Welcome back to Chapter Five! Pardon the wait, I just got caught up with campus work and exams! But they are done and I am ready to write again!

So here we go!


Chapter Five

Elestirnë found the survivors, along with her brother, resting at the beginning of an old stone crafted bridge. Their group huddling next to a well-worn road that stretched far across the rolling hills around them, and beyond. And judging by the looks on the people's faces when they came into sight from atop one of the many hills dotting around them. They were filled with relief and sorrow. Various voices suddenly calling out names of their loved ones who approached with heavy footsteps and stained in dark black blood. Some of the voices mingling with crippling grief at the empty slot of spaces within their dwindled force; many eyes watering when they realized that whom they loved was not coming back from their defense. It had cries soon ringing among the darkened sky, the sun having left its perch for the moon to gaze down sorrowfully upon them.

It was met with some of her own warriors muffled sobs as their grief responded in kind.

Her heart, which was already heavy with solemnity, became heavier. The stain tracks of tears along her blood and dirt smeared face were once more wet. An unseen hand seemed to grip ahold of her very soul and squeezed relentlessly. Like it wanted her to fall to her knees and openly weep with the others, hoping to break her waning resolve. But she distantly knew that she wouldn't have fallen, not when so many depended on her seeing this journey through.

Even if it killed her.

"Princess!"

It was the stunned and wearied frame of the citadel's Tower Guard, Tarannon. (She could see that he was one of the protectors Forlong had chosen to go with him.) He came to meet them with a face of horror, seeing the wounded that were being carried in the back. The look spoke of his churning turmoil and the pain he felt at the sight of his comrades and hers' silent approach.

She slowed her form to a swaying halt, peering at him with tired eyes. A flicker of something dwelled in her stare as her mind registered the people before the bridge. "Why are they here? Did Forlong not speak of my orders to continue without us…"

The man winced at her dry and solemn tone. His hands fluttering for a moment while he stopped beside her, watching the wounded and the somber pass by with hollow expressions.

"Tarannon…" She gained his wandering attention by setting a muck covered hand atop his shoulder.

"I- They waited for your return!" It was clear the younger man did not know what to say as he fumbled. "None would go any further without you or the others… Forlong insisted that you'd told him to lead them without you. But they resisted and stayed here at the bridge."

At this a subtle warmth came over her worn figure and covered her aching heart; the pain that had so viciously locked its claws around her had loosened. She roughly cleared her throat, ignoring the twinge of pain at the muscles protesting against the ugly bruises on the tender area. With a shudder and a shaky inhale, her wet eyes roamed alongst the faces a few paces from the two. Her shoulders caved as if she'd simply gave in, which she did. Then with a careful exhale, she scrubbed at her face and nodded. Her action seeming to startle the younger man as he nearly gapped at her with his mouth closing and opening in a repetitive motion.

"Come along, we're a fair ways to go yet," she told him with a hand looping around his pauldron and tightening around his cloak. "We cannot linger here in the lone-lands any longer."

"Aye…" He allowed her to steer him back to their awaiting brethren.

Elestirnë walked with him slowly, taking the time to let her gaze wander amongst the mourning or quietly rejoicing refugees' forms as she descended the grassy hill. She could not stop her eyes from searching for the face of her brother within their mass. A distinct pinging in her sternum echoed louder when she could not find his familiar features, coming from the brief flicker of unbidden fear that whispered foul words in the far depths of her spirit. But it was all for naught.

Her searching ended once she picked up his kneeled frame at the bank of a small stream.

She continued then, past the murmuring crowd to the bank, remaining silent as she did so. But the slight crackle of her boots along the grounds loose gravel drew his attention. The grinding noise of her boots settling atop the dirt layered bank was all that she heard while she stood still behind him. 'Ai…' Her hands curled and uncurled momentarily at her sides. 'I did not think my leaving would have nearly broken your heart so quickly…'

Softly, barely passable for words, she spoke.

"Eldacar."

