The sun shone brightly on the edge of a snow-capped mountain. The mixture of golden yellow and streaks of red from the morning sun illuminated the land filled with corpses of slain men, orcs, beasts, elves and dwarfs. The once pure white snow of the lands was painfully covered with their blood. For each blood of these lands was spilled of either to reach their ideal world of justice and peace or for worse and endless pain.
Still, there stood a brave knight her long glossy black hair hidden beneath its steel helm holding a tight grip of its sharp long-sword as it pierced the last enemy that came after her. Standing still on the ground the brave knight neither felt happiness nor victory for the darkness was again defeated. Truthfully, the knight felt nothing but the emptiness constantly filling inside her. She lets go of the sword she wielded on her right and slowly motioning her will to move and look at her blood stain hands. Unbeknownst to her tears swelled in her eyes despite the fact of her filling empty. Now it ends… was only the words muttered on her lips.
Not minding the streaks of tears escaping her eyes she looked around her. Haunting trees, echoes of strong winds of the snow, of lamenting howls of wolves and grim expressions of each warrior of different races she stands alongside. It was not truly a victory for herself and the others. After this, a lot of things are needed to be amended from their sorrows, destruction of the beautiful landscapes and lingering horrors left from the war. But for her, it was an unfitting end for her. An end where she has no one to go to… An end that left her a great wound no one could heal….
Suddenly a pain so terrible weakened her valor of strength. Grasping for either help or pain it mattered not as she placed her hands on her lower chest. Then, she remembered it was not a beast she killed but one of her comrades. Her companion whom she confided a lot with her secrets and plans. I'm sorry Gilraen…. Truly I am sorry… was the last words he muttered to her at his last breath. The brave knight did not know how it ended like this. How the whispers of the darkness reach the ears of her dearest companion. How it easily corrupted his mind and let the darkness settle within him. How his anger and jealousy was left untold until today. How his betrayal deeply wounded her.
Perhaps, he was right when he told him of what she lacks as a man to rule and unite her kingdom. That she lacks certain attributes that her great King father and Queen mother have. Always, it reprimanded her of how truly it means to be honorable, respectable and loved by her people. And as always, she would remind herself she was not prepared for this position, as a Queen in steed of her elder brother. That the very ideals that shape her were the ones that drive her friend into misery.
Slowly ever so slowly her knees gave out as it reached on the ground she gently move her friend's body placing it on her chest. Eventually, she clings to him and cried so loudly so painfully so regretfully so nostalgia for her. She remembers everything they did together as a child as those kaleidoscopic images flash to her. Then she felt her time almost comes to an end...
" My Queen, now it truly begins" A man behind her said gently to her. His voice coated with lament and loss rather than joyous victory. When she turned around she saw an old man who taught her many things and wisdom no man can compete. He wore a brown cloak that complimented his long silver-white hair with streaks of dark brown hair and beard. In spite of his fragility as an old man, he appeared as strong as any man she knew.
"How can I saw this as a beginning? How can I go on and announce the victory is ours? How can I truly feel it as a beginning when all I fought for died in front of me when I fought those that are dear to me? I want to rest now Radagast… I'm tired of this of everything" She exclaimed to him still clutching Léocred never letting go.
Radagast paused when Gilraen finally expresses her doubts. He thought for a very long moment. What he saw at this moment was not the Queen who fought valiantly and nobly. What he saw was a girl so vulnerable so broken by the events that happened to her. What he saw was a girl who lost everything so precious to her. Radagast sighed and told her kneeling beside her taking the lump body of Léocred tenderly settling it on his side. Lightly touching his eyes to close it.
"Everything happens for a reason; For better or for worse we know nothing of it yet. However, you must always remember it was not your choice to make for him to stray into the darkness. The both of you choose your own answers. You gave hope to your people… to him. He asked for your forgiveness in the end and you know deep inside your heart and soul that you forgive him. It is not yet the end of my child… You must stand tall and be happy just as what he told you before… despite his rebellion… what he did… he did not do it out of anger and jealousy. I think what he wants is for your own well-being.. for you to be happy… honestly happy." Gilraen cried then. Why have I not notice it? Her thoughts whispered to her.
Exhaling a deep sigh. She told Radagast to assemble her army and ask for a lone moment with Léocred. As Radagast's foot was no longer heard she took Léocred's body and walk towards the withered tree she saw a while ago.
Once she reaches toward the withered tree. She laid Léocred's body on the tree trunk. Strangely, she saw a wild rose bush just behind the withered tree. Its petal showed frost on the tips but its color was never lost. It reminded her of how clear the sky was in Rohan. She plucked the stem of the blue rose and put in on top of Léocred's hands. Kissing his forehead before touching his cheeks.
She sat down on his left and look upon the changing scenery of the sun and the cloud. Thoughts ran through her mind like a series of a train passing to her. Her breath was labored and her wound which she stubbornly refuses to cry out of pain became prevalent to her.
Still, she sang with her hoarse voice and toneless rhythm and she sang with all her heart. For her friend and for her people.
As the darkness embrace the Kingdom of Manwë
The light of hope never fade,
Oh! fiery warriors of Eruhíni and Aulë,
Who fights both with courage and brave,
Who knows no death or life but hope,
Arise and smile for war is no more,
Look beyond the Misty Mountains!
Iluvatar gave his blessings,
For Léocred who hails from Rohan,
Who showed steel flowing from his body and fire of hope in his hand,
Who withstood pain to give hope,
My friend! Léocred who showed great love,
Sleep now my dear and dream of everlasting happiness!
Mayhap it was a result of her delusions as she no longer felt half of her body and breathing was a hard task for her. But if it was a dream a dream so beautiful she would not try to wake up. She wished for it to last longer. For once she saw the place she missed and more so when she saw her mother. She stared lividly to her youthful mother whose touch lingered longer and eyes displaying such worry and awe. As she reaches for mother's hand she heard a music she had not heard. It was a music so calm yet carries such a thought of agony and hope. She thought she loves dreaming now. For once she did not have nightmares but a wonderful dream of seeing her mother.