Light Within The Darkness 6

Light Within The Darkness

Part 6

Posted: September 21, 2007
Title: Light Within The Darkness
Author: Zilah

*****

I love you, my angel,
More than life itself.
My home is in your heart,
Now and forever.
For you, my soul is singing
For you, my heart is beating.

*

Their joyous laughter rang in the nightly air, as the elf ran through the forest trying to capture his playfully escaping meleth.

“Are you really so slow that you cannot catch me?” The elleth giggled as she ran fast like the wind in the trees. Her silvery white hair waved behind her, and her lover could almost imagine how her beautiful eyes shone like the stars.

The elf finally managed in capturing his beloved and held her tightly in his arms. The elleth was so tiny that she only reached his shoulder, but the elf lifted her up and kissed her.

“See? I’ve got you now, and I have no intentions to ever let you go,” he whispered softly.

“I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to be yours forever.” Came the breathless answer, as slender arms wrapped around his neck.

“Do you really? Would you have me here and now? With stars and moon our only witnesses… this is how I wanted our bonding to be, Linniel nín.”

The elleth nodded without hesitation.

“Take me then, make me yours. And we will be together till the end of Arda.”

They kissed with an earth shattering fervor, caressing and undressing each other until they both were naked as the day they were born. The elf could only stare at his meleth, who stood before him without hesitation, smiling at him lovingly.

“I have never seen anything this beautiful,” he breathed, “come, let me love you. My heart will be yours forever.”

In that night, they loved each other for the very first time, sealing their hearts and bodies together. The elf sobbed in his rapture when they finally were one.

“Mine… mine… I love you,” he whispered all over again, as they moved together in an ancient dance that finally lifted them amongst the stars.

* * * *

The elf woke abruptly, he was sweaty and he trembled from head to toe. To his dismay, he noticed that he had once again spilled his seed while he slept. He buried his face into his pillow, trying to smother his sobs.

“Why? Why I am dreaming about her again, after so many millennia? Why can’t I just forget her, when I know that she is lost from me forever?” The elf thought in his despair.

//You cannot forget her, because she is your true soul mate.//

“What! What trickery is this?” The elf whispered, surprised.

//This is not trickery. There is a reason why you are dreaming about your soul mate.//

//And what might that reason be? To ensure that I will not forget my place? That my suffering will continue forever, without any hope for relief?// The elf thought bitterly, glancing at the creature that slept peacefully beside him. Golden hair spread over the pillow and blue eyes was clouded in a slumber. The elf shuddered; despite its beauty, this creature was evil. And he was its captive without any possibility to escape.

//You have suffered for a long time, but it will end soon. And those who took your beloved from you will suffer their rightful punishment. You have to be ready when the time is right.//

//And how in Arda am I supposed to know that?//

//You will know. You will meet a certain elf, and he will tell you more.//

The voice disappeared, without further explanations. The elf was confused but also relieved.

“Could it be possible that I am finally granted to step to the Halls of Mandos? There is no other way to escape or reunite with my beloved. If it is really so, I will be the happiest elf in all Arda!”

* * * *

“No! You cannot ask him to do that! Can you not see that your request is nothing but cruel? It will be far too painful for him to stand aside and watch, when Elrond is marrying another!” Lindir yelled. He had never been this angry with his hervenn, but now his temperament boiled over.

Thranduil let out a deep sigh. He had known that Lindir wouldn’t take his news well, but they didn’t have any other options left.

“Saes, calm down, meleth. Listen to me, would you?” He finally said, and his soft plea finally broke Lindir’s angry resistance. Thranduil took his trembling hervenn in his arms, gently stroking his hair.

“Believe me when I say that I don’t want this either. My heart bleeds to send Legolas, but we have no other choice. Your trip to the wedding is completely out of the question, you know that. Aerlinniel is far too young for such journey, and I won’t leave you, no matter what. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn will surely understand our absence, but Mirkwood still has to have a represented at the wedding. And his status must be the highest possible one. All knows that Legolas has reached his majority and as adult he is fully capable to represent Mirkwood’s royal family. Elrond wouldn’t mind, but the Lord and the Lady are determined that this celebration will unite all elven kingdoms in Middle- Earth. Legolas’ absence would be taken as grave insult towards Imladris and Lórien. We cannot afford that, meleth nín.”

