Hi guys, Lady Nierwen here again! (Finally)
Runs away from stampede of angry reviewers O.K, O.K!
I am soooo sorry for the incredibly late update. Here are my reasons:
1) School broke up for the summer holidays and have been occupied with last minute arrangements.
2) I am lazy
3) Big brother is on over here, and you know, I don't like it that much but I got sucked in.
4) I twisted my wrist when I was writing something of my original work. (This is the truth, honestly, no jokes this time) It still hurts now, but it's better to type rather than write because a) I am right handed and I twisted my right hand, and b) because I can just do some of it with my left hand if it gets bad.
So, these are my reasons, I hope they are satisfactory. Here are your reviewer responses.
Reviewer Responses:
Sally-Anne Drury: Hey mate, hows you? Thanks for your review of chapter 2.
They sometimes have site problems, when the apostrophes get changed to other things and stuff. Thanks again for your review, have a lovely summer holiday.
P.S: I like putting Legolas in and writing him an emotional part. He'd be a bit boring otherwise, don't you think?
Nightshade3: AKA Alexandra!! Hi!! I'm flattered that you actually signed in to review me. I have read some of your stuff. Impressive!! I barely manage the uniform myself, but I do, then again, I suppose being a geek, I'm kind of required to wear an immaculate uniform! LOL!
P.S: Don't cry! I don't like it when people cry.
ElvenRanger13: Thanks for your review. Since I'm so young, people kind of think that I am not capable of writing such emotion, well, HAH! Have proved them all wrong!! I'm glad you like it!
Splendid, marvellous! You said that about me. Really? Wow, cool, thanks. I haven't had that sort of encouragement since, well, since ever!!
I'm making people wait for the Aragorn death scene, because I want the impact to be dramatic. I want people to actually feel it. All too often, I come across fics that kill off characters straight away. I prefer it when people wait for it. Thanks again for the review.
For the chapter 4 review you did thanks!! I really wasn't sure about the lyrics.
Grumpy: Thanks for your review! Major Kleenex shortage? Don't worry, I think I have some spare… HEHE! Anywho thanks again!
Dark Borg Drone: Ooops! My bad! Forgot to put the translations in! U-moe edhored means there is nothing to forgive, and Amin Hiraetha, means I am sorry.
Thanks for your review.
Lindahoyland: Life experience I suppose. Thanks so much for your review! Hmmm. I think I will rectify that, thanks for pointing that out!
Ash49: Thanks for your review! Yup, I'm only thirteen. Thanks for mentioning that Aragorn and Arwen had only two daughters. I didn't know how many, because it only says in my book that they had many daughters. They don't play that big a part in this fic however, but I will keep it in mind for future fics.
Butterfly-elf: Thanks for you review!! I'm glad you agree. If you kill off a character in the beginning of the fic, then there is no point in continuing, because the plot line will have been done. Anywho, thanks for agreeing. Good idea that, you know, throwing Mirkwood spiders at flamers. I shall bare that in mind. Lol! Thanks again.
Shadowfaxgal7: Mae govannen mellon-nin! How are you? I am terrific, because I got another review from you!! Very different at my school isn't it? If I came in wearing no uniform, I would be given like a weeks worth of after school detentions. Tough eh? We do look like clones; it's kind of unnerving to see loads and loads of black blazered people walking about. You're right. Where's the individuality? I am a straight A student in nearly every subject except P.E. I am so bad at P.E. My favourite subjects are: English (surprise, surprise), history, R.S etc, you know, stuff you get to stay indoors for. Everyone expects me to get everything right. It's not fair because I get digs because I am clever. They don't seem to realise, that to get a great house, millions of pounds and a great job, you need brains. I just want a future. They can't see that.
We don't have a president; we have a prime minister, which is worse! High taxes, strikes, that's England nowadays. I'd like to live in America, or see it at least.
Brown hair, snap! I have curly brown hair though. I have it straightened because I find it has the uncanny ability to curl itself around door handles when I am trying to walk down the corridor at school. I think Ariel is a lovely name, I like it.
Well, I try with my chapters and all of my writing. I want to be able to make people believe that they are in the book and living the story. Just like Tolkien made me feel. Must I tell you again? DON'T CRY!!! You'll make me cry and then we go into that confusing spiral of shorting out each other's keyboards again. Besides, you'll make me cry as well…
Have you seen that response?
Well guys that took a while. So many reviews. Thanks.
Disclaimer: If you think I own anything, then you'd be wrong, but Legolas and Aragorn will always hold a soft spot.
Rating: PG
Summary: Same as always
Warning: Sad, angst and sad angst! (Pathetic!)
On with the chappie then…
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Chapter 11: Homeless
It felt like home. Too much like home. Wind whistled through the tree branches as the autumn wore on, and the grass was covered with a thick blanket of golden leaves. Yes, it felt like home.
Alone in the grounds, sitting upon a tree stump in a glade, one of many to dot the grounds of the palace of Gondor, was Legolas of Mirkwood. He thought this to himself so often as he sat here. It really did remind him of home. However he was faced with one dilemma; where was home?
