The Agarylnaer
Chapter 7
Three days had passed and Legolas still hadn´t moved an eyelid. His body was
a ghostly white and the last fragment of light had faded from his face.
Thranduil and Gandalf were still at his bedside. The three Elves, who were
very close to Thranduil, had gone out. They couldn´t bear to see the
Mirkwood Lord in such a state.
Now it was Legolas´ best friend, Celebalph, who was also at his bedside,
waiting but not fully understanding what was happening.
Unexpectedly, Thranduil stood up and said, in a clear but strong voice:
"Please, leave me alone with my son."
Mithrandir and Celebalph looked at each other, they didn´t want to leave the
desolate Lord of Mirkwood alone, at a time when he needed his friends the
most, when he needed someone to rely on.
"Out! Both of you!" Thranduil didn´t even face them as he spoke. His eyes
were fixed on Legolas. They both walked out and slowly closed the door
without a sound.
"Why does he want to remain alone with him?" asked the young Celebalph, who
wasn´t very familiar with mortality and death.
"He´s gathering his thoughts, he probably still can´t face what is
happening. Legolas is dying, Celebalph! Dying! So I guess he´s going to talk
with his son for the last time..." Gandalf's head sank down in defeat, his
long gray hair falling forward to shade his face, like a veil of grief.
Back in the bedroom, Thranduil was stroking his son´s hair.
"My little Legolas..." he sighed heavily, "I told you thousands of times not
to go too far on your own. Why didn´t you listen to me? If only you had
never gone into that forest and never met Elros, you would have lived in
health and joy for eternity, as befits an Elf. Oh, why must you leave me
also? Your brother´s death was so hard. Don't make me go through this again.
You can´t do this to me Legolas! You can´t..."
The last word was lost in a sob as he leaned forward and kissed the cold
hand he was firmly holding. Thranduil´s body was shaken with sobs and
whimpers as an endless flood of tears fell from his sorrow-dimmed eyes.
He stayed like this and cried for many hours, until, when all his strength
and hope were gone, the Lord of Mirkwood felt a movement in his hands.
His head snapped up and he slowly released Legolas´ death-pale hand,
watching it intently for any sign of movement.
"Legolas? Legolas! Can you hear me?"
No answer.
"I am losing my mind! I must stop this! I was just dreaming," he said sadly
to himself. He took Legolas' hand in his and gave it a small squeeze.
He felt the hand twitch beneath his. Legolas had moved! He was sure of it
now!
"He´s moving! He´s alive!" he shouted.
Mithrandir and two Elves ran in, nearly tripping over each other. They all
gathered around the bed. And finally, Legolas slowly opened his eyes.
"My son! Legolas! How do you feel? Are you all right? Oh! Thank you
Ilúvatar! You´re alive! A huge party will be thrown tonight! All the Elves
in Mirkwood will dance and sing till dawn!" shouted Thranduil in reckless
joy, hugging his son with all the love a father could give a son. It had
worked! Legolas was back to normal.
"Ada! I...I can´t see! Where are you?!"
Thranduil´s happiness was dashed in an instant. He looked worriedly at
Legolas and waved a hand in front of his son's eyes.
"He´s...blind!"
"No Ada, I can see... a little, only a little. Everything is blurred!"
Thranduil was panicking, though he did everything to hide it, so his son
wouldn't see (feel?) his fear.
"Now everyone, calm down!" shouted Gandalf, as the other Elves had begun to
chatter excitedly among themselves. So, this is but a side effect. It will
fade away and Legolas will be able to see a little more every minute. Now I
think we should let him rest for a while."
Everyone nodded and was about to leave when Celebalph ran in.
"I heard...Legolas! You finally woke up!"
He hugged his best friend, and grinned.
"I knew you couldn´t die! After all, you´re an Elf!"
"Heu...Celebalph, we should leave him to rest now."
The young Elf turned toward Mithrandir and agreed.
"Yes, you´re right. Oh, and Legolas, don´t forget, I´m still going to take
my revenge!"
The Elf smiled, remembering the game they had played a few days ago. It also
made him think of something else...
"Ada! Please, one more thing..."
"Whatever you want!"
"Will you send a messenger to Imladris, asking Elrond to come here as fast
as possible?" Legolas asked, dreading his father's answer.
"I can´t believe you´re still thinking of Elros! After what he did to you?
Legolas, I don´t think it´s a good idea!"
But Thranduil´s heart trembled when he saw Legolas´ look of disappointment.
"Very well, I will ask Elrond to come."
It wasn´t Thranduil´s habit to indulge his son´s every whim, but after what
Legolas had been through, it was the least he could do. He just hoped Elros
wouldn´t cause any more trouble.
"Thank you, Ada!"
"Rest now, Legolas."
And with a last look at Legolas, they all left the room.
