Authors' Note: We forgot to put this in the last chapter. For all those who are concerned about the slash content of our story... the rating is *PG-13*. Snogging and smoochies are as far as we go. We promise... honest. Ivy has threatened, on numerous occasions, to stick a blowtorch in her eye if she or any of her nasty little co-authoresses exceed the PG-13 rating. Language is your only worry here...and most of it is Sun Queen's fault. Not that our characters swear every second word... * shows all three Nightrunners digging an inescapable pit, as they try to explain what they mean... Please come dig us out if you can !!* We give up, you know what we mean... * wave white flag of surrender*
Another little minor note. The New York nightclub by the name of the Outer Limits does not, as far we know, actually exist. However, it pays homage to a little club that once stood near Sun Queen and Ivory Moon's humble abode. Tragically, the Outer Limits burned down last spring. Good bye, dear club, and God rest your nasty little soul.
One Moment in Time
Soundtrack: When Doves Cry (Romeo+Juliet)
how can you leave me standing?
alone in a world that's so cold?
maybe i'm just too demanding
maybe i'm just like my father, too bold
maybe i'm just like my mother
she's never satisfied
why do we scream at each other
this is what it sounds like
when doves cry
(yes they cry, oh they cry)
how could you leave me standing?
alone in a world thats so cold?
maybe i'm just too demanding
maybe i'm just like my father -- too bold
maybe i'm just like my mother
she's never satisfied
why do we scream at each other
this is what it sounds like
when doves cry
(yeah, yeah (echo))
(this is what is sounds like)
(this is what is sounds like)
(this is what is sounds like)
(like (echo))
dream if you can a courtyard
an ocean of violets in bloom
animals strike curious poses
they feel the heat
the heat between me and you
maybe you're just like my mother
she's never satisfied (she's never satisfied)
why do we scream at each other
this is what it sounds like
when doves cry
(yeah, yeah (echo))
(singing syllables)
(you know that they cry)
(you know that they cry)
(you know that they cry)
how can you just leave me standing?
alone in a world that's so cold? (a world that's so cold)
maybe i'm just too demanding (maybe, maybe i'm like my father)
maybe i'm just like my father too bold (ya know he's too bold)
maybe you're just like my mother (maybe you're just like my mother)
she's never satisfied (she's never satisfied)
why do we scream at each other
this is what it sounds like
when the doves cry
We had just opened the door to leave when a body fell heavily against me. I gasped and reached for my knives, but swiftly recognized the figure...rather figures.
NYPD Officer Adam Gordon stood before me, his uniform crumpled and stained, carrying an unconscious woman.
Sweat ran down his face as he shoved me back into the apartment, and laid his burden gently on the sofa. "You've got to help her!" he hissed, locking eyes with
me desperately.
I was torn. I had to find the hobbits, but I needed Adam's trust. Finally, I gestured to Gabe. "Gimli, go, and take Peter with you. Try to find Sam and Felix, please?"
They nodded, grabbing their jackets as they left the apartment. I gestured for Adam to close the door, as I bent to examine the woman. Faint recognition stirred
in me, and I turned to ask him: "Who is she?"
"It's Alice, my partner," he replied. "Please, can't you help her?"
I looked at her face, beautiful, in spite of sunken closed eyes and feverish spots of colour. I looked again at Adam; his eyes filled with pain and terrible anxiety.
Then I glanced toward the window, where I could faintly see stars, sparkling against the night sky. Then it clicked:
"Ah, Undómiel. How far you have fallen, beautiful Lady," I murmured, stroking her blood-stiffened hair.
"What did you call her?" The note of suspicion in Adam's voice deepened. "What are you doing?"
I ignored his questions. "Mark," I called, without taking my eyes from the fallen woman. "Do you remember what the athelas plant looks like?"
"Of course," he replied, obviously insulted.
"Adam, listen to me. Mark will show you a potted plant in the corner. Pick seven of the largest leaves, boil a kettle of water in the kitchen and then steep the
leaves. Bring it to me when it's ready. Quickly!"
He hesitated, no doubt due to the strangeness of my orders. But Mark hurried over and dragged him from his partner's side.
"Trust me, he knows what he's doing."
Adam crossed the room again, the athelas clutched firmly in his hand. "How will I know when it's ready?" he asked, pausing before he entered the kitchen.
I didn't have any good answer for the King of Men. "You'll just know," I replied, and focussed on Alice once more. I wasn't a healer by any means, nor was I a
great elven-lord like Elrond or Glorfindel. But I was one of the older elves, and I remembered the beautiful Evenstar. Perhaps, with the aid of this sceptical
police officer, she could be saved. I had to hold her spirit, however, until Adam returned with the athelas brew. Holding one of her limp hands in mine, I closed
my eyes and concentrated.
""Tolo dan na ngalad! Lasto Undómiel...A si i-dhúath ú-orthor. Lasto Undómiel! Lîn rîw ú dollen. Lasto beth nîn, Arwen Undómiel..."" **
I rocked slowly back and forth by her side, repeating the words over and over. I thought that she stirred, perhaps, once, as if she was listening to me. I raised
my voice, still chanting, letting the lyrical words flow through us both. I placed both hands on her sweating brow, and implored her once more: ""Lasto Arwen"!"
Adam came out of the kitchen quickly, carrying a mug of steaming liquid. He set it down beside her, and its pleasant fragrance drifted about the room. He
looked first to it, then to me, with a look of doubt in his eyes. "I think it's ready," he said. "I don't know why I know, but..."
I spoke close to her ear, in the most delicate of whispers. ""Lîn Estel tolo."" ***
"Take the mug," I directed, moving away. "Bathe her face with the steam until she awakens."
"Why can't you do it?" he asked in confusion.
I smiled cryptically at him. "The hands of a King can heal."
He still looked at me in bewilderment. I sighed. "Just do it."
Having no other option, he did as I instructed. The purifying athelas steam swept over her face. Even from where I stood, I could see the normal colour
returning to her face, and her eyes already seemed less sunken. She let out a tiny moan, struggling to wake.
I held my breath, waiting, and her blue eyes finally opened. Her lids lifted slowly, and she focussed on the man hovering beside her. "Aragorn," she spoke finally, her voice a ragged whisper. "Did you not leave me after all?"
Adam was confused by her words, I could tell, but frankly, he just looked relieved that she wasn't dead. "No," he whispered. "I would never leave you, Alice."
I decided that it was time for me to leave. The Lady Arwen was alive, and I felt like I was intruding on their reunion.
** "Tolo dan na ngalad! Lasto Undómiel...A si i-dhúath ú-orthor. Lasto Undómiel! Lîn rîw ú dollen. Lasto beth nîn, Arwen Undómiel..."
Elvish for:
"Come back to the light! Listen Evenstar...the shadow does not yet hold you. Listen Evenstar! Your winter has not come. Hear my voice, Arwen Evenstar..."
*** "Lîn Estel tolo." Elvish for: "Your Hope has come."