Four more days passed, and Sayowyn knew that if only she had stayed
by Legolas' side, they would still be together, and would be arriving on
the shores of Valinor this day. And in Valinor the ships arrived all at
once. The horses were very restless, but well fed throughout the journey.
The elves were also tired after a weeks traveling, and also a little sad
about leaving Middle-earth. But here was their new life, full of new
adventures.
Awaiting on the shores were most of the other Elves that had already arrived, and they formed a line to watch the final ships coming in. The arriving Elves leaped from the boats and unloaded their horses. Phaldis held Sayowyns' two horses, waiting for her to retrieve them. Legolas looked around for his princess, whom he wanted to speak to, after a week of separation.
But elf after elf poured from the ships, and still no Sayowyn. Legolas went to grab the lead ropes of the two horses, who were slightly frightened of their new surroundings. Hours passed in Valinor, and Legolas was not quite believing that perhaps Sayowyn was in Middle-earth. He went up to all of the elves who had sailed the past week, all of which said they assumed Sayowyn was on another ship.
And then it hit him. Sayowyn was still out on her travels when the ship left. Legolas dropped to his knees. He knew that she was gone forever, now. A tear slid down his cheek. Thranduil rushed to his side. "My son! What is wrong?" he asked.
Legolas did not answer for a long time. "She is gone. I left her." he managed to get out before leaving and walking down the shores alone. The sun was setting, and Legolas lay on the shore to sleep.
Months passed. Sayowyn lingered on alone and in silence, travelling here and there. Before she knew it, she arrived in Gondor, before the walls of Minas Tirith. She look up at the white walls, to the highest peak of the city, where just months ago she had been reunited with Legolas and her old friends, sure to be happy forever.
Slowly, the elf made her way up to the Citadel, in hopes of finding Arwen or Aragorn. She passed through the city, ignoring the curious stares of the citizens. Not for many months had an elf other than Arwen visited. Upon arrival in the Citadel, Sayowyn walked in, catching the attention of guards. But there was no King or Queen.
Just as one of the guards questioned Sayowyn about the purpose of her visit, Arwen stepped into the large room.
When she saw Sayowyn, tired, dirty, and alone, Arwen mumbled a sound and ran to her side. "Sayowyn," she whispered. And in Sayowyn's eyes, the Queen knew what had happened.
Two weeks passed, before Aragorn, Arwen, Sayowyn, Faramir, and Eowyn rode out of Gondor. Sayowyn was unsure of where exactly they were going, but did not question them. One late afternoon day, they finally arrived in the harbor, where the ships had taken her family from her.
Sayowyn dismounted her borrowed horse and walked up to the dock. The others followed. A small ship was docked, waiting for them. Sayowyn's jaw dropped slightly. "What is this?" she asked.
Arwen smiled. "My father had this ship built for me, in case I wished to come to Valinor. But now, I will not need it. You will take the ship, Sayowyn. I am happy here, but I can see that you are not. This ship was built by elves, and will take you, with no direction, onto the very shores of Valinor." she replied.
Sayowyn smiled back, still in disbelief. She was to see her prince again. She bid the others goodbye. "Eowyn," she said. "You have been a great friend to me. May you and Faramir have a long life, as King and Queen of Rohan. You are more brave than any mere man on this earth." Sayowyn hugged her and Faramir.
To Aragorn, she now turned. "Long live the King. I knew you had it in you, Aragorn. You are a true hero, brave and resilient to your very nature. I cannot thank you enough for the courage you gave us all. Namarie." she kissed his foreheard, and he smiled at her, silent.
Finally she turned to Arwen, who had tears forming in her eyes. "Arwen. My friend of the many centuries. You are the true Queen of Gondor, may your life be fulfilled with peace and happiness. I will wait for you in Valinor. And I shall miss you most of all."
Arwen spoke. "I wish you did not have to leave. I shall miss you so." Sayowyn closed her eyes for a moment. "What is it?" Arwen asked.
Sayowyn spoke slowly. "In my heart, I can hear the white gulls call. I can feel the soft white sand of the shores beneath my feet. My horses stand, their eyes bright and their ears pricked. Their manes are billowing in the cool breeze. Haldir holds them for me. My parents stand smiling, along with Gandalf. And...Legolas stands, smiling with open arms. They are waiting for me." she finished.
Arwen had tears running down her cheeks. "Go to them." she said,her voice barely above a whisper.
Sayowyn smiled at her softly. She gave the others one last look in farewell and then turned once again to Arwen. Sayowyn kissed the Queen elf upon her head, getting lost in her black hair. "Namarie amin mellon." she said. The elf turned and stepped onto the ship, and was surprised to see it already begin to slowly set sail, all on its own.
Sayowyn was not 40 feet out when she turned to the group of her beloved friends one last time, and grinned at them. For Sayowyn was going home. Arwen raised a hand in goodbye, and Sayowyn did the same. Aragorn placed his right hand on his heart and watched his friend slowly sail away. The ship glided along the gentle waters, through the Gray Havens and into the setting sun.
When her group of friends became a small dot in the distance, Sayowyn knew that there was no turning back. She had left Middle-earth forever. She sat on a bench in the ship and watched as the large chunk of earth that was once her home also began to disappear.
