Chapter Fifty

Beginning of the Healing

Ayon and Ayala had been born from one single essence, twins, something rare and prized among their kind. They had grown knowing each other's hearts, feeling each other's pain. How was it Ayon did not know Ayala had suffered such a hurt, now when she needed him most?

He exhaled, sending images to her, testing the connection between them, which had been diminished when he had gone overseas with Elrond. How bitterly he regretted it now.

So he tried to tell her in a way no one but she would understand all that had occurred; the attack on Lorien and their preparations to defend it, the symbiosis that the Elves had found with the land.

He told her too of his journey back over the Sea with Elrond, and the army they had brought back.

His anger with Legolas he kept hidden, for he would deal with Legolas on his own terms if the chance arose.

:Come to Lorien, Sister,: he called. :Here it is safe, here is our heart, a shining haven in the darkness.: He smiled, eyes closed, knowing the words had found their way home to her heart. If she would follow them, Ayon did not know, but only hoped.

~*~

Ayala began to move away from the party, then stopped. She felt herself torn again. "I want to go . . ." she said.

"Then go," said Lunea.

Ayala looked at her.

"He's right, you know. You should go to Lothlorien. That is where your path lies. Not with us."

Ayala's eyes grew distant for several seconds, then cleared. "Thank you," she said. "I will go."

"I'll tell your companions. They will understand. Go now. And . . ." Lunea put her hand on Tinviel's head. "I do not think I shall see you again. Not in his reincarnation, at least. Good luck."

Before Ayala could reply, her Companion rode off.

:Is it always like this? Always the pain and the loss?: she asked.

:The pure always have the hardest road, Ayala. I knew you had to leave the party. There're . . . a lot of things ahead of us. A difficult road. And we shall face it together. Now, hold on. I shall be moving very fast to meet your brother. Wiyaun showed me the way.:

In a burst of energy, Tinviel rode hard. Ayala felt dizzy and closed her eyes. Time seemed to stand still and before she knew it, Tinviel had stopped. When she opened her eyes, she saw her brother. Ayon stood nearby, his head cocked to the side, his eyes wide in surprise.

"This . . . is a Companion?" he said.

Ayala jumped down and ran to her brother. She began to cry when he returned the embrace. "I thought I would not see you for a long time! So much has happened in such a short time!"

"I know a bit of that," said Ayon, his voice suddenly cold. "Though I do not understand."

:Tell him that we will travel together, Chosen. I can carry both of you, and you can talk along the way. I know the way to Lothlorien.:

"Tinviel says that she will carry both of us to Lothlorien," Ayala said, her mind whirling in confusion.

Without another word, they mounted Tinviel, and heading towards Lothlorien, Ayala told Ayon about the journey so far as she knew. Here with her twin brother, there was no need to keep the pain, both physical and mental, out of her voice and mind, and she spoke of the betrayal of Legolas. There was a stabbing sensation in her heart that she could not deny any longer. She managed to keep her stance like a soldier, sitting tall and her head held high. Still the tears flowed freely down her cheeks, and her skin turned white as newly fallen snow.

"I felt your pain," Ayon commented at last. Beneath his ribs came a twisting surge, as though a knife has slipped into his heart. Ayala's close proximity intensified the bond they had shared since before birth; it was almost as if they shared a heart. The time he had spent across the Sea, while wondrous, had also brought a deep grief with their separation. Ayon regretted it bitterly, especially now that Ayala had been hurt so deeply.

Regret was something that Legolas Greenleaf would come to know when Ayon met him again. None of this fit with the Legolas he had met; the son of Thranduil, as Ayon knew him, had been serene, not this self-absorbed person Ayala had just described. Perhaps there was more to the story than Ayala had just let on. Ayon would get to the bottom of it somehow. Those who hurt Ayala hurt him.

This Companion of Ayala's moved with a great speed and unearthly grace. Ayon wondered where he could find one for himself.

"One must be sent to you," quipped Ayala, and Ayon laughed.

"You always could read my mind, my sister. It would be quite annoying if I hadn't missed it so. I should not have parted from you, Ayala, though I know our lives must take different paths, in the end. What we share could not be understood or explained to anyone."

They felt silent, these two people who had know each other since before birth, and were closer even than lovers could be. Wherever life took them, they would always be at home with each other.

~*~

:Good morning,: said a cheerful voice in Ayala's head. :You are a sleepy-head . . .:

Ayala shook her head and heard Ayon laugh.

"Have a nice sleep?" he asked.

Ayala scowled. "Have you been talking to my Companion?"

Ayon's face became thoughtful. "Sometimes I think I can hear her . . ." he said. His face suddenly broke out into a wide grin. " . . .. when she does not block me completely."

:I hadn't realized what a strong bond you two had . . .: said Tinviel.

:It is stronger when we are close, Tinviel.:

:Yes . . . I understand . . .: the Companion said.

"Tinviel . . ." said Ayon softly. "Tinviel . . . Tinuviel . . . am I right?"

Tinviel did not reply.

"Yes. She is the reincarnation of Tinuviel . . ." said Ayala.

:Come to heal your sister,: said the Companion. :Her lover made a nice mess of her emotions, and Ayala is going to play an important role in all this. When we see Legolas again, things shall not go smoothly . . .:

"No," said Ayon coldly. "It shall not."

