Concrete Angel
By : SilverRose82
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White marble shone in the early morning light as the sun began to break through the skyline to the east. In the center of the largest garden in the city, was a white marble statue of a woman. Her hands were clasped in pray as she stared into sky, through her eyes were now just marble, the artist had been able to, by some small miracle catch the loving spark that had never left her eyes. Her hair plaited in a long braided cord which had become her trademark style, the dress the artist designed her in was elegant but simple, the skirt fluttered out as though a small gust of wind hit just her skirt, sending it out behind her. In a well polished black stone; small silver roses wrapped around the corners of the plaque, was her name, carved in beautiful letters each had vines or flowers weaving in the background.
Before the statue a young man knelt before the figure who held so much joy for the world around her. His hair fell about his face as he looked to the ground. Looking back up at the woman, his blue eyes were sorrowful, he had never known her, never met her. He wished that he had, maybe then he wouldn't feel so scared about what he was setting out to do. Destroying the one thing that many whispered could never corrupt her, never reach her for her heart only knew love, compassion and friendship. Some of the things he didn't know and understand, looking back towards his hands he placed a single white rose at the base of the plaque. Standing up he took one last look at her smiling face before turning to walk out of the garden and towards his room.
He was surprised to find the lord of the city standing at the top of the stairs leading into the garden, staring at the statue silently before letting his gaze turn to him. A rare smile came onto the lord's face as his brown eyes gazed around the garden. Bushes of roses grew around the perimeter of the garden, their sweet smell perfuming the air. White snowdrops surrounded the base the woman stood on, the ever green carpet of grass lay in a wide ring around the snowdrops. Flowering trees shaded marble benches and a small waterfall and pool of crystal blue water on the opposite side of the hidden garden.
"She loved the world around her." The lord told him as he moved to sit on a bench, his copper robes sparkled in the sunlight as he looked over at the statue. "Had a heart of gold."
"I wish I could have met her." he whispered before taking a seat next to the brown haired lord. Looking back down at his hands he sighed before turning his head to look at the man next to him who was smoothing the skirt of his robe over his knees. Turning once more to glance at the statue before him he could the delicate look of the woman who no longer roamed the planet.
"Maybe you can." The older man told him truthfully as he turned back to the statue, the sun rising behind her majestically, the golden rays spilling around her body making the white marble shine brightly. The birds began their chorus welcoming the new day, noise could finally be heard within the city as people began to rise. Children's laughter could be heard around him as the once quiet city became alive in the new day. It seemed as though the city seemed to wait for that one moment when the sun touched the woman's statue, making her appear to be sent from the heavens above.
"How? Why is she so special?" He asked as he followed behind the lord, leaving the safety of the gardens to enter the city once more. They walked along a stone path for a while, silent as the lord thought of what to tell the one beside him.
"She came to us a time ago. Begging for sactuary, if not for her than at least her child. We granted her request and they came to live here. She had been covered with many cuts and bruises. They were from a very sacred race of our people, from the silver moon that circles us day and night. They had been captured and enslaved for many years before they escaped, her husband had betrayed them after their daughter had been born. She lived with us for the last hundred years before her injuries got the better of her and she passed on. Her child still lives here with us, surpassing her mother in power, beauty, and love. Her heart knows no hate." The lord told him as they walked down a trees covered path, silver and white lilies lined the wood chip path below their feet. A small brook babbled to the left of the small path while a small sapphire pond lay to their right. Walked through the weeping branches of a large willow tree, long yellow green leaves swayed as the branches moved back into place behind them. He could hear humming as they neared a small house hidden from view by the cliff and golden trees that covered it. Laughter rang through the forest as a group of young children tore through the branches of the willow, a loud neigh was heard as a young woman ran into the cover of the tree a white stallion dancing behind her.
"Lord Elrond." She curtsied, her accent strong, regal, bowing her head, her eyes closing as she lowered herself nobly in the eyes of the man beside Elrond. The children; she had been running after, came to stand in a guard formation around her also bowing and curtsying. Standing up straight she smiled warmly as she told the children to run off and play, the stallion that had come under the willow after her stayed by her side, his ruby eyes studying those standing before his mistress.
"I have someone who would like to meet you, Lady Serena." Elrond told the younger woman standing before him, like the queen she had become years ago. Her golden hair shone in the sunlight that filtered through the leaves around them and her azure blue eyes smiled at them. "This is Frodo Baggins. A hobbit, from the Shire."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Frodo Baggins." She told him brightly as she walked up to them, smiling at him she offered him her hand. "Come, enjoy what time you have left here. The children will enjoy more company. I will make sure he makes to the Fellowship on time, my lord."
