Disconnected

Chpt 21.

            My vision came back blurry at first, but I could swear that I was no longer in the warehouse.  I blinked a few more times to focus in on many incredibly beautiful people, all of whom were dressed in lovely flowing clothes.  I could tell that they were not human; they were too gorgeous.

            "Where am I?" I asked confused, I had never believed in a heaven, so when I looked around me and saw no clouds I figured…Wait…didn't I die?

            "You are in the Hall of Vê, where you shall be judged, Jonica Mair Tuluxey," said an unearthly hansom man.

            "Am I dead?" I quizzed, still trying to figure out how this was possible.

            "In a way," he smiled welcomingly.

            "You're 'the Powers'," I assumed in awe, "I never studied about this place," I said as I looked around, taking in every bit that I could.

            "The writings that are about us were taken with the last of the elves to Valinor.  We are known as the Valar, or as you put it, "the powers".  I am by one name, Manwë," he responded.

            "Wait, I thought that only one God judged Men.  Why are…all of you here?"  I started to grow suspicious.

            "You are special," he said and bowed his head in reply.  All the other gods and goddess' did the same.

            "I don't understand.  It was written-…isn't my time up?" I asked.

            "In a way.  You have a new job."

            "Sorry?" I laughed nervously.

            "We favor the Eldar, because Ilúvatar favors them.  They are immortal.  One, by the name of Legolas Greenleaf, of the woodland realm, son of Thanduil, favors you."

            "We have always protected you, Jonica, as well as we could.  Your life has been spent in turmoil, and you have spent it well," added a beautiful goddess standing to Manwë's right side.

            "So now we repay you," Manwë spoke again.

            "For what?" I asked, They don't need to repay me for anything.  I haven't done anything worth the debt of Gods'. 

            "On the contrary, we are indebted to you," the goddess spoke once more.  She had heard my thoughts, and startled me.  "For you have saved the planet we had created upon playing our music, through self-sacrifice.  Not long ago you were quite selfish, but no longer."

            "So what are you saying?" I asked respectfully, trying to be as polite as I could when my mind was swimming with questions.

            "We have unanimously agreed that you have earned the name, Protector of the Earth, in life.  You shall keep that name when you begin anew," she said and smiled.

            "We have agreed to make you one of the Lesser Goddess', so that you can continue to live as you have.  But with greater power, and a greater presence," Manwë grinned happily again.

            I opened and closed my mouth a few times; unable to express the joy I was feeling.

            "You shall take your place on the earth, and become an immortal goddess," he added.

            "And live forever with Legolas?" I asked after a few moments.

            "Preferably.  They will treat you kindly, and with the utmost respect."

            "We do ask one thing in return," chimed in another goddess standing behind the first.

            "Anything," I said, willing to pay them back however I could.

            "Raise your children as their father had been raised," she continued also with a giant smile.

            "What children?" I asked.

            "The unborn infants that you carry with you now.  They are the children of Legolas, and part of the reason we return you to middle earth.  There lives will not be harmed because of your fatality," she replied.

            I placed my hand on my womb and smiled warmly.

            "We will send you down in dreams first, to tell the elves of the coming of a goddess to middle earth.  You will tell them that they will know her, for creatures of the forest will surround her.  You will say that she will have a familiar face, and she will protect all from evil deeds, because in life she was one of great valor and might.  They will rejoice in her coming.

            "Then you will address the one who swore his love to you in a way of your choosing.  He grieves your demise and we fear he may perish from it," Manwë finished, sending shivers up my spine.

            "I'll do what I can.  When should I return to the planet?" I asked anticipating their answer.

            "Soon.  You will speak in their dreams, then you will return to your parents; tell them all is well."

            I nodded and was left alone in the hall to do my first job of goddess work.

            I closed my eyes and spoke to many great ones of elves in a dream.  I showed myself dressed in white robes, with my face covered by a hood.  I told them everything Manwë told me and left them, awaiting my coming.

            Then I looked out in Rivendell where most of the elfin archers returned; my father was no longer in need of that many.  In the great city of elves I spotted a family of humans.  I decided to go to Legolas in the form of a child, because, essentially that's what I was before I died.

            When I was sure that no one could recognize me in the body of a child, no more than seven years old, I looked around me until I spotted Legolas sitting quietly under a tree.  His eyes were closed, listening to the lament that was being sung; surprisingly I understood it, even though it was in elfish.  It told of a brave girl who fought for the world and defeated a demon, but had killed herself to save everyone else.  It told of me.

            I approached Legolas carefully, making sure I wouldn't cause any concern from the humans behind me.

            "Lord elf," I started cautiously, his eyes snapped open and studied me for a moment.  "Why is everyone in Rivendell sad?" I asked him with concerned eyes.  "Mother told me stories that the elves were a joyous race."

            He smiled weakly at me and sighed, "A great shield maiden fell in battle not a week ago.  We grieve her loss."

            "Did everyone know her?" I asked, still confused.

            "No, sadly, no one knew her for very long," he looked at me, trying to blink back tears.  "You have beautiful eyes child," he commented.  I was quite aware that my eyes were still green, and I was afraid someone might notice; green eyes are not common in this part of the world.

            "Thank you," I blushed, and then noticed he had looked down.  "Why are you sad?  When I'm sad my mother puts me to bed, and then I feel better.  Perhaps you should rest," I said, trying to hint him to sleep, so that I could talk to him in his dreams.

            "I loved her," he sighed, and looked back at the child he thought I was, annoyed that I wouldn't leave him alone.

            "Did she die with honor?"  I asked and he nodded, "Then why are you sad?"

            "I miss her," he said and closed his eyes one more time.

            "I miss you too," I spoke with my voice inside his head, and then my little girl form disappeared.

            When his eyes snapped open, he saw no child.  He called to the family to ask where she had gone, but they replied that they had no daughter with my description.  He looked around him suspiciously, and then turned around to find Gandalf the White, and confront him with his uncertainties.