Chapter III: Faerie Stones
For the rest of that day, the week before my birthday, I helped Legolas unpack his things. Watching him pull out robes, daggers, and strange foods, I was amazed. Was his world really so different from Briton? Each trinket shocked me with its workmanship. His bow, which he called his 'Galadhrim bow' shocked me the most. The careful crafting would have taken any human tens of years to make. "The Lady of the Woods had it made for me during the War.", he explained. "Tell me about the War. And tell me why I was sent here.", I asked gently.
"The warlord, Sauron had forged many rings of power thousands of years ago, before either of us was born. He gave some of these rings to each race. But in secret, he made a master ring. A single ring that could control them all. With powerful magic, he poured a part of himself into that ring, giving it a sort of life.", Legolas began. A simple ring? "Sauron deceived the men first, cursing them to join him. Slowly, with his army of orcs, Uruk-hai, goblins, and trolls, he began to take over all of Middle Earth. Fearing that he might succeed, a desperate alliance between elves, men, and dwarves was forged and all the free peoples marched to Mordor for the freedom of Middle Earth. They fought for days. When their prospect seemed bleakest, Sauron himself entered the battle, slaying men and elves alike. He slew the King of Gondor, a country of men, as his son, Isildur, watched. Enraged, Isildur claimed his father's sword and cut off the hand of Sauron before plunging the blade into Sauron's heart, killing him.", Legolas continued. I still did not understand. "But because Sauron had entrusted a part of himself into the ring, his spirit remained. Your father, Elrond, brought Isildur to the fires of Mount Doom, the only place it could be destroyed. But Isildur relented and the ring took possession of him. Isildur fled and allowed the ring to survive. And for many years, the story was forgotten. But recently, Sauron began to regroup his army of orcs in Mordor, so that he could again try to claim Middle Earth as his own. The ring had fallen into the possession of the hobbit, Frodo.", he continued. "A hobbit?", I asked. "A half-ling. They look like men, only smaller. They live in their land, the Shire and do not venture out very much.", Legolas explained, "And so in Rivendell, under the guidance of Elrond, a fellowship was formed to protect Frodo in his quest to destroy the ring. The fellowship was separated. Frodo and his companion, Samwise went one direction, while the others, of which I was one, journeyed through Gondor and Rohan, defending the kingdoms of men. You were sent here, out of the way of the battle."
I sat wide-eyed on his bed, looking up at Legolas with admiration. "You are a warrior then?", I asked. "I was. Now, I just want to finish my time in Middle Earth comfortably with my wife and future children.", he elaborated. I turned away, slightly embarrassed. "Do not feel embarrassed. Everything will be resolved in a week.", he said. "How do you know what I feel?", I asked. "Even I was not an elf and could not feel the emotions radiating from you, I would be able to read your face.", he explained. "Oh.", I said quietly.
"Now tell me about this place, Briton.", he asked, urging me to resume talking. I tried to collect my thoughts into a cohesive description and decided to describe Camelot, "Arthur is our High King, and there are several minor kings, of which Uriens is one of. Arthur's castle is in Camelot, I was there yesterday. It is an enormous castle where all the nobles gather on feast days. Arthur's queen is Gwenhwyfar, but she is not always so… loyal." "She has a paramour?", Legolas asked. "Yes, Sir Lancelet the horse trainer and Arthur's fondest friend.", I said quickly. "Legolas furrowed his brow in distaste and looked at me quickly. "You would never do such a thing?", he asked. "No, I am not Gwenhwyfar.", I replied. Legolas nodded solemnly and grasped my hand in his briefly.
"That is good, Tári, because I would not want to die of a broken heart.", he said slowly. "So long as you show the same courtesy.", I said. "You do not honestly believe that I would ever want another. You forget, Tári, that I have loved you for hundreds of years and will continue to do so for eternity." , he reprimanded. I nodded slowly and rose from his bed. "I should go enquire about midday meal.", I said. Legolas agreed and joined me in the Dining Hall for something to eat.
Although Legolas unpacked some of his things, he left the majority of his saddlebag untouched. "Why would I wish to unpack things I will not need only to repack them again?", he asked. "Why did you bring so much with you then?", I countered. "I was not sure if you would say yes or no, and so I wanted to be prepared lest you should decline and I should have to stay here until your transformation.", he explained. I nodded, almost feeling guilty.
Uriens walked in on our conversation, "Why the serious faces? Festivities are about!" I smiled stiffly at him and walked outside into the orchard, wanting to be alone. Legolas followed, as I had thought he might. "Please, just leave me to myself for awhile. I will look for you tonight before I retire.", I asked. "Tári, what is wrong?", Legolas asked, offended. "Nothing. I just wish for some moments alone in my own world.", I said softly. "As you wish.", he agreed, his voice stained with disappointment. "Thank you.", I whispered gratefully.
Legolas left my side and disappeared into the castle. I found Fey in the stables and mounted her bareback. I held onto her neck and nudged her body with my foot. Obediently, she walked out of the stable and galloped through the fields. Looking back, I saw Legolas at his window, looking pensive. Should I return? I allowed Fey to keep up her pace and soon we were nearly an hour's journey from Uriens' castle. I slowed Fey down to a halt and dismounted.
