This chapter, especially the last couple of paragraphs, is dedicated to my
Grandad, who died just over a week ago. He will be loved and remembered
forever.
Ever After – Chapter 13
Born from silence, silence full of it
A perfect concert my best friend
So much to live for, so much to die for
If only my heart had a home
Dead Boy's Poem – Nightwish
Aragorn couldn't believe it. His closest friend, dead now for almost thirteen years, stood in the middle of the evil form threatening them all. His form was not solid, Aragorn could literally see right through his friend, but it didn't matter, for suddenly he had hope again. Legolas had defied death to help them; if he could do that then anything was possible.
The others were equally shocked, staring as Legolas' form glowed brighter within the darkness that surrounded him. Impossible as it seemed, Legolas was having an effect on the darkness. With great effort, Elrond tore his gaze away and turned to Glorfindel. "Forgive me, mellon nin. It would seem that I was wrong." Glorfindel gave his friend a small smile. "Do not trouble yourself about it. I just wish I knew what he was doing." Elrond nodded and they both turned back to the scene playing out before them.
Legolas was no longer aware of the world around him. Every fibre of his being was focused on the shadow evil that threatened to destroy all that he held dear. He kept pushing against the darkness with his soul's energy, forcing himself in until he had all but become a part of it. His light ate away at the darkness and slowly spread into it. He paid for his efforts though; with each advance a little more of his spirit was lost.
No! This was not happening; it could not be so easily defeated! It had known the ghost held some power, but it had never imagined that power was so strong or was capable of being so tightly channelled. It tried to fight back, to reclaim some of that which it had lost, but to no avail. Try as it might, it was losing all to the soul of the elf.
Glorfindel watched with deep concern. He remembered well his own encounter inside of the creature and how it had nearly been his end. He also remembered what Legolas had said about his first encounter, how breaking out had almost cost him his soul. This incredible display of power could surely not end well for the prince. Yet the balrog slayer understood, perhaps better than anyone else, why Legolas was doing this. Sometimes everything you were paled in comparison to the lives of those dearest to you. As he had once sacrificed his life for the people of Gondolin, so did Legolas give up his soul for Gondor.
Legolas knew he was winning. The darkness was fading and his light was growing stronger. But he could not keep it up forever. His spirit was waning fast; he had very little left now to give. He felt the darkness fighting him, but he refused to acknowledge it. He had to hold on for just a little bit longer. Then all would be quiet, he would be at peace.
It screamed. All it's plans, it's dreams, gone. Lost to the power of an elf long dead, an elf strong enough to defy death for the love of his friends. There was light, terrible and bright, eating away at the shadows. It could not succeed now, but it would exact it's revenge. It would not go into the emptiness alone, nor quietly. The soul of the elf would come with it.
"Nearly there." The prince smiled, feeling the shadow fall. His eternal fate no longer mattered; his friends were safe, Gondor's future assured. With one last, incredible burst of energy, his light engulfed the last of the shadow. A scream of agony rang in his ears. His eyes opened and he saw Aragorn looking at him in sheer disbelief. For one brief moment, their eyes locked. Legolas smiled, bidding his friend a last goodbye. Then he knew no more as his spirit gave out and he was taken into the eternal emptiness of a lost soul.
Silence fell.
"NO!" Aragorn cried out as Legolas' form vanished along with the shadow. He did not know what had happened, but he knew it did not bode well. Glorfindel closed his eyes in grief. Far worse than death was Legolas' sacrifice. Ai, how would he explain this to Aragorn? He turned sadly to Elrond, knowing that only he knew what had just transpired. "What happened?" The elf-lord's gaze was filled with confusion. Never in all his long years had he witnessed such an event. He did not like the look in Glorfindel's eyes. "He sacrificed his soul." Glorfindel almost choked on the words as he looked away from Elrond to the now clear sky. "He went into darkness with the evil he destroyed. We have lost him forever."
