Post by Admin on Sept 2, 2021 4:02:49 GMT
Author - Cassie Hughes
Rating - K
Summary - Their ship is ready to sail but is Legolas ready to leave?
Title translates as "Parting is such Sweet Sorrow"
Gulls glide effortlessly overhead calling loudly as they ride the wind and each long, drawn out cry tugs painfully at my heart. I know I have left it far too long but I still cling to the ever diminishing thread of hope that he will come.
Standing on the bluff overlooking the harbour Legolas was lost to the sounds that seemed to engulf him. The shrieks of the birds circling in the bright blue sky above, the susurration of the breeze through the leaves of the lone wind-stunted linden tree, the rumble of the surf, all these combined in a mesmerising song he was finding it more and more difficult to ignore. Eyes fixed on a far horizon he didn’t see the grey ship, last of its kind, bobbing gently in its moorings far beneath his vantage point waiting patiently for its passengers to board or the three figures making their way up the well-worn track to where he stood.
For weeks they had worked together as the craft had taken shape although it should be said that three had done most of the physical work whilst one had oft been known to silently slip away to be discovered much later standing in a fugue like state at some point above or along the harbour, eyes fixed on a point none of the others could see. Worry had lent their hands speed and allowed their minds to focus beyond their grief until at last the small ship was finished and awaiting its minimal crew to embark upon its maiden voyage.
The lone figure at last turned his head as the three advance along the path and soft sounds begin to rise through the air penetrating his reverie with what at first seems to be the hiss of gravel being washed by gentle waves gradually resolving into the murmur of voices, one low and gruff the others lilting and musical. For a moment his heart quickened as hope sprang again and drew his focus to the new arrivals then faltered as realisation dawned once more and he tried not to allow his disappointment to show, especially to the one whom he worries is fast beginning to question his own choice to sail. His attempt failed however as the smile that curves his lips yet does not reach his eyes tells them its own tale and sadness blooms in their own breasts.
“Ye cannae wait much longer laddie.”
The shortest member of the trio, always the most forthright and forceful stepped forward and fixed Legolas with a stone filled glare.
“We cannae wait much longer.” He stressed, waving his arm to encompass both himself and his tall companions.
“I know Gimli, I just…” Guilt ridden, the elf shook his head as if to deny his own feelings.
“I just…”
“Oh Laddie,”
The dwarf stepped closer, his gravelly voice filled with concern as tears begin to track their way down the young elf’s pale cheeks.
“H...how did you do it?” Legolas turned to the raven haired pair flanking the dwarf.
“H…how did you manage to leave her behind?” He questioned them despondently, blue eyes searching their faces intently.
“We have not left her, Legolas.” Elladan replied softly.
“She lives on in our hearts and you must remember,” he glanced towards his twin before continuing. “She is with her beloved Estel.”
With a brief shake of the head Elrohir scowled at his brother then turned away to mask the tears which had leapt to his own eyes at his brother’s words.
“But she is still lost to you.” Legolas cried, completely missing the nuanced words and their effect on the younger Noldo in his distressed state.
“Aye,” Elladan replied curtly, his twin’s misery beginning to dampen the sympathy he felt for the young elf before him.
“She is lost to us. With no guarantee that we will ever meet again, but you do not share our fate in this.” He continued, a hint of bitterness now creeping into his tone.
“You have none from whom you will truly be sundered. He whom you claim beloved travels with you, or are you so fickle as to deny his love at this late hour when ‘tis too late to change his choice?”
He took a step closer to the distressed prince ignoring the small sound of pain that escaped his brother’s lips before continuing.
“And the one you look for, the one you have us all marking time here for when we could be well under way to our heartsease. Do you think he will become a haunt? Do you imagine that he would fade into legend, allowing no memory of his passing?” Elladan began to pace back and forth before the young prince as his rant continued, his voice growing more strident and caustic with every step.
“Nay! The great elven king would not fade thusly. He holds himself in too high esteem to even consider such an outcome. He is just toying with you Legolas. Can you not see that? Not sail? He would rather empty every bottle of Dorwinion he possesses into the Bruinen rather than stay here and allow himself to be consumed by the power of his spirit until naught is left of his physical being. Oh, you will see your sire again. I wish we could say the same of our sister!”
A moment of shocked silence followed this outburst before Legolas stepped towards the glowering twin, his hand finding the hilt of the long knife sheathed at his belt, a glint of fire in his eyes but before he could draw Gimli dexterously moved to place a calloused hand firmly in the middle of the fair haired elf’s back.
