heyyyy! So many reviews! Yay! Thanks to all so much, all of you faithful followers, reviewers, and those that have favorited. you make me smile. XD well, you know, I have no idea where this chapter came from, but I happen to like it quite a bit. QUESTION FOR EVERYONE: would you like me to open a new one-shot series? I will take any requests you have for writing fluffy one-shots with any character from LOTR, Hobbit, and Silmarillion. Just fluff. Let me know what you think! Waiting for the reviews, go ahead and enjoy!
KEZZ1: thanks as always!
Dlaythevampire87: yeah well it's gonna be alright, I promise.
Evangeline pond: yup! You come in next chapter!
FandomFangirl100: I know, right!? Well, read on and see his reactions!
KimiEvenStar: true. I do like Haldir/OC if there written well, and I have never favorited a Legomance for the simple reason that I just don't really read them. Aragorn on the other hand, only if it's written well, but otherwise I totally ship Aragorn/Arwen!
Llcyyxx: oh good! Thanks! It was a little difficult, but I think I've got it down myself.
xGaladielx: thanks you so much! *squeals* I'm so glad you like it! Of course I will write the wedding, it's just not due for a little while yet. It's coming though! Enjoy!
Chapter 38
My room was suffocating. My closed door begged to be opened. Drago was disturbed by my tossing and turning. I felt miserable. Everything was wrong.
I finally gave up and sighed, kicking my blankets off and standing up. Drago leaped off of the bed and nuzzled my arm with a light whine. I scratched the top of his head.
"Go to bed, Drago." I murmured. He shook his head.
"I will stay with you." He insisted. Over time, his voice had gotten deeper. Now it sounded deep and wise, like I imagined Huan would sound like. I sighed and buried my fingers into his fur.
"Hannon le, Drago." I murmured, then walked with him to the door. I opened it and walked along the hallway to the balcony at the end that overlooked the city. On the way, I passed Aragorn and Arwen's room, and my fingers brushed the doorway. I paused and said a short prayer under my breath.
"Valar, if I have found any favor in your sight, please give Gwador the faith he needs in himself. He cannot do this without your help. Please, be with him and guide him." I passed on, moving to the end of hall and onto the open balcony. I didn't know that Aragorn had heard me, leaning against the door, hands frozen onto the handle.
The wind was cool, and wrapped its icy fingers around my shoulders, leaving light fingerprints that slowly became red. The breeze's freezing lips kissed mine, staining them blue. It hugged me, whispering nothings into my ear. My eyes closed.
I was not quite properly dressed to be out, being only in a light night shift that hung from my shoulders by two thin straps and went down only to my knees. My arms were bare, as were my knees down, the rest being only slightly warmed by the thin shift. But I didn't expect anyone to be awake to see me anyway.
Drago sheltered my legs from the wind and I knelt, legs folding beside me and leaning on my left thigh. He also sat, curling around my legs and laying his head in my lap. His ears drooped slightly, and his eyes closed as I ran my fingers through his fur lightly, scratching his head and going down to his neck.
His white belly fur warmed my lap, and I stroked his neck, earning a swipe with his tongue to my hand. "You have been such a companion to me, Drago. Now I understand Luthien's grief when Huan gave himself for her and Beren." I whispered, making his ears flick up to listen to me.
"You are better than any Mereas. You listen to me and never judge. You hear me and give me comfort." I murmured, pulling through the fur of his back.
He nuzzled my hand, and his tail whacked me gently. His icy blue eyes opened and studied me fondly. "Now I understand why Huan gave himself for them. For wolves are loyal to the death, when they find one worth their loyalty." He replied.
I gathered his head up to me and buried my head into his neck, tears beginning to drip softly down my nose. His nose whuffled my ear and his tongue licked my cheek as he whined quietly. "Angel, why do you cry?" He asked me.
"I cry because I have fallen, and I do not know how to go back." I replied morosely, voice muffled by his thick fur.
He nudged my head up, and my teardrops glistened on his fur in the moonlight like a collar of diamonds. "Then you should take a little bit of Valinor with you wherever you go." He advised, nosing my hair. I sniffled and smiled lightly, scratching behind his ears.
