The Last Dreamwalker

Her Fallen Beauty

Legolas smiled over at Lessien, who was sleeping on her side. She had survived. Her torso was wrapped up and her arm no longer had the stain. They smiled over at each other. The room was light with the sun and she seemed to be glowing. Everything would be okay.

They could be wed one day when Lessien approved because Legolas knew it would be a while before she did. They could have many children or perhaps a few because Legolas knew she would only want two or three. She would become queen, or maybe not because Aragorn could have a male heir one day with Arwen, and being a queen wasn't in her dreams.

Her beauty was astounding. She lit up the whole room. He loved her so much, he thought, as she cupped his face with her cold hand.

"Legolas," she whispered.

And then Legolas awoke, bolting to an upright position, with no one beside him and the loneliness of night cloaking him. The whisper from his dream seemed to hang in the air. His heart sunk in his chest. He wondered if this pain would go away.

Tears dripped down his cheeks. She haunted his dreams now.

Lessien Tiwele had been buried three days ago in the tombs beside her royal ancestors. She didn't belong there in Legolas's mind. She belonged in the deserts of Rohan where she had lived out her childhood. It was where she rode her horses about and the wind had blown in her hair. It was where her wild spirit could be free. If there was anywhere she would have called home, it was there.

But Aragorn got angry with Legolas when he had tried to convince him where her body and spirit belonged. He did not like speaking of her.

"You knew her for barely three years, elf-prince. She was my daughter. You will not speak of it anymore. My mind has been set."

That was what had been said.

At his coronation, Aragorn had acted normal. He gave speeches and sang. He spoke of how brave the hobbits had been and Legolas did agree.

However, the king had not been able to mention Lessien's name or of the victory she had brought. It was because Legolas knew he didn't possess the strength to speak her name any longer.

This had driven a rift between Legolas and his friend.

Aragorn had attended her funeral. He had wept. He often cried over her death. Losing Lessien had broken him.

There, he spoke of her to all of his subjects and her glory. He spoke of how her death had not been in vain.

Legolas was bitter. By then, he thought it was pointless and out of obligation. The crowd at Lessien's funeral had nowhere near the amount of people there was at Aragorn's coronation.

They were just words now.

Arwen couldn't get out of bed for many days. She now sat around locked in the library, never speaking a word. She only spoke to Aragorn.

Legolas didn't know what he was doing here. He needed to leave. He just couldn't find anywhere to go. Was he meant to go to the Undying Lands? That didn't feel right.

Anywhere without her didn't feel right.

He felt himself start crying again, shamelessly, until there was a knock at the door. Quickly, he wiped away tears and sniffed before clearing his throat.

"Come in," he croaked.

Legolas was surprised to be graced by the presence of Samwise Gamgee. His heart completely twisted at the sight of Lessien's closest friend.

Sam's eyes were red and raw. He had been crying too.

"Sam. What are you doing here?"

The hobbit said nothing as he hobbled over to his side and sat on the bed, which he sort of had to climb up toc beside Legolas.