Time to say Goodbye

Title: Time to say Goodbye
Author: Tuxedo Elf
Rating: PG-13, Mild slash
Summary: Legolas says farewell to many things dear to him.
Disclaimer: Not mine, all Tolkien's
Warnings: There should be a certain warning, but it would spoil the fic I think!

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Aragorn is dead. His eyes closed to the world but days ago, robbing Gondor of her greatest king. Eldarion now rules, as his mother has forsaken the human city.
Arwen rides beside me, hooded and cloaked, as we make our way to Lórien one last time.

She is silent, her mind far away in other places. I do not complain; I am also lost in my thoughts. As elves, we have lived for centuries in war and peace, yet it seemed to me that little changed. That is, until the War of the Ring. That changed everything, ushering out the elves and welcoming in the men. I stayed only to keep my promise to Aragorn – to remain by his side while he still walked on Arda.

I have done that; despite the pain it caused me. I wanted to leave years ago.
I do not resent the promise I made, but the years have been long and hard for me. I am glad that they are all but over now, save this one last duty.

Arwen eats little and rests less on the journey to Lórien. I do not comment – she is dying, there is no point. In her heart she is already dead. I can see her grief in her eyes – eyes that once sparkled with life and love. Now they are dull and empty.

When at last we arrive, no words are spoken; they are not needed. I help her dismount and release the horses.
I follow her as she walks slowly to Cerin Amroth, pausing only at the base of the great mallorn where the Lord and Lady used to reside, to offer up a quiet prayer.

Then she continues to the place where she made her pledge to Aragorn, her feet treading the same spot his did so long ago.
Still with elven grace she lays herself down, her head cushioned on a bed of fallen leaves. I never thought to see the day when the leaves fell in Lórien.

I kneel beside her and take her hand in mine.
“Farewell, Undómiel.” I say softly. “May your heart find peace.”
She smiles softly, knowingly.
“Namarie, Legolas.” She whispers, “May the Valar bless you with the same.”
She smiles one last time, then her heart ceases to beat and she is lost to the fate of men. The Evenstar is dead.

I bury her there, singing a quiet lament for her soul. Her body will become one with the land she loved, her spirit will be joined with Aragorn’s for evermore. She will have what she desires.

As for me – my duties are over. I am free.

I turn away from the Evenstar’s resting place, my feet carrying me to my destination without direction. They do not need it, so well did they once know this path.

When I reach the mallorn I have sought, I run my hands over the trunk, remembering a time when I had not stood here alone, when strong arms had wrapped themselves around my waist and soft kisses had been pressed lovingly to the back of my neck.

I force the tears back – I will not cry yet. There will be time enough for tears. I climb the tree swiftly and step into the now deserted talan.
Many of his things have gone, taken by his brothers into the west. They sailed with Galadriel – no longer wishing to remain.

Yet for all that is gone, this is still the talan I knew so well. The now-empty bookcase that housed an odd collection of books. The shelf that held the harp he never learned how to play. The table where we shared so many intimate meals and the bed where we spent so many nights, lovingly wrapped in the other’s embrace. I remember those nights so very well.

Soft lips against my skin, whispered words of love, platinum hair caressing my body. Passionate cries and soft moans filling the air as we took pleasure in each other, our spirits joining with our bodies.
I still hold onto the memories of our last night here, when we feared all was ending. That night he bound himself to me and I to him. We told no one, they had other things to worry about. Our bonding was witnessed by the stars and blessed by Elbereth, we needed no others.

We were right in our fear, though it did not come in the way we expected. Not that the details mattered. It still ended before it should have. He came when I needed him most – and died for his valour.

I didn’t need to see him fall; I knew he was gone. I remember screaming as my heart was ripped in two, then I knew nothing until the battle was over. Gimli told me later that I went berserk, killing every orc within reach. I didn’t care, my heart was broken. I did not want to go on – but I had to. I had made a vow to stand by Aragorn and it was a promise I had to uphold.

I will never know how I made it through the years of his Kingship. I think perhaps it was only the friendship of Aragorn, Gimli and Arwen that carried me though.

But that is over now.

Slowly, I remove my weapons and lower myself onto the soft bed, my body sending up a small cloud of dust from the disused sheets. My fingers entwine in the fabric and I breathe deeply. Even after all these years, his smell still lingers. How I have missed that scent.

I told Aragorn I would remain by his side while he lived, then sail west to Valinor.

I lied.

The west holds no comfort for me, there is no paradise there.

Some wondered why Arwen allowed me to accompany her when it seemed she would travel alone. I did not tell them, I cared not for their curiosity. But Arwen understood, she was the only one who could understand my desire. I knew that she alone would not attempt to stop me.

I had confided in her sometimes over the years, when the heartache became too much. Only she truly understood my pain and the path I would one day tread.

That day has come.

I close my eyes, letting the dusty talan fade away. His scent surrounds me, growing stronger in my mind as I relax. My breathing grows shallower as my heart begins to slow. There will be no laments for me, no burial or prayers. It does not matter.
I have yearned for this, that I might finally let go. I am so weary, now at last I can rest.

Darkness falls as the last few breaths escape my failing body. I feel light and I know that my spirit has pulled free. I drift into the darkness, to whatever awaits me.

The darkness softens suddenly, turning grey and illuminating a figure coming towards me. My spirits soar as he comes closer and I see his face. I utter a single word, breaking the silence.
“Haldir.” My voice is barely a whisper as I take in the sight I have wanted to see for so long.
He smiles and holds out his hand. He looks exactly as I remember him, his eyes sparkling and hair shining. The soft grey of his uniform almost merges with the grey around us.
“I knew you would come.” He says. “Welcome home, Legolas.”
I take his hand and he pulls me close, his arms wrapping themselves around me at last.
“I have missed you.” I whisper, taking in his scent, fresh and true now he is near. “I love you.”
“I know you have, my love.” He replies gently. “But all is well now, we are together.”
Now I cry, tears of pain and joy flowing down my face as he holds me. At last, I am whole again.

Dead we may be in body, but our spirits are alive so long as they are together. We are happy.

THE END


Yes, it was a character death warning! Hope you liked it though!