***Last chapter!!***
***Lord of the Rings and all ideas linked to that are not mine but Tolkien,
thought I'd let you in on that secret.***
There was a certain amount of pride obtained from riding at the head of such noble troops, Kaimelar thought to himself; he took a breath. This was where he belonged, not in the diplomatic halls where his tongue distorted all his words; it was out on the battlefield fighting beside those he trusted with his life. He glanced to his side, and saw Verya beside him, staring in a manner some might refer to as stoic, but Kaimelar was not fooled by the soldier's rigid stance, he could see the glimmer in the elder's eyes. Though he was able to hide his joy, his elation behind his years of training, Kaimelar was not fooled, he knew his commander far too well to miss the spark of approval in his eyes. And though, the captain did not turn his head to acknowledge the eldest of Thranduil's offspring, he gave a slight nod. Kaimelar bit back the smile forming upon his face.
"Prince Kaimelar," Tulcahrve's voice sounded on his other side, he turned with an inquisitive eyebrow raised, still not used to his close friend calling him by his official title. Surprised at how well, Tulcahrve was able to follow protocol on the battlefield, for he was renown for his inability to remember such rules in a regular surrounding. Not a year ago his friend had burst in to his father's hall, with a delegation of men from Laketown present for trade negotiation, reeking of some stench the was indefinable, holding the carcass of a dead animal he had killed. The reasons behind any of his action were never told, though the prince was fairly sure his friend had none, thinking was not Tulcahrve's strong suit, he did things on impulse, and was the constant source of amusement. Now that Kaimelar thought on it, it seemed as though Legolas was simply a younger version of his friend, perhaps that was the reasoning behind his father trying to limit the time those two spent together.
"Something bothering you, Tulcah?" As he undoubtedly was aware of, Tulcah took to believe that his friend referring to him on such a light term gave him permission to drop all the officialness, which he did, which Kaimelar was glad of.
"I can't find my horse Kai! A damned stupid orc arrow shot her and now she's gone and run off. You'd think she'd know better, I mean, in all honesty, my girl can't remove that arrow on her own, I'm the one with the hands."
"You must excuse him Kai, he took a bump on his head, I would disregard most of what he says," Verya added, still keeping his regal form; Tulcahrve frowned at Verya, bump or not he was utterly aware of each and every word he was choosing, well most of the words.
"Please Captain, you were there, she ran off!" he defended; distinctly remember riding beside the Captain when the incident occurred.
"She's probably in the stables, she knows her way home better than you. I doubt you'd ever make it home if didn't have her to guide you."
"Do you two rehearse these remarks? And you are one to talk about getting lost in these woods, Kai, I remember a time." A murderous stare stopped Tulcahrve short, though he feared not his friend, perhaps this was not the best moment to bring up old embarrassing memories, now was a time of celebration. "Just worried about horse sir." He responded shrugging, not noticing his friend suppressing his laughter; that's just what they all needed Tulcahrve with another bump on his head and his guiding force of a horse missing. If others thought Kai and Tulcah were good friends, one did not see the elf and his horse in their state of natural banter, which the horse commonly won. Kai was certain that his friend would have a few words for his wayward horse when he found her and was assured of her well being.
"Well, look at that, Kai! Look up there, seems as though we have a greeting party, I was certain that people were worried for my welfare."
"I'm certain you presence would be missed; there would be a lot less laughter with you gone." Whether an insult or compliment, Tulcahrve was unsure, but he agreed nonetheless, there always was a lot of laughter no matter where he went.
***
"I see them! I see Kai, and Verya, And Tulcah, and everyone else!" Legolas shouted atop his father's shoulder, straining his neck to get a better look, accidentally catching his father's jaw with his unruly swinging foot.
"I see them as well adar! Look at all of them!" Sildulin shouted, uttering a sigh of relief at seeing the sight of all of them, safe.
