A/N: I'm really sorry abt the long gap! Happy New Year to everyone out
there!!! I've been sick with chicken pox ever since the 1st {Great start to
the new year, huh?} and before that I was away on holiday so I've not been
able to update. Anyway, chapters should come quicker now, since I wrote
down the entire fic throughout the time I've been ill. Only a few chapters
more to go!!! And in answer to the question a few of you asked, Elan is
well and truly gone. Though his body was never found, he is not alive. Keep
reading!!!!
Laurelin breathed deeply, letting the fresh, clean, air flow through her body. She was home. That simple fact filled her with more happiness than she had felt in a long time. She did not have to worry about anything now.
Legolas watched her with a slight smile on his lips but his heart was heavy. He knew now that there was no hope of her ever returning to Mirkwood with him. There was no hope of them ever leading the same carefree life again. It was in the past, to remain a memory forever. Legolas sighed.
At least she was happy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Laurel", Legolas called, as he opened the door. She was up in an instant, her face glowing with anticipation.
"They have arrived?", she asked breathlessly, though she already knew the answer. Her family had been expected to arrive in Mirkwood that day, and Laurelin could hardly wait to see them.
"Yes, but", Legolas stood in front of the door, obstructing her, "You must remember-you cannot wear yourself out".
Laurelin made a suitably frustrated noise at this and glared at him, but Legolas stood firm. She often forgot that she was heavily pregnant and that their baby was due any day from now, even though her body reminded her often of this fact
"As if I would run in this state-even if I could!", Laurelin said indignantly.
" I did not imply that you were going to run", Legolas said, smothering a smile.
"But you meant it!", Laurelin said with another glare.
"I think they will come to find us, if we do not go to meet them now", Legolas interjected. Laurelin laughed suddenly and wrapped one arm around her husband, leading him out of the door. Legolas put an arm around her waist.
"Thank the Valar, that I married you and no one else", Laurelin remarked softly. Legolas laughed.
"That feeling is mutual, a'maelamin", he replied.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elladan and Elrohir saw Laurelin and Legolas and the two guards approaching fast. They glanced at each other, unsure of what they should say when they met their youngest sister. It was terrible that such grief should come to her and Legolas, that their firstborn should be killed, and that too in such a gruesome manner. Death was unfamiliar to the elves and it pained them that death should come to so young a life.
The twins were shocked at the change in their sister's demeanor. She was pale and sad, but her eyes showed what she had been through. She seemed definitely pleased to return home, but something was holding her back.
"I have missed you", she said softly, the moment she stood before them. They wordlessly engulfed her in an embrace. Laurelin found it hard to control her tears before them. She turned to her sister and her father, who stood nearby. Lord Elrond had returned to Rivendell only a week before.
"I am home", she whispered, before she gladly fell into her sister's arms, crying quietly. They walked together slowly, away from the courtyard.
"I doubt that she will be troubled here", Legolas said aside, to Lord Elrond, "She is happy to return".
He turned his piercing gaze upon the elven prince, and shook his head.
"It will be only for a little while", he said.
And Legolas understood what that look meant, though his heart sank lower at the thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I certainly never expected that I would see you like this, my sister", Elladan teased his sister.
"Neither did I", Laurelin admitted, "It is odd to that I am the first to be married amongst us, since I am the youngest, and it is definitely unbelievable that I will be the first to have a child!". They all laughed.
"I can still remember you as an elfling", Arwen said, "You were the naughtiest one that ever lived".
"We were no better", Elrohir reminded her, "Do you remember the time we were in Lothlorien, and Arwen bathed Laurelin in our grandmother's fountain?".
"She was so angry!", Laurelin laughed, " I did not receive any punishment though, she seemed to think I was too young to have put you up to it".
There was a temporary lull in the conversation as the four of them recalled that amusing incident and its not so amusing aftermath. Laurelin jerked suddenly and her face contorted in pain for a moment.
"What is wrong?", Arwen was at her side immediately.
"Nothing. It often happens", Laurelin said.
Her expression changed suddenly.
"Now, that does not happen often. Oh please, someone find Legolas at once- and a healer as well", Laurelin shut her eyes and the same pained look crossed her face again. Elladan and Elrohir had left already.
"Arwen", she moaned softly.
"Come, muinthel, we will go to your room now", her sister gently pulled Laurelin to her feet.
