When the Inexperienced Falter

**Chapter Six**

***

The journey from Rivendell to Mirkwood had been as uneventful as the journey from Mirkwood to Rivendell. She rode with the men that had accompanied her there. She was scared, she had good reason to be, she was with child. She felt it growing inside of her...part of her longed for it to be Legolas' but another part of her kept saying...you know it cannot, the timing is out...

She reached the elvenking's halls on March 3rd. She was welcomed with all the formality...how much nicer, she thought, if Legolas were here.

A week later, the dawn did not come. She feared for Legolas. Time seemed to pass slowly, Celeborn came, met with Thranduil. Loswen began to show and on October 15th her child was born, the date helped with nothing, it could have been 2 weeks later or early.

Never had Loswen felt so much pain, she was ready to throttle Legolas... Glorfindel... whichever one of them it was.

News reached them that Legolas, indeed, had survived the battle and that the ring had been destroyed. All news was glad, although the months rolled on and by the time the child was two and a half months old, a year since Legolas had departed and the halls were in uproar. He was returning! Legolas had been spotted with a dwarf on the eastern borders of Mirkwood!

Loswen looked down at the child in its cradle, it's golden hair shining. This was the only clue that the child might not be Legolas'. Its hair shone gold with silver speckles. Both Loswen and Legolas had silver hair, although Loswen's mother had had golden hair.

Her name was the choice of the father, so today her child would finally have a name, instead of simply precious.

Loswen lifted her child and descended the stairs to meet Legolas. The man standing in-front of her did not seem the same man who had left. He held in his eyes the look that Elrond, Glorfindel and others held, those who had seen great battles. When he saw the child in her arms, his faced brightened. Legolas dismounted the horse, almost forgetting to help the dwarf, whom she recognised as Gimli, down.

He looked at the child and then at Loswen, he was dumbfounded.

"You never told me you wanted a child," he whispered so quietly that only Loswen heard him.

Gimli looked over at the child, and interrupted, "What is her name?"

Loswen looked up, spent a year with an elf and still does not know the customs, "she has no name yet."

"Why? Surely she is a few months old."

"Aye, she is, nearly three, to be precise, it is the elven custom for the father to name the child, the mothers name is given later."

Legolas smiled, looked at her once more and said, "Mirglor."

Loswen smiled, yes, that name suited her, 'golden jewel'.

***

Gimli left after two months, the people of the halls never did seem to warm to him. Loswen sat, singing quietly to her child, the five month old had shining green eyes and reminded Loswen of herself. The sun shone in through the window and lit up her head, there was something Legolas was keeping from her…and she feared that it was the personal shadow, now the other one had been destroyed. She turned around,

"What is it Legolas?"

He sighed, he longed for the sea…he longed to make Ithilien beautiful once more. Something hung over Loswen as well, perhaps it was her longing to see Middle-Earth.
"I…we must talk."

"What is it that troubles you?"

"It is a longing, like your longing to see Middle-Earth…" he told her about Ithilien, he told her about Galadriel's words and the gulls by the river.

Loswen was stunned…he wanted to leave Mirkwood? Perhaps this was the shadow that she had feared, she wanted to see Middle-Earth but she was not sure if she was ready to leave Mirkwood for good. And then came the troubling matter of him wanting to leave, over the sea. Finally, she told him what was troubling her,

"Before I knew of the perils that were laid out before us, I was grieved. I saw only doubt in all of your face, but I knew not its cause. I perceived that this…shadow would leave my mind and be replaced with a more…personal and painful one. And it happened, the shadow was destroyed, and you come back to me…changed. I fear that this is the shadow I feared. Over desires conflict, I wish to see Middle-Earth and am not ready to leave Mirkwood whereas you want to move to Ithilien and soon leave Middle-Earth. Alas, I love Mirglor, yet she means I cannot travel Middle-Earth, not immediately any way."

There was no simple solution to this problem, there was no quick fix, then Legolas asked.

"Would you move to Ithilien with me, we could where ever you wanted on our journey. You would see some of Middle-Earth and we, together, could mend some of Ithilien's woes."

