Disclaimer – Not male, not dead, not Tolkien.
No action in this chapter, sorry. But plenty of emotional angst!
Ever After – Chapter 6 - Return
"Legolas, no!" Haldir cried out in alarm. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, that Legolas would prefer to be a spirit in Middle-Earth rather than a whole being in Valinor. "Don't you realise what you're saying?! You'd be dead in the very truest sense of the word!" Legolas turned away from Elbereth and gently gripped his friend's arms.
"Haldir, please try to understand – I have to do this. Until I know that all is well with those that I hold most dear, I will never find peace in Valinor. My heart is already a ghost my friend, now my physical from will merely reflect that." Haldir shook his head in denial.
"Legolas…." He wanted to say something - anything that might convince the Prince to change his mind. But the words failed to come, as he looked deep into his friend's eyes. He saw the pain and despair in the crystal-blue orbs and he knew that Legolas was right. He turned his face away; his eyes burning with unshed tears. Legolas had been his friend for millennia; it hurt to see him go, perhaps forever.
"I'm sorry Haldir." Legolas said quietly. He hated to hurt his friend, but Haldir was safe, he knew that. His friends back in Middle-Earth were not.
"What will I tell your mother?" Haldir asked softly. Legolas sighed.
"Tell her the truth. That I'm sorry I had to leave and that I love her. I think she will understand." He smiled. "I will miss you my friend."
Haldir gripped Legolas' arm tightly. "And I you, Legolas. I hope you find what you are looking for." Legolas returned the grip.
"Thank you." Then he turned back to face Elbereth. He met her gaze and spoke without a trace of hesitation. "I am ready."
The Queen of the Stars nodded almost imperceptibly. "Very well, Prince of Mirkwood. If that is your decision, I shall see it done. But know this – Should your heart find peace, you will be returned safely to Valinor. However, should you fall into darkness, you will be forever lost to us. You must be careful, there is a great shadow moving towards those lands, a shadow that would consume your soul without hesitation." The stars in her eyes glowed as she spoke.
Legolas bowed. "I understand and I will heed your words. I thank you for this, great Valar." She smiled kindly, pleased by his words.
"Then go, and find the missing piece of your heart." She raised her hand and shimmering starlight engulfed the elf. His body shimmered for a moment and then vanished.
Haldir stared at Elbereth, unsure what to do or say. He felt utterly lost and alone. The Valar looked kindly at the Lorien elf. "Fear not for your friend, Haldir of Lorien. His spirit is strong and his soul pure. I would not have sent him if I did not think he had an excellent chance of success. It will take much to overcome him."
Haldir bowed respectfully. "Thank you, great Elbereth. I will try to keep my faith in his strength, though this evil concerns me greatly."
"I understand your fear." Elbereth replied. "However, the heart holds much strength and a power greater than many ever realise."
Not giving Haldir a chance to respond, she began to glow and with another blinding flash, she disappeared, leaving the March Warden alone with his thoughts.
The light around Legolas cleared and his surroundings came into focus. Although he had never been to this part of the world before, he recognised it immediately. The Grey Havens. He glared at the single ship that lay in the harbour. "Rub it in, why don't you." He grumbled, though he was sure Elbereth was not listening. Then he glanced down and saw his hands. Or rather, he saw through them. "Oh my." He said, shocked, despite expecting just this. "I really am a ghost!" He stood there for several minutes, trying to adjust to his new state. He tried to touch a tree and found he could not. His hand went straight through the trunk. "What have I got myself into?" He muttered.
Within about an hour he had got the hang of moving about. The quickest way of getting anywhere was to glide; though he found he could also walk normally. Being able to walk straight though obstacles was a great advantage; it saved making any diversions. With a small smile he set off, gliding swiftly towards Gondor.
Gimli stood by Aragorn as he changed the bandage on Arwen's eyes. The rest of the injuries had begun to heal, but her eyes were still in a terrible state. The dwarf silently handed the King a soft cloth. He could hardly bear to look at the cracked, infected skin and swollen lids.
Arwen moaned as her injuries were treated. She had been drifting in and out of consciousness the past few days, waking only to take the broth that Aragorn helped her to drink.
Yesterday, Aragorn had finally sent for Elrond. He had wanted to spare his Father this pain, but Arwen was not healing as she should and he needed the Elven-Lord's experience. He had not said what had happened to her, only that she'd been injured, for he would not allow his father to hear such news by way of a messenger. He only hoped his Father could help her, as he had been unable to help his own wife.
