Purity
Chapter 8: Epiphany
Levicia quickly made her way out of the garden and ran blindly towards a lake, her eyes blurred with anger and shock. She collapsed near the shore, leaning against a tree, she gazed towards the sky, breathing heavily and trying to think rationally.
Galandriel stood in the same location as when Levicia had made her exit. Arwen glanced back to the lady of the wood and gave her a questioning look, not quite sure what she had done nor why she'd said 'you are pure.'
"Shouldst someone attend to her?" Arwen asked.
"Twould be a good idea," Galandriel replied.
"Very well. Legolas, see to it that she does not harm herself while we prepare for the journey," Aragorn all but ordered. Legolas nodded and headed in the direction she'd left in. As he ran through the seemingly thick forest, his ears twitched as he picked up the sound of ragged breathing with his sensitive hearing. He reminded himself to be extremely subtly because Levicia may have become adjusted to her augmented hearing as well.
He stood behind a few trees and witnessed Levicia's body curled up against a large boulder, her arm wrapped around her knees which were pulled up to her chest and her other hand balled in a fist and pulled up to her lips as she bit down on her knuckles. He noticed that she hadn't noticed him as of yet because she'd been staring straight ahead of her in almost a trance.
Finally making himself known, he stepped out from the foliage and looked down at her quivering figure. She gasped and immediately stood up when he'd appeared.
"What are you doing here?" she narrowed her eyes at him.
"I came to see if you were all right," he replied and took a step towards her only to have her recoil in turn.
"Why do you care?" she asked bitterly.
"Levicia, I—" he started but was quickly interrupted.
"Save it. I don't want your pity," she sneered and turned away from him, crossing her arms.
"I know you're going through a lot, but you'll be fine," he explained, trying to sooth the pain he knew she was in.
"How do you know?" she turned back to him. "How would you feel if everything you were taught and trained to do was suddenly all taken away from you? All those years of work and praise… wasted," she hissed and approached him as he spoke.
"Levicia, I understand what you're going through," he held his hands up defensively.
"No, you don't understand!" she shoved him back a bit. "You don't know what torture I went through to gain what I did, how the power, the fear felt like! Everyone feared me, Legolas, everyone! And now I've been reduced to one of your kind, a feeble, elegant and pure creature, I've become everything I hate. So do not tell me you understand because you don't!" She finally yelled and slammed her fist into the rather large tree behind her, expecting it to break and fall over.
Legolas winced also half expecting it to snap in two, but instead a blinding pain shot up and down her arm, raking her body. She let out a small whimper and held her arm close to her chest, shutting her eyes tightly, trying to block out the pain. She snapped her eyes open in sudden realization, completely forgetting about the pain.
"I've been stripped of my enhancements," she mumbled absentmindedly, her body going into shock, "I've become pathetic and… w-weak…" she struggled to say the word.
"Come," he helped her to her feet, "let's away… we'll be leaving at dawn." He noticed that her eyes had become unfocused again and her brows furrowed together in despair. Her knees suddenly buckled and she fell to the ground, Legolas catching her before she made impact. He lifted her up and carried her the rest of the way back to their quarters, deciding that she didn't have enough strength to walk on her own yet.
Levicia gazed straight ahead of herself, her body trembling as she looked around at her surroundings. She knew exactly what has happening, but couldn't respond to it. She felt herself becoming weaker by the minute. It angered, upset and ashamed her, but most of all distressed her. She refused to cry as she felt hot tears behind her eyes and fought to keep them back.
They finally reached the palace and Legolas made his way towards her assigned room, setting her gently on her bed. He looked at her, seeing if she would respond in anyway only to have her eyes stay transfixed on a distant point. He sighed and made his way towards the door.
"I was born in Mirkwood," he heard her whisper just before he left. He turned around and looked at her quizzically. "My parents sent me away because the seer foretold of the evil that would corrupt me. If they hadn't sent me away, I would have destroyed Mirkwood without a second thought."
"Levicia," Legolas walked towards her as she sat up. "You need rest."
"Am I really so terrible?" she asked, looking up at him. He sighed and took her hand in his.
"It's all in the past," he gave her a weak smile and left, leaving her to rest. She looked at the door, her face full with melancholy.
"I fear it not so…" she said absentmindedly before falling straight to sleep.
Aragorn walked hastily down the hallway in search of Legolas. He turned a corner and spotted him several feet ahead of him, his back to him.
"Legolas," he whispered, knowing his acute hearing would pick up the small sound. The elf turned about and approached his friend. "Where is she?"
