A/N: I've been receiving so many reviews on the grammatical errors I keep making, I personally don't see them and understand them (English is not my mother language) can someone please send me a personal message and help me correct them? That will be so helpful, I really care about this story!
Nìniel watched as the two companions rowed their boat across the Great River to the other shore, she didn't want them to leave, she wasn't ready yet to see more members of the fellowship abandon her, she knew she wasn't going to see them ever again, because when Gandalf left them he had never made return. She had learned that when someone left the fellowship they will never come back.
She bit her bottom lip worried, what if her father will never return for her?
She didn't know where she was and where to go, she was starting to believe that that Lakeshore was going to be her new permanent home, who was going to feed her? Where the food comes from? What happens when she drank all the river?
"Nìniel!" she heard her father's frantic voice behind her, she turned to see Legolas and Gimli followed by Aragorn who was carrying someone in his arms.
Her father slides to her harshly on the rocky grown causing a loud sound of the moving rocks.
"Oh Nìniel" Legolas hugged her strongly, in every battle he fought, the fear of losing her increased, and every time he saw her unharmed he felt free from a heavyweight in him, he wished to stay every time near her and protect her, it hurt him to stay far from her during a fight.
Nìniel hugged her father back, enjoying and memorizing everything, his soft and strong grip, his fresh smell, his breath, and her feelings. Not wanting ever to forget if someday he would not return in her arms.
"Im ind cin ú- rinn." *I thought you weren't coming back.* she confessed.
An awful feeling of guilt was felt to Legolas, she thought he abandoned her, he wouldn't ever and ever do that. "Im tul- rinn- an lle." *I will always come back for you.*
Being separated by her was his biggest fear, she was his baby, his heart, he couldn't live without her, he could die for her. He felt extremely blessed to have her in his life, she had brought to him so much happiness and joy, and being her father was the greatest blessing he ever had.
She was the ray of light on the dark days followed by the death of his wife, without her he would have fallen into grief, she didn't know it, but she had saved his life.
Nìniel couldn't stop noticing the stiff commotion happening behind her back, the companions were too quiet, and she could sense anguish between them.
She curiously turned to have a better understanding of the situation, Aragorn rested Boromir's body on an empty elven boat, while Gimli watched the scene with bitterness.
"Ada, mani post Boromir?" *daddy, why is Boromir sleeping?* she asked with her innocent voice.
As soon Aragorn heard the child's question, stopped his movements, and send them an emphatic look, Legolas was forced once again to explain her daughter about death and loss, but this time she had to witness it with her eyes.
Gimli, who didn't know any elvish at all, perceived the tension and the look in Aragorn's face, Nìniel watched her father with questioning eyes, while Legolas looked in difficulty, the dwarf understood what was going on. As he walked past them he patted the young father's shoulder for compassion.
Legolas hesitated before answering, he wanted to lie and tell her that everything was alright but he knew it will only cause more confusion to her in the future, he knew it wasn't going to be her first time she sees a dead body "Ho na- glenn- na i mandos -o thamb." *He is going to the Halls of Mandos.* he told her.
"in Valinor?" she turned once again to see Aragorn folding Boromir's cloak and placed it under his head.
"Hay." Legolas nodded sadly.
"Mani?" *Why?* she asked confused, her perception of death was so naïve, she couldn't comprehend fully what was it and how it worked.
Legolas looked at the ranger with sorrowful eyes for some help, he feared on what extent the curiosity of his daughter could reach. "You're doing well." the human encouraged him quietly.
"Na- ho glenn- na govannon-naneth a Mithrandir?" *Is he going to meet mommy and Gandalf?* she asked him.
He glanced back at his little girl, she stared him with her big curious eyes, she looked him as if he had all the secrets in the world. He was her protection and she would have trusted her every word he would say.
