I really hope you enjoy reading this! (Also if you haven't read The Unexpected AND New Dawn up to chapter 20, then don't read this. Major spoilers.)

*The song above is what I had on repeat while writing the end of the letter.

Also, I've added little... things/author notes/whatevers to help you imagine Legolas as he was writing this

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Dear

(Doesn't finish addressing letter)

I am sorry for the way I treated you earlier, however, I still cannot face a person who looks so much like her. You may, in fact, be the one I love, but for the moment, I cannot face that. I do want Lumornel returned to me though, and I know for that to happen, you must have her memories. But I cannot speak of them.

Lumornel once wrote down her thoughts in a journal, like you do with your notebook now. And now I think I truly understand why she did so. It is so much easier speaking into a piece of paper, bleeding what you want to say through ink rather than through noise. I think that makes me love Lum all the more. (inkblot, from holding quill down to long. Clenches jaw)

Lumornel was more than just a woman who fulfilled a prophecy; she was a star. She shone like one of Elbereth's jewels, and I do not mean with her power. She did not know it, but she did. Her overflowing kindness and love encompassed all those around her, and, unfortunately, her compassion led to the neglect of herself. She cared so much for others that she forgot to care for her own needs and well-being. She would sooner throw herself into Mordor for the people's sake before taking care of her own self. Which, I realize, she did.

Lumornel also had the spirit of a child. Not childish, but rather in a free-spirited way. She always longed for blithe and amicable circumstances, despising the arguing of politics and always loved to adventure and see new things. She laughed at jokes that weren't funny and she smiled when it seemed one could not. She even once made a circlet of flowers in the midst of a bureaucratic discussion with my father. Despite being in the presence of the king, she placed that crown on my head and pretended as if she had not done it.

She did have a worrying spirit, which may have been borne out of her compassion. She feared letting down the peoples of Middle-Earth and feared that she was not enough for them. Which is entirely untrue. She also did worry needlessly over other things as well. She was afraid she'd say the wrong thing in a conversation or that bugs would crawl in her hair. She worried about her scars being seen and what people thought of them. She worried because she wanted to be perfect, I suspect. But she was always perfect to me, though if she were here now, she'd deny my words. And to her I'd say, imperfections prove that we are alive.

(Stops, smiles softly)

We met beneath the boughs of a tree. It was the sweltering afternoon of early summer and I was traversing the woods of my elfdom in search for some tranquility away from my princely duties. But as I walked in the shade of the trees, I heard a soft voice quietly reading to herself from above. It was Lumornel, her hair so white I thought for sure it was a cloud from the heavens. Her eyes so green, I thought it had to be a clear reflection of the leaves.

When I spoke to her, thinking she was simply visiting from a mortal realm, she nearly fell from the tree. Lumornel did always seem to have two left feet, but she couldn't possibly have any more grace.

It was in this moment that I first suspected her of being the prophecy-written, for Lumornel means tree shade. And her hair was of winter and her eyes were green. (This came from her prophecy, I've written it on a separate parchment. I'll send it to you with this letter).

Lumornel easily talked to me that hot day, I still remember the soft pink flush on her cheeks. She surprised me with her Sindarin, for she spoke it as easily as an elf. I soon learned that she had spoken it all her life.

Lumornel wasn't one for social gatherings, for she did not like to stand out. And as a mortal in the thick of elves, she would. Because of this, I became one of her first friends. How she did not manage to charm an ellon or man before me, I do not know.

I invited her into my home and brought her to my library. It brings a smile to my face even now thinking of how she looked like an elfling in a candy shop. Which reminds me, she once ate twenty-seven pieces of Esgaroth taffy in one sitting.

My father found us one evening and, like me, immediately recognized Lumornel for who she was. He ordered for her to be sent to Lothlorien. He didn't know what to do with a prophecy-written, but he knew Lady Galadriel and her wisdom would.

Lumornel was upset at this. She loved her family dearly and did not want to leave. She even became angry with me. It didn't last, however. On our travels to Lothlorien you discovered your powers, met an elleth in your dreams, and you encountered your first battle.

We may or may not have held hands.

It was with this journey too that I began to fall in love with you. I saw your compassion and determination. You did not see it yourself at this time, but I saw the warrior in you that would protect others at all costs. This woman was sweet and kind and playful. She was a Lady, albeit one that would trip and make jokes.

