Golden Leaves of Lorién: Chapter Four
Truth
Erlyannil ran from the grove, head pounding, tears burning her eyes. She felt her mind spinning, no longer aware of her legs moving beneath her. And so she stumbled, falling to her hands and knees, shudders coursing through her body. Erlyannil was scared. For what reason, she did not know. And angry, and…so many strange feelings ran rampant through her; she did not know what to think, or why she had run off. Sounds of the chaos she left behind still reached her ears dimly, and she shook her head in denial. Her shoulders shaking, tears fell from her eyes to shatter on the cold stone.
"Erlyannil," a voice whispered from behind. Hesitant footsteps on the stone pathway, and then silence. Erlyannil did not look up, though she knew that Legolas was kneeling at her side, a worried but puzzled expression on his face, those sharp eyes troubled.
It was silent for several moments, and more shouts from the grove could be heard. Erlyannil felt a hand on her shoulder, and she was ashamed of her trembling. She finally lifted her head and sat back on her knees.
"Erlyannil…" Legolas again whispered, reaching up to gently brush the hair out of her face. She did not pull back, but closed her eyes, squeezing the tears out.
"You don't understand," she answered, her voice barely audible. Her throat burned terribly and it hurt to swallow.
"You're right, I don't," Legolas said, "because first you have to tell me. What is it? Is it because of your friend? Or are you scared of what may happen…"
"No, I don't have to tell you!" she spat out through clenched teeth. Erlyannil struggled to stand, but her knees were shaking too badly. "Leave me alone…just leave me alone."
Legolas shook his head, peering into her eyes. She dropped her gaze to stare at the ground, but he gently held her face up so that she was forced to look at him. "Please…" he said, and she was suddenly frightened, though for some reason, she could not move. Legolas' eyes held an unusual look, and he bent nearer. Erlyannil could feel his breath on her face, and she shut her eyes as his lips brushed against hers.
But their lips met only briefly, for she pulled away with a look of despondency. "You don't understand!" she shouted at him angrily, "no…how can you? You and your people come to our home, you…you come to seduce young maidens--like Lyndariel, and me, and…my mother!"
Legolas stared after her speechlessly as she hiked up her now-torn dress and sped through the hedges out of sight. Her mother?
**************************************************************************
The white moon hung, balanced at the tip of the night sky. Erlyannil could see it if she peered through the canopy of golden leaves above her window. Unable to cry herself to sleep, she had waited at the window ledge of her room, listening to the sounds of the city beneath her. There were shouts, screams, and crying…Erlyannil's heart wept at the noises of the disorder of the city.
But to her ears, she heard only endless weeping. In her mind she saw an entire city grouped around three blurred bodies, lying in the sacred grove where she had just been hours before. And the people were weeping for the dead, for her grandfather, her uncles--one of whom was Lyndariel's father. But most of all, in her mind she heard women crying the name… Arlynn…my mother, she thought, why? Why did Galadriel never tell me? Of course…because she could not let me know the origin of my birth…to her, it was a union of such grief. But, that is not what troubles me. Why am I so scared? …Lyndariel, her father was killed by mine. What will happen to our city?
She halted her thoughts to listen carefully. Thus far, she had not yet heard the sound of metal clashing with metal, or the whir of a swift arrow. Erlyannil drew in a quivering breath and buried her face in her hands.
"Erlyannil," a calm but strained voice said from the doorway. Erlyannil turned to face the Lady Galadriel. The Lady was worn, her face was pale, and her eyes held a heavy grief.
"Galadriel?" Erlyannil asked quietly, "what has happened?"
Galadriel sat on the bed and Erlyannil moved from her place by the window to sit next to her. "Mellen, there is great trouble. After Lyndariel collapsed…she has been in a restless fever ever since. Elladin has pleaded to see her, but the guards are forcing him out. And as for the rest of the Mirkwood Elves, they are under our protection, but, all the same, they are in danger. The people have calmed finally, and returned to their homes, but there is a restless air, that you, no doubt, can sense also. This event is too reminiscing of…something our people never did forget." Galadriel looked to the girl then, her eyes studying the girl's face.
