The world seemed to fall away. Sound rushed by, blinding light filled her eyes and her whole skin tingled.
All she could see was white, white trees, white water, white grass, white mountains on the distant horizon. Except for the sky, which was inky black with twinkling stars, full and large. She could see the moon's craters as clearly as if she were standing on it. Other planets hung large and colourful in the night sky and falling stars beamed past her, blazing balls of sparkling light.
It was breath-taking.
It was totally surreal.
Oh fuck, I'm dead.
A musical laugh sounded from nearby and she turned in fright to see a dark figure emerging from the paper white trees.
"Well met Jessica." The voice was familiar yet Jessica couldn't see who spoke to her through the cover of the forest.
"Who are you? Where am I? Is this Heaven?"
"This is a land where Gods and humans may speak freely with each other. A half way point in time."
Jessica gazed up at the sky in amazement.
"I'm still in my coma aren't I?"
She heard a laugh.
"Nay young one, you are very much here."
"But why?"
"You have some questions, I am here to grant you some of the answers you seek."
Jessica ran a hand through her hair, sighing deeply.
"I don't even know where to begin. I've been to Middle-earth and yet I still somehow have the ability to be shocked. Am I dead?"
"Nay little one, for your services to Middle-earth we have decided that you may return to that world."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Wait... does that mean I died when Aldhelm rugby tackled me?"
"I am afraid so."
Jessica felt like she needed to sit down.
"That's what Galadriel meant, that there would only be sadness for me in that life. I've spent all my time afraid and confused and... well dead."
"You have lived that life, now you are to be given a new one Jessica. Galadriel's prophecy has been fulfilled."
"But I woke up on Earth. Gandalf said I could never go back."
"You could never go back alive. When you were killed we granted you the chance to live out your final moments in peace on Earth; however it seems that you no longer call that realm home. You were never meant to remember your time on Middle-earth, yet you never forgot."
The voice seemed almost amused.
"Because Middle-earth is my home now." Jessica replied as if stating the obvious.
"We have seen that."
A light wind seemed to blow up from the floor and Jessica saw her hair raise slightly. A blazing ball of light shot right past her head and the water rippled serenely next to her.
Jessica took a tentative step forward, hesitant.
"Will I be young again? Can I see Legolas?"
"Only the stars can decided your fate."
"I don't believe in fate."
"Then surely you must believe in destiny? You cannot fight your destiny Jessica."
"I'd fight anything, even the stars, for Legolas."
There was a long pause, before the sound of steps echoed around her. Classical music seemed to be playing somewhere in the distance yet there was nothing but trees surrounding her. Her forehead crinkled in confusion at the magic of the place she seemed to find herself in.
"Of that I am glad to here."
Jessica gasped as the figure stepped into view.
"Glemrenil?!"
The beautiful elf smiled widely.
"Aye, that name is the one of which you would know me by."
Her beautiful face shone luminously in the pale land, her eyes peering deeply into Jessica's own. The way she spoke, the gait of her limbs as she moved, there was something inhuman about her, beyond the fact that she appeared to be an elf, "however I am not an elf and nor am I of that world. My true form cannot be gazed upon. I am a servant of the Gods who has spent much time helping guide those on Middle-earth to make sure the quest went as expected. I am a guide to the people of Arda."
She smiled almost predatory, and Jessica had the feeling of being very small and insignificant whilst stood before her.
"I am afraid that I was also testing you little one."
Jessica's brow crinkled; "Testing? And what did your test find?"
"We found you worthy."
She wasn't sure if she was angry of flattered, but she also wasn't sure she was even still alive any more so she supposed that was the least of her problems.
Jessica's head was a complete mess. Somehow she had completely accepted that Middle-earth was real and had no problem adapting. But some halfway heaven? She was struggling.
"So I'm not dead, and I'm going back to Middle-earth? And you're not an elf?"
"Correct." Glemrenil smiled.
"Then what are you?"
