A/N: Only one question to answer this time! =o) Aurelia Lothlorien - Yes, you will have to read and see. =o) That's it... oh, and for those who have not read LotR, yrch is Elvish for Orc. Enjoy the story! =o) **AS**
~*Love Never Loses Hope*~
Chapter 13: Dreams Come to Life
The sun shone down mercilessly upon the slag hills, uncaring that they ran with blood. Over the land Talbit raced, Star and Luingil on his back. The Elves' sensitive ears could hear the sounds of battle even before the armies came into view among the hills.
"Sounds like we are a bit late," Star remarked with a grim smile.
"Then we shall have to make up for that," Luingil replied with an equally dismal smile.
Suddenly Talbit stopped atop a hill, his body wet with sweat. Below them stretched the battlefield, already littered with the bodies of men and Orcs. Star shuddered involuntarily at the sight of the Orcs.
"Yrch," she muttered under her breath.
"Are you sure you wish to do this?" Luingil asked anxiously.
Star closed her eyes and her dream from the night before came to her. She had been on the battlefield when she saw Legolas fighting alongside a Dwarf. This had struck her as odd, but she had no time to dwell on it for she saw an Orc archer draw his bow and aim at Legolas. She had shouted a warning and the archer had turned to her and released his bow... and then she awoke. "I must go," she murmured. "For good or ill, I must go."
Luingil nodded, and Talbit leapt down the slope, bearing them swiftly to the edge of the battle. Luingil leapt from Talbit's back and put bow and sword to equally good use. Star stayed on her friend's back, searching for Legolas among the seething mass. Suddenly she saw him, as in her dream. With a grim smile she drew the Gondorian blade.
"Talbit, do you see that Elf?" Star shouted over the battle noise. Talbit nodded. "Can you bring me to him?"
"I can't bring you all the way," he shouted back; "but I can get you fairly close."
With that he plunged into the battle the way he had plunged into the icy Anduin. Kicking Orcs out of his way Talbit fought his way forward, Star aiding him by beheading any Orcs that got too close. Soon the horse stopped, thirty yards from the Elf and Dwarf.
"I can go no farther, good luck, Star-daughter!"
Star leapt from his back and began to fight her way through the army while Talbit held his own, pressed in on all sides. He was as fierce as any horse of Rohan, and many Orcs fell to his hooves and teeth.
Star was clearing a path towards Legolas, but he had not yet seen her. Suddenly she saw an Orc archer and her blood ran cold. It was the same as in her dream. She watched as he knocked an arrow to the bowstring and began to draw back... This is it, it is either my life or his, Star thought miserably. It almost killed me to think he was dead, it would certainly kill me if he died because of me. Closing her eyes, Star drew a deep breath, then shouted as loud as she could.
"Legolas! Watch out!"
The Elf prince whirled in surprise and saw the archer, but the Orc was no longer interested in him. Instead he spun and released his shaft. Legolas watched in horror as an Elf maiden collapsed to the ground with the arrow in her chest.
The Dwarf looked up at his friend in surprise as a strangled cry tore itself from the Elf's throat. "Aiwë!"
A strange rage came over Legolas, and his grey eyes seemed to be glazed with anger and hatred. With a terrible cry he leapt at the Orc and hewed him mercilessly, then began to strike down all the other Orcs around him. Soon he reached Star's still form, and sheathing his blade he bent and lifted her. She did not stir.
"Gimli, we must get her help!" Legolas cried in anguish.
The Dwarf nodded. He did not know who the strange Elf was who had saved his friend, but it was clear that Legolas did. "Come, Legolas, I will clear you a path!"
The Dwarf charged forward, his axe felling any Orc in his path. Legolas followed close behind, Star senseless in his arms. Soon they reached the top of one of the hills and there found a brief respite from the fighting. Gimli the Dwarf paused to rest, but Legolas ran forward to a man who stood watching the battle.
"Aragorn! I need your help," Legolas begged, close to tears.
Aragorn, also called Strider, the King of Gondor turned to the Elf. "Legolas, what is - Shadow! What -"
"No time, Aragorn!" Luingil said, running up, fear on his face as he looked at his sister. "Please, help her!"
Aragorn glanced at both of them in confusion for a moment, then said, "Lay her down, Legolas."