"Legolas, please, for the sake of my head, I ask you to stop squirming such." Thranduil cried out, after another array of kicks hitting him in his head. Legolas ceased for a moment, laying his chin atop his father's head, playing with a stray strand that happened to float by his hand.
"I cannot wit for Kai to tell me the story of what happened," the child sighed, as his brother came ever closer to the place they stood awaiting his arrival.
***
"Well do my eyes deceive me, or is that Helyanwe standing there beside your sister," Tulcahrve pointed out, in a mild jest to his friend.
"I hadn't noticed, but yes, look, she's come home, finally." Even from afar he could see the radiance of her beauty, he thought back to the days of hearing her speak, the way her fingers brushed his hands while they both reached for a pitcher of water; but they were simply friends, good friends, that's all.
"Perhaps, we should hasten our pace?" Tulcahrve further indulged, enjoying the way his friend's face gradually changed hues, it was ever a wonder how many different shades of red existed. Could that many different pigments of red could one face be capable of? Tulcah considered himself more than lucky to have been graced with the friendship of the Prince.
"No, no, this pace is fine." But his friend paid no heed to his words, galloping off to meet the friends and family awaiting their arrival. Verya laughed at the exchange between the two friends, a laugh worthy of a look from the Prince.
"What's so funny?" Kaimelar asked defensively aware it was some joke on him.
"Are you going to allow Tulcah to grace the young maiden with his prescience before your own? Might steal her heart you know." The Captain replied, a mixture of mirth and seriousness intertwined in the words. Kaimelar gazed off to where his friend had just sped off to, catching sight once more of Helyanwe's face; taking a moment to think of what Verya had just said.
"I do this cause we are simply good friends and I do not wish for her to suffer to banter of Tulcah," Kaimelar said, as he too galloped off trying to catch his friend, hopefully the horse that Tulcah was borrowing was not so learned in the ways to the palace doors as his injured mare was.
***
When Kaimelar had reached his intended destination, Tulcahrve had already dismounted, kneeling so as to speak to Legolas face to face. He jumped from his mount, to the smiling faces of those standing near him, aware of Legolas running from the kneeling Tulcah to grasp onto his brother's hand. And in the distance he could hear Legolas' impatient voice, awaiting for his brother's attention, which was unfortunately for the elfling, occupied with Helyanwe.
"Kai," she said, approaching him, throwing her arms around him in what was a purely platonic hug.
"It is good to see you again Anwe." The two separated and stared at each other for a moment, sheepish grins appearing and disappearing from their faces, as they searched for some words to speak to fill in the silence between them. But the tugging at his arm sufficed for the moment, as Legolas clamored to be held, in order to regain his brother's waning attention.
"Kai! You fight!" Legolas exclaimed, as his brother lifted him.
"Yes, I did. Don't you go running off looking for a fight though, alright there little one?" Legolas nodded, why did people always assume he was going to go running off looking for trouble, he was well aware he was much too little to go fighting orcs.
"We don't want anything bad happening to you, acorn, I just got home and I would like to spend some time with you and you siblings," Helyanwe added tickling the small elf in Kai's arms.
Thranduil looked at the sight, if he had not known better he would have assumed they were a new family embarking on a new life. It was getting to a time in his life where Kai had to start thinking about marriage, and why not she, friends they may claim to be, but to the spectator the spark between them was so apparent it frustrated you to see them deny it.
"I would love for her to be my sister," Sildulin whispered into her father's ear, seeing the same thing he was.
"It would be nice," he said, putting his arm around her. "But come let us greet your brother, protect him from Legolas."
"Give him here," Tulcahrve called, extending his arms out to Legolas, who leapt willingly into them, "Let me tell him what it was like to be right in the middle of such a ferocious fight." Kaimelar gave his friend a light shove, hitting the cut on his arm. "Watch it! I've been wounded, by the terrible orc blade." He said adding extra emphasis on his words enthralling Legolas.
