Okay, first off, I'm really sorry it took me forever to update. I've had this chapter done since Tuesday, but I didn't like it. So, I"ve been working on it since then. I still don't know if it's any good. Please let me know what you think. Thank you so much for reviews. I hope you guys don't hate me too much.
Please Read: Don't mind all the eights. I couldn't get the border line to work when I was editing the chapter after I uploaded it and that was the only thing I could get to work.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.
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Chapter 4
They had laid Heldreg to rest the following morning and as Glorfindel had told her, Lord Elrond approached Mandawen and told her that she was welcome to stay in Rivendell for as long as she desired. She told him she would let him know before the end of the day and asked if he would allow a messenger to travel to Heldreg's family's village east of the Gap of Rohan. There she sat in her chamber, dressed in the traveling dress she wore the day of Heldreg's accident, with a piece of parchment that held her curved writing. She told Heldreg's father of the accident, and how they were found. She told them everything and asked for their forgiveness. There was one thing she did not tell them.
She did not tell them of their child. She knew that if she did they would want her to come so they could help raise their son's child properly. Mandawen couldn't let them take her child, her and Heldreg's child. She promised him she would raise their child to know the wonderful man he was, and she would hold true to that promise.
Mandawen sighed softly once more and folded the parchment and placed it an envelope before she sealed it with a wax seal. Mandawen stood and walked out of her room and down the corridors to Lord Elrond's study. She knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Lord Elrond called and she walked inside. Another elf that she had never seen before was with Lord Elrond. "Mandawen," Elrond said and she bowed her head.
"If your offer is still valid, my lord," she said softly. "I would like to remain in Rivendell, but not without being of some use. I can cook, clean, and I am a decent seamstress. Although, judging by some of your garments, my skills may be considerably lacking compared to those of your people." Elrond stood and walked over to her. She was pale, and she seemed underweight for a woman who was with child.
"You are welcome to stay, and any help you can give will be appreciated," he told her softly. She gave him a small but sad smile and nodded her head. She held out the envelope that carried Hendrig, Heldreg's father's name, and village on it.
"This is the letter I wish to have sent to Heldreg's father. Will you still have a messenger deliver it?" she asked and Elrond nodded as he took the envelope. "Thank you." She bowed her head again and walked through the corridors and gardens, taking the same path she had taken when Heldreg passed.
She lifted her dark brown skirts slightly and made her way down the path until she came to the waterfall. It was beautiful and she felt at peace there, however, she found herself wishing that Heldreg was beside her to see it. Her eyes hurt, they were dry and she had no more tears to cry. She settled on a fallen log and looked at the waterfall. She took a slow deep breath and closed her eyes. Mandawen slowly opened her eyes and removed her slippers. She stood and walked over to the edge of the water. Mandawen raised her skirts once again and let the cool water dance around her feet that were aching. She let her skirts fall into the water as she let herself get lost in memories once again.
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Mandawen smoothed the cream colored skirts and fiddled with the white and blue ribbons she had braided in her hair. That day was the day her and Heldreg were to be bound. There had been gossip in the city, but she didn't care. She didn't care what the others had to say for she and Heldreg knew the truth to their relationship. "Mandawen?" came a soft voice and she looked over the shoulder to see her friend Gilda. "You look lovely, Mandawen. Are you ready?" she asked as she walked into the bedchamber. Mandawen gave her friend a smile and smoothed out her skirts again. Gilda had let her ready at her family's home while Heldreg readied at theirs.
"Thank you and I think so," Mandawen said. Gilda walked up to her and took Mandawen's hands.
"Heldreg is nervous, but he is smiling so brightly that I think he outshines the sun itself," Gilda said. Mandawen squeezed her friend's hands and smiled. "Come on; let's get you married already." Mandawen laughed and let Gilda lead her from the bedchamber and through the sitting room. They walked up the street to Mandawen and Heldreg's home, whose sitting room had been cleared of the furniture for the celebration and the ceremony to take place. Before Gilda went inside to lead her in Mandawen took a deep breath.
"Gilda, I'm nervous," she whispered and Gilda smiled.
"You have no need to be," Gilda told her and Mandawen nodded. Gilda turned and knocked on the door. It was slowly opened and the light from the sun behind her filtered into the sitting room. Gilda walked slowly in and Mandawen followed. She heard someone take a slow deep breath and she looked up towards the hearth and saw Heldreg standing there next to Rodorin, a companion of Heldreg's who would stand for both of them and officiate their union. Her eyes remained on Heldreg as she slowly walked towards him.
He looked perfect in his dark blue tunic and dark brown breeches. His boots had been polished and shined nicely, while his fair hair was bound away from his face and he smiled brightly at her. Mandawen smiled at him as she took in his features, his soft eyes, slightly pointed nose and full lips. He was very handsome and the grin that graced his face made her stomach flutter. Gilda led Mandawen to the hearth and Heldreg took her right hand into his before he laced their arms and both turned to look at Rodorin.
