Chapter Twenty Five

The day that Legolas arrived back in Imladris, Daralis awoke early in Elladan's arms. She went back to her room and bathed, brushed her hair, and dressed, only beckoning Elladan to her aid when she needed help fastening her mother's necklace around her neck.

He smiled at her in her looking glass.

"You glow today, Dara." She turned her head to look at him, beaming.
"I'm crazy excited! I really can't wait for my father to return."
"I spoke to my own father last night. Legolas and his party should return within the next hour. Do you wish to eat?"
"Alright, but not much. My stomach is a bit upset. I can't figure out for the life of me why I'm nervous, though"

Daralis stood among Elladan, Elrohir and Elrond at the gates of Imladris. When the first elves came up the path, she let out a small squeal and began to shift from foot to foot.

By the time Legolas had dismounted, she had set off at a full sprint. When he turned around he registered what was about to happen just in time to catch his daughter, who had flung herself at him.

"Atar!" Legolas was laughing merrily, along with most of Imladris. Daralis served a sheepish grin. "I have really missed you, you know ," She said, a warm blush spreading itself onto her face.

"I know," Legolas replied, tilting his head down to place kisses on her cheeks. "I have missed you greatly as well. How have you fared?"
"I've been fine," she replied quickly. "What about Ontare?"
"She is imprisoned in Mirkwood. Do not worry anymore about her," he finished. Daralis could see that that was all he wanted to say on the matter. He leaned down to speak softly into her ear.

"Dara, our time here in Imladris is coming to an end. I want to speak with you later, when you have time."

She was so surprised by his reminder that she did not reply.

"I am going to Ithilien when we leave here, Dara. I want you to accompany me."
"When are we leaving Imladris?"

"In one months' time."

"But that it's really soon!"
"I realize that, Daralis. That is why I am beginning to make plans for us now. How do you feel about Ithilien?"

"Sure, I'll come, whatever. Um, right now, I have to go."

Legolas eyed his daughter strangely as she left his room.

Elladan heard a fevered knock on his door. When he opened it, he saw a fevered Daralis standing there, a look of dread on her face.

"Elladan, do you realize what's coming up?"
"Do you mean dinner?" He asked with an amused look on his face. Daralis became exasperated.

"Of course I don't mean dinner! Elladan, it's almost time for me to leave! I'm going to Ithilien with my father in a month. ONE MONTH!"

Elladan's face took on the same shocked look that Daralis' had.

"Only one month? Sweet Elbereth."

"That's right, ya smart-ass. A month."

"I should go, Dara. I will come later to escort you to the welcome feast."

"Oh-" She began to reply.

Before Daralis could protest, Elladan had left her alone in his room.

Legolas was practicing in the archery fields when Elladan found him.

"Legolas, pardon me. I must speak with you. I have just spoken to Daralis.. she tells me that the two of you are leaving in one months' time. Is this true?"

"It is."

"I would like your approval to marry Daralis." The bow Legolas was holding slipped.

"What?!"

"Please, Legolas. I cannot live without her. I will come to Mirkwood, if I must. Please do not force me to be apart from her."

"I- I cannot fathom-"
"Legolas, I beg of you. I only want her happiness."
"I concede. You will propose to my daughter. If she accepts, then you have my blessing to marry her."

If he could have, Elladan would have flown back to the castle.

Meanwhile, Daralis was in Elrohir's room talking to him.

"How is everything going with you and Reidwen?" They had been making small talk for some time, and Daralis decided to ask the only question she was truly interested in.

"Not very well, Dara. She is still furious with me, the only time I see her is when I force my way into the kitchens or when she serves the meals. And she will not speak to me in those times. I am distraught about it. She is the one. I think about marrying her, living with her, sailing with her I can no longer imagine a future without her."

"Wait, what? No one told me there were yachts here!" Daralis looked insulted.
"What is a yacht?" Elrohir had fixed her with a baffled look.

"It's a boat! You said you wanted to sail with Reidwen? That's a bit random, by the way."
Elrohir smiled at her, beginning to explain.

"Nay, Tarien pinilya. I meant that I would sail to the Undying Lands with her."
"I'm sure you've mentioned the Undying Lands before can you explain them to me?"

"The time of the Elves is coming to an end, Daralis. It is time for Men to live in the world they have created for themselves. But we cannot sacrifice our lives for the mistakes of Men. And so the Elves sail to Valinor. It is a place without sickness, death, pain and suffering. That is why it is called the Undying Lands. It is the resting place and sanctuary for the Elves of Middle Earth."
"Are there already Elves there?"