The boy's frame seemed to seize at her roughened voice. His head rising from the slouch to fully lock gazes with her, mouth wobbling from the weak cries that begged to be released. Instead, he gave a shuddering gasp before clumsily standing on his feet.

"Elestirnë…" his repeating of her name cracked and paused, choked with overwhelming emotion.

At once, she opened her arms and bent forward; the movement familiar as it was how she'd always given him hugs when he was much younger. And now it was as if he were suddenly a mere babe as she stood in front of him. Alive and whole, though bruised and ruffled. "I'm here…"

That simple whisper had him racing for her arms, becoming enveloped by her embrace.

Eldacar's shoulders quaked as he hiccupped quietly.

"You left me to fight, sister. I did not wish to see your back. The fear of seeing it for that last time nearly broke me."

"I could not let our people fight back the orcs without me." Her eyes darkened then at the agony donning on his face. "My heart pains me to leave your side, but if the felled beasts come too close. I will lose you to their dark intentions."

"That would not…" He broke off what he wished to say and sniffled.

"Aye, it would. You and I both know how those orcs long to slay a descendant of Elessar Telcontar and his fair Queen Arwen Undomiel. They'd act upon it at once if they managed to corner or capture us."

A look of anger flamed in her eyes before it soon diminished.

"That is why I will fight, for you and them."

Eldacar's lips twisted on his face as he tried to contain his emotions; the war in his heart and mind wanted to make her see reason for his fear. But he knew that Elestirnë was right about this.

"We'll speak more later," she said then with a tender kiss upon his brow. "But we must begone now."

The boy nodded with his face still one of inner turmoil, but his hand slipped down to cling onto her left forearm as she turned to greet the others behind them. She glanced over the men and women, taking in their tears of sorrow and grim joy before her head rose, becoming once again the leader (though it was a position she came to find was entirely not what she longed to be.) With silent, assessing, eyes of sympathy she stepped forth and tugged her brother along.

Their forms soon becoming enveloped by the people when she walked past them for the beginning of the bridge. And as the two began to walk across the old stone-made bridge, the regathered refugees quickly followed.

"Elestirnë…"

The speaker spoke softly from beside her right shoulder, just a step behind her. It was the dirt clad form of Arvegil. His face was different from their brethren's. It appeared to be somewhat happier, lightened, and hopeful. His hands still held rigidly to the redrawn map he'd procured from a blank scroll from his pack. But it brought her some comfort when she lightly turned her head to gaze back behind her, towards his slightly smiling features. He reached out and clamped her pauldron with another beam that was starting to clear away her sadness and replace it with curiosity.

"Arvegil?" his name was lowly whispered, under her breath to not disturb her brother. Her brows raising for a moment when his elated look met her curious one. "What is it?"

"My dear, we're to reach the Ford here on this night, though late." He says with a vigor in his tone that sparks something within her aching heart. "I've retraced our steps along this travel and followed the maps' prints. The last of our travel lies now before us."

"You're saying that all we must do is traverse this lasting ground here…" She asked with a trickle of emotion seeping back into her voice while she clenched her jaw, unknowingly bringing her brother closer.

"Aye, we're to soon reach the river Bruinen." Arvegil tells her with his hand grasping tighter onto the worn material of her armor, keeping his voice low, not wanting their people to hear him when they've yet to reach the place.

He keeps up with her as they continued to walk, having left stone for the dirt of the road.

"And beyond that lays the hidden vale of Rivendell, Imladris."

Elestirnë's head, which had risen, dipped with the tidal wave of unraveling emotions she felt within her at this moment. Her teary view was smeared again, though none fell. The utter gratefulness and pained relief in she could feel sweeping over her earlier heartbreak was fully welcomed; her fingers curled into Eldacar's mangled cloak and drug him underneath her arm, subconsciously seeking comfort. A trembling smile stretched across her busted lips and stayed as she pushed on with an equally grinning scholar behind her, who kept his hand on her pauldron.

They both were overcome with a sense of bitter joy.

