Author's Note: Hey, everyone! I don't need to say that I've been away for awhile, that's for sure. I was recently reunited with my best friend, and I haven't seen her in a few years so we've been hanging out a lot lately. Her and her husband have been running into some bad times and I've been helping them out any way I can. Anyway, enough with my sob story! Here's the next chapter, for those of you who haven't given up on me yet. Enjoy!
Rhovanion's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
It was dark by the time the party arrived in Lorien, and Galadriel immediately helped cleanse and bandage Rhiannon's wounds. Her leg was a mess but would heal with time, although she might have a limp for the rest of her life. Her face would bear the scars of her battle; luckily they were not so deep as to scar it horribly.
Legolas watched in silence as they wrapped bandages diagonally across her face, covering her right eye and most of her nose, and he couldn't help but feel guilty for this happening to her. How could he face Aragorn and tell him what had happened after promising to protect her with his own life? And how would Boromir react after hearing of it, assuming he still cared enough about her?
Haldir noticed the elf's tormented expression and walked over to try and ease some of his fears. He himself was torn inside at seeing her like this since he cared for her very much, and it would take some time for her to heal. "Come, walk with me," he said as he laid a hand on his shoulder.
Legolas followed, breathing deeply of Lorien's beauty. It had been so long since he had come here that he had forgotten how beautiful it was living amongst the trees. Time stood still here, and the season that of spring for as long as the Lady lived in Lorien. But as much as he wanted to stay and be with Rhiannon, he knew he had to leave and return to Rivendell.
"It has been some time since we've seen you, Legolas, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood," Haldir finally said as they stopped at the base of a tree with the moonlight shining down upon them. "What could have been so important that both of you would've come this far?"
Legolas explained to him of the council and why they were here. Haldir listened patiently and said nothing, but when Legolas spoke of the finding of the Ring his eyes widened slightly. "This is grave news," he spoke softly. "And you must return swiftly to Rivendell before winter sets in along the mountains."
"I have but one favor to ask of you, if you will grant it," Legolas began.
"And I will gladly grant it," Haldir replied, already knowing what he would ask. "It is no fault of yours what has happened. You care for her the same as I do. She will be safe here."
His worries eased, he clasped arms with him. "If not for more urgent matters, I would stay with her until she is better. Perhaps I will see her when she is better."
"And I'm sure she will be just as happy to see you, my friend," he said in return.
Legolas smiled. "I will leave in the morning then. Thank you for all you have done for her."
Haldir returned his smile. "I would've done so even without your request," he pointed out then left to allow Legolas to retire to his rest, walking back to look upon Rhiannon with a heavy heart. It saddened him to know that evil was gaining such a foothold again in the world, and that this time may never recover from it's destructive ways. And as a result had almost cost him her life.
Laying his hand above her heart, he felt her weak pulse. She had lost a lot of blood and would surely take some time to heal, meaning she would be in Lorien for some time. Although he hated it that it had taken something like this to bring her here, he was nonetheless still grateful for her presence, and he left her with a kiss to her hand and a whispered word for the darkness of the night.
Legolas left early the next morning as he had said after seeing Rhiannon one last time, although she was still sleeping deeply and couldn't know he was there. But he knew deep down that she did know, and he hoped that her recovery would be complete by the time he saw her again, as he knew he would.
Thankfully the way going back was much easier, although he still had to avoid some of the dangers along the way. Being he was alone made it easier for him to slip by them, for who else but an elf could pass by an enemy undetected? He arrived back in Imladris to find it unchanged from when he had left and that most of the scouts that had been sent out had returned with good news. He requested the presence of Aragorn, Gandalf, and Elrond to tell them of what had happened, since seeing him returning alone had alarmed them to his danger already.
His news was met with grim acceptance, although Aragorn was understandably grieved to know that she had been wounded. He sat in his chair with his head buried in his hands, feeling like a fool for letting her go in the first place. It was Legolas' words of apology that brought him back around to where he needed to be. "Do not place the blame upon yourself, my friend, for you did all you could to protect her against incredible odds. It is not often that anyone faces a pack of wargs and lives."
"Indeed, no one deserves to have blame placed upon them," Gandalf stated. "In times such as these, danger lurks around every corner unforeseen."
