Note: Remember, I don't own Tolkein's stuff!

And I painstakingly researched the Elvish in my story that appear in italics. The translations follow the elvish scentence. Typically, when Legolas and Merenwen are speaking to each other, they are speaking in elvish. But writing everything in elvish would have been insane, so there you have it! And interactions with other species (like hobbits and dwarves) are usually in the Common Tonuge, though that language doesn't exactly translate into our English. But, anyway, I just thought I should put that in!

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Merenwen finished brushing her hair long dark hair, and stared at herself in the mirror of her dressing table.

Lord Elrond had called a council that morning and Legolas was called to it. Dwarves, humans, and elves were all in attendance. Gandalf the Grey and the shy hobbit, whom she'd seen occasionally, were also there. Merenwen had seen hobbits, or half-lings, when she went west and she liked them. They were a happy people so in love with the land and life itself.

Her door opened and Legolas stepped into the room. Merenwen looked up in the mirror and turned to face him.

"How did it fare? What happened?" she asked, eager for news. She looked at him and her eagerness faded. His face was calm, as was a manor with elves, but something had changed.

"I must speak with you," he said, walking toward her and holding out his hand for her.

"What is it?"

"Please. It is important."

Merenwen set her brush down and looked up at him with uncertainty before taking his hand and standing.

Legolas took her to a spot by the Bruinen's waterfall where everything was coated in a light mist. They sat on a low branch side by side with their feet barely touching the ground.

"Legolas, something is wrong. What troubles you?" She brushed his long golden hair behind his pointed ear.

"I cannot stay."

"Cannot stay at this moment now? By all means, if I am keeping you from something, I shall let you go."

"No. Tomorrow I leave. The One Ring is being taken to Mordor to be destroyed. I offered my bow to the hobbit Frodo Baggins, and a Fellowship of nine is taking him to Mordor."

Merenwen stared at the ground, aware of the danger that awaited him, as well as feeling the fate of Middle Earth being in this task.

"Do you have nothing to say about this?"

She turned to him. "What would you have me say? You said you would not lose me again, and now you are leaving me when I see you for the first time in years. What should I say!" she yelled. She was afraid for him. Afraid of losing her love of so long.

Legolas pushed her dark hair behind her shoulder, always finding her Noldorian dark hair accentuated her beauty.

She jerked away from him. "Do not touch me!"

"Merenwen…"

Leaving her after finding her again was a hard thing to do, but it had to be done – for the good of Middle Earth, not just the elves. Legolas knew what had to be done. He cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her.

"It has to be done, mîr vuin nín, my beloved jewel. Would you have there be no elf in this group, leaving it to a dwarf?"

"If it meant that you would not go, then yes, I would."

Legolas breathed a sigh of frustration.

"Why you? Why not another? I do not understand why it has to be you."

"Because I volunteered."

"Why did you? What possessed you to do such a thing?"

"Mithrandir and Aragorn go as well."

"Aragorn finally follows his destiny?"

Legolas smiled slightly. "Yes."

"That lightens my heart some, for you two are so alike. Hopefully, you will take care of one another. But it does not diminish the sorrow I feel. You know not what awaits you. I fear I will not see you again," she confessed silently and looked into his fair eyes.

He looked into her eyes, and for a while they were caught in the other person's gaze.

"I know well what we will face. And it will not be the end. We will see one another again after it is done."

"I hope that is the case."

"Gweston ha. I swear it."

Legolas could easily sense the distress Merenwen felt about the situation. He wrapped an arm around her and held her hand in his. It was a disturbing situation they were placed in, but he knew – was positive – they would be together in the end.

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