"In her chambers, she'll be fine by morn," he explained.
"Legolas, we need to leave as quickly as possible," he looked at him with disbelief.
"She needs rest, Aragorn," he said sternly and crossed his arms. "We'll leave at dawn."
Sighing, Aragorn nodded and disappeared down the hall, Legolas taking off in the other direction.
Levicia awoke to a bird chirping outside her window. She groaned and turned over, facing the window and pulled the covers over her head. She had decided during the night that if she could remember all the memories of her past then her life couldn't have been too horrid and decided giving the 'graceful' life a chance.
Suddenly, an elvish woman burst through the door shouting at her to arise and cease her sleeping. The woman nearly scared her half to death as she sprung up in bed, shocked with the sudden burst of noise. Levicia had never met such a loud and obnoxious elf in her life before, well what she could remember that is.
"Ugh, who are you?" she asked groggily and tried to rub the sleep in her eyes. The woman abruptly let the shade up, allowing the sunlight to stream into the room, momentarily blinding Levicia as she winced.
"Quickly now, we must make haste, you are to be departing soon. We must prepare you for your journey," she quickly explained and pulled the covers off the sleepy elf and pulled her to her feet.
"Who are you?" she repeated her question.
"My name is Losia, I'm… a nurse if you will," she tried to explain as she shoved her into the bathroom and removed her clothing, throwing her into the bath that she'd prepared.
"Aah, are you mad?" she screeched at the elf.
"Hush, child, wash up. I'll prepare your clothing and please emerge once you have finished," she instructed and closed the door. Levicia sighed and slouched into the tub, relieved that she'd left. Unfortunately, she could still hear her whistling outside the door.
"Wretched elf," she muttered to herself and splashed the water, crossing her arms. She caught some movement in the window out of the corner of her eye. She quickly dove down into the soapy water and looked around for anyone. She sighed and bathed for as long as she could before emerging from the tub.
As soon as she had exited the bathroom, Losia had already begun to dress her in a dark blue riding dress. After making her hair presentable she retrieved her belongings, save her weapons, and allowed her to leave.
"Thank you Losia," she said hurriedly and made her way out of the palace. She decided to pay a visit to Galandriel before heading towards the others. If she were going to have any chance to regain all her memories, it would be now.
"Where is she?" Aragorn paced past Legolas for the thousandth time, giving him a glare before setting his eyes on the palace.
"I know not," he said simply, trying to keep his patience. Arwen stood next to Gimli, awaiting Levicia with the others. She was there to bid them farewell for she had business to attend to in Lothlorien.
"There she is," she pointed out the fast approaching elf, who seemed to have an angered look on her face. Her eyes seemed to be transfixed on Legolas.
"Levicia, where have you be-" Legolas was quickly interrupted by a slap from her.
"Now I know why you looked so familiar when I came to Mirkwood," she glared at him.
"What are you talking about?" he rubbed his cheek, which was now red.
"You nearly got me killed 500 years ago!" she spat.
"What?" he asked confused.
"When Nimetas, Somian, Kohala and I separated after reeking havoc among one of your blasted balls, you, my blasted elf, trapped me on the outskirts of Mirkwood in hopes that the guards would find me. Instead, orcs attacked me and nearly killed me had Nimetas not appeared to save me," she pushed him back.
"That was you? Do you know how long we had to spend rebuilding the ballroom?" he narrowed his eyes at her angrily.
"It was worth it," she challenged and took a step towards him.
"Alright you two, break it up," Aragorn stepped between them. "If we're going to be on this journey together, we'll all have to get along."
"Speak for yourself," Gimli muttered, obviously referring to Levicia.
"What was that, dwarf?" she switched her gaze towards him.
"Well, I'd better leave you all to your journey," Arwen said, forcing a smile. She pecked Aragorn on the cheek before leaving. "I bid you all farewell."
"Well, at least someone here is having a nice time," Levicia raised an eyebrow.
"Come, let's away," Aragorn cleared his throat as they began to mount their steeds. As Levicia went to hop on the horse, she stopped and pulled away from the mare.
"What's wrong?" Aragorn asked.
"I only ride one horse," she said simply and whistled, summoning Portal. She came speeding down the plain and halted in front of her master.
"Do you think that a good idea," Legolas asked, still quite annoyed with her at the moment.
"All my ideas are good," she smirked and was about to mount Portal when her dress wouldn't allow her to straddle on her back. She growled and reached down, ripping a slit on both sides of the gown and proceeded to mount her horse. She smirked and led the four into the forest.
"Twill be a long journey indeed," Aragorn sighed and followed her.
