Ellie awoke with a start. She didn't know exactly what caused her to wake, but her eyes immediately started to dart about her, as she began to sum up her surroundings. To her left Legolas sat in a chair, his hair, usually braided and neat about his head, fell freely about him, covering most of his face as he slept. Her eyes continued to sweep the area around her as her eyes settled on the form of a sleeping hobbit. Merry lay huddled about her right foot, snoring lightly. –So that's what woke me… Merry kicked me in his slumber...-
She turned her head to her right and watched Aragorn's chest rise and fall in the steady beat of slumber. She smiled –Sleepy heads...- As her eyes focused more she could just make out the shadow of a bed behind Aragorn. As she looked harder, she noticed the sleeping form of yet another Elf. Her heart clenched as she recognized the sleeping form of Haldir, the unkempt elf looked horrible. His hair was matted down with caked blood, his bandages were soaked and he twitched every few breathes. Further over she saw Frodo, a pained look on his slumbering face, as two elves quietly reset his legs into place.
Ellie quickly turned to get up, but her efforts proved that she would only serve to hurt herself as blinding pain shot through her body and she landed back on her pillow panting for breath. Her yelp had awakened Legolas, who was instantly at her side comforting her. The pain was so bad that for a few seconds she could only see Legolas's lips moving, but heard no sound. Soon, Merry had awoken and Aragorn was sitting opposite Legolas on her right. Words finally came into focus.
"…ving her wouldn't be such a good idea, Mellon nen." Aragorn shook his head. Legolas looked deep into Ellie's eyes, his hair fell around her face, brushing her cheeks, it smelled wonderful as Ellie closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. –Smells like the forest after a storm…Clean Mellyrn trees…- Her heart sank as she remembered the last time her senses were attacked by that scent. She remembered standing under the Lothlorien Mellyrn by the boat launch, her hand around Haldir in a deep kiss, both of them crying, over what could never be.
Her eyes filled with tears as she was hit with the present and memories of the past few months shot into her head. Gandalf's fall, Legolas's confession, Sam's Death… Saruman…Arwen… Theoden. She shook her head softly as tears began to develop again and held back a sob. She fell back into restless slumber as Aragorn turned to the door and bowed deeply.
Galadriel stood looking down at the two tormented sleepers. Haldir to her left, Ellie to her right. Celeborn stood besides her watching his March Warden struggle for breathe and writhe in pain. Ellie had tears flowing freely from her eyes as she dreamed.
"A shadow has fallen over them, husband." She said quietly. Celeborn put his hand on Haldir's foot and nodded without looking at his wife. He had dismissed the working elves, and Aragorn as well as Legolas, who carried out Merry in search of food. Gimli had joined them in the hallway as Aragorn led the way to the dining halls of the great white city.
Galadriel passed her hands over Haldir and Ellie's faces, calming them slightly. She then nodded to her husband and they, along with a hand maiden of the Lady's began to heal the three companions.
Frodo proved a struggle since his breathing was shallow and he was on the brink of death.
Aragorn ordered the gate open as she he watched Elrond and his daughter ride into the city. Arwen dismounted and threw herself into the arms of her awaiting lover. Elrond watched as kissed were exchanged and then grabbed the ranger and led him into the city.
"Aragorn… since you were but a child in my home I have loved you…" Elrond began. Aragorn watched as the elf struggled with something and waved it off. As he began to speak again Aragorn knew he had changed the subject. "It is time my son, for all of Middle Earth to be united once again. You have doubted from whence you came, but no more. 'Tis now time to cast aside the ranger, and become who you are meant to be." Aragorn looked up into the elf's eyes to see a burning passion. He nodded.
"Tell, me now… Where is Gandalf?" Elrond followed Aragorn as he led him through Minas Tirith with plans of the crowning ceremony in his mind.
Haldir groaned. He snapped out of his elven slept to see the most beautiful face hovering over him. His lady breathed a sigh of relief as Haldir sat up on the bed. His shoulder greatly bothered him, but one more night of sleep and he would feel fine. He looked over to his side to see Ellie's back to him as she rested her head on Celeborn's shoulder. He slowly rocked her back and forth as she sobbed silently.
Haldir could sense her distress as he watched her shoulders rise and fall and heard her uneven breathing. He shook his head, mournful as he realized that it was all over. She had chose Legolas over him, and he was still madly in love with the elleth. He turned his head from the ever-watchful gaze of his lady to see Frodo. He stood up shakily and the lady was instantly at his side supporting him as he hobbled over to the hobbit. He had exhausted himself by moving but fought the daze as he touched Frodo's face. He looked around him and for the first time noticed the buzz of elves and men together cleaning wounds and supporting their fallen comrades. His mind recalled the day after the battle of Helm's Deep where elf and man alike were sharing the burden of their fallen comrades of arms. He signed and looked up at his Lady. –Do not let your heart be troubled my dear Haldir. It is the price we must pay for war. Sauron has been defeated, and a new age will begin with the crowning of the new King of Men. The time of the Elves is over. No longer will we suffer on these shores, but return to the West to be with our kin.- Haldir nodded, and slowly made his way towards the door, to leave the room. He didn't look back at Ellie or Celeborn as he round the corner and walked toward the courtyard.