Loswen sighed, t'was a compromise. "I suppose so, but we cannot leave for at least three years, Mirglor is still too young to travel."

And that was it, she was going to Ithilien, a land where it rarely snowed.

***

**Chapter Seven**

Loswen looked at the gates of Minas Tirith, the trip had taken them two years. Of course, this was mainly because she had insisted on taking detours and stopping to see things and meet new people. Mirglor had grown into a beaming 5 ½ year old. Many of the elves had already left Middle-Earth, she was sad that she would never see Lady Galadriel. The news that Lord Elrond had left was grievous as well. She was glad Thranduil had not been a ring-bearer. Many glorious places were fading, Rivendell was deserted. She longed to have seen the world in the times that Glorfindel had. Aye, Glorfindel had passed over the sea with the Ring-Bearers.

Watching Mirglor, it was clear to Loswen that she did not resemble Legolas, Glorfindel was surely her father. Loswen prayed that no-one else would notice, Legolas was so taken back by the child. There were some men at the gates of the city, probably here to greet them. One was, it was the un-kept human! He looked rather regal, ah, he was Aragorn, King Elessar, she should have listened to Legolas describe the members of the Fellowship better. He had come from the palace to greet them? There, at his side was Arwen, Evenstar of our people, Loswen thought.

Aragorn watched the group approach, it had been two years since they had left Mirkwood. At the front of the troop rode Legolas and Loswen, their silver hair shining in the mid-day sun. With Loswen rode a small child, her gold hair shining brightly, she could not be theirs, could she? She appeared somewhat like Loswen, but nothing like Legolas. She reminded him of someone, although he could not place them.

Legolas dismounted and helped Loswen and Mirglor down. Never in Gondor had they seen Legolas' wife or child, he was proud of them, beyond all belief. Mirglor was beautiful, her golden hair, inherited from her mother's side. Her bright green eyes beamed. As the hold of the elves failed, he wished to do this one thing, so that they would have a lasting legacy in the south.

Arwen looked at the child, aye, this was no child of Mirkwood, this child was… Glorfindel's. Yes, the resemblance, it would not be apparent except to those who had met Glorfindel and knew him well. Legolas, judging by the way he looked at the child, had no idea. Perhaps she should tell Legolas, nay, it might destroy their happiness, what did it matter who the father was, Legolas treated her as his daughter, therefore, that's what she was. Loswen was looking at Arwen, her eyes pleading, she knew Arwen knew.

"…this is Loswen, and this," he lifted Mirglor up, "is Mirglor, my daughter."

The little girl looked around, where was she? Who were all these strange people? She regarded all of the men surrounding her with silence. There was a beautiful woman in front of her. Something important about this lady. Luthien? From the story, the fairytale lady. A voice chimed in her head, *no child, I'm not, how fair of you to think this*.

Arwen was smiling at Mirglor, how strange, something unspoken must be passing between them, Aragorn thought. What was he saying to Legolas again? Oh yes, "I welcome you, Legolas, son of Thranduil." No, that wasn't it, perhaps he was going senile, but he was so young.

This was a meeting that Loswen had been worried about. Un-kept human and the Evenstar had spent a pro-longed amount of time around Glorfindel. Arwen had seen Glorfindel and Loswen become friends, as had un-kept human (must stop referring to him as that, Loswen thought, he's now the King of Gondor and Arnor). She saw Arwen look at herself and Legolas and then at the child. Recognition sparked in her eyes, Aragorn was looking at them as well, but he did not seem to realise it. She was foolish to think that they would not notice. Aragorn appeared to have been so distracted that he forgot what he was saying. He stopped in mid-sentence and repeated himself. Her eyes quickly darted to Legolas, he was still beaming, he seemed not to have noticed the looks on Arwen's and Aragorn's faces. Silently she pleaded with Arwen not to say anything.