Legolas was surprised at the speed with which he arrived in Gondor. Apparently, ghosts could travel far more quickly than any living being. Dropping from a glide into a walk, he finally entered the White City.
Almost instantly he knew that something was wrong. There was a quietness about the city that had not been there before and a feeling of darkness that was greatly unsettling. Elbereth had been right, there was a great evil hanging over Aragorn's city. He wondered if Aragorn knew about it.
He hurried towards the palace, walking straight past the guards and through the doors. Inside, though the palace looked exactly as he remembered, the whole place felt wrong. An air of pain and fear could be felt wherever he went and the darkness he'd sensed outside was far worse here. His fear for Aragorn's safety was now approaching panic, as he once again began to glide towards his old friend.
Walking through the doors to Aragorn's room, his eyes fell upon his old friend. Aragorn was asleep in a chair next to the bed, his head resting on the mattress near Arwen, his hand clasped in hers.
Legolas let out a low cry when he saw Arwen. He knew without a doubt that this was the work of the evil he sensed in the city. Anger filled him at the pain and suffering this darkness was causing his friends. This could not be allowed. He vowed then to find out the identity of this evil. Once he'd discovered what it was, somehow he'd find a way to stop it. Even if he had to sacrifice his soul.
The riders raced towards Gondor, the hooves of their horses leaving a trail of dust in their wake. They rode side-by-side, tall and proud. The shorter of the two had hair as dark as the night, while the other was crowned with sunlight. Both wore expressions of worry and determination.
As the gates of Gondor neared, they could see the guards standing by the gate. As they watched, one left his post and began to run.
Legolas turned at the sound of running. A moment later there was a quick knock and a guard entered.
Aragorn woke as the door opened. He blinked sleepily and looked at the guard who had disturbed his slumber. "What is it?" He asked, somewhat irritably. The guard bowed.
"Forgive the intrusion, My Lord. Two riders have been seen approaching Gondor. We believe one of them to be Lord Elrond, Sire." Aragorn jumped up at the mention of his father's name.
"Thank the Valar." He looked down at Arwen and then at the guard. "I must speak with Lord Elrond. Watch over the Queen while I am gone." The guard placed his hand over his heart.
"My Lord, I would guard her with my life." Aragorn knew that the man spoke the truth, but he still felt reluctant to leave.
Legolas walked over to Aragorn and placed a ghostly hand on his friends shoulder. "Fear not mellon nin, I shall not leave her side." He said gently, though he knew the King could not hear him. He had to say something, he had to try.
Aragorn suddenly felt strangely comforted. He no longer feared leaving Arwen for a moment. "It must be because father's here." He mumbled as he hurried off.
Aragorn went swiftly to the front of the palace. In the courtyard, two elves were just dismounting. As he had been told, one was his father, the other, somewhat to his surprise, was Lord Glorfindel. He had expected at least one of the twins.
"Estel." Elrond went to his son and took him into his arms. He looked hard at the King. "What happened Estel?" He asked urgently. "What happened to my daughter?" Aragorn's heart clenched painfully as he softly answered.
"Orcs, Ada. It was orcs."
Elrond worked desperately, doing everything he could to try to save his child. He tried his best to ignore the pain and worse, the doubt in his heart. Aragorn and Glorfindel stayed close by, assisting him. "At least there was no poison." He thought. "That is a slight blessing." But he still wasn't convinced he could save her. He hadn't been able to save Celebrian. "Please Ilutivar." He prayed. "Do not take my daughter from me, from Estel. We have lost too much already."
In the background, Legolas watched. An invisible tear slid down his translucent cheek. So much suffering, it wasn't right. He could watch no more. He slipped through the door and began to move towards the centre of the palace, to the hall of records. He needed to find out what had been happening since he had died. Then he could begin to seek for whatever evil was threatening Gondor and his friends.
He only hoped he could figure out a way to turn the pages.
Glorfindel shivered suddenly. For just a moment, he'd sensed someone else in the room with them. "That's ridiculous." He told himself. "The door is still closed. It was probably a breeze from the window." Yet he could not shake the feeling that there was more going on here than any of them realised.