“Ah Laddie,” he muttered gruffly as with a gentle pressure he turned Legolas away from the other elf.
“The wound of her loss is still raw. He spoke without thought.” The dwarf continued and sent an urgent look towards Elrohir who was staring aghast at his brother in disbelief. Pain etched into his fair features.
“Elladan?”
At the sound of his name Elladan turned swiftly and headed back down the path towards the harbour. Torn between the need to follow his twin or remain to soothe ruffled feathers Elrohir hesitated, his eyes darting between the mismatched pair before him and the figure rapidly moving away.
“Legolas.” The name was almost a plea.
“Go.” The fair elf nodded towards the retreating figure sadly. “See to your brother, melethron.” He continued softly before turning his gaze to the dwarf still close by his side.
“I have been selfish Gimli.” Legolas whispered as Elrohir hurried away in pursuit of his twin.
“Nay Lad…”
“Do not try to deny it my friend.” The prince interrupted. “I have been so wrapped up in my own feelings that I have paid no heed to those of my companions. To my love.”
Moving closer to the edge of the bluff Legolas allowed his eyes to settle on the horizon once more before taking a deep breath and addressing the dwarf resolutely.
“We will depart at first light.” He paused briefly, nodding his head slowly as if to reinforce his own thoughts.
“Aye, first light.” He continued before dropping his eyes to his companion.
“He was right. I have held us all here for far too long and for just the faintest scrap of hope. It is way past time we left these shores. There is healing we are all in need of.”
He paused to allow his eyes to wander over the windswept landscape before continuing softly.
“There is naught left for us here.”
With one of the sudden changes of mood that the dwarf had become accustomed to over the years Legolas abruptly turned to look at his friend with a smile.
“Come Gimli, there are some apologies I must make.”
With these last words he moved to the path and began to descend nimbly from the vantage point.
My heart has never felt so heavy as the small ship slips away from its moorings and I watch from my concealed vantage point as it carries away the one who has meant more to me than any other in my long life. He should have left far sooner yet his sense of honour and obligation has bid him remain until it is almost too late. My son, my brave and stubborn son. I hope you find peace at last on those white shores and maybe someday you will find it in your heart to forgive me…
Rating - K
Summary - Their ship is ready to sail but is Legolas ready to leave?
Title translates as "Parting is such Sweet Sorrow"
Gulls glide effortlessly overhead calling loudly as they ride the wind and each long, drawn out cry tugs painfully at my heart. I know I have left it far too long but I still cling to the ever diminishing thread of hope that he will come.
~
Standing on the bluff overlooking the harbour Legolas was lost to the sounds that seemed to engulf him. The shrieks of the birds circling in the bright blue sky above, the susurration of the breeze through the leaves of the lone wind-stunted linden tree, the rumble of the surf, all these combined in a mesmerising song he was finding it more and more difficult to ignore. Eyes fixed on a far horizon he didn’t see the grey ship, last of its kind, bobbing gently in its moorings far beneath his vantage point waiting patiently for its passengers to board or the three figures making their way up the well-worn track to where he stood.
For weeks they had worked together as the craft had taken shape although it should be said that three had done most of the physical work whilst one had oft been known to silently slip away to be discovered much later standing in a fugue like state at some point above or along the harbour, eyes fixed on a point none of the others could see. Worry had lent their hands speed and allowed their minds to focus beyond their grief until at last the small ship was finished and awaiting its minimal crew to embark upon its maiden voyage.
The lone figure at last turned his head as the three advance along the path and soft sounds begin to rise through the air penetrating his reverie with what at first seems to be the hiss of gravel being washed by gentle waves gradually resolving into the murmur of voices, one low and gruff the others lilting and musical. For a moment his heart quickened as hope sprang again and drew his focus to the new arrivals then faltered as realisation dawned once more and he tried not to allow his disappointment to show, especially to the one whom he worries is fast beginning to question his own choice to sail. His attempt failed however as the smile that curves his lips yet does not reach his eyes tells them its own tale and sadness blooms in their own breasts.
“Ye cannae wait much longer laddie.”
The shortest member of the trio, always the most forthright and forceful stepped forward and fixed Legolas with a stone filled glare.
“We cannae wait much longer.” He stressed, waving his arm to encompass both himself and his tall companions.
“I know Gimli, I just…” Guilt ridden, the elf shook his head as if to deny his own feelings.
