Chapter 10:
Reforging the Sword
A/N: Sorry about taking so long. Jackie and I haven't really talked in a while so we're sorta stuck between school, work and other things.
(Jamie's POV)
Cannot fall asleep…cannot fall asleep…cannot….
"Lady Nienna?" One of the elves from the guard said, making me snap out of near unconscious state. "We are nearing Rivendell my lady."
"Oh thank valar." I said. I swear I was ready to just fall off my horse and sleep anywhere…well…almost anywhere. It had been so long since I had seen the Fellowship and even longer since I had slept in Aragorn's arms, let alone the same bed. I never noticed it before, but I really did miss having his arms around me, his face buried in my hair, feeling his breath on the back of my neck…
"We have arrived." The elf said. He was the only one that I hadn't snapped at in this traveling period. I started coughing slightly and covered my mouth with my hand. When I removed it, I saw blood splattered. That would have shocked most people but in my live in Middle Earth and in Earth itself, I've been known to cough up blood at random times when I was most stressed or sick. I couldn't tell which I was now, but I just wiped my hand clean on the inside of my cloak so as not to worry the guards.
The first thing I saw when I dismounted my horse and walked into Rivendell was that it was unusually dull and grey. The second thing I saw was Elladan and Elrohir as they ran at me. For one, wild moment I thought they had something that was going to get me back for the paint trick before I left. Next moment, I was getting smothered by them as they hugged me.
"Ah! Let go you clowns!" I said. They wouldn't though. "Let go! Let go! LET GO!" I used a bit of magic to push them away, causing them to fall on their asses.
"You're alive!" Elladan said.
"You're back!" Elrohir said.
"You're…alone." Elladan said. I rolled my eyes and asked them where father was. They told me that he was in his study so I left them with the guards and rushed inside. I pushed open the doors to the study so hard that they banged off the walls, making myself and father jump.
"Nienna!" He said and next second I was enveloped in yet another hug.
"Dad…dad…father let go!" I said. Elrond stepped away from me. I had to speak elvish just to get him to let go? Gods!
"You have returned. Why?" Elrond asked.
"You have to reforge Narsil." I said. "It is the most important thing we can do from here."
"But why?" Elrond said. Oh Lord help me. I can't tell him the main reason why without giving things away! And I can't even remember what Arwen said. It's been so long since I read the books or saw the movies.
"I can't tell you why. Only because if I do then it will be changing the future." I said.
"Ah…then do not tell me daughter." Elrond said. "I will do it. If it is to help save us all…"
"It is." I said.
"Then it will be done." Elrond said. He reached out and gently touched my cheek. I smiled softly. "You should rest now. Go sleep in your room and I shall call you when the meal is ready."
"Thank you." I said, gratefully. I loved my bed and it was hard to sleep on something other then that while on the journey. Of course for the first while with Aragorn, I was able to cope. I bowed my head to Elrond and left the study, managing to avoid my brothers and made it to my room without problem.
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Things went so smoothly for a while. I wound up sleeping on the floor a few times because I couldn't get used to the softness of my bed again, not since I knew I didn't want to get used to it then have to leave it for the ground again. A month or so passed and I watched as Narsil was reforged. I swear I don't think I ever smiled so much.
When it actually was finished I yelled and cheered and everything. Then I heard Jackie say my name. –Jackie?-
-What's got you so happy sis?- Jackie asked.
-Dad just finished Reforging Narsil into Anduril. Why?- I asked. I wondered how long it had been. Oh Gods! It was time for…
-Good, cause we are approaching the part where Boromir gets killed.- Jackie said. Of course, I almost forgot about this part. –So you need to get your butt to either Edoras or Dunharrow as soon as possible, cause the ballet for Helm's Deep is gonna happen in about eleven days!-
-Are you serious!- I said. Holy fuck man! I can't believe how fast time went.
-Yeah, didn't you even read any of the appendices in the book? Helm's Deep is on March 3rd, today is Feb. 16th so we have less than three weeks before the real battle for Middle Earth begins.- Jackie said. Of course I knew that. God…did she think I was stupid?
-I know, I know. Look, Elladan, Elrohir and I are about to head out and meet up with the last of the Rangers before we swing south to meet up with you guys on your way to Dunharrow.- I said, looking around and watching all the action around me.
-Al right, give our brothers and father my love ok, and don't worry about Eowyn.- Jackie said. –I'll make sure she doesn't try and pull anything on Aragorn.- I growled…she just had to bring up Eowyn. I liked the blonde girl fine but she had a thing for my man.
"Nienna?" Elladan asked. I looked at him. "Why did you just growl?"
"I was talking with Jackie." I said. "Telepathically of course." I stood up from my place. "I'm going to talk with father."
"Alright." Elladan said. It was weird seeing him act this serious. I kissed his cheek before making my way to the garden. There was Elrond, standing with his hands behind his back and gazing at the plants.
"Father." I said, announcing my presence. He turned to look at me. "I wish to accompany Elladan, Elrohir and the others."
"No." Elrond said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because I do not wish for you to join them." Elrond said.
"I am not a child anymore, Dad." I said, putting my hands on my hips. "I can do what I wish."
"Let me finish, Nienna." Elrond said. I nodded. "I do not wish for you to join them because I wish for you to join me when I bring Anduril to Aragorn." My jaw dropped. Was he fucking kidding me? He didn't want me to stay here…having missed the chance to sail away?