"Today, my friends," Rodorin said, "we witness the union of Mandawen and Heldreg. Do you, Heldreg, swear to protect, honor, and love Mandawen for as long as you live?" Rodorin asked. Heldreg looked to her and she looked up at him.
"Aye, I promise to love, honor, and protect her for as long as I live and beyond," Heldreg said his voice shaking slightly. Mandawen smiled at him at the reversal he had made of the promises. Rodorin smiled and turned his eyes to Mandawen.
"Do you, Mandawen," Rodorin said and she turned her eyes to him, "swear to serve, honor, and love Heldreg for as long as you live?" Mandawen turned her eyes to Heldreg who smiled down at her.
"Aye, I promise to love, honor, and serve him for as long as I live and beyond," she said her own voice shaking. Heldreg smiled at her before he dug into his tunic. Mandawen furrowed her brow when she didn't know what he was doing.
"Heldreg has a gift for Mandawen before the union is complete," Rodorin said and from his tunic he pulled a small black velvet pouch. He let go of her arm and opened the pouch. He poured its content into his palm and a silver band fell into his palm. He picked it up and held it out to her causing her to gasp softly as she looked at it and then turned her eyes to his. She looked back at the object and couldn't believe it.
Heldreg held up a silver band that was decorated with small clear stone. He took her left hand and slid the ring onto her third finger. Much to her surprise, the ring fit her perfectly and she turned her tear filled blue eyes to Heldreg's.
"Heldreg and Mandawen before the people that stand before you and all of this earth, you are now husband and wife," Rodorin said. Heldreg smiled as Mandawen threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Cheers erupted in the small sitting room causing Mandawen to pull back slightly. She blushed when she saw just how many people were there to witness their union. There were at least twenty-five guests, and when she had entered she had only seen Heldreg and she was glad she had. She knew that if she would have seen all that were there she would have been shaking even more than she was at that point.
"My Mada," Heldreg whispered into her hair and she looked up at him. She moved her hand from his neck and ran it across his cheek. "You look beautiful," he whispered and she smiled.
"You look nice too," she whispered. Heldreg chuckled and kissed her again.
"I love you," he said as his lips hovered over hers. Mandawen smiled and closed her eyes as he rested his forehead against hers.
"I love you, so much," she whispered in return. Heldreg smiled and nodded with his forehead still against hers. Music suddenly filled the room and the pair was pulled to the center of the floor by a smiling Gilda and Rodorin. Mandawen laughed before she danced with her husband, whose eyes were lit with a new light and the warmth from that light seemed to seep from him and into her.
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Mandawen opened her eyes and looked at the waterfall once more. That would be the last time she would let herself live in the past. Too many times had she seeped back into her memories. Heldreg would not wish for her to grief as deeply as she was. He would want her to be strong. He would want her to be strong for her child's sake and for her own. With another deep sigh, she turned and made to step out of the water when a figure stood tall next to the fallen log she had been sitting on.
"Forgive me if I startled you," Glorfindel said as he uncrossed his arms and looked at the woman. She seemed more at peace than she had that morning, and he wondered what had caused the change.
"It is I that should ask for your forgiveness," she said slowly as she walked from the water to where her slippers rested. She took the shoes into her hands as she didn't want to put them back on her wet feet.
"Whatever for?" he asked and Mandawen looked at her slippers.
"I was out of line with you last night," she said. Glorfindel shook his head and walked around the log so he was standing right before her.
"You were grieving, you still are grieving," he told her slowly. "Grief such as yours is not known among our people, and when it is, for all in your position it is too hard to bare."
"I will always grieve, but I will get better. But right now, I have more than myself to think of," she told him. Her voice sounded stronger than she felt, but she knew that time would help her heal, but she would never heal completely. Glorfindel's eyes moved to the small bump that was her stomach and he nodded. "I owe a great deal to you and Lord Elrond," she said suddenly and his eyes moved back to hers. "If you had not found us along the path, I would have perished right along with him."
"If you're horses had not charged into the city, we would not have known of you," he told her and Mandawen furrowed her brow.
"So that is how you knew," she said softly. The elf nodded his head.
"They charged into the city, but the white mare would not settle she charged out and led us down the pathway to where you called out for us."
"What of the horses?" she asked wondering if her horse remained, or if Heldreg's horse remained.
"They are housed in the stables," Glorfindel said. There was a sudden hope in her eyes as she looked up at him.
"Will you lead me to them?" she asked and Glorfindel nodded. She dried off her feet as best she could and slid on her slippers. Glorfindel led her from the waterfall and to the stables where she would have yet another piece of Heldreg, his horse.