"I know you will." Elrond told her with a smile before the elven lord left them alone in the shadows of the willow, a soft wind blew the branches around like a curtain. Serena looked over at him before leading the confused hobbit into her little grove. Frodo was taken away by the colours that met him as he walked into her secret garden. Climbing vines covered gates, trees, and some of the rock wall, fragrant flowers cluttered the vines in clusters of violet, white, and lavender some were bright trumpet shaped flowers that were the colours of a setting sun. Wild flowers of all shape, size and colour littered small garden beds around them, roses of every colour and fragrance lined the path leading to the river and her house. Small flowering trees with leave the colour of pines dotted areas of the small valley.
Next to a small homey, beige cottage was a fenced in corral and shed, large enough for the white stallion that seemed to roam over the valley more than staying in his corral. A small vegetable and herb garden grew on the other side of her house. Children were peering out at them from all places in the area some hiding behind flower beds and roses others behind the house and shed. They were children of all different race from what he could see a few hobbit children, some from the race of men and others elves.
"This is beautiful." Frodo breathed as he looked at the young woman next to him, she looked down at him with a bright smile before pulling him farther into the clearing, soft grass padded his feet as he jumped over a young aulburn haired hobbit child. "Why are their so many children here?"
"They have all lost their parents, due to the rise of dark lord again." She told him quietly as she waved for all the children to come to her. "They are brought here by the eagle lords and those like Gandalf and Estel, I take care of them, give them a home and friends."
Many small children appeared before Frodo and Serena, the small hobbit children's eyes lit up at the sight of another, older hobbit while the elven and men children greeted him before they ran off again to play. Frodo turned to six hobbits standing before him all looking up at him in awe many not having seen another hobbit since they were brought to Rivendell to be placed in Serena's care.
"That is Hanna, the little one you had to jump over, and that is her older sister Camellia. He is Wilibald, the little girl hiding behind him is Lily, and these two are the twins Mirabella and Peregrin." She told him with a small smile while pointing at each of the little hobbits as she said their names. They each looked up as their was spoken, Frodo looked around him smiling at the young hobbits before him as he knelt to their level.
"I'm Frodo." He told them as he looked into their blue eyes, each looked far to old in his opinion, their hair colours ranged from Hanna's aulburn curls to Wilibald's sandy brown hair. Lily walked up to him slowly gaining courage from Serena's gentle smile and Mirabella's clapping, she stopped infront of him, looked him in the eye and stuck out her hand in front of her. Bitting on the inside of her lips she looked at him wide eyed while glancing from her hand to him continously.
"Hi." She said cheefully, a smile on her face, lighting up her entire face. Frodo smiled brightly at the little girl before taking her small hand into his and giving it a light shake. Lily jumped into his arms after that, off balancing the older hobbit, this was a sign to the other five as they soon piled onto Frodo as well. All six of the hobbits were laughing in the early morning light as Frodo went to chasing after the little ones, their laughter filled the valley.
Serena stood with her hand placed on the white stallion's neck as they watched what was going on before them. One of the youngest elf children ran up to Serena and pulled lightly on the skirt of her icy sky blue skirt, pointing to the stone sundial on the marble stand in her herb garden. The shadow was pointing towards seven, shading her eyes she glanced up to see where the sun was, nodding slowly she patted the young elf on the shoulder before he ran off to join his friends. The stallion whinied as Peregrin stopped to look over at Serena, pulling at his sister's shirt sleeve Mirabella glanced over at her brother.
"Frodo, it is time to go. Ithildin, watch the others for me. I need to take Frodo to the courtyard." Serena called to the oldest child in the grove. A white blonde hair elven child came out from the tree she was hiding it, trying to keep away from one of the human children that couldn't climb as high as she could.
"I will!" Ithildin yelled before she jumped into another tree to get away from one of the others elves. The white stallion pawed the ground as he nudged his mistress in the back. Serena looked at the stallion, placing a hand on his muzzle she stared into the ruby eyes of the stallion. Laying her head on his forehead she smiled before turning away from the stallion, moving next to Frodo she smiled before pushing away willow branches. Stepping through the tree's natural curtain with Frodo at her side she silently lead the hobbit to the courtyard where the Fellowship was to meet before they left for their journey.
