"You were right. It rained." She spoke over the thundering raindrops, her hazel eyes looking above at the pouring sky, lips smiling with a kind of joy he had never seen on her face before.
"I know." He was surprised he was even able to find his voice, still feeling the warmth of her spirit intertwined with his. He was not able to stop smiling, the sudden relief, the sudden freedom something he had not ever considered would be possible for him to feel again. It was like breathing again, seeing again, the world around him so alive again, so welcoming, feeling that for the first time in many long years he would lose himself into it, not needing to have a part of himself always focused on stopping the pain, on distracting from the horrible void left in his injured spirit, trying to push it out of his mind.
He wiped a hand over his cheeks, hearing her musical laughter at his words. But there was not use in his gesture, the rain continued to drench over them, heavy drops washing over his face and brushing away the remaining of his tears as he got himself together. Part of him felt ashamed for shedding tears like an elfling, and still the relief to his agony had been so unexpected, so great. And yet, her eyes had not left his, swirling honey, gold stroked in green, welcoming him into their endless depths, his hand was still gripping hers tightly. She knew. She could feel every corner of his spirit now through their still weak bond. There was nothing left to hide, nothing left for him to pretend. But could she even tell what she was doing? What relief, what peace, that simple touch of her spirit intertwined with his was giving him?
"Come on, before we freeze." He laughed, and even that sounded different, even that seemed freed from a burden that had been crushing him for years.
Pushing himself back to his feet he helped her up with one of his hands, watching her brushing away the patches of melting snow from her cloak and dress. The heavy rain fell like a curtain shading their surroundings, making it impossible to see more than a couple of feet ahead. It felt like ice, soaking through his cloak and robes which now stuck awkwardly to his body, making the formal garments feel heavier than they were. And strangely enough, he could have stayed there for all of eternity, feeling the cold freezing drops travel down his hair and face, touching his skin, listening as they clashed on the gravel path, splashed on the many leaves around, made the trees sway and shake.
She threw her arms over her head, thin as they were, they would provide no shelter at all, and he let out another chuckle at her useless attempt to shield herself from the rain. She too was already drenched, her thick winter cloak pulling heavily on her shoulders. Still he did not say anything, quickly rushing down the slippery stone path, feeling her hand still safely held in his.
He could make out the hazy outlines of houses and buildings of different sizes starting to appear through the forest, emerging from the trees as if they were part of them. And they were down in the center of town within minutes. They rushed through the empty roads without any particular destination, his eyes tracing the outlines of many colorful windows, the crystals all shut tight against the drumming rain and raging wind, curtains pulled over balconies. The rain storm was gaining strength. Every now and then a royal guard on a horse would pass them by, dutifully patrolling the streets of the center of town, but none ever looked at them twice, not with their hoods over their heads, rushing about and trying to escape the freezing droplets.
"In here." She exclaimed as she suddenly pulled him by the hand, reaching for the door of the first shop she saw, quickly pushing it open.
They nearly ran inside, the loud click of the door closing behind them sealing away the peaceful drumming of the rain, engulfing them in a warm silence. The first thing he noticed was the smell, an overwhelming mix of incense and a thousand other herbs and flowers: vanilla, lavender, pinewood, daisy, roses….he could not even keep track of them, floating in the air almost overpowering.
A tiny silver bell lay ringing right above their heads, still swaying from when they had hit it with the opening door. At least it was dry with a roof over their heads, even if the water still ran down his drenched cloak and pooled over the old wooden floor at his feet.
His emerald eyes scanned the ample room, following Indilene's tiny figure as she took a couple of steps forward, brushing off the hood of her cloak from over her head. Her long ashen hair dripped down her back, wet strands sticking to the sides of her angled pale face, which curiously looked around her.
The room was large, the old wooden floor creaking at their steps, and barely any light from the overcast grey sky outside managed to filter through the narrow tall windows, leaving it in a strangely comforting semi-darkness. Piles over piles of shelves covered the walls, all filled with the strangest assortments of herbs in crystal flasks of all sizes, scented candles that varied from short and thick to tall and thin, packages of incense – where most of the smell came from-, and even some little square boxes with beautiful flowers painted on their lids- containing Eru knew that. There were rolls of yellowing parchments neatly tied with leather cords, assortments of plain quills, flasks of inks of all different colors, and he noticed a long line of tiny crystal animals in one of the farthest shelves.
