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)
49.
Airadolas carefully folded his daughter's clothing at the foot of her bed where she lay pale and still, and packed them neatly into a leather bag. This had gone on for far too long and he was not about to stand by and watch Elenath fade before his very eyes.
"Uuma dele Do not worry," he whispered to her gently. "I will take you to your prince."
She did not respond, save to sigh in her sleep and turn her head to the other side. He echoed her sigh, wondering how it had come to this: his vibrant, energetic daughter reduced to sleeping all through the day and night in a slumber so deep that none could wake her.
"Your mother is already preparing the horses. Do not leave us yet, Elenath. You shall live to see Legolas again."
"Airedolas." The voice was unmistakably Elrond's. He stood in the doorway, his brow furrowed. "What are you doing?"
Elenath's father had known this confrontation would come and faced it calmly. "I am taking my daughter away from this place. It is killing her to be parted from her Beloved."
The two Elves' eyes met and locked for a long moment, as if in some great battle of wills, and it was Elrond who broke the short silence. "You will do no such thing. I will not allow it. She will stay here, and will recover with time."
Airedolas turned from Lord Elrond back to his task, packing his daughter's clothing and other belongings: a miniature of the portrait with herself, Haldir, Legolas, and Merethiel; quill and ink; a gilded journal. "Nay, Lord Elrond. It is my right as her father to protect her."
"I will use force if necessary, to keep her here. She is in no danger. I was setting quite a schedule for her and she is simply exhausted. Elenath will wake soon and return to her duties."
"We will leave before the sun sets. Llilwen is readying the horses. And no force have you to use save your own. Thorondil and I are in agreement on this matter, along with the Royal Guard. Although they are loyal to you in all other matters, they will not see their friend and comrade die because of your stubbornness."
"She only sleeps, Airedolas. Any fool can see that," anger was quickly creeping into the Elven Lord's voice.
"If she sleeps, Lord, then why can I not wake her?"
"Do not be ridiculous. Of course you can wake her!"
Airedolas strode around his daughter's bed, sitting next to her gently and cupping her face in his hand. "Elenath, my love. Awake dear. Your grandfather would like to speak with you."
Her eyes flickered open for a brief moment, unseeing, and then closed again.
He stroked her cheek gently. "Come, lovely one. It is time to rise."
She made no response at that.
Elrond watched with growing horror. Finally, he asked Airedolas to step aside, and he tried everything he knew to wake his granddaughter. He shook her, poured water on her, shouted and clapped and wept over her to no avail. "Airedolas," he cried, "How long has she been this way? Why was I not informed?"
"It was yesterday that she refused to rise. We tried to tell you, but you insisted that she was simply tired."
"I was a fool," stated Elrond. "I am a fool! By the sea and stars, what have I done?"
Airedolas watched in amazement as his Lord sank to his knees next to his daughter and begged forgiveness. "I will go myself," promised Elrond. "Please do not leave us. I will go at once to Mirkwood and retrieve your prince. And I will do anything in my power to see that you are together for all eternity. Please hear me, Elenath. You have reason to live. Do not fade!" With that, he rose and fled down the winding corridor to the stables.
"Lord Elrond!" Airedolas pursued him. "You cannot go alone. Our scouts have told Thorondil that Mirkwood is embroiled in war with the Orcs. It is too dangerous!"
"Then gather my army, Airedolas. We leave in one hour to ride to Mirkwood's aid."
***
King Thranduil of Mirkwood sat regally upon his horse and surveyed the scene before him for a moment. Orcs. Everywhere. As quickly as his warriors beat them back, more seemed to appear. Curse them, the foul creatures! And curse Lord Elrond of Rivendell for his foolishness! Had his old friend not called him to council, he would have been here to meet this threat head-on. But that was no matter. Old friend, indeed. With a great cry, Thranduil threw himself into the battle, hewing down the horrid beasts as quickly as his sword could swing.
***
Haldir and Merethiel did not leave Elenath's bedside. All the while Lord Elrond was away, they sat beside her, doing everything they could to convince her to live. They read to her, talked to her, sang and played music to her, and carried her out into the gardens that she might feel the warm sun upon her skin. They even placed Calmakil in her hand, hoping that it would heal her as it had when she was poisoned with grimleaf. But the Sword only caused her to slip into a deeper sleep. Her body grew cold and her breath grew shallow, and she mumbled and cried out and wept in her sleep.
"May the Valar grant her more time," whispered Haldir. "Just a little more time. Elrond has been away for weeks now…"
Merethiel placed her hand upon his arm. "He must return soon with Legolas, or all will be lost."
***
Thundering hoofbeats. That was all the Elrond had heard for days and it grated upon his nerves. A great warrior he may have been, but he hated every moment of every battle he had ever fought; every long march; every senseless death he had witnessed. They drew near now unto Mirkwood. He could smell the stench of Orcs; hear the sounds of battle. Over the rise they galloped, and when Elrond saw the fray before them through the dense trees, he screamed his attack, his warriors echoing him until the Orcs turned, horrified, and tried to flee.
