A/N: Well here it is, the official last chapter of Love Never Loses Hope. Thank you thank you to everyone who has reviewed, and at the end everyone can have a giant cookie. =o) Okay, disclaimer: I own all of Legolas and Aiwë's children and Nantheh. Also, I am thinking about doing a side story with one of their daughters, Eiliantwing, and possibly more of their children; feedback on that is appreciated. Okay, here you go, the last chapter:
~*Love Never Loses Hope*~
Chapter 15: In Which The Story Ends...
"I wonder how she is."
"Legolas, that is the fifth time you have said that in as many minutes!" Gimli laughed. "She is fine, probably as nervous as you."
Legolas grinned half-heartedly. He could not remember being so nervous in his life. The door to his room opened and Lungil entered, dressed in blue and silver. Behind him was Thindolfin, all in silver.
"Gwath made us leave," Luingil explained with a grin. "She said she was nervous enough without having to watch us fidget."
"Which we were not doing," Thindolfin added defensively.
"Come, Thindolfin, you were nearly dancing with impatience!" Luingil laughed.
"Can you blame me?" the silver-haired Elf grinned. He had arrived two weeks after the final battle, and it had been a happy reunion for Thindolfin and Aiwë. Now, nearly two months later,* he would see his adopted daughter married.
Legolas looked out the window, drumming his fingers on the windowsill impatiently. Just one more hour...
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Stop pacing! I am getting dizzy just watching you!" Éowyn laughed.
"If you were about to get married you would be pacing too," Aiwë retorted.
Éowyn rolled her eyes and straightened her silver-blue dress. Aiwë and Éowyn had become close friends, acting more like sisters than should have been possible between an Elf and a Mortal.
"Where is Naneth?**" Aiwë asked, still pacing. Naneth was the old woman who had cared for Aiwë when she first came to Minas Tirith. Her real name was Iorwing, but she liked being called Naneth.
There was a knock on the door, and Éowyn opened it to reveal Naneth carrying a large basket of flowers. The old woman bustled in and put down her basket, a broad smile on her wrinkled face.
"Come, come child! Quite your pacing and let me see to your hair," she clucked.
Aiwë smiled and obediently sat down on a chair. With Éowyn's help, Naneth skillfully wove blue and white flowers through Aiwë's long brown hair. As they worked, Aiwë sat fidgeting with the leaf necklace or running a hand over the soft, white fabric of her dress. It was a plain white dress, with a fitted top that led to a silver belt, from which the white skirt flared gracefully. The sleeves were tight to the elbows, then opened and hung like bells.
"Alright, we're done," Naneth smiled, squeezing Aiwë's shoulder gently.
Aiwë stood and looked into the full-length mirror at one end of the room. "Is that me?" she asked in shock.
"Of course it's you!" Éowyn laughed.
"Hmm, I clean up well."
Éowyn and Naneth could not help but laugh at their friend. A knock on the door interrupted them, and Naneth was quite surprised when she opened the door. King Éomer, Prince Imrahil, and King Elessar all stood outside, sheepish grins on their faces.
"And to what do I owe this royal treatment?" Aiwë smirked, arms folded across her chest.
"Legolas sent us," Éomer replied, trying not to laugh.
"But I think we have the wrong room, for his descriptions were not as gracious as the real thing," Imrahil said swiftly, winking at Aiwë.
Aiwë and Éowyn tried desperately to keep from doubling over in laughter. "Always quick with flattery, Prince Imrahil," Aiwë managed to giggle.
"He learned from the best," Elessar said smoothly.
Aiwë and Éowyn sat down on chairs, tears streaming down their faces as they laughed. Naneth managed to keep a straight face as she shooed the men away.
"You tell Legolas to wait patiently and stop bothering us!" she scolded. "He only has to wait a half-hour."
"Yes, mother," the men replied, acting like young boys being scolded by a neighbor. Naneth rolled her eyes and shut the door.
"Men."
Scarcely thirty minutes later, Legolas stood at the end of a long walk, trying desperately not to fidget. The wedding was being held outside on the Field of Cormallen, where the Ringbearers had been honored almost a month ago. Many had gathered to watch, for the tale of Legolas and Aiwë had spread quickly through the White City, and the Gondorians wished to see the Elves united at last.
Beside Legolas stood Gimli, Imrahil, Elessar, and Éomer. Across from them stood Naneth and Éowyn. Suddenly Gimli nudged his friend. "Here she comes."
