Morning Star
A nightingale could be heard singing in a nearby tree. Its melody was welcomed by Legolas’ ears while he watched the glow of twilight disappear from the sky. But the bird’s tune seemed different to the Elf’s ears. It sang of a world in the midst of change. The days of the Eldar were over, and Legolas witnessed the dawn of the Age of Men. Only a handful of his kin remained compared to what once walked in the woods of the world. Although he could hear a few voices join in harmony with the nightingale, Legolas remembered a time when he was able to hear so many more. Each voice that was now silent was another drop of unshed longing for home. But the greater question still remained. Where exactly was home now?
Legolas rarely slept. It was not often the Elves required it. But the sounds of the sea found the Elf in his dreams. Lady Galadriel had once sent him a message warning him of this. She told him the sea-longing would find him. Ever since Legolas ventured to Pelargir during the war, the sound of the gulls followed him. Their calls haunted the Elf’s dreams at times. Legolas felt the passing of many of his kin into the West, even though many Elves from his father’s realm remained in Middle Earth. They stayed for now at least. But how long would it be before the gulls beckoned to them too? How soon would it be before Legolas was all alone?
As the sky continued to darken, Legolas watched a bird swoop down from one tree to another in search of food. Some of the trees here were very young compared to those in Mirkwood. Legolas had helped to plant many of them, and cared for them as a father would do for his children. Ithilien was not the same place it was when Legolas first arrived. The Elf was proud to see the earth healing, as well as plants and trees flourish. The trees no longer sang of the dark days they saw under the Dark Lord’s oppression of this land. Instead, they sang of joy and anticipation of the days to come. Despite the satisfaction Legolas found in his work, his heart was upon the sea once again. His spirit yearned for its own renewal. Tending to the disarray of the woods and gardens of Ithilien was not an easy task by any stretch of the measure. But it was work that was well worth the time and effort in Legolas’ eyes. But there was something missing. There was still a portion of his current purpose that remained hidden from the Elf. Yet it felt so close, as if it was just out of Legolas’ reach. It whispered in the back of the Elf’s mind, barely heard just above the increasingly louder call of the gulls. Yet Legolas could not completely ignore that small voice, no matter how quiet it was. After all, many great deeds started out as only a tiny whisper.
Night came to the woods, revealing that the stars overhead were bright and innumerable. How many times in his life had Legolas tried to count them? Indeed those times were almost as great as the company overhead. Many times in recent years the Elf wondered if the same stars were seen on a far off shore.
Legolas tried to forget the gulls and the sea as he walked onwards. But a sound called out to him. It was both beautiful and gripping at the same time, and would not allow the Elf to ignore it. Legolas came to a promontory to look out towards the source of the enchanting music. His heart nearly wept when the Elf looked down to see the Anduin stretch out beyond his sight in both directions. The siren call came from only one end though. Legolas knew if he followed it eventually it would guide him to the sea. Oh the sea! How he loved and loathed both it all at the same time. He could not bear this torment much longer within his being, even though Legolas bore no injury or ill. The light of the many stars overhead twinkled in a merry dance upon the water’s surface. It was as if they too heard the sea’s bewitching tune, and could not resist the same call. Surely it was a sign that it was time to go.
But as Legolas became resigned more to the idea of leaving, the tiny whisper began to grow louder. Somehow it managed to temporarily break the spell the siren song had upon Legolas’ mind. The Elf looked up to see Minas Tirith bathed in the light of the moon. The memory of friends and family returned. How could he leave without saying goodbye to those he loved? It was not the departure Legolas envisioned. As strong as the call was a moment ago, the Elf could not simply slip away in such a manner.
Legolas began his journey. But this time he made his way for the White City. Thoughts of his brother through friendship came to Legolas’ mind. Many letters came while Aragorn was residing in Annuminas with his family. It would seem the time in the Northern Kingdom did much to refresh the King. But now Aragorn was back, with renewed purpose. But more joy was about to visit the House of Telcontar. The last letter Legolas received from his friend revealed the happy news. After many years of hoping and wishing, the King and Queen were about to be blessed with the arrival of their second child. Eldarion brought a great deal of life and bliss to the couple. But Legolas knew that Aragorn and Arwen longed in recent years to expand their family. Aragorn had even spoken to the Elf of his secret hopes for a daughter in his latest letter. Yes, a daughter would bring many new blessings to the King’s home.
No, it would not be fair to leave now in the face of such a happy event. Legolas could not bear to do such a thing to Aragorn. But he would leave soon, very soon. The Elf was thankful for the new little one. The child would help to ease the parting when it finally came.
The sun was beginning to rise in the East when Legolas finally arrived at the King’s House. He contemplated what he would say to Aragorn and Arwen throughout his journey. But the Elf still wasn’t completely sure of how he wished to begin.
"Legolas!" a familiar voice called out. Legolas turned to see Aragorn run towards him. The King was almost glowing with joy. A wide smile spread from one corner of his mouth to the other.
"I was about to send a messenger bearing the glad tidings. But instead you have come of your own accord!" Aragorn exclaimed jubilantly as he embraced his longtime friend. Legolas returned the embrace, suddenly feeling a bit of relief that he came.
"And what glad tidings do you speak of?"
