I miss my sister. I miss Legolas. I miss both of them.
Where the hell could they have gone off to? I mean, I realize newlyweds like to be alone, but this is getting ridiculous.
Not to mention the fact that it's completely unlike them. They have responsibilities, and they know them well. Kayli has her duties to her king and to her Men, and Legolas has Southern Ithilien to run. They would at least let us know where to find them, in case of an emergency. In case of anything.
But there's nothing. They're just...gone.
It worries me. For all we know, they could be dead.
I shake my head quickly and cross to the window. I stare out for a moment, like staring will make them magically appear, and Kayli will smile, and chide me for worrying, saying she's a big girl and she can take care of herself. Or something similiar. And Legolas will just smile that wise, enigmatic, meaningless Elven smile of his, and caress her hair or face when he thinks no ones watching.
I screw my eyes shut and mentally curse myself. This maudlin approach is getting us nowhere.
Behind me, I can hear Elladan and Elrohir railing against Elessar for his lack of action. Ordinarily, I would defend my King. But how can I, when I agree with everything those two are saying? How can I, when I want to say the same things?
Behind me, Faramir sighs. He has taken up position behind Eowyn, his hands on her shoulders, part massaging, part retsraining. Eowyn wants to be out and about, on her feet, looking for her friends. It's not her nature to sit still. It's not in mine, either.
I run my hands through my hair. For all I know, my sister could be dead. This is of great concern to me. Why can Elessar not SEE this?
I watch as Queen Arwen rises to her feet and puts a restraining hand on the arm of one of her brothers. "Elladan," she says gently. "We know you are concerned. WE are concerned. They are our friends as well. But there is only so much we can do."
"But you're not even LOOKING for them," the other brother cries.
Elessar sighs. "We've had parties of Men search all of Gondor. Practically every citizen of this country has been questioned. Eomer has done the same for Rohan, as have the Hobbits for the Shire. Messengers have been sent to Imladris and Lasgalen. We have searched the borders of Mordor for signs, and yet we have found nothing. What else do you suggest we do?"
There's a long moment of silence, and the Elladan makes a noise like a growl and slams out.
Elrohir sighs and rubs a hand over his neatly braided hair. I will never understand this obsession Elves have with hair, their own or other people's. Practically every time you look at Legolas, he's running his hands over Kayli's hair. And to think, Kayli doesn't think I'm the observant brother.
Well, I'm not. But that's really not the point. It couldn't be more obvious, so a blind man could see it. So anybody but THEM could see it. Of course, I think that when it comes to matters of the heart, those closest to it said matters can never see it clearly.
And I am living proof.
I return to staring out the window, a smile crossing my face as I think of Edana. And my sister had no small part to play in that, as well as everything else that's happened around here lately.
I sigh and turn back to the King. He is standing in the center of the room, his face in Arwen's hair. I leave quietly. Elessar and Arwen are as struck by everything as we are.
I miss my sister.
TBC...