Part XVII: Guilt and Forgiveness
~Legolas~
Glorfindel rushed to meet Galadriel when she came out of Estella's chamber. We were very relieved that she somehow managed to bring Estella back to live again, but we were still worry, listening to the mourning Estella just cried out.
She smiled as she saw us approaching her with eyes filled with curiosity. "She has come back to Life and she will recover. I will stay with her tonight. Rest, for you have burdened by weary and sorrow on her behalf. And for this, I shall forever thank you." She bowed to us gracefully.
"No, please don't thank us, my Lady. She is our friend, and we hold her dearly in our heart." Glorfindel pleaded.
The Lady smiled misteriously, as she looked into Glorfindel's eyes then mine. "A friend? Yes, she is your friend, and beyond. Still I must show you my gratitude for you prevented me from suffering another lost of my daughter. "
"Can we see her?"
"Be patient, Legolas. She just let herself experienced the pain she hold for so long. Her pride will not allow anyone to see her in such vulnerable state. "
I nodded; knowing that seeing her now would only cause her suffer. Still, deep down inside I wished that I could be the one who ease her suffering, bringing her old high spirit self back again.
Lady Galadriel stayed for few months before she went back to her Golden Wood. Elrond told me the reason she abandoned Lorien for such a long time; she could not bear to loose another child again. Amroth and Celebrian left her to the sea and Estella was paralyzed. She wanted to bring Estella back to Lorien, but Galadrhim lived on trees, and it would be troublesome for Estella to wander around.
Estella recovered and her health was back into normal. We made her a wheelchair to use and she gratefully accept it. She worked as a healer again, though Elrond had spared many duties from her. She tried very hard to be her old self, but I could see the sorrow and bitterness in her deep melancholic eyes and her grave face which completely the opposite of Estella I knew before.
And I grieved with her.
"Estella?" We were walking around Rivendell with her wheelchair, enjoying the night breeze with the moonlight and stars showered their light upon us. It was a beautiful spring night with myrtle fragrance delighted our soul.
"Yes Legolas?"
"I am glad you don't leave me."
She chuckled, but didn't say a word. There was deep silent between us, yet we were speaking into each other heart. Trials had strengthened our bond of friendship and understanding.
"Estella?" I heard a soft voice behind us, and we turned. It was Melani, Estella's subordinate in Healing House, a young beautiful Elf maiden. I never saw her again after the accident and didn't know about her attempt to suicide, which led to Estella fell to the ravine. We never talked about the matter, simply because we thought it was too painful for her.
Estella looked away suddenly, but say nothing. "What is the matter Melani?"
The girl shuddered and sobbed, her body shook. "Forgive me, Estella. Forgive me." The words came out of her mouth between her sobs puzzling me. I …I… come here to offer myself as your servant forever. I want to pay the suffering I caused you."
Estella gripped my hand, which held her wheelchair, with trembling hand, sent more questions to my mind. She silenced for quite a long time and Melani still sobbed and cried. I didn't dare say a word for I didn't understand what had happened. I just had a feeling this was something they must settled by themselves.
At last her gripping hand loosened and she finally calmed. She looked very peaceful and determined, somethings I thought she had lost long ago. "Melani, I forgive you."
Melani was clearly surprised as she stopped sobbing instantly and starred Estella's back. "You forgive me? Just that? After this terrible I caused you?"
Estella sighed deeply, but her voice sounded no doubt, "Yes I do."
Melani cried and sobbed again. She ran to Estella and fell to her knee in front of her. " I am so sorry. I cannot forgive myself. " She burst into tears again as she place her head on Estella's lap.
Estella gently caressed her hair and spoke softly, "There, there. Melani, look at me. Listen." Melani stopped sobbing and raised her head; her eyes met Estella's.
Estella gazed at her with compassion and forgiveness, no contempt was in her voice as she spoke," Melani, you are still very young. 300 years were not a long time in Elves life. You have eternity ahead of you; do not put the burden of guilt upon your shoulder. Learn to forgive yourself as I learn to forgive you."
"Why? Oh I am damned for causing such a great Elf to suffer. "
Estella looked up. "Why, you said? Nay, I am not such a noble creature. I forgive you for myself, not for your sake. And my forgiveness comes not without effort."
"I don't understand." Confusion and questions were plain on her face.
"I must go on living with this condition no matter hard it is. Bitterness surely wont make it easier. I must let go, accept the fate and go on. And you should to."
Melani nodded. She wiped away her tears.
"However, I don't let you escape this easily." Estella smiled.
"What do you mean, Estella?"
"You must continue your life and if you ever give up, I will not forgive you."
She nodded. "No, I will not dissappoint you. Never."
"Now, hush you. Looks like Legolas starts to go crazy waiting for us." She smiled again.
Melani grinned and stood up. She went away without looking at me, clearly embarrassed by the action she just did.
"Would someone care to explain what happened?" I asked, puzzled.
Estella grinned and turned to face me." You look cute with your perplexed look. Unfortunately, I am in evil mood now. So I'll let your curiosity kills you." She laughed.
I was so glad she laughed again and pushed her no more. Her heart and soul would recover. And nothing was more important.
THE END
What do you think? Want a sequel? Well, if I get enough request…… maybe.
