Chapter XXXV- Mae Govannen

"ÊLANNA!!"

Thunder boomed.

Êlanna flinched horribly at the burst of sound and briefly released Legolas' hand. She quickly reached for it again, but his hand found hers first. Gently, Êlanna gripped it and held it to her cheek. "Na sel, mela nîn. Na sel. Shhh."

When she took the moment to look, she saw Legolas' eyes very wide open as he heaved for breath like he had been struggling underwater. The excitement and fear that rose into her throat almost choked her as she willed the words past her lips. "Legolas. Legolas, I'm here, my love. It's all right." Êlanna could hear her voice quivering. Her words seemed to soothe him, though slightly, so she continued to whisper. "You will be all right. Everything is all right. Do not be afraid, mela nîn. It's all right. I'm right here."

He had finally regained his breath, but did not seem to note the presence of her aside from his grip on her hand, his eyes staring into something distant that was not there. There was no light where he was and the darkness began to drape over Êlanna until her eyes began to tear. She put a hand on his face and tilted it slightly so that she was looking right into his eyes. And then he blinked and his eyes closed. His hold on her hand increased slightly as he bit back the pain that had awaited him here. "Shhh, shhh. It's all right. I'm right here, Legolas. You're all right," she repeated. "You're all right. Na sel, mela nîn."

"E-Êlanna…" he whispered raggedly.

"Yes, yes, I'm here. I'm here, my love. My prince," she said with such deep love that she could not help but smile.

At those words, Legolas eyes half-opened wearily. "Êlanna," he said again and then cleared his throat. A ghost of a smile flickered over his face, but it made Êlanna's heart leap into her throat. A tear of relief slid down her cheek. She felt Legolas' hand move from hers to her face and brush the tear away. With closed eyes, she kneeled at his bedside, basking in the touch of his hand.

"I'm so incredibly glad that you're all right," she said with more tears and a slight laugh.

Legolas felt no pain, no grief, nothing but happiness in her light. It was as if the worst thing in his life had been the first thousands of years without her. He was still smiling weakly, laughter gathering in his chest. She was so gorgeous… so unbelievably perfect. Nothing could happen to him now, not while he remained so blessed by her love. "Are you going to kiss me, then?" he asked lightly.

She laughed and cried and did kiss him, passionately, and, Valar, did he kiss her back.

Galadriel descended the stairs to the infirmary with a heavy heart. Legolas had looked so horrible—horribly thin, horribly pale, horribly sick. She feared that if he did not wake in the next two days he would not wake at all. There was a small light in her heart that reassured her that Êlanna's presence could probably work a miracle beyond Galadriel's ability, but her doubt was suffocating it moment by moment. It was too soon when she reached the infirmary. With a deep breath that she usually needed to take to reinforce her composure, she glanced in. A smile fell upon the Lady of the Golden Wood's face. It seemed as if Legolas' years had been stripped away from him just waking up to see Êlanna's face. Besides, to kiss like that must mean he would be in good health. Love was usually the best remedy to anything. Seeing no reason to stay, Galadriel returned to her home at the highest flet in Caras Galadhon.

Aragorn woke late the next morning; the sun was already shining through the window. Eryn was sleeping still, nestled against his chest. He smiled and held her closer. Thoughts wandered in and out of his mind and through his grief for Gandalf and his worry for Legolas, he felt a strong desire for Arwen. It seemed a rather selfish thing that while others suffered he wished for something that could only be his to cherish, but he, too, had suffered and was not so modest towards that. Legolas' emotional extremes had brought him emotional extremes. Just the touch of Arwen's hand could overpower it all. Slipping back into a light sleep, she came to him and when he woke again he almost did feel less tense. The little child next to him had woken him rather suddenly, but it was not a horrible thing to wake to—a smiling little girl with bright eyes that could have embodied everything that was innocent and good left in this world.

"Can we go see him now, Aragorn? Can we see Ada? Can we? Please? Aragorn, please, can we go see Ada? Can we go now?" she asked elatedly. "Please, Aragorn?"

"We will have to ask Lady Galadriel—" he started, slowly sitting up from his very comfortable position.

Eryn gasped as though this was going to be some incredible thing. "Can we really? We're really going to see Lady Galadriel?"