Lindir had ceased his struggling, and rested now against Thranduil, softly sobbing.

“But how we can ever… it will break his heart for good, meleth! You have seen it yourself; Legolas is always so sad and quiet. He hardly speaks to anyone and I haven’t seen him smiling for ages… I mean, with others but Aerlinniel.”

Thranduil looked out of the window, seeing those whom they were speaking of. Legolas had taken his sister out, and he was now carrying her through the woods. Little Aerlinniel was obviously laughing and they could almost see her bright giggling echoing in the air. Legolas too had a smile on his face, as he pointed out the beautiful trees and blooming blossoms for his sister. Despite his distress, Thranduil couldn’t help but smiling.

“Valar bless them both! I love them so much, and it warms my heart that our children are so dear to each other,” he thought. Once again, he realized how lucky he was, when he had two beautiful children and a mate whom he loved more than anything.

“Would that be acceptable for you if we asked Legolas, if he is willing to do this? If he refuses, we could send a word that he is grievously ill. But I don’t do it willingly; lying is always a bad option and it might cause some troubles later. Besides, we cannot avoid the truth forever after all,” Thranduil said carefully.

Lindir thought of his mate’s words for a long time. When he looked into Thranduil’s eyes, he felt a pang of guilt. Even now, after his angry words, he could see only love and devotion in them.

“I’m so sorry, meleth. You have done nothing to deserve my tantrum. Forgive me, saes, I know that you only mean what is best for us,” Lindir whispered, ashamed.

“It’s all right, meleth nín. I know that you did that because of love. And as I said, I would rather send someone else. But we have to ask; it would be the best, if not the easiest solution.”

Thranduil let out his breath he didn’t know he had held, when Lindir finally nodded. Even then he didn’t let his mate go but lifted him up.

“What are you doing? It is the afternoon,” Lindir gasped, when he noticed where Thranduil was carrying him.

“And we have few more hours just to ourselves. Legolas and Linniel won’t come in before dinner and you… you owe me, ind nín (my heart),” Thranduil whispered with a low voice that made shivers run through Lindir’s body.

“… and pray tell me… what do I owe you?” Lindir managed to ask, as he finally rested on the bed, completely bare and aroused.

Thranduil’s lips curved into sheepish grin, as he too undressed and his aching arousal sprang free.

“You are so beautiful when you are angry. I want you, now.”

* * * *

Legolas felt confused when his ada Thranduil sent a word that they wanted to speak with him. He had never been addressed this formally by his adas before, and he wondered what they might have in mind. Legolas thought sadly that this wasn’t the only change in his life. His winter in Mirkwood had been long and mournful. He felt more and more difficult to rise up at mornings, and there was only one elf who could ease his pain; his dear Linniel. Legolas didn’t dare think what would have happened to him without her.

“…You want me to do what?” He choked, when Thranduil had finally ceased speaking.

“I know that it will be hard for you, but it is necessary,” Thranduil said with warm compassion that still didn’t reached Legolas’ frozen heart. Only with great effort did he manage to keep his face as he answered.

“I’ll do it, ada. If this is necessary for you and our home, I will go to the wedding.”

“Are you sure, ion nín? If this feels too difficult…” Lindir started to say but Legolas shook his head.

“I cannot avoid the truth forever, can I? Maybe this is what I need to accept the fact that he will never be mine. I will go and watch with my own eyes, how he binds himself with another. Then, maybe, I will finally find peace if not happiness. If that was all, I need to go now and start my packing” the Prince said quietly and then rose, leaving his parents in a stunned silence.

Lindir shuddered when he looked at Legolas’ retreating back. He had never seen his beloved son so crushed. Legolas’ sureness that he would never find happiness was searing beyond belief.

“Saes Valar! Can you not hear me? Why do you let him suffer this way? He has done nothing to deserve this!” Lindir thought, feeling desperate. He leaned closer to his mate in need of consolation but this time even Thranduil’s embrace couldn’t ease his pain. Their tears mixed together as they wept for their son.

*****

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