Chapter 26

Frodo stood uncomfortably by the box he knew contained Arri. He knew it was against the elves wishes to have such a ceremony but they allowed it because Arri had some human lineage. She was to be brought back to Mirkwood and the other elves would say good bye then. They insisted it would be in the thick of the forest as Arri would have loved. They had a religious man going over a 'man's ritual' and he could hear Sam sigh from his place next to him. He looked at Sam and noticed his gaze wasn't on Arri but Legolas's vacant stare. Sam met his eyes knowing this was consistent of Legolas's demeanor since she passed and most were concerned.

Legolas's father was insistent about bringing him home 'to heal' but it seemed Legolas could care less. He stood there now unmoving or even flinching with his gaze purely on the box that contained Arri. The wind pushed his pale blonde locks about but he still didn't offer any hint of an emotion. He didn't need to, they all knew he was heartbroken. He would continue to grieve if they didn't do something about it. Arri and Legolas had grown closer than he had been to anybody else who had been in his life and his silence scared his loved ones.

Arwen placed her hand gently on his shoulder and he merely nodded as the religious man continued his words. He did not turn his head to her worried stare but covered her hand with his own and looking at the butterflies that had fluttered over Arri in the simple box.

Gimli stood as tall and as clean as a dwarf could next to his friend and unlike the others he offered no hand or words. He let the elf lose himself in the grief, for now. Gimli sighed knowing the elf needed time and if he didn't explore his grief he would continue to carry it much longer, at least that is what Gimli believed. He grumbled watching the hobbits fussing over Legolas for the past couple of days despite Gimli's not so subtle hints about leaving him alone. He had ideas for the elf once he had the proper mourning time. Gimli had no idea what proper mourning time would be, he still grieved over his cousin Balin. Gimli still hurt too fresh with memories of death he faced through the Fellowship.

Legolas loved his friends but wanted to be alone. He found it hard to handle so many people coming at him, especially when he just wanted to be by himself. He knew they only wanted to console him and he appreciated it but he could not see past his unshed tears and emotions. He knew Arwen meant well as did the hobbits but he felt Gimli was the only one who truly understood him at this point. Gimli kept his distance but always seemed a glance away. He was not pushing food at him or treating him as one would a child. He sighed realizing he had heard not a word anybody had said to him or even the prayers said over his lost love. He knew it was over when he noticed more hands on his shoulders and people moving slowly away. He raised his eyes to meet their eyes but he could never hold the stare and found his feet his eye's view.

Once he was alone he knelt by the box and shook his head. 'Why must men hide her beauty in a box?' He asked himself lightly. He pushed his fingertips in her 'casket' and pried it open easily. He found the familiar face staring at him as sweetly as if she were in one of her sleeping phases. Her lips were slightly parted and her hair fell around her head and body like a soft mane. He exhaled looking at the bruising and marks the guards had left on her before her death. He was angry at them, at men. He gritted his teeth but Arri's features found his hand on her face slowly.

"I miss you," Legolas whispered softly reaching into his Princely cloak and retrieving single flower and a sprig of baby's breath. He choked back his own tears and sobs as he placed the flowers on her chest within her folded hands.

"Might I do anything, old friend?" The somber voice of Aragorn said quietly.

Legolas continued to kneel by Arri and shook his head. Aragorn had not approached him yet and Legolas knew he must have truly worried the ranger if he faced him now.

"She will be missed," Aragorn sighed. "She was truly gifted with a sword and bow."

Legolas thought about her talents and how he had helped her hone them and instructed her. 'Her bow,' he thought of it and the first time he had held the wonderful thing. He smiled thinking of that was when their courtship must have begun. When they began to realize they had feelings for another. His tears fell relentlessly and he felt Aragorn hand squeeze his shoulder.

"It hurts to lose those we love," Aragorn knelt beside him loosen his grip.

Legolas shook his head, "She takes my heart with her and I am lost." He kept his head bowed into his chest to keep some of his tears private but was sure people recognized his posture as a grieving one.

"We lost Haldir as well, old friend," Aragorn pointed out. "Grief is great right now."

"Haldir was but a close friend compared to her," Legolas met his eyes, "even in the short time I had to love her."

