Part 75
Legolas did not respond to Aragorn's touch, only stared out at the water and forms of ships. The gulls cried out in the air above them and they would forever haunt Legolas' heart until he listened to their calling and followed them across the waves of the Sea. The longing for the ocean erupted in his chest and a new melancholy seized him, giving the Elf such a deep expression of sadness on his fair face that it filled Aragorn's and Gimli's eyes with compassionate sorrow.
Legolas lowered his gaze, his blue eyes conveying the lost feeling that made him look as a child. The lost expression that had broken his stoic mask when Gandalf had fallen and Boromir had passed on.
" Legolas ", said Aragorn gently. " Sidh, mellonin." He gripped the Elf's shoulder as he spoke soothingly.
" Are you all right, Master Elf? " Gimli asked, a subtle sense of worry in his tone. Legolas nodded slightly after a moment, although both of his friends doubted him.
" Good lad ", said Gimli with tentative cheer.
The three of them then looked out to the dark waters and the massive fleet that reigned over them. Besides the Haradrim, other vessels drifted there, all across the gray stretch of water, many of them smaller. Some where heading off, fleeing from the Grey Company. Others were ablaze, small flames in the dark. But the Haradrim was yet a great army.
Aragorn, now focused on the enemy once more, cried out with a great voice, " Now, come! By the Black Stone, I call you! "
And suddenly, the Shadow Host that had hung back at last rose up and swept all away before it like a gray tide. The air was further marked with the sounds of faint cries, the dim blowing of horns, and a murmur of countless voices. Pale swords were drawn; though whether they still bit was unknown, for the Dead no longer needed any weapon but fear.
To every ship they came that was drawn up, and they passed over the water to those that were anchored. All the mariners save the slaves that were chained to the oars, leapt overboard in madness and terror. Recklessly, Aragorn and the Grey Company rode among their fleeing foes, driving them like leaves, until they came to shore. Then to each of the great ships, Aragorn sent one of the Dunedain, and they comforted the captives and bade them put aside their fear and be free.
Ere that dark day was over, none of the enemy were left to resist the Grey Company; all were drowned, or were flying south in hopes to find their own land.
Legolas looked upon Aragorn in that hour and pondered what a great and terrible Lord he would have become in the corruption of the Ring. Mordor did not fear him for nothing. But Aragorn had a spirit nobler than the understanding of Sauron, and for that Legolas was glad.
Aragorn then chose the greatest ship for himself and went up into it, bidding Legolas, Gimli, Elladan, Elrohir, and Halbarad to accompany him. For behold, all the black fleet he had for his plunder. And then he let a great concourse of trumpets taken from the enemy sound, causing the Shadow Host to withdraw to the shore.
There they stood silently and barely seen, their eyes with a red gleam in the glare of the burning ships. It was eerie, Legolas thought to himself, though he was not afraid. Then unto the Dead Men, Aragorn said loudly,
" Hear now the words of the Heir of Isildur! Your oath is fulfilled. Go back and trouble not the valleys ever again! Depart and be at rest! "
Then the King of the Dead stood out before the host, breaking his spear and casting it down at his feet. He bowed low and turned away; and swiftly the whole gray host vanished away.
That night, they rested while others yet labored. For there were many slaves set free, and many captives released who had been folk of Gondor taken in raids; and so there was also a great gathering of men out of Lebennin and the Ethir, and Angbor of Lamedon, who had offered his help to Aragorn at Linhir, came with all the horsemen he could muster. With the fear of the Dead removed, they came to aid the Grey Company and look on the Heir of Isildur. During the evening and night, many ships were made ready and manned; and in the morning the fleet set forth.
But Legolas did not sleep that night, nor did he retire for quite some time. He was restless now, as he would always be until he sailed. And he was on a ship, on the water, with the gulls circling in the sky and crying. It was a temptation only overpowered by his loyalty to Aragorn. Yet he let himself stand on the deck in the open air and look out to the water and the shadows of the many other ships and the stars that hung faintly in the sky. There, Aragorn found him. He had much on his mind and could not find sleep either, which had led him to quietly creep up on to the deck so as not to wake his other dear companions. Gimli, the twins, and Halbarad had all been thoroughly worn out after their long journey. But Legolas was tireless.
