Dust. Chapter Seven.
12 Sep 2011 07:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
curiouswombatThis is the next to last chapter of the story I wrote for the Tolkien Big Bang - I will post the last one next week.
Chapter Seven – Don’t Tell Me That We’ll Never Meet Again
4,000 words, rated PG.
Art work by Ellyn Ithil, beta'd by Speaker to Customers.
Chapter Seven – Don’t Tell Me That We’ll Never Meet Again
You can tell me flowers never bend
Or that this world's at an end
But don't tell me
That we'll never meet again
This Time of Year. C & R MacDonald.
The three horsemen approached the borders of Eryn Lasgalen. Legolas had chosen a route that had avoided both the sleeping mellyrn of Lothlorien and the recently deserted settlements of East Lorien. Haldirin was glad; he had made a number of visits to both Lothlorien and East Lorien, with his parents, and he not only found the places where elves had dwelt, but dwelt no more, sad; but any of the Houseless he encountered in such places always seemed so sad, too.
The border patrol greeted them, as ever, but their greetings were more restrained than usual; everyone must know this was their prince’s last visit. It seemed, as they made their way from village to village into the heart of the great forest, that everywhere was a little quieter, everyone’s welcome to them a little muted – even that of the trees. And in each village there were empty cottages, or signs that cottages had stood in places and did so no more. Even here, in The Great Greenwood, it seemed as if the Elves were becoming fewer, drawing into themselves.
As often happened on the last day’s ride to the King’s stronghold they were joined by Legolas’ brother. Prince Ardoron clasped his brother’s arm first, and then did the same to Galanthir and Haldirin. If he was surprised at Legolas choosing Haldirin as a travelling companion he did not show it. Just as Haldirin was wondering whether her father still approved of his – uh – ‘friendship’ with Rhîwen, as they both grew older, the Prince spoke to him again.
“Rhîwen is anxiously awaiting your arrival – she was sad that you were not here for the midwinter celebrations.”
M’kay – no sign of him being unhappy about it… so far.
When they did arrive at the Stronghold Rhîwen greeted him very formally before turning her attention to her uncle. But Haldirin had hardly had time to shake out his clothes, ready to hang them up, before there was a knock on the door and she dashed in and threw herself into his arms.
“Did you keep a ribbon for me?” she asked, after a moment or two.
“Of course,” Haldirin replied, “but I have not unpacked it yet – let alone had time to plait it into my hair – which would be only right and proper…”
She giggled. “I could wait whilst you do it now – or shall I come back later?”
“It depends,” he said, “on just what you are going to expect me to do before you accept it!”
Tilting her head to one side she looked at him from under her lashes, as if considering.
“A kiss now as down-payment, perhaps?”
It was some time before he could finish hanging his clothes and wash off the dust of the day.
At the evening meal that night Haldirin ate with the royal family. Galanthir had, of course, gone to his own parents’ home. Haldirin had eaten in this private dining room before but his parents had also been guests at that time. On the one occasion he had come to Eryn Lasgalen without them he had stayed with Lithôniel’s family. Of course the King, and Rhîwen’s parents, mainly wanted to talk to Legolas – but Rhîwen and her brother Cîrdoron shared a separate conversation with Haldirin and the evening was remarkably pleasant.
In fact the King chased ‘the three young ones’ off to enjoy themselves together later – occasioning Legolas to complain that it made him feel suddenly very old. Haldirin thought, to be truthful, that Legolas looked ‘old’ since his friend had died – there was a tiredness around his eyes and his mouth, in repose, was just a little down-turned as it had not been when Haldirin was an elfling – and he wondered if Legolas’ father had noticed. Actually, he thought, the King would not only have noticed it – he must feel it too. Poor King Thranduil.
He had no time to dwell on the thought as Cîrdoron, and Rhîwen, took him by an arm apiece and hurried him off to spend time with their friends. No time to think of it later, either, when it took the rest of the night to persuade Rhîwen to accept the ribbon he had kept for her back in Eryn Ithil at midwinter.
Over the next weeks Haldirin spent time with his uncle and aunt, visiting Galanthir’s family, and out riding with Legolas or Cîrdoron, but still found time to be alone with Rhîwen a good deal. She took him to the orchard her grandmother had planted, before Legolas was born, and that her own mother also loved dearly. It was a peaceful place, the trees made him feel welcome even though they were drowsy, and as the days lengthened he could feel them beginning to ready themselves for spring.
They had another quiet place, too; another place associated with the long-dead queen. Legolas had told them both that he could see no reason for them not to use the small garden within the stronghold that his father, the King, had created for his mother when the stronghold was built.