One of the fastest eagles from Mirkwood had been sent to Imladris, and
Thranduil hoped Elrond wouldn´t be long in coming.
Meanwhile, Legolas was sleeping most of the time. Sometimes waking up in the
middle of the night, wondering what time and what day it was.
When he wasn´t sleeping, he was often with Celebalph. They talked for hours
and hours, their conversations and reminiscences a balm to Legolas' spirit.
Legolas was recovering slowly and his eyesight had much improved. He could
now see better than any human, but not as well as an Elf. Thankfully, there
seemed to be no other side effects.
One sunny afternoon, Legolas was awakened by the sound of laughter outside
his bedroom. He quickly got dressed in a dark green outfit and went down the
stairs. He was happily surprised to find Lord Elrond, the twins Elrohir and
Elladan, and his father, all smiling at him.
"Mae govannen everyone!"
"Ah, Legolas, how do you feel?" Thranduil walked up to him and took his son
in his arms.
"And when is the party?" asked Legolas with a smile, referring to
Thranduil´s bedside comment of many days ago.
The Mirkwood Lord grinned, "You decide, but for now, we have other matters
to discuss: Elros."
Elrond shivered when he heard his brother´s name. His long dead brother...
at least that´s what he had thought for thousands of years. He had been very
saddened by his brother´s death, but he thought he had *chosen* to be human!
This was a great shock for Elrond. He found it hard to believe he was going
to see his brother after so many years! And now, worst of all, Elros was a
Vampire!
"Father, I must go find him, or else he will never come!"
"You´re not going anywhere after what just happened! You will go nowhere
without an escort from now on!" Thranduil said firmly.
"But..."
"There are no 'buts'! You do what I say Legolas! This is not the time to act
like a child!
The young Elf lowered his gaze respectfully.
"Now go rest in your room, you still look tired."
Legolas withdrew without a sound. The twins looked at each other and
followed him, leaving Elrond and Thranduil together.
Elladan and Elrohir knocked on the Prince´s door.
"Uh...Come in," Legolas said uncertainly.
They walked in just as Legolas rose from hiding his bow under his bed.
"You don´t have to hide, we know you´re going after him." said Elrohir
casually, as if it were obvious.
"So we thought we might come with you. You never know what could happen, or
when an extra bow or sword might be needed." said Elladan, not even leaving
Legolas the time to answer. "Come on then, get ready!"
Legolas´ only answer was a grin, these two were really...unique!
The End (TBC)
Chapter 7
Three days had passed and Legolas still hadn´t moved an eyelid. His body was
a ghostly white and the last fragment of light had faded from his face.
Thranduil and Gandalf were still at his bedside. The three Elves, who were
very close to Thranduil, had gone out. They couldn´t bear to see the
Mirkwood Lord in such a state.
Now it was Legolas´ best friend, Celebalph, who was also at his bedside,
waiting but not fully understanding what was happening.
Unexpectedly, Thranduil stood up and said, in a clear but strong voice:
"Please, leave me alone with my son."
Mithrandir and Celebalph looked at each other, they didn´t want to leave the
desolate Lord of Mirkwood alone, at a time when he needed his friends the
most, when he needed someone to rely on.
"Out! Both of you!" Thranduil didn´t even face them as he spoke. His eyes
were fixed on Legolas. They both walked out and slowly closed the door
without a sound.
"Why does he want to remain alone with him?" asked the young Celebalph, who
wasn´t very familiar with mortality and death.
"He´s gathering his thoughts, he probably still can´t face what is
happening. Legolas is dying, Celebalph! Dying! So I guess he´s going to talk
with his son for the last time..." Gandalf's head sank down in defeat, his
long gray hair falling forward to shade his face, like a veil of grief.
Back in the bedroom, Thranduil was stroking his son´s hair.
"My little Legolas..." he sighed heavily, "I told you thousands of times not
to go too far on your own. Why didn´t you listen to me? If only you had
never gone into that forest and never met Elros, you would have lived in
health and joy for eternity, as befits an Elf. Oh, why must you leave me
also? Your brother´s death was so hard. Don't make me go through this again.
You can´t do this to me Legolas! You can´t..."
The last word was lost in a sob as he leaned forward and kissed the cold
hand he was firmly holding. Thranduil´s body was shaken with sobs and
whimpers as an endless flood of tears fell from his sorrow-dimmed eyes.
He stayed like this and cried for many hours, until, when all his strength
and hope were gone, the Lord of Mirkwood felt a movement in his hands.
His head snapped up and he slowly released Legolas´ death-pale hand,
watching it intently for any sign of movement.
"Legolas? Legolas! Can you hear me?"
No answer.
"I am losing my mind! I must stop this! I was just dreaming," he said sadly
to himself. He took Legolas' hand in his and gave it a small squeeze.
He felt the hand twitch beneath his. Legolas had moved! He was sure of it
now!
