~Memories~
By Ola
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A/N~ This is the last chapter. I am sorry for having slightly abandoned this story (it seems as if it has been sputtering out like a dying candle). I do have an idea for a sequel. Actually, the sequel was the reason for this title in the first place. But it's not written yet. At all. So it may take some time. Or would you prefer I posted longer chapters, but farther apart? Tell me what you think please. Is it worth writing? Thank you very VERY much to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciated all the comments. And now, enjoy the last post.
This chapter is dedicated to m'cha whose questions I couldn't really answer until this chapter (and whose name I always seem to mess up *grins*). I hope you're not mad at me, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise *grins*. So here it is:
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Part 29~ Rock and snow and silence
Two days later, Lana took Sindarin's elbow and dragged him away until a safe distance separated them from the rest of the camp's members. The sun had set just moments ago; the sky had barely changed colors yet, but the forest's ground was already full of long bluish shadows.
"Lan, what is it?"
The girl was pale, and wringed her hands nervously.
"I…" her eyes were cast on the floor, and her voice a mere whisper. "Si…I'm pregnant."
She dared a glance at his face, but it was hidden in shadows. She quickly went on. "I'll leave the company as soon as we reach Brownbarrow…"
"Lan…"
"Don't worry. They won't find out about you. I won't tell. They'll have no reason to quick you out…"
"Lan…"
"I'll go somewhere we haven't gone through yet so no one will know me, or you. And you'll…"
"Lan!" he grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her to get her attention. Only then did she stop and look in his eyes. "Are you sure? I mean…how can you know?"
"I know. Believe me, I just know." Her voice dropped flat, as her fears came true. He doesn't care.
"But how will you live? Where will you get the money?"
"I'll find some work. Lots of people need a maid. Maybe I'll even make it as far as Haven. There's bound to be lots of work there."
"Lots of work, and even more danger. I won't let you go alone."
"And then both of us will be job-less and poor. Sindarin, I don't even know why you enrolled in the guard, but you probably had some good reasons to leave. I can't change your plans like that. I'll…I'll just…" she felt none of the determination that she tried to convey. The only things she did feel were shame, hurt, and sadness.
" 'You'll' nothing. I'm coming with you. You will need much better food and more rest then you could ever find for yourself. It's partly because of me that this happened. It's my responsibility as much as yours …and damn it Lan! I love you! How could you ever think I would leave you!" his voice broke, and so did the girl's shaky control. A sob escaped her, and she crumpled into Sindarin's arms.
"Si…I'm s-so sc-c-cared. I d-don't know w-what-t to d-do-o."
"Sshh…I'll help. Don't worry. I won't leave you Lan. You know I couldn't." he stroke her back and lent her his shoulder to cry on. "I would go to the end of the world to get you back." Lanea only hugged him harder, until she calmed down and dried her tears.
Twilight had come and gone, and only the stars gave them a faint silvery light to see by.
A few minutes later, Sindarin chucked. "Oh my God. I can't believe it. I…I'm going to be a father."
"Lan…" the girl felt more than saw him kneel down in front of her. Her eyes widened in surprise and shock as she realized what he was about to do. "Micolanea Sephardi, will you marry me?
"Si! B…but you're a prince! And I…and you…don't you have obligations to the crown and…and…" hope and resignation warred on her face, illuminated by the moonlight.
"I'm the third son, and have lots of cousins who would only gladly take my place. And I would freely give all of it away if I could only have you…" the leaves rustled as Lan dropped to her own knees and kissed her betrothed on the lips, while whispering a "yes" full of happy tears.
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The wind became so bitterly cold that Lan's cheeks felt as if they would freeze and fall off. And her nose too. She wouldn't even have been able to tell if it was still attached to her face if it hadn't run constantly. As it was, she couldn't stop sniffling. Thank god, the others were well ahead of her or they would have damned her to the nine hell. Heck, she was annoying herself with it!
The fact that they were climbing a steep hill wasn't helping her mood at all. She was the last in line –a line that was strung out over quite a distance- and felt as if she was lagging behind and had to catch up to everyone, and thus exerted herself more than she had to. Of course, each trainee was about as far away from the other as every one else, including her, but being the last always felt like that to her. She never liked bringing up the rear.