"We'll have to," Aragorn asked, slightly taken aback by her enthusiasm. "I'm sure she'll be in the infirmary with your Ada and Naneth."

"Let's go, then," she said, scampering out of bed and running around to the other side to grab Aragorn's hand and attempt to pull him off. "Come on, Aragorn."

"Alright," he said, finding the will to get out of bed. Eryn did not let go of his hand, so he was tilting to the left slightly due to her vertically challenged trait. "But if he is not awake, we'll have to go back later," Aragorn said as Eryn led him up the stairs.

"I know," she said as though every little moment was a precious moment wasted to see her Ada, who had not been home in such a long time that she could not remember the words to his lullaby. They finally reached the infirmary—she called it the 'infirmaflet', which tended to confuse the Elves, but they seemed to enjoy her made-up words for there had not been youth in Lothlórien for many years—and Eryn was practically hopping on the spot until Galadriel came outside. "Can I see Ada? Is he awake?"

Galadriel knelt down right in front of her so she could look into Eryn's eyes. "He is awake, but, he's tired—"

"Is he sick? Did he sneeze? Does he need something on his forehead?"

"No, Eryn. He's still very tired. He wants to be healthy enough to laugh when he sees you."

"Can I come back tomorrow?" Eryn asked, slightly deflated that she could not see him now. "Will he be better?"

"Of course you can come back tomorrow," Galadriel replied with a smile. "You could even come back this afternoon, if you like." She stood and nodded at Aragorn then returned to the infirmary.

As Aragorn and Eryn returned down the stairs, they discussed what could be done for the next little while.

"There are some people that want to meet you, friends of your Ada's. You can meet them today, if you like," Aragorn suggested.

Eryn looked positively delighted. "Now?"

"I cannot see why not."

Again, Aragorn found himself somehow being dragged down the flights of stairs by the six year old. "We can go slowly, Eryn. They're not going to disappear," he said when he was running out of breath. "They may yet be asleep."

Eryn slowed her pace to a walk, still holding Aragorn's hand. "What are their names?"

"Well, there are Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin from the Shire on the other side of the mountains; Gimli, a Dwarf; and Boromir, Son of the Steward of Gondor."

"They sound like very nice people."

"They are."

At this point they ended their descent and came to the ground. They could see where the Fellowship had made camp within the roots of one of the marvellous trees. Aragorn led Eryn towards it. He could already see that they were all awake and seemed more rested after a night on the firm ground with a sense of protection. "What's for breakfast?" he called.

The Company looked up at the sound of his voice and they smiled. Boromir stood up and went out to greet them.

"We wondered where you had gone, Aragorn. Hello," he said, taking note of Eryn and smiling like the little girl was surrounded by an energy that remedied all pains—which she was.

Eryn took no time to introduce herself. "My name is Eryn Estel Greenleaf, daughter of Legolas and Êlanna Greenleaf. I have a pet bird named Herald and my favourite colour is blue. What's yours?"

Boromir seemed a little taken aback from her introduction, but replied, "I'm Boromir Jaraet Anstrael, son of Denethor and Finduilas Anstrael of Gondor. I have a pet younger brother and I also like the colour blue."

She stared with eyes that suggested she was making an assessment. "You're handsome," she said bluntly.

Aragorn nearly choked on his suppressed laugh.

Boromir flustered wildly. "Thank you."

"Mr. Strider, will you be joining us for breakfast?" Sam asked, his voice still weighed by grief that was beginning to die away with the physical security of the Elven haven and now vanished rapidly with Eryn's presence. "'Ello," he said to her, his friendly hobbit voice returning to him. "You must be Legolas' daughter."

"I am. Eryn Estel Greenleaf," Eryn answered happily as though repeating her own name pleased her. She looked at Sam with a certain curiosity that turned to absolute joy at the fact that he was not much taller than her. "What's your name?"

"Sam Gamgee," he answered. "Will you be joining us for breakfast?"

"Could I?" she asked, almost unable to believe it.

"Of course."

Eryn giggled and let go of Aragorn's hand to take Sam's. "Will you introduce me to your friends?"

"They'll be glad to meet you," the hobbit said, leading Eryn back towards the camp, trying to figure out where his sorrow had gone, but not missing it.

