Part 63

After all had been settled down and everyone acquainted, they retreated inside as night fell. They would stay but for dinner,and then ride off.

For now, Aragorn spoke no more of his destination,and only savored this time of peace he had with his friends. Once again, he found himself in the dining hall given to Eomer and his men,seated at Eomer's right hand. The table was long and many filled the chamber that evening. Eomer and his men, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Halbarad and the Dunedain, Elladan and Elrohir all drank,ate,and were merry.

It seemed to Legolas that this night Aragorn specifically gave his attention to Eomer,who loved the ranger greatly.

He knew not exactly why,but was not in the least feeling neglected. The twins were seated on either side of him, talking quietly to the prince in Elvish. Yet Legolas was careful not neglect Gimli,for he knew the Dwarf was annoyed when the Elves spoke in their own tongue that he could not understand. And Legolas also had to entertain the attentions of Halbarad,who was eager to talk with him and form a bond quickly. Therefore, the prince of Mirkwood was glad he had training and experience in entertaining multiple people at once, as was custom for a royal.

" Legolas, tell me more of your people ", Halbarad requested.

" My homeland is Mirkwood, and long has my heart lived in joy in its wood ", said Legolas, and he thought of the words offered him by Galadriel not long ago in the forest of Fangorn.

" There live my people, the Woodland Elves,and also the Silvan. They are a fair people,much like that of Lothlorien. But I fear they leave my home even now ", he continued.

" Where would they go? " asked Halbarad curiously.

" Valinor. The Gray Havens ", answered Legolas. And a flame of both memory and longing flickered and faded in his blue eyes as he spoke of it.

Elladan and Elrohir eyed him. They knew of how the prince felt within himself, for they,too, were Elves, and Valinor was their fate also. Neither of the Peredhel twins had suffered the awakening of the sea longing yet, but one day it would come. And they knew Legolas thought of this now,though they did not know he had been offered to sail the ship only a night before he had come to their own home of Rivendell.

" Legolas, mellonin ", Elrohir cooed softly in Legolas' ear.

" Do not be so eager for Valinor. There are many you would leave behind who love you. Remember that ", he told him in Elvish,so only he,his brother, and Legolas could understand.

Gimli shifted uncomfortably in his seat beside Elrohir. More Elvish,his thought. Yet since he had formed a very deep friendship with Legolas, he was now all the more open minded to his race. The sons of Elrond seemed no less noble,and indeed benevolent to himself,despite the fact he was a Dwarf.

Legolas nodded and his heart softened when he heard the pleading and tenderness of Elrohir's voice. He laid his hand on his friend's forearm beneath the table and squeezed it reassuringly. He smiled faintly at Elrohir, who returned the smile as he looked into Legolas' luminous blue eyes with his own gray, subtly warm with a mixture of sadness and love.

" As a brother you are to us, Legolas Thranduilion. You are loved by us just as Estel. Do not forget that ", said

Elladan in Elvish.

A smile crept further up Legolas' fair face at these words.

Indeed,now he had three brothers instead of one. How the Valar blessed him, he thought.

Eomer stood and quieted the room to speak.

" Tonight had been a night of camaraderie and great friendship. We have feasted leisurely amongst each other, a room full of honorable beings. I know not where each of our paths lead, but I do hope that in the end, we shall come together again in the brotherhood we have been fortunate enough to have found with each other ", he spoke and all the room was silent. And all were meditative upon Eomer's words.

He rose up his goblet as he looked around the table at each face of each Man,Elf, and Dwarf seated there.

" To peace,victory,and friendship ",he said steadily.

All raised their goblets in toast and drank. Eomer sat down and the conversation resided after a few moment of quiet. They all talked long afterwards and enjoyed each other's company.

At last, they found it late and time to part ways. Eomer and Aragorn led everyone from the chamber outside. And Eomer turned to Aragorn and said, " Wilt thou go and take the road of called the Paths of the Dead?"

And Aragorn replied, " That is my road."

And Eomer became heavy of heart and said,

" Alas! Aragorn, my friend, I had hoped that we should ride to war together,but if you seek the Paths of the Dead, than our parting is come, and it is little likely that we shall ever meet again under the Sun."

" That road I will take,nonetheless ", said Aragorn. " But I say to you,Eomer, that in battle we may yet meet again, though all the hosts of Mordor should stand between."

And Theoden then bid Aragorn farewell and the king of Rohan departed with Eomer and Merry and several of his men.

And Aragorn turned to his friend Halbarad and said,

" There go three that I love, and the smallest not the least."