THE FORGOTTEN

With Your Blessing I Will Go

Author's note: The chapter in which – Lothril and Legolas bid her family a final farewell.

The morning of the Fourth dawned bright and clear. They had decided they were going to do all the things – the parade in town, watching the fireworks done by the state park that night from Verne's Beach, fish fry with the elves at Sam Johnson's old house, all kinds of games, music, and more besides. They weren't about to spend the last two days with Jenny and Legolas sitting around. They were going to have fun and make memories. So, first thing that happened that morning was Legolas made a big breakfast for everyone that was fit for an elven king, then everyone finished getting ready for the day and the twins and Glorfindel showed up. It had also been decided that as Elladan and Elrohir were Lothril's brothers, that made them honorary family and Glorfindel was definitely a long lost uncle. In a two vehicle convey they headed into town to get a good spot for the parade. The parade route that was blocked off was basically the whole of Main Street. They arrived early enough that they were able to pick a very nice spot on the shaded side of the street and smack in front of the coffee shop and the bakery. This was agreeable to all as both businesses were open before and during the parade with the workers being given permission to sneak out to the doorway and windows and watch it as long as there weren't customers at the counter.

They all settled down in an assortment of canvas camp chairs, Ed, Sue, and Legolas all with large black coffees and everyone else with a mix of different coffee based drinks except for Glorfindel who had discovered a while ago he was rather fond of Italian sodas, Donna who got a large black iced tea, and Julie and Eddie who got fruit smoothies.

"What did you get, melethril?" Legolas asked.

"I went crazy and got a caramel mocha latte. I guess it's chocolate and caramel added to espresso and steamed milk. It's pretty good. Want to try a sip?" Lothril offered.

He took a sip and said, "That is very nice, but truly I think I prefer black coffee."

"A simple elf with simple tastes," she teased which drew a laugh from the other elves and Legolas.

"Just wait until you return and he begins showing you the family wine cellar. I have heard him write songs about the subtleties of different vintages," Elladan teased.

"There they go telling secrets again," Eddie said to Julie before sipping on his smoothie.

"Well we would say it in this language except we enjoy vexing you," Elladan replied.

"Quit while you're ahead, Eddie. They're out of your league," Julie said warningly.

The elves all laughed and to the surprise of Julie and Lothril – Eddie didn't pursue things further.

For an hour or so they talked and watched the sidewalks fill up with people until the parade started with a sharp drumroll. For such a small town, they managed to put on a rather impressive parade which boasted a flyover from some World War 2 bombers, a couple army vehicles and a military band along with a couple local high school marching bands, and even an old tank. This was all in addition to a local fife and drum core, a couple local dance troops, some horses, some Civil War reenactors, a few local businesses and a couple churches with floats who were throwing candy or handing out water bottles and flags and so forth. The elves had never seen a parade like this before, and certainly hadn't seen bombers or tanks, so that in and of itself was fascinating, and all in all, they enjoyed the parade quite a bit.

As soon as the parade was clearly over Elrohir said, "If everyone is agreeable to it, you may go directly to our house and we will begin the fire for the fish fry."

Everyone was very agreeable to it and so packed up and went straight to the old Sam Johnson place. Although it was an American holiday and the elves did take that into deep consideration with their fish fry which was actually surf and turf with fried fish, ribs, coleslaw, corn on the cob, and then of course, apple pie for dessert. Also some blueberry turnovers and a cherry pie. Lunch and dinner sort of melted together and were mixed with games and conversation. Eventually the sunset came and they all headed over to Verne's beach, the younger ones opting to walk with the elves while the adults drove over. From Verne's beach they had a clear view of the boat from which the state park fireworks were going to be launched but with none of the crowds. Dotted up and down the beach as people had beach front property, there were others to be seen either with small bonfires or tiki torches or little battery operated lanterns, but Verne's beach was occupied only by them.

The fireworks were great, but upon inquiry from Eddie, the elves informed him that Gandalf's were more impressive still, if fewer in quantity. After the fireworks Julie and Eddie decided to walk back with the elves and as they walked they asked about Middle-earth again, as they had been all week.

