Chapter 15
Many years go by. The departure of Gandalf, Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel to the havens, the death of King Elessar and the death of Arwen hit all of Elvendom hard, making for very heavy burdens for Ithil to bear. So much pain and anguish for one elf to bear, her husband and child slain, friends and family long gone. Ithil thinks about sailing to the undying lands, but she chooses to return to Lothlorien.
The time came however, when Lord Celeborn decides to join Galadriel in the Gray Havens. Word is sent out to all of elves that still remain in Middle Earth. Lord Celeborn is leaving Lothlorien and has chosen a new Lady of the Wood. Word goes wide and far of the naming of Ithil Linde as the new Lady of Lothlorien. Messengers arrive in Mirkwood bearing the news to the hall of the King. Upon the passing of King Thranduil to the havens, his son Thrandin, brother of Legolas, is named King in his place.
Legolas is in the hall when the messenger delivers the news of Ithil. Bittersweet memories of Ithil sweep over him. Putting his hand into his pocket he feels a soft velvet bag; inside this bag is the wedding bracelet he had gotten for her. After she returned it to him, he placed it in this bag to carry with him always. He decides to go to Lothlorien and give their love one last try.
A grand affair has been set up to honor Lord Celeborn and to celebrate the naming of Ithil as Lady of the Lorien. Never before has so many allowed into Lothlorien. Elves and guests from all over Middle Earth come. The group from Mirkwood arrives; Legolas is of course one of their numbers. There he sees her; she is up on a platform greeting the guests as they arrive. He has never seen her so beautiful. She is dressed in array that would befit the richest queen in all of Middle Earth. Her face is as fair as ever; but in her green eyes there is a difference. They are older than her years, aged from too much pain for one person to bear.
"No greetings for friends from far away pointy ears?" A rough voice next to him says. Legolas is so entranced with Ithil that he did not notice that Gimli has been standing next to him. "She is more beautiful then ever is she not Laddie?"
"That she is Gimli." Legolas says.
"Perhaps the time has come for the love you two share finally to come to bear." Gimli suggests.
Turning to look at Gimli, with a smile on his face, (the first Gimli has seen in years) Legolas says, "Perhaps."
The crowd falls silent as Lord Celeborn steps forward.
"My brothers and sisters, friends and guests." Celeborn addresses them. "I give you greetings and blessings. Today I leave the fair woods of Lothlorien and journey to the havens. It grieves my heart to leave so many friends and family behind. However the emptiness that the Lady Galadriel left in my heart when she departed is great but now my heart rejoices at the chance to be with her again. However I cannot leave the woods without a Lord or Lady to watch over it; and after much consideration I have decided to name Lady Galadriel's most trusted servant and adopted daughter, Ithil Linde to be her replacement. So now I present to you, Ithil Linde who hence forth shall be known as The Lady Rinithil."
The huge crowd raise their voices crying, "Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil!"
With that Celeborn places a wondrous circlet upon her head, which had been wrought by the master elf-smiths. In the center of the circlet is a small shard of Galadriel's mirror. It will give her the gift of sight into whatever corner of Middle Earth she wishes to see. As it is placed upon her head the dark that has been over Lothlorien ever since Galadriel left lifts a bit and a faint light can be seen emanating from the heart of the forest. A queenly appearance comes over Lady Rinithil and again the cry goes up, "Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil!"
A great feast is waiting, the likes of which has never been seen before nor seen since.
During the feast a servant approaches Legolas, "Prince Legolas, the Lady Rinithil requests an audience with you." Nodding Legolas follows the servant up several flights of stairs to a talan that is far away from everything and everyone.
The sight of her takes his breath away. The soft light that shines from her face makes her look as if the moon itself took bodily form but kept all of its mystery and beauty.
"Legolas muin." she says smiling at him.
"My Lady." He says as he bows very deeply to her.
"No muin, never bow to me." She says as she places her hand under his chin and raises his face up to hers. She looks at his face as if she wants to memorize every part of it. Her hand leaves his chin and caresses his cheek. Legolas closes his eyes and puts his hand over hers. With his other hand he takes the bracelet from his pocket. He removes her hand from his cheek and he places the bracelet upon her wrist.
"You have a new name Rinithil, it is time for a new life." Legolas says from the depths of his soul. "Enter that new life with me by your side. Be my bride." He gazed into her eyes.
Rinithil looks at the bracelet, she turns away from him and goes to the window. "Yes, it is time for a new life. But I can not marry you Legolas." Her words tear his heart as if it is paper. "I have a duty to my people and to Middle Earth and I cannot let anything be a hindrance. If anything happened to you." Her voice trails off. Turning back around to face him, he can see tears streaming down her face. "No Legolas muin, the time has come for me to stand alone."
