Title & Chapter Number: The Foolish Wish 8/8
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Tortured Scribes
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I am only borrowing J.R.R. Tolkien's world for a bit. The only things that are mine are Jessy, Bella, and this twisted plot.
Warnings: Language, Violence, Het
Betas: Hedda
Cast: Lord of the Rings characters and two O/C's
Timeline: Post The Return of the King; Sequel to The Wayward Wish
Spoilers: Some for The Return of the King
Summary: Five years have past since Jessy went to live in The Shire. Legolas returns unexpectedly to find Jessy is not very happy to see him.
Notes: I'm playing with official canon a bit for storytelling purposes. The Keepers of the Rings have not passed over the Sea. Frodo and the others have not taken on any positions of leadership in The Shire at this point. I have also shortened the distance between Buckland and Hobbiton. Celeborn and Galadriel still reign in Lothlórien.
Chapter Eight: The Price
Legolas rushed down the hall towards the screaming woman. She was standing outside the doorway to the room he shared with Jessy.
"What is it?" He asked the hysterical woman.
"The Lady … She… She is dead." The young woman backed away from the Elf.
Legolas felt his heart leap to his throat and he ran into the room.
Jessy lay on the bed completely still, eyes closed. Her skin was unnaturally pale with a blue tinge about her lips. Only Legolas' heightened senses detected the faint rise and fall of her chest. To a mortal, she would have indeed seemed dead.
He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. It was devoid of warmth. He found the vial still cupped in her palm. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed it hesitantly, there was no scent. He touched the edge with his tongue. It was bitter and his thoughts turned to poison.
"Jessy," he moaned her name as he scooped her into his arms. Her body was lifeless, not unlike a rag doll.
"Legolas?"
Legolas turned tear filled eyes towards his mother. She was standing just inside the room with his father, Arwen and Aragorn. "She has taken poison. She is leaving us. She is leaving me." The last a mere whisper.
Niere shook her head in denial. "Nay Legolas, she would not do such a thing."
Legolas gently laid Jessy back on the bed. "Aragorn, we need a healer."
"No healer can help her."
They all turned as Gandalf entered the room.
"We have to try Gandalf." Arwen argued.
Gandalf shook his head. "It is beyond their skills."
Realization hit Legolas like a ton of bricks. "You gave her the vial."
"Yes."
"Why?" Legolas cried still in disbelief that the Istari would betray him.
"Because it was the will of the Valar. She must answer for all that has passed between you."
"NO!" Legolas lunged at the wizard but was held back by Aragorn and his father. "Why must she answer? I was just as involved." He continued to struggle until his fury was sapped along with his strength.
"I do not question the will of the Valar, Young Greenleaf." Gandalf seemed to grow in stature. "I suggest that you refrain from doing so as well."
Legolas shrugged off the restraining hands and returned to the bed. He grasped Jessy's cold hand between his. "Will she die?"
Gandalf sighed. "I do not know."
Legolas nodded. Tears snaked their way down his face but he paid them no heed. "Leave us."
"Legolas, perhaps it would be best if you were not alone." Niere's tone was laced with concern.
He shot his mother a stony glare. "I said leave us."
Niere nodded and allowed herself to be lead away by Thranduil. The others followed.
~*~*~*~
The first sensation that Jessy became aware of was that she was flying. She opened her eyes and watched as the ground sped by beneath her. If this was a dream then it was fairly intense. She could feel the wind rushing past her body.
The land gave way to the Sea. Jessy tried to see if she could control her movement. It was no use, nothing she tried worked.
I had always thought there would be a white light and a long tunnel, she mused; remembering stories she had heard back in her own time.
In the distance she could see a little sliver of land. It grew larger and larger as mountains rose up seemingly from the Sea.
She flew past the mountains and the land spread out before her. Then she saw the silver gates and golden domes of a city in the distance. Her speed seemed to increase and she knew instinctively she was near her destination.
She finally was set upon her feet before a great hall of pale white marble with doors of beaten gold. The doors swung upon of their own accord and she heard a deep voice boom from within.
Enter, Child, for we have summoned you.
Jessy did as she was told and passed through the doorway. She entered a cavernous domed hall. The ceiling seemed to glow with a silvery light that was cast about the room. At the opposite end sat fourteen great thrones in a semicircle, they were occupied by beings that glowed warmly.
Come forward, Child. This voice was lyrical and feminine.
Jessy walked forward until she was standing directly before them. "Why have you summoned me?" Her voice sounded harsh to her ears as it echoed about the hall.
Do you not desire to live as the Eldar? A different voice this time, male yet not so booming.
Jessy realized that the speaker had uttered no sound out loud but his voice had filled her mind. The Valar were speaking with their minds.
Yes, Child. Yet another voice sounded in her mind.
You can read my thoughts?
Yes and we can know your most inner secrets. The voices had combined in to a single sound. It sounded like music and was soothing to Jessy's nerves. Do you love him?
Jessy nodded. I do.
Are you sure? Perhaps it is his fair face that you love.