"Needless to say, the safer route lies west of the mountains," Elrond concluded. "It grieves me what happened to her, but there is no place safer for her than in Lorien under the Lady's protection. I will call a council this afternoon." With that, the lord of Rivendell parted from them, as did Gandalf, leaving Aragorn and Legolas alone.
"How is she, Legolas?" the ranger asked anxiously. "You never said what might become of her injuries."
The elf sighed heavily. "Her leg was badly wounded; she may have to favor it for the rest of her life. Her face will bear the scars of her battle. How badly I do not know, but Galadriel seems to think that there is hope."
Aragorn swore softly, and Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do not worry yourself over this. What Gandalf said was true, and even if you had been there she might still have been hurt."
"I know, but...I love her, Legolas. I can't help but want to be there for her." He was quiet a moment. "And it's not just that that's bothering me."
"What is it?"
He looked up into the elf's blue eyes, so much like his beloved Arwen's that he had to look away. "I had to let Arwen go," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper, but he knew that the elf's keen ears would hear him. Legolas was shocked but remained quiet since he knew that he would have more to say. "I can't leave her here to live a life full of pain and suffering, to have her slowly wither and die long after I have left this world. She deserves to leave all that behind and leave with her people into Valinor."
"Being an elf myself, I can't help but agree with you," he finally said. "There are better ways to die than from a broken heart. But I also have to wonder if it would've been better to have asked what she wanted? She loves you, Aragorn. She was willing to surrender her life to you just to be with you."
"You don't think I understand the sacrifice she was willing to make for me?" Aragorn asked.
"I did not mean to imply that," he hastily assured him. "All I meant was that perhaps you should have allowed her to decide what was best for her."
"I should go and prepare for the council," Aragorn sighed as he rose to his feet. "I thank you for protecting Rhiannon, my friend." Then he turned and walked out, needing some distance for a moment. He hated avoiding the subject of his relationship with Arwen, but he didn't really know what to do. On one hand he wished that she would stay with him, but at the same time he wanted her to be safe and happy in Valinor. If she remained here, she would know nothing but pain and loss, and she deserved so much better than that.
Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he looked to see what it was, sighing in dismay when he saw it was Boromir that was approaching him. Would he want to know how Rhiannon was doing? Did he still care for her after the way they had parted?
********************
Ahh, Haldir...need I say more? Would any of you like to see more of him in this? Let me know what you think. And thanks so much for reading! C-ya!
Rhovanion's Child by Shelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
It was dark by the time the party arrived in Lorien, and Galadriel immediately helped cleanse and bandage Rhiannon's wounds. Her leg was a mess but would heal with time, although she might have a limp for the rest of her life. Her face would bear the scars of her battle; luckily they were not so deep as to scar it horribly.
Legolas watched in silence as they wrapped bandages diagonally across her face, covering her right eye and most of her nose, and he couldn't help but feel guilty for this happening to her. How could he face Aragorn and tell him what had happened after promising to protect her with his own life? And how would Boromir react after hearing of it, assuming he still cared enough about her?
Haldir noticed the elf's tormented expression and walked over to try and ease some of his fears. He himself was torn inside at seeing her like this since he cared for her very much, and it would take some time for her to heal. "Come, walk with me," he said as he laid a hand on his shoulder.
Legolas followed, breathing deeply of Lorien's beauty. It had been so long since he had come here that he had forgotten how beautiful it was living amongst the trees. Time stood still here, and the season that of spring for as long as the Lady lived in Lorien. But as much as he wanted to stay and be with Rhiannon, he knew he had to leave and return to Rivendell.
"It has been some time since we've seen you, Legolas, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood," Haldir finally said as they stopped at the base of a tree with the moonlight shining down upon them. "What could have been so important that both of you would've come this far?"
Legolas explained to him of the council and why they were here. Haldir listened patiently and said nothing, but when Legolas spoke of the finding of the Ring his eyes widened slightly. "This is grave news," he spoke softly. "And you must return swiftly to Rivendell before winter sets in along the mountains."
"I have but one favor to ask of you, if you will grant it," Legolas began.
"And I will gladly grant it," Haldir replied, already knowing what he would ask. "It is no fault of yours what has happened. You care for her the same as I do. She will be safe here."
His worries eased, he clasped arms with him. "If not for more urgent matters, I would stay with her until she is better. Perhaps I will see her when she is better."
