Chapter 6: How do you get that lonely?
"Are you alright my friend?" Eldarion asked Lómebrilas quietdly so no one would say anything. No one could think of a way in there, they were in over their heads.
"Amin dele ten' he (I am worried about her)," Lómebrilas said biting his lip as he looked at the falling sun, "Amin mella he (I love her)… I wish I had told her that."
"I am sure she knows my friend," Eldarion said looking at his sad friend, "it has been awhile since I heard anyone speak elvish."
"Belaraniel and I use to speak it all the time to each other… back when we first were married," Lómebrilas said looking out at the crimson sky.
"She loved you a lot," Eldarion said looking at his friend.
"Loved," Lómebrilas said sadly not wanting to show his emotions.
"She left for you Lómebrilas Greenleaf, she didn't want you to go. She never left, never ate until she decided to come and save you," Eldarion said not sure if that really was the reason Belaraniel came in the end.
"Amin uuma malia she shouldn't have left (I don't care)," Lómebrilas said standing up, "Iire lye auta? (When do we leave?)"
"What do you mean?" Eldarion asked looking at Lómebrilas, "do you mean leave to get her?"
"Of course what did you think I meant?" Lómebrilas said hastily.
"Nothing," Eldarion said with a 'oops' look, "I do not know… I do not know what to do."
"Amin caela noa (I have an idea)," Lómebrilas said looking at the gate, "we call them out."
"Are you mad my friend? Are you already welcoming death? If so do not count me in that madness. Let us sneak in we were always good at that stuff, let us sneak in there and find my sister," Eldarion said looking at Lómebrilas.
"Yes, let us try that… how did Sam sneak in there?" Lómebrilas asked looking around, "let us ask Ducla."
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"My father told me of a passage way, a horrid spider lives there he says. Mr. Frodo was stung by it and my father thought him dead… then he wounded the spider that is why she hasn't had too many babies recently in this time… that is why your kingdom is not full of spiders anymore Lómebrilas. But it is that way, the orcs use to use it but I assume it is forgotten. My father and the fellowship called it 'Shelob's Lair," Ducla told them making them all look around in surprise.
"We must find it you and I Eldarion, the others must stay and wait incase we need them, or some how Belaraniel gets out," Lómebrilas said looking to them, "if you guys run into trouble, smell trouble, or have found something useful tell Lamia and she will tell me."
"Ok," Calicien said seriously as she looked at the others.
"I want to come along Lómebrilas, it is safer in threes," Waredith said seriously.
"But Waredith we need someone to stay and protect the women," Eldarion said swinging his bow over his shoulders.
"I think we can more then handle ourselves," Jidda said holding her ax beside her.
"It will be alright we will not be helpless, there is more danger crawling in there then out here, I promise you if anything should arise we shall depart to a safer location. Besides one can be a messenger for if you run into trouble, so the other can stay and help," Calicien said kissing Eldarion.
"She is right Lómebrilas but it is your call," Eldarion said holding his wife close to him as his hands ran through her golden blonde hair.
"Very well," Lómebrilas said finishing up what he was doing. Then they both climbed onto a horse and had Ducla show them to where the cave entrance would be so she could take the horses back to camp. Ducla was happy she could help. Finally they found the cave, it was pitch black in there as the sun had gone down. They all lit a torch so they could see their way through there. It took them awhile and a few shot nerves to get through that place as they watched for a giant spider. No spider came out to bother them, though there was a lot sticky webbing. Lómebrilas was use to this stuff, he used to hunt them as a child in the forests of Mirkwood, spiders very rarely were found in the woods of Mirkwood nowadays. Finally they were in the castle of Mordor. They heard some talking in a near by room.
"Has our… guest, given us an answer?" the voice seemed to growl.
