The quiet sound of rain striking the ground was the only thing to be heard. The storm that had been previously rolling in had finally broken and was spilling the water across the scorched land and dampening the once black earth. It was not a harsh and howling storm but one filled with the occasional flicker of lightning or the quiet rumble of thunder. The moisture fell down from the heavens in a gentle drizzle but it nonetheless forced any living creature underneath the blanket of clouds to take refuge from its assault.
The mild thunderstorm had caused the Company themselves to take shelter. Now, they sat beneath the stone shelf, all of them quiet, a solemn mood having passed over the group. And yet the dwarves and hobbit were not the only ones to sit beneath the shelf, for the elves of Mirkwood had also taken up temporary residence as well.
Most of the dwarves were huddled or seated together with the closest members of their family, content to simply be by one another. A fire had not been lit. Few words were passed among them, for they were all still mourning. So, they only clung to one another as if they were the only real thing still left on Middle Earth.
Legolas and Tauriel had also taken a seat at the other's side, finding some form of comfort in their friend, both still in shock with what had just happened. In the elvish kingdoms, death was a rare thing to come upon. Sure, their folk did die in battles and skirmishes with orcs and the other foul creatures of the world but to see the the life slowly drain from someone's eyes was something new for the both of them.
Axtron, the young horseman, only sat with wide green eyes, having not expected the lovely woman to just suddenly keel over and die. She had seemed fine and rather fiery when she had first met him and it was only just earlier that day. For a moment, the boy wondered what he had gotten himself into, should someone die so early on in the journey.
"What do we do?" It was Dwalin who finally spoke, breaking the silence.
Upon hearing him speak, most of the dwarves looked up from where they had their heads bowed.
"What do you mean?" Balin turned to look at his brother, his bushy brows furrowed softly in saddened confusion. For a moment, the bigger dwarf did not reply, instead his dark eyes were trained upon his scarred hands which slowly toyed with each other before him.
It was strange to see Dwalin so quiet and so solemn though the white haired dwarf suspected that the warrior had taken a shine to the she-elf whether he would admit it or not.
"What do we do with her body?" He clarified quietly, not daring to raise his eyes for fear that the others would see the remorse in his irises.
The silence settled back into the air for a long moment. Most of the dwarves turned their heads back to look at the still form of their King that lay in the far distance, just beyond the edge of the shelf.
When the rain had begun, the dwarf lord had simply sat out in the drizzle while the others retreated into their dry shelter, though they were very reluctant to do so. In his arms, he had held her still form. Thorin had held her so close with his face forever buried in the ever-cooling flesh of her smooth neck. One of his hands had been tangled into her golden tresses, the other arm had still been circled around her.
The moisture falling from the sky was not what had wet her skin, no, it had been the King's tears. For he had already cried for so long and he had yet to cease, though his distressed yells and sobs had since quieted.
In the back of his mind, he had scarcely registered the rain pouring down upon him yet he did nothing about it for a long while for he had very little energy to expend. Eventually, though, he had shifted his hold on her and swept an arm underneath her back and her knees before he hoisted her up with a worrisome amount of ease, given that she was so light. Her head had fallen back so that it lolled to the side slightly while he walked and her long, golden mane hung free and her lips ever so slightly parted.
Upon his face own face, the prince held a remorseful look upon his face but the tear tracks on his cheeks was suddenly hidden by the rain, though the moisture could not hide his red eyes.
The Company members had only watched sadly as the once great dwarf who was to be King Under the Mountain suddenly crumbled under the loss of his lady. He had fallen to his knees just inside overhang, Ren's body held tightly in his arms even still.
His shoulders had sunk as if a heavy weight had been placed upon them, his eyes were now dulled with indescribable sorrow as he gazed at the pale skin of the elven princess.
He had barely moved since, if only to release her knees, only for his hand to reach up and gently cup her ashen cheek. His now nearly stone-gray eyes slowly moved across her still features as his thick fingers moved across her still slightly warm skin. The tears still came but Thorin did not care, for he found that the only things he could do anymore was beg Mahal that he return Galaren's soul to her body and touch the delicate features of her face.
"Even in death, you are still so beautiful, my love." He had managed to murmur out to her in Khuzdul. "Why was I so blessed to have found you?"
But other than that, the dwarf lord had remained still in the same place, save for the careful movements of his fingers and the soft words that would sometimes spill from his lips.
"A pyre seems insulting." Bofur spoke up finally, adjusting his hat upon his head as he turned away from the mourning King. "What with the dragon-fire that no doubt will meet us in the mountain."
"No fire." Dwalin agreed with a slow nod of his head. "And no water, not she was nearly drowned and frozen."
"We are too far away from the mountain and have yet to find the door..." Gloin added in suddenly as he shifted his hold on the ax he had on his lap. "So burying her in the heart of the mountain is unlikely."
"In flowers." It was Kili who had spoken quietly, startling them all and causing their heads to turn in his direction. He still had slow tears running down his cheeks as he sat pressed up against his brother who had only just stopped weeping, leaving his eyes bloodshot and red. "Buried in a bed of wildflowers."
"In a meadow back on Beorn's lands." The blond dwarf picked up where his brother left off, knowing where his sibling was going with the idea. "Amongst the flowers, lying eternally in the golden sunlight, always warm and never cold." Fili explained, his eyes beginning to water again as he visualized her lying in between the green grass, surrounded by the different blooms. "With all the animals and with a view that will allow her to watch the sun, the moon, and stars rise and fall." He finished his explanation, lazily wiping at his eyes once more. "She would like that, I think."
"She always did adore the sun." Ori spoke quietly from his place squeezed between his brothers who only looked at their younger brother sadly. "She told me so once." He replied shyly.
