Chapter 19

And So It Is Done

A/N:: Hello! Extremely sorry for the delay. I've been having a few problems with getting this chapter beta-read. Also, Chemistry has gotten in the way somewhat. Ah well. Since I will be completing this fic soon, I'll certainly be posting chapters and finishing 'Unspoken'. I haven't forgotten about that fic. As for my third fic, that'll have to wait. Thanks again to my reviewers. Your words of encouragement never fail to bring a smile to my face. And also my beta-reader.

Usual disclaimers apply.

***

It's funny how little things recur in your head when you're about to face something extremely important and monumental in your life. It could be a phrase you've read in a book, or a particular flower you passed by that got your attention. In Laera's case, it was a song that her mother used to sing to her as a child. Throughout her life, Laera had always struggled to remember the words to the enchanting melody, but to no avail. It was there now, as she climbed slowly up the hill, stepping over the bracken and grass, that the words came to her.

Softly, she whispered the last few lines of the lullaby to herself.

"Though troubles make you weary,

Rest your head, your blinkers teary,

'Gainst a cloud 'o dreams of blue.

Through fields, gold and cheery,

Dashed your worries, bleak and dreary,

You will awaken to a world anew."

She paused and closed her eyes briefly as the last bars of the song died in her memory. Under closed lids, she saw her mother's face as real and as beautiful as she had remembered it. Will she ever see her again? She sighed and forced her eyes open. Now was not the time to let fear take over what bravado had struggled to obtain. She had to go on… what choice did she have?

When Laera reached the top of the hill, she gazed about her and tried to find the last obstacle of her adventure. She didn't have to look for long.

In front of her, a few feet away, sat a creature that had the body of a very hairy man with a head that resembled some sort of wolf or large dog. A very large dog, Laera thought, swallowing thickly. It was clearly an animal, but it returned Laera's gaze with very intelligent, very green eyes. The eyes in my dream, Laera noticed. As was previously mentioned, it was very large, even sitting like it was. Judging from where she stood, Laera guessed that the creature's height would easily tower over her own when it stood. It stared at her with a look of contempt, interest, and surprise.

Such a long time passed with neither of them speaking said that she jumped when it finally spoke.

"Where is he?" a voice, as harsh and as coarse as leaves rustling across forest floor.

Gathering up all of her courage, Laera forced herself to look at the dreadful creature in the eye. "The warrior that you seek is dead," she lied. Whatever happened to her, she would not let the creature seek out Legolas and finish off what the orc had started… even though Legolas and the rest of Middle-earth would not have much time anyways.

"I come in his place," she continued, tightening her grip on the handle of Legolas's sword to stop her trembling. "It is I who you seek."

The Arioc lifted himself from his seated position. Widening her eyes, Laera found that her estimation of the creature's height had been correct. The Arioc was probably a head or two taller than her. She involuntarily took a step back with a gasp. Seeing this, the creature cocked his head and let a funny growl escape from within him. Laera shuddered in disgust when she realized that the noise was the Arioc's laughter.

"You? An Elven maid? Or are you even a maid? What type of Elven woman goes about in the guise of a man? With locks cut as short as one too?"

"You ask a lot of questions for a creature that is supposed to be able to slip into the mind and dreams of others."

"I apologize, my lady," he mocked. "I just find your feeble attempt to save the world quite amusing."

At this comment, Laera felt her fear being quickly overcome with anger. "Amusing, is it? To fight for one's life? You want to die, beast, then throw yourself over a cliff. Must you take all of Middle-earth with you?"

The creature stopped laughing and a glimmer of sadness flickered in his cold green eyes. "Yes, Elf, I am afraid I must."

A tremor of fear crept up Laera's spine, but she forced herself to take a step forward. "Then what are you waiting for, beast? Here I am, the last thing keeping you from watching the greatest show of all time… the end of the world." Slowly, she lifted her sword and pointed the sharp tip towards the creature. "Come on, then."

The creature wasted no time. Time seemed to slow as she watched the Arioc charge towards her, fangs bared. She closed her eyes as the creature took one of his massive paws and simply brushed her aside like she were a twig. The next moment she was flying through the air and crashing painfully to the ground.

Through a haze, Laera struggled to regain her consciousness which was quickly slipping away. Gasping for air, Laera strained to stand. Among the numbing pain that seared throughout her body, she felt a great one, rising above all others, in her left arm. It was broken.

The creature stood where she had been before he attacked. "You don't have to do this, you know. Despite what you may think, I really don't enjoy doing this…doing what I will have to do."

With her good arm, Laera reached up and wiped the blood from a cut on her lip and picked up the sword she had dropped beside her. "That is too bad. I am afraid I will enjoy destroying you."

The creature laughed it's gruesome laugh and strode over to her. She quickly raised her sword, but it was knocked from her grasp with one sweep of its claws. She glared up at the green eyes she loathed and shuddered when she felt it's foul breath rush over her body. "Give up," he sneered.

Without warning, she pulled out a dagger, which had been tucked into her belt. With a cry, she plunged it deep within the creature's breast. The Arioc roared and grabbed her. Snarling in pain, he threw her, watching is satisfaction as she fell.

He looked at dagger implanted in his breast and pulled it free. "Your determination is a wonder, my girl," he spoke, striding over to where she lay, her dagger gripped in his hand. "You certainly are not what I'd expect from an Elven woman. Perhaps that is why he loved you so much."

The darkness that was swiftly enveloping her was dashed with his words. "Loved?" she whispered.

"Yes. Very much, I'm afraid. It was quite pathetic. I couldn't see why. You seemed nothing more than a rude, whiny, and quick-tempered lady. But his dreams were filled with you. It is too bad he will never have a chance to see those dreams fulfilled."

