Ullume, Ten Meles (Forever, For Love)

Chapter 5


Aragorn rode down to meet his friends. It had been a long time since he had last seen them. He truly missed their company.

“My friends!” he yelled in joy as he jumped off of his horse. Embracing first Gimli and then greeting Legolas in the elven way before embracing him in a hug as well. “It has been too long.”

“Aye my king, it has been too long.” Gimli said, bowing before Aragorn. Legolas followed suit.

“None of that. You know that you needent bow to me.” He turned to a page. “Take the horses to the stables and their belongings to the castle.” As they walked up the road to the castle, Aragorn noticed Legolas’s silence.

“Legolas? Is something wrong?”

“Laa. Nothing is wrong. How is Arwen?” he asked, trying to change the subject.

“She is fine. She has missed you.” Aragorn glanced over at Gimli, hoping he could shed some light on things. Aragorn knew something was wrong.

Gimli shook his head and Aragorn knew immediately that something was wrong. He would speak to Gimli when they had a moment alone.

The trio of friends laughed and smiled as little girls of Minas Tirith came forward and threw flowers at them. Arwen met them as they approached the white tree. Legolas swung her around in his arms. Gimli tried, but because of his height, he was unable to. Arwen laughed. And they all joined in.

“It is so good to see you. Both of you. You have been away too long.”

“Aye my lady. That we have.” Gimli said as he started walking towards the castle. “What are we having for dinner?”

“You are starting to sound like a hobbit.” Legolas yelled after him.

Gimli just growled at his friend, but with a smile on his face. Aragorn followed Gimli and Arwen put her arm through Legolas’s.

“Legolas? What is it?”

“Nothing my queen.” Arwen stopped walking and turned to face her friend.

“Do not lie to me Prince Legolas. Thou are sad and I wish to know why.”

“It is nothing. Nothing that can be helped my lady. Come, I wish to see those wild heathens of yours.”

“No thanks to you and their father.” Arwen said with a laugh. Legolas was very good at hiding his feelings, but not this time.



“So what is wrong with our friend Gimli?” Aragorn asked when he knew that they were out of range for Legolas to hear them. He truly began to worry when Gimli sighed heavily.

“Aragorn. I fear that Legolas is going to make a grave decision. One that I am fearful of him making.”

“Gimli, you are speaking in riddles.”

“On our journey here, I noticed him touching a chain around his neck. A chain with a pendant. Such as the Evenstar. And then he asked me a question. A question that I thought odd.”

“What did he ask you?”

“He asked if I had ever been in love.”

“In love?”

“Aye. I asked him if he had been in love and he told me once.”

“He has never told me that.”

“I believe that he has kept this to himself for a long time. He proceeded to tell me of his love. A Princess Tari of Dorthonion.”

“Where is this princess?”

“I do not know. Legolas does not know if she is dead or alive. Apparently, the kingdom of Dorthonion was overrun by a band of renegade Orcs and killed all that dwelled there. A ranger by the name of Theron’ brought this necklace back to Legolas’s father. I guess he didn’t know whom else to take it to. Legolas had given the necklace to Tari and she vowed to love him until the day that she died and would never take off the necklace.”

“I had no idea.”

“Legolas said that when his father gave him the necklace, he relayed the news that the ranger had told him. Legolas said that he went to Dorthonion and there was nothing left. He could not find her body.”

Aragorn felt his heart ache for his friend. He knew how he felt. Not knowing if Arwen lived or died before he became king. “I believe that our friend maybe be considering leaving us. I fear that his heart cannot grieve any longer. He also told me that they were destined.”

“Destined?”

“Aye laddie, he told me that she was marked.”

“I do not understand.”

“He told me that she had the mark of a leaf on her hip and she told him that they were soul mates. Destined to be together.”

Aragorn sighed. He would talk to Legolas. He hoped that he could get him to open up to him as he had to Gimli. Perhaps he could summon this ranger, Theron’ to the White City and he could provide his account of what was found in Dorthonion. If Aragorn remembered correctly, Dorthonion was known as the ‘Land of Pines’. It was of great forests and highlands located on the northern borders of Beleriand.

They turned as they heard the rustle of skirts. It was Ireth. She curtseyed when she saw the king and his friend.

“And who might this lovely lass be?” Gimli said.

“This is the lady Ireth Gimli. She has come to us from where, we do not know. She is a true friend.”

“My lady.” Gimli said, kissing her hand. She giggled as his beard tickled her hand.

“My lords. Her majesty said that the evening meal will be served in about an hour.”

“Thank you Ireth.” She turned to depart. “Ireth.”

“Yes my lord?”

“What did I ask of you to call me when we are not in the formalities of the court?”

“Aragorn.” She smiled at him.

“Have you met Legolas?” Aragorn asked.

“No, I have not. Who is he?”

“He is an elf also. Perhaps he may be able to help us figure out who you are.”

“That would be very kind.” She said quietly and turned to leave.

“She is an elf?” Gimli asked.

“Yes. The children found her when they were playing. She has no memory of who she is.”

“Interesting.”