"You have shed too many tears Ithil." He says as he calls her by the name she had when he first fell in love with her. "You shall always be a part of me; and we will always be soul mates. One shall always be incomplete without the other. There is nothing in Middle Earth for me anymore Rinithil. I will take a boat and go to the Undying Lands; there I will await you. Wear my bracelet Rinithil, and when your task here is done, come to me and there in the Havens we shall be wed finally. There will our hearts and souls will find peace and be complete."
"Yes Legolas, I will come and then may our hearts be free." She says. "But before you go, take this and remember me always." She takes from her finger a ring, engraved upon it is a mellorn tree and a mirkwood tree, their branches entwine to form a heart, with the sun rising in-between them. Taking his hand she places the ring on his finger. "Whenever you look upon this ring Legolas, know that you carry my heart with you." Legolas leans forward to kiss her, but she raises her hand to stop him. "No, please don't Legolas. For I would not want you to stop at only a kiss." She says sadly. He nods his head, he understands, he does not know if he can leave with only a kiss either.
"I will always love you Ithil Linde, Lady Rinithil." Legolas says, and then he turns and walks out the door.
Legolas walks in daze until he almost trips over Gimli.
"Well Laddie? What happened? When is the wedding taking place?" Gimli asks excitedly.
"There will be no wedding Gimli." Legolas replies flatly.
"What do you mean Legolas? Don't tell me she said no." Gimli says astonished.
"She said no Gimli." And he walked away from Gimli. Speechless Gimli stared after Legolas.
Running to catch up with him Gimli asks, "What will you do now?" He is worried about his long-time friend; he has never seen the elf so empty looking, so devoid of that inner light and laughter.
"I will sail to the Grey Havens Gimli, there I will wait for her, and when she comes to me, there we will be wed. I go now to where I know a boat will be waiting." He says as he continues to walk.
Thinking for just a second Gimli again runs after him. "Well my boy, I can't let you go alone, knowing elves you will probably get lost by this time tomorrow."
"I think that your help would be most welcomed Master Dwarf." Legolas says as a faint smile crosses his face.
Off in a secluded inlet by the river, Legolas and Gimli find the boat that has been left for Legolas by his servants. Getting into the boat they push off from shore, never to return to Middle Earth again.
Using the power of Galadriel's shard Rinithil watches as Legolas and Gimli make their way down the river. 'Until our paths cross again, Legolas Greenleaf.'
And so ends the story of Ithil Linde and the story of Lady Rinithil begins. and so you know Rinithil does sail to the Undying Lands where her and Legolas finally wed. and finally find happiness.
Many years go by. The departure of Gandalf, Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel to the havens, the death of King Elessar and the death of Arwen hit all of Elvendom hard, making for very heavy burdens for Ithil to bear. So much pain and anguish for one elf to bear, her husband and child slain, friends and family long gone. Ithil thinks about sailing to the undying lands, but she chooses to return to Lothlorien.
The time came however, when Lord Celeborn decides to join Galadriel in the Gray Havens. Word is sent out to all of elves that still remain in Middle Earth. Lord Celeborn is leaving Lothlorien and has chosen a new Lady of the Wood. Word goes wide and far of the naming of Ithil Linde as the new Lady of Lothlorien. Messengers arrive in Mirkwood bearing the news to the hall of the King. Upon the passing of King Thranduil to the havens, his son Thrandin, brother of Legolas, is named King in his place.
Legolas is in the hall when the messenger delivers the news of Ithil. Bittersweet memories of Ithil sweep over him. Putting his hand into his pocket he feels a soft velvet bag; inside this bag is the wedding bracelet he had gotten for her. After she returned it to him, he placed it in this bag to carry with him always. He decides to go to Lothlorien and give their love one last try.
A grand affair has been set up to honor Lord Celeborn and to celebrate the naming of Ithil as Lady of the Lorien. Never before has so many allowed into Lothlorien. Elves and guests from all over Middle Earth come. The group from Mirkwood arrives; Legolas is of course one of their numbers. There he sees her; she is up on a platform greeting the guests as they arrive. He has never seen her so beautiful. She is dressed in array that would befit the richest queen in all of Middle Earth. Her face is as fair as ever; but in her green eyes there is a difference. They are older than her years, aged from too much pain for one person to bear.
"No greetings for friends from far away pointy ears?" A rough voice next to him says. Legolas is so entranced with Ithil that he did not notice that Gimli has been standing next to him. "She is more beautiful then ever is she not Laddie?"
"That she is Gimli." Legolas says.
"Perhaps the time has come for the love you two share finally to come to bear." Gimli suggests.
Turning to look at Gimli, with a smile on his face, (the first Gimli has seen in years) Legolas says, "Perhaps."
The crowd falls silent as Lord Celeborn steps forward.
