Chapter 16: The Night After
A/N: Okay I decided to length my chapters otherwise you and I would be here forever and well I definitely like this and you do too or you wouldn't be reading this but forever is a really long time..
Pippin looked up as another was admitted to the House of Healing. There was some commotion, there was no injury on the body and yet they refused to go. He walked out of Merry's room to see who the person was. There before him, he saw a she-Elf dressed in leather and stained with blood, both black and red. He had seen her somewhere before.
"Arway, is that you?"
"Yes Master Perigrin, though I would ask the same to you for growth has visited you since last I looked upon you."
"It is all right, leave her be. She is a friend of both Merry and myself." He told the people who had gathered.
"Then, it was Merry I saw so long ago entering the fallen gate. Where might he be?"
"Here, inside, injury came but no one knows why."
Arway entered the room Pippin had been in minutes before. There lay Merry, a dark sleep on him. On her glance at Merry, the she-Elf's face turned grim.
"Gandalf did not know what to do, he went for Strider minutes before you arrived."
A look of mistake was revealed on Arway's face as she looked down at the Hobbit.
"So, you did not enter the city with permission from the superior. That is alright, I also left my post today without leave."
"That story Pippin I will hear another day, but now.."
Arway turned back to Merry. All those who had been watching him now stood by the door watching Arway. She placed a thumb above each eyebrow, the tips touching above the nose, and closed her eyes.
Pippin was afraid for much time passed before she moved once more. And when she did, her hands were withdrawn before she opened her eyes. He saw both nightmare and question in them. And as she swept from the room, he followed her. She entered the room of Éowyn and pushed her way to the bed. Not a word escaped her lips as again she set her thumbs over eyebrows, with tips touching above the nose, and closed her eyes. This time Pippin knew she was stationary longer. There was raucous outside but still she did not move. Later, she removed her hands from the head and still her eyes remained tightly closed.
It was not until a man cleared his throat that she opened them. There in the doorway stood a man wrapped in a grey cloak, Aragorn. On his face was a look of displeasure, but it only lasted for a second of time. When he saw the eyes of the she-Elf, he was moved with pity. In the orbs was nightmare and horror, and something he had rarely seen in an Elf, fear. Aragorn set a hand on Arway's shoulder. The act was of comfort but sternness was flowing underneath.
"I will speak with you once my job here is finished." He told her.
After checking Éowyn, he left the room. As he left, Arway looked up at the doorway but the form of Éomer obscured her vision. His face was full of both sorrow and hope. When he caught the figure of Arway, he pulled her into an embrace.
"It is good to see you uninjured from this battle. Many fought and some will never return to the land of their birth. Lady Éowyn may never see the plains of Rohan again."
"Do not be too hard on yourself Éomer. Nothing could have stopped her had you known. She has a strong and stubborn will. But you will see, good shall come of her presence in the White City."
~~~ Legolas and Gimli stood before the fallen gate looking in on Minas Tirith. Aragorn had bidden them not to enter, and for their love for him, they did not. But both wished to know what went on in the city. Their glances turned to one another and then to the field behind. Neither would speak the thoughts in their head, but each knew the other had similar thoughts. They wished to know what had befallen Arway. She had not been seen in hours.
As Legolas looked, he saw Celeb, Arway's horse, nearby. And his heart rejoiced to see him. Legolas quickly pointed Celeb out to Gimli, who advanced towards the horse. But as soon as Gimli got near, Celeb moved. This occurred at least two more times.
Then, snorting, Gimli turned back to Legolas. "No one will ever be able to get near that horse if Arway has told him something. It is a sign that the she-Elf is still alive." ~~~
"What occurred?"
Arway sat in the garden near the House of Healing. The stars shown above her and that was what her eyes were locked upon. A long moment occurred before she gave Aragorn a reply. "What they have done should have killed both. If it were any other, they would be dead as I speak these words. However, these two have strong wills and that is what saved them. But, it will not stop the memory from haunting them. The young Hobbit has a stout heart. He is very brave for the small folk. He is brave for any folk. The Lady of the Rohirrim has much to consider and this event will only cause her more pain." Arway paused and then turned her glance to Aragorn. There he saw an unsure twinkle in her eye. " I do not know whether to feel fear for the wrath of the dark king for losing his best servant, or to rejoice because he has lost his best servant. I am caught between the feelings of Men and of Elves."