End Chapter 6
The review button is such a *nice* button! Why don't you press it and see? ;)
No action in this chapter, sorry. But plenty of emotional angst!
Ever After – Chapter 6 - Return
"Legolas, no!" Haldir cried out in alarm. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, that Legolas would prefer to be a spirit in Middle-Earth rather than a whole being in Valinor. "Don't you realise what you're saying?! You'd be dead in the very truest sense of the word!" Legolas turned away from Elbereth and gently gripped his friend's arms.
"Haldir, please try to understand – I have to do this. Until I know that all is well with those that I hold most dear, I will never find peace in Valinor. My heart is already a ghost my friend, now my physical from will merely reflect that." Haldir shook his head in denial.
"Legolas…." He wanted to say something - anything that might convince the Prince to change his mind. But the words failed to come, as he looked deep into his friend's eyes. He saw the pain and despair in the crystal-blue orbs and he knew that Legolas was right. He turned his face away; his eyes burning with unshed tears. Legolas had been his friend for millennia; it hurt to see him go, perhaps forever.
"I'm sorry Haldir." Legolas said quietly. He hated to hurt his friend, but Haldir was safe, he knew that. His friends back in Middle-Earth were not.
"What will I tell your mother?" Haldir asked softly. Legolas sighed.
"Tell her the truth. That I'm sorry I had to leave and that I love her. I think she will understand." He smiled. "I will miss you my friend."
Haldir gripped Legolas' arm tightly. "And I you, Legolas. I hope you find what you are looking for." Legolas returned the grip.
"Thank you." Then he turned back to face Elbereth. He met her gaze and spoke without a trace of hesitation. "I am ready."
The Queen of the Stars nodded almost imperceptibly. "Very well, Prince of Mirkwood. If that is your decision, I shall see it done. But know this – Should your heart find peace, you will be returned safely to Valinor. However, should you fall into darkness, you will be forever lost to us. You must be careful, there is a great shadow moving towards those lands, a shadow that would consume your soul without hesitation." The stars in her eyes glowed as she spoke.
Legolas bowed. "I understand and I will heed your words. I thank you for this, great Valar." She smiled kindly, pleased by his words.
"Then go, and find the missing piece of your heart." She raised her hand and shimmering starlight engulfed the elf. His body shimmered for a moment and then vanished.
Haldir stared at Elbereth, unsure what to do or say. He felt utterly lost and alone. The Valar looked kindly at the Lorien elf. "Fear not for your friend, Haldir of Lorien. His spirit is strong and his soul pure. I would not have sent him if I did not think he had an excellent chance of success. It will take much to overcome him."
Haldir bowed respectfully. "Thank you, great Elbereth. I will try to keep my faith in his strength, though this evil concerns me greatly."
"I understand your fear." Elbereth replied. "However, the heart holds much strength and a power greater than many ever realise."
Not giving Haldir a chance to respond, she began to glow and with another blinding flash, she disappeared, leaving the March Warden alone with his thoughts.
The light around Legolas cleared and his surroundings came into focus. Although he had never been to this part of the world before, he recognised it immediately. The Grey Havens. He glared at the single ship that lay in the harbour. "Rub it in, why don't you." He grumbled, though he was sure Elbereth was not listening. Then he glanced down and saw his hands. Or rather, he saw through them. "Oh my." He said, shocked, despite expecting just this. "I really am a ghost!" He stood there for several minutes, trying to adjust to his new state. He tried to touch a tree and found he could not. His hand went straight through the trunk. "What have I got myself into?" He muttered.
Within about an hour he had got the hang of moving about. The quickest way of getting anywhere was to glide; though he found he could also walk normally. Being able to walk straight though obstacles was a great advantage; it saved making any diversions. With a small smile he set off, gliding swiftly towards Gondor.
Gimli stood by Aragorn as he changed the bandage on Arwen's eyes. The rest of the injuries had begun to heal, but her eyes were still in a terrible state. The dwarf silently handed the King a soft cloth. He could hardly bear to look at the cracked, infected skin and swollen lids.
Arwen moaned as her injuries were treated. She had been drifting in and out of consciousness the past few days, waking only to take the broth that Aragorn helped her to drink.
Yesterday, Aragorn had finally sent for Elrond. He had wanted to spare his Father this pain, but Arwen was not healing as she should and he needed the Elven-Lord's experience. He had not said what had happened to her, only that she'd been injured, for he would not allow his father to hear such news by way of a messenger. He only hoped his Father could help her, as he had been unable to help his own wife.