"Have you really been hurt?" Sildulin asked, coming up behind him, reaching out for his arm.
"It isn't his arm you should be worried about but his head, and that was before it struck the ground," Verya remarked atop his horse, arriving where the rest had congregated.
"Find my horse?" Tulcahrve asked eagerly, having not heard a word of his horse's fate, though not really seeking any either.
"Have you looked in the stables?" Verya replied, landing softly on the ground, bowing to Thranduil where he stood, "It is my pleasure to report a victory for your kingdom, sire."
"I am glad to hear it my friend. I trust these two performed admirable." He clasped his friend's forearm in greeting, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he asked of the two young warriors.
"Not to be so forward as to speak for my dear commander," Tulcahrve started.
"I would never believe you to be forward, but go ahead, speak your mind." King Thranduil replied in good faith, curious as to how the young one would inflate his part in the battle.
"Thank you, and may I say, long live the king. But the truth is, my lord, I was granted the chance to save my most admired Captain's life from the grasp on a blood thirsty orc, whose sole purpose of existence was but to bring down the greatest captain that ever graced these fair woods." Tulcahrve finished in a flourish, beaming as he saw the elfling in his arms light up with excitement.
"You saved Verya?"
"Oh did he ever, I thought I wasn't going to make it through this fray," Verya chirped in before clasping Tulcah's shoulder, readying himself to stable his own horse and clean himself up, "You have my gratitude Tulcah, I can only hope to repay you for your deed."
"Do not worry, the only payment I desire is your hard earned respect m Captain," Verya raised an eyebrow as he studied the suspiciously somber face of Tulcah. If he hadn't known the young elf so well, he would have thought him sincere, but he didn't so upon a second look at the other's features, he could see the light of the jest in his eyes. With his free hand, Tulcah saluted his Captain, before left.
"You are lucky you are an agreeable person, or I fear you might have been exiled from these lands long ago for your free flowing tongue." Tulcahrve smirked at the King's words.
"But alas, I am my liege, for what would you do without my company, imagine what a dull place it would be."
"Aye, so sadly true."
***
It was a bit of tome before Helyanwe and Kaimelar were able to get anytime alone, time to catch up on the years they were separated. Together they say with the backs resting on a large tree not too far from the horse's stables, where not too long ago Tulcahrve checked on his horse, who was in fact there waiting patiently for her master to find his way there.
"Do you miss it?" Kaimelar asked after a moment of silence had once again found its way into their conversation, though such silence was more bearable when the two were alone than surrounded by people.
"Miss what?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder, gazing up unto the star filled sky.
"Rivendell, it is beautiful there, as you must well know." He felt her take a breath, as she visualized the world she had just left not a week ago. It did retain a certain ethereal beauty.
"I suppose I do a bit. But there is nothing like Mirkwood to my eyes. Though it does not have the elegance of that land, its beauty is in the searching for it. It is in the hidden secrets that you find behind the trees, deep within its walls that is so comforting. The people who have fought and come together to fight the darkness which encroaches, it is in the light that remains though it could have just as easily extinguished, is what will allows make these woods a home worth returning to." She took a moment, reposing once more in the stars above her, feeling the wall ensnaring the words she wished she could say. Though it wasn't all she wished to share with, she added simply, "I also missed you."
Kaimelar smiled; glad to know that she thought of him while she was away. He had feared that he was the only one who thought on the distance between them, who awaited the reunion between them. "As I did you," he quickly added, fearful she might not feel as deeply about him as he did her, and did not want her to misinterpret his words (though it would not be a misinterpretation), "How could I not miss a friend such as yourself."
She winced slightly inwardly, perhaps tonight was the night for such admissions to come, and perhaps she read something in his eyes that was not there. Cuddling closer to him, she agreed, "There was never such friends as us." And there the two remained together gazing upon the great, dark sky above, sharing the support of the old tree behind them, which one could almost hear sigh as it witnessed the two remain separate though they clung so close.