"Should we wait out the rain?" He had not noticed Indilene reaching his side once more, and the room around them disappeared as his eyes once again could only focus on those endless hazel oceans. He could not tear his eyes from her, could not look away from her gentle patient smile.
The wind howled forcefully again, rattling the crystals of the few small widows in the strange shop.
"I think it wise." He said, watching her let out a light chorus of laughter that sounded like twinkling bells. She turned around, softly walking to one of the little windows, her dripping cloak dragging on the old floor behind her as she moved.
"It is getting worse outside." She whispered, leaning to glance through the crystal, which suddenly shook once more from the force of the wind, making her hurriedly take a couple of steps backwards in surprise.
He started to make his way towards her, but a slight creaking on the old wooden floorboards made him turn his head in its direction. For a second his eyes found nothing but the large wooden counter at the end of the room, just in front of an archway enclosed by a thick velvet curtain. And then, he caught something moving, the top of a little dark head rounding the high counter from behind, stopping at the very end of it, peeking through its side.
"Hello." He spoke softly, a small smile forming on his face as the little elfling became visible. She was tiny, nearly the same height as the counter, one little hand clinging to its top surface, almost ready to rush back and hide behind it if necessary. A bush of slightly tangled black waves reached barely past her shoulders, coming out of her once neat braids where the girl had clearly tugged at them.
"Hello." The elfling spoke back, a little shy sound, waving her free hand in the air. And yet her large childish eyes were looking at him curiously, darting from him to Indilene, staring at them with that innocent curiosity so characteristic of the little ones.
"Are you alone here?" He asked gently, lowering himself to be at her level, surprised to find her here without anyone around. Indilene had walked back to his side, watching curiously at the elfling too. The child shook her head, more of her golden waves falling out of her braids. And then she turned her head to look at the archway behind the counter.
"Nanaaa!" The little elfling suddenly called, one of her hands still gripping the countertop, eyes turning once again to look back at him, curiously studying his face.
"I have seen you before." The child spoke, her voice slightly shy, looking somewhat confused as she pointed a tiny finger straight to his face, only making him let out a light laugh. He had been around many elflings before, having three younger siblings, and yet it never ceased to amaze him how easily they spoke whatever it was they were thinking.
"It is possible." He agreed, watching Indilene giggling slightly beside him. And yet, the girl's eyes turned to Indilene instead, as if suddenly remembering her presence, eyeing her every feature with the same curiosity with which she had examined him before.
"I have never seen you, tough." The girl pointed her finger innocently now in Indilene's direction, making both of them let out another set of quiet chuckles.
"What is your name?" The elfling tilted her head slightly to the side, a shy smile appearing on her soft face, looking back directly at him with her curious big blue eyes.
"Ar." He replied deciding to make it easier for the girl instead of his long name, but she let out a chorus of shy giggles in return.
"That's not a name!" The elfling exclaimed, shaking her head and swaying lightly on the spot, still gripping to the countertop like a safe place.
"Why not?" He answered the still giggling elfling, watching amusedly as she shook her little head vigorously again.
"Because it's not." She replied stubbornly, her big blue eyes lifting once to study the smiling Indilene again before turning back to meet him. "What is your real name?"
The elfling stressed the word real as if clearly thinking that he had been playing with her, still swaying on the spot from side to side in a move that made her plain dark green dress twirl around her legs. He shook his head lightly at her, complying with her request.
"Arahaelon." He told her slowly, watching her face scrunch up at the long name. It felt amusing answering such a simple question, asking for his name, for it was a question that was never asked to him. Her little head tilted again to the side curiously before speaking again.
"Is that not the Prince's name?" She asked again, narrowing her innocent large blue eyes at him with that shy little smile. "The one with the big crown?" Her little hands reached up to her head and stretched from the top of her head high upwards, as if touching an invisible crown on her little head. And he once again could not contain a small laugh, feeling that if crowns were as big as the motion she was making, he would not even be able to lift his head.
"Yes." He answered her softly, still smiling, now his turn to watch her curiously as she let out another chorus of giggles.
