Part 3:- The story of Legolas and Belegwen

Part 3:- The story of Legolas and Belegwen

Lady Eowyn, the White Lady of Ithilien was very glad to receive the Princess that night. She hadn't seen her in long, and the girl was always a delight to be around. When Elboron and Belegwen arrived, Eowyn met them in the doorway and ushered them in.

"Welcome Belegwen. It has been long since I had the pleasure of seeing your fine face. Come, my child, let me look at you. For all the roaming around that you do, you seem none the worse. My Lord Faramir would be pleased to see you tonight".

"My Lady Eowyn, I thank you for having me here. I hope I haven't caused any inconvenience", said Belegwen.

"My child, how many times have I told you? Call me Eowyn. 'My lady' makes me feel eons old".

At this, Faramir walked into the room. Belegwen bowed her head and greeted him. Faramir walked up to her, lifted her head and said. "Daughters need not bow to their fathers", and kissed her forehead. "I do have something for you. I meant to give it to you today at Minas Tirith,but by the time I had reached, you were halfway here". With this, he took a thick black book from under his cloak and handed it to her.

 "What is it, Faramir?" asked Belegwen.

 "Haven't you often said that you would rather read than hear all that passed along the War of the Ring? This, I had copied from Master Gamgee so that you might have the pleasure", replied Faramir.

"That is very kind of you. Thank you ever so much" and she hugged him.

After the pleasantries and a sumptuous dinner, Belegwen retired to her chamber with the book. She started reading it and didn't know when she fell asleep. Through her half open window, moonlight slithered in and lightened the room. In the silver halo, she seemed ethereal and angelic. This was how Legolas found her.

Ever since Elboron and Belegwen had left, Legolas had been feeling restless. He couldn't put a finger on it. Not in his almost 3000 years of existence had a face haunted him thus. Her eyes, in which reflected wisdom beyond her years, her hair that kept rippling about her face, her bearing, ever so elegant and erect, he could recall everything about her in great detail. His heart yearned to see her once again. Legolas stopped himself as he came into view of the Castle of Emyn Arnen, the ancestral home of the Stewards of Gondor. He hadn't realised that he had started walking, nor how fast his legs had carried him down from the mountain.

The lights were almost out in the castle. His keen elf-eyes saw the flame of a candle burning in a room on the second storey on the east side of the building. He knew that it was the guest wing of the castle, and was probably occupied by Belegwen. He noted that the rocks on the side wall had no crevices for footholds, but that was not likely to hinder his elf feet. He climbed lightly up through the stones and reached the window. At that very moment, a breeze blew the candle out. He paused for a second, listening for movement within. There was none. The window was half open. He opened it wide and stepped into the room. The room was bathed in moonlight. And there she lay, with a book in one hand, with the silver light around her face like a halo. Legolas had to stop a moment and draw breath, for she literally took his breath away. He stood there, transfixed, just watching her sleep. Then he inched closer to her bed and kneeled by her side. He raised his hand and caressed her hair, her brow, her cheek. "If it is my lot, to die of a broken heart, then so be it", he said aloud to himself. She sighed in her sleep and fidgeted. He withdrew his hand and moved back towards the window. He turned around and with one last look at her, jumped out of the window and ran back up into the forests of Ithilien.

Belegwen woke up with a start. She could have sworn that there was somebody else in the room. But there was no one around. It must have been a dream, she thought. And slipped off to sleep soon afterwards.

End of part three.

P.S:- This is getting to be much longer than I anticipated. In trying to control the cheesiness and the language thing, I'm starting to feel like I shouldn't have started at all. lol !!!