Chapter Number: 15
Chapter Title: The Finding of the Glove: Heartbroken I
Original Chapter Title: They find the Glove, Lauri Faints
Lauri woke and found herself in Legolas' arms. He was sound asleep. 'He stayed with me all night.' She thought, 'but why? He should hate me. After what I did to him, he shouldn't even be near me.' She shut her eyes for a few seconds and when she re-opened them, Legolas was awake.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes. Thank you...for staying with me." She said and stood up, only to wobble like she was going to fall. Legolas stood quickly and held her up.
"Thank you." She said regaining her balance.
"Are you sure you are all right?" he asked again with worry.
"Yes."
He didn't quite believe her, but he ignored it. They walked towards the campfire where Aragorn and Gimli were already awake.
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After breakfast the small group set out on their way to try and find their hobbit friends. Lauri walked quickly, looking all around for signs of Elle. She saw nothing. 'She's dead. She's dead. She's dead and you killed her.' Her mind repeated. She shut her eyes for a while and then continued. 'Why can't I make my mind stop this torture!?'
"Over here!" she heard Aragorn cry from a distance.
The three ran to where he stood. At his feet lay Elle's glove.
'She's gone! She's Dead! You deserve to die too!' Lauri's mind screamed as she picked up the glove with shaking hands. She looked at it in silence at first, but it didn't last long that way. She was soon on the ground in tears.
Aragorn and Gimli looked down, knowing that there was nothing they could do. Elanor was dead and that was that.
Legolas knelt beside her, "Lauri..."
"It' s all my fault Legolas. It's all my fault. She's dead because of me!" Lauri sobbed
"No it's not. It's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything more than what you did. You tried to save her." He reassured, hugging her.
"No. It's my fault. All my fault..." she wept.
Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli spent the next few minutes calming her down somewhat so that they could move along on their way. The started off again, searching for more signs to lead them towards their lost friends.
"Are you going to be okay?" Legolas asked. Looking at the other elf, as she clutched the glove tightly in her hands.
"I'll be fine, we can move on." She said to him, the pained look in her eyes was then replaced by a blank, cold one that Legolas had never seen before. He couldn't decide which of the two looks caused him more sorrow.
They all set off to find Merry and Pippin, staying close to the near by river that ran through the vast amount of trees. Aragorn was holding the lead, followed by Gimli, Legolas preceded him and Lauri was in the back.
Lauri had begun to feel ill, she wasn't quite sure what was happening, but she decided to say nothing. They must find Merry and Pippin before it was too late. She thought she would be fine, but the world around her started to spin, she could feel her feet losing balance as she flew towards the river that was close beside her. Then all was dark.
~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
If not for Legolas' keen sense of hearing, no one would have ever noticed Lauri fall. Legolas, however, turned quickly just as she passed out and fell into the river with a quiet splash.
"Lauri?!" he cried his voice somewhere between fear and confusion, as he ran over and retrieved her from the icy water.
Aragorn hurried towards them, trying to figure out why the girl had suddenly lost consciousness.
"What happened?" Gimli asked, looking at Lauri in confusion.
"I cannot say." Aragorn said in disbelief.
"We must set up camp. We cannot continue like this." Legolas insisted, holding the shivering elf in his arms.
And so they set up camp; not knowing what had happened, or why. All they knew was that something was wrong, and they could not continue on they're journey until they were certain of what.
When Lauri finally awoke, she was wrapped in blankets and propped up against a tree. Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli were sitting in front of her, waiting for her to awake. The second they saw her eyes open they began speaking all at once. She couldn't make out a word of it, she opened her mouth to speak but her voice was very quiet. They all three quieted down, in attempt to hear what she had to say.
"please...speak...one...at...a...time..." she said, then coughed.
"What happened to you? Why did you faint?" Aragorn asked.
"I...do...not...know...why.... I just...felt...ill...all at...once..." she said slowly, the effort of speaking beginning to wear her out.
"But elves don't fall ill normally." said Gimli.
"They do...but only if..." Legolas words faded as he looked at Lauri.
"If what, Legolas? What ails our friend?" Aragorn bade him continue.
"It is said, that an elf can fall ill, and sometimes die, of a broken heart." He said sadly.
"You mean, she could...die?" Gimli said shocked.
"Yes." Legolas said, his voice sounded pained. Lauri merely sat there, her blank expression did not change, she continued to shiver though.
"So this happened because of Elanor?" Aragorn looked at Legolas, who nodded. Lauri's expression changed from blank to a look of deep sorrow upon hearing her fallen friend's name. For a brief moment, she looked like she would cry, but did not. She simply sat silently, staring straight ahead, un-moving.
