The Chronicles of Lavelynne : Part VII
The Lady Draws a Sword
I stayed in Lothlorien one more night, enjoying the company of Galadriel and Celeborn.
The other Elves of the Golden Wood were hard to get to know. They seemed to almost fear and adore me at the same time. I was even beginning to feel annoyance at their constant looks of awe and reverent bows. I was the legendary Lost Princess, yes, but why this was so amazing I never fully understood.
The next morning I awoke ready to prepare for my new journey, wherever that might take me. I went to a large pen where I knew the horses were kept. Urios immediately whinnied and galloped up to me. I was amazed. When I had entrusted him to the Elves' hands he had been dirty and sweaty, with matted hair and a tangled mane and tail. Now his butter-colored hide seemed to glimmer like gold dust and his mane and tail flowed like waterfalls of white silk. I patted him.
"Looking handsome, my little colt. The Elves of Lothlorien did not skimp."
I secured my pack onto Urios's back and hopped lightly on. Galadriel had promised to show me to the River, but I did not see her anywhere. Then my sensitive ears picked up the light clopping of hooves. The Lady rode out into sight, mounted upon her horse, Hirthro. I smiled at her.
"Come. I'm sure you feel the need to be off, let us go." She commented, signaling Hirthro into a smooth trot. I followed suit.
Before long we came to the River. I did not know where my path would take me after this point, but I knew Mordor was east, so I had decided to head that way.
"Goodbye Lady Galadriel, may the gods bless Lothlorien for the kindness you and Celeborn have shown me. I thank you again." I did my best to bow from Urios's back.
Galadriel waved in a dismissive fashion and said, "May the gods also find you well, Princess Lavelynne, for it you die the Eldar are lost forever. But do not fear, for you will not fail. And to assure yourself of this, please receive this gift." The Lady handed me a long sword in an old, worn leather hilt.
I received it gratefully. Drawing the sword from the hilt, I noticed the bright silver blade was used, but still sharp. It was perfectly balanced in my hands and I twirled it around like an old hand. Galadriel smiled.
"You are good with a sword, Princess." She said.
"I have been practicing. Though I did not know why. I suppose I know the answer now." I spoke to Galadriel but kept my eyes focused on the sword.
"Its name is Revira. A rich history, this blade has. Gil-Galad himself used it during the Last Alliance of Men and Elves. It is a good sword, light and strong. Use it well." She spoke almost in a whisper. "Namarie Lavelynne."
I put the sword away, hanging it on my right hip. It swung gently as I cantered Urios into the river. Water splashed up around me, the beads catching the sunlight and casting rainbows upon me.
************************************************
I halted on the summit of the rise. Looking out over the endless fields of grass and trees I could barely make out a thin stream smoke rising from the far off city of Gondor. A gust of wind blew my hair back; it smelled of orcs, fire and blood. I felt the danger ahead, for myself and, as the little emerald told me, for Legolas.
I had left Lothlorien two long days ago. I had headed east, making for Gondor. Standing on the hill, however, I felt harried, as though hesitating now could be a death sentence for someone else.
Putting my hand to my chest in despair I whispered, "Where ARE you Legolas? Where are you when I so need to know?"
I did not realize my hand rested on the silver and red stone as I spoke.
************************************************
Legolas loaded his bow and pointed it at the orc. Before the pitiful creature heard the "Twang" of the bowstring, it was dead. One dead orc, however, did not make much of a dent on the Morgul forces pouring towards Gondor.
Legolas was hiding in a small bunch of trees, ambushing orcs as they tried to get near the white city. Legolas was fighting well; he had already killed a fair number.
He readied himself to shoot again. The orcs were beginning to realize the danger from the trees and were heading towards the secluded stand.
"Watch yourself, Legolas. Remember your promise to Lavelynne." Legolas whispered to himself.
Ah, Lavelynne. The name itself made him want to weep. What would happen to the Fair Lady if he were to die? What would happen to her if the Quest were to fail? He could not make himself think of her beautiful body scarred by the whips of Sauron. For surely, he thought to himself, the Dark Lord would keep her, the last of the Eldarian race, as a captor. Sauron would never let her escape to the Undying Lands. Legolas shivered despite the warmth of the evening.
He hurried to shake these thoughts from his mind; he would full control to keep himself alive during this battle.
Right as he readied himself to shoot again, Legolas grabbed his temple keeled over.
His first thought was that an orc had ambushed him, but after a split second he realized warmth glowing on his chest.
Legolas pulled out his necklace, the one with the sister stone of my own, out of his tunic. It shot off bright, blood red rays. "Lavelynne…she must be in danger…"
"Where are you?" Those were the only words Legolas could decipher before the orcs tramped into the stand.
"Pelennor Fields." Legolas whispered, clutching the stone tightly as he spoke. "Pelennor Fields."
He grabbed his bow and began to fight.
*******************************************************
"Pelennor Fields."
The message came to me, clear as a bell, through the stone. Looking to the far off city, I drew Revira from its hilt.