"I am a servant of the Valar and of all the stars. I am old and young. I see all but know nothing. A mere observer in the play of life."
"So what you're saying is... you're like an employee of some gods? But without pay. Does Legolas know who you really are?"
"Nay small one, he has been a dear friend to me. Has always commented on my oddity yet still continued to befriend me, such is the kindness of Legolas Thranduilion. I have been dwelling on Middle-earth for more years than even Mithrandir. I befriend all, see all and assess all."
Jessica's eyes narrowed.
"This is so fucked up, you told me you loved him. Was that a test? Cause that's kinda fucking cruel."
"I fear so little one, I am afraid I mislead you. The stars are fair but that does not mean they are kind."
"Why? What purpose did that serve?"
"Humans love so often, so easily. But elves? They love but once and wholly. An Elven love is unlike any other in the universe. Yet here you stand, with an almost elven love in your heart for your elf-mate. You remembered him when gods themselves tried to make you forget. We had to be sure Jessica. We returned you to your world to live your remaining years in peace yet within your first day you tried to return to him. You should have doubted all your memories, thought it a dream yet your heart told you it was real. My test was done neither to be cruel nor to be kind, but to be true. To see what you really held in your heart."
"How was tricking me into thinking you loved him, and would die if he rejected you, a test?"
"It was a necessary evil. The stars are mysterious to even my own understanding."
Jessica could feel her temper building, the fury heating her whole body.
"But how is that anyone's fucking business but my own?"
Glemrenil looked a little miffed.
"The gods saw what was in your heart before you had realised it yourself. They would not grant you the gift of returning to him if you were not worthy of him. He is a true champion of Adar and he deserves a queen willing to fight by his side, not a princess in need of saving. It was a necessary test and you fought to get this far. It is all relative, a test of your whole character not just of your feelings for Legolas. Everything is linked."
Jessica frowned which was not the reaction the beautiful woman was expecting.
"What ails you small one?"
"I don't understand, I don't deserve it. I mean I'll take it, but I don't deserve it. Gandalf said I was destined for a life of loneliness on Earth and Galadriel said the same of my time in Middle-earth. So what? Now I just get a do over? Why me? What makes me so worthy? So deserving of a second chance?"
Glemrenil nodded sagely; "Indeed. You were always destined to fall and end up in a coma Jessica," she confessed. "On Earth you would die lonely and old and not aware of the world passing around you. On Middle-earth you have suffered only pain and heart ache."
"Yay. Prophecy achieved."
"Those lives are over Jessica. You perished at the hands of Aldhelm. When I return you it will be for a life anew. You have suffered enough."
Jessica felt like crying and the frustration must have shown on her face as Glemrenil raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I... I just, I want to spend my whole life with Legolas, but he can't spend his with me. I'll age and die before he probably even gets round to realising he's in love with me. I know this all sounds so pathetic but, I love him. I feel like a confused love-sick teenager and all this 'god' and 'worthy' and 'test' talk is just confusing me more. I kinda feel like the coma would have been the simpler option at this point."
She smiled sadly as she realised that was the first time she had ever really confessed her love for him out loud, properly.
"I know I can live without him... I just don't want to. I have spent so much of my life omitting pieces of me to make others more comfortable... but with him, I have never needed to do that. He makes me unafraid, of war, of love, of myself."
Glemrenil smiled sadly back at her.
"This is a gift of great value Jessica but what you choose to do with the time given to you is entirely up to you."
"So much for destiny." Jessica snorted.
The 'elf' smiled slyly.
"A plan is in motion for you Jessica, all it takes is a little courage. I promise that all will make sense in time. Everything is part of a much larger purpose."
"That literally makes no sense to me. Your riddles are worse than Gandalf's." She looked up sheepishly. "Sorry I'm being a brat. Thank you. Thank you so much. I guess my life has literally been saved. And by some magical gods somewhere no less."
Glemrenil stepped forward and took Jessica's clammy hand in her soft one.
