One-shots/Short Stories

Legolas

The Sister of Aragorn
"Well there we have it. The Nine Fellowships -"
   "Elrond," Aragorn's interrupted softly, "I believe it's ten."
   "Ten?" Boromir questioned. "Who's the tenth?"
   "My sister, Eliana."
   "Sister?" everyone whispered.
   "Aragorn," Legolas whispered to him, "you've never told me you had a sister."
   "Aye, that's because she's powerful and wanted by many from afar from good to evil." Aragorn explained sadly. "My twin sister was to hide away for the rest of her life so no one dark could get to her and use her."
   "But at the moment, Aragorn's sister is needed." Gandalf explained wisely. "Eliana must come out to the world and help protect Middle-earth."
   "Okay!" Merry chirped happily. "So uh, where is she?"
   "She's on her way." Aragorn told them. "She'll meet us on the way."
   "How will she know -"
   "She'll know." Aragorn cut Gimli. "Trust me, she'll know where to find us."

***

It wasn't until they reach Lothlorien did they finally meet the famous Eliana.
   While being escorted to where they were going to stay, they found someone already making a spot for them self.
   "Eliana. . ." Aragorn dropped his bags and weapons, bringing his twin into a long awaited hug. She hugged him back just as tightly. "It's been so long. . ."
   "Goheno nin," she said sadly, "if I had come sooner then Mithrandir -"
   "It's not your fault that Gandalf died." he told her sternly. "He did what was best for the quest." He turned to the waiting remainders of the Fellowship. "Everyone, this is my sister, Eliana."
   She looked just like her brother. The same dark brown wavy hair, the blue eyes - just feminine. Her form was slim and firm of a female warrior, a staff at her side to show she casts magic. She also held a bow and quiver and sword, with small daggers. She was fully prepared for anything.

She was a beautiful and dangerous sight.

"This is Gimli, Boromir, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Legolas."
   "Iston i nîf gîn." she murmured when she laid her eyes on Legolas. He felt like he was under some sort of spell when they connected eyes. "Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood." She bowed her head respectively. "Heruamin."
   "It is an honour to meet you, Eliana." Legolas said, grabbing her hand and kissing her knuckles chastely. "Aragorn has spoken fondly of you."
   "Likewise." she smiled shyly at him. "He told me about you as soon as you both met. An interesting elf you are, Legolas."
   "An interesting mortal you are, Eliana."
   "Is it just me or are the two flirting?" Merry whispered to Pippin. Hearing the hobbits, Aragorn cleared his throat to gain all their attention.
   "Now that we have introduced each other, it is time to rest from earlier on the day." At his words grief came over them again at the memory of Gandalf's fall. But strangely, Eliana didn't look that sad. Instead, she had a look of understanding and the look you have when you know something that the others don't. It drove Legolas crazy.
   "What are you thinking?" he asked her curiously.
   "Just thinking about Gandalf." she shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm sure that even if he is not present with us at this moment, he will always leave a marking on us all and surprise us." Having no answer to her small riddle, Legolas went to make his own area to sleep at.