The Elf prince quickly obeyed, cradling Star's head in his lap. Aragorn knelt and examined the wound. "I do not know if I can save her," he said in a strange voice that sounded oddly like one fighting tears; "but I shall do my best. Luingil, help hold her down."
Luingil held his sister's shoulders, his blue eyes glistening with tears. Aragorn grasped the arrow shaft and snapped in half. Star did not stir. Muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a curse, Aragorn took hold of the rest of the shaft and in one swift movement drew it out. Now Star stirred. She tensed and screamed, not very loud, but loud enough to make the Elves wince.
"Ah, a good sign!" Aragorn said cheerfully. "I feared she had left us already." As he spoke he took off his cloak and pressed it to the wound to stop the bleeding. "Do not fear, the bleeding is not bad, I am fairly sure she will live. Now Luingil, perhaps you will tell me where you vanished to. I would guess it has something to do with Shadow."
"Shadow?" Legolas asked with a frown.
Luingil sighed. "Actually, her name is Star now. It is a rather long story."
"Well we only have a little time," Aragorn said as he glanced out at the battle. "Tell us what you can."
"Well, you know most of the tale, Aragorn," Luingil said uneasily. "I will not say more to you until she awakens, but Legolas knows less than you."
"Then perhaps you should tell me," Legolas said quietly, gazing down at Star.
Luingil sighed. "This will not be easy..."
"Then say it and be done," Aragorn said with a small smile.
Luingil smiled at his friend. "Very well. Aiwë was also called Shadow, and now she is called Star, short for Star-daughter, or Gil-iell in the Elvish tongue. And I, Luingil or Rusc, whichever you will, am her brother."
Legolas' head snapped up and he stared at Luingil in shock. "You are what? Why did you not tell me?"
Luingil bit his lip. "I cannot tell you the full tale until Star wakes up."
"That will not be any time soon," Aragorn said quietly. "The bleeding has more or less stopped, but she will be unconscious for many hours yet."
Luingil removed his cloak, which Star had returned to him before they had set out that morning. With a grunt he began to tear it into strips. "I can dress the wound, Aragorn," he said. "Tend to your army."
Aragorn nodded and rose to speak with his captains. Legolas stayed and helped Luingil dress Star's wound.
"I think you shall need to give me more of an explanation than you have," he said softly. "Why has she changed her name?"
"Because she herself has changed," Luingil said simply. "After she escaped Dol Guldur she was no longer the way she used to be, no longer Aiwë. She lost her footing and slipped into darkness and became Shadow. We met in the Brown Lands and it was then we remembered each other, for we had both forgotten our childhood. Then we met Strider, or Aragorn, and I returned with him to Mirkwood. Shadow chose to go to Minas Tirith and later the Firien Wood. When I found her again last night she had grown in wisdom, and turned from her dark path. She was no longer Shadow, nor was she Aiwë. She can not go back to how she was, and so she is Star-daughter. I know you may not understand it, but just know that she is not how she used to be."
Legolas said nothing, but hung his head in sorrow. Luingil sighed and concentrated on dressing Star's wound while the battle raged on the plains below them.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Star? Star, can you hear me?"
I can hear you Luingil, she thought. But why am I unable to respond? And why does my chest hurt so bad? Suddenly a new voice cut across her thoughts.
"Star?"
She froze. She knew that voice. It was Legolas! Then he lives, she thought without emotion. Why am I not happy? But her mind quickly supplied the answer. He knows my new name, he must also know why I changed it. What does he think of me now, I wonder?
"Star, please wake up."
The sincere longing in Legolas' voice tugged at Star's heart. I suppose I shall never know until I ask him, she sighed. Gathering her courage, Star opened her eyes.
Luingil and Legolas hovered over her, anxious looks on their faces. Past them she could stars twinkling in the night sky. She could faintly hear the movements of horses and the sounds of men as they moved about a camp. How long have I slept? she wondered.
"Star, are you alright?" Luingil asked nervously.
"What happened?" she asked weakly.
"You saved me," Legolas said quietly. "You took the arrow that should have been mine."
Star turned her head away from him.
"Star, what is wrong?"
"Precisely that," she said softly. "I am Star, not Aiwë."
