Chapter 3- A note: This story merges with a friend of mine, you may have
seen her fan fiction as well. From this point on we will both be leeching
off of each other as a source of inspiration and ideas. Also chapter 3 is
somewhat irrelevant, but there are some important things in there to catch
so you will have to read it.
Frantically they raced to Rivendell, Silinde holding me onto the horse so I would not fall. Nunilwen racing not too far behind with our things. Even though I was unconscious I could still feel what was happening around me, I could even hear it at times. After all of this, my pain, weakness, and discomfort were all I had the energy to concentrate on. I barely remember anything but the sound of rapid hoof beats. But somewhere between my pain and being half-mad with pain, sleep claimed me, and I was glad of it.
Some time later, too many hours for me to know, I awoke when the horse slowed to a tedious pace, down a long narrow path etched into the cliff walls. I remember looking up to see what was going on, and not being able to focus, putting my head back to rest, I sighed in despair, and the comfort of the blackness took me again, but by that time, we had topped completely.
"Where am I?" I managed to frantically shout as I darted up from the bed. My eyes focusing Scanned the room, searching for a trace of something I knew. I rubbed my back noticing that I could have to make an appointment with a marquist, for my marque had scratches on it, and I thought I was surely damaged. "The inkings will be fine, they will heal cleanly." I heard a voice from the far corner utter. It was rich and musical, and my eyes widened and I looked to the corner. Standing there, a tall figure with raven and star-blue hair, falling in showers down his back turned slowly to greet me. His piercing grey eyes staring at me and I nearly melted on the spot. I nigh believed it was him, until he walked towards me, and when he reaches me, he moved a strand of hair out of my face and sat next to me, holding my hand. "Welcome to Rivendell my love," and with that, he pulled up my hand, and gently kissed it. I could feel his warm breath tickle my skin, and I trembled slightly, and I heard him lightly laugh, no mortal would have been able to hear it. "Excuse my rudeness my love, I am Oriavanim," I said. Still in shock, and he obviously knew it, the grin crawling across his face told me so. I traced my fingers across his face and his neck and arms, I had to make sure this was real and not just insanity. I brought my arms up again and rested them on his shoulders, "you're real!" I whispered, barely able to believe what I was experiencing. I did not even have to look, I could feel him smiling, and I let myself melt into his arms, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. "Oh good she's awake!" Another voice boomed across the room. My head instantly jerked up and I saw another tall elven man with long dark hair, and a gold cirquelett atop is head. He came over and looked at the scrapes on my back first, and nodded in satisfaction, "there won't even be a scar." Then he came around to look at the cut across my forehead and smiled with glee. "You'll be as good as new within the next few days, now let us go get you cleaned up, a nice bath will have you feeling better. Then we can talk about what happened and why you're here, so far away from home." Then my love looked at me and said " I was going to introduce myself before he came in, "and lightly giggled, "My name is Erualarion, and this day has been the best I have ever had up to this point. I did not know if you would come, but I am glad you have, now let us go," and he led me to the bath chamber, where a tub of steaming, crystal clear water awaited me. I stepped onto the platform steps leading to the large, lavish tub, and untied the cords, letting the drapes sweep down, as to cover the bath area. I heard him sigh, obviously disappointed, but he did not leave. At that I had to laugh, the first time I had in days, and I disrobed and stepped into the water. The water washed over me, melting away all of the sweat and dried blood that still clung to me, and the grime of the past few days no longer clung to me. The waters truly made me feel new. I relaxed and let myself think, and deep in thought, I let everything sink in. I though of home, and I knew, that had this happened to be back there, they would have left me to die, Did these people accept me, or did they just not know what I was. A cursed elf maiden, and flawed. Fear ran through my body and I winced. I heard Erualarion get up, "my love? Are you ok?" I lifted myself out of the tub and put on the robe laying next to it, and as I stepped out from behind the drapes, I looked him in the eyes, and he gasped that the piercing lilac-violet gaze starring at him, "no my love, I am not." I bowed my head in shame, it was a natural thing to me by now, and before I could walk away, he wrapped his arms lovingly around me and kissed me. It was enough, it was more than enough, I felt accepted, but not only that, I was loved. In his arms I felt safe because I was loved, and I smiled. "I shall leave you to dress my love Oiravanim, your clothes have been placed over by the mirror," he said with a grin, and left. Sure enough my clothes were there, and not just replacements for my lost garbs, but mine. I slid on the deep crimson skirt and buckled the ruby shining metal clasp, and slid on the crimson top that curved over my skin as if it were only my true flesh. Reaching into the chest, I pulled out my arm cuffs, silver with scarlet sewn into the holes in the metal, creating semi-sleeves. I reached for the silver hair clasp in my trunk and placed it on the mantle where I could easily reach it. I slowly and lavishly brushed my hair out, and took the top section of my curly hair and twisted it, wrapping it into a bun with a small shower of hair trailing down my back, and I placed the clasp and fastened it over the bun. I looked every inch my normal self now. Pulling at the bottom of my hair so it glimmered down my back, and sliding a few tendrils out so that they shown in rivulets down the sides of my face. I finally decided I looked nice enough to be seen, my dress making my eyes stand out, and framing my body, the entire outfit so fitting. If not for the colors, you may have thought that it was my flesh, the ends of the fabric matching seamlessly with my skin. I inhaled sharply, and made my way out of the chamber.
