THE SPACE BETWEEN
Author's notes: Hey Guys! So sorry for the wait! I hope you haven't lost your patience, have you?
Oh my! It is so beautiful outside today! I'm wondering why am I inside, sitting at my computer writing and going on the Internet… Oh yeah! I have a chapter to post… Well Legolas and Willow are no longer on strike, and today is (FINALLY!) a day worthy of springtime! (To understand what this means... go read my other fic Ghost of a Memory and you should understand why these two went on strike in the first place.) Anyhow they're back!
Just to let you know... I will be attempting, (READ: ATTEMPTING) to insert a little bit of humour, but beware, my sense of humour is not, uh... funny, yeah. It's pretty lame actually. On very rare occasions I might say something funny, usually at the expense of my future Best-Friend-in-Law, other than that well I'm just not funny... Hmmm. maybe I should add my future Best-Friend-in-Law in my story, maybe then it will definitely be funnier... How about that?
Well I'd like to thank Tree Hugger for being my first (AND ONLY!) reviewer. Thank you so much! It really means the world to me! Yeah, Willow was miserable knowing Arwen and Aragorn can love each other freely, but what Will doesn't realise just yet is the price Arwen must pay for that love to exist. It broke their heart too, to see their two friends so sad and unable to love each other the way they do. And yeah Thranduil's not exactly the perfect father figure in this one, but I'm not done with him! We'll be seeing more of that fellow much, much later.
And also I would like to thank you Jocelyn for the kind emails you sent me! I'm very glad that you liked my last story and you like the fact that I've included the Fellowship... I figured I couldn't really work without them, they are sort of like my supporting characters if you wish... (wait! they usually are...)
Oh and another thing! If you've read Sleepy Willow, surely you've noticed that Willow' name was Laiella Willowel of Lórien, well I didn't like that anymore so I decided to use the elvish word for willow, 'tathar' thus the name Tatharwen. I just thought it sounded better, what do you think? It justifies her nickname a little better.
Okies, here the first Chapter, ENJOY! (and lemme know what you think!)
Chapter One
Ghost of a Memory
And so the nine set out on their journey to see evil destroyed for all times. Nine walkers chosen to carry this burden. As they left the great city of Rivendell, Legolas admired the surrounding beauty of the haven when a memory was flashed before him. He was reminded of himself in a much happier time, when his soul was not burdened by this present task. In his mind's eye he saw a young Prince walking along the great entrance with a beautiful young elf maiden by his side. He remembered the warmth, the laughter and the smiles, but all of that was gone now. He should not be allowing himself to be flooded with such memories on this perilous journey. The ring bearer, Frodo, depended on Legolas' strength and remarkable abilities in order to go through with this. The other members of the Fellowship needed him as well. He was the only elf therefore his elven qualities would be needed throughout the quest. He chose to walk at the rear, out of everyone's attention and spoke very little, except to Aragorn, his dear mortal friend and Mithrandir, whom he respected greatly. And even there they spoke to him and his answers were mostly monosyllable.
The others, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, the four hobbits, Gimli the dwarf and Boromir, brave warrior and thane of Gondor, believed the Elf to be simply an untalkative and shy person. This he was, he always preferred to allow his actions to speak for himself, but no one, except for Gandalf the Grey and Aragorn, knew of his secret pain.
The walkers walked on further and further away from Rivendell. Finally after some time the fellowship stopped near a formation of rocks right at the edge of the Misty Mountains.
The heavy scent of bacon and sausage filled the surrounding air. Each member of the Fellowship was going about his business. Gandalf was smoking his pipe, Legolas was seated on the rocks deep in thought, always keeping an eye out for trouble, Boromir and Aragorn were scouting the area while the four hobbits were engaged in conversation with Gimli sitting near the fire.
"I wonder what Rosie Cotton would think of you know Sam!" Teased Pippin, his mouth full of food.
"What do you mean Pippin?" Replied the shy hobbit nervously as he checked on the sizzling sausages.
"Oh Come on Sam! We've all seen the way you stare at her!" Shouted Merry. The others chuckled while Sam flushed.
"And the way she smiles at you!" Added Pippin.
"It seems that our young friend Sam has a fancy for some young Damsel." Smirked Gimli, who was obviously amused by the four hobbits' topic of conversation. Aragorn had returned from his scouting, interested he approached to listen in on their conversing.
Frodo smiled and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Well I think she would find you to be very brave."
"He is right Sam." Aragorn included himself in this conversation. "Not everyone is willing as you were to follow his friends through such a perilous journey. Frodo is truly fortunate to have a friend such as yourself."
The company continued on this train of thought, teasing Sam and then reverting towards a different view.