Legolas furrowed his brow. "And what is wrong with that?"
"You loved Aiwë, not Star," she answered miserably.
"How do you know I do not love Star, too?" he said gently.
Star turned her head slightly and glanced at him. "How do you know that you do?"
There was an uneasy silence, and Luingil rose to his feet. "I shall leave you two alone," he said quietly. Then he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Star tried to sit up, but that only caused the pain in her chest to increase and she fell back with a small cry. Wordlessly, Legolas slipped his arm under her and propped her up, allowing her to lean on him. They stayed thus for a long time, neither speaking any word. At long last Star broke the silence.
"You do not know how I have changed, what makes you think you can still love me?"
"What makes you think that I have not changed?" Legolas asked with a small smile. "Do you still love me?"
Star looked up at him in surprise. "Of course I still love you!"
"Then that is all that matters," he said quietly. "I care not how you have changed, except that you still love me. From what Luingil has told me you have only become wiser and a bit more somber. But you still have a gentle heart and a kind spirit."
"Can you be sure?" Star muttered under her breath, but Legolas heard her. Putting his hand under her chin he raised her face so that she looked into his eyes. After a moment a smile crossed the Elf prince's face.
"I am sure," he whispered. "The same mischief and light I saw in Aiwë's eyes are in your's. And that is what I love you for; you always know how to make me smile and laugh, even after a sad event. I love you, Star-daughter."
Tears welled up in her sapphire eyes and she hid her face in his shirt with a strangled sob. Legolas held her as she cried, and soon her sobs turned to laughs, and she looked up to him with a broad smile, her cheeks still wet.
"And I still love you, Legolas Greenleaf," she laughed.
Legolas grinned broadly, and he gently bent his head and kissed her. Star put her arm about his neck and kissed back.
Unbeknownst to them, Talbit and Luingil were watching from the shadow of a tent.
"It's about time," Talbit muttered.
Luingil grinned. "My sentiments exactly. I am afraid we shall have to break them up soon, though, so Star can rest."
"Oh don't worry, how long can they kiss anyway?"
A mischievous smile spread across Luingil's face. "You obviously have never seen Elves kiss before."
**brings out cookie plate** Yea, I'm ending it there. =o) They all go to bed in a few minutes anyway, and I didn't want to bore you. I shall try to have the next chapter up soon. Have a cookie and please remember to review! =o)
Chapter 13: Dreams Come to Life
"Sounds like we are a bit late," Star remarked with a grim smile.
"Then we shall have to make up for that," Luingil replied with an equally dismal smile.
Suddenly Talbit stopped atop a hill, his body wet with sweat. Below them stretched the battlefield, already littered with the bodies of men and Orcs. Star shuddered involuntarily at the sight of the Orcs.
"Yrch," she muttered under her breath.
"Are you sure you wish to do this?" Luingil asked anxiously.
Star closed her eyes and her dream from the night before came to her. She had been on the battlefield when she saw Legolas fighting alongside a Dwarf. This had struck her as odd, but she had no time to dwell on it for she saw an Orc archer draw his bow and aim at Legolas. She had shouted a warning and the archer had turned to her and released his bow... and then she awoke. "I must go," she murmured. "For good or ill, I must go."
Luingil nodded, and Talbit leapt down the slope, bearing them swiftly to the edge of the battle. Luingil leapt from Talbit's back and put bow and sword to equally good use. Star stayed on her friend's back, searching for Legolas among the seething mass. Suddenly she saw him, as in her dream. With a grim smile she drew the Gondorian blade.
"Talbit, do you see that Elf?" Star shouted over the battle noise. Talbit nodded. "Can you bring me to him?"
"I can't bring you all the way," he shouted back; "but I can get you fairly close."
With that he plunged into the battle the way he had plunged into the icy Anduin. Kicking Orcs out of his way Talbit fought his way forward, Star aiding him by beheading any Orcs that got too close. Soon the horse stopped, thirty yards from the Elf and Dwarf.
"I can go no farther, good luck, Star-daughter!"
Star leapt from his back and began to fight her way through the army while Talbit held his own, pressed in on all sides. He was as fierce as any horse of Rohan, and many Orcs fell to his hooves and teeth.
