A/N: Warning: THIS CHAPTER SUCKS. The explanation sucks, the dialogue sucks... everything about it sucks. But I had to write it if I wanted to move the story along. I do hope everyone will forgive me for this- and thank you so much for all your reviews (though this chapter is decidedly undeserving of any sort of praise.) It does leave a few issues unanswered but... those will be resolved in the next chapters... this was merely a brief overview of Alicia's life so to speak.
This isn't the end- by far. I mentioned her parents vaguely because they aren't the focus of this story. Maybe they were witches. Maybe they were something else. In any case, this wasn't about them- it was about Alicia.
Daphne: ...funny- weird, perhaps? LoL
Silver-girl: Good guess! =) I was even thinking of going that route when I first started writing this but.... no, Karalynn didn't die in our world. Well... she didn't die, in any case. But I wonder who did? (whistles innocently)
Shalemni: Ack! Such a cool review... and such a crappy follow-up chapter! Hope you keep reading though!
:: Hangs head in shame :: I guess everyone should read the story now... *sighs*
Chapter 19- The Pool of Tears
( ...Alicia...)
Legolas stared at Karalynn, unable to move or even take a breath. As the name slipped out from her lips, her face froze into an expression of shock and disbelief.... but underneath it all, Legolas detected something else.
Something deeper.
Remembrance.
Her gray eyes grew dull and unfocused and she paled considerably as the Lady Galadriel passed her hand over her face. Legolas knew that he had been forgotten, cast aside, and the weight of importance that the moment held was not lost on him. Whatever was happening in that clearing was so much more than he could ever hope to be a part of.
There was a feeling of foreboding in the air around him. As if this was a moment outside time and place- a moment that would foretell all future actions.
And perhaps it would be. After all, whatever happened to Karalynn from then on would also involve Legolas- for better or for worse.
Who am I? Karalynn asked. Her eyes, though still glassy, looked up at Galadriel and remained on her face. Alice. Yes... it sounds so... but who am I....
Galadriel looked down at her face and tilted her head slightly, as if considering something. She lowered her hand and stepped back, gesturing for Karalynn... no, Alicia to follow her.
Alicia.
Somehow Legolas could not think of his Karalynn being anyone else than who she was already.
The name burned him, though he knew the emotion was irrational- what was a name really?
A different name would not change his feeling towards the girl.
Galadriel lead her to the basin on the short column and stopped a few feet before it, without turning around..
Who one is, that is a question that many ask themselves even in the twilight of their lives. Galadriel said. Who you are, Alicia, Alice, beloved of the elements and all creation... who you are is something you have been fighting against your entire life. The shadow in your mind is of your creation, your own doing. It is a spell you cast upon yourself and it is a spell so powerful that even I can not undo it on my own.
Galadriel turned around and faced her.
No, you are the only one who can break the enchantment on your mind and I... I shall be but a mere guide.
Alicia glanced back at Legolas and her gray eyes seemed to plead with him to go to her. He parted his lips, tempted to say something, to do something but he knew he could not.
Legolas, I.... she began but Galadriel stopped her.
No, Alicia. she said firmly. The prince can not help you now. You cast the spell, so shall you break it. This is your task. But fear not, young one, for you are not alone. The prince and I stand here as your friends.
Alicia's face fell and he saw her mouth tremble but she said nothing as she looked away from him.
You are fond of tales, are you not, Alicia? Galadriel asked.
Alicia lowered her head.
she whispered.
Galadriel smiled slightly.
Perhaps then I should tell you a tale... for this is how it all began, Alicia, with a single tale. A story of a young girl who one day, awoke to find herself in another world and met with creatures so foreign that she thought herself in a dream. said Galadriel. Yes. It is fitting then- for what began with a tale to end with one.
Legolas saw Alicia's hands curl up into fists but she remained quiet as Galadriel spoke.
In a time that has yet to come, in a place that has thus far not been named, there was born an infant. A girl-child. Galadriel began softly. She was named after another little girl, with golden hair and eyes that were the color of the sky. Named after a little girl that existed only in stories and in the imagination of children of that time. She had been named Alicia, after her mother's favorite tale. Alice. Alice who fell into a land of wonder.
As the infant grew older and became a young child, it became clear that she had been blessed with many gifts- her great beauty being the least of these. The little girl was growing up into something that was no longer just a little girl. For her parents were not ordinary humans, they were not one of the countless souls who flickered briefly with life only to fade into the oblivion of endless time. No. Her parents were two of the last of the powerful and mighty Mages, two of the last existing creatures of magic in their respective time. They had chosen to relinquish their powers when their child was born, for they had grown tired of wandering the world for countless years untold. They had given up their immortality and their powers to live one mortal life in peace. They hoped that because they had freely released their bodies of magic, their child would be born as an ordinary human. A mortal.
