A/N: Thanks to the following reviewers –
Since this is the last chapter, I take this space to thank all my reviewers who took the pains to read and review my story. I am touched. Please be sure that more stories shall continue. "Crystal dreams" is also up for your viewing.
- Anarya of Lorien
Disclaimer: Oh all right! I don't own anything!!!
DEFENITELY THE LAST CHAPTER!!!!
The Prophecy
Chapter 20 (Or was it?)
He rode on, deeper into the thick woods. His memories filled with happy and sad ones. He closed his eyes as he visualized Aragorn taking leave of Luinil with Mithrandir near the deck of grey ships. He had manfully sent his daughter rightfully where she belonged. But then, was she his daughter or one born through him to fulfill her purpose? He smiled a little as he thought of how Arwen had taken to the message. She had remained silent and had smiled when Aragorn finished the tale. She would move on. But him, he had stood there, by the shores, gazing at the ship that grew smaller and smaller in size, he had stood there watching Luinil, his daughter sail away to Valinor. Even Legolas felt no desire to see the sea. His heart was somewhere else…
Her brown eyes haunted him wherever he turned. Her voice etched deep, her touch burning his memory. His Silme. He sighed and nudged Arod gently. The horse quickened his pace.
Far away, he could see home. Yet he felt less happy now than when he had left it. The stable boy stared openly at the prince's sudden arrival. But nonetheless, he took Arod's reins and bowed down before his prince when Legolas ordered him to take him to his usual stable. He shouldered his bow and slowly walked towards the palace,
Suddenly he heard bells, Amrûn…
He turned abruptly to spot the winged stallion only to see nothing. His shoulders sagged as he turned back onto his way to his father's halls. He was back.
The wooden doors opened and he walked slowly inside. Thranduil was busy in the middle of a heated conversation with his minister.
"But she will-" his attention diverted towards the new arrival. His eyes widened momentarily as he saw his son enter, tired and travel worn.
"Legolas!" the king whispered. His son smiled as he bowed down in front of his father. The king smiled warmly as he said,
"Arise my son, approach me for I greatly desire to see you." Legolas stood up and walked towards his father. Thranduil gently lifted his son's face and kissed his brow.
"Welcome home, my son." Legolas smiled a little. It would be sad beyond measure to spend time without seeing her. But still, his father loved him… he smiled a little more.
"I am glad to be back, father." He said as he kissed his father's hand as a mark of respect. But his heart ached as he said that. Thranduil smiled oblivious to this…
"And this feast I organize to commemorate the return of my son from Ithilien and beyond and-" he turned to look at Legolas uncertainly. His son smiled a little. Thranduil smiled back as though his doubt had been cleared and continued,"-to announce that he shall soon be wedding a princess of high repute."
Legolas who was about to drink from his goblet, coughed terribly, but the claps and smiles around him went on undiminished.
"Father?" he turned to his father questioningly. Thranduil smiled at his son. "This is so different from the other suitors you saw. In the beginning I completely disagreed to the proposal, but her family lineage is incredible. They have known us for centuries! Her charm works through all. She would make a wonderful bride, my son." He whispered to his distraught son.
Legolas lowered his eyes. His heart was numb with pain. In his mind he saw Silme smile at him as she sat atop Amrûn, riding equal to his stride. Her laughter, the sound of tinkling bells, her eyes – those deep pools which could never hide any emotion in their depths, be it sorrow or joy or desire." He closed his eyes as he felt his throat run dry; he turned to the king,
"If you will excuse me, father. I feel tired-"
"I understand, my son. You may leave. But I shall ask you one little favor. She waits for you in the gardens close to your room. Will you go and talk to her? She seemed too shy to face you at the dinner. So I excused her. Will you see her before you sleep? I shall tell you of the arrangements for the wedding that I shall discuss hereof tomorrow." He smiled as Legolas nodded a little. He couldn't trust himself to speak.
He walked slowly towards the door that led him away from the lights of his father's grand hall, away from the dreadful marriage that his father had arranged for him. It had been just two days since his return and already his future was decided. He pushed the doors open and quickened his pace. Soon he was running fast towards his room. He threw down the mithril circlet from his head as he kicked his door open. The cool breeze from the open did little to pacify his turmoil. He sighed a little as he knelt onto the carpeted floor and closed his eyes to darkness. His ragged breathing became a little steady, so did his rationality.
This new arrangement that his father had so openly declared for the whole woods to hear, who was she? Mayhap she was a spoilt child of a high elven lord of such rich lineage that she could dazzle even the high lords of Valinor. But he cared not who she was, he would tell her, that his heart was with another elleth, an elleth who though knew little about the gentle manners of the court, had managed to capture his heart. One whose heart he managed to claim in return of his. He sighed and opened the door through which he walked into the dim light of the moon. There was a maiden seated near the fountain. Her face hidden from him. The water flowing from a seashell in the hands of the marble nymph was the only sound that reached his ears. She was playing with the surface of the water, her hands played with the pebbles that lay in the bottom of the fountain.
