Chapter 8: The Path is Clear

In the morning of the Fellowship's departure from Lorien, as they were packing their slender goods, Elves who spoke their language, came to them bearing food and gifts for the Company. To Legolas' surprise, Niphredil was leading them. He had searched for her a few moments after she departed from him, eager to explain his harsh and final words of rejection to ease her heart, for he was not the kind of Elf to asunder any kind of treasured friendship. She did not catch his gaze however and was uncharacteristically aloof and distant.

After the Company ate a light meal, the Elves brought out cloaks of Lothlorien. Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a broach wrought of emerald and silver, resembling the leaf of a mallorn, Lothlorien's native tree.

'Never before had we clad strangers in the garb of our own people,' Niphredil spoke softly as she and the other Elves fastened the cloaks around the members of the Fellowship. She was pinning Aragorn's own cloak and was not looking at Legolas again.

"Are these magic cloaks?" Pippin asked.

"I do not know what you mean by that,' answered Niphredil monotonously. 'They are fair garments, and the web is good, for they are made in this land. You are indeed high in the favor of the Lady, for she herself and her maidens wove these." Niphredil added and did not add however that she was among those maids who helped Lady Galadriel wrought the cloaks.

The group soon left the Fellowship after extracting a promise to attend a final meeting with the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien.

The hobbits started to speak amongst themselves as the Elves left them. Their voices were soft, afraid of being overheard, but not too soft for Legolas' Elven ears.

"What's wrong with Niphredil?' Merry had asked the other three. 'She seemed so distant, so far. Not like her usual self.'

Sam agreed solemnly. 'The light in her eyes were quenched.' He remarked. 'They are gone.'

Legolas had turned away at these words, willing himself not to hear anything anymore.

XOXOXOX

Legolas wandered away from the others after the last meal they had with the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim. He wished to look upon the trees one last time, for he knew not the next moment he would be glimpsing at woods that would be friendly to the Elven race and be close to his heart save his home in Mirkwood.

His steps led him to a familiar path. Since his wanderings with Niphredil, he found that he had bore into memory Lothlorien's every twist and turn and felt that he could be placed upon any location within Caras Galadhon and would not be lost.

His walk led him to a familiar glade, where he taught Niphredil how to use his bow. This is where he found her, after searching for her as well, along with reminiscing his last moments in Lothlorien; standing before the archery range, dressed differently from this morning and holding a long bow in her hands.

He watched her silently, for this a very different Niphredil from the blushing maid he first met in the House of Elrond.

Her gown, a deep blue lined with silver gave yet again the impression that she looked as if she was a High-Elf, a princess of her people rather than serving those whose blood was bluer than hers. Her hair was set loose well, her golden tresses rippled like sunlight down her shoulders, as the silver that decorated her throat and the crown of flowers on her head captured the light from the early morning sun. Her eyes however, like before was devoid of the sparkle she once sported and was far dimmer than the shimmer of her hair or the shine of her jewels.

Arrows littered the range, like the one she was slowly fitting into the bow. Most of the arrows had landed short of their target and where either planted on the ground or imbedded in tree trunks. Only one arrow stood in the middle of the target.

As Niphredil cocked the arrow and pulled the string, Legolas saw the silent tears that streamed her face as she attempted to fire the arrow. However, it seemed that all her strength had finally left her and her arms sagged, the arrow falling from the bow and she bowed her head, her golden hair curtaining her face and hiding her face from view.

When she realized that Legolas was approaching, she quickly grabbed the arrow and pointed it directly at Legolas, tears still on her face, arms shaking, but otherwise standing firmly on the ground.

'Niphredil,' Legolas spoke her name beseeching her to desist. Niphredil closed her eyes, as if shielding herself from the effect of his voice.

'Niphredil, do not do this to yourself,' Legolas whispered, trying to reach out and move the weapon away from him. 'I cannot take it when you do this to yourself. Please,' Legolas spoke and Niphredil opened her eyes.

'Do not make this harder for me Legolas,' she whispered just as soft, his name escaping from her lips like a gentle caress. 'I have come to terms with my path and I need not your temptations to fall foolishly for you again.'

'I do not desire to give you pain, Niphredil, and I ask your forgiveness if I had done so. Believe me; it was done unknowingly and unwillingly.' Legolas spoke his Lothlorien cloak blowing in the wind.

Niphredil gave a sad smile. 'I know you do not, but if I let you come to me now, if I let you comfort me, I may never want to let you leave my heart.'

But her hands shook once more and Legolas pushed her weapon away. Niphredil knew even as pushed the bow away, she would never be able to resist him, and anything he asks of her she would do so despite the pain it may cause. Legolas reached out and wrapped her in his arms, held her as Niphredil ever dared to dream, and she knew she had to say what was in her heart.

'I looked into my mistress's mirror.' She said as she felt his hands stroke her tresses gently. 'I saw finally what the path destiny has written for you, and I know now that your heart can never be captured by a female such as me.'

'But I do love you, Niphredil.' Legolas whispered pulling back and meeting her grey eyes.

Niphredil nodded, gladly but sadly at the same time. 'Not as I love you. You do not love me as a man loves a woman, but you love me as a sister, and that is the best I can ever hope for. I have accepted that I am not the female for you, and I never was, no matter how much I hope to be.'

