I have been waiting or this moment for the better part of my life after the halls. Ever since Lady Yavanna told me about you, Avaleina. I have imagined you three thousand different ways, with nine million different combinations of eyes, voices, features, and personality. I wondered what your laugh would be like, and your smile.
I wondered if all the parts that made you up comprised a being even close to something as phenomenal as whatever marvel that beautiful little elfling I left behind grew up to be. My soul told me that Thranduil could never stand for anything less than that.
But I am a mother. A mother who was ripped from her son and left to wonder about every aspect of his life for endless decades, and you, my daughter in law, are the biggest part of it.
As more of our people were released from the halls, or the more of them trickled in from our realms and others who had met you told me stories about you. Either from firsthand experience or stories whispered from others, but I heard of you.
Those from Imladris told me about your fierce loyalty and skill in near everything you did. They told me about all the arguments you got into when people talked badly about our people, they told me about your bad mouth and biting words. Some of them hinted to the fact that you comprised entirely of the things they tended to dislike about Silvan elves. You were loud, open with your opinion, and obviously not raised as they see fit to help children grow.
I dreamed of you, wondered about you, almost as much as I did about my husband and son. Since you are my daughter now after all, even though I have not yet met you. I have not seen you, aside from the few pictures and paintings of you, and could not help but notice that you were right next to Legolas in a good portion of them.
They depicted you in dance, laughter, training, sorrow, and the full rage or war. Glowing almost as brightly as Thranduil in her determination and power to end this abomination.
Even after all the information, my curiosity about you has not lessened. I knew it wouldn't until I met you, saw you with my own eyes and felt you with my Fae. But I know ultimately if you have Thranduil, Ferdan, and Galion's blessings then you have mine.
I knew I would have to wait to meet you, but I did not think I would have to wait for this long.
Wait after both Thranduil and Legolas had returned to the shore with almost all of our people. Almost all, but not you. You had still stayed behind with our people, giving those that were agonizing over the decisions of sailing west or remaining in Arda until Mandos was sent for them a little more time to decide.
But word has traveled to us that a few ships were seen by the Teleri fishing boats, heading for the main harbor that those arriving are pulled to.
I wander to the shoreline likely before Thranduil and Legolas had heard of your approach, but I know they will be here soon. I watch as the boats get closer and closer. I think I can see you standing at the very top of one of the sails, likely searching the crowd for the ones you love.
Don't worry child, they will be here soon.
I watch as you draw closer. You, the one who holds my son's soul, his heart, and his mind over your head like a balloon. I can almost see them hanging over your head. Every single one of them tethered to you more tightly than root to the tree that it grew.
I could tell that even while you were still in Arda, and he in Aman. I could tell that his very insides and the most important parts of him were empty without you. Even though he still shined with more life and love than everything else around him. It was hollow without you.
As you dock the boats I can't quite make my feet move, as I watch you helping all of our people off of the boats, especially those that were injured, including their belongings. Family members begin to race across the shoreline towards the one's that they so longed for.
I can almost taste your disappointment that Legolas is not among them, yet it does not show on your face. It remains as peaceful and joyful as ever as you continue to assist your people in every way you can possibly think of.
Dozens of people come to hug you before they move on to their other family members. You continue to assist the others in any and all ways you can.
And then Legolas bursts off the hill of the beach and all but falls down the sand to the shoreline, smile brighter than any sun I have ever seen. The only thing keeping him from stumbling or falling is the balloons of your heart and soul keeping him floating over the ground.
The person I have watched on the sand for the last twenty minutes peels part, sheds herself like a snake shedding its skin or an orange being peeled. In not even seconds, you were shining as brightly as him. Two stars that had fallen out of the sky to meet each other on the soil of the earth.
When the two of you collided the son that I know for a fact that can carry the weight upon his shoulders collapses beneath the weight of your love for each other. Even form here, I know that both of you are crying. Sobbing into the hearts and the arms of the other.
Legolas somehow manages to stand with the weight of both of you and begins walking you slowly up the beach. I already know that Thranduil is crying with joy and relief, Legolas doesn't even let your feet touch the ground before he is passing you into the arms of his father.
I do not think I have ever seen joy like this on either of their faces. I can hear your sobs, sense how weak your soul and heart are compared to how strong it is could and should be.
And just like that, my curiosity diminishes. Vanishes. Slips into the void as the watch the scene in front of me. Because you are my daughter in law, and I already know that I love you.
Even before my feet move from this remote place, I know I love you. I know I like you. I know I want you in my life forever, and ever.
I cannot wait to meet you.
My beautiful daughter.