" Hon mán na- na rad- sídh ennas." *his spirit is going to find peace there.*
"Mani? *Why?* she asked again "Na- ho post" *Is he tired?*
Legolas taught on his answer "Cin tur- ha i lond." *You can see it that way.*
Nìniel smiled finally realizing "I na- mani ho na- post." *That is why he is sleeping.* she then walked over the boat where Boromir's body laid, causing all the men too look, once she reached him, she rested her hand on Boromir's forehead, sharing her farewell "Post eithel in valinor." *Rest well in Valinor.* she whispered.
There was a moment of silence. they were strong words from a child's mouth; however, she didn't understand that that action was more powerful than what she thought, in whatever different religion they all believed in, that was the most honorable way to praise their friend's life.
Legolas never felt prouder of her, she was the most caring and sweet child he had ever met, sometimes it surprised him her spontaneous act of love and empathy, watching her it helped change his life in the better.
Sorrowfully they cast lose the boat. They saw as the boat slipped over the falls of Rauros and then dropped into the mists below, a mutual feeling of grief was in the air. The elves watched the boat disappear. Aragorn wore Boromir's vambraces in his honor.
Gimli shoved the third boat into the water, calling to his companions. "Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." That is until he turned back and saw Aragorn still standing there making no move to follow. Aragorn stood still, looking towards the shore on the other side, seeing the two Hobbits running into the forest. He said nothing but sighed. Gimli stared at him, suddenly understanding "You mean not to follow them."
"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn quietly replied.
"Then it has all been in vain. The Fellowship has failed." the dwarf bemoaned as he and the two elves walked up to Aragorn, who put his hands on both of his companions' shoulders in an effort to raise their spirits.
He looked at the child's eyes, such a precious little being she was, full of love and care, a rare elven child, he wouldn't let Sauron take her. "We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death, and Nìniel to fade, not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light." he turned and picked up a dagger from the ground "Let's go visit Saruman." Then he ran off into the forest. Legolas and Gimli looked at each other, grinning.
Legolas was hopeful and finally optimistic, they were finally moving to Saruman, the Istari was capable of free his daughter, they had to only reach him and make him cast the spell, and he wouldn't let him refuse it, finally his baby was going to be free again, his nightmare was coming in to an end.
"Yes! Ha-ha!" Gimli exulted enthusiastically as he ruffled Nìniel's hair, happy that fate hasn't left them, she had a chance.
The men ran after Aragorn.
The child stood at her spot confused, watching them leave her, she was the only one who didn't understand anything that Estel told them, but by the sound of his voice was something empowering.
"Nìniel!" Legolas called her from the woods when he realized she was left in the shore.
Without questioning the adults, she picked up the pace and ran along with them across the forest.
Frodo and Sam scrambled onto a high ridge. A distant line of Saw-toothed mountains below a dark, oppressive sky. Black volcanic smoke rose behind the mountains.
"Mordor! I hope the others find a safer road." Frodo said hopefully.
"Strider will look after them," Sam said with optimism.
"I don't suppose we'll ever see them again," Frodo said sounding terribly sad at the thought.
"We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We may." Sam told him smiling reassuringly
"Sam?" Frodo looked at Sam with great affection, despite the grim outlook, Sam was undeterred "I'm glad you're with me."
They both smiled affectionately at each other, glad to share the journey together. They admired the mass expanse of land they still had to travel through.
"What about Legolas's child?" Sam spoke worriedly, as they stared ahead, sighing. "We can't leave her alone!" remembering the last glimpse of her, on the shore by her own.
"Oh..." Frodo smiled " She is not alone."
A/N: "she is not alone"... I do love this title because it has a double meaning, she is not alone because she will always have Legolas by her side but even because the dark shadow of Sauron will always be by her side.
I first published this trilogy in 1/29/2016, it took me 3 years and a half for the first one… I've stopped for long periods of time because I felt unmotivated to continue, and in these years, I realized that I can't make it alone, this is a big project and writing it in a foraging language doesn't make it any easier...
I wanted to ask here for your help to write the second and third book, maybe together it will be faster!
You can private message me for applying chapters or to apply to beta the story! For now, I have only a simple draft of the following chapters!
Sorry if I'm a slow writer!
Namárië
See you on "Still Here"