***

During the quest, Eliana got to know the Fellowship more - especially Legolas. They always hung around together, talking with each other and getting to know one another. Legolas found her simply unique and amazing; someone small like her having so much power within her. Not only was she a sorceress, she also knew how to fight - she wasn't a damsel in distress and Legolas couldn't help but love it.
   "So. . .you and Eliana. . ." Merry and Pippin appeared at Legolas' side, interrupting his daydreaming on the said woman. She was off in the distance with her brother, talking about the future days ahead of them.
   "Sorry, what was that?" Legolas looked to the two mischievous hobbits. They snickered at his reply.
   "You and Eliana?" Merry asked. "Is there something going on?"
   "Or is there going to be?" Pippin added.
   "Yeah, Legolas," Boromir smirked from the campfire, sharpening his sword. "Is there going to be anything?"
   "Pah! Master Elf and Witch? Hilarious!" Gimli guffawed. They all shushed him at his loudness, Legolas looking over to Eliana and Aragorn worriedly, wondering if they heard their talk. Luckily, they didn't.
   "I don't know what you're talking about." Legolas lied, avoiding eye contact with them all. They laughed at his reaction.
   "Why not ask her out, Master Legolas?" Sam asked shyly. "I mean, obviously she returns the feelings -"
   "Wait," he snapped his head towards the hobbit, "she likes me?"
   "No," Merry and Pippin scoffed, "she loves you." Legolas blushed at that.
   "It's not that simple -"
   "He admits it!" they cried. Legolas rolled his eyes at them.
   "It's not that simple." he repeated. "It wouldn't work. She's human, I'm not. She will die, I will not. She will get old. . .I won't." They realised why he didn't act on his feelings; it wouldn't work for either of the two. A mortal and immortal together? Hard to do. That's why Legolas didn't say anything; he was afraid of losing the love of his life through old age.
   "There must be a way, surely." Gimli attempted to say cheerfully. Legolas shook his head in reply.
   "I either leave my kind and turn human, or I stay as who I am and watch as she dies away in front of me."

***

Legolas fought the orcs with the men, only to stop when he suddenly heard a cry of pain and anguish in the distance. He knew where the scream came from: Eliana.
   "Eliana!" Legolas called, running to her. She was stabbed from behind by an orc, killed moments later by Aragorn's sword. Quickly Legolas swooped in and lifted her into his arms, Aragorn defending them.
   "Take her inside Helms Deep!" Aragorn yelled over the noise of battle in pain, looking to his sister worriedly. "And make sure she gets the help she needs!"
   "I will!" Legolas nodded, running to safety. "Make sure you get the other elves and Haldir to retreat!"
   Bursting into the main hall, he instructed people to move aside and get help for Eliana. He laid the pale woman on the ground, assessing her wound. The wound went straight through her body, her abdomen almost covered with her own blood, the ground starting to get stained with it as well.
   "Hold on, nin meleth," he whispered brokenly, brushing back her loose strands of hair away from her face. "Hold on." He couldn't bear the thought of losing her in his life, while at the same time not even being with her out of love. It was then that he made his decision

He was going to turn mortal.

For her.

***

"Are you sure about this?" Thranduil looked to his only son in worry. Legolas nodded, determined.
   "I am sure, Ada."
   "Well I can't stop you." Thranduil sighed sadly. "Besides, she is an independent woman. She won't get in the way of you ruling -"
   "Father," Legolas sent him a look. "I don't love her because of how powerful she is. I love her for her like how she loves me for me and not my status."
   "Then you two will make a wonderful couple." Thranduil started leading him outside the castle of Minas Tirith. "Come now, Aragorn's coronation is to happen."

***

They were dancing together at the night of Aragorn's celebration of becoming king, laughter and smiles in the air. Legolas held a fully-healed Eliana in his arms while twirling her around, laughing every once in a while when they'd step on each other's feet.
   "Eliana," Legolas murmured in her ear, the music getting softer and slower, "I need to tell you something."
   "What is it, heruamin?" Eliana looked to him curiously. He tightened his hold on her nervously.
   "I have fallen in love with you." he blurted out. She stared at him in surprise. "Ever since we laid eyes on each other, I knew that you were going to mean so much to me in the future. And you are." He leaned his forehead on hers, ignoring their surroundings and the curiosity looks from close friends and family. "I love you, Eliana. And I am willing to turn mortal for you if that's what it takes."
   "Really?" she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. "You'd do that for me?"
   "Anything. I will even slay all orcs that live on Middle-earth if that is what you want." he joked halfheartedly. Eliana smiled brightly, caressing the side of the elf's face.
   "I love you too." she finally told him. "And. . .if that is what you want -"
   "It is," he agreed immediately.
   "Then so you shall be mortal." Eliana smiled at him lovingly.

And they lived the rest of their mortal lives happily.

The End

Translations:
Goheno nin - Forgive me
Mithrandir - Gandalf, or 'The Grey Wanderer'
Iston i nîf gîn - I know your face
Heruamin - My Prince
Nin meleth - My love
Ada - Father