Legolas looked at Aragorn, Kingship was taking its toll...and age. He had forgotten what he was saying in mid-sentence and then repeated himself! I suppose he is quite old in human years. Legolas laughed, "is old age getting to you my friend? It has not been /that/ long since I was last here."

**Chapter Eight**

Loswen settled into the rooms that they would temporarily be staying in. Such a docile child Mirglor was. Tiny elven eyes studied each of the things in the room, this was her first time staying in the company of humans. All the stone around her made her shudder slightly, Mirglor had been traveling Middle-Earth with her parents for the last two years, sleeping inside would be a strange affair. There was a knock, someone's at the door.

Loswen got up and opened the door, it was Arwen. Mirglor watched the conversation unfold. They were talking about something...something golden...golden hair. The two women in front of her had brown hair and silver hair, she looked at her own hair, her hair was golden, something in the child's mind said...ada's isn't. The were talking again, her mother was looking at the other women, the pretty one, pleading. What was she pleading, something about the hair, no, it was hair, it was the name of a person...and his hair! They were speaking in Westron, Mirglor just about understood Elvish properly. This was definitely a name, it was in Elvish, Glorfindel, golden-haired.

Arwen finished her sentence, she knew Westron was not that easy for Loswen, but Mirglor was present and although her speech was slow and somewhat thoughtful she could understand every word that was said around her. After her conversation with Loswen ended she scorned Glorfindel, he should have seen sense. Arwen did not scorn him so much for sleeping with Loswen, more for not realising the state that she was in. Arwen remembered Loswen's crying after the fellowship had departed. The silly Elf-Lord, sometimes he's too companionate, too caring and lets his emotions get in the way of reason. Arwen sighed exasperatedly, she looked over to the child gazing at them. Ah what a beautiful babe! She was thinking, all she could recognise was a name, Glorfindel, golden haired. Mirglor was still referring to her as 'the pretty lady'.

Arwen went over to the place where Mirglor was looking at them, Loswen regarded her. She truly is the Evenstar of our people, Loswen thought, such a shame we must loose her to the race of man. Arwen picked up the child, "would the princess of Mirkwood like to know my name...?" She asked.

Mirglor nodded. From the other side of the room Loswen, seeing the child's reaction answered, "she is Queen of Gondor and Arnor, Lady of Rivendell, Undomiel of our people and one that we owe a lot." Loswen finished quietly.

Arwen smiled and scrunched her nose, she addressed Mirglor, "Which do you prefer, Princess of Mirkwood or Mirglor?"

Mirglor quietly whispered, "M'glor."

"Well then you shall call me Arwen, for that is my name as Mirglor is yours."

Mirglor smiled and repeated, "A'wen."

***

Aragorn was sitting in the gardens, Aragorn was sitting pondering something, Aragorn was sitting and it was raining, Aragorn had not noticed. Arwen walked into the gardens, Aragorn was sitting in the rain, he must be thinking again for he has not noticed that it is raining.

"My love, what is wrong?" Aragorn looked up and blinked, it was raining, when had it started raining?

"Tis the child, she reminds me of someone, no Sindar Prince do I see in her."

"Glorfindel," Arwen answered simply.

Aragorn's eyes widened, Glorfindel, aye, this was the elf the child reminded him of. He frowned, how could this..."how could this be possible, I thought..." he trailed off.

"I know, it is as you think, it is simply an ill turn of fate."

"Does Legolas know?" Aragorn asked, concerned for his friend.

"You know the answer to that," Arwen was turning into her kin, she answered as he had heard many elder elves. No sarcasm or bitterness was in her voice, only...faint amusement.

"Do not tell him, even though the child is not his by blood, the source of longing that caused it belongs to him alone."

"I see the joy she brings him, she helps him forget the woes of the war, he left our party weighed down by what he had seen yet he returns as light as I have ever seen him." It was true, who could escape a war unscathed?

"I promised her word would come to him not from us, word would come of this to no-one from us." Aragorn merely nodded.

"You have my word, my love," Aragorn smiled devilishly, "while we're on the subject of children..."