Legolas looked down the path and saw Aiwë walking towards him, Thindolfin and Luingil on either side; but his eyes were only for her. She seemed like one of the Valar, dressed all in white with flowers in her dark hair. In that moment she seemed more fair to him than even Lady Galadriel.
Silently Aiwë came to stand before and slipped her hand into his. They gazed at each other, speaking automatically, not hearing what was being said. They were locked in the spell of the other's eyes, locked in a dream of love and peace. But one sentence broke through the spell and reached Legolas' ears: "You may now kiss your bride."
A grin spread from pointy ear to pointy ear, and he wrapped his arm about Aiwë's waist and pulled her to him, his mouth pressed to hers. Immediately the air was filled with cheers, causing the very walls of the city to shake. At long last, Aiwë and Legolas drew apart reluctantly.
"We shall continue that later," Legolas whispered to Aiwë with a sly wink. Giggling, Aiwë turned as her friends swarmed about them, cheering and congratulating. This is my family, and my home. And I would not change it for the world.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Brethil, Ëaraew, Gaerhen, Eiliantwing, Maltros!"
At the sound of their mother's voice, five Elves lifted their eyes to her. The eldest, Brethil, had grey eyes and black, silver-streaked hair. Ëaraew, the next eldest, had blue eyes and dark blonde hair. In the middle was Gaerhen, who had eyes and hair the color of copper. Next was Maltros, and he had light brown eyes flecked with gold, as well as golden hair. Eiliantwing was the youngest, and she had big blue eyes that changed color from sky blue, to the color of the sea, to a dark blue that was almost black. Her hair was gold streaked with copper, bronze, and silver.
"I have already called you twice, it is time for dinner," Aiwë said, slightly exasperated. "Now go wash up."
Ëaraew and Eiliantwing skipped off right away, but the boys followed more reluctantly, loath to leave the sea shore. As the last of them disappeared into the house, Legolas came and slipped an arm about his wife's shoulders.
"If only they were that slow about getting into mischief," the Elf prince chuckled.
"But what would I do if I did not have to check on them all the time?" Aiwë smiled.
Legolas sat down on the sand and pulled Aiwë onto his lap, and together they watched as the sun sank slowly into the west. The sea looked like molten gold as the sun touched it, and the enchanting call of sea-gulls filled the air. Aiwë breathed the salty air with a faint smile. King Elessar had given them a beautiful house, which was more near a castle, by the sea, and Aiwë had at long last begun to feel the sea calling. Though I still will regret leaving Middle-Earth behind.
"Gimli has arrived," Legolas murmured softly.
Aiwë sighed. "Then we are leaving soon?"
"Three weeks, four at the most."
Aiwë lay her head against Legolas' shoulder. For some time now Legolas had been busy building a grey boat with a few other Elves that still dwelt in Gondor. It was now nearly finished, and in a month they would sail to Valinor, leaving Middle-Earth behind forever.
"But what of the children?" she asked at last. "Eiliantwing is scarcely twenty years old! Can we take them from Arda so soon?"
"We have no choice," he replied sadly. "King Elessar and Queen Arwen are gone, and all the other Elves have passed over the sea. We are the last. The time of the Elves has passed, we must leave. Do not worry about the children, they will be alright."
"I hope so," she murmured, almost to herself. She closed her eyes, recalling the great trees of Mirkwood, her home. Brethil and Ëaraew had seen it, as had Gaerhen, though he had probably been too young to remember much. She wished she could visit those woods just once more, show her children the secret paths and special hiding places... But Legolas is right, our time has passed. The children will take to Valinor quickly enough.
"Come, the children will be waiting for us," Aiwë said softly, rising to her feet. Legolas nodded and stood as well, but just before he went inside, he paused and looked back towards the sea, then towards the north, towards Mirkwood. Shaking his head sadly, the Elf prince of Mirkwood followed his wife inside.
Three weeks later, Legolas and his family, along with Gimli the Dwarf, Thindolfin the Silver-Elf, and a few other Elves of Mirkwood, set sail across the sea. So they came at last to Valinor, last of the Elves. And there they dwelt in peace and joy forever after.
*Thindolfin arrived April 8, the day the Ringbearers were honored on the Field of Cormallen. Legolas and Aiwë were married May 7, 1419 (Shire Reckoning), six days after the crowning of King Elessar (Aragorn).
** Naneth means 'mother' in Sindarin.
Brethil - silver birch
Ëaraew - sea bird (ëar - sea; aew - [small] bird)
Gaerhen - copper-colored eye (gaer - copper-colored; hen - eye)
Maltros - gold spray (malt - gold; ros - foam, spray)
Eiliantwing - rainbow spray (eiliant - rainbow, literally 'sky-bridge'; wing - foam, spray)
For those wondering, I mixed Sindarin and Quenya, which explains two different words meaning the same thing. Thank you all for reading. **ArwenStar**
Chapter 15: In Which The Story Ends...