"You are most welcome Jessica Kendrick." She looked up momentarily as if listening to something Jessica could not hear before looking deep into her eyes. "The gods are not cruel, if you are worthy you shall be rewarded and this gift is not just for you, but also for Legolas. He is a true hero and deserves every happiness. Talk with James, ask him of his life. You may find he has some answers that you seek, you just need to ask the right questions."
Jessica's brow furrowed in confusion.
"What does that have to do wit-"
Glemrenil lent forward and pressed her plump lips to Jessica's and Jessica fell into what felt like a deep sleep.
The war had been won and Aragorn felt like he could almost feel the peace seeping back into Middle-earth's soil. The men around him cheered and laughed the whole ride back to Minas Tirith. Songs of celebration were sung loudly, no fear of an enemy lurking nearby.
Despite the happiness surrounding him he could not help but feel some sorrow. Many lives had been lost, some dear friends and his own personal battle was only just beginning. He would now have to rule a country and even more frightening than that, talk with Arwen.
Aragorn ran a calloused hand through his rugged hair, stiff and matted with sweat and blood.
Another thing that caused him great trouble was the strange way in which his oldest friend was acting. He peered over at the elf that rode next to him, one of his dearest companions who he knew of old. Not much troubled an elf, this battle, whilst serious, would only be a blip in his long life. Yet Legolas rode with a firm stance, his body rigid and alert as if still preparing for an attack.
It appeared that the dwarf who rode behind him had also noticed as well as he kept shooting strange glances towards the elf.
Aragorn nodded for Gimli to ride on in front so that he could have a word with his friend. The dwarf conceded after a hesitant look towards Legolas.
The elf's head snapped up as Gimli trotted past him.
"Mellon nin, what distresses you? The war is won."
Legolas sighed, his eyes darting around as if trying to take in the scenery all at once. The usually flawless elf looked weary and tired, his clothes dirty and his hair blowing about wildly in the wind.
"I do not know that which ails me on this glorious day. I suppose one could call it an elven instinct but... but I suspect something is very wrong Aragorn and I cannot shake the feeling."
"Wrong?" Aragorn repeated, casting a quick glance around them. Nothing seemed to be out of place yet he had to concede that he had no elven blood running through his veins, and it was well known that elves had many senses beyond that of mortals.
"Once we are returned to Minas Tirith safely I think I shall feel some sense of ease." The elf commented, his eyes still searching for a perceived threat.
"Mayhap your thoughts are already in Minas Tirith?" Aragorn smirked knowingly.
Legolas seemed to ponder that for a moment before his eyes went wide.
"Jessica. She must be in danger!"
"Do not speak so ill mellon nin, she fairs well in that city with many to protect her."
"It has to be her, it has always been her." Legolas seemed to mutter to himself before turning to face his friend. "I have tried hard to deny my affection for her, to what extent she is held in my affections I do not know but I cannot deny it any longer. We share a bond Aragorn and in that connection I know when she is in peril."
Legolas looked towards Aragorn with almost beseeching eyes, a need for him to understand. The elf looked contemplative, almost as if debating whether to speak before sighing quietly.
"I do not know when it happened but of all the people I have met in my long life, she is the most important to me. I do not know if it was the first moment I saw her or the second time I comforted her in the dark. The third time I taught her to fight or the fourth time I called her beautiful and meant it." He paused as if lost in thought. "I just know that before we parted, I looked upon her and realised I saw nothing but her. I did not fight so hard in this war to save my own life, but to save hers."
Aragorn wanted to smile but knew Legolas was conflicted with what he was feeling so instead he offered a simple but meaningful nod.
"I must ride ahead, I shall not be appeased until I see she is well and safe."
"I understand, truly," the ranger replied as his own thoughts went to another elf with much darker hair. "Sometimes the head needs more time to accept what the heart already knows."
His parting words were lost on Legolas who was already far ahead, riding furiously towards Jessica.