***

Legolas sat in the hall, with the threat of Mordor lifted and under the rule of 'King Elessar' Minas Tirith was a light-hearted city once more. The group of elves that had traveled from Mirkwood with him were welcomed and were celebrating with the people of the city. Aragorn, however, was nowhere to be seen. Legolas looked round and he saw a wet, tussled and somewhat...dirty Aragorn slip quietly back into the hall, so he had been outside! He should have at least changed his clothes, alas! Legolas almost forgot that it was Aragorn that he was referring to. Aragorn and personal hygiene had never got along all too well.

Aragorn saw Legolas catch him as he re-entered the hall, he knew that he should have changed his clothes, Arwen had ensured him that he looked fine, people would get suspicious if he had changed his clothes in the middle of a feast. Of course she had gone straight away to change her dress.

Aragorn approached Legolas, at his knowing grin Aragorn quickly teased, "have you not a wife and child who need your attention as much as this feast?"

"Aye, I have, alas, Mirglor is far too young and Loswen feigned interest for but a few seconds." Legolas stopped and thought for a moment, "perhaps I shall go and see them."

Aragorn went to stop him, "I was only jesting, dear friend, Arwen has recently seen them, she says they are fine."

"All the same, I suddenly have...a longing to see Mirglor." Legolas finished before turning and exiting the room.

***

Legolas walked into the rooms they had been given for the duration of their stay. There lay his wife, her eyes open and unfocused. He looked around the room, ah, there in a smaller bed lay Mirglor, at first glance she appeared to be in the same state as her mother. Alas, she was awake.

"And what is wrong with my blessed daughter that she does not sleep?" Legolas did not expect an answer. Mirglor was a silent child, she rarely spoke, although he was quite sure she knew how to. She preferred to watch people and listen to what they had to say, as if she was simply building up a bank of knowledge.

Yet on this occasion she answered, "Mother was talking to prett-A'wen," Legolas nodded, this must of been what Aragorn was referring to in the hall. Mirglor continued, "she was talking about someone," Mirglor brought up the name slowly, "Glor-Glorfindel. Who is Glorfindel?"

Legolas was startled, I wonder why they were talking about Glorfindel, he thought. Perhaps because he had recently departed over the sea, they had both known him and grown fond of him. "He was an elf, with bright gold hair, like his name, Glorfindel. Hair just like yours, actually." Legolas said as he gestured to Mirglor's hair.

Mirglor watched her father as he was explaining who Glorfindel was, mother had slipped into dreams before Mirglor had thought to ask her. Suddenly her fathers eyes went wide and he looked at Loswen's hair, his own, and back at her own hair. In Legolas' mind, something finally clicked, something he had probably known since Mirglor was born.

She wasn't his child.

**Chapter Nine**

***
Loswen was startled out of her rest. Legolas was staring at her with disbelief in his eyes. He was looking at her as in she was some dead thing that had crawled into a bed, as if...as if she was dirty. He managed to utter one word, "Glorfindel."

Mirglor watched her parents intently. She looked at her mother the carefullest, great blood ran in Glorfindel's veins and it now ran in Mirglors. She percieved that this may very well be one of the last times that she ever saw her mother. She watched the flurry of emotions pass through her parents. Mirglor saw the sadness in her mothers eyes, she saw the hurt in her fathers'. They argued, mother tried desperately to grab hold of father but failed.

Mirglor watched carefully as people started to enter the room because of the shouting. A'wen came, she picked up Mirglor and took her out of the room. Mirglor craned her neck as she was taken out, trying to catch glimpses of her mother.

***

It had happened. Legolas had finally found out, no-one had any idea how it had happened. Aragorn looked at the small child that had been placed in his lap. She was watching the door for any sign of her parents. Suddenly she sighed.

Tears welled up in her eyes, Aragorn tried desperately to cheer her up, "it wasn't your fault, don't worry."

Mirglor looked up and carefully whispered, "I know the fault is not mine, I just fear I shall never see mother again."