"My lady," he stopped. "Yes?" she questioned. Her voice was muffled as though she spoke through a veil,
"I was told that-"
"You were to wed me. Isn't that right my lord?"
He gulped. She laughed a little. There was silence for a while. Then, "I hear that you were in love with an elleth once." He glared at her. She was turning out more frank and brash by the minute.
"I find it my duty to correct you. I didn't love her. I do love her." her laughter cut through the night air.
"Oh, is that so? Then you have open heartedly agreed to wed me with her dwelling in you heart? Is that not betrayal for the both of us?" Legolas moved a pace towards her. His anger was close to the surface.
"And for that reason, I ask you to go back from whence you came, and let me be."
"And what will you do?" she chimed sweetly that annoyed him ever the more. He spat through clenched teeth,
"That is none of your business, my lady." She stiffened a little. He hastened to apologize, "My lady-"
"No. I agree. But will your father not get wild if he knows what you propose to me now?"
"Not if it is you who is proposing it. But if you still deny my plea, then I shall have to tell my father openly that I cannot marry you."
"I disagree." She stated simply. "I have traveled from a far off place and I cannot return thus. Mayhap you can imagine me to be her when you shall love me at night." His eyes widened at her suggestion.
"My lady I wish you would understand that what I felt for her is not lust but love which I deem you shall not understand. So, before I do something that I shall deeply regret, let us part." He wheeled around and was about to walk away from the place and the arrogant elleth when a hand caught his. He turned back to stare at the veiled elleth stand before him laughing softly.
"Does my misery cause you mirth, maiden?" he growled. She shook her head as she drew closer.
"No," she whispered when she was an inch away from his face. His eyes narrowed as he felt her breath on his lips, "I laugh because you are too good to be mine, Legolas." She drew away her veil and before him stood Silme, clad in a fine grey robe heavily embroidered with silver. Her face scanned his for minutes as he stood gazing at her.
"Silme?" he breathed finally finding his voice.
She smiled as she kissed him gently and replied, "In the flesh. So, do I cause you misery, melamin?"
Legolas felt his eyes water despite himself. "Yes." He whispered as he enfolded his arms around her. He cried softly into her dark tresses. She hugged him back as her own tears flowed to fall onto his shoulder.
"I am with you, Legolas. All the time… I will always be with you. Amin mela lle."
He smiled and a laugh escaped his lips as he kissed her deeply. Her breath caught in her lungs as she hung onto him kissing him back with all the love she felt for him. The fountain gave out its sweet music as Legolas and Silme remained locked in a kiss that seemed to last for eternity but it ended soon, too soon.
Silme broke the kiss as she gazed smiling at his shining face, desire etched in each line and stroke.
"Patience, my love. You have an eternity to spend with me." He smiled as he kissed her again. "And that is never enough." She smiled as she kissed him back.
Thranduil looked at the two figures standing there. He smiled despite himself. He had followed his son the moment he had left the halls. Now he stood gazing at his son and his love locked in an eternal embrace.
"You are happy, now?" a voice sounded from behind. Thranduil smiled as he replied without turning back,
"You spy too much, my queen." Vala stepped out into the moonlight as she stood beside the kind of Mirkwood.
"And your eyes are always keen." She turned to look at Legolas and Silme sit beside the fountain looking deeply at each other, the love for each other seemed to shine form their eyes even for the other two to see.
"Are you satisfied, my lord?" Thranduil sighed as he clutched the railing tighter.
"Silme would have been my daughter had Sulé and I-" Vala placed an understanding hand over his shoulder.
"I know how you feel, Thranduil. But Sulé decided her fate long ago. If it was to be with a mortal who was to die the moment Silme was born, then there is nothing we can do to change it." She turned to look at the sky.
"Silme was the only reason she didn't fade. But she was never the same, ever again."
"Neither was I." He stated simply as he turned to go inside. Vala smiled a little as she stated,
"I will be leaving for the Gray Havens tomorrow morn, and is this how you shall bid me farewell?" Thranduil turned to look at the queen. He smiled as he nodded his head. Before he stepped into the shadows, he turned once more.
"My lady," Vala turned to face him with her eyebrows raised. "Yes?"
"Both of them needn't know all of this." Vala's expression softened a little as she smiled and nodded her head.
"Yes."
"It has been seven years since I have claimed you and still you cannot win me in battle." He mocked her as she struck him again only to be blocked by his sword. "Oh you are ruthless." He laughed as he defended another blow and with one fluid motion disarmed his opponent.
"Lle lava?" he asked as he held her pinned to him. She glared at him. "I did that seven years ago." She stated simply. He loosened his hold on her as he laughed and hugged her tightly. (Lle lava? – do you yield?)