Frodo looked in wonder around him, when he had first come down the path it had been darker so he could only make out faint images. Gemstones of every colour sparkled along the sides of the path, the trees seemed brighter in this part of the valley then in any other place. The birds sang sweeter songs as they walked past, making their way slowly to the main path that would lead them towards their destination. Sweeping past the bushes that hid the path from normal view of anyone not looking for it they came to the stone path that weaved throughout Rivendell.
"Come this way Frodo." Serena called as she glanced at the hobbit by her side. She rarely left her safe haven in the small glen, but a promise was a promise and Serena did not go against her word. Being truthful and blunt were some characteristics she had picked up while she had been a slave working in the kitchens along side other slaves. It had made her stronger and well liked by the kitchen's hired staff. But in Rivendell she had once again become the silent girl she had been before she had found her backbone.
"I am afraid, I will let everyone down." Frodo told the woman beside him, causing them to stop on a bridge a few feet away from the courtyard. Serena looked at Frodo as she knelt to be eye level with him, her eyes held understanding and encouagement in their depths. Placing a hand on his shoulder she closed her eyes momentarily, bowing her head before she gazed into his bright eyes she smiled softly.
"Frodo, this quest you go on, there is a chance that it will fail. But there is always that chance, however, there is also the chance that it will not. You have three of the closest friends going with you and you will make more on your journey. This will be trying on you and grief will befall apon the Company. But trust your heart Frodo Baggins of the Shire, I have learned that a heart will never stray you wrong." Serena told him before standing back up slowly, turning to look over the bridge they were standing on she watched the water rush down another dropoff before reaching the river below. Turning to Frodo once more she smiled before nodding for them to continue on. "I cannot let you be late for your own leave."
"Do you believe this should happen?" Frodo asked as he jogged to catch up to Serena, she glanced down at him sadness flickered over her face for a moment before it was hidden behind a mask.
"No, Frodo, this should not be happening. You should not have to do this. But you have to, as destiny has chosen you to do so. The ring should have been destroyed all those years ago, but the past cannot be changed as much as we wish for it to." She told him as her blue eyes dulled, lowering her head she walked into the courtyard with Frodo a few steps behind her. The other members of the Fellowship regarded them silently as Serena turned to look at her newfound friend once more. Knelling down once more she lay a kiss on either side of his face then placed one on his forehead. "We more than likely will naught meet again, Frodo Baggins. I wish thee luck."
Turning away she walked gracefully up the stairs to stand behind Elrond as he spoke to the Fellowship before they left the walls of Rivendell. Looking down at the Fellowship her eyes scanned the group, Frodo had moved to stand beside his closest friend and the chestnut pony that was riddled in equipment. The taller members stood in guard position behind the hobbits in their group. Her eyes lay on the two humans the one known as Estel to many of the elves of Middle Earth and the other she didn't not know but from his armor she figured he was from Rohan or Gondor. Her eyes brightened slightly at the sight of the Grey Pilgrim before landing on the only elf of the group. She studied him in silence before looking back over at Frodo as the hobbit turned to lead the group out of Rivendell.
Walking through the blue stone archway with Gandalf behind him the Company of the Ring slowly made their way out of Rivendell, some for the last time, one by one. She watched as Estel stopped to glance at Arwen one last time before following after his companions to start on a journey that would test the strenght of all Middle Earth. With her hands clasped before her she followed after another elf silently, as they made their way to gaze at the Fellowship as they walked over the large bridge connecting the two sides of the river valley.
She could see elven children farther ahead waving wildly at the departing group, two of the hobbits, Merry and Pippin, she supposed waved back just as cheerfully. Some of the elves around her began to leave as they Fellowship started to vanish around the hill. Turning slowly she glanced back once more catching the eye of the young hobbit, smiling at him though she knew he couldn't see her very well, she continued on her way. Going back to her haven and her children, walking past Lord Elrond she bowed her head in politeness before walking the same path she had taken to get to the courtyard.
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A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
~*@*~
This story took a different road all together than I had originally planned. But I left it unfinished yesterday to go see TTT. Which is great. But a few things could have been done without. :: Legolas surfing down the stairs and making fun of Gimli.::
I do actually like how this story ended however, leaves it open for more if you so desire me to do so. But my upmost attention goes to A Bed of Stars.
Review, Thanks, and Goodnight:
~*~ SilverRose82 ~*~