NEW LEAF (Legolas FF) | ✔️

Chapter 40:...brings destruction

We are almost at the end guys and from here I'd most probably write in a 3rd persons view since they are all together. I can write faster this way, too. So, onwards!

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They were all silent as Lord Aerendyl began his tale.

"When Leandra and Ari had left," his tone was low, somehow broken as his eyes were filled with a sadness none of them knew of how deep. Thranduil was listening intently, although from the look on the lord's face, this was not going to be a story any of them would like. His thoughts travel to his wife, who had earlier argued with him intensely about leaving without her. He eventually convinced her to stay in Calaer yet Thranduil's heart remained restless. The enemy they were facing posed a great threat to all of them, especially to his beloved queen. He thought about their daughter and how life seemed to like putting him in such circumstances. His eyes travel to his son, the heir of their kingdom. He sat near Turwaithiel, their hands clasped together. He looked too tired. Perhaps it was really in their blood to be warriors and not just sit on a throne all day behind thick walls. He wished then that Legolas had not inherited his will to fight, then perhaps he would be safer within the walls of Calaer with Mantheniel.

"Rawena was somehow...disabled for a moment," Aerendyl continued. "So I took it as a chance to take Elanor and just run for she was still breathing. Perhaps she could be saved. At least that was how I saw it."

The black fire had died down, the once great city and vast lands of their people were burnt and covered in darkness. Rawena shrieked in agony as she pulled the arrow out, rather harshly. Aerendyl fought the urge to gag as blood from her open wound splattered. His eyes land on the limp figure of his beloved Elanor, whose skin had turned ghostly pale. He hesitated no further as he rushed over to her, his eyes glancing at Rawena who was desperately trying to stop the blood from her wound. Aerendyl wrapped one of Elanor's arm around his shoulder and hoisted her up. She was still conscious, but her breathing was shallow. He could not imagine what pain she was going though. He knew about black fire and what it was capable of doing. Yet Elanor's silence scared him the most. She did not make even a whisper of a noise. He half carried, half dragged her away and was even convinced Rawena would just let them go. Of course, he was mistaken.

As they walked through the thickness of the burnt trees and ashes, Elanor got heavier and heavier until he eventually carried her. He kept glancing back, to be faced with silence and an eerie loneliness. Where had Rawena gone?

"Aeren..aeredyl..." He looked down on Elanor whose eyes were slightly open, her eyelashes fluttering with the struggle. It pained him to see her in such a state. If he could take her pain, he would yet he knew nothing of their magic for he was never gifted with such. He could see the brightness of her emerald eyes. Something that seemed to touch the very life in him. She had always had such beautiful eyes.

"Do not worry, Elanor," he spoke softly, his voice hinting all the things he had felt for her. Elanor was not dense, she knew her greatest friend had developed affections for her yet she could not return them. She was thankful though, for despite such a difficult rift between them, they remained close and Aerendyl had still kept all his promises. "You will live. You will live to see your daughter grow."

Aerendyl noticed a tear from Elanor's half closed eyes, the way her lungs seemed to grow more desperate into bringing in oxygen. He walked faster, through and over fallen trees and bodies of elves that were not so lucky. He kept her in his arms, felt the warmth of her skin slowly leaving her. Felt her light fading so fast, he wished time would just stop its cruelty for once.

"I will not survive this Aerendyl," her voice was barely a whisper, so broken and ragged he could barely understand. "Promise me, you will take care of my daughter?"