Home is Behind
by Eruvanne
Home Is Behind
The World Ahead
Setting out upon his journey, the elf took one last glance of his
woodland home. Sighing, he turned and urged his horse forward. Legolas
had not wanted to leave, to journey far from his home in Mirkwood.
However, Elrond had summoned a meeting of all the free people of Middle
Earth. So Thranduil was sending Legolas to represent those of the
woodland realm. But the elf’s heart remained in his homeland. A soft
breeze stirred the emerald leaves above him. Far away, a nightingale
began to sing. Sunlight sparkled on the path in from of him. Closing
his eyes he breathed in his surroundings, imprinting the image in his
mind. Now he felt ready for the world ahead as he left.
And There Are Many Paths To Tread
Roads. Paths. Trails. No matter what it was they continued
walking. Ever since the forming and setting out of the Fellowship of
the Ring, they had been on the move. Although he could feel no pain,
Legolas could tell that the journey was wearing on his companions.
Through many different byways they had gone. Flat plains, rocky hills,
and snowy mountains could not deter the fellowship from its task. So
they plodded on.
Through Shadow
To The Edge Of Night
Legolas peered through the darkness but to no avail. The dark of
Moria was too much for even his elven eyes to see through. The light
ahead of his was the only sign to show where the darkness ended. Or
mile after mile, the elf and the fellowship followed after Gandalf.
Until they came to the great hall of Dwarowwdelf. Then the darkness
began to enter their hearts. Fleeing from their enemies, they ran to
the bridge of Khazad-dum. Then their fearless guide fell into darkness.
And for the first in his life, Legolas felt as though he had reached
the edge of night, where darkness surrounded him everywhere.
Until The Stars Are All Alight
Through the golden leaved of Lorien, the stars sparkled like
diamonds in the blackness over head. Legolas was reminded of the
silmarils of the Elder days and wondered if they had shone as brightly.
As he gazed heavenward, the shimmering silmarils of the sky gradually
began to change to tears. “So you mourn as well for our loss?” Legolas
queried of the stars. He felt tears of his own begin to well up in his
eyes. Closing them, he listened to the lament of the Lothlorien elves
for Gandalf. Yes, he believed that the stars were alight to show that
even the Valar felt his loss.
Mist and Shadow
Shifting shadows mingled with the dense mist to create an eerie
atmosphere. Legolas sensed that much fear and dread resided in the
Paths of the Dead. The hair on the back of his neck began tot stand on
end. His skin became clammy as his eyes began to see shapes in the
half-light. The shapes men and of horses followed behind him, Aragorn,
and Gimli. These misty shaped blended with the shadows and the elf
called upon the Valar to give him courage to endure.
Cloud and Shade
The deciding battle of their lives had come. The men of the West
had united and now stood before the black gate of Mordor. Legolas
looked up to see if he could see something, anything, that was friendly
to the enemies of Sauron. But no bird, star or sun pierced the clouds
overhead. Shade engulfed him as the clouds became a blanket for the
sun. A warm wind blew. Humidity began to fall upon the elf. Wiping away
his dampened blonde hair from his eyes, Legolas looked about him. The
men stood firm and strong, resolved to their all to the freedom of
their homeland. At last he looked beside him at Gimli the dwarf. Ace in
hand, Gimli was ready for any onslaught the Enemy should send. Turning
towards the gat, Legolas smiled and quietly thanked the Valar for
sending him such a stout-hearted friend.
All Shall Fade
Legolas could not believe his eyes. The Tower of Barad-dur was
falling, crumbling, crashing down. The Enemy had fallen by the hand of
a hobbit. The darkness, created by the Dark Lord to assist his
servants, began to fad. Brightly, the sun shone down upon the
victorious few. Arriving back in Ithilien, the elf visited Frodo along
with the rest of the fellowship. After his visit, he wandered amid the
treed of Ithilien, reminiscing about the past age and thinking of
everything that would grow and fade.
All Shall...Fade
Seagulls cried overhead. The waves crashed against the shore. The
smell of the sea wagered on the breezed. Legolas stood upon the deck of
the ship and breathed deeply. Finally, he was able to follow his
longing for the sea. Looking one last time at the place that had been
his home, he beckoned to a lone figure upon the dock. “Come, Gimli.
It’s time to leave.’ Slowly, the dwarf walked toward his friend.
“Are you sure, Legolas?”
“Yes, my friend. Come. Galadriel is expecting us.” Smiling now, Gimli
came aboard and stood beside Legolas.
“One last adventure, eh, old friend?” asked the dwarf.
“Yes. One last adventure.” Legolas laid his hand on his friend’s
shoulder as the sun faded behind the horizon and behind the fading
shoreline.