Title: Hope Has A Place
By: iceshiva16
Rated: PG (angst, sexual tension)
Feedback: NCHDBLAMKR@aol.com


Hope Has A Place

Aragorn joined Legolas by the fire. The blond elf’s blue eyes were empty, his 
hair dull and lackluster in the evening light. His skin had ceased to glow, and he 
moved as if in a sheen, hazy and sluggish.

The Ranger put a warm, rough hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Would you care to 
speak of it, Legolas?” he asked. “Sometimes telling a story helps.”

Legolas sighed as if in defeat. He did not know how to express his feelings in 
this matter. He had lost something infinitely valuable, and he could never get it 
back.

Aragorn waited patiently, polishing the handle of his sword with a worn rag. 
Eventually, Legolas spoke, and the man cast his eyes towards the elf, 
abandoning his task.

“It’s strange to speak of it,” Legolas began, his voice light and musical. The 
experience hadn’t changed his voice. He was already healing, Aragorn knew. 
Legolas continued, “It is almost like it never happened.”

Aragorn nodded. “It is difficult to even remember her help now. Do you suppose 
it is intended?”

Legolas thought for a moment. “Perhaps,” he mused.  “Then it’s better to share 
our feelings now and not wait. I wish to know more about the first time you saw 
her.”

Aragorn laid his sword on the ground next to him, resting his chin on his palm as 
he leaned forward. “I was with the hobbits at Amon-Sul…”

Flashback: Amon-Sul

Aragorn reeled as the Naz-gul closed in. Metal clanged against metal and 
flames licked at cloth as he desperately tried to fight them off. Frodo lay in agony 
behind him, the blade of Mordor at his side.

Aragorn hit the ground to avoid a sword and dropped his torch, almost setting 
himself on fire. As he came to a stop, he realized he was surrounded. The five 
raised their swords, and just as Aragorn prepared for death, he heard a sound.

The arrow hit the closest Ringwraith, and the group scattered, shrieking balefully 
at the cloaked intruder Aragorn now saw out of the corner of his eye. The bow 
and arrow flashed again, striking down a second creature. Aragorn reached out, 
palm meeting a fallen sword, and he threw it in an arc, driving back one more of 
the loathsome devils. In mere seconds, it was over, and the Ringwraiths fled.

Aragorn looked to the mysterious cloaked figure, who sat crouching, bow ready. 
Finally sure the danger had passed, the bow was lowered. Aragorn approached 
his unknown savior, his eyes studying the form carefully. The person seemed to 
be clothed like a Ranger. Long dark cloak, leather boots, dirt brown leggings and 
tunic. A hood obscured the face.

As Aragorn moved closer, the figure spoke. The voice was female, female and 
elven! He balked as she threw back her hood, revealing wavy brown hair pulled 
back with thick braids and fierce green eyes. She moved over to Frodo, 
gathering him in her arms.

“We must get him to Rivendell,” she said. She leapt over the ledge, and he 
heard the distinct neighing of a horse as she rode away.

End Flashback

“I know she asked permission to stay in Rivendell after her arrival,” Aragorn 
remarked. “And who could have refused her? For her help with Frodo, Elrond 
extended an invitation to the council. Tell me, Legolas, what did you think when 
you first met her?”

Legolas smiled at the fading memory. “I must admit, Estel,” he began, “I was 
entranced.”

Flashback: Council Of Elrond

She had remained silent throughout Legolas’ argument with Boromir; calmly 
watching as they verbally sparred. It had come to a point. The Ring had to be 
taken to Mordor. Boromir’s fear shone through his words.

“Not with 1000 men could you do this,” he said shakily. 

She finally spoke. “No, not with 1000, son of Gondor. This is a task for an elite 
group of companions. With 1000, you are seen coming from miles away. With 
nine or ten, you can slip in unnoticed.”

He became incensed. “And what would a female Ranger know, and an elf 
besides? Or are you royalty as well?” His gaze fell on Legolas, who stared 
stonily back, not responding. Boromir turned his attention back to the she-elf 
when she spoke.

“My name is Voryulmaien, and I am no royal. But I know more of land and war 
than you ever will, mortal, and you would do well to heed my word.” It had not 
been said in anger or spite, it had been said with respect and logic. She sat 
back, finished. Boromir receded, unable to find a satisfactory answer.

Elrond turned to Voryulmaien, eyes dark. “You will pledge yourself to this 
quest?” he asked.

“I will make this quest my life.”

End Flashback

Legolas shook his head sadly. “This quest destroyed her,” he said mournfully. 
“And in doing so, I fear it has also destroyed me.”

Aragorn moved closer to his friend, letting the blond elf’s head rest on his 
shoulder. “You are not destroyed, Legolas. There is a light in your eyes, and I 
think this story will reveal its source. I saw how she captivated you on the 
journey, how hurt you were when you thought she fancied Boromir. Tell me of 
your meeting in Lothlorien. I know you spent time with her in the golden wood.”