"I think she loved the moon equally as much, though." Bilbo couldn't help but add his own input from his perch upon a boulder, his arms wrapped around his knees which were drawn up to his chest. Upon his knees rested the handkerchief that he had so long ago lent her. For it seemed as though it had somehow stayed with her, even after all the months of travel.
"She loved all things of light, I suppose." Bofur added quietly, his brows pulling down into a soft frown. The rest of the Company murmured their agreement, all of them looking back to where Thorin still sat, unmoving.
"Galaren should be buried with my people." All heads turned to the new voice that had broken into their conversation. The blond elf had stood up from his place and his eyes blazed like quiet fire after listening to their conversation and openly they spoke about her. "Not on a skin-changer's land."
"She is not of your people." Dwalin spoke up, rising from his spot as well, anger clearly evident in his own body language upon hearing the elf's suggestion. "She is barely of her own people, let alone one of you Mirkwood pointy-ears. She hated your damned forest."
"Watch your words, dwarf." The prince warned the shorter warrior, his eyes narrowing.
"Legolas-" Tauriel stood up and she grabbed hold of her companion's shoulder. Her eyes briefly flashed to Kili who had also been looking at her but he said nothing, instead choosing to tuck himself closer to Fili and look away.
"She should be buried on elvish ground!" The golden prince spat and he was about to take a step forward, only for the redhead to hold him back. He had nearly shouted and both the dwarf and the elf turned their heads back to look at the mourning King in the distance, hoping that he had not heard their discussion.
"It would be wise for you to have care with your own words as well, princeling!" Dwalin nearly spat but his response was much quieter so that Thorin would not hear. "She is more of a dwarf than an elf! She would admit it to you if you asked her." The bald dwarf growled out, his eyes flashing dangerously. "She is part of our family and part of my kin!" The words had slipped from his mouth before he could stop himself and when he realized he said them, his eyes went wide but he didn't take them back. For the words were true. His admittance had stunned the Company but they said nothing on the matter, for in their hearts, they felt the same way. "And if you failed to notice, our King loved her dearly and I'll be damned if she didn't love him back!"
"She would have become our Queen." Balin now rose and stood beside his larger brother, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so, a daring glint in his eyes. "And we would have happily accepted her, if that is what Thorin wished."
The dwarves' words caused the elf to fall into a stunned silence. Legolas had never realized that she had been so fully accepted by this ragtag group of dwarves. He had never realized that she herself was not at ease with her own people, let alone her own kind. But that was because he never knew the true her.
The entire time that he had spent with her in Mirkwood, she had not spoken a word of her journey with the Company. He only assumed it was because she had led him into the facade in which she had been kidnapped by the dwarves and was not their friend, let alone in love with the King.
"Because she loved us..." Fili released his hold on his baby brother and rose as well to defend her. "...every single one of us." He gestured to the rest of the group, his own eyes blazing with blue fire at seeing that the elf prince doubted their friendship.
"And we loved her." Kili spoke before he too came to stand beside the blond dwarf, the tears in his eyes stopping for a moment as he put on a brave face to defend Ren. "She was our friend, our companion..." He then looked to his brother who smiled sadly and nodded. "She was like our mother."
"She was one of us." Dwalin murmured, crossing his thick arms over his chest. "And you will have a fight on your hands should you try to take her from us." The large dwarf threatened before turning away so that he faced the rest of his friends, knowing that the elf would not dare to try something just yet. Her death was still too fresh, an open sore among the group.
It was quiet once again for a moment and all the dwarves knew that her final resting place would be left up to Thorin when he final came back into their world. He would be the one to have the say in what was to be done though there was a warning in the back of their minds, telling them that they didn't have time to take her back to Beorn's. They still needed to find the door before Durin's Day arrived.
But for now, they could do nothing but sit back down and wait for the storm to pass so that they may be on their way. Settling back into their places, a few more minutes passed before Gloin could no longer take it so he began to start a fire, trying to busy himself with other things.
"It's not fair." Ori said after a long while, finally breaking the sorrowful silence around them.
"She had so much life to live..." Bofur croaked out, his own eyes watering again slightly. "To think, how ironic it is that she was taken down with an arrow." He couldn't help but laugh but it was watery and slightly strangled.
"Ren eluded death so long." Oin spoke, his tone soft as he felt guilt wash over himself. He should have seen the signs earlier. He should have noticed how pale she was. He might have been able to do something to help her. "And now it finally caught up with her and so close to the mountain no less."
"She had so many stories to tell." Ori mused, taking his journal out of his bag and rubbing the leather-bound cover affectionately. "I didn't get a chance to write them all down."
"Aye, the lass did not deserve death." Balin added in, his eyes staring down upon his worn boots. "She certainly had a kind soul and a warm heart."
"One that no doubt warmed Thorin's as well." Bilbo murmured quietly, his own eyes distant. The she-elf had really been the first of the group, besides Gandalf, to befriend him. She had also offered him a sense of protection at all times, putting him more at ease with the dwarves during their journey. For she would have not let anything bad happen to him. She would have let no harm come to him.
"Ren made him better." Kili murmured, still wiping some of the slow tears that even still slipped down his cheeks.
"Uncle smiled more when she was around." His blond brother also stated, sharing a short look with his brother before he wrapped his arm around the dark haired dwarf, pulling him closer as he did so.
"She was not so bad...for an elf." Dwalin teased lightly, knowing that said woman would have no doubt sent him an unamused look, one that he would have chuckled at when he saw it. Oh, he loved to tease her. He loved to see the fire light in her eyes, a fight promised in the blazing blue depths. "Aye, the world no longer seems so bright anymore."