They were sitting there now – the first spring flowers, which had shown as points of pale yellow and white amongst the early green leaves, had all opened and now were fading to be replaced by the blue shades of Ethuil. Time, which usually seemed to pass quite slowly here, was hurrying by; just as Haldirin’s mother had been saying it was doing over the past years.
“They want me to ask you to stay longer…” Rhîwen said.
Haldirin was slightly taken aback. “Who? Why?” he asked.
“Naneth and Cîrdoron have mentioned it – but the idea with be that of my father and grandfather,” she said, quite confidently. “And as to why… if you ask to stay a little longer then Legolas will either stay here too, or have to try to explain to your Naneth that you have not returned with him… and then she would try to persuade him to stay in Middle Earth a little longer… and so on.
“If your mother had also come to visit this time I am sure both Naneth and Grandfather would have tried to talk her into staying longer. She is peredhel – will she feel happy in Valinor? Will she be accepted? Would it not be better to stay here? They would say these things because they would want her to ask Legolas to put off sailing.”
“It would not work, anyway,” Haldirin said. “If Naneth chose not to sail Legolas would go anyway. He hurts from staying here, Rhîwen. Surely Aran Thranduil must be able to see it?”
“I see it,” Rhîwen admitted. “And Grandfather only chooses to refuse to see it because he hurts so much, too, when he thinks he will never see Legolas again.”
“I am going to sail, too,” Haldirin said. “My naneth promised him she would go with him even before I was conceived – but I go, by my own choice, as one of his warriors. He will need his own people there, I think. I will not stay longer, Rhîwen, so there is no point in asking.”
“I know, warrior. I would have no right to ask you anyway. And I do not think we are likely to find that such a close bond develops between us in the coming weeks that we will fade by parting.”
She nestled into his shoulder a little more, and put a hand up to stroke his hair before going on. “You might find someone whose fëa sings with yours more loudly in the West… but I am not sure anyone such as that exists here on this side of the sea for me. There are few Elves here in Middle Earth that I have not had a chance to meet.”
He waited. That much can be discovered by silence was a lesson well learnt from his father.
After a few more minutes she spoke again. “Do you think we would reach that point in time, Haldirin?”
“I think we might…” he answered. “I do not expect to find a bride amongst the Noldor. Although I hope their ellyth find my hroar appealing!”
She laughed a little and then said, “I am bored.”
He was about to suggest that he could think of ways to distract her, when she continued “Not of you! No – I am bored with life here in my Grandfather’s Stronghold. Had you not all been sailing I think I would have come to live in Eryn Ithil, in time. Perhaps we would have bound, then.”
He thought that, in a yén or so, she might well be right – or perhaps a little longer. His father had been over nine yéni when he was bound, as had Orophin – and they had felt that was quite young, really.
Rhîwen spoke again. “What I am saying is that, if you find no-one in the West whose fëa sings with yours, do not be sad that the right fëa is mine and you will therefore be unbound for ever. But,” she suddenly sat up and away from him, “when I arrive in Valinor I would have you welcome me as a friend even if you have found a wife – will you promise me that?”
“You will sail without your family?” he asked, to be sure he understood.
“If I must – although I do not know how I would reach the Havens alone. Do you think there will be a time soon when there are no Elves at the Havens?”
The change of subject threw him slightly, “I do not know.” A sudden idea came. “But I can ask our shipwright and send you a letter by the next group who leave Eryn Ithil for Eryn Lasgalen.”
“Good,” she said, “but I do not want to sail alone – I would rather more of my family came too…” She looked straight into his eyes. “Your promise?”
“Of course!” he said. “I will welcome you whenever you arrive, whether I am bound or unbound and whether you are alone or with all your family. I will be there, and so will all my family – and Legolas will welcome you even more willingly.”
He thought, for a moment, and then added “Will you tell Legolas this yourself, or can I?”
“You,” she said. “I will simply tell Naneth that we spoke about you remaining here, but I could not persuade you!”
…………………………………………………………………
When Haldirin knocked on the door to his suite, Legolas welcomed him in. After Haldirin told him of his conversation with Rhîwen Legolas wanted to grin and, as Tindómë had taught him, make an imaginary line in the air to show the score Legolas 1; Thranduil 0. His father, he thought, had taught him well – both were making use of similar tactics. But this was not the time to go to the King’s study and point this out…
Haldirin was still speaking. He sounded slightly rueful. “I may be only young, but I am not stupid. Was the possibility of me persuading Rhîwen to choose to follow you the only reason you asked me to accompany you, rather than stay at home?”
No – he most certainly was not stupid – and Legolas told him so, adding, “With your parentage I would, most certainly, never take you for stupid! No – it was most surely not my only reason. But I must admit it was in my mind. The two of you are, so clearly, friends – and, given enough time, maybe it would become more – and you deserve to have as much time together to explore this as possible. If that makes it more likely that some of my family will follow us West then I will not deny this would please me greatly.”
