It had been nearly centuries since last I had been out into the vast world of Middle-Earth to adventure as surprising as it may seem, I was still content staying in Mirkwood.
Though it would usually seem that I was always bustling to go outdoors, I was finally settled down. My three beautiful children were what kept me tied to Mirkwood.
Don't get me wrong, I still longed for adventure but I dare not leave my family's side. After all, Gemstone - our eldest - was only early into her hundreds and Jewel - our youngest - was only in her fifties, looking no older than a child of ten in the eyes of men.
I vowed that when they were old enough, me and Legolas would let them come on one of our adventures. After all, we needed some tracking companions.
Whenever my mind did wander to the world beyond Mirkwood, I found myself on occasion, longing to see the Mines of Moria, my long lost home. Now I myself was a parent, I wanted nothing more than to see the place where I grew up.
I wondered what my father would have said if he had been able to meet Legolas, Gemstone, Amethyst and Jewel. He'd probably have something snarky to say about Legolas. What can I say, I got my sense of humour from my dwarven father.
It seemed a shame that my children would never be able to grow up and see the splendors of the Mines of Moria, after all, it was where I grew up.
That evening, I was sat beside little Jewel, reading from the book Merry and Pippin had given us all those years ago. I often found myself re reading the tales withing the book's pages. Everyone in the fellowship besides me and Legolas had written in it.
There and Back Again, A Hobbits Tale By Bilbo Baggins.
The Lord of the Rings, By Frodo Baggins.
The Gardener and the Ring-Bearer, By Samwise Gamgee.
Esquire of Rohan, By Meriadoc Brandybuck.
A Fool's Hope, By Peregrine Took.
The White Tree, By Aragorn King of Gondor.
Brothers in Arms, By Gimli son of Glóin.
Though extra pages were filled into the bed, me and Legolas were still yet to write our own stories, despite having so many years to do so.
We were Elves. We had lived so long and would love for thousands of years yet to come. How then do you pinpoint one particular story to tell?
"And thus it was, a Fourth Age of Middle-Earth began," I smiled, reading from the last few pages of Frodo's retelling as Jewel drifted of to sleep in her blankets, "And the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended."
Though I knew Jewel was already too sleepy to listen anymore, I still read on, a sad smile on my lips as I remembered the little Halflings.
"Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey we found ourselves looking upon a familiar sight. We were home. How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend, some hurts that go too deep that have taken hold. Bilbo once told me his part in this tale would end, that each of us must come and go in the telling. Bilbo's story was now over. There would be no more journeys for him save one. The Elves had accorded him a special honour, a place on the last ship to leave Middle-Earth. My dear Sam, you cannot always be torn in two. You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be and to do. Your part in the story will go on."
Closing the book softly, I looked down at Jewel with a sorrowful smile. She was curled up and already asleep so I carefully bent down and kissed her lightly before standing up and leaving her be.
Perhaps, one day, when the children were older, they would have adventures of their own but that wouldn't likely be for years to come.
***
For centuries, me and Legolas watched our precious children grow.
Gemstone was probably the most troublesome of the three due to the unfortunate fact she seemed to have inherited my stubbornness and Legolas' sass. A bad combination indeed.
She spent most of her time training with the Royal Guard and showing up most of the soldiers there. Her weapons of choice was a broadsword and throwing daggers. She would often ignore any safety advice her superiors would give her, and she would run off into the woods on her own to fight spiders. I wanted to say I was mad at her for doing that but honestly, I do the exact same thing and I don't want to be called a hypocrite.
Though of course, Legolas scolded her for putting herself in danger. Legolas loved his family more than life itself. He didn't like telling her off but he would be damned if Gemstone got herself injured of killed out there out of sheer incompetence.
Amethyst was lucky enough not to inherit any dangerous combinations of our personalities. He was a skilled warrior, no doubt about that, and to my delight he preferred an axe as his weapon of choice. However, he wasn't as fool hardy as his older sister, he had been fortunate enough to have an eye for diplomacy and etiquette, just like Legolas and Thranduil.
Amethyst was usually seen helping around the city, whether that was patrolling with the Royal Guard or sorting out disputes with the Mirkwood nobility. At least I knew that Mirkwood would be in safe hands in the future.
Jewel was the most curious of our children. She had a mixture of blonde hair and a sort of hazelnut brown or a dark orange. She had Legolas' eyes though, which sparkled in the light. Though she was also a great fighter, her weapon of choice was a bow, she was more secluded than her brother and sister.
She was always coming to me and Legolas with a new quirky fun fact of the day she had read in the library that day. Legolas was always protective of 'his little Jewel' because she was just so sweet. She always remembered her courtesies and barely every raised her voice.
Maybe Legolas had a soft spot for her because she was probably the only member of the family who didn't shout at him all the time.
She stayed mostly to the library or in her personal study. Jewel loved knowledge and I had no doubt she had probably read half of Mirkwood's library already. When she wasn't reading, she was painting, sewing or playing a musical instrument. It baffles me how she was able to master so much of the arts like I had not. She definitely was the most cultured of our family.
Perhaps one or both of my blood parents were from Rivendell. That would explain her hazelnut hair and her pride in cultural pastimes.
***
To say that the relations between the Elves and Dwarves had improved would have been an understatement.
Ever since the King Dáin had given back the white gems, Thranduil slowly lost his hatred for the dwarves. Then of course, I was now widely accepted in Mirkwood, after all, I was their Princess. Then when Gimli came to stay with us, he was accepted as well.