As Aragorn stood, he saw the fight between her emotions. He had felt like that long ago. When he was still young and did not know who he was or what he was doing. Sympathy hit him in full force, putting a knife to his throat. "Arway, I cannot tell you that the confusion will go away. But I can say, do not let it control you. The only thing that can happen to ebb the confusion is to welcome it. If you were not confused, it would mean that you are perfect. And though that sounds like a wonderful thing to be, if you were perfect you would not feel the good things. The love of your family and friends, the joy when something magnificent takes place. All things have their place in yourself, you only have to put them in order."
Arway looked straight in Aragorn's eyes. He had been told that once too, she could see that. His words floated in her head, and were stored in her memory forever to be remembered. It was truth. She knew this and would trust him for if she could not trust the King then who else would she trust. "Pardon my outburst Aragorn, I did not mean to be selfish."
"Do not be troubled by it, I would have soon wondered if you were truly who you say you are if you had not spoken out." He gave her a genuine smile she could not refuse.
"Alright. I can tell you their deed, but again you may wish to hear it from their lips." Arway then told the story of Éowyn and Merry, as she knew it. But she did not tell that when she saw a person's memory through their eyes she also received their emotions at the time the memory was experienced. And when she told the story their fear and pain flowed through her limbs. She did not know how to escape it, but she had learned to mask it.
As the night deepened, Aragorn and Arway descended through the circles to the main gate. And this was where they departed at the fallen gate. ~~~
Legolas looked once again upon Minas Tirith. Something was drawing his gaze towards it. Then, looking up he was looking face to face with the stars. As he watched them, the Dúnedain and the Dwarf were preparing for sleep and sleeping. People slept in the city, and life continued in every aspect of Middle-earth, it had not halted because of one or two battles, it continued on. Looking upon the heavens, a well-known voice was brought to his ears.
"Go back and stay with them. It is time for rest and healing. Do not enter the city again without my leave."
When Legolas looked to see the speaker of the voice, he saw the retreating shade of Aragorn. And there, yards from the gate stood Arway, unmoving, yet running. She was stationary, looking up at the stars. But there was something in her body language that was not quite right. When he stretched out with his feelings he could feel her emotions running, fighting, controlling her.
"Arway come leave the city as Aragorn requested."
Arway took her eyes from the so familiar stars and found Legolas in the fields outside the city. Slowly he was advancing towards the gate. He was going to enter the city and retrieve her if she did not move. She was but steps from leaving the city and yet a league away from him. Arway pushed herself out of Minas Tirith, and into the arms of Legolas. And as she hugged him, his tranquility and grace flowed into her, calming her.
"What happened?"
"I saw Merry enter the city when day was still awake, and I fought my way back. I reached the City of the Kings before the transition of day and night. My feet took me to the House of Healing, where I found Merry and the Lady Éowyn. All needed to know. So, I looked inside their minds. I saw what occurred through their eyes. They destroyed the witch king."
"There is something you keep hidden beneath. What is it? for never have I seen an Elf so close to tears."
"I feel what flowed through them when I looked through their memories. I felt the fear, I still do. It is the fear that grips me."
Legolas pulled away so that he could look at Arway's face. Gently, holding it, so that she had to look into his own, he studied her. There, in her eyes he saw nightmare and fear. He knew and understood little of these feelings. But, he knew one thing that calmed above all else.
First, there was the kiss on the brow. Then, he took her hand and led her to where the sky was little hindered by the White City. He sat and she followed his lead. Lightly pulling her hand, he brought her to him and laid her head in his lap. And he sung beautiful Elven songs. As he did so, her eyes wandered through the starry heavens.
The twinkling of stars above, the clear voice singing to her, and the earth beneath all had their part in comforting Arway. As the stars above reached over her head she looked back to see them. There, she saw above her Legolas. The darkness masked him, but she still looked up at him as she could. He still continued to sing and his eyes were above on the heavens.
"It has been awakened inside of you."
His head snapped down to look at her. And he found her looking right back at him in the darkness. "I froze once I heard their cries, they were calling to me. Calling me home."