This, though, was the time to explain to Haldirin his other reason, apart from friendship, for asking him to accompany him here. “I asked you because, ever since you were an elfling, I have enjoyed your company,” he began, “but I must admit to another motive, too. One I thought it best not to explain in advance in case the explanation altered how you behaved whilst you were here.
“I have a very simple question for you, my friend. When you have spent time in my mother’s garden, or in her orchard, have you had any sense of there being anyone there but you and Rhîwen?”
“You mean like Tharhîwon, or Lord Denethor, or the Houseless Elves I have seen?”
“Yes…”
“No-one, Legolas. I have spent time in both places with you, with Rhîwen, and alone – and there has been no sign of any other fëa there.”
“Thank you, Haldirin,” Legolas said, with an overwhelming sense of relief. “You cannot believe how happy that makes me – even if a little sad at the same time.”
The young ellon deserved an explanation, Legolas thought. He poured them each out a glass of wine before giving it – finishing with “I will tell my father – he may well wish to ask you more.”
…………………………………………………………………
As well to tackle his father as soon as possible now, Legolas thought, as he is clearly also trying to pull strings. Next morning, therefore, he knocked on the door to his father’s study and walked in.
“Adar,” he began, “I want our last few weeks together, here, to be as happy as possible. I… I need hope.”
His father sighed softly, “Sit down, son,” he said, “and say whatever you have come to say.”
“Adar – I love you very much. I had never thought, before I went to Imladris and joined the Fellowship, to ever do anything to hurt you. But I cannot deny the pull of the sea any longer. I have tried; you cannot imagine how hard I have tried. I do not think anyone can imagine how hard I have tried to deny it. I love these trees – and now I love the trees of Ithilien, every one of them, every small bush or flowering plant that blooms there again as we cleanse the land. I do not want to leave and never see them again.”
His father opened his mouth, as if to speak, but one look from Legolas and he said nothing. Legolas went on.
“If I knew that I would not only never see the places I love again, but never see you again either… then I have thought that I might be facing the choice of fading in Ithilien, fading here, or fading in the West.”
“Have thought?”
‘Ah – my Lord Adar is never slow on the uptake,’ Legolas thought.
“I think I have a reason to resist fading, now. But I cannot resist the urge to sail and hope to not fade, so sail I must. And I would still dread having no hope of ever seeing you again. But now I have a reason to give you for no longer fearing leaving, and one to give you that might make you want to follow me.”
His father simply raised an eyebrow, and stayed silent.
“I know that you have often wondered whether my Nana’s fëa remained in the Greenwood when she was killed. I used to wonder if she was there with me when I sat in her garden, and I know you thought the same thing. Sometimes the thought comforted me – but neither of us had any proof, one way or the other.”
The king nodded slightly.
“Looking back,” Legolas continued, “I think we both had such strong bonds to her, then, that if she had remained we really should have felt something. But now I am absolutely sure that her houseless fëa does not remain here.”
“Absolutely sure?”
“Yes. Ever since The Key within Haldirin was awoken by Radagast, to help us recover Tindómë from that other place, he has often seen the fëar of the dead. We have told you of the Winter Elfling; and his comments, as a slightly older elfling, about Lord Denethor. He has also seen the fëa of Houseless elves who died in Lothlorien, when he passed that way a few years ago – and of some of your own warriors who died in the south, many years ago, when he visited Lord Celeborn.
“What he has not seen, or felt, is any presence of Nana – even when he has been in her private garden, or her orchard, with either me or her only granddaughter…”
He paused, to let his father absorb that, and then went on “And I think, if she had not heard the call from Lord Namo, that those places that we so associate with her are where she would be – especially when any of her family were there. Do you not agree?”
His father said nothing for a long while. Then, “You are sure? Haldirin is sure?”
“Haldirin is sure. And I think if she was there he would have known – and she might well have been able to use him to pass a message to us. No, Adar, I am certain, now, that I am not abandoning the fëa of my Naneth if I sail West. Nor would you be.
“And, if she heard Lord Namo and followed him, then the only chance of either of us being reunited with her is there – in Valinor. If you stay here and eventually fade, as we have been told will happen, then you may find your fëa trapped here whilst Nana awaits you, always with part of her soul missing, in the West.”
Thinking of what he had learnt from Tindómë of her conversation with the twins, he finished “And how could I face her? Telling her that, in the end, the Greenwood meant more to you than she did?”
Thranduil’s face remained calm but Legolas knew that he had certainly given his father much food for thought. Now, to add more.
“Adar – there is something else I would discuss with you – I find myself in a position I have never been in before.”
His father looked directly at him, and waited.