Aragorn narrowed his gaze at Legolas wondering what it was he wasn't telling him.

Legolas reached to Arri's body and touched the flowers, "She was to have our child." Legolas gulped hard. There, he had said it. Would grief be easier? Could he forget some now? Would the tugging pain in his chest lessen? He looked to the ground with a sigh. He felt the same so far even thought the words had been hard to speak.

Aragorn knew his jaw dropped because he had no idea. How could something so beautiful take place when they had been fighting orcs and traveling to give peace to a troubled crown. "I am truly sorry," Aragorn said his own voice cracking slightly feeling his friend's grief. "I have never lost so much." He felt blessed Arwen was safe now and knew his world would end if Arwen's did.

"We dared not tell a soul for fear of our unborn," Legolas said simply wiping tears. Could he stop feeling the impending tears now that he let some flow?

Aragorn began to say more but Legolas muttered something and slowly made his way to his feet. He kissed her cold lips and the reality hit him once again. He kissed her once more for the offspring he would never know. He never remembered closing the box and was sure Aragorn must have. He found his feet padding away from his beloved. He trusted Aragorn but would steal away the first chance he could to be alone.

Later that evening Legolas sat at the last dinner there with Jareth sitting in kingly robes. The difference in the kingdom was evident, everything seemed much calmer and less forced. Legolas wished Arri would have seen it and once again he felt his spirits dampen despite Gimli's comical conversations about the Fellowship.

"We do NOT live in caves!" the dwarf exclaimed. "Since when do you listen to this elf, Jareth."

"Moira was not a cavern then?" Jareth asked amused as Legolas looked up as he was gestured to.

"One could call it a MINE but it's not a whole in the wall," Gimli grumbled.

Legolas cocked and eyebrow, "the door we entered was not in the side of a mountain?"

"Well, yes," Gimli sputtered. He puffed his chest up at Legolas, "It's not a cave."

Aragorn and the hobbits found amusement in this as well.

"Never trust an elf," Gimli groaned enjoying the first ghost of a smile from Legolas.

Legolas steeled himself in his seat, "Jareth why did you not come forward before this?"

Jareth was waving another servant away, he was plainly not ready for the pampering that went with a kingdom. He met Legolas's eyes a little ashamed, "Many reasons, I had been hidden away by an elf and left with a hermit, obviously for my own safety." He sighed. "I don't remember very much about it, I was young and it was almost like a dream," He looked from person to person. "After years of living alone I began to wonder if it had been a dream or real at all." He took a drink of his wine and replaced the glass slowly, "Once I had grown and assumed a position as a guard I began to realize my own birthright but wasn't sure if I should come forward. So, I began to circulate rumors over my own death so I could not be found." He felt his face redden. "I was young and frightened but I kept close to Giles hindering his attempts as the crown whenever I could." He looked right at Legolas. "People still viewed me as a coward and I was afraid I would never be accepted by the people. Much less give me a crown."

Legolas nodded. He did not quite understand but he had not been put in his place. He wondered if he would have done the same.

"I am truly sorry about Arri," Jareth said slowly, "she will be missed."

Aine whipped her eyes. She had kept to herself for the most part and since she was an elder they tended not to worry over her as the did Legolas.

"Will you all return to Mirkwood tomorrow?" Jareth asked trying to change the topic when Legolas seemed to retreat within himself again.

Aragorn, Arwen Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf agreed quickly but Aine looked wordlessly at the others she had grown close to.

Legolas's mouth dropped slightly, "You mean not to return?" He was disappointed, she was the last he had to hold onto that involved Arri.

"I will stay in Loredell," Aine said with a sigh. "As Arri, I have always fancied the manners of men and believe Loredell's new king might need assistance."

Thranduil and Elrond exchanged glances. They had assumed all the elves would return and both would miss Aine now that she was no longer in seclusion.

"Surely Jareth can manage on his own." Thranduil met Jareth's surprised face who nodded.

"I will be fine, Aine," he said quickly, "But thank you."

Legolas sat straight up, "How can you stay when Arri leaves?"

Aine smiled, "My heart and Arri's followed the interest of men, I stay to honor her."

