Chapter Ten

As the sun rose over the town it did not spread warmth or illuminate the sky with brilliant colors, but instead brought in a chilly ocean breeze and a hazy grey-blue sky. The dampness remained on the blades of grass that surrounded the town, holding onto them as a tear would slide down a face. The town was wet as well, the mud of the streets caking to the soles of the spectators' feet. Rose was upon a horse pulled wagon, bound to the side of it with ropes. The townspeople crowned the street, throwing trash and rocks and shouting names at her. The wagon made its way to the town square, where a noose was ready. She looked down, her face dirty and cut and her clothes torn. She caught a glimpse of blonde hair out of the corner of her eye and looked up. Legolas was starring at her from the crowd, a look of horror on his face. She spoke softly and only to him.

"Return to Rivendell." She said.

"I can save you." He begged, walking with the wagon along the back of the crowd. She starred at him for a moment before answering.

"You already have." She whispered. He came to a stop as the wagon did. A man stepped onto the wagon, and she looked up at him. "Brendan." She whispered, and burned into his eyes as he starred at her for a brief moment of grief before dragging her with another man to the platform. He then grabbed a scroll, standing before the crowd.

"Rose Jackson, you are accused of practicing the Craft of the Elves, and succumbing to the Elvin culture and religion. You are also guilty of being cross-bred with an elf, and holding the Elvin part of your heritage up high and not attempting to hide it. How do you plead?"

"I am an elf." She hissed. He starred at her for a moment.

"What?"

"I am an elf." She said louder, her voice not loosing power. "The elves are truer and have a higher understanding than a human could ever dream of."

"Stop it!" Brendan said harshly. Rose continued.

"You humans are too afraid to find out what is beyond your normal sight to understand why things are why they are!"

"Cease from speaking!" Brendan shouted, and kicked her side. She cried out in pain, her legs giving out from beneath her. The two men beside her held her up as she glared at Brendan.

"The elves are too good to be associated with the likes of humans." She growled. Trash and stones began hurling towards her, and Legolas watched in horror as she collapsed, curled up in a ball. She was no longer crying in pain and instead glared at Brendan, mouthing something. He held his hand up at the crowd, and they stopped throwing things.

"What did you say?" He asked angrily.

"Beware of your fate when the night falls, for my shadows will forever haunt you in your sleep and in the dark crevices of this world…" She said, growing louder. The crowd began shouting.

"Witchery!"

"Hang her!"

"She will cast a curse upon us all!"

In his house, Elrond could feel the chill of her words. He wrapped his cloak around his tighter, shielding himself form the cold wind. Others could feel it as well, and the city fell under a chilled and saddened cloud.

"…your mind will go into the shadows, and you will find it hard to breathe. It will take until you are dead until you realize your throat has been slashed by the one who said he would…"

Legolas began breathing heavily, hardly able to control himself from the anger and motivation that was building up inside of him. Arwen grabbed his arm, holding him back as she watched; her eyes wide in dread.

"You can not, Legolas." She pleaded, and let go of his arm as the fury died down to a dull roar in his eyes.

"And when it comes time to decide your fate, you will sit forever outside of the gates of eternal life, because your clouded mind is not worth their time." She finished. Thunder could be heard rumbling in the distance.

"She has brought upon us a storm!" A woman cried in the crowd.

"Hang her!" A man shouted. Cries of agreement began to spread like wildfire through the crowd.

"You may live for a hundred years; you will not forget my words." Rose shouted. "Humans are blind and afraid to see what they do not understand. I am dying for you, so that you will think of me and listen. Look beyond what you see. Open your eyes to the world and see what you are doing not only to yourself, but to others as well!"

"Silence!" Brendan shouted, striking her across the face as lightning flashed. She looked into the crowd, spotting Legolas.

"I will love you until heaven ceases to exist." She whispered, and was dragged to the noose. The crowd cheered and shouted as the rope was put around her neck, and she struggled to stand on her own as the two men stepped back. She looked heavenward, a look of determination on her face. She did not look afraid, but stronger than ever. Brendan turned around so he would not have to watch and Arwen grabbed him, spinning him back to facing Rose.

"You did this. You will watch." She said harshly. The crowd grew louder and more violent as the sky grew darker. A man with a black cloth over his face walked towards Rose, and the crows squealed in delight as he neared the lever that would take the platform out from under her. He stood behind her watching her struggle to keep her footing as the crowd shouted things at her, every so often throwing something at her. Each time something would hit her, a wave of laughter and cheers would erupt through the crowd. Arwen shook Brendan harshly.

"That's enough! Either tell him to get her off of there or end her suffering!" She shouted angrily. Rose shut her eyes as Legolas watched her, his heart nearly lunging out of his chest as its pace quickened and his breath became heavier.

"Now!" Brendan shouted and watched as the man kicked the lever, and Rose fell through the hole in the platform.

The crowd grew silent as the sky parted and sun streaks shone upon Rose's hanging body alone, leaving the rest of them in the dark chilled shadows.

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