“You have tried more than once, over these past three or four yéni, to push… um, to ensure that I meet eligible ellyth.”
A very slight smile played about the King’s mouth.
“Well I think I may have met someone whose fëa will sing with mine – without your aid. This is why I think I can resist fading, even if I cannot resist the call of the sea.”
The King said nothing – but once more raised that questioning eyebrow.
“But she is very young, yet. And there are… complications.”
“Legolas, you are only young – and however young this elleth she will grow quickly – but if she is not intending to sail West I can see it would be a big complication.”
‘Poor Adar,’ Legolas thought, ‘to immediately see an advantage to his own wishes – an advantage that is not there.’
“She will sail; and she has now come of age. But in my position as her Lord I feel I should not take advantage.”
“A worthy thought, son. Do you feel she is aware of your attraction?”
Legolas laughed. His father looked questioningly at him again.
“Oh Adar! She is most certainly aware that she finds me attractive – I think she has done so since within days of her birth! I have tried not to let her see that I find her especially so, just yet.”
“She sounds like a lively young elleth. Very like you have told me Tindómë was before, and just after, she came of age. I think, when you told me about taking her as kin, you said that Rumil found her ‘a beautiful temptation’; at the very same time that you reassured me that you did not.”
Legolas was serious again. “Therein lies the problem, Adar. I think my fëa is very ready to sing with Ithilienne’s...”
He was not sure what reaction he expected, but it was certainly not the one he got – his father laughed loudly, and for a long time, before speaking.
“Oh son! Have you not said that Tindómë has a degree of foresight? You will always be Lord of Ithilien, always have Ithilien with you – or at least Ithilienne! Tindómë and Rumil gave their daughter the perfect name for your wife!”
Somehow Legolas had never quite seen it like that – perhaps his Adar was right…
“And,” Thranduil continued, “there is absolutely no reason for you not to bind with her – there is no blood tie. And think what pleasure it would give you to point that out to any jumped up Noldorin lordling who said just one word about it. You will, I expect, meet Mithrandir when you… get there… and he would most surely be able to tell any such complainant that, firmly. And, son, if she is so sure in herself then I do not think you need wait too many years, or feel too guilty, if you give in to her as temptation…”
His father was not only smiling – he winked!
Then he became serious again. “What do her parents think? They were bound within years of Tindómë’s coming of age but what you do yourself, and what you think of what your children do, is very different – I know.”
“I… it is difficult. Were she any other elleth I would have turned to Rumil for advice… or to Tindómë. I think they worry that her obvious infatuation with me is embarrassing to me – although I have told Tindómë that it is not. But I have not spoken to them of the possibility that it is not purely infatuation – nor that I think I might well… um… reciprocate.”
“Well don’t tell them – until you’ve spoken to Ithilienne rather than just avoiding her.”
Legolas wondered how his father knew he had been avoiding her. But Adar knew many things…
“And as soon as you have spoken to her – speak to them,” his father continued. “Not that you would normally need to discuss such things with her parents for many, many, years yet – but under these circumstances…”
Actually, Legolas thought, his father was quite relishing this whole thing – it was a new puzzle for him, a new thing he could advise about. He decided to turn the conversation back to an earlier point.
“I really am glad to have finally spoken to you about it, Adar. I worried that you might try to persuade me to resist harder – to deny any possibility that I might be drawn to this particular elleth.
“That you are happy pleases me no end. But, Adar, even though it means you can guess at least something of my life over the sea – surely you would want to be there for my binding? I would want you there. And I would have my children know you…
“Please, Adar. It does not have to be soon. As you have pointed out I will probably not bind, even if Ithilienne is destined to be my wife, for many, many years – but please, at least, agree that you will not refuse to consider taking ship, eventually.”
There was a long, long silence, a total stillness.
And then his father came to Legolas, wrapped his arms around him and said, “I do not promise to follow you – I still feel I must stay with my people, in my own land… yet. But I do promise that I will no longer refuse to consider it. That I will think of your needs and of the possibility of being reunited with your naneth there, if Haldirin is right.”
He paused, and then added “I shall ask Haldirin to discuss what you have told me… at least about your naneth. Perhaps better not to discuss what you have told me about his sister!”
…………………………………………………………………
Chapter notes; Ardoron is the Crown Prince, Legolas’ only sibling. He is married to Vaniel and they have two children – Cîrdoron and Rhîwen.
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Disclaimer as chapter one.
Please point out any errors.
Next chapter is HERE.
The Thai food D-d cooked last night was pretty damned good, by the way.
Chapter Seven – Don’t Tell Me That We’ll Never Meet Again
4,000 words, rated PG.
Art work by Ellyn Ithil, beta'd by Speaker to Customers.
