A/N: Well, here is the last and final chapter at last, written so shortly
after the previous one. I must say that in the previous chapter I said it
was Chapter 8, when really it was chapter 7.. Sorry about that. This is
chapter 8, hee hee...The rest of " My Immortal " is used in this.
I finally finished a WIP and this whole thing is 40 pages on Microsoft Word! Be proud, people, be damn proud! Hee hee... *self-pleased smirk*
BEWARE! : LOTS of angst and MASSIVE FLUFF at the end..I know, I know, but I had to.I just did.
REVIEW!!!!!
~*~
Chapter VIII
Court had resumed in Minas Tirith. After the king's attempted suicide, the queen had urged him to try at moving on. If he simply dwelled on his loss, there was no way his pain would ever be lessened. He did as his wife bade him, having lost the will to fight anyone anymore. None of the people of Gondor had yet learned of the flight of Eryn Lasgalen's prince. Arwen had taken on the task of writing to Eowyn Faramir, Eomer, Gimli, her twin brothers, and the Hobbits about Legolas' departure and explaining Legolas' entire, dejected tale. All houses were grieving now.
Eowyn sat alone in her bedroom window, overlooking the gardens that had seemed to diminish in beauty in the Elf's absence. Faramir had wept briefly in his study, before proceeding with his duties. Eomer sat very upon his throne in Rohan very much like Aragorn did in Minas Tirith, slumped in unhidden grief. Even the horse lord had wept at the abrupt loss of Legolas. The Hobbits had all gathered together in their mourning, shocked that their dear Elf friend had been in such a state. Gimli the Dwarf had taken leave of his duties and grieved nearly as deeply as Aragorn in his private rooms. Elladan and Elrohir were broken hearted. They comforted each other in Imladris, weeping in their entwined embrace in the pale light of their father's study. The only reason they did not fade was each other. As for their sister, Undomiel grieved quietly when Elessar and Eldarion were asleep. Arwen had summoned them all to Gondor for the sake of Elessar, hoping they might bring solace unto her beloved. They would arrive in a week's time. Indeed, they had come, one after the other. From each of their lands, the true friends of Elessar and Arwen arrived in Minas Tirith.
Eowyn and Faramir had been first, and their despair was closest to Gondor's rulers, having seen Legolas' sorrow first hand. Faramir had embraced Aragorn the moment of their arrival, stifling a sob. The king had sat there numbly, with only a single tear to slip down his face. Arwen finally had someone with which to grieve. She and Eowyn retreated to the queen's room to weep together as women do. After a long while of grieving together, Eowyn and Faramir had greeted little Eldarion as cheerfully as possible, but the boy did not miss their dried tears.
Next, Eomer had come alone, mounted upon one of his mighty steeds. He put his strong arms around his sister, his brother-in-law Faramir whom he loved like his own, the lady Arwen whose beauty and grace he revered, and finally, his beloved captain Elessar. In the privacy of Arwen and Elessar's library, he shed tears unashamed as Eowyn, Faramir, and Arwen re-told Legolas' tragedy as they each had witnessed it. Elessar remained withdrawn in his hall.
After Eomer, Gimli had come with the Hobbits. The Dwarf was nearly inconsolable at the loss of his best friend, the Elf. The crazy, tree- hugging, infuriating, pointy-eared Elf. Translucent tears were lost in his beard. He and the poor Hobbits listened to Legolas' tale in great distress, as Arwen and Eowyn sat above them and told it. Faramir stood at one of the windows with his back to them, while Eomer lingered in the shadows in silent tears.
Finally, Elladan and Elrohir, the noble and fair sons of Elrond rode side by side into the gates of the White City. At once, Arwen arose and strode to her elder brothers, whimpering as the three of them embraced. For a long while they remained that way, looked upon by the others with pity. Arwen again suffered to tell the archer's story, whilst Elladan held Elrohir in sorrow and all wept. The twins were torn at their dearest friend's tale, with Elrohir moaning in Elven despair as he sobbed in Elladan's chest. The elder of the twins cradled his brother and shared in his pain, whilst weeping openly himself. The others turned their heads away at Elrohir's outcries, Elladan's naked turmoil, and Arwen's tear-laced voice.
" Where is our brother? " Elladan asked finally. " Where is Estel? "
Arwen looked away in silence, beautifully morose with sullen, stray tears on her pale face. " He is in the court hall. Elessar cannot be comforted."
