SoG Ch 10

Life As You Know It

"Avadiel!" She heard Elladan call as she fled. "Avadiel, wait!"

She kept running, tears blurring her vision. Her ears picked up the tone of Elrond's voice, which prompted her on.

"I would speak with you, my son."

"Father…" she heard her friend reply angrily.

She took a path not often used, which took her to a grassy area near one of the many rivers surrounding Imladris. She stopped only when she tripped and fell into the grass. She continued sobbing as she laid her head on her left arm. Her right hand grasped several blades of grass as she attempted to catch her breath. Finally, she gained control over her emotions and the sobs diminished. She closed her eyes and instantly recalled Elrond's expression.

'You have no place in the Fellowship, and no place in Imladris.'

A single tear fell from the corner of her eye and trailed over her nose, off her face and onto her arm. She sighed.

'No place in Imladris.'

Is that what he really thought?

'No place in Imladris.'

The mantra continued on in her mind, and more tears fell from the corners of her closed eyes until no more tears would fall and she fell asleep.

Some time later, she woke with a start when she heard someone calling her name.

"Avadiel?"

The voice was definitely Elladan, but her ears also picked up the sound of the hoof beats of two horses. She wondered if Elrohir was with him, or if he had brought her a horse to take her away from Imladris. What an appropriate punishment for her friend- to have to lead her away from her home. The thought brought another tear to her eye, but she brushed it away hastily and resolved that she wouldn't cry anymore.

"Avadiel?" The voice was moving away, and for a moment, Avadiel thought to not reveal herself. But Elladan was her trusted friend, and she found she just couldn't ignore him.

"Elladan!" she called as she sat up. "I am here!"

She crawled over to the edge of the river and reached in with cupped hands. She brought the water up to her face, hoping to wash away any trace of tears before she faced her dearest friend.

"Avadiel," Elladan practically sighed her name when he dismounted his horse. "Are you all right?"

She turned to look at him, and saw that Elrohir wasn't the other rider, rather, it was Silinde. She swallowed hard as she stood up.

"Of course I am, my friend," she said in a strained tone, embarrassed for Silinde to see her upset.

Elladan knew her better than that though, and went to her and embraced her.

"I would speak to you at your home, alone," he whispered into her ear as he held her close. She nodded into his chest, a lump coming to her throat.

"We have been looking for you for a while," Silinde said. Elladan released her and she looked up at the ellon still on horseback. He pulled his feet out of the stirrups and hopped down. As he walked towards her, he said, "I wanted to tell you goodbye."

Avadiel closed her eyes and looked at the ground, embarrassed that Silinde had heard of her incident between herself and Elrond.

Elladan placed a hand on her shoulder, "Prince Legolas has ordered all the Mirkwood Elves to return to his father, with the message that he joins the Fellowship."

Avadiel looked up, daring to hope that she understood Elladan's words to mean that Silinde knew nothing of her disgrace. The expression on his face told her all she needed to know. At least for now, Silinde knew nothing of it.

Avadiel gave a sad sort of smile to Silinde, "I shall miss you, my friend."

Silinde reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. "And I will miss you, my lady," he said, then softly touched her hand with his lips. He released her as gently as he had taken her.

"Perhaps I will come visit you in Mirkwood," she said as the thought suddenly came to her. Silinde's face lit up with a smile.

"I would love that," he replied.

"Come Avadiel," Elladan said. "We will see you home."

He held his hand out to her, and she took it, allowing him to lead her to his horse, where he helped her up. He mounted behind her as Silinde also mounted his own horse.

"I am sorry to say, this is where I leave you," the Mirkwood Elf commented. "We leave at first light tomorrow."

Avadiel was sad to say goodbye to her friend. She watched as he rode out of sight, and then Elladan turned their horse in the opposite direction.

The forest was silent, save the sound of the horse's hooves as the stallion walked down the path. Behind her, Elladan sighed.

"What is it?" Avadiel asked.

"I am afraid I have come to tell you goodbye as well," came the reply.

"What?" she whispered, as she turned slightly in the saddle, concerned that Elrond had indeed sent him to escort her from Imladris.

"Elrohir and I are to be sent ahead of the Fellowship to clear their way."

Avadiel looked ahead once more, "Oh. How long will you be gone?"

"Several weeks at least," he replied.

"Oh."

"The fellowship will be leaving in December. Will you stay until then?"

She shook her head. "No, I think it would be best if I left as soon as possible."

They rounded a bend and her house came into sight.

"Where will you go?" he asked.

"I do not know." She shrugged her shoulders. "Mirkwood, perhaps."

Elladan pulled on the reins of his horse, and they came to a stop. He shifted in his saddle to help her down, but did not release her hand once her feet were firmly on the ground. She looked up into his dark grey eyes.

"I will miss you, Avadiel," he said seriously.

She looked down at the ground, thinking of all the things she wanted to say to him, but couldn't. She looked back to his face.

"And I, you," she finally managed with a lump in her throat. "Tell Elrohir good-bye for me."

"Stay safe," he ordered, and released her hand.

"You too."

"Goodbye Avadiel," he said with a tone of finality.

"Goodbye Elladan," she replied.

He nudged his horse and turned away from her, then stopped and shifted in the saddle to look at her.

"Avadiel," he paused after her name, as though unsure of what he wanted to say.

"What is it Elladan?" she took a step forward to the side of the horse.

"Where ever you decide, send word to me. I will come."

He moved the reins slightly and galloped away down the path. Avadiel watched until he rounded the bend and she could no longer see him, then turned and went into her house. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it as a single tear trickled down her cheek. Everything was changing, she thought. She wondered if she would ever see Elladan again. She knew in that moment, that from here on out, things would never be the same again. Life as Avadiel had always known it, was over.

~TBC~