"The Eldar shall live again!" I yelled, a long-lost courage rising up in me.
Bearing my sword I galloped Urios towards the battle.
**********************************************
When I arrived in the small wood where Legolas was, all fighting ceased. The orcs screeched and cowered, dropping their weapons in surprise. I was later told that I had been surrounded by a bright, shining light, one feared by all evil things, and my sword had been like a sliver of the sun itself. I noticed none of this, all I knew was that I had found Legolas and I would fight for him and die for him if need be.
I rode at the orcs; Urios did not hesitate. Slashing at the cowering creatures, I killed many. It was not long before I was as stained with dark blood as Revira. The other advancing orcs quickly ran off, squeaking and squealing to the others of a"Light Elf" in the wood, a Light Elf with "the evil sword".
Urios stood surrounded by a heap of lifeless bodies. I wiped Revira clean on my dress and shifted my hair behind my shoulders. I looked over at Legolas, my long lost Prince.
"The Lady draws a sword! Most unusual for a female…" he said, staring fixatedly on the dead orcs heaped around me.
"The Lady saves your rear end!" I said, sending Legolas a barb of my own. "Some romantic you are, my Prince, insulting me when we haven't seen each other for months!"
Legolas turned his face to mine. Despite the blood covering him, I realized agin how handsome he was. His hair, clinging to his neck with sweat, still managed to shine like the purest of gold. His tanned face was bloodied, but it still held all the same joys and innocence that I had noticed the first time I had seen him.
"Lavelynne…it is you…" he whispered, almost non-believing, to me.
I did not wait. I leapt off Urios and ran to Legolas. He held his arms open and clutched me tightly to his chest. I started to sob.
"Legolas, Legolas, I thought I'd never see you again! I thought you'd be dead!" I managed to gasp out between sobs.
"I know Lavelynne. I know. Or is that `Princess' now?" he whispered, running his slender fingers through my hair, his lips nearly touching my ear.
"You know? You know of the Eldar in me?" I looked into his icy, clear blue eyes. A flicker of a bright flame danced deep within them.
"I knew from the first time I laid eyes on you, in Mirkwood. You are a legend everywhere, but I did not know the legend was real. I knew you were the lost child of the Eldar, though, when I saw you. Your hair, your eyes, your skin." He said, holding me at arms length, examining me as he spoke. "Your lips, your kisses…" Legolas trailed off smiling.
I blushed.
Legolas drew me close and kissed me. The embrace seemed to summarize all of his feelings, it lasted for but a second, though.
A bloody Aragorn stumbled into the clearing. He limped slightly and did a double take upon setting his eyes on me.
"Here I come expecting to find your dead body Legolas, and instead I find you loving on Lavelynne! A battle is going on if you have forgotten, we need your bow." Aragorn looked at Legolas seriously, but smiled at me, "It is good to see the Princess take up her sword and her crown. Are you up to fighting, little Lavelynne?"
"I have never felt more ready." I replied truthfully, not asking how he knew my title as I mounted Urios and readied Revira.
******************************************************
Riding into the Battle was one of the bravest, and most foolhardy, things I have ever done.
I fought well, for a un-battletested Maiden. Urios carried me bravely; he never faltered in stride and gallantly cantered up to the Variags, trolls and orcs.
The sounds of battle raged around me, the screams of horses, men and evil. The battle was almost over, I could tell the Evil forces were about to give up.
Then, in the midst of it all, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Darkness and a sense of evil that could not be matched by any save Sauron himself.
The Witch-King of Morgul.
I pulled Urios to a stop and turned him around. The Witch-king advanced upon the fallen body of Theoden, the king. I was frozen in place with fear. I was so afraid that I barely escaped with my life when an orc, sensing my unwatchful ness, brought down his sword into the flesh of my leg.
I nearly fell off Urios with surprise and pain. Indeed, it all would have been over if Legolas hadn't shot his bow and killed the creature. He ran over to me and despite the battle raging around him he gasped out, while still shooting with his bow, "Lavelynne! You're injured, you must go back!"
"No, the wound is not too grievous, I shall be alright." I lied, glancing at the dark red blood slowly spreading from the wound and through my dress and wincing at the pain that now seared through my whole body, causing me to almost double over. "Others are injured worse that I and still fight. So I must go on!"
With that I regripped Revira and lopped an orc's head off in one fell swoop.
Legolas did not seem convinced, but the foes were pouring into the Field with greater intensity so he had to concentrate.
I still fought, despite the wound, until I heard the screech. It was of the darkest night and the worst evil. The Witch-king had been killed.
I did not turn around even then, for the orcs seemed almost in frenzy now, sensing their leader had been slain.
I was beginning to feel faint and after glancing at my leg I realized why. Blood saturated my dress and ran freely down my legs. Urios's golden coat was smeared with my own blood.
With my last strength, I swung Revira and shouted out in Elvish "Eldar forever!"
Then I blacked out.