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"Ama poldora (strength)," she said pointing at nothing, her spell went straight into her she then repeated it giving herself more and more strength it began to hurt. She grabbed the chain and ripped it from her wrist making her wrist bleed from irritation, she did the same to each one. They were flimsy chains, their real power was to send her spells back into her if she tried to attack any of them. Slowly she walked to the door and said, "Panta tangwa (unlock)," she said unlocking the door and creeping out. Where was she? Which way should she go? She had to just choose away so she was going to choose left, until she saw the man who brought her there so she went right. The man hollered in anger as he ran out of there and back the way he came, slowly she tip toed out of there and down towards a staircase going down. Nope can't go that way a group of men were coming up so she turned and ran towards the direction the one man went. She turned the corner and watched with her elven sight and listened with her elven hearing. She hurriedly went for an escape until she saw the man from earlier walk outside and across a bridge and enter a room. There she saw a familiar sight out the window… Waredith? Her brother… Lómebrilas? She felt a pair of hands grab her and throw her into a wall. She elbowed the man and turned around, it was just a man so she punched him in the face. The last thing she knew she was being hit.
"You better pray to your god girl, because when I am finished with you… you will wish you were never born," a large weird looking man said. She scratched her forehead as she looked for an escape.
"Look I am tired, hungry, and… tired… please don't make me waste my time in hurting you," she said before punching him in the stomach. He just stood there laugh so she kicked him in the foot and hurt her toe, "well aren't you just tough… what… hey… back away…"
"I am going to make jelly out of you," the man said walking towards her, she quickly punched him in the nose making his yell with a huge hand he knocked her into the wall. When she went to do a spell he somehow countered it. This was a no win situation… for her at least.
"That is no way to talk to a queen," she said backing up looking for an escape.
"I will crush you!" he yelled running at her, she squealed and ran down the hall seeing the window.
"Quella tuulo' elea (invisibilty)," she said making herself invisible. He could see her aura as he squinted his eyes… he smiled and grabbed her throwing her out the window. She screamed as she flew out that window and down into another window. She was hanging out of it as she held on looking down at how high up she was.
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Lómebrilas heard the noise and walked over to the corner to look and see someone hanging from the window. He signaled to Eldarion and Waredith. They slowly approached far enough they could see it was a brown haired girl and she was slipping. Eldarion and Lómebrilas were over in an instant and pulled her up. She was bleeding.
"Oh my Valar, your hurt!" Eldarion said hastily. Hugging his sister. Lómebrilas looked down and saw the blood on her as well the blood on the broken window seal where jagged edges were as sharp as knives.
"Oh it is nothing… I am fine," she said shaking the glass out of her hair.
"But your bleeding," Eldarion said looking at the wounds. She slowly looked down and then closed your eyes.
"Your right… I'm not alright," she said passing out Eldarion caught his sister.
"Great, she has always been a little weak when it comes to blood," Eldarion handing her to Lómebrilas so he could pick her up, "what are we going to do now?"
"Well we have to get her out of here for one, and some healing might be good," Lómebrilas said going back the way they came. They heard the door behind them burst open and a man walk out looking unhappy.
"You!" he yelled pointing at the hostage they had 'stolen' it seemed, "give me the girl or die!"
"Bye," Lómebrilas said trying to run but men had come up the stairs they were going to down.
"It is alright, we can fight them," Eldarion said pulling his bow out and shutting them with arrows, Waredith began to throw some knives and then pulled out his sword and charged at them. Eldarion began to fight with the one guy who was almost too good for Eldarion. When Waredith finished off the group he went to help Eldarion, the man gave up and ran… he could not fight two of them, he valued his life and limbs too much to do so. He went to warn the others, so the three of them had to hurry and get her out of there. Finally they were in the cave, they were a little safer now. They only had one torch left. For awhile they were lost, but they found the right path… but something was lurking… waiting.
"Do you feel that?" Eldarion asked standing in front with the torch in his hand.
"Yes I do… I feel eyes," Lómebrilas said holding the girl in his arms. She slowly began to open her eyes as she moved around and looked at him.
"Lómebrilas?" she asked blinking feeling something cold on her hand as the blood ran down it.
"Yes, it is I," he said looking down at her. That was when he felt something knocking him down to the ground and things got darker. Belaraniel moaned as she hit the ground and rolled. Hastily they all got up and saw the giant spider, the thing was fast it tried to attack Lómebrilas but he moved. Just as fast as it came it was gone and watching again.
"We have got to get out of here, and with speed," Waredith said holding his sword up incase of another attack. Belaraniel held the wall feeling the white sticky stuff as she looked at the others and held her stomach.
