Chapter 50
Pure white light bathed the world around Magdalen when she woke. Magdalen eyes adjusted to the warmth of the light that fazed out the world around her. Emerging from the light Magdalen found herself seated on a plush bed of grass at the edge of glass lake, which sparkled under the light. Groaning Magdalen pushed herself upright taking in the picturesque landscape around her. She listened to the chirping of distant bird, and the babbling of a brooke not in eyesight.
MAGDALEN. A voice cried in her mind. Magdalen gasped staring wide eyed at the world around her. A sudden floor of dark memories filled her mind.
Blood covering her hands.
The pale faces of the people she loved staring down at her.
Fili's lips on her skin, begging her to stay with him.
If only for just a moment longer.
That moment never came. That is the irony of life, even when one finds themselves dropped into a fictional world. Her hand subconsciously reached for her abdomen, though when her fingers grazed over where the wound should be, she found none. Furrowing her brows Magdalen stretched the light fabric of her white tunic, bunching it up on her middle to find clean, untouched skin.
"What the hell?" She spoke aloud staring down in amazement at her unscathed skin.
Deep rich laughter froze her moments.
"That the kind of language they've been teaching you under the mountain?" Asked a voice behind her.
Magdalen raised her eyes to the clear skies in front of her. Her breathing became short and ragged. She knew this voice. Tears burned in her eyes.
Straightening her spine Magdalen slowly turned her head. Her heart stopped when was met with the face of her grandfather. Magdalen scrambled to her feet, letting out a small scream. Harion let out another laugh, putting his deep crows feet on prominent display. Magdalen's hand shot up to cover her mouth, through her eyes never strayed from the man before her. He was just as she remembered him. His square jawline was accentuated by a sandy grey bread. His short grey locks were curled and wild like Susan's. His steel eyes stared at her with joy.
Casually Magdalen raised a hand out to her grandfather, still unsure if her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. Harion, still smiling, reached out his hand letting his granddaughter meet his hand. Magdalen's heart spiked at the contact. It felt exactly as it did all those years ago. Pursing her lips Magdalen tried to hold back tears. Her hand full slipped into his large chand pulling tight as she fell into his embrace. Burying her face into his shoulder Magdalen began to sob.
Above her Harion huffed into Magdalen's hair, his hand brushing over her head pressing a kiss into her forehead. Brawny arms wrapped around her middle pulling her in closer. Her hands wrapped around the lip of his jacket, feeling the soft fabric rub against her cheek.
"Please tell me you are really here. Don't let this be another dream." Magdalen pleaded, not to Harion but to any gods that were listening.
Harion's deep chuckle reverberated in his chest, his hands patting Magdalen's back gently. Reminding Magdalen of a time long ago, when he would comfort her just like that as a kid. Pulling away Magdalen looked up at her grandfather's face.
"This isn't a dream, my little Maggie." He whispered to her reassuringly.
As he smiled his skin wrinkled showing off the familiar patterns of his face. Reaching up his finger grazed over her face,cupping her cheek lightly. He examined her face closely.
"I'm here."
Magdalen breathed. "Where are we grandpa? I just remember.." Her thoughts trailed off as vision of the council chamber and the screams within played in her mind.
A hand shook Magdalen's shoulder, bringing her back to reality.
"Follow me, we have much to discuss." Magdalen nodded, cautiously taking in the environment around her as Harion led them around the shore of the reflective lake into an open field.
"Am I dead?" Magdalen finally spoke the question that had been burning on her mind.
Harion looked over his shoulder at her before looking away. "Not yet, Maggie. You have too much fire to be put out by someone so small."
Magdalen narrowed her eyes confused by her grandfather's puzzling words. But she did not push it, simply follow quietly behind him. They walked through the field toward a single willow tree that stood in the middle of the flower field.
As they closed in on the willow tree Magdalen could make out a single figure. Magdalen's eyes widen as she took off in a sprint.
"Susan!" She screamed in pure glee.
"Susan!" Magdalen cried again.
Susan spun on her heels to face Magdalen. Now with eyes set on each other the sisters raced into each other's arms.
Magdalen held onto Susan as if her life depended on it. The pads of her fingers dug into Susan's shoulder, pressing her cheek against Susan's.