For weeks leading up to that weekend Lothril had been working on writing something. When Elrohir asked about it, she simply said, "It's a goodbye letter" and refused to say anything else. Not even to Legolas. When the Valar had asked when she wanted to return, she said after the Fourth of July, and they said okay, she would leave the night of the fifth and from Sue's yard, which honestly suited her quite fine.

The night of the fifth came and the tiny little town had their fireworks that night being shot from a boat off shore and it was assured most of the town would be there to watch. This worked well though because with all the fireworks distracting everyone, no one would notice a single light falling to earth a couple miles outside of town. They would all be busy looking West over the water. The whole day had been wonderful – they had spent a good chunk of it Verne's Beach with no one else around, so all the elves acted very much like their elven selves and had fun playing with Julie and Eddie and teaching them ridiculous songs like the one Bilbo heard when he first came to Rivendell with the Dwarves. After the beach there was a big cook out at Sue's house and they got a huge bonfire going and everyone played and sang and ate marshmallows and the elves drank mead and beer that the twins and Glorfindel had made and were trying to finish off before they themselves left in a few days, and they even convinced her parents to try a little.

The afternoon turned to evening which in turn became night and suddenly all the elves thought they could hear a music most sweet and they knew it was time for Legolas and Lothril to leave.

"Well, it's time," Lothril said, sounding like she was trying very hard to choke back tears.

"So it is. Let us go change now and make ready to return…" he almost said 'return home' but somehow he wasn't sure if she could think of it that way right now.

She nodded and got up and turned towards the house without looking at anyone. The cool night air helped the tears dissipate and by the time she reached the house she felt nearly in control of herself again. As soon as they got to the top of the stair Legolas was going to ask her if she needed to talk or cry or be held, but Lothril practically ran into her room and shut the door, so he decided he would go ready himself and then see how she was doing. Except for that first night at the cabin, they didn't talk about going back at all that last week. Lothril seemed bent on looking no further than the moment she was in and Legolas was glad, but he also wondered how she was feeling about it all. When he did try to ask, she would only say, 'I've made my decision' and that was it.

He changed out of those human clothes for the last time and neatly set them in the laundry basket in his room and put on his elvish clothes. He was not going to miss those human clothes. Not one bit. He checked and double checked his pack to make sure he had everything in it, which he did, and then strapped on his weapons and made sure everything was accounted for there, which it was, and then he put on the ring and brooch the Erickson's had given him and went out into the hall to find Lothril's room was open and empty. He did a quick check of the room to make sure she had remembered to grab everything and it looked like she had all her elvish and Middle-earth things, so he went downstairs.

She had packed, checked, double checked, and triple checked everything. She had her gifts from her parents, she had every elvish thing she had brought with her, all her arrows, all her weapons, and a large canvas tote bag chock full of jars of spices in individual cardboard boxes, dried morel mushrooms, and a handful of black cherry pits Legolas told her they would try to plant in both the Woodland Realm and Ithilien. She was nearly certain she would return to Isengard at either the moment she left or the moment after. And though she hoped it would be the next day or an hour later, she had a very funny feeling it would be the moment she left, which was why she had everything stuffed in a tote bag and not better arranged for travel. After double checking her suitcase, her drawers, the closet, the nightstand, and under the bed she concluded she had everything elvish and went downstairs.

She pulled the very thick letter she had been working on out of the top of her pack and was getting ready to write "To Mom and Dad" on it when she saw her mom's purse. Or she figured it was hers. Just to be sure, she quickly rifled through, found the wallet with her mom's driver's license in it and then quickly stuffed the letter down inside where she supposed she might not find it until after they got home or she switched purses (which she did on a fairly regular basis). In that thick folded note were also notes to Jules and Eddie. She really did want to give everyone a proper goodbye and knew she'd never manage it out loud. But she could write.

Legolas found her in the living room staring out the window he and Sue had sat in on the first night up there. She looked so lonely in the dim light of a single table lamp, looking out at the dark front yard. He came beside her and took her hand in his and asked, "Are you ready?"

"I am ready," she answered quietly. He gave her a kiss on the cheek as he supposed she had enough emotions to deal with just then and didn't need his on top of hers, and holding her hand, led her out the backdoor and towards the bonfire once more.

