Building Ithilien [Legolas] LOTR

Different and Better

At last the glad day ended; and when the Sun was gone and the round Moon rode slowly above the mists of Anduin and flickered through the fluttering leaves, Frodo and Sam sat under the whispering trees amid the fragrance of fair Ithilien; and they talked deep into the night with Merry and Pippin and Gandalf, and after a while Legolas and Gimli joined them (LOTR, 934).

When moonlight and merry conversation faded with the stars, the elf spoke softly to the wizard at his side.

"Will you stay, Mithrandir?"

"I think you know that I cannot, Legolas," the wizard replied, pausing to send a quizzical smoke ring up toward the overhanging branches. "My task here is finished, and so I must go."

Legolas nodded. The wizard's leaving would be but one drop before the storm. "So much will change," he replied wistfully to the old man robed in white at his side.

"Yes, but now come the days of peace, and you will find that though they are different, they are infinitely better," said Gandalf.

Wind whipped around the walls of the White City, blowing long, fair strands of hair across the prince's eyes. He hastily pushed them away, fearing that in the few seconds in which he could not see her, that she might have disappeared, like a much-desired dream or mirage. How his heart had longed for her! He looked again, and there she still stood.

In seconds, no, even less than that—in a moment—both elves had closed the gap between them. Miredhel stretched out her hands, but Legolas caught her in his arms instead.

His arms swallowed her, and he pulled her even closer, burying his face into her hair. Valar, she smelled good. His hands ran the length of her back, and he placed hasty kisses on her curls, her shoulder, her neck. She was there, really there, safe and whole. He did not pull away but held her close, held her in his arms as he had dreamed of doing for many nights, and he knew that he did not want to let go. She was under his protection again, and he would make sure that she stayed that way. Finally, he could rest easy.

"I thought I'd lost you," he whispered in between kisses, pulling away just enough so her eyes were even with his.

"I'm right here," she said soothingly, smoothing her fingers across his cheek.

He took an almost ragged breath, as if he had not breathed for days. "Do you have any notion of how frightened we were for you—and my sister? Do you?" he asked, and an uneasy edge replaced the tenderness in his voice.

"But Legolas, I am fine, and so is Celeril. Nothing happened to us," Miredhel answered lamely, shrinking in the scrutiny of his eyes.

"Is that excuse supposed to comfort me?" he demanded. "You left without notice, without a word," Legolas added witheringly. "How could I have known you would arrive safely? Especially with what happened to Farothin—I mean, there was a reason I did not want you taking that trip!"