"You two have the same name!" A tiny finger pointed at his face again, her other hand momentarily letting go of the counter to brush away a strand of her black curls from her face. Indilene's laughter filled the room like a welcoming song, for a second drowning away the thundering of the rain against the roof and windows.
"What is your name?" The elfling's attention returned to Indilene watching her with such curiosity and intensity that made him think that to the girl's eyes Indilene was a Princess who had just stepped into her family's shop, guessing by the looks she was giving her many bracelets twinkling on her wrists.
"Mylíen? Did you call me?" A voice suddenly called from the other side of the archway, the elfling's head turning around immediately at the name.
A second later a thin hand was pulling back the velvet curtain covering the archway, a lady with the same black waves, although hers reached down to her waist, appearing through, eyes instantly finding her daughter, who had run back to meet her. The elfling's hands had shot up to the air, in a silent command to be picked up, and her mother was quick to comply, just as her eyes for the first time noticed the presence of him and Indilene there.
"There's someone in the shop, Nana." The elfling stated the obvious, just as he rose to stand straight on his feet once more, his soaked cloak shuffling heavily. The lady's eyes swept over Indilene first, then visibly widened in surprise as they landed on him, clearly recognizing him.
"Your Highness. My Lady." The lady greeted, inclining her head almost immediately, even though her arms were still busy carrying the elfling. "I hope she was not bothering you."
He waved his hand in an elegant motion, quickly and silently letting her know that the elfling had in no way been a bother, still too amused by her curious questions and endearing shyness. The lady seemed instantly relieved, even though she appeared momentarily nervous, as if not knowing how to proceed, and for a second he wished to simply walk out of the shop and leave her and her child alone without having to worry about him. He had been so immersed in his momentary freedom, so content and at peace with Indilene, that he had temporarily forgotten that he was the Crown Prince, suddenly guardless, wet from the rain, and wondering around in town, where his presence would a surprise in every little shop.
"How may I help you, my Lord?" The lady offered quickly, once again inclining her head respectfully as she spoke, smiling warmly at him.
"You are a Lord?" The elfling chirped from her mother's arms, the latter looking momentarily apologetic for the little girl's curious question, but he merely smiled at hear, waving with his hand once more to appease her.
"We were caught outside in the rain." He explained, once again standing tall and regal, although his voice and face were gentle. The wind howled again outside, a sharp thunder wracking the earth distantly. "I hope we are not intruding."
"Of course not, Your Highness. Please, you are welcome to stay as long as you wish." The lady answered almost immediately, still seeming evidently surprised to find him there in her shop. Then her eyes travelled up and down him and Indilene, seeming to be once again noticing their soaking wet cloaks.
"Allow me to start a fire for you. The rain must have freezing. It was even snowing previously." The lady was already moving around, setting the elfling back on the floor before walking in long strides to the large plain fireplace in one corner of the shop, already starting to throw some logs into it and lighting it.
"Can I offer you anything to drink or eat, My Lord? I have tea and some cheeses and tarts." Valar, this happened every time he showed up somewhere where he was not previously expected, and he suddenly remembered why it was that he rarely came into town. The lady was nearly beaming even through her nerves, and he could tell by her face that she was genuinely hoping he would say yes, as if eager to be able to bring him something, anything, and he knew he could not say no without letting her down or being rude to her.
"Tea would be appreciated. Thank you." He complied, more than before wishing to simply run back into the rain never mind the storm that was raging, even though warm filled his heart at the lady's wide pleased smile, still looking at him with respect and admiration.
"It is a pleasure, my Lord." The lady nodded her head, quickly walking back and heading behind the counter once more, picking up the elfling in her arms and disappearing through the curtain at the archway.
He stood there for a moment, watching as Indilene elegantly made her way towards the small table by the fire, unclasping her dripping cloak from around her shoulders. He walked towards her, noticing her picking the chair closest to the warm fire. His hands unclasped his own wet cloak, the garment heavy on his hands, before draping it over the back of another chair. His outer robes underneath the cloak were surprisingly mostly dry, and he took it off and gently placed it over Indilene's shoulders, who had been crossing her arms in an attempt for her wet dress to not stick indecently over her body.