The broad smile seemed to grow even larger upon Aragorn’s face, if such was even possible. "I am a father to another! Arwen has blessed me with a beautiful daughter! She joined us not even two days ago. Come, you must see her!"
Legolas had not seen Aragorn in such a state of elation in a long while. It was almost as if the King was once again a young man. The Elf followed his friend to sitting room. Arwen was seated in a comfortable chair. The Queen smiled to see her husband and Legolas enter the room. Legolas gave the Queen a polite bow before his eyes fixed upon the bundle cradled in Arwen’s arms.
"Have you come to visit our new princess?" Arwen murmured happily. She appeared calmer than her husband, but Legolas could not mistake the overflowing bliss that was also in her husband’s eyes.
The Queen pulled the embroidered edge of the blanket back from the infant’s face. Legolas’ heart swelled with joy and admiration as he looked into a pair of large bright eyes. The baby girl was as fair skinned as her mother, and her head was crowned with wispy curls the palest shade of gold. Legolas knelt in front of Arwen to gently hold one of the tiny fists the infant extended outside the blanket. In front of him was life, pure and simple. The little one was truly a gift from Elbereth herself. Legolas could see the beauty of her stars reflected in the infant’s eyes.
"I had no idea the children of the Edain could be so fair to behold!" The Elf spoke with hushed awe. The babe’s fingers were almost magical. How could a being’s fingers be so tiny, and seem so delicate, yet possess the strength to grasp Legolas’ finger firmly.
Arwen smiled warmly at Legolas’ awestruck compliment of her second child. "She is our morning star, rekindled into the form of a child, and arriving just before dawn. Although I do think her sisters in the eastern skies shall miss her while she is gone."
The Queen carefully placed her daughter in Legolas’ arms, allowing him to hold her. The Elf cradled the infant as if she were a rare and expensive gem that would easily break. It was the first time he had held a human child this young. Eldarion was nearly two months of age when the Elf first laid eyes upon him. But there was something special about holding the girl child. It was almost as if he held both the present and future all at once. Always did his kin esteem their women as holding their future, and such was the same respect Legolas held for mortal women of every age. Legolas was not a father, but a paternal instinct began to surface within him.
Suddenly the call that came up the river seemed far away as the tiny whisper became loud and clear. Legolas always loved the woods and the growing things. But now another love was kindled in his spirit. The growing things now encompassed more than just the trees and flowers. Finally Legolas understood the missing piece to his current purpose. Although he did not have children of his own, the Elf felt a sense of satisfaction and pride as he watched Eldarion grow, and now there was another to witness reaching life’s milestones. Although the days of the Eldar were over in Middle earth, the children of men still needed to know about the beauty of the woods. There were many new trees and plants that were in the early stages of their lives. There would have to be those among men who would care for the woods and gardens after Legolas and his kin departed. But they could not leave until that task was finished. One day Legolas would head the calls of the sea. But that day was not upon him, not yet.
Legolas turned to meet his friend’s eyes. Aragorn smiled warmly at the Elf, watching him with his newest addition. There was a glimmer of knowing and understanding within the King’s eyes.
"I am truly glad you have come."
"As am I. You are truly blessed my brother-friend." Legolas murmured. He turned his eyes back to the infant in his arms to see she was now blissfully sleeping. The Elf bent his head slightly to place a gentle kiss upon the soft skin of the baby girl’s brow before handing her back to her mother.
"Although this little one is most fair, like her mother, I have a feeling our Princess shall be a healer and Renewer, like her father."
Aragorn’s face filled with pride as he came to stand next to his Queen. "Indeed I would be proud to see such a thing come to pass. But we have a favor we must ask of you Legolas."
The Elf nodded, motioning for the King to continue. "Anything my friends, ask and it shall be done."
Arwen smiled warmly. "We would ask that you help to teach our children about the wonders and mystery of the woods. One day they shall be responsible for their care, and Estel and I would not see the beauty of this world fade with future generations. We could think of no greater teacher than you to pass on such wisdom and knowledge."
"It would be an honor to bear such a task, my lord and lady." Legolas bowed reverently to the King and Queen, momentarily forgetting them as friends, instead seeing them as the noble monarchs they were.
"But for now I must depart. I long to be in the woods once more. I shall sing with my kin many songs of the new blessing that has arrived in this world."
The friends made their temporary farewells. Legolas would return to his dwelling, but he knew he would also visit his family through friendship in the near future. The sun was warm upon the Elf’s face, as if to reinforce the sentiments he felt within his being. With far seeing eyes, Legolas looked out towards Ithilien. The call of the woods was strong and welcoming. The Elf was all too eager to walk among the trees in the fair country once more. Once he arrived, Legolas could hear the trees welcome him back when the wind rustled through their leafy crowns. A brightly colored bird landed in the Elf’s path, grabbing an insect from the grass before flying off. Legolas reached out a hand to lovingly stroke the bark of a nearby tree. His touch was as tender as a lover who caressed the side of his beloved’s face. The scent of new summer flowers filled the Elf’s nostrils. He breathed it, allowing it to fill his being with approval.
Everything felt new once more. Colors were once again vivid, the sounds rich with harmony, the scents were more agreeable than ever before. The woods seemed to embrace one who walked among them with admiration year after year. They were glad in welcoming one of their masters home.
Yes, this was where he belonged for now. Legolas was sure of it. It was good to be home.