Aragorn looked at the child, 'never see mother again'? Where was Loswen going? She would always be welcomed here. Was something bad going to happen to her? Was Legolas going to do something terrible? Aragorn shook his head silently, no, Legolas would never do something like that, but then what did the child mean?

***

She couldn't stay here, not now, she couldn't take Mirglor with her, but Mirglor was an elf, she would be alive for thousands of years. A few years apart would do them no harm. Loswen needed to get away from here, everyone was friends of Legolas, she knew no-one, even the elves that they had brought down with them had nothing to do with her. She needed to go north again. She needed to find her own family in Mirkwood, she needed to snow. Loswen needed the snow most of all, she needed the snow to cleanse her. They wouldn't understand, they wouldn't let her leave.

Loswen desperatly wanted to take Mirglor with her, but she couldn't, it was too dangerous, she could get by herself, but with such a young elfling? Not a chance. Besides, Mirglor was safe here, if Legolas did not take care of her, then surely the others would, Glorfindel was of Rivendell, just like Arwen and Aragorn.

If Loswen had stopped to think she would have seen that this was all illogical. She would have of course been welcomed, she could have stayed as long as she wanted. Mirglor would have been safe with her, Legolas would perhaps even, one day, forgive her. Yet instead she packed a horse as quickly as she could, once last trip to see her daughter.

She approached the balcony of the room that Mirglor was in, she called to her. Mirglor looked down, sadness in her eyes, as if she already knew.

"I'm leaving, I won't be gone for too long, I'm going north, back to Mirkwood. Don't worry, I'll return to you."

Mirglor nodded, she was carefully taking note of the features of Loswen's face. She wished always to remember what it looked like, how fair it looked to her. The deep green eyes, the pale complexion, the blue lips, the narrow nose. The kind expression that usually graced her face was gone. Loswen turned and left. Mirglor stayed staring after her.

Aragorn walked into the room where they had left Mirglor, she was gone! Ah, no, she was on the balcony. He walked out, the ground around her was wet, interesting, it hadn't rained in a week. He went to touch Mirglor's hand, to turn her around, the skin was as cold as death. Her face was streaked in tears, she was staring off at some point in the distance. Aragorn tried to turn her eyes away from the point but he found he could not.

"Arwen!" He called, not knowing what to do, were there always problems like this with children?

Mirglor kept muttering under her breath, one word, over and over, "gone."

***

Two days had passed since Loswen had left, they had parties out looking for her but she was an elf. Even an untrained elf could keep themselves hidden for weeks in nature.

"Time is what is needed, it will cure nearly all problems..." Aragorn said, trying his wiser side.

Arwen looked up from her task, "or it destroys anything that there was in the beginning."

***

Three weeks later and Loswen was moving ever north. Each passing day brought her closer to the snow that she needed, and the comfort that would come with it. Alas, there was something that Loswen had been dwelling on, would she be welcomed, surely news of what had happened would reach the forest before she would. She would need a new name to travel under, she could go to one of the outer settlements. But the time of the elves was ending. She was not sure she deserved the snow, or her name, 'snow-maiden' was no longer fitting to her. She was sullied, she was snow that had mixed with dirt, she was no longer a 'maiden' and so she took on a new name. Mithlos, 'grey-snow', not white anymore, but tainted by black.

Loswen decided that she could not return to Mirkwood, she would have to seek shelter somewhere, away from the snow. She didn't deserve it. And so, Loswen, Princess of Mirkwood became Mithlos the Wanderer. She dwelt with men, she dwelt with dwarves, she dwelt with hobbits (she met them on the road and shared a camp with a group of them for a week or two, seems they were on their way to Gondor). She became an elf respected by men and dwarves alike, but never elves. Mithlos avoid other elves at all costs, she avoided any people who may know of her, or at least Loswen.

For 90 years she wandered Middle-Earth. For 90 years she saw no snow. For 90 years she loved no-one. For 90 years she did not see her daughter. Many times did she get a longing to see the snow, and her daughter, yet she never yielded.