None of them retired that night until it was quite late.
~*~
Aragorn sat limply upon his throne as court proceeded. He said little and was barely listening. His thoughts, his wounded heart, his broken soul was with Legolas. He had done so for the past three days. If the loss of Legolas had not been wound enough to the others, Elessar's depression was even more grievous to them all. None of them had ever seen the king in such a state before. He was as good as dead. Every moment of every day, Legolas tormented his thoughts. Each night was filled with dreams of him, merciless unto the king. If not for Arwen and his son, he would not hesitate now in taking his own life and ending this inhuman misery. The haunting voices of Elves filled his mind, some lament of old in the ethereal language of that race which he so loved. A vision of Legolas, too beautiful to be expressed by words, occupied his mind now.
// You used to captivate me //
The archer walked soundlessly in the grace of his kindred, golden light surrounding him. His silken tresses floated about him. He smiled. His pale face turned to look, revealing an unearthly exquisiteness. Blue eyes of glory and brilliance pierced with enigmatic wisdom, shone brightly as two pools of a summer's rain, glimmered like the sea at the touch of a sunbeam. The windows unto the fairest soul of Middle Earth chose to grace his sight. He sang and the music of Eru's realm filled him, a flawless voice. He glowed.
// By your resonating light //
He remembered. Oh, Valar, how he remembered. Legolas singing to him, touching him, looking at him, whispering to him, embracing him, loving him, weeping for him, laughing for him, despairing, rejoicing, everything. Legolas binding himself to him, giving his immortal, precious heart to him, falling into despair because of him. He remembered. He wished to forget. Yet he wanted to cling to those vivid memories every moment of his life.
// Now I'm bound by the life you left behind //
~*~
// Legolas beheld an orphaned infant, the hope of mortals. //
// Legolas sitting at his bedside, waiting for his fever to break, for him to live. //
// Legolas singing to him when he was afraid, when he was dying. //
// Legolas having faith in him, putting all of his hope in him. //
// Legolas weeping for him, despairing and grieving for him. //
// Legolas bleeding for him, binding himself to him. //
// Legolas holding him, cradling him, saving him. //
// Legolas in his arms, in his thoughts, in his heart, in his soul, in his blood, in his tears, in his fears, in his joy, in his despair. //
// Legolas there in battle, there at his wedding, there at his son's birth, there when he became a ranger, there in good and bad. Always there. //
// Legolas giving his heart to him. //
// Legolas leaving him. //
~*~
// Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me //
Elessar could not keep a tear from escaping the hoard of them that had pooled in his gray eyes. He only hoped none of the court members had noticed it. He was putting himself through hell. He was killing himself. Legolas was killing him. But he couldn't hate the Elf. He could never hate the prince. He longed for Legolas, he yearned to say and do all the things he had not. He just wanted to say farewell. Just good-bye.
~*~
// He wanted to hold Legolas. //
// He wanted to cradle him, embrace him as only brothers would. //
// He wanted to weep with him, weep for him. //
// He wanted to laugh with him. //
// He wanted to sing with him. //
// He wanted to dance with him, drink with him, live with him. //
// Live. //
// He wanted to fight with him, fight for him. //
// He wanted to see him, hear him, feel him. //
// He wanted to love him. //
// He wanted to tell him everything. //
// Everything. //
// He wanted to speak love when the word was so meaningless compared to what he felt. //
// He wanted to embrace him when no gesture was capable of expressing his feelings. //
// He wanted to weep for him when tears were nothing - nothing in light of his sorrow. //
// He wanted to live, he wanted to live, he wanted to live. //
// Legolas. //
// Greenleaf. //
// Beloved. //
// Life. //
~*~
// These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase //
Elessar had blocked out all of the world, including the now muted speech of his court members. He couldn't live without Legolas. He couldn't see him ever again. He could hear his voice, he couldn't touch him, embrace him, he couldn't stand in the presence of the Elf anymore. He couldn't be with him. He couldn't - he couldn't see his face. O, Valar, he couldn't see his face any longer. It had disappeared from his mind, and he couldn't get it back.
// " Legolas. Legolas, come back. Please. Legolas, please. Where are you? Why did you leave me? Legolas? Legolas, please....please." //
He cried out after the prince in his thoughts, but his pleadings were futile. Legolas was lost to him - forever. O, miserable agony - he could endure this no longer. He was unaware of his weeping, of his labored breathing.