"Oh I don't feel good," she said as Waredith walked to her and put his arm under her and her arm around his neck so that he could help her balance. They all began to move along faster as she was trying to get out as well, she was so tired, thirsty, hungry, and in a little pain. But she was too numb to really feel the pain. They made their way to the entrance of cave. But something jumped in front blocking it. Waredith stood in front of Belaraniel, what was that? Something else was behind them making them look back. More spiders.
"I hate spiders," Lómebrilas said holding out his bow and shooting the large spider making squeal. Belaraniel walked foreword looking at the large spider.
"nai uuvanimo turamin (Charm creature)," she said the spell looking directly at Shelob with her hand out never breaking eye contact. That was the most important part of charming a monster this large… once you broke eye contact you'd have to redo the spell, "go," she said to them not blinking as she swayed having the creature sway with her.
"I am not leaving you here, I am not leaving you alone again," Lómebrilas said nearly making her look at him until she realized she couldn't look away.
"You have to go, our son is on an island that the semi-god of water has made for herself. It is between Middle Earth… and the havens. Find our son, do not let what happens to me be in vain. Now go I beg of you," she said still looking into the creatures eyes as Waredith and Eldarion finished off the little spiders coming at them. Lómebrilas took a step as he watched her, "go!"
"Okay," he said slowly walking past the creature the others followed but watched her the whole time as she softly sang words to the large spider. When they were out they looked at each other, "I can't leave her there she is weak…"
"Lómebrilas she wants you to find your son, no use in both his parents being killed.
"I don't care," he said turning around and running back only to be flown back by a large explosion that knocked the rocks down into the entrance. They all looked at it in surprise as they watched Lómebrilas laying on the ground. They helped Lómebrilas up and slowly walked to the entrance of the cave. He felt the rocks and saw a tiny gap at the top. He climbed up and began tossing the rocks aside in anger as he felt angry and scared tears fall down his dirt covered face.
"Lómebrilas…" Eldarion began slowly, "Lómebrilas…"
"What!" he snapped looking down at Eldarion.
"I hate to say this but… it's over," he said looking at the pile, "she gave her life for you and her son."
"No she didn't she is still alive," he said throwing the rocks aside so their was a large hole. Slowly he crawled through the hole.
"Belaraniel?" he asked as he walked into the darkness.
"Lómebrilas?" a weak voice came from down bellow making him quickly slide down.
"Belaraniel, oh Valar… oh thank your Valar… your alive," he nearly cried feeling around for her. He finally found her, "what happened?"
"I lost contact so I caused a diversion to scare the spider away… it worked, but then I was trapped," she said as his arms went around her so he could lift her up, her arms slowly wrapped around his neck as he tried to climb his way to the hole in the top of the cave in. He sat her down so he could climb through the hole then pulled her through it. She slowly pulled herself out so he could help her. The guys sat looking in shock that she managed to live through the explosion. She looked up at Lómebrilas, he came back for her… twice. What should she do? Should she give herself to him once more? Or should she just go back to the way things were… when it was easier.
"You're going to be okay now," Lómebrilas said smiling down at her with a face covered in dirt.
"I know," she said swallowing before falling asleep in his arms. The small group began to walk back to camp.
Narduril we need you, she thought before she went blank. Narduril, Lamia, and Calicien were on their way with two other horses. Together they all rode back to camp and got the others. After that they rode for Gondor, looking for help along the way.
After a days of riding they finally came upon a small village and stopped. They knocked on every door until they found some kind of healer. They were led to a tiny hut that had obviously seen hard times. It had been burnt, chopped at, and all other kinds of horrible things that happens to tiny villages such as that one.
"What happened?" asked an old woman as she showed them where to lay Belaraniel.
"Does it matter madam? All I know is she needs help," Lómebrilas said hastily.
"I suppose it is of no importance, will you please leave the room for a moment," the old woman said walking to a cabinet and pulling out a white wooden box full of things.
"What? Why?" Lómebrilas asked as Eldarion grabbed his friends arm and pulled him out of the room. For what seemed like a decade Lómebrilas paced back and forth as this woman worked miracles as the town had said.
