Months had passed since the day Legolas found out about Emerwen was blind. He realized how strong she was to try to act like everyone else. If she told everyone about it, they would all try to help, but end up treating her like a child. She was brave to go on every day acting like she is fine. Legolas thought. The two of them had grown closer. He spent a lot of time with her, which he enjoyed tremendously, and which allowed Alata to spend her time elsewhere. It was hard to constantly be with and care for your sister. She loved Emerwen dearly, but sometimes it was nice to get away and do things she wanted to do.
His father had sent a message to him to return home. His small break was over. He said goodbye to Alata and Astaldo, but couldn't find Emerwen anywhere indoors. He tried the garden and sure enough she was there, soaking up the last of the sunlight.
"Good evening, dear prince." Emerwen greeted Legolas as he sat beside her in the soft grass.
"how are you today, Mellon?" Legolas questioned. Emerwen turned to smile at him.
"I am doing as well as expected. I hear you are to leave us." She reported sadly.
"You hear too well, my friend." Legolas replied, looking down at the grass.
"I will miss you dearly. You have been such a great friend to me and my sister. I can never thank you enough for all that you have done for me." Emerwen reached out toward him and after following his arm down to his hand, grasped it between her two graceful hands. Legolas looked up at her with a smile.
"I shall miss you as well. There is nothing to be thankful for. I appreciate your thoughtfulness with everything you do." he squeezed her hands with the last sentence. Emerwen smiled and turned her face back towards the sun, but leaving her hands in his.
"Will you describe it to me?" Emerwen asked softly. She loved to hear how the sunsets looked. Legolas enjoyed telling her, simply because she seemed to glow even more when imagining such a sight as the sun setting.
After he had explained the sun setting and the surrounding area, they went inside for the evening meal. It would be the last evening meal Legolas would have in Imladris for a long while.
As he and his kinfolk departed for their kingdom, Legolas could not help but glance back as they left the waterfalls and lush area. He thought he spotted a certain elleth in a garden just beyond, but when he blinked, she was gone.
His father had commanded that he take care of the prisoner, Smeagol. He and several other guards had watched over him, but he was cunning. One night he managed to get away, but not before getting captured by a band of orcs near Dol Guldur. Legolas wearily made his way back to his room. He had presented all that he knew of the prisoner's escape to his father with a bowed head. He was ashamed that this had happened. He and the other guards were good at what they did, but it seemed Smeagol was better. His father was silent for a time.
"Elrond needs to know of this. You will deliver the message yourself." Thranduil delivered the words with a heavy sigh, knowing that no other punishment was needed. Legolas nodded and left to prepare himself for this journey.
It had been ninety years since he had last seen Imladris. He smiled briefly at the thought of the maiden he had gotten to know there at that time. His heart was heavy when he remembered that many of his kind had sailed away to the undying lands over the past years. Megil and Dúlin had both sailed away and their son had moved to Lothlorien to be a guardsman there. Legolas wasn't sure the fate that beheld the younger two sisters, but he feared they left with their parents.
He entered the courtyard, hardly seeing any elves. A few came to take his and his fellow guards' horses away. Legolas entered the home and began to thread his way through the corridors towards Elrond's study. He finally came upon is and knocked lightly.
"Come in" commanded the Lord of the House. Legolas walked in and bowed as curtesy demanded. Elrond bowed back slightly and beckoned the ellon over to his desk.
"What is it, Legolas? Your father seemed urgent." Elrond looked at him expectantly.
"My lord, the creature Gollum escaped us. He was captured by orcs near Dol Guldur. We know no more." Legolas said with a bow of his head. The memory was still too recent to not bring shame upon him. Elrond sighed deeply and stood up. He walked over to his balcony and looked out.
"This cannot be fixed, but I imagine it would have happened eventually. Will you stay a few weeks? We need to have a council about this to decide what should be done." Elrond turned as he questioned the ellon in front of him. As Legolas politely agreed to stay Elrond observed him. Legolas had matured since he had last been here. Elrond also observed a sadness developed in Legolas. He seemed troubled by what the world was becoming in these dark days. Elrond feared that the darkness was just beginning in Legolas's life, and he hoped that Legolas would be able to see it through to the end as unscathed as possible.
