Dearest Readers,

I am currently uploading this at 1 am on Tuesday because I couldn't wait any longer. I'm addicted to writing this story, I think.

I have a question: should I write smut in this next chapter or no? Or do you not care either way? I wouldn't write it if it doesn't fit within the plot, but I wouldn't add it in if people are wholly against it, either. Let me know what you think!

XOXO Ally Layne.

Do Not Go Gentle

Chapter 46: This Could All Be A Dream

Varis was visibly seething at the news. Arwen, on the other hand, let out a gasp and had tears in her eyes. Mirwen was her subordinate in court, the poor elleth must be thinking that there was something she could've done to stop this.

"It is all of my fault," Arwen whispered into her hands, as the first tear slipped down her cheek. It was followed by many more.

"No," I told the usually calm Evenstar. "No, Arwen, it's not your fault. You could not have known, no one could."

Estel moved to her side subtly and placed a mud manicured hand on her pale shoulder. "You could not have known Lady Mirwen would so such a thing."

Elrohir and Elladan looked at Estel with a silent warning, and the Ranger immediately removed his hand from their sister's shoulder. I nearly started to snicker at the sight but held my cool.

Besides, my body and my head were killing me. And I think I really wanted to nap for a week. Not to mention, I was starving. The little bits of food Estel was able to get for me to eat were starting to wear off.

Why is life so difficult?

"I will see to it that she is taken in for questioning," Aldarian voiced, looking between the two soldiers holding me up. "I am sure Lords Elrond and Glorfindel will like to have a discussion with her."

He moved to my side and shouldered Elrohir away to take me in another hug. "I am so glad to see you safe, Neneth," he told me, and I rested my head on his shoulder happily.

Then I stopped in my tracks. "I'm not even mad you called me that," I admitted with no lack of surprise. "How did that happen?"

Aldarian pulled away to hold me at arm's length with a charming grin. "I have a wonderful habit of getting what I want."

And with a wink, he sauntered off to go take Mirwen into custody. His butt did look mighty fine in his tight leathers, and of course, Glorfindel was the elf for me but it doesn't suddenly make me blind.

"Persephone Jackson do not stare at my brother's rear in front of me!" Alma immediately exclaimed with a gasp. "And the same goes for you too, Varis!"

From the corner of my eye, I could see Varis, very openly checking Aldarian's ass out and licking her lips. Now that she is opening up more, she is definitely my kinda dwarf, I can tell you that.

Her eyes flicked to mine and we shared a grin that made Alma sigh. "Absolutely disgusting," she muttered.

Elrohir moved to take hold of my side again and we quickly made it to the Healing Halls. Elladan allowed Elrohir to ease me into a cot and moved back to the door quickly. "I will go make sure Aldarian does not find himself in trouble," he told us, before hurrying out after the other elf.

Estel flicked his eyes toward the exiting figure. "I will go with him," he spoke, before eyeing me carefully. "Do not get yourself any more hurt than you already are, Persephone."

I winked. "You know me well, toots."

He smiled but looked slightly confused as he placed a careful hand on Arwen's shoulder then left.

Elrohir glared at the hand that quickly retreated with the man, making me snicker loudly. A blush fell onto Arwen's pale cheeks, glowing against her skin like a beacon of vitality.

Varis sat at my side and patted my arm comfortingly. "They will get you all good here, Persie."

I felt my eyebrows stretch upward at her kind gesture. Normally she didn't endeavor to try and be emotional around a group of people (including those she doesn't know). Perhaps I really did worry her.

"I know, thanks Varis."

Gerda gave me a glass of water she had poured from a large table full of various drinks, blends, and herbs. "Drink this slowly, mellon nin."

But like the true daughter of the Poseidon I am, I totally bottomed up the glass, downing it like a champ. Gerds did not look impressed, her arms were crossed and nose scrunched in annoyance, but a small smile was playing on her lips.

"Can I have some more?"

With a quick nod, she took the glass from my hands hurried back to the weird table with everything on it.

"Ada is on his way," Elrohir stated, grabbing some supplies and laying them out on the bedside table. "He had to send another missive to Lord Glorfindel to notify him on your arrival."

My eyebrows shot upward, and I mentally groaned at the aching in my head the motion caused. "He had to?"

Alma and Arwen looked between each other knowingly. Elrohir decided to pretend like he was busy with mixing some gross green stuff that smelt like leaves. Varis smirked unnervingly, while Gerda calmly walked over with a now full glass of water.