"All she needs is a little rest now. No worries her wounds were not fatal, or critical, they looked worst then they were… mostly scrapes, scratches, and bruises. Though there was one cut that was pretty deep but it is fine it is bandaged and cleaned. Most of her passing out and unconscious was not from the wounds, mostly of what us medical workers call these days… fatigued, over whelmed, no rest sleep… and over working herself. The cure for her is rest, food and drink. Now get some sleep my guests, you seem weary and worn out. For those who wish to bathe…" she said looking to Lómebrilas who was still covered in dust from the explosion and the cave, "there is a basin full of hot water in there, that room… yes right there."
"Thank you," Lómebrilas said bowing his head slightly, "did anyone else want to take one…"
"I think you need one the most," Jidda said giggling looking down to Ducla, "we will await our turn king Lómebrilas."
"I thought you looked familiar my lord. The king of Mirkwood or perhaps Lorien?" the old woman asked preparing clothes for them to sleep in as well blankets to sleep on the floor with, "do not worry… I will have people to rid the dirty water and then fill it with fresh water. Enjoy your stay, because I must speak with you kings in the morning. Rest up."
"Thank you," Calicien said bowing innocently. The old woman patted Calicien's cheek softly as she smiled at her.
"You I can tell are a close friend with the young lady in there. Well when she awakes would you help her with a bath? She will be sore, bodies are fragile… her wounds may have not been fatal but she will be very sore when she awakes," the old woman said to Calicien before leaving to gather the head master and some help.
"She is a nice old woman," Calicien smiled before gather the clothes set out for her and folding it for after she took a bath. Lómebrilas grabbed the clothes set out for him and a large cloth to dry off when he was done. Slowly he made it into the room and removed his clothes before climbing into the large stone tub full of hot water. It felt good against his aching muscles. He let himself slowly slide down so the water washed all over him to his neck.
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"Tristan it's cold," Jessalin said holding herself as she shook, "how much longer until the blanket's are finished?"
"Well I do not know Jess, but calm down… you've asked me that nearly the whole day non stop. Here…" he sighed before taking off his over jacket with the royal symobl on it, "take it and stop telling me your cold."
"Thank you Tristan," she said smiling as she took the coat from him and put it on. It was cozy and still warm from Tristan's body heat.
"Now I'm cold," Tristan said silently enough for himself to hear before he went to go help the centaur girls make blankets from the skin of their kill.
"Welcome prince Tristan," Arabil giggled as she tightened a strand of their man made string they had made.
"How much longer until the blankets are ready?" Tristan asked wrapping his arms around himself.
"Here two are done, they are not as large as could have been… but we are running out of fur and supplies and there are five of us…" Nellia began before Tristan interrupted her.
"I get your point ladies," he said taking three of the blankets for him, Gwaldo, and Jessalin. He threw them each a blanket and laid down on leaves by their tiny fire, "mother… where are you?"
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"Tristan!" Belaraniel yelled shooting straight up as she panted for air. She was shaking as Calicien ran in.
"Belaraniel… it is alright," Calicien reassured her friend as she took her hand.
"It's not alright, my son is calling for me… I can hear him," Belaraniel cried looking down.
"Oh Belaraniel he knows your trying, here you need a bath," Calicien said helping Belaraniel out of the bath. Calicien led her to the bath basin that the others had already taken a bath in. It was empty but pots of hot and cold water laid around or over a fire. Calicien pour the hot water in then the cold water until it was full and at a good temperature. Calicien helped get Belaraniel dress off and saw the bandage around her chest where her collarbone was. Calicien felt tears fill her eyes, she never thought they would be here doing this… she never thought anything would harm them again, "would you like me to stay and help?"
"No thank you Calicien… I need to be alone for a while," Belaraniel said stepping into the tub.
"Well here is a sponge," Calicien said smiling a fake smile at Belaraniel before leaving. Belaraniel sat soaking in the water for a moment before using the sponge to get the dirt off her face, arms, and anywhere she needed to. She let her water softly flow under the water when she sat back up from holding her breath under water she saw Lómebrilas passing the window and quickly tried to cover herself… but he wasn't looking in there. Where is he going? she asked herself before grabbing the large cloth used for drying and dried off. She then put on the plain cotton dress laid out for her. It wasn't anything special, just a plain black and brown dress. Her hair soaked the back of her dress as the water dripped from her hair down her back. She snuck out barefooted into the night walking through the trees outside the window of the room with the tub.