'Thank you… Eru Ilúvatar…Valar…'

With that single thought, she kept walking.

Their surroundings soon became dense with wooded area and the sparse light of the moon as they trudged onwards along the path the map guided them through. Far behind the laid the rolling hills and grassy field of the lone-lands and before them awaited the distant, although approaching sound of water. It sang in her ears. The beautiful noise brought a tremble to her lips as she quickened her feet to the sound with her heart beginning to beat fast within her chest, forgoing the exhaustion that had weakened her earlier in the day. She was anxious and hopeful for so many here, that they would finally be able to settle themselves and be rid of the lingering fear inside. Her boots beat a path across the grass beneath her as she hurried through the dense woodland around them; the pick-up in pace had many trailing after her with their own quickening pace as she grew excited with each step.

Her cloak billowed behind her as the sudden waft of powerful wind caressed her frame when she wanders out of the thickened trees and into a small clearing, where a calm river laid bare for them all to gaze upon. It was enclosed by a circling of boulders which arose from the nearby jutting hills and trees. Along it sat round flat pebbles and rocks which kissed the edges of the river, some becoming swallowed by the water when it flowed atop them, dragging the smallest pebble alongst the river's course.

A shout rose in the dark sky then, filled with joy and elation.

It had come from her.

Without a say, she abandoned Eldacar and Arvegil with the confused forms of her brethren for the flowing river that stretched before them. The trickling source of water was soothing to the ears, drowning out the cries of man and orc clashing in her mind. Her boots slapped the mud surrounding the river's bank and kicked at the water with another shout of joy leaving her lips, gaining more confusion from the people at her reaction.

"We've reached the Ford!" She shouts with elation, turning to meet the surprised expressions of her people and brother. "We're standing before the Ford of Bruinen!"

A series of cries fill the air at this point, many who were free of injury started racing towards the river water, where she still stood with her sopping boots and cloak. This brought an exhilarated laugh from her as she dived to the side to avoid being tackled from the joy riddled people leaping into the river. Their actions being followed by the slow, unsteady, steps of the elders and wounded as they too wished to join in on their elation. And soon the Ford was being filled with small giggling children, who'd ran after their surviving kin to dance amongst their tearful laughs and bellowing cries.

Elestirnë soon walks off to the side of the Ford's rocky bank.

She watched with glistening eyes that overflowed with tears that streamed down her face, leaving more stains, which she couldn't care less about. Her heart seemed to be cleansed now, she wouldn't dare hold onto the sorrow when in the face of such joy. It would ruin the happiness which sang through the men and women dancing happily.

So, she continued to watch for just a short while.

"I will say this once, my dear," the sudden rasp from Arvegil's voice broke her wandering thoughts and tearing gaze as he came to stand beside her on the other side of the bank.

His face stained with his own tears of joy, and relief.

"Your parents, and those before them, are no doubt proud of the grace and strength you've displayed along this painful journey. You have led us well and with regards to our pain and needs… Dare I say that in these sorrowful times, a young Princess has come to be an honorable Queen in the trials she was placed in."

His words of kindness, and what he'd state as truth, brought more tears to her eyes as she wiped at her blurring vision. A sob rose in her throat, threatening to escape her lips if she didn't keep a firm grip on it.

"Why…" she choked out softly under her breath, keeping her voice low. "Must you say such things, my friend. You know that I'd not be here without any of you."

Arvegil gave her a certain look with his eyes, coming to stand closer with his right hands looping around her left forearm. "That is not true, my Lady."

"I know for a fact that without the people, our warriors, and my brother. I would be lying dead amongst the fallen in Minas Tirith." She stubbornly countered with her chest squeezing in pain. "You all are why I still stand here. And I fear that my heart would have given out if none had remained with me, if I were just by myself."

"Then I am glad to be here with you," he said gently with a small smile. "I will admit that I too fear what would have happened to you if we were to fall. So, I'm glad to be here with you as well."

