Ok, I'm sorry that I didn't update sooner, but I hardly got the amount of reviews I wanted for my last chapter… Here is this one for now, short but vital:D (It's in Third POV)
Disclaimer: Me no money owns nothing!
Chapter 29: Phryne
Gimli fidgeted as he watched Legolas trace the outline of the peculiar fiery bird painted onto the inside of Phryne's wrist, just like the elf's love for the woman, it never seemed to fade. Legolas never once strayed from her bed's side unless Aragorn or Gimli literally forced him to eat or rest. Gimli had never understood how Legolas could have gotten so attached to her. When the elf described it to him, it seemed like a burden that Gimli would not want to be placed on his heart. When he told this to the elf, he simply laughed at him and said that it he would not replace the love he felt for anything else in the world. This did not help Gimli understand the elf, it only further added to his confusion.
When Gimli had found Legolas holding Phryne in his arms on the floor by Éowyn's bed, he had never been so shocked in his life. The elf was crying in despair. "Her heart beat has stopped! Call Gandalf!" the elf had cried. Without another word, Gimli used the dwarf's amazing skill of sprinting short distances incredibly fast. In the hall he already found Gandalf running ahead of Merry, who had apparently gone to get him before Gimli. The cat had managed to bring her heart beat back, but she did not wake. So for the last two weeks Gandalf and the elf had frequent meditation sessions next to Phryne in hopes of bringing her mind and spirit back to life as well.
"Lady Éowyn, you really shouldn't be getting out of bed just yet, Lady Phryne would disapprove." Gimli turned slightly towards the door at the sound of the voices approaching.
"She can tell me that when she wakes up!"
"Pippin, help me! You're supposed to be in bed also!"
"No Merry, I'm sorry, but I can not lay idly by, sitting in waiting for news on her condition. Besides, I'm still angry with you for not telling me what happened to her sooner!"
"Yes, Merry, it was cruel to lie to us."
"I didn't lie! I just withheld information…"
"Well-"
By now they had reached the room and opened the door, Éowyn's voice died when she saw her friend lying motionless on the bed.
Pippin stepped in cautiously—almost afraid to look at Phryne. When he had recovered from the major injuries he acquired at the Black Gate, nobody had told him why Phryne did not come to visit him. They told him she was still healing Éowyn or that she was too busy. He had not believed them. Earlier in the day, he had inquired on the whereabouts of his dear friend and they had told him that she was, yet again, healing Éowyn. He grew tired of the lies he was being told, so he snuck out to find that Éowyn had also gotten the same idea that afternoon. When Merry came to visit him in his room that day, they both cornered and questioned him. He finally told them. On there way over, Pippin had not truly believed that the woman who had told such miraculous and entertaining stories, the one who had given him motivation, the strong and sad woman he had grown to care for like a sister, could have something so bad happen to her. When he saw Phryne dressed in all white; looking pale and thin—too thin, the harsh reality hit him full force. He could only imagine how Éowyn must have felt, knowing that Phryne was in this condition because she was trying to save her.
Pippin walked slowly to her. He touched her hand with his own shaking one—not taking notice of the elf sitting on the other side of the bed, Gimli fidgeting by the window, Merry somberly watching from the door, or Éowyn's distraught state. Cold. Her hand was too cold. He shook his head as tears began to leave wet trails down his cheeks. He didn't understand how someone who was always so warm could have become so incredibly cold. He grasped her hand in both of his, crying silently against her palm.
When Aragorn and Gandalf came in to bring Gimli and Legolas food, he had not expected so many people in the room. As Aragorn placed the tray of food on the table by Gimli, Gandalf jumped onto the bed and placed his paw on the hand Pippin was holding. Aragorn stood next to Gimli and Merry and watched silently.
After an intense long ten minutes, nothing changed. Gimli's faint hope of bringing Phryne back was beginning to diminish.
"Not yet" Gimli looked at the elf. Legolas had not spoken since this had started, so hearing him speak surprised him. He looked at Phryne when he noticed something was off. It seemed familiar and yet he couldn't place it. Then it happened again, she was fading and the portal was opening.
