I both love and hate cliffhangers lol, as do most avid readers. Cliff hangers are usually an indicator of a great climax or great disappointment. Lets see what you think.
"Mom? Mom can you hear me? Please hear me, mom? I'm sorry I've been horrible but that doesn't mean you can run from me too. I need you mom, please mom. Mom please be able to hear me, I love you and I promise I'll get you better," Aubrey choked out in a hoarse whisper. Her hands sticky with her mothers blood and she fumbled for another bandage. She pressed down and tried to ignore her moms whimpers of pain. Moms weren't supposed to feel pain they were supposed to create it and fix it, they were moms.
Aubrey paused mid sniffle and looked up Strider had come out of the darkness at sometime and behind him was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Was she an angel? Aubrey stared open mouthed but was quickly brought back to earth by the strangled gasp of Frodo. He let out a small sound that there is not name for but despairing.
"Who is she? Are you going to help us? Can you save them?" Aubrey was too afraid to let go of her mom as she turned to get a better look at the woman. The woman came over and crouched down next to her and pulled Aubreys hands away from the wound, her beautiful features became blank. Aubrey didn't know that look and that scared her.
The woman stood quickly, no not woman elf, and. "We must get them to my father or they will not make it. Child can you ride?"
Aubrey nodded, "Scout there is mine and Cleo is my mothers." The elf woman walked over to Aubrey's dear friend.
"He will carry you both, he is a good strong steed from a strong bloodline. Carry your precious gems with care and speed, this will be a dangerous run." Aubrey stared at the woman slightly surprised she had actually understood what she had said.
Strider helped her mount with her mother tied to the saddle in front of her, "It's alright mom, I know it hurts but you're going to be ok. Help is coming I need you to hold on, please," Aubrey begged as she turned her horse to stand behind the elf womans.
The horse was just as beautiful as its rider but a slightly smaller build than her Scout.
"Child hold on fast and do not look back and do not get separated," the woman nudged the her horse into a canter and Scout came up next to her. "It will be a full days ride and we will reach my fathers protection before night falls. Ride hard and trust your horse,RIDE!" the elf woman cried.
Aubrey struggled to hold on and adjusted a tighter grip around her mom and leaned into her. The elf woman was right, Aubrey held in a scream as they sprinted through the trees and pulled her mothers hood up higher to protect her face from the lashing branches.
"They are coming, faster, faster!" Arwen screamed through the howling wind ahead of her. Aubrey fell out of her daze and realized it wasn't the wind that was howling it was the riders behind them that were screaming.
Aubrey screamed as one of the riders came up beside her and made a grab for her, she pulled hard right on the reins and Scout leapt sideways right into the other rider.
"HELP!," Aubrey could barely hear her own piercing shriek above her horses cry. Something was holding onto her cloak. "NO! Let go!" she screamed and drew her blade with her left harm and swung wildly at the horse.
Scout let out a loud trumpet and skidded trying to slow down. Aubrey and her mom were nearly flung off as the black riders rushed by her and Scout changed direction. They were now behind the riders, but that did not dissuade them . Their main focus was Frodo but why did they chase her.
Scout raced ahead of the two that had broken off to pursue them. They broke the tree line and Aubrey could see the river ahead and stared in amazement as Arwen 's horse raced across. They had to make it across the river or there would be no hope for them.
She felt the elf woman's eyes on her as they tried to outrun the two wraiths that were already seconds from intercepting them.
"Scout save my mom, you have to get her across the river. You have to, I'm to heavy just get her across." Aubrey made her decision she pushed back off of the saddle and screamed as she went flying down.
Mind numbing pain shattered, pierced and burned into her body as it spun, slid and bounced along the brown sharp grass. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her head trying to protect it from most of the damage.
She let out a loud moaning cry of pain, her mouth full of blood. Her lungs sputtered and she gagged, her body forced its way on its side as she gagged and threw up bile and blood. She laid there staring, the world was still spinning around her making the back and sides of her head pound more. She was lying partially on her side, her arms flung out awkwardly and painfully staring at the swimming scene. Here mom was still on the horse, it looked like they were across the river but where were the riders.
Aubrey tried to move but let out a scream as hot piercing pains forced her to stop. She laid there staring at the sky and was sure she was going to pass out as the sharpness increased with each breath and each breath increased in pain as she struggled not to cry. She laid there silently as tears fell down her face. Was she going to die? People had fallen from slower horses and had not lived, she didn't even have a helmet on.
