Disclaimer: I don't own The Lord of the Rings or any of its characters. I only own Leûra, Aearion, Undûme, Cassiopeia, Balanidhren, Aefaradien and any other original characters – so no stealing. However, I don't own Cuiviénen. That place belongs to J. R. R. Tolkien, but the stories of it in Chapter 1 and 2 are all mine.
Chapter 35: Bittersweet Reunion
"Leûra?" I grit my teeth and prepare to face the curious, yet oddly familiar voice. I have no time for questions from another villager; I thought I answered all their questions already! Patting Rhandir breifly I look down to my left and…Aragorn!
"Aragorn?" He gives a small smile, which I can't help but return before quickly dismounting and hugging him tightly. I can feel my eyes filling with tears as I laugh, despite myself. I can feel Aragorn apprehension about returning my gesture, so I just release him awkwardly. "Boromir! Where is he? And Legolas and Gimli? The Hobbits, are they all right? Did you find Frodo?"
"Boromir has passed," he informs me regretfully, his own pain evident. All I can do sigh sadly and look at the ground. So…that's it. Boromir is dead. If he's dead than surely Pippin and Merry are as well. Saruman was right, the Fellowship has failed! "Merry and Pippin were taken by the Uruks with you, but are now safely with Ents." They're alive? They're alive! Aragorn notices I perk up at that bit of news and smiles. Wait, where are they?
""Ents"? The forest shepherds?" He simply nods, and I soak it in. They are alive, and they're safe. Boromir and I didn't fail them. I hope he knows that. "And Frodo and Sam?"
"As for Frodo and Sam…I cannot tell you if they are well, for they are no longer with us." I pale in confusion, and he hesitantly continues before I can ask any questions. "I…I let them go."
"You…you let them go?" I question him breathlessly, recieve a numb nod in return. H-How? How could he…why did he? "How could you be so stupid! Aragorn, they could die! They could be dead already, and Sauron could have the Ring!"
"Frodo is wise for his age." Paling at the same familiar voice, I look behind Aragorn. No…it's not…how? "And Samwise will look after him. I'm certain the Ring is safe."
"Gandalf?" I ask quietly, still in shock of seeing him. But he's standing there in glorious white robes, nodding at me with his nuturing smile. "No, it's not possible. You're dead…the Balrog." I have to pause for a moment to collect myself, and when I speak my voice comes out darker than wanted. "You fell."
"I can also assure you that I am here before you." Still, he smiles and I reach out a hesitant hand to touch him to see if he's really there. I gasp as I touch his shoulder, and cover my mouth as I laughing through tears.
"It really is you!" Aragorn lets me pass and I can't help but run into Mithrhandir's arms.
As I press my ear to his chest to hear his heart beat, a sound I revel in, his chest rises with hearty laughter. Just the feeling of his arms around me is bliss. Looking up at him again, I see him smile and I feel better. My heart warms at the sight of him, and the pain I've been dealing with these past weeks vanish.
"Glad to see you're alive and well, Lady Elf." Looking over his shoulder, my smile grows at the sight of Gimli and Legolas. "We thought you dead," Gimli informs me.
"Legolas, Gimli…you are well?" They nod, which is actually starting to get a bit annoying. "I never thought I'd see the day I'd be happy to see you, Master Dwarf." The men smile as Gimli releases a gruff laugh, walking closer to me.
"Here you go, lass. Try not to lose them again. I may not be around next time to find them." Kneeling down to his level, he hands me Faidwen and Gwiil.
"Thank you, Gimli. Thank you so much." Cataching him off guard, I pull him into a tight hug. I hear him grunt in surprise then laugh and pat my back. After releasing him, I kiss his cheek, making him stutter embarassedly as I rise and turn my gaze to a smirking Legolas. Valar, I'm so happy to see him! I missed him so much! Why is that?
