RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
8.
A wave of unyielding grief had descended over the Realm of Rivendell as Elenath lay pale and motionless on her bed, barely breathing. Gone were the gay Elven tunes and laughter; the light-hearted stories and carefree merriment. Not a single smile could be found throughout the kingdom. Even the trees seemed to weep. It was as it had been before Elenath was born; before she had come to them like a shaft of sunlight through black clouds.
"Have you heard the tale of Elenath's birth, Prince Legolas?" asked Lady Merethiel as they stood on the banks of a small pond, looking out toward the setting sun. The fiery resistance she had given had all but faded away with her guilt. She had told Elenath that she would give the prince a chance, and then she had gone back on her word. Now she was determined to make it right; even to go to Mirkwood if she must.
"Nay, Lady. I have not."
"Five hundred years before Elenath was born, shadow descended upon Rivendell in the form of a dark sorcerer."
Legolas' eyebrows arched in surprise. "Darkness? Surely not here in this bright realm!"
"Indeed, it was dark, or so my father says. The sorcerer came looking for shelter and for food, but Elrond would not grant it, for the traveler was obviously evil. When my grandfather sent him away, he set a terrible curse upon Rivendell." She paused a moment and sat down on the soft grass of the bank, inviting Legolas to do the same. "That no offspring would be born; not to tree nor beast nor Elf. At that time, Llilwen was pregnant… and the curse caused her to give birth to the child far too early. He died before he could even live. And then, for five hundred years, this was a barren, dreadful place."
"It must have been a powerful sorcerer to overcome the magic of Elrond! How was the curse broken?"
The shadow of a smile crossed Merethiel's face. "Gandalf the Grey. Such miracles that wizard can work! He came to visit my grandfather, sensed the heavy darkness and drove it away. Many of our people did not believe that the curse had ended, for it was the dead of winter. But Llilwen and Airedolas believed. Before the winter ended, she was with child once more."
"Elenath?" asked Legolas.
Merethiel nodded. "She is very precious to us; a reminder that darkness does not last forever. That is why Grandfather will not let her leave."
***
"She is weak and poorly trained," Dimnarion fumed. "How could Lord Elrond allow her to carry Calmakil?"
Raion shook his head. "Even you must admit that she is neither of the things that you just said. Most would not have made it home again had they been poisoned with grimleaf. Yet I agree with you that Elrond should not have allowed it. There are reasons why females are not usually warriors."
"Many reasons," agreed Dimnarion, his green eyes glinting dangerously in the moonlight beneath his pale-blond hair. "Things can be much… worse for them if they are captured in battle."
"Exactly. Yet, she was chosen and so we are bound. I will do what I can for her if she lives. You should do the same, for where would we be without Calmakil? These last hundred years have been dangerous times."
"And we face one hundred more such years if she dies," agreed Dimnarion slowly. "I still say that if she had been properly trained, she would not have fallen."
Raion shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Every warrior has been wounded in battle no matter how great his skill."
"Perhaps if I talk to her…" Dimnarion muttered. "Perhaps if I explained why she should not bear the sword she would give it up willingly."
"I doubt it greatly."
"Then perhaps if I showed her… taught her a little lesson."
"Lessons cannot be taught if she dies," sighed Raion. "Now enough of this grim talk. I crave silence."
"What," sneered Dimnarion," So you can say your silly prayers to the Valar? Old legends they are, bereft of power…"
Raion glared at him and walked away, his heartfelt prayer for Elenath's life rising on the wind to be carried to Valinor.
***
There were many healers in Rivendell, and all gathered near to Elenath's bed, singing the healing chants that had failed Lord Elrond before. The she- Elf's parents and grandfather sat upon her bed, holding her cold hands and touching her cool brow, speaking soft, tender words to her as her breathing became more and more shallow.
"It won't be long now," whispered Elrond.
Thorondil came quietly into the room then with Calmakil in hand and stood beside Elenath's bed, his head bowed in sorrow. "Father…Llilwen…Airedolas, please forgive me… May I…? She wished to die with a sword in her hand. I would like to grant it… if I may."
Llilwen nodded at him, unable to say a word, and he gently took Elenath's hand, carefully curling her long, elegant fingers around the hilt. Leaning near to her, he whispered in her ear, "You fought bravely….Come back to us soon, Love."
Then the most amazing thing happened. The Sword began to glow, sending pulsing white light toward her wounded shoulder. Before long the light had completely surrounded her and lifted her inches above her bed. Color returned to her cheeks; full breaths filled her lungs with life-giving air. Then, as she was settled back down onto the bed, her eyes flickered open and a peaceful smile spread upon her face. "I have been in the most amazing place," she said, "the most amazing place I have ever seen."