"Magdalen, I can't believe it's you. I've missed you so much." Susan cried into Magdalen's shoulder.
Her skin became wet as her tears mixed with that of Susan's. And for a while the two sisters simple stood arm in arm, relishing in each other's company for the first time in what felt like years.
"I've missed you too." Magdalen whispered back.
Susan pulled back, holding Magdalen's face between her hand tightly. "Magdalen, where have you been? Where are we?" She fired question after question.
Magdalen bowed her head, moving aside so Harion could come forward. Susan froze, only to stumble backward. Magdalen reached out catching her sister's arm, wide eyes catching Magdalen. Magdalen nodded to her sister, pushing her toward Harion.
"Grandpa?" Susan asked, reaching out to touch Harion.
And just as he had with Magdalen, Harion embraced his eldest granddaughter.
It was like something from a dream. Something that Magdalen never imagine she would ever see her grandfather again. And she had forgone any hope that she would see her sister again. But this left her with the question.
Why was she seeing them?
Magdalen had seemingly almost died twice in her life. The third time did not seem to be the charm. In her mind the only thing that made sense was that she was dead. Amrus's knife had done it, he had taken away her life. The thing she had so desperately tried to get back to, she would never see again.
She would never see Fili again. She would never be held by him again.
Magdalen staggered back as her vile thoughts consumed her. She stopped when her back collided with something solid. Tilting her head up Magdalen was met with an unfamiliar yet oddly familiar face.
Long ebony hair draped around the sharp square jawline of the man towering above her. Warm golden eyes stared down at her in amusement and delight. A brilliantly white smile grew across his sun kissed skin.
"My dear it's wonderful to see you again." Boomed the voice.
Two enormous arms swallowed Magdalen lifting her into the air as if she weighed the same as a feather. Magdalen squeaked unsure what to do as the giant swag her in the air. Once her feet met the ground again she scurried back taking in the full image of the huge man before her. The wind was knocked out of her lungs when she pieced together just who was standing in front of her.
The man was not wearing a fancy tweed jacket or the golden pin she remembered seeing him in last. No now he was wearing a simple white tunic and brown breeches. The mountain man looked almost unnatural among the delicate flower bed.
"You?" She questioned.
He had been the man that she had met that night at the Village. The one that had followed her in the street.
"Who are you?" Magdalen demanded.
Behind her a hand reached and grip her arm, pulling her back into her family.
"My lord, forgive her. She doesn't mean anything by it." Her grandfather mutter beside her, bowing to the man before him. His grip still tight around her arm as he tucked her into his side.
The man let out a deep laughter that -strangely- shook the world around them.
"Never apologize for your little spitfire, Harion. That's the reason I chose her, I knew she would never put up with my children's nonsense." The man smiled.
"Your children?" Magdalen looked between her grandfather and the man. After which she looked out on the field around them.
"Your Mahal, aren't you."
The broad smile grew once more. "Always the clever girl And you may call me Aule."
"I told you she would see through your tricks, old man." A sweet sing-song voice called out from the air.
A beautiful women step out from the boughs of the willow tree. Her long green dress seemed to pull from the grass. Her skin was the color of deep mahogany. Her fiery hair was kissed by blooms of flowers. She looked as if she was an angel sent from heaven itself.
Her ruby lips spread into a smile. "Hello, Magdalen."
A thundering headache formed in her mind, she turned to face Susan and Harion.
"What's happening Grandpa?" Magdalen begged.
"We have to say goodbye to the past my little Maggie." His hand scooped around Susan and did the same with Magdalen.
"You two have been holding on to something that will never be again. It's time to move on my loves." Harion kissed his granddaughters.
"One day we'll be together once again. But until then you must live your lives."
Susan sniffled burying her head in the crock of Harion's next. Magdalen presses her lips together trying to keep her tears at bay.
"We will give you a moment, but your time here grows short be quick." Aule instructed.
Harion Bowes graciously before turning to his girls.
"You girls have made me beyond proud. Know that it's not just me watching over you all in Mahal's halls. Your parents are very proud of you too."
Susan gasped her hand gripping Magdalen as Harion mentioned their parents.