His own heart ached slightly in side as he shifted his grip upon his new ax. He had been the only one to remain standing, for he knew that he would no doubt do much sitting later. Now, he walked forward until he stood just at the edge of the dry ground so that he could see the sky above him. Turning his head back, he looked over his shoulder to find that Thorin had still not yet moved from his place, his love still held tightly in his thick arms.
At seeing the sight, a sense of disappointment and defeat washed over him. For in the prisons of Mirkwood, Dwalin had made a promise to himself that he would keep an extra eye on the female, if only for the King's sake. And yet it seemed as though he had failed to do his own assigned task and now his old friend was hurting because of it.
He had failed his King and therefore, he felt as though he had failed himself.
"Farewell, little princess." He murmured, raising his eyes up towards the cloudy heavens, his eyes beginning to gleam with barely formed tears. "May you finally find peace."
The pupils behind her eyes burned as the bright light shown down upon her. With a low groan, she stretched her arms above her head as she arched her back. She also curled her toes and flexed the muscles in her legs before she settled once more, her eyelids slowly opening to reveal the sapphire blue irises beneath.
The suns were nearly blinding above her and Ren only wrinkled up her nose in distaste, finding that the shade of the tree she had been sleeping in had moved just as the bright orbs in the sky had.
There was a quiet squeak at her side and she raised her head up slightly to find that a silver fox had curled into her side, enjoying her warm presence. She smiled at the sight of him and ruffled his soft fur with her hand. The little thing had taken a shine to her or so it seemed in the past few days.
He was friendly enough she supposed, always bounding around her where ever she walked in Valinor. He would bark and yip at her, always encouraging her to move faster and follow along behind him.
In fact, he hardly ever seemed to leave her side, even when she went into her sister's home to talk or have lunch. He was never fearful of the others though he did favor some over others.
He would simply walk behind her, always meandering around her feet, nearly tripping her on more than one occasion.
Putting her hands behind her head, she only lay there for a moment longer, perfectly content with herself.
The fox, or Luin, as she had named him, only grumbled slightly as he pressed more into her side, wanting to continue sleeping next to his warm new companion. "No." She spoke as he turned and curled into her. She sat up and began to climb to her feet, the sleepiness from before now gone in an instant. "We've been sleeping long enough." Taking the fuzzy creature into her hands, she lifted him off the ground and tucked him into her arms. "We have things to do."
Beginning to walk back down through the tall grass, she had to smile to herself, as she always had when she walked barefoot through the luscious grass. The feeling never seemed to get old, even if she hadn't worn shoes since she had first kicked her boots off in her sister's house all those days ago.
After awhile, the creature in her arms began to squirm and let out barks of protest before she finally sat Luin down. Shaking out his thick, dark fur, he yipped before he seemingly smiled up at her and began to trot along behind her, given that she was forming a path for him to walk in.
Eventually, the soles of her feet met cool stone and she walked up into the quiet courtyard. She ran a hand through her loose hair and frowned softly, knowing that she would need to find something to tie it back with before she went insane. It had been bothersome lately, given that it was very warm in this part of Valinor, or so she had been informed by Zamra.
However, she had no idea that she was being watched from the open balcony above.
Frerin had been seated beside the Lady Celebrian on a bench as she read her book, as it was how he usually found her. He had simply come to sit with her, given that he was lonely for female companionship. For you see, he had no wife given how young he had been when he had met his sad end and therefore did not have a lovely lady waiting for him on the other side of the void, let alone in Valinor.
One would think, however, that since everyone had their own paradise, he would have certainly found an attractive woman in his own little divine abode. But, that was one of the rules that he had unfortunately learned since he had passed into this other world.
Sure, he may certainly see other beautiful women and he may ogle at them but most of them already had husbands and the others simply were not interested in him, for his charm did not seem to work as well as it had in his days in the other world.
And it was a rule set by the Gods that free will was not to be tampered with in Valinor, just as it was a rule set back in Middle Earth. They did not take kindly to controlling someone and their emotions.
And so, one of the reasons why he was seated beside Lady Celebrian was to inquire about her beautiful sister. For, it seemed that Galaren was not so interested in him either, just like the rest of the women.
He, however, wanted to change that given that she was one of the most divine beings that he had ever set his eyes upon.
Frerin was surprised slightly when he watched as the aforementioned elleth came walking into the courtyard below them. At her side, a fox with dark blue, nearly black fur, trotted. On more than one occasion, he had seen the creature by her side and each time, he only watched her with mild curiosity.
The dwarf had numerous questions to ask the blonde woman at his side but he was not entirely sure where to start. He had known the lady for many years and he considered the two of them friends. At a time, he had even thought about trying to advance on her but then decided against it, given that Celebrian had a husband and three children, whereas Ren had neither of those things.
She was alone but the dwarf prince had decided to put an end to that.
However, he watched as she met Durin who had been standing among the flowers, admiring the beautiful buds. The two exchanged a quiet greeting and spoke together for a long moment. The fox yipped then and the large dwarf only bent down and patted the creature upon his head, earning the man a wag of his fluffy tail in response.
Seeing Ren standing next to the tall dwarf, the young dwarf found that one question swam to the forefront of his mind.
"Celebrian?" She looked up from her thick novel. If she is your sister and she is an elf... Why is she so short?"
The blonde woman only looked at him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly and a look of slight annoyance crossing her features. The dwarf took note of that as well. Ever since Galaren had arrived, the older she-elf had been more animated and no longer as quiet as she used to be. It was as if something inside her had woken up when her sibling arrived.
After a long moment, the elleth snorted with amusement. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
The dwarf sat quietly for a moment, his hands nervously playing with the other. "I have this irrational fear that she will slap me." He admitted quietly, the thought of her fiery personality entering into the back of his mind.