Gandalf hissed and seemed to go into an even deeper meditation. Legolas had long gone back into his prior state. Pippin was still praying and crying fervently against Phryne's palm.
In a room not to far, Frodo woke up. 'It is over' was his first thought. His mission had been completed and has been for a while now. The Ring was destroyed, yet there was still an air of dread and sadness lingering in the air. He could not understand why it was so thick, but he dismissed it as mourning for the loss of loved ones. After all, in war, there is no winner, both sides lose.
Frodo got up slowly, savoring the fresh air and cool breeze. Sam was probably already eating lunch. Unlike Frodo, Sam had gotten right back on schedule. It took a bit longer for him, since he was wearier and still needed more rest still.
The young hobbit looked around the room with a small smile. Even with the tranquility that seemed to be there, he could still feel the horrible sense that something was happening.
Phryne faded even more; her almost complete transparency scared Éowyn nearly as much as it frightened Legolas. A tense long half hour went by with no change. Another hour passed and they were still watching her for any signs of change.
Legolas slowly opened his eyes to examining her pale face, 'Have I lost her again?' He shook his head and clenched his eyes shut. The thought caused to much unbearable pain. As he gently placed a small kiss on the corner of her mouth, he cried out in his heart and soul, 'Please fight, fight and stay with me! I love you!' He kissed her brow, trying to convey all the feelings he had for her.
He felt her solidify, gently and slowly, but her body began to lose its transparency. Pippin and Éowyn gave a cry of joy and then another when Gandalf jumped off the bed, his small form growing and changing until he was the Gandalf that they all knew from before. Gandalf examined his hands with wide eyes, he looked at his white robes in wonder and then quickly moved his gaze to Phryne—his emotions were a mixed collage, but the feeling that stood out the most was his concern for the woman still lying in the elf's arms.
The hobbits, the dwarf, and the pregnant woman were hugging and smiling, when Aragorn said, "Don't celebrate to soon."
Their one second, the fraction of a moment where everything seemed to have gotten one of those happy endings that Phryne spoke about so often, was crushed.
Legolas shook, filled with indescribable emotions. He felt as though the world seemed to have come to a sudden stop, everything lost its color, meaning, life, and purpose. He pulled Phryne onto his lap and tightened his embrace as Gandalf pulled everyone outside—his walk slightly off.
Frodo stepped into the sun that shone on the outside hallway. The feeling in the atmosphere was too strong for him to fully enjoy the sunny day. He looked down at the city through a window, there seemed to be more people everyday, elves and humans alike.
He heard voices down the hall and couldn't help walking towards them. As he neared he heard a voice he had not been able to in a long time, he couldn't help smiling and walking faster—until he heard the topic of the conversation.
"Gandalf, why did you bring us out here?! We have to go back in!!"
"No Pippin."
"But what happened?"
Frodo heard Gandalf give a tired sigh before continuing, "We were able to bring her back, her heart made the decision in the end. Although, because her mind was still in turmoil, her body couldn't take it any more and it shut down."
"Then does that mean…" Gimli's frightened voice asked.
Frodo didn't hear anyone give an answer.
"So it will be two" the female voice sounded more like she was making a statement, not a question.
Frodo couldn't take it anymore; he stepped around the corner and asked, "What is going on here? Pippin why are you crying?! How is Gandalf human again?! What do you mean by 'two'?!" The young hobbit was terribly confused and hurt that he had not been told about anything.
Aragorn looked up at him with a weary and sorrowful expression; he seemed to have aged 60 years in front of Frodo's very eyes.
"Phryne, Seer of a distant land, niece of Gandalf's apprentice Miguel, and the one Legolas loves is…."
"Dead"
They say that one can always tell how much someone was loved by the amount of tears shed at their death—the amount of people who came. Many people came to Gondor to attend Phryne's funeral. Many people cried. Even the elves in the city felt the pain in the air, none so much as Legolas son of King Thranduil. He never once spoke, he never went out in public anymore, he had begun to fade - some wondered if he was even still alive.
What a sad fate it is to be part of making a better era for the people and not be able to live to see it or enjoy the happiness. It truly is a sad fate indeed.
TBC review please!