What was this? Thranduil looked toward the Elven battle cry in surprise, and his brow furrowed with fury when he saw Rivendell's armies coming toward him. Where was his son? He would not let Elrond take his son! A moment later he spotted Legolas at the edge of the clearing, surrounded with Afaendil by fell Orcs, fighting them with every ounce of strength they possessed. A large group of the Rivendell Elves rode toward them with their weapons drawn, and Thranduil spurred his horse to his son's aid, taking down Orcs as he went. But he was soon surrounded by the desperate beasts himself. Desperate because they were trapped. Elrond's forces had utterly surrounded the clearing.
Thranduil was attacked from all sides. Furiously, he fought back, but he knew that he would soon be overcome. Thrown from his horse, he looked up to see a grinning Orc coming at him with raised spear. But just as the beast prepared to thrust his weapon through the king's heart, Elrond appeared behind it, beheading it with one swoop of his sword.
"Up, up!" cried Elrond. "Your son needs our help! Come!"
Confused, Thranduil stumbled to his feet and mounted his horse, spurring it quickly toward the last pocket of enemies that surrounded Legolas.
***
Elenath had been asleep. For so long, she had known nothing but darkness, and she had wished for death. Now she stood upon an unfamiliar path, and the Man that had called himself Iluvitar's son stood before her, scarred hands outstretched. She ran into his arms and basked in his embrace, feeling as if she had come home after a long and weary journey.
"You are not supposed to be here," he said. "Have you not chosen to serve me with your life?"
"I chose to serve the Creator," she answered, stepping away.
"He and I are One," said the Man. "But how can you serve me with your life when you choose death? It is not yet your time, Elenath, princess of Rivendell. Go back!"
"You do not understand," she began.
"Go back!" he repeated. "Child, you have not yet fulfilled the plans that my Father has for you."
"But-"
"You must go back," he said gently, and Elenath broke down into bitter tears.
"I want to stay here with you."
The Man pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "I wish that it could be so, Child. But the time has not yet come. We shall meet again…"
"At least tell me your name before I leave," she whispered.
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "My name is Yeshua. Call on it at any time and I shall come to your aid."
***
The Orcs had never seen fury like that of the two Elven Lords who rode at them. Those who stood closest to their approach turned to flee, but Thranduil's arrows stopped their flight.
"Legolas!" Thranduil's voice rose above the clash of swords. He could see his son, now unhorsed, standing back-to-back with Afaendil and slaying any Orc who dared come near. But he was wounded. Thranduil could see the bright red of his son's blood upon the earth. With a mighty roar that struck terror into the hearts of his enemies, the king rode forth next to Elrond, cutting a path through the fray.
***
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)
49.
Airadolas carefully folded his daughter's clothing at the foot of her bed where she lay pale and still, and packed them neatly into a leather bag. This had gone on for far too long and he was not about to stand by and watch Elenath fade before his very eyes.
"Uuma dele Do not worry," he whispered to her gently. "I will take you to your prince."
She did not respond, save to sigh in her sleep and turn her head to the other side. He echoed her sigh, wondering how it had come to this: his vibrant, energetic daughter reduced to sleeping all through the day and night in a slumber so deep that none could wake her.
"Your mother is already preparing the horses. Do not leave us yet, Elenath. You shall live to see Legolas again."
"Airedolas." The voice was unmistakably Elrond's. He stood in the doorway, his brow furrowed. "What are you doing?"
Elenath's father had known this confrontation would come and faced it calmly. "I am taking my daughter away from this place. It is killing her to be parted from her Beloved."
The two Elves' eyes met and locked for a long moment, as if in some great battle of wills, and it was Elrond who broke the short silence. "You will do no such thing. I will not allow it. She will stay here, and will recover with time."
Airedolas turned from Lord Elrond back to his task, packing his daughter's clothing and other belongings: a miniature of the portrait with herself, Haldir, Legolas, and Merethiel; quill and ink; a gilded journal. "Nay, Lord Elrond. It is my right as her father to protect her."
"I will use force if necessary, to keep her here. She is in no danger. I was setting quite a schedule for her and she is simply exhausted. Elenath will wake soon and return to her duties."
"We will leave before the sun sets. Llilwen is readying the horses. And no force have you to use save your own. Thorondil and I are in agreement on this matter, along with the Royal Guard. Although they are loyal to you in all other matters, they will not see their friend and comrade die because of your stubbornness."
"She only sleeps, Airedolas. Any fool can see that," anger was quickly creeping into the Elven Lord's voice.
"If she sleeps, Lord, then why can I not wake her?"
"Do not be ridiculous. Of course you can wake her!"
Airedolas strode around his daughter's bed, sitting next to her gently and cupping her face in his hand. "Elenath, my love. Awake dear. Your grandfather would like to speak with you."
Her eyes flickered open for a brief moment, unseeing, and then closed again.
He stroked her cheek gently. "Come, lovely one. It is time to rise."
She made no response at that.
Elrond watched with growing horror. Finally, he asked Airedolas to step aside, and he tried everything he knew to wake his granddaughter. He shook her, poured water on her, shouted and clapped and wept over her to no avail. "Airedolas," he cried, "How long has she been this way? Why was I not informed?"
