//And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand//
An excited buzz flooded the morning air as I groggily cracked my heavy lids open. Healers were scurrying to and fro and patients had miraculously risen out of bed, as if the dawn of the new day had brought healing powers.
Sitting up, I childishly rubbed my eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight that bathed the usually gloomy room with its warmth. I stood shakily on my feet, still a little upset about the sudden horrible vision from the day before, before nearly being knocked over by a hurrying Warden.
"Lady, you are not dressed! Will you not join the celebrations?" she asked.
Not waiting for an answer, she pushed me away from my bed, my safe haven for the past three days, in the direction of two immense wooden doors with huge brass handles. The Warden pulled one of the heavy doors open with a grunt, leading me into a magnificent dressing room.
The room was already filled with thrilled voices and delicate looking figures. Many brushed past me before I was handed an emerald, ornate looking dress with ballooning sleeves.
I looked at the Warden with a sheepish look and fingered the silky material that lay in my arms. Understanding my dilemma, she sighed in exasperation before commanding me to strip…in wide-open view of a room full of strangers.
I stared at her with disbelief before she impatiently placed her hands on her chubby hips. I spun back around to glance around the room, but quickly turned a bright red when I saw the rest of the girls in the room doing as asked.
Slowly, I removed the white gown I was given, my cold fingers brushing my arms and raising goose pimples on my bare flesh. Shivering, I dropped the flimsy material, which pooled like a cloud at my feet.
I was standing stark naked in the room (my undergarments had mysteriously vanished through the tree) and I could feel my face burning up with embarrassment. Bustling around me, the Warden quickly pushed my skinny arms through the sleeves while she fastened up the rest of the dress.
It was made of a beautiful material, silky in feel and light as a feather when I wore it. It was almost too good for me…
"Mum! I can't take this!"
"Just take it, you silly girl. I bought it for your audition. At least someone in the family will put these to good use."
No, no, no. This is not the time for hysterics, I told myself sternly. Keep strong, Summer, keep strong, keep strong, keep strong…
I noticed that my hair was being brushed and I was now standing in front of a full-length mirror. I looked at my reflection, oblivious to the tugging and yanking of my limp, strawberry blonde hair.
My face was gaunt - hollow sockets as my cheeks, cracked lips and dark rings under my eyes. Eyes…they were empty, devoid of feeling, dead. My mother used to love my eyes. She told me I had elven eyes, sapphire like the sea. Now as I stared at them through the mirror, I couldn't see one beautiful thing about them.
Disgusting, filthy, sickening, repulsive child. Nothing good will ever come of you, you are a pest. Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting…
"Lady, hurry! The celebrations are starting!" the Warden yelled across the room.
Startled, I noticed that everyone had left the room. Turning back to the mirror, I saw that my grimy hair had been twisted up with a few strands left to dangle annoyingly in front of my face. Brushing the extra strands behind my ears, I hurried across the room, and outside, into the city of Gondor.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rainbows of colours flowed through my sight, banners gently blowing in the wind as I lightly treaded through the huge city. Gazing up, I saw the magnificence of the White Tower, crystalline in my view.
Masses of people milled around me, a steady river of movement. I continued to walk, turning around occasionally, allowing my senses to soak in the splendour of the city. The joy and exhilaration seeping from around me made me giddy as I floated through the crowd, my body tracing familiar paths of stories told from childhood.
Melodious voices circled the pavilions and sweet tunes from flutes drifted over my ears as they performed in perfect harmony. Perfumed scents from fresh flowers wafted by from one direction, while the enticing aromas of food fanned from the other.
My senses were going on overload, as I spun around and around, my mind unable to decide which direction to venture to first. A piercing fanfare made my decision as the crowd hurried to an enormous gap in a wall, which I guessed used to fit a gate in. I allowed myself to be pushed with them, trying to keep steady on my feet.
Body heat was melting me and I felt myself being squashed in the masses. Looking up, I saw a spoke of a nearby fence which was relatively close. Pushing myself through the throng, I nimbly climbed up the metal rod, and looked out into the distance.
I saw in the far distance, a great host of men being led towards the city. Banners sailed proudly in the wind and the men held their heads high. The armies glittered in silver, flashing their battle-worn swords and shields in the sunlight. On the side, other men rode gallantly on horseback, sticking to the sides of the armies. The multitude of warriors reached right to the horizon of the sea.
I turned towards the gap in the wall, and saw Faramir standing behind the gap, as if a barrier stood in front of him and the vast land. Alongside him stood Eowyn, dressed in an elegant dress of burgundy. Around Faramir were gathered other men clad in their battle gear, some on horseback as well.
When the troops neared the city, they halted and a hush fell on the city. From the host of men, stepped a warrior, weary, but from his stance and gear, anyone could tell that he was someone of great importance.
Walking with him towards Faramir were two other warriors, a wizened man clad in pure white and four short figures. A loud conversation from below caught my attention as I eavesdropped on Ioreth, the head Healer.
"Those are Periain, out of the far country of the Halflings, where they are princes of great fame, it is said," she said.
Missing out on a few sentences, I caught the last few words, "…the Lord Elfstone: not too soft in his speech, mind you, but he has a golden heart, as the saying is; and he has the healing hands. 'The hands of the king are the hands of a healer'…".
I was not surprised to hear that the first warrior that had stepped out was a king. He emanated power that was required in being one of that status. I was, however, impressed that the four short guys who had walked in were 'princes of great fame'.
A loud and clear trumpet rang through and complete silence fell. Faramir and another man walked forward, behind them four soldiers bearing a great casket. When Faramir met the king, he knelt before him and handed him a white rod out of the casket. The king took it but handed it back to him.
Faramir addressed the crowd, listing at least ten names for the king Elfstone who stood solemnly behind him. Suddenly the crowd cried yea in one voice and the sound carried through the city and out into the open fields.
A crown was handed to the king who took it but handed it over to one of Halflings beside him. The Halfling then handed it over to the wizened man in white who placed it on the kneeling king's head.
When he rose up, I noticed with amazement that he seemed…transformed, almost. He stood proud, an aura surrounded him, though I could not be sure because the sun was in my eye and before I knew it, I had landed sorely on the ground with a shriek, breaking the silence.
The whole crowd turned towards me as I flushed a crimson red. My hair was now in a complete mess, having being blown in every direction by the wind and my dress was stained from the dirt. Disgrace flickered through the eyes of many //so similar to the audition// as I picked myself up and ran blindly.
Cheers smothered me as the crowd supported their new king. Trumpets blared in my eardrums and the once harmonious tunes of the flute and voice now scratched against my raw muscles.
//This freedom is tainted with lies//
I ran in circles, lost in the throng of people and endless dirt roads. Looking up, I located the brilliant White Tower and ran in the direction of the garden, desperate to immerse myself in its simplicity.
Hurrying up the stairs of the silent building, I raced through the halls and chambers, searching for the familiar scent of fresh grass and trees. Gliding down the stairwell, I was impatient to reach the haven.
Slowing down, I stepped into the garden, where I could still hear the hustle and bustle of the people of Gondor below. I sat on the bench for a few minutes, revelling in the soothing feeling that coursed through my veins. I allowed the sounds around me to meld into one and I shut my eyes.
I stretched and did a painfully slow routine that I did years ago. Each step was as important as the last and each leap was crucial to your balance. I could hear the mourning sounds of the violins in accompany to the smooth rolling notes on the piano in my mind. My arms danced around my body as they moved in sync with my legs and feet, which stretched and pointed out in all directions.
When I drew to a close, my dress blended into the grass and my legs folded gracefully beneath me for my last position, I screamed in shock when applause sounded behind me.