Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 38

The mortality of humans

"Come along Meryn!" barked Rose as she ushered her grandsons up the steps of Golden Hall. Once the boys were in, she turned and looked at her husband. He was limping along, still at the bottom of the stairs. "Meryn Solaris! When King Eomer says he wants to see us, you pull your finger out and move!" she barked. Meryn stopped and looked at his wife. "I'm comin…" he started when he collapsed on to the steps.

"Meryn!" cried Rose as she ran down towards him.

Ten days later, a horse galloped into Edoras, bearing a rider dressed all in black. People ran out of the horse's path for fear of being trampled. The horse didn't stop until it had reached the steps of Golden Hall. King Eomer ran down the steps to greet the rider. The rider got down and pulled back their hood, revealing herself to be Tigerlily. "Tigerlily!" said Eomer, embracing his friend, "I'm glad you're here. Your mother has being worrying about you."

"I came as fast as possible," said Tigerlily, "Now where is my father?"

"This way," said Eomer, leading her up the steps of Golden Hall, "Where is Legolas and Milo? I haven't seen him since he was born."

"Legolas and Milo are coming with Aragorn," said Tigerlily, "They should be here in a matter of days." Eomer led the way through the throne room to the room where Meryn was. Tigerlily looked in. Her mother was the only one there. "Oh Tigerlily!" sobbed Rose, "You're here at last!"

"Mama," said Tigerlily as she embraced her mother, "I came as soon as I heard. Where are my brothers?"

"They've already been to see him," said Rose, "He said he wanted a private talk with each of you, so I'll be in the throne room with Eomer if you need me."

"Thank you, mama," said Tigerlily. As her mother left, Tigerlily looked down at her father. He was a ghostly pale and very weak. "Oh papa," she said, kneeling down next to his bed, "I can't believe this is happening to you." She picked up the old man's hand and kissed it. "Tigerlily," he said softly, "My little girl. You've grown up so much! You're a woman now. You are married and have a son. I only wish I could have told you why we had to send you away."

"Papa, it's fine, I'm not upset about it," said Tigerlily.

"Tigerlily, my time is fading, soon I will have to return to the sea over which our ancestors came," said Meryn, wiping away the tear on his daughter's face, "I wish I could have seen Milo grow up but I have seen how my other grandsons have turned out and I'm sure he'll be just fine. You were always a beautiful child, and you're a beautiful woman now. A princess no less. I want you to promise me one thing, and don't ask how I know this. Promise me that, no matter how long it takes, you and Legolas keep trying for that second child. I told you not to ask, let's just say an old friend told me."

"Gandalf," said Tigerlily, "He told didn't he?"

"Yes, my dear," said Meryn, "But promise me, won't you. That you and Legolas will never give up hope."

"I promise, papa," said Tigerlily, kissing his hand again, "We won't stop trying."

"Good girl, where is Legolas anyway?" asked Meryn, "He'll be here in a few days, papa. He's bringing Milo and Strider's coming too."

"I will be glad to say goodbye to my old friend," said Meryn.

"Don't talk like that papa," said Tigerlily.

"My little Lily," said Meryn, "You have to understand that your mother and I as well as your brothers won't be around forever. You have been given a great gift. You will see great men rise and fall. And one day, I know you'll leave Middle-Earth to live amongst the elves. You are lucky, the elves are a great people."

"They created the Rings," said Tigerlily, "Which led to the creation of the One Ring. A Ring, which has caused so much suffering, yet only one helped in its destruction. How can they be a great people if they will not take responsibility for what they have started! Boromir took responsibility for scaring Frodo away from our camp, at the cost of his life. The elves! Only Legolas even offered to help. The others just sat there and did nothing! Lord Elrond had a chance to destroy the Ring but he let it go! How can they be so great if they allow evil to continue to corrupt mortals. No, father, not all elves are great. Some of them are cowards. Very few ever accept that they are wrong."

"Harsh words for the wife of an elf," said Meryn.

"I married the one elf who chose to help destroy what his people started," said Tigerlily, "The one who took responsibility. Legolas could see that his people were turning a blind eye to what they had created and decided to help. The elves are leaving, papa, coincidence that it's their one mistake that's resurfacing as they leave. I'm not sure."

"Have you told Legolas this?" asked Meryn.

"No," said Tigerlily, "He thinks so highly of his people, I can't break his ideas of them."