"If you leave while these here live, your presence will be missed sorely by them. Aragorn and Gimli will never forgive you for departing. And still, you have much to play a part in." As she spoke, Arway was amazed to find that Legolas had begun to play with her hair. Though, she believed he was doing it intentionally.
"I will not leave while those of the fellowship still roam Middle-earth. But forever it will burn on my breast. And what about you? You must yearn to leave this world."
"I still have love for these wilds. There are things that I have come to love about Middle-earth even while in exile. For now, I am content on staying here. There are many places that I have not seen in a long while; some are near and some far; while others are impossible to look upon."
"Imladris is such a place?"
"If I could enter again into the Elven cities I would never need to leave this place. If that were true, I would be on the last ship departing from Middle-earth. But this will never be, for I was not told I could reenter the cities. Exile shall be what I know on this world."
When he heard the voice of Arway recall the Elven cities, Legolas looked upon her face. Speaking of these enchanted places filled her with a joy he had never seen before. When he looked down at his hands, he was surprised to see her satin hair there. He let the strands fall slowly from his hands. He placed them behind himself and returned to the stars.
It was long before either said a word. They could hear people in the city, the Dúnedain in the tents, and the breeze across the Anduin and the open fields.
~~~ The two were still present in the field when Aragorn returned from the House of Healing. To a person just glancing at the fields, they would say that they saw a moment between the two. Yet, as he looked upon the two good friends he could guess the beginning, though he knew each probably had their own thoughts. He was correct. Both Elves were busy with their own thoughts and memories. They were simply in each other's presence. But this did not stop what Aragorn saw. ~~~
As Arway lay in the silence, a thought came upon her. If it were not for the ring and exile, she would not have meet Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. So, the last chance for Middle-earth was the beginning of her life. She had friends that would not leave, would not die, friends that loved her.
The exhaustion of Men came on the two and they slept. In the early hours of the morning, Legolas awoke. He picked his head off his knee and was slightly surprised to see Arway's head in his lap. He dared not touch her. Fear that he would wake her claimed him. Few in the city were up and none that had fought the day before. And in this hour when few were awake and dawn had just begun, Legolas took the time to think.
His thoughts traveled from his father and the trees of Mirkwood, to the lands he had not yet glimpsed, but the she-Elf in his lap had. He thought about things both near and far. But always they turned back to Arway and the sea. It was deadly to stir the longing of the sea in his people, and it was done. He was being called to go to the Undying Lands. And yet, he was commanded to stay with thoughts of Arway.
Gently, he lifted Arway's head from his lap and set it on the ground. To his left were both of the bows of the Galadrim. He picked up his own and though he could not go to the Anduin without danger falling on him, he walked to a spot where he could see it.
Rolling on her side Arway felt the half dead grass beneath her and was fully awakened from her sleep. Sitting up she saw Minas Tirith, the tents of the Dúnedain, and Legolas a bit farther in the field. She arose with no fear in her. The feelings of the night before were but a blur. Rising with her bow in hand, Arway walked with no sound towards Legolas. Stopping at his right side, she placed her left hand on his shoulder. There they stood and watched the sun welcome the day.
"There is a job to be done, there is still more to come. The Undying Lands will always be welcome to any Elf at any time. But Middle-earth is the only world Men, Dwarves, Hobbits, and other free folk have."
After the words, Legolas's head turned and watched Arway walk away. If only she had known half of what his thoughts were. He shivered for he knew she had the power, but refrained from using it. Then, he started as Arway stopped in the grey light. She glanced up at the still dark sky and waited a second. Legolas felt it as she did so. The Nazgul flew high above the city and only the two present in the fields knew it.
After the moment passed, Arway began to walk again. Legolas watched as the Elven beauty floated like a cloud over the ground. Her long hair swayed and blew in the wind. And the weapons visible at her sides hardened her softness.
***** A/N: This is You! 'oh hey I really loved that chapter' or 'oh hey I really hated that chapter' or 'oh hey I liked how she did this' or 'oh hey I didn't like how she did this' or 'oh hey maybe I should tell her how I fell about her story' or 'oh hey maybe I should say hi to this new author' or 'oh hey she doesn't have many reviews maybe I'll pop in and say something'
'HEY I SHOULD REVIEW!'