“I just…”
“Oh Laddie,”
The dwarf stepped closer, his gravelly voice filled with concern as tears begin to track their way down the young elf’s pale cheeks.
“H...how did you do it?” Legolas turned to the raven haired pair flanking the dwarf.
“H…how did you manage to leave her behind?” He questioned them despondently, blue eyes searching their faces intently.
“We have not left her, Legolas.” Elladan replied softly.
“She lives on in our hearts and you must remember,” he glanced towards his twin before continuing. “She is with her beloved Estel.”
With a brief shake of the head Elrohir scowled at his brother then turned away to mask the tears which had leapt to his own eyes at his brother’s words.
“But she is still lost to you.” Legolas cried, completely missing the nuanced words and their effect on the younger Noldo in his distressed state.
“Aye,” Elladan replied curtly, his twin’s misery beginning to dampen the sympathy he felt for the young elf before him.
“She is lost to us. With no guarantee that we will ever meet again, but you do not share our fate in this.” He continued, a hint of bitterness now creeping into his tone.
“You have none from whom you will truly be sundered. He whom you claim beloved travels with you, or are you so fickle as to deny his love at this late hour when ‘tis too late to change his choice?”
He took a step closer to the distressed prince ignoring the small sound of pain that escaped his brother’s lips before continuing.
“And the one you look for, the one you have us all marking time here for when we could be well under way to our heartsease. Do you think he will become a haunt? Do you imagine that he would fade into legend, allowing no memory of his passing?” Elladan began to pace back and forth before the young prince as his rant continued, his voice growing more strident and caustic with every step.
“Nay! The great elven king would not fade thusly. He holds himself in too high esteem to even consider such an outcome. He is just toying with you Legolas. Can you not see that? Not sail? He would rather empty every bottle of Dorwinion he possesses into the Bruinen rather than stay here and allow himself to be consumed by the power of his spirit until naught is left of his physical being. Oh, you will see your sire again. I wish we could say the same of our sister!”
A moment of shocked silence followed this outburst before Legolas stepped towards the glowering twin, his hand finding the hilt of the long knife sheathed at his belt, a glint of fire in his eyes but before he could draw Gimli dexterously moved to place a calloused hand firmly in the middle of the fair haired elf’s back.
“Ah Laddie,” he muttered gruffly as with a gentle pressure he turned Legolas away from the other elf.
“The wound of her loss is still raw. He spoke without thought.” The dwarf continued and sent an urgent look towards Elrohir who was staring aghast at his brother in disbelief. Pain etched into his fair features.
“Elladan?”
At the sound of his name Elladan turned swiftly and headed back down the path towards the harbour. Torn between the need to follow his twin or remain to soothe ruffled feathers Elrohir hesitated, his eyes darting between the mismatched pair before him and the figure rapidly moving away.
“Legolas.” The name was almost a plea.
“Go.” The fair elf nodded towards the retreating figure sadly. “See to your brother, melethron.” He continued softly before turning his gaze to the dwarf still close by his side.
“I have been selfish Gimli.” Legolas whispered as Elrohir hurried away in pursuit of his twin.
“Nay Lad…”
“Do not try to deny it my friend.” The prince interrupted. “I have been so wrapped up in my own feelings that I have paid no heed to those of my companions. To my love.”
Moving closer to the edge of the bluff Legolas allowed his eyes to settle on the horizon once more before taking a deep breath and addressing the dwarf resolutely.
“We will depart at first light.” He paused briefly, nodding his head slowly as if to reinforce his own thoughts.
“Aye, first light.” He continued before dropping his eyes to his companion.
“He was right. I have held us all here for far too long and for just the faintest scrap of hope. It is way past time we left these shores. There is healing we are all in need of.”
He paused to allow his eyes to wander over the windswept landscape before continuing softly.
“There is naught left for us here.”
With one of the sudden changes of mood that the dwarf had become accustomed to over the years Legolas abruptly turned to look at his friend with a smile.
“Come Gimli, there are some apologies I must make.”
With these last words he moved to the path and began to descend nimbly from the vantage point.
~
My heart has never felt so heavy as the small ship slips away from its moorings and I watch from my concealed vantage point as it carries away the one who has meant more to me than any other in my long life. He should have left far sooner yet his sense of honour and obligation has bid him remain until it is almost too late. My son, my brave and stubborn son. I hope you find peace at last on those white shores and maybe someday you will find it in your heart to forgive me…
~fin~