"That is something I think Huan would say, Drago. Hannon lle." I murmured. He chuckled in reply and his washcloth-tongue cleaned my cheeks of tears.
"Be of good cheer, child." A voice told me. I looked up to see the Lady Galadriel kneeling before me, looking transparent. A vision. She was using Nenya.
"My lady." I murmured. She smiled.
"I thank you for all you have done for Haldir and his brothers." She murmured. I inclined my head.
"They are precious to me." I whispered.
"I know." She replied. "The time of the elves has come to an end. I leave these shores soon. You are still needed here." She stood. "The reign of men has come. Do not despair in your heart, for those that see you and know you gather strength from you." She said softly. "They see you as hope for a better future."
"I never asked for this burden. But I accept it because I have no choice. Because I want to give them hope. How can I make Aragorn see this?" I asked, voice thick.
She let out a sigh. "Have faith. If you do not have faith in yourself, he sees that. If you do, then he sees that as well. He will see it, for he must. Help him, Eruanna." She turned, looking out at the city. "Times will be easier, but there are still trials to overcome." She sounded as though she was talking more to herself. Then she turned.
"I foresee that there will come into your path someone of importance. I have come to tell you that you need to show her kindness. She can bring happiness to one that you love. She will come from darkness as a beacon of light, and she will need you to show her how to shine bright as you do." She warned. I nodded.
"I will do as you advise." I said, bowing my head. She smiled lightly.
"Then be safe, Eruanna Thranduiliel." She slowly faded away, disappearing in a puff of wind like a wisp of mist in the breeze.
I slumped to the cold stone floor, hand propping me up weakly and eyes closed in weariness. So much responsibility. I didn't notice that Aragorn had been standing out of sight behind me, watching me from the shelter of a pillar, away from my hearing and sight.
"Oh Drago." I choked. "Why is there so much for me to do? I must be strong for my brothers. I must be strong for those who would watch me. I truly am happy, but sometimes it all comes crashing down on me. I must be a princess for my people, and yet I must be a friend and a sister. I must give comfort. I must protect those whom I have sworn to protect with my life. I must be a vassal for the Valar. I must do my duties as a princess, an angel, and a sister to the King of Gondor."
I staggered to my feet and leaned against the wall, tears splashing to the floor. They made loud, audible splashing sounds as they fell, littering the floor with hot, salty drops of liquid.
My hair fell across my face, and my shoulders shook from my silent cries. One hand braced me against the wall, the other was pressed to my chest in a fist. My eyes closed and my head bowed. I shivered with cold and misery, knees giving way and meeting the floor with a loud thud that seemed to echo in my ears as a taunt to my sorrow.
Drago lay on my lap, keeping me company. Hands suddenly brushed my shoulders, and I lifted my head to see Haldir kneeling there, looking concerned. "Meleth nîn? What happened?" He murmured, brushing hair away from my face.
His hands clutched my shoulders as I turned into him, face burying into his chest. He froze, then began to rub my arms. "You're freezing, Eruanna!" He said, voice thick with worry. I clutched fistfuls of his tunic in my hands, shaking in misery.
He pulled me into his lap, Drago warming our legs. Haldir clutched me closely to him, warming me with his own body heat. I slowly grew warmer as the wind reluctantly loosened its grip on me, and my shoulders grew pale again instead of red. My lips were still slowly freezing, salty tears crystallizing on my mouth by the icy kisses of the wind, turning them blue as the only testament of his cold love.
"Eruanna?" Haldir asked again at length. I let out a muffled sob to his voice.
"I just feel so b-burdened." I replied, voice cracking. He rocked gently, murmuring into my ear. I didn't know that Aragorn was leaning against the pillar he was behind, eyes closed in sorrow and regret.
My sobs finally died down to nothing but weariness, and I slumped against Haldir, spent and exhausted. He rubbed my back gently. "Breathe, Melamin. It's alright." He whispered.
I pressed into him, seeking comfort. He wrapped his arms around me, and kissed the top of my head.
"Hannon lle, Haldir." I murmured into his tunic. I laid the side of my head against his chest, relaxing into his hold.
...
Haldir had been unable to sleep when he had left his room to wander the halls and found Eruanna on the cold stone floors, crying.