************************************************
I later learned that it had been my horse that had saved me. Urios had galloped to Gondor as soon as I had fainted. He knew I was hurt.
The Men of Gondor immediately tended my wound and when I awoke, I felt a great amount better.
The Men told me that the Battle of the Pelennor Fields was now over, but I could not believe it. To me there had been too many orcs and trolls and evil things to ever believe it could have ended. Against the wishes of my caretakers I gingerly mounted Urios once more and rode out to the fields.
The grasses of the field, once golden, were now stained with the red blood of men, as well as that of orcs. The River near the Fields ran red and the night wind carried the smell of death and destruction to me, but it was the destruction of Evil, not Good, that wafted about.
I was amazed that no more a foe could be found living in all the land. The whole Battle seemed almost dreamlike to me, until I actually looked around.
The bodies, I thought, dear god, the bodies were everywhere. Orcs and Variags and Trolls and Men and Horses and…Legolas?
"LEGOLAS!" I screamed as loud as I could manage. "LEGOLAS!"
*********************************************************
I flew off Urios without care to my injured leg. I could not even feel the burning pain as I ran up to Legolas's crumpled body. It was still warm and smelt of blood. I could taste the bile rise I my throat.
I knelt and shook Legolas lightly, praying for some sign of life.
Aragorn saw me and ran up to my side and looked at the body I held in my arms. He closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to block the image of his fallen friend.
"Princess Lavelynne…please…get up…it's over, he's gone." He said, his hand gripping my shoulder.
"No! Never! I will not leave him!" I ripped away from Aragorn's touch and held the limp Elf to my chest, not caring or even noticing the blood.
I did not notice Gimli walking up towards Aragorn. With a strong hand the Dwarf made me release my grip on Legolas and pulled me to my feet.
I let out a wail, so deep and filled with agony that the Men still on the field bowed their heads in respect and dared not look towards me.
"Legolas! Legolas! Legolaaaaasssss…" I cried as Aragorn tried to help me away.
I glanced back, for what I thought would be the last look I would ever set on my fair Prince. A glint of red caught my eye. I almost turned away, for I could not bear to see more of Legolas's blood, but my heart told me to look again.
It was the necklace. Legolas's matching emerald still hung around his neck. In it there was a dim glow, barely enough to catch the eye of even the sharpest Elf. But I was Legolas's lover and so it immediately came to my attention.
"HE'S ALIVE!! MY PRINCE IS ALIVE!" I yelled unbelievingly and joyously as I tore away from Aragorn.
"Princess, you must not go back, there is no way he is alive, and you are hurting yourself by imagining such things." Aragorn called after me as I ran towards the body once more.
I cradled Legolas's head in my arms. His blond hair was matted with blood and sweat, his sharp-featured face was pale and his neck was limp, but I knew he was alive.
I knew it in my heart.
******************************************************************
I was sitting by his bedside when Legolas finally woke up. I watched eagerly as the Elf shifted ever so slightly under his sheets. It was the biggest sign of life he had shown since Aragorn, Gimli and I had brought him into Gondor.
As Legolas began to wake, I took his hand. It was warm and I could feel the life coursing through it.
"My Prince lives." I whispered happily.
"What happened? Where am I?" Legolas suddenly sat upright and nearly fell out of his bed.
I laughed with joy. "Legolas!"
"Yes…It is I. Where am I Lavelynne? I…I do not remember much. All I know is I got hit. A Variag. The damned thing knocked me down, attacked me. I couldn't get an arrow from my quiver. I suppose I blacked out. What happened?"
I smiled and smoothed his hair. "We thought you died, Legolas. Aragorn was ready to give up, but I knew you lived. The necklace really did come in use, it saved you."
"What? The necklace saved me?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Yes! I thought you were dead for sure, but as I looked back at you I saw the necklace glow. I knew you lived then, but Aragorn thought I imagined it. He thought I was heartsick and heartbroken, he did not see the truth. When I knelt by your side I heard the necklace. It whispered, so quietly I almost could not make it out, `Lavelynne', I knew it was you! I knew you were alive! Aragorn thought I was crazy, but indeed I was not! You are alive and Mordor has been defeated!" I told the story to him happily.
He looked up at me incredulously. "You saved me. The necklace did not. You did."
I tried to protest, but before I could get a word in Legolas pulled me to him and pressed his lips on mine.
We kissed fiercely, making up for the lost passion and endless agony we had experienced while away from each other.
I laid down next to him. He pulled me close and I unbuttoned his tunic, setting my head on his chest, to listen to the strong beating of his heart. He kissed the top of my head. I snuggled closer.
"Will you marry me, Princess Lavelynne?" he asked quietly, tilting my head to his.
I had dreamed of him saying these words for a long, long time.
"Yes." No hesitation, no doubt. The words flowed as easily from my lips as I had hoped they would. Elrond will be very surprised, I thought as I drifted off to sleep, Legolas holding me tightly. Very, very surprised.