She looked to Thranduil who knew she had been a mere hermit as well, "Mirkwood never felt my home after my husband's death."

Thranduil nodded, "Yes, but it would not if you live alone and without visitors, a hermit."

Jareth dropped his glass, "Aine, was it you?"

Legolas seemed to forget his grief as much began to make sense.

"You rescued me and left me," Jareth's eyes grew wide.

"Yes, I returned to see to your safekeeping even if from a distance," She looked to Legolas, "as I did Arri."

"Surely you do not still feel obligation after all you have done Aine," Elrond asked staring past others at the table.

"Not an obligation but a completion." She smiled at Jareth. "I would like to see Arri's fate was not in vain."

"You are welcome to stay," Jareth said quickly.

She almost laughed watching him looking about wordlessly at the servants who kept offering him food. She knew he would do fine with diplomacy but he would need to accept he was royalty now.

Legolas kept intent on the conversation, "who was this 'hermit?" Legolas asked Jareth with a cocked eyebrow. "An elf?"

Jareth nodded, "that is where I learned to speak elvish." He looked somber at the memory.

"Who was the elfin mercenary?" Thranduil asked quickly. "Where are they now?"

Elrond listened eagerly knowing since elves did not as quickly as men then this elf should still be about and the thought of an elf who chose to live in alone and away from other elves intrigued him.

"He was more to me than any family member could be," Jareth said quietly. "I wish to honor his memory by letting his spirit rest."

"What is there to hide?" Legolas frowned. He had enough he didn't understand why the new 'king' wouldn't speak of the elf. He felt that Jareth owed them much more than room and board, he owed them answers.

"Legolas," Jareth tried to calm the agitated elf. "He was my only memory of a family and at best it was a hazy memory," he tried to stay calm remember Legolas was grieving.

"Some things are sacred to a person," Gandalf nodded.

Aine stood, "what Jareth fails to mention," she stood by Jareth as if to show she understood. "Is that he would not like to see his grave fall the same fate as many of his family. Many would desecrate such a honorable person's grave." She sighed looking at the elfin lords, "which is why I did not mention his name as well."

"So be it," Gimli grunted trying to change the subject seeing it was playing on Legolas's grief.

A guard came in quickly looking right at Jareth who still forgot he was king and wondered what he wanted.

"My lord there is a visitor for your guests," the young guard reported.

Jareth wrinkled his brow, "who?"

Before the guard could answer a little form ran past the guard, barreling under the guard's legs as the elves and men of the table jumped to their feet quickly.

Arwen found herself pushed behind Aragorn but peered past him to see Eliza running into the hall and straight for Legolas. A man's voice could be heard and they recognized Eliza's father.

"Excuse us, my lord," he said hold his hat in his hand by the guard. The guard seemed feeble in holding the man back and it would seem the only reason the man did not advance was because of his own respect. "She wanted to see the elves." The man looked at the Elvish lords with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

Legolas bent down as Eliza ran to him and tossed herself into his arms as if he was a long lost uncle.

"You are leaving?" Eliza sniffled.

Legolas nodded, "yes, tomorrow."

"Why?"

"My home is in Mirkwood as yours is in Loredell," Legolas sighed thinking of his home and returning without Arri.

"I want to go to Mirkwood too then!"

Thranduil moved to the child, "your family would miss you, little one."

Elrond cocked his head and moved to the child with a hint of a smile as he looked at the garment she wore, an Elvish gown, "Perhaps she is more Elvish than we know." He teased lightly.

Arwen moved from behind Aragorn with a slight annoyed look at her beloved, she could take care of herself. Arwen looked to her father, "A visit could be arranged, could it not?"

Eliza's eyes grew wide, "to the elves?"

Arwen nodded with a smile.

Elrond nodded, "with her parent's permission."

"I'm gonna need to think that over," Eliza's father rubbed his scruffy chin.

Eliza hugged Legolas and kissed his cheek and she dropped from his arms. Legolas touch the tiny wet spot on his face amused. Her little kiss was as if a butterfly's touch. He watched amused as the child walked right up to Thranduil and Elrond without a bit of intimidation.

She crossed her arms, "are you as soft as Arri and Legolas?"