"He´s moving! He´s alive!" he shouted.
Mithrandir and two Elves ran in, nearly tripping over each other. They all
gathered around the bed. And finally, Legolas slowly opened his eyes.
"My son! Legolas! How do you feel? Are you all right? Oh! Thank you
Ilúvatar! You´re alive! A huge party will be thrown tonight! All the Elves
in Mirkwood will dance and sing till dawn!" shouted Thranduil in reckless
joy, hugging his son with all the love a father could give a son. It had
worked! Legolas was back to normal.
"Ada! I...I can´t see! Where are you?!"
Thranduil´s happiness was dashed in an instant. He looked worriedly at
Legolas and waved a hand in front of his son's eyes.
"He´s...blind!"
"No Ada, I can see... a little, only a little. Everything is blurred!"
Thranduil was panicking, though he did everything to hide it, so his son
wouldn't see (feel?) his fear.
"Now everyone, calm down!" shouted Gandalf, as the other Elves had begun to
chatter excitedly among themselves. So, this is but a side effect. It will
fade away and Legolas will be able to see a little more every minute. Now I
think we should let him rest for a while."
Everyone nodded and was about to leave when Celebalph ran in.
"I heard...Legolas! You finally woke up!"
He hugged his best friend, and grinned.
"I knew you couldn´t die! After all, you´re an Elf!"
"Heu...Celebalph, we should leave him to rest now."
The young Elf turned toward Mithrandir and agreed.
"Yes, you´re right. Oh, and Legolas, don´t forget, I´m still going to take
my revenge!"
The Elf smiled, remembering the game they had played a few days ago. It also
made him think of something else...
"Ada! Please, one more thing..."
"Whatever you want!"
"Will you send a messenger to Imladris, asking Elrond to come here as fast
as possible?" Legolas asked, dreading his father's answer.
"I can´t believe you´re still thinking of Elros! After what he did to you?
Legolas, I don´t think it´s a good idea!"
But Thranduil´s heart trembled when he saw Legolas´ look of disappointment.
"Very well, I will ask Elrond to come."
It wasn´t Thranduil´s habit to indulge his son´s every whim, but after what
Legolas had been through, it was the least he could do. He just hoped Elros
wouldn´t cause any more trouble.
"Thank you, Ada!"
"Rest now, Legolas."
And with a last look at Legolas, they all left the room.
One of the fastest eagles from Mirkwood had been sent to Imladris, and
Thranduil hoped Elrond wouldn´t be long in coming.
Meanwhile, Legolas was sleeping most of the time. Sometimes waking up in the
middle of the night, wondering what time and what day it was.
When he wasn´t sleeping, he was often with Celebalph. They talked for hours
and hours, their conversations and reminiscences a balm to Legolas' spirit.
Legolas was recovering slowly and his eyesight had much improved. He could
now see better than any human, but not as well as an Elf. Thankfully, there
seemed to be no other side effects.
One sunny afternoon, Legolas was awakened by the sound of laughter outside
his bedroom. He quickly got dressed in a dark green outfit and went down the
stairs. He was happily surprised to find Lord Elrond, the twins Elrohir and
Elladan, and his father, all smiling at him.
"Mae govannen everyone!"
"Ah, Legolas, how do you feel?" Thranduil walked up to him and took his son
in his arms.
"And when is the party?" asked Legolas with a smile, referring to
Thranduil´s bedside comment of many days ago.
The Mirkwood Lord grinned, "You decide, but for now, we have other matters
to discuss: Elros."
Elrond shivered when he heard his brother´s name. His long dead brother...
at least that´s what he had thought for thousands of years. He had been very
saddened by his brother´s death, but he thought he had *chosen* to be human!
This was a great shock for Elrond. He found it hard to believe he was going
to see his brother after so many years! And now, worst of all, Elros was a
Vampire!
"Father, I must go find him, or else he will never come!"
"You´re not going anywhere after what just happened! You will go nowhere
without an escort from now on!" Thranduil said firmly.
"But..."
"There are no 'buts'! You do what I say Legolas! This is not the time to act
like a child!
The young Elf lowered his gaze respectfully.
"Now go rest in your room, you still look tired."
Legolas withdrew without a sound. The twins looked at each other and
followed him, leaving Elrond and Thranduil together.
Elladan and Elrohir knocked on the Prince´s door.
"Uh...Come in," Legolas said uncertainly.
They walked in just as Legolas rose from hiding his bow under his bed.
"You don´t have to hide, we know you´re going after him." said Elrohir
casually, as if it were obvious.
"So we thought we might come with you. You never know what could happen, or
when an extra bow or sword might be needed." said Elladan, not even leaving
Legolas the time to answer. "Come on then, get ready!"
Legolas´ only answer was a grin, these two were really...unique!
The End (TBC)