Aragorn and Gimli left Legolas alone to talk with Lauri. For a while, he just sat there, taking it all in. He could not comprehend the fact that an elf was near death, for it did not happen often, and he certainly had never witnessed it. Finally he spoke,
"Lauri, have you ever seen this happen before?" he asked. She nodded.
"So you know what will happen?" he sounded sick himself now.
She again nodded, and this time spoke, "and I fear it not..............For then, I shall.... be with ....Elle again."
Legolas shook his head. "Don't speak in such a way. Elanor would have wanted you to live." He said and immediately regretted saying Elle's name for it caused Lauri to pale even further. Again she looked like were going to cry, or scream, though he could not tell which. Instead, her eyes faded and she fainted, her head tilting to the side limply.
"Lauri!" he cried so afraid she was dead. He then noticed she was breathing, and was relieved immensely. "What will I do?" he said, his voice full of sorrow.
After they heard Legolas' cry, Aragorn and Gimli came running back.
"What!? What is it? What's wrong?!" they shouted, rushing up the hill towards the two elves.
"Nothing, she just passed out again." Legolas said, looking at the ground. "I think it wise, that we not say Elanor's name in her presence. It seems to make things worse. The two others nodded in silent agreement, and then went to set up camp for they would be staying here for what they thought of as a long time.
***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
Lauri opened her eyes, she could see it was dark out, she had been unconscious for a while now. She saw there was a small fire going, Aragorn was asleep a few feet away, and Gimli a few feet in the other direction. Legolas on the other hand, was sitting up, his eyes open, but Lauri knew he was asleep. She heard something rustle in the trees behind her, and turned her head. She saw nothing, and although she would have never admitted to it, she was afraid.
"Lauri?" said Legolas who had woken up.
"I meant not, to wake you..." Lauri whispered.
"It is quite all right. I'm glad to see you awake."
"I wish I weren't."
Legolas was silent for a while before asking, "Lauri, you said you had seen this happen before,..with who?":
Lauri looked up at the dark sky and into the stars. "My mother..."
Legolas was surprised at her tone. She said it as if it wasn't as bad as it sounded.
(Song: A Place Nearby by Lene Marlin.)
"Why?" he finally asked quietly.
"When I was young, about 1800 years old, my father was killed in a battle. My mother was sent so into grief that she became 'heartbroken' as I am now. She slowly slipped away, away from me.
Something beyond my power was taking her away from me and I knew it. I remember she told me "She'd always be with me." She told me she wasn't going far away, and that I'd see her again, and being young, I believed her. That belief, that I would see her again, was the only thing that kept me from becoming heartbroken then."
Legolas noticed the tears in her eyes, and wished he had never asked.
"I wish to follow her, to follow Elle, I don't want that belief to stay a belief, I want it to be reality. I want to see them again, both of them. I want to leave this place." She said, tears falling from her eyes.
"Please don't say that..." Legolas said pleadingly.
"But it is true..." Lauri said, crying silently.
"I wish it weren't so." Legolas said wiping the tears from her face with his hand.
"I am sorry, Legolas, to cause you such sorrow. Do not worry for me, I shall be fine, I am not afraid." She said taking his hand in hers. "Do not be so sad." The thought of her mother, and once again of Elanor was causing her to feel ill. Her head ached and she felt as if she would be sick, but she tried not to show it. Even though she was skillfully hiding how she felt, Legolas saw right through her. He could see the pain in her eyes, and felt terrible.
"I am sorry, I should never have brought this up. It would have saved a great deal of pain if I had kept it to myself. I think I should leave, for I am too full of questions, and you are not fit to give answers." He informed, and stood to leave.
"Do not leave me, Legolas, please....." Lauri pleaded with him as her thoughts and vision began to fade to a blur.
Legolas had never known Laureaelen to be one to plead for anything, and he was rather shocked. He sat down at her side, facing her. "I will stay, if it is what you wish."
Lauri turned her head to look at him, her eyes facing him but seemed to be focused elsewhere. He could tell she was slipping back into the dark of unconsciousness.
"It is...what I wish..." she spoke, wincing in pain as she did so.
"Then I shall stay." He assured.
"Thank...y..y..ou.." Lauri then fainted.