He allowed her to rise before he continued. "I hope you said goodbye to your family and everyone you loved before you heedlessly ran off. Was it worth it? To die like this? Alone?"

A sigh escaped her lips as she remembered another saying something akin to the Arioc's words. A naïve girl who wanted nothing more than to see the world. Nobody deserves to die alone. But as the sadness swept over her, a sudden picture came to her mind. It was of Arwen, her family, and Aragorn. They were gathered around a bed in which a Maia lay dying. Then the scene dispersed and her memories were filled with sunnier times. She was a little girl running towards her father, her arms outstretched. She hadn't even a chance to say goodbye, she realized.

As the image of herself embracing her father began to fade, another one rushed in to take its place. A small smile crept over her face as Legolas's face, younger, and notably stouter, gazed at her. Once again, she was in the clearing with a small patch over one of her eyes. The memory faded as Legolas gave her the lightest of kisses on her cheek. It was then that a startling realization gave her strength to look at the beast in the eye.

"I am not alone. Everyone I care for, everyone I love are here." She placed a small hand over her heart, a tear beginning to trickle down her cheek. "All of Middle-earth is here and all of Middle-earth will rejoice with the death of the Arioc and Gandalf's saving of the world."

The creature narrowed its eyes in confusion. What in the world was she talking about? It didn't matter, nothing mattered. "Is that what you were dreaming about while you stood there in front of me? Falling into trances aren't exactly smart when you are standing in front of a creature who intends to kill you…who will at this very moment." He raised her dagger over her head and paused his arm in mid-air. "I've lost my patience with you, girl. I've seen all of your innermost thoughts and dreams and, I must say, they are not worth saving."

Laera glanced over her shoulder at the first rays of dawn beginning to creep across the velvet sky. She slipped a hand into her pocket and smiled up at Arioc. "Then I am surprised you haven't seen this." Before he could react, she brought out a small stone that shone a deep ruby colour.

The creature gazed at it in confusion as it caught the light of the rising sun and began to glow an even brighter colour. Laera's eyes widened as the colour of the stone changed from a red to a green. Please make this work, she thought desperately as the stone began to tremble.

The Arioc's confusion turned into a shudder of fear as the stone began to emanate a bright green light.

"No!" he growled, stepping away from her. "This can't be! It had all been destroyed!"

Laera watched as the stone's trembling increased until it was rolling around in her hand. She gave a low cry as it flew from her fingers and shot itself deep within the chest of the Arioc. She watched in horror as he stumbled in pain.

"No… not all of it," she whispered, wondering how in the world that idea had come to her.

Not long afterward, green light began to glow from his open mouth, which was moaning in agony, and from his hairy ears, to match the eerie green light from his eyes. Not being able to watch, Laera turned away as the sound of a great explosion rocked the foot of the mountain and a great light shone from everywhere.

***

"Oh!" cried Rhovan, as she stepped to the window of her cabin to get a closer look at the beautiful green light that shone in the distance. Behind her, Legolas lay across the table, several layers of bandages wrapped around his abdomen.

Tears filled her eyes as she was suddenly filled with a great sense of peace. "She did it," she said, blinking away the tears and walked over to where Legolas lay unconscious. "You will live… and it is over."

***

Miles away, in idyllic Rivendell, Arwen, her family, and Aragorn stood anxiously watching the old wizard.

"Do you think it worked?" spoke Arwen, placing a hand on Aragorn's arm.

"Galadriel said it should. But perhaps Gandalf had been too weak for it to work. Only time will tell if he was able to reach her." He rested a hand over hers briefly in silent comfort.

"When did Galadriel depart from Rivendell?"

"A few moments ago. Galadriel had to be closer to her. Laera is very far away."

Standing a few feet away, Elrond's attention was swayed to where his daughter stood, speaking very closely with Estel. He sighed as a saw where their hands met and cursed himself for not preparing for this union.

Suddenly, everyone became aware of Gandalf's quickened breathing. The sound of the air passing into and out of his nostrils began to fill the silent room. Arwen stepped forward, concerned, but was held back by Aragorn. Their hearts stood still as they watched Gandalf break into a sweat, his head beginning to rock back and forth, as if he were in the throes of a nightmare.

This behaviour continued until an immensely bright light shone in through the windows. The light, which was an odd shade of green, filled the room until they all had to cover their eyes from its brilliance. When the light finally died away, they blinked in confusion until their eyesight was restored to normal.

"What was that?" asked Elrohir, striding over to the window and peering out.

It was then that they noticed the wizard. The look on his face was so peaceful and content, that they too began to feel a lightness of the heart they hadn't felt in such a long time.

Arwen laughed and threw her arms about her father, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh father! In a few days it shall be Laera that we all will be embracing!"

"So she did it," said Elrond slowly, smiling at his wife over Arwen's dark head. "She did it…"

***

Laera sat where the creature once lay, crying softly. When the light had died and when she saw the Arioc lying lifeless, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Feeling that laughter wasn't appropriate after all that had happened, she cried. She wept for her life and the lives of all who dwelt in Middle-earth. She wept for Legolas who should have been there with her to savour the moment of their success. But most of all, she wept for it was now indeed over and she could not have felt more grateful.

Wiping her nose on her sleeve, she pulled out a small flacon where she had kept her water. She pulled out the cork and drained the last few drops of water. She took her dagger, which was still in the creature's hand and carefully cut into his flesh, which was surprisingly tender. It took her a few moments to fill the bottle and she corked it.

Laera stood and limped to the edge of the hill. The sun was now over the horizon and casting a warm, orange glow on the world below. It seemed so different from the garish green light that had come with the destruction of the Arioc. Again, she found herself questioning how she could have known that the stone she had gotten from the first set of doors had such power.

"What a nice souvenir," she said, finally feeling an urge to laugh.