Star was clearing a path towards Legolas, but he had not yet seen her. Suddenly she saw an Orc archer and her blood ran cold. It was the same as in her dream. She watched as he knocked an arrow to the bowstring and began to draw back... This is it, it is either my life or his, Star thought miserably. It almost killed me to think he was dead, it would certainly kill me if he died because of me. Closing her eyes, Star drew a deep breath, then shouted as loud as she could.
"Legolas! Watch out!"
The Elf prince whirled in surprise and saw the archer, but the Orc was no longer interested in him. Instead he spun and released his shaft. Legolas watched in horror as an Elf maiden collapsed to the ground with the arrow in her chest.
The Dwarf looked up at his friend in surprise as a strangled cry tore itself from the Elf's throat. "Aiwë!"
A strange rage came over Legolas, and his grey eyes seemed to be glazed with anger and hatred. With a terrible cry he leapt at the Orc and hewed him mercilessly, then began to strike down all the other Orcs around him. Soon he reached Star's still form, and sheathing his blade he bent and lifted her. She did not stir.
"Gimli, we must get her help!" Legolas cried in anguish.
The Dwarf nodded. He did not know who the strange Elf was who had saved his friend, but it was clear that Legolas did. "Come, Legolas, I will clear you a path!"
The Dwarf charged forward, his axe felling any Orc in his path. Legolas followed close behind, Star senseless in his arms. Soon they reached the top of one of the hills and there found a brief respite from the fighting. Gimli the Dwarf paused to rest, but Legolas ran forward to a man who stood watching the battle.
"Aragorn! I need your help," Legolas begged, close to tears.
Aragorn, also called Strider, the King of Gondor turned to the Elf. "Legolas, what is - Shadow! What -"
"No time, Aragorn!" Luingil said, running up, fear on his face as he looked at his sister. "Please, help her!"
Aragorn glanced at both of them in confusion for a moment, then said, "Lay her down, Legolas."
The Elf prince quickly obeyed, cradling Star's head in his lap. Aragorn knelt and examined the wound. "I do not know if I can save her," he said in a strange voice that sounded oddly like one fighting tears; "but I shall do my best. Luingil, help hold her down."
Luingil held his sister's shoulders, his blue eyes glistening with tears. Aragorn grasped the arrow shaft and snapped in half. Star did not stir. Muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a curse, Aragorn took hold of the rest of the shaft and in one swift movement drew it out. Now Star stirred. She tensed and screamed, not very loud, but loud enough to make the Elves wince.
"Ah, a good sign!" Aragorn said cheerfully. "I feared she had left us already." As he spoke he took off his cloak and pressed it to the wound to stop the bleeding. "Do not fear, the bleeding is not bad, I am fairly sure she will live. Now Luingil, perhaps you will tell me where you vanished to. I would guess it has something to do with Shadow."
"Shadow?" Legolas asked with a frown.
Luingil sighed. "Actually, her name is Star now. It is a rather long story."
"Well we only have a little time," Aragorn said as he glanced out at the battle. "Tell us what you can."
"Well, you know most of the tale, Aragorn," Luingil said uneasily. "I will not say more to you until she awakens, but Legolas knows less than you."
"Then perhaps you should tell me," Legolas said quietly, gazing down at Star.
Luingil sighed. "This will not be easy..."
"Then say it and be done," Aragorn said with a small smile.
Luingil smiled at his friend. "Very well. Aiwë was also called Shadow, and now she is called Star, short for Star-daughter, or Gil-iell in the Elvish tongue. And I, Luingil or Rusc, whichever you will, am her brother."
Legolas' head snapped up and he stared at Luingil in shock. "You are what? Why did you not tell me?"
Luingil bit his lip. "I cannot tell you the full tale until Star wakes up."
"That will not be any time soon," Aragorn said quietly. "The bleeding has more or less stopped, but she will be unconscious for many hours yet."
Luingil removed his cloak, which Star had returned to him before they had set out that morning. With a grunt he began to tear it into strips. "I can dress the wound, Aragorn," he said. "Tend to your army."
Aragorn nodded and rose to speak with his captains. Legolas stayed and helped Luingil dress Star's wound.
"I think you shall need to give me more of an explanation than you have," he said softly. "Why has she changed her name?"