***
As it was a night of celebration, Legolas was allowed to stay up later than Thranduil would have normally allowed, and he spent his extra hours sitting upon Verya's lap, imploring him for more stories.
"When I am old like you, I can fight?" Legolas asked, gazing up with adoring eyes at the captain.
"I suppose you can if you like, though hopefully, time will not require for you to battle. Hopefully things in this forest will once again become bright and good." Verya replied, he sounded old to his own ears.
"It isn't bright and good?" Legolas asked, not aware that the home he inhabited and loved was anything but good; even the best of places had its occasional spiders.
Verya thought on the young one's words, thought of his home now and as it had been. There was no denying there was a change, a step towards darkness; that was simply the truth no matter how you looked upon it, and he had tried to view what happened to this land from all angles, find the optimism in the diminishing hope. But there on the little prince's face was the pure trust in the innate goodness of the world, he had lost when witnessing the worse that the world could offer. In the bright blue eyes he saw that hope would always remain if he allowed himself to believe in the innocence of childhood. It was not time to destroy the little one's naïve, yet refreshing, trust that even in darkness there is the bright light of good.
"Verya?" Legolas asked again waiting for an answer.
"With you in it, my Prince, this forest will have a light brighter than any star could offer," Verya stood with the Prince in his arms, "But now we are going to put you to bed, let us find your adar to tuck you in."
"No, that's okay." Verya had never known the child to want to go to bed without a story at the least, why would he ask for his father not to come, did he think going to bed by yourself was part of being a warrior; Verya hoped not. "You tuck me in?" The elfling asked with his blue eyes wide and innocent. Verya thought on the past events of the last couple days, and was thankful; thankful that maimed relationships had once again been repaired.
"It would be my pleasure."
***I'll admit the ending was cheesy, but I think we all need the occasional cheese in our life. Thanks for reading the story, an reviewing if such an impulse took hold. It's the end of another story, but hopefully, with winter break coming I can start another! Thanks for the support guys and Happy Holidays, Have a good Winter.***
There was a certain amount of pride obtained from riding at the head of such noble troops, Kaimelar thought to himself; he took a breath. This was where he belonged, not in the diplomatic halls where his tongue distorted all his words; it was out on the battlefield fighting beside those he trusted with his life. He glanced to his side, and saw Verya beside him, staring in a manner some might refer to as stoic, but Kaimelar was not fooled by the soldier's rigid stance, he could see the glimmer in the elder's eyes. Though he was able to hide his joy, his elation behind his years of training, Kaimelar was not fooled, he knew his commander far too well to miss the spark of approval in his eyes. And though, the captain did not turn his head to acknowledge the eldest of Thranduil's offspring, he gave a slight nod. Kaimelar bit back the smile forming upon his face.
"Prince Kaimelar," Tulcahrve's voice sounded on his other side, he turned with an inquisitive eyebrow raised, still not used to his close friend calling him by his official title. Surprised at how well, Tulcahrve was able to follow protocol on the battlefield, for he was renown for his inability to remember such rules in a regular surrounding. Not a year ago his friend had burst in to his father's hall, with a delegation of men from Laketown present for trade negotiation, reeking of some stench the was indefinable, holding the carcass of a dead animal he had killed. The reasons behind any of his action were never told, though the prince was fairly sure his friend had none, thinking was not Tulcahrve's strong suit, he did things on impulse, and was the constant source of amusement. Now that Kaimelar thought on it, it seemed as though Legolas was simply a younger version of his friend, perhaps that was the reasoning behind his father trying to limit the time those two spent together.
"Something bothering you, Tulcah?" As he undoubtedly was aware of, Tulcah took to believe that his friend referring to him on such a light term gave him permission to drop all the officialness, which he did, which Kaimelar was glad of.
"I can't find my horse Kai! A damned stupid orc arrow shot her and now she's gone and run off. You'd think she'd know better, I mean, in all honesty, my girl can't remove that arrow on her own, I'm the one with the hands."
