A Winter's Night
Lyrics are from Sara McLachlan's A Song for a Winter's Night
The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top
The snow is softly fallin'
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly callin'
The lamp bathed the room in a soft glow. Fire crackled in the fireplace to the
right. Snow fell as silently outside, as the tears the king was crying inside
the study. He shook his head again as the soft words seemed to echo now in the
quiet room. �I didn�t do it. Why won�t you believe me?� The sounds of flesh
hitting flesh now ghosted into the room as well as the heart wrenching sobs.
Tears flowed faster now as he remembered how he had sent Legolas off to his
room afterwards, with no comfort offered at all. He had felt betrayed though
and had still been angry with the young prince.
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you
Why had he shouted and yelled? Now that he wanted the elf here, he knew that it
wouldn�t be. To take Legolas� hand and to pull him gently to him to comfort and
reassure the young prince wouldn�t happen now. The snow was falling faster now
and more heavily. Fear gripped the King�s heart as he watched. How could he
have been so heartless and stupid? He took another drink from the glass on the
table. Legolas was out there somewhere.
The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon the page
The words of love you sent me
The opened letter sat against the near empty glass of wine now. Aragorn could
recite the words perfectly now. // Dearest Aragorn, I know you think I�m guilty
and I understand why. I have no hard feelings against you, and you will forever
remain in my heart. I will always cherish our friendship and think of you often
Mellon nin. Amin mela lle, Legolas// He had his best men looking for his
beloved elf and hoped the search wouldn�t turn disastrous. He reached for the
glass and realized how light it had become. He didn�t drink from it this time,
he stared at the last swallow in the glass and swirled it around the glass.
If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you
Was he scared? Maybe. Aragorn knew that even if Legolas was, his brave elf
would never admit it. Was he hurt? Yes, he knew his elf�s feelings were
hurting far worse than his backside. But the one thing that caused him to
worry, to make him fear was, was he lonely. If he was, then he would be home,
soon, but if he wasn�t, then he was gone never to return. Never would he hear
the gentle voice that reminded him of rich, warm, honey. So sweet that it
seemed to stick to you all day making you feel absolutely wonderful inside.
The fire is dying now; my lamp is growing dim
The shades of night are liftin'
The mornin' light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are driftin'
The fire that had glowed so brightly earlier and had warmed the room greatly
most of the night, was now dying and the lamp was dimming, now that morning was
here. The snow was lighter now, though there were drifts of it against the
window and fear was holding his heart strongly now. There had been no sign of
Legolas all night. The guards had came back an hour ago and had reported that
they had found no trace of the beautiful elf. He had finally done it; he had
driven his friend away with his stupidity. How could he have thought that
Legolas would betray his trust. Arwen had found out on her own, not because
Legolas had told her. She had told him as soon as she had found out what had
transpired in the study. She had been the one who had found Legolas gone as
well.
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you
And to be once again with you
He had kept vigil at the window all night, hoping to catch a glimpse of the
prince�s return, but not one trace of him he had seen. Oh to hold him now and
be reassured of their friendship. He could never hope that though, not
anymore. He had destroyed that when he accused his friend of lying. Aragorn
dropped despondently in his large chair by the cold fireplace and stared at
the ashes. Hope was gone with the fire, never more would he touch his elf�s
golden tresses, nor look into the bright blue eyes. He dropped his head into
his hands and sobbed.
~ Epilogue ~
He heard the bitter weeping coming from the study and quietly opened the door.
Tears sprang to his blue eyes as he saw the king, head still held in his hands,
his back shaking terribly. His quiet footsteps fell upon the floor as he walked
over to the distressed king.
�Mellon-nin? Please do not weep, my heart cannot bear it any longer.� The words
came out like the tinkling of bells and caused the weeping to stop abruptly.
Aragorn�s head slowly raised.
�Legolas? Oh Mellon-nin, please forgive me. I�m sorry I treated you so
unjustly.� Aragorn begged as he stood and wrapped Legolas in a warm embrace. He
felt the prince�s slim arms wrap around him and the elf�s head lay gently on his shoulder.
�Tis I who should be asking for forgiveness Estel. I�ve worried you all night
and I�m sorry. I needed to be alone in the trees though to think.� came
Legolas� quiet answer.
They stood quietly wrapped in each other�s embrace for a long time before
Aragorn finally broke away. �It was my fault that you left, so I forgive you
for taking off.� He said as he brought his hands up and cupped them around Legolas� face.
Legolas smiled and said, �I know I have done things in the past and that is why
you assumed I had given away your secret, so I forgive you Estel for what you
did as well.�
Unbeknownst to the two friends Arwen stood silently in the doorway. She knew
Legolas would know she was there in a minute or two, but for right now it was
good to have everything back to normal.