Wearing their Lothlórien cloaks, no one saw them approach until they were beside the fire.

"Has it shown up yet?" Lothril asked, looking around.

"Not yet," Glorfindel replied.

"Has what shown up?" Eddie asked.

"How we shall leave," Legolas answered. "It looks like a large star or ball of light, but it casts little shadow. It is a strange thing to see."

"I suppose we ought to say our goodbyes then, as it could show up at any second," her mom said, sounding like she was bordering on tears.

Lothril didn't speak, but she did nod as tears began to fill her eyes. She blinked them back furiously as Legolas graciously made his goodbyes first while his melethril tried to compose herself. He almost wished she wouldn't and would just cry. It's not like this wasn't an appropriate time and place for tears. If ever there was one, it was now. But she didn't, and in fact, she almost seemed composed by the time he finished saying goodbye to her parents and began saying his farewells to Eddie and Jules.

"Now, you both shall keep practicing as I taught you?" he asked.

"We will," Jules said, sounding and looking like she might be getting a little misty eyed herself. "I'm really going to miss you, Legolas.

"Me too," Eddie said as he threw his arms around Legolas. "You're like the big brother I never had."

Legolas hugged him back and replied, "And you are the brother I never had, and you Jules my sister." As soon as Eddie let go, he hugged Jules then said, "I love you both very much and I wish you both all the best. I regret I can do no more for you than what I have done, but I have done what I could. I shall remember you both always." He then took each of their hands and added, "Elladan and Elrohir and Glorfindel shall remain here for a few more days if you need them. I have known them all a very long time and I have found them to be a comfort when I have needed it most. And if by some strange chance you find yourself in Middle-earth, you have only to find me and I will see you taken care of."

By now Lothril was hugging her parents and sniffling again and some tears were escaping, but that was all. Sue handed her a tissue she had conjured up from seemingly nowhere before Lothril said goodbye to her siblings and Legolas said goodbye to Sue.

"Thank you again Sue for your aid. You have been a good friend and I am glad to have met you," Legolas said with a warm smile.

Sue smiled and said, "You're welcome, Legolas. You, uh, got everything?"

His grin turned a little mischievous as he replied, "Yes, I do. Thank you."

"Good! Because I'm sure I wouldn't know how to forward it on if you forgot something. With the twins and Glorfindel maybe," she said, half musing, "But enough of that. You take care of yourself and take good care of Jenny."

Legolas nodded and gave a soft chuckle, "I certainly shall."

"I know you will," Sue said. Just then on the edge of her vision she caught something and turned to see the strangest thing she ever did see – it really did look like a star coming down to earth, but it really didn't cast off much light for as bright as it seemed. "Is that it?"

"That is it," Legolas replied. "May all your days be blessed, Sue."

"God bless you, kiddo," she replied.

"I believe He has already," he answered.

Lothril and the others by now also noticed the star descending, so she gave a quick goodbye to Sue, another round of hugs and kisses to everyone, and the twins and Glorfindel, then walked over to it with them and Elrohir said, "Do not say anything to us of our adventures here when you return. Do not forget, we were not sent hither until seventy something years after you two are wed and we sailed. Terrible parting words, but your journey shall take but a blink of an eye and you shall see the rest for yourself in two blinks."

"I suppose we can wish you to sail sooner than later," Elladan said.

"Or how about we stick with thank you guys for even coming here at all and helping us kill the orcs," Lothril said. "We might have been able to do it without you, but it would have been a whole lot harder and far less fun."

"You are very welcome," Glorfindel said.

"Indeed you are. We shall always be there for you both," Elrohir said.

By now the star was come to earth, not ten feet from them, and about thirty from the bonfire. She had said her goodbyes, she had told them she loved them, she had left them all notes. She couldn't look back. Her future was ahead through that ball of soft light. She took Legolas' hand and held it very tightly as they approached, and as they did it seemed to grow wider? That couldn't be right, could it? Just as she was entering in, she swore she saw Avery, the real Avery, walking past her, but then nothing but white light consumed her vision.