And In The Dawn Save Them

Chapter 14 : Back In Your Arms

Illustration : Alan Lee

Music to listen to on this chapter: 

Big surprise here! And time to be reunited again! Warning : scene for mature readers only!

She hesitantly approached him, her heart racing: he had raised his head when he saw her. Watching each other as they had when they first met, neither knew what to say or do. Months had passed, but so much had happened in the meantime...

Eventually he approached her, and said simply, in his soft, airy voice: "Good evening, Alcara."

She felt a tear begin to form in the corner of her eye.

"Legolas," she said under her breath, desperate not to let the sob choke her voice. "You are here..."

"I am here," he replied as simply as ever in his gentle voice.

As in the past, as in a dream - or another life? - far away in Rivendell, he stroked her cheek.

"You haven't changed a bit, and despite your clothes, I'd have known you anywhere."

The tear slowly rolled down Alcara's cheek, which Legolas wiped away with a look of tenderness. Then he frowned:

"Don't cry, everything will be fine."

"This war is so terrible," replied Alcara, continuing to cry. "And I missed you so much..."

"It's true, and a lot has happened in our Fellowship...and it's not over yet. Frodo has not yet reached his destination, and I have seen seagulls in the sky, flying up the rivers away from the seas. There is still much to come."

After a silence, he added:

"It's good to see you again. I missed you too."

Alcara had the impression of seeing a celestial apparition, which took away all her tiredness and worry. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Legolas seemed very calm, as if he was trusting in fate. She wiped away her tears and smiled at him.

"You must be very tired," he said, taking her hand. "They told me you worked miracles, taking care of all the wounded. But nobody took care of you. Come on, let's get some rest."

Alcara wondered how he could remain so empathetic when he himself must be exhausted from all his travels and the battles he had won. But indeed, she felt exhausted, and followed him without saying a word.

Without her knowing how he had guessed, he headed for the door of her cell. She opened it and let him in. It was a very simple room, with stone walls, a carpet on the floor and a small, rudimentary bed, as well as a wooden table against the opposite wall. Alcara had gradually put away her remedies and her rudimentary laboratory.

"I'm sorry," she apologised, "it's a bit Spartan, but with everything we've had to do..."

"It's perfect," Legolas reassured her, taking both her hands. "I'd rather do that than offer you my tent on the military camp in the Pelennor field."

Alcara smiled: he was as kind as ever. She could see in his eyes that the war had taken its toll on him, but he seemed to be serenely happy to see her again. She took off her headdress, revealing only her face, and untwisted her hair. Legolas watched her and said nothing, as if this simple spectacle relaxed him too.

"I won't ask you about everything that's happened since you left Rivendell," she said, absent-mindedly untangling her hair with her fingers, "and everything you've seen and felt. There will be time, after the war, for the two of us to talk about it. And talk... about us."