"And I'm sure she will be just as happy to see you, my friend," he said in return.
Legolas smiled. "I will leave in the morning then. Thank you for all you have done for her."
Haldir returned his smile. "I would've done so even without your request," he pointed out then left to allow Legolas to retire to his rest, walking back to look upon Rhiannon with a heavy heart. It saddened him to know that evil was gaining such a foothold again in the world, and that this time may never recover from it's destructive ways. And as a result had almost cost him her life.
Laying his hand above her heart, he felt her weak pulse. She had lost a lot of blood and would surely take some time to heal, meaning she would be in Lorien for some time. Although he hated it that it had taken something like this to bring her here, he was nonetheless still grateful for her presence, and he left her with a kiss to her hand and a whispered word for the darkness of the night.
Legolas left early the next morning as he had said after seeing Rhiannon one last time, although she was still sleeping deeply and couldn't know he was there. But he knew deep down that she did know, and he hoped that her recovery would be complete by the time he saw her again, as he knew he would.
Thankfully the way going back was much easier, although he still had to avoid some of the dangers along the way. Being he was alone made it easier for him to slip by them, for who else but an elf could pass by an enemy undetected? He arrived back in Imladris to find it unchanged from when he had left and that most of the scouts that had been sent out had returned with good news. He requested the presence of Aragorn, Gandalf, and Elrond to tell them of what had happened, since seeing him returning alone had alarmed them to his danger already.
His news was met with grim acceptance, although Aragorn was understandably grieved to know that she had been wounded. He sat in his chair with his head buried in his hands, feeling like a fool for letting her go in the first place. It was Legolas' words of apology that brought him back around to where he needed to be. "Do not place the blame upon yourself, my friend, for you did all you could to protect her against incredible odds. It is not often that anyone faces a pack of wargs and lives."
"Indeed, no one deserves to have blame placed upon them," Gandalf stated. "In times such as these, danger lurks around every corner unforeseen."
"Needless to say, the safer route lies west of the mountains," Elrond concluded. "It grieves me what happened to her, but there is no place safer for her than in Lorien under the Lady's protection. I will call a council this afternoon." With that, the lord of Rivendell parted from them, as did Gandalf, leaving Aragorn and Legolas alone.
"How is she, Legolas?" the ranger asked anxiously. "You never said what might become of her injuries."
The elf sighed heavily. "Her leg was badly wounded; she may have to favor it for the rest of her life. Her face will bear the scars of her battle. How badly I do not know, but Galadriel seems to think that there is hope."
Aragorn swore softly, and Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do not worry yourself over this. What Gandalf said was true, and even if you had been there she might still have been hurt."
"I know, but...I love her, Legolas. I can't help but want to be there for her." He was quiet a moment. "And it's not just that that's bothering me."
"What is it?"
He looked up into the elf's blue eyes, so much like his beloved Arwen's that he had to look away. "I had to let Arwen go," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper, but he knew that the elf's keen ears would hear him. Legolas was shocked but remained quiet since he knew that he would have more to say. "I can't leave her here to live a life full of pain and suffering, to have her slowly wither and die long after I have left this world. She deserves to leave all that behind and leave with her people into Valinor."
"Being an elf myself, I can't help but agree with you," he finally said. "There are better ways to die than from a broken heart. But I also have to wonder if it would've been better to have asked what she wanted? She loves you, Aragorn. She was willing to surrender her life to you just to be with you."
"You don't think I understand the sacrifice she was willing to make for me?" Aragorn asked.
"I did not mean to imply that," he hastily assured him. "All I meant was that perhaps you should have allowed her to decide what was best for her."
"I should go and prepare for the council," Aragorn sighed as he rose to his feet. "I thank you for protecting Rhiannon, my friend." Then he turned and walked out, needing some distance for a moment. He hated avoiding the subject of his relationship with Arwen, but he didn't really know what to do. On one hand he wished that she would stay with him, but at the same time he wanted her to be safe and happy in Valinor. If she remained here, she would know nothing but pain and loss, and she deserved so much better than that.
Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he looked to see what it was, sighing in dismay when he saw it was Boromir that was approaching him. Would he want to know how Rhiannon was doing? Did he still care for her after the way they had parted?
********************
Ahh, Haldir...need I say more? Would any of you like to see more of him in this? Let me know what you think. And thanks so much for reading! C-ya!