Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Lord of the Rings, they belong to Tolkien.


Chapter 4:

Elarinya awoke very early the next morning to the clashing of thunder and pounding of rain. Ominous, dark clouds covered the entire sky, and trees' branches blew in the wind. The entire valley appeared to still be sleeping. Standing there looking out over the valley, the dull throbbing pain in her heart quickly started to creep back and take a hold of her. If she kept standing there and did nothing, she knew it was only a matter of time before tears would resurface. She had to get out. Turning to her chested drawers she pulled out a simple white tunic, brown leggings and a thick forest green hooded cloak. Quickly she braided her long dark chestnut brown colored hair into a long braid and pulled the hood over her head. Picking up with quiver and bow she braved the rain, walking to the archery range.

She kept her cloak on and readied her first arrow to shoot, the pouring rain and darkness made the target more difficult to see at the end of the range, but it stood there none the less like it always was. Elarinya pulled back the arrow and released it, but the arrow missed. Grabbing another arrow, she readied herself and shot again and missed. Frustrated, she tried again, for a third time she missed. Elarinya stared down at the target. Then she started grabbing one arrow after another after another after another, sometimes hitting, sometimes missing. When they were out, sloshing in the mud, she trudged down to the end of the range to pick them up and went straight back to the opposite end, And began shooting them all again.

Her body was tense and she swelled up with anger, becoming more frustrated with herself whenever she missed the target. The longer she shot, the heavier the rain seemed to pour down upon the earth. The hood of her cloak was no longer covering her head, and her hair had become loose and started falling out of the braid in the wind. She could feel the rain start run down her neck and make her clothes underneath wet. Still, she kept on firing arrows, one after another. Fog had set in and it poured heavier ever more, and she could no longer see the target. Out of nowhere, she threw her bow across the range and yelled out louder than she had ever yelled before in rage and pain, cursing at the relentless rain. She collapsed to her down to her knees in the mud and began hitting the ground as hard as she could with her arms and fists, until her body began to rack with sobs.

"Elarinya!" A voice called loudly to her to be heard over the banging of the thunder and the rain.

She looked up from the ground covered in mud and rain and saw Legolas kneeling before her .

"Elarinya, what's wrong?" He asked in great concern, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"They're all dead! All of them! Everyone that I have loved and cared for is DEAD. I wasn't even gone for that long and there was an attack - the whole village was unprepared! I was out with Turin, and he told me he loved me, while I was having the happiest moment of my life - my ada was killed! KILLED! My entire village was set on fire, people were screaming and yelling and fighting! I can still hear them in my head, and they haunt my dreams. I should be dead with them. The worst part is, I did nothing, I DID NOTHING LEGOLAS! MY ADA IS DEAD, AND MY NANETH HIM WILL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN BECAUSE OF ME! LIKELY SHE'LL FADE TOO! BECAUSE OF ME! TURIN IS DEAD AND ITS MY FAULT! HE WAS MY DEAREST FRIEND AND WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR ME, AND I LET HIM FACE THE ORCS ALONE! I SHOULD HAVE STAYED, I should have STAYED AND FOUGHT WITH HIM, Legolas - I should be dead with them…I fled, and they are gone now because of it." Elarinya cried out sobbing. "There is nothing I can do about it and everything is lost." She finally choked out.

Legolas saw the excruciating pain she held in her eyes, and the tears that flowed from them. There were no words of comfort he could give her, only time would be able to mend the pain that coursed through her heart. Instead, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her close. Elarinya held onto him for comfort and buried her head into his shoulder and stayed there with him in the rain.

"They're over here!" another man yelled back and some others who they could not see due to the fog. Legolas and Elarinya both looked over to see Aragorn running over to them soaked to the bone.

Legolas dropped his arms around Elarinya and helped her stand up.

"We were worried Elarinya." Aragorn said. "We should go back inside, this storm doesn't seem like it will let up anytime soon." Aragorn paused for a looking at Elarinya's face. "Does something trouble you Elarinya?"

Elarinya nodded her head in response. Aragorn looked to Legolas, who gave him a look of warning. The three of them walked back to the heart of the valley. Upon reaching it, Elarinya went to her room to clean wash the mud off her body.

Legolas and Aragorn watched her walk away.

"Have you found her?" Arwen asked coming up to them hurriedly.

"Aye" Aragorn replied, "Legolas found her out on the archery range."

"She went to practice archery on a day like this?" Arwen skeptically asked.

"I believe she went out there to take her mind off the pain, but in the end she became overwhelmed by it." Legolas replied.

Arwen looked at him surprise and shock. "She opened up to you? Since her arrival she has refused to speak with anyone. For a month, she stayed in her room. When she stepped out of her room, we were so glad. Now she refuses to speak about anything. Elarinya constantly is keeping herself busy with anything and everything, I worry about her still."