"Legolas, that is the fifth time you have said that in as many minutes!" Gimli laughed. "She is fine, probably as nervous as you."
Legolas grinned half-heartedly. He could not remember being so nervous in his life. The door to his room opened and Lungil entered, dressed in blue and silver. Behind him was Thindolfin, all in silver.
"Gwath made us leave," Luingil explained with a grin. "She said she was nervous enough without having to watch us fidget."
"Which we were not doing," Thindolfin added defensively.
"Come, Thindolfin, you were nearly dancing with impatience!" Luingil laughed.
"Can you blame me?" the silver-haired Elf grinned. He had arrived two weeks after the final battle, and it had been a happy reunion for Thindolfin and Aiwë. Now, nearly two months later,* he would see his adopted daughter married.
Legolas looked out the window, drumming his fingers on the windowsill impatiently. Just one more hour...
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Stop pacing! I am getting dizzy just watching you!" Éowyn laughed.
"If you were about to get married you would be pacing too," Aiwë retorted.
Éowyn rolled her eyes and straightened her silver-blue dress. Aiwë and Éowyn had become close friends, acting more like sisters than should have been possible between an Elf and a Mortal.
"Where is Naneth?**" Aiwë asked, still pacing. Naneth was the old woman who had cared for Aiwë when she first came to Minas Tirith. Her real name was Iorwing, but she liked being called Naneth.
There was a knock on the door, and Éowyn opened it to reveal Naneth carrying a large basket of flowers. The old woman bustled in and put down her basket, a broad smile on her wrinkled face.
"Come, come child! Quite your pacing and let me see to your hair," she clucked.
Aiwë smiled and obediently sat down on a chair. With Éowyn's help, Naneth skillfully wove blue and white flowers through Aiwë's long brown hair. As they worked, Aiwë sat fidgeting with the leaf necklace or running a hand over the soft, white fabric of her dress. It was a plain white dress, with a fitted top that led to a silver belt, from which the white skirt flared gracefully. The sleeves were tight to the elbows, then opened and hung like bells.
"Alright, we're done," Naneth smiled, squeezing Aiwë's shoulder gently.
Aiwë stood and looked into the full-length mirror at one end of the room. "Is that me?" she asked in shock.
"Of course it's you!" Éowyn laughed.
"Hmm, I clean up well."
Éowyn and Naneth could not help but laugh at their friend. A knock on the door interrupted them, and Naneth was quite surprised when she opened the door. King Éomer, Prince Imrahil, and King Elessar all stood outside, sheepish grins on their faces.
"And to what do I owe this royal treatment?" Aiwë smirked, arms folded across her chest.
"Legolas sent us," Éomer replied, trying not to laugh.
"But I think we have the wrong room, for his descriptions were not as gracious as the real thing," Imrahil said swiftly, winking at Aiwë.
Aiwë and Éowyn tried desperately to keep from doubling over in laughter. "Always quick with flattery, Prince Imrahil," Aiwë managed to giggle.
"He learned from the best," Elessar said smoothly.
Aiwë and Éowyn sat down on chairs, tears streaming down their faces as they laughed. Naneth managed to keep a straight face as she shooed the men away.
"You tell Legolas to wait patiently and stop bothering us!" she scolded. "He only has to wait a half-hour."
"Yes, mother," the men replied, acting like young boys being scolded by a neighbor. Naneth rolled her eyes and shut the door.
"Men."
Scarcely thirty minutes later, Legolas stood at the end of a long walk, trying desperately not to fidget. The wedding was being held outside on the Field of Cormallen, where the Ringbearers had been honored almost a month ago. Many had gathered to watch, for the tale of Legolas and Aiwë had spread quickly through the White City, and the Gondorians wished to see the Elves united at last.
Beside Legolas stood Gimli, Imrahil, Elessar, and Éomer. Across from them stood Naneth and Éowyn. Suddenly Gimli nudged his friend. "Here she comes."
Legolas looked down the path and saw Aiwë walking towards him, Thindolfin and Luingil on either side; but his eyes were only for her. She seemed like one of the Valar, dressed all in white with flowers in her dark hair. In that moment she seemed more fair to him than even Lady Galadriel.
