Translations
Ada- father
Ion nin- my son
Chapter 12 Enlightenment
After the funeral, Legolas returned to the palace and went to his room without speaking to anyone. All that day he sat silent and remote. He refused all offers of food and drink that Aragorn offered him. He refused all visitors save Aragorn. He just sat and stared out the window at the forest. This went on for two weeks. Aragorn stayed by his side. One evening there was a gentle knock on the door. Legolas did not even acknowledge it. With a small sigh Aragorn went and opened it. Standing there were Elrond, Thranduil, and Gandalf. Thranduil motioned for him to come out.
"How is my son?"
" In truth, I know not. He has spoken perhaps five words since this morning. He has neither eaten nor drunk. He has not slept. He sits by the window and stares at the forest. I do not think he even sees it. He will not respond to direct questions. It is like he is present only in body. His heart and spirit are elsewhere."
At Aragorn's words the three elders exchanged a look. A look that was not lost on him. He felt a chill run down his spine. Something was very wrong. He felt it.
"What is it? What is wrong with Legolas," he asked them. They ignored him for the moment.
"We must reach him. There is little time left. Let me try to talk to him Thranduil," Gandalf said. Thranduil nodded and together they entered the chamber and closed the door behind them, leaving Aragorn to stare bewilderedly.
"Come Estel, you should rest," Elrond told him
"But, Legolas, I do not want to leave him."
"You can do no more here now. You can come back later. Give him time with his father and with Gandalf." He gently maneuvered Aragorn down a hall, away from Legolas' door.
"Ada, what is happening to Legolas?" Elrond looked at his son. The man's eyes were filled with grief and worry. Elrond did not want to add to that worry, but he had the right to know what could happen to his friend
"We fear that Legolas is willing himself to die so he can be reunited with Yesel."
"Ada no. We have to help him. He can't die too. What can we do?"
"There is no magical cure for this Estel. If no one can reach him and give him a reason to continue to live, he will die."
Aragorn looked stricken. He knew that Legolas was grieving, but he had not known the depth of that grief. He could no longer stand and sat down heavily onto a bench. He doubled over as if he had suddenly been punched in the stomach. Elrond watched his son struggle to assimilate the news he had just been told. Part of the problem was that the young ranger was exhausted. Elrond knew he had stayed up all night with Legolas. He did not know how Aragorn would react if none could bring Legolas back from the edge. His heart was heavy at the thought of losing the elf. Legolas had spent so much time in Imladris with Aragorn and the twins that Elrond considered him another son. He was snapped out of his reverie as Aragorn murmured something, but it was too faint for him to catch.
"What was that ion nin?" Aragorn raised himself up
"It is not fair Ada," he said in a weary voice.
Elrond sat down beside him and put his arm around the young man's shoulders. Aragorn rested his head on his father's arm.
"Estel, many things in this world are not fair. There is much evil in the world, and some of it has now touched our lives. We can not, however, let the evil become our lives. We will grieve and we will mourn, but we will go on. We must help Legolas to go on." He fell silent.
"Ada, was it like this when you lost Celebrian? Why is so hard on Legolas?"
"It was different for me in that Celebrian did not die. She sailed to the Undying Lands. I miss her but I can always think of her there, alive and well, waiting for me to join her. It is harder for Legolas because he has not even that simple comfort. He will have many years to go before he can be reunited with her." He finished speaking and the two of them just sat, each gaining comfort from the other. Aragorn was dozing when he heard a voice whisper, "Promise me."
He jerked awake.
"Estel, what is it," Elrond asked as he felt his son take a deep breath and steel his shoulders. Aragorn stood and faced his father.
"I promised Yesel I would not let him follow her. I will not let Legolas die. I owe it to all of us to try."
He turned and headed back towards Legolas' room. Elrond watched his retreat, hope faintly beating in his heart. He allowed a slight smile to play across his lips. If anyone could bring Legolas back it would be Aragorn. He stood and followed his son down the hall