Legolas looked over in the direction of Elarinya's room. "Aye, indeed, but not because she trusted me so I believe, but because she was overwhelmed by emotions and could no longer hold back the in her heart."

"We should let her rest." Aragorn replied. Arwen and Legolas both agreed. Aragorn went off with Arwen, and Legolas went to his room.

He sat down in a chair staring at a painting on a wall. The painting was beautiful. For all the beauty that it held, it could not hold his attention. His mind drifted to the archery field. It was hard to imagine the elleth he'd met last night was the one he saw today. Never could he have foresaw, the secrets she held inside of her. The mask she wore was thicker than any armor that'd been made. Her words burned in his memory, as they played over and over live through a horrific event such as she described, he found that he couldn't even begin to fathom it. Everything she knew was ripped away, as if it never existed.

Time ticked away and Legolas stayed still in his chair deep in his thoughts. Reaching a point where he could no longer stand to sit still and do nothing, he jumped out of his chair and headed out of his room, and walked to the opposite side of the valley to her room. Her door stood in front of him, now that he was here, he was dumbfounded as the rain continued to fall down upon his head.

Elarinya took a very long bath and washed all of the mud from body. She'd work tirelessly to hold up the wall she'd built between herself and her emotions. Like an avalanche, her emotions ripped through the wall engulfing her as it pummeled down. Finally, she'd reached a point recently when she could go without breaking down and it made her believe she had control over her emotions. Shooting arrows in the archery field proved otherwise. Quickly, shooting arrows and hitting the target had nothing to do with the actual activity, but everything to do with what was on her mind. Everytime she missed, it was as if she was being reminded of how she failed her family, friends, and community, and now she was failing at a simple task. Then to top it off, she broke down in front of Legolas, of whom was hardly an acquaintance. Worst was she yelled at him. She needed to apologize to him.

Elarinya stepped out of the washing tub, and dried herself off before slipping on a simple lavender colored dress. Then she heard footsteps coming towards her room, and then they stopped about where her door was. Yet, no one knocked, yet her hearing was good even with the storm still raging outside. Elarinya went to her door with her hair hanging wet and opened it.

"Legolas?" She looked at him surprised.

"Elarinya - I" Legolas found himself fumbling over his words, very unlike him.

"Do you want to come in?" Elarinya politely gestured inside of her room.

"Aye." Legolas replied stepping out of the rain. Elarinya brought him over a chair to sit in, while she took a seat on the edge of her bed.

"Legolas, I'm glad you came." Elarinya started after sitting down looking at him. "I wanted to apologize earlier for my actions, we barely even know each other and to tell you was unfair of me to burden you and -"

"Elarinya," Legolas interrupted. "I understand you did not intend to express matters of which are very close to your heart. We have only just met, but I want you to know, I shall not tell a soul of the words you spoke to me, unless you wish it first. I know not, the depths of your pain, you must feel, but I would like to be there for you as a friend. No one, should have to experience a tragedy as yours, and have no one to confide in."

"Legolas, I am sorry, but I cannot accept your friendship. I fear I should only fail you in some way whether it be now or in the future. Nor, do I desire to be someone you feel sorry for." Elarinya stood up and walked to the other side of her room turning away from Legolas, intending for him to leave her room.

Legolas stood up, but did not leave, rather he walked up beside her. "Then let us pretend today never happened, and we begin where we left off the other night on the balcony." suggested Legolas.

"Legolas, what I told you isn't something that I can pretend did not happen when it did. It was supposed to be my burden to bear alone, and I will not let it become yours, especially when you have duties such as yours, it would be selfish." Elarinya replied looking back into his eyes.

"It would not be selfish, it would be stubborn of you. I am not asking you to tell me anything you are uncomfortable sharing. Keeping everything locked inside will only eat away at your soul until you become a shell the elleth you are. If you cannot trust Elladan or Elrohir, of whom you consider brothers, then who will you lean on for support?"

"Tell me, what do you know about me?" Elarinya spat back. "You know nothing, Legolas Greenleaf!" She began to turn away, but Legolas grabbed her hand.

"Last night, I watched an elleth dance with more beauty than I have ever seen. The beauty of it lied not only for the way in which she moved so gracefully, but in the joy that radiated from herself as she did so. Her eyes were alive with passion, and no one could stop watching her. For watching her, made you feel even more alive. When speaking with her, you could sense her curiosity that filled her entire being. Looking into your eyes now, I can still see her behind the mask you wear and under the brokenness. I know you are terrified to confront your past." Legolas replied back in a strong voice. He let go of her hand. Elarinya stood in front of him unmoving.

His facial expression softened and he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Can't you see Elarinya, I'm trying to help you. I would not have you live a life shrouded in darkness, not when I know the spirit that lies in you." Legolas pulled her into an embrace. "Elarinya, you are surrounded in by those who care for you deeply. You need only open your eyes to see it." He continued softly. "I know that I need not help you, for if you desired you could seek the help of others, but I want to, and I want to be your friend."