(END Song: A Place Nearby By Lene Marlin)
A.N.: ELLE: everybody, one, two, three...AWWWWWWWW
LAURI: And now you know my past ladies and gentlemen! I told you it wasn't happy! And by request we have posted 3 chapters. Heeeheee Go us! And look! Another Lene Marlin song! Go to the same website as in Ch. 13, and click on the song "A Place Nearby" and you'll see the song lyrics! R/R bitte
Chapter Title: The Finding of the Glove: Heartbroken I
Original Chapter Title: They find the Glove, Lauri Faints
Lauri woke and found herself in Legolas' arms. He was sound asleep. 'He stayed with me all night.' She thought, 'but why? He should hate me. After what I did to him, he shouldn't even be near me.' She shut her eyes for a few seconds and when she re-opened them, Legolas was awake.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes. Thank you...for staying with me." She said and stood up, only to wobble like she was going to fall. Legolas stood quickly and held her up.
"Thank you." She said regaining her balance.
"Are you sure you are all right?" he asked again with worry.
"Yes."
He didn't quite believe her, but he ignored it. They walked towards the campfire where Aragorn and Gimli were already awake.
~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
After breakfast the small group set out on their way to try and find their hobbit friends. Lauri walked quickly, looking all around for signs of Elle. She saw nothing. 'She's dead. She's dead. She's dead and you killed her.' Her mind repeated. She shut her eyes for a while and then continued. 'Why can't I make my mind stop this torture!?'
"Over here!" she heard Aragorn cry from a distance.
The three ran to where he stood. At his feet lay Elle's glove.
'She's gone! She's Dead! You deserve to die too!' Lauri's mind screamed as she picked up the glove with shaking hands. She looked at it in silence at first, but it didn't last long that way. She was soon on the ground in tears.
Aragorn and Gimli looked down, knowing that there was nothing they could do. Elanor was dead and that was that.
Legolas knelt beside her, "Lauri..."
"It' s all my fault Legolas. It's all my fault. She's dead because of me!" Lauri sobbed
"No it's not. It's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything more than what you did. You tried to save her." He reassured, hugging her.
"No. It's my fault. All my fault..." she wept.
Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli spent the next few minutes calming her down somewhat so that they could move along on their way. The started off again, searching for more signs to lead them towards their lost friends.
"Are you going to be okay?" Legolas asked. Looking at the other elf, as she clutched the glove tightly in her hands.
"I'll be fine, we can move on." She said to him, the pained look in her eyes was then replaced by a blank, cold one that Legolas had never seen before. He couldn't decide which of the two looks caused him more sorrow.
They all set off to find Merry and Pippin, staying close to the near by river that ran through the vast amount of trees. Aragorn was holding the lead, followed by Gimli, Legolas preceded him and Lauri was in the back.
Lauri had begun to feel ill, she wasn't quite sure what was happening, but she decided to say nothing. They must find Merry and Pippin before it was too late. She thought she would be fine, but the world around her started to spin, she could feel her feet losing balance as she flew towards the river that was close beside her. Then all was dark.
~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
If not for Legolas' keen sense of hearing, no one would have ever noticed Lauri fall. Legolas, however, turned quickly just as she passed out and fell into the river with a quiet splash.
"Lauri?!" he cried his voice somewhere between fear and confusion, as he ran over and retrieved her from the icy water.
Aragorn hurried towards them, trying to figure out why the girl had suddenly lost consciousness.
"What happened?" Gimli asked, looking at Lauri in confusion.
"I cannot say." Aragorn said in disbelief.
"We must set up camp. We cannot continue like this." Legolas insisted, holding the shivering elf in his arms.
And so they set up camp; not knowing what had happened, or why. All they knew was that something was wrong, and they could not continue on they're journey until they were certain of what.
When Lauri finally awoke, she was wrapped in blankets and propped up against a tree. Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli were sitting in front of her, waiting for her to awake. The second they saw her eyes open they began speaking all at once. She couldn't make out a word of it, she opened her mouth to speak but her voice was very quiet. They all three quieted down, in attempt to hear what she had to say.
"please...speak...one...at...a...time..." she said, then coughed.
"What happened to you? Why did you faint?" Aragorn asked.
"I...do...not...know...why.... I just...felt...ill...all at...once..." she said slowly, the effort of speaking beginning to wear her out.
"But elves don't fall ill normally." said Gimli.
"They do...but only if..." Legolas words faded as he looked at Lauri.
"If what, Legolas? What ails our friend?" Aragorn bade him continue.
"It is said, that an elf can fall ill, and sometimes die, of a broken heart." He said sadly.
"You mean, she could...die?" Gimli said shocked.
"Yes." Legolas said, his voice sounded pained. Lauri merely sat there, her blank expression did not change, she continued to shiver though.
"So this happened because of Elanor?" Aragorn looked at Legolas, who nodded. Lauri's expression changed from blank to a look of deep sorrow upon hearing her fallen friend's name. For a brief moment, she looked like she would cry, but did not. She simply sat silently, staring straight ahead, un-moving.