She laughed out loud and her lips pulled back in a wide smile. "It won't hurt." The Lady assured him before turning back to her book, an amused glint still playing in her eyes.
"No but my pride will definitely be wounded..." He murmured, watching as the lady continued walking along with Durin, a bit of jealousy pooling in his stomach. The old dwarf had amazingly enough liked the young elf, for she was very similar to her sister but had more fire in her.
It was rare when the Deathless liked any one outside of his own race, save for the two elven women and usually any child that happened to come upon him.
"Ren was sick when she was born." She finally admitted after a few moments of silence between them. Finally, she sighed and shut her book, holding it in her lap. She supposed that if she were going to tell the dwarf that much, she should finish the story. "She has always been smaller than the rest of us and she was once very sickly." They both turned back to find the aforementioned woman outside, the suns above her sparkling like gold. "She was lucky to be born, let alone live passed the first week."
"What happened?" Frerin asked, his brow furrowing softly. Elves usually only had healthy children.
"We do not know. Things simply went wrong." Celebrian admitted quietly as she ran her slim fingers over the leather of her book. "But when we were younger, she had problems." She told him, her green eyes softening with the memories. "She was not as strong or as fast as the rest of the children." The Lady paused for a moment before she turned and looked the prince directly in his eyes. "You must understand that her life was not an easy one to lead. She has worked so hard to become the woman that she is and was."
The dwarf only looked at the she-elf for a long moment before he turned away to gaze at her sister, a strange look in his eyes. "She is so beautiful though."
"Ren was always beautiful." She admitted, her own irises following her. "She was always high-spirited, always hardheaded, and stubborn. She was always a fighter even when death continued to reach for her." The blonde elf told him quietly, a soft smile upon her lips. "And eventually with a lot of time, nurturing, and therapy, she was able to feel and act normal."
"She indeed looks normal." The dwarf murmured and she nodded. "Save for her height."
"That was what she strived for anyway. To be normal." Celebrian sighed slightly and opened up her book once more. "And even after years of being normal, she decided that she did not want to be so normal like the rest of us. That she found normal to be extremely boring and tiresome."
"What do you mean?"
"She is extremely wild for an elf if you failed to notice." She allowed her eyes to drop back to the words in her novel. "Once Ren was normal, she found that she could cause very much mischief and now get away with it, given that she was now strong and fast."
Frerin let his lips twitch upward upon hearing the woman's words. For a moment, he wondered how the she-elf got along with his brother. Surely they would have fought and butted heads. "She was a troublemaker, then?"
A small smile pulled back the Lady's lips then, one that was full of humor. "Troublemaker does not even begin to describe her."
At hearing this, Frerin couldn't help but grin fully himself. So, the Lady Galaren was wild and no less a troublemaker. She sounded pleasant beyond belief in his opinion and hearing what her sister had to say only made him want to pursue her further.
She was a challenge presented to him and the dwarf prince most definitely loved challenges. However, he couldn't help but wonder just how hard of a challenge she would prove to be.
"So it would seem that you are adjusting well to your new existence here in Valinor?" Durin mused to the woman as they walked among the long, cement planters full of flowers.
"I suppose so." Ren murmured as she stared down at her booted feet. "It is not so horrible as I first believed it to be." She turned to look at him then and he smiled fully, his lips drawing back to show his teeth. "The food is plenty and delicious. The scenery is beyond beautiful. I have all the books I could ever want to read. All the horses I could ever want to ride. The company is not so bad. Hunting is challenging but fulfilling and I can sleep as much as I want?" The she-elf explained, smiling herself as she threw her arms out towards the rest of the courtyard.
But even then, the Deathless saw something lingering in her eyes. A certain sadness, per say.
"You are not happy, though." She frowned softly upon hearing her new friend's words but she couldn't deny that she did feel that way.
"Something feels amiss inside me." Galaren told him, as they came up to the far edge of the courtyard. Both of them stood beside the railing for a moment, simply looking down into the deep crevice before them. This was where the many waterfalls that passed through the house spilled out to and down, far below there was another deep pool that eventually became another river, leading off to who knows where. "There is something missing from my life."
"And you have yet to retain all your memories?" She nodded her head in answer. "Then you have yet to fully accept your death and until you do so, you will not have them back."
"I don't want to be dead..." The female told him as she leaned onto the railing, frustration pulling down her brows. "...but I don't know why I don't want to be dead."
"No one really wants to have passed into this world, Galaren." The dwarf put his thick hand upon her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "But it is only a step in life that we all must take. A step that none of us can truly ever escape from."
"I would have." She turned to look at him then, a sense of unyielding confidence filling her irises. "I would have escaped this fate."
"But it is fate." Durin corrected her gently. "And no one can ever escape fate or destiny."
The blonde woman only looked at him for a long moment, displeasure clear in her sapphire irises. "That is completely and utterly idiotic." At hearing her words, the large dwarf let out a mighty laugh. For he found the dead tone in her voice humorous. "Not at all fair."
"Life is not fair."
"Obviously." The she-elf rolled her eyes and gripped tightly to the railing as she leaned out over the edge. "Because I'm dead!" Her voice echoed off the deep crevice.
Again, her words elicited a deep chuckle from within the Deathless and his amber eyes twinkled merrily when he looked at her. "You are more humorous than your sister let on." He told her, causing the woman to pull a face dry of emotion.
"Yes, I'm a box full of laughs." She murmured sarcastically before she turned and lifted herself so that she sat upon the railing. Luin soon joined her upon her perch and the creature climbed up onto her shoulders, wrapping his fluffy tail around her neck to hold onto her. She reached up and gently stroked at the soft fuzz, absentmindedly petting the white tip upon his tail.