"What am I going to do?" she heard a familiar voice ask pacing between trees under the pale moonlight. She slowly slipped through the trees watching Lómebrilas pace and argue with himself. She smiled slightly as she leaned against a tree and watched him. She went to turn and leave but she stepped on a twig and hurt her foot. She immediately brought her foot to her hand where she hopped with a painful look on her face. That was when she noticed she got Lómebrilas' attention, "Belaraniel?"
"Oh, yeah, it is I," she said turning around embarrassedly.
"What are you doing? You should be resting," he said crossing his arms and looking at her.
"I should be, but I'm not… you see I…" she didn't know what to say, "I was bathing… and…"
"Are you alright? Why are you nervous?" he asked walking towards her making her back up slightly.
"Me? Nervous? No of course not… I just remembered that… I have to go," she said not sure what to see, she wasn't ready yet to talk to her husband.
"Then why did you come?" he asked stopping so she wouldn't walk away any more.
"I just wanted to know why you were… leaving?" she said hastily not wanting to seem suspicious.
"That is foolish, you know I'd not leave…" he began before she interrupted.
"That is not true," she said pointing at him.
"It isn't?" he asked leaning against a tree.
"No it isn't true nor should you deny it. You left after I asked you not to leave," she said standing under the pale moons light with the water dripping from her water drenched hair and gliding down her face and neck.
"You did not ask me to leave, you told me not to leave. All you had to say was 'Lómebrilas, my love, I do not wish for you to leave nor will I let you… because I love you,'" he said the last part in a girly voice that nearly made her laugh.
"Well I did not feel as such, I wanted to say 'You are a thick headed babble, bothersome idiot. Why do you want to be so foolish, it is not impressive nor is it appealing,' your 'plan' nearly got me killed," she said sticking her nose in the air trying to seem superior.
"Well you are a self absorbed, spoiled, know it all… who has to show everyone up. If you hadn't made a fool of yourself then none of us would have left. Little miss princess, with something to prove. Stop trying to prove your worth, I already love you…" he laughed not thinking as he said the last part.
"Well… I never… asked for your love," she said looking at the ground.
"Do not say that, Belaraniel you came to stop me… you do not hate, nor do you not love me," he said walking towards her this time she did not back up.
"Lómebrilas I came to stop you because I cannot get our son back without your help. He will want his father, I would not let him be fatherless, that was the only reason I came to stop you," she said looking at the ground covering her lie well, "I cannot nor do I want to love you."
"Belaraniel… please, not after all we've been through. You cannot turn back now… you cannot," Lómebrilas said grabbing her arms holding her there so he could look down at her.
"I cannot walk away from it no, because of our son… nor does it mean I have to stick around once this is over. Lómebrilas…" she began biting her lip, it killed her to say this stuff and she didn't even know why she was saying it… she had no reason to.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked feeling tears threatening to appear, "I am not strong enough Belaraniel… not anymore… I need you."
"Help me find our son," she said now holding him up as he went to sit down by a tree. It pained her, she thought he'd get mad and storm off… not be nearly brought to tears by her words.
"How… I don't know what to do anymore. I just wanted to make you happy and I failed… I did not know it was possible to fail… what did I do wrong?" he asked hiding his face with his knees as he was sitting against a tree. She took a deep breath.
"I was lonely… I was going to look for comfort else where… but I couldn't not as long as we were together, but I was always lonely… though I was never alone," she said looking down as she saw beside him.
"How do you get that lonely?" he asked finally looking up and looking at her. No tears thank the valar, that would have made her give in…
"How do you get that lonely? Good question… I do not have the answer. I was looking around at my duties, my son, my people… my husband was gone all the time," she said looking down as tears filled her eyes, "one minute we were a happy family the next our son was asking where daddy was every night… and… I didn't have an answer for him. I felt so lost and so alone… I was tired of my maddening life a couple of times and was ready to be with my father and mother… but one night when I was serious and you were away… I remember standing out on the balcony on the top floor, my feet were dangling free… I was almost there until Tristan walked out…
-Flashback-
Belaraniel sat on the white balcony of the castle in Mirkwood. Her feet dangled free as the breeze tickled her feet and her white dress fluttered in the wind. She closed her eyes and breathed heavily until she heard a voice.