Legolas crept into the gardens searching for Emerwen. She stood up from a bench hidden by a bush and walked towards him.
"Good day, my lord." Emerwen said with a smile, "How long will you be here, Legolas?" Legolas smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I will never surprise you will I?" At the shake of her head he continued, "I will be here for a few weeks. Elrond wants me to remain for the council. Afterwards I expect to be needed back home."
Emerwen linked her arm through his as they strolled about the garden catching up on the past years. As the night approached, Emerwen stood on her tiptoes to kiss Legolas on the cheek. He tricked her though and turned his lips to touch hers. She pulled back wanting to search his eyes, but when finding, as expected, that she could not, she smiled briefly.
"I'll see you at dinner." She whispered and then hurried out of the garden. Legolas turned to continue walking through the gardens as his heart and thoughts raced. He hadn't intended to kiss her, but at that moment, it was perfect. He knew then that he loved her. His heart would only accept hers for all eternity. He smiled at the thought of her accepting him, but then frown when he thought that she might not. Knowing Emerwen she would reject him because of his duty to his people. The people of Mirkwood would want a princess who could see and participate in ruling the land. Emerwen would most likely feel that she could not do this. Legolas exited the garden to begin ascending the slope towards the houses as his heart grew heavy. He would have to speak with her about these matters soon.
Two weeks had passed since their kiss in the gardens and still they had not spoken of it. They had conversed about everything else, but something held Legolas back. He entered the council area with several other Mirkwood elves. After the council had finished, he went back to his seat and remained there long after everyone had left. He would be a part of the fellowship and he could not hope to return. His heart saddened as he thought of his father growing more lonely in Mirkwood, and of Emerwen, whom he loved. With his head bowed he promised himself he would speak with her before the night was out. He started as a hand brushed his head. He looked up and captured the hand of Emerwen before her hand gently hit him in the face. Her hand immediately stopped as worry crept over her features.
"Don't worry, Mellon, you did not hit me." Legolas said with a little smile. Emerwen let out the breath she was holding.
"You don't breath very loudly so it is difficult to find where you are. My apologies, dear prince." Emerwen replied as he guided her to the seat beside him.
"Apology accepted though it was not necessary. I trust you know what the council discussed?" Legolas questioned. Even though she would not spy, it was likely that she and her sister had figured a few things out for themselves.
"All I know is that the Ring of Power has been found and brought here. There is a darkness and heaviness that settled over Imladris as it entered. Why do you ask?" Emerwen tried to look into his eyes, and not for the first time, was frustrated when she could not.
"Yes the ring has been found. There will be a fellowship to take the ring to Mordor to be destroyed." At her gasp Legolas searched her face for an explanation. Though she did not give one since she could not see his glance, she motioned for him to continue.
"I will be a part of this fellowship." Legolas watched with a heavy heart as tears sprang up in the elleth's eyes. One threatened to fall as he spoke again.
"I have a favor to ask of you, Mellon." Legolas said.
"What would you have me do, my prince?" Emerwen asked, silently bidding the tears not to fall. Her slip of tongue by adding the 'my' to prince did not go unnoticed by Legolas, but he didn't mention anything about it at that time.
"I would like for you to travel back with the others to my home. My father will have no one left now that I will be gone. My mother died a long while ago and he will be lonely now that I am leaving." Legolas asked her gently, knowing it was a lot to request.
"I...I don't know what to say. Do you truly wish this of me, my lord?" Emerwen questioned, completely blown away by the prince's request.
"Yes, I wish for him to have some good company while I'm away, and he will enjoy your conversations tremendously." Legolas said, trying to ease her concern.
"If that is what you wish for me to do, my lord, then I will do it. When do I leave?" Emerwen asked, clasping her hands neatly in the center of her lap, ever the picture of a proper lady. Legolas let out the breath he did not know he was holding. He knew it was a lot to ask of her, but he truly did not want either Emerwen nor his father to come to any harm and hoped Mirkwood was far enough away from the turmoils of men.
"My lady, you will leave at dawn in four days. My men will take good care of you." Legolas answered, placing his hands on her clasped ones. He opened his mouth to profess his love for her, but was interrupted by a servant calling them to dinner. Emerwen was oblivious to everything since she was thinking about what she must now do. Legolas led them to dinner.