Please r/r and enjoy!
Legolas looked down the whole time he was led roughly around. He felt burning shame and bitter failure. It was as if he was watching from a distance as he was shoved into a small, dirty room. Others were in here, but they, like he, seemed unreal.
"Why are you in here, honey?" A soft, motherly voice snapped Legolas out of his trance. Just the motherly voice was enough to make Legolas feel young, feel like crying to someone stronger than him.
Warriors aren't really the strongest. Legolas thought. We are just the best at hiding emotions.
He looked up miserably into a pair of warm, gray eyes. " I-" his voice was hoarse, not at all the voice that had sung joyously only weeks earlier. " I was captured during a war. I am Legolas." Ordinarily he would introduce himself as prince, but today seemed different.
"That's how many begin. Strong men come, but these monsters do horrible things. Handsome ones, should be falling in love..."
Legolas looked at the woman well for the first time. She was silver- haired, softly wrinkled. She was not an elf. The woman realized the curiosity in his eyes. "Yes," she said. "I am of the race of Man... that's why I hate to see the warriors come here. I know that I am old and soon, it'll be my time to leave. But I've done well. I've raised a lovely family."
Legolas was uncomprehending. The words 'death' really didn't mean much to him. "It must be terrible," He whispered. "To know that you have such a short time."
The old woman smiled gently, sadly. "A short time it is. But that what makes it wonderful, not terrible. Years upon thousands of years - one grows weary, in this imperfect place. There is no reason to be kind, because there will always be tomorrow. For me, I never know what tomorrow will bring. My husband is gone, but I know he is a wonderful place. A mortal life is a gift. Full of joy, of sadness... Oh, I'm sorry, my dear, I must have nearly talked you to death."
Legolas shook his head. "No, not at all. But do you know an elven maiden by the name of Sarie?"
"Oh, yes, a dear girl she is, bless her heart."
"Can - can you tell her something for me?" Legolas took a deep breath, knowing what would come next would not be easy.
"Of course."
" Can you tell her to be strong for me? That I love her- with all my being. That I want her to be happy. Tell her that life is precious, that immortality is not a sure thing. Tell her that whatever happens, wherever I am after - after this, that I am thinking of her, that my only regret is a life we could not share." Legolas felt the tears in his eyes, but this time did not feign strength.
The mortal woman took him into her arms, stroking his hair, whispering, "There, there. I will give her your message, in three days." She held him at an arm's length. "Otherwise you may deliver it yourself."
A red sun rose over Middle Earth that day, battles were fought and the heavens wept as blood was shed and hearts broken as loved ones were lost.
Legolas watched the sunrise through a grimy window. The others in the room, all frightened persons of all the races. The elves, although dirty, gave an almost visible glow of pride. Dwarves, also proud. Various others, all with the same aura of pride. But the men were different. They, looking young, managed to appear valiant in the stubborn way of their race. Their faces were wrinkled by smiles, and emotions ran rampant in their eyes. Legolas felt a new respect for them, and managed a smile when the guards came.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Legolas felt strong and clear. Last night had been cleansing, and he felt as if he could face whatever arose that day. He looked out the windows as they passed, loving all he saw. He felt regrets deep inside - one of the most unexpected and deepest being that he had not lived to have children. He would be gone, but perhaps the blood would live on, somehow.
He was tied to a pole, and looked up, wishing that he knew what lay beyond the world he was in. Men - they went to the Song, but he, having expected Valinor, had no idea.
The torturers entered, and despite his strength, Legolas felt a coldness run through him. He closed his eyes.
Harsh voices ran over him, yet silence he kept. Lashes hit his body, tore his clothes, claimed his blood, yet he did not cry out. He gasped at the pain, he bit his lip until it, too, bled. The told him stories of horror, they made him watch others as they died. One elf, engulfed by flames, cried out, begged, yelled at the heavens for help that would not come. Legolas saw his family in that warrior, burning, dying, saw Sarie.
Countless others. Poisons were drunk, and a strong dwarf writhed in pain as the slow poison killed him from the inside out. A human, tears mixing with blood as knifes cut shallowly into his skin. Legolas felt sick. He had certainly seen death, but never like this.
Legolas felt overwhelmed when the torturers turned to him. They pressed rods against his chest, and white-hot pain shocked him. It was growing dark...