" Sir? " One of the court members who had been speaking at the moment addressed the king in distress. What was going on?
Aragorn crumpled in his throne, digging his hands into his tousled raven hair. O, Eru, it hurt. It pained him like nothing before. He wanted to die. All he wanted was to die. After all of the life Legolas and he had been through together, how could the Elf leave him? How could he be gone - just gone? Who would weep for him like Legolas, laugh with him, fight beside him, hold him, love him like Legolas?
// When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me //
~*~
// " Legolas, what do you think happens to mortals when they die? " //
// " I think - I think their souls must go to Mandos and Manwe sets them up in the sky as stars to give light to all those who are left behind in darkness." //
// " I am glad then, that I am mortal." //
// " Why, Estel? " //
// " I am glad I shall be your star one day, when I have passed out of the circles of this world." //
// " I am glad also, for without you, I am sure I would be lost in the dark. But that is a long time away, Estel. For now, we may lie here both alive and gaze at all the stars above us." //
~*~
// I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone But though you're still with me I've been alone all along //
Elessar couldn't take this anymore. He was on the verge of losing control. He needed to be alone, where no one could here him moan and sob and despair. He needed to find a place where no one would stop him from dying. He would be regretful always for leaving Arwen and Eldarion, but he could suffer this no longer. In Mandos, he would have peace again. He stood, unheeding of the court, and turned to flee in his tears. Yet just as was about to leave, there was a sound from behind him that caused him to freeze. The doors had burst open. He had no will to deal with any crisis of country right now. But something inside him whispered, // "Turn around." //
Elessar slowly turned back to face the hall, which had now grown deathly quiet and still. As he lifted his weary head, his gray eyes blurred by tears met a pair of blue across the chamber. His heart stopped and he ceased to breathe in that moment.
There before the door, Legolas Thranduilion stood in his long, silver cloak that shimmered in the light. His hair of silken, silver-gold rippled over his slim shoulders, still done up the way it always was in his warrior's braids. Yet his bow, quiver, and knives were not with him then. His fair face was pale, and he looked struck. It was the face Elessar had lost. The eyes of blue were unwavering in their gaze. The Elf was very still, and Elessar wondered if this was an illusion to further his torment. But inside, he felt his emotions mounting, ready to burst.
" Legolas," he whispered, still staring at the Elf.
" Estel." The answer came softly, yet as clear as anything. Legolas broke his stillness and bound forward, heedless of the court that looked on in disbelief. Elessar watched as the archer approached him in all haste. He was nearly unaware of his arms outstretching to catch the prince.
But when Legolas threw himself in Aragorn's arms, the man knew it was real. He staggered back and nearly fell, as Greenleaf flung his lithe arms around Hope's frame. The Elf whimpered as he pressed his eyes shut. The rivers of love and joy smashed through the sorrow and overflowed inside of him. He began to weep freely as he pressed himself to Aragorn and breathed in the essence of his brother in heart. His slender hands gripped the king to bruise.
// When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears //
Elessar only started to breathe again after a moment. His strong arms wrapped around Legolas and knew that this was not a dream. He inhaled sharply as he felt Legolas' heart beating against his chest, beside his own. His fingers entangled themselves in the Elf's water-soft hair and smelled the sea. Tears began to flow limitlessly as he rocked back and forth with Legolas. " Oh, Eru," he cried. Just as Legolas had been brought back from the dead, so did Elessar live again. " You came back," he wept. " You came back."
" I came back for you," Legolas whispered as he cried and smiled with closed eyes.
" I was so afraid I would never see you again - that I had lost you," Aragorn admitted almost inaudibly.
// When you'd scream I'd fight all of your fears //
" I'm sorry," Legolas said in a whimper. " I'm so sorry."
At that moment, Arwen, Eldarion, and all the others appeared at the door to the right of the throne and gasped to see the scene and their beloved Greenleaf returned to them. Arwen lifted her hand to her lips in joy as she began to weep as well, and Eldarion's eyes lit up. Eowyn began to cry and laughed, whilst Faramir did the same and placed his arms around his wife. Eomer grinned through his own tears, and the Hobbits murmured excitedly amongst themselves that Legolas had come back. Gimli was overjoyed and had to keep back a loud, gruff, Dwarven laugh as he joined in the weeping. Elladan and Elrohir - alas, those two were enough to make any spectator come to tears as well. Their Elven grief was washed away and pure bliss replaced it, sparking in their gray eyes as they wept silver tears together.
