Chapter 10
An hour later the council had reached their decision. They would support Alana, they would save Middle Earth, and then the last of the elves left there would leave, forever. One by one they left the platform, going about their business, preparing for what was to come. Legolas was one of the first to leave, closely followed by Alana.
Aragorn watched her go, longing clearly apparent in his eyes. Neera watched him curiously. He turned and caught her watching him, "Neera I remember what you told me. I will not go after her, no matter how much I want to." He said.
"I know Aragorn, you forget how long I have known you." Neera replied smiling. "Believe me when I say that I understand you more than you understand yourself. I knew you as a child and I know you now. I also know, that it is her memory that you love, not her. She has changed much, and so have you. I see it in your eyes, you desire her, but you love Arwen, that much is plain." Neera stood up and walked towards him, she settled into the chair next to him, and he turned towards her.
"You are right Neera. I love Arwen. She has given me more than any woman before her, a son, a beautiful, strong and healthy heir, Eldarion." Aragorn's eyes darkened. "But nothing will compensate for the one I lost. Alana's son. It is my fault that our son died, mine." Tears of sympathy crept into Neera's eyes.
"Your son was taken for a reason, Aragorn. He was a sickly child, and in death has more peace than he ever had in his short life. Alana wept for him, she grieved for so long, but she came to realise that it was never meant to be, your son was never meant to be born Aragorn, as awful as that sounds. Eldarion on the other hand, was meant to be born, he is your rightful heir. Let go of the past and let her be." Neera put her arm around his shoulders. "Now come Estel, walk with me."
They both stood, and began to walk through the grounds of Rivendell. "Neera is right," He thought. "I must let go." They walked and talked for what seemed like hours, their conversation bringing Aragorn, a sense of peace at last.
"Legolas!" Alana cried as she followed him into a clearing on the outskirts of Rivendell. "Please wait for me, I have much to explain my Love!" Legolas stopped and waited, never turning to look at her.
"Why could you not tell me?" He whispered. "Can you not trust me Alana? How long have we known each other? How much Love do we share? And still you did not tell me!" Legolas sun around, anger, betrayal and hurt, filled his eyes. "Instead you tell Aragorn, the one who broke your heart."
"I did not tell him! He discovered before I did, he worked it out, and ever since that time there has been no opportunity to tell you. Please don't shut me out Legolas. I could not bear it if you hated me." Alana fell to the ground and wept.
"I do not hate you Alana, I just don't understand." Legolas bent down and helped her up. "Put yourself in my place, I have loved your for so long, I could do nothing but watch while your heart was broken. And now when I finally believe that you are mine, he wins again."
Alana wiped the tears from her cheeks and looked at him. "Legolas, you have me, and you always will. Aragorn discovered this for himself, he knew before I did, you must believe me." She bowed her head. "You must believe me."
For a time they just sat together on the grass, and he watched her, searching her face. "I believe you Alana." He said quietly. "I believe you. But you must understand things from my point of view as well. Now come, dry your eyes and we will make our way back." He lifted her head, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Come on." He said smiling. He helped her to stand and they walked back through the trees.
"I understand how you feel Legolas." Alana said finally. "I only wish that things had happened differently, so much time wasted." She added wistfully.
"Do not worry about such things," he said, "things work out in the end. I have complete faith in that. I do not know what is to happen in the future, but I believe that whatever it is, we will face it together. Now let's get back to Imladris, we have much planning to do, and you I believe, have much to learn." He winked at her, and she smiled.
"Let us hope that we come through this." She said quietly. "For if I lose you, then what else will I have left to fight for?" He studied her for a long moment.
"Peace." He said. "The people of Middle earth deserve that, they have seen to much war, too much evil. What they need now is peace, we owe them that." She nodded. As they made their way back to Rivendell, she smiled. After all that the peoples of Middle Earth had given her, she would give them the greatest gift of all. Life.