We now had a working trade with most of the dwarven settlements. I couldn't help but feel pride whenever I saw the Elves and Dwarves be civil to each other. At least my own children didn't grow up hating Dwarves.
I often wondered what my father would think of the change I had helped provoke. I found myself overcome by nostalgia for my childhood home.
Legolas knew how much I loved the Mines of Moria, even after nearly three millennia, I still remembered its vast hall. Legolas had only seen it's ruins but what he did see of the city, he had no doubt that in it's prime, it would've been a wonder to behold, and it was.
Then, Legolas surprised me.
Though I was content in the knowledge my wish to return home would not come true, Legolas was determined to make my wish come true.
Thranduil gave permission for us to take a portion of the royal guard and travel to Erebor, to seek the King's help in reclaiming the Mines of Moria.
If we could muster up a big enough force, we would have the numbers to storm Moria and drive out all the foul creatures that was hiding there. Having been untouched for centuries, I had no doubt the mines were now home to both Orc and Goblin alike, as well as the odd troll or two.
Though Legolas was reluctant at first, he finally agreed to let Gemstone, Amethyst and Jewel join us on our journey. We both knew that our children were fierce warriors but this wasn't some scouting mission in the woods, this was a fully fledged battle we would be running into.
Gemstone, of course, was quick to voice her opinion, that being she would cut out the tongue of anyone who said she couldn't go. I was way too proud of her for that comment.
Amethyst was less murdery than his sister but nevertheless, he insisted he come as well. Again, I was too proud.
Jewel was just as eager as her brother and sister but all she really had to do was bat her eyelids and ask in her sweet little voice to come, for Legolas to give in and let her come along as well.
As much as we didn't want them to get hurt, we both knew that eventually they would leave for adventures of their own, so this would be at least good experience. They weren't fifty anymore, they could handle themselves. Besides, on our lives, nothing would harm them, I knew that Legolas was prepared to throw himself at death itself if it meant protecting them.
Suffice to say, the King of Erebor was more than happy to support our cause, after all, the Dwarves had been trying to reclaim Moria for centuries and now they had the Elves backing them. When we finally left The Lonely Mountain, he had nearly five hundred Dwarves in tow.
Knowing we would likely have to pass by Gondor anyways, we decided to make a slight detour on our Journey so as to visit Minas Tirith.
It had been too long since we had seen the White City and visited the King and his sisters, Aragorn's children.
We couldn't ask him to give us soldiers to fight in a cause they didn't believe in, but if any of them volunteered, I had no doubt the King would allow them to go with us.
When finally our 'army' arrived at the White City, we made camp on the fields below. Hundred of dwarves and elves alike, working as a team. I could barely fathom the pride I felt at the side of two races which were usually battling amongst themselves, now preparing to fight a battle together.
King Eldarion was so much like his father, Aragorn. He looked just like him, dark, curly hair and broad-shouldered. His eyes sparkled just like Arwen's did and his curls were tucked behind his pointed ears. In fact, if he wasn't part elf and able to grow a beard, he would be the spitting image of his father.
Me and Legolas walked into the grand entrance of the white stone halls, having just passed the white tree of Gondor.
Eldarion was sat up in the King's throne, his two sisters, Arayah and Blossem were standing by the stairs leading up to the throne. When we walked into their midst, they turned and smiled broadly as they recognised us.
"Legolas, Sapphire," Eldarion exclaimed happily as he made his way down to us, "It's been too long."
"Uncle Legolas, Aunt Sapphire," Blossem chirped sweetly as she hurried up to us and hugged us both, Arayah doing the same.
"To what do we owe this unexpected visit?" Eldarion asked with a chuckle, "Surely that army of yours isn't here to invade?"
"Nope. We're here to take your throne and your kingdom," I joked, "Of course not! In fact, we won't be visiting long, unfortunately, we have a battle waiting for us to the west."
"And what battle would that be?" He asked curiously, "Father always said you were always ready for a fight, Sapphire."
"Did he also tell you that he himself was reckless and fool-hardy when it came to fighting?" I scoffed, cursing Aragorn, even in his grave he can still make jests about me.
"We've a quest to reclaim the Mines of Moria from the clutches of darkness," Legolas explained, ignoring my comment, "We do not ask you or your men to fight in our battle, but any volunteers would be most appreciated. We leave in two days if it's all the same to you."
"How many do you have in your numbers?" Eldarion asked.
"Five hundred Dwarves and three hundred Elves." Legolas explained.
"Is that enough to obtain victory?" Arayah inquired, looking to her brother.
"Well, considering the creatures that fester in Moria, no one can be certain. Who knows how many beings call it home now." He replied.
"We have the element of surprise, for starters," I explained, "Then there's the fact that these creatures are undisciplined; they're not like trained Uruk-hai, their wild and without proper weapons or even armour. I know my way around Moria blindfolded, I know every passageway and tunnel and I also know a few tricks which will flush out the Orcs and Goblins that hide there."
"Volunteers you say?" Eldarion pondered before turning to his sisters, "Find the Captain of the Guards and have him spread the word amongst the soldiers. Make it clear that anyone who wishes to join them, can do so of their own free will."
Blossem and Arayah hurried off to tell the news as Eldarion turned to us again.
"As for me, I volunteer myself," He smirked at us.
"You're King," I retorted, "You shouldn't be risking your life for a cause you have no reason to fight for."
"Are you commanding the King of Gondor?" He scoffed, crossing his arms, "Besides, father always spoke highly of you two, he owed you a lot. It's the least I can do, please, I'm offering you help."
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