Chapter 8: Epiphany
Levicia quickly made her way out of the garden and ran blindly towards a lake, her eyes blurred with anger and shock. She collapsed near the shore, leaning against a tree, she gazed towards the sky, breathing heavily and trying to think rationally.
Galandriel stood in the same location as when Levicia had made her exit. Arwen glanced back to the lady of the wood and gave her a questioning look, not quite sure what she had done nor why she'd said 'you are pure.'
"Shouldst someone attend to her?" Arwen asked.
"Twould be a good idea," Galandriel replied.
"Very well. Legolas, see to it that she does not harm herself while we prepare for the journey," Aragorn all but ordered. Legolas nodded and headed in the direction she'd left in. As he ran through the seemingly thick forest, his ears twitched as he picked up the sound of ragged breathing with his sensitive hearing. He reminded himself to be extremely subtly because Levicia may have become adjusted to her augmented hearing as well.
He stood behind a few trees and witnessed Levicia's body curled up against a large boulder, her arm wrapped around her knees which were pulled up to her chest and her other hand balled in a fist and pulled up to her lips as she bit down on her knuckles. He noticed that she hadn't noticed him as of yet because she'd been staring straight ahead of her in almost a trance.
Finally making himself known, he stepped out from the foliage and looked down at her quivering figure. She gasped and immediately stood up when he'd appeared.
"What are you doing here?" she narrowed her eyes at him.
"I came to see if you were all right," he replied and took a step towards her only to have her recoil in turn.
"Why do you care?" she asked bitterly.
"Levicia, I—" he started but was quickly interrupted.
"Save it. I don't want your pity," she sneered and turned away from him, crossing her arms.
"I know you're going through a lot, but you'll be fine," he explained, trying to sooth the pain he knew she was in.
"How do you know?" she turned back to him. "How would you feel if everything you were taught and trained to do was suddenly all taken away from you? All those years of work and praise… wasted," she hissed and approached him as he spoke.
"Levicia, I understand what you're going through," he held his hands up defensively.
"No, you don't understand!" she shoved him back a bit. "You don't know what torture I went through to gain what I did, how the power, the fear felt like! Everyone feared me, Legolas, everyone! And now I've been reduced to one of your kind, a feeble, elegant and pure creature, I've become everything I hate. So do not tell me you understand because you don't!" She finally yelled and slammed her fist into the rather large tree behind her, expecting it to break and fall over.
Legolas winced also half expecting it to snap in two, but instead a blinding pain shot up and down her arm, raking her body. She let out a small whimper and held her arm close to her chest, shutting her eyes tightly, trying to block out the pain. She snapped her eyes open in sudden realization, completely forgetting about the pain.
"I've been stripped of my enhancements," she mumbled absentmindedly, her body going into shock, "I've become pathetic and… w-weak…" she struggled to say the word.
"Come," he helped her to her feet, "let's away… we'll be leaving at dawn." He noticed that her eyes had become unfocused again and her brows furrowed together in despair. Her knees suddenly buckled and she fell to the ground, Legolas catching her before she made impact. He lifted her up and carried her the rest of the way back to their quarters, deciding that she didn't have enough strength to walk on her own yet.
Levicia gazed straight ahead of herself, her body trembling as she looked around at her surroundings. She knew exactly what has happening, but couldn't respond to it. She felt herself becoming weaker by the minute. It angered, upset and ashamed her, but most of all distressed her. She refused to cry as she felt hot tears behind her eyes and fought to keep them back.
They finally reached the palace and Legolas made his way towards her assigned room, setting her gently on her bed. He looked at her, seeing if she would respond in anyway only to have her eyes stay transfixed on a distant point. He sighed and made his way towards the door.
"I was born in Mirkwood," he heard her whisper just before he left. He turned around and looked at her quizzically. "My parents sent me away because the seer foretold of the evil that would corrupt me. If they hadn't sent me away, I would have destroyed Mirkwood without a second thought."
"Levicia," Legolas walked towards her as she sat up. "You need rest."
"Am I really so terrible?" she asked, looking up at him. He sighed and took her hand in his.
"It's all in the past," he gave her a weak smile and left, leaving her to rest. She looked at the door, her face full with melancholy.
"I fear it not so…" she said absentmindedly before falling straight to sleep.
Aragorn walked hastily down the hallway in search of Legolas. He turned a corner and spotted him several feet ahead of him, his back to him.
"Legolas," he whispered, knowing his acute hearing would pick up the small sound. The elf turned about and approached his friend. "Where is she?"
"In her chambers, she'll be fine by morn," he explained.