Ayala turned to look at her brother as best as she could. His eyes were cold and his face was grim, but she could not read his mind. "Ayon . . . I do not . . ."

"Leave it me. I have a score to settle . . ."

"Ayon!"

"Leave it."

Ayala began to tremble a little. She knew that tone of voice, one that left no room for questions . . . "When shall we reach Lothlorien?" she asked quietly at last.

"Before dawn tomorrow," he answered darkly. He fervently hoped Legolas Greenleaf was to be found in Lorien. If he was not, Ayon would continue to search until he found him. And when he did . . .

He turned away from this train of thought, seeing how it hurt Ayala. He would deal with Legolas alone.

"Look there, Sister, in the distance. The great city of Minas Tirith." They stopped for a short while to gaze, then rode on.

:You should not seek vengeance against your sister's beloved,: said Tinviel.

:Try and stop me,: was Ayon's mental reply.

Tinviel shook her head. :I might,: she said to Ayon, blocking Ayala from her mind.

Ayala looked from one to the other, her eyes full of curiosity, mingled with fear. "My hand is bleeding again . . ." she said softly, at last.

:That's because you did not heal it properly when you cut it,: said the Companion.

"Cutting one's self," said Ayon, reciting as if lecturing small children, "can symbolize two things . . . the joining of two souls by mingling each other's blood . . ."

"Or great pain received by another," finished Ayala, her voice low. Ayala slow redid the bandages.

:At least you did not try to commit suicide,: said Tinviel. :Some try that when they are depressed . . . Herald-Mage Vanyel attempted to commit suicide when his lifebond . . . died. I guess I should not say 'died.' He didn't. He committed suicide after a series of awful events. Vanyel's lifebond shared a bond with his brother . . . similar to you two. When he died, Vanyel's lifebond went crazy and tried to kill people. His Companion repudiated him. Then, when other Herald-Mages attempted to close a Portal . . . a Gate, Tylendel killed himself. Vanyel wanted to follow his love's footsteps, but was Chosen, and then went to the Tayledras for help.:

The call of a hawk was heard above. Ayala looked up, but it was not Wiyaun.

:That's interesting. That hawk reminds me of something. Tayledras have hawks they call 'bondbirds.' To the Tayledras,, the giving of a feather from their bondbirds is a token of marriage . . .:

The hawk cried again.

"Strange stories," said Ayon with a sigh.

:Life is always 'strange.' If it wasn't, people wouldn't really be living . . .:

"You think?" said Ayala bitterly.

:Yes,: said the Companion gently. :Life is strange, and that is what tests the hearts of all beings. Now, enough of this talk! Let us move! Hold on!:

The twins tightened their grip, and the Companion sprinted forward as fast as she could.

They stopped one more time before reaching their destination. Ayon pulled Ayala away from Tinviel for a few moments.

"Your Companion is quite lovely, but I feel I'm being watched every moment. Of course, I've always wanted to meet Tinuviel . . ." Ayon had a faraway look in his eyes.

Ayala snickered. "You haven't changed a bit."

Ayon gave her a wry half-smile. "No, I don't suppose I have. Now, let me see this hand of yours." Ayon unwound the bandage gingerly. Ayala winced.

"Don't be afraid," he said in a low, deep voice. He laid his palm over hers, and a heat grew between them. Ayala began to pull away in fear.

"Not yet," he whispered, holding onto her.

When he let go, the wound was gone, through a tiny mark still marred the surface of her palm.

"How did you . . ."

"Elrond taught me. Now let's get going. I have the feeling he is in need of a friend right now."

Tinviel champed impatiently when they returned, and they were off. Soon Lorien was in sight.

Graybough thrummed a sober greeting at the two Elves on the swift horse, also heading for Lorien.

Three Elves still rode in his branches; one had remained behind in Minas Tirith to council the son of Arwen.

"Hail, elder," said the male Elf. "I am Ayon. This is my sister, Ayala Proudbow."

"I am Graybough," rumbled the Ent. "Lorien is heavily guarded; stay with me, and I will ask passage for you."

"What has happened?"

"It was attacked by Orcs, nigh on a week ago. It has become an armed camp now. Look up."

They looked up and saw the many archers in the trees, arrows trained on their every move. Graybough announced them and they were allowed to pass.

"Welcome, Ayon, Ayala," said Elrond wearily as they were brought before him. His eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, he could not sleep nor eat, only pace, his thoughts on Arwen. His eyes filled when he saw the Ent return, knowing the news was what he feared most. She had not reached Minas Tirith, as he had known.

One had remained there, with Arwen's son.

"I cannot stay here and do nothing, while she is most likely imprisoned in Mordor," said Elrond at last, after a long silence.

"Ayon, Ayala. You once served the King in Mirkwood. I ask for your help now. Lorien must stay strong. Patrols will walk at all hours, the trees are filled with archers like the apples of late summer, the Eagles watch. I would stay here and keep watch myself, over this wondrous wood, but I cannot sit idly while my daughter suffers; she has endured much, and I to be by her side, only to come to this . . ."

Elrond broke down before he could speak again, and when he did his voice was feeble with grief.

"Stay here, as marshals in my place, until I can return with Arwen Undomiel. Please . . ."

Disclaimer: The story that Tinviel tells in this chapter is from The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey.