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"We have to live, no matter

how many skies have fallen."

- D.H. Lawrence


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Chapter 19


The first rays of the sun shone through the window of the 
bedroom and outlined Kate's face in sunlight.  It was as if 
a crown of light had been placed upon her head, and Legolas 
could see the nobility in her features.  In her eyes was the 
steely determination of Aragorn, and her movements carried 
the gracefulness of Arwen.  He could see part of both of 
them in her, and yet, she was completely individual.  She 
was truly the heir of Gondor. 

"What a Queen you would have made,"  Legolas said, softly.

"Must I be a Queen to catch your eye?" 

Legolas smiled.  "You captured my attention before I was 
even aware of your nobility."

"Ah, what, all 10 minutes of it?" Kate asked, amused.

"It required even less time than that for your spirit to 
capture mine," Legolas said.

"The Red Book said nothing of Elves being hopeless 
romantics,"  Kate said.

Legolas lay back onto his pillow and laughed.  "I should 
hope not.  They were written by Hobbits.  Had you the 
opportunity to peruse the libraries of Rivendell or 
Lothlorien, I am sure I could have found you volumes on the 
finer points of love." 

She turned around to face him and said, "Since the libraries 
of Rivendell no longer stand, you will be forced to tell me 
what was in these books."
 
"I could not tell you," he said.  His eyes flickered 
mischievously, "But I might be persuaded to show you."
     
A grin spread across her face.  "What time do we meet 
Gandalf?"  she asked.
    
"Not until well into the afternoon,"  Legolas said.  "That 
should be more than enough time to get through at least 
volume one." 

"How many volumes are there?"  Kate asked.

"Hundreds," Legolas mumbled, as trailed kisses up her neck 
to her lips.


*******************************

Legolas and Kate sat silently on the public bus as they rode 
across the city to meet with the others.  Kate's hand was 
intertwined with his own.

The custom of hand-holding was not common among Elves as it 
was with mortals.  During his time among mortals, Legolas 
had often seen sweethearts walking hand-in-hand and he had 
often wondered at why they made so much of such a small 
gesture.  

Legolas no longer wondered anymore.  Even a touch as 
innocent as that of her fingers locked around his was enough 
to send waves of fire shooting through him.  It was no 
wonder that hand-holding was so prevalent, if all were 
bombarded by the same feelings as Legolas simply by holding 
Kate's hand in his own.

The bus stopped and they got off.  Kate smiled.  "I can 
hardly wait to see Colin."

"I know he is eager to see you,"  Legolas said.

"Did Gandalf say when we would leave for the border?"  

Legolas shook his head.  "He hadn't all the details, but I 
am sure that it will be soon.  I would not be surprised if 
we left immediately."

"This afternoon?"

"The longer we stay in France, the greater the danger,"  
Legolas said.  

"I'm ready to go home,"  Kate said.

"As am I,"  Legolas said.

Kate looked up at him.  "To Valinor?"

"To where ever you will be safe,"  Legolas said, softly.

Kate squeezed Legolas hand and they walked up the steps to 
the house where the others were waiting.

********************************


Elrond and Elladan were both startled when Legolas walked 
into house.  For they could instantly tell that he had bound 
himself to Kate.  Elrond opened his mouth to speak but 
thought better of it, for immediately there were more 
important concerns on everyone's mind.  

"Where is Elrohir?"  Elladan asked. 

"He said to tell you that the Halls of Mandos are far too 
small to keep him for long,"  Kate said, cheerfully, not 
realizing the meaning behind the words.  She thought it 
meant they would reunite later upon Valinor perhaps. 

Elladan gasped.  Elrond nearly reeled from the news and sat 
down abruptly in a chair.  

"What does it mean?"  Kate asked, seeing their reaction.

Legolas whispered.  "It is where the spirits of Elves go 
after they are slain."

Kate's eyes filled with tears.  "I didn't know.  When he 
told me that.... He sounded so happy. . .like it was a 
family joke.  I had no idea." 

"He probably didn't wish to frighten you,"  Legolas said.

Tears stung Kate's eyes.  "He should have told me,"  Kate 
said angrily.  "If I had known what he meant, I never would 
have let him go."  

"Elrohir is quite. . . . stubborn,"  Elladan said. "I doubt 
you could have changed his mind."

"Oh, I would have changed his mind."  Kate's anger gave way 
to sadness and the tears flowed down her face.  She looked 
around the room.  "Where's Colin?"

Gandalf knelt down in front of her.  "Colin is not coming 
back."

"What do you mean?"  Kate asked.

"He died at the prison."

The grief hit her like a physical blow and she fell to her 
knees.  So consumed by her loss, she did not hear the scream 
that came to her lips.  Legolas held her gently in his arms 
as sobs shook her body with such a force that Legolas feared 
her spirit would fly from her body.  

Across the room, Elrond and Elladan were dealing with their 
own grief.  Unfortunately there was little time for them to 
grieve.  After giving them as much time as he could Gandalf 
spoke quietly, "We have to leave.  We have an eternity to 
mourn, but we do not have the luxury to do it now."

"What would you have us do?"  Elladan asked.

"We cross the border into Switzerland at nightfall,"  
Gandalf said.  "I am to pick up a truck that we can drive to 
the border.  It's waiting a block from here."

Gandalf looked to Legolas who was still wearing his farm 
clothes that he had stolen many nights ago.  "I need you to 
accompany me.  You are the only one dressed appropriately."

Legolas made no attempt to move as Kate clung to him 
sobbing.  

Elrond rose to his feet.  In his face there was a great 
weariness.  "I will take care of her."

Reluctantly, Legolas stood with Kate cradled in his arms and 
handed her to Elrond.  

*************************************
 
The truck arrived a few minutes later.  It was a delivery 
truck with a large covered back, so they could ride inside 
in relative comfort.  

Elrond climbed into the back of the truck with Kate in his 
arms.  Elladan sat down across from them.  Gandalf and 
Legolas were in the front seat.  The truck started with a 
jerk and they were tossed about roughly. 

"Does Gandalf know how to drive?"  Elladan asked.

"No,"  Elrond said.

As the truck began its jerky trip down the highway, Elladan 
sighed. "This is going to be a long journey." 

"That it is,"  Elrond said, as he looked down at Kate.  Her 
head was resting in his lap.  Her sobs had turned to 
sniffles, but she made no attempt to move.  Elrond smoothed 
down Kate's hair and began to sing softly to her.
  
"Please.  Don't sing."  she begged him.  

"Why?"  

"It sounds like Elrohir."  Kate began to cry again.  

Elrond froze in place.  He could not think, he could not 
move, he could only sit and let the grief wash over him.  
For the first time since Celebrian sailed away, Elrond 
wished he could block out the world, shut off the pain and 
remember the lighter days when Middle-Earth was new and his 
children were young and the world was at peace.  And doing 
something he rarely did, Elrond closed his eyes.  

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