"What have you said is true," said Meryn, "Only Gandalf actively sought out the Ring. The elves remembered it but did nothing to find it. Mortals forgot about it so we cannot be blamed. If Lord Elrond had taken it upon himself to destroy the Ring himself, then this war may never have happened. But Tigerlily, look at what you have thanks to this war, your husband and your son. A life you may never have achieved if you had remained a simple farmer's daughter in Enedwaith." Tigerlily smiled. She bent over and kissed her father's forehead.

Legolas arrived late in the evening a few days later. Tigerlily had just been relieved from watching her father by Pimpernel and was eating a late supper when Legolas arrived. He came in carrying a sleeping Oropher in his arms. "Hello, darling," he said, sitting down on the bench beside her. Tigerlily swallowed what she was eating and kissed his cheek. "You're so cold," she said.

"I'll be fine, how is Meryn?" he asked.

"He's fading slowly," said Tigerlily, "I don't think he has much time left. He's made me promise him one thing. That we never ever stop trying for a second child. Gandalf told him; how he found out I'll never know. But my papa made me promise."

"That was a good promise to make," said Legolas, "Your father is a proud man, and he will want to know that his bloodline continues even after he's gone." Tigerlily smiled as Aragorn came in. "Where's Melilot?" asked Tigerlily.

"With Eliza and her brothers," said Aragorn, "How are you?"

"Tired," said Tigerlily, "But papa will be happy that you made it here. He knows he's dying and he wants you to know how much he cares for you." Aragorn smiled.

"Sounds like him alright," said Aragorn, but he still looked upset.

"What's wrong?" asked Tigerlily as she took Oropher from Legolas.

"He's so much younger than I am, but his body is giving way," said Aragorn, "It just seems so strange. I've been surrounded by immortals all my life, it seems so strange every time someone I know dies."

"Papa says I have to get used to it," said Tigerlily, "People I know are going to die." Legolas pulled Tigerlily towards him and kissed her head. "I'll go see your father in the morning," he said.

It was two weeks before Meryn died. He died with his wife's hand in one hand and Tigerlily's in the other. He died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him. He had said his farewell's to everyone, most especially Tigerlily, because he would never see her in the afterlife. Legolas had been stood outside the door. He knew it wasn't his place to be there. This was a husband and father and grandfather passing away. His place was outside waiting to comfort his grieving wife. Tigerlily cried for almost two days afterwards. Her tears only stopped for the Last Rite as her father's body floated down the river in a small boat. Her father was gone and she would never see him again. Legolas couldn't imagine how she must have been feeling. The feeling of grief was almost incomprehensible for an elf. But he understood sadness and that was the best he had to go on. He found only Oropher brought a smile to Tigerlily's face.

A few days after Meryn's funeral, Tigerlily was sat talking to her brother, Togo. "So how are things between you and Legolas?" asked Togo.

"They're fine," said Tigerlily, "There's that sort of 'dip' in our marriage, like that when Alannah and Milo died."

"Yeah, I've felt that," said Togo, "Don't worry it will pass."

"I know," said Tigerlily, "Did papa make you promise anything before he died?"

"No, why?"

"Look, Togo, I'm going to trust you with a secret, promise to keep it," asked Tigerlily.

"Cross my heart and hope to die," said Togo.

"Or I'll stick a needle in your eye," said Tigerlily, "The thing is, I was stabbed almost a year ago. Because of that, I may no longer be able to have children. There is a small chance I could. Well, papa found out and made me promise that Legolas and I wouldn't stop trying for another child."

"But you can't, not when you have two babies already," said Togo.

"Exactly," said Tigerlily, "I don't know what to do."

"I'll take Melilot," said Togo.

"What?" said Tigerlily.

"I'll take Melilot," said Togo, "You see, there were…complications when Ivy was born. Charlotte and I can't have children anymore. There is no way we can. Charlotte was going to ask mama if we could have Melilot but you got in there first."

"Togo, I had no idea," said Tigerlily, "Do you really want to take Melilot in?"

"We're already taking mama and the boys in," said Togo, "Charlotte would do anything to have another baby."

"You sure about this?" asked Tigerlily.

"Yes," said Togo, "You and Legolas have a chance, no matter how small, of having a family. Charlotte and I don't."

"In that case, you can have Melilot," said Tigerlily, "Legolas said it's probably best if she stays with her brothers but I didn't want to hear it."

"Thank you," said Togo.