"Lord Glorfindel… well, he was not pleased to find out that you were missing," Gerda acknowledged as she handed me the glass.

I placed it on my side table, looking at Elrohir pointedly. It was most likely he knew the most out of all of them. He looked at me sheepishly and set the mixture to the side. "Ada sent a message to Glorfindel when he was tracking the orc parties, and it led him to come back directly to Imladris."

"I assume he didn't take it too well?"

"He threatened to kill Elrohir for letting something bad happen to you before he was able to think better of it," Arwen admitted, as she clasped her hands together delicately in front of her.

I let out a huff. "He shouldn't have done that. Did he at least apologize, Elrohir?"

The elf in question shrugged. "He did not outwardly offer apologies for what occurred. However," he eyed me seriously, "I do not blame Glorfindel for his actions, as I would have done the same."

I opened my mouth, but suddenly Varis was the one to cut me off. "If it were my One, then I would most likely have taken an ax to the elf-boy for not protecting them," she said blatantly. "We do not take our mates being hurt lightly."

I raised a brow. "Ones? Mates?"

"Dwarrow kind have Ones, which are a lot like the Ellon and their fea-mates. Just as how you have described the soulmates from your world," Varis explained.

I gulped. "And you guys think that Glorfindel is my… erm… soulmate?"

Arwen looked down at me kindly. "We do not have power over who our fea-mates or in your world's terms, soulmates, are."

I thought back to the intensity of the looks between her and Estel. An immortal elleth, and a mortal Ranger. Could the same thing hold true for me and the Golden Warrior? I'm not immortal. I rejected the gift of immortality long ago and never regretted it because it meant I stayed with those I love.

But… why do I find myself regretting it, now?

Because you love him.

I blinked.

I love him.

Holy Hades, I'm in love with Goldilocks.

The last person I've loved had tried to kill everyone I cared about, and I ended up watching him commit suicide in front of me.

Hopefully this time, things ended a little bit differently.

The others were currently looking at me and possibly were internally hoping that I could come to some conclusion for the way I felt for the noble Elf Lord.

"Does that mean that we are forced to have feelings for the people we are, well, mates with?" I asked, stringing my hands together in thought.

"No, it does not." The voice came from the doorway, and I quickly looked up to see Lord Elrond billowing in through the doorway. "You have full control over your feelings, they are generated naturally. It is the way you are linked to each other spiritually that makes one fea-mates. Some fea-mates are destined to be romantic, others platonic. But they are always meant to be together."

Arwen moved over to Gerda and whispered something in her ear, and before I could try and register what she might have said, Gerda hurried out the door. Whatever mission my friend was on, it seemed mighty important.

I nodded as he moved closer to the cot, and urged Varis and Alma to leave. Varis might have been slow to leave, but luckily Alma was there to guide her on the way out. Arwen moved to stand next to her brother, as Elrond started to go through the process of checking my wounds, which were very nearly gone.

Arwen helped me take off my shirt, and Elrohir altered his eyes to turn down at the paste on the table he had been working on and tried not to look up as I had to remove all my bindings for the healer to begin his assessment.

Arwen quickly helped him wash the healing stab wound on my side with water, which helped the healing process dramatically. His hands flittered along my ribs, and I let out a gasp when his hands started to glow and the small, dull ache of the bones became painless.

Elrond smiled at the shock that must have been completely pellucid on my face. "How does your head feel? Estel has told me that your head was injured."

I let out a sigh as Arwen helped me back into the wrappings. Then, only when my breasts were covered Elrohir swiftly helped his Ada with the green paste on my wound. "I believe we should let this be without a bandage as long as you will be in the healing quarters," Elrohir voiced, looking at me knowingly. "However long is dependent on your stubbornness, which is something all of us here knows well."

I rolled my eyes. "I feel fine."

"Then why is it that your pupils are not correctly dilating when posed with the light?" Elrond asked as one of his eyebrows raised.

"It's not like it's the first time I've ever gotten a concussion," I whined, and with a groan I let my body fall back against the soft pillows. "Can I at least have some food before we debate whether or not I'm going to be forced to stay here?"

"Gerda is bringing you food as we speak," Arwen revealed, laughing softly at the fist pump I let out into the air.

"Also, you will be staying here overnight. Elladan, Elrohir, and I will be making rounds to wake you every few hours to be sure your head is healing as it should."