Legolas saw a white figure atop a white horse. The horse was magnificent, proud and strong. The figure turned to him with deep, blue- gray eyes. The whispers surrounded him, 'Let my strength keep you.' The pain was far away, all he wanted was for it to be over. The figure removed its hood to reveal beautiful dark hair, not black, but a deep brown that teemed with life.
It's Sarie, Legolas thought.
The world was far away, the pain nearly gone and the light growing brighter.
Sarie came to him. ' It is not yet your time. Life is a gift, you taught me that. Fight for it, it is worth fighting for.'
'You must forgive me, I am not strong enough, my love.' Legolas responded.
'But you are. I know this. Strength of the heart is something they do not expect. The others, they have given up, their will is broken. You are different.'
'I'm so sorry.'
'No, Legolas, you are the one I love. Our souls are entwined in the mysteries no science can explain. My strength is yours.'
The images faded, and Legolas cried out. The pain had returned. The face he saw was not Sarie's. The eyes he looked into did not love.
What was strange was that the eyes were not dead like the others Legolas had looked into before. They looked almost sympathetic, and the guard they belonged to was a younger one. Legolas looked away.
Thoughts were swirling in his head. Everything hurt, so bad. He couldn't think straight for all the pain. Legolas took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself and clear his mind. Fatigue lurked in every crevice of his body, but somehow the dreams he has just experienced brought him out of the trap of self-pity.
"Legolas, prince of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, king of the Woodland Realm, is hereby sentenced to death for the betrayal of our just nation. This betrayal occurred in refusing to divulge enemy tactics and locations..."
Legolas nearly laughed aloud at the irony of it. He noted that the ropes bounding his wrists were loose. False hopes, Legolas smirked. Probably fixed it this way to break my spirit to the very end. A big escape like the ones we hear about in the stories, impossible.
Legolas listened as his crimes were listed, seemingly endlessly. A frantic corner of his mind searched for an escape. If he were to grab a single sword, there would be arrows flying at him from all directions.
Whips began to tear at what shreds of clothing he had left, then at his skin. He did not cry out, he did not give them the satisfaction. He saw the frightened eyes that looked on, watched the valiant prince fall. If only, by this act, I could save them. They are all brave, they do not deserve this, Legolas thought. All conscious thoughts were leaving him...
Oh, Sarie, forgive me, my strength was not enough, let the prince fall.
Suddenly the room fell silent. Legolas barely perceived this, barely noticed when they did not whip him. Though floating in an out of consciousness, he saw the troops, saw the magnificent uniforms that made his country proud. As he gave in to the velvety darkness that was beckoning, the tortured were slain and the righteous set free.
Sarie was dirty, bleeding, and weary, and the bow and arrow were heavy in her hand, as too worry was heavy in her heart. The searches for Legolas were fruitless, bodies lay everywhere, the blood of others stained the knives she had used.
She lay beside the pile of the dead, wondering where Legolas was, but completely devoid of the physical and mental strength needed to search the bodies. Thranduil himself was searching desperately for his son.
Sarie dragged herself to her feet, and began to go back.
Legolas could not believe that he was seeing the angel again. She was an angel of death, and had shed her precious blood for the good of others. She was perfect, although her dark hair lay tangled on her shoulders, and her dress was dirty and torn to shreds. Why wasn't she happy? Angels always were joyful.
He called out to his angel.
Please come, he thought. Bestow upon me your blessing.
She came, the joy was apparent on the face. Legolas felt her gentle kiss, and was whole.
An elven warrior and an elven maiden sat in the forest clearing. The silence was silk, enveloping the lovers into their own world. The handsome warrior presented his lovely maiden with flowers, and she returned to him a kiss. The love they shared was an eternal bond, more complete than any words. It was unspoken, untouched, yet completely there.
The sun set behind them, yet time was of no importance to them. Golden rays of sunlight played in her dark hair and illuminated their faces. It may not be like this for all time, but the moment was all that mattered.
Little did he know that the love that he shared with his maiden had touched others. The guard, Eruheru, have allowed her to live, and had died because of his refusal to torture.
He whispered in her ear what he had told another to say, but it was unnecessary, she already knew.
His strength was hers, her strength his, and together they were one. Words were unnecessary for the tender gestures expressed what words failed to.
Love was there, and in the end, when life is over, that is all that matters.
Well, this is the end of my first fanfic. I may do a sequel, who knows. At any rate, I would like to thank my reviewers for being greatly supportive. I would love to keep writing, so I'll be working on a new fanfic.
