Author's note : I just wanted to thank all my reviewers! I hope you will continue to read my story and enjoy it!
It was well into the afternoon when Legolas and Gimli passed into the realm of Gondor on Arod. The courtyard was bathed in vermilion rays of the sun, and both Elf and Dwarf were glad to reach their destination. Legolas took a deep breath, musing on how different the air here was from his own country and the marvelous forests of the Wilderland.
"Vedui, Elessar! Ai na Vedui!" Legolas called merrily. Aragorn, who was walking in the courtyard of his palace, involved in a heated discussion with one of his advisors, looked up and saw Legolas and Gimli
"My friends! How are you? Five years it has been since we parted; I am glad you could make it to the ceremony!" Aragorn rushed over, robes ballooning about him, and hugged Gimli so tightly that the dwarf was lifted of the ground.
He had thought a lot about his friends during the times which they had gone their separate ways, and had missed them dearly. Now, seeing elf and dwarf together in his realm, memories of their long and hard journey together flooded his mind again, and he couldn't help but give thanks that they were all here in Middle-Earth, safe and happy. Many times on their journey to Mordor, all hope had seemed lost, and yet by luck and excellent timing, as well as a few mysteries on Gandalf's part, most of the Fellowship had passed through the ordeal alive.
"Youngsters these days! No respect for elders! People my age and you're still hoisting me around like a sack of potatoes," Gimli grumbled, bringing Aragorn back to the present. Legolas and Aragorn laughed as they hugged each other. It had been five years...five long years, and yet some things would never change – among those the attitude of dwarves and the strong love the three had forged since their bonding as the fellowship.
"Where is Eldarion?" Legolas asked, amusing himself with images of a miniature version of Aragorn wailing in his bed.
"Come! I will show you!" With that, Aragorn rushed off to the palace, with Legolas and Gimli close at his heels. Arod, who had borne Legolas and Gimli so far, was taken to the stables where Hasufel was. Another reunion between two old friends.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli darted through the gray labyrinth passages of Minas Tirith, and many who were in the streets that day marveled to see the heir of the Great Kings grinning like a young child with a new toy, all sense of protocol and decorum lost. Gimli looked around at the city of Minas Tirith in wonder.
Years ago, the city had given a picture of one that was crumbling and forlorn. Now, there was hardly a crack to be seen in the infrastructure. He proudly examined the stonework. The dwarven smiths he had sent from the mountain to aid Aragorn in building the capital of Gondor had done a great job. So had the Elves who had come to the city at Legolas' bidding, Gimli admitted grudgingly. There were beautiful trees and flowers and other plants of all kinds standing at the green gardens of every household. Butterflies flitted freely through the brightly colored flowers, and birds flew in and out of the tree branches. Children darted here and there, throwing balls and various other items at one another, laughing and playing happily. Gone was the silent, forlorn stronghold of dark times and evil ages. The city was now beautiful, combining the lush greenery partial to the Elves, as well as the firm stonework the dwarves were so fond of, together with the human's own sense of style and taste.
"There!" Aragorn said. Legolas and Gimli peeked into a chamber, then their eyes widened as they looked upon Eldarion for the first time. His hair was as dark as his father's, but his eyes were bright and sparkling, similar to the likes of the Eldar. Like Aragorn and Arwen, Eldarion was tall and svelte, giving the impression of one who would move with the grace unknown to normal mankind. And beside the infant, sat-
"Lady Arwen," Legolas said, bowing low to the Queen of Gondor and former princess of Imladris. Gimli followed suit, and Arwen rose gracefully from the bed, returning the greeting to her guests.
"Where's the baby? We can't see! A voice said suddenly. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turned to see who had spoken.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck! Peregrin Took! I feared that you would not come!" Legolas said happily. He bent down and enveloped the both of them in a bear hug. There was no change in the childlike, unconcerned features of the merry haflings, save that their bellies were rather more protruding, and the sparkling in their bright eyes were less unruly and carefree. Age (as well as little exercise and a lot of food) had taken the toll on the hobbits, yet their character remained the same. As always they were jovial and curious, now about Aragorn's new child.
"Honestly, Legolas, you think we'd miss this chance to see Strider's child? (And to steal some food?) To tell you the truth, I didn't really think that we would survive this war, so I'm quite surprised that we're here, celebrating the birth of Aragorn's child. I wonder how Eowyn and Faramir are doing? I'm not really that busy, - it's dear Pip here who nearly couldn't make it because he is now the Thain of the Tooks - mostly only when I get called to Rohan. Of course, now dear old Eomer is the King. He is also coming; therefore he and I have been very busy, making preparations for his absence. We had to appoint a temporary ruler and all that, since Eowyn – er – Lady Eowyn is no longer a shieldmaiden of Rohan. After all, old King Theoden did make me an esquire of Rohan." Merry said, swelling with pride and the two lungfulls of air needed for such a long speech.
"Hello, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn! Nice seeing you again! Do you not wonder how we managed to some into the citadel without you knowing?" Pippin seemingly popped out of thin air from right under Aragorn's nose.
"Yes. Now that you mention it, I thought I had stationed some guards at the gate...but then, you are wearing the crest of Gondor." Aragorn thought. "Now, this is a very important meeting for most of the countries in Middle-Earth, except for those barbarians in the East. Ambassadors from all over are coming, including some from Harad, and some from the Wild Men. Eomer told me about how Ghan-Buri-Ghan had helped them. Also, we know not what their customs and practices are, and since this is also something of a gathering meant to establish good relationships, I hope that you will guard your tongues, and be polite to all the guests, be it those who are from Arnor or those who hail from Umbar.