"Thank you." She said, smiling softly at him as her hands gripped at the rich fabric, pressing the robes closer to her body.
"You have the same name as the Prince." She told him with a wide mocking smile, feigning surprise, as if she had just made a huge discovery. He let another untroubled laugh, a thing that he noticed he had been doing so easily in the past few hours, still feeling that warm tingling of her spirit intertwined with him. He knew the relief he felt would not be eternal, their bond still weak and starting for her spirit to reach his through distances and their spirits would separate once they returned to the palace and each went their way, but he did not want to think about that yet. For now, it was bliss.
"What a coincidence." He lowered himself to sit in front of her, watching at her delicate soft face, her long ashen hair which had started to dry, her delicate arms which crossed over the wooden table. He wanted to press his lips to hers, to kiss her, to hold her close to him and never let her go.
"Indilene?" He had made a decision. Once that he had known he had made weeks ago by now, and yet had never voiced, but now he did not want to wait any longer. Her hazel eyes turned to gaze directly at his, warmer by the flickering firelight, expectantly. "I would like to officially court you, if it would all right by you. I will speak with your uncle properly about it."
He had been holding back on officially asking her uncle permission to court her – as it needed to be done- for weeks now, trying to buy her time, to enjoy the few moments of oblivious bliss that it was while the rest of the realm ignored the relationship. But now he did not want to wait. Her large gorgeous eyes were still looking at him, smiling softly, as she always did, her joy sparkling on the depth of her irises.
"You will give him a heart attack." She chuckled, her smile so bright that it made the fire feel cold in comparison to her radiance, and he took that as a yes. Even though he was not looking forward to the conversation he would need to have with her uncle. But there was no way around it. He needed to speak to the older elf.
"Once I make our courtship official, it might not be easy." He explained, even though he could not contain his own smile from showing. But still he needed her to know. He would not drag her blindingly into it. "It will not be the same as if it were any other ellon courting you. There will be protocols, rumors, there will be stares, and every celebration of event where you officially attend with me, you will be immediately treated as my equal in rank, which might not be comfortable sometimes."
"As uncomfortable as now?" She smiled at him, her gentle always-open eyes teasingly looking around them, gesturing to the warm fire and alluding for the tea that would be brought soon. And it made him chuckle once more, even though he could read in her eyes that she understood to perfection what he meant. And then her expression turned serious once more, gazing at him for long moments.
"Will you officially announce it? Is everyone going to know immediately?" She was slightly scared, even though she managed to hide it, and he immediately shook his head.
"No." He added instantly. "I will only speak with your uncle. I have no obligation to announce anything. No change will happen immediately. It will be gradual, and hopefully slow. But I cannot stop rumors from spreading once they start, and I just wished to let you know."
"If it means I get to be with you, nothing else matters." She smiled, and he did not need her to say anything else, and for a moment he was about to lean forward, to finally pressed his lips to hers, but the velvet curtain ruffled again, and he turned to find the lady returning with a wooden tray carrying a ceramic kettle and two cups.
"I want to help, Nana!" The elfling exclaimed, suddenly appearing behind the lady, rushing to be able to catch up with her. The lady merely shook her head smiling, lowering the tray in front of them on the table.
"Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you, my Lord, my Lady." She inclined her head again.
"Thank you." He added immediately in that same polite tone he knew so well.
The lady merely smiled, bowing her head once more and making her way back towards the archway, where he now assumed her house connected to the little shop.
"Mylíen." The lady called softly, beckoning with a hand for her daughter to follow, but the elfling pouted, once more shyly gripping to the counter.
"I want to stay, Nana." The elfling pleaded, still throwing curious and fascinated looks at him and Indilene.
"It is perfectly fine." He reassured the lady who was about to plead with her daughter to leave them in peace. The elfling lift up her head, large blue eyes imploring to her mother who gave her a warning look and a faint nod of the head, adding a low "Do not bother His Highness" before disappearing behind the curtain.