Chapter Seven – Don’t Tell Me That We’ll Never Meet Again
You can tell me flowers never bend
Or that this world's at an end
But don't tell me
That we'll never meet again
This Time of Year. C & R MacDonald.
The three horsemen approached the borders of Eryn Lasgalen. Legolas had chosen a route that had avoided both the sleeping mellyrn of Lothlorien and the recently deserted settlements of East Lorien. Haldirin was glad; he had made a number of visits to both Lothlorien and East Lorien, with his parents, and he not only found the places where elves had dwelt, but dwelt no more, sad; but any of the Houseless he encountered in such places always seemed so sad, too.
The border patrol greeted them, as ever, but their greetings were more restrained than usual; everyone must know this was their prince’s last visit. It seemed, as they made their way from village to village into the heart of the great forest, that everywhere was a little quieter, everyone’s welcome to them a little muted – even that of the trees. And in each village there were empty cottages, or signs that cottages had stood in places and did so no more. Even here, in The Great Greenwood, it seemed as if the Elves were becoming fewer, drawing into themselves.
As often happened on the last day’s ride to the King’s stronghold they were joined by Legolas’ brother. Prince Ardoron clasped his brother’s arm first, and then did the same to Galanthir and Haldirin. If he was surprised at Legolas choosing Haldirin as a travelling companion he did not show it. Just as Haldirin was wondering whether her father still approved of his – uh – ‘friendship’ with Rhîwen, as they both grew older, the Prince spoke to him again.
“Rhîwen is anxiously awaiting your arrival – she was sad that you were not here for the midwinter celebrations.”
M’kay – no sign of him being unhappy about it… so far.
When they did arrive at the Stronghold Rhîwen greeted him very formally before turning her attention to her uncle. But Haldirin had hardly had time to shake out his clothes, ready to hang them up, before there was a knock on the door and she dashed in and threw herself into his arms.
“Did you keep a ribbon for me?” she asked, after a moment or two.
“Of course,” Haldirin replied, “but I have not unpacked it yet – let alone had time to plait it into my hair – which would be only right and proper…”
She giggled. “I could wait whilst you do it now – or shall I come back later?”
“It depends,” he said, “on just what you are going to expect me to do before you accept it!”
Tilting her head to one side she looked at him from under her lashes, as if considering.
“A kiss now as down-payment, perhaps?”
It was some time before he could finish hanging his clothes and wash off the dust of the day.
At the evening meal that night Haldirin ate with the royal family. Galanthir had, of course, gone to his own parents’ home. Haldirin had eaten in this private dining room before but his parents had also been guests at that time. On the one occasion he had come to Eryn Lasgalen without them he had stayed with Lithôniel’s family. Of course the King, and Rhîwen’s parents, mainly wanted to talk to Legolas – but Rhîwen and her brother Cîrdoron shared a separate conversation with Haldirin and the evening was remarkably pleasant.
In fact the King chased ‘the three young ones’ off to enjoy themselves together later – occasioning Legolas to complain that it made him feel suddenly very old. Haldirin thought, to be truthful, that Legolas looked ‘old’ since his friend had died – there was a tiredness around his eyes and his mouth, in repose, was just a little down-turned as it had not been when Haldirin was an elfling – and he wondered if Legolas’ father had noticed. Actually, he thought, the King would not only have noticed it – he must feel it too. Poor King Thranduil.
He had no time to dwell on the thought as Cîrdoron, and Rhîwen, took him by an arm apiece and hurried him off to spend time with their friends. No time to think of it later, either, when it took the rest of the night to persuade Rhîwen to accept the ribbon he had kept for her back in Eryn Ithil at midwinter.
Over the next weeks Haldirin spent time with his uncle and aunt, visiting Galanthir’s family, and out riding with Legolas or Cîrdoron, but still found time to be alone with Rhîwen a good deal. She took him to the orchard her grandmother had planted, before Legolas was born, and that her own mother also loved dearly. It was a peaceful place, the trees made him feel welcome even though they were drowsy, and as the days lengthened he could feel them beginning to ready themselves for spring.
They had another quiet place, too; another place associated with the long-dead queen. Legolas had told them both that he could see no reason for them not to use the small garden within the stronghold that his father, the King, had created for his mother when the stronghold was built.
They were sitting there now – the first spring flowers, which had shown as points of pale yellow and white amongst the early green leaves, had all opened and now were fading to be replaced by the blue shades of Ethuil. Time, which usually seemed to pass quite slowly here, was hurrying by; just as Haldirin’s mother had been saying it was doing over the past years.
“They want me to ask you to stay longer…” Rhîwen said.
Haldirin was slightly taken aback. “Who? Why?” he asked.