"You must excuse him Kai, he took a bump on his head, I would disregard most of what he says," Verya added, still keeping his regal form; Tulcahrve frowned at Verya, bump or not he was utterly aware of each and every word he was choosing, well most of the words.
"Please Captain, you were there, she ran off!" he defended; distinctly remember riding beside the Captain when the incident occurred.
"She's probably in the stables, she knows her way home better than you. I doubt you'd ever make it home if didn't have her to guide you."
"Do you two rehearse these remarks? And you are one to talk about getting lost in these woods, Kai, I remember a time." A murderous stare stopped Tulcahrve short, though he feared not his friend, perhaps this was not the best moment to bring up old embarrassing memories, now was a time of celebration. "Just worried about horse sir." He responded shrugging, not noticing his friend suppressing his laughter; that's just what they all needed Tulcahrve with another bump on his head and his guiding force of a horse missing. If others thought Kai and Tulcah were good friends, one did not see the elf and his horse in their state of natural banter, which the horse commonly won. Kai was certain that his friend would have a few words for his wayward horse when he found her and was assured of her well being.
"Well, look at that, Kai! Look up there, seems as though we have a greeting party, I was certain that people were worried for my welfare."
"I'm certain you presence would be missed; there would be a lot less laughter with you gone." Whether an insult or compliment, Tulcahrve was unsure, but he agreed nonetheless, there always was a lot of laughter no matter where he went.
***
"I see them! I see Kai, and Verya, And Tulcah, and everyone else!" Legolas shouted atop his father's shoulder, straining his neck to get a better look, accidentally catching his father's jaw with his unruly swinging foot.
"I see them as well adar! Look at all of them!" Sildulin shouted, uttering a sigh of relief at seeing the sight of all of them, safe.
"Legolas, please, for the sake of my head, I ask you to stop squirming such." Thranduil cried out, after another array of kicks hitting him in his head. Legolas ceased for a moment, laying his chin atop his father's head, playing with a stray strand that happened to float by his hand.
"I cannot wit for Kai to tell me the story of what happened," the child sighed, as his brother came ever closer to the place they stood awaiting his arrival.
***
"Well do my eyes deceive me, or is that Helyanwe standing there beside your sister," Tulcahrve pointed out, in a mild jest to his friend.
"I hadn't noticed, but yes, look, she's come home, finally." Even from afar he could see the radiance of her beauty, he thought back to the days of hearing her speak, the way her fingers brushed his hands while they both reached for a pitcher of water; but they were simply friends, good friends, that's all.
"Perhaps, we should hasten our pace?" Tulcahrve further indulged, enjoying the way his friend's face gradually changed hues, it was ever a wonder how many different shades of red existed. Could that many different pigments of red could one face be capable of? Tulcah considered himself more than lucky to have been graced with the friendship of the Prince.
"No, no, this pace is fine." But his friend paid no heed to his words, galloping off to meet the friends and family awaiting their arrival. Verya laughed at the exchange between the two friends, a laugh worthy of a look from the Prince.
"What's so funny?" Kaimelar asked defensively aware it was some joke on him.
"Are you going to allow Tulcah to grace the young maiden with his prescience before your own? Might steal her heart you know." The Captain replied, a mixture of mirth and seriousness intertwined in the words. Kaimelar gazed off to where his friend had just sped off to, catching sight once more of Helyanwe's face; taking a moment to think of what Verya had just said.
"I do this cause we are simply good friends and I do not wish for her to suffer to banter of Tulcah," Kaimelar said, as he too galloped off trying to catch his friend, hopefully the horse that Tulcah was borrowing was not so learned in the ways to the palace doors as his injured mare was.