" Le rado al idh sen fuin, mellonin ", Aragorn sighed as he came up alongside Legolas.//You find no rest this night, my friend.// He stood slightly leaned over with his elbows on the railing, looking up at the stars with his mirroring gray eyes.
" Nay, I shall not have rest here. Or any other place in Middle Earth ", the fair Elf said in a reserved tone but with a hint of sadness and resignation.
They were both quiet for a while, the soft sound of the water lapping up on the ships giving them some sort of calm.
" You know your are not my prisoner, Legolas ", Aragorn said
" You are free, and thusly you may go when you will."
" //Le nin meldir a gwador, Estel// ", Legolas told him with a tender voice. //You are my friend and brother, Estel.// " I stay because I choose to ", he added.
" I will not have you stay just for me when the Sea calls you. If you long for the ocean, than go to it. I will not hold you this world ", Aragorn replied, although his heart was bitter at his own words. Legolas turned to Aragorn, his blue eyes searching the man's gray.
" Do you deny your wish for me to stay? " he asked, reminding Aragorn of a child that was scared of being unwanted, unloved, cast out.
" Nay, the selfish part of my heart bids me to beg you stay. But I would rather bear pain and loneliness and sorrow in your absence than to force you to bear it in your longing ", he said truthfully to the Elf prince.
Legolas paused for a moment and stared at his best friend with grateful affection. " And I could not bear a farewell to you before our time. Even the Havens will not be perfect for me because you will not walk in their wood with me", Legolas said with melancholy. Aragorn only looked at him with pity and sympathy and his own despair.
" I will not sail until you pass out of the circles of this world, Aragorn ", Legolas decided. Aragorn's eyes glimmered with joy and regret at the same time. He gripped the Elf's shoulder with a fierce affection and gratitude, before pulling him into an one-armed hug.
" Hannon le ", he murmured softly before they both pulled apart smiling. " Now go get some rest ", Aragorn said to Legolas.
" You must as well, tithen min ",the Elf countered, affectionately calling his best friend 'little one'.
" Excuse me, but I'm grown, for your information, elfling ",retorted Aragorn with a clever smile.
" And I am no elfling ", Legolas said indignantly.
Both chuckled lightly, disappearing from view and going down to their rooms for sleep, their arms slung around each other's neck.
Legolas did not respond to Aragorn's touch, only stared out at the water and forms of ships. The gulls cried out in the air above them and they would forever haunt Legolas' heart until he listened to their calling and followed them across the waves of the Sea. The longing for the ocean erupted in his chest and a new melancholy seized him, giving the Elf such a deep expression of sadness on his fair face that it filled Aragorn's and Gimli's eyes with compassionate sorrow.
Legolas lowered his gaze, his blue eyes conveying the lost feeling that made him look as a child. The lost expression that had broken his stoic mask when Gandalf had fallen and Boromir had passed on.
" Legolas ", said Aragorn gently. " Sidh, mellonin." He gripped the Elf's shoulder as he spoke soothingly.
" Are you all right, Master Elf? " Gimli asked, a subtle sense of worry in his tone. Legolas nodded slightly after a moment, although both of his friends doubted him.
" Good lad ", said Gimli with tentative cheer.
The three of them then looked out to the dark waters and the massive fleet that reigned over them. Besides the Haradrim, other vessels drifted there, all across the gray stretch of water, many of them smaller. Some where heading off, fleeing from the Grey Company. Others were ablaze, small flames in the dark. But the Haradrim was yet a great army.
Aragorn, now focused on the enemy once more, cried out with a great voice, " Now, come! By the Black Stone, I call you! "
And suddenly, the Shadow Host that had hung back at last rose up and swept all away before it like a gray tide. The air was further marked with the sounds of faint cries, the dim blowing of horns, and a murmur of countless voices. Pale swords were drawn; though whether they still bit was unknown, for the Dead no longer needed any weapon but fear.
To every ship they came that was drawn up, and they passed over the water to those that were anchored. All the mariners save the slaves that were chained to the oars, leapt overboard in madness and terror. Recklessly, Aragorn and the Grey Company rode among their fleeing foes, driving them like leaves, until they came to shore. Then to each of the great ships, Aragorn sent one of the Dunedain, and they comforted the captives and bade them put aside their fear and be free.
Ere that dark day was over, none of the enemy were left to resist the Grey Company; all were drowned, or were flying south in hopes to find their own land.