" I love you," Elessar murmured into one delicately pointed ear. " I love you so much."
Legolas choked at this and smiled. " I love you too. More than you could ever know."
// And I've held your hand through all of these years //
The two soul-bound beings remained in their embrace and relished the feeling that each had so longed for in each other's absence. Their hearts beat together, united by their love and their brotherhood, the sweetest music to their ears. Their hands caressed each other with the need to it was all real. With every gossamer touch of every tendered fingertip, love radiated to mock the sun. And they felt it. O, Elbereth, how they felt that love in each other's touch. Every sorrow and every fear was melted away from each of their hearts. Their separate fates didn't matter anymore. Their love transcended all things, even death. It was as if these two beings, in their desperate embrace, had formed into one - just as they shared a heart and a soul. For a friendship such as theirs is one heart beating in two bodies. The broken was made whole once again. Finally, the two came apart and smiled brightly at each other through their tears.
" You blasted, pointy-eared ass, " Gimli exclaimed, causing Legolas to turn to face him and laugh along with all the others. The Dwarf approached him saying, " I don't know whether to hug you or kill you."
Legolas slung an arm around the Dwarf as Gimli hugged his waist. When they came apart, Eldarion leaped forward, unable to contain himself any longer.
" Legolas, " he cried jubilantly. He jumped into the Elf's arms as Legolas chuckled lightly and spun around with Eldarion clutched to him. He put him down once again when he had come to a stop, only to have the rest of them advance on the poor Elf all at once. Aragorn was smirking as he moved to put an arm around him and they both braced themselves for their other loved ones. They were taken down by a massive embrace by all the rest, and Legolas got lost in all the arms and bodies. He was aware of Eowyn and Arwen kissing his cheek, since he felt himself blush. The Hobbits had seized his legs and aided in the toppling over. As for the rest, he could not differ Faramir's hand gripping his shoulder from Eomer's, or Elladan's brief kiss to his brow from Elrohir's quick embrace. All of them had fallen to the ground in a heap and they lay strewn about laughing yet with the remnants of their joyous tears still upon their faces.
" Oh, dear, " Legolas mumbled through his laughter once everyone else's had died down, " I should really leave more often." This earned him a playful smack from his best friend, who was lying contentedly on his chest.
// But you still have all of me //
~*~
FIN
I finally finished a WIP and this whole thing is 40 pages on Microsoft Word! Be proud, people, be damn proud! Hee hee... *self-pleased smirk*
BEWARE! : LOTS of angst and MASSIVE FLUFF at the end..I know, I know, but I had to.I just did.
REVIEW!!!!!
~*~
Chapter VIII
Court had resumed in Minas Tirith. After the king's attempted suicide, the queen had urged him to try at moving on. If he simply dwelled on his loss, there was no way his pain would ever be lessened. He did as his wife bade him, having lost the will to fight anyone anymore. None of the people of Gondor had yet learned of the flight of Eryn Lasgalen's prince. Arwen had taken on the task of writing to Eowyn Faramir, Eomer, Gimli, her twin brothers, and the Hobbits about Legolas' departure and explaining Legolas' entire, dejected tale. All houses were grieving now.
Eowyn sat alone in her bedroom window, overlooking the gardens that had seemed to diminish in beauty in the Elf's absence. Faramir had wept briefly in his study, before proceeding with his duties. Eomer sat very upon his throne in Rohan very much like Aragorn did in Minas Tirith, slumped in unhidden grief. Even the horse lord had wept at the abrupt loss of Legolas. The Hobbits had all gathered together in their mourning, shocked that their dear Elf friend had been in such a state. Gimli the Dwarf had taken leave of his duties and grieved nearly as deeply as Aragorn in his private rooms. Elladan and Elrohir were broken hearted. They comforted each other in Imladris, weeping in their entwined embrace in the pale light of their father's study. The only reason they did not fade was each other. As for their sister, Undomiel grieved quietly when Elessar and Eldarion were asleep. Arwen had summoned them all to Gondor for the sake of Elessar, hoping they might bring solace unto her beloved. They would arrive in a week's time. Indeed, they had come, one after the other. From each of their lands, the true friends of Elessar and Arwen arrived in Minas Tirith.