Silently Aiwë came to stand before and slipped her hand into his. They gazed at each other, speaking automatically, not hearing what was being said. They were locked in the spell of the other's eyes, locked in a dream of love and peace. But one sentence broke through the spell and reached Legolas' ears: "You may now kiss your bride."
A grin spread from pointy ear to pointy ear, and he wrapped his arm about Aiwë's waist and pulled her to him, his mouth pressed to hers. Immediately the air was filled with cheers, causing the very walls of the city to shake. At long last, Aiwë and Legolas drew apart reluctantly.
"We shall continue that later," Legolas whispered to Aiwë with a sly wink. Giggling, Aiwë turned as her friends swarmed about them, cheering and congratulating. This is my family, and my home. And I would not change it for the world.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Brethil, Ëaraew, Gaerhen, Eiliantwing, Maltros!"
At the sound of their mother's voice, five Elves lifted their eyes to her. The eldest, Brethil, had grey eyes and black, silver-streaked hair. Ëaraew, the next eldest, had blue eyes and dark blonde hair. In the middle was Gaerhen, who had eyes and hair the color of copper. Next was Maltros, and he had light brown eyes flecked with gold, as well as golden hair. Eiliantwing was the youngest, and she had big blue eyes that changed color from sky blue, to the color of the sea, to a dark blue that was almost black. Her hair was gold streaked with copper, bronze, and silver.
"I have already called you twice, it is time for dinner," Aiwë said, slightly exasperated. "Now go wash up."
Ëaraew and Eiliantwing skipped off right away, but the boys followed more reluctantly, loath to leave the sea shore. As the last of them disappeared into the house, Legolas came and slipped an arm about his wife's shoulders.
"If only they were that slow about getting into mischief," the Elf prince chuckled.
"But what would I do if I did not have to check on them all the time?" Aiwë smiled.
Legolas sat down on the sand and pulled Aiwë onto his lap, and together they watched as the sun sank slowly into the west. The sea looked like molten gold as the sun touched it, and the enchanting call of sea-gulls filled the air. Aiwë breathed the salty air with a faint smile. King Elessar had given them a beautiful house, which was more near a castle, by the sea, and Aiwë had at long last begun to feel the sea calling. Though I still will regret leaving Middle-Earth behind.
"Gimli has arrived," Legolas murmured softly.
Aiwë sighed. "Then we are leaving soon?"
"Three weeks, four at the most."
Aiwë lay her head against Legolas' shoulder. For some time now Legolas had been busy building a grey boat with a few other Elves that still dwelt in Gondor. It was now nearly finished, and in a month they would sail to Valinor, leaving Middle-Earth behind forever.
"But what of the children?" she asked at last. "Eiliantwing is scarcely twenty years old! Can we take them from Arda so soon?"
"We have no choice," he replied sadly. "King Elessar and Queen Arwen are gone, and all the other Elves have passed over the sea. We are the last. The time of the Elves has passed, we must leave. Do not worry about the children, they will be alright."
"I hope so," she murmured, almost to herself. She closed her eyes, recalling the great trees of Mirkwood, her home. Brethil and Ëaraew had seen it, as had Gaerhen, though he had probably been too young to remember much. She wished she could visit those woods just once more, show her children the secret paths and special hiding places... But Legolas is right, our time has passed. The children will take to Valinor quickly enough.
"Come, the children will be waiting for us," Aiwë said softly, rising to her feet. Legolas nodded and stood as well, but just before he went inside, he paused and looked back towards the sea, then towards the north, towards Mirkwood. Shaking his head sadly, the Elf prince of Mirkwood followed his wife inside.
Three weeks later, Legolas and his family, along with Gimli the Dwarf, Thindolfin the Silver-Elf, and a few other Elves of Mirkwood, set sail across the sea. So they came at last to Valinor, last of the Elves. And there they dwelt in peace and joy forever after.
*Thindolfin arrived April 8, the day the Ringbearers were honored on the Field of Cormallen. Legolas and Aiwë were married May 7, 1419 (Shire Reckoning), six days after the crowning of King Elessar (Aragorn).
** Naneth means 'mother' in Sindarin.
Brethil - silver birch
Ëaraew - sea bird (ëar - sea; aew - [small] bird)
Gaerhen - copper-colored eye (gaer - copper-colored; hen - eye)
Maltros - gold spray (malt - gold; ros - foam, spray)
Eiliantwing - rainbow spray (eiliant - rainbow, literally 'sky-bridge'; wing - foam, spray)
For those wondering, I mixed Sindarin and Quenya, which explains two different words meaning the same thing. Thank you all for reading. **ArwenStar**