***

In Gondor, things were not as smooth. Legolas, in his heart, had forgiven Loswen for not telling him that Glorfindel was Mirglor's father. He could forgive her anything, well, almost. There was one thing that he could not forgive her, and that was leaving Mirglor.

Legolas did not care how upset, or afraid, or confused she was. There was no forgiving abandoning ones daughter. Especially not a daughter of his. For that is what she was, as surely as Aragorn was King and Arwen was the Evenstar. Yet still, even after forgiving Loswen for hiding the truth, he could not stand the childs name, 'Mirglor,' 'Golden Jewel' far too close to Glorfindel. It reminded him of all that had happened. They knew enough of Mirglor to give her her 'mother-name' yet she was lacking a mother to give it. So she was given her new name, 'Glindin' by the Evenstar herself. For she saw Mirglor's role, as it would unfold, as she had played it so far. 'Silent Gleam' it was, for she perceived everything, but took it silently and as sharp as a dagger.

So Glindin Mirglor grew, she grew into a beautiful elf, resembling Glorfindel more and more with each passing year. It was clear that the blood of the Vanyar ran in her veins. She was skilled at healing, and her forsight was impressive.

Glindin Mirglor grew sad and drawn,. she speant her first 90 years dwelling on the image of her mother she had from their last ever meeting. She waited for her mother to return, she knew she never would, but that did not change the longing. For all she knew her mother had perished. She had told Mirglor that she was going to Mirkwood, Eryn Lasgalen, yet there she never arrived.

The only news that ever reached them of her was 50 years ago, the news that reached them was that a lone elleth had travelled with a group of hobbits on their way to Gondor. She had hair that was almost white and black eyes. There were few elves that would fit that description. Even mroe she had said that her name was 'Mithlos'. This name told Glindin all that she needed to know about the state of her mother. She was Mithlos, 'grey-snow' downtrodden, used, hopeless.

No other news had come, the elves were leaving and her father had expressed an interesting in going, sailing West. She would go where ever father went. Yet while her mother still roamed Middle-Earth she was reluctant to leave it.


**Chapter Ten**

***

There was something everyone had missed. For Loswen had taken the time to say goodbye to Mirglor and she had also done something else. She had written a letter. She had written a letter to Legolas, to Mirglor. The letter had asked one thing of Legolas, one thing. That was that he not leave Middle-Earth before Loswen met up with Mirglor and himself. She knew he longed for the sea, but he was a good person, he would wait for her. He would not deny her a probable last chance to see her daughter, to explain why.

Alas, the letter was lost. The letter never came to the eyes of anyone who would take heed of it or know what it meant. So Loswen, keeping alive some hope in her heart that she could, if she ever deemed herself fit, return to Mirglor. Knowing that they wouldn't leave Middle-Earth without her, stayed away.

And so, when the passing of King Elessar finally came, and Arwen had left. Legolas built a ship and decided to sail with Gimli and Glindin, he had no idea that Loswen was coming to meet him. For something had happened in the last 30 years, something to finally 'knock some sense' into Loswen. She had finally met someone who knew her and of her 'plight'. For that is what it was, self imposed but still a plight.

It was chance that she had stumbled upon this person. It was in the eaves of East Lorien that Loswen had met him, t'was an elf, of colouring like to that of her. It was so like that of hers you would think them related, for they were. It was Loswen's brother that she met. If sense was to be instilled in her by any person, it was one that knew her well. She shared with her brother the love of the snow, for his name was Morlos, dark snow and now she was more like him that she would ever admit.

She was trying desperately to stay away from elves, but after all this time she had found that she had wandered into East Lorien. News had reached her many years ago that the land was ruled by Lord Celeborn. She longed to see other elves, even with their eternal memories, she had never met anyone from Lorien. Surely a chance meeting with some other elves could do her no harm?

She had been wrong, for as she wandered, someone had sought Loswen out with a message. News had come that Legolas and Glindin were to depart from Middle-Earth. The Kingdom of Thranduil was not exactly overjoyed by this news. They were losing their prince and princess, would their King want to remain in the forest for long without his heirs? But in the forest the news disturbed some people in more than one way.