Harion continued, "The time we have spent will always hold a place in my heart. But don't let those memories overshadow your futures. Live the rest of your life in the light." Harion stepped forward pressing a kiss on both of his granddaughters foreheads.
Behind them a voice cleared gaining their attention. They turned to find Yavanna standing just under the curtain of leaves.
"It's time to go." Her voice was soft as she spoke.
Magdalen brushed away a tear hugging her grandfather and her sister.
"Tak khaz meliku suz yenetue." Magdalen whispered to Harion as she pulled away.
He repeated the sentence to her as he stepped back. Magdalen faces Susan, feeling Susan capture her face in her hands.
"I will always love you. Never forget that, not even when we are worlds apart. I don't know if this is a dream, or not. But even if it is, I hope it's just a sign that you're okay wherever you are." Susan gripped Magdalen's hair.
A single tear rolling down her cheek Magdalen nodded. "I'm fine, Susan. I'm more than fine. I'm happy." Susan's red eyes studied Magdalen's face one last time before placing a kiss on her face.
"I love you, little bird."
"Susan I need to get back to your world. Your husband will begin to wonder where you've gotten too." Susan looked at the woman, nodding. Slipping from her sisters grasp, Susan snaked her way to Yavanna's side.
Yavanna's face -like pure sunlight- light up as she remembered something.
"Ohhh I nearly forgot my dear, I have something for you." Reaching into the seemingly endless pockets of her dress, she plucked a violently blue tulip from her garments.
"Keep this with you always, it will bring you good health for the rest of your days."
Placing the velvety petals in Magdalen's open palm. Yavanna squealed in delight, like a child. "I've always liked you, you will be good for the dwarves."
Before Magdalen could ask what she meant, the lady of the earth disappeared with her sister. Leaving her alone under the willow tree looking out into the sea of flowers.
Aule chuckled behind her,"Forgive my wife for that, she gets… a little too excited sometimes."
Magdalen jumped at the sudden voice, turning to find the man.
"Come along, it is time to go." Aule said walking out into the field from where they had come from.
Magdalen followed after the Valar. After walking in silence Magdalen spoke.
"Where am I going? I thought I was dead?"
Aule glanced at her behind him. "You think a hateful dwarf could kill my champion." He smiled.
Magdalen narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"Your champion?"
Aule sighed.
"Magdalen, my children are a stubborn bunch. Sometimes they don't look beyond their noses." His eyes set on the woodland around them.
"And that will be their downfall one day. But you, you will save my children. Help them see beyond their prejudices." Aule sighed looking out onto his wife's field of flowers.
"I didn't choose you to save them." He spoke as if he read her mind.
Magdalen looked up at him in surprise. "Then why did you choose me, why did you take me out of my life back on earth?" She demanded to know, not caring to mind the attitude she took with the powerful Vala.
Instead of answering her with anger Aule simply nodded his head slowly."It is not your job to save the. It is your job to show them the way, only the dwarves can save themselves. Your heart is so open and pure. You can reach them, make them see why they are wrong."
"As for your life on earth, I saw your future. You would never have been happier there if you stayed, not truly. You were always meant to come to Middle Earth." He stated simply.
"But Amrus stabbed me, how will I get back?" She asked her heart leaping at the thought of going home.
"I am a Valar. I have my ways." He stopped at the edge of the reflective lake where Magdalen had woken up at.
"Step into the water and think of the thing you love most." He instructed his hand outstretched toward the lake. Magdalen nodded stepping toward the lake the only thing stopping was Aule's voice once again.
"Don't forget your grandfather's words. The past isn't meant to overshadow your future. Live out your days as a granddaughter of Harion should. Brave and true."
Magdalen swallowed feeling the cool water being to grow around her. Taking a deep breath she dived into the water, swimming deeper into the water she began to think. She thought of Fili and her home. She thought of the time they had together and she thought of their future.
Fili. She thought to herself
And from the depths of the water, she heard a single word.
"Magdalen."
Sorry, it's been a second I've had to get things ready I'm moving into a new apartment and getting ready for grad school. But here it is! I hope you all enjoy and Happy New Year!
Don't fret I haven't abandoned this piece! I love it too much!