(Disclaimer: I own or claim none of Tolkein's work or characters, the only character that I claim is Brenna.)
Saving the Past
Chapter 3
Sunlight filtered through the open window onto to sleeping form in the fluffy white bed. Silently she stirred, waking to the sound of birds calling in the morning light. Brenna Logan rolled over half expecting to find herself in her bed at home, only to be once again faced with the reality that she would never be able to return home again. She walked over to the closet and selected a soft green tunic and leggings and began to prepare for the day.
It was hard for her to believe that she had been there for a few weeks already. After trying to close herself off from the others she began opening up little by little. It was the hobbits and their pranks that had finally gotten through to her. They did everything in their power to draw her out from her shell and help her to adjust as best as she could.
To say that the males were at first shocked by this strong female would have been an understatement, but with each passing day she endeared herself to them and was accepted for herself. Brenna was like a breath of fresh air for them with her childlike admiration of nature and beauty. She herself was beautiful with her raven hair and green eyes, but she never saw herself as others did.
Most days she could be found training with Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, and Aragorn in archery and swordsmanship. Sometimes Boromir and Gimli would attend and give pointers, but more often than not, they were off with the delegates from their people. Her minimal training in school had taught her the rudimentary basics steps and techniques, but it was clear that she needed practice and proper instruction. Her coordination and lack of experience in fighting were just a few of her setbacks.
This morning however Brenna decided that she wanted to go exploring. She packed some food and a few supplies, grabbing her weapons on her way out of the room and left.
Little did she know that she was being followed.
"Shhh…She'll hear you." A voice cried in a not so quiet whisper behind her back.
Brenna chuckled silently to herself and pretended not to have heard anything. She knew that they were all up to something, but she figured that she'd find out soon enough what it was.
Just when she heard the footsteps of her pursuers getting too close, she took off at a dead run laughing as they called out after her. She sprinted off the path west away from the dwellings of the elves into the forest surrounding. She could hear the "guys" as she thought of them running after her laughing right along with her. She quickly turned left and jumped up grabbing a tree limb and swinging herself up climbing out of view and waited.
Moments latter the twins, Legolas, Aragorn and the hobbits burst through the underbrush looking around. Upon not finding her their laughter died away. Aragorn looked for her trail but noticed that it end quite suddenly. He looked around before looking up with his eyebrow raised in amusement.
Jumping to the ground laughing outright at them males standing around her, she dusted off her clothes, flashing them an impish grin. Aragorn chuckled as the jaws of his companions dropped in surprise.
"Was there a particular reason that you decided to chase me around this morning?" Brenna asked in amusement.
Before the others could reply Boromir and Gimli broke into the clearing at a light jog. They cast looks from one person to the next not really sure what to make of the situations that they had just burst in on.
Brenna smiled lightly at them before turning around to continue her walk. She headed towards the sound of the roaring falls, leaving the others to follow at their own pace. Frodo ran ahead and caught up with her. She smiled down at him, but kept on walking.
They reached a clearing overlooking the valley that housed Rivendell, displaying its reverent beauty before them just as the sun was peaking in the sky. Brenna sat down leaning against a tree and began to hum silently to herself, thinking of her home. Silent tears fell from her eyes as she thought of all that she had lost forever. She drew her knees to her chest and encircled them with her arms.
The others watched silently, letting the lilting sound of her voice flow in the air. They knew that she was hurting. She was a strong woman, but she was still a fragile and gentle soul. Their hearts went out to her, but they knew that she would not accept their pity, nor want their sympathies. Here was the woman who proved them all wrong time and again, revealing herself in one her most vulnerable times before their eyes.
Brenna felt something wet splash onto her hand and she looked down blurrily. Realizing that she was crying she stopped her humming and wiped away the tears as best she could, but it only seemed to cause more. She rested her forehead on her knees and began rocking herself in her grief. She ached for everything that had happened to her so soon. Her grief was almost a physical pain
Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas sucked in deep breaths of concern when they began to physically feel her grief. They crossed the clearing to her side quickly and pulled her into a hug. Elladan looked up to Aragorn in concern and nodded to him in silent communication. Aragorn too crossed to the small woman and ran a soothing hand over her brow.
Her sobbing eventually slowed and her breathing evened out. Elrohir looked down to the woman in their arms and noticed that she had drifted off to sleep, exhausted from her release of emotions and grief. He motioned to the others as he lifted the sleeping woman into his arms and began carrying her back towards his father's home.
Boromir fell behind wondering what had happened. Brenna always seemed like such a strong person, sometimes too strong. It wasn't that he didn't like her or respect her. It was just that she was so different from the other women that he had ever known and that she challenged everything that he had been taught. He shook his thoughts from his head and caught up to Aragorn.
Pulling him aside he asked, "What happened to her Strider; why did the elves react like that?"
"Brenna was overcome with her grief. She no doubt was upset over everything that has happened." He explained. "As for the reaction of the elves, they could physically feel her grief from the other side of the clearing. Elves are sensitive to their surroundings and for them to feel her pain…" he trailed off, getting lost in his own thoughts.
The whole group fell into silence as they made their way back to the House of Elrond. They had all heard Aragorn's quiet explanation of the events and were each lost to their own thoughts. They each felt guilt for not knowing how much Brenna hurt and confusion as to why she had never said anything.
Gandalf and Elrond were awaiting their return at the entrance. They quickly made their way towards the sleeping woman in Elrohir's arms. They too were clearly concerned for Brenna. Leading everyone into the Hall and towards Brenna's rooms, they quietly discussed what had transpired.
Elrond and Gandalf both examined her before announcing that nothing could be done and that she just needed her rest.
Brenna awoke to the sounds of night. She looked around her room in confusion, remembering being in the clearing. Then it dawned on her slightly; she had cried herself to sleep right in front of everyone. Upset with herself for showing weakness, she got out bed and began pacing the room.
A knock interrupted her thoughts and Legolas quietly poked his head in the door. He let out a breath of relief at seeing her awake and up and about. He let himself into the room, but was followed by the twins and Aragorn. Each of them lounged about various places in the room looking at her quietly
She let out a sigh, "Is there anything I can help you with?" she asked wearily.
After exchanging glances with one another Elladan spoke, "I know that you might not want to talk about it, no please do not interrupt me," he paused collecting his thoughts, "We just want you to know that we're here for you. We know that you are strong, but it takes an even stronger person to ask for help."
"Milad—Brenna," Elrohir continued, "We felt your pain and grief. We do not want to see you succumb to it, nor do we want you to hide it from us. You have held it in you for too long. It is acceptable, even expected that you would feel grief and loss, but we fear for you."
"I'm sorry that I scared you like that. I just don't like crying in front of people. I know that it's silly, but it makes me feel weak, and I don't like feeling weak." She lost her train of thought for a moment before continuing, "I didn't mean to cry like that, not at that time anyways. It just all got to be too much."
Aragorn crossed to her when she tried to blink away her tears and looked down. He lifted her chin and wiped her tears, smiling softly at her. Pulling her into a hug he motioned the twins towards the door. At their looks of confusion he just grinned.
When Elladan opened the door in spilled four Hobbits, a dwarf and a man onto the floor, in a tangled heap of thrashing limbs. Brenna pulled away from Aragorn and laughed outright at the sight before her. Lightened by their interruption, she was caught unawares and pulled into the scuffle by the Hobbits. Soon everyone was wrestling and making such a ruckus that Lord Elrond came to investigate. After peering into the room he quietly shut the door and leaned against the wall next to it shaking with silent laughter. Upon the questioning looks he received as he made his way back towards his study, he just shook his head and began laughing harder.
