Were almost at the end dearest readers, I am honestly amazed by the amount of reviews I have gotten over this story—the most I've ever gotten! Thank you all so very much and cookies for all!
Chapter Twenty~
"Look at me. Look at me." I hear Gandalf say as I start to come around, every fiber of my body hurts in agony as I look at Gandalf whose face if overflowing with fear.
"Gandalf, forgive me!" Pippin says and then he continues on,
"She took it from me Gandalf! She saved me from that—that—thing! If hadn't picked it up she'd be fine! She only tried to help me!"
"What did you see?" Gandalf says even though he's looking at Pippin as I say weakly,
"A tree, there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone, it was dead, the city was burning." I know this is Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor and that that's not really what I saw.
"I saw him—he saw me!" I say darting my eyes around at those around me; Gimli, Legolas, Aragon whose putting the damned stone away, Merry, Pippin and Haldir who when my eyes find him he comes over to take one of my hands.
"And what did you tell him? Speak!" Gandalf commands and jumping say honestly,
"He asked me my name. I didn't answer so he hurt me!" I feel bitter tears as Gandalf asks me about Frodo and the Ring I say,
"I wouldn't tell him, so he made the pain worse." only then dose Gandalf shoo everyone out so I can rest but Haldir won't leave my side even when Gandalf tries to remove him. As everyone else leaves Legolas, Gimli and Aragon tell me they'll be just outside the door. I watch the door close and then leaning into Haldir's shoulder finally allow myself to cry. It's been so long since I have cried that I almost forgot how to, but the pain I feel and horror that has filled me is the only reason my tears fall.
"Hush Mela en' coiamin, you are safe with those who will protect you." Haldir says as he holds my head to his shoulder, his head resting atop mine. I sniffle back a few sobs before pulling back to look at him to ask,
"What does that mean? Why do you keep using Elvish?" he seems surprised by my question but cupping my cheek says,
"Mela en' coiamin means 'love of my life'." I chuckle at the last bit and whip a few tears away saying,
"You're too proud you Elves, I will never understand you."
"Nor I you Mela en' coiamin, nor I you." and letting his forehead rest against mine smiles before saying,
"Get some rest Melamin." so lying back against his shoulder snuggle close to his warmth and smile to myself before letting my sleep deprived body pass out. When next I wake I'm lying down in another room and Haldir is gone but beside the bed I lie in sits a small wooden box. I reach for it and bring it into my lap as I sit upright, putting the box into my lap. I slowly open it worried what I will find but gasp when it's open for inside sits a tear shaped crystal that has almost no flaws and the crystal is Aquamarine, my birthstone. I laugh as I pick it up and hold it in my palm since it's the size of a quarter.
"Oh Haldir," I mutter as I put it back into the box to keep it safe and putting it on the bed stand to find myself in Eowyn's room and my old clothes on the dresser. Not knowing if Gandalf and Pippin must have left yet to light the beacons, I change from my dress into the tunic and breeches, wrapping my sword around my waist and tying my hair back. When dressed I find a pocket to put my box in and so slip the box inside and pat it once before heading out back into the Main Hall.
"The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit!" I hear Aragon shout as I rush into the Main Hall where everyone is gathered.
"Gondor calls for aid." I say as everyone turns to see me shocked that I'm awake so soon, surprise, surprise. I look to the King and smile and when he returns it he shouts,
"And Rohan will answer! Muster the Rohirrim." and I notice as Eomer walks away his eyes stay trained on me. I turn away quickly when I see this and listen as the King says,
"Assemble the army at Dunharrow, as many men as can be found. You have two days and on the third, we ride for Gondor… and war." before going off to prepare for the oncoming war. It's a frenzy of action as we get ready to ride out again and I help out as best I can wherever I can. As I go out to help with the horses Legolas and Gimli come over to me all smiles and its Legolas who asks,
"So, did Haldir finally speak his feelings?" even though I blush like crazy I roll my eyes and say simply,
"He said enough thank you very much." and when I walk away I hear them both roar with laughter, perhaps I'll let Haldir kill Gimli after all. All too soon were on horseback ready to go forth to Minas Tirith; all of us ready and willing to go off into battle.
"Horse men! I wish I could muster an army of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy." I hear Gimli say but Legolas counters with,
"Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands." I sit next to Haldir who is the only Elf left in the company as Eomer shouts to his men,
"Now is the hour, Riders of Rohan. Oaths you have taken. Now fulfill them all, to Lord and Land! Hah!" before the King calls out for us to depart and then we're off on a race against time itself. We ride for Dunharrow first where Aragon, Gimli and Legolas will set off for the Path of the Dead. Hopefully I will join them there, but I won't set my heart on it. After several grueling days of riding nonstop over field and plane and hill and peak we take a single night's break. As we set up a temporary camp I take a moment to look over the scenery before going over to make a bed for myself.
"Lady," I hear someone say and looking up find King Théoden standing before me and so bending back up ask,
"What is it oh King?" he smiles at me before taking my shoulder and turns me around saying,
"My nephew wished for me to talk to you, seems he has been taken by you." this is the last thing I want to hear; Eomer, in love with me?! I already have Haldir trying to win me over and now someone else!?
"Is something wrong Lady?" he asks me making me turn to see him and sighing say,
"I don't know what to say." he chuckles at this before clapping my shoulder.
"I also have noticed the Elf has stayed behind despite the fact none of his other kinsmen have. Could there be a reason?"
"You'll have to ask him." I say but he chuckles even more before stepping to say,
"You keep your heart well Lady, but be warned, you may break someone else's." and as he leaves I realize he's right. As everyone settles for bed I make mine as far away as I can before rolling onto my other side so I can't see the others. I take that time to think of everything that has happened before, and everything that will now. I've already been injured in battle, already had to watch people die including my brother, already had to ride off into a seemingly hopeless fight.
"Maybe it would be best if I had stayed in Rivendell, or Lorien." I say to myself but then seeing my sword glowing slightly, and the heat from my chest know that I couldn't have even if I wanted to. I'm too tightly bound to this world now, nothing can change that.
"At least I have them." I say turning to look over my shoulder at the company; my eyes falling on my brothers and Haldir who is closest to me before I turn back around to go to sleep. That night I dream of Frodo and Sam at Mount Doom, and Frodo keeping the Ring. Gollum is nowhere to be found as Frodo pushes Sam into the lava below before fleeing back to the Eye.
"He will bring it to me!" the Eye says as once more it invades my dreams only this time I show no fear and with sword in hand scream,
"LEAVE ME BE!" everything vanishes then and I'm left staring up at the stars with a blue glow beside me. Turning my head, I smile as the glow in the blade dims back down and I whisper back to the stars,
"Thank you."