Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Alone
I laugh at Faramir's tales of growing up here in Gondor. He sounds as if he was quite a terror.
I sip at my ale as Eowyn takes up the tale telling. She will be the prefect wife for my friend now that she has overcome her infatuation with Aragorn. Gondor will soon have another wedding to attend to I think, from the looks these two are sharing.
That is good. We have all lived under the shadow of darkness for far, far too long.
It is also why we are having this little party. Today we finally cleansed Middle Earth of that darkness. Gone, finished and finally perfectly it is all over. I will never in my life forget watching Mount Doom erupt. It did not so much as erupt as explode. I have seen many explosions in my life, beautiful ones that drove passages into rock. But this surpassed them all.
Then the fear set in, we had gathered on the field to but Frodo and Sam time, not one of us expected to survive. One minute we were rejoicing that the One Ring was gone and then horror so deep it took my breath away. But they were and are safe, resting in one of the chambers upstairs in the care of the healers neither of them came through their ordeal without injury, but Gandalf tells me they will recover and be the Hobbits that we all know and love.
Tonight is a night for being with our friend's. Friend's that will be for life, how other could it be? In adversity, in times of need friends are what get you through and I have learnt that the most. No more the closed thinking of my race towards others. No, I have learnt that friend's come from the most unlikely of places.
And talking about friends, I see Aragorn coming towards me. He has been looking around as if he is searching for someone and he does not look happy.
"Have you seen Legolas?" He does not beat about the bush. Of course I have seen the Elf he is… Not here.
Know where could he have disappeared to? That is the one, well one of, the most annoying things about the Elf, the way he can sneak up on you with silent stealth.
Our reactions have deepened the frown on his face. I can also see the worry deep in those grey eyes. Worry that I feel welling up within me once more.
Aragorn turns and makes his way out of the hall, but is stopped by Gandalf. I set my ale down. I have been worried for Legolas, my dear friend and companion has not been him self in recent days. I do not know when I realised that he was pulling back from us, his smile not as easy as it should be.
There is almost a yearning look in his eyes. I wish I knew how to help him. I would as well, for he has become one of my dearest and most loved friend's. If anything were to happen know after all we have been through…. It does not bear thinking of.
Aragorn has finished his conversation with Gandalf, I really do not think he knows what they talked about, and is heading for the doors. I follow and out of the corner of my eyes I notice Faramir and Eowyn following me, they look worried to.
Gandalf turns to us as we draw level with him. His usually twinkling eyes hold worry and a frown mars his forehead. It appears as if the Elf has us all worried.
"What is wrong?" The wizard has piercing eyes at times, eyes that seem to reach inside of you and dissects you as you talk.
"We can not find, Legolas. Aragorn is looking for him." Eowyn answer's for me.
"Is he injured?" Gandalf knows as much as I do that Elves never get ill.
"Not that I was aware of." My voice is gruff, but I care not. If that Pointy eared Princeling has hidden an injury, he will feel my wrath, make no mistake. We are at the door and looking out over the battlement.
Aragorn has stopped just outside the door and is watching Legolas. He in turn is looking out over Gondor and seems lost. So lost and so, so alone. It almost appears as if he has the weight of all Arda on his shoulders.
Here I stand alone
With this weight upon my heart
And it will not go away.
In my head I keep on looking back
Right back to the start
And wondering what it was that made you change.
From where I stand and with the feeble light from the hall it looks to me as if he has lost weight. Never big to begin with by Elven standards he looks as if one stiff breeze would send him crashing to the rocks below.
If I was worried before, I am frantic know. What is wrong with him and why has he not sought the help and guidance from his friends?
I make to move forwards, if Aragorn will not help him, by Aule I will! A firm hand on my shoulder stops me and I look up with a frown, who dares keep me from my friend? The warning in Gandalf's eyes eases me somewhat and at his nod I turn forward and breathe a sigh of relief for Aragorn has finally moved to Legolas' side.
His first words make me gape at his stupidity.
"Are you alright, Legolas?" Aragorn asks him. Alright? Of course the Lad is not alright!
"Yes, Aragorn I just needed some quiet and respite from your foul smoke." I raise my eyes at that. I know he hates us smoking and complains mightily if we do it in his company. Hmm, that may be the reason I found my best pipe and weed in Arod's trough yesterday. Devious. I like it. There is hope for him yet.
"You have been out here for sometime, I was getting concerned." As we all were my friend. "Gimli asked me to ask if you would like to join him in a drinking game. I think he wants his revenge."
What?! He is using me to get the Elf to open up? I will say nothing unless this fails. Actually I would like a rematch, who would have believed that someone so thin could drink a Dwarf under the table? If this gets back to my father I will never live it down, considering who this Elf's sire is.
I perk up at the genuine laughter that I hear from my friend, the first in far too long.
"The night is veiled." Aragorn turns to look at the sky once more. I want him to talk English, Dwarvish hell anything I can understand and not this gibberish.
"Yes, it should be clear and not dull as this. The heavens should be celebrating." There is wistfulness in Legolas' voice and I find myself wanting to say to him that so should he. Be celebrating that is.
"Are you going to join us?" Aragorn will not take his eyes of off our friend.
"In a while." Legolas is steadfastly refusing to look at him, which worries me a little.
"Legolas, I am here for you when your longing gets too much for you." My heart drops at Aragorn's words. Sea Longing? Is that what this is? Oh, my friend how you must be hurting. Why suffer in silence?
Where will you go from here? Will you leave Middle Earth? The thought scares me; the thought of not having you in my life is not one I had given thought to.
We all have roads to take and to choose now, I think.
Many roads to take,
Some to joy,
Some to heartache,
Anyone can loose their way
And if I said that we could take it back,
Right back to the start would you take the chance and make the change?
Legolas' voice is barely above a whisper as he says. "Hannon lle, Mellon-nin." His voice sounds rather musically rough, testament to his feelings.
Aragorn turns and begins to look away, the surprise in his eyes as he sees us turns to gratitude as he takes in exactly who huddles in the doorway. He smiles as he comes to me and claps me on the shoulder and I raise my left eye to him. He nods and I know that we will be speaking before the night is out.
A noise from behind us stops us for a moment and I realise with joy that Legolas is singing, really singing for the first time in far too long.
I know then that he will be alright; he has us to look after him after all. I hurry back to my ale. We will be having a drinking contest in the not to distant future. No Elf bests me for long I can promise you that.
The End?
Many thanks to all my reviewers, you are the best!
This is for Katy, who did so well in her exams. Well done, I am so proud of you.
Replies to reviews.
Erenriel the Elven Canuck: Thank you for your kind thoughts, there will be more, don't worry. I hope this meets your approval, please let me know. The party has yet to really take of. It is the least of Aragorn's worries. Big Evil Grin!
Laer4572: Blushes bright red, thank you. Of course they will forgive you, trust me.
PopcornandGreenery: I am glad that you are pleased, this snuck up on me. Glad you like it.
Wadeva: Thank you! You will have to see…. MwaHaa!!!
Deana: Thank you! I am glad that you like it, as to your question, we will have to wait and see.
Barbara Kennedy: Thank you. Sorry about the mistakes, they snuck through once more. I will try harder. I have a real problem with now and know. Always have done, strange…
Thank you all once again. Join me next time for Gandalf's view.
Shell