I blinked. "But I wasn't forced to wake up earlier and was even sleeping for days at a time-"

"That was because they could not wake you up in the first place, hûnneth," Elrond explained, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. "Estel did not want to worry you, but your life strings were taught and he had to work hard to keep you among the living."

I stared up into his dark, pained eyes and frowned. "I-I… was it really that bad?"

The Elf Lord nodded. "We praise Illuvatar for the grace we have been given this day."

My head started to hurt more with his words, as I started to think and try and concentrate. I should not have been so easily captured, what was I even thinking? I've been fighting for so many years, have abilities that are so powerful that gods have feared me, so why was I-

"Here is some food for you, Lady Persephone," Gerda voiced as she walked into the halls with a platter of an assortment of light foods. I saw cheese, bread, some small cuts of chicken, some greens, and even some blueberries.

She placed the platter on my bedside table along with another glass of water. "Thank you so much, Gerds."

The dark-haired maid bowed her head softly as a smile tugged on her lips. "Anything for a friend," she said. "I will be just outside if you need anything."

"You can go home for the evening, Miss Gerda," Elrond told her, and I nearly laughed at the shocked look that crossed her face when she realized he was directing his speech to her. "You have done much for the Lady Persephone, and I know she will be needing you tomorrow."

Gerda looked between Elrond, then to me, then even to Arwen, who nodded her head at her friend. Sometimes I doubt that Gerds even knows what a night off means, as she is literally always around.

"You did nothing wrong," I told her. "You've done everything right, Gerds. I'll see ya tomorrow."

Her answering smile lit up the room. Before anyone could move, Gerda had run over to my bedside and pulled me into a gentle, yet strong hug that sent love radiating through my heart. "I am so glad you are safe, mellon nin," she whispered into my hair just before pulling away.

"Thank you, Lord Elrond, for your generosity," she turned and spoke to the elf in question with a graceful curtsey.

He smiled and nodded back to her, letting my dear friend take her leave.

"She is a kind elleth," Elrond voiced, and I giggled and nodded in agreement.

"Gerds is special."

Elrond looked at Elrohir in barely veiled curiosity. "Do you think she is a kind elleth, ion?"

Elrohir glared at his father but looked over at the door before shrugging. "She is special, as Neneth has said, Ada."

Arwen and I shared a look before bursting out into laughter. "She may be just too special for you, Ro," I told the elf with a look of warning. I could barely hold back the yawn that threatened me mid-speech. "Gerds deserves the world."

He rolled his eyes. "It is not as if I fancy her-"

"But you were thinking about it."

"It was just a mere thought-"

"You still were thinking it."

Elrohir let out a groan.

"Before we sort out Elrohir's future relationships, I will help Persephone get clean and into new clothes before she rests," Arwen said, noticing the tiredness in my eyes.

"She is right," Elrond said before looking at Elrohir with an odd look in his eye. "We can discuss his future relationships later, shall we?"

Arwen and I were still giggling when they left and tried to imagine what it would be like if Elrohir or any other elf decided to try and court our dear friend. Alma, at least, was starting to show the strength she had hidden, but Gerda was far more quiet and shy than Alma ever was.

Geren probably would try and get a horse to pummel whatever elf asks for his sister's hand, but I know that with my help we just might see it happen.

I thought that would be hilarious, but I think from the look in Arwen's eyes, she was a bit worried about the future regarding ellon suitors and how I might try and dissuade them. It took a bit of convincing, but I think I got Arwen to see that I know when people are up to no good or aren't going to be good in a relationship.

However, with my personal track record, I don't really know if we should trust me or not. It could be the concussion talking, who knows. Let's just hope Gerda doesn't find her prince charming before I can give him a proper shovel talk.

Maybe I could enlist Varis to help?

Now that would not go over too well. Varis and I together? We'd probably start a war just with ourselves.

"I hope you rest easy, Persephone," Arwen told me as I was finally tucked all cozy in the bed. "Remember, in a few hours my Ada will be here to wake you up."

I yawned and waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah, I won't try to stab him with Riptide I promise."

She let out a chuckle that sounded a lot like one of Estel's. "Very well. Good night, mellon nin."

"Good night, Arwen."

I didn't stay awake long enough to see her walk out, or close the door behind her.

"Persie?"

"Mom?"