His attention however was once again on Indilene, who was now sipping absently from her tea, still smiling brightly at him. The rain outside continued to hammer over the roof, the hushing sound now oddly comforting in the presence of the warm fire. For a moment his eyes swept again over the thousands of cluttered shelves, wondering at the many odd things that lay there. The sound of little steps made his attention return to the elfling, who was approaching their table slowly, seeming to be waiting for his reaction to see if she was welcome or not. Indilene smiled at her softly, and the girl approached them faster now, and he let out a laugh at their predicament. There would be no kissing Indilene for a while at least. Not until they were outside the shop once the rain had stopped. The curious elfling would not leave them alone.
"What is a 'highness'?" The unexpected question made him nearly choke on the sip of tea he had taken, but he managed not to look surprised, looking down at the large blue eyes once again studying him inquisitively.
"Pardon me?" He asked the elfling, who now stood right by his chair, not understanding her question in the slightest.
"What is a 'highness'?" The girl repeated, looking at him expectantly. "You have one, do you not? Nana said not to bother yours."
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Indilene covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. The elfling was so young and innocent, clearly not having understood her mother's words, not familiar with titles.
"Where is it?" The elfling asked again shyly. "Can I see it?"
"See what?" He asked her gently, once again confused, watching as Indilene let out another chorus of giggles.
"Your 'highness'." The girl replied as if it had been obvious, waving her little hands in explanation. "I want to know what it is."
"I lost it." He made up quickly, showing the elfling his empty hands who inspected them as if expecting there to have been something. He did not want to have to answer to the elfling that it had really been a title. And he could not contain a smile as the elfling opened her mouth in a little 'oh'.
"How did you lose it?" It was hard not to laugh again, the elfling intent in continuing to ask questions.
"I fell and it fell out of my pocket." He continued to make up a tale, watching the elfling's entertained blue eyes. She was once again swaying from side to side, making her skirts twirl. Her large eyes had shifted to where his pockets where, as if suspiciously believing there to be something inside, and he put his hands inside them and took them out again, showing here there was nothing there, hearing her giggles fill the room.
"Is that how you got that?" A tiny finger pointed to his right cheek, and for a split second he was confused, one of his hands reaching up to that place only to feel a slightly painful bump there. He chuckled again, remembering the place where Indilene's head had collided with him only moments ago, which was probably bruising by now. And yet, out of the corner of his eyes he saw Indilene smiling apologetically at him, watching the barely forming bruise as if it was a mortal wound, and he instantly wanted to reassure her that it was fine, that he could not even remember it was there.
"Yes." He told her, watching the elfling let out another bunch of heartwarming giggles. The child's eyes turned once again to glance curiously at Indilene, but did not approach her, seeming too shy for that, only momentarily comfortable in directing her questions solely at him.
"What is that on your neck? The green thing?" The elfling was now pointing at the broach of his formal robes, and he had to look down to make sure what it was before answering.
"These are emeralds." He answered her with a smile, watching her large fascinated eyes dancing over the circle of small green stones set at the silver intertwining branches of the small broach.
"Can I touch them?" Large blue eyes were still examining him, a shy smile present between her rosy cheeks, looking fascinated. He did not understand her request, but then again he had long ago given up on trying to understand an elfling's mind.
"Yes." He said, picking her negligible weight easily with his hands and setting her down to sit on his lap, where she would have access to the broach. Tiny fingers fell on the hard gems, almost tentatively, as if not really knowing what to expect, and then her mouth opened in a surprised delighted expression, eyes flying to look up at his face.
"It's cold!" She exclaimed, and Indilene's laughter filled the room once more as the elfling stated the obvious.
"Mylíen!" A voice suddenly called from behind the counter at the other end of the room, the lady having suddenly appeared to check on her daughter, one hand holding the velvet curtain open. For a second she looked scandalized at finding the elfling sitting on his lap, her eyes turning immediately in his direction looking apologetic. Her mouth opened to speak but he waved his hand once more elegantly.
"It is fine." He added politely, but nevertheless the child had already jumped back to the floor at her mother's tone, quickly rushing to the lady's side, looking slightly sheepish.
"Come with me, Mylíen." The mother called softly, extending a hand which the child took peacefully. "It is time for your nap. Do not bother His Highness."
The elfling did not complain this time, following her Nana through the curtain, and he could hear her little voice adding a "But he lost it, Nana." Just as the curtain fell closed once more.
