Author's Note: I much prefer writing angsty pieces to action adventure or any other genre. This story is more along the lines of my previous personal favorites of my own work, Fight the Fall and Keeping to the Road, but is not related to either.
Elvish is in italics and comes from many sources. They are The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, the website councilofelrond.com and The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth by Ruth S. Noel. I've never really tried to speak elvish, so if there are any inaccuracies here, they are my own mistakes. (Feel free to correct me, but please give me sources so I can learn as much as I can about Elvish.)
Legolas' family history is my own invention. Forgive me if the history I invented doesn't quite match your own. For the record, I've made him the youngest of five children. I know this is unusually large for an elven family, but I theorized that, living in the darkest of elven realms, perhaps the Mirkwood elves would be more inclined to have large families to be sure some of their number survived. Speculation, I know, but so little is known about Legolas' family history anyway, and it worked for this story.
Legolas' mother I haven't named. He refers to her as Naneth (elvish for mother). His oldest sibling would have been a sister, Lindëriel (The name means singing maiden.), but she died in an orc attack. Shortly thereafter, Legolas' mother succumbed to grief and both mother and daughter are in the Halls of Mandos.
The rest of the siblings are:
Oldest Brother: Aglarelen (a name I made up which means Brilliant star or something.)
Second Oldest: Oropherin (Another made up name meaning Remembrance of Oropher.)
Third Oldest: Tarmathalion (Again, made up. Means Pillar of strength.)
I think that's everything. This story also assumes a close friendship between Legolas and Aragorn.
DISCLAIMER: JRR Tolkien, The Tolkien Family, New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Phillipa Boyens own this stuff. I don't. I am only borrowing the universe because it's so much fun! I am making no money from this.
Please read and review. Please
Undying Lands part 1 by Ecri
Aglarelen looked around himself at the beauty of Imladris and was glad he'd taken the time to stop and see it again. Legolas had insisted on coming with him, of course, but in truth, Aglarelen didn't mind the company. His father had argued the point insisting Legolas should be shielded from this, but Aglarelen had been equally insistent. He recalled that day very well.
Flashback
King Thranduil sat back on his throne trying to control his wayward emotions. He had suspected this day would come last year when Oropherin and Tarmathalion had made their announcement to sail to Valinor. They'd announced it at dinner one evening. Thranduil and his four sons were enjoying a fine repast and trading stories of the day's events. It was a pleasant enough day marked mostly by the astonishing fact that they had all gotten along so well and had each remarked that they hadn't enjoyed each other's company so much in decades.
That, of course, was when Oropherin had cleared his throat and, with an encouraging look from Tarmathalion had announced that their good spirits had given him courage to make his announcement. "I am leaving for Valinor by the end of the week." Gasps of astonishment had met his words, though not from Tarmathalion. Thranduil's third son had then announced his own intention to accompany Oropherin to the Undying Lands.
Aglarelen sat in astonishment. "Do not speak of Sailing to the West yet! Why make the journey now?"
Oropherin shook his head at his older brother. He had known this would be hard for Aglarelen, for the two had been close in their younger years. "The sea-longing can be denied for only so long, and mine was awakened some time ago."
Tarmathalion spoke softly. "I have denied it myself for some years. I fear I cannot any longer."
Thranduil leaned forward his eyes boring into his sons' eyes. "I will not try to stop you, for I understand the sea-longing should be answered as soon as events permit." He sighed heavily, and for a moment he seemed older than even his innumerable years. "I will not say this news does not grieve me. I shall miss you both terribly."
One elf had not spoken. One brother dared not raise his eyes from his plate. Thranduil looked to his youngest and saw, though he sat farthest from his father's seat, that one muscle in Legolas' smooth cheek twitched and his hands were flat on the table, fingers spread and rigid. His other three sons turned to follow his gaze, and the silence must have weighed heavy on the young elf, for he slowly looked up.
The anguish in his eyes was deep as was the confusion. He opened his mouth as though to speak, but seemed to find no words. Instead he launched himself from his seat and hurled himself at his brother, clinging tightly to him. Finding his voice at last, he whispered, in a tone that broke the hearts of all present. "Oh, Oropherin!"
Oropherin whispered in his brother's ear in Elvish, though none but Legolas could hear his words. Rocking his brother slightly as though he were a newborn, he spared a glance to Tarmathalion. Thoughts unspoken were conveyed in some other way and Thranduil's third son rose from his seat and made his way to the pair.
Legolas felt Tarmathalion's hand upon his back and shuddered once, but moved, reaching out for him. Oropherin smoothly transferred his youngest brother's embrace to Tarmathalion and watched as the older elf was left to whisper soothingly to the younger elf.
For days afterward, Legolas followed the pair around hanging on their every word, rushing to do for them whatever they asked and begging at every turn for them to reconsider.
Thranduil did not want a repeat of the situation now, as Aglarelen privately informed him of his desire to follow his brothers.
"Why now, Aglarelen?' Why sail now? Legolas has barely adjusted to the absence of your brothers. He will not understand." Thranduil did not add that his own heart felt like it was breaking from the news.
"Ada, I am sorry. I wish I could deny it for longer, but I cannot."
"And how is it three of my sons had the sea longing yet never told their father?"
Aglarelen turned away for a moment, but out of respect for his father, returned his attention to Thranduil. "Ada, I have hidden it for years to keep our last days as perfect as I could. If I, or if Tarmathalion or Oropherin, had revealed the sea longing, you and Legolas would both have known our days together grew short."
Thranduil sat back against the throne seeing the logic in his son's words. "This will make Legolas my soul heir."
"Unless you both come with me." Aglarelen spoke the words softly as though he thought the words themselves might shatter if he did not treat them with care.