As soon as he stepped out side two little children raced to him, chased by a dwarf. As he then noticed, the dwarf was followed by two elves, accompanied by Gandalf. He looked down and smiled at Merry and Pippen as they ushered Haldir toward the gardens of Minas Tirith, and the dwarf walked up to him and looked him straight in the eye. He had severely disliked the dwarf when he entered the woods of Lothlorien, but soon he had eased his dislike into indifference, and afterwards into acquaintanceship. He had admired the dwarf's stout heart. Gimli smiled.
"Well Master Elf, ye look like hell!" Gimli joked. Haldir laughed jovially, his laugh filled the air and brought smiles to all that heard it.
"I had a bad run in with some Orcs, Master Dwarf." Haldir smiled as he let himself be led into the Gardens. Legolas, Arwen, Aragorn, Elrond and Gandalf followed and sat on the benches in the garden. Haldir looked awed as he looked at the garden. From outside it looked like it was a small garden, but when you stepped inside you felt as though you were inside one of the forests of Imladris or Lothlorien. He walked over to a tree and placed his hand on it, whispering softly to the tree.
"Elbereth…" He murmured as the tree parted its branches and let him climb it. Gandalf watched the Elf for a while and smiled when the Elf settled into the tree and fell asleep. He turned to Elrond and nodded.
"Gandalf, the end of the third age of middle earth is upon us." Elrond began, then glanced woefully at his daughter who held fast onto the King, "We never thought we could live to this, but as the fourth age of Arda begins, we see that the time of the Elves is over. It is now up to Men to take care of this land, and preserve it as the Elves have, one day, when the age of Man ends, I know not when, they to will leave this earth to some other." His short pause made those around him edgy. "It is time for the rightful King to claim his throne." He smiled at Aragorn and stood.
"Tomorrow, tomorrow we will begin cleaning and restoration of the city of Men, and the King will be crowned at last light." Gandalf replied as he stood up and looked up into the tree of the sleeping elf.
Everyone turned to leave, as Legolas fell behind. He laid his body on the bench below Haldir's tree and looked up at the sleeping Elf. His eyes shone with tears as he watched memories of Haldir carry Ellie into Mt. Doom, and as the three wounded companions reached the Black Gate and collapsed. His head spun, as he realized that Haldir still loved Ellie, and that he might be cast away. –Indeed the time of the elves is over. - His mind spoke.
-Indeed now it is time to sail west into the Undying Lands. - Tears streamed down his face as he began to hum the song that long ago Ellie had sung, the words playing in his mind.
-When the cold of winter comes, starless night will cover day, in the veiling of the sun, we walk in bitter rain…- Legolas started as he realized he had been singing aloud. Haldir had dropped from the tree that he was resting in and sat next the Legolas singing with him.
"But in dreams, I can hear your name…" he looked at his friend as tears fell from his eyes.
Ellie looked up and recognized her lament. She went to the window and looked out, watching many elves bow their heads and sing the familiar song. Galadriel looked into Celeborn's eyes as they both sang softly.
"And in dreams, we will be together…" Ellie walked out onto the balcony, and collapsed on the floor.
"When the seas and mountains fall, and we come to end of days…" she sang, tears flowing from her eyes as she watched Arwen and her brothers bow there heads in song. The elves had again somehow joined in song, and this time, it was a lament, not only for the fallen, but the lament of the elves, who were breathing there last breath on Middle Earth, the elves, which as soon as they had attended the crowning of the King, would set sail into the West. The End had come.
The voices of the elves were soon joined by man and dwarf and hobbit alike, by the trees of Fanghorn Forest, and the Mellyrn of Lorien. Every creature on middle earth sang, from the Shire to the last homely house, to Khazad Dum, to Mirkwood, Elf and Dwarf sang. Bird and Snake, flower and Tree. It was the end for the elves, and they would be leaving.
"In the dark I hear a call, call me there, I will go there… and back again….." Tears stung the eyes of all. Legolas had shifted over and let Haldir sit next him on the bench as they hugged each other.
"Brother," Legolas cried, "Valinor, my brother. We will walk the white shores of beautiful beaches, and never again feel the hurt or pain of war. Never again will we watch those close to us die, for in Valinor elves will never perish." He was answered by Haldir's tears and they again held each other falling to the ground.
Ellie had showered and cleaned up; she was now sitting and watching the stars on the roof of the highest towers of Minas Tirith. She watched the twilight as her fingers traced the figures of Gil-Galad, and Isildur. The great Kings of Old. She smiled as she wondered if the stars found her worthy enough to etch her into their everlasting beauty. She heard the foot falls of someone else but did not turn to acknowledge them as they clambered onto the roof. She knew it would be an elf, because no other could swing themselves up on this platform so easily, and if they could, they would bother.
