Title: Passing Dreams
Fandom: Of Túrin Turambar
Characters: Túrin, Finduilas
Prompt: 043: if you leave, I won't cry, I won't waste a single day; but if you leave don't look back, I'll be running the other way
Summary: She's gone, but he'll lose himself to find her.
Author's Notes: It's hard to balance being succinct with developing a fic, but I tried. This is slightly AU as in canon, Túrin went to search for Morwen and Nienor rather than following Finduilas, but he did go to find Finduilas after realising that Glaurung had duped him. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
And while he was yet held by the eyes of the dragon in torment of mind, and could not stir, the Orcs drove away the herded captives, and they passed nigh to Túrin and crossed over the bridge. Among them was Finduilas, and she cried out to Túrin as she went; but not until her cries and the wailing of the captives was lost upon the northward road did Glaurung release Túrin, and he might not stop his ears against that voice that haunted him after.
- Of Turin Turambar
Túrin knows how to run, and does so swiftly. He knows how to follow, and that something runs ahead of him. While he runs, he remembers her name.
"Finduilas!"
She's gone, but he'll find her.
II
Túrin doesn't remember her leaving, trapped as he is. Through the dragon-haze comes a shape that screams and pleads, but she can't run, and neither can he.
Yet when the haze lifts, she's gone.
All he can do is follow.
II
The trail is clear enough, and all Túrin need do is follow.
Finduilas is gone, but she's everywhere he looks. Her hair is the sunlight and her limbs the white trees, the streams her laughter and song. She's everywhere, and he can't find all of her. He reaches out for her, but he's already left her far behind.
She's gone, and he's left her without ever catching her up.
II
She's gone, and swiftly, but Túrin runs swiftly too, and he'll find her.
He dreams of following her, running under the white stars among tall trees, where her footsteps sound light as a deer's. She's gone, but he'll find her. He'll follow her wherever she goes.
He wakes, and she's gone, and he follows, and the dream is left behind.
II
Finduilas is gone, but Túrin will find her. He knows how to run, and he'll follow wherever she flees. She's gone, but he'll lose himself to find her.
While he follows her, he doesn't have to remember how and why she left.