We soon arrived in Lothlorien where you learned that Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel were your true parents. At this time, we did not know why you were of the race of Man. Still, I do not know why.

I left after this revelation, traveling to Imladris. I joined the Fellowship of the Ring and was surprised at how much I missed you. I found myself thinking of you went we camped for the night or when the hobbits would play and laugh. After some time, we passed through Lorien and we met again.

In your time there, you grew into a strong, sword-wielding woman. Your skills with combat were unnaturally good for how little training you had. Though I suspect this skill came with your light.

You also were burdened with your first death. You've told me his name was Erlathan and that he died by the blade of your own sword in the hands of an orc. You blamed yourself, but you came through to realize that it was not you who carries his death. You memorialized this sword to him for you named it Gorthaden.

Not only did you grow in skill, but into your power as well. You felled an area of forest, turning the grass brown. I suspect that this was when you realized the weight of your power.

You left Lorien with the fellowship, having decided that you could not rest knowing that you had done nothing to help Middle-Earth. That compassion of yours still shining through, even through your new burdens.

I almost forgot: you learned in the forest of your birth how much you loved the weight of a circlet and the swish of fine fabric. You've never told me that, but I knew. I had planned on making her the finest circlet to grace her brow. Then, she would truly be crowned as one of Varda's precious jewels.

We journeyed, and you easily befriended the fellowship. True, you did have an awkward run at first, but you still found your way into the hearts of our companions.

There were four hobbits with us: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took.

I guess here I should describe our mission! It is easy to forget that some do not know what it is we had sought to do. We were tasked to protect Frodo, who carried the One Ring, as he journeyed to Mordor to destroy it. If this Ring had found its way to Sauron, I fear Middle Earth would be in a worse place than it is in now.

As I was saying, our fellowship also included Boromir of Gondor. Boromir died an honorable death on Amon Hen. He sought to protect us, but I was not quick enough to protect him.

Aragorn son of Arathorn, who you've met, also was in our company. We followed his lead in Mithrandir's stead.

You've also met Gimli son of Gloin. He is the last member.

I will not bore you with the details of the boating travels, except that we learned that you supposedly sing like a dying cat. I never heard you sing, though I did once hear you hum. And it was not as bad as you once claimed. As Gimli would say, it may have been a "wee" off-key, but I didn't mind.

We camped on Amon Hen. This is where our Fellowship broke. An orc pack attacked us. Frodo and Boromir were slain and you and the hobbits were taken.

This, I am afraid, is where I fell too. I was forced to take the Ring. I'm ashamed to write that it took me too. I became Morgalen, an elf who did not care for his friends and wanted nothing more than violence and to use the Ring to protect my people.

It was during this time that you

(Stops writing mid-sentence, clenches jaw)

I will not write about this time. Lumornel would not want to remember that.

After the fellowship rescued you, I was still a slave to the Ring. We rode for Rohan, where we found the warriors slain and evidence that the women, children, and those too weak to fight had fled to Helm's Deep.

I had become a monster as Morgalen, but still you tried to find me beneath the malice, despite the horrors you went through. Your eyes saw me when I wasn't even sure I saw myself. One night, you cornered me. You were determined to set me free from Sauron's tool. But the Ring didn't want you to have it, it knew you were strong enough to not use it and it knew I was weak enough to bring it to its master.

Because of this, the Ring used the connection it had built with me as a last act of defense. It flung something at you that should have made you kill me. Or at least flee in fear.

It showed you a memory. The Ring showed you when I had taken my warriors into the heart of Dol Guldur without the approval of the King.

And then you knew me for the murderer I am, you saw the elven deaths that are on my hands.

And somehow, you did not blame me. You never shied away. It was more than I deserve.

You were so forgiving, so willing to understand. You always saw the good in people. You may have been hesitant to talk to a stranger, but you always saw the innocence in them. It's what made you you.

Many would say that this quality is what made you the prophecy-written, that the quality was placed in you by the prophecy itself, but I say you didn't need a prophecy to make you into the caring, selfless woman you are.

The next morning, I was more myself. The hobbits and the Ring went on their own path to Mordor and you convinced the rest to go to Helm's Deep. You wanted nothing more than to help those who might need you.

After this, well, you and I were alone in the kitchen.

We shared our first of many kisses.