"Love can be a wonderful thing. Isn't that correct Aragorn?" Spoke Gimli to the Ranger, who smiled:
"Yes it is my friend, it is."
"Ah! I see the brave Ranger is acquainted with love. Aragorn's smile widened. Pippin looked up towards the rocks.
"What about you, Mister Elf?" All heads turned to Legolas who was sitting outside of the circle away from the other's conversation avoiding their prying. Aragorn's smile faded.
He uncomfortably answered. "I do not know love, she is but a stranger to me." He huffed as he shifted his gaze.
"I don't believe that! You're not telling me an Elf like you has never been in love!" The others waited in silence as the pestering hobbit continued. "From what I understood in Rivendell, you're quite the Elf with the elven maidens. You make their heads turn every time you walk by."
"Shut up Pippin!" Merry punched his friend in the arm. "Every body knows, you make heads turn away!"
Pippin was not pleased with Merry's comment. The others, on the other hand, found it quite amusing, safe for Aragorn and Legolas, who both prayed the inquisition would end.
However, Merry's comment was not enough to silence the troublesome hobbit. "Well, I've also heard that every time you are in Rivendell, Mister Elf, that maidens tend to slip love notes and flowers under you door. I know that Lady Elimariel is one of those maidens and said to be the prettiest Elf in all the land! Next to the Lady Evenstar of course. Gee, I wonder if there's one of those maidens that has captured your heart or if there is another one you have in mind. Maybe you should try talking to Lady Elimariel, I heard-"
"Pippin! That's enough!" Finally snapped Aragorn.
"Pay no attention to him, Master Elf. Pippin's just mean when he wants to." Sam was also uneasy with how his friend treated the Elf.
There was a great silence among the Fellowship, then a quiet voice began to speak:
"I was once in love, long ago..." It was Legolas, he spoke mostly to himself very quietly, he stared into emptiness as he reminisced of his lost love. The Fellowship turned to face the blond Elf, waiting for him to continue. For some inexplicable reason, Legolas felt a need to release his repressed feelings. At any other time, he would have walked away or shrugged off, avoiding at all cost to resurface his pain. Legolas could no longer hold back, something deep inside of him told him it was time to free himself. He has never spoken of Willow since they last saw each other.
"Long ago... It seems so far away in my mind. It was a perfect love. She was everything to me, the very air I breathed, the light to my soul. She had the most incredible eyes, dark violet, just as the night after sundown. So frail, so small and so sweet was melamin. Her hair was a dark blond with pure golden strands. Often she wore lavender in her hair. She was so beautiful even more so than Lady Evenstar..."
To this Aragorn frowned.
"She had a way to ensnare you into anything. Her laughter would make saddest soul laugh and her tears made even the fiercest of warriors cry. She made everything seem wonderful, anything graced by her presence no matter how folly would turn into beauty. Every moment spent with her, I felt as if time and the world had stopped just for the two of us. It was a perfect love..." He trailed off, leaving the others hanging on his words.
"What happened?" Begged Pippin, eager to continue listening to the grieving Elf. The others looked at him gleefully. Legolas continued, now speaking in disbelief, his voice saddening with every spoken word.
"It is strange. I remember every moment, every word spoken, every kiss, yet what happened is still unclear to me. I had asked for her hand and she gave it freely. Then all was a blur, like a nightmare I cannot remember except for the fear it instilled. One moment we were to be married and the next I was told not to speak to her ever again. In one minute everything changed. I could no longer love her, see her. Our love was forbidden, cursed. I do not even know why. It was in the King's wishes that our love was destroyed. Since then my heart forever aches, my soul is broken. I vowed I would never stop searching for a way for our love to exist, but as the years stretched on, hope grew dimmer. My love for her has not faltered, my feelings have not changed, nor shall they. I do not even know if her love for me still exists. Maybe she loves another. She said she would die without me. I can only fear the worst. I feel her shadow constantly haunting me like a ghost."
Legolas still stared into nothingness. The rest of the Fellowship gazed at him in disbelief. Gimli bowed his head in sympathy, Pippin cried while Merry and Sam sniffled and Frodo closed his eyes attempting to keep the tears away. Boromir, who had arrived as the Elf began his story, looked away. Aragorn and Gandalf stared sadly at the Elf. Legolas looked at them and smiled bitterly.
"Does that answer your question dear little hobbit?" He said looking at Pippin, who obviously regretted asking it so lightly. Legolas' mind screamed at him: "Do not let them see any more of your pain! Do not show weakness, you must be strong for them!"
He stood up and commenced to walk away. Aragorn walked towards the Elf.
