Author's Note:
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters, places, names, etc (only the OC). It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien and Peter Jackson.
~ Chapter Fifty Two: Our family's bonds ~
Caras Galadhon, the city was located on a green hill surrounded by a Fosse and a wall whose gates lay to the south-west. The inhabitants dwelt in large felt in the trees, reached by white ladders. The winter was no longer, and spring had already changed by bringing warmer colors and brighter sight to the area. Ethir and Tauriel arrived the same day in Lothlórien. Haldir welcomed them, and made sure both were given a bed chamber. They were offered food and clothing.
Ethir, never forgot the warm of the streams, the silk feeling of their Elves soap. She remembered the stream was located South North. She left her belongings inside the chamber. The sword, that Legolas gave her could never replace her own blade. It purpose was to protect her, in case of any attack. Since, she was safe now she simply stored it in her room.
Cithel, the maiden that had helped her the last time, brought soap, clean towels and few gowns inside her room. Ethir thanked her. Next she grabbed one of the gowns and the slippers. She picked up soap and towels. She walked south, and turned to the north. Finally she had reached the streams. She was drained and her brain was still wheeling, with grief and sorrow. She stared at the clean waters. Next she stripped, and put her clothes aside. Ethir grabbed the soap and swam deeper inside the stream. The water touched her skin, softly. The light waves stroked against her. She felt her muscles yank. Every part of her body was softening and relaxing.
She spend all morning bathing and relaxing, in the warm streams of Lórien. It was noon when she returned, wearing a silver gown. Her hair lose, soft like silk. There was surely something different in use, inside those soaps. Her body felt refreshed and relaxed. Yet, her mind and heart was troubled. Before reaching the fountain main area, she stumbled against Haldir. Who was actually looking for her.
"Ethir, are you restful and peaceful, to talk? Long have we delay, our conversation." the Marchwarden of Lothlórien said, as he sat his back to a great tree.
There was a cool hour for a brief space, before Ethir answered "My body is rested, my mind is troubled. I am not sure, if it will ever find peace. Yet, we do have to talk. Haldir, tell me my parents story. I need to hear all the details." she asked him, almost begged him.
The ellon, signed her to sit down. His story was long, and it would be full of surprises. He started the tale about her father. Most of it, Ethir already knew. "Aldar crossed paths with your mother, in Mirkwood. I am not sure, what part of his evilness captivated her. But it surely was not his pureness. I do not know a lot about their story in Mirkwood, but after they escaped they hid in the mouth of Anduin. As I told you before, you were born there. Few years after your birth, I returned to visit your parents and I found their graves and you was taken." he narrowed her through the story.
Ethir leaned against the tree that was behind her "I already know that part of the story. What about my mother? Why did they escaped from Mirkwood? Was the ElvenKing after them? How did they die?" so many questions rose.
Haldir gazed at her confuse, after so many questions. It was a brief moment, he could see his sister in Ethir's actions. Having so many questions, meant that there was something bothering her. The only aid he could offer her for now, was to tell her the truth. "Those questions are the hardest to be answered. Yet, I will bring your agony to an end. Maybe, I should have told you, when we first met. The question about you mother will be answered last. There is a true hiding, I cannot bring myself to admit it." the ellon pause to take a deep breath. "They had to escape, because Sauron was after them. The ElvenKing had no reason to haunt them"
Ethir titled her head as her heart was beating faster. She was not sure what Haldir was trying to tell her. Thranduil should be after them. "Wait! One second, I was told that my father killed Thranduil's wife. They should be running for their lives?" she quizzed. Her eyes were wide open, and her attention was all turned against Haldir.
"That is a false rumor, that the ElvenKing allowed to rise. It is true that your fathers men, attacked his wife and killed her. But your father, slayed his own men. Thranduil, granted their escape." the ellon revealed.
Ethir felt the sky, falling on her head. Her mind spun and she was dizzy. Haldir's words were cycling inside her mind. "It cannot be true. He slayed the Queen, and the ElvenKing took his revenge... I was told.." she mumbled lost.
The Marchwarden of Lothlórien smiled "That tale is true. The Elves in Mirkwood still believe it. Yet, Cernin, your mother enlightened me. Their lives were spared, The ElvenKing never sought any revenge. Your mother died after giving birth. Months later, but it was caused by given birth. Your father drawn. I am sorry, if their death was not as adventured as their lives."
