THE RED RIDER ; lord of the rings {legolas} ✔

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that I was not in my own room. The second thing was that I had a headache.

I sat up slowly, black spots clouding my vision as I straightened. I was in a bed, that was certain, meaning that I was on the sixth level of the city. I glanced outwards, towards the door to the balcony. The sun was just rising, and a faint silhouette was seated on the ground, leaning against the railing, his delicate head relaxed; Legolas was asleep. I smiled slightly at the sight of him, knowing he would've felt uncomfortable sleeping beside me while I was unconcious from an injury; instead he sought the calm breeze of the night to lull him to sleep.

I slipped off the bed and walked towards him silently; a breeze blew by playfully, ruffling my skirt and making me realize I was still wearing my lilac dress.

I sat down beside him carefully, leaning back against the railing and looping my arm through his gently, resting my head on his shoulder lightly, not disturbing him at all.

Despite the resting position and the comfort of having him beside me, I was unable to go back to sleep with the thought of leaving later this day. I knew for certain - and from the constant throbbing of my arm around my scar - that it was time, and that I had to go - and that eventually, my sea-longing would somehow overcome my love of this world and everyone here - but in this perfect moment of peace with Legolas, I didn't want time to go on, only wishing to remain here with him.

My heart felt torn from my mind; I knew, I knew that it was time to leave, and that by sundown, I would be gone from this world, never to be seen again. I felt the call of the sea and the land beyond in my gut, where the Valar lay waiting, where I would finally be rid of this cursed pain in my arm, but for the past five months, ever since the end of the War, I'd been stalling my departure. My life was here, my heart was here, everything I knew, the centuries I'd lived - everything I remembered was here. I loved my life here.

And yet - now that I knew I was leaving, the sea-longing seemed to settle a little bit, only waiting, no longer telling me to stop waiting. It was peaceful and strange; I felt oddly tranquil all the time, like a slight discomfort in my stomach because I'd grown used to its presence.

Legolas stirred slightly beside me, and I felt a sudden pang in my heart, one that I'd felt many times now, at the thought of leaving him for many years to come. Tears threatened in the corners of my eyes, once I thought of everyone I was leaving, all the memories I could never recount again, only waiting, waiting for my love in a peaceful, paradisic, eternal hell.

I felt a tear slide down my face and I wiped it away impatiently. I gently kissed Legolas' cheek, and then returned to my place against his shoulder. "Im mela lle, ach nányë rusta vi tad. Natyë melethnin, ach latha'im boe i Belegaear au lle," I murmured, addressing him, but speaking more to myself than anyone at all. I love you, but I am torn in two. You are my love, but I must cross the Great Sea without you.

Legolas shifted, and I knew he was awake when he moved his other arm towards me, clasping my fingers. "You are leaving today," he said quietly, his voice hollow. There was no question in his words, only certainty, and sadness. I knew without looking that his eyes were still closed; he didn't want to face my answer even though he already knew what it was.

The sentence, and his certainty, hit me hard; without a second thought I nodded, tears falling fast now, and I didn't bother to brush them away. I lowered my head, and when Legolas felt my uneven breathing he opened his eyes and sat up, wrapping me in a tight embrace and letting me weep into his side. "I'm sorry..." I breathed through my tears. "I don't... I'm not..."

I saw a single tear falling through a piece of my hair hanging in front of my face; the golden light of the rising sun captured it brightly, and I knew it was his.