You told me how important I was to you, in a veiled way of course. But you telling me that you cared for me, that you needed me; I was overcome with it.

Kissing you for the first time was like coming alive. I never knew how brilliant and wondrous the world could become until your lips had found mine. And when your power came alive with your emotion, sending tiny vibrations into me wherever your fingers had pressed, I drew you ever closer and kissed you even more.

As wondrous as that kiss may have been, you seemed to distance yourself from me after that day. I simply took this as your reaction to my past. I was wrong, however.

In Helm's Deep, you connected to the people. You kept watch with the women, trained a few children how to wield a sword, and befriended a woman named Sunngifu. Again, many would say that this was the prophecy living through you, but it was simply you being you.

(Again clenches jaw, clenches free hand as he writes this next part)

During this, an elleth named Duvaineth tried to end your life. She was in league with Sauron. After we captured her, she escaped.

Following this incident, I made my feelings known to you, despite knowing that we had shared a kiss. You rejected me then, saying that you were protecting me from the pain of your death.

Perhaps I should have listened, even when you later returned what was in your heart to me.

(pushes away from desk as pain in fea grows, runs hands through hair as he tries to keep the tears away. Takes a small break from writing)

Before the Battle of the Hornburg, a vision showed you the numbers of the enemy that were coming our way. Reasonably, you were afraid. You did not think you could save the peoples of Rohan.

The next day, you fought side by side with the women and men of Rohan and you nearly died for them too. You had a habit of trying to sacrifice yourself for others. I wish you had been more selfish.

Once you were able to walk, you and I left. And I must say that you look quite beautiful when angry and determined.

You did not know the detailed plan we were to follow nor what the others planned to do. You could not know because Sauron had a connection to you. We learned that he could visit you in visions and harm you. And so, we couldn't risk you giving him information under torture.

During that journey home to Mirkwood, it was only us. Even with the distance between us, we somehow became close. I blame the nightmares we had. We both witnessed the other wake themselves by screaming or moaning in their sleep, more so me seeing you as my trauma had happened some time ago. Though, reliving that memory so clearly had brought back the terrors I had tried to hide.

We even sat next to each other in silent comfort after these nightmares. We understood each other like no one else could in this way. No one else could understand why we were afraid to close our eyes or why we were even more terrified when we woke except for us.

We also developed a friendly banter, despite the tension. You called me a "beorling" and so I called you "Kelvar."

(Takes another break from writing due to the pain of remembering)

We stopped by Lothlorien with an elleth named Kaylessa and visited your parents briefly. You were given a letter by the elleth who trained you: Braiglach.

Once in Mirkwood, we became separated, then found each other again a month later. We happened across one of the outer villages. It had been attacked by the spiders of the enemy and only a small handful of children survived. We traveled with them until we ourselves were attacked and I was injured.

You took initiative and though you doubted yourself, you got us out alive. True, we did have the help of my soldiers, but the spiders would have killed us both if it wasn't for your bravery and quick action.

It was when my soldiers were tending to my wound that I learned just how bad you are at distracting someone. And that you once ate twenty-seven pieces of Esgaroth taffy in one sitting. You should know that I am smiling while writing this.

You also claimed that my penmanship was terrible without ever having seen it. Well, you're seeing it now. I don't know about you, but I'd say I can work some charm with a quill.

Also, you were very brave then. The soldier had used a heated knife to cauterize my wound. Even with your fear, you stayed by my side.

And then, despite how you were worried about being around my Father, you met with the two of us. You also proved yourself to him. He may not have clearly shown it, but he was fond of you. He enjoyed your caring, free spirit.

And then one day, he called you to a private meeting. Somehow, you convinced him when I could not to send soldiers and supplies to the fight against Mordor. In this meeting, he also gave us his blessing. You then came and found me in a tree.

It took me by surprise, what you did. You proclaimed your love for me and it made me the happiest ellon in Arda. I swore in that moment I could fly, I could take on a balrog single-handedly, I could do anything at all. I also swore that I would never let you go.

(Smiles sadly)

Those few weeks we journeyed to battle were the best weeks of my long life. I got to spend my time under the sun and stars with you. We rode horses next to each other, we sparred yet it always ended up with one of us on top of the other, our lips pressed together.

I promised to teach you to dance, but that night we simply swayed in the rain.