As I stepped in to the dining hall, I heard plenty of gasps, and later I would learn the source and reasons, my clothes were one of them. To them they were strangely exotic, but for me, they were normal everyday clothing. Erualarion stared at me, his expression somewhere between disbelief and amazement; it gave me courage and confidence. I walked into the room with my head held high, and my gaze constant and unfaltering. Even Nunilwen, whom I had spent weeks with, wondered how I went from the timid, mild dressed creature, to this. But I was a noble, the traits imbedded into me from birth, and for once I took hold of them and used them. I daresay I looked every inch the noble, and I was glad of it at the time. As far as Lord Elrond, Gliren, and everyone else had seen after the vision, I had looked ragged and weak, with ripped and bloodied clothes, my limbs limp and nigh unconscious. I quietly sat down while the meal was being passed around, and ate the meal slowly, then they began to talk. I must have looked somewhat appalled by talking while meal was being served, because I heard a voice ask "What is wrong?", and I simply answered "There is no problem, its just..." I sighed and continued quietly, "There are so many things that are different here, the way you act, the way you dress, everything. I just need some time to adjust is all." Lord Elrond, his dark eyes shining, gave me a comforting look, and to my dismay he said, "Speaking of this already, where are you from and what brings you here?" I had dreaded this moment since I arrived. My blood beat in my ears like the wings of a gull. I closed my eyes and Bowed my head and wanted to hide, what else could I do? I was flawed. Silently I looked up, and I fought to raise my voice above a whisper, "I am the Lady Oriavanim of Tol Eressëa, and have come to be with Erualarion." If the first part had shocked them, then telling them I had come for Erualarion must have baffled them. "How did..." said Elrond, but I cut him off. "Know that Erualarion was here, or that he even existed across the far sea?" He nodded silently in shock, I had read his mind, and I could feel his curiosity all the way across the room. "My lord, there is much to talk about, and much that I have seen, but I dare not speak of it here," I spoke aloud, "now let us eat and be merry, and we shall hold council of this matter afterwards." And so we continued eating, and merrily we did, and I felt comfortable after getting everything out, and knowing that they did not mind.
Walking into the council room I could feel the warmth of the fireplace, and it reminded me of home, and I was glad. So I started in the only way I knew to begin "Where I am from, they call it the dromondae, and it is a flaw, or so I thought until I arrived on the shores of the Grey havens and Lady Nunilwen greeted me with kindness I had never known. All of my life I have been rejected, and cast apart from the others, my eyes mark my gift, and the others dreaded it. They fear anything different then themselves, and so they feared and avoided me." Glancing around I could see Nunilwen's sandy blonde hair glimmer in the firelight and her smile was a comfort, and it gave me strength. "As for Erualarion, a years ago I began having dreams of him, always beckoning me to come to him, and finally I realized one day that... I must leave my home, and that I needed to come to him, and be with him." It had all been said, and then I remembered the vision that had nearly killed me, "but on a darker note, there is something coming, and a hard struggle is to ensue in times ahead." So i began to tell them of the Shadow-man and of the horse, and their faces grew taught with worry.