“Naneth and Cîrdoron have mentioned it – but the idea with be that of my father and grandfather,” she said, quite confidently. “And as to why… if you ask to stay a little longer then Legolas will either stay here too, or have to try to explain to your Naneth that you have not returned with him… and then she would try to persuade him to stay in Middle Earth a little longer… and so on.
“If your mother had also come to visit this time I am sure both Naneth and Grandfather would have tried to talk her into staying longer. She is peredhel – will she feel happy in Valinor? Will she be accepted? Would it not be better to stay here? They would say these things because they would want her to ask Legolas to put off sailing.”
“It would not work, anyway,” Haldirin said. “If Naneth chose not to sail Legolas would go anyway. He hurts from staying here, Rhîwen. Surely Aran Thranduil must be able to see it?”
“I see it,” Rhîwen admitted. “And Grandfather only chooses to refuse to see it because he hurts so much, too, when he thinks he will never see Legolas again.”
“I am going to sail, too,” Haldirin said. “My naneth promised him she would go with him even before I was conceived – but I go, by my own choice, as one of his warriors. He will need his own people there, I think. I will not stay longer, Rhîwen, so there is no point in asking.”
“I know, warrior. I would have no right to ask you anyway. And I do not think we are likely to find that such a close bond develops between us in the coming weeks that we will fade by parting.”
She nestled into his shoulder a little more, and put a hand up to stroke his hair before going on. “You might find someone whose fëa sings with yours more loudly in the West… but I am not sure anyone such as that exists here on this side of the sea for me. There are few Elves here in Middle Earth that I have not had a chance to meet.”
He waited. That much can be discovered by silence was a lesson well learnt from his father.
After a few more minutes she spoke again. “Do you think we would reach that point in time, Haldirin?”
“I think we might…” he answered. “I do not expect to find a bride amongst the Noldor. Although I hope their ellyth find my hroar appealing!”
She laughed a little and then said, “I am bored.”
He was about to suggest that he could think of ways to distract her, when she continued “Not of you! No – I am bored with life here in my Grandfather’s Stronghold. Had you not all been sailing I think I would have come to live in Eryn Ithil, in time. Perhaps we would have bound, then.”
He thought that, in a yén or so, she might well be right – or perhaps a little longer. His father had been over nine yéni when he was bound, as had Orophin – and they had felt that was quite young, really.
Rhîwen spoke again. “What I am saying is that, if you find no-one in the West whose fëa sings with yours, do not be sad that the right fëa is mine and you will therefore be unbound for ever. But,” she suddenly sat up and away from him, “when I arrive in Valinor I would have you welcome me as a friend even if you have found a wife – will you promise me that?”
“You will sail without your family?” he asked, to be sure he understood.
“If I must – although I do not know how I would reach the Havens alone. Do you think there will be a time soon when there are no Elves at the Havens?”
The change of subject threw him slightly, “I do not know.” A sudden idea came. “But I can ask our shipwright and send you a letter by the next group who leave Eryn Ithil for Eryn Lasgalen.”
“Good,” she said, “but I do not want to sail alone – I would rather more of my family came too…” She looked straight into his eyes. “Your promise?”
“Of course!” he said. “I will welcome you whenever you arrive, whether I am bound or unbound and whether you are alone or with all your family. I will be there, and so will all my family – and Legolas will welcome you even more willingly.”
He thought, for a moment, and then added “Will you tell Legolas this yourself, or can I?”
“You,” she said. “I will simply tell Naneth that we spoke about you remaining here, but I could not persuade you!”
…………………………………………………………………
When Haldirin knocked on the door to his suite, Legolas welcomed him in. After Haldirin told him of his conversation with Rhîwen Legolas wanted to grin and, as Tindómë had taught him, make an imaginary line in the air to show the score Legolas 1; Thranduil 0. His father, he thought, had taught him well – both were making use of similar tactics. But this was not the time to go to the King’s study and point this out…
Haldirin was still speaking. He sounded slightly rueful. “I may be only young, but I am not stupid. Was the possibility of me persuading Rhîwen to choose to follow you the only reason you asked me to accompany you, rather than stay at home?”
No – he most certainly was not stupid – and Legolas told him so, adding, “With your parentage I would, most certainly, never take you for stupid! No – it was most surely not my only reason. But I must admit it was in my mind. The two of you are, so clearly, friends – and, given enough time, maybe it would become more – and you deserve to have as much time together to explore this as possible. If that makes it more likely that some of my family will follow us West then I will not deny this would please me greatly.”
This, though, was the time to explain to Haldirin his other reason, apart from friendship, for asking him to accompany him here. “I asked you because, ever since you were an elfling, I have enjoyed your company,” he began, “but I must admit to another motive, too. One I thought it best not to explain in advance in case the explanation altered how you behaved whilst you were here.
