Chapter Text
Lord Elrond was looking out at the courtyard of Imladris through the window in his office. The day had been peaceful enough yet he was still restless, a sense of foreboding settled over him. He shook himself out of his musing. Valar knows he had enough work to do. He did not see the surface of his mahogany desk nowadays. Just as he was about to return to his work, he saw a rider galloping into the valley. His foreboding increased as he made his way to the door to greet the rider.
As he descended the last few steps into the courtyard, he was joined by his twin sons. Together they approached the rider who had just dismounted from her horse.
“Greetings Master Elves! I come bearing a letter from Theoden King of Rohan to Lord Elrond of Rivendell Could you please guide me to his Lordship”
“You have come to the right place Mistress, for I am Elrond the Lord of this beautiful valley of Imladris known to Men as Rivendell.”, Elrond stepping forward to receive the letter, which the messenger handed over with a bow of respect.
He had a feeling- nay, he knew that this concerned his youngest ion. He broke the seal depicting a horse running in front of a rising sun and unrolled the scroll and scanned its contents, only to drop it with a gasp.
The twins heard their father’s gasp. Elrohir stepped behind his father to see what was wrong as Elladan reached for the fallen letter. But before either could succeed in their self-appointed tasks, Elrond’s knees gave out and he fell to the ground, silent tears unning down his face.
“Ada. Ada, Man te” (Father. Father, what is it), Elrohir asked shaking his father, deeply concerned. He could easily count all the times his father had cried in public, even before them. The last time had been when Thranduil had come and Elrond had to tell him about the quest he had send their sons on.
“Elladan picked up the letter and read it , his eyes widening, it would have been comical if the situation was not so dire.
“Nay, It can’t be, not my tithen munidor, Nay”, whispered Elladan, he was trembling. Elrohir had picked the contents of the letter from his twins mind and was hugging his father and shedding tears for their lost brother while Elladan turned towards the girl and demanded, “Is this true messenger?”
“Aye ‘milord, it is true. The Lord Aragorn died protecting the retreating Rohirimm on our way to Helm’s Deep” It was as though the life force was sucked out of him. His fingers grew numb and the paper fluttered to the ground, free for everyone to see the words that had brought the powerful elven family to their knees,
The tear-stained parchment read,
Half the writing was smudged by the tears and the usually elegant handwriting of the prince was barely legible. His sign was accompanied by the seal of the White stag of Eryn Galen surrounded by the birds that made the sigil Legolas’s own, giving the heart wrenching message credibility.
Elrond finally pulled himself together as the concern for his other son permeated his mind. He now feared for Legolas’s fëa. He did not believe that Legolas would journey to the sea by himself now that he had
lost his husband. No, he would not, could not lose another son. His family will not survive that.
“Elladan, Elrohir, I need you to ride to Rohan with haste and bring Legolas to Mithlond.”, Elrond said holding his grieving sons by their shoulders, “I shall order for the remaining elves to pack for our last journey. The elves will sail now that there is …”, his voice broke off. He took a deep breath and continued, “there is no hope.”
The twins nodded denoting their understanding of the order. They went into the house to pack the essentials needed for the journey . Elrohir also packed a skin of miruvor, the mead of Valinor. He prayed to the Valar that it will be enough to sustain Legolas till they reached the Grey Havens. Legolas, Elbereth, he could only imagine what he was going through, loosing his husband again, this time permanently. He could not afford to think such thoughts, he has to be strong. He will do as he was bid, then, he will grieve.
They loaded their packs onto their horses, they had not packed much -only their weapons and lembas-so as to not burden their horses and compromise speed. And soon two riders cloaked in grey rode out of Imladris.