Somehow, Laurelin reached her room even as a frantic Legolas arrived at her side.
"Oh Legolas, I did not know it would hurt this much", she managed to say, "I mean, I knew there would be some amount of pain-but", she was gripping his hand so tight that it turned pale. Legolas simply kissed her forehead, and knelt beside her.
"I know you will be able to bear it, melamin".
The healer Arienna and her assistant arrived just then, to Laurelin's and Legolas' relief.
"Please, would you all leave the room at once?", she said quickly to them, as soon as she took one look at Laurelin.
"I want Legolas! I will not have this child without him!", Laurelin cried out firmly.
Arienna looked as though she would not allow it, but she nodded at last.
"Legolas", Laurelin turned tear-filled blue eyes to him. He squeezed her hand and smiled.
"I am here", he said reassuringly.
She managed a smile.
"I could not do this without you", she whispered, before pain rendered her mute for four and a half hours.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas still felt weighed down by Lord Elrond's words. He could not say that he had never before considered the possibility of Laurelin sailing.
Why then was it upsetting him this much? He rose from the bed and walked to the window where the sun was setting. The truth was that Legolas did not know what to do.
If she sailed, and it would be the best thing for her to do, Laurelin would find some respite from the constant despair that she felt in Middle- Earth. But they would have to endure an existence without a single message or meeting for an indefinite amount of time. For Legolas could not leave Middle-Earth so soon, he had duties and responsibilities- and he had his Ada.
He had hoped that it would not come to this. He had hoped that Laurelin would be content to remain in Imladris until he was ready to sail himself. He knew he must eventually, he had known it since he had married her. She was a child of Elrond Half-elven, and to keep her immortality, she must either sail before or with him, or relinquish her immortality. Thus he had always known that he must leave Middle-Earth with her.
But he had not counted on her sailing this soon. Perhaps she could await him here? Until he was prepared to sail himself?
Deep inside though, Legolas knew that it was not possible. He realized that the best thing would be for Laurelin to take the ship as early as possible. There was to be no peace for her in Middle-Earth ever again.
Convincing Laurelin would not be an easy thing, Legolas reflected wryly, neither for him nor her. Then again, perhaps convincing himself would be harder than convincing her.
He shut his eyes, a mixture of emotions tormenting him. His intense, possessive love for Laurelin, and his fierce hatred of the orcs for ruining the wonderful life they had led, and the pain at the thought of being away from her, whether she was here, in Middle-Earth or in Valinor.
Laurelin breathed deeply, letting the fresh, clean, air flow through her body. She was home. That simple fact filled her with more happiness than she had felt in a long time. She did not have to worry about anything now.
Legolas watched her with a slight smile on his lips but his heart was heavy. He knew now that there was no hope of her ever returning to Mirkwood with him. There was no hope of them ever leading the same carefree life again. It was in the past, to remain a memory forever. Legolas sighed.
At least she was happy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Laurel", Legolas called, as he opened the door. She was up in an instant, her face glowing with anticipation.
"They have arrived?", she asked breathlessly, though she already knew the answer. Her family had been expected to arrive in Mirkwood that day, and Laurelin could hardly wait to see them.
"Yes, but", Legolas stood in front of the door, obstructing her, "You must remember-you cannot wear yourself out".
Laurelin made a suitably frustrated noise at this and glared at him, but Legolas stood firm. She often forgot that she was heavily pregnant and that their baby was due any day from now, even though her body reminded her often of this fact
"As if I would run in this state-even if I could!", Laurelin said indignantly.
" I did not imply that you were going to run", Legolas said, smothering a smile.
"But you meant it!", Laurelin said with another glare.
"I think they will come to find us, if we do not go to meet them now", Legolas interjected. Laurelin laughed suddenly and wrapped one arm around her husband, leading him out of the door. Legolas put an arm around her waist.
"Thank the Valar, that I married you and no one else", Laurelin remarked softly. Legolas laughed.
"That feeling is mutual, a'maelamin", he replied.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Elladan and Elrohir saw Laurelin and Legolas and the two guards approaching fast. They glanced at each other, unsure of what they should say when they met their youngest sister. It was terrible that such grief should come to her and Legolas, that their firstborn should be killed, and that too in such a gruesome manner. Death was unfamiliar to the elves and it pained them that death should come to so young a life.
The twins were shocked at the change in their sister's demeanor. She was pale and sad, but her eyes showed what she had been through. She seemed definitely pleased to return home, but something was holding her back.