He knew that she needed comfort. He knew that she needed closure after all that had happened during the past weeks and months. It was good that she cried, but he could not help but be worried. She had so many burdens, and he knew it. He knew it well.
He looked down at the side of her face, her eyes and fingers tracing the patterns of his nightshirt. Then he realized that she was dressed in nothing but a nightgown, and shifted slightly, embarrassed.
He was suddenly aware of every curve of her lithe frame, pressed into his own perfectly like two pieces of a puzzle. His mouth went dry and his fingers on her waist and back felt like they would burn right through her light, white shift.
Her skin had warmed from the cold it had been, and she was no longer shivering, to his relief. Her face suddenly tilted up to him, and he realized with a start that he had been staring at her face.
"What is it, Haldir?" She asked, voice lisping slightly from exhaustion and tears. His fingers went up to her face and cupped her cheek, warmed by his tunic.
"Your lips are blue." He noted in concern. She licked them slightly, wincing at the bitter saltiness of dried tears.
He lowered his face to hers and pressed his lips against her cold ones, warming them. She started slightly, and her fingers gripped his tunic more tightly. Her lips were salty, and he savored the taste of her tears, his mouth like fire compared to hers made of ice.
When he finally pulled away, she was breathing heavily and her lips were pink with renewed warmth, to his approval.
"Do you always do it so unexpectedly?" She breathed, trying to regain her breath back. His lips twitched.
"I don't mean to." He replied softly. She caught her breath and looked up at him seriously.
"Can I trust to to be a proper gentle-elf and help me to my room?" She asked him. He nodded.
"Yes, my lady." He replied, picking her up. Drago followed faithfully, and he set her down in front of her door. She smiled up at him slightly.
"Hannon lle, Haldir." She thanked him. He smiled in reply.
"You are welcome, Mîn meleth." He replied gently. The door closed behind Drago, and he stared at it for a moment before walking back to his room. Before he fell asleep, his fingers unconsciously brushed his still-tingling lips stinging with cold, the lingering taste of salt turned sweet in his mouth because he knew that they were hers.
The King of Gondor, on the other hand, knelt on the cold balcony, fingers brushing the drops of sorrow on the stone that his harshness had wrung from loving eyes and thinking about all that she had taught him that night. He never forgot the tears she had shed for him, and he never forgot the depth of love for him that he had been witness to that night. He never forgot the lesson he had learned, and he was all the better for it. And he promised himself that her tears for him would not be in vain.
...
I woke up feeling both cold and warm. The blanket had been kicked off slightly and my arms up were bare. My back was warm because of Drago's fur, and his breath warmed my ear and side of my face, but the rest was cold.
I didn't want to get up, even though I knew I would have to. I felt a lot better having gotten rid of the weight of tears on my shoulders, and I felt a lot happier. But I still had duties, you remember, and the Lady Galadriel's words weighed heavily on my mind.
I wrapped an arm around Drago and buried my face into his side, nose filling with his usual smell of grass and wind and wild heather. I felt myself relax more just as he stirred. His head curled around my hair, and his paws stretched out beside me, tail whapping my thigh lightly and sleepily.
I smiled and rubbed his fur, listening to his contented growls. "Drago, wake up." I prodded. "We need to get up. It's a busy day today." I insisted, poking his belly fur. He whined but stretched nonetheless, toes parting and back arching while he showed his teeth in a large yawn.
I sat up and sighed at my reflection of the mirror at the foot of my bed. My hair was tousled crazily, my shift was rumpled and hiked up in the oddest places, the strap was falling off of one shoulder, and my eyes were rather dull in sleepiness.
I floundered out of the voluptuous sheets and stumbled over to the wash basin, fixing my hair and washing my face. I rolled my eyes at my reflection again and shook my head, fixing the bed while Drago leaped around stiffly on his toes to get warm. I laughed at him.
"Well, you ready for the day, wolf of mine?" I asked, kissing the top of his head.
"I suppose." He grumbled.
"What do you have to grumble about? Are you going to ditch me in favor of Boromir, or are you going to accompany me today?" I asked pertly, struggling into a dress with an agitated groan.
He chuckled and shook his head. "I will remain with you. Angel, why do you cry?" He suddenly asked.