The ground felt as if it was moving under her, Aubrey blinked her eyes open slowly. When had she closed them? The ground was indeed moving and so was the sky.
When she blinked again the sky was green. Why was the sky green? She was forced to squeeze her eyes shut as a piercing light tried to shatter her head. Oh god it hurt so bad.
She blinked again and the pain was fading. Was she really dying? She felt like she was floating and everything was hazy. There were people around her, they were moving her around and it felt weird. She couldn't feel the pain but she knew it hurt. Strange.
When Aubrey blinked again the sky had changed to a beautiful golden brown color. Blinking again the waves of golden brown were moving? No they weren't moving. Aubrey blinked again, they were not moving at all they were shapes. She laid there for several moments just staring and blinking as the shapes took focus and became flowers and birds and trees and elves playing music. Maybe she was in heaven. The pain was gone. Or so she thought. She shouldn't have thought. Her mom told her sometimes that she thought so much to a point that her mind would play tricks just to get some rest. The dancing elves and trees faded into a soft comforting darkness as something warm filled her mouth and stomach.
When Aubrey blinked again she was much more aware. The fog of sleep was fading from her mind and she lifted her arm to rub her bleary eyes. But only one arm? Where was the other. She tried to move her left arm but something was holding it tightly . She tried to blink away the stuffyness in her head and actually looked down.
She was wearing a soft thick white dressing gown that laced up the front and sides. No it wasn't the dressing gown that was laced it was her arm. It was tied tightly across her chest at an uncomfortable angle. Using her other arm she pushed herself up, the arm complained a little and felt strange. She put the other arm in front of her face and found it bandaged in white bandages too.
She was in a small room with only a single sized bed and several empty tables. The ceiling was elegantly carved as she remembered from her strange dream. Aubrey threw the covers back or at least tried to. It took her several tries, her bladder was screaming at her urgently.
The stone floor was surprisingly warm on the soles of her bare feet. Carefully testing her legs she found they were sore but fine. She pitter-pattered to the nearest door and found the latrine closet and quickly relieved herself. There were not any leaves to wipe herself with instead there was a stack of pale green fabrics. She picked one up and to her immense shock discovered toilet paper. They had toilet paper!
Feeling better she tried pulled the exterior door to her room open and peeked out. The hall was empty but she knew that where ever she was wasn't.
"Escuth me," she whispered. Her tongue ached at her attempt to use it as did her jaw. She walked over to the nearest door and peeked in. A white figure was lying in the bed, she was beautiful. Her sandy red-brown hair was pulled away from her face and she looked rather serene.
"Mom?" Aubrey whispered and tiptoed into the room. The woman didn't respond. Aubrey reached out for her hand and squeezed it lightly, "Mom we made it."
Her mother smiled and slowly opened her eyes, "My brave stupid child." Her voice was weak like thin paper and sounded nothing like her mother.
"Mom?" Aubrey's voice shook as she clutched her hand tighter.
"Hush now. No tears remember. I am so proud of you baby, so proud. You are everything that I wished I was. But please think before you act. You know I think you are going to be just fine sweet-heart."
"Mom?" Aubrey's voice squeeked lightly as her knees began to shake.
"Trust Strider he will take care of you. My brother is a good man, annoying sometimes but good. I've been waiting for you, I wouldn't run away without saying good bye. Hush there, no tears. It's my turn to go Bree and I know that you are going to be fine. I'm so proud of you and I love you."
"No mom you can't. No, mom I can't be here alone. You can't leave me alone mommy please."
"You will never be alone here. Promise me to keep an eye on my brother and protect your new friends. Your adventure will be quite unlike mine. These are good people by beautiful elfling. I am going without any regrets. I have a strong and caring daughter that I love and that is all I could ever ask for baby. Take care of my girl she is my greatest treasure and gift."
"Mommy please don't do this please don't do this please please please please," Aubrey sank down to her knees and clutched her mothers hand. "Mommy please you can't go without me. You promised that we would be alright and safe and us. Mommy? Mommy I love you." She couldn't see anymore, her head hurt to much.
Something hard was around her shoulders and was trying to pull her. Aubrey screamed and tried to push them away. "No mommy please you can't go." Aubrey screamed and sobbed and clutched at her moms hand as someone tried to pull her away.