~Legolas~
Glorfindel rushed to meet Galadriel when she came out of Estella's chamber. We were very relieved that she somehow managed to bring Estella back to live again, but we were still worry, listening to the mourning Estella just cried out.
She smiled as she saw us approaching her with eyes filled with curiosity. "She has come back to Life and she will recover. I will stay with her tonight. Rest, for you have burdened by weary and sorrow on her behalf. And for this, I shall forever thank you." She bowed to us gracefully.
"No, please don't thank us, my Lady. She is our friend, and we hold her dearly in our heart." Glorfindel pleaded.
The Lady smiled misteriously, as she looked into Glorfindel's eyes then mine. "A friend? Yes, she is your friend, and beyond. Still I must show you my gratitude for you prevented me from suffering another lost of my daughter. "
"Can we see her?"
"Be patient, Legolas. She just let herself experienced the pain she hold for so long. Her pride will not allow anyone to see her in such vulnerable state. "
I nodded; knowing that seeing her now would only cause her suffer. Still, deep down inside I wished that I could be the one who ease her suffering, bringing her old high spirit self back again.
Lady Galadriel stayed for few months before she went back to her Golden Wood. Elrond told me the reason she abandoned Lorien for such a long time; she could not bear to loose another child again. Amroth and Celebrian left her to the sea and Estella was paralyzed. She wanted to bring Estella back to Lorien, but Galadrhim lived on trees, and it would be troublesome for Estella to wander around.
Estella recovered and her health was back into normal. We made her a wheelchair to use and she gratefully accept it. She worked as a healer again, though Elrond had spared many duties from her. She tried very hard to be her old self, but I could see the sorrow and bitterness in her deep melancholic eyes and her grave face which completely the opposite of Estella I knew before.
And I grieved with her.
"Estella?" We were walking around Rivendell with her wheelchair, enjoying the night breeze with the moonlight and stars showered their light upon us. It was a beautiful spring night with myrtle fragrance delighted our soul.
"Yes Legolas?"
"I am glad you don't leave me."
She chuckled, but didn't say a word. There was deep silent between us, yet we were speaking into each other heart. Trials had strengthened our bond of friendship and understanding.
"Estella?" I heard a soft voice behind us, and we turned. It was Melani, Estella's subordinate in Healing House, a young beautiful Elf maiden. I never saw her again after the accident and didn't know about her attempt to suicide, which led to Estella fell to the ravine. We never talked about the matter, simply because we thought it was too painful for her.
Estella looked away suddenly, but say nothing. "What is the matter Melani?"
The girl shuddered and sobbed, her body shook. "Forgive me, Estella. Forgive me." The words came out of her mouth between her sobs puzzling me. I …I… come here to offer myself as your servant forever. I want to pay the suffering I caused you."
Estella gripped my hand, which held her wheelchair, with trembling hand, sent more questions to my mind. She silenced for quite a long time and Melani still sobbed and cried. I didn't dare say a word for I didn't understand what had happened. I just had a feeling this was something they must settled by themselves.
At last her gripping hand loosened and she finally calmed. She looked very peaceful and determined, somethings I thought she had lost long ago. "Melani, I forgive you."
Melani was clearly surprised as she stopped sobbing instantly and starred Estella's back. "You forgive me? Just that? After this terrible I caused you?"
Estella sighed deeply, but her voice sounded no doubt, "Yes I do."
Melani cried and sobbed again. She ran to Estella and fell to her knee in front of her. " I am so sorry. I cannot forgive myself. " She burst into tears again as she place her head on Estella's lap.
Estella gently caressed her hair and spoke softly, "There, there. Melani, look at me. Listen." Melani stopped sobbing and raised her head; her eyes met Estella's.
Estella gazed at her with compassion and forgiveness, no contempt was in her voice as she spoke," Melani, you are still very young. 300 years were not a long time in Elves life. You have eternity ahead of you; do not put the burden of guilt upon your shoulder. Learn to forgive yourself as I learn to forgive you."
"Why? Oh I am damned for causing such a great Elf to suffer. "
Estella looked up. "Why, you said? Nay, I am not such a noble creature. I forgive you for myself, not for your sake. And my forgiveness comes not without effort."
"I don't understand." Confusion and questions were plain on her face.
"I must go on living with this condition no matter hard it is. Bitterness surely wont make it easier. I must let go, accept the fate and go on. And you should to."
Melani nodded. She wiped away her tears.
"However, I don't let you escape this easily." Estella smiled.
"What do you mean, Estella?"
"You must continue your life and if you ever give up, I will not forgive you."
She nodded. "No, I will not dissappoint you. Never."
"Now, hush you. Looks like Legolas starts to go crazy waiting for us." She smiled again.
Melani grinned and stood up. She went away without looking at me, clearly embarrassed by the action she just did.
"Would someone care to explain what happened?" I asked, puzzled.
Estella grinned and turned to face me." You look cute with your perplexed look. Unfortunately, I am in evil mood now. So I'll let your curiosity kills you." She laughed.
I was so glad she laughed again and pushed her no more. Her heart and soul would recover. And nothing was more important.
THE END
What do you think? Want a sequel? Well, if I get enough request…… maybe.