Chapter 3 To walk away

Finafyr held the child in her arms and cried. This child had been her friend, the only friend that she had had for hundreds of years and now she was dead. And it was her fault. If she had not befriended this family they would still be alive. She was too numb to move. She gazed at the small broken child. All of her except her face was shriveled and burned. She stood up and took her to where her parents lay and laid her gently beside them. Then she went and gathered the other little ones and laid them beside the others. She did not know what their burial rites were so she did them honor with her own. In some strange way it was like doing the same for her own as she had been denied so long ago. She gathered stones and raised a cairn over them. Then she bowed her head and prayed to the Valar to guide them to what every home was laid aside for the Edain. When she opened her eyes she was shocked. For where there had been bare stones now there lay stones that were covered with Simbelmyne and roses. The grave was a mass of white and red. Where they had come from Finafyr did not know. It must be a gift from the Valar. Suddenly Finafyr felt very tired, and slumped to her knees. She sat there for Long minutes and then her voice was raised in a lament. When she was through, she stood. She had need to check to see how all the others were that lay in this valley.

Everywhere she went she saw destruction, burned buildings and fields, But no bodies. And everywhere was that feeling that was left when the void was near. But here there was more, it had not just been the void. For it seemed to have gained some allies in the nature of Orcs. She could not do much about the void, but of orcs there was much that she could do. So in anger she tracked them. She had not gone far when she realized that there were still people of the valley left alive, held captive by the orcs. It was not many but there were a few. Maybe she could gain some vengeance on the orcs and free some of them. Even if she could free even one, it would be one less left in the hands of evil. She tracked them all that day and into the night never resting, pushing foreword, became a need, For the Edain would not be given rest so she would not allow it in herself. She reached them right before the dawning. And what she saw made her burn with anger, for the orcs were torturing some of the Edain. Inside of Finafyr there grew such anger, and all she wanted to do was to rid the world of those creatures of horror and malice. She closed her eyes and readied herself to attack. And then something happened. Finafyr heard and strange sound. It was not something that she had ever heard before. She quickly opened her eyes and was astonished at what lay before her. The orcs were gone, Every last one of them. She looked around and they were all gone. She started to walk to the prisoners but the closer she got the more afraid they became. She did not know what to make of it. All she could do was to try to comfort them "Shush it is alright I will not hurt you" but as she released them from the ropes that bound them they each in their turn fell to their knees looking to the ground. She stood there astonished "Here here what is this there is no need for this. You are free and should bow to no one unless he be a king or one of the Valar. One of the older men looked up." But bright lady we saw you. You were as bright as the sun and then we heard a No and the orcs were gone. We do not wish for you to make us go away Bright one please have mercy upon us."

Finafyr looked at her hands and they were glowing, glowing very brightly. She knew not where it came from except inside of herself so she took a few deep breaths and after what seemed like long minutes the glow subsided. Then she turned to them.

"I am sorry you were frightened but I mean you no harm. I just wanted to help you. And I was angry that you had been hurt.  I am no Valar I am just one Elven warrior"

The men muttered among themselves. "Then if you are just an elven warrior bright lady then the Valar must be great indeed" Finafyr nodded "Yes they are great indeed." She looked at them. "I will help you tend to your wounded. But you cannot go back to your homes. You will need to find another place of safety, for an evil has come to this place that you cannot fight.  You I think already know of what I speak, you have seen its work. It is a hunger that cannot be filled. And you it will be utterly destroyed."

The men looked at Finafyr and she could see understanding in their eyes but there was also a great fear. Finafyr knew that they would heed her. She also knew that she could not stay, for she had found out with a hard lesson that there were none that were safe near her, for they too would be hunted to their death. As were Fara's family.

Much later….. She had helped them to heal their wounded and helped them bury their dead and then she had retreated to the shelter of a tall tree watching over them while they rested. Many hours later they left, but they could not find the bright lady for she stood high in a tree watching them leave. And when the she could no longer see them she came down and went back to her home

But home held no peace, not even the little bit that she had gained over the years. She had believed, nay wanted to believe that the void was gone. But it still was there, lurking and waiting, for what she knew not. But maybe it was time for her to bid the valley of her birth goodbye. And get far from the void. For there was something in Finafyr that made her feel that it was tied to this spot.  And distance would afford her some safety.

She gathered her things and prepared to leave. She looked down to the valley below and swore and oath I promise you that I will be back if I have breath in my body. And I will learn and someday if the Valar are willing I will try with all my might to destroy the void. Against the Darkness I pledge my life, and shall not grudge to spend it, if the need is there... Namarie Dear ones

And with those words Finafyr started to sing

Bright spirits of a star filled night

Those that saw the light of the trees of Valinor

O breath that breathes life in a dying world

Ancient and ageless

What would kindle a spirit so full and rich?

That it graces the ancient void of life

An exacting vengeance upon the darkness

I will dream of a far off place

That fills my heart with dreams of peace

No shadow of the darkness can prevail

Oh would that I could stay here

And lay this dark burden down

But it cannot be

For my doom lies far from here in some lonely place

And would that I could descend from darkness into light

And here there is left a part of me

And I would that I could join you

But that cannot be

 But the darkness cannot bind me

 And I will dream of thee

Sleep you gentle till I return oh my loves

Sleep you gentle

And at the ending of her song Finafyr turned her back on her valley.