"Mommy…" Tristan said walking up to the balcony Belaraniel quickly turned to see her little son, "what are you doing? Are you looking for daddy?"
"No, I'm not looking for your father…" Belaraniel said patting his head, "go back to bed… just know that I love you Tristan… and I am sorry."
"Mother… why are you crying," he said softly touching the single tear falling down her cheek.
"Because… I'm… happy," she lied looking at her son who looked so much like his father.
"Did you cry when I was born? Cry happily?" he asked standing by the white stone balcony.
"Of course, I was very happy… many happy tears came from these two eyes of mine," Belaraniel said kissing his head.
"Can I sit with you, I feel lonely," he said climbing up on a chair and trying to climb over it.
"Look honey you should not be up here, you should be sleeping," Belaraniel said looking at her son as if it were the last time, "I'm going to miss you."
"Where are you going mommy? I miss daddy… are you going to see daddy? Will you take me with you?" he asked standing on the balcony edge with Belaraniel worrying her.
"Look it is dangerous up here, where mommy is going… you can't go honey. We all have to take journeys in our lives… this path, this journey mommy must make alone," she said looking at the ground, it was so far down.
"Are you going to come back?" Tristan asked hugging Belaraniel's neck.
"I can't come back no," she cried wrapping her arm around her son.
"At least tell me where you going," he said in his baby voice.
"Down there," she sighed, "but once I go there… I can watch you forever. I will always be around…"
"I want to go too, look mommy I can fly," he said jumping off the balcony making Belaraniel fly.
"No!" she yelled grabbing him and falling down as well. She grabbed onto the bottom and screamed for help. It took awhile but Bonabree' ran out and saw them. She took Tristan's hand and pulled him up then put her hand down for Belaraniel. Belaraniel looked down a moment.
"Mommy come on," Tristan said standing beside his nurse maid. Belaraniel grabbed Bonabree's hand, "will you tuck me in mother?"
"Yeah," Belaraniel said smiling down at her son as she wiped her eye brow, she bent down and took Tristan in her arms, "I promise I'll never leave you…"
"I know," Tristan said wrapping his little arms around her as she cried and picked him up. Bonabree' smiled at Belaraniel as she walked off to tuck her son into bed.
-End of flashback-
"I am so sorry I wasn't there," Lómebrilas said looking at her as she told him word for word and detail for detail of what happened, "why didn't you always ask me to stay."
"You were always gone, and when you were back… you were gone before you even really got back," Belaraniel said sadly looking down, she had always wanted to tell him what had happened while he was gone.
"Belaraniel you must know I did it for you," he said looking down.
"Was that your idea of love?" Belaraniel asked looking at him not trying to be so harsh.
"I wanted to make this world safe for you and our son," Lómebrilas said sadly, "I never dreamed that I'd lose you."
"Neither did I," she said looking over to him sadly. He sat looking at her. She looked back at him sadly, "I guess I was getting so use to being alone… that it scared me."
"I didn't mean to leave you alone all the time, I just…" he didn't know how to answer it.
"I know… your duty, your a king… of course you have duties, I just don't know why you made it your life… instead of us," she said looking down, "it doesn't matter what is done is done."
"Maybe your right, so then… what do you want me to do? I don't know what to do, how to deal with this… how to deal with finding our son," he said looking around, "I assume that too is my fault he said looking down. I was never around much."
"Not your fault alone, both of ours. I was there and didn't pay attention I assumed he wanted to do guy stuff… but his father wasn't there so I used it as an excuse to let him roam around so he'd love me," she said sadly looking up at the blank sky, "well… as for your question all I can say is… hmm… I guess we make the best out of it as we can. Another turning point I suppose, time will grab us by the wrist and show us where to go. So make the best of this task and don't ask why. It's something unpredictable but in the end will be right… we'll find him we just need patients."