Tales of Middle-Earth by tinni

Woe of a Maiden who loved Legolas

A tragic greek romance retold with Legolas

In the time of the War of the Ring, there lived in Minas Tirith a maiden of great beauty and even greater voice called Amcar the Beautiful. So beautiful was she that in time of peace and of war men from all over Gondor would come to pay her homage and beg her hand. She accepted there homage with grateful humility and sang them sweet songs in her beautiful voice but her hand she kept saying, “The only man I will love is one who is at least equal to me in beauty and music.”

Alas! There was no such man in Gondor or all kingdoms of men. So it was that she remained unwed, singing her songs to bring a glimmer of light even in the darkest hour. Than came the fateful day when the fields of Pelennor hosted the great battle between the men of the west and hosts of Sauron; Amcar was there, soothing the sick with her songs, giving hope to the weary. O how grand it was when her voice finally rose in the song of victory when the host of Gondor and its allies carried the battle, turning the tide of war.

Little did she know that her joy would soon turn to her woe, for the war brought to Minas Tirith Legolas the son of Thranduil the Elven King of Greenwood the Great. Great was his beauty, sweet was his voice and he caught her heart with nary a word, so began the pining of her heart and the longing of her spirit.

Long did she try to woo him with sweet songs and sad sighs, but Legolas looked upon her with admiration and sadness, just as he would upon a beautiful flower that will fade but all too soon. Yet her love for him did not subside and she sang in the dark,

O beautiful prince with sun kissed hair
O brave prince with eagle eyes
O bright prince of the woodland elves
O blind prince will you ever see me

In the light of the day when all was glad she walked the streets under the black shadow of love unrequited and sang in a voice bereaved of joy,

Keeper of my heart
Holder of my soul
Give me but a little
Of all that is you

Long she prayed to all the Valar but none had the power to turn the heart of the Legolas the elf to Amcar the Beautiful. Those who were wise beggared her to turn away. Saying that King Elesser was a man with no equal and Arwen a half-elf who could choose a mortal doom, but she was not so great and Legolas not free to choose the doom of men even if he should so wish. They told her to find another and make a happy home, but she refused. Singing,

One heart I have to give
One soul I have to share
One man only will I love

So it was that her days darkened and her nights lengthen. At last she could bear it no more. Thus she climbed to the pinnacle of the Minas Tirith dressed in virgin white and sang her swan song,

I loved thee dearly
I loved thee truly
I love thee in vain

Thus ended Amcar the Beautiful, the maiden of Gondor who loved in vain the Legolas the elf, who wept for her as he would a flower that had passed away with the seasons change…

Chapter End Notes

Author’s Note: This is re-interpretation of the Greek myth “Lovers Leap”. Basically the great poet Sappho of Lesbos fell in love with a ferry-man who was blessed by Aphrodite with never ending youth and great beauty. He didn’t return her love, she jumped off a cliff.