"Yes. There are many. The last ships are leaving now."
"And what about those who don't sail?"
"They will stay in Middle Earth to die."

"Oh," She said, her voice diminished. "Are you going to sail soon?"
"I have not decided. I do know that I will go with Elladan, and he with me. We only need to realize where it is we want to be. While I was with Reidwen, I knew that eternity wasn't long enough. I could smell the white shores."

"You're still with Reidwen."

"I-"

A knock on the door signaled an arrival. Dara went to the door, opened it, and said,

"Well, speak of the Devil!"

And with that, she had left.

Daralis went to Elladan's room, having been kicked out of Elrohir's by Reidwen. It was strange to her that her knocking went unanswered, but she knew that he was probably somewhere else in the grounds.

Luckily for Elladan, who was hatching his plans for proposal, Daralis certainly wasn't in the mood to look for him. So she went to her father's chambers.

She knocked softly, listening for the sound of someone approaching the door.

As always, he caught her by surprise.

"Dara! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, well, I wasn't really doing anything, and I thought maybe we could talk."
"Of course. Come in."

When she had herself settled, she began to think about the question she wanted to ask Legolas.

"Atar, will you sail to Valinor?"

"Where is that question coming from?"
"From me. Please answer."

"I was not planning on it. I have much here in Middle Earth that I love and want to see for the rest of my days even though they may be short."
"Well, you'll have to decide soon, won't you? Elrohir said that the last ships are leaving."

"I can have my own ship built in Ithilien. If I wish to go, I shall."

"Oh."

"Daralis? You seem upset. Is there something wrong?"
"I don't know. I can't decide whether or not to sail, and it's just very hard."

"Well, I will be here for some time yet. And I will always be here for you, whether we are together or not."

She smiled a small smile. She was comforted, but not satiated.

Elladan was in his father's study, speaking with him.

"Atar, I have decided to marry Daralis."
"And has she accepted?"
"I have not asked her. But I cannot accept no for an answer." Elrond turned to the bookcase behind him, pulling out a thick volume. When he opened it, there was a small hidden space inside. He brought out a Mithril and diamond ring, much like Rhiannon's necklace, and gave it to Elladan.

"This was your mother's. I believe that she, as well as I, would approve highly of Tarien Daralis. You would certainly make me proud by beginning a family with her. But bear in mind that the ships leaving for Valinor dwindle. And she must be prepared to go with you."

"Atar." Elrond looked at his son deeply, into his eyes and beyond the physical. "Atar, if she is not prepared I will stay here with her."

The book Elrond was holding slapped the desktop as it landed. Elrond stared, horrified, at his son.

"You cannot mean it!"

"I do, Atar. I know that this is distressing to you. I do. But I believe that only the will of the Valar could bring someone like Dara into my life. And the happiness she has given me will more than account for the eons that I shall lose by living here." His father did not look pacified.

"Do not fret this way, Atar. It is not certain that she wishes to remain here."

Daralis sat in her bedroom, in front of her vanity, getting dressed. She knew that Reidwen and Elrohir were busy "making up", so she'd have no help, and she decided to get dressed early. She donned herself in the same ivory sating gown she wore the day she first saw Elladan, and she put on her mother's necklace.

She had promised herself to make Imsiriel proud with her hair tonight. She felt immense sadness that she would be leaving Imladris soon, but wanted to leave a lasting impression.

Fifteen minutes later, while she was posing to herself in the looking-glass, she head a knock on the door.

"Now who the Hell is that?" She pondered out loud, raising from her chair to find out for herself.

When she opened it, Elladan came in, looking positively giddy.

Daralis embraced him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"You're in a good mood." She turned from him to go back to her vanity.

"That I am, Melamin, because I have good news to share with the population of Imladris!"

"Wow, what is -" Before she could finish her question, she saw him kneeling in the mirror. She whirled around, her hand going to cover her gaping mouth.

"What are you doing?"
"I love you, Dara. I love you more than I love anything else. You have made me so happy, and I never want that feeling to end. I wish to make you happy too, I want to make you feel beautiful. Please be my wife." He slid the ring onto her finger.

"Elladan, I- I-" She was breathless, speechless, everything he had expected. He waited to hear the words.

"I can't."

WELL, WELL, THAT WAS CRUEL OF ME!

Maybe if you review, I'll be sweet and give you another. ;-)

And yes, part of Elladan's proposal was from Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved". I just bought their CD, and it's amazing.

That is all.