***
When Kaimelar had reached his intended destination, Tulcahrve had already dismounted, kneeling so as to speak to Legolas face to face. He jumped from his mount, to the smiling faces of those standing near him, aware of Legolas running from the kneeling Tulcah to grasp onto his brother's hand. And in the distance he could hear Legolas' impatient voice, awaiting for his brother's attention, which was unfortunately for the elfling, occupied with Helyanwe.
"Kai," she said, approaching him, throwing her arms around him in what was a purely platonic hug.
"It is good to see you again Anwe." The two separated and stared at each other for a moment, sheepish grins appearing and disappearing from their faces, as they searched for some words to speak to fill in the silence between them. But the tugging at his arm sufficed for the moment, as Legolas clamored to be held, in order to regain his brother's waning attention.
"Kai! You fight!" Legolas exclaimed, as his brother lifted him.
"Yes, I did. Don't you go running off looking for a fight though, alright there little one?" Legolas nodded, why did people always assume he was going to go running off looking for trouble, he was well aware he was much too little to go fighting orcs.
"We don't want anything bad happening to you, acorn, I just got home and I would like to spend some time with you and you siblings," Helyanwe added tickling the small elf in Kai's arms.
Thranduil looked at the sight, if he had not known better he would have assumed they were a new family embarking on a new life. It was getting to a time in his life where Kai had to start thinking about marriage, and why not she, friends they may claim to be, but to the spectator the spark between them was so apparent it frustrated you to see them deny it.
"I would love for her to be my sister," Sildulin whispered into her father's ear, seeing the same thing he was.
"It would be nice," he said, putting his arm around her. "But come let us greet your brother, protect him from Legolas."
"Give him here," Tulcahrve called, extending his arms out to Legolas, who leapt willingly into them, "Let me tell him what it was like to be right in the middle of such a ferocious fight." Kaimelar gave his friend a light shove, hitting the cut on his arm. "Watch it! I've been wounded, by the terrible orc blade." He said adding extra emphasis on his words enthralling Legolas.
"Have you really been hurt?" Sildulin asked, coming up behind him, reaching out for his arm.
"It isn't his arm you should be worried about but his head, and that was before it struck the ground," Verya remarked atop his horse, arriving where the rest had congregated.
"Find my horse?" Tulcahrve asked eagerly, having not heard a word of his horse's fate, though not really seeking any either.
"Have you looked in the stables?" Verya replied, landing softly on the ground, bowing to Thranduil where he stood, "It is my pleasure to report a victory for your kingdom, sire."
"I am glad to hear it my friend. I trust these two performed admirable." He clasped his friend's forearm in greeting, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he asked of the two young warriors.
"Not to be so forward as to speak for my dear commander," Tulcahrve started.
"I would never believe you to be forward, but go ahead, speak your mind." King Thranduil replied in good faith, curious as to how the young one would inflate his part in the battle.
"Thank you, and may I say, long live the king. But the truth is, my lord, I was granted the chance to save my most admired Captain's life from the grasp on a blood thirsty orc, whose sole purpose of existence was but to bring down the greatest captain that ever graced these fair woods." Tulcahrve finished in a flourish, beaming as he saw the elfling in his arms light up with excitement.
"You saved Verya?"
"Oh did he ever, I thought I wasn't going to make it through this fray," Verya chirped in before clasping Tulcah's shoulder, readying himself to stable his own horse and clean himself up, "You have my gratitude Tulcah, I can only hope to repay you for your deed."
"Do not worry, the only payment I desire is your hard earned respect m Captain," Verya raised an eyebrow as he studied the suspiciously somber face of Tulcah. If he hadn't known the young elf so well, he would have thought him sincere, but he didn't so upon a second look at the other's features, he could see the light of the jest in his eyes. With his free hand, Tulcah saluted his Captain, before left.
"You are lucky you are an agreeable person, or I fear you might have been exiled from these lands long ago for your free flowing tongue." Tulcahrve smirked at the King's words.
"But alas, I am my liege, for what would you do without my company, imagine what a dull place it would be."
