Chapter Seven: Grieving
Legolas wondered down the hallway towards his rooms, feeling as though someone had hit him with a brick in the head. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. First Aragorn, and now Arwen? Both of them were two of his closest friends, and now…
"They're all leaving me…" Legolas whispered. "All of them…"
It was times like these that Legolas began to feel the weight of immortality on his shoulders. When he began to wonder if it would have been smarter to leave these lands for the West along with Elrond and Galadriel, instead of sticking around with his father. His heart ached something terrible, but he had to hold his head up high. Not only for Arwen's sake, but for Eldarion's as well.
The young king looked to Legolas to help him make things right. It was difficult for not only Eldarion, but for his council to adjust to the new king. Eldarion, no matter how much he and his father were alike, ruled very differently from Aragron. Eldaraion was a new generation, and he had new ideas and new ways to run his country. Legolas, being thousands of years older than even the oldest of the council members, could somehow understand what both sides were going through, and help them sort through some of their problems.
But now…this was beginning to become too much. What reason did the Elf have to stay on these shores? The age of the Elves ended over a hundred years ago, yet he was still lingering here.
He knew why, though. Gimli. His best friend. He couldn't just leave him all alone, to suffer in lonliness. And what about Nora? Aragorn and Arwen had brought her up, despite their age. She loved them dearly, and now they were leaving her. If he stayed for anything, it would be to comfort her.
But who would be here to comfort him?
Legolas sighed as he came to the secluded balcony he had been looking for. It was his favorite place in this entire city. Right below him was the most beautiful courtyard in the whole city, and the veiw of the Pelennor spread out before him, until it reached the blue snake that was the Anduin. The Elf could see the gulls swooping and diving, and their calls echoed through his body, touching first his head, then his already saddened heart. The sun was setting, casting a golden light on everyting, including the birds, making them look magical, as though they had been made by Eru himself.
It was often that he came here after the battle at the Black Gates, when the sounds of the gulls haunted him. But he had learned to push them away, far off into the dark crevices of his mind, and forgot about them. There, they would not bother him, and he would be able to stay with his friends without the constant thought of Valinor calling out to him.
But now that Arwen was leaving, the gulls were calling for him again. Calling him to leave and come home. The Fellowship was nearly completely gone. Frodo had gone over the sea, Sam had died in the Shire as Mayor, Merry and Pippin were now buried in spots of honor next to the King, Boromir…
Well, it sometimes pained Legolas to think of Boromir. He had died so early in the quest, and it pained Legolas at times to think about it. You could tell that Faramir had missed his brother greatly, though he hid it well while he was Steward to Aragorn. Now his granddaughter, Elisia, was Steward. She was Elawyn's daughter, who was the last Steward. They both have followed in Faramir's footsteps, and Elisia was now Princess of Ithilien. Like Aragorn had told her, Faramir and Boromir both would have been very proud.
And Gandalf. Gandalf left with Frodo to go back to Valinor. His time in Middle Earth was over. Legolas missed him terribly as well. For as long as he could remember, ever since he had been a little Elfling, the Wizard had been there when they're had been trouble. Whether it had been the trouble in Dol Goldur, or just trouble with his older siblings, Mithrandir had always helped the Elf. And now he was gone.
Legolas watched as a tear fell from his face and down into the courtyard below. Now he was going to cry, he knew he was, every inch of him wanted to hold it in, and wait until he was somewhere private. Being royalty and a warrior, he had learned to keep his emotions in check most of the time. But now…now was a different story.
Looking back out at the river, he let his emotions fall free, for the first time in weeks.
Of course, that would be the same time his privay was interrupted.
"Hiya, Legolas!" a happy voice said. Quickly wiping his tears away, he turned around, looking every inch like a composed Prince of Mirkwood, to find Nora standing there, looking at him.
"Not now, Nora." He said softly, a hint of sadness in his voice.
The smile that had been on Nora's face quickly slid off, and Legolas felt sorry. He hadn't meant to hurt the girl's feelings, and now she was looking like she was going to cry. And Legolas had never seen Nora cry.
Ever.
"Nora, mellon-nin!" he said, holding his arms out to her. "Come here."
Nora swallowed and dove into his arms. "I can't take it any more, Legolas!"
"You can't take what?" Legolas asked, feeling confused as he stared at the top of the fourteen year old girl's head. "And where did Kendall go?"
"She's in her rooms." Nora sniffed. "She said she had wanted to sleep, so I let her be."
"Oh." Legolas said. "I had thought you scared her off for a moment."
Nora smiled weakly. "I might have. I was sort of…odd…earlier when I was walking her to her rooms. I was trying not to cry. Listening to Arwen made me feel so terrible." She choked, feeling tears come to her eyes again.