"Aye, you did! And nobody questions your rule on me." Silme smiled a little as she hugged him back. She suddenly jerked and drew away from him. Her face was joyous as she touched her stomach.
"Your son is as impish as you are. You know that?" she said as she ran her hand over her womb where his child lay. Legolas smiled as he placed his hand over hers.
"He is your son as well. It would be surprising if he wasn't." she laughed as she hugged him loosely and kissed his nose gently like she had done the first time they had kissed.
"I am glad, Legolas." She stated simply but her eyes and tone conveyed so much gratitude that he smiled and kissed her once more.
"And I know. Now let us hurry or my father shall murder me for having you out in such a state. We were disobeying laws when we came out you know!"
"Yes, and it was your idea." Legolas turned to stare at Thranduil who glared at his son. "Ada! I am sorry! I didn't see you there." Thranduil's glare softened a little as he saw Silme stifling her giggles. "Oh Ada!" she hugged him as she laughed at the funny expression her husband carried. He smiled as he stroked her hair gently.
"My daughter has saved you today but you shall not be this lucky the next time, my son. Now in you march!"
Legolas pouted at the two and walked sullenly back into the halls. Silme loosened herself from Thranduil to hug him from behind and soothe his hurt ego. Thranduil smiled as he sighed. It was just like he had wanted to be. Happy and content.
"I am a warrior, I don't quake with pain, you fool!" she cried as she clutched to his hand as though for life. Legolas laughed a little but his laughter stopped abruptly as another cry from her mouth erupted. The healer smiled as she straightened a little.
"The child shall be out any moment now. But it shall hurt."
"Oh wondrous news!" she mocked as she clutched his hand even tighter. "AAH! I am never going through this again! Not as long as Varda's sickle remains!" the cool breeze caused a tiny flicker of the lamp on the table by the bed.
"Then mayhap by day light?" Legolas smiled as he suggested this to his wife. Silme scowled at her husband as she caught one of his ears and twisted them playfully. "Ow! All right! I understand." He laughed as Silme scowled at him even more. But her scowl turned into a moan as another painful contraction hit her. Legolas felt himself tense up as she almost broke his hand.
"He comes." She breathed as she gave one more powerful push and a matching shriek that almost tore his ears out. The next moment, a feeble cry announced the arrival of the babe onto the plains of the world. The healer and her accomplice cleaned the baby and placed him towards Silme who accepted the bundle with gratitude.
"We have a son." She smiled at her husband who looked at the child with astonishment and surprise. His very own. His son. His heart swelled with pride as he felt the tiny hand, whose softness was unmarred.
"Hannon lle, Silme. I have no ways to repay you for this gift."
"But this is no gift from me. It is a gift from those above us. Don't thank me, my lord." She smiled at him. Happiness filled her, as she had never known. Now she knew how her mother felt and she was glad. She shushed the child to calm as she gazed into his deep blue depths. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she kissed his baldhead, his black hair felt soft underneath her lips. She then turned to Legolas who sat beside a disheveled Silme.
"You look exactly like the day after our wedding night." He suggested none too innocently. Silme glared at him though her mouth twitched a little.
"Oh, you're an imp in the body of an elf." She sighed as she felt her body tire. Legolas must have noticed this. He stood up as in order to receive his son. Silme looked at her son one more time. She then turned to Legolas.
"Our son, he needs a name. Name him, Legolas." She handed her infant gently into his hands. He took his son up with his trembling hands. The blue eyes looked up at another identical pair. His son. He smiled at the thought. The babe smiled with him.
"What shall we call you? Hmm." He mused a while. He then turned to look at the sky. The moon shone brightly.
"You shall be known as Ithilion, the child of the moon. Now sleep." The babe looked deep into his face as though entranced when Legolas began to hum a soft tune. His voice sounded like honey and soon the child was asleep.
He kissed his son's forehead and gently lowered him towards Silme only to find her sleeping. He smiled as he kissed his wife and settled in a chair next to her bed and sat there watching his son sleep.
And thus we come to be the end of this prophecy. Aragorn and Arwen had a son after Luinil though she never vanished from their hearts. At times of trouble, the couple looked up to the sky to see the star of Luinil shine brightly offering them comfort and guidance. Gimli remained, as he was, a robust and hearty dwarf who made it now and then to Ithilien where his elven friend lived with his wife and son, and then to Minas Tirith to greet the king of Gondor. Time went slowly yet surely and the meaning and the deeds of the prophecy were lost to time…
Will they ever be unveiled again as this world changes with no rest?
No answer approaches…
THE END
I thank each and every single soul who had read this story. The inspiration stemmed from the encouragement and I pray that you render the same support for my future endeavors. It was nice writing this story and I do feel a little sad coming to think that it is to end… but so does all happiness. See you on the other side of the seas.
- Anarya of Lorien.