The Other Side of Reality: Part IX
by Alexandra
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"Presenting Their Majesties, King Legolas and Queen Adalia of Mirkwood!" The couple made their way to the front table and the great feast started. It was several months since Thalion’s birth and now the whole realm of Mirkwood was gathered to celebrate Legolas’ three thousandth birthday.

Mostly elves were gathered, some from other realms. Elladen and Elrohir had of course come and Celeborn from Lothlorien had joined them. Adalia was glad she had made Rina go to bed, the child would be up for hours talking to everyone. She looked up at the sound of heavy footfalls and broke into a full grin as she jumped up.

"Aragorn!" she cried, hugging him tightly. "It is so great to see you!"

"Not as great as it is to see you Lady Adalia," he responded, looking at her with laughter in his eyes. "I cannot describe my joy at hearing that you had come back. A better thing could not have been done for Legolas."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Aragorn hesitated, realizing that she had not known. "Legolas had begun to fade after he had returned from your world. He was not well, to say the least. When Thranduil left, I suspect that the one thing that kept him going was knowing his people needed him. Your return was at the most opportune moment."

Adalia’s eyes slid over Aragorn’s shoulder and rested on where Legolas and Arwen were talking. "He never told me."

Aragorn gave a short laugh. "He wouldn’t. But you are here now, as are your children. Things are better now."

"But what’s going to happen when I die?"

"Do not think of such things," admonished Aragorn. "Come, it is Legolas’ birthday and here I am putting a dampening on things! Tell me of Rina and Thalion, I had not the chance to meet them today."

Adalia told him of their children, though her mind rested on Legolas. Vowing to resolve the matter with her husband later, she returned her full attention to Aragorn. It was some time later that Laurelin came and whispered in Adalia’s ear.

"Well, Aragorn, you may get to meet Thalion yet. I will be right back." She excused herself from the room and went to go calm the screaming child. As soon as she walked in the room, Thalion’s screams quieted but didn’t fully subside. "What’s wrong Thalion?"

The child was upset about something, though what, she didn’t know. After several minutes, she was simply frustrated. He wasn’t tired, hungry, or needed a change. It was as if he was simply screaming for the heck of it. "Let’s go see daddy, you always calm down when you’re with him."

Adalia wrapped Thalion in one of the rich green blankets and left the room, making her way back. She came in through the less crowded way and made her way straight to Legolas who was speaking with Aragorn and Arwen. "He won’t stop crying."

Legolas took the child and Thalion calmed down significantly, though he still whimpered occasionally. Arwen smiled and let the child wrap his hand around her finger. "He is adorable!"

The two laughed. "Adorable yes, but he is a handful at times," said Adalia. "I think he is a true wood-elf at heart, he loves being outside. He cries every time we have to take him indoors."

They couldn’t help but laugh at Thalion’s grin as he looked at Adalia, as if understanding her words. The group soon sat down again, as those that knew Legolas best rose and gave speeches. The night dragged on, with Adalia slipping out at one point to put the now tired Thalion to bed.

Legolas said good night to the last group of well wishers and headed for his room. He would get to speak with most of them the next day, and wasn’t worrying about it now. At the moment, he just wanted to spend time with Adalia.

Walking into their room, he saw Adalia standing in front of the mirror, combing out her hair. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder. "Is Thalion asleep?"

She nodded and put down her brush, leaning into him. "After singing endless lullabies. Something was really bothering him."

Legolas turned her around so he could look at her. "Well, he’s asleep now. And I still have yet to receive your present lindor."

She quirked an eyebrow in amusement. "And what makes you think you’re getting a present luchador?" She laughed at his statement and motioned toward the bed. "Happy birthday Legolas."

Lying on the bed was a simple long box. He detached himself from Adalia and opened the box, eyes widening at what was inside. A beautifully handcrafted bow lay inside, longer and stouter than the bows of Mirkwood. It was strung with a strand of elf-hair and some mithril was wrought into its handle.

"I made it myself," Adalia said. "Though I had a considerable amount of help. Gimli gave me the mithril, and Giliath and Celeborn helped me carve it. Let me say that carving a bow is not easy in the slightest. I cut myself with the knife more times than I can count. But do you like it?"

He turned to her. "I absolutely love it Adalia." Setting the bow on one of the dressers he wrapped his arms around her once again. "Though I think the best present is the fact that you’re here with me."

She was going to reply, but his lips captured hers in a passionate kiss, which quickly escalated. Adalia fell back onto the bed, bringing Legolas with her. Suddenly, a sharp cry came from the adjoining room.

Adalia couldn’t help but laugh. "Thalion sure knows how to ruin the moment."

