Chapter 27

Legolas sat in the dark and watched Oropher. Even without speaking, without seeing the strange new color of Limloeth's eyes, he could see it wasn't really his sister he was watching, but his grandfather.
Oropher moved in a way Limloeth never would have. His shoulders were straight, the hair was pulled out of his face, and the way her face showed his emotion, made Legolas realize for the first time how alike Lanthir and Limloeth were.

Today had been another day he was forced to watch his grandfather and his brother glaring at each other, rasing their eyebrows and biting their lips.

It had started early, during their first break. Legolas and Lanthir had sparred together, trying to blow off steam. Legolas had seen the frustration in his little brother's eyes, and he had tried to find an outlet for it.

But the sparring idea hadn't worked; Oropher sat in the corner, watching and commenting on every move. "You fight like a human, Lanthir!" he had said.

"Move your feet. Come on! What kind of Noldor movement was that? And you call yourself a woodelf?"
Legolas could see his brother get more frustrated. The strength of his blows grew while their accuracy dropped dramatically. Everytime Lanthir failed, Oropher would shout.

Legolas knew the comments Oropher gave were meant to improve Lanthir's fighting. And he had to admit that some of the points their grandfather made were justified, but somehow their grandfather expected too much of Lanthir.
He forgot that Lanthir, and Legolas for that matter, were just boys. He failed to notice that that they weren't trained warriors, but elflings that had invented their own way of fighting in order to stay alive.

In a way it was a compliment to be treated like an adult, but Legolas could feel why his brother didn't see it that way. And Legolas didn't know of anyway to make the situation better then to step into Lanthir's blows and allow his little brother to win.
This only caused both Lanthir and Oropher to turn their frustration to him.

It was Lainfea who saved the situation by informing them she had rested enough and she wanted to walk again. Legolas could have kissed her.

Oropher and Lanthir had walked the entire day without speaking to each other.

The oldest elf drove them hard; they took few pauses in their trek and made long days. Blisters had started to appear on Lainfea's feet. Legolas was growing increasingly worried. She had yet to complain. She still hadn't asked anyone to carry her, and she shook her head as Legolas asked her if she wanted to be.
Legolas could guess the reason behind it. He had explained her that "the nice man from the water" in Limloeth's body was actually their grandfather, their ada's ada.

In Lainfea's eyes, who never had an ada but always longed for one, the ada of their ada was her saviour and protector, her hero. And she was determined not to let him down.
If he said she had to leave her frog, she would leave her frog.
If he said she could walk herself, she would walk herself. The last thing she wanted was to lose their new found 'Ada-ada'. The last thing she wanted was to lose his love.

Legolas longed for the moment they would get out of this swamp. To be out of the Marshes and with just the four of them again. He longed to see Limloeth as herself once more. He longed for Lanthir to be himself again.

But he feared for Lainfea. She didn't know their Ada-ada would leave them. She had been forced to lose so much already. Her home, Biddy and Artamir, Bear, Skipper the frog... and now her Ada-ada.

It was ironic, in a way. Legolas had longed so badly for someone to take the weight of his responsibility and leadership away from him, but now he had allowed Oropher take it, he realized that he wanted it back. He wanted to be able to make his own decisions again. To spar with his brother in his own way, to pick up his sister from the ground when he felt like it.

Oropher had noticed Legolas' stare.
"You don't agree with the way I lead," he said. It wasn't a question.
Legolas didn't answer.
"Your father didn't either. He told me I pushed too hard. That I expected to much."
"Maybe you do," Legolas answered.
Oropher sighed, and looked at the ground. "You are a strong boy, Legolas. As is your brother. I couldn't wish for better grandsons. You should tell your father I told you that. And tell him I loved him. I'm not sure he knows. I'm not good at saying these things..."
Legolas blinked, but continued looking at Oropher.