Indilene rose to her feet, his long outer robes a little too large for her, pooling around her as she moved to the nearest shelves, curious eyes looking over the many objects cluttered there. He followed her behind, watching her move from shelf to shelf, inspecting object after object.
"Smell this." She turned around to face him, holding a thick pinkish looking candle in her delicate hand, lifting it to his face. He took a tentative sniff, finding that it did not smell bad at all, a scent of soft flowers filling his nostrils.
"Smells good." He told her, and she smiled with a nod of her head as she sniffed it a second time. She put the candle back on the shelf and picked another one, giving it a soft sniff before lifting it up to him again.
"And this one?"
He smelled it, finding it nicer than the first one. This one smelled softer, and of lavender, giving away a calming aura. "I like this one better."
"I do too." She agreed, placing it back on the shelf before taking another candle, this one orange, and smelling it. She wrinkled her nose almost immediately, lifting it up for him to sniff, but he pushed her hand away.
"No." He chuckled at her attempt to make him smell the thing that obviously disgusted her. "You did not like it, so why do you want me to smell if it is clearly not pleasant?"
"Arahaelon." She laughed in complain, stretching his name as she lifted the candle once more towards his face. "Smell it."
"No." He said firmly once more, even though his face betrayed his smile. He could not look at her without smiling, not when her spirit was so very near, still latched to his, making all the pain, the wound in his spirit momentarily seem to disappear.
"Ar!" She complained in between her chuckles, and for a second he froze. The shortened name caught him by surprise, in the same way that she had startled him the first time she had used his given name instead of a title. She seemed to notice the name that came out of her mouth, because for a moment she froze too, hazel eyes patiently looking at him, waiting for a reaction. And once again he had that overwhelming feeling that she could read him better than anyone else, as if she could tell when to keep talking and when to wait a little.
But his smile only widened, loving how the shortened name sounded in her voice. It had still been surprising, making him tense for a split second, but that was because nobody outside his family called him that. Very few elves used his given name, and only his family called him Ar. But he smiled all the brightest, feeling her spirit next to his. All barriers were tumbling down around her.
"What did you call me?" He asked when he was able to push back his initial surprise, looking into her honey eyes that were looking at him intently, patiently.
"Is it all right?" She asked, still looking deeply into his eyes, searching through them, and he could not contain it any longer. He leaned towards hers, his lips meeting hers, one of his hands circling around her waist.
His forehead rested against hers when they broke apart, sill feeling her warm breaths brushing his face. "It is all right." He added, gently kissing her once more, wishing that he could stay there and never return to the palace, to stay right there by her side.
But the rain let up all too soon, and he once again found himself walking by her side through the long pebbled path up towards the Palace, after having once again thanked the lady for the tea. He had bought two candles, including the lavender one, and a little crystal lily they had found sitting on the shelves, all of which now lay in a little brown bag on Indilene's hands- she had insisted on carrying them. The Sun was already setting in the horizon, even though the orange and red light did not make it through the still overcast sky, only making it darker than it should have been, nearly night by now. They were now mercifully dry after spending time by the cozy fireplace, but everything outside was still dripping, large puddles of melting snow and fresh rain covering the way, making it impossible for the hems of their cloaks to remain dry.
And then they were back at the main gates, the guards there looking utterly perplexed at finding that he had left the Palace without them noticing, judging by his lack of guards following him. Nevertheless, they quickly let him through with deep respectful bows, none of them seeming to register who it was that walked with him. He walked her all the way to her family's chambers, both of them casually keeping a safe distance as they moved through the Palace's long corridors and halls, where nothing could be deduced from seeing them together. And only when he had made sure she was inside said chambers, he turned around and headed for his, walking the long way and up countless elegant staircases.
He could already feel it, the moment her spirit detached from his. The bond was still there, weak and barely starting to form, yet her spirit could not reach his through distance, just as he could not reach hers. He could not name how it felt, overwhelming, consuming, the wound in his spirit abruptly making itself known once more, the blissful relief suddenly ending, claiming the attention it had been denied of for hours. He forced himself to take steady breaths, pushing it back, trying to focus on something else, reaching to turn the doorknob into his own private chambers. But it was agony, suddenly feeling too present precisely because he had felt what it was like without it. What was left of his energy, of his powers, flickered in abrupt jolts, as if trying forcefully to reconnect with a part of him that was no longer there, that had long ago died, been depleted of all energy. It would be a bad night. One of those where it would nearly consume and not let him sleep, his arm and the little tiny hand burned on it was already starting to ache. But he did not care. Those hours, those moments where it was suddenly gone had been worth it.
