Chapter
14
Oh
how I wish for soothing rain,
All I wish is to dream again,
My loving heart, lost in the dark,
For hope I'd give my everything.
Nightwish
- Nemo
Six months had passed since Legolas had given his soul to defeat
the evil that the people of Gondor were simply calling ''The
Shadow'. The evil's real name remained unknown - assuming it
even had one.
In that time Gondor had entered a period of unprecedented peace.
True to his word, Aragorn, with the assistance of Gimli, his
father, brothers and Glorfindel, had worked to turn Gondor into
a paradise worthy of the memory of the Woodland Prince.
Crime
was almost non-existent after Glorfindel personally saw to the
training of a new guard regiment. Any remaining bandit groups
were wiped out in short order, giving Aragorn wonderful peace
of mind.
The
Balrog-slayer had remained in Gondor to help Aragorn, even after
Lord Elrond and his sons had been compelled to return to Imladris.
As
a result Estel was able to spend far more time with Arwen than
before. She was coping quite well without her sight; despite
being mortal she still had elven hearing and senses, which were
a great asset in her re-adjustment. Yet without a doubt it was
Estel's love that truly got her through, he was ever at her
side, guiding and helping her. It was not true darkness for
her, as the image of his face was burned eternally in her mind.
Tonight
they sat on the large balcony overlooking the city, Estel holding
Arwen close as she hummed softly. He was not looking at the
city though, but staring up at the stars as he thought on his
lost friend. The grief had been easier this time, having been
through the worst of it already, but knowing that Legolas had
sacrificed his soul had been a terrible shock. Despite the passing
of time he had yet to tell Thranduil, for he did not know if
he had the strength to crush the Elvenking's heart yet again.
Thranduil had loved Legolas very much; his son had been his
world. Aragorn did not know if he would survive the knowledge
that he would never see his son again.
It
was with these thoughts that he finally slipped into a troubled
sleep under the night sky.
****************************
There
was much confusion amongst the speakers.
"Are
you sure?"
"Ai,
I am sure."
"It
was not supposed to be."
"This
I know, but yet it is."
"Is
it retrievable?"
"If
we all work together, I believe so, yes."
"Then
we shall. It should not be left thus, if an alternative remains."
"I
agree. Let us start."
The
speakers came together then, reaching out towards their goal.
***********************
Glorfindel
sighed and put down the book he had been reading. He had become
so accustomed to Legolas' ghostly presence he still found the
absence unsettling sometimes, even after six months.
"I hope you are at peace Legolas." He whispered. "Eru
knows you at least deserve that."
Rising,
he realised that he would get no sleep that night. He decided
to seek out Gimli, who he’d discovered was something of
an insomniac. He’d lost count of the nights he’d
been awoken by the dwarf stomping past his rooms in the early
hours.
He
made his way along the stone corridors to Gimli’s rooms
and knocked on the door.
When he got no reply he knocked again, then tried the door.
It was unlocked and he peered in, only to find the room empty.
“It seems the dwarf is even more restless than I.”
He muttered with a small smile. Giving up on the idea of company
he closed the door and headed out for a walk in the pre-dawn
light.
********************
Nothing,
that was all there was. No thoughts or feelings, no past, present
or future. Only the darkness that was the sheer lack of anything.
Identity
was lost – had it ever existed? This was not life, nor
death it was simply – nothing.
“Come.
This is not the place for you.”
A
voice? There were no voices here.
“Follow
us, heed our words.”
Who
was it that spoke in the darkness?
“There
is little time – please follow us.”
Urgency.
The voice was worried. It could be a trap though. Yet, what
was there to lose?
Wait, this was thought. Thought must mean an identity in world
beyond the emptiness. There was nothing to lose by following
the voice, yet everything to gain. That was a risk worth taking.
“I
will come.”
************************
Aragorn
yawned and stretched, blinking as he looked to the sky. With
a slight smile he realised that he had slept on the balcony
all night, with Arwen in his arms.
Deciding that there was no point in moving now he settled back
again.
Arwen mumbled in her sleep and he pulled her closer as the sun
began to rise.
