One Day You'll Know

Chapter 38- One Day You'll Know

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on when in your heart you begin to understand: there is no going back." -The Return of the King

~~~~~

"Momma!"

Noelle's head shot up from the tree she had been resting her head against. She had dozed off for literally two minutes! She couldn't even sleep for that long!

The little blonde four year old came racing over to where her mom was on the ground and practically slammed herself into Noelle's lap. Her blue eyes matched her mother's and she had a huge grin on her face.

Noelle sighed dramatically. "What is it, my little princess?"

"Can you play with me momma?"

Noelle raised an eyebrow. "Mommy was trying to nap..."

The girl pouted. "Daddy's too busy to play with me."

Noelle smiled sympathetically. She would understand one day when she was older. One day she would know. Sometimes needs had to come before feelings. Pulling the girl onto her lap, she kissed the top of her blonde head, which was a trait she had obviously not earned from her mother.

"Daddy has a kingdom to run, my littlest princess. It certainly doesn't mean he doesn't want to be with you. Eventually he'll have time. And you will understand one day."

~~~~~

Days turned into weeks in the Shire. Noelle had been staying with Frodo in Bag End since the beginning of June when their Company finally got back to the Shire, and now the summer was flying by quickly.

Things had stayed relatively the same for the hobbits of the Shire. When Noelle, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin returned, it was like nothing had ever happened.

But Noelle had watched the four hobbits go through the same realization that she had once had: things were never going to be the same after what had happened.

The difference was, at least the hobbits were trying to move on.

"You know, Miss Noelle. It's not that you can't have a normal life after adventures. The memory just is something you have to live with," Sam had pointed out.

And Noelle knew he couldn't be more right as she watched Rosie Cotton walk down the aisle to marry Sam.

She had almost considered not even going to the wedding, but she pushed away her selfish feelings and went to support her friend. After all, she had once urged Sam to go talk to Rosie at Bilbo's Birthday party, so she needed to go.

Her heart clenched tightly as she thought of Legolas.

This could have been us-

Inwardly, she chastised herself. She needed to stop.

Noelle hadn't spoken with Legolas since she told him she was leaving around two months ago. She had last seen him when their escort party reached Isengard. They had locked eyes briefly, only for Legolas to break the contact, his eyes filled with despair and grief every time he looked at her.

It was now midsummer, the first day of July, and Noelle had heard nothing about him. How he was doing. She desperately wanted answers, but she refused to reach out through the Force.

The Jedi always said that emotion was a bad thing, and Noelle disagreed with them, having experienced emotions all her life: the good and the bad. She wouldn't trade the love she had for Legolas nor the brotherly bond she had had with Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi said that emotions and peace could not coexist, but they were wrong.