Legolas started grumbling as she left the room, wondering what Thalion was screaming about. She picked him up when she entered the room and frowned. "What’s wrong Thalion?" she asked soothingly.

He only screamed louder and Legolas came into the room. "What is wrong?"

"I don’t know," she replied. "I’ve never heard him scream this loud before." Legolas took him into his arms, seeing if possibly he could calm the child. Nothing seemed to work though as the child writhed within his grasp. "I don’t get it," muttered Adalia. "What in the world could possibly be wrong?"

An urgent knocking sounded at the door. Before either of them could do anything, the door burst open and Giliath and Laurelin rushed into the room. "There is a fire!" cried Giliath. "In the northern clearings!"

Legolas handed the child to Laurelin and was out the door in a flash, Adalia on his heels. A fire in a woodland realm was the nightmare of all. Giliath gave him what information he had as they ran to the stables, where horses were waiting. Elves from all over were helping to put out the fire as best they could.

The three came into the stables and mounted the horses waiting for them. Legolas finally seemed to notice that Adalia was with them. "Stay here!" he ordered.

"Not a chance in hell, Legolas," she shouted at him over the dull roar that the elves caused. "I live here too!"

He frowned at her, but quickly spurred his horse into a gallop, heading for the blaze. The ride was far too long for Legolas’ liking, but there was nothing that he could do about it.

Reaching the clearing was a horrible shock. A good portion of the trees were ablaze, some already burned to the ground. Legolas wasted no time. Jumping from his horse, he ran to the small stream in the center of the clearing, helping to try and put out the fire.

At first Adalia sat frozen on her horse, shocked by the angry flames that consumed the forest. Belatedly, Adalia thought that the reason Thalion had been crying was because he knew what was going on in the forest. Her son was truly in tune with the trees.

It was hours later that the fire was extinguished. Most of Mirkwood, as well as most of the visiting guests had pitched in to try and help. Now, nearly all the trees around the clearing were destroyed, others nearby scorched by the heat.

Adalia walked along the edge, cringing at the ashes. She ran a hand over her face, leaving streaks of soot down her cheeks. Stopping in front of one area, she crouched and dug through the ashes, revealing an old tree stump.

She gasped and fell backwards in surprise. "What is wrong Adalia?" asked Arwen, who had helped put out the fire.

"This tree," she choked out. It was the remains of the beech tree that had brought her there. "That was the tree that let me come from my world. It was burned down."

She stared at the remains for a few more moments before turning her back on it. Why the end of the tree was effecting her so, she didn’t know. She didn’t want to go back. But knowing that she couldn’t was a different thing. A small tear fell down her cheek, tracing its way through the grime on her face.

Legolas sighed. He couldn’t believe that his beloved Mirkwood had had a fire. They did not know why the fire had started, though they suspected it to be the cause of rogue orcs in the area. His face and clothes covered in ash and soot, he moved through the crowd, surveying the damage as he went.

Thankfully, few had been hurt. He had been one of the ones to sustain a severe burn, after pulling an elf away from a sudden flame. His hand was wrapped in a crude bandage and he would have to get it treated later on. Looking through the crowd, he saw Arwen and Adalia over to one side.

Happy that they had not been hurt in the fire, he made his way over to them. Seeing a tear travel down Adalia’s face he frowned. "Adalia? Were you hurt?"

She shook her head and swiped at the tear. "It’s just the tree has been burned down. I guess that tree meant more to me than I’d like to admit." She sighed and looked at Legolas, her eyes widening at his bandaged hand. "You’re hurt!"

Legolas stood quietly as Adalia examined his hand. A part of him was overjoyed that she would never be taken back to her world, away from him. But he was saddened by her grief. Pushing all of the thoughts away, he led her to where most of the horses had been left.

"It is late Adalia," he whispered, making her look at him. "We should go back."

She nodded and the rest of the party that came from the palace mounted their horses. Legolas grimaced when pressure was applied to his hand, resolving to get it properly bandaged when he returned. He cast one sorrowful look back at the destroyed clearing before galloping back to the palace.

Legolas did go straight to the healers when he arrived back. They rubbed a special salve into his hand and then wrapped a bandage over it. He thanked them and checked on the rest of the injured elves before leaving.

He walked quietly into his room, exhausted by the whole ordeal. He eyed the bow sitting on the dresser and grimaced at how quickly the mood had changed. Not seeing Adalia in the room, he walked into Thalion’s room and smiled. She was dozing in one of the chairs, Thalion fast asleep as well.

Adalia stirred slightly as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Legolas sighed and lay down next to her. The fire was certainly a tragic thing, but he presence of his wife made all of the past hours seem to disappear in his mind.


| Part X |
| Index |