"The Uruks split up on their way to Isengard. Where did they take you?" Business as usual, I see. Hopeful, that will change but…
"Straight to Isengard as quickly as possible since they thought I was dead. I remember them mentioning smelling Man-flesh?" I turn to look at Aragon and he smiles, confirming my suspicions. "But I was at Isengard for a short time until I escaped to here."
"How did you escape?" Gandalf asks curiously thought gazing at me knowingly. "Why did Saruman want you alive?"
"I-I…I don't know," I lie, wishing I could tell them but I can't. They wouldn't understand, maybe Gandalf would but not the others.
"Princess Leûra Ithilelen of Cuiviénen." I look up and see the White Wizard himself, clad in robes no longer fit for him and staff in hand. "Lady of the Helcar Sea and Tamer of Dragons." He's mocking me. I stare at him with all the hatred I've carried since this joureny began. He simply smiles and walks over to me, slowly as if to taunt me. "I know you have the Palantír. My Lord has told me so. Give it to me."
"You b…betrayed us all," I choke out, clutching my side wound one more. "Y-You betrayed Middle-earth…Gandalf."
"Against the power of Mordor, there can be no victory. You must join with him…like your father."
"You p-poisoned my father's mind w-with your magic! W-With the Stone!" I shout, writhing in even more pain. My throat and lungs burn, most likely from when Lurtz strangled me.
"Your father joined willingly at the final battle after he discovered the Palantír, after he saw its power," he states, stopping in the center of Orthanc as I rest my body against a pillar and try to stand. "You must join with Sauron. It would be wise, My Lady."
"And tell me, "My Lord", when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason and friendship for blood and war?" I quote what I believe Gandalf said when I saw him in the Stone back home. I've known Saruman was in league with our great foe since we began. He was one of the reasons I was reluctant to leave. But no longer.
"The Fellowship is dead. The sons of Gondor, the Prince of Mirkwood, the bumbling Dwarf. The Hobbits are coming hear as we speak," he informs me arrogantly, grinning "The Ring will be restored to its master. I do not wish to harm you, Princess, but either you embrace its power or embrace your own destruction." I guess that's why he didn't take the Stone; ever the gentlemen!
"Surely you jest. Wethrinaer, antolle ulua sulrim," I raise myself, staggering as I do so but keep my voice steady. I can feel the waves of wind whipping around me. He's here. "Lle naa haran e'nausalle, utinu en lokirim. Amin feuya ten'lle!" I scream and give him the coldest glare I can muster. "You disgust me. Go kiss the Orcs you love so much!" I hiss. I hear him roar and I run/limp the short distance to the edge and leap off. As I fall fast, wind ripping at my flesh, I reach into my satchel and hold the Seeing-stone, the Palantír. You know what I hate about these things? There so damn fragile.
I allow the wind to roll me onto my back so my eyes see the sky. As soon as Balanidhren comes into sight, diving to catch me, I use the little strength I have to throw the Palantír. I crash onto Balanidhren's back and roll over. Clutching to his scales, I don't know if I destroyed the cursed Stone or not, but I hear Saruman shout in despair. Perhaps I did?
It doesn't matter though, not now. Balanidhren bears me to safety and I sigh in relief, curling around him. My eyes droop and the last thing I see before I drift off is mountains.
"…But I escaped by jumping from the top of the Orthanc, and Balanidhren saved me just before I would've hit the ground. We flew as far as we could before he would've been used for target practice. We landed, and I walked on until I found a village. I took a horse and rode on until I arrived here. The welcome was…interesting." I think back to how Èomer and Théodred threatened to kill me where a stood, but passed out and fell from Rhandir. Laughing bitterly at the thought of Théodred, I begin to stroke Rhandir's mane. "I awoke to find Èowyn tending to my wounds, and I've been here ever since. Maybe two weeks, three at most."
"You are lucky Saruman didn't kill you." I look up from the uninteresting ground and gaze at the old Wizard. I see he looks right through me and smiles shortly, somehow knowing exactly what happened.
P.S.: Four pages total.