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
8.
A wave of unyielding grief had descended over the Realm of Rivendell as Elenath lay pale and motionless on her bed, barely breathing. Gone were the gay Elven tunes and laughter; the light-hearted stories and carefree merriment. Not a single smile could be found throughout the kingdom. Even the trees seemed to weep. It was as it had been before Elenath was born; before she had come to them like a shaft of sunlight through black clouds.
"Have you heard the tale of Elenath's birth, Prince Legolas?" asked Lady Merethiel as they stood on the banks of a small pond, looking out toward the setting sun. The fiery resistance she had given had all but faded away with her guilt. She had told Elenath that she would give the prince a chance, and then she had gone back on her word. Now she was determined to make it right; even to go to Mirkwood if she must.
"Nay, Lady. I have not."
"Five hundred years before Elenath was born, shadow descended upon Rivendell in the form of a dark sorcerer."
Legolas' eyebrows arched in surprise. "Darkness? Surely not here in this bright realm!"
"Indeed, it was dark, or so my father says. The sorcerer came looking for shelter and for food, but Elrond would not grant it, for the traveler was obviously evil. When my grandfather sent him away, he set a terrible curse upon Rivendell." She paused a moment and sat down on the soft grass of the bank, inviting Legolas to do the same. "That no offspring would be born; not to tree nor beast nor Elf. At that time, Llilwen was pregnant… and the curse caused her to give birth to the child far too early. He died before he could even live. And then, for five hundred years, this was a barren, dreadful place."
"It must have been a powerful sorcerer to overcome the magic of Elrond! How was the curse broken?"
The shadow of a smile crossed Merethiel's face. "Gandalf the Grey. Such miracles that wizard can work! He came to visit my grandfather, sensed the heavy darkness and drove it away. Many of our people did not believe that the curse had ended, for it was the dead of winter. But Llilwen and Airedolas believed. Before the winter ended, she was with child once more."
"Elenath?" asked Legolas.
Merethiel nodded. "She is very precious to us; a reminder that darkness does not last forever. That is why Grandfather will not let her leave."
***
"She is weak and poorly trained," Dimnarion fumed. "How could Lord Elrond allow her to carry Calmakil?"
Raion shook his head. "Even you must admit that she is neither of the things that you just said. Most would not have made it home again had they been poisoned with grimleaf. Yet I agree with you that Elrond should not have allowed it. There are reasons why females are not usually warriors."
"Many reasons," agreed Dimnarion, his green eyes glinting dangerously in the moonlight beneath his pale-blond hair. "Things can be much… worse for them if they are captured in battle."
"Exactly. Yet, she was chosen and so we are bound. I will do what I can for her if she lives. You should do the same, for where would we be without Calmakil? These last hundred years have been dangerous times."
"And we face one hundred more such years if she dies," agreed Dimnarion slowly. "I still say that if she had been properly trained, she would not have fallen."
Raion shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Every warrior has been wounded in battle no matter how great his skill."
"Perhaps if I talk to her…" Dimnarion muttered. "Perhaps if I explained why she should not bear the sword she would give it up willingly."
"I doubt it greatly."
"Then perhaps if I showed her… taught her a little lesson."
"Lessons cannot be taught if she dies," sighed Raion. "Now enough of this grim talk. I crave silence."
"What," sneered Dimnarion," So you can say your silly prayers to the Valar? Old legends they are, bereft of power…"
Raion glared at him and walked away, his heartfelt prayer for Elenath's life rising on the wind to be carried to Valinor.
***
There were many healers in Rivendell, and all gathered near to Elenath's bed, singing the healing chants that had failed Lord Elrond before. The she- Elf's parents and grandfather sat upon her bed, holding her cold hands and touching her cool brow, speaking soft, tender words to her as her breathing became more and more shallow.
"It won't be long now," whispered Elrond.
Thorondil came quietly into the room then with Calmakil in hand and stood beside Elenath's bed, his head bowed in sorrow. "Father…Llilwen…Airedolas, please forgive me… May I…? She wished to die with a sword in her hand. I would like to grant it… if I may."
Llilwen nodded at him, unable to say a word, and he gently took Elenath's hand, carefully curling her long, elegant fingers around the hilt. Leaning near to her, he whispered in her ear, "You fought bravely….Come back to us soon, Love."
Then the most amazing thing happened. The Sword began to glow, sending pulsing white light toward her wounded shoulder. Before long the light had completely surrounded her and lifted her inches above her bed. Color returned to her cheeks; full breaths filled her lungs with life-giving air. Then, as she was settled back down onto the bed, her eyes flickered open and a peaceful smile spread upon her face. "I have been in the most amazing place," she said, "the most amazing place I have ever seen."