She couldn't do this without her, she was mom. Mom was everything and always there. Mom is the one who glares at you when you do something you know you shouldn't but can't resist. She slaps your hand away from the fire and holds it after you cut it. She makes you feel safe and afraid at the same time. Mom was always there they never went away.
Aubrey couldn't get up the next day, she just couldn't. She hardly remembered that week. It rushed by in a whirl of voices, sounds and the growing and fading of light.
"Child you need to get up today. We need to put your mother to rest," a soft voice murmured from somewhere near. Aubrey rolled over and saw the same woman from the forest.
"Your're that angel landy." She struggled to whisper.
The woman smiled, her smile was light and happy and soon Aubrey found herself smiling back at her.
The woman helped her bathe and dressed her in a beautiful but plain black dress. Her hair curled slightly at the ends as she tucked it behind her ears.
"I am Arwen, daughter of Elrond. And you I believe is the lovely Aubrey Rose. Your mother talked of nothing else while you were unconscious. She loved you more than anything in the world, she gave you life. Today you will mourn the loss of her light from your life. Tomorrow you will celebrate the gift of light she gave you."
Aubrey nodded and took the womans hand and let her lead her down the hall and outside. The brightness burned her eyes and made them water. She blinked several times to clear them and felt another larger and more callused hand take hers.
"Hey kid, " his voice was tight and gravely. Aubrey forced her eyes to leave the ground and look up. The courtyard was nearly full and her mother's body was carried on a beautiful stretcher dripping with lace and flowers. She was wearing beautiful gown of pale blue and silver and a circlet of golden flowers sat on her head.
Aubrey let go of Arwen and Striders hands and slowly took one step after the other. Each step sent a raspy hot jolt of pain through her chest. She looked down at her face, and smiled at her.
"She looks happy," Aubrey whispered and looked up.
"She looks proud," spoke a deeper voice. Aubreys light brown-green eyes met deep blue. "Your mother was like a daughter to me. She, her brother and my three kids gave their old father many gray hairs. Your spirit is so much like hers. Wild, foolishly brave and as golden as the sun, she was the golden lily of this house. She struck fear into her foes and her name was spoken with great respect in all circles. She was a great and strong woman in her short time here. She helps slay a dragon and bring peace to several homes, reunited families and kindled friendship where there was only darkness before."
Aubrey forced her eyes away from the regal man, "She sounds amazing."
"But her greatest accomplishment and challenge she faced alone without help and conquered it. She became a mother and raised a beautiful daughter to be as great as she was. Her spirit will never leave us because it still has purpose in this world. Aubrey your mother will never leave you, even when you want her she will always be that voice in your ear."
Aubrey smiled at that, "She told me that once when I was twelve and we had the talk. If a guy ever tried to seduce me or anyone ever offered me alcohol or drugs her head would pop up right next to my ear and give me what guidance it could."
Stider stepped forward and took her hand again. They followed the stretcher, each step was more painful than the next. The elves were singling mournfully around them as they lit lanterns. They walked into the woods and down a path to a pool, next to it was a great pyre.
Aubrey began to whisper a lullaby her mom would sing to her sometimes as Strider pressed a torch into her hand and held it there with his.
High is the moon tonight
Hiding its guiding light
High
Heaven and earth do sleep
Still in the dark so deep
I will the darkness sweep
I will the moon to flight
I will the heavens bright
I will the earth delight
Strider guided her forward with the torch as her voice began to grow stronger. She could see nothing but her mothers face. He lowered their arms and set the torch down on the wood. A golden light began to flicker and pulse as the rest of the pile caught fire.
Open your eyes with me
See paradise with me
Awake and arise with me
I am the dawn, I'm the new day begun
I bring you the morning, I bring you the sun
I hold back the night and I open the skies
I give light to the world, I give sight to your eyes
Strider pulled her several steps as the heat and light increased and wrapped his arms around her. He somehow managed to make her fell small and childlike again.
From the first of all time, until time is undone
Forever and ever and ever and ever
And I am the dawn and the sky and the sun
I am one with the One, and I am the dawn
I am the sky and the dawn and the sun
I am the sky and the new day begun
I am the sky and the dawn and the sun
-Celtic Woman
They stood there through the evening and night and until dawn as Aubrey kept singing the song over and over again. At some point she fell asleep and Strider carried her back to her room and stayed with her over the next couple of days.