Galadriel's eyes strayed to Legolas' briefly before settling back to Alicia's face.
For in their world, magic was no longer believed in. People no longer believed in magic and those who showed the least bit of difference from the rest were deemed as outcasts. They were tired of hiding themselves, tired of watching the world they lived in for so long fall into chaos- for how could they help if the people around them would shun them in fear at any sign of their powers? They wanted to live out one mortal life and then die in peace. They hoped that their child would be simply that- a normal, mortal child.
But it was not to be.
They chose their mortality but their child had not. She was born a Mage and not only that- in her veins was the blood of two of the most powerful beings to walk their earth. Because of this, she radiated power. As the years passed, the people around her began to take notice of her but they were not kind nor were they sensitive to the girl. Despite her soft heart and deep kindness, they pushed her away thinking her odd and knowing she was different. Children were cruel to her even though they could not say exactly why they acted so. Yes, she was beautiful but it only added the burden of jealousy on the girl's shoulders. Many people envied her and with that envy came fear and hate. She was set apart and isolated, even though she was surrounded by others.
The girl, Alicia, was different and that was all they knew."
Alicia's face had paled so that she looked almost bloodless. Her eyes were lost in a fog and her lips were softly parted, as if she longed to utter words that somehow could not be spoken. Legolas suddenly wished that the Lady Galadriel would stop speaking. He knew, absolutely, that the tale she was telling would not end happily- for how could it be so when the Lady's eyes were misty as if with faint tears?
And yet she spoke on, continuing the miserable story.
"The two Mages, who were now mortal and powerless, had no choice but to tell their daughter what she was. They knew that as more time passed, her powers would strengthen and already- in the midst of childhood, she could do things that they could not at the height of their power. For one, her mind had been born with the ancient spells they knew and without a sense of control, she would utter them in moments of intense emotion. For another, she could speak to anyone with ease- without previous knowledge of their language.
But the most frightening of all was that the girl had in her possession the ability to control the four elements. Wind, water, fire, and earth were at her beck and call. Her parents had to help their child keep in rein all that she could do lest she cause unintentional harm to those around her. So they told her the truth which brought pain to the young girl's heart- she felt her very life to be a great burden. What good were her powers if she were to hide them? What good were powers at all if they only caused others to shun her?
Yet instead of lashing out in anger at those who had hurt her- the girl wished with all her heart that she could be as they were. She longed for others' companionship and dreamed of friendships that she had never had. She spent her childhood immersed in tales, committing most of them to her memory- especially her mother's favorite one. For years, she would sit reading in her room while other children played outside and by the time she began to reach the full extent of her beauty- her mind was filled with words of princes and princesses, far-away lands and of treasures unfound. And she never used her powers, never cast a spell in the hopes that one day she would somehow be normal."
Something sparkled in the sunlight and Legolas felt his heart drop as he realized what it was.
A single tear, slipping down the gentle slope of Alicia's pale cheek.
"Yet... not all men of that time were afraid of things beyond reason. Not all men believed in only appearances' worth. Some men were patient and wise enough to see beyond all those things. One day, one such man cast his eyes on Alicia, who was by then a young woman and saw her for who she was. A soft-hearted creature, too shy to even raise her eyes. He did not know her strength nor did he even feel a hint of the powerful being she was.
He saw her heart which by then, was the only thing that surpassed the beauty of her face."
"Stop this." Alicia said suddenly. Her cheeks were now slick and shiny with tears and Legolas knew that she was finally remembering- that Galadriel's words had proved true.
Legolas knew his fears were now coming to life before his eyes and ears.
"Young one, you know that I can not." said Galadriel softly. "Once the tale begins, it can not be stopped until the last word has fallen."
"Please." Alicia begged the elf softly and it was all Legolas could do to keep from crying out at Galadriel to heed her pleading. "Leave the matter as it is, dear Lady. I... I can not... "
Lady Galadriel's face was filled with compassion and tenderness but her eyes were firm.
"You are beginning to remember, Alicia, but it is not yet finished." she said. "You remember only a little part of what has passed and to completely break the spell, you must remember all."
"I have a feeling, Lady Galadriel... that I do not want to hear the end of your story." Alicia said quietly. Her eyes seemed to shimmer like stars in the bright sunlight.
"It is not my tale but yours." said Galadriel. "I shall not lie to you, young one. It is a painful thing to hear and you shall re-live all before the sun sets this day. Be strong, Alicia, beloved of the elements, for the worst has yet to pass and still... still you may learn from the past. Take heart."