Jessy thought a moment. Perhaps they were correct. Was it simple because he was an Elf and more fair than Man? Visions of him filled her mind. His emotions. His anger. His love. No. She loved him.
Yet, you do not deny that his fair face is attractive. Would you have loved him if he were of the race of Man?
Her vision clouded once more. Scenes replayed themselves in her mind. Legolas and her arguing in the parlor at the Hold of Dunharrow, their time in the tower at Minas Tirith, sitting together in the gardens except that Legolas was not so fair. His features those of Man. But the emotions in his eyes were the same, they could not change that.
My answer is still the same. I love him for what is inside his heart not for his form or grace.
So you do, Child, so you do. That is why you are here. Do you think you are the first mortal to love an Elf?
No. But what does that have to do with anything?
You are correct. Do you think that you are the first mortal to stand before us?
Jessy was confused. I don't know. What is your point?
Many have been in your place. Their thoughts laid bare to our scrutiny yet none have gained what they thought they desired.
Then why bring me here? Jessy fumed. Is this some sick game you play?
This is no game, Child. Will you pay the price?
Yes. I will pay your price. Jessy was suddenly tired.
No. One voice separated from the others. The first voice she had heard upon her arrival. She is not worthy. Send her back to her mortal coil.
There seemed to be a silent argument and then the voices converged in her mind once again. We will return you now.
Wait. Jessy begged desperately.
Manwë has spoken, Child. You are not worthy. Why seek to argue with his edict?
Because I don't want to go back. Jessy sighed then. Send me to the Halls of the Dead. Release my spirit and let my body die. It will be easier that way, Bella and Legolas will have closure.
There was a deep silence then. Jessy did not know how long she waited while they considered her plea.
Very well. You shall have what you desire and those you love will live with the consequences.
There was a blinding pain and then Jessy felt nothing.
~*~*~*~
For three days and three nights, Legolas kept a vigil at Jessy's bedside. He would neither eat nor sleep. No one could persuade him to do anything else.
Finally, on the fourth day Thranduil came to his only son. He loved him dearly and regretted that he had not told him as much more often. He placed a hand gently on Legolas' shoulder.
"Legolas, please for Bella's sake. Get some rest and take some food."
"You tried to keep us apart." It was not a question.
"Yes." Shame lanced through Thranduil at his son's statement. "I did what I thought was best at the time."
Legolas looked his father in the eyes. "She will come back to me, Father. I will have your word that you will never interfere with us again."
"You have it."
Just then a gasp sounded from the seemingly lifeless body on the bed. Legolas turned his attention back to the bed. "Jessy?"
Jessy felt like she had been hit with a thousand baseball bats at once. Her entire body ached. She tried to sit up but failed in the effort.
Legolas helped Jessy into a sitting position. "Are you all right?"
"Yes." Jessy slowly opened her eyes. There was nothing but darkness.
"Sweet Elbereth, her eyes." Thranduil's voice sounded strained.
Jessy realized that she would never again see. She knew it in her very soul. She had passed whatever test the Valar had laid at her feet. She would never age and would be admitted into Valinor when the time came. The price had been her sight. She would never lay eyes on her family, not even the child she carried in her womb. She had not known she was pregnant until that very moment. "Forgive me, I didn't know."
Legolas stare into the milky white eyes of his wife. "What happened? Forgive you for what?"
"I will never age, Legolas but I will never see again." Jessy turned towards the sound of her husband's voice.
"It does not matter. I love you even if you had not gained immortality." Legolas kissed his wife. "Promise me you will never do anything else like this again."
"There is more Legolas. I'm pregnant." Jessy drew a shaky breath. "I didn't know. I wouldn't have risked the baby if I had known."
Legolas was shocked. He placed a trembling hand upon her abdomen. "You did not know. There is nothing to forgive you for." He said after a moment or two. Secretly he feared that damage had been done to the babe.
~*~*~*~
The next few months were a trial for Jessy. She had to relearn the basics of living. Her world had changed. Simply dressing presented new challenges. But over time she adapted. Her other senses became more acute to compensate for the loss of her vision.
Thranduil sent his army home, though he and Niere stayed at Minis Tirith to await the birth of their second grandchild.
Celeborn and Galadriel arrived not long before the event to offer their support.
Legolas received permission from Aragorn to bring a group of Elves to Ithilien where his family would settle after the birth.
Finally, after many hours of labor, Jessy bore a son. His hair was dark like his mother but his eyes shone blue. They named him Balin in honor of Gimli's cousin. He looked normal except that his eyes held a wisdom that no infant before him could claim to possess. He had not been unmarked by the potion.
Legolas left Jessy at Minis Tirith while he gathered those of his people who were willing to move to Ithilien. They prepared a temporary hall in which to stay while they repaired the war-savaged land. When Balin was six months old, Legolas moved his family there.
Three more children were to follow after Balin. More than most Elves were blessed with but then Jessy wasn't an Elf. Legolas and Jessy still fought. Their spats became legend among the Elves of Ithilien. Yet everyone knew that they loved each other deeply. When the time came, Legolas, Jessy, their children and Gimli all sailed to Valinor. All of their children except one but that is a different tale.
The End
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