"Aye, so sadly true."
***
It was a bit of tome before Helyanwe and Kaimelar were able to get anytime alone, time to catch up on the years they were separated. Together they say with the backs resting on a large tree not too far from the horse's stables, where not too long ago Tulcahrve checked on his horse, who was in fact there waiting patiently for her master to find his way there.
"Do you miss it?" Kaimelar asked after a moment of silence had once again found its way into their conversation, though such silence was more bearable when the two were alone than surrounded by people.
"Miss what?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder, gazing up unto the star filled sky.
"Rivendell, it is beautiful there, as you must well know." He felt her take a breath, as she visualized the world she had just left not a week ago. It did retain a certain ethereal beauty.
"I suppose I do a bit. But there is nothing like Mirkwood to my eyes. Though it does not have the elegance of that land, its beauty is in the searching for it. It is in the hidden secrets that you find behind the trees, deep within its walls that is so comforting. The people who have fought and come together to fight the darkness which encroaches, it is in the light that remains though it could have just as easily extinguished, is what will allows make these woods a home worth returning to." She took a moment, reposing once more in the stars above her, feeling the wall ensnaring the words she wished she could say. Though it wasn't all she wished to share with, she added simply, "I also missed you."
Kaimelar smiled; glad to know that she thought of him while she was away. He had feared that he was the only one who thought on the distance between them, who awaited the reunion between them. "As I did you," he quickly added, fearful she might not feel as deeply about him as he did her, and did not want her to misinterpret his words (though it would not be a misinterpretation), "How could I not miss a friend such as yourself."
She winced slightly inwardly, perhaps tonight was the night for such admissions to come, and perhaps she read something in his eyes that was not there. Cuddling closer to him, she agreed, "There was never such friends as us." And there the two remained together gazing upon the great, dark sky above, sharing the support of the old tree behind them, which one could almost hear sigh as it witnessed the two remain separate though they clung so close.
***
As it was a night of celebration, Legolas was allowed to stay up later than Thranduil would have normally allowed, and he spent his extra hours sitting upon Verya's lap, imploring him for more stories.
"When I am old like you, I can fight?" Legolas asked, gazing up with adoring eyes at the captain.
"I suppose you can if you like, though hopefully, time will not require for you to battle. Hopefully things in this forest will once again become bright and good." Verya replied, he sounded old to his own ears.
"It isn't bright and good?" Legolas asked, not aware that the home he inhabited and loved was anything but good; even the best of places had its occasional spiders.
Verya thought on the young one's words, thought of his home now and as it had been. There was no denying there was a change, a step towards darkness; that was simply the truth no matter how you looked upon it, and he had tried to view what happened to this land from all angles, find the optimism in the diminishing hope. But there on the little prince's face was the pure trust in the innate goodness of the world, he had lost when witnessing the worse that the world could offer. In the bright blue eyes he saw that hope would always remain if he allowed himself to believe in the innocence of childhood. It was not time to destroy the little one's naïve, yet refreshing, trust that even in darkness there is the bright light of good.
"Verya?" Legolas asked again waiting for an answer.
"With you in it, my Prince, this forest will have a light brighter than any star could offer," Verya stood with the Prince in his arms, "But now we are going to put you to bed, let us find your adar to tuck you in."
"No, that's okay." Verya had never known the child to want to go to bed without a story at the least, why would he ask for his father not to come, did he think going to bed by yourself was part of being a warrior; Verya hoped not. "You tuck me in?" The elfling asked with his blue eyes wide and innocent. Verya thought on the past events of the last couple days, and was thankful; thankful that maimed relationships had once again been repaired.
"It would be my pleasure."
***I'll admit the ending was cheesy, but I think we all need the occasional cheese in our life. Thanks for reading the story, an reviewing if such an impulse took hold. It's the end of another story, but hopefully, with winter break coming I can start another! Thanks for the support guys and Happy Holidays, Have a good Winter.***