The Marshes of the Dead; Chapter 5: Price of Pride
Story Info
Title: The Marshes of the Dead
Author: Del Rion (delrion.mail (at) gmail.com)
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings
Era: Fourth Age of the Sun
Genre: Drama, AU
Rating: T / FRT
Characters: Gimli, Legolas (, OCs)
Summary: “There are dead things. Dead faces in the water!” “All dead. All rotten. Elves and Men and Orcses. A great battle long ago. Dead Marshes. Yes. Yes, that is their name.” Who are those dead warriors in the water, whose lights call the living to join them? Only few truly know. When visiting Legolas briefly in Ithilien, the Three Cousins recall some of their worse memories, and the battle of Dagorlad is only a part of them…
Part of the history of “The Last Journey”. Complete.
Warnings: References to violence and death¬. The rating could also be PG, but let’s take no risks…
~ ~ ~
Chapter 5: A Price of Pride
Sitting on a high boulder near the river’s side gave Legolas a good view to the north-east. He didn’t see the Marshes from this distance, but he didn’t have to. The fair knowledge that the Dead Marshes lay there was enough for the Elf.
His thoughts were, yet again, in a state of utter chaos. All he had believed in his entire life was suddenly meaningless, a lie. Of course not everything, said a bitter voice on the back of his mind. Only the history of his people, and specially that of his family. The House of Oropher was truly nothing more than a shameful shadow of its so called glory. Pride was a virtue much cherished in Legolas’ family - and now he understood why. They would all drown to their pride. And others would pay the price.
Distracted by his thoughts, Legolas did not notice Dínnor until the other one had sat beside him, offering him wordless comfort. “Are you all right, Little Bird?”
Legolas merely shrugged, his eyes still gazing at the horizon.
“Don’t think it too much. It will do you no good. What has happened before has nothing to do with the present. Your grandfather’s mistakes are not yours.”
“But now as I think about it, I can see that same pride in my father. And in me.”
Dínnor laughed, unbelievingly. “You had that same pride, yes. Long ago. But we took it away before you even noticed it was there - me and my cousins, as well as your instructors. And this far, you haven’t repeated the mistakes made by your elders.”
“But I still have time to do so.”
“Oh, yes, you have time: all the time of the world. But it is not a doom that you cannot avoid. You make your own path, Legolas Thranduilion, from the House of Oropher. And you have already walked away from the path that both Thranduil and Oropher have walked: you have befriended a Dwarf, you rule a colony in a kingdom of Men, and most of all, you show respect to those who deserve it, being it a Man, a Dwarf, or a Noldo.”
Legolas looked at Dínnor, shadow disappearing from his eyes. “My friendship with Gimli cannot be that unique. And he is only one Dwarf: the others of his kin are not too fond of me.”
“But it is a beginning. All great things, alliances and friendships, have started from small things.”
“But I am no ruler. I am a warrior. Therefor my actions cannot be entirely compared to those of my Kings.”
“You rule in Ithilien. It is enough. And even if you would be more a warrior than a ruler, it doesn’t matter: pride could still destroy you.”
Legolas laughed now, his face sober. “The Dwarves indeed say that the doom of Elves shall be their pride.”
Dínnor nodded. “Indeed, our kin is haughty, and not always without a reason. Oropher was proud, but he thought he fought for honour. The greatest mistake we can do in our lives is that we let the matters of honour mingle with our pride. There will never be anything good in result of that.”
Legolas nodded, thoughtful, and let this information absorb deeply into his mind. “How is Thalión?” he asked then, slightly worried.
“I am sure he will be better if you would go to him, and he would see that you are also fine.”
With a smile, Legolas rose, dropping down from the boulder and walked back to the waiting Cousins, Dínnor close behind. Indeed, Thalión’s face brightened as soon as he saw that Legolas was well. Without further words about the battles of past, they continued their way to south.