Legolas shifted, sinking deeply into Aragorn’s warm embrace. “Yes, we did meet 
in the golden wood. She was alone, and my heart ached for her.”

Flashback: Lothlorien

She stood at the edge of the river, unmoving and sedate. She had managed to 
coax a restless Boromir to sleep a short while ago, and was now thinking of the 
dire situation the Fellowship found themselves in. Frodo was losing hope, 
Gandalf was gone, and the Ring was slowly consuming Boromir. The fabric of 
darkness was unraveling around them, and she was quickly losing her power to 
stop it.

She heard the elf’s light step behind her, turning to face him. “Legolas,” she 
sighed. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you, Voryulmaien,” he answered, nervously pushing a lock of 
blond hair behind a pointed ear. Never had she seen an elf so agitated as this 
one. She smiled kindly, sitting down on the soft grass by the water and 
motioning him to her side. He tentatively approached, finally sitting down cross-
legged and looking at his fingers.

“What did you wish to speak of, Legolas?” Voryulmaien asked gently. She put a 
hand on his shoulder, and he visibly relaxed at her touch. He seemed drowsy all 
of a sudden, a state almost unheard of for his kind. His head slowly came down 
to rest on her shoulder, and he curled up against her side, breathing shallowly, 
eyes closing.

“Boromir,” he mumbled. She cradled him in her arm and stroked his hair back 
from his smooth cheeks. In thousands of years, she had not seen such 
innocence. He was like a human child, fragile in his naivety, yet strong in his 
honor. She whispered an answer against his lips as she gently kissed him.

“I do not fancy Boromir, Legolas. It is much deeper than that.”

This seemed to satisfy him, and he leaned into her kiss, deepening it. She knew 
she should pull away, but she had never felt like this before. She knew she could 
not love him, everything was a part of her duty, but perhaps this would give him 
the strength he needed for things to come. Finally pulling his lips away, he 
snuggled into her side and murmured, “Just needed to be close to you.” He lay 
still against her.

Voryulmaien watched the stars dim over the river. Darkness had followed them 
to Lothlorien. Even the golden wood could not hide from the great evil spreading 
over the land. 

She closed her eyes and drew on the strength in her heart. She had waited her 
entire life for this moment, and she wouldn’t let them down now.

End Flashback

Aragorn pondered this as Legolas cleaved to him, mirroring the night he had 
spent in Voryulmaien’s arms. His friend’s heat and strength was comforting, and 
the elf found it dulled the grief in his heart. He missed her.

“She told me once that our friends are the greatest hope we have,” he sighed. 
“What do you think she meant, Aragorn? She spoke so little, and anything she 
said I didn’t understand.”

Aragorn was silent for a moment before answering. “I think it means we must be 
loyal to each other, Legolas. That’s the only way we got through this journey, by 
relying on each other. She knew that better than any of us.”

“I hardly got the chance to know her,” Legolas said. “She ran away from us after 
the battle at Amon-Hen, and the only other time I saw her was… Well, in Mordor. 
When she disappeared.”

Aragorn squeezed his friend’s shoulder comfortingly. “Tell me, Legolas. Tell me 
about Amon-Hen, tell me about Mordor. I want to know the rest of the story 
before we both forget.”

Flashback: Amon-Hen

Legolas stood gazing at Boromir’s dead body. His heart felt empty, and his face 
was blank. Voryulmaien came up behind him, drawing him into the trees and 
away from the sight. He had hardly ever known death before, and never so 
close-up and gruesome. He needed strength, and she had to give it to him now. 
She had to go.

“Legolas,” she said, shaking him, turning his face to hers. “Legolas, I must go. I 
must follow Frodo and Sam.”

Legolas’ sadness became more evident on his face. “Voryulmaien, why? Come 
with us to save Merry and Pippin, come with us to…” His face broke and tears 
streamed down his cheeks. “Come with ME, Voryulmaien, I love you!”

She had balked at the proposal. “Legolas, no, you mustn’t love me. I told you so 
you would not worry, I told you so you would have strength to keep going, 
strength in the hope that you will see me again. I will see you again, Legolas, but 
please understand you must not love me. You cannot love me.”

And then she was in his arms, being kissed thoroughly. She struggled, but finally 
gave in, kissing him back lightly. As she pulled away, his eyes pleaded with her 
again. She shook her head.

“Legolas, I go where I am needed, and I am needed with Frodo and Sam now. I 
don’t know how to make you understand, Legolas, but you WILL see me again. I 
promise.”

She turned and fled, and Legolas thought his heart went with her. But he steeled 
himself, remembering her words.

Soon.