My mom's clear blue eyes shone in the reflection of the sea, as we watched the waves crash against the sandy beaches and slowly recede with a light, delicate caress.

Her dark, brown curls were swaying in the wind, just light enough to ease the heat radiating from the sun and make the weather somewhat manageable. I missed this. Just the two of us, on the beach, staring out and watching the waves my father created as he said his own hello to the two of us.

"I have missed you so much, little minnow," She told me, pulling me into a warm embrace. "It has been so long."

I felt tears come to my eyes. "It feels like it's been forever," I told her in all honesty, before pulling apart and holding her at arm's length. "Are you really here? With me? Or am I just dreaming?"

My mom smiled, placing a hand on my cheek. "I think you know the truth, Seph. You only need to admit it to yourself."

I leaned into her hand. "I've missed you so, so much, Mom. I can't do all of this without you-"

"But you have!" She exclaimed, bringing her other hand to wipe away the tears that have formed and started to fall. "You have accomplished so much on your own, in a whole different world… you have grown so much."

I laughed tearfully. "I made a lot of mistakes, mom."

She shook her head. "You've made a lot of decisions, and you have learned from them. You are so strong, my minnow. So strong."

I pulled her into another hug. "Only because you taught me how to be."

I felt her nod against the side of my head. "You and I have had to go through so much to find happiness," she voiced. "I was so happy with Paul, and I was so pleased that we were going to have another child."

A sob shook through my body. "Her name was going to be Estelle."

My mom pulled me away again, a soft and sad smile taking over her face. "She is with Paul and I, we are all together. You do not have to grieve anymore, darling. We are happy, and we are free."

I chocked on another sob. "But I want to be with you."

Tears streamed from her eyes, now. "That is not how it supposed to be, my minnow. You are meant for such great things, I see it now. I am one chapter in your great story, and you should not let my death hold you back."

I grabbed her hands that lingered on my shoulders. "You are more than just a chapter, mom. You are everything."

My mom smiled. "You are my everything, Persephone. I love you, much more than you can ever imagine. One day, with your own children, you will understand."

I let out a wet snort. "Who says I'll have kids?"

Her smile became reflective, as she could see something past my shoulder that I couldn't hope to find. "You will have children, Sephie. They'll be an absolute hoot, just like you were."

I groaned dramatically, laying my forehead against hers. "Don't say that, mom."

Her laughter sent waves of joy through my veins. I think I know why my father wanted my mother for his queen. If the seas and oceans truly could hear and feel her laughter, it too would be joyous.

"I love you, my minnow," my mom whispered in my ear. "I love you more than all of the waves in the ocean."

I pulled her in for another embrace. "And I love you more than all the fish in the sea."

She quickly pulled away, as her eyes widened. And for the first time in this heavenly place, I saw fear in her eyes. "You need to wake up, darling."

I blinked. "What?"

Her blue eyes darkened and looked into my own fiercely. "You need to wake up, Seph. You need to wake up, now!"

My heart clenched in its chest. "What? Why?"

The fear radiating in her eyes only grew more in power. "She's coming."

"Who?"

"She's going to kill you!"

"What, mom?"

"Wake up!"

My eyes opened.

A figure was move above me, dagger in hand, ready to strike me down and send me off into the afterlife.

Eyes wide, looking up at the cloaked assailant, and I threw myself from the bed.

I wasn't able to fully avoid the weapon on its downward stroke, getting tied up in the blankets and whatever it was Arwen had tucked me into the bed with, hissing as the blade sliced deep into the skin just below my collar bone.

When I finally was able to wrench myself out of the bed and onto the other side away from my would-be murderer, I choked on my hoarse yell when my head hit the ground and sent pain radiating through my body.

However, my scream was real when they lunged over the bed with freakish grace and started to choke me.

"Just die!"

"No!" I yelled, feeling a familiar clench in my gut and acted, sending the pitchers of water that were in the room all at the face of the killer.

They screamed, a blood-piercing scream of rage and anger. It wasn't male, but female?

I hurried and fought to get myself up, but I could barely place what my hands were and where my feet happened to be. My head was rushing, and I felt puke make its way through my throat and I nearly vomited all over the floor.

This isn't good.

The door opened, as the assailant stood up and turned to face me with pure rage in their eyes, and I realized just who it was.

Then, the person who opened the door realized just what was happening.

"Nemir!"

I gasped. "Glorfindel?!"

And then, like the awesome person I was, I passed out.