Until Hope Awakes Me
Chapter 4
Until Hope Awakes Me

Legolas slowly blinked against the sun that was shining through the windows into the room he was in.

"Wait a sec… a room? But I was in the forest! Where am I! Who brought me here!" He thought in panic as he looked around. The door slowly opened allowing a tall dark haired man in. Legolas moved to the other side of the bed not knowing if this person wanted to hurt him or not.

"Easy pen-eth. I will not harm you," Elrond spoke gently as he stepped forward slowly. Legolas watched him warily.

"Where am I? Who are you?" Legolas asked. Elrond came over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I am Lord Elrond and you are in Imladris," Elrond told him. Legolas's eyes widened and he moved forward slightly.

"I-I am in Imladris… and y-you are Lord Elrond?" He whispered. Elrond gave him a smile and nodded. He was almost thrown off the bed then as Legolas threw his arms around his neck and his small form shook as he cried.

"Shh… it's alright pen-eth. You are safe here. Shh…" Elrond tried to sooth rubbing his back gently. The door opened again and Celebrían came in. She sat beside him as he held Legolas. The young elf slowly stopped crying but continued to hold onto him. He looked over at Celebrían and just stared at her before pressing closer to Elrond. The elven lord smiled and stroked his hair. "It's alright pen-eth… this is my wife, Celebrían."

"I won't harm you pen-eth," she said softly holding her hand out to him with a smile. Legolas stared at her hand for a moment and then rested his own in hers. Her smile widened as she closed her fingers over his. "What's your name pen-eth?"

"Le-Legolas…" He said quietly.

"Then you are Thranduil's child," Elrond stated. Legolas merely nodded.

"What happened Legolas? You are far from home and without an escort," Celebrían questioned.

"My elven-lord doesn't want me anymore… I'm a mistake… so I ran away…" Legolas whispered, his tears starting to fall again. Elrond tightened his arms around Legolas.

"You are safe here pen-eth do not fear or be sad," he said softly.

"Hannon le," Legolas answered. Celebrían watched them for a few moments before speaking.

"You must be hungry pen-eth, would you like something to eat?" She asked. Legolas looked at her… he was hungry but he didn't really want to eat. His stomach however disagreed and protested against his thoughts loudly causing him to blush. Elrond smiled and stood letting him down, but still held his hand, Celebrían held his other.

"Come, we shall get you something pen-eth. Elladan and Elrohir will be excited to see that you are awake." Legolas turned questioning eyes up to them.

"Who are Elladan and Elrohir?"

"They are our twin sons, the ones who found you in the forest," Celebrían explained.

"Oh…" Legolas nodded.

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Elladan and Elrohir had already started to eat when they entered. Their eyes quickly fell onto Legolas who stepped behind Celebrían shyly. The twins jumped up and quickly brought Legolas out of his shyness with their smiles and jokes.

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A few days later…

Elrond and Celebrían stood on a balcony overlooking the gardens where their children and Legolas now played. Legolas sat against a tree watching with fascination as the twins acted out some play they had just made up.

"He seems happy enough but something… something tells me that not all is as good as it seems," she said softly to her husband. Elrond frowned and nodded.

"I have had the same feeling. I only hope it will not be anything that will end his life. I have seen that he will be needed greatly in the future," Elrond answered.

"What does the future hold my love? What have you seen?" Celebrían asked.

"Much turmoil," he answered shaking his head.

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Legolas's laughter ceased as soon as he knew Elladan and Elrohir were out of earshot. He slid down the bark of the tree and let his hair fall into his eyes so that it hid his tears. He loved Imladris, oh really he did. It was so light and green, everything the trees of Mirkwood weren't. The people here were nice and they paid attention to him, they did not blame him for every little thing that went wrong. It was a much needed relief…but…

But… something still pulled at his soul, he could feel it. Although he was happy, he still had much sadness weighing on his mind and heart. That grief was pulling at his soul. Slowly he stood and started back for the room Lord Elrond had so kindly given him… Lord Elrond… and Lady Celebrían… they were so kind. They had taken him in, as if he were one of their own…

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After their meal that night he went to his room and found a piece of parchment and a quill. He had to brush tears away and steady his hand quite a few times before he actually got the words out.

His letter finished he went over to the bed and climbed in, laying it on the table beside the bed. He had already said his goodnights so it would probably be a long time before he saw any of them again. Legolas's thoughts strayed for a moment… just how long would his grief keep him asleep? Would he actually sleep or lose his way in the darkness… would his true grief really claim his life?

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The Next Morning…

Celebrían looked sadly down at Legolas's sleeping form. She wish she knew what had happened since the Queen of Mirkwood's death. Legolas had come here with so much sadness in his heart… she wished there was something she could have done. Elrond came up behind her and looked down at Legolas as well, he had just come from telling Elladan and Elrohir what he could.

"Legolas has fallen into a deep state of sleep. It may be awhile before he wakes," he had told them.

"What will we do?" Celebrían asked looking up at him. Elrond sighed.

"He could be in danger sleeping here… there is a room in the back… we will put him there and we will check on him everyday," he answered. Bending down he gently picked Legolas's sleeping form. He saw the look she gave him. "It will be the safest place for him."

Sighing Celebrían nodded and followed him to the back room, it was much smaller than the one Legolas had been staying in but it was also more hidden. Once Elrond had placed him on the small bed she covered him over and placed a kiss to his forehead.

"Until 'Estel' awakes you…" She whispered so only he could hear. Legolas's letter had been folded and put away in Elrond's pocket. But it's words would remain in their minds for many years to come.

Dear Lord Elrond, I must thank you and your family for the care and kindness you have shown me. It has brought a light into my heart and soul when these last few weeks have been very dark. But… I fear it was not in time to save me truly. You have saved me from passing into grief and falling into the darkness but something still pulls at my soul. I have put much thought into this and after many hours of reading in your library…I have come to a time when forever just seems to long... so I shall sleep until hope awakes me. Thank you once again… -Legolas

-Seylin-

Elvish Translation
Pen-eth - Young One
Hannon le - thank you
Estel - Hope

Pen-eth - Young OneHannon le - thank youEstel - Hope

Review thanks (Finally!)

Joee1 - Thanks! I'm glad you're liking it. I love living in the dorm! I don't think if I even lived that close I wouldn't… I was looking so forward to moving out and 'being on my own'. But some people can't see themselves leaving home…

Darksouled Saiyanphoenix - Thank you so much I'm glad your liking it. I'm sorry it's making you cry…

A/N: I turned in my first essay in English Comp and got a C-. Doesn't seem like a good grade but I was quite pleased, I was expecting way lower because I truly did not want to talk about the topic my prof. gave us.

A/N2: Please review? Getting only two for chapter 3 is kind of discouraging even when they were positive…