"My mother and father…" Erlyannil began. Galadriel nodded knowingly and caressed the young girl's cheek with a warm hand.
"I am sorry, Erlyannil. That I never told you. I could not bring myself to put such a burden of grief on one so young and cheerful as you, nor could I break my vow to your mother. She begged of me never to tell you the truth. But, now, I think you have found the truth on your own."
"Partially. I…someone told me. But I felt so, so strange in that place, with events so reflecting of…the past. They were killed there, were they not? In that grove…"
Galadriel nodded resignatedly. "Yes. Arlynn's father and brothers were killed there. How did you find out? Who told you this?"
Erlyannil's eyes grew distant and she felt an odd pang of guilt. "That Elf…from Mirkwood. The son of Thranduil."
The Lady studied the girl's face carefully, and when she caught the look in the girl's eyes, she sighed a long sigh, and a worn expression came to her face. "Mellen, you have feelings for the son of Thranduil, do you not?"
"No, I--" Erlyannil stopped at a knowing glance from Galadriel. "Yes, but not how you would think it. I mean…my mother and father, and all that happened to this city because of their love, and now Lyndariel and Elladin. What is to come of it, Galadriel, what will happen?"
Galadriel smiled despite herself at the girl's haplessly youthful expression. But that smile soon faded when her thoughts drifted to the events of the past, the burning trees, threats of war against the Mirkwood Elves for breaking a strong, ancient oath and committing murder upon those of their kindred…
Even now, Galadriel could not bring herself to understand how the forbidden love between two people could drive one to kill just to be with the other. Her thoughts then drifted to the young Lyndariel, Erlyannil's cousin, and the young Elf Elladin. What will happen to them? No doubt Thranduil does not know of this…I gave my consent. I gave consent to this--to violence? My people have not overcome old grudges, and with events repeating themselves, who knows what will happen to the young couple? Her gaze drifted to Erlyannil's worried face. What will happen to my dear Erlyannil? …I can see it in her eyes, the fear she tries to hide. What is it from? Is it because…of that young prince? Galadriel closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She must know the truth.
"Galadriel?" Erlyannil asked, and the Lady suddenly noticed that she had not called her how she used to since she set foot in this room.
I am just Galadriel to her now…not her mother. Arlynn is her mother. She knows that now. Galadriel looked into the girl's eyes. "Young one, you must know the truth now. I have concealed it far too long."
Erlyannil nodded earnestly.
"After your father came here, he stole Arlynn away, and they escaped from Lorién. But Thranduil sent out scouts to find your father, and they came once the couple reached the Anduin. Then your father was taken prisoner to Mirkwood, and Arlynn was sent back here. She was quiet then, so quiet that we feared she was ill…it was not ill, but…pregnancy. While your father was kept prisoner in Mirkwood, no doubt being subjected to punishment, Arlynn gave birth to you. And then…" Galadriel hesitated, but forced herself to continue for the sake of the girl sitting next to her. "She found out somehow that your father was to be executed in Mirkwood, for committing murderous acts upon the Elves of Lorién. That was when she left you here--"
"I remember…vaguely, but I remember her." The smell of her, the very image of her, imprinted into my memories. O mother, why was love so cruel to you?
"--And she…she disappeared for several days. I was worried, and I sent word to Thranduil, but after the execution of your father, they did not see any sign of Arlynn. But later……she was found by the Anduin. She stabbed herself."
Erlyannil was silent. By now her eyes were dry; she could not shed another tear. But even if she could have, she was in too much shock to cry. "My mother…killed herself? And my father is dead. And that is why the people will not let Lyndariel and Elladin be together."
Galadriel nodded. Erlyannil shut her eyes against the light that was beginning to creep through her window with the coming of dawn.
***********************************************************************************
Disclaimer: Being a work of fanfiction, the original belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.
jidai_rinoa@hotmail.com