“I have a very simple question for you, my friend. When you have spent time in my mother’s garden, or in her orchard, have you had any sense of there being anyone there but you and Rhîwen?”
“You mean like Tharhîwon, or Lord Denethor, or the Houseless Elves I have seen?”
“Yes…”
“No-one, Legolas. I have spent time in both places with you, with Rhîwen, and alone – and there has been no sign of any other fëa there.”
“Thank you, Haldirin,” Legolas said, with an overwhelming sense of relief. “You cannot believe how happy that makes me – even if a little sad at the same time.”
The young ellon deserved an explanation, Legolas thought. He poured them each out a glass of wine before giving it – finishing with “I will tell my father – he may well wish to ask you more.”
…………………………………………………………………
As well to tackle his father as soon as possible now, Legolas thought, as he is clearly also trying to pull strings. Next morning, therefore, he knocked on the door to his father’s study and walked in.
“Adar,” he began, “I want our last few weeks together, here, to be as happy as possible. I… I need hope.”
His father sighed softly, “Sit down, son,” he said, “and say whatever you have come to say.”
“Adar – I love you very much. I had never thought, before I went to Imladris and joined the Fellowship, to ever do anything to hurt you. But I cannot deny the pull of the sea any longer. I have tried; you cannot imagine how hard I have tried. I do not think anyone can imagine how hard I have tried to deny it. I love these trees – and now I love the trees of Ithilien, every one of them, every small bush or flowering plant that blooms there again as we cleanse the land. I do not want to leave and never see them again.”
His father opened his mouth, as if to speak, but one look from Legolas and he said nothing. Legolas went on.
“If I knew that I would not only never see the places I love again, but never see you again either… then I have thought that I might be facing the choice of fading in Ithilien, fading here, or fading in the West.”
“Have thought?”
‘Ah – my Lord Adar is never slow on the uptake,’ Legolas thought.
“I think I have a reason to resist fading, now. But I cannot resist the urge to sail and hope to not fade, so sail I must. And I would still dread having no hope of ever seeing you again. But now I have a reason to give you for no longer fearing leaving, and one to give you that might make you want to follow me.”
His father simply raised an eyebrow, and stayed silent.
“I know that you have often wondered whether my Nana’s fëa remained in the Greenwood when she was killed. I used to wonder if she was there with me when I sat in her garden, and I know you thought the same thing. Sometimes the thought comforted me – but neither of us had any proof, one way or the other.”
The king nodded slightly.
“Looking back,” Legolas continued, “I think we both had such strong bonds to her, then, that if she had remained we really should have felt something. But now I am absolutely sure that her houseless fëa does not remain here.”
“Absolutely sure?”
“Yes. Ever since The Key within Haldirin was awoken by Radagast, to help us recover Tindómë from that other place, he has often seen the fëar of the dead. We have told you of the Winter Elfling; and his comments, as a slightly older elfling, about Lord Denethor. He has also seen the fëa of Houseless elves who died in Lothlorien, when he passed that way a few years ago – and of some of your own warriors who died in the south, many years ago, when he visited Lord Celeborn.
“What he has not seen, or felt, is any presence of Nana – even when he has been in her private garden, or her orchard, with either me or her only granddaughter…”
He paused, to let his father absorb that, and then went on “And I think, if she had not heard the call from Lord Namo, that those places that we so associate with her are where she would be – especially when any of her family were there. Do you not agree?”
His father said nothing for a long while. Then, “You are sure? Haldirin is sure?”
“Haldirin is sure. And I think if she was there he would have known – and she might well have been able to use him to pass a message to us. No, Adar, I am certain, now, that I am not abandoning the fëa of my Naneth if I sail West. Nor would you be.
“And, if she heard Lord Namo and followed him, then the only chance of either of us being reunited with her is there – in Valinor. If you stay here and eventually fade, as we have been told will happen, then you may find your fëa trapped here whilst Nana awaits you, always with part of her soul missing, in the West.”
Thinking of what he had learnt from Tindómë of her conversation with the twins, he finished “And how could I face her? Telling her that, in the end, the Greenwood meant more to you than she did?”
Thranduil’s face remained calm but Legolas knew that he had certainly given his father much food for thought. Now, to add more.
“Adar – there is something else I would discuss with you – I find myself in a position I have never been in before.”
His father looked directly at him, and waited.
“You have tried more than once, over these past three or four yéni, to push… um, to ensure that I meet eligible ellyth.”
A very slight smile played about the King’s mouth.
“Well I think I may have met someone whose fëa will sing with mine – without your aid. This is why I think I can resist fading, even if I cannot resist the call of the sea.”
The King said nothing – but once more raised that questioning eyebrow.
“But she is very young, yet. And there are… complications.”