Aragorn smiled as he watched her skip off. "Who would've thought that a six year old Elfling could bring such happiness to such a despondent group of travellers?"

"I don't know," Boromir replied distantly. "I've forgotten what children were like. You can't help but smile around them, especially her. Didn't she want to see Legolas this morning?"

"Galadriel requested that she return later because Legolas is still tired."

"But is he all right?"

"I don't know. As of now, I only now that he's tired. Êlanna can work the same magic on Legolas as Eryn has on us. It's called love."

"It's a marvellous thing."

"It is," Aragorn agreed. "Come; let us see how Eryn reacts to everyone else."

"Hello. My name's Eryn Estel Greenleaf," she announced once again, her smile growing. "What's yours?"

"I'm Merry," said the hobbit, the burden of sorrow quickly falling away from him. "I'm pleased to meet you, Eryn. This is Pippin," he said with a wave of his hand towards his cousin.

"Hello," said Pippin.

Eryn seemed overjoyed at the fact that there were more small people, even though they were all at least half a head taller than her. "Hello, Pippin."

Gimli joined the crowd around the small girl. "You must be Eryn," he said gruffly. "I'm Gimli, son of Gloin."

Her mouth fell open. "You're a Dwarf! I've always wanted to meet a Dwarf!" she exclaimed, hopping up and down in her excitement.

Slightly taken aback by her enthusiasm to meet someone of a race that the Elves had been feuding with for years, Gimli held out his hand to shake hers. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, Eryn."

Eryn laughed out loud, still held by intrigue of these odd, wonderful people. Then she noticed someone like Merry, Pippin, and Sam sitting by himself deeper in the roots of the tree. She quietly approached him. "Why are you so sad?" she asked, coming right out and enquiring about what she wanted to know. "No one should be so sad that they cannot cry."

Frodo did not look at her.

"I'm Eryn. I wish that you would smile because your eyes don't look so happy without it."

Frodo looked at her now with his sad eyes. "I can't."

Eryn tried to jump up onto the branch that Frodo was sitting on, but ended up just holding herself up by hugging it, her small naked feet dangling above the grass. "Everybody can smile."

The Fellowship watched her curiously, listening to her words, but not interrupting. She lowered her voice presently, though, and only Aragorn could barely hear what she was saying.

"You can cry."

Frodo looked into her wide green eyes that sparkled with mirth even though she speaking so solemnly. A tear slid out of his eye as he stared.

"See," she whispered with a small smile. "It's alright."

Still staring, Frodo smiled and, though there was a slight sadness about it, it pleased Eryn. "Who are you?" She's an angel.

"I'm Eryn Estel Greenleaf," she replied still in a low voice. "What's your name?"

"Frodo… Frodo Baggins," he replied with a few tears.

"It's nice to meet you, Frodo Baggins," she said with a wider smile.

And for a long moment they both stared, he into her green eyes and she into his blue; captivated by something inside each others' souls and smiling even ever so slightly. Then she began to laugh and so did he, brushing the tears from his face. Eryn let go of the branch and fell silently to the ground, holding up her hand suggestively. Frodo took it and returned to the ground as well.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked quietly.

He nodded.

She smiled. "I'm glad. Your eyes shouldn't ever be that sad."

Frodo regarded her now with admiration. She was incredibly hopeful. There was something about her that almost seemed like magic to him, but to her it was the only way that she could go on without the father she loved so much.

That morning's breakfast was possibly the happiest breakfast they had shared since the day they departed from Rivendell. The hobbits laughed again, Boromir smiled his rather handsome smile again, Gimli was proud beyond belief again, and Aragorn's eyes revealed more compassion that worry again. And all of it was because a little girl said her name.

"Legolas, you should not be trying to move," Galadriel said, even though she knew he would not be listening. Love had returned his wings to him and he was not going to wait to fly, despite a broken wing.

"But I must see her. I've come this far to see her," he insisted, gently pulling his tunic over his shoulders, but his wounds were still sensitive and he flinched nonetheless.

Galadriel shook her head. "You are a miracle on legs, Legolas. Yesterday I thought for sure that you would not wake until you were an inch from death and could not enter the Halls without seeing Êlanna and Eryn. Today… you're young again."