***********************
The
speakers were pleased.
“Much
will come of this, I am sure.”
“As
am I, though to truly go back is not possible.”
“Why
not?”
“We
have not the power for a new vessel, you know this. Not there.”
“True,
we cannot create anew. But that which was destroyed can be restored.”
“It
has never been done.”
“It
has never been needed.”
“It
will work, the elements will see that it does.”
“If
you would see this done, then so will I.”
“You
have my support also.”
“Then
let it be.”
****************************
Glorfindel
had finally found Gimli, sitting under a tree near the courtyard.
“Care for some company, mellon nin?” He said with
a smile.
“Aye, so long as you speak words I can understand!”
The dwarf replied with a grin.
Glorfindel laughed and sat down. “I promise!” He
looked upwards. “The sun is bright already, it looks to
be a beautiful day!”
“That it does.” Gimli agreed. “So long as
we’re not continually troubled by this damn wind!”
Glorfindel laughed again as the breeze wafted through them.
“So long as the sun is shining, that is good enough for
me!”
My,
but the sun was bright! Aragorn shielded his face with his hand
as he looked. By the Valar, had it ever shone so? It was like
pure gold!
“Estel? Is something wrong?” Arwen asked, waking
as her husband moved.
“I am not sure.” He replied. “I think we should
go down to the courtyard.”
She nodded and he took her arm, guiding her back into their
rooms.
He
quickly changed before helping Arwen into a fresh dress, then
guiding her as quickly as possible down the stairs to the courtyard.
“We
need to head back.” Glorfindel said suddenly, standing
up.
Gimli frowned. “Why?”
“I don’t know exactly.” The Balrog-slayer
replied. “It’s just a feeling.”
“Very well then.” Gimli grunted. “Far be it
from me to question an elf who talks to ghosts.”
Glorfindel smiled and the two of them hurried back to the palace.
They
came across Estel and Arwen standing in the courtyard in the
now brilliant sunlight.
Others were also filling the area, as more and more noticed
the strange intensity of the morning sun.
Even Arwen in her blindness could sense that something was different.
Suddenly,
without warning, the sunlight flared even brighter than before.
Then it channelled itself into a beam, hitting the hastily cleared
centre of the courtyard.
A wind whipped by, to be caught in the beam of light and held
there.
Carried
by the wind were ashes, the remains of one fallen long ago.
In the sunlight they gathered, reforming into the shape they
had once held. Light pulsed; fusing them together, while the
power of those who had spoken flowed through, restoring life
and form to a soul thought eternally lost.
Aragorn
stared. This was not like before, this was no pale figure in
a shadow of evil. This was a miracle of life.
He could not tear his eyes away as his wish of well over a decade
literally took shape before his eyes.
That
power, Glorfindel knew that power. He had felt it once before,
when he was sent back. He remembered how it felt to have life
return, to revel in the miracle that was drawing breath and
to be truly aware of the world around you. Now another would
know that bliss and he couldn’t be happier.
Brighter
than mithril and infinitely more valuable, was the light before
Gimli’s eyes. His elven friend, who had died saving his
life, was before him, no longer a ghost but flesh and blood
once more. His gaze locked on the sight before him, Gimli silently
thanked Aulë.
In
the sunlight he glowed, with the presence of one that has seen
death and beyond and has returned to tell the tale. The light
began to separate into strands, wrapping around the newly restored
body and fusing within. Not until the body had absorbed all
the light did it stop, but when it was done a vision stood before
them.
Legolas,
restored to life, to the world he called home and to the friends
he loved.
He
smiled, looking around him and spoke two simple words.
“Hello, Estel.”
Forgetting
dignity, forgetting everything, the King of Gondor ran forward
and embraced his long-lost friend in a crushing hug. Unbidden,
he felt tears falling, tears of joy for this incredible gift.
Legolas
returned the embrace, smiling softly. He was home.
******************
Ilúvatar
nodded in approval.
“It is done.”
Then he turned away, Elbereth and Namo close behind him.
END
CHAPTER 14