She returned to her musings as she recognized the step, and acknowledged them with a brief statement, "Gil- Galad and Isildur were great Kings of Old. Elendil, too. The stars will forever recognize their great deeds." With that she fell silent as a second pair of feet landed onto the roof. She didn't look over at the two Elves, but continued her musings. "Do you think we will be recognized? Will we be frozen in shimmering diamonds in the sky? Will men tell our tale, and pass it on to their children, and their children's children? We will be in story books and scrolls for eternity?" Her smile widened as tears of mirth came forth, but she didn't cry.
Haldir sat down on one side as Legolas took the other. "Yes, I believe so. And the children will say, Naneth, Naneth!! Please tell me the story of the Brave Ellie." Haldir mused as he stretched out and laid down looking into the stars.
"Nay, dear friend, I want to hear about Haldir the Brave, and Legolas the Strong." She responded.
"Nay, Elainor, They will always remember the daughter of Saruman." Legolas said and he too lowered himself to join his companions.
They sat in silence for a long time before Legolas turned on his side and looked at Ellie. Her stomach tightened; for fear that he would ask her to choose one of them. She breathed a sigh of relief when he asked her something else.
"Ellie?" Legolas asked, as Haldir shifted to his elbow to look at the elleth lying next to him, he too turned to face her.
"Hmm?" She said laying flat still intent on looking at the stars as both Elves looked at her.
"When did you decide you were going to be on…?" He stopped, at a loss for words. "On… the… our side?" he asked.
She arched her eyebrows in surprise. She turned from the stars and looked at Legolas. She turned back to the stars and took both elves in her hand. She smiled.
"Well, I can't exactly remember the day it all fell apart, but, I can clearly recall Aragorn's trust in me. I had always been told that he was a bad man, and I was sent to kill him. He was a good man, and Arwen had helped me too. Then, I guess… we lost Gandalf. And then I fell in love." She dropped the hand of the elves, as tears came to her eyes. She sat up and was met with the smile of Ithil, the moon. She looked at him as both elves rolled over to return their gaze to the stars.
"Ellie?" Haldir questioned.
"Hmm," she replied as she stifled a sob.
"I am glad you are on our side." He said before he got up and sat next to her. She looked at him and smiled as he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Legolas and I look forward to leaving for the Undying Lands." Haldir stated quietly. She looked back at a stoic Legolas who was fighting to keep a neutral look on his face.
Haldir looked back at Ithil. He realized Ellie was struggling with words, so he took the incentive, "but I do not think Legolas will leave when I do…" His voice choked up. Was he really going to do this? Was he really going to give her up? He had loved her more that he had loved anything and now, what was he going to do?, " He turned and looked at Legolas who hand his eyes covered with his arm, and was shaking like a leaf in the autumn winds.
"Ellie, I have loved…" He looked into her pleading eyes, but shook his head and continued.
"I have loved you, since you first entered Lorien and were cast into my arms in anguish. I loved you that day by the launch, when I kissed you, when I handed you my weapons… I loved you when you were in Legolas's arms, and I loved you when you so foolishly sprinted into danger to save Frodo. Lothamin… you will always be my rose, and for that I cannot linger on these shores anymore. I cannot stay where my heartache will grow worse with every passing day knowing I cannot have you. Lothamin… you have clearly shown me where you heart lies, and I cannot stand before your happiness, please, if you ever need me, know that I will be watching you from the West, until you decide we should reunite, even in friendship." He bowed his head deeply to her, as tears flowed from her eyes and she felt her heartbreak in two. She could take it. He was leaving her.
She watched as his form retreated from her and she looked at Legolas uncovered his face. She was angry at him. He hadn't been the one to save her in Mordor. He hadn't been the one to give her the sword that saved her in Cirith Ungol. He hadn't traveled with her to clear the paths of the deadly pass. She cried hard as she rocked herself on the edge of the roof. Ithil shone brighter as to comfort the elf, but she cried harder.
Legolas came to her and put his arm around her as she cried. "No!" she screamed through tears and gritted teeth. "You made him leave! I cannot see you…Leave me! Leave! Me! Be!" she cried.
Legolas let his hand slide down her back in defeat. "Arwen amin, I too have decided to leave to the Undying Lands. You see you have loved us both, Haldir and I. It would be most unwise for one of us to love you, and not the other, because you will always want the other. So I too, free you from your bonds to me. I love you, Melamin." And with that she watched the retreating form of the elf who had been the cause of all of this to begin with.
-If he had not been so stoic and rude after that night with Aragorn then I would not have fell for Haldir. The only other who had opened his arms to me.- Tears of grief engulfed her. She shakily lowered herself from the pass on the roof, and walked her arms around her, gently rocking herself to her room.
A/N: muahaha, wait!! There's more to this love triangle!!!muahaha! who should she choose Haldir or Legolas??