Legolas mistook that as an invitation to leave.

"If you strain yourself, you will spend more time in bed."

"I don't care. I have to see her," he said defiantly, but with an air of happiness.

Galadriel opened her mouth again, but Haldir interrupted her with a laugh. "Do not bother, hiril nîn. He has set his mind to it and now you cannot stop him."

"Will you at least accept some aid?" Galadriel asked Legolas. She was truly worried that he would over-exert himself which would only result in him being more obtuse lying down.

Legolas, seeing that having help down all the stairs would be easier than falling, agreed. Haldir slung Legolas' good arm over his shoulder and mimicked his companion's wary, shaky steps.

"Your consciousness is already waning, mellon nîn. Perhaps you should wait-"

"No. It's just a few steps and I need to see her," Legolas argued.

Haldir sighed and continued down the stairs. It was two more flights before they reached grass and Legolas was out of breath. As Legolas had been rushed to the infirmary the night before, Haldir had to lead him to where the Fellowship had made camp. When the tree was fifteen feet away, Legolas let go of Haldir and wearily crossed them himself.

"So you see, Pebble," said Gimli, as he bounced Eryn on his knee, "that is how the Dwarves became so small."

Eryn's eyes were wide so that they appeared as rounded emeralds. "Wow…" she breathed.

Everyone else that was listening was more amused by Eryn than Gimli's legend, but Aragorn seemed unusually distracted. His eyes kept moving to outside the sheltered makeshift home until finally the thing he seemed to have been watching for appeared. He moved away from the root he had been leaning against. "Eryn," he beckoned. The little Elfling was at his side in mere seconds. Kneeling down, Aragorn pointed. Eryn took a moment to see then scampered off, tripping over her nightgown.

"ADA!" she cried out, smiling, laughing, and crying all at once. "ADA!"

Legolas fell to his knees and caught her in a tight embrace, holding her as if to never release. "My girl!" He was crying as well. After a few moments in which he managed to regain calmness despite his lingering happiness, he held her away for a moment. "You've grown!"

"You, too!" she answered, the tears now gone and a very wide smile remaining, and she began to laugh. "I knew that you would get my letters, I knew that you would come home!"

"I will always come home to you, honey."

The saying of her nickname made her even happier. "Guess what?"

"What?" Legolas asked, still holding her arms and looking at her with a father's eyes.

Eryn lowered her voice to a whisper. "I'm not wearing shoes."

"Really?"

She nodded vigorously.

"Guess what?" he asked.

"What?" she asked excitedly.

Legolas leaned in close and said, "Neither am I."

Eryn laughed and hugged her father again. This time, he hoisted her up with his unbroken arm and carried her back to where the Fellowship was standing, watching.

"Should you not be resting, mellon nîn?" Aragorn asked, evidently a little worried.

Legolas looked at him like he had never looked at the Man before. "Why would I rest when I am healed?"

Aragorn smiled subtly. It was true. Legolas had been completely renewed, perhaps not in body, but in spirit. And that is what made the difference. However, the Ranger noticed how tired the Elf already was and really did feel that he should consider lying down before overexerting himself.

"Still tired, Ada? You look tired," Eryn observed.

Legolas nodded. "A little."

"Maybe you should sleep, then."

There was something in Legolas' heart telling him that he was forgetting something. "So intent on getting rid of me?" he asked, pouting.

"No. Naneth said that you said that when you came home you were going to teach me- teach me how to be a child of Mirkwood," she said.

"That's right, I did. Well, I guess I should get some rest then. Will you be alright with-?"

"She's fine here, lad," Gimli answered. "Isn't that right, Pebble?"

"Right," she said. "I'll see you in the morning, Ada?"

"Of course."

Eryn kissed him on the cheek and held his hand as he walked very slowly back to the stairs. "Tomorrow?"

"Perhaps not everything tomorrow," Legolas admitted, feeling the pains of his injuries now.

"But you'll be not tired tomorrow, right?"

"Right," he nodded.

"Pinkie swear," she asked, holding up her baby finger.

Legolas copied her. "Pinkie swear."

She locked her finger with her father's and kissed him on the cheek again, then ran back to the tree, bare feet dancing over the grass.

Legolas smiled.