A/N: Okay I decided to length my chapters otherwise you and I would be here forever and well I definitely like this and you do too or you wouldn't be reading this but forever is a really long time..
Pippin looked up as another was admitted to the House of Healing. There was some commotion, there was no injury on the body and yet they refused to go. He walked out of Merry's room to see who the person was. There before him, he saw a she-Elf dressed in leather and stained with blood, both black and red. He had seen her somewhere before.
"Arway, is that you?"
"Yes Master Perigrin, though I would ask the same to you for growth has visited you since last I looked upon you."
"It is all right, leave her be. She is a friend of both Merry and myself." He told the people who had gathered.
"Then, it was Merry I saw so long ago entering the fallen gate. Where might he be?"
"Here, inside, injury came but no one knows why."
Arway entered the room Pippin had been in minutes before. There lay Merry, a dark sleep on him. On her glance at Merry, the she-Elf's face turned grim.
"Gandalf did not know what to do, he went for Strider minutes before you arrived."
A look of mistake was revealed on Arway's face as she looked down at the Hobbit.
"So, you did not enter the city with permission from the superior. That is alright, I also left my post today without leave."
"That story Pippin I will hear another day, but now.."
Arway turned back to Merry. All those who had been watching him now stood by the door watching Arway. She placed a thumb above each eyebrow, the tips touching above the nose, and closed her eyes.
Pippin was afraid for much time passed before she moved once more. And when she did, her hands were withdrawn before she opened her eyes. He saw both nightmare and question in them. And as she swept from the room, he followed her. She entered the room of Éowyn and pushed her way to the bed. Not a word escaped her lips as again she set her thumbs over eyebrows, with tips touching above the nose, and closed her eyes. This time Pippin knew she was stationary longer. There was raucous outside but still she did not move. Later, she removed her hands from the head and still her eyes remained tightly closed.
It was not until a man cleared his throat that she opened them. There in the doorway stood a man wrapped in a grey cloak, Aragorn. On his face was a look of displeasure, but it only lasted for a second of time. When he saw the eyes of the she-Elf, he was moved with pity. In the orbs was nightmare and horror, and something he had rarely seen in an Elf, fear. Aragorn set a hand on Arway's shoulder. The act was of comfort but sternness was flowing underneath.
"I will speak with you once my job here is finished." He told her.
After checking Éowyn, he left the room. As he left, Arway looked up at the doorway but the form of Éomer obscured her vision. His face was full of both sorrow and hope. When he caught the figure of Arway, he pulled her into an embrace.
"It is good to see you uninjured from this battle. Many fought and some will never return to the land of their birth. Lady Éowyn may never see the plains of Rohan again."
"Do not be too hard on yourself Éomer. Nothing could have stopped her had you known. She has a strong and stubborn will. But you will see, good shall come of her presence in the White City."
~~~ Legolas and Gimli stood before the fallen gate looking in on Minas Tirith. Aragorn had bidden them not to enter, and for their love for him, they did not. But both wished to know what went on in the city. Their glances turned to one another and then to the field behind. Neither would speak the thoughts in their head, but each knew the other had similar thoughts. They wished to know what had befallen Arway. She had not been seen in hours.
As Legolas looked, he saw Celeb, Arway's horse, nearby. And his heart rejoiced to see him. Legolas quickly pointed Celeb out to Gimli, who advanced towards the horse. But as soon as Gimli got near, Celeb moved. This occurred at least two more times.
Then, snorting, Gimli turned back to Legolas. "No one will ever be able to get near that horse if Arway has told him something. It is a sign that the she-Elf is still alive." ~~~
"What occurred?"
Arway sat in the garden near the House of Healing. The stars shown above her and that was what her eyes were locked upon. A long moment occurred before she gave Aragorn a reply. "What they have done should have killed both. If it were any other, they would be dead as I speak these words. However, these two have strong wills and that is what saved them. But, it will not stop the memory from haunting them. The young Hobbit has a stout heart. He is very brave for the small folk. He is brave for any folk. The Lady of the Rohirrim has much to consider and this event will only cause her more pain." Arway paused and then turned her glance to Aragorn. There he saw an unsure twinkle in her eye. " I do not know whether to feel fear for the wrath of the dark king for losing his best servant, or to rejoice because he has lost his best servant. I am caught between the feelings of Men and of Elves."
