Note: Usual disclaimers, though I did make up the character Beren in this chapter.
Sorry I have not updated in a few days, but things have been getting rather busy lately. I've had lots of reading to do for my classes. And - NO, I AM NOT JOKING - the Dalai Lama is coming to my college this coming week. If anyone here is familiar with the state of New York university system, they'll know about it.
I went to see the new movie The Covenant when it opened and loved it, despite what critics may say about it. Now I have an itching to write a story for that fandom too! But I'll stop updating people on the boring details of my world and leave you to it. Enjoy this chapter!
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About eight months later…
Merenwen walked through the trees quietly as could be expected from an elf. She jumped into a tree and climbed up it to get a better look at things.
She had gone to Mirkwood and straight to Thranduil as promised. Since she was another elf, the elves were not as harsh to the stranger as they might have been in their protection of their realm. They took her to the king, who was at first suspicious. When he heard she had news of his son and how she spoke of him, he recognized her – the love she held for him was her banner. So, Merenwen told Thranduil of all that had happened and served him, doing many things that Legolas would have done if he had been there.
About a month after she had arrived in Mirkwood, evil forces further invaded the forest. The king had led an army of elves to the southern forest to beat back the advancing evil. Then, there were also attacks on Lothlórien, which Mirkwood came to aid. Merenwen went as well and battled back the evil with her kin. If she depleted her supply of arrows, she opted for more mobile long knives, having spared with Legolas enough to be proficient in their use. But she refused to use Legolas' arrow, always keeping it in her quiver. She felt that it kept him close, and although Merenwen did not know it, Legolas had done the same thing.
So there Merenwen stood on a branch of one of the forest's great trees. She looked out at Mirkwood, the newly named Eryn Lasgalen – the Wood of Green Leaves. She was allowed to move freely among the realm when Thranduil did not need her for something, as Legolas had said. She knew she was at home in the forest, until the time when she would sail over the sea.
Keen elven hearing picked up on the sound of an arrow being released from a bow. She dodged out of reflex, but the arrow was well placed enough so it would not have hit her. She stood by and calmly watched the arrow embed itself into the tree trunk before she looked at it more closely. Green fletching like those on her arrows…
It can not be, she thought to herself. It can not be real.
Then another arrow struck the tree next to the first one. An arrow with gold fletching.
Merenwen scanned the ground and saw no one. She waited a few minutes for someone or something to show. When nothing did, she pulled both arrows from the tree and jumped to the ground. She looked around and still could not find anything. A low whistling noise prompted her to spin around, a blade ready in her hand.
"Jumpy, Mer. You might have taken someone's head off."
Merenwen slowly closed her eyes and reopened them. "I am dreaming."
He smiled. "No, not dreaming."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! By the Valar, Merenwen, nothing changes – you never fully believed anything," he said, shaking his head.
"Legolas!" She dropped the arrows in her hand and raced to him, jumping up and locking her legs around his waist. She looked up into the dark blue eyes and touched his face, still feeling under an illusion. "It is you. You are home."
"Home now, hmm?" He searched her face, surprised she now called Mirkwood home. But he saw the truth in her eyes – she knew she was home. "Yes, vuin nín, my beloved. I am home."
She wrapped her arms around him again, knowing he was fully real by hearing his heart beat under her ear. Elven hearing rarely failed.
"I told you I would come back for you."
"I had no doubt you would."
He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. He dropped his support of her legs around him, her feet dropping to the forest floor.
"Well, maybe some doubt."
He smiled and kissed her, having missed the feel of her pressed against him.
"Is this a happy homecoming, elf?"
The two embracing elves turned to see the dwarf catching up to where they stood.
"Actually, it is. Merenwen, this is Gimli, son of Gloin, my friend. Gimli, this is Merenwen, my only love."
Gimli looked up at the elf Legolas still held. Truly, his opinions of elves had changed during the journey. And this elf that stood with him and his companion was indeed beautiful. He stammered a bit.
"It is a great pleasure to finally meet you, milady," he said, bowing, then taking her hand and kissing it.
Merenwen smiled and laughed lightly. "Has my reputation preceded me?"
"Quite frequently, milady, you were mentioned. Sometimes I think our fellow companions were ready to turn your elf over to the orcs."
Merenwen laughed and looked to Legolas. He bristled some and shot an aggravated look at Gimli. This only provided for her laughing more.
"Well, I thank you for telling me this, Master Dwarf. Welcome. It is a pleasure to meet you as well." She leaned down and kissed the dwarf on the cheek. Aside from his already red hair and beard, Gimli turned red and muttered something embarrassingly.
"What, may I ask, are you doing this far away from the halls?" Legolas asked, interested to know why she was so far west alone.
"I felt like going out. Your father gave me leave and you said yourself I could go where I wanted as long as I did not leave the realm."
"Yes, but – My father! How is he? Is he home? Does he know of where I have been?" He had nearly forgotten about his father.
"The king is fine. He knows where you've been. But he has missed you as much as I have. He could have used your help as well in the Battle under the Trees."
"Battle? There was a battle in the forest?"
She nodded. "In southern Mirkwood. Dol Guldur's forces were repelled. We also went to assist Lórien when they were under siege."
"We?"
"I went too."
"What! Why! He let you go!"
"Your father needed everyone. In fact, he did not want me to go, either, but I insisted on going."
"You could have been killed."
"So could you. But I was not."
Legolas gritted his teeth. How many times would he have to prevent her from doing something stupid during her life? "I do not want you going off to battle. And you are lucky you parents are not here to see it," he warned her in the grey tongue.