"I have missed you", she said softly, the moment she stood before them. They wordlessly engulfed her in an embrace. Laurelin found it hard to control her tears before them. She turned to her sister and her father, who stood nearby. Lord Elrond had returned to Rivendell only a week before.
"I am home", she whispered, before she gladly fell into her sister's arms, crying quietly. They walked together slowly, away from the courtyard.
"I doubt that she will be troubled here", Legolas said aside, to Lord Elrond, "She is happy to return".
He turned his piercing gaze upon the elven prince, and shook his head.
"It will be only for a little while", he said.
And Legolas understood what that look meant, though his heart sank lower at the thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I certainly never expected that I would see you like this, my sister", Elladan teased his sister.
"Neither did I", Laurelin admitted, "It is odd to that I am the first to be married amongst us, since I am the youngest, and it is definitely unbelievable that I will be the first to have a child!". They all laughed.
"I can still remember you as an elfling", Arwen said, "You were the naughtiest one that ever lived".
"We were no better", Elrohir reminded her, "Do you remember the time we were in Lothlorien, and Arwen bathed Laurelin in our grandmother's fountain?".
"She was so angry!", Laurelin laughed, " I did not receive any punishment though, she seemed to think I was too young to have put you up to it".
There was a temporary lull in the conversation as the four of them recalled that amusing incident and its not so amusing aftermath. Laurelin jerked suddenly and her face contorted in pain for a moment.
"What is wrong?", Arwen was at her side immediately.
"Nothing. It often happens", Laurelin said.
Her expression changed suddenly.
"Now, that does not happen often. Oh please, someone find Legolas at once- and a healer as well", Laurelin shut her eyes and the same pained look crossed her face again. Elladan and Elrohir had left already.
"Arwen", she moaned softly.
"Come, muinthel, we will go to your room now", her sister gently pulled Laurelin to her feet.
Somehow, Laurelin reached her room even as a frantic Legolas arrived at her side.
"Oh Legolas, I did not know it would hurt this much", she managed to say, "I mean, I knew there would be some amount of pain-but", she was gripping his hand so tight that it turned pale. Legolas simply kissed her forehead, and knelt beside her.
"I know you will be able to bear it, melamin".
The healer Arienna and her assistant arrived just then, to Laurelin's and Legolas' relief.
"Please, would you all leave the room at once?", she said quickly to them, as soon as she took one look at Laurelin.
"I want Legolas! I will not have this child without him!", Laurelin cried out firmly.
Arienna looked as though she would not allow it, but she nodded at last.
"Legolas", Laurelin turned tear-filled blue eyes to him. He squeezed her hand and smiled.
"I am here", he said reassuringly.
She managed a smile.
"I could not do this without you", she whispered, before pain rendered her mute for four and a half hours.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas still felt weighed down by Lord Elrond's words. He could not say that he had never before considered the possibility of Laurelin sailing.
Why then was it upsetting him this much? He rose from the bed and walked to the window where the sun was setting. The truth was that Legolas did not know what to do.
If she sailed, and it would be the best thing for her to do, Laurelin would find some respite from the constant despair that she felt in Middle- Earth. But they would have to endure an existence without a single message or meeting for an indefinite amount of time. For Legolas could not leave Middle-Earth so soon, he had duties and responsibilities- and he had his Ada.
He had hoped that it would not come to this. He had hoped that Laurelin would be content to remain in Imladris until he was ready to sail himself. He knew he must eventually, he had known it since he had married her. She was a child of Elrond Half-elven, and to keep her immortality, she must either sail before or with him, or relinquish her immortality. Thus he had always known that he must leave Middle-Earth with her.
But he had not counted on her sailing this soon. Perhaps she could await him here? Until he was prepared to sail himself?
Deep inside though, Legolas knew that it was not possible. He realized that the best thing would be for Laurelin to take the ship as early as possible. There was to be no peace for her in Middle-Earth ever again.
Convincing Laurelin would not be an easy thing, Legolas reflected wryly, neither for him nor her. Then again, perhaps convincing himself would be harder than convincing her.
He shut his eyes, a mixture of emotions tormenting him. His intense, possessive love for Laurelin, and his fierce hatred of the orcs for ruining the wonderful life they had led, and the pain at the thought of being away from her, whether she was here, in Middle-Earth or in Valinor.