Alicia lowered her head and nodded once. Galadriel's eyes moved towards the pool and gazed at the playful beam of light on its still surface before speaking again.
"The man was kind to the girl, for somehow he knew that she was not like the others around her. And though it is rare to speak of, a true and deep love blossomed between them within the first meeting of their eyes. The reason or cause, any explanations as to how or why would be fruitless now for the true nature of love can not be explained. It is and simply exists. And that is how it was between the two- the mortal and the immortal. The transient and the eternal. In this man, she had found all that she had been yearning for her entire life. Acceptance, companionship and above all- love unconditional."
Galadriel looked up and locked eyes with Legolas. Each word she spoke burned his heart and the pain was terrible yet still distant and looming. His concern was not for himself but for Alicia whose face wore an expression of grief. As long as he could still place her above himself, he could still control his emotions. He still had strength left for her but for her alone.
And Galadriel seemed to know this.
"They bound themselves to each other in the ways of their time. With one ring, worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. And her parents rejoiced for they saw their daughter- their only child finally happy. And therein began the turning of the fates- for such happiness does not last long in the world of men and the girl, filled with magic as she was, did not understand this. For what was her world made of but powerful enchantments and tales of everlasting happiness? And the girl who had cast no spells, finally uttered one spell. One spell in the hopes to prolong her joy and heart's content. The one spell that would prove its strength in the years and tragedies to come.
It was a spell of darkness- of peaceful, blissful forgetfulness. A spell of eternal happiness. A blanket of shadow befell her mind and the years of loneliness that she had spent before meeting her beloved were cast away. All her knowledge of who she was and what she was- what her parents were- had been hidden from the surface of her thoughts. In truth, the spell covered all thoughts of sadness in her mind and with this, her knowledge of her own immortality. In her own way, she had given up any hope of future joy after the death of her husband- given up everlasting happiness to live one brief mortal life. Before her parents could stop her, it was done. Any tragedies, past or future, would be erased from her mind from that moment on. The girl now thought herself to be an ordinary human and the radiance that once enveloped her disappeared with her memories.
The girl who had been born with magic now no longer remembered."
Galadriel paused and stared at Alicia with eyes that seemed to blaze with a blue fire.
"Her parents were deeply hurt but what could they do? They had not the powers left to restore their daughter's memories and all of their pleas fell on deaf ears. She laughed as if they were in jest with her- when they tried to force her to remember. Eventually they stopped for they knew in their hearts that no power on earth could undo the spell, save the girl herself. She was still protected by her guardian elements for they loved her dearly but she could not call upon them for she no longer remembered the spells to do so. And still... the girl was happy. Finally, she had the life she had always dreamed of having- the kind of life she had read about in her old, battered books. Eventually, she bore a child- a son. A son who had inherited his father's blue eyes but not his mother's magic. The girl was overjoyed for her heart was filled with an abundance of love. Her husband and her son became her life and all that she lived for... but alas, nothing is unchanged by the passing of time and the girl would only have her son and her husband for a short time longer."
"Stop this!" Alicia screamed out. She tore her eyes away from Galadriel's gaze and clasped her hands over her ears. "I won't listen anymore! You can't make me...."
Galadriel stepped forward and grabbed Alicia's hands, pulling them away from her face. Alicia struggled violently but the Lady elf was far stronger than her, especially in her severely weakened state. Galadriel did not move and her face remained calm and tinged with sadness as Alicia tried vainly to pull her hands away from the powerful grasp. Legolas moved towards her.
( "Stay where you are, Prince, lest I have the trees themselves hold you to your place." )
Legolas clenched his jaw as he heard a faint rustling of leaves behind him.
He stopped moving and remained still.
Finally, Alicia slumped forward, sobbing miserably and Galadriel, to Legolas' surprise, pulled the girl into a tight embrace, stroking her hair as a mother would to a little child.
"I know it is painful." she said sadly. "I can feel the anguish in your heart growing as my words continue. But you must be strong, young one. You must not turn away now. It tears into your heart and I can feel how it hurts you but you must continue, the spell must be broken."
"No, please." Alicia moaned, weeping into Galadriel's arms. "I beg you... I can't remember what happens next but I can't.... I don't think I can... Let me leave now, please."
"Young one, the spell you cast so many years ago is killing you now." Galadriel said softly. She drew away from Alicia gently and looked down at her face. "For your heart longs to have back what it has lost- your memories. It wants the chance to grieve for all that it once held so dear. It fights with your mind and your mind protects the treasure of your memories fiercely. As the battle wages on within you, you grow weaker. Each drop of your blood that has fallen is a sign of that battle and soon you will be no more. Nothing can kill you, Alicia. Not the passing of time or any mortal creation. Only you can be the cause of your own death and so the spell must be broken now."