Frantically they raced to Rivendell, Silinde holding me onto the horse so I would not fall. Nunilwen racing not too far behind with our things. Even though I was unconscious I could still feel what was happening around me, I could even hear it at times. After all of this, my pain, weakness, and discomfort were all I had the energy to concentrate on. I barely remember anything but the sound of rapid hoof beats. But somewhere between my pain and being half-mad with pain, sleep claimed me, and I was glad of it.
Some time later, too many hours for me to know, I awoke when the horse slowed to a tedious pace, down a long narrow path etched into the cliff walls. I remember looking up to see what was going on, and not being able to focus, putting my head back to rest, I sighed in despair, and the comfort of the blackness took me again, but by that time, we had topped completely.
"Where am I?" I managed to frantically shout as I darted up from the bed. My eyes focusing Scanned the room, searching for a trace of something I knew. I rubbed my back noticing that I could have to make an appointment with a marquist, for my marque had scratches on it, and I thought I was surely damaged. "The inkings will be fine, they will heal cleanly." I heard a voice from the far corner utter. It was rich and musical, and my eyes widened and I looked to the corner. Standing there, a tall figure with raven and star-blue hair, falling in showers down his back turned slowly to greet me. His piercing grey eyes staring at me and I nearly melted on the spot. I nigh believed it was him, until he walked towards me, and when he reaches me, he moved a strand of hair out of my face and sat next to me, holding my hand. "Welcome to Rivendell my love," and with that, he pulled up my hand, and gently kissed it. I could feel his warm breath tickle my skin, and I trembled slightly, and I heard him lightly laugh, no mortal would have been able to hear it. "Excuse my rudeness my love, I am Oriavanim," I said. Still in shock, and he obviously knew it, the grin crawling across his face told me so. I traced my fingers across his face and his neck and arms, I had to make sure this was real and not just insanity. I brought my arms up again and rested them on his shoulders, "you're real!" I whispered, barely able to believe what I was experiencing. I did not even have to look, I could feel him smiling, and I let myself melt into his arms, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. "Oh good she's awake!" Another voice boomed across the room. My head instantly jerked up and I saw another tall elven man with long dark hair, and a gold cirquelett atop is head. He came over and looked at the scrapes on my back first, and nodded in satisfaction, "there won't even be a scar." Then he came around to look at the cut across my forehead and smiled with glee. "You'll be as good as new within the next few days, now let us go get you cleaned up, a nice bath will have you feeling better. Then we can talk about what happened and why you're here, so far away from home." Then my love looked at me and said " I was going to introduce myself before he came in, "and lightly giggled, "My name is Erualarion, and this day has been the best I have ever had up to this point. I did not know if you would come, but I am glad you have, now let us go," and he led me to the bath chamber, where a tub of steaming, crystal clear water awaited me. I stepped onto the platform steps leading to the large, lavish tub, and untied the cords, letting the drapes sweep down, as to cover the bath area. I heard him sigh, obviously disappointed, but he did not leave. At that I had to laugh, the first time I had in days, and I disrobed and stepped into the water. The water washed over me, melting away all of the sweat and dried blood that still clung to me, and the grime of the past few days no longer clung to me. The waters truly made me feel new. I relaxed and let myself think, and deep in thought, I let everything sink in. I though of home, and I knew, that had this happened to be back there, they would have left me to die, Did these people accept me, or did they just not know what I was. A cursed elf maiden, and flawed. Fear ran through my body and I winced. I heard Erualarion get up, "my love? Are you ok?" I lifted myself out of the tub and put on the robe laying next to it, and as I stepped out from behind the drapes, I looked him in the eyes, and he gasped that the piercing lilac-violet gaze starring at him, "no my love, I am not." I bowed my head in shame, it was a natural thing to me by now, and before I could walk away, he wrapped his arms lovingly around me and kissed me. It was enough, it was more than enough, I felt accepted, but not only that, I was loved. In his arms I felt safe because I was loved, and I smiled. "I shall leave you to dress my love Oiravanim, your clothes have been placed over by the mirror," he said with a grin, and left. Sure enough my clothes were there, and not just replacements for my lost garbs, but mine. I slid on the deep crimson skirt and buckled the ruby shining metal clasp, and slid on the crimson top that curved over my skin as if it were only my true flesh. Reaching into the chest, I pulled out my arm cuffs, silver with scarlet sewn into the holes in the metal, creating semi-sleeves. I reached for the silver hair clasp in my trunk and placed it on the mantle where I could easily reach it. I slowly and lavishly brushed my hair out, and took the top section of my curly hair and twisted it, wrapping it into a bun with a small shower of hair trailing down my back, and I placed the clasp and fastened it over the bun. I looked every inch my normal self now. Pulling at the bottom of my hair so it glimmered down my back, and sliding a few tendrils out so that they shown in rivulets down the sides of my face. I finally decided I looked nice enough to be seen, my dress making my eyes stand out, and framing my body, the entire outfit so fitting. If not for the colors, you may have thought that it was my flesh, the ends of the fabric matching seamlessly with my skin. I inhaled sharply, and made my way out of the chamber.
