NEW LEAF (Legolas FF) | ✔️

Chapter 36: Flames

TURWAITHIEL

I couldn't speak. I felt the need to say something but no words would come out as we all continued to stare at Laralen in silence. She stood there, her blank stare glued to the blood that dripped down her arms.

She was shaking and yet I felt afraid of going near her. I wanted to, but my body would not budge. What was I afraid of? She was still Lara. She was still my friend. Her eyes flicker up briefly as Elrohir made a move to approach her. Legolas held him back.

Ari was staring, her hand pressed against a wound that needed healing. She was staring as if she had not understood what was happening. What happened. Her mouth opens like she is about to speak but doesn't. My mother, it feels weird saying it, but she stares as if it wasn't surprising. She knew the extent of Lara's powers and she knew what she could do. I tried to ignore the dead bodies around us and the blood around her but I couldn't. Because for a moment, she wasn't Lara. She was someone else. Someone who held great power and was hurt deeply.

"Lara," my mother calls out to her, taking one step after another as she got closer. Lara backs away, her hands were shaking clearly now. Her emerald eyes swam in fear and sadness. She was afraid. She was afraid of her own self.

"Child, do not be afraid, you are alright," my mother continues but every step she takes, Lara backs away even further. Confusion flashes across her features and Elrohir finally moves towards her, faster than my mother.

"Don't!" Lara warns, she puts her hands before her and most of the soldiers of Thranduil's army flinches. My mother's face flashes panic but she quickly conceals it. Elrohir does not stop but continues towards her as she backs away, practically begging him to stop.

"Please, don't make me hurt you!" She says, hands trembling and tears flowing. She stops backing away and lets Elrohir catch up to her and my heart swells and sinks at the same time. Why was I afraid of her? I felt ashamed of my fear which quickly vanishes as Legolas reached out for my hand. I turned to him, he had the same worried expression like all of us. Elrohir finally comes close enough to reach and touch her face. She flinches, but does not back away. She starts mumbling but she was too far away for me to hear but I knew it was not good by the way Elrohir's expressions shifts on his face. She shakes her head and turns to run away but Elrohir takes a hold of her. I make a run for her then, knowing that she is about to run away again but stop dead when she practically shoves Elrohir away, too strong to be merely called a shove as he stumbles backward and falls on his back. Elladan runs for him as Laralen cries a lot harder. My feet move and Laralen sees me, her eyes lock with mine for the briefest moment as she mouths an apology, her eyes were greener than they usually were and then she was gone.

No one ran after her.

I couldn't run after her. I stare at Bleon's body then stare at Mantheniel who was silently sobbing on Thranduil's chest.

"Will she be okay?" Legolas asks and my mother looks at him her own tired face making her seem like she had aged years.

"She is more powerful than any of us- she will be okay, but for now, let her grieve. Let her be alone," she replies sadly as Ari starts to lift Bleons body up.

"We shall bury the boy," Ari suggests as she looked around for a spot. I sometimes forget that Bleon was just a child. A boy. He had so much life in him. It was taken for some selfish purpose. My eyes flicker towards the direction where Laralen had run off. I could no longer see her or her golden hair. Part of me feels so much guilt, it was suffocating.

If I hadn't met her. If I had not...Bleon would still be alive.

---

We finished burying him by a river. For a moment, the world seemed empty. Like we were the only living creatures there. Even the river sounded so far away and unrealistic. The Sun was already at its highest, sprinkling little lights on the water. I stare at the skies reflection on the water and wonder for a moment were men and other races go to when they die. Do they have a haven of there own?