Legolas was surprised at the speed with which he arrived in Gondor. Apparently, ghosts could travel far more quickly than any living being. Dropping from a glide into a walk, he finally entered the White City.
Almost instantly he knew that something was wrong. There was a quietness about the city that had not been there before and a feeling of darkness that was greatly unsettling. Elbereth had been right, there was a great evil hanging over Aragorn's city. He wondered if Aragorn knew about it.
He hurried towards the palace, walking straight past the guards and through the doors. Inside, though the palace looked exactly as he remembered, the whole place felt wrong. An air of pain and fear could be felt wherever he went and the darkness he'd sensed outside was far worse here. His fear for Aragorn's safety was now approaching panic, as he once again began to glide towards his old friend.
Walking through the doors to Aragorn's room, his eyes fell upon his old friend. Aragorn was asleep in a chair next to the bed, his head resting on the mattress near Arwen, his hand clasped in hers.
Legolas let out a low cry when he saw Arwen. He knew without a doubt that this was the work of the evil he sensed in the city. Anger filled him at the pain and suffering this darkness was causing his friends. This could not be allowed. He vowed then to find out the identity of this evil. Once he'd discovered what it was, somehow he'd find a way to stop it. Even if he had to sacrifice his soul.
The riders raced towards Gondor, the hooves of their horses leaving a trail of dust in their wake. They rode side-by-side, tall and proud. The shorter of the two had hair as dark as the night, while the other was crowned with sunlight. Both wore expressions of worry and determination.
As the gates of Gondor neared, they could see the guards standing by the gate. As they watched, one left his post and began to run.
Legolas turned at the sound of running. A moment later there was a quick knock and a guard entered.
Aragorn woke as the door opened. He blinked sleepily and looked at the guard who had disturbed his slumber. "What is it?" He asked, somewhat irritably. The guard bowed.
"Forgive the intrusion, My Lord. Two riders have been seen approaching Gondor. We believe one of them to be Lord Elrond, Sire." Aragorn jumped up at the mention of his father's name.
"Thank the Valar." He looked down at Arwen and then at the guard. "I must speak with Lord Elrond. Watch over the Queen while I am gone." The guard placed his hand over his heart.
"My Lord, I would guard her with my life." Aragorn knew that the man spoke the truth, but he still felt reluctant to leave.
Legolas walked over to Aragorn and placed a ghostly hand on his friends shoulder. "Fear not mellon nin, I shall not leave her side." He said gently, though he knew the King could not hear him. He had to say something, he had to try.
Aragorn suddenly felt strangely comforted. He no longer feared leaving Arwen for a moment. "It must be because father's here." He mumbled as he hurried off.
Aragorn went swiftly to the front of the palace. In the courtyard, two elves were just dismounting. As he had been told, one was his father, the other, somewhat to his surprise, was Lord Glorfindel. He had expected at least one of the twins.
"Estel." Elrond went to his son and took him into his arms. He looked hard at the King. "What happened Estel?" He asked urgently. "What happened to my daughter?" Aragorn's heart clenched painfully as he softly answered.
"Orcs, Ada. It was orcs."
Elrond worked desperately, doing everything he could to try to save his child. He tried his best to ignore the pain and worse, the doubt in his heart. Aragorn and Glorfindel stayed close by, assisting him. "At least there was no poison." He thought. "That is a slight blessing." But he still wasn't convinced he could save her. He hadn't been able to save Celebrian. "Please Ilutivar." He prayed. "Do not take my daughter from me, from Estel. We have lost too much already."
In the background, Legolas watched. An invisible tear slid down his translucent cheek. So much suffering, it wasn't right. He could watch no more. He slipped through the door and began to move towards the centre of the palace, to the hall of records. He needed to find out what had been happening since he had died. Then he could begin to seek for whatever evil was threatening Gondor and his friends.
He only hoped he could figure out a way to turn the pages.
Glorfindel shivered suddenly. For just a moment, he'd sensed someone else in the room with them. "That's ridiculous." He told himself. "The door is still closed. It was probably a breeze from the window." Yet he could not shake the feeling that there was more going on here than any of them realised.
End Chapter 6
The review button is such a *nice* button! Why don't you press it and see? ;)