And In The Dawn Save Them

Chapter 4 : When Autumn arrived

Illustration : Ursine Vulpine, album Respire

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Two months after their romance, however, autumn caught up with them, and the torments of the world invaded the elves' tranquil valley.

This began with increasingly frequent meetings between Gandalf, King Elrond, Strider and Legolas, as well as Arwen's brothers and a few other warriors. Alcara was unable to find out any more from either Gandalf or Legolas, and she was gnawing at her heels. Everyone was keeping a tight lid on things, but there were rumours of serious decisions being taken. It was even said that Queen Galadriel had come to take part. Alcara couldn't understand why she wasn't trusted to talk about it, but Gandalf had treated her like a child: "These are important matters". He could almost have added, she thought wryly, "topics for grown-ups."

A few days later, Strider was the first to leave, once again wearing a ranger's outfit, probably to join the group of Dunedàin he was leading in the North. Arwen put on a brave face, but it was easy to see her pain and concern.

Shortly afterwards, on a cooler morning than the previous ones, Legolas invited her to go for a walk with him in the forest, and she feared the worst. She followed him, but his sudden coldness towards her and his distance made her suspect that her bad feelings were about to come true.

"My sweet Alcara," he said, taking her hands. "I have important news for you. Me and my men must leave for the East."

She took the news like a knife. How could it all end so rapidly?

"But why so quick?" she replied, "Can't you wait a few more days?"

"In fact," Legolas admitted, "I should have left a week ago, but I didn't have the courage to tell you. We need to check some information."

"Information that I'm not supposed to know anything about, I presume?"

Faced with her pain and disappointment, she could only react in a bloodthirsty, abrupt way, letting out her bitterness. She wanted him to resist, to put her before his duties, but at the same time she knew that was impossible. In this insoluble situation, he was doing what was right, but also what was difficult, and even if she understood it in her mind, her heart said the opposite.

"Don't be angry with me," he apologised, squeezing her hands tighter. "They're just checks, but they're important for the future."

"But I too can be part of that future."

After a silence, she added:

"Why shouldn't I go with you?"

"It's far too dangerous," he replied, his voice even, still soft and calm, and she felt that his lack of emotion was making her angry in spite of herself. "We have years, centuries of experience, to blend in with nature and fight Orcs if we come across them. If you were to come..."

"I'll slow you down," she cut him off tartly. "I know what you mean."

She turned, her back to him, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Maybe..." she began to say, "maybe we shouldn't have, maybe you're sorry today that we...

"I'm glad it all happened," insisted Legolas, as calm as ever in the face of his friend's tempestuous reactions. "I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. But yes, there are constraints beyond us, and I have duties that I must now assume."