With a final look, she smiled once more , and then turned to look out in front of her, though she could see nothing but sea and sky.
Awaiting on the shores were most of the other Elves that had already arrived, and they formed a line to watch the final ships coming in. The arriving Elves leaped from the boats and unloaded their horses. Phaldis held Sayowyns' two horses, waiting for her to retrieve them. Legolas looked around for his princess, whom he wanted to speak to, after a week of separation.
But elf after elf poured from the ships, and still no Sayowyn. Legolas went to grab the lead ropes of the two horses, who were slightly frightened of their new surroundings. Hours passed in Valinor, and Legolas was not quite believing that perhaps Sayowyn was in Middle-earth. He went up to all of the elves who had sailed the past week, all of which said they assumed Sayowyn was on another ship.
And then it hit him. Sayowyn was still out on her travels when the ship left. Legolas dropped to his knees. He knew that she was gone forever, now. A tear slid down his cheek. Thranduil rushed to his side. "My son! What is wrong?" he asked.
Legolas did not answer for a long time. "She is gone. I left her." he managed to get out before leaving and walking down the shores alone. The sun was setting, and Legolas lay on the shore to sleep.
Months passed. Sayowyn lingered on alone and in silence, travelling here and there. Before she knew it, she arrived in Gondor, before the walls of Minas Tirith. She look up at the white walls, to the highest peak of the city, where just months ago she had been reunited with Legolas and her old friends, sure to be happy forever.
Slowly, the elf made her way up to the Citadel, in hopes of finding Arwen or Aragorn. She passed through the city, ignoring the curious stares of the citizens. Not for many months had an elf other than Arwen visited. Upon arrival in the Citadel, Sayowyn walked in, catching the attention of guards. But there was no King or Queen.
Just as one of the guards questioned Sayowyn about the purpose of her visit, Arwen stepped into the large room.
When she saw Sayowyn, tired, dirty, and alone, Arwen mumbled a sound and ran to her side. "Sayowyn," she whispered. And in Sayowyn's eyes, the Queen knew what had happened.
Two weeks passed, before Aragorn, Arwen, Sayowyn, Faramir, and Eowyn rode out of Gondor. Sayowyn was unsure of where exactly they were going, but did not question them. One late afternoon day, they finally arrived in the harbor, where the ships had taken her family from her.
Sayowyn dismounted her borrowed horse and walked up to the dock. The others followed. A small ship was docked, waiting for them. Sayowyn's jaw dropped slightly. "What is this?" she asked.
Arwen smiled. "My father had this ship built for me, in case I wished to come to Valinor. But now, I will not need it. You will take the ship, Sayowyn. I am happy here, but I can see that you are not. This ship was built by elves, and will take you, with no direction, onto the very shores of Valinor." she replied.
Sayowyn smiled back, still in disbelief. She was to see her prince again. She bid the others goodbye. "Eowyn," she said. "You have been a great friend to me. May you and Faramir have a long life, as King and Queen of Rohan. You are more brave than any mere man on this earth." Sayowyn hugged her and Faramir.
To Aragorn, she now turned. "Long live the King. I knew you had it in you, Aragorn. You are a true hero, brave and resilient to your very nature. I cannot thank you enough for the courage you gave us all. Namarie." she kissed his foreheard, and he smiled at her, silent.
Finally she turned to Arwen, who had tears forming in her eyes. "Arwen. My friend of the many centuries. You are the true Queen of Gondor, may your life be fulfilled with peace and happiness. I will wait for you in Valinor. And I shall miss you most of all."
Arwen spoke. "I wish you did not have to leave. I shall miss you so." Sayowyn closed her eyes for a moment. "What is it?" Arwen asked.
Sayowyn spoke slowly. "In my heart, I can hear the white gulls call. I can feel the soft white sand of the shores beneath my feet. My horses stand, their eyes bright and their ears pricked. Their manes are billowing in the cool breeze. Haldir holds them for me. My parents stand smiling, along with Gandalf. And...Legolas stands, smiling with open arms. They are waiting for me." she finished.
Arwen had tears running down her cheeks. "Go to them." she said,her voice barely above a whisper.
Sayowyn smiled at her softly. She gave the others one last look in farewell and then turned once again to Arwen. Sayowyn kissed the Queen elf upon her head, getting lost in her black hair. "Namarie amin mellon." she said. The elf turned and stepped onto the ship, and was surprised to see it already begin to slowly set sail, all on its own.
Sayowyn was not 40 feet out when she turned to the group of her beloved friends one last time, and grinned at them. For Sayowyn was going home. Arwen raised a hand in goodbye, and Sayowyn did the same. Aragorn placed his right hand on his heart and watched his friend slowly sail away. The ship glided along the gentle waters, through the Gray Havens and into the setting sun.
When her group of friends became a small dot in the distance, Sayowyn knew that there was no turning back. She had left Middle-earth forever. She sat on a bench in the ship and watched as the large chunk of earth that was once her home also began to disappear.
With a final look, she smiled once more , and then turned to look out in front of her, though she could see nothing but sea and sky.