To the new faces, welcome! To the familiar faces, welcome back!
I know it's been awhile since I've updated, and it may be awhile before I update again…school is starting:( Sorry to start off with bad news…
Anyway, I don't know if anyone noticed, but I re-updated the last chapter without the elvish words (other than elleth). That was because Gwedhiel, my new reviewer:), left a very informative review in response to my plead for assistance in Sindarin translations, which led me to believe that I should place little trust in the website I was previously using.
For now, I will most likely be using the Sindarin language sparingly.
Alrighty then, on to the chapter!
Oh wait...Disclaimer...*long sigh*
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Tolkien is a genius, Aurelina is mine.
There...done:)
Lifting her heavy eyelids, Aurelina pulled her mind from her blissfully undisturbed rest. Her whole body felt indescribably numb, as if the pain she had been experiencing had suddenly vanished, leaving in its wake a weightless, numbing sensation.
Momentarily ignoring the strange feeling, Aurelina took in her surroundings. The unfamiliar room around her seemed to be encased in a hazy light, blinding her still unfocused eyes. Vague, blurry shapes moved about her, one of them next to her bed, looked as if it was trying to do something to her.
The indistinct figure moved closer, holding out its arm.
By an unconscious instinct that she had lived by for centuries, she backed away swiftly, curling herself into a ball as to protect her body. Her numb limbs protested the movement, but she remained curled together for fear of her past pain to rekindle itself.
As she did so, the figure halted abruptly, rushing off to the other misty figures.
Quite suddenly, Aurelina remembered what had transpired immediately prior to her restful sleep. She remembered the glowing Lady, who was called Galadriel. Bits of their conversation floated back through her mind, reminding her that she was safe here, that is, if she was to trust this unknown woman's words.
Glancing around once more, Aurelina noticed that her eyes, which were very accustomed to the pitch blackness of that repulsive cell, had begun to adapt to the marvelous light that this beautiful place appeared to emit. Momentarily ignoring the figures, she looked down at her own body, and she noticed several things.
First of all, her wrists were not bound, and the ever-present cuts on them had faded considerably. Her right arm was wrapped, bound in some sort of sling, and she could vaguely recall falling on it amidst a blinding white light. She was also was covered by a silken blanket that was wound around her thin legs.
Hesitantly uncurling herself, she also noted that her ankles too, were free of their bonds. Slowly, she began to scan the room once more, now being able to discern her surroundings.
The figures that now surrounded her bedside resembled the Lady she had spoken to earlier. Some held bottles full of liquid, and some were holding cloth that looked strikingly similar to the wrap on her right arm. She regarded them warily, trying to determine who they were and why they were here with her.
One of the closest figures gestured subtly to the others, motioning for them to leave.
As they did so, the one who had sent them away looked down on her with a smile, "I see you have woken, my lady."
Aurelina simply stared back, trying once more to ignore the numbness throughout her body. She gazed curiously, but fearfully at this person speaking to her.
Giving yet another warming smile, the person spoke again, "There is no reason to fear, young one. We are the healers of Lothlorien, and we wish only to rid you of your pain. Please, do not fear us. I am Lady Amara, head of the healers here, and I hope you can find comfort in the fair wood of Lorien."
Wonder filled Aurelina's sea-green eyes as she beheld the woman in front of her. She too, was beautiful, like Lady Galadriel, but her beauty was different. It seemed less regal and powerful than Lady Galadriel, but yet it was subtly comforting to Aurelina. Her strikingly blonde hair fell in an intricate braid, all the way to her waist, framing a kind face with deep green eyes and a seemingly ever-present smile. She wore a robe of silver, similar to the others, but she also proudly wore an apron of sorts, showing her love for the duties that she so gladly performed. Her lighthearted demeanor broke the walls which guarded Aurelina's wary mind.
