Title: "Savior & Destroyer"
Author: LegolasLover2003 aka Ashley
Category: Book - "Lord of the Rings"
Genre: Angst/Adventure
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to "The Lord of the Rings". I just adore it to pieces! Characters Mirial, Vani, Legede, and Tileng are of my own invention however. You may use them, but please ask permission to do so first.
NOTE: Please read the one-short story, "The Breaking Point" because it pertains to some of the conversation between Legolas and Aragorn in this chapter. If you don't read it (the story takes place during chapter 5 of "Savior & Destroyer") then you may be a bit lost during the realization of what the note says.
EPILOGUE
The days passed as Legolas remained, pretty much, in bed. Elrond was loath to allow him too much movement, for fear of aggravating some of his more extensive injuries.
But the poison which had been in the prince's system was safely done away with, and aside from a few sore muscles, Legolas felt fine.
And yet, the prince's secret remained untold to Aragorn.
For those few days, it was weighing heavily on the young man's mind. He knew that Thranduil had been told by Legolas, and that Elrond had learned of the secret. But Estel simply could not get past the notion that he himself had been kept ignorant.
It was raining, slowly and steadily, for much of the day. Legolas was keeping to himself for the most part, reclining on a chaise in the Hall of Fire and simply content to watch the rain from the balcony windows. A fire burned in the hearth, keeping the Elf warm even on the dreary day.
"You have been uncharacteristically quiet lately, Legolas." Aragorn spoke softly, approaching the prince from behind.
The Elf smiled, turning his head to look up at the human behind him. "Just tired really. Nothing more."
For a few moments, Aragorn let a silence reign between them, but soon he could no longer keep silent. "You father told me that… well that something happened to you, and that it was your place and your place alone to tell me of it."
Blue eyes closed and Legolas shook his head. "I will tell you, Estel. But not now. The wounds of it are still too fresh. But this I swear," he spoke, looking directly at the young man. "I will tell you one day."
Smiling softly, Aragorn nodded. "Fair enough." He replied.
Though the young human wanted to know what had harmed his friend so deeply, he knew that Legolas was still healing.
After everything, this had only served to remind Aragorn just how fragile life really was.
"We received a letter from Vani today." Estel went on to say, moving to sit on the end of the chaise. "She explained everything in the letter… I mean, you know, the pieces that simply did not fit together."
"Like why Mirial was barking mad?" Legolas asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.
Laughing softly, Aragorn nodded. "Yes, like that. It seems that Vani's mother died giving birth to her. Her father remarried, but when Mirial was born, her mother died in childbirth as well. From what Vani said, that was during the visit she and her father made to Mirkwood. Then, when Vani was sixteen, her father was aiding some of Rivendell's Elves who had been set upon by Orcs in the mountains. He died in the fight. Vani was gone with her fiancé, and so Mirial took control of the town and the house's garrison. When Vani returned, her fiancé tried to help the Elves who Mirial had captured, but he was executed under the charge of treason."
Legolas frowned, "So she became the head of the village, dictating everything through fear of the noose and instilling orders that would ensure the deaths of any Elf foolish enough to come to their village." The prince whispered, closing his eyes for a moment. "She associates Elves with the deaths of her parents… while I can not begrudge her hatred, she certainly deserves my own want of retribution for what she has done."
Reaching out, Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "She is outcast and Vani is in power, mellon nin. Rest easy that she will be dealt a fate worthy by the Valar."
"I suppose…" the Elf whispered before smiling slightly. "At least those mountains are no longer a place to fear… well, at least not as far as that village is concerned. I am sure Vani will be an excellent leader."
Aragorn nodded, "The council there is due back at the end of this week. Glorfindel remains there, so they should have no problems accepting the new leadership."
Silence stretched for a moment, but soon, eyes downcast, Legolas asked the one question weighing heavily on his mind.
"Any sign of Tileng?"
Shaking his head, Aragorn frowned. "No… only this." He whispered, pulling out a piece of parchment from his pocket. "It was attached to the arrow which poisoned you…"
Legolas took the note, blue eyes narrowing in anger as he read the words scribbled hastily.
Poison, it is a fitting death for any royal, and even more so for an Elf.
You will never be rid of me. I will stalk your nightmares.
Then one day… I will have my revenge.
Your human will die, and I will laugh as you fall apart before me once again.
Tileng
Lithe fingers trembled for but a moment, before Legolas got his emotions under control and crushed the piece of parchment in his hand.