I looked into the mirror thoughtfully. "I cry because I have fallen, and I do not know how to return." I answered, thinking back to last night.
"Then you should take a little bit of Valinor with you wherever you go." He reminded me, nosing my hand and mouthing it gently. I smiled and ran my fingers across his head and behind his ears.
"I will." I replied quietly, studying my reflection. I was dressed in a silver gown that ended at my ankles and showed my feet, lengthening in the back a bit so that it was lower to the ground then the front. It left my shoulders bare but had sheer gossamer sleeves that were tight and extended onto the back of my hand in a triangle. A cloak of elven velvet wrapped around the shoulders and trailed in the back. [A/N: like Elsa's dress from Frozen]
Shaking my head at my frivolity in staring at the mirror, I grabbed the Mithril coronet and placed it on my head, not exactly making sure it was on right, which I would regret later. "Come on, Drago, let's go."
I sighed. "Ada and Arwen would kill me if they knew that I wished I had my own clothes on instead of these they made for me." I grumbled, moving out of the doorway. I was all silver today, from my hair down to my dress, except for my shoes, which were a pair of white elven slippers.
Drago followed with a chuckle. "Perhaps." He conceded, walking with me. As we moved along, I clipped on his neck a special collar given to him by Ada. It was for showing his status as royalty, so to speak. It was a thick band made of Mithril and studded with sharp ivory spikes.
It was more than just an ornament, though. It was also a hunting collar for protection against other teeth and also blades. Any teeth or blade that went for the neck would be chipped instead of making a killing mark.
I walked with him to the throne room to receive my duties for the day. We met Legolas on the way and he joined us.
"Good morning, Onònë, Drago." He greeted. I smiled.
"Good morning, Muindor. Did you sleep well?" I asked. He nodded and grasped my hand, runes glowing as usual.
"You?" He replied.
"I slept." Was my simple answer. He didn't press, though a frown flashed across his face at the avoidance of the question.
We entered the throne room and bowed. "Reporting for duties, King Elasaar." Legolas said, a smile flashing across his face.
"Of course, Prince Legolas, Princess Eruanna. Lord Boromir has your duties, Prince, and I would like to speak to the Princess privately." He greeted, head inclining. Legolas pressed a kiss to my cheek before moving to Boromir at a side table. I entered another room alone with Aragorn. He closed the door and turned to me.
"Eruanna, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken the way I did. I know that you have so much responsibility, perhaps even more than I have. I was tired and I took out my frustrations on you, which was uncalled for. Forgive me." He blurted, practically begging by the end.
I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. "It's alright, Gwador. I know you were tired. Gil nîn!" I smiled happily. He sighed in relief and hugged me back.
"Hannon lle." He murmured into my hair gratefully. I nodded.
He brought me back out and we bent over tasks to be accomplished for the day. My duties turned out to be working with Muindor over blueprints for the restoration of Ithilien, making sure the hobbits were ready for their trip back, and preparing to go to Mirkwood in three days' time. I sighed.
"Well, here goes nothing." I grumbled.
Aragorn laughed at me while I stuck out my tongue pettishly in reply. Arwen stifled a smile as Drago snickered. This was going to be a hard day.
...
Of course, I turned out to be right, duh. By the time I was finished with making sure the hobbits were ready, Legolas had called for me to get my opinion on the blueprints. After that had been done, we had to take a break to bid Adar farewell, for he was leaving then.
That's where I am now, in fact. Ada reached out and drew both Legolas and I into a hug.
"Be safe." He scolded us. Legolas and I exchanged smirks.
"No promises, Ada. We tend to inherit your tendency of running into trouble-" I dodged the swing to my head with a laugh as he glared at me.
"We will try, Ada." Was Legolas' simple reply. But his eyes mirrored mine. With a weary and wary look, Ada gave up and left.
Little did I know what the coming days would bring for the both of us siblings.
We went back to the blueprints, making a detour on the way to grab three swirlies for the three of us.
Aragorn found us later working furiously in the room we had been given, hair tousled and coronets tossed haphazardly on chairs and papers and clothes askew. He laughed. I looked at Legolas accusingly.
"I TOLD you I took after you and Ada in that." I remarked. It took a while for Aragorn's laughter and Legolas' glares to cease.