Aragorn turned to Glorfindel in sheer horror. "What are you saying? Surely his soul will travel back to Mandos' Halls?" Glorfindel shook his head. "Nay, his soul is beyond Mandos' reach. He is lost."
The words hit like a knife to the heart. Elven death was terrible, but came with the assurance of eventual rebirth. To sacrifice that chance was awful beyond imagining. Aragorn let out a strangled cry and gripped Elladan's arm. The twins both embraced him as they all struggled to comprehend what had occurred.
"What now?" Aragorn asked softly, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. He jumped slightly as Gimli laid a hand on his arm; he had not seen the dwarf approach. "Now we carry on doing what King Thranduil bade me do twelve years ago – live our lives in such a way that his sacrifice was not in vain." Aragorn shook his head. "I do not know if I can." "You have to." Gimli replied. "For him, for Gondor, for everyone." "He cared deeply for all of you." Glorfindel said softly. "Enough to sacrifice everything. Not to do our best now is to dishonour him."
Aragorn closed his eyes, taking in the words. He knew they were right, as they had been thirteen years ago, but it was no easier now than it was then. If anything it was harder. But he would try, for Legolas. Slowly he nodded and after a moment found the strength to speak. "I will honour him. If Gondor was great before it shall become greater. All will know how we obtained this greatness. Legolas' memory shall be immortal, if nothing else." Glorfindel squeezed Aragorn's shoulder. "Indeed it shall. In our hearts and our memories he shall live always. Not even the darkest evil can change that." "You speak truly." Elrond said as he wrapped an arm around his human son. "Memories will always exist even when everything else is gone." He gently guided Aragorn towards the palace. "Come. We need to speak to Arwen; she must know what has happened here. Then you will rest; there will be time enough tomorrow to deal with the repercussions of today."
Aragorn accepted the truth in his Father's words. There would indeed be time enough tomorrow. Thanks to Legolas, tomorrow was assured.
As he walked inside, an eagle cried as she soared through the air, revelling in her freedom. Aragorn smiled as he remembered that freedom was all that Legolas had ever truly wanted. Now he was free. They all were.
End Chapter 13
Ever After – Chapter 13
Born from silence, silence full of it
A perfect concert my best friend
So much to live for, so much to die for
If only my heart had a home
Dead Boy's Poem – Nightwish
Aragorn couldn't believe it. His closest friend, dead now for almost thirteen years, stood in the middle of the evil form threatening them all. His form was not solid, Aragorn could literally see right through his friend, but it didn't matter, for suddenly he had hope again. Legolas had defied death to help them; if he could do that then anything was possible.
The others were equally shocked, staring as Legolas' form glowed brighter within the darkness that surrounded him. Impossible as it seemed, Legolas was having an effect on the darkness. With great effort, Elrond tore his gaze away and turned to Glorfindel. "Forgive me, mellon nin. It would seem that I was wrong." Glorfindel gave his friend a small smile. "Do not trouble yourself about it. I just wish I knew what he was doing." Elrond nodded and they both turned back to the scene playing out before them.
Legolas was no longer aware of the world around him. Every fibre of his being was focused on the shadow evil that threatened to destroy all that he held dear. He kept pushing against the darkness with his soul's energy, forcing himself in until he had all but become a part of it. His light ate away at the darkness and slowly spread into it. He paid for his efforts though; with each advance a little more of his spirit was lost.
No! This was not happening; it could not be so easily defeated! It had known the ghost held some power, but it had never imagined that power was so strong or was capable of being so tightly channelled. It tried to fight back, to reclaim some of that which it had lost, but to no avail. Try as it might, it was losing all to the soul of the elf.
Glorfindel watched with deep concern. He remembered well his own encounter inside of the creature and how it had nearly been his end. He also remembered what Legolas had said about his first encounter, how breaking out had almost cost him his soul. This incredible display of power could surely not end well for the prince. Yet the balrog slayer understood, perhaps better than anyone else, why Legolas was doing this. Sometimes everything you were paled in comparison to the lives of those dearest to you. As he had once sacrificed his life for the people of Gondolin, so did Legolas give up his soul for Gondor.