"I would rather die then than remember the end of your tale!" Alicia wailed and Galadriel shook her head.
"No. That can not be." Galadriel said. Her eyes flickered up towards Legolas. "You must not die here, Alicia. Your fate is now intertwined with the fate of those around you and the hope of the future may one day lay in the breath of your soul."
"You keep me alive for your purpose then!" Alicia said angrily and Legolas found himself thinking the same thought. "You think nothing of how I feel or..."
"No, Alicia." Galadriel said firmly. She released her hold on the girl and stepped back. She stumbled a bit, surprised at the sudden freedom and glared tearfully at the elf.
Galadriel gestured with her hand to the pool of water beside her.
"My mirror, young one." she said softly. "It shows many things and tells many tales- of things past, things that are and things that have yet to be. It may show one's deepest desire and sometimes, it shows things that are unbidden. For you, Alicia, last born of the Mages of Earth and beloved of the elements, it will show how you came to be here... and it will show how your tale in your world came to pass."
"Look in the mirror, Alicia, and hear my words no longer."
Alicia held one hand to her head and clutched at her hair. She looked back at Legolas and though she said nothing, he knew how she felt. He could feel the ache and pain emanating from her like a warmth and he felt helpless to do anything for her. The Lady Galadriel would surely stop him before he even took a step towards her and yet his love was begging him, with a silent entreaty, to come forward.
He finally decided to take the chance and go to her when Alicia shook her head and lowered her hand.
"The mirror will tell me the truth." she said dully. It was not a question.
"Yes." said Galadriel.
"And then all of this will be finished." Alicia said. "Then I can leave here forever if I want."
"If you wish then you may."
Alicia drew in a shaky breath and walked slowly to the basin. A gust of wind blew through the clearing and Legolas felt a splinter of fear touch his heart.
Was Galadriel's power enough to hold back the elements?
Could she be able to stop them if Alicia purposely called on them?
Legolas wasn't so sure of the answer anymore.
"Look into the water, young one."
Alicia bent forward and Legolas could see the side of her face, illuminated by the reflection of sunlight on the water's surface. The wind died down and Alicia frowned.
"I don't see...." she began but then she was cut off.
To Legolas' horror, something came out of the water. At first it looked like a hand but then he realized that it was the water itself- a hand created of water, reaching out for Alicia. A shrill scream of terror filled the air as she drew back, horrified. She held out her hands as if to block the sight from her view and Legolas cried out.
The hand reached for Alicia and grasped her by the wrist.
Legolas ran towards her, heart pounding and blood rushing to his ears but before he could reach the pool the hand had drawn Alicia into itself. It happened so fast that it was nearly an indescribable blur. It seemed to his shocked senses that the hand had grabbed her and then lifted her up into the air, pulling the girl into the water within the pool.
"No!" Legolas cried out and he nearly flung himself into the large basin when he felt the warm touch of the Lady on his shoulder.
"Legolas, calm your heart." Galadriel said softly.
Legolas looked up at her, eyes wild with anger and fear.
"What have you done to her?" he demanded. "What has happened to her?! Where is she?!"
Galadriel shook her head.
"It was not my plan for this to happen." she said calmly. "I had yet to warn her not to touch the waters but her servant had plans of its own, it seems. Even I can not control the impulsive water. Fear not, dear prince, for the elements do not wish to harm her. Indeed, they are her guardians, those that would do her bidding and they would fly into a fury if she was hurt in any way. I believe that they wish only to save her life and now they will do so in their own way."
"Where is she?" Legolas asked, forcing himself to lower his voice. He knew that the Lady Galadriel would not lie to him but he also knew that she often spoke in cryptic riddles. None of this made sense to him- in fact, he wished now more than ever that he had ignored Vanalaith's message of the Golden Wood so many days ago. He should have kept Alicia in Mirkwood! She would still be his Karalynn if they had only stayed! She would be safe in his arms at all times in Mirkwood, instead of being here.....
"Hush your chaotic thoughts, dear prince." Galadriel said. "She is safe, of that I am sure."
A gust of wind blew through the clearing once more and this time Legolas heard a faint voice ride the air with it.
( The pool... water... )
Legolas looked at Galadriel and she lifted her hand from his shoulder. She turned to the water and nodded and he knew she had heard the voice too.
"Yes, I see." she whispered.
"What do you see?" Legolas asked. Galadriel said nothing but moved to the side, allowing him a view of the water. He bent his head and looked down and....
And gasped.
"The spell is broken, my dear prince." Galadriel said softly.
"Her grief runs free."