Cheers! ~Alyssa
Legolas looked down the whole time he was led roughly around. He felt burning shame and bitter failure. It was as if he was watching from a distance as he was shoved into a small, dirty room. Others were in here, but they, like he, seemed unreal.
"Why are you in here, honey?" A soft, motherly voice snapped Legolas out of his trance. Just the motherly voice was enough to make Legolas feel young, feel like crying to someone stronger than him.
Warriors aren't really the strongest. Legolas thought. We are just the best at hiding emotions.
He looked up miserably into a pair of warm, gray eyes. " I-" his voice was hoarse, not at all the voice that had sung joyously only weeks earlier. " I was captured during a war. I am Legolas." Ordinarily he would introduce himself as prince, but today seemed different.
"That's how many begin. Strong men come, but these monsters do horrible things. Handsome ones, should be falling in love..."
Legolas looked at the woman well for the first time. She was silver- haired, softly wrinkled. She was not an elf. The woman realized the curiosity in his eyes. "Yes," she said. "I am of the race of Man... that's why I hate to see the warriors come here. I know that I am old and soon, it'll be my time to leave. But I've done well. I've raised a lovely family."
Legolas was uncomprehending. The words 'death' really didn't mean much to him. "It must be terrible," He whispered. "To know that you have such a short time."
The old woman smiled gently, sadly. "A short time it is. But that what makes it wonderful, not terrible. Years upon thousands of years - one grows weary, in this imperfect place. There is no reason to be kind, because there will always be tomorrow. For me, I never know what tomorrow will bring. My husband is gone, but I know he is a wonderful place. A mortal life is a gift. Full of joy, of sadness... Oh, I'm sorry, my dear, I must have nearly talked you to death."
Legolas shook his head. "No, not at all. But do you know an elven maiden by the name of Sarie?"
"Oh, yes, a dear girl she is, bless her heart."
"Can - can you tell her something for me?" Legolas took a deep breath, knowing what would come next would not be easy.
"Of course."
" Can you tell her to be strong for me? That I love her- with all my being. That I want her to be happy. Tell her that life is precious, that immortality is not a sure thing. Tell her that whatever happens, wherever I am after - after this, that I am thinking of her, that my only regret is a life we could not share." Legolas felt the tears in his eyes, but this time did not feign strength.
The mortal woman took him into her arms, stroking his hair, whispering, "There, there. I will give her your message, in three days." She held him at an arm's length. "Otherwise you may deliver it yourself."
A red sun rose over Middle Earth that day, battles were fought and the heavens wept as blood was shed and hearts broken as loved ones were lost.
Legolas watched the sunrise through a grimy window. The others in the room, all frightened persons of all the races. The elves, although dirty, gave an almost visible glow of pride. Dwarves, also proud. Various others, all with the same aura of pride. But the men were different. They, looking young, managed to appear valiant in the stubborn way of their race. Their faces were wrinkled by smiles, and emotions ran rampant in their eyes. Legolas felt a new respect for them, and managed a smile when the guards came.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Legolas felt strong and clear. Last night had been cleansing, and he felt as if he could face whatever arose that day. He looked out the windows as they passed, loving all he saw. He felt regrets deep inside - one of the most unexpected and deepest being that he had not lived to have children. He would be gone, but perhaps the blood would live on, somehow.
He was tied to a pole, and looked up, wishing that he knew what lay beyond the world he was in. Men - they went to the Song, but he, having expected Valinor, had no idea.
The torturers entered, and despite his strength, Legolas felt a coldness run through him. He closed his eyes.
Harsh voices ran over him, yet silence he kept. Lashes hit his body, tore his clothes, claimed his blood, yet he did not cry out. He gasped at the pain, he bit his lip until it, too, bled. The told him stories of horror, they made him watch others as they died. One elf, engulfed by flames, cried out, begged, yelled at the heavens for help that would not come. Legolas saw his family in that warrior, burning, dying, saw Sarie.
Countless others. Poisons were drunk, and a strong dwarf writhed in pain as the slow poison killed him from the inside out. A human, tears mixing with blood as knifes cut shallowly into his skin. Legolas felt sick. He had certainly seen death, but never like this.
Legolas felt overwhelmed when the torturers turned to him. They pressed rods against his chest, and white-hot pain shocked him. It was growing dark...