With a voice stuttering and dry from years of no use, Aurelina answered the woman, "I-I thank…you." She pulled together the simple sentence considerably quickly, earning another heartwarming smile from Amara. The woman then approached her, holding a bowl that was filled with some sort of salve. Raising her eyebrows, Amara's forest green eyes seemed to silently ask for permission from Aurelina.
Giving her a hesitant and wan smile, Aurelina inclined her head slightly, curiosity now outweighing her fear, allowing Amara to move forward to tend her wounds.
As the woman gently treated her, Aurelina watched her in awe of the amount of care that she took when tending to her. She was utterly shocked, for she had received no such care from any other than her mother and father, and that had been centuries ago. Looking on as Amara's fingers danced skillfully and carefully over her arm, Aurelina felt a warm, trusting sensation spreading its way throughout her body.
The feeling grew, finally nestling itself in Aurelina's heart, providing the frail elf with a comforting certainty: this woman could be trusted.
Lady Amara finished, leaving the elleth with clean wrappings, and the complete absence of any pain whatsoever. She bowed her head slightly, receiving a glad smile from Aurelina as she turned towards the other healers.
Aurelina was now left solely to her thoughts, which were just beginning to swirl rapidly. Now that she was not paying any attention to the healers floating about the room, she tried to direct her thoughts away from her frighteningly new experience of trust with Lady Amara, and on to the woman who had spoke with her earlier. She had told her that she was in Lorien, but that meant nothing to Aurelina, for she knew not of that name. The woman had also shown great concern for Aurelina' s memory, acting as though she was expected to recall nothing of her true past.
This was, in a way, true, for Aurelina's recollections were indeed tarnished by the incessant warping and twisting that they were subjected to by that sadistic man. However, deep within the hidden recess of thought, her true memory remained, therefor giving her the ability to recall the unscathed memories of her short but happy childhood. Unfortunately, along with the sparse bright memories hidden there, dark memories lingered as well, shedding difficult to accept, but truthful light on the actual happenings during her parent's murders, her kidnapping, and her long wait in the loathsome cell of her captor.
Some of those true memories came easily to Aurelina, such as her name. That prized recollection had been brought forth with little effort, but some of the others, especially those that withheld dark and gruesome images of her parents' death or her torturer, proved to be much more elusive. It was a subconscious effort on Aurelina's part to forget the great blot in the pages of her past.
She shook her head, attempting to clear the disorganized buzzing within her mind. When it simply persisted with a vengeance, she sighed quietly, resigning to the fact that the insufferable noise of frenzied thoughts would accompany her for a while.
The sigh was answered with a curious glance from the Lady Amara, along with several of the other so-called "healers". Lowering her head, Aurelina pondered these people as well, using what seemed to be the one part of her mind that was functioning.
They did not seem to emit the same evil as her captor had, but instead a consistent warmth, which in turn, gave Aurelina the sense that they were in fact driven only by good intent. With some unknown certainty, Aurelina also felt that the Lady Amara was indeed worthy of her trust, so far judging only by the reverence and kindness with which she'd been treated. This so greatly comforted her, a bit of their surrounding warmth finding its way into her heart.
She let the smallest of smiles cross her chapped lips, thinking that for once, she might be safe.
Her reverie was broken however, by the near silent swoosh of fabric floating across the ground. Blinking to clear the last remaining haze in her vision, Aurelina raised her head towards the noise. As if summoned by her thoughts, the Lady Galadriel moved to the side of her bed after sharing a brief glance with Lady Amara.
Aurelina backed away as much as she could, which brought her right into the headboard, but even so, she managed to bring the covers around her once more, shielding her small frame. This woman seemed full of an almost frightening power, and it was this fact that had hindered Aurelina in immediately believing and trusting this mysterious woman at their previous encounter. Her voice though, had soothed Aurelina in their first meeting, and as Galadriel spoke once again, she found it to have the same effect.
Galadriel held out an open palm, saying smoothly, "Do not let fear take you, young one. No one here wishes to harm you."