It was quiet between the two companions for a moment, both of them simply listening to the roar of the nearby waterfalls. Birds could be heard singing overhead. Bees buzzed from flower to flower in the garden. The wind gently blew about the great valley, only causing their hair to wave about lazily.
"It is quiet here. Peaceful." The she-elf spoke after awhile of simply sitting. She had observed this and had already began to wonder where Celebrian's herd of children had wandered off to. "Almost too peaceful." Durin turned his face up to look at her, his eyes giving her a questioning look. The woman only smiled slightly before turning her eyes back to the courtyard, her legs kicking out as they hung suspended.
"Indeed."
"I need chaos in my life." The dwarf grinned beside her again at her words. "I need disorder and pandemonium and turmoil." She grumbled, wrinkling her nose up slightly as she let her head fall back, the suns above kissing her face with their warmth. "I don't need perfection and purity and fulfillment." Ren raked her hand through her hair then, frustration sweeping over her. "I need to feel... hungry and tired and I want to feel exhaustion." Sitting forward, she felt her hands begin to shake, the sudden urge to wield a blade or draw a bow passing over her. "I... I need someone to tell me 'no'. I want pain and-and aggravation and disappointment and I need to be dirty, covered in filth and... and..." She stalled in her ramblings for a moment and when the thought occurred to her, she felt slow but fresh tears begin to spring into her eyes. "I need...dwarves."
"We have plenty of them." Durin rumbled, smirking slightly in her direction but she only shook her head, her emotions suddenly getting the best of her.
"Not the ones that are here." She murmured, her sapphire eyes suddenly becoming distant. "Ones that are back in Middle Earth. Ones that I came to love and care for." The elf went onto explain, causing the dark haired dwarf to frown slightly. "Ones that became my family." The tears began to leak from her eyes and she brought her legs up to her chest before she wrapped her arms around them, burying her face into her knees. "I... I want to go home."
She felt a heavy but warm hand fall upon the back of her head, gently stroking her hair as she sat there cry.
"Why do you weep, child?" A new and if possible, deeper voice than Durin's spoke, catching the woman off guard. She paused in her crying for a moment to raise her head to look at the newcomer.
He was tall and had dark brown, russet colored hair that fell in long and thick waves with braids woven into his tresses here and there. His eyes were very startling and were a nearly glowing, golden color but were nonetheless warm as he gazed upon the she-elf. He had a long beard, the same shade as his hair, that rested upon his bare and well muscled chest. Upon one shoulder sat a metal plate and from it, a red cape seemed to spill until it rested across his body, hiding some of the bare flesh of his toned torso. He also wore a pair of dark brown trousers and had a scarlet sash tied about his waist with intricate designs stitched into the silken material. His feet, like her own, were bare.
But what startled Ren most was how unexplainably tall he was. He towered over both herself and Durin.
She couldn't help but let out a startled laugh at hearing his question, tears slowly streaming down her face still. Anger began to clench around her heard. For she did not care who this man was and she was undeniably aggravated. "Why am I crying?" Ren asked in disbelief, tightening her grip more on her knees. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a bitter chuckle escape from between her lips. "I am crying because I am stuck in the land of the dead with no way to escape."
The man only inclined his brows in amusement at her words, finding her anger to be amusing.
"My lord!" At her side, Durin suddenly bowed deeply at the waist, his eyes focused upon the ground. When she heard the title, the she-elf couldn't help but straighten up, releasing her knees in the process. She looked at the man with slight curiosity. "It has been many years since anyone had last laid eyes upon you." The dwarf straightened up, his amber eyes intent upon the tall man. "What brings you back down to walk among us souls, my lord?"
The other male smirked slightly before turning his irises away from Durin to look at the woman.
"Galaren." Was all he murmured, his eyes never leaving her saddened form. The she-elf couldn't help but let her mouth fall open slightly, her brow furrowing as she did so, tears still wetting her cheeks.
Who is this strange man?
Luin shifted on her neck, curling more tightly around her throat when he sensed her unease. "She is the reason why I am here."
"Me?" Ren let her legs go so that they once again dangled over the edge of the railing.
"Indeed." He murmured, holding his large hand out towards her. Letting her eyes flicker up to his face, she reasoned with herself that he appeared to be trustworthy enough and he emanated this weird comforting feeling. She slowly placed her hand into his and he carefully pulled forward so that she slipped gracefully off the railing, coming to land soundly on her feet. "Would you care to take a walk with me, Hên?"
Still astonished that this man had evidently traveled far just to find her, Ren found that she could only nod her head to answer. This man before her radiated some strange aura, one that exuded a unique magic but it was one of comforting light.
He carefully pulled her forward and the elf's new dwarven companion was about to walk forward when the tall man turned back to him. "If you would leave us be for a moment, Durin?" He inclined one of his dark brows and the other male could only nod his head, a small flash of disappointment in his eyes. "I have much to discuss with this elleth."
Remaining near the railing, the dwarf only watched the two of them go, the blonde elf shooting him a look of mild fear. For she had no idea who this man was and where they were going. She also felt as though she could not deny him what he wanted, given the power he seemed to radiate.
They slowly walked across the courtyard until they stepped down into the tall grass once again. Luin jumped down off her shoulder, only to walk along beside her feet as he had many times before.
The two people walked on for a long while, neither saying anything. Both were simply observing the vast and beautiful land around them. A herd of horses was grazing just down the hill from them and it was only a minute or two later before they were walking among the steeds. The creatures did not seem startled in the slightest when meeting the newcomers. A few raised their heads to gaze at them but they resumed ignoring them and began to graze again.