Eowyn and Faramir had been first, and their despair was closest to Gondor's rulers, having seen Legolas' sorrow first hand. Faramir had embraced Aragorn the moment of their arrival, stifling a sob. The king had sat there numbly, with only a single tear to slip down his face. Arwen finally had someone with which to grieve. She and Eowyn retreated to the queen's room to weep together as women do. After a long while of grieving together, Eowyn and Faramir had greeted little Eldarion as cheerfully as possible, but the boy did not miss their dried tears.
Next, Eomer had come alone, mounted upon one of his mighty steeds. He put his strong arms around his sister, his brother-in-law Faramir whom he loved like his own, the lady Arwen whose beauty and grace he revered, and finally, his beloved captain Elessar. In the privacy of Arwen and Elessar's library, he shed tears unashamed as Eowyn, Faramir, and Arwen re-told Legolas' tragedy as they each had witnessed it. Elessar remained withdrawn in his hall.
After Eomer, Gimli had come with the Hobbits. The Dwarf was nearly inconsolable at the loss of his best friend, the Elf. The crazy, tree- hugging, infuriating, pointy-eared Elf. Translucent tears were lost in his beard. He and the poor Hobbits listened to Legolas' tale in great distress, as Arwen and Eowyn sat above them and told it. Faramir stood at one of the windows with his back to them, while Eomer lingered in the shadows in silent tears.
Finally, Elladan and Elrohir, the noble and fair sons of Elrond rode side by side into the gates of the White City. At once, Arwen arose and strode to her elder brothers, whimpering as the three of them embraced. For a long while they remained that way, looked upon by the others with pity. Arwen again suffered to tell the archer's story, whilst Elladan held Elrohir in sorrow and all wept. The twins were torn at their dearest friend's tale, with Elrohir moaning in Elven despair as he sobbed in Elladan's chest. The elder of the twins cradled his brother and shared in his pain, whilst weeping openly himself. The others turned their heads away at Elrohir's outcries, Elladan's naked turmoil, and Arwen's tear-laced voice.
" Where is our brother? " Elladan asked finally. " Where is Estel? "
Arwen looked away in silence, beautifully morose with sullen, stray tears on her pale face. " He is in the court hall. Elessar cannot be comforted."
None of them retired that night until it was quite late.
~*~
Aragorn sat limply upon his throne as court proceeded. He said little and was barely listening. His thoughts, his wounded heart, his broken soul was with Legolas. He had done so for the past three days. If the loss of Legolas had not been wound enough to the others, Elessar's depression was even more grievous to them all. None of them had ever seen the king in such a state before. He was as good as dead. Every moment of every day, Legolas tormented his thoughts. Each night was filled with dreams of him, merciless unto the king. If not for Arwen and his son, he would not hesitate now in taking his own life and ending this inhuman misery. The haunting voices of Elves filled his mind, some lament of old in the ethereal language of that race which he so loved. A vision of Legolas, too beautiful to be expressed by words, occupied his mind now.
// You used to captivate me //
The archer walked soundlessly in the grace of his kindred, golden light surrounding him. His silken tresses floated about him. He smiled. His pale face turned to look, revealing an unearthly exquisiteness. Blue eyes of glory and brilliance pierced with enigmatic wisdom, shone brightly as two pools of a summer's rain, glimmered like the sea at the touch of a sunbeam. The windows unto the fairest soul of Middle Earth chose to grace his sight. He sang and the music of Eru's realm filled him, a flawless voice. He glowed.
// By your resonating light //
He remembered. Oh, Valar, how he remembered. Legolas singing to him, touching him, looking at him, whispering to him, embracing him, loving him, weeping for him, laughing for him, despairing, rejoicing, everything. Legolas binding himself to him, giving his immortal, precious heart to him, falling into despair because of him. He remembered. He wished to forget. Yet he wanted to cling to those vivid memories every moment of his life.
// Now I'm bound by the life you left behind //
~*~
// Legolas beheld an orphaned infant, the hope of mortals. //
// Legolas sitting at his bedside, waiting for his fever to break, for him to live. //
// Legolas singing to him when he was afraid, when he was dying. //
// Legolas having faith in him, putting all of his hope in him. //
// Legolas weeping for him, despairing and grieving for him. //
// Legolas bleeding for him, binding himself to him. //
// Legolas holding him, cradling him, saving him. //
// Legolas in his arms, in his thoughts, in his heart, in his soul, in his blood, in his tears, in his fears, in his joy, in his despair. //
// Legolas there in battle, there at his wedding, there at his son's birth, there when he became a ranger, there in good and bad. Always there. //
// Legolas giving his heart to him. //
// Legolas leaving him. //
~*~
// Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me //
Elessar could not keep a tear from escaping the hoard of them that had pooled in his gray eyes. He only hoped none of the court members had noticed it. He was putting himself through hell. He was killing himself. Legolas was killing him. But he couldn't hate the Elf. He could never hate the prince. He longed for Legolas, he yearned to say and do all the things he had not. He just wanted to say farewell. Just good-bye.