"Because she herself has changed," Luingil said simply. "After she escaped Dol Guldur she was no longer the way she used to be, no longer Aiwë. She lost her footing and slipped into darkness and became Shadow. We met in the Brown Lands and it was then we remembered each other, for we had both forgotten our childhood. Then we met Strider, or Aragorn, and I returned with him to Mirkwood. Shadow chose to go to Minas Tirith and later the Firien Wood. When I found her again last night she had grown in wisdom, and turned from her dark path. She was no longer Shadow, nor was she Aiwë. She can not go back to how she was, and so she is Star-daughter. I know you may not understand it, but just know that she is not how she used to be."
Legolas said nothing, but hung his head in sorrow. Luingil sighed and concentrated on dressing Star's wound while the battle raged on the plains below them.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Star? Star, can you hear me?"
I can hear you Luingil, she thought. But why am I unable to respond? And why does my chest hurt so bad? Suddenly a new voice cut across her thoughts.
"Star?"
She froze. She knew that voice. It was Legolas! Then he lives, she thought without emotion. Why am I not happy? But her mind quickly supplied the answer. He knows my new name, he must also know why I changed it. What does he think of me now, I wonder?
"Star, please wake up."
The sincere longing in Legolas' voice tugged at Star's heart. I suppose I shall never know until I ask him, she sighed. Gathering her courage, Star opened her eyes.
Luingil and Legolas hovered over her, anxious looks on their faces. Past them she could stars twinkling in the night sky. She could faintly hear the movements of horses and the sounds of men as they moved about a camp. How long have I slept? she wondered.
"Star, are you alright?" Luingil asked nervously.
"What happened?" she asked weakly.
"You saved me," Legolas said quietly. "You took the arrow that should have been mine."
Star turned her head away from him.
"Star, what is wrong?"
"Precisely that," she said softly. "I am Star, not Aiwë."
Legolas furrowed his brow. "And what is wrong with that?"
"You loved Aiwë, not Star," she answered miserably.
"How do you know I do not love Star, too?" he said gently.
Star turned her head slightly and glanced at him. "How do you know that you do?"
There was an uneasy silence, and Luingil rose to his feet. "I shall leave you two alone," he said quietly. Then he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Star tried to sit up, but that only caused the pain in her chest to increase and she fell back with a small cry. Wordlessly, Legolas slipped his arm under her and propped her up, allowing her to lean on him. They stayed thus for a long time, neither speaking any word. At long last Star broke the silence.
"You do not know how I have changed, what makes you think you can still love me?"
"What makes you think that I have not changed?" Legolas asked with a small smile. "Do you still love me?"
Star looked up at him in surprise. "Of course I still love you!"
"Then that is all that matters," he said quietly. "I care not how you have changed, except that you still love me. From what Luingil has told me you have only become wiser and a bit more somber. But you still have a gentle heart and a kind spirit."
"Can you be sure?" Star muttered under her breath, but Legolas heard her. Putting his hand under her chin he raised her face so that she looked into his eyes. After a moment a smile crossed the Elf prince's face.
"I am sure," he whispered. "The same mischief and light I saw in Aiwë's eyes are in your's. And that is what I love you for; you always know how to make me smile and laugh, even after a sad event. I love you, Star-daughter."
Tears welled up in her sapphire eyes and she hid her face in his shirt with a strangled sob. Legolas held her as she cried, and soon her sobs turned to laughs, and she looked up to him with a broad smile, her cheeks still wet.
"And I still love you, Legolas Greenleaf," she laughed.
Legolas grinned broadly, and he gently bent his head and kissed her. Star put her arm about his neck and kissed back.
Unbeknownst to them, Talbit and Luingil were watching from the shadow of a tent.
"It's about time," Talbit muttered.
Luingil grinned. "My sentiments exactly. I am afraid we shall have to break them up soon, though, so Star can rest."
"Oh don't worry, how long can they kiss anyway?"
A mischievous smile spread across Luingil's face. "You obviously have never seen Elves kiss before."
**brings out cookie plate** Yea, I'm ending it there. =o) They all go to bed in a few minutes anyway, and I didn't want to bore you. I shall try to have the next chapter up soon. Have a cookie and please remember to review! =o)