It was from here everything went downhill. You participated in Echad Maeth and fought Bronon and Corchion. You won against Bronon, though you did cheat a little with your light. Corchion, however, tried to kill you. He pulled a knife on you and you froze as the memories of your torment filled your mind. I sent Corchion away and a soldier called for a healer, but in the midst of your shock, you didn't realize the healer had rolled up your sleeve and revealed your scars to all those around.

You reacted as one who went through what you did accordingly and I took you to my tent. I won't reveal much of what was said since it would reveal what had happened to you.

Though, I did kiss your scars. I told you they were a testimony to all that you had gone through. Your scars spoke of your strength. What you so despise is what makes others inspired. They see the product of torment on your skin and then they see your eyes that still shine with light and the goodness that you exude and know that you did not let evil conquer you. All those who see the one who continues to smile whilst wearing a coat of scars are reminded that fear cannot overtake them.

You show people how to be brave, Lum. You show people how to be good despite all the corruption in the world.

You, meleth, showed me how to stand strong in the face of evil.

(Stops, tears welling in his eyes. Breathes deeply and continues.)

And then you were taken. You had made a deal with Sauron: the Ring taken from me and in exchange, you would control his fire-demons.

Really, the bargain should have been broken. It was you who had taken the Ring from me, not Sauron. But that snake twisted his words. And you could not go back on the deal, otherwise you would die.

And so, Sauron finally had you.

The day of the battle came and you showed no sign of surfacing. But then, after an hour of fighting, Gwaraith appeared. Sauron had made another ring, one specially for you. The dark lord controlled you through this ring.

It made you control the uur rauko and made you kill many, many soldiers who fought for Middle-earth. But it was not you, Lumornel. It was Sauron, with all his malice, living through you.

Gwaraith almost tried to kill me and Gimli, but, you see, Gimli and I are stubborn. We refused to die.

Incidentally, I also refused to let Gwaraith kill more innocents. And so, forgive me, I cut the ring from your finger. It was the only way. The ring would not come off naturally.

This succeeded in vanishing Sauron from your body and you returned to you. Your body fought once again for the good peoples of Middle-earth. However, the damage was already done. Some of our soldiers tried killing you. We became separated soon after, so I don't know the outcome of some of those fights.

It was after this that Duvaineth (doesn't finish sentence)

Aragorn told me you did it for him. You told him to save himself, and therefore his people, yet he refused. He was going to fight that monster. But you cut him off and, most likely, saved his life.

You, my dear, are always saving people.

Though I treasure this characteristic of yours, I truly despise it too. It is what got you killed.

(Sits back from writing, rubs at the pain deep in his chest. All that he wrote about, all those memories flash like a living dream before him, slowly and precise. He misses her more than ever.)

Now that I've written this letter to you, my fea is desperately searching for yours. It is a pain that you can hardly imagine.

We did not marry, therefore our feas were not bonded together. We did fall in love, though, and with our closeness our feas became close. Our souls reached for the other and felt at home in the presence of the other. We could have felt each other from across the world.

When you died, your fea left Middle-earth, abandoning mine. My fea was left without its companion, it was starved from the comfort you gave it.

And that is what it feels like. My fea is constantly in a state of starvation. After a while, starvation and yearning morph into pain.

Though it hurts my fea to be reminded of you, it brings me a strange comfort to write down all that I have within these pages. It enables me to sort through all that I am feeling.

(He pauses, eyes widening a fraction as his breathing quickens.)

It's also made me realize, just now as I am writing this, that it wasn't simply agonizing pain that I felt when you returned. It was recognition.

My fea, it sees yours. After writing all this, it knows you are here.

My Lum, returned to me.

I'm sorry it took me several pages of parchment and a well of ink to realize that you returned to me. I am sorry for how I treated you, I'm sorry I didn't see you sooner.

I love you more than you can possibly know, Lumornel. I love you more than there are stars in the sky.

And now I must get up from this uncomfortable chair, find you, and pull you into my arms. And hopefully never let go. Though, I would like to see your eyes. So maybe I'll let you pull away, only for a moment.

Yours forever,

Legolas

(gently folds papers, including prophecy, slips it into an envelope. Sets the package on the desk and holds his head in his hands, ashamed with himself for not seeing it sooner. Then quickly gets up, determined to make things right with Lumornel)

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:D

I loved writing this. It also forced me to imagine what Legolas went through directly following Lum's death. It was painful to imagine but helpful.