As I stepped in to the dining hall, I heard plenty of gasps, and later I would learn the source and reasons, my clothes were one of them. To them they were strangely exotic, but for me, they were normal everyday clothing. Erualarion stared at me, his expression somewhere between disbelief and amazement; it gave me courage and confidence. I walked into the room with my head held high, and my gaze constant and unfaltering. Even Nunilwen, whom I had spent weeks with, wondered how I went from the timid, mild dressed creature, to this. But I was a noble, the traits imbedded into me from birth, and for once I took hold of them and used them. I daresay I looked every inch the noble, and I was glad of it at the time. As far as Lord Elrond, Gliren, and everyone else had seen after the vision, I had looked ragged and weak, with ripped and bloodied clothes, my limbs limp and nigh unconscious. I quietly sat down while the meal was being passed around, and ate the meal slowly, then they began to talk. I must have looked somewhat appalled by talking while meal was being served, because I heard a voice ask "What is wrong?", and I simply answered "There is no problem, its just..." I sighed and continued quietly, "There are so many things that are different here, the way you act, the way you dress, everything. I just need some time to adjust is all." Lord Elrond, his dark eyes shining, gave me a comforting look, and to my dismay he said, "Speaking of this already, where are you from and what brings you here?" I had dreaded this moment since I arrived. My blood beat in my ears like the wings of a gull. I closed my eyes and Bowed my head and wanted to hide, what else could I do? I was flawed. Silently I looked up, and I fought to raise my voice above a whisper, "I am the Lady Oriavanim of Tol Eressëa, and have come to be with Erualarion." If the first part had shocked them, then telling them I had come for Erualarion must have baffled them. "How did..." said Elrond, but I cut him off. "Know that Erualarion was here, or that he even existed across the far sea?" He nodded silently in shock, I had read his mind, and I could feel his curiosity all the way across the room. "My lord, there is much to talk about, and much that I have seen, but I dare not speak of it here," I spoke aloud, "now let us eat and be merry, and we shall hold council of this matter afterwards." And so we continued eating, and merrily we did, and I felt comfortable after getting everything out, and knowing that they did not mind.
Walking into the council room I could feel the warmth of the fireplace, and it reminded me of home, and I was glad. So I started in the only way I knew to begin "Where I am from, they call it the dromondae, and it is a flaw, or so I thought until I arrived on the shores of the Grey havens and Lady Nunilwen greeted me with kindness I had never known. All of my life I have been rejected, and cast apart from the others, my eyes mark my gift, and the others dreaded it. They fear anything different then themselves, and so they feared and avoided me." Glancing around I could see Nunilwen's sandy blonde hair glimmer in the firelight and her smile was a comfort, and it gave me strength. "As for Erualarion, a years ago I began having dreams of him, always beckoning me to come to him, and finally I realized one day that... I must leave my home, and that I needed to come to him, and be with him." It had all been said, and then I remembered the vision that had nearly killed me, "but on a darker note, there is something coming, and a hard struggle is to ensue in times ahead." So i began to tell them of the Shadow-man and of the horse, and their faces grew taught with worry.