The family of Loswen were torn. They loved their granddaughter, they still cared for their daughter and wanted nothing to happen to them. Nothing to upset them as this would. But what could they do? Legolas was the guardian of Glindin, she didn't know them, and if she didn't leave now, she would probably be separated from him for years longer than they cared to count. Alas, they did not fear so much that they would miss her, more so that their daughter would miss her. So they sent out her brothers, carrying messages to all whom may see her.

One brother was sun-kissed, his skin darker, his hair deep and his eyes the colour of the earth he trod on. The other was paler, his hair and skin akin to that of Loswen's, yet his eyes were grey as the Mountains of Mirkwood. The second brother found her, shocked she was to see him.

Mithlos heard a noise, she peered around, "Who is there? Show yourself!" She called.

From the trees above her, a deep voice answered, "I will show myself, if you show yourself..."

"I show myself, for surely you can see me!" Mithlos searched the trees above her.

The voice, in a serious tone replied, "All I see is a shell, I thought I saw someone I knew, alas, I see someone I don't."

At the mention of recognition, Mithlos bolted. She owner of the voice quickly caught up with her. She fought but he quickly stilled her. She gasped when she saw his face. It was as she feared, a face she knew.

"What brings a sister of mine into East Lorien?"

"What brings a brother of mine into East Lorien?"

The two attempted to stare each other off, but, as mostly happens, neither won. Before she knew what was happening, Loswen was enveloped in an enormous hug.

"I have missed my sister, I have missed Loswen." He whispered quickly.

"Well you shall have to miss her more," Mithlos replied, "For she is dead and gone."

"Alas, if that would be true, for I see her not standing before me, but lying under the surface." He sighed, "Would I that I had time for this, I bring ill news, no parents can ever stop caring for their child, so I plea to the part of Loswen that cared for Mirglor, who is now Glindin. She departs for the West, with our prince, Legolas." Loswen flinched at that name, "I come to tell you to fly, catch them, do not let the seas sunder you."

A light was in Loswen's eyes, something that had been gone so long it was almost foreign to her. She heard her brother out, she thanked him and his family and raced to meet them.

***

The time had come, the Fellowship had passed, on Middle-Earth they were all that remained. Peace was what Legolas wished for, as did Gimli. They had built the ship, Legolas was finally forsaking Middle-Earth, Gimli was coming, no love of Jewels was keeping him here. Glindin on the other hand, she loved Middle-Earth, she loved Jewels and most of all, she still believed that her mother would return. To her it had become almost like a fantasy, something that she dreamed of almost every night and yet never expected to happen anymore. Yet she would leave with them, for she loved her father and life with him was better than a dream of a life with her mother.

Thoughts of forgiveness for Loswen had entered his mind over the years, but every time they did, he saw Loswen staring out of her window. Looking in the place she had last seen her mother. Countless drawings of the woman hung around Glindin's room. They were only her in two situations, he painfully recognised them both. The first was her during the fight and the second...he did not recognise so much as know when it had occurred. Her face was streaked with tears and she was looking intently at the artist. It had been when Glindin had last seen her. The child must have surely known that she would not see her mother, Eru knows if she begged to be taken. She seemed to have memorised every detail of the woman in those few moments into her mind.

He had told his people he was leaving, surely Loswen knew, yet even if she did arrive Legolas did not think that he would let her take Glindin. This is where his dilemma was, he would perhaps, even forgive her and allow her to come, if that is what Glindin wanted. He would do anything for her, but he would not let her be taken from him. All he hoped was that Loswen did not arrive, Glindin would always have him, she never really knew Loswen, her dream of her mother would be shattered if she met her. Surely.


Legolas was sure that Glindin was just in love with the idea of her mother, the woman who she was before she left her. Legolas had heard, through Gimli what she was now like, news came to him. She was nothing like the woman he had loved, she was nothing like Loswen, the naïve princess of Mirkwood. The elf he found, lying in the snow.

