I was good! I was good!! I got the next chapter up in time!!! YaY!
Well... not really, but I made the best effort that I could a few hundred miles away from home...
It was a year of mourning for the people of Minas Tirith. King Elessar, the Elfstone, king of the free peoples of Middle Earth, was dead. He had died quietly with his friends and family by his side. After his death, his son, Eldarion, took up his father's place as king, and Arwen passed away into Lothlòrien and was never seen again by mortal eyes.
It was then that Legolas built his grey ship in Icthilion, and together, with Gimli the dwarf, he set out down the Anduin, and onto the ocean.
"Come master elf!" the stout dwarf called, "We must be off!" Legolas laughed at his friend's eagerness to get under way. He quickly climbed up the side of the boat. Together, he and Gimli unfurled the large sails and watched as the wind filled them, making them swell in the breeze.
As the ship started to move foreword, a fierce joy filled the elf prince. He turned to his friend and grabbed the dwarf's hands, spinning him around. "I'm finally going home!" he cried happily.
"Whoa laddie!" the dwarf cried, "I am not as young as I used to be!" Legolas threw back his head and laughed. Gimli glared at the elf.
"Well, somebody's happy." He growled under his breath. Legolas stilled his laughter and looked at his friend.
"Gimli, what would you do if you realized that you were finally going home for good?" he asked. Gimli shrugged.
"I don't really know, but it would most likely be a cause for food and ale!" Legolas shook his head.
"Everything is food and ale with you, Gimli." He said teasingly. The dwarf just rolled his eyes and went down into the cabin of the ship.
Legolas went to the bow of the ship and leaned on the railing, looking over the water. Soonhe thought.
The sun was beginning to set when Gimli came back up, looking for the elf. He found him sitting on the edge of the deck, one knee drawn up to his chest, with his head resting on his knee. Legolas was starring out across the water, not really seeing anything that was in front of him.
So caught up in his thoughts, Legolas didn't hear his friend approach. Gimli lowered himself to the ground next to the elf. He watched the prince silently for a few moments before speaking.
"Who is she?"
At the sound of his voice, Legolas jumped and almost lost his balance. Gimli chuckled quietly at the elf. When He had regained his composure, he glanced at the dwarf. "What did you say?" he asked, slightly confused. Gimli chuckled again.
"Well, I come out here and find you starring out over the water. But you weren't really seeing anything. And, on my part, I have never been able to walk up to you without your knowing that I was there." He paused for a moment. "Who is she?" Legolas smiled and turned back to the water.
"You know me well, my friend." He said quietly. The elf was silent for a moment. "She's my wife."
Gimli raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Your wife?" he said amazed. "How come I didn't know of this?" Legolas laughed quietly at his friend's reaction.
"I did not tell you for the same reason I did not tell Aragorn, or anyone else, for that matter. I was not ready to tell you. Tari died in my arms over 100 years ago. On that night, I made a promise to her. Finally, that promise has been fulfilled." He paused thoughtfully. "Actually, that promise was filled when I first heard the gulls on the shores, but my loyalty to Aragorn made me stay until he had passed on. Now that he has departed to the halls of his fathers, I am finally going into the west. There, I will meet my beloved, and we will be together again, just as promised." Legolas sighed, "It has been too long."
"I am sorry for bringing up old memories." Gimli apologized. Legolas shook his head.
"There is no need to apologize my friend." He looked up at the dwarf, "Go, get some rest." Gimli snorted indignantly.
"What about you?" Legolas laughed.
"Haven't we already been through this? Elves do not need nearly as much sleep as old tired dwarves!"
"Old!" the dwarf exclaimed. "Old indeed! You shouldn't be talking master elf. It is you who seniors me by many centuries!" With a smile, the elf got to his feet, and offered a hand to the dwarf.
"That is true, but elves do not grow old. We simply stay the same. Dwarves, on the other hand, they grow old with the years, and it is my experience that the older a dwarf becomes, the grumpier he gets!"
Gimli glared at the elf before taking the offe . "Very well, I won't argue with you, but at the first sight of land, I want you to wake me, no matter what the time." Legolas smiled.
"I will, master dwarf. Soon we will be home for good." Then he led Gimil to his cabin, and went back out on deck. Gazing out over the dark blue water, with the stars reflecting in it, his mind wandered back to his wife.
I am coming, melamin. I will find you soon.
The sun had barely risen a few days later, when Legolas roused Gimli from his sleep. "Come Gimli, we are finally home." With these words, he sprang away from the dwarf, with Gimli following, albeit a bit more slowly, after him. When he reached the deck, he found the elf nearly bursting with excitement. "Can you see it?" Legolas asked awed, "The white shores of Valinor?" Gimli looked out over the ocean, but could see nothing. He squinted, trying to catch a glimpse of their destination.
"I can't see anything!" he exclaimed frustrated. "I don't have the eyes of an elf!"
"Nor a hawk." the softly spoken words of Legolas made the dwarf look up and glare at his companion. Then his mouth twitched into a smile before he broke out into laughter.