The elder man pressed a comforting kiss to her brow.

"You're much like your father in the need to protect, but I see the love your heart holds firmly too like your mother. Keep a tight grip to that, my dear. There are far more darker days ahead of us still… But you must remain strong, as well as humble and loving."

His words of wisdom and warning had her tightening her hold on his arm, dreading what possibly could happen to their people next. But she kept quiet instead, just nodding her head along. She bit her lip and closed her eyes with a silent prayer, hoping that those approaching dark days stay away for just a little longer for the people to rest and heal, though she wasn't ignorant to think otherwise.

"Come, I think it best if we were to carry onwards as planned." He says then, pulling her attention back to the present. "If we linger here at the Ford, I feel none would wish to continue on without some rest."

"Aye," she nods, releasing his arm to wipe her face of tears.

With a cough, she clears her throat and steps forward to address the dancing forms of men and women (including the little ones that pranced around among the water with laughter.) Her eyes scanned them until she noticed her brother standing next to Lord Ostoher and Captain Beregond on the same side of the bank she stood. She sighed the, hating to pull the people from their show of happiness. But she did with a sudden cry, gaining their focus with the sharp sound.

"My brethren! I cannot describe the joy I feel at seeing the smiles upon your faces!" She began with a soft, fond, look around. A gentle expression claimed her features. "But we have yet to fully rejoice! The passage to the valley still lays before us, and we must continue along its course. We are close to the sanctuary we've sought!"

Many echoed her words with shouts of agreement; men grabbing hold of their packs and tugging the women and children along, while others helped escort the elderly and wounded along. Their actions showing that they were ready to push onwards with the last few treks ahead of them, all eager to rest and dwell in a shelter that would help conceal them from any signs of danger. And so, she turned to face the other direction.

Her hands lifting the map up for guidance as she began to walk.

The depicted passageway on the map showed a hidden path that would lead them further into the valley. Her eyes scanned the map until a drawing depicted where they were to go to next. "We're to find the passage by two rocks that conceal the passage from unfriendly eyes, it says. From those who wish to do or cause harm."

"The elves were talented in concealing their paths from evildoers," Arvegil said from behind her, sidling up to glance at the map he'd redrawn. "We've to cross this Ford and search for it, it seems?"

"Aye," she murmured as she began walking. "We'll find it, for none here wish to do harm."

She felt it deep within that they were to find the Last Homely House – her heart felt it. With a sigh, she moved further along the rocks and past the looming trees with her steps becoming sturdier and more confident along the ground; her eyes wandered up from the map and then behind, watching the people follow. She would see to it that they would find the ancient elvish home of lore. These people had been through too much to not have a safe shelter to reside within. So, she pushed on. Her map guiding them away from the river and the land behind it.

The remaining group of twenty-five kept walking along, trailing where her boots had left imprints into the grass, once they'd left the rocky terrain. It was darker than before now. The moon's beams of light hovering far above them as they trekked further into the trees and rising rocks, which soon were dissipating as their group came upon a clearing – opened to the fields beyond and circled by trees that dotted the landscape in sparse parts.

Among the clearing sat three formations of rocks. They were spaced away in a triangular shape, some with wide and small cracks that lined their surfaces. But one set of rock formations called to Elestirnë as she and the others furthered their way into the clearing. Her eyes falling on a rather large crack that was spaced apart further than the others, something about these rocks drew her closer until she was placing her right hand atop the rocks surface, smoothing her fingers along the large crack.

This was the hidden path that was marked on the map, one of many paths that would bring one to the valley of Imladris. But it was this one that her and her people had come to.

"This is the way we must go," she told Arvegil and those leaning close enough to hear.

"Are you sure of this, my Lady," asked a man with greying hair and tired eyes as he shifted next to the silent scholar with worry. His face was filled with concern and exhaustion, which worsened when his uncertainty swelled to the top.

"This is the way the map speaks of?"

"Aye," her eyes met his with a sheen of sympathy. "The map tells me of this and so does my heart. We are to pass through this hidden passage to reach the valley."