"We are close to the Brown Lands," Oropher said with a sad voice. "I've been wanting to leave these swamps for so long now, but now that I finally can, I'm not so sure anymore."
"You must go, and give Limloeth her life back," Legolas said.
Oropher didn't listen. He merely continued. "I prayed to the Valar I would get a chance to leave, and they have granted me this opportunity. Not only to leave, but to meet my grandchildren as well. And what did I do? I fell back into old routine. Pushing you like soldiers. Lanthir must hate me. And you, you were staring at me like your father did. Disapprovingly. I took over your sister's body. You must all hate me."
"Lainfea likes you," Legolas countered.
"Then I will hurt her. I will be dead tomorrow, and I will have hurt you all," Oropher replied.
He was silent for a long time.

"Tell your father I loved him, boy. And tell him, he never failed to make me proud. There are too many things I didn't tell him when I was alive."

"Oh..." was all Legolas could say to that.
"Will you tell him for me, Legolas?" Oropher asked, his voice trembling a little.
Legolas nodded.
"Good," Oropher said. It was silent for while more.
"I guess this is how it feels to be mortal," Oropher said, his voice was distant, like he was not really talking to Legolas, but just thinking out loud. "To know your time is limitated. It puts things in perspective. You can't keep delaying everything, and you can't make too many mistakes. Valar knows you don't have the time to fix them. Tell your brother he is a fine elf, Legolas. Tell your sisters I'm proud of them. I wished I had more time to spend with you. I wish we would have met under different circumstances.

You could have liked me in a different setting."

The older elf looked at his grandson. Legolas was no longer listening, his eyes were distant, his breathing slow and even.

Oropher smiled. He walked towards Legolas and tucked him in a bit.
"Farewell," he whispered. "Reach home savely"

When Legolas woke, he found Limloeth sitting on the place where Oropher sat the night before. She stared over the large brown plains ahead of them.
"We were close enough," she said. "He left."
"He can find his peace now," Legolas said. "You got him out. I'm very proud of you."
"He is dead," she said, starting to cry.
"He was dead before we were born," Legolas said. "We shouldn't be sad. We should be happy."
Limloeth smiled through her tears. "I know that."

Next to him, Lanthir woke to the sound of Limloeth's voice. It took him a few seconds to realize what this meant, but once he did he was practically dancing.
"Lim is back!" he said, hugging his sister. "No more Oropher! And we are out of the swamps! Oh, can this day get any better? Come on, Legolas. Let's wake Lainfea. Let's run. Come on!"

"Is Ada-ada Limloeth again?" Lainfea asked from the patch of ground she had been sleeping on.
Legolas nodded. "I'm sorry sweety, but Ada-ada will not be back. He went to a better place."
The girl thought about it for a long time.
"Did Ada-ada not like us?" she asked, her lower lip starting to tremble.
"Of course Ada-ada liked us. He gave you a present remember?" Legolas said.
"Ada-ada only gives presents to little elflings he really, really likes."
The little girl pulled the chain out of her pocket.
"He gave me a present," she said.
"Indeed," Legolas said. "And if you come here, I'll put it around your neck where it belongs, Lainfea, of the house of Oropher."
"And then, we're going to run!" Lanthir added happily. "And I will carry you, Lain! We're out of the swamp! Now we just have to cross the Brown Lands and we will reach Greenwood!"
Legolas checked the map he had copied. His little brother was right.
They just had to cross the plains, and they would be home.
"What are we waiting for?" he said. "Let's go!"

TBC

Well I just finished writing this fic.. It will be 39 chapters long. (plus an epilogue).

Karone Evertree: I like Oropher too... He's got his hearth in the ritgh place.. he just missed communication skills..

Moriarwen: I think Orph prefers the term "strong leader"

moonshine44: Yes! chocolate would be a great idea!

Nessa Ar-Feiniel: After sauron is defeated the souls would be free, I think.. ( I love happy endings)

Aly K: Good I love to be unpreditible. But Orph isn't that mean.. He just can't communicate with childeren.

Isiliel: Tolkien didn't write much about Oropher.. Just that he was considered a good leader by his elves, and that he refused Gil Galads command a the battle of the Last Allience.. He charged first, ahead of the Gil Galads troops and died because of that..Along with two thirds of his army..

And I have a sister..

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Hmm. kleenexes.. You will need them later. especially on chapter 39.. but not yet I think..