Legolas knew he was winning. The darkness was fading and his light was growing stronger. But he could not keep it up forever. His spirit was waning fast; he had very little left now to give. He felt the darkness fighting him, but he refused to acknowledge it. He had to hold on for just a little bit longer. Then all would be quiet, he would be at peace.
It screamed. All it's plans, it's dreams, gone. Lost to the power of an elf long dead, an elf strong enough to defy death for the love of his friends. There was light, terrible and bright, eating away at the shadows. It could not succeed now, but it would exact it's revenge. It would not go into the emptiness alone, nor quietly. The soul of the elf would come with it.
"Nearly there." The prince smiled, feeling the shadow fall. His eternal fate no longer mattered; his friends were safe, Gondor's future assured. With one last, incredible burst of energy, his light engulfed the last of the shadow. A scream of agony rang in his ears. His eyes opened and he saw Aragorn looking at him in sheer disbelief. For one brief moment, their eyes locked. Legolas smiled, bidding his friend a last goodbye. Then he knew no more as his spirit gave out and he was taken into the eternal emptiness of a lost soul.
Silence fell.
"NO!" Aragorn cried out as Legolas' form vanished along with the shadow. He did not know what had happened, but he knew it did not bode well. Glorfindel closed his eyes in grief. Far worse than death was Legolas' sacrifice. Ai, how would he explain this to Aragorn? He turned sadly to Elrond, knowing that only he knew what had just transpired. "What happened?" The elf-lord's gaze was filled with confusion. Never in all his long years had he witnessed such an event. He did not like the look in Glorfindel's eyes. "He sacrificed his soul." Glorfindel almost choked on the words as he looked away from Elrond to the now clear sky. "He went into darkness with the evil he destroyed. We have lost him forever."
Aragorn turned to Glorfindel in sheer horror. "What are you saying? Surely his soul will travel back to Mandos' Halls?" Glorfindel shook his head. "Nay, his soul is beyond Mandos' reach. He is lost."
The words hit like a knife to the heart. Elven death was terrible, but came with the assurance of eventual rebirth. To sacrifice that chance was awful beyond imagining. Aragorn let out a strangled cry and gripped Elladan's arm. The twins both embraced him as they all struggled to comprehend what had occurred.
"What now?" Aragorn asked softly, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. He jumped slightly as Gimli laid a hand on his arm; he had not seen the dwarf approach. "Now we carry on doing what King Thranduil bade me do twelve years ago – live our lives in such a way that his sacrifice was not in vain." Aragorn shook his head. "I do not know if I can." "You have to." Gimli replied. "For him, for Gondor, for everyone." "He cared deeply for all of you." Glorfindel said softly. "Enough to sacrifice everything. Not to do our best now is to dishonour him."
Aragorn closed his eyes, taking in the words. He knew they were right, as they had been thirteen years ago, but it was no easier now than it was then. If anything it was harder. But he would try, for Legolas. Slowly he nodded and after a moment found the strength to speak. "I will honour him. If Gondor was great before it shall become greater. All will know how we obtained this greatness. Legolas' memory shall be immortal, if nothing else." Glorfindel squeezed Aragorn's shoulder. "Indeed it shall. In our hearts and our memories he shall live always. Not even the darkest evil can change that." "You speak truly." Elrond said as he wrapped an arm around his human son. "Memories will always exist even when everything else is gone." He gently guided Aragorn towards the palace. "Come. We need to speak to Arwen; she must know what has happened here. Then you will rest; there will be time enough tomorrow to deal with the repercussions of today."
Aragorn accepted the truth in his Father's words. There would indeed be time enough tomorrow. Thanks to Legolas, tomorrow was assured.
As he walked inside, an eagle cried as she soared through the air, revelling in her freedom. Aragorn smiled as he remembered that freedom was all that Legolas had ever truly wanted. Now he was free. They all were.
End Chapter 13