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"I am." Elrond said. "I want to make sure for myself that you remain safe and with me as long as possible." Oh lord help me again…I'm gonna cry! "You are my youngest daughter. I want to ensure maximum safety for one of you." I laughed as a few tears made their way down my cheeks. Elrond gathered me into a hug. "We shall leave soon as well. But first…we bid farewell to your brothers." I nodded against his chest, suddenly feeling like a little kid and when another father of mine used to hug me.
Valar! I had not thought of my Earth parents for such a long time. And thinking of them like that made me laugh for I sounded, to myself, as if I were an alien.
"What is so funny?" Elrond asked, looking at me.
"I was just thinking of my other parents." I said. "The ones Alatariel and I had while we thought we were nothing more then mere humans on Earth as Jacklyn and Jamie Silverson. That was so long ago…the last time I saw either of them."
"You will always have me, daughter." Elrond said. I just nodded.
When the day came to leave, I found myself more then excited for it. Sure it would take a while, a long while, but I was finally gonna see Aragorn again! Oh, and Jackie as well, and my brother-in-law and Merry and Gimli. It will be quite some time before I get to see Gandalf again. Funny how I was the last one to see him alive and, apart from Sam and Frodo, the last one to see him back as Gandalf the White. Sometimes life sucks.
So now, while I was thinking of all the things I was going to do once I rejoined the Fellowship, Elrond and I rode with a small group of guards. It was a silent ride, but not uncomfortably so, at least not for me. For some reason, right now, I felt like I had to sing…but what? Suddenly I remembered something.
I follow the night
Can't stand the light
When will I begin
To live again?
I became aware of the fact that Elrond and the guards were watching me but I didn't care. I just kept on singing.
One day I'll fly away Why live life from dream to dream?
Leave all this to yesterday
What more could your Love do for me?
When will Love be through with me?
And dread the day when dreaming ends
The song held no meaning for the moment…I just liked the way it sounded. It seems that every song I've song on this whole journey has had some hidden meaning behind it.
One day I'll fly away One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day when dreaming ends
Fly, fly away
(Nicole Kidman, One Day I'll Fly Away, Moulin Rouge, 2001)
"There's no meaning for me to sing that song." I said, looking at Elrond. "I just like it."
"As do I." Elrond said. I smiled and the silence returned. I was asked to sing that song a few times over the next few days.
After about three days (Or was it four or longer? I have no clue) I heard Jackie talk to me again. I listened in on the conversation with Eomer and gave Jackie permission to hit Aragorn for being such a stupid prick.
I should have seen it coming though, but I didn't. A day or two after telepathically communicating with Jackie and listening to Eomer, I felt sick and wound up spending a few hours throwing up. I had to spend another hour convincing Elrond that we had already come so far that it would be pointless to send me back to Rivendell. Besides…I had Anduril strapped to me and I wasn't giving it up until we go to our destination.
I had no clue what was wrong with me…but I knew for certain there was no chance that I was pregnant. That would have required having sex with someone before leaving Rivendell. And since it has been quite some time since I have done that (too long in my mind), there was no chance of me being pregnant. Why did I even think that in the first place? Oh too many crazy things going on. Not to mention the last time I was on Earth a lot of friends were pregnant. Oh my god! Malerie was supposed to have her baby! Did she have it already? Was she still pregnant? How long has it been Earth time in these last fifty years? Great…now I feel old. I miss my friends now. I haven't thought of them since the first year of being in Middle Earth.
Flashback
"Oh come on! It's the last one! We have to see it!" I said, tugging on Malerie's arm.
"Yeah. You've seen the other two with us." Jackie said, tugging on Leanne's arm.
"Why are you dragging us?" Leanne asked.
"We're coming willingly." Malerie said.
"Yeah…but you're not coming fast enough!" I said.
"Hello….it's noon…on Saturday." Malerie said. "My body doesn't even function properly until at least three." We walked past the line. "Umm…Jams…the line is right there."
"Do you think we're stupid enough to willingly wait in line forever?" I asked. "We got our tickets early."
"My sister…the computer genius." Jackie said. I smirked. We handed over our tickets, got our snacks then found great seats. "Orlando Bloom is so hot in this."
"Yeah…but Viggo as Aragorn is way hotter." I said. "Lucky Arwen." I threw some popcorn into my mouth. As the third and final installment of Lord of the Rings was playing I watched as Elrond threw off his hood and stood in front of Aragorn. I suddenly gasped and closed my eyes, seeing that same thing happen but there was another cloaked figure there. Next second someone that I know, but at the same time didn't, was throwing her arms around Aragorn's neck and crying. His arms held her tightly.
"Jamie?" Jackie asked, shaking me slightly. I opened my eyes and looked at her. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah just…nothing." I said, smiling. "Imagination." I turned my attention back to the movie.
Present
I had completely forgotten about that. The girl I saw, familiar but strange, was me. That wasn't the first time I had one of those kinds of things but normally they were dreams, not flashes in the middle of the day.
The next day I was fine, a little hyper, but fine. I had my horse run ahead of the others and come back numerous times. So many, in fact, that we had to stop so that it could rest. I wound up having to ride behind Elrond for the rest of the day's journeying, sulking the whole time.
Jamie: (sits, glaring with arms crossed) Don't say it.
Jackie: (smirks) Whatever are you talking about?
Jamie: (turns and looks at her) It's not my bloody fault that there is nothing interesting for me to write, therefore this chapter is short! It's not fair! You get all the interesting shit! (goes back to glaring at the wall)