"Our Princess has not led us astray, Herion," Arvegil tells the man with a smile as he claps his hand atop the man's shoulder in comfort. He glances to the rocks and roams his gaze from the beginning of the crack to the bottom, noticing the width that seemed to be purposely done. "I feel that she will continue to lead our people well, as she has been doing."

"This is where my heart is directing me." Her voice is low and soft as she straightens herself from the crouch, she'd kneeled in. Gesturing at the crack before them, she spoke. "The map shows it as a hidden way the elves had constructed, like many others they'd created."

"Then we should follow where it will take us," he says.

"Aye, I'll go first to see if it does indeed hide a passage. If I find one, then I'll call for the rest to follow one by one." Her words were met with nods, many not wishing to go into the crevice before them.

Turning, she kneeled once more and grabbed ahold of the jutting rocks with her hands as she slid her right shoulder into the crack first. The rest of her body soon followed when she slipped deeper into the space within the rock formation; the ground below her dipped until she was sliding down to a hollowed part of the hidden tunnel, which she now knew was indeed a tunnel. Standing straight she took in what she could see. She was incased in rock, in what seemed to be a makeshift tunnel, what she could compare to a long corridor with how strategically it was carved. At this a gasp came as her eyes fully took everything in now. The tunnel appeared to stretch on for a ways before a large hole opened it up, letting moonlight spill into view.

Her feet stepped forth unsteadily for a moment, unsure and yet hopeful. But then she grew bolder with her advance. Soon she was stopping just before the exit of then tunnel and looking out into the moonlight, where a whole other sight laid out for her to gaze upon, and what she saw took away her breath.

The tunnel's exit opened to an entire valley blanketed in moonlight and a starry sky. Its beauty was endless with the steep cliffs that flowed with waterfalls. The surrounding area was covered with towering trees that reached high in the air, with deep caverns beneath them that pooled with water from the falls and streams below. Around them wondering hills that arched and dipped were covered with a bountiful of grass and flowers, which swayed with the cool wind that blew.

Its wondrous beauty was aweing to see.

But it was the beautiful buildings of white, though covered with vines and bits of nature, that attracted her attention the most. The breath-taking structures were all built with pointed roofs that were held up with twirling pillars, amongst the spare spots along the ground around these buildings sat colorful flowers that matched the ones laying across the fields in the rolling hills of the valley. And when her tearing gaze swept over them, she saw tall delicate looking towers that stood far taller above the others, in what could only be watch-towers for the land. They were equally in white of color, though held a silvery tone in hue, which amazed her that these structures even held the colors of the elves who'd created them.

In the middle of the mountain valley sat a magnificent palace. The white stylized palace of old was positioned halfway up the rockface, and through the middle ran a lovely waterfall which spread out across the rest of the valley. All of this was cocooned within a nest of surrounding trees and beautifully placed cliffs that contained flowing waterfalls.

Elestirnë's knees gave out below her as she collapses. Her eyes, which were wet with the tears that fell, traced down the short path before her towards a stone bridge that arched. It led to what she could assume was the very courtyard of the Last Homely House, of Imladris. 'We had finally found it.' She felt her body tremble with an overcome of emotion, overwhelmed by it all. Still, she rose her head to call back to the others waiting for her response, wanting them all to see the beauty that stretched out before her, where the sacred elven kingdom of lore waited for them.

"Come! Bring them all down, at once!" Her voice broke with a sob, losing the battle to keep herself together. But with a forced intake of breath, she steadied herself once more to call out for them to hear. "Send them down here! Arvegil! Send Eldacar!"

The answering shouts from behind her had tears streaming down her face as she gave a shuddering exhale, trembling more now because she knew what this meant. They'd found a refuge, safety too.

She then dropped her face into her hands and began to weep.


And as I had said, I would not draw out their arrival to imladris, though it was long. I hope you all enjoy the Chapter!

Leave a comment if you'd like!