Authoress Chat: It took me a little longer than I anticipated completing this chapter. I guess it's just the pressure of wanting this to end just right. Well, without further adu, here is some long awaited super-fluff...
Chapter Fourteen- So Happy I Could Die
Aragorn and Gimli were completely blinded by the silvery mist of the power that was being transferred. It literally felt as if the oxygen was being sucked out of their lungs. And just when it felt as if the very life was being suffocated out of them, they were filled with an amazingly warm breath of wind.
It was as if life was being given to them. Legolas, specifically, felt that his whole body was floating. But then it was gone. Space and time were distorted. In fact, the Mirkwood Prince was not even in Gondor anymore. There were many voices humming and singing in the distance. The sky was sweeter, the land green and unmarred. Then he saw them…
The two decimated trees, Telperion and Laurelin. How in the world did he get here? Legolas looked about for the answers, not expecting for answers to come to him. Two elves, one male and one female, came to him, wearing silver and gold robes. The male was grey-eyed and had dark, almost black, brown hair. The female was bright green-eyed and had long wavy golden hair. And both of them smiled at him.
Legolas was taken in awe at their presence. The presence of Elves who had spent many centuries and millennia in the Blessed Realm was a humbling sight for one so young. The female looked on him, speaking in a voice like a babbling brook.
"I see that you will be the one to save out daughter. Do not be alarmed. This is only a temporary state."
Legolas was really confused.
"Our daughter is dying," the male said, reaching out to Legolas, as did his wife. "She has never been this close to death before and I fear that she has almost lost the Will to Endure."
The look across the Elf-prince's face became dire and serious.
"What must I do?" he asked.
Her mother and father looked at each other smiling, then at him. But it was the She-elf that gave Legolas his answer.
"I can see the desire to save her in you. When I gave her that gift, I did not tell her all of its secrets for this purpose. If you did not have a soul seeking to save her, this would not be possible and my daughter would most likely be dead. Bus she is not. This that you are experiencing is the Breath of Life. It is what made our kind and keeps us. You must join fëa. It is the only way."
He gulped.
"I do not know if that is wise. That would open us to each other. We would be caught in an unbreakable bond…essentially married. I do not wish to take that choice from her."
Her father laughed at his naivety.
"We will not lie to you about the implications of this binding. But it is not permanent. This is a joining to stabilize her and to share the fortitude of her healing magic. It will allow you to take the place of her healing, which is what you have already begun. You may become attached to one another but you will not be forced into an eternal union."
Legolas nodded, looking upon the fair, smiling Vanya who leaned into him. She kissed the Prince's forehead and waved him farewell.
"Go now. It is already done. We are forever in your debt for the mercy that you have shown our stubborn offspring."
/ / / / /
Legolas awoke on top of Barawen, who was breathing normally. Legolas wondered whether or not he had officially gone insane. What with the previous apparitions, it was an option to consider. He had really seen her parents Meryë and Aváru? Putting the thought out of his mind, Legolas jumped off of her.
"Oh, Eru!" he cried. "Barawen! Barawen!" he said, shaking her.
Barawen awoke in a start, punching him across the face. Legolas held his face in astonishment and slight anger. It was probably just a knee-jerk reaction though, so he let it go.
"Oh my…I'm sorry," she said as Aragorn and Gimli helped to prop her up and help her to a healer.
Gimli sighed deeply, patting her down.
"We thought you had died, milady! You rascal!"
She smirked, resting heavily on Aragorn's shoulder.
"I'm sorry for the worry, Master Dwarf. What can I say…I suppose I am not suited to take on an Oliphant?" she sighed, wincing in pain from her cracked ribs.
Barawen looked back at Legolas, who had collected himself and walked behind them now. The two exchanged a glance filled with deep understanding and respect. Whatever contempt may have existed at some point was non-existent. There was only compassion.
/ / / / /
"Ouch! Be careful! Have you never wrapped before?" Barawen moaned, as Aragorn wrapped her leg.
He smirked, trying to keep himself from grasping her leg any firmer than needed.
"Apologies, Lady Barawen. I tried to keep as much pressure from it as possible but…," he scoffed. "I mean, just look at you leg."
She did and groaned loudly.
It was a moderately mangled mess, raw and torn in many places. There was swelling present for the time being but she was not in danger of losing the appendage. She swallowed her aggravation and smiled.
"It is nasty isn't it? Just be careful," she said wincing.
Barawen had had a vision of her own whilst on the verge of death.
Barawen closed her eyes and opened them again in a great Hall, filled with bright lights and people cloaked in White. She picked herself up from the stone floors and walked about. In the distance, there was an Elf cloaked in blue. Barawen felt herself drawn to him. Him?