And it seemed to Legolas that a new wisdom stole over her grey eyes and he knew her not. When she met his eyes once more however, much of the old sparkle had returned to her eyes.

'You are meant for great things, Prince Legolas. I saw that in the mirror. You are blessed with a heart that is so capable of loving that it is no surprise that many of your kin fall in love with you.' She added and a mischievous smile stole over her features then.

'But you crave for a person to fill that emptiness that I also have for the longest time. I had thought that you would be the person to do that for my own emptiness, and you would have done wonderfully, I admit, had you not been meant for someone else.'

'You have seen much in that mirror, Niphredil.' Legolas spoke now, and he felt the easing of his heart of the guilt he felt of the knowledge of hurting one of the most precious elleth he could ever meet.

'So I am letting you go,' Niphredil whispered seriously again, tears coming up her eyes now. 'No matter how much it pains me, I will let you go because I can not tell myself to make you become the whole person that I want you to be, no matter how much you resemble him, and I would never pull you away from your destiny.' She then slowly extracted a small bottle from her bodice and placed it in his hands.

'This is lithilanthilis, you know of it and its powers. It is made from the flowers of Niphredil as well as some essence of Eleanor. Use it when you need it, for I believe it will aid you in your journeys in life.'

'Niphredil?' Legolas asked. Niphredil smiled again through tears. 'Yes.' She indicated the flowers around her head. 'Do you recall those flowers in my garden that I said had no name? I was named from this blossoms, I'm afraid. I lied. I had not known of niphredil's true healing powers and I had feared my own identity. But since then, I have you to thank for the hope that you have enkindled in me. You have been indeed my prince who saved me.'

Legolas did not know what to say. His eyes merely stared into her grey eyes, and the mirth returned to them again.

'I shall not say anything save thank you.' He said. 'You are an extraordinary woman, Niphredil and I would desire to meet you in the future yet again.'

Niphredil smiled. 'I would be glad to welcome you, whenever you come.'

The two of them turned to the sound of the hobbits calling for him. It seemed the time for departure had come, and parting was to follow too.

'You have seen my future, but I know not yours.' Legolas spoke, turning back to look at Niphredil who had fastened about her shoulders her green Lothlorien cloak.

'Lady Arwen shall need me before the end,' was all she said and approached Legolas once more.

'You shall leave Lothlorien?' he asked surprise. Niphredil nodded.

'Lady Galadriel has given me her blessing. She knows that I am more useful if I leave. She knows how much pain the Wood gives me now and desires my heart to be at ease.'

A pained look came over Legolas' face at her words and she smiled at him. 'Do not regret your time with me, for I will treasure them for all time, till the Sea shall call me home.' Her words were spoken with a firmness and a confidence that Legolas had not heard before, and it surprised him more when Niphredil boldly reached out and laid a gentle hand on his cheek.

'Lady Galdariel desires to give you her message, before you depart, I almost forgot.' She said softly.

Legolas Greenleaf, long under tree

In joy thou hast live, Beware of the Sea!

If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore

Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more!

Her voice was soft and haunting as she sang this, and an understanding came over her eyes at the message. Legolas however just smiled brightly and shook his golden head.

"Forgive me, but that sounds more like a warning rather than a message.'

Niphredil laughed and shook her head. 'I am but a mere handmaiden, here to serve.'

Legolas smiled. 'Then I shall repay you with a deed that you shall treasure forever in your heart.'

To Niphredil's surprise, Legolas slowly drew towards her and met her lips in a soft but quick kiss. He was soon drawing away and walking back towards the boats, casting a parting look behind him towards Niphredil.

Niphredil meanwhile stood rooted to the spot, her hands reaching out to touch her lips where just moments before, Legolas' own lips rested against them. A smile crept up on her face.

Her eyes, slowly followed Legolas' progress as he went back to the docks and soon left Lothlorien for good. Niphredil spotted her mistress standing on the banks of the river dressed in her immaculate white and wishing the Fellowship of the Ring good speed. Niphredil knew it was safe to turn away; the Lady of the Light will not need her anymore and will not stop her in what she was about to do.

She made her way now, no tears in her eyes, and no heaviness in her heart towards where her future lay waiting before her. A white steed was tethered to a small mallorn tree, and beside it was another steed of the same color.

"Niphredil, is that you?' a slight tenor asked behind her as she entered the glade and she turned to meet the eyes of a dark-haired and dark-eyed Elf dressed in silver grey and sporting the Rivendell insignia in his quiver.

Niphredil gave a deep curtsy. 'Yes, My lord Elladan. It is I.' she straightened up and smiled a secret smile now, as she saw Lord Elladan's twin, Elrohir, come into view. She knew that somewhere, in Galadriel's mirror, the images that she had seen were fading away, for she chose the path that was not seen but had chosen nevertheless. Looking at Lord Elladan, she knew that it was time to breathe once more, and live life. The Shadow had been over her at late and Niphredil finally shook it away.

'Are you ready?' Elladan, son of Elrond now asked her as she moved towards them, still a smile on her face. Niphredil met his onyx black eyes and nodded.

'I am ready to go home.'

The last chapter! I was very sad when I finally finished it...I am thinking of adding two last chapters for epilogue purposes...it actually depends on the reation to these two chapters would be...Please read...and review...tell me what you think!! I really want to know!!

Ciao!!