Nallina let out her expectant breath with relief. "Here comes Lord Legolas!" she shouted down to the others around.
They all froze for an instant. Then motion occurred in a flurry, some rushing up to the branches to see beyond the forest, some going to the mountain, others calling from where they were. "Are you sure?"
"Is Lunian with him?"
Nallina sighed softly. "She is not with him."
Silence gripped the group, held it even as Legolas and Gimli entered the forest, dismounted and turned together to Legolas and Lunian's talan. Nallina was the only one bold enough to stop their lord. "Lunian, my lord?"
Lifeless eyes lifted to hers. "Gone." The one word was a hollow echo.
Nallina stepped back as if struck. A walking corpse would seem more lively than the Lord of Fangorn did at that moment. "My lord, are you well?" she asked softly, hoping he would give her some hope with his answer.
He let out a short, bitter laugh that no one would dream of associating with humor. "Well? I know not why I walk, why I eat, why I breathe. There is no reason, no point. The only thing I know for certain is that even death could not be worse than this." His eyes bored into her, chilling her until he released her to approach the tree he lived in. "Go to the havens. I am no longer here for you."
Nallina trembled and fought within herself, but slowly her feet followed him, and she entered the talan. The dwarf was there, eating silently while casting worried looks at Legolas, who sat on the edge of the bed he had shared with Lunian for so long, his face in his hands. "My lord?" she whispered softly. He made no move to show he had heard her. "She left a letter with me, when you three journeyed to Imladris, or what of it remained. She wanted me to call you Egola if you didn't respond, and to tell you to hold onto hope, not to abandon her." Nallina swallowed at the burning intensity of Legolas's eyes. His head had jerked up when she called him Egola, angry at first before his mind assimilated what she had said, and then she wasn't sure what was running through his mind.
He looked away, and his hand clenched around something. Slowly he nodded. "Has everyone prepared to depart?"
"Yes, my lord. We began when I read her letter, and waited only for your return."
His eyes were unreadable when he glanced up. He nodded. "I will be ready—" he trailed off and glanced back at the dwarf. "Give us until the following day," he changed his mind, taking into consideration the ageing dwarf's lack of riding talent.
Nallina bowed her head and left the talan, frowning as she tried to decipher how he felt. Would he live? Was he going to pass with them to the undying lands?
Inside the talan, Legolas and Gimli's thoughts were both running in similar directions. Neither knew, and not a word was spoken about it as each prepared for rest. If Gimli noticed Legolas's hand remained clenched tightly about the stone in his palm, he said nothing.