When The Trees Sang: Part XX
by Nicole
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Two more years passed, with no word from Garania. He had been told
that she had first gone to Lothlorien, to bid her grandmother good-
bye on her journey across the sea, and then rode on to Rivendell,
were she was greeted with open arms by Elrond, and the rest of the
kingdom.
He spent most of his time in solitude, away from the royal courts,
and the advisors. Angeles had been married, and now lived happily
with her husband in a kingdom near Lothlorien, possessing too much
of her mother's lineage to remain in Mirkwood. Raladir took over
Legolas' abandonded role as king more and more everyday, and was
becoming a noble ruler.
Finally, he made the decision to give up the role as king
altogether, allowing his son full access to the throne that he had
sat upon for so long. He retired to his study most days, leaving
himself alone with his thoughts.
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Nearly one hundred more years had since gone, and Legolas was left
feeling even more alone than he had the first day she left. Since
giving up his title as king, he felt as if his whole world was
crumbling beneath him at his feet. Word had been sent many years
ago, that Aragorn had passed, followed soon behind by Arwen. He felt
a strong sadness at the loss of the beautiful Elf that he had grown
so close to in their younger days, as well as for his friend, and
companion, that had defended him so many times during the days of
the ring, and the Witch King. The only friend that still remained,
was Gimli, who was now growing old, as he was mortal, and did not
possess the qualities that the Elves did. Angeles had gone as well,
falling of grief for her husband who had fallen in battle several
decades ago. He longed for Garania more and more everyday, as his
grief grew stronger. Finally, the day came when he could take it no
longer. He ran down the halls of the palace, gathering his things
for his journey. Raladir followed behind him, trying to make sense
of his actions.
"Father, what are you doing? Why are you packing your things? Are
you planning a trip?"
Legolas did not stop, but spoke as he ran.
"Yes, indeed I am, my son. I am going to your mother, in Rivendell.
I can be without her no longer."
Raladir smiled, happiness filling him. So long had he wished for his
father to return to his mother, and to resolve his unhappiness. He
followed him down the hallway.
"But Father, when will you leave? Should you not take archers with
you, in case there are still roaming orcs on the way?"
Legolas shook his head quickly, throwing the last of his possessions
into a large pack, which he strapped to the back of his horse.
"No, I will go alone." He turned around to face his son. "Raladir,
my son, you have become a fine king. I will miss you much." He
wrapped his arms around the Elf before him, and then quickly mounted
his horse, and bid good-bye to those that had heard the commotion
and come to see him off. He then beckoned his horse on, leaving the
gates of Mirkwood far behind.
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After travelling for nearly a week, the large, glittering gates of
Rivendell finally came into view. He sucked in his breath shortly as
he crossed through them, catching a glimpse of Elrond standing at
the palace steps, greeting him in much the same way that he had upon
his return with the Fellowship so many years ago. The kingdom seemed
much emptier, but he couldn't place exactly what it was. A smile
grew across Elrond's face as he approached.
"Legolas. It is good to see your face again, after so long."
Legolas returned the smile, his eyes questioning. Elrond chuckled
softly.
"Do not fear, she is still here, as well as she was upon the day of
her arrival. I have sensed her longing for you for many years now,
and I fear if you had not arrived much sooner, she would have faded
from grief. She grows tired, Legolas. Perhaps you can revive her
long lost spirit."
Legolas nodded, grasping Elrond's hand. The older Elf stepped aside
to allow him passage into the palace, which stood just as beautiful
as it had nearly two hundred years ago. He walked slowly up the
steps, placing one foot before the other, his heart beating rapidly.
He made his way into the large hall, followed a short distance
behind by Elrond, who was smiling to himself at the Elf walking
nervously ahead of him. Memories of the first meeting between the
two flashed through his mind, and his eyes shined, happy to have the
two reunited again. Just as Legolas began to walk up the tall,
winding stairs leading to the upper part of the castle, something
made him stop. He backed slowly away from the staircase, looking
high above him at the stairs winding over his head. A figure was
moving down them, slowly, making every movement with precise grace
and skill. The figure reached the bottom of the stairs, walking
slowly towards him. She gazed into his eyes, her own shining, as her
voice echoed throughout his soul.
"Legolas, my love, it has been far too long since last my eyes had
the privilege of holding you in their vision. I have missed you
much, melamin. Though I may not allow it to appear on the outside,
do not doubt for a moment the love that I have for you, and the
greatness of which my pain was for longing for you."
He smiled, remembering the last time she had spoken these same words
to him, so long ago. His lips somehow managed to find hers in their
blindness, and they stood embraced for a long moment, incapable of
leaving the other's arms. Elrond looked on, smiling to himself,
before retreating quietly from the room, to allow the lovers to
rejoice in the other's embrace in private.
Legolas pulled away from Garania, looking deep into her eyes,
silently questioning her. She smiled at him, and gave him the answer
to his unspoken questions.
"My love, you were the first, and you will be the last."
He smiled at her words, and pulled her back into their strong
embrace.
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Fifty more years passed by, bringing Elrond's departure from
Rivendell, over the Great Sea, and Gimli's arrival. The Dwarf had
grown old, barely even able to ride a horse on his own through his
fraility. Few by few, the Elves were leaving, sailing to the West,
leaving Middle Earth far behind. Finally, one day, Garania
approached Legolas. She was now very near 6,000 years old, and he
saw it with every glance into her eyes.
"Legolas, it is time. The Elves have nearly all left these parts. We
are some of the few remaining, Rivendell has been almost comepletly
deserted. Elrond's spoke his words true. The time of the Elves has
passed. It is time for us to journey over the Great Sea, to take our
place with the rest of our kind in the West."
He nodded, silently agreeing.
They boarded the last boat to ever pass into the West, with many of
the remaining Elves of Middle Earth, only a few weeks later. Only a
few remained, Raladir, and Elrond's remaining sons, along with
Celeborn, who had grown to love Middle Earth too much to leave.
Gimli had passed just a few days before their journey, leaving
Legolas saddened.
They stood before the large white ship, looking back upon the World
that they had come to know for so many thousands of years. The rest
of the Elves boarded the boat ahead of them, leaving them to bid a
final farewell to Middle Earth, before leaving to take their place
in the land of the Undying Lands, where the rest of of the immortals
dwelt. Giving Legolas a reassuring smile, Garania took his hand, and
they walked onto the boat, forever leaving Middle Earth, and passing
over the sea, fading away into legends, and becoming but a myth to
all who followed.
****
The book slowly closed, leaving four wide-eyed children looking up
in astonishment at their grandfather.
"But Grandpa, what happened to them after that?"
"I don't know. Nothing has been heard of them since the day they
went over the sea into the West."
"But what about their son, it said he stayed behind. What happened
to him?"
"Well, it doesn't rightly say. I suppose he stuck around in Middle
Earth for awhile."
"Really? Do you think he might still be around today?"
The old man smiled, his eyes shining between two pointed ears.
"Oh, well, he just might be....He just might be."
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And now the journeys long since passed
The years have since grown old
And for those that played the battles well
Their story's now been told
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