For most of the prince's life, Mirkwood had been his home. When Aragorn was crowned king, ithilien became his home. For Legolas, home had always been where his heart was, no matter where he was at the time. His heart lay here, in Gondor now, at the king's side. So why did it not feel right here? Why did the cold stone walls and desperately empty silence of the enormous halls not feel comfortable to the elf?
Legolas pondered many things in his mind. As he sat on the stump, he held in his hand a single leaf of gold and red. Its startling beauty was a sharp contrast next to the elf's pale skin as he traced the blaze red veins softly. Legolas had grown up amongst the trees, his love them heightened as he grew older from years of being brought up in caves.
Legolas wanted only one thing in this world, and it was that every being on this middle –earth could be happy. He wanted to see Arwen smile again, for her happiness had been banished to the cold and frozen prisons of grief. It was a terrible thing to have to bear, and Legolas could see her ongoing struggle day by day as Aragorn grew weaker by day. Mortality was a curse.
In the glade he felt safe and secure as the breeze wrapped its comforting cool arms around him. Giving him strength when he needed it.
Lost in thought and absently twirling the gold leaf in his hand, he did not look up when he was joined by the evenstar herself.
"Legolas" she whispered to the sylvan elf on the stump. Legolas looked up into the elven princess's deep blue eyes and noticed, not for the first time, the great pain that was held within them.
"Arwen" he replied gently, moving over on the large stump to allow the queen to sit beside him. She did so, without her usual ease, and elven grace. Another sign of the bitter mortality she endured.
"I thought I'd find you out here" she said after a while. Legolas looked around the glade, taking in everything he saw.
"It is a reminder of home" he whispered.
"You miss home?" asked the queen of Gondor quietly.
Feeling no need to hide his emotion, Legolas nodded silently. Averting his gaze.
Arwen got up and walked forward, the black robe, that she seemed to be in the habit of wearing now, whipped the air behind her. Legolas regarded her with a puzzled expression as Arwen raised a thin hand and pulled back a branch from the thick cover that enclosed the space.
She turned and beckoned Legolas closer then turned back to gaze out of the space she had created.
Legolas followed her lead, and upon reaching her, looked out of the gap. What he saw made him gasp in wonder. There, far in the distance, lay the blue quilt of the sea.
The elf prince was captivated by its beauty, immediately enthralled by the golden reflection of the sun as it weaved spun gold in to the flat calm. He closed his eyes and felt the sea's call again and this curiously made him feel better and assured of his home.
"Home is where you wish it to be" began Arwen in her misted voice, "No matter where you are, what your heart wishes to be home shall be home. There is no label on any part of this earth that states itself to be our home. There is no restraint on our love of one place and hatred for another, all that matter's is that you are happy where you are."
Legolas listened silently to the Evenstar's words as he looked to the sea. She had voiced his thoughts in a way that he now understood. He knew where home was now. It was not a definite place or building. It was there, in the hearts of the people who cared for him. With Aragorn.
"Where do you feel your home lies?" asked Arwen gently.
"Here" Legolas replied.
"With you"
Arwen smiled at Legolas' last words and the two companions watched the sunset together as it faded into the distance.
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Aragorn slept deeply in his chamber when Legolas returned to him in the evening. A smile crept across the fair one's face as he saw Eldarion asleep next to his father, his arm outstretched on the bed and his dark head resting on it. Not wanting to wake them, Legolas sat, as silently as only elves could, in his normal place at the king's side. Taking his old friend's hand in his, he gently traced circles on the veined palm.
Legolas was unsure what to say to his friend. He felt strange. If this was his home, why did the stone walls make him feel…bound and somewhat imprisoning. This had been his main reason for not coming to Gondor for many years. He had wanted to come, but the thought of stone had been suffocating and he had always thought differently.
Legolas reminded himself of Arwen's words. Home is where the heart is.
Something struck Legolas then. A reminder, a clang in his head. His heart lay with Aragorn, here, nowhere else now. When Aragorn died, where would he be? Where would he go? The sea would not comfort him in any way, shape or form; just provide a distraction from the pain he would feel. He would be homeless. Alone.
The thought grieved Legolas, and reminded him that he was not ready to accept the loss of his friend. Spreading his arms out on the bed, he laid his head on his friend's hand as he let his grief overcome him.
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Late into the night, Elessar awoke as he felt tears fall onto his palm and his friend weeping bitterly. Aragorn looked down sadly at his friend.
He reached down and lifted the elf's chin up with two fingers, staring into the sea blue eyes of his friend. Aragorn reached out and wiped away the tears, and pulled his friend close to him. Legolas wept as his friend held him tight. That night, the true meaning of grief was discovered.
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Sorry guys, I did feel not so sure about this chapter, but it's the best I can do with a twisted wrist.
Here we go:
Reviews: Oh come on, do I need to ask?
Spelling/grammar mistakes: Again, do I need ask?
Ideas: Always welcome, however, I can't promise anything. L
Flamers: Yeah, feel free on this chapter, but any hate messages and the principal is the same as before, you will be blocked, Oakey dokey?
Well guys, it's been great, but unfortunately I have to go. Wrist hurts like hell. No surprise, I've been here for about 55 mins with no break.
Namarie
Lady Nierwen
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