Laughter erupted as Thranduil seemed to be taken with out a reply.

Legolas walked over to her as did Arwen and they each took a hand to 'help' Thranduil. Legolas walked her to her father but she pushed past him and began to take him on a tour.

Thranduil shook his head, "his grief will be great if something is not done." He said to Elrond in a hushed but determined his.

"What shall be done?" Elrond asked the Mirkwood lord.

"Should I accept his fate to be as his beloved?" Thranduil said louder now. "Would you see my only son fall to a fate because of this?" He gestured around the castle and was looming over Gandalf threateningly and glaring at Elrond, "All know the wonders elves and wizards might do," he steeled his gaze. "There was be another way!"

"Her death was but her fate as is Legolas's pain," Gandalf assured the irate elf. "It is not easy to see Legolas in pain but it will lead him upon his next path."

"What are you saying?" Thranduil narrowed his eyes at the wizard and began to walk around him circling him as if prey. "This is of some destiny that includes my son?" Thranduil shook his head, "not with the pain."

Gimli merely lowered his head feeling once again if fate toyed with them.

"Pain serves no purpose, Gandalf," Thranduil challenged and eyed the wizard wearily.

"Perhaps," Gandalf sighed feeling his resolve melt away at the thought of more suffering.

Thranduil watched him go but knew the old wizard would see things as he did.

"Heed his warning, old friend," Elrond said softly.

"If not you or Gandalf then there is another to help Mirkwood's Prince after," Thranduil almost scoffed returning to his seat to finish his wine. He turned his look to Jareth who invited Eliza's father to dine with them, "It should seem that you are in dire need to train your guards," Thranduil said to Jareth so bluntly that Aragorn choked slightly on his own beverage. "Had the child been a real threat…" He trailed off.

"I agree and will train them myself," Jareth exhaled loudly, "I don't believe I am in need of them yet."

Thranduil scoffed loudly, "That would be why you almost shared a grave with your cousins." He reminded the new king of the arrow that had been aimed at him and might have left Loredell without a ruler, if Thranduil hadn't intervened.

Jareth blushed and looked at his still full plate.

Gimli pushed his chair back noisily and nodded to them. "Unlike elves I need sleep," he announced loudly. He watched them all closely for disapproval but found none. He made his way grumpily from the table.

The hobbits watched Gimli leave with somber eyes and wondering why did Gimli always seem grumpy...

Frodo sighed as the elf lords sat back down speaking to the other in Elvish. "I think you will make a good king." Frodo encouraged Jareth.

"Yes, things seem so much happier here already," Sam agreed. "Although we need to make haste for home." His thoughts turned to their home and how long it had been since he had seen it. He was sure they had heard of the fellowship's tales and he wanted to tell his family about it and friends, especially Rosie. He sighed sharply without knowing it had been a conscious noise and the others stopped their conversations and stare. He blushed slightly and pushed his fork around his plate.

Frodo looked back at Sam, "didn't you hear me?" Frodo asked him and Sam shook his head. "I thought we would travel to Mirkwood with Gandalf." Sam wrinkled his brow in wonder, "to make this transition easier for Legolas."

Sam nodded but really wanted to go home. He was sure Legolas wouldn't respond to them anyway. He looked to his drink and took a hard swallow. "What happened to the other wizard?"

"Manveru?" Aragorn said quickly as the hobbits nodded.

"Gandalf's explanation was simple," Aragorn smiled, "he said he won and Manveru lost."

Jareth chuckled and once again shooed the help away as they became over attentive once again. He looked helpless at all the attention and Aragorn gave him a sympathetic smile where Elrond and Thranduil simply seemed amused.

Thranduil was glad he could talk some sense into one of them. He knew this would make Legolas's pain much easier and he hurried to his son's room to leave the 'drink' for his son. He knew his son would not expect foul play of the drink since it was obviously one of Legolas's favorite drinks and an Elvish specialty. Thranduil smiled to himself, pleased. He crossed the room quietly to and left as afraid of being caught by his son even though he had a right to visit his son. Still the Elvish lord would speak to another about his son's grief especially after he had heard rumor his grandchild was buried with Arri.

Continued on: