Chapter 12
I do not own LotR in any way.
A/N-Sorry it's been a few days. A little stressed out with school and life.
Legolas awoke with a heavy heart the next morning.
He looked down at Lirilla sleeping. He didn't have the strength to wake her up. He got up and swept some of her hair behind her ear. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her temple.
He straightened back up and went back down to the Fellowship's talan.
Aragorn looked at him, but no question was asked.
Lirilla awoke alone in the bed. "Legolas?!" she called. She got up and checked the bathroom.
He left her.
She went back to her bed and found a note on the pillow where Legolas slept. She picked it up and read it.
My dear songbird,
I deeply regret leaving you this morning, but my heart could not take the goodbye. I will try to sway Galadriel into letting you continue with us. I need you by my side, but I know that if Galadriel says no, at least you'll be safe.
I will try,
Legolas
Lirilla's eyes filled with tears as she got up and sat on her windowsill. She began singing a melancholy song, hoping all of Lothlórien would hear it.
Before the Fellowship left, Galadriel and the rest of the elves of Lothlórien presented them with gifts.
Celeborn was the first. "Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people", he said, "May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes".
Then it came time for Galadriel to present her gifts. "My gift for you Legolas, is the bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin", Galadriel spoke.
"My lady, there is one thing I must ask of you", Legolas said to Galadriel.
"Speak prince", she said.
"I request that you allow Lirilla to continue with us", Legolas said.
"Absolutely not", Celeborn said.
"Please, I love her", Legolas spoke in elvish.
All heads turned to him.
"I have now realized this. If the Fates allow, when I die, then I shall in her arms", Legolas said, "I have already pledged my life to her".
Celeborn turned Haldir. "Fetch Lirilla", he said.
Haldir rushed to Lirilla's room.
The princess sat by her window, gazing out.
"Your mother and father request for you to come down to see off the Fellowship", Haldir said.
Lirilla sighed and dressed in her tunic. She went down with Haldir to the river bank.
When Celeborn saw her, he gathered her in his arms and said, "Please be careful". He released her and her mother handed her a pair of fighting knives, a new bow, and arrows.
"Atara? What is going on?" Lirilla asked.
"Prince Legolas requested you continue your journey", Galadriel said, omitting the part where Legolas professed his love for her.
Lirilla was torn. She wasn't a warrior, but she didn't want to be kept in a cage. She bolted into Haldir's arms.
The old elf tensed up at the feeling of the princess' arms around him.
She buried her head in his neck. "I can't do this", she whispered to him.
Haldir placed his head on hers. "You're a brave girl", he said.
"But I could die!" she cried.
"You could die in a cage or you can die free", he said to her. Haldir stepped back and kissed her forehead.
Lirilla walked over to Legolas. "Thank you", she said softly to him.
He smiled and placed his forehead on hers. He reached forward to play with one of her Greenleaf braids.
No words were said, because none were needed.
As Legolas loaded the boats, he smiled when he saw they were given Lembas bread.
Lirilla smiled at the joy in his face.
Celeborn pulled Aragorn aside. "Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor Orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures baring the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do Orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so", Celeborn said.
He presented a blade to Aragorn and said softly in elvish, "You are being tracked". He switched back to Common Tongue and said, "By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the Falls of Rauros".
Celeborn looked over at Lirilla, who Legolas was helping into one of the boats, and turned back Aragorn. "Watch after her will you? I cannot lose her", Celeborn said.
"I will", Aragorn said, "And Legolas will too".
All of the Fellowship filed into their respectable boats.
As they left the river bank of Lórien, Lirilla looked back at her home.
The elves of Lothlórien had come to bid their princess farewell, but knew she would be in good hands.