"Arahaleon."
He looked up, surprised to find his father waiting for him inside his chambers. The King was standing in one corner of the room, still dressed in his formal robes of the day, the crown neatly placed on his head. He let the door close silently behind him, taking slow steps towards his father's waiting figure.
"What happened to you?" His father's brow furrowed slightly as he looked into his face, and it once again took him a second to remember the bruise spreading on his cheek, making him let out a light chuckle.
"Spider." He offered as an explanation, watching his father's icy blue eyes suddenly widen in worry.
"Spider." He repeated to his father, this time clarifying with his thumb and index finger the tiny size of said spider, watching as his father's ice blue eyes gleamed amusedly at him, an eyebrow arching on his forehead, giving him the impression that he could too easily guess what had happened.
"I still want to meet her." Was all his father said on the matter, and he decided to use the moment to unclasp his cloak and drape it across the back of an elegant chair. He knew something was wrong. Something had to be for his father to have been waiting for him in his chambers. He took another deep breath, trying to push back the pain rippling through his spirit as his unbalance energy continued jolt like electric shocks, the void making itself too known. Almost subconsciously one of his hand gripped at his tunic by his chest, as if nearly expecting that he could touch it there and rip it away from him. And his move was no unnoticed by his father.
"My son?" The tone in his father's voice had changed, suddenly alarmed, worried. And he knew that tone very well, feeling the King's gentle hands falling on his shoulders, pushing him to sit on the nearby couch, his father kneeling in front of him.
"Try to breath evenly. It will be all right. Try to think of something else." His father said softly, removing the hand that had been gripping tightly to his tunic as he always did. But of course his father could tell exactly what it was that was ailing him. The tiny handprint on his left arm was burning now, intense pain starting to ripple through his arm, almost in the bone, deep inside, his spirit and body knowing exactly that it had been the point of connection, where everything happened. He did as instructed, focusing on taking long even breaths, but the void was still there, overwhelming, screaming to him that something was missing from him. It would most definitely be a horrible night. Most of the time he was used to pushing it back, ignoring it and barely noticing it, becoming a second nature, but there were times when it really made itself known, times like this. And still, even through the agony of it, he smiled, smiled as widely as he possibly could, because all of this and more had been worth the few hours he had had without feeling it.
"Arahaelon?" His father asked again, his ice blue eyes now slightly narrowed under furrowed brow, this time worry turning into confusion, not understanding why he was smiling thus. He never smiled when the wound was acting up like this.
"I could not feel it." Was all he offered as an explanation, his voice so low it could have been a whisper, one of his hands escaping from his father's grip and returning to clutch at his tunic by his chest. And still he smiled. It had been bliss. It had been relief. He had felt like himself once again, whole and all right. "She made it disappear."
He did not explain further, focusing on taking long even breaths through the agonizing torture that was rippling inside him, the smile never once breaking from his face. But he did not need to explain further. He could see it in his father's face, in those ice blue eyes that filled with overwhelming worry every time his wound acted up, every time it hurt him. And he could see it here, in the very depths of his father's eyes, relief and joy, a faint smile breaking through his father's lips.
But the King's eyes quickly turned to worry once more, once again reaching for the hand gripping at his tunic and gently pulling it away. Long minutes passed in which his father merely studied him worriedly, waiting patiently as he took long deep breaths that did not really help at all. It would take a while for him to be able to push it all back once more, for the shards left of his spirit to calm down and the spikes of energy and power that tried to course forcefully through him to quieten. It would take hours.
"Arahaelon?" His father spoke once more, breaking the calmed silence that had settled in the elegant vast room. And he once again recognized the tone, serious and heavy, making him freeze momentarily, filling with dread. He stared at his father's face, green eyes meeting icy blue, waiting, still feeling his father's hands securely clasping both of his. "I wish to tell you something. Something that you must know beforehand, ahead of anyone else."