~*~
// He wanted to hold Legolas. //
// He wanted to cradle him, embrace him as only brothers would. //
// He wanted to weep with him, weep for him. //
// He wanted to laugh with him. //
// He wanted to sing with him. //
// He wanted to dance with him, drink with him, live with him. //
// Live. //
// He wanted to fight with him, fight for him. //
// He wanted to see him, hear him, feel him. //
// He wanted to love him. //
// He wanted to tell him everything. //
// Everything. //
// He wanted to speak love when the word was so meaningless compared to what he felt. //
// He wanted to embrace him when no gesture was capable of expressing his feelings. //
// He wanted to weep for him when tears were nothing - nothing in light of his sorrow. //
// He wanted to live, he wanted to live, he wanted to live. //
// Legolas. //
// Greenleaf. //
// Beloved. //
// Life. //
~*~
// These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase //
Elessar had blocked out all of the world, including the now muted speech of his court members. He couldn't live without Legolas. He couldn't see him ever again. He could hear his voice, he couldn't touch him, embrace him, he couldn't stand in the presence of the Elf anymore. He couldn't be with him. He couldn't - he couldn't see his face. O, Valar, he couldn't see his face any longer. It had disappeared from his mind, and he couldn't get it back.
// " Legolas. Legolas, come back. Please. Legolas, please. Where are you? Why did you leave me? Legolas? Legolas, please....please." //
He cried out after the prince in his thoughts, but his pleadings were futile. Legolas was lost to him - forever. O, miserable agony - he could endure this no longer. He was unaware of his weeping, of his labored breathing.
" Sir? " One of the court members who had been speaking at the moment addressed the king in distress. What was going on?
Aragorn crumpled in his throne, digging his hands into his tousled raven hair. O, Eru, it hurt. It pained him like nothing before. He wanted to die. All he wanted was to die. After all of the life Legolas and he had been through together, how could the Elf leave him? How could he be gone - just gone? Who would weep for him like Legolas, laugh with him, fight beside him, hold him, love him like Legolas?
// When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me //
~*~
// " Legolas, what do you think happens to mortals when they die? " //
// " I think - I think their souls must go to Mandos and Manwe sets them up in the sky as stars to give light to all those who are left behind in darkness." //
// " I am glad then, that I am mortal." //
// " Why, Estel? " //
// " I am glad I shall be your star one day, when I have passed out of the circles of this world." //
// " I am glad also, for without you, I am sure I would be lost in the dark. But that is a long time away, Estel. For now, we may lie here both alive and gaze at all the stars above us." //
~*~
// I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone But though you're still with me I've been alone all along //
Elessar couldn't take this anymore. He was on the verge of losing control. He needed to be alone, where no one could here him moan and sob and despair. He needed to find a place where no one would stop him from dying. He would be regretful always for leaving Arwen and Eldarion, but he could suffer this no longer. In Mandos, he would have peace again. He stood, unheeding of the court, and turned to flee in his tears. Yet just as was about to leave, there was a sound from behind him that caused him to freeze. The doors had burst open. He had no will to deal with any crisis of country right now. But something inside him whispered, // "Turn around." //
Elessar slowly turned back to face the hall, which had now grown deathly quiet and still. As he lifted his weary head, his gray eyes blurred by tears met a pair of blue across the chamber. His heart stopped and he ceased to breathe in that moment.
There before the door, Legolas Thranduilion stood in his long, silver cloak that shimmered in the light. His hair of silken, silver-gold rippled over his slim shoulders, still done up the way it always was in his warrior's braids. Yet his bow, quiver, and knives were not with him then. His fair face was pale, and he looked struck. It was the face Elessar had lost. The eyes of blue were unwavering in their gaze. The Elf was very still, and Elessar wondered if this was an illusion to further his torment. But inside, he felt his emotions mounting, ready to burst.
" Legolas," he whispered, still staring at the Elf.