Ethir leaped almost losing her balance. "How can that be..We.. I was ..." she murmured mostly to herself. The ellon waited for her mental state to return. It took her many moments. "Then my father never slayed his wife... Then his father never ... did my ... Then we could ... I have too ..." she went on mumbling.
"Ethir, could you please hear me out. There is more I have to tell you." Haldir cut her crazy act, as he was afraid she would run off.
She paused and nodded at him. True be told, she was ready to ride back to Mirkwood and tell Legolas. The news she had just received, gave her more than hope. She had to tell Legolas, she had to inform him. Maybe she was still human, (or at least she thought so) but there was no reason to be parted. She never thought, that there were more secrets to be announced. Secrets that would change her life for ever.
"About your mother... Cernin was a Silvan Elf from Lothlórien... Actually, she was our youngest sister. Ethir, you mother was my sister, my only sister." Haldir blurred out suddenly.
Ethir collapsed against the ground. The trees that surrounded them were spinning in any direction. She was dreaming, or she was dead. She remain there gazing at Haldir, with an empty stare. Her mind was gone, as such things could not be true. "Those are children's tales... You my uncle How can it be? Then what am I?" she asked in a confusion.
The ellon softly tapped her shoulder as he knelt next to her, trying to comfort her. "Ethir, I know you can not believe it. Yet, Its true. You mother was the personal guard of the Queen. She was also her close friend. The reason, why she was stayed in Mirkwood. Cernin was trained as a Silvan Marchwarden. Yet, she wanted more than that. You are not alone, you have family. Three uncles, and if you are a half Silvan Elf. You are not mortal. If that was your question. Neither Aldar was. I could say, you are a young adult Elfin. You still have a lot things to learn, and I will make sure you are taught." Haldir went on baffling her more.
"Then my timeline, ... it can be long.. like elves. How ... No way!?" she cried out emphasizing mostly her immortality than that Haldir was her uncle. "I have to tell him! I am leaving! I am riding back to Mirkwood!" she cried out as she stood up.
The ellon was lost. He had just exposed himself to be her uncle, and she wanted to ride back in Mirkwood. Did the news hit her so bad and she lost her mind? "Ethir, I will not allow that. Did you not hear what I just told you. I am your uncle. You are part of Lothlórien. Do you not wish to connect, with the only family that is still alive." Haldir questioned.
"Of course, I want to connect with my family. Yet, I need time to process what you just told me. Haldir, I need to reach Mirkwood soon. Because, I have left sorrow behind. I have to undone it!" she responded. She could not in few seconds just accept, that she was an Elleth. Or a half Elf. Neither, that she had family. Honestly, she refused to go into deeper details for now she wanted only to reach Legolas and tell him. Her priority was to give back hope. To put his suffering to an End.
"Ethir, .." Haldir was about to speak as one of his men showed up and he whispered something to him. He looked at Ethir strangely, and then asked the guard "You are positive, it is him?"
"Yes, Marchwarden. He is riding with a dwarf, they will arrive soon!" he confirmed and left.
"Dwarf? Legolas?" she mumbled and an odd smile appeared on her face. She seemed so odd, it was the first time she was actually shining.
"I suppose, the arriving of the prince, has to do with you? And, why do I believe I would not want to hear the reason!" Haldir commented. The Ellon did not have children or any other nieces or nephews. He was accepting, his reunion with his sister's child, would be a happy event. Yet, he had the feeling that he was wrong and it would cause more troubles.
Ethir, felt like a teen that was caught with her boyfriend. She was not sure why she those complicated thought rising. Why she felt, she was in trouble. She was a grown woman, who never had to explain her actions to anyone. And there she was being treated as a child. "Aye, I think he will be looking for me. And I need to talk with him!" she replied.
Haldir sighed "You should meet him. You will not be in any rest, if I would ask you not to. Then we will talk. And I believe it will be a long talk. You do not know were you stand. What it means that we are related? There are rules, and you have now a family." That was only what the Marchwarden of Lothlórien told her. Then he retreated. Finding his niece, and explaining who he was, seemed an easy task. Now was the hardest part. Ethir, grow up alone. Freely, with no one to answer to. Now, things seemed different. How could Haldir, suddenly rise any limits? He was still a stranger to her eyes. She had just proven that, with her action. She longed to talk to Legolas more, than her uncle.
Ethir nodded and dashed off to meet with Legolas.
((Next Chapter: 53))
'Ellon' == Elf or He-Elf
'Elleth' == She-Elf
More than anything, thank you for taking the time to read this!
Quick Note: Cannot wait for Ethir and Legolas to meet in the next chapter.