He did not say anything, staring deeply into his father's carefully watching ice blue eyes, which seemed to be studying him intently, taking in any single reaction, looking both overly worried and at the same time apologetic, almost guilty? He nodded his head slowly, as if indicating his father to go on.
"I have received word from Imladris today." His father started, eyes still watching him with such intensity, with such worry that it made him tense in nerves, not knowing what to expect. "Legolas is returning early, will be here in approximately two days…..along with Almarëa."
"Who?" He whispered blinking a couple of times, for a second his mind turning blank, shock coursing through him. He must have heard wrong. He must have.
"Almarëa." His father repeated, the name flowing out of his mouth slowly, feeling like a ghostly presence coming to haunt him.
"She is alive, she…"He could faintly hear his father speaking, but he could not hear more than the first few words he had said. After that, all he could do was see his father's mouth moving, but no sound reached his ears. The name still rang loudly inside his name. Too loudly. Almarëa. She was alive. Almarëa was alive. But then, there had always been a tiny part of him that had never truly believed her dead, no matter what logic always told him. But she was alive. She was coming…here. His sister. His baby sister. She must be grown by now. And she must be powerful…too powerful.
He could not breathe. His face still unmoving, blank, watching as his father's mouth moved without him hearing any words. Almarëa. Coming. Suddenly it was as if the agony inside of him had intensified tenfold, the void in his spirit, that wound, suddenly crying fiercely, piercing through him as if it was brand new. He could feel it all again. Too vividly. Pain rippling through him, his spirit crying in the most torturous agony, his powers, his energy, flowing out of him at an alarming rate, too fast, without him able to control it, being taken so suddenly, so painfully, his mind flying in wild circles as pain threatened to break his head in half…
He felt dizzy, nauseous, gasping for air as the too vivid agony coursed through him once more, as if he could feel it again exactly as it had happened that day. And suddenly the pain in his arm was unbearable, the tiny handprint burning so much that he thought it was really on fire on his skin. Distantly, he could hear his father desperately calling his name, but he could barely hear it, the most overwhelming fear coursing through his body. No. It could not happen again. He could not go through it again. Another accident, another slip, would kill him.
He stood on shaky legs, rushing towards his bathing chambers, hardly conscious of his father following closely, and he barely made it to a washing basin before he heaved violently, expelling the meagre contents of his stomach. Inside of him the void seemed to pulsate too agonizingly, every inch of his spirit in torture, the wound suddenly too fresh, too raw. And it was real pain, the wound was there. And he could not breathe, his hands shaking uncontrollably. He nearly fell over once his heaves had turned into weak coughs, the world spinning wildly around him, but strong arms caught him as his trembling knees buckled, gently setting down to sit on the cold marble floor.
"Try to breathe, my son." His father's voice echoed gently on his ear, even though he could hear intense fear and worry in his father's tone, trying to get his attention, to make him focus on him instead of the torture going on inside him, and he could feel his father's arms still holding him tightly, sitting on the floor next to him, cradling like one cradles an elfling. "Try to breathe deeply. Focus on me."
He tried to listen, tried to take deep breaths, but it was not working. It felt as if his airways were constricted, the wound inside him too painful, everything being too much. It hurt as it did that first time, when it had barely just happened, and his hands shot desperately to grasp at his tunic once more, fingers nearly clawing into his skin, trying to reach that wound, that void, to rip it out of him.
"It will not happen again. It will not happen again. You are safe." His father continued to whisper gently, tender hands travelling down his hair in an attempt to calm him, and he forced himself to take deep breaths that did not reach his lungs, his fingers clutching so tightly at his tunic that he felt he would rip the fabric. His left arm hurt so much he could barely move it. "It will not happen again."
Here's the next chapter! It took a while to write because I wanted to include the shock of finding out Almarëa is alive, which for this particular character is not easy to hear…I hope you enjoy the chapter even though it has a very tense ending! Let me know what you think!
Also thank you so much to those of you who reviewed the previous chapter: helenaxo, artvandelay5001, Amsim, Visitor, Teddy0407, StarFilledSkies, and Yaulewen.
Love,
Elena