"Yes, yes, and we plan to behave that way as well. I shall be with Eomer most of the time, and Pippin shall be next to Strider-"
"It's the King Elessar" Aragorn corrected sternly. Not that anybody took the slightest notice.
Evening was when the celebration of Eldarion's birth was about to start, and arrived with anticipation, the heroes of the war five years ago meeting each other and talking happily of the times they shared. Eomer and his escort turned up, and after making sure that Faramir was treating Eowyn properly and that his sister was well and happy, sat down to discuss issues with Aragorn.
"Woohoo!! This reminds me of old Gandalf's fireworks!" Pippin cheered, as multi-colored sparks lit the velvet night sky and burst into brilliant showers of light. Festive music of many different cultures rang in the air, and it was simply a celebrative atmosphere. Aromas of various types food wafted around, carried by the cool night breeze, and the sounds of many different native languages were garbled together with joyous singing. Gimli sat at the table with the two hobbits, having the usual squabble over food and pipeweed, while Legolas laughed at the lot of them and called them all children. He was eager to see the ceremony of Eldarion, but...the river of Anduin was nearby...he would not be missed for a few minutes...
Making up his mind, Legolas slipped away deftly to the river. Away from the raucous singing and shouting, the rush of the water and the lonely cry of the gulls were clear.
It was folly, he knew, and a distant part of his mind urged him to turn away, to close his eyes, to do anything but what he did do, which was stand motionless and captive to the flash of water rippled silver in the moonlight. The old ache closed vise-like over his heart, and he trembled in its power.
He could not see the Sea from Minas Tirith, and for that he was grateful, for truly he could not have withstood it now. Even so the pulse of it thrummed through him, and the song of the Sea seemed clearer to him now than the ancient tone of the stars overhead; it was more real and more present than anything he had ever experienced. The world in which he stood seemed suddenly flat, empty and meaningless as a child's sketch upon a wall. The Sea's call resonated within him until all his heart and mind was filled and he felt himself drowning in it.
Legolas clenched his hands suddenly and focused on the distant sensation of his nails digging into his palms, forcing his mind to pull back from that infinite longing. The wrench away from the Sea's call took tremendous effort, but slowly he regained control.
He heard again the sigh of the night breeze, the laughter of the humans Elves; he pulled his mind away from the river's gleam and the gulls, focusing upon the dark velvet sky overhead. His heart beat in rhythm with the Sea - that would never change. But his mind was his own again. He released a shaky breath and unclenched his fingers.
"Not yet," he whispered aloud, though too softly for any to hear him. Not yet. Aragorn still lived, would live for many years more. And the Hobbits, and Gimli, held him here as well. He had bound himself to them, and would not forsake that bond..
The night was so deserted...everybody was enjoying themselves at the party. No, wait. One was not. Legolas trained his eyes on the figure a long way in front of him. The figure was running towards the palace of Minas Tirith. He (or she) was tall and wraith-like, practically gliding towards the gates of the citadel. What on Middle-Earth was he doing? Oh well, the guards stationed at the door would take care of him. Legolas turned away.
Just then, the hair on the back of his neck prickled. Ringing bells went on and off in his mind, and somebody told him he was missing something. 'I see you,' a voice said in his ear. It was so real and life like that Legolas immediately spun around, looking for the cold, evil voice that had hissed in his ear. 'Do not try to hide from me, Elf,' the voice spat, full of hatred and vengeance. 'I know what it is that he fears for most-I know his most treasured object...try to warn him, Elf... it will not work.' Then it was gone.
Legolas stared wildly around him. Who had spoken? Who was it that had the ability to be invisible? Or..or the ability to communicate through thoughts? Only a fair few of the Eldar, such as Galadriel and Celeborn, had the ability to communicate through thoughts. Who else? And the voice...it sounded evil. Wicked. It reminded him of...the Dark Lord.
'No! Sauron was destroyed! The ring was destroyed!' Legolas thought, looking towards the East...the ruins of the Mountain of Fire and the now deceased Baradur. And who was the he? What did he fear for most?
Unintentionally, Legolas glanced towards the tower. A gasp of shock and fear escaped his lips as he noticed that the guards stationed at the door were slumped down on the floor. Sensing that something was amiss, Legolas sprinted towards the entrance of Minas Tirith, and getting closer, he saw that the guards had not been stabbed, beaten, or indeed maimed in anyway. They looked as one who lies in a fitful sleep of nightmares. It was the gliding figure who had done this, Legolas was sure. Nobody else had been here. The Elf loped inside the castle, looking around.
What would that stranger want? An image of Aragorn strayed into his mind. No, Aragorn was at the party with Eomer and the rest. No-no, it couldn't be! Eldarion! Legolas' mind churned as he took the winding passageways to Eldarion's room. Arwen had left him there under the care of his nanny , so that he would not be disturbed by the party. Upon reaching the room, Legolas recognized signs of forced entry. The two guards at the door were also sleeping, but they bore expressions of intense fear on their features. Gulping, and dreading what he would find in the room, Legolas stepped over the guards and bit his lips to stop from crying out in despair. The nanny was lying on the floor, face frozen in fear, mouth opened in a silent scream. And in the cot...there was nothing.
Eldarion was gone.