Aragorn and Gimli left Legolas alone to talk with Lauri. For a while, he just sat there, taking it all in. He could not comprehend the fact that an elf was near death, for it did not happen often, and he certainly had never witnessed it. Finally he spoke,
"Lauri, have you ever seen this happen before?" he asked. She nodded.
"So you know what will happen?" he sounded sick himself now.
She again nodded, and this time spoke, "and I fear it not..............For then, I shall.... be with ....Elle again."
Legolas shook his head. "Don't speak in such a way. Elanor would have wanted you to live." He said and immediately regretted saying Elle's name for it caused Lauri to pale even further. Again she looked like were going to cry, or scream, though he could not tell which. Instead, her eyes faded and she fainted, her head tilting to the side limply.
"Lauri!" he cried so afraid she was dead. He then noticed she was breathing, and was relieved immensely. "What will I do?" he said, his voice full of sorrow.
After they heard Legolas' cry, Aragorn and Gimli came running back.
"What!? What is it? What's wrong?!" they shouted, rushing up the hill towards the two elves.
"Nothing, she just passed out again." Legolas said, looking at the ground. "I think it wise, that we not say Elanor's name in her presence. It seems to make things worse. The two others nodded in silent agreement, and then went to set up camp for they would be staying here for what they thought of as a long time.
***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
Lauri opened her eyes, she could see it was dark out, she had been unconscious for a while now. She saw there was a small fire going, Aragorn was asleep a few feet away, and Gimli a few feet in the other direction. Legolas on the other hand, was sitting up, his eyes open, but Lauri knew he was asleep. She heard something rustle in the trees behind her, and turned her head. She saw nothing, and although she would have never admitted to it, she was afraid.
"Lauri?" said Legolas who had woken up.
"I meant not, to wake you..." Lauri whispered.
"It is quite all right. I'm glad to see you awake."
"I wish I weren't."
Legolas was silent for a while before asking, "Lauri, you said you had seen this happen before,..with who?":
Lauri looked up at the dark sky and into the stars. "My mother..."
Legolas was surprised at her tone. She said it as if it wasn't as bad as it sounded.
(Song: A Place Nearby by Lene Marlin.)
"Why?" he finally asked quietly.
"When I was young, about 1800 years old, my father was killed in a battle. My mother was sent so into grief that she became 'heartbroken' as I am now. She slowly slipped away, away from me.
Something beyond my power was taking her away from me and I knew it. I remember she told me "She'd always be with me." She told me she wasn't going far away, and that I'd see her again, and being young, I believed her. That belief, that I would see her again, was the only thing that kept me from becoming heartbroken then."
Legolas noticed the tears in her eyes, and wished he had never asked.
"I wish to follow her, to follow Elle, I don't want that belief to stay a belief, I want it to be reality. I want to see them again, both of them. I want to leave this place." She said, tears falling from her eyes.
"Please don't say that..." Legolas said pleadingly.
"But it is true..." Lauri said, crying silently.
"I wish it weren't so." Legolas said wiping the tears from her face with his hand.
"I am sorry, Legolas, to cause you such sorrow. Do not worry for me, I shall be fine, I am not afraid." She said taking his hand in hers. "Do not be so sad." The thought of her mother, and once again of Elanor was causing her to feel ill. Her head ached and she felt as if she would be sick, but she tried not to show it. Even though she was skillfully hiding how she felt, Legolas saw right through her. He could see the pain in her eyes, and felt terrible.
"I am sorry, I should never have brought this up. It would have saved a great deal of pain if I had kept it to myself. I think I should leave, for I am too full of questions, and you are not fit to give answers." He informed, and stood to leave.
"Do not leave me, Legolas, please....." Lauri pleaded with him as her thoughts and vision began to fade to a blur.
Legolas had never known Laureaelen to be one to plead for anything, and he was rather shocked. He sat down at her side, facing her. "I will stay, if it is what you wish."
Lauri turned her head to look at him, her eyes facing him but seemed to be focused elsewhere. He could tell she was slipping back into the dark of unconsciousness.
"It is...what I wish..." she spoke, wincing in pain as she did so.
"Then I shall stay." He assured.
"Thank...y..y..ou.." Lauri then fainted.
(END Song: A Place Nearby By Lene Marlin)
A.N.: ELLE: everybody, one, two, three...AWWWWWWWW
LAURI: And now you know my past ladies and gentlemen! I told you it wasn't happy! And by request we have posted 3 chapters. Heeeheee Go us! And look! Another Lene Marlin song! Go to the same website as in Ch. 13, and click on the song "A Place Nearby" and you'll see the song lyrics! R/R bitte