After a few hours, the boat was very near the shore. Even Gimli could see the individual faces on the beach. The ship lurched as it hit the shore. Eager hands reached up to help unload anything from the hold.
When Legolas' feet hit the sand, he was filled with an immense joy. Looking around, he watched as four figures came foreword out of the crowd. Legolas bowed his head in respect.
"There's no need for that here,Legolas." Elrond scolded gently.
"We are all equals here." Celeborn added. Legolas raised his head and noticed the elleth on Elrond's arm. With a start, she realized that it must be Celebrian, Elrond's wife. That thought made his heart clench slightly in pain because he was not yet with his beloved.
Go to her. Galadriel's voice sounded in his head. She motioned behind her. Legolas' eyes widened when he realized that she was pointing at a forest filled with white trees with silver leaves. The words of Tari's promise came back to him.
I'll be waiting in the white forests of Valinor...
He darted off into the forest, calling over his shoulder, "Thank you milady!"
Soon, the sounds of the going ons, on the beach faded away, and he was left with only the sounds of the forest. Slowing down, he reasoned that he would not find Tari by searching through the forest randomly. He closed his eyes and allowed his heart to guide him to her.
When he felt that he was close, he opened his eyes and turned his senses outward. A twig snapped to his left, and he swung around towards the noise. What he saw made his heart stop. Tari was leaning with her against one of the trees. The sun's light filtered through the branches, making her golden red-brown hair to shine. Her head was bowed, with her eyes on the ground.
Legolas took a hesitant step towards her. Tari's gaze flickered upward for a moment, and their eyes met. That broke the spell. Legolas ran towards the elleth and took her into his arms.
"Tari." he whispered, holding her close. Tears were streaming from Tari's eyes, and she buried her face into his chest, holding onto him as if she would never let go again.
"After you...died...I almost faded. But-" Tari placed her hand on his lips, quieting him.
"I know. I could feel you fading. I was afraid that any minute your fëa would come and join me in the halls of waiting. But Mandos came over and talked to me telling me that I was to appear to you in a dream and remind you of your promise. At first I was a little confused. Not often are people allowed to leave the halls of waiting, even for a little bit. Mandos explained to me that you had a bigger part to play in the course of history, and that if you faded, darkness would have a greater chance of taking over. He also told me that Manwë had requested it. So, I was allowed to appear to you in a dream."
Resting his head against hers, Legolas closed his eyes, remembering that night. "I remember that night. If you hadn't come, I would have faded."
Tari smiled. "I know. That is why I had to go." she stopped for a moment. "Legolas..." Any words she was going to say were stopped when Legolas pressed his lips against hers. The elleth grinned against his mouth before wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. At that moment, words could not have said more.
When they pulled apart, Tari looked into Legolas' eyes and smiled. "I missed you more than you could ever imagain." She said, resting her head on his chest.
"Not nearly as much as I. I had to watch as your life slipped away in my arms. Something that should never have had to happen." The scorn in his voice made Tari pull away and look up at her husband. Legolas continued, not realizing that his wife had pulled away. "It never would have happened if I had been more aware of our surroundings that day. If only-" He stopped when Tari gently gripped his forearms. He looked down at his wife, and looked into her eyes not only to find a small amount of sorrow, but also understanding.
"Is that what you truly think?" she asked him softly. Legolas bowed his head in shame.
"If I had been more aware, I would have noticed that the orcs were coming, and would have been been able to allow us to escape. But I was arrogant and allowed his to be caught." Two fingers hooked under his chin, forcing him to look up again.
"Legolas," she started. "Do you remember where we first met?"she asked Legolas nodded, "how could I forget?"
"And do you remember what that tournament was for?" Again Legolas gave the affirmative.
"It was a test of skills, to see who were the best warriors in Mirkwood, but I still-" Tari shushed him and nodded slowly.
"And we both placed in the top final five. And that means we were both well trained warriors. It was as much of my fault as your,." she smiled. "besides, we both made it to Valinor, although by different paths. And now that we're here together, nothing will ever separate us again." At her words, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of his chest, He stood there for a moment just staring at his wife. Then a force of reality hit the prince, and he lunged foreword and grabbed Tari. She laughed as he lifted her up and swung her around happily. When he finally put her down, he didn't give her a chance to speak before he wrapped his arms firmly around her and planted a firm kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, Tari could see that the spark of life had returned to her prince's eyes.
"I can't believe that I am finally with you." Legolas said smiling, while offering her his arm. Tari laughed.
"You had better believe it. Or I may have to beat you again to prove it." she answered while taking his arm. Together, the prince and his princess made their way back to the pearly shores of the beaches of Valinor.
"So this is your wife?" a voice questioned from behind them. "You never told me how beautiful she was." The elf stopped in his tracks and spun around.
What he saw made his mouth fall open in shock.
I finally got this chapter up! It was made more difficult from the fact that I practically broke two of my fingers on my right hand while playing volleyball.
I'll have the final chapter up within the week if I can.
Elvenstar5