But even then, whenever possible, Legolas’ eyes strayed to look at the direction of the north…
to be continued…
Story Info
Title: The Marshes of the Dead
Author: Del Rion (delrion.mail (at) gmail.com)
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings
Era: Fourth Age of the Sun
Genre: Drama, AU
Rating: T / FRT
Characters: Gimli, Legolas (, OCs)
Summary: “There are dead things. Dead faces in the water!” “All dead. All rotten. Elves and Men and Orcses. A great battle long ago. Dead Marshes. Yes. Yes, that is their name.” Who are those dead warriors in the water, whose lights call the living to join them? Only few truly know. When visiting Legolas briefly in Ithilien, the Three Cousins recall some of their worse memories, and the battle of Dagorlad is only a part of them…
Part of the history of “The Last Journey”. Complete.
Warnings: References to violence and death¬. The rating could also be PG, but let’s take no risks…
~ ~ ~
Chapter 5: A Price of Pride
Sitting on a high boulder near the river’s side gave Legolas a good view to the north-east. He didn’t see the Marshes from this distance, but he didn’t have to. The fair knowledge that the Dead Marshes lay there was enough for the Elf.
His thoughts were, yet again, in a state of utter chaos. All he had believed in his entire life was suddenly meaningless, a lie. Of course not everything, said a bitter voice on the back of his mind. Only the history of his people, and specially that of his family. The House of Oropher was truly nothing more than a shameful shadow of its so called glory. Pride was a virtue much cherished in Legolas’ family - and now he understood why. They would all drown to their pride. And others would pay the price.
Distracted by his thoughts, Legolas did not notice Dínnor until the other one had sat beside him, offering him wordless comfort. “Are you all right, Little Bird?”
Legolas merely shrugged, his eyes still gazing at the horizon.
“Don’t think it too much. It will do you no good. What has happened before has nothing to do with the present. Your grandfather’s mistakes are not yours.”
“But now as I think about it, I can see that same pride in my father. And in me.”
Dínnor laughed, unbelievingly. “You had that same pride, yes. Long ago. But we took it away before you even noticed it was there - me and my cousins, as well as your instructors. And this far, you haven’t repeated the mistakes made by your elders.”
“But I still have time to do so.”
“Oh, yes, you have time: all the time of the world. But it is not a doom that you cannot avoid. You make your own path, Legolas Thranduilion, from the House of Oropher. And you have already walked away from the path that both Thranduil and Oropher have walked: you have befriended a Dwarf, you rule a colony in a kingdom of Men, and most of all, you show respect to those who deserve it, being it a Man, a Dwarf, or a Noldo.”
Legolas looked at Dínnor, shadow disappearing from his eyes. “My friendship with Gimli cannot be that unique. And he is only one Dwarf: the others of his kin are not too fond of me.”
“But it is a beginning. All great things, alliances and friendships, have started from small things.”
“But I am no ruler. I am a warrior. Therefor my actions cannot be entirely compared to those of my Kings.”
“You rule in Ithilien. It is enough. And even if you would be more a warrior than a ruler, it doesn’t matter: pride could still destroy you.”
Legolas laughed now, his face sober. “The Dwarves indeed say that the doom of Elves shall be their pride.”
Dínnor nodded. “Indeed, our kin is haughty, and not always without a reason. Oropher was proud, but he thought he fought for honour. The greatest mistake we can do in our lives is that we let the matters of honour mingle with our pride. There will never be anything good in result of that.”
Legolas nodded, thoughtful, and let this information absorb deeply into his mind. “How is Thalión?” he asked then, slightly worried.
“I am sure he will be better if you would go to him, and he would see that you are also fine.”
With a smile, Legolas rose, dropping down from the boulder and walked back to the waiting Cousins, Dínnor close behind. Indeed, Thalión’s face brightened as soon as he saw that Legolas was well. Without further words about the battles of past, they continued their way to south.
But even then, whenever possible, Legolas’ eyes strayed to look at the direction of the north…
to be continued…
Story Info