"My brothers and sisters, friends and guests." Celeborn addresses them. "I give you greetings and blessings. Today I leave the fair woods of Lothlorien and journey to the havens. It grieves my heart to leave so many friends and family behind. However the emptiness that the Lady Galadriel left in my heart when she departed is great but now my heart rejoices at the chance to be with her again. However I cannot leave the woods without a Lord or Lady to watch over it; and after much consideration I have decided to name Lady Galadriel's most trusted servant and adopted daughter, Ithil Linde to be her replacement. So now I present to you, Ithil Linde who hence forth shall be known as The Lady Rinithil."
The huge crowd raise their voices crying, "Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil!"
With that Celeborn places a wondrous circlet upon her head, which had been wrought by the master elf-smiths. In the center of the circlet is a small shard of Galadriel's mirror. It will give her the gift of sight into whatever corner of Middle Earth she wishes to see. As it is placed upon her head the dark that has been over Lothlorien ever since Galadriel left lifts a bit and a faint light can be seen emanating from the heart of the forest. A queenly appearance comes over Lady Rinithil and again the cry goes up, "Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil! Hail Lady Rinithil!"
A great feast is waiting, the likes of which has never been seen before nor seen since.
During the feast a servant approaches Legolas, "Prince Legolas, the Lady Rinithil requests an audience with you." Nodding Legolas follows the servant up several flights of stairs to a talan that is far away from everything and everyone.
The sight of her takes his breath away. The soft light that shines from her face makes her look as if the moon itself took bodily form but kept all of its mystery and beauty.
"Legolas muin." she says smiling at him.
"My Lady." He says as he bows very deeply to her.
"No muin, never bow to me." She says as she places her hand under his chin and raises his face up to hers. She looks at his face as if she wants to memorize every part of it. Her hand leaves his chin and caresses his cheek. Legolas closes his eyes and puts his hand over hers. With his other hand he takes the bracelet from his pocket. He removes her hand from his cheek and he places the bracelet upon her wrist.
"You have a new name Rinithil, it is time for a new life." Legolas says from the depths of his soul. "Enter that new life with me by your side. Be my bride." He gazed into her eyes.
Rinithil looks at the bracelet, she turns away from him and goes to the window. "Yes, it is time for a new life. But I can not marry you Legolas." Her words tear his heart as if it is paper. "I have a duty to my people and to Middle Earth and I cannot let anything be a hindrance. If anything happened to you." Her voice trails off. Turning back around to face him, he can see tears streaming down her face. "No Legolas muin, the time has come for me to stand alone."
"You have shed too many tears Ithil." He says as he calls her by the name she had when he first fell in love with her. "You shall always be a part of me; and we will always be soul mates. One shall always be incomplete without the other. There is nothing in Middle Earth for me anymore Rinithil. I will take a boat and go to the Undying Lands; there I will await you. Wear my bracelet Rinithil, and when your task here is done, come to me and there in the Havens we shall be wed finally. There will our hearts and souls will find peace and be complete."
"Yes Legolas, I will come and then may our hearts be free." She says. "But before you go, take this and remember me always." She takes from her finger a ring, engraved upon it is a mellorn tree and a mirkwood tree, their branches entwine to form a heart, with the sun rising in-between them. Taking his hand she places the ring on his finger. "Whenever you look upon this ring Legolas, know that you carry my heart with you." Legolas leans forward to kiss her, but she raises her hand to stop him. "No, please don't Legolas. For I would not want you to stop at only a kiss." She says sadly. He nods his head, he understands, he does not know if he can leave with only a kiss either.
"I will always love you Ithil Linde, Lady Rinithil." Legolas says, and then he turns and walks out the door.
Legolas walks in daze until he almost trips over Gimli.
"Well Laddie? What happened? When is the wedding taking place?" Gimli asks excitedly.
"There will be no wedding Gimli." Legolas replies flatly.
"What do you mean Legolas? Don't tell me she said no." Gimli says astonished.
"She said no Gimli." And he walked away from Gimli. Speechless Gimli stared after Legolas.
Running to catch up with him Gimli asks, "What will you do now?" He is worried about his long-time friend; he has never seen the elf so empty looking, so devoid of that inner light and laughter.
"I will sail to the Grey Havens Gimli, there I will wait for her, and when she comes to me, there we will be wed. I go now to where I know a boat will be waiting." He says as he continues to walk.
Thinking for just a second Gimli again runs after him. "Well my boy, I can't let you go alone, knowing elves you will probably get lost by this time tomorrow."
"I think that your help would be most welcomed Master Dwarf." Legolas says as a faint smile crosses his face.
Off in a secluded inlet by the river, Legolas and Gimli find the boat that has been left for Legolas by his servants. Getting into the boat they push off from shore, never to return to Middle Earth again.
Using the power of Galadriel's shard Rinithil watches as Legolas and Gimli make their way down the river. 'Until our paths cross again, Legolas Greenleaf.'
And so ends the story of Ithil Linde and the story of Lady Rinithil begins. and so you know Rinithil does sail to the Undying Lands where her and Legolas finally wed. and finally find happiness.