The large man still had a hold of her hand and yet, Ren did not feel uncomfortable in the slightest.
"No doubt you are wondering why I came seeking you...?" He rumbled suddenly, causing the she-elf to jump in surprise. His voice was deep and soothing, like that of another voice she knew, but she found that liked the second voice better. She found that she liked Thorin's better.
"I am... curious." She replied, looking over at him, a shy glint in her eyes.
"You have every right to be." He explained, finally releasing the hold he had upon her hand. "You no doubt have many questions about what has happened to you and why you are here."
"And is it safe to assume that you have all the answers to my questions?" Ren asked him, her eyes like that of a placid pool. She could only wonder why she was so surprisingly calm in the presence of the stranger. He did not respond nor did he look at her. "Will you at least tell me who you are?" She asked him softly, her brow furrowing. "I... I feel as though I know you..." The woman murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Or perhaps... It is your presence that I am familiar with."
"You do not know me." He murmured, his golden eyes flashing down towards her.
The she-elf only looked at him for a long moment, scrutinizing his form. She took a small, cautious step towards him. "Who are you?" She breathed, tilting her head to the side with curiosity. "You are not an elf or dwarf. You are not of the race of Man nor a Maiar."
"Who I am is of little importance to you." He replied finally, stepping out onto the well worn dirt path that seemed to only stop when it disappeared in the distance. The blonde watched him go for a moment before she followed behind him. She herself wanted to hear more of what he had to say.
"But you know who I am?!" The woman added quietly. "And you know who Durin is."
"And Celebrian, Thror, Thrain, Frerin, and Bregor... Just to name a few." She looked at him, her eyes widening with disbelief. The man only chuckled at seeing her so surprised. "We know all the souls who inhabit Valinor and those who do not."
"We?"
"Again, it is not of importance." The man murmured before he once again grew silent for a long while. "We have been watching you, Galaren." He explained quietly as he clasped his hand behind his back. "We have been watching you for some time now."
At hearing his words, Ren couldn't help but frown softly. "Why me?"
"Because, you intrigue both me and all the others." She raised an eyebrow at him and when he saw this, he only sighed deeply. "Though, I suspect that is not a plausible enough reason for you." Scrubbing a hand over his face, he found that it would be difficult to explain to her the significance of her to him and his brethren. "Tell me, did your mother ever tell you of your birth?"
The blonde paused for a moment, her memories of her time spent in Lothlorien, walking alongside the elegant Lady of the Wood flashing through her mind. "Yes."
"And did she tell you that your birth was nothing less than a miracle?"
"Yes." Her blue eyes flashed with concern for a moment, wondering how this strange man knew so much about her. It was extremely unnatural. "She said that I was very lucky to be born, let alone walk and talk like any other elf."
"She was right in telling you this." The man explained gently, his golden eyes softening then. The tall man only looked at her for a long moment. "Galaren, do you believe in destiny?"
"I suppose so. I suspect everyone has a plan laid out for them."
He only hummed in response, one corner of his mouth pulling upward. "That is most humorous and very, very ironic, given that you have defied your own destiny."
Her eyes widened and her brows nearly shot up into her hairline. "What?"
"As it was our plan, your birth was supposed to be nothing short of a phenomenon. However..." He stopped walking for a moment before he turned his head to look out over the distant landscape. "It was only what came after which was truly miraculous."
She swallowed nervously yet she wanted to know more. "What do you mean?"
"Yes, you were born but shortly after, when you reached the ripe old adolescent age of one, you were supposed to die, just as your destiny was set." He now looked at her with something akin to amazement and even pride in his eyes. "Yet, here you are, having passed into our world at 4,000 years old."
"Our plan?" Ren's mind flickered back to what he had said before, something shifting in her gut. "What do you mean... plan!?" She couldn't help herself when her voice began to increase in volume.
The large man opened his mouth but he never got a chance to speak. For something then clicked into place inside her head and she felt a sense of bewilderment bleed through her system, followed shortly by a bit of horror.
"I understand..." She muttered, her sapphire eyes nearly popping from her skull at what she was witnessing, what she was seeing. "You are not an elf, a dwarf, or a man." The Lady breathed, taking a step back from him lest she suddenly feel his wrath. "No... You are a God. A Vala."
The brunet man couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth quirk up slightly. He should have known that the daughter of Galadriel and the sister of Celebrian would surely be equally as intuitive as they were. And no doubt sharper than an elvish blade.
"You are him..." She continued, her hands trembling with fear. "You are Aulë. You are Mahal."
"You are correct, little elleth." The God murmured and he stepped towards her, smiling as he did so. Reaching out, he placed both of his thick hands upon her upper arms, holding her up in case she collapsed. "I am the Maker of the dwarves and the Smith among my brethren."
"One of the Valar." She breathed, her hands gripping tightly to his arms as if making sure that he was real. "You are... real."
"Of course we are real!" He chuckled deeply, his chest vibrating as he did so. "We are real and we have been watching you, Ren." He told her, a smile still in place upon his lips.
"I still do not understand why you are watching me, though..."
He reached a large hand up to cup her cheek, making her look up at him and into his eyes. "As I told you before, Galaren, you defied your destiny."
"But... what does that have to do with anything?"
His golden eyes sparkled with pride as he continued to look down at her, the corners of his mouth still turned upward. "There are very few who have ever gone against what we have placed before them." The God told her. "And you did that when you made it passed your first birthday. Even when faced with the icy hand of death, you refused to perish, you hard-headed little elleth."
He placed his hand atop her head and roughly ruffled her golden hair so that it was now a mess about her face. Releasing him, she tried to right herself, sending a glare towards the deity.