My favourite place. The meadow I stood in was crowned by a ring of faerie stones in the center. I approached the ring and sat in the centre. I heard laughter in the trees, but did not bother to look for the source. The faerie-folk. I bowed my head and mumbled my respects before leaning heavily against a stone. Legolas. The name itself brought me to a nervous state. I cared for him a great deal. I knew that much. But I still did not believe that I was ready to abandon my homeland in favour of my… homeland? Two worlds, and I was 'from' both. I just needed a moment to think without Legolas' or my father's interruption.
I closed my eyes for a moment, savouring the still silence. I heard the bushes rustle again, but still paid no attention. I opened my eyes slightly, but saw nothing approaching me, so I brought my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs. The sun was beginning to set and I was growing cold.
I shivered and felt an arm touch my shoulder. I turned to see a faerie woman hand me a cloak. "Many thanks.", I mumbled. "It is only a small gesture compared with what your foster father has done to insure the safety of our people.", the woman said quietly. I knew that Uriens had not banned the Goddess worship in North Wales, but I did not know that he had aided the faerie people directly.
"But he has helped us, Tári. He has protected us from those who would wish us gone. And for that, we owe your family a great deal.", she explained. "You use my Elvish name, why?", I asked. So the myth was true, the faerie-folk could hear the thoughts of mortals. "Yes, I use your true name. And I ask you, why do you lament so for a life that you never loved before he came to you?", she asked softly. Why did she ask these questions? She knew that I was unsure of the answers! "I do not want to go because I shall miss my family, my friends, Morgaine… Lancelet. My homeland is Briton.", I insisted.
"Too torn you are between the half-life you are accustomed to and the full-life which you have yet to re-embrace. He loves you, many women wish that of their husbands, yet you have it. You have been offered an immortal life, free of the pains and aches of mortality. Why do you cling so to your half-formed human life? You have seen less than a lifetime's worth of Briton and yet you fervently call it home. Lancelet- you say that you will miss him?", she asked, her soft voice lessening the severity of her harsh words.
"Yes. I will miss Lancelet. He is a …friend.", I said. "A friend who would no sooner have you pregnant and leave you to bed with the High Queen. He does not love you, Tári. He is only doomed to lust after that what he cannot have, it is his fate. Yet you will see him again. There will be a temptation. And Legolas still has not told you something of importance. Tári, there will be more ahead for you. You must shed your humanity and become one of the Eldar.", she warned. "Why do you tell me this?", I begged to know. "So that you may have guidance towards a choice that you alone must make. I assure you that there is no need to despair. Now go to him, he looks for you.", she said quietly. I turned to look away into the trees to clear my mind. When I looked back into the centre of the faerie stones, the faerie woman was no longer there. I had expected as much. The fey-folk were flighty and quick to leaving and this woman was no different.
I sat up and stretched my stiff limbs. Fey was waiting patiently for me at the edge of the meadow. She cantered over at my whistle. I mounted her and rode hard for Uriens' castle to find Legolas. The faerie woman had been good to speak with me. Although her tellings burdened my mind, they cleared my sight into what lay just ahead of me. I would not regret journeying to Middle Earth with Legolas. The ride was swift and when I arrived at the stables, Fey was glistening with sweat. I led her quickly to water and ordered the stableman to clean her off.
As soon as this was done, I walked quickly up to Legolas' chamber. His bed was empty. "Legolas?", I called, but received no answer. I paced the corridors, looking for my betrothed. Disappointed, I descended the stairs and went to sit in the Hall. I found Legolas there, in conversation with Uriens. They both turned quickly to my direction as I entered the room. "I was looking for you.", Legolas admitted. "It seems that I found you." I jested. "So you have.", Uriens said, before leaving for bed.
"Are you feeling better?", Legolas asked quietly. "Much so.", I answered happily. "Then will you walk a ways with me before you retire?", he asked. "I would be glad to.", I agreed. "Uriens is pleased that you are feeling better regarding the marriage.", Legolas said. "I thought he would be happier.", I replied. "What matters much more to me is your happiness. Are you happy, Tári? If you are not…", he trailed off. "I am… meleth nin. Did I say it right in your language?", I asked, blushing lightly. "Perfectly.", Legolas complimented with a small smile. "I missed hearing that.", he admitted. "I'm sure that I missed calling you that.", I answered sheepishly.
Legolas sighed slowly and inhaled. We reached a bench and sat there. After a few comfortable minutes, he broke the silence, "You managed to look much the same, a human, as you looked when you were an elf, Tári- still so beautiful. You will never know how much I missed your face every day. I would never be able to go on so long without you again." He looked at my face, eyes shining with sincerity. He held my cheek in his palm and leaned his face into mine. "May I?", he whispered. "Yes.", I replied, just as quietly. He brought his lips to mine in a short kiss. I couldn't help but smile. Legolas wrapped his free arm around my stomach and pulled me closer, never breaking the kiss. After another moment of bliss, I backed away slightly and our lips gently pulled apart.
"I missed that as well.", Legolas whispered. "Mmmm.", I sighed in agreement. "I'm glad that you came for me.", I whispered. "As am I.", he replied, securing his grip on my middle. I relaxed and let my head fall back onto his shoulder and closed my eyes. Why did I have this feeling, this love for him?