"It was yesterday that she refused to rise. We tried to tell you, but you insisted that she was simply tired."
"I was a fool," stated Elrond. "I am a fool! By the sea and stars, what have I done?"
Airedolas watched in amazement as his Lord sank to his knees next to his daughter and begged forgiveness. "I will go myself," promised Elrond. "Please do not leave us. I will go at once to Mirkwood and retrieve your prince. And I will do anything in my power to see that you are together for all eternity. Please hear me, Elenath. You have reason to live. Do not fade!" With that, he rose and fled down the winding corridor to the stables.
"Lord Elrond!" Airedolas pursued him. "You cannot go alone. Our scouts have told Thorondil that Mirkwood is embroiled in war with the Orcs. It is too dangerous!"
"Then gather my army, Airedolas. We leave in one hour to ride to Mirkwood's aid."
***
King Thranduil of Mirkwood sat regally upon his horse and surveyed the scene before him for a moment. Orcs. Everywhere. As quickly as his warriors beat them back, more seemed to appear. Curse them, the foul creatures! And curse Lord Elrond of Rivendell for his foolishness! Had his old friend not called him to council, he would have been here to meet this threat head-on. But that was no matter. Old friend, indeed. With a great cry, Thranduil threw himself into the battle, hewing down the horrid beasts as quickly as his sword could swing.
***
Haldir and Merethiel did not leave Elenath's bedside. All the while Lord Elrond was away, they sat beside her, doing everything they could to convince her to live. They read to her, talked to her, sang and played music to her, and carried her out into the gardens that she might feel the warm sun upon her skin. They even placed Calmakil in her hand, hoping that it would heal her as it had when she was poisoned with grimleaf. But the Sword only caused her to slip into a deeper sleep. Her body grew cold and her breath grew shallow, and she mumbled and cried out and wept in her sleep.
"May the Valar grant her more time," whispered Haldir. "Just a little more time. Elrond has been away for weeks now…"
Merethiel placed her hand upon his arm. "He must return soon with Legolas, or all will be lost."
***
Thundering hoofbeats. That was all the Elrond had heard for days and it grated upon his nerves. A great warrior he may have been, but he hated every moment of every battle he had ever fought; every long march; every senseless death he had witnessed. They drew near now unto Mirkwood. He could smell the stench of Orcs; hear the sounds of battle. Over the rise they galloped, and when Elrond saw the fray before them through the dense trees, he screamed his attack, his warriors echoing him until the Orcs turned, horrified, and tried to flee.
What was this? Thranduil looked toward the Elven battle cry in surprise, and his brow furrowed with fury when he saw Rivendell's armies coming toward him. Where was his son? He would not let Elrond take his son! A moment later he spotted Legolas at the edge of the clearing, surrounded with Afaendil by fell Orcs, fighting them with every ounce of strength they possessed. A large group of the Rivendell Elves rode toward them with their weapons drawn, and Thranduil spurred his horse to his son's aid, taking down Orcs as he went. But he was soon surrounded by the desperate beasts himself. Desperate because they were trapped. Elrond's forces had utterly surrounded the clearing.
Thranduil was attacked from all sides. Furiously, he fought back, but he knew that he would soon be overcome. Thrown from his horse, he looked up to see a grinning Orc coming at him with raised spear. But just as the beast prepared to thrust his weapon through the king's heart, Elrond appeared behind it, beheading it with one swoop of his sword.
"Up, up!" cried Elrond. "Your son needs our help! Come!"
Confused, Thranduil stumbled to his feet and mounted his horse, spurring it quickly toward the last pocket of enemies that surrounded Legolas.
***
Elenath had been asleep. For so long, she had known nothing but darkness, and she had wished for death. Now she stood upon an unfamiliar path, and the Man that had called himself Iluvitar's son stood before her, scarred hands outstretched. She ran into his arms and basked in his embrace, feeling as if she had come home after a long and weary journey.
"You are not supposed to be here," he said. "Have you not chosen to serve me with your life?"
"I chose to serve the Creator," she answered, stepping away.
"He and I are One," said the Man. "But how can you serve me with your life when you choose death? It is not yet your time, Elenath, princess of Rivendell. Go back!"
"You do not understand," she began.
"Go back!" he repeated. "Child, you have not yet fulfilled the plans that my Father has for you."
"But-"
"You must go back," he said gently, and Elenath broke down into bitter tears.
"I want to stay here with you."
The Man pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "I wish that it could be so, Child. But the time has not yet come. We shall meet again…"
"At least tell me your name before I leave," she whispered.
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "My name is Yeshua. Call on it at any time and I shall come to your aid."
***
The Orcs had never seen fury like that of the two Elven Lords who rode at them. Those who stood closest to their approach turned to flee, but Thranduil's arrows stopped their flight.
"Legolas!" Thranduil's voice rose above the clash of swords. He could see his son, now unhorsed, standing back-to-back with Afaendil and slaying any Orc who dared come near. But he was wounded. Thranduil could see the bright red of his son's blood upon the earth. With a mighty roar that struck terror into the hearts of his enemies, the king rode forth next to Elrond, cutting a path through the fray.
***