Suddenly, she was no longer so afraid of him for she had never taken a liking to people who ruffled her feathers, or rather, hair in this case. "I am sorry that I did not follow your arrangement..." She grumbled as she continued to fix her hair, her eyes fiery once again.
"No." Aulë laughed breathlessly. "Do not apologize for not succumbing to your end." The female let her brow furrow with confusion at his words. "That is the reason why the Valar find you to be completely intriguing. Because we did not know when death would finally take you, if it would have ever taken you given your immortality."
The two of them were quiet for a moment before Ren turned and began to walk down the dirt road again, leaving the God in her wake. Luin was silent at her side, for he sensed her strange mood and found that it was not time to play. It was only a few moments later though that she heard his feet upon the path behind her and knew that he was following.
"You have to understand, Ren. Since the day that you did not die, all of Middle Earth was changed." She slowed and turned her head back to look at him, a question in her eyes. "There was a different story to be told, one that did not have you written into the tale."
Her eyes widened again. "What?"
"Since you were never meant to exist passed your first year of age, the other world was to be different. Even this world was to be different." He explained. "But since you did not die, everything has changed."
"Like what?"
"Many things, for example... the quest to reclaim Erebor." At hearing him say this, her sharp eyes flashed up to his. When the Vala saw her reaction to the name of the mountain, a dark smirk then crossed his face, one that reached up into his golden eyes. He knew he had her then. He could not help himself, for being a God for centuries makes one like to play with simplistic beings, both mortal and immortal souls. "And, perhaps...Thorin Oakenshield himself?"
When he glanced at her, he saw that her own irises were clouded with many emotions. And he felt the amusement drain from himself upon seeing the remorse in her eyes. The smirk slowly fell from his face, as did the dark look.
A softness entered his eyes when he looked at her before he turned away and looked up at the suns above them. The warm breeze blew through the valley then, brushing both their long manes around them.
"He prays to me." Aulë said quietly, clasping his hands behind his back. "He has prayed to me a lot as of late." Ren did not say anything and instead bowed her head, her eyes upon her bare toes. "He asks me to spare you."
"Can't you?" She spoke so softly, she wondered if he heard her.
"I find that you and your story are both very enthralling. I, along with many of the Valar, supported you in your struggle of a life, for you were very brave, courageous, and valiant in your past life. A true hero, I would say. One that is worthy to have their story written down and told to future generations." He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to give her a second to digest his words. "However, this decision does not fall to me. For if you truly wish to find a way back to your world, you must consult with my brothers and sisters..." The God turned and looked off into the distance. "That peak is where we reside." He pointed at the lone mountain that lay far off across Valinor. The stone mound stretched so high into the air that clouds surrounded it, hiding the summit away. "That is our home and that is where you must go. Up to the very top."
"To be spared, I need to visit that mountain?" She asked him, the sadness leaving her eyes and it was instead replaced with hope and excitement.
"No, I did not say that." Aulë grunted towards her, pinching the bridge of his nose in mild frustration. She was already getting ahead of herself. "I said if you wish to consult with the rest of the Valar and beg for their blessing to cross back through the void, it is where you must go. But keep in mind, Galaren, the chances of you swaying them are very slim."
"But you said a lot of them supported me?"
"I did say that." The Vala confirmed, nodding his head as he said this. "However, even know they are discussing what to do with you. There is a very small chance they would tell you how to return but the journey back alone is a treacherous. The few who have tried to return usually become lost and eventually return to Valinor anyway."
Ren only stared back at the mountain for a long moment before she turned her head back to look at the brunet God. "I must try at least."
"And try you shall." He murmured, the smirk pulling up his lips once again. He had always admired the fire that seemed to burn inside the blonde she-elf. "But before you can pass into our realm upon the mountain, you must fully accept your life here." He told her and watched the glowing spark slowly drain from her eyes. "You must finally accept your death."
Ren felt her breath leave her and her mouth fell open slightly. However, after a moment of shock induced horror, she clenched her jaw and a determined glint entered her sapphire eyes. If she was to get back to Middle Earth, she would have to finally accept that she had died anyway, only to breathe life again across the void.
"Very well." She murmured, swallowing nervously as she let her eyes fall shut while her brow furrowed in concentration. "I relinquish the life I led in Middle Earth and I accept my death in Valinor where I shall exist now and for eternity."
Aulë only looked at her for a long moment before his lips quirked again. A slow chuckle then came from deep within his chest. "You didn't need to write a novel." The God teased before he slowly sobered, knowing that the situation was not humorous at all. He couldn't help it though. Usually, the woman had a sparkling sense of humor and he wanted to converse with in a different circumstance. "Are you ready, Galaren?"
She nodded her head licked her lips. The deity then extended his hand and held out his index finger and middle finger before he pressed them to her forehead.
And just as he touched her, images and thoughts began to swarm her mind. She saw all that she had lost and all that was missing from her memory. She saw more thoughts of when she was with the Company. She saw the journeys she had with Gandalf and Radagast. She saw the battles and she saw the wars she had taken part in.
Once again, she watched nearly her entire life flash before her eyes when all of a sudden, the flashing images slowed.
"Because, Galaren, even though you do not feel the same for me I feel that I still need to tell you..." He then drew back the left side of his coat for a moment before he reached inside the inner pocket and withdrew a very familiar, yet slightly crushed, purple flower. "I love you."
She then felt the darkness begin to close around her. She saw Tauriel and Legolas but she did not care for those things. And then there was Thorin above her. She saw the way that he gazed down at her with such fear and remorse but also love.
Love.
That word echoed inside her head for what felt like eternity.
"I love you."
His deep voice echoed through her mind and all of a sudden she was shot back into her new reality, standing back on the dirt road with Aulë before her, for he had just given her memories back.