Legolas saw a white figure atop a white horse. The horse was magnificent, proud and strong. The figure turned to him with deep, blue- gray eyes. The whispers surrounded him, 'Let my strength keep you.' The pain was far away, all he wanted was for it to be over. The figure removed its hood to reveal beautiful dark hair, not black, but a deep brown that teemed with life.
It's Sarie, Legolas thought.
The world was far away, the pain nearly gone and the light growing brighter.
Sarie came to him. ' It is not yet your time. Life is a gift, you taught me that. Fight for it, it is worth fighting for.'
'You must forgive me, I am not strong enough, my love.' Legolas responded.
'But you are. I know this. Strength of the heart is something they do not expect. The others, they have given up, their will is broken. You are different.'
'I'm so sorry.'
'No, Legolas, you are the one I love. Our souls are entwined in the mysteries no science can explain. My strength is yours.'
The images faded, and Legolas cried out. The pain had returned. The face he saw was not Sarie's. The eyes he looked into did not love.
What was strange was that the eyes were not dead like the others Legolas had looked into before. They looked almost sympathetic, and the guard they belonged to was a younger one. Legolas looked away.
Thoughts were swirling in his head. Everything hurt, so bad. He couldn't think straight for all the pain. Legolas took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself and clear his mind. Fatigue lurked in every crevice of his body, but somehow the dreams he has just experienced brought him out of the trap of self-pity.
"Legolas, prince of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, king of the Woodland Realm, is hereby sentenced to death for the betrayal of our just nation. This betrayal occurred in refusing to divulge enemy tactics and locations..."
Legolas nearly laughed aloud at the irony of it. He noted that the ropes bounding his wrists were loose. False hopes, Legolas smirked. Probably fixed it this way to break my spirit to the very end. A big escape like the ones we hear about in the stories, impossible.
Legolas listened as his crimes were listed, seemingly endlessly. A frantic corner of his mind searched for an escape. If he were to grab a single sword, there would be arrows flying at him from all directions.
Whips began to tear at what shreds of clothing he had left, then at his skin. He did not cry out, he did not give them the satisfaction. He saw the frightened eyes that looked on, watched the valiant prince fall. If only, by this act, I could save them. They are all brave, they do not deserve this, Legolas thought. All conscious thoughts were leaving him...
Oh, Sarie, forgive me, my strength was not enough, let the prince fall.
Suddenly the room fell silent. Legolas barely perceived this, barely noticed when they did not whip him. Though floating in an out of consciousness, he saw the troops, saw the magnificent uniforms that made his country proud. As he gave in to the velvety darkness that was beckoning, the tortured were slain and the righteous set free.
Sarie was dirty, bleeding, and weary, and the bow and arrow were heavy in her hand, as too worry was heavy in her heart. The searches for Legolas were fruitless, bodies lay everywhere, the blood of others stained the knives she had used.
She lay beside the pile of the dead, wondering where Legolas was, but completely devoid of the physical and mental strength needed to search the bodies. Thranduil himself was searching desperately for his son.
Sarie dragged herself to her feet, and began to go back.
Legolas could not believe that he was seeing the angel again. She was an angel of death, and had shed her precious blood for the good of others. She was perfect, although her dark hair lay tangled on her shoulders, and her dress was dirty and torn to shreds. Why wasn't she happy? Angels always were joyful.
He called out to his angel.
Please come, he thought. Bestow upon me your blessing.
She came, the joy was apparent on the face. Legolas felt her gentle kiss, and was whole.
An elven warrior and an elven maiden sat in the forest clearing. The silence was silk, enveloping the lovers into their own world. The handsome warrior presented his lovely maiden with flowers, and she returned to him a kiss. The love they shared was an eternal bond, more complete than any words. It was unspoken, untouched, yet completely there.
The sun set behind them, yet time was of no importance to them. Golden rays of sunlight played in her dark hair and illuminated their faces. It may not be like this for all time, but the moment was all that mattered.
Little did he know that the love that he shared with his maiden had touched others. The guard, Eruheru, have allowed her to live, and had died because of his refusal to torture.
He whispered in her ear what he had told another to say, but it was unnecessary, she already knew.
His strength was hers, her strength his, and together they were one. Words were unnecessary for the tender gestures expressed what words failed to.
Love was there, and in the end, when life is over, that is all that matters.
Well, this is the end of my first fanfic. I may do a sequel, who knows. At any rate, I would like to thank my reviewers for being greatly supportive. I would love to keep writing, so I'll be working on a new fanfic.
Cheers! ~Alyssa