Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR.
Until They Meet Again
Legolas caught the regret in her eyes. "Do not feel that way. Frodo could have chosen to turn back at any point."
"But he didn't, he felt that he had to take on the burden or else he'd let us all down. If it were me I think I would have stayed in the Shire."
Legolas smiled. "You would have done the same and you know it. Now let us go, Gandalf is waiting."
She nodded and followed him as he led her through the maze of Minas Tirith. Eventually, they entered a room where Frodo lay in bed. Seeing him she sighed. Gandalf rose to greet her, smiling.
"It brings me so much joy to see you safe again, my dear," he said. "But now I must ask a favor of you yet again."
"Of course," she said without hesitation.
"Ah, there's a good girl," he chuckled. "As you know, Aragorn's ceremony is to be held shortly. He has requested that you bear the crown."
"What? You want me to carry it?"
He nodded. "That is all, I'm afraid," he said shortly. "No battles this time."
"I'd love to. But is he going to be all right?" she asked, pointing to Frodo.
Gandalf continued to smile. "This brave Hobbit deserves to rule over a kingdom all his own. But I assume he will want to return with the others to Hobbiton. Yes, he will be fine." He took his seat again, and she watched Frodo sleeping. He looked a little healthier, and his white bedclothes matched with the satin sheets. Looking upon him, her regret vanished. Frodo was going to be all right.
As the Hobbit stirred, she jumped up and down excitedly. Then she stopped, grinning. Frodo opened his eyes and slowly took in his surroundings. He looked up at Gandalf, and she could see tears in his eyes. Approaching him, she kissed his tousled hair atop his head as she heard young voices behind her. Merry and Pippin had entered the room and scrambled onto Frodo's bed, laughing and hollering. She couldn't help but join in.
Legolas stood by Gandalf's side as Frodo gave him a grateful glance. Then Aragorn entered the room, looking clean and actually not exhausted. "Aragorn!" she cried. She hadn't seen him since she'd gone to Mordor. Taking her in his arms, he swung her in a full circle before placing her back on her feet.
"You are no longer a child to me, but young woman," he told her.
The last one in the room was Sam. He looked shyer than ever. He and Frodo looked at each other, and immediately Laura could see that strengthened friendship between them. Sam had most definitely played one of the more important roles in the destruction of the Ring. The Fellowship was back together again, with the exception of Boromir, whom none of them had forgotten.
Before long, Laura heard trumpets sounding. That was their cue to make an appearance in front of Gondor. This was so exciting! An actual crowning ceremony, and she was to be a part of it.
There were thousands upon thousands of people there. They crowded into the Seventh Circle, at the castle. Laura stood on the steps, holding a very heavy crown on a pillow. She held her head high, and knelt down when Gandalf took the crown and placed in Aragorn's head. The crowd cheered, but in her opinion she cried the loudest.
Aragorn descended the steps, followed by Gandalf and Laura. She saw many familiar faces in the crowd as they approached Legolas. He smiled at Aragorn, and what she assumed to be a number of Mirkwood Elves were behind him. She was able to spot Lord Elrond and Galadriel next. Galadriel hugged her, and she watched as Arwen appeared in front of Aragorn. There was complete silence among the crowd. Making her way to Lord Elrond, she could see the tears in his eyes. She gently placed a hand on his arm.
She watched her sister kiss Aragorn. Clapping and yelling, the crowd went wild. Last were the four Hobbits, as king and queen made their way to the row of them.
Each of them bowed down when Aragorn approached. "My friends!" he said. "You bow to no one." And at that moment, Laura felt goosebumps all over her skin as the entirety of Gondor bowed to those four. These kinds of things always made her feel excited like that. On her knees, she looked up and smiled at Frodo and the others.
Aragorn and Arwen's wedding was the next day, being an even bigger cause for celebration in Minas Tirith. That evening Laura sat outside with her sister, watching the sunset.
"Where are you going to go now?" Arwen inquired. "Will you be staying here for some time?"
"If you want me to, I don't see why not. I was planning on going to Lothlorien."
Arwen smiled. "You mean you are not going to Fangorn Forest with Prince Legolas?"
Laura shook her head. "No, the longer I stay with him the harder it will be for me to say goodbye to him."
"Then do not say goodbye at all. You will meet again, I have foreseen it."
"I really hope you're right."
Arwen smiled and nudged her sister. Legolas could be seen from a distance approaching. Arwen got up. "I think I shall leave the two of you alone."
"Arwen, no. Arwen!" Laura said desperately, but her sister just laughed and said goodnight. Laura focused on the sunset, which was really hard since it was over. She didn't know how to say goodbye to Legolas. She didn't want to. What would she do without him?
He was standing behind her now, waiting for her to turn around. She took a deep breath. Letting her hair down, she turned around to face him. He was wearing his green and brown tunic, along with his Lorien cloak. She crossed her arms, trying to look angry at him.
"I am leaving tomorrow to explore Fangorn Forest," he told her.
"What? You're not going home yet?"
He smiled. "The War may be over, by my heart seeks adventure yet. I would ask you to come with me, only I know all too well that your heart lies with your sister and kin."
She grinned. "Can't you speak normally?"
"You mean 'Dude' and 'Chill out' and 'Hey, Leggy when can we grub out'?" he said, doing a perfect impression of her.
"Grub out?" she exclaimed, laughing. "I never said that, you totally made that one up," she said.
He began laughing with her. "We have been side by side too long."
"Legolas am..." she cleared her throat and tried to take a deep breath. "Am I ever going to see you again?"
He looked up at the sky, and then at her. "You may take these words as you like, but I fear I could not yet leave these shores before seeing the sun's rays upon your fair face once more."
She wanted to blush and tell him exactly how she felt. She wanted to follow him wherever he wanted to go. But with and incredible amount of control for herself, she remained idle. "You do know that you'll be gone before I wake up tomorrow."
He nodded. "That is why I will ask for your hand now."
Dreading what was coming next, she held out her hand and tried not to tremble. He took it in his and kissed it. "Goodnight, my princess. Until we meet again."
"Yeah. Bye," she forced herself to say. As he faded into the shadows and descended the Circle, she rubbed the spot on her hand where he'd kissed her. Exhaling slowly and loudly, she turned back to the stars. "What a stud," she said aloud.
A/N: That's it for the first part! I know it was kind of boring because the story has already been written, but it was necessary. I tried to go through it as fast as possible so I can get to next part, which is where the fanfiction really starts to take place. It's under the category of Star Wars and will be entitled simply "Raven".
