Chapter 11
"I still can't believe it." The astonished voice seemed to come from far away.
Father! He pushed open his eyes
Several blurry forms hovered over him, slowly taking shape into Galadriel, Celeborn, and Thranduil.
"Oh, thank the stars! We thought we might have lost you yet."
Legolas' sleepy smiled seemed rather amused. "I'm still here."
"'Only rumor', the old stories have been called. Yet what you two did has proved them true. Never have I seen anything like that."
Something Galadriel said seemed to catch the sleepy elf's attention. He roused himself to full wakefulness, fear in his eyes. "Idrial."
Galadriel inclined her head downward, motioning for the two elves to follow her out of the room, leaving it in privacy.
Idrial was still in his arms where she had been before. Before she had died. The night was beginning to take shape in his mind. He remembered her soul floating over him. Joy filled him now at the light glow that was once again in her skin. The arm he had wrapped over her moved slightly with the rise and fall of her chest beneath it.
Tears of relief flooded his eyes. He gathered her slender body close, cradling her tight to his chest. He pressed his cheek against the crown of her head, his tears wetting her hair.
"Oh, my love."
She murmured softly in her sleep, moving a tired arm around his shaking shoulders. He kissed her tenderly, his lips caressing her cheek and temple, brushing her nose, pressing against the smooth point of her ear.
She stopped his lips with her own. Her eyes looked into his. Legolas let them pierce him, welcoming the love in those lake-like jewels as his life spring.
Her smile lit her face and his heart. "Thank-you." She whispered. Suddenly she laughed aloud, throwing her arm fully around him, holding herself against him. "My brave prince."
For many long moments the two lay together, reveling in each of the other's even breaths, each in private reflection of the past events.
"How do you feel?" Legolas stroked her hair.
She laughed again. "It's a little cliché, but I'm hungry."
"Well, let's get you down there."
She looked at his open arms, understanding his intent. "I am healing already; all I need is your arm."
"Really my love, I think it would be best if I…"
"I am fine!" To prove her point, she hoisted herself from the bed to the floor.
Her head was already level with his abdomen by the time his arms slipped under her. Humbled, she accepted his next invitation, which he delivered with a slight air of victory.
Their parents were seated about the fire, deep in discussion. The couple was fairly certain they were the topic at hand. For a moment Legolas stood in the doorframe, unsure of how to interrupt a conversation so deeply in progress.
"Idrial." Celeborn caught sight of the two and rushed quickly to their side, relief clear on his face, as well as the others. He helped settle his daughter on the couch to the left of the merry hearth, her body resting against her husband's chest. Soon a late meal was set before them, with mugs of hot coco to drive out Gondor's nightly chill. As the conversation regained its momentum, questions were raised above the past happenings of the last nights.
"Galadriel." Legolas placed his mug down on the table before him. 'What happened last night…"
"Two nights ago now, son." She smiled slightly at his moment of faltering surprise.
"Yes, two nights ago. How… how exactly did it happen? I know I did not will my spirit to depart. I did not even know it was possible."
"You wished to help her, more than anything you wanted her returned whole and safe to you." Legolas nodded and she continued. "Our souls, while many believe they are dormant inside us, doing nothing but acting as a slate for our gods to mark; they in fact are in constant communication with the gods, and, in marriage, in constant communication with each other. The hurt Idrial had received in the clearing had affected her body; that you could see. Deeper still laid the true hurt. Describing her soul as torn was indeed a very accurate description, as you saw that night. The rape had destroyed her pure elven soul. Yet she was strong, and it was slow to win over her life, especially since Idrial held it back so long. Her mind did not know how to stop her death; her body did not posses healing of this kind. Nor did I. Yet her soul knew what had to be done. If it had tried to stay within her body, the trauma would have destroyed her. She knew one way or the other she had to die. Her soul took over, you could say, for her mind. She would not have known where these feelings, her knowing that this was right, were coming from, yet she followed them. She fled to the realm of souls, hoping to fight the pain on more even ground. This you witnessed. Your soul, too, witnessed it. It is in contact with the soul realm, in contact with Idrial at all times. That is the closeness you feel, even when apart. It could feel in it's contact with her that she was losing. You also abandoned yourself, your soul hoping to help Idrial in her battle. Your love proved the stronger of the two forces, and you won. You transferred some of your life force to her to heal her wounds. After all of this you… you returned to your bodies." She shook her head. "Never have I seen anything like it."
"It is a draining business, to be sure." Legolas chuckled softly. Idrial had slid down so her head rested on his leg. She held one of his hands in her slender fingers, her gentle breathing rhythmic with sleep.
It was not long before Legolas himself felt fatigue beginning to pull at him. He volunteered to help his father tidy up, but was shooed to bed with his wife in his arms. He slid her into bed, lifting the blankets about her shoulders as he had done two nights ago.
He turned away to extinguish the torches. He was surprised to feel his arm twist into a rather uncomfortable position.
"No." Idrial whispered sleepily, her fingers tightening on his hand.
"I must get the torches, my love." Gently he slipped his hand free, removed the fire hazard, and returned to her side. She curled like a kitten against his chest. He settled into the mattress, letting the peaceful quiet of the night lure him to sleep.