"Legolas! I know of whom you speak and believe me when I tell you that her love for you is always strong. Her love has never died and continues to grow. She has never stopped loving you." For the first time in one thousand years, a glimpse of hope was seen the in the Elf's eyes. He ran to edge of the Fort and stood watch, listening for every sound, watching for every sight.
"One thousand years?" Pippin asked Aragorn. "Legolas has not seen her in one thousand years? I do not know if I could survive not seeing my love for that long!"
"Yes Pippin!" Replied Aragorn irritably, occupied with preparations to spend the night at the Fort. Darkness was beginning to cover the land, the sky being a strange mixture of rubies and sapphires, turning somewhat like amethysts. Pippin was chasing around after the Ranger in order to pester him with more questions. Often he would get in Aragorn's way.
"I thought one thousand years was not a long time for Elves. Aren't they immortal?" Blurted Merry, who was also following the Ranger.
"Yes it is a very short time for them. However, spending one thousand years without the one you love can seem like a thousand eternities, even for Elves." Aragorn had now completed his final tasks. He sat down with the other hobbits, which glared at him curiously.
"I do not understand. What would prevent Legolas from being in love?" Asked Frodo also intrigued by the Elf's tale.
Aragorn sighed. "It is very difficult to explain, I was not yet born when it occurred, but Arwen had told me of that time. It is Thranduil, the King of Mirkwood who forbade this love. I do not know how or why, nor do I understand why, yet that is what occurred."
Pippin seemed confused. "His father told him to stop loving her? If I were Legolas I would have ran away or something."
"No Pippin you do not understand. In Mirkwood, when the King speaks, no one, I do mean no one, can go against his will. Not even his sons."
"What is his father?" inquired Pippin, interrupting the Ranger.
"Thranduil is a dark and sinister being, most fear him for he has never been known to be a pleasant Elf. He seldom leaves his kingdom and lives only for his vast and unimaginable treasures. The King desires much wealth and scarcely cares for the wellbeing of others, safe for the Elves in his realm. However he does treat his subjects well. King Thranduil raised his sons quite strictly, especially Legolas, being the Heir to the throne. Believe me, you do not want to go against the King of Mirkwood."
By this time it was now dark, the stars shining brightly above them. The group of four hobbits and one soon-to-be crowned King sat around the fire to finish their conversation. As they continued to speak a faint soft music came to their ears.
"What is that?" Asked Pippin curiously as the sound grew louder. "It is beautiful, yet sad."
Aragorn's ear strained to get a better idea of the melody. He sighed. "It is Legolas. He is singing to himself." Finally Legolas' singing became loud enough for them to understand the lyrics.
"What is it? I don't understand Elvish all that well." Inquired Sam, trying to spot the singing Elf.
Frodo's gaze deepened as he recognised a few words here and there. "He says something such as... ' Never thought I'd lose... Always thought I'd win...' I cannot understand any more."
"You are right Frodo, that is what he is singing." Said Aragorn sadly.
"Do you know the rest of it? I'd like to know what he says."
"Pippin! Don't be so rude! It sounds like a lament of some sort. Maybe he's thinking of that Elf he loves." Merry lightly scolded his friend. Somehow in his presence, Merry always seemed to be the more thoughtful one, well sometimes...
Aragorn smiled sadly at the two bickering hobbits. "I have heard this song before, the words go as this...
Never the hero of the soft parade
And I asked and I said to you
Are you sorry for this?
Picked up the needle by the handle
Today
And I asked and I begged you
To be sorry for this
Make up your face
Don't try to replace
I'll go quite a bit farther than you've
ever been
Never tought I'd lose
Always thought I'd win
Would've never believed it 'till I saw it
That day
And I'm sorry
Longs days are gone
Never thought I'd lose
Always thought I'd win
I'll go quite a bit higher that you've
ever been
Never thought I'd lose
Always thought I'd win
Lights go out, whisper to me its alright
The four hobbits shuddered. "I see. It is all so sad. I hope one day everything would work out for the best."
"As do I, Pippin. As do I." Said Aragorn looking towards the lone Elf standing watch on the edge of the fort.
Legolas peered into the night, listening, watching, and waiting. Waiting to live, waiting to die or waiting for a salvation that would never come. Yet somehow, in his heart where once a light of joy grew bright but had gone dead, began to shine again. Somehow, peering into the endless starry sky, Legolas knew that no matter how faint or unreachable, glimpses of hope exist.
Hey guys! One last little note, Shocker of the Century! The song quote is not mine! (go figure! I don't have the nack for writing songs…) Its called the Soft Parade by Canadian rock band The Watchmen, pretty cool stuff… I love that song, its very sad, brings tears to my eyes… well sometimes alright then CIAO!