Thranduil sighed. "I am afraid that cannot happen. I will stay until the darkness is turned away from Greenwood. I would not abandon my people to its taint. As for Legolas, we both know why he remains." A shadow crossed his face. He had grown to accept Legolas' friendship with the human called Estel, Lord Elrond's adopted son, but he had done so reluctantly and grudgingly. He knew Estel, or rather, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, was a good man, and that he loved Legolas in his own way. It was Estel's humanity that haunted Thranduil, for he knew that once the man passed on, Legolas would be devastated.
There was little point in worrying over that devastation when a much closer one loomed on his youngest son's horizon.
"Adar, I would stay until you and Legolas decide to leave, but"
"Nay, my son. You should leave without delay. I will not be made to worry that both you and Legolas will give in to madness!"
Relief and dread flooded through the Crown Prince as he considered his nest task. Telling Legolas. "I would like to take Legolas with me for a short time so I may take my leave of him."
Thranduil hesitated. "I do not think that is a wise idea. To bring him to the Havens"
"He need not come all the way to the Havens, Ada! I would merely like to bring him part of the way so that I may have some pleasant memories of my final days in Middle-earth." Aglarelen had not decided when he would tell his brother what he planned, but he knew he would not tell him at the start of the trip. When he was halfway to the Havens, perhaps then he would tell Legolas and send him back to Mirkwood.
Thranduil was still not pleased. "Nay, Aglarelen! I do not wish you to do this! Take your leave of him now. Do not delay and do not torment him with the idea that you are but on another adventure when you know full well you plan to allow him to return home alone."
"Not alone, Adar! I will stop first in Rivendell and take my leave of Lord Elrond. Estel will come with us, I am sure!"
Thranduil had agreed only because Legolas had entered the throne room then, and Aglarelen had put the idea of a trip to Imladris into his mind.
Agalrelen had done his best to ignore his father's disapproving stare as he had spoken to his brother making plans for the trip to Imladris. Privately, before their departure, Aglarelen had said a tearful final farewell to his father, and then to his closest friends. His father would make a formal announcement about his departure for the Havens after he and Legolas had gone. Thranduil had only reluctantly acquiesced to Aglarelen's desire not to tell Legolas yet. The Crown Prince did not know if it was the right thing to do, yet he wanted to have time alone with his brother without the sorrow of his departure festering in Legolas' heart.
End Flashback
Now sitting in the gardens of Imladris, he knew he had to explain himself to Lord Elrond and formally ask the Lord's permission to bring Estel at least halfway to the Havens so that he could escort Legolas home again.
Rising from his seat among the trees and flowering plants, Aglarelen made his way to Elrond's library. A soft knock elicited the expected invitation to enter, and Agalrelen did so, finding Elrond sitting by the light of the open window reading a heavy tome.
He bowed slightly in respect to the Lord of Imladris.
"Do not stand on ceremony, Aglarelen! Have a seat." Elrond gestured for a comfortable looking chair across from his own, and set his book aside.
Aglarelen sat and searched for the proper way to broach the subject weighing on his mind.
Elrond, however, saved him from further contemplation. "I have sensed that you bear a heavy burden, Aglarelen. Tell me what troubles you? Perhaps here in Imladris we can ease your pain."
Aglarelen looked gratefully into Elrond's eyes. "Hannon le, Hir Elrond, but there is nothing that can be done for me." He watched as Lord Elrond frowned, leaning forward in his seat. He sighed allowing the heaviness of his heart to color the sound. "I have known you all my life, My Lord, but it is only the deep friendship between my youngest brother and your youngest son that has given us the chance to grow close. It may be presumptuous of me but I have long considered you a dear friend." (Thank you Lord Elrond.)
Elrond smiled. "Not at all presumptuous. I, too, have long considered you a friend." He raised an eyebrow in concern. "Now, mellonin, tell me what troubles you."
Aglarelen took a deep breath and words tumbled from him. "I have come to take my leave of you, Hirnin. I am answering the call of the sea longing." (My Lord)
Elrond's face fell. "Surely not!" He cried in surprise. Unbidden, his mind cast back to the arrival of the Princes of Mirkwood. Aglarelen had seemed cheerful, yet melancholy, but this was not uncommon either for Aglarelen or for other elves. Legolas, on the other hand had seemed happy. His cheerful greeting of Elrond and his three sons had not been touched by the sorrow Elrond knew he would feel ifrealization hit him.
"Legolas does not know."
Aglarelen looked away, but nodded. "Nay. I had not the heart to tell him." He turned sorrowful eyes on Elrond. "His grief will be great. I had hoped you might allow Estel at least to accompany us for a short time. I wanted to give my brother a last happy memory of our travels together before" He trailed off and finished the thought in the silence of his mind. Before I shatter his world. "Lord Elrond, I know not if this is the best course, but it is the only thing I am capable of doing. If Estel could accompany us"
Elrond laid a hand on the agitated prince. "Of course Estel will go with you. If you like Elladan and Elrohir can likely also be persuaded to go." In truth, Elrond himself wished to go, but felt it might be better if he allowed his sons to handle this. They would bring the young elf back to Imladris when they were through with their goodbyes and he would then have a chance to gage whether or not Legolas would give in to grief.
Aglarelen considered the offer. Legolas was close to each of Elrond's sons, and perhaps being among the three brothers, himself again making a fourth, would ease his pain at losing three brothers to Valinor. "Thank you, Lord Elrond. I think that would do Legolas no end of good."
Elrond smiled sadly at the elf. "The sea longing is a difficult thing to deny, Aglarelen. Do not let regret or guilt at the thought of leaving mar this time with your brother."
Aglarelen nodded, smiling genuinely for the first time since he'd left Mirkwood.
To Be Continued