Elarinya pulled back a little to look at Legolas' face and she nodded her head in acceptance. "I know not where to begin Legolas…"

"From the beginning." Legolas replied back with a small smile upon his lips.

"Aye." Elarinya walked back over to her bed and sat down, and Legolas took a seat again in the chair.

Elarinya took a deep breath and let it out, sitting there for a moment. Legolas waited patiently for her.

"When I was an elfling, my ada was the bravest warrior I ever knew. He'd fought in the Last Alliance and told me many tales about it growing up. But, my naneth, she was the strongest elf I have ever known. After Sauron was defeated, they wanted to move to a place far away from Mordor, for my ada never wished to look upon the place where he saw so many companions killed before his eyes. So they traveled to Imladris, and joined others who started a colony on the outskirts of Imladris, but still close enough to be under its protection. The village grew, but of course the population remained much smaller than in the heart of the valley. It was quite sometime before they decided to have me. I grew up like any other elfling, very curious, and somehow always finding my way into trouble.

When was still very young, not yet even 20, I met Turin. Him and I quickly became the best of friends, we'd go out on these 'great' adventures, and they were to us at the time. No matter how much trouble we got in with our parents, he was always there to stand up for me. My parents said he was a bad influence, but I always disagreed. We always were testing each other's skill and braveness. Who could climb the highest, the fastest, who would dare walk furthest out on the log. One night we were out late on one of our great adventures, and the stars were out. We'd decided, that no matter what would happen we were always going to be friends. And we were.

As I grew older I met others, like Cuilwen, she was also around Turin and my ages. She and I were truly each other's opposites, but we both understood each other. I think, we saw in the other, qualities we desired to have. There were times when we would fight and argue and go months without talking, but she was like my sister; no matter what she did, I would always love her as such.

I told my ada when I was young, I wanted to be a brave warrior just like him. My naneth laughed, saying I was too young to know what I wanted, but my ada he began to teach me how to become a warrior. He was the first to teach me how to use a sword, and how to use a bow. He even made my first bow. Turin had also begun to learn how to wield a sword and to shoot a bow at the same time I did. We would practice all the time, trying to become better than the other. I became rather good for my age.

My naneth and I would go to our secret spot. Ada never came with us. When we were there, naneth would tell me many stories about the far reaches of Middle Earth. I loved listening to her tell me about them. Sometimes she would draw out pictures in the ground for me. I wanted to remember her stories, and her pictures. Thus I began drawing. After my naneth and I got back home, I would go to my room and draw everything my mom had told me about that day.

Over time, I found my naneth was right, I truly was too young to know what I wanted to do. During the next several the years, I became bored with the redundancy of practicing. Turin didn't, and he continued. Eventually, he became a great swordsman and archer. This was the first time that Turin and I had a real difference. By this point I'd begun painting, and I fell in love with it. I could spend an entire day painting and not even notice the day go by. Both my naneth and ada supported me, though, I believe my ada missed bonding with me as we practiced. Turin, he always encouraged me. He even begun searching out the most beautiful places in the area for me to paint. Then he'd surprise me by taking me there and having my paints and canvases waiting for me. It meant a great deal to me, that he did this.

My naneth, she sailed to the west when I was still rather young. Then it was just my ada and I. It was hard for us both at first, but then with time it got easier. Everything was normal, until the orc attack." Elarinya finished saying letting out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

"And after?" Legolas urged.

She looked Legolas in the eyes, pausing, and found herself surprised that that she was telling him so much. The entire time he listened, he was truly listening to her every word. "I fled to here. I was shot by an arrow while riding my horse." She showed him the fading scar. "That first night I was sure that this all had to be a terrible nightmare. Surely I would wake up and everything would be alright. The next morning came, and I was in the unfamiliar room where I fell asleep. I was exhausted, and I felt every single moment pass by of every day. There was a constant throbbing pain in my chest, most days I felt that I couldn't even breathe. I cried endless tears and practically lost all desire to live, because the weight of it all was so unbearable. Death did not come, and one morning weeks several weeks after I'd arrived, I looked outside and there was a singing bird out on a branch of one of the trees. The same type of birds that always nested in the tree that was at mine and my naneth's secret special place. It reminded me of my naneth and that gave me hope. Hope that there would be day when darkness would no longer reign over my being, and I know would once again know the dawn." A small smiled formed on her lips. Absentmindedly she pulled her necklace out from under her dress and held it in her hand close to her heart.

Legolas looked at her curiously, seeing a light being emitted through the cracks of her fingers. "What is it that you have in your hand?"

Elarinya looked up at him. "It's a necklace my mother gave me long ago." She replied opening up her hand to show him.

"My eyes must be deceiving me, for it cannot be…" Legolas replied in disbelief and awe.


Thanks for reading!