"Hush now." Legolas said softly, smoothing out the girl's hair. "All is well."
"What is wrong with Arwen?" she asked, looking up at the Elf. She felt safe there in his arms. Legolas had been there for her for as long as she could remember. He chased away bullies for her, helped her with her lessons, and taught her many things that she could never learn from anybody else. It was him, out of everyone left here in Gondor, she trusted the most.
"Nothing." Legolas said after a moment, his voice strained.
"You can't hide anything from me." Nora said impatiently. "Something is wrong. I can see it in your eyes."
Legolas shook his head. "It is nothing to important, N-"
"Don't you dare start that!" Nora insisted, stomping her foot as she pulled out of the embrace. "You do that all of the time when it is something important! I deserve to know, besides the fact that I am old enough."
Legolas frowned. He knew he should told her, but he wasn't sure how she would handle the grief. An Elf would fade, but could a human?
"Tell me, Legolas." Nora said, her voice dangerously low.
"Alright." The Elf said slowly. "Arwen…had decided to leave."
"What?" Nora gasped. "Why?"
Legolas sighed, not wanting to get into this. "She feels she has no need to stay here. Or to stay in this world, at any rate."
"No." Nora whispered, her eyes wide.
"Yes." Legolas said, looking away from the young girl as tears started brimming at her eyes. "Arwen has decided to go back to Imladris alone and finally leaves these lands."
"She's going to die?" the girl asked, her voice shaking as she wiped away a tear.
Legolas nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
"They're all leaving me." She muttered as she turned to look out from the balcony. "Everyone."
"I'm still here." Legolas said, rubbing her back to calm her down.
"But you too will leave. Aragorn was the only reason you have lingered here on these shores." Nora said, still staring at the scenery. "You have heard the cry of the gull, and it has awakened the longing in your heart. Soon, you shall leave, and surely Master Gimli will follow you."
Legolas stared in disbelief at the girl. She was wise beyond her years, and perhaps that came from being raised by two Elves, a Man, and a Dwarf. But she hardly ever acted it. But when she did, it was with a great sadness that she did so.
"I cannot bear to see you in such pain." Legolas whispered. "I will stay here as long as I may, at least until you are well again. And then you have Eldarion, and his sisters."
"Eldarion?" Nora repeated. "He is king. He will have no time for me. I am not even a proper Lady, even though Aragorn has raised me. I am not one by birth. And as for his sisters? The Ladies have married out to other Lords of Gondor. They will have no doubt forgotten about me. And if they haven't, they will be soon. I am but a babe to them. They see nothing of great importance in me."
"Surely you see yourself differently?" Legolas asked as he followed the girl's gaze out to the Pelennor.
"I wonder sometimes." Nora admitted. "Everyone has left me, or will be leaving me, and I often wonder if that is my fault, or could I have stopped it?"
"Nora." Legolas said, turning her to face him. "There is no way that any thing that has happened is your fault. You are blameless, and therefore you must stop blaming yourself." He smiled. "Now come. The evening meal is soon, and I am sure that you do not want to miss it."
"What about Kendall?" Nora asked, taking the Elf's offered arm.
"We shall bring her a meal from the kitchens." Legolas said. "I'm sure the cooks shall understand."
"Legolas?" Nora said as they headed away from the balcony and down the hall.
"Yes, mellon-nin?" the Elf said as he led the way.
"I'm glad you're my friend." She said, squeezing his arm.
Legolas smiled down at the girl. "And I am glad I am yours."
A/N: Alrighty. This is a little more than four pages, and my head hurts like… a lot. And I was SUPPOSED to be doing Chemistry homework…oh, and algebra, and Spanish, and English, and history. Gosh, it's only the third day of school, and I already can't wait for summer vacation. And why don't the English like air conditioning? Grumbles and one of my best friends is leaving next Tuesday, and my head hurts, and I was supposed to go to the gym, but I don't have time, and I want to read something, but this comp at skool only has windows 98 or something slow like that. Most definetally not xp, and that's what I need to read it. I think I'm going to explode. Boom. Oh, and James and Jenny are coming to homecoming! Everybody cheer! Jenny's coming from germany, and james from Menwith hill or London central…I don't remember. For those of you who aren't Americans living in England, those were two bases that are about two or so hours from where I live. Blerg. Well, I'm off to go….do…something until four thirty. I've got thirty five minutes. Murf. I hope Sammie writes more…
PHE
Ps thanks for reviewing everybody! I truly do appreciate it….now if only you all could do my homework…
Pss Piratica, I hope this is a good, serious chappie…murf. U should rite more too. O. o
