Translations:

Melamin- my love

Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'- my heart shall weep until it sees thee again

Chapter 11 Vigil And Burial

They walked through the palace with none disturbing them. They reached the door to the room where she had been taken.. Legolas paused with his hand on the latch. He looked back at Aragorn. Aragorn nodded slightly. Legolas slowly opened the door and stepped in. The room stood empty except for several high-backed chairs, a couch against one wall, and the bier upon which Yesel lay. There were no windows, and the only light came from sconces hung on the walls. At first glance, Legolas only saw Arwen, but upon looking again, he saw Elisel curled up on the couch. Arwen had moved one of the chairs over and was sitting there holding Elisel's hand. When they entered, she gently let go of Elisel's hand, stood up, and glided over to them.

"Elisel refused to leave. Finally the poor child cried herself to sleep. I had not the heart to wake her. This has brought back her parents death to her and she grieves for them as much as for Yesel."

The words were hardly out of her mouth when Elisel sat up, crying out, "Yesel." Legolas thought of how much Yesel had loved her, and he went to her. He sat down beside her and gathered her into his arms.

"Shhh," he whispered to her.

"I had a bad dream Legolas. I dreamt Yesel got killed," she said, still mostly asleep. "Wasn't that a bad dream? Yesel would never die on us. We love her too much." A pang cut across his heart as his eyes strayed to the bier. Yesel. Yes, she had loved them but she had still died. He looked down and saw that her eyes had filled with tears.

"It wasn't a dream, was it Legolas."

"No Elisel, it wasn't a dream. She's dead." She wriggled out of his arms and ran out of the room. Arwen went after her. Legolas stood and approached the bier. Aragorn had never seen him walk so slowly before. He wondered how much more Legolas would be able to take.

Legolas stood trembling beside the bier, looking down at Yesel. She had been washed and redressed. If not for the closed eyes, he could almost believe she sleeping. He sat down and took one of her hands in his.

"Melamin," he whispered, willing her to wake up. He felt Aragorn come up behind him. He looked up at him.

"I keep hoping that she'll open her eyes and laugh at me. Tell me that it's all a joke. That she didn't really die." He looked back down. Aragorn put his hand on his shoulder.

"The joke is on me though because she did die." He lapsed back into silence. Aragorn went and sat on the opposite side of the bier.

"I can't say I know how you feel Legolas. Aside from my parents dying, which I can barely remember, I haven't lost anyone close to me. All I can do is imagine how I would feel if Arwen died."

"But she's not dead is she," Legolas cried as he jumped up, knocking over the chair. "You didn't get the one you love killed did you," he spat out bitterly.

"What are you talking about Legolas? You didn't get Yesel killed."

"I did. I'm the one who killed the orc's mate. I'm the one who let him escape the first time. I'm the one he wanted. I should be dead not," he broke off before saying her name. "Legolas it is not your fault that she died."

"Yes it is. I missed the other orcs."

"We all missed them," Aragorn interrupted him. Legolas went on as if he didn't hear him.

"He killed her when she warned me. Why did she have to call out that warning." He fell to his knees, his head hung in grief. He raised his head. tears were streaming down his cheeks. "Why did she have to die?" Aragorn walked over and dropped down beside him.

"I don't know why she had to die but I do know why she called out. She loved you Legolas. To her your survival was important. She wanted you to live."

"I love her Estel. I don't know what I'll do without her. I don't want to live without her." Aragorn put his arms around his friend and comforted him as he cried.

Legolas kept his vigil throughout the night. He neither ate nor slept, just sat by Yesel and held her hand. He thought of the first time he had seen her, and all the other things they had done. Aragorn stayed with him, and in his heart mourned not only for Yesel, but for Legolas as well. He thought of all the good times they had shared, but he also thought of the despair and hopelessness he had heard in Legolas' voice. He was even more afraid that he would try to follow her into death. Each sat and thought their thoughts, which never strayed very far from the elf in front of them. At dawn on the next day, they laid her to rest by the violet patch she had loved. She was buried with the simple dignity common to the elves of Mirkwood. Her body was borne from the palace and laid gently into the waiting grave. A priest conducted the ceremony entrusting her soul to the Halls of Mandos, while the grave was filled with fresh earth. Then each person placed a single rose on the grave. Throughout it all Legolas watched, alone, mute and suffering. After everyone was done, he knelt beside the grave and laid a wreath of violets on it while he spoke his final words to her.

"Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'." He bowed his head, and a single tear fell on the earth. He looked up when he heard singing. Led by Elisel, the children that Yesel had cherished were singing her lament.

Elven princess Gone to eternal rest

Bright and fair and shining

Master of bow

Master of sword

Beloved of our prince

She gave her life

To preserve her love

Gone but never forgotten

We mourn our loss