End Flashback

Flashback: Mount Doom

Legolas, Frodo, and Sam followed Voryulmaien deeper into the passages of 
Mount Doom, skirting sharp rocks and vents of molten lava as they went. 
Legolas knew he had been brash in abandoning the rest of the Fellowship after 
Helm’s Deep to come find her, but he had had no choice.

The group finally emerged on a rocky precipice in the heart of Mount Doom. 
Legolas balked. He was used to trees and open sky. This was like a prison to 
him. Voryulmaien pulled him up beside her and motioned Frodo forward.

“Frodo, cast the Ring into the fire! Destroy it!” The small hobbit, now haggard 
and gaunt from his journey, eagerly moved forward. He drew his hand back and 
stared at it for a moment. Voryulmaien seemed to rise up to her full height, 
whispering under her breath so no one could hear, not even Legolas. Frodo 
seemed to blink and shake his head, and then he hurled the Ring into the fire 
with one strong thrust of his elbow.

Legolas clutched Voryulmaien’s arm as the Ring fell into the fire. They had done 
it. The Ring was destroyed.

The elven maiden turned to him and smiled sweetly. “It is done, Legolas. You 
are safe now. Remember that hope will always live in your heart, and so will I.”

She vanished before his eyes.

End Flashback

“She just disappeared?” Aragorn asked. “Into thin air?”

“Like the sky itself had swallowed her up,” Legolas confirmed. “I still do not 
understand it. I have heard of no such thing happening in all of Middle Earth! 
And yet it happened to her, the one I loved. The one I LOVE.”

A footstep echoed in the forest, and both friends sat up quickly, Legolas diving 
for his bow, Aragorn picking his sword up off the ground. Both relaxed when 
Gandalf came into view, holding up a placating hand. The sun had begun to rise, 
and it cast strange shadows over his robes, but they faded as he sat down close 
to Legolas.

“Gandalf,” Aragorn said calmly, setting his weapon down. “What brings you to 
us? Aren’t our adventures over?”

“Your adventures are over,” Gandalf answered. “But I thought perhaps I might 
answer some questions for you before the sun rises and a new day begins.”

Legolas perked up immediately, elven ears attentive. “Questions, Gandalf? 
About Voryulmaien?”

Gandalf laughed good-naturedly. “Yes, Legolas, questions about Voryulmaien. I 
believe you are wondering what became of her.” Legolas nodded eagerly, 
leaning forward, slim hands resting on his knees. Aragorn knelt against a tree 
and waited for Gandalf to continue.

“Did Voryulmaien ever tell you how old she was, Legolas?” Gandalf questioned, 
stirring the embers of the fire with his staff and making them spring back to life. 
Legolas seemed to think for a moment, closing his cornflower blue eyes. They 
were shining brightly now, and were not dull as before.

“No,” he answered thoughtfully. “But I don’t recall ever asking, either.”

“Aah,” Gandalf answered. “I see. Well, that is where your answers lie. 
Voryulmaien had no parents, did you know that?” Legolas shook his head, 
puzzled.

“How can someone have no parents? Elves have parents.”

“I know, my dear prince, but let me finish. A cadre of elves in Lothlorien found 
Voryulmaien on the very day Sauron forged the Ring. She was as old as the 
Ring, Legolas. Her destiny was tied to it.”

“Tied to the Ring?” he asked. “And she lived in Lothlorien? But she never 
mentioned that when we were there!”

Aragorn came forward and put a calming hand on his friend’s knee. “Legolas, 
perhaps we should just let Gandalf speak. You have never been so inquisitive 
before.” There was a smile on the man’s face, and Legolas almost blushed.

“Yes, Gandalf, do continue,” he whispered, looking up at him, brushing his blond 
hair out of his face.

“You see, Legolas, Voryulmaien was hope. A physical incarnation of hope. She 
was born at the same time as the forging of the Ring to combat it’s evil. That is 
why she spent her time with Frodo, with Boromir, even you. Whoever needed 
hope the most was always granted her aid, and that is why she said she could 
not love you. It is a heavy burden to carry, and you see, she disappeared 
because with the Ring gone, she is no longer needed here. She is needed other 
places.”

Legolas sat silent for several moments. “That is what she meant,” he said aloud. 
“When she said hope would always live in me, and so would she.”

Gandalf smiled and stood. “Yes, that is what she meant. And now I see the sun 
has risen, and it is a new day.”

Aragorn and Legolas turned to see the sunrise, and as the golden rays hit their 
faces, their memories were washed clean. When they turned back around, 
Gandalf was gone.

“Well, we should be on our way, Legolas,” Aragorn said jovially. “I wish to be 
home again. Hope will guide us on our path, and our feet will take us to our 
destination.”

Legolas smiled. “Yes, Aragorn, it is time to go. Let us see the rich woods of 
Rivendell again. I do wish to do so.”

And they put out the fire and were on their way. Never once did they lose hope 
in the years that followed, and always did they hold true to each other, for that, 
as true heroes know, is the only way to live.

~End~