He told me the last favor I can do for him is to let him go. I don't deny his wishes."

"But, Elessar, you love him, don't you?"

To this question, Aragorn did not reply. He cleanly said, "I will prepare for my departure, Lord Elrond."

After a long pause, Elrond said, "Very well. You will be able to leave in no time."

Legolas listened until their footsteps sounded distant. When he was sure it was safe for him to leave, he stole a look above the stone to find Aragorn being led back to Rivendell. He knew it was his chance to dash away, but he stayed transfixed and in a trancelike state. He did not shed any more tears, he knew he had done enough, but guilt then began to gash his conscience; guilt for causing such heartbreak to his beloved. He knew only too well that his very own kin could die of heartbreak, but how come, how come…how come he had to cause one on a Man, and his beloved, at that? Now, what happened to Aragorn? Had he truly turned his back on Legolas?

          Why did you have to leave me?

          When you said that love will conquer all?

          Why did you have to leave me?

          When you said that dreaming was as good as reality?

         

          I want you to stay,

          Never go away from me,

          Stay forever…

**********

"It was a pleasure to have you here, King Elessar," Elrond said as all of Rivendell said bid farewell to Aragorns.

"Thank you," Aragorn said with a forced smile. He didn't look as terrible as he did a few moments earlier, but his eyes were still cheerless and deadened.

Legolas watched him walk away from behind his protective rock. He was accompanied by two guards who were assigned to go with the King, who was riding a beautiful brown stallion. When he was a good expanse away, Legolas finally stepped out, following Aragorn from a safe distance. He did not really understand why he was doing it, he just felt, he just wished to see Aragorn for one last time, even if he couldn't gaze at his face.

Legolas kept on following Aragorn secretly until the path divided. Aragorn took the path that leads down the mountain and back to Minas Tirith. Legolas knew this would be the end. He had to take the other path which leads over the Misty Mountains in order to get to Mirkwood, his place of birth.

Legolas paused, poised at the division and observed his beloved walk away from him without looking back. Legolas smiled as a breath of mountain breeze made its way around them, making his hair flow and dazzle in the sun. He touched his lips with his fingertips and sent his flying kiss to Aragorn.

Filled with fulfillment, he turned back to walk the other road, but he found it very difficult to do so. Legolas slowly lost the smile on his face and looked at Aragorn for one last time. He was about to be enveloped by the thick foliage of the trees that grew along the road.

I look at him and I have to smile,

As he goes traveling for a while,

His hair blowing in the gentle breezes of the mountain,

As he goes I see the sun,

Watch her glow into his eyes,

In the light of the morning.

Legolas immediately turned and ran up the other path without looking back. He knew that if he stayed a moment longer, he would have, right then and there, turned back and never made it back to Mirkwood.

**********

Aragorn paused for a while.

"Anything wrong, Your Majesty?" one of his guards asked him.

"No," Aragorn replied, "just give me a moment, please."

They were nearly at the foot of the Misty Mountains. He knew very well that Mirkwood was only at the other side of the range that separated him and his beloved Legolas. Aragorn would have turned back right then and there to climb up the mountain and search for Legolas in Thranduil's realm, but there were some things that held him back.

One was Legolas, himself. "If there is one last favor you can do for me, please let me go." It was that favor he wished hem to do that made them separate, in the first place. That is what he wished.

Second was that he was beginning to believe that what Legolas told him was true. "Our love will lead us to nowhere…Your race is beginning to diminish yet I could do nothing." Was his mind clouded that much that he fell in love with an Elven Prince? Really, love is at its deepest, too difficult to understand by Mortal Men's limited minds.

Aragorn took one last look at the mountains enclosed in thick mist. He touched his lips with the tips of his fingers and sent a flying kiss to Legolas; wherever he might be, no mountain can stop him.

"Goodbye, Legolas," Aragorn whispered. He felt the wind move about him. "Wind, please send my message to him, please tell him that I love him. Legolas, I hope you will never forget me because I will cherish you in my mind, always."

As I watch the mountains high,

Oh I see him and I sigh,

How I longed to prove I love him,

Then the sun peeks from the clouds,

In my heart that beats out loud,

"Son of Thranduil, I love you!"

He reread Legolas' farewell letter. He had tucked the niphredil Legolas had given him in its folds; it still looked pure and white, just as Legolas had been.

"I gave you my dagger, may it remind you that I will always protect you at all costs, my Legolas." Aragorn continued on their journey in order to drive off the puzzled and confused looks from his guards.

Unknown to the two lovers, they sung the same chorus; Legolas in the steep mountains overlooking the Forest of Mirkwood and Aragorn in the plain that lay at the foot of the Misty Mountains.

And I have got all that I need,

Right here in this ancient path,

Oh, and I can't keep my eyes on the road,

Knowing that I'm longing for him.

**********

Reflections

Of Aragorn

Oh, Legolas, did you really abandon me? If I were one of his kind, an Elf like him, I would have died of heartbreak the moment I read his farewell. But I will never count it against him, I still love him. I am pleased he cares for my people, especially for my race, but why does he have to leave? It's no better than turning a deaf ear to the pleas of the ones needing care and help.

I am not entirely convinced, but it seems I am beginning to believe that I should let Legolas and our love go. I don't really understand if my reason is heartbreak or madness, but did I stray in the wrong path when I loved an Elven Prince? We lose control of our emotions when we are in love, I know; and I really can't help but fall in love with him.

Until now, I have not given up hope that Legolas will come back to me again. I will never stop hoping, even if all hope had faded. I know he can't live without me. If Legolas only knew, I will always be ready to hold him in my arms forevermore. I will not fall in love again, for I have found true love in him.   

Of Legolas

What have I done? I will never forgive myself for hurting my beloved so much. The way he shed his tears and called for me, oh, I will never drive that image from my mind. If he ever sees me again, will he still forgive me and love me? I know he will, he will always accept me…or was that some thing of the past?

I was sorely tempted to go with Aragorn, but I know very well what that means. I would be turning my back on my own people. Though I never considered myself different from anyone else with my being a Prince, I know Father wouldn't have wanted me to go without even saying farewell.

Really, the way we act when we stray in the path of love. I would have indeed allowed myself to be carried away by that flowing current, but my footsteps towards immortality tell me there's no turning back now.

Oh Aragorn, I love you, I really will never forget you. Will you still be open to me when I turn back the very last minute? I know, and I hope, you would be.  

*Finis*

So, what do you think? Will Legolas turn back or will he leave Aragorn forever? Wait for the next chapter for you to know!