Merenwen glared at him and responded in the elvish angrily. "I am as old as you are, and can take care of myself."
"You are younger than I!"
"By ten years! 'Tis but a day!"
"Well, at times you act like that difference is at least a thousand years."
"You are one to talk."
Gimli watched the conversation between the two with interest. Though they talked in elvish and he could not understand the language, he could tell enough that he companion was not happy with the she-elf going off into battle.
"I believe the lady is fine, Master Elf. Can we please get moving and stop standing here?"
The two elves turned, in the midst of their argument, and looked at Gimli. Merenwen's face softened, as did Legolas'.
"Gimli, forgive me for delaying us. We were just discussing something." His gaze drifted back to Merenwen.
"Elf, I did not understand a word of what you just said. But the lady appears to be fine and looks like she can take care of herself. So leave her be, and let's be going!"
Merenwen smiled some at Gimli's comments.
Legolas shut his mouth and looked at the dwarf. For all the elves' wisdom, leave it to a dwarf to teach him a thing or two.
"Fine. I can see by the sun we've been kept long enough. Let us continue to see my father." He started off on the direction that he remembered was the way home. His companions followed.
"Thank you, Master Dwarf," Merenwen said, retrieving the arrows she dropped and storing them back in her quiver. "I would have feared that debate would have gone on the rest of the night."
"It is no trouble. Your lad seems to have a fiery temper."
She laughed with him. Then, Gimli proceeded to tell her about things they had done and seen, talking practically the entire way to the king's halls.
Legolas listened, occasionally smiling to himself. The dwarf was always talkative with some beautiful female when they were around. And Merenwen was happy with the company. So, he was pleased his good, if unexpected, friend and his beloved were getting along. He eagerly led his companions toward the halls of the royal family.
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The small group of three stood before the gates surrounding the entrance to the king's halls. Merenwen knew they were magically sealed. While she was one of the few that were able to open them, she looked toward Legolas, letting him take the lead now that he was home. Legolas looked up at the gates and commanded them to open. They swung inward and opened.
"Very impressive, elf."
"Thank you, dwarf."
Legolas headed toward the palace. Gimli followed the elf and Merenwen brought up the rear. For Gimli's own good did they keep the dwarf between themselves. Relations between elves and dwarves were still under strain.
"Stop! Who goes there?" one of the guards standing outside the palace demanded.
Merenwen rolled her eyes. She had some problems getting used to the uptightness of the guards. Their tight security measures did not appeal to Merenwen at all. It also unnerved her that she was so frequently stopped from going places in her first month of returning to Mirkwood. Now they did not even recognize their prince.
"It is I, Prince Legolas. I have returned home."
"Your highness! I did not recognize you! We welcome you home. But what of the dwarf?"
Gimli could have growled at the question.
"He is a guest here under my invitation."
"As you wish, sire," the guard said, bowing to him.
"Could I please go inside to see my father?" Legolas asked with an amused smirk.
The guard seemed incredibly flustered. "Yes, of course. Please, accept my apologies," he said, opening the door.
"It is really of no concern," Legolas answered, smiling and walking into the Hall. He looked around and his smile grew broader. It felt good to be home.
One of the servants of the palace was walking by when he stopped abruptly at the site of the travelers standing in the middle of the hall. He looked at them briefly before smiling and bowing.
"Master Legolas, how good it is to see that you are finally home."
"Thank you, Beren. Can you tell me where my father is?"
"I believe he is in the Great Hall. Shall I announce your presence to him?"
"Please, if you would."
"Very well, milord," Beren said, respectfully bowing and leading them to the Great Hall, though Legolas and Merenwen needed no guidance at all.
The three stood outside the doors and waited before the doors were opened, allowing them to come in. Merenwen respectfully entered and stayed at the back of the room. Legolas and Gimli walked toward the king and bowed to him. Legolas then knelt on one knee before his king and his father.
"Father, I have returned to you. Sauron has been destroyed, along with the One Ring, and Isildur's heir has been crowned king of men."
"So we have heard. My son, I am thankful to see you well and that you have returned to us," the king said, rising and going to the prince, biding him to rise as well. Thranduil embraced Legolas, unconcerned with his subjects in attendance, "What did you bring with you?" he asked, turning toward the dwarf.
"Father, this is my friend, Gimli, son of Gloin, of Erebor. He has dwelt in Ered Luin with his people. He has in fact done many brave things and has saved my life a few times."
Thranduil looked at Gimli for a second before speaking. "Welcome, son of Gloin. I thank you for saving my son's life, and for your companionship on the long journey."
"It was no trouble, milord. In fact, your son has saved my life quite a few times as well, so the score is settled."
"What kind of trouble occurred, if I may ask?"
"Many things I could tell you, sir, but I'd rather not say at the time, if that is permitted."
The king grinned as he looked upon his son, who was glaring daggers at the dwarf.
"We shall discuss that later then. Come, you must be weary from your travels. Prepare a room for Master Dwarf and prepare the prince's chambers. We will have a feast to honor the prince's return, as well as the future friendship that would grow between dwarves and elves. Send word that it will be tomorrow. All of Eryn Lasgalen should be there."
The attending elves hurried to carry out the king's wishes. The two companions bowed to the king before leaving his company.
Thranduil noticed Merenwen in the back of the room when the travelers first came into the Hall. But he only really looked at her when his son and friend started to leave. She looked sad. One would have thought from the look on her face that something had happened to Legolas.
The king watched her hide the look on her face as soon as the two in front of him turned and started to leave. She quietly followed them without looking back.