“Legolas, you are only young – and however young this elleth she will grow quickly – but if she is not intending to sail West I can see it would be a big complication.”
‘Poor Adar,’ Legolas thought, ‘to immediately see an advantage to his own wishes – an advantage that is not there.’
“She will sail; and she has now come of age. But in my position as her Lord I feel I should not take advantage.”
“A worthy thought, son. Do you feel she is aware of your attraction?”
Legolas laughed. His father looked questioningly at him again.
“Oh Adar! She is most certainly aware that she finds me attractive – I think she has done so since within days of her birth! I have tried not to let her see that I find her especially so, just yet.”
“She sounds like a lively young elleth. Very like you have told me Tindómë was before, and just after, she came of age. I think, when you told me about taking her as kin, you said that Rumil found her ‘a beautiful temptation’; at the very same time that you reassured me that you did not.”
Legolas was serious again. “Therein lies the problem, Adar. I think my fëa is very ready to sing with Ithilienne’s...”
He was not sure what reaction he expected, but it was certainly not the one he got – his father laughed loudly, and for a long time, before speaking.
“Oh son! Have you not said that Tindómë has a degree of foresight? You will always be Lord of Ithilien, always have Ithilien with you – or at least Ithilienne! Tindómë and Rumil gave their daughter the perfect name for your wife!”
Somehow Legolas had never quite seen it like that – perhaps his Adar was right…
“And,” Thranduil continued, “there is absolutely no reason for you not to bind with her – there is no blood tie. And think what pleasure it would give you to point that out to any jumped up Noldorin lordling who said just one word about it. You will, I expect, meet Mithrandir when you… get there… and he would most surely be able to tell any such complainant that, firmly. And, son, if she is so sure in herself then I do not think you need wait too many years, or feel too guilty, if you give in to her as temptation…”
His father was not only smiling – he winked!
Then he became serious again. “What do her parents think? They were bound within years of Tindómë’s coming of age but what you do yourself, and what you think of what your children do, is very different – I know.”
“I… it is difficult. Were she any other elleth I would have turned to Rumil for advice… or to Tindómë. I think they worry that her obvious infatuation with me is embarrassing to me – although I have told Tindómë that it is not. But I have not spoken to them of the possibility that it is not purely infatuation – nor that I think I might well… um… reciprocate.”
“Well don’t tell them – until you’ve spoken to Ithilienne rather than just avoiding her.”
Legolas wondered how his father knew he had been avoiding her. But Adar knew many things…
“And as soon as you have spoken to her – speak to them,” his father continued. “Not that you would normally need to discuss such things with her parents for many, many, years yet – but under these circumstances…”
Actually, Legolas thought, his father was quite relishing this whole thing – it was a new puzzle for him, a new thing he could advise about. He decided to turn the conversation back to an earlier point.
“I really am glad to have finally spoken to you about it, Adar. I worried that you might try to persuade me to resist harder – to deny any possibility that I might be drawn to this particular elleth.
“That you are happy pleases me no end. But, Adar, even though it means you can guess at least something of my life over the sea – surely you would want to be there for my binding? I would want you there. And I would have my children know you…
“Please, Adar. It does not have to be soon. As you have pointed out I will probably not bind, even if Ithilienne is destined to be my wife, for many, many years – but please, at least, agree that you will not refuse to consider taking ship, eventually.”
There was a long, long silence, a total stillness.
And then his father came to Legolas, wrapped his arms around him and said, “I do not promise to follow you – I still feel I must stay with my people, in my own land… yet. But I do promise that I will no longer refuse to consider it. That I will think of your needs and of the possibility of being reunited with your naneth there, if Haldirin is right.”
He paused, and then added “I shall ask Haldirin to discuss what you have told me… at least about your naneth. Perhaps better not to discuss what you have told me about his sister!”
…………………………………………………………………
Chapter notes; Ardoron is the Crown Prince, Legolas’ only sibling. He is married to Vaniel and they have two children – Cîrdoron and Rhîwen.
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Disclaimer as chapter one.
Please point out any errors.
Next chapter is HERE.
The Thai food D-d cooked last night was pretty damned good, by the way.
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no subject
Date: 19/09/2011 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 19/09/2011 11:06 pm (UTC)This all feels a little like the death of a thousand cuts -- the gradual pulling up of various roots from the homeland.
That really is how it strikes me - Legolas can do nothing but go - and yet he is sailing into the unknown and having to sever himself from everything he knows. Everything except Gimli and, in my version, his own people who will not let him be alone to perhaps find himself unacknowledged as a Prince in his own right.
But he is trying to make sure that 'home' follows him as far as possible!
no subject
Date: 14/10/2011 12:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 14/10/2011 09:07 pm (UTC)as for him arriving in the West - there are other stories to come first, but eventually...