"Legolas, we need to leave as quickly as possible," he looked at him with disbelief.
"She needs rest, Aragorn," he said sternly and crossed his arms. "We'll leave at dawn."
Sighing, Aragorn nodded and disappeared down the hall, Legolas taking off in the other direction.
Levicia awoke to a bird chirping outside her window. She groaned and turned over, facing the window and pulled the covers over her head. She had decided during the night that if she could remember all the memories of her past then her life couldn't have been too horrid and decided giving the 'graceful' life a chance.
Suddenly, an elvish woman burst through the door shouting at her to arise and cease her sleeping. The woman nearly scared her half to death as she sprung up in bed, shocked with the sudden burst of noise. Levicia had never met such a loud and obnoxious elf in her life before, well what she could remember that is.
"Ugh, who are you?" she asked groggily and tried to rub the sleep in her eyes. The woman abruptly let the shade up, allowing the sunlight to stream into the room, momentarily blinding Levicia as she winced.
"Quickly now, we must make haste, you are to be departing soon. We must prepare you for your journey," she quickly explained and pulled the covers off the sleepy elf and pulled her to her feet.
"Who are you?" she repeated her question.
"My name is Losia, I'm… a nurse if you will," she tried to explain as she shoved her into the bathroom and removed her clothing, throwing her into the bath that she'd prepared.
"Aah, are you mad?" she screeched at the elf.
"Hush, child, wash up. I'll prepare your clothing and please emerge once you have finished," she instructed and closed the door. Levicia sighed and slouched into the tub, relieved that she'd left. Unfortunately, she could still hear her whistling outside the door.
"Wretched elf," she muttered to herself and splashed the water, crossing her arms. She caught some movement in the window out of the corner of her eye. She quickly dove down into the soapy water and looked around for anyone. She sighed and bathed for as long as she could before emerging from the tub.
As soon as she had exited the bathroom, Losia had already begun to dress her in a dark blue riding dress. After making her hair presentable she retrieved her belongings, save her weapons, and allowed her to leave.
"Thank you Losia," she said hurriedly and made her way out of the palace. She decided to pay a visit to Galandriel before heading towards the others. If she were going to have any chance to regain all her memories, it would be now.
"Where is she?" Aragorn paced past Legolas for the thousandth time, giving him a glare before setting his eyes on the palace.
"I know not," he said simply, trying to keep his patience. Arwen stood next to Gimli, awaiting Levicia with the others. She was there to bid them farewell for she had business to attend to in Lothlorien.
"There she is," she pointed out the fast approaching elf, who seemed to have an angered look on her face. Her eyes seemed to be transfixed on Legolas.
"Levicia, where have you be-" Legolas was quickly interrupted by a slap from her.
"Now I know why you looked so familiar when I came to Mirkwood," she glared at him.
"What are you talking about?" he rubbed his cheek, which was now red.
"You nearly got me killed 500 years ago!" she spat.
"What?" he asked confused.
"When Nimetas, Somian, Kohala and I separated after reeking havoc among one of your blasted balls, you, my blasted elf, trapped me on the outskirts of Mirkwood in hopes that the guards would find me. Instead, orcs attacked me and nearly killed me had Nimetas not appeared to save me," she pushed him back.
"That was you? Do you know how long we had to spend rebuilding the ballroom?" he narrowed his eyes at her angrily.
"It was worth it," she challenged and took a step towards him.
"Alright you two, break it up," Aragorn stepped between them. "If we're going to be on this journey together, we'll all have to get along."
"Speak for yourself," Gimli muttered, obviously referring to Levicia.
"What was that, dwarf?" she switched her gaze towards him.
"Well, I'd better leave you all to your journey," Arwen said, forcing a smile. She pecked Aragorn on the cheek before leaving. "I bid you all farewell."
"Well, at least someone here is having a nice time," Levicia raised an eyebrow.
"Come, let's away," Aragorn cleared his throat as they began to mount their steeds. As Levicia went to hop on the horse, she stopped and pulled away from the mare.
"What's wrong?" Aragorn asked.
"I only ride one horse," she said simply and whistled, summoning Portal. She came speeding down the plain and halted in front of her master.
"Do you think that a good idea," Legolas asked, still quite annoyed with her at the moment.
"All my ideas are good," she smirked and was about to mount Portal when her dress wouldn't allow her to straddle on her back. She growled and reached down, ripping a slit on both sides of the gown and proceeded to mount her horse. She smirked and led the four into the forest.
"Twill be a long journey indeed," Aragorn sighed and followed her.