Legolas looked upon Aragorn in that hour and pondered what a great and terrible Lord he would have become in the corruption of the Ring. Mordor did not fear him for nothing. But Aragorn had a spirit nobler than the understanding of Sauron, and for that Legolas was glad.
Aragorn then chose the greatest ship for himself and went up into it, bidding Legolas, Gimli, Elladan, Elrohir, and Halbarad to accompany him. For behold, all the black fleet he had for his plunder. And then he let a great concourse of trumpets taken from the enemy sound, causing the Shadow Host to withdraw to the shore.
There they stood silently and barely seen, their eyes with a red gleam in the glare of the burning ships. It was eerie, Legolas thought to himself, though he was not afraid. Then unto the Dead Men, Aragorn said loudly,
" Hear now the words of the Heir of Isildur! Your oath is fulfilled. Go back and trouble not the valleys ever again! Depart and be at rest! "
Then the King of the Dead stood out before the host, breaking his spear and casting it down at his feet. He bowed low and turned away; and swiftly the whole gray host vanished away.
That night, they rested while others yet labored. For there were many slaves set free, and many captives released who had been folk of Gondor taken in raids; and so there was also a great gathering of men out of Lebennin and the Ethir, and Angbor of Lamedon, who had offered his help to Aragorn at Linhir, came with all the horsemen he could muster. With the fear of the Dead removed, they came to aid the Grey Company and look on the Heir of Isildur. During the evening and night, many ships were made ready and manned; and in the morning the fleet set forth.
But Legolas did not sleep that night, nor did he retire for quite some time. He was restless now, as he would always be until he sailed. And he was on a ship, on the water, with the gulls circling in the sky and crying. It was a temptation only overpowered by his loyalty to Aragorn. Yet he let himself stand on the deck in the open air and look out to the water and the shadows of the many other ships and the stars that hung faintly in the sky. There, Aragorn found him. He had much on his mind and could not find sleep either, which had led him to quietly creep up on to the deck so as not to wake his other dear companions. Gimli, the twins, and Halbarad had all been thoroughly worn out after their long journey. But Legolas was tireless.
" Le rado al idh sen fuin, mellonin ", Aragorn sighed as he came up alongside Legolas.//You find no rest this night, my friend.// He stood slightly leaned over with his elbows on the railing, looking up at the stars with his mirroring gray eyes.
" Nay, I shall not have rest here. Or any other place in Middle Earth ", the fair Elf said in a reserved tone but with a hint of sadness and resignation.
They were both quiet for a while, the soft sound of the water lapping up on the ships giving them some sort of calm.
" You know your are not my prisoner, Legolas ", Aragorn said
" You are free, and thusly you may go when you will."
" //Le nin meldir a gwador, Estel// ", Legolas told him with a tender voice. //You are my friend and brother, Estel.// " I stay because I choose to ", he added.
" I will not have you stay just for me when the Sea calls you. If you long for the ocean, than go to it. I will not hold you this world ", Aragorn replied, although his heart was bitter at his own words. Legolas turned to Aragorn, his blue eyes searching the man's gray.
" Do you deny your wish for me to stay? " he asked, reminding Aragorn of a child that was scared of being unwanted, unloved, cast out.
" Nay, the selfish part of my heart bids me to beg you stay. But I would rather bear pain and loneliness and sorrow in your absence than to force you to bear it in your longing ", he said truthfully to the Elf prince.
Legolas paused for a moment and stared at his best friend with grateful affection. " And I could not bear a farewell to you before our time. Even the Havens will not be perfect for me because you will not walk in their wood with me", Legolas said with melancholy. Aragorn only looked at him with pity and sympathy and his own despair.
" I will not sail until you pass out of the circles of this world, Aragorn ", Legolas decided. Aragorn's eyes glimmered with joy and regret at the same time. He gripped the Elf's shoulder with a fierce affection and gratitude, before pulling him into an one-armed hug.
" Hannon le ", he murmured softly before they both pulled apart smiling. " Now go get some rest ", Aragorn said to Legolas.
" You must as well, tithen min ",the Elf countered, affectionately calling his best friend 'little one'.
" Excuse me, but I'm grown, for your information, elfling ",retorted Aragorn with a clever smile.
" And I am no elfling ", Legolas said indignantly.
Both chuckled lightly, disappearing from view and going down to their rooms for sleep, their arms slung around each other's neck.
