Only The Sea

By : J. Helios

 

“It is only the sea that will part us.” He said softly, looking at the white ship that lay in waiting at the docks. The mild afternoon sun gathered in the deep ebony of his hair, giving him a soft halo of gold and ebony. “Saya, it will only be the sea.”

 

He couldn’t see her, as she was standing behind him. But he imagined her looking back at him, her pale green eyes shimmering in the mid-afternoon, her brilliant golden hair tucked neatly back from her soft up curved ears. A beautiful halfelven-maiden. He thought. Too beautiful for sadness.

 

“A Thousand years is far too young for an elf,” came her soft lilting voice, like a song on the wind. “It must be a mistake Legolir.”

 

He sighed, it was the same argument that she gave him weeks ago, when he was first called to the Elvenhome.

 

“It must be a mistake” she insisted, taking hold of his arm.

 

“It will only be the sea.” He looked back at her, his soft silver-blue eyes glimmering in restrained tears. “Because nothing can separate us.”

 

“The distance, the sea itself will separate us.” She said, green eyes pleading. “You know that. I will not pretend I fear that you will forget me.”

 

“How can I forget?” he said, smiling slightly. “Saya please.” His smile faded and it was his turn to plead. “Do not make this harder than it is. I MUST go to the Elvenhome now….”

 

“And leave me here?” came her bitter comeback.

 

“Middle-Earth is not so bad Saya.” He answered, purposely misinterpreting her anger. “You are always welcome in Mirkwood and Rivendell, Legolas and I have made sure of that.”

 

“I do not want to be in Mirkwood or Rivendell…”

 

He shut his eyes, “Then go and fill your eyes of the beauty of Middle-earth, Go to Lorien if it pleases you…”

 

“It pleases me to go with you.”

 

“You are not called Saya” he said, a little rougher than he intended to. “You do not belong there.”

 

She fell silent and detached herself from his arm. “Saya…” he said a little softer. “Please be reasonable.”

 

She said not a word as she pushed away from his arms and rushed away from the port. Legolir stood there, his hand suspended in mid-air, reaching out for a halfelven maiden that would not listen.

 

Even as he stood there, he heard her unspoken response; I thought I belonged with you…

 

A hand clasped his shoulder. Legolir’s arm dropped and he picked up his pack which lay at his feet. “Brother, I do not know what to do now. I wished to part ways with her in bittersweet farewell, not in anger. Not like this.”

 

Legolas gave his shoulder a gentle shake. “You did your best.” Looking behind him, he saw Gimli standing at the prow of the ship, seemingly trying to see across the sea. He smiled at his best friend.

 

Following Legolas’ sight, Legolir sighed. “At least Master Gimli goes with you…” He looked back to the direction that Saya ran off to. “I…have no one”

 

“Father awaits us on Elvenhome’s shores. So is mother” said Legolas, steering his sibling to the ship. “And old friends.”

 

“Old friends” repeated Legolir, looking back once more.

 

“Enough” said Legolas rather forcefully, greatly affected by his younger brother’s melancholy. “Let us set sail.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

The preparations for the ship were quick, as it is expected of the ship belonging to the two princes of Mirkwood. And all too soon afterwards, Legolir stood, leaning on the side of the ship, his eyes never leaving the sight of the quickly shrinking Middle-Earth shore.

 

Good bye Saya He thought as the heady sea air filled his mind with thoughts that were salty as the bittersweet tears of the friend he left behind. This is not a farewell…a goodbye…until we meet again. Such are the things that belong to me, the ability to say that I SHALL see you again. Eternity on the Elvenhome, may it be beside my family, will never be enough. I shall miss you greatly dear Saya Halfelven, greatly beautiful. Whatever you may believe….

 

It is only the sea that divides us.

 

Only the sea.

 

The End