" Estel." The answer came softly, yet as clear as anything. Legolas broke his stillness and bound forward, heedless of the court that looked on in disbelief. Elessar watched as the archer approached him in all haste. He was nearly unaware of his arms outstretching to catch the prince.
But when Legolas threw himself in Aragorn's arms, the man knew it was real. He staggered back and nearly fell, as Greenleaf flung his lithe arms around Hope's frame. The Elf whimpered as he pressed his eyes shut. The rivers of love and joy smashed through the sorrow and overflowed inside of him. He began to weep freely as he pressed himself to Aragorn and breathed in the essence of his brother in heart. His slender hands gripped the king to bruise.
// When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears //
Elessar only started to breathe again after a moment. His strong arms wrapped around Legolas and knew that this was not a dream. He inhaled sharply as he felt Legolas' heart beating against his chest, beside his own. His fingers entangled themselves in the Elf's water-soft hair and smelled the sea. Tears began to flow limitlessly as he rocked back and forth with Legolas. " Oh, Eru," he cried. Just as Legolas had been brought back from the dead, so did Elessar live again. " You came back," he wept. " You came back."
" I came back for you," Legolas whispered as he cried and smiled with closed eyes.
" I was so afraid I would never see you again - that I had lost you," Aragorn admitted almost inaudibly.
// When you'd scream I'd fight all of your fears //
" I'm sorry," Legolas said in a whimper. " I'm so sorry."
At that moment, Arwen, Eldarion, and all the others appeared at the door to the right of the throne and gasped to see the scene and their beloved Greenleaf returned to them. Arwen lifted her hand to her lips in joy as she began to weep as well, and Eldarion's eyes lit up. Eowyn began to cry and laughed, whilst Faramir did the same and placed his arms around his wife. Eomer grinned through his own tears, and the Hobbits murmured excitedly amongst themselves that Legolas had come back. Gimli was overjoyed and had to keep back a loud, gruff, Dwarven laugh as he joined in the weeping. Elladan and Elrohir - alas, those two were enough to make any spectator come to tears as well. Their Elven grief was washed away and pure bliss replaced it, sparking in their gray eyes as they wept silver tears together.
" I love you," Elessar murmured into one delicately pointed ear. " I love you so much."
Legolas choked at this and smiled. " I love you too. More than you could ever know."
// And I've held your hand through all of these years //
The two soul-bound beings remained in their embrace and relished the feeling that each had so longed for in each other's absence. Their hearts beat together, united by their love and their brotherhood, the sweetest music to their ears. Their hands caressed each other with the need to it was all real. With every gossamer touch of every tendered fingertip, love radiated to mock the sun. And they felt it. O, Elbereth, how they felt that love in each other's touch. Every sorrow and every fear was melted away from each of their hearts. Their separate fates didn't matter anymore. Their love transcended all things, even death. It was as if these two beings, in their desperate embrace, had formed into one - just as they shared a heart and a soul. For a friendship such as theirs is one heart beating in two bodies. The broken was made whole once again. Finally, the two came apart and smiled brightly at each other through their tears.
" You blasted, pointy-eared ass, " Gimli exclaimed, causing Legolas to turn to face him and laugh along with all the others. The Dwarf approached him saying, " I don't know whether to hug you or kill you."
Legolas slung an arm around the Dwarf as Gimli hugged his waist. When they came apart, Eldarion leaped forward, unable to contain himself any longer.
" Legolas, " he cried jubilantly. He jumped into the Elf's arms as Legolas chuckled lightly and spun around with Eldarion clutched to him. He put him down once again when he had come to a stop, only to have the rest of them advance on the poor Elf all at once. Aragorn was smirking as he moved to put an arm around him and they both braced themselves for their other loved ones. They were taken down by a massive embrace by all the rest, and Legolas got lost in all the arms and bodies. He was aware of Eowyn and Arwen kissing his cheek, since he felt himself blush. The Hobbits had seized his legs and aided in the toppling over. As for the rest, he could not differ Faramir's hand gripping his shoulder from Eomer's, or Elladan's brief kiss to his brow from Elrohir's quick embrace. All of them had fallen to the ground in a heap and they lay strewn about laughing yet with the remnants of their joyous tears still upon their faces.
" Oh, dear, " Legolas mumbled through his laughter once everyone else's had died down, " I should really leave more often." This earned him a playful smack from his best friend, who was lying contentedly on his chest.
// But you still have all of me //
~*~
FIN