Aurelina swallowed, forcing down the animalistic fear that consistently arose whenever someone approached. She gave a slight nod, acknowledging the beautiful Lady before her.
This time, when the Lady smiled, it appeared to Aurelina that it was slightly strained. Her brows furrowed in confusion, but she pushed the nagging thought away as the Lady let forth her clear voice.
"I know of your story, young one, yet I do not know all. You are the sole possessor of that knowledge. Unfortunately, we fear you will not recall who you are, or what you have endured." Her face was set in grim honesty, and her words rang loudly in Aurelina's mind.
Aurelina blinked, the reality of those words setting in. She was correct in believing that Galadriel thought her memories to be absent, but the simple fact that no other knew of what had happened to her hit her hard.
What had happened to her? Yes, it was apparent that her parents were murdered, and that she had been abducted and held prisoner for many long years, but why? What purpose caused this traumatic string of events to unfold?
Turning her gaze upwards to meet the Lady's eyes, she made the realization that this regal woman may hold the answers to her mind's desperate inquiries. However, the words that would phrase her many questions would not come. Aurelina merely stared up at Galadriel, a pained expression covering her gaunt features.
A flash of an emotion darted across Galadriel's face, one that disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. Aurelina thought it to be pity, but she could not be certain, for Galadriel's expression now was masked, and held no other emotion than kindness.
Drawing in a deep breath, Galadriel spoke, "I will not push your mind for information Aurelina, nor will I insist that you recall your painful past so soon. For now, you must rest, but in the times soon to come, I should hope that I can speak freely with you of the information that I am aware, and the knowledge of what befell you, that only you know. Do not dwell on these thoughts however, but instead focus on your recovery. There are many who wish you fully healed and rested."
Before Aurelina could respond, Galadriel briefly took her hand, and whispered, "Farewell for now young one, I bid you peaceful rest." With that, the glowing woman released her hand and glided away from the bed, eventually leaving the Houses of Healing.
Mouth agape, and eyes wide, Aurelina stared after her in shock. Her words meant to comfort, only sent her thoughts into more disarray.
She was going to have to speak with this woman of her past! The past that she so desperately wished to forget. The past that she doubted she would ever trust anyone, much less this strange and powerful woman who had now visited her twice at her bed of healing. This fact alone was daunting, but it was coupled with the fact that Galadriel had also spoken of a large amount of persons who wished her to be well. The confusion at this statement of the woman overwhelmed Aurelina. Who yet remained that cared for her? Her Mother and Father were dead, wiped from this world by an evil that still haunted Aurelina's mind. She knew of no others that would care for her, or think anything of her presence.
The numbed sense of the world around her had begun to fade, the pounding ache in her head a strong indicator. Covering her face with her hands, Aurelina let a few burning tears escape the corners of her eyes, feeling them slowly inch their way down her cheeks. She wanted the pain to stop. She wanted the endless buzz of scattered thoughts to end. She so achingly wished for answers, and for her constant fear to be erased.
Stifling a small sob, Aurelina hastily wiped the tears from her face, and decided to heed the Lady's words. She took one last glance about the room, as if checking its security, then laid her head down on the pillow. With immense effort, she forced her mind to ignore the incessant string of unhappy thoughts; closing her eyes to be enveloped in darkness.
"It will be alright," She told herself silently, her final words hardly crossing her mind before it gave in to sleep, "I will endure..."
Alrighty then! There's chapter seven for ya! Im sorry if it seemed scattered, but please let me know if it does though! I only want to improve!;) If anyone has ideas for this story, throw em' at me! I'd be glad for some suggestions:) (Basically that's my way of asking for reviews:D)
Anyway, I hope to have the next chapter up soon, but with school started now, I don't know how often it will be...:( sorry about that...
Well, thanks to everyone for reading! Hope to see you next chapter!:)
-Maple