Before she could question how she had known that, she was in his presence. He lowered his hood and revealed his identity. It brought tears to her eyes and made her heart joyful. Gladhor…
She ran to him, falling into his embrace. Ran? She glanced down at her leg and saw that she was robed in a lighter blue. Her gaze met his and he spoke to her in Quenya, making her ears perk.
"These Halls are not for you. My Lady. My Captain. My Love. You have to leave," he implored.
"Why? It is so peaceful here. Let me rest here with you. I have missed you, my friend. Where am I?" she whispered, resting against him.
He held her close for a while before pushing her away.
"You have to leave. These Halls are for the dead and you are not dead. This vision was my final gift to you. It is the gift that will ease your mind…unlike the gem that you now bear, which weights you so closely to those whose time is upon them."
Barawen glared at him, her eyed running with tears of fury and confusion.
"I do not understand! Why have you brought me here only to turn me away? This is the second ti-"
He places his hand on her lips.
"As always, Sárawen…you talk too much," he smirked. "I did not mean to sadden you. You are far too burdened with that which was. I am here and I am at peace. Haldir is here. He brings me my daily allotment of grief…It reminds me of my days in the service of the Galadhrim. He is a loud spirit, stronger than me. We are here and we are becoming whole again. We have found peace. But have left unrest for you."
She laughed at hearing that Haldir was still himself and hearing Gladhor's voice again.
"Lalardo…I miss you. How I wish that we had more time to enjoy one another. I felt robbed of you. I have fought for you. Why is that not enough?"
She reached out to touch his face.
"I always felt as if I didn't do enough for you. I felt as if I had thrown your life away…that if I had not hesitated, I would still have you."
His eyes became very dark with his mood.
"I never blamed you for my death. You saved me from a much harsher demise. It was the death of a hero. Besides, I had split up from the group. I was so eager to get you to acknowledge me. I endangered you, not the other way around. I was a fool. And now, you must move forward. I am not telling you to forget me. But I am telling you to move past me. Our time is over. When you awake in Middle-earth, you will know that I have spoken the truth. For some two hundred years, I have burdened your mind but now you will be free. Go. Enjoy life."
She gave him a quivering smile and nodded, finding herself becoming weightless and then she awoke. But her sorrow had been lifted.
/ / / / /
Barawen fell asleep that night, allowing her natural healing to take over. But she was still restless. Barawen awoke at an hour before dawn and scanned the room for evidence of her existence in the land of the living. Looking to the side of her, she saw Legolas sitting by the bed, clutching his bow so tightly that his knuckles were white. His eyes were hazy indicating his sleep.
The thought that he had been with her all night and watched her gave her a sense of peace and fortune that she had long since possessed. Her hand reached out to his and pried them from his bow, startling the Elf-prince awake. Legolas looked at her, both of them finding words unnecessary. He grasped her hand tighter as she made herself comfortable once again.
"Welcome back," he finally said. "You gave us all quite a scare, Noldo-neth. But we are glad nonetheless."
Barawen smirked weakly and raised an eyebrow.
"Noldo-neth? Another dreadful Lore-name from our beloved Haldir…," she said smugly. "Just call me Barawen…Legolas."
The two elves smiled and laughed at each other.
Legolas reached in his quiver for something, which piqued her curiosity. When she saw what it was, she was shocked for reasons that completely baffled her.
"My necklace!" she gasped, snatching it from him. "When I awoke without it, I thought it was gone, but this…"
She was distraught by its condition. There were scarce any beads left on it and the sapphire had cracked. She finally knew what Gladhor spoke of. Sure, it was sad to see the token of their love destroyed. But his token had bound her for far too long. It had kept her from forming connections with others, looming like a shadow. His memory had survived in sorrow, which was not something her love would ever wish for. Barawen smiled brightly, taking the shards in her palm.
"Thank you, Legolas. I will make this into something of great beauty again. One day. But for now…I have finally accomplished that which I set out to do." Barawen paused. "I have one last thing to accomplish but it will have to be done with the hands of elves. When this is over, will you take me to Mirkwood?"
He nodded, petting her head, soothing her anxious mind.
"Shh. No more from you. Rest. Regain your strength here before you think of other exploits. My realm shall always be open to you."
And he stayed with her until she fell back into the arms of sleep.
Authoress Chat: I know how I want this to end. I am VERY clear on that. It's just that writing the end of things is difficult. I will probably make an epilogue because of the ending…it may be short. I don't know. We'll see…As always, read and review. Or else I shall CAST YOU INTO THE VOID!!!