It is only a little further", Legolas said, steadying his stumbling wife.

She was still weak, though not so much physically as mentally. Laurelin walked determinedly on, still holding Legolas for support. She could walk a thousand miles for Elan.

They walked slowly through the quiet forest, and finally they reached the silent, secluded clearing that was the Elves' burial ground. There were not many mounds, and most of those that were there belonged to warriors killed in battle. But it was one small stone tomb with a smiling baby on it that caught the elleth's gaze. It was very small and the statue was an excellent likeness of Elan.

"Let me go, Legolas", Laurelin whispered. Legolas reluctantly loosened his grip and stayed near, should anything happen to her.

Tears stung her eyes as she knelt by the stone statue and caressed its cold cheek. Laurelin knew then that the pain of his death would never leave her. It would haunt her forever. For the first time in her life, the elf longed to be mortal. The bitterness of immortality struck her then, for there was to be no hope in death for her. Elan would always remain a memory, and nothing more. Thunder rolled above them in the cloudy skies, and the rain that had been threatening to come for the past few days seemed to have arrived at last.

"Amin mela lle, elan amin", she whispered and stooped down to kiss the cold cheek, before the skies opened and icy raindrops mingled with her bitter tears.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Never in his life had Legolas been more afraid. He was immensely afraid of what awaited him inside the broken-down old hut. The elven soldier who had made the discovery had an expression upon his face that turned his blood cold. Taking a deep breath, the Elven Prince entered.

Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw next. Laurelin was lying on the floor, unconscious or-he could not think of it- dead. Numerous cuts and scratches disfigured her and a dark wound was on her left side. Legolas was almost certain that it was a poisoned wound, for it had definitely been made by an orcish arrow.

He tried to remain calm but the despair in his manner was plain to see. He gently examined the wound and checked her pulse, his heart beating fast. Indescribable relief flooded through him as he felt a faint pulse. Legolas lifted his wife slowly, unwilling to trust her to anyone else.

"Cund nin", the sorrowful voice of an Elven warrior greeted him when he emerged outside, carrying Laurelin.

An almost unrecognizable blood-stained piece of cloth was in the soldiers arms. Legolas knew at once what it was: Elan's pale blue tunic.

It took all of his strength to refrain from collapsing on the ground, with Laurelin as well. Controlling his grief, Legolas gave orders for the faster rider to inform the healers immediately and for his horse to be brought to him.

Once safely mounted on his horse and on the way back home, Legolas kissed the pale elleth in his arms and wiped away the tears that had fallen from his eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The very silence of the room was oppressive. Laurelin walked into the nursery, the first time since Elan's death. Everything was the same as on that day when she had left on her ill-fated walk. The windows were shut and the room was dark. Laurelin walked to the window near his cot and opened it, letting the pale winter sunshine fall on his pillow. A single golden hair shone on it.

Laurelin picked it up and placed it in a piece of cloth and tied it up securely. Setting this aside, she picked up the pillow and held it to her face. His baby scent was still on it. Grief overcame her completely. Laurelin sobbed into the little pillow more bitterly than ever before.

"Sellath", a tall figure appeared in the doorway to the room. Laurelin looked up at the sound of that familiar voice, that voice which always made her feel as if everything was going to be fine. But Laurelin knew that even her father could not being Elan back.

"Ada", Laurelin whispered, holding out her arms, seeking comfort.

Lord Elrond held her close, feeling her sorrow acutely.

"Pen tithen*, I am here for you now".

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I have been extremely busy these last few days, with school exams and an admission interview thrown in. But now that I have only three more exams to complete, my updates will {I hope!} be quicker.

*- little one.