Ahead, she could see the narrow trail leveling out. The Captain and the healer were already on it, looking quite pleased. Yea, be happy you're done. I'm still down here. And I am tired. She grumbled all the way up, fuming as she saw everyone lean their pack against the rock to rest from its weight, while she was still struggling on the ascent. But it did end, and she too stopped and took a look around her. To their left, the rock climbed straight up for a few hundred of feet, its ragged face broken from time to time by a shaggy weed. On the other side, there was a sheer drop. A very long drop. She slowly edged away toward the safety of the rock wall. Safety? Pff. The trail was narrow, with loose rocks underneath the dirt, but at least it was relatively flat.
"Listen up." The captain's voice caught her attention. It was strangely quiet, but still rang out clearly. "Spread out a hundred feet. This is not a very secure ledge, and the fewer disturbances on it, the better. That means no shouting, no running, no yelling. A quiet, steadfast walk, understood? Now go."
Aha. That explains it. But it doesn't make me any more confident. Damn, maybe it would have been better if you haven't said anything. I mean, we aren't in any shape to yell and run anyway. After a day of trudging through mountains, and rock climbing all morning? Who do you take us for? Sigh. I am tired. I need a break. Thank god, there are three more days left to Brownbarrow. I can take three more days. But not more.
The others slowly fanned out on the long ledge and she too, was on her way a few minutes later. Long enough to rest, and feel the full weight of that damn pack again. Little rocks shifted under her feet, and a faint dusting toppled on her head, as a few pebbles struck her pack and hands. She swiped her sweaty brow, annoyed, and went on thinking, quite lost in her mind. Sweat? Jeez. I'm cold, and I'm sweating? This better be a shortcut. Why didn't we take a longer way, but around this @#$% mountain? She sighed again, glancing over the edge, then vowing not to do so again. I don't like heights. Nope, I definitely don't like them. They m…
A loud shout penetrated her fogged mind for a moment before she kept going on the interrupted thought. You aren't supposed to yell, smart-ass. And aren't you too tired anyway? Jeez. Where did y…
Another shout, even louder and more insistent, brought her out to reality, as did a rather painful rock that tumbled down and struck her head. She only had a moment to glance up then cast a fearful look at Sindarin before she was engulfed in a wave of rock, and dust and a terrifying roar filled her mind.
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For a split second, Sindarin's mind went blank. He heard the growing roar, felt the earth shake, and saw the rockslide falling on Lan. And then he yelled, waving his arms widely to catch her attention. When she looked up and realized what was happening, her eyes went wide with shock before she glanced at him. Her eyes. Her gray green eyes. It was the last thing he saw before the landslide hurled down and hid her from his sight.
He was running before he even realized it, yelling Lan's name, but whatever escaped his lips was muted by the terrible rumble. He heard nothing else except the grinding of the rocks as they loosened from somewhere above him and struck the trail at his feet. His mind was empty of all thoughts except one: Lan.
Suddenly, strong arms caught his by the shoulders and restrained his mad dash. And try as he may, he could not get free.
"Let me go! I have to go to him!! Let me go you bastard!!" his voice broke, but Tuck didn't let go, except to reposition and tighten his hold on the younger man. Slowly, he dragged him away, while he continued screaming and struggling to get free. "You don't understand! Let me go! Let me go I tell you!"
Silence descended on the company as the roar slowly died down. Where a few minutes ago stood Lan, there was now a pile of rocks two men high, and a settling cloud of dust.
Sindarin thrashed and broke free of Tuck's hold; he ran a few feet before his knees gave way and he fell to the ground, staring at the disaster with empty eyes. Little pebbles still rained down on him, but he did not notice, or did not care. There was nothing left for him to care for.
Lan…my wife… …my love…
…my life…
The young man rocked back and forth on his heels, his body shaken by silent sobs, as the company looked on, their hearts heavy. And from the sky, little flakes of pure white snow came gently fluttering down.
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~The End~
A/N~ So? Should I write a sequel? (lol. 29 chapters. Not a nice round number, but I didn't have the heart to cut this one in two.) =)
-anonymouse- I guess you won't be reading this then, but oh well. Everyone has the right for an opinion *grin* thanks for being honest. I don't really have an excuse (saying that it's because Lan is young and immature wouldn't really work eh?) mmm. But that's why I'm writing fanfiction and not getting anything published =)
-SL42- hee hee. Thanks. You should read m'chara's review =)