He made a last check of the supplies and went to get Glindin and Gimli, they would set sail on the Anduin on the morrow.

**Chapter Eleven**

Loswen was in a race, she would make it...she would. She reached the docks where they were to set sail...they had left! She had failed!

But wait, what was this a man was saying to her? A message could be sent asking them to wait? Yes! That was what she needed! She would reach them near the sea!

So the message was sent and it reached them, Legolas, Gimli and Glindin...and they waited.

*

Legolas was annoyed, she had managed to catch them up, well, tell them to wait at least. He had been over-joyed when she had not shown up at the docks. They would leave! To the West they would go! If only Legolas could do it...all that needed to be done was the ropes cut and they would sail free. She would never reach them, it would all be well. Legolas sighed and turned over to sleep.

*

In the night Gimli had done what Legolas could not, he had set them loose. They were heading towards the sea...to Glindin it would appear that a fate as to that of Amroth and Nimrodel was upon her and her mother. Glindin woke up, the boat was moving, this was not right! She stumbled to her father and to the side of the boat, the shore was steadily fading.

"What has happened?!" She exclaimed, "Why do we move? It is you! You have done this!" She shouted.

"Alas! I have not, it was like it when I awoke and we were already far from the shore." Legolas answered.

"Well you must still be asleep! For we are not that far from the shore!"

"We are! We are!" cried Legolas, "She is nowhere insight and we cannot go back! Look, the sea lies in front of us! Can't you hear it calling?"

Glindin pushed Legolas, out of sheer hopelessness, "I hear not the sea calling! I hear my mother, my kin calling!"

Legolas looked her, "Then do you not hear me calling? For I am your kin as surely as she is."

Glindin, with perhaps the most heated words of her life, "You are not my kin. I remember things and keep them silent, I know as surely as I know Gimli is a dwarf that you are not my kin. You never will be."

Legolas, who had been attempting to hold her back, let go. He looked at her with pain in his eyes, deeper then anyone could imagine. Glindin had turned away from him and was looking at the shore, suddenly a pale figure caught her eye. "By the Valar..." She muttered, "It's her..."

She took one look at Legolas, silent with his own grief and leapt over the side of the boat. Gimli, who had been a quiet observer run to the side and looked over.

"Legolas! Legolas! We cannot let her go! What I did, I did for love of both of you! I had no idea it would cause this turmoil"

"Worry not, Master Dwarf." Legolas looked towards the shore and smirked, "The figure is turning, she flees, just as she always has and always will. She abandons her daughter when she needs her once again."

Gimli looked horror struck, "but what of Glindin? When she reaches the shore she will be all alone!"

Legolas turned to look at Gimli, "she will never reach the shore, she is floundering as it is."


*

Glindin looked around her, the waves were harsh, the current was strong, she was being pulled under. She knew she would not survive, and as she was drowning, a thought came to her mind. Dear Valar, I've destroyed them all.

Before her eyes came flashes, Ada and Naneth arguing, Naneth fleeing, over what? Her. Ada on his ship, looking at her just moments before..."You are not my kin...you never will be." Even Gimli she had hurt...

Perhaps this is what she deserved, she thought as she stopped fighting against the sea and let it pull her under.

*

Loswen hadn't made it. She had been too late, she watched the tiny ship sail into the sea. She turned her back? What was there for her here anymore? The world was a chore. She had lost what she loved...it had just sailed away from her. Loswen's sight was not as good as that of Legolas or Glorfindel, infact her sight was no better than a dwarves. Glindin had her sight from mighty Elf-Lords, Glindin saw her, but she did not see Glindin.

She turned and fled as fast as she could...snow...she needed snow.

She did not see the ship vanish from sight...she did not see Glindin pulled under...she just saw distant snow-peaked mountains.

So that is the fate of Loswen, she made her way to the mountains and lay down in the snow. Her heart was as cold as her skin, her warm heart that had stopped her freezing to death when she lay down in the snow before was no more. She was chilled in spirit and body and longed for release. The release was granted as she fell into a deep sleep and her heart beat no more.

Finis.