As Aragorn stood, he saw the fight between her emotions. He had felt like that long ago. When he was still young and did not know who he was or what he was doing. Sympathy hit him in full force, putting a knife to his throat. "Arway, I cannot tell you that the confusion will go away. But I can say, do not let it control you. The only thing that can happen to ebb the confusion is to welcome it. If you were not confused, it would mean that you are perfect. And though that sounds like a wonderful thing to be, if you were perfect you would not feel the good things. The love of your family and friends, the joy when something magnificent takes place. All things have their place in yourself, you only have to put them in order."
Arway looked straight in Aragorn's eyes. He had been told that once too, she could see that. His words floated in her head, and were stored in her memory forever to be remembered. It was truth. She knew this and would trust him for if she could not trust the King then who else would she trust. "Pardon my outburst Aragorn, I did not mean to be selfish."
"Do not be troubled by it, I would have soon wondered if you were truly who you say you are if you had not spoken out." He gave her a genuine smile she could not refuse.
"Alright. I can tell you their deed, but again you may wish to hear it from their lips." Arway then told the story of Éowyn and Merry, as she knew it. But she did not tell that when she saw a person's memory through their eyes she also received their emotions at the time the memory was experienced. And when she told the story their fear and pain flowed through her limbs. She did not know how to escape it, but she had learned to mask it.
As the night deepened, Aragorn and Arway descended through the circles to the main gate. And this was where they departed at the fallen gate. ~~~
Legolas looked once again upon Minas Tirith. Something was drawing his gaze towards it. Then, looking up he was looking face to face with the stars. As he watched them, the Dúnedain and the Dwarf were preparing for sleep and sleeping. People slept in the city, and life continued in every aspect of Middle-earth, it had not halted because of one or two battles, it continued on. Looking upon the heavens, a well-known voice was brought to his ears.
"Go back and stay with them. It is time for rest and healing. Do not enter the city again without my leave."
When Legolas looked to see the speaker of the voice, he saw the retreating shade of Aragorn. And there, yards from the gate stood Arway, unmoving, yet running. She was stationary, looking up at the stars. But there was something in her body language that was not quite right. When he stretched out with his feelings he could feel her emotions running, fighting, controlling her.
"Arway come leave the city as Aragorn requested."
Arway took her eyes from the so familiar stars and found Legolas in the fields outside the city. Slowly he was advancing towards the gate. He was going to enter the city and retrieve her if she did not move. She was but steps from leaving the city and yet a league away from him. Arway pushed herself out of Minas Tirith, and into the arms of Legolas. And as she hugged him, his tranquility and grace flowed into her, calming her.
"What happened?"
"I saw Merry enter the city when day was still awake, and I fought my way back. I reached the City of the Kings before the transition of day and night. My feet took me to the House of Healing, where I found Merry and the Lady Éowyn. All needed to know. So, I looked inside their minds. I saw what occurred through their eyes. They destroyed the witch king."
"There is something you keep hidden beneath. What is it? for never have I seen an Elf so close to tears."
"I feel what flowed through them when I looked through their memories. I felt the fear, I still do. It is the fear that grips me."
Legolas pulled away so that he could look at Arway's face. Gently, holding it, so that she had to look into his own, he studied her. There, in her eyes he saw nightmare and fear. He knew and understood little of these feelings. But, he knew one thing that calmed above all else.
First, there was the kiss on the brow. Then, he took her hand and led her to where the sky was little hindered by the White City. He sat and she followed his lead. Lightly pulling her hand, he brought her to him and laid her head in his lap. And he sung beautiful Elven songs. As he did so, her eyes wandered through the starry heavens.
The twinkling of stars above, the clear voice singing to her, and the earth beneath all had their part in comforting Arway. As the stars above reached over her head she looked back to see them. There, she saw above her Legolas. The darkness masked him, but she still looked up at him as she could. He still continued to sing and his eyes were above on the heavens.
"It has been awakened inside of you."
His head snapped down to look at her. And he found her looking right back at him in the darkness. "I froze once I heard their cries, they were calling to me. Calling me home."