A strangled and high pitched wail came from her throat. Her hands rose up to her face, both of them covering her mouth as tears began to instantly pour down her face.
He told her he loved her. And she never got to say it back.
She dropped down to her knees, weakness overcoming her suddenly and she began to sob uncontrollably at this realization. Ren curled in on herself at the pain she felt clenching around her heart and for a moment, she recalled that they could not feel pain in Valinor. Yet, here she was, nearly crippled from heartbreak.
"H-He l-loves me." The elf managed to stutter out and the God could only stare down at her, deep sadness showing in his eyes. He knew this is what would come to pass should she finally get her memories.
"I know."
"And I n-never got to t-tell him!" She whimpered as another fresh set of tears dripped down her face.
The elleth cried for a couple long minutes before the deity had had enough of her sobbing and sudden weakness. "Galaren, get up." He commanded gently and yet, she did not move from her curled position. "Get. Up."
"I-I can't..." She gasped out as a new wave of tears cascaded down her cheeks. "It hurts to much."
"No, you will." His voice was harsh and very commanding. "Out of all my brothers and sisters, I have been the one to watch you the longest." He began, his aura suddenly growing darker and causing her to shrink more in on herself. "And I will tell you something, little elleth. You have worked too hard and come too far to crumble now!" He nudged her harshly in her gut with his foot, causing her to fall to her side. And even then, she remained there, for she had no strength left to fight him off. "This sobbing child is not the Galaren I know. This infant is not the warrior that I've watched you grow into!" She looked up into his golden eyes then which seemed to glow like flickering flames. "Do not surrender to the pain and sorrow. You will use it as kindling to the fire I know lives inside you and you will fight!" He watched as the now defenseless and dismal look slowly began to drain from her eyes. "Now, you will get up!"
It was not only the God's words who made her cease sobbing.
No, something inside her suddenly woke up and told her to stop. Something inside flexed and stretched, telling her to get up and that crying would get her nowhere.
"I will." She promised quietly but she was amazed even then that she found her voice. "I will fight."
Loudly clearing her throat, she swallowed her emotions and willed her tears to stop. She had not felt something so strong like this determination since the battle of Azanulbizar. There was something driving her forward and strength suddenly poured into her veins.
Whether it be the will of Mahal or by her own doing, she did not care.
"I need to get back." She spoke then, using the back of her hand to briskly wipe her face clean of tears as she felt her old self fall back into her body, the first that it had happened since she lived in Valinor. She suddenly felt so whole again. Like the deadly warrior that she used to be. "I am going back." She looked up at the deity and promised him, a fierce determination sparking in her eyes, one that caused Aulë to smirk pridefully. "And nothing..." When she spoke now, her voice was eerily calm as her sapphire irises shown like blue fire. "Not even the Valar is going to stand in my way."
Turning around, she looked to the mountain and even though she felt a bit wary when she took in the sheer height of the mountain in the distance.
"To the uppermost summit I am to climb?" She asked the God who came to stand at her side.
"It is a daunting feat I will admit that." Aulë told her, placing a heavy hand onto her shoulder. "One that no doubt requires strength and no small amount of courage." She nodded her head in understanding. "I wish you all the luck you can muster, little elleth."
And with that, he was gone.
He disappeared in a whisper of wind and the warmth from her hand vanished. Turning her head, she found that the space he had inhabited moments before was empty, yet his power still seemed to linger around her, like a warm protective shield.
"We will meet again soon, Aulë." She murmured, her sapphire eyes still trained upon the distant mountain, the determination still flickering inside her blue pools. And even though the deity was gone, Ren somehow knew that he was still with her, always watching. "And you best warn your brethren that I'm coming, for it is them who will be needing the courage, not I."
Hey, guys! I'm back from Florida!
It was great by the way and I bought so much Harry Potter stuff it isn't even funny. I visited Olivanders and got a wand and just the entire thing was magical. Literally.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is most definitely the happiest place on Earth. I would definitely go back and buy all the things but I barely had enough room in my carry on as it was.
Anyway, back to the story.
So, we got to see on the other side of the void. Everyone is sad. Even Dwalin. I really wanted to show that even he had found a small spot in his heart for her, even after all the hate he had seemed to hold for her in the beginning of the DoS part of this story, he came to like her again (eventually). And since he noticed how different Thorin was around her, he kinda figured that Ren was important to him so he decided to watch her just in case.
Plus he doesn't like seeing his old friend so sad.
I also kinda just wanted to show how much the dwarves had come to accept her into their group by arguing with Legolas about her burial site.
But anyway, on the other side of the void, Ren got her memories back and had kind of a moment of weakness but now she's pissed and ready to rock to get back to the other world. Oh yeah, not to mention that she met Aulë! The Maker!
I'm also enjoying the idea of how pissed Thorin would be if he found out that Frerin was hitting on her. LOL.
And to all those who thought that our little elf was dead for good, well... You might want to start rethinking that.
If things to happen, it should perhaps be within the next chapter or even the next next one. Just hold on guys, things will get better.
Anyway, we are only 25 reviews away from being at 700! HOLY COW!
You guys are seriously the best fans ever! Oh and have you guys seen the new BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES TRAILER!? IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND I SAW IT AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE PLANE AND I'M NOT OKAY, DON'T TOUCH ME. SEND HALP.
BUT I GOT SO MANY IDEAS FROM THE TRAILER IT'S GOING TO BE SO EPIC AND I'M SCARED. SEND HALP AGAIN.
But anyway, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, READ AND REVIEW!
Love,
Blue
P.S. If someone wants to draw me some fanart, I will love you eternally :)