Without warning, the prince stood and tossed the paper into the fireplace. He watched it burn, until every trace of the note was gone.
"Legolas?" Aragorn whispered, moving to stand.
But the prince turned, smiling at the young human. "It is over, Estel."
"And if he returned?" the ranger asked curiously. "Legolas, he needs to be found and…"
Legolas shook his head, "No." the blond Elf replied softly. "It is over. I will waste no more time dwelling on these matters. Come," his smile grew, and the prince laughed softly. "Let us go see what is for dinner. I have to go home tomorrow, after all."
Nodding, Aragorn got to his feet.
For many years, the two never spoke again of their time as captives of that mountain village.
There was no need to dwell on the past…
Until the day came, when Tileng's message, rang true…
THE END
Author's Notes:
Well, this story is FINALLY over. I know, I know, it took forever to finish, and for that I'm incredibly sorry. I don't know when I'll start on the sequel, because all I've got so far is the preview, but it will HOPEFULLY be sometime soon. I would like to finish "Hiro Hyn Hidth Ab'Wanath" first however.
After this Epilogue will be a preview of my next story in this little arc, "Revenge".
After the preview will be an "Alternate" telling of Legolas' reaction to what's happened to him, and how Thranduil learned of what Tileng did. I was writing it, without knowing that I had already finished chapter 11. I abandoned what I was doing with that, because I liked how I dealt with it in the original chapter 11 better, but I thought I'd put it up for anyone to see who might be interested in a slightly more angsty Legolas.
That, and I felt Legolas had cried enough, poor guy. So I felt this epilogue and the original chapter 11 were done better than what you'll see after the preview.
I want to once again thank everyone for reading and sticking with me. I know I've been writing this story since 2003, and it's now 2009. It shouldn't have taken me 6 years but... it did (and this is such a small story too).
I want to give a shout out to my Merry. Who without her and her paper airplanes aimed at Legolas' head, this story would have never been possible. I swear, my Merry is far far FAR from who Mirial is... but those paper airplanes hurt, mellon nin! Hehehe...
Review Responses:
asdfjkl;
This story was a product of my stepping into the world of writing actually. So it was horrible. I admit all my early stuff was rather bad, and at times I felt that I botched this story a lot. When I was working on Chapter 12 (without realizing I had done Chapter 11 and resolved the issue at hand), I was trying to write just how Thranduil was angry with the fact that Legolas had nearly died for a mere human. I didn't want Thranduil to know Aragorn's identity, but apparently I felt different about it back when I wrote the original Chapter 11. But don't worry, my Thranduil isn't always accepting of Aragorn by any means. In fact, he somewhat grows to rather dislike the man, as is evident from my Darkness Duology. Aragorn is always getting Legolas into trouble, even though, in the case of this story, it was Legolas' fault for not listening to Aragorn in the first place, hehehe. Thanks for reviewing, you're the only one for Chapter 11!
Muse Moments:
"I bet if you poked her with a stick she'd wake up." Legolas whispered, trying to taunt one of Nil's newest muses into action.
Watari Yutaka looked rather unsure about this entire affair, "But won't that just piss her off?" the scientist asked.
"Who knows." came a sing song-y voice from his side, "But it would be interesting to see what she does, ne?"
A small fluffy white creature jumped up and down on the speaker's shoulder, "Mokona thinks so too! Puu! Poke her, Fai! Poke her!"
With a 'tsk, Lockon shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, "I wouldn't do that. Last person who poked her with a stick wound up in the bottom of the river."
"Who was that?" Watari asked curiously.
The Gundam Meister shrugged, "I think it was Tieria actually... he can't swim worth crap."
Amber eyes wide, the shinigami shook his head, "Then I'm not poking her. Sorry Legolas."
Sighing, the Elven Prince took the stick. "Then I'll do it."
"Do it... and you'll learn why your father's scared of me now." came Nil's voice.
She had been asleep in the grass, face up as thunderclouds rolled in. Now, she was starring up at the small crowd of muses around her.
Legolas smiled sweetly, "I was just trying to prevent them from poking you, Nil."
"Sure you were." Nil replied with a laugh. "You're just mad because Estel and Paris got lost in Mexico again." she winked. "Without you this time."
Sighing, the prince sat down on the grass. "They have to be having more fun than I am." he pouted.
"Well... I'm working on your stories again so these guys," she pointed to Lockon, Fai, and Watari, "Are getting neglected for the time being. Does that make you feel any better?"
"Not particularly. Your stories always hurt."
At this, Nil fell over laughing.