"If you leave while these here live, your presence will be missed sorely by them. Aragorn and Gimli will never forgive you for departing. And still, you have much to play a part in." As she spoke, Arway was amazed to find that Legolas had begun to play with her hair. Though, she believed he was doing it intentionally.
"I will not leave while those of the fellowship still roam Middle-earth. But forever it will burn on my breast. And what about you? You must yearn to leave this world."
"I still have love for these wilds. There are things that I have come to love about Middle-earth even while in exile. For now, I am content on staying here. There are many places that I have not seen in a long while; some are near and some far; while others are impossible to look upon."
"Imladris is such a place?"
"If I could enter again into the Elven cities I would never need to leave this place. If that were true, I would be on the last ship departing from Middle-earth. But this will never be, for I was not told I could reenter the cities. Exile shall be what I know on this world."
When he heard the voice of Arway recall the Elven cities, Legolas looked upon her face. Speaking of these enchanted places filled her with a joy he had never seen before. When he looked down at his hands, he was surprised to see her satin hair there. He let the strands fall slowly from his hands. He placed them behind himself and returned to the stars.
It was long before either said a word. They could hear people in the city, the Dúnedain in the tents, and the breeze across the Anduin and the open fields.
~~~ The two were still present in the field when Aragorn returned from the House of Healing. To a person just glancing at the fields, they would say that they saw a moment between the two. Yet, as he looked upon the two good friends he could guess the beginning, though he knew each probably had their own thoughts. He was correct. Both Elves were busy with their own thoughts and memories. They were simply in each other's presence. But this did not stop what Aragorn saw. ~~~
As Arway lay in the silence, a thought came upon her. If it were not for the ring and exile, she would not have meet Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. So, the last chance for Middle-earth was the beginning of her life. She had friends that would not leave, would not die, friends that loved her.
The exhaustion of Men came on the two and they slept. In the early hours of the morning, Legolas awoke. He picked his head off his knee and was slightly surprised to see Arway's head in his lap. He dared not touch her. Fear that he would wake her claimed him. Few in the city were up and none that had fought the day before. And in this hour when few were awake and dawn had just begun, Legolas took the time to think.
His thoughts traveled from his father and the trees of Mirkwood, to the lands he had not yet glimpsed, but the she-Elf in his lap had. He thought about things both near and far. But always they turned back to Arway and the sea. It was deadly to stir the longing of the sea in his people, and it was done. He was being called to go to the Undying Lands. And yet, he was commanded to stay with thoughts of Arway.
Gently, he lifted Arway's head from his lap and set it on the ground. To his left were both of the bows of the Galadrim. He picked up his own and though he could not go to the Anduin without danger falling on him, he walked to a spot where he could see it.
Rolling on her side Arway felt the half dead grass beneath her and was fully awakened from her sleep. Sitting up she saw Minas Tirith, the tents of the Dúnedain, and Legolas a bit farther in the field. She arose with no fear in her. The feelings of the night before were but a blur. Rising with her bow in hand, Arway walked with no sound towards Legolas. Stopping at his right side, she placed her left hand on his shoulder. There they stood and watched the sun welcome the day.
"There is a job to be done, there is still more to come. The Undying Lands will always be welcome to any Elf at any time. But Middle-earth is the only world Men, Dwarves, Hobbits, and other free folk have."
After the words, Legolas's head turned and watched Arway walk away. If only she had known half of what his thoughts were. He shivered for he knew she had the power, but refrained from using it. Then, he started as Arway stopped in the grey light. She glanced up at the still dark sky and waited a second. Legolas felt it as she did so. The Nazgul flew high above the city and only the two present in the fields knew it.
After the moment passed, Arway began to walk again. Legolas watched as the Elven beauty floated like a cloud over the ground. Her long hair swayed and blew in the wind. And the weapons visible at her sides hardened her softness.
***** A/N: This is You! 'oh hey I really loved that chapter' or 'oh hey I really hated that chapter' or 'oh hey I liked how she did this' or 'oh hey I didn't like how she did this' or 'oh hey maybe I should tell her how I fell about her story' or 'oh hey maybe I should say hi to this new author' or 'oh hey she doesn't have many reviews maybe I'll pop in and say something'
'HEY I SHOULD REVIEW!'
