~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Six: Releasing the Past to Travel the Future
As the sun rose high into the sky there was the clatter of hooves, then a horseman burst through the trees. In his arms he held a little bundle wrapped in red cloth. When he reached a cottage he smiled.
"There you are.Uvia." He fell off the horse, and she softly rolled to a stop, wrapped tightly in her blankets. She began to cry softly, and the couple that owned the cottage came out. They saw the man on the ground, arrows sticking out of his back and red blood staining the snow. A little farther away there was a red bundle crying. The woman rushed over and picked the bundle up.
"Geros! It's a baby!"
He stood from examining the man. "Why do you think he had her?" he asked, gesturing to the man.
"Maybe it's her father."
"Lets get them inside."
**Present**
Uvia dried her tears and lowered her hood, then rode past the gates and into the city. The townsfolk stared at her foreign clothes, but she paid no attention. Instead she headed straight to the castle and into the courtyard. Guards rushed forwards as her stallion reared, then stopped. She fell down and was caught by an elf, and all she could manage to get out was "Help him." Then she fell into unconsciousness. Ifina, who was also the royal healer, rushed forwards. "Here, Legolas. Give her to me." Legolas nodded and handed the young woman to Ifina who lifted her on a cushion of mage-magic and bore her away towards the healing houses.
"Be careful, Ifina. You know that if you overexert your magic, you'll be weak for weeks."
"Legolas, there is something wrong with this girl and I need to figure out what it is. I'll do anything to do that."
"Just be careful, sister."
"I always am." Legolas watched Ifina rush off to the healing houses after the floating charge. Once he was sure she couldn't see him anymore, he sank to the ground. He had never seen anyone quite so beautiful before in his life. The shape of her eyes, nose, her lips.everything about her screamed beauty. He slapped himself around the head once or twice.
"You're betrothed, Legolas. To a beautiful girl. You can't think like that."
Suddenly Limalo stepped out from behind a pillar. She had heard the commotion, and also what Legolas had just said.
"Legolas." The elf turned around, worried.
"Did you hear?."
"Yes."
"Limalo.I." She came ever closer to him, the long robes she was wearing clinging to her body. She placed a finger to his lips.
"Don't speak. I.I release you, Legolas."
"What?!"
"I will send word to your parents and mine that we want to be released from our contract. They will understand."
"What do you mean?"
"Legolas, we both love other people. You have fallen in love with that girl and I."
"Merry."
"Yes."
"So you're releasing me?"
"I'm not going to hold you to it if you don't love me."
"I'm sorry, Limalo."
"Don't be. I understand. I'm not in the least bit angry with you. Well.I am a little bit. But I will get over it. You have every right to be angry with me, though."
"Why?"
"I.I'd rather not say."
"Did you.share a bed with him?" Limalo looked down. "I won't be angry. I just want to know."
"Y.almost. We were close but.I didn't have him like that."
"So.is this it, then? We're.over? Completely?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. But I'll always regret this if I remain close to you, even as friends. So.I have to ask you to forget all about me."
"I understand. Just."
"Yes?"
"Would you just.can I just kiss you one last time?" Limalo smiled sadly and nodded. As she and Legolas kissed she experienced something she'd never felt before. I didn't know.I could feel.both extremely exhilarated and yet.extremely regretful.at the same time. Happiness and sadness and guilt.all at once. Then she was lost in the moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"He could tell from the beginning" Limalo told Pippin "I never should have lied to him, but still I couldn't have him hate me."
Pippin nodded all the time, letting his mind wander. could he let Kilikai know he was in love with her?
"Pippin? What do you think?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah I think so."
"You think I should stay betrothed to him?"
"No! No, sorry."
She smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Pip, I see the way you look at her. Longingly. You want to tell her, don't you?"
"Yes," he whispered quietly.
"Then do it."
"I can't." He stood and walked slowly away. Limalo rushed after him.
"Why?"
He turned angrily. "Because of that accursed Verik!... actually, because I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Leaving? Where?"
"I'm heading to Mordor."
"Mordor?! Why?"
"Because!" he snapped. "I'm going to go and find Frodo."
"But didn't you tell us he said he'd be here?"
"Well he obviously isn't."
Pippin stalked off angrily, heading to get supplies.
*~*~*~*
Merry kneeled beside the bed that Uvia lay in.
"So this is the woman that freed my beloved from the snare of marriage."
"Yes," came Ifina's voice from the back. "I have no idea why though. She probably doesn't even know it."
"No, she wouldn't."
He replaced her warm cloth with a cold wet one.
"Merry, is it true that you can reassure people?"
"Uhh, maybe," he replied a little embarrassed.
She sat down at the foot of the bed and sighed.
"You know me as a waitress, a lowly servant woman. And Aragorn is a king. All of Gondor would frown upon us if we were together. But I love him so. And I'm just a half elf serving the travellers their ale, and giving them my body in exchange for a few extra coins, a common whore."
Merry contemplated her words. "No, you're a woman Ifina. And as one you deserve to be with anyone you choose."
She looked at him, and then smiled. "They were right about you Merry. For a hobbit you have so much wisdom."
He grinned. "I just wish I could help others."
He thought about Pippin and his dilemma. His poor best friend.
********
Kilikai sat on the cot in the healing houses staring blankly ahead. She could hear the voices talking in the background, talking about her, but she didn't care. Soon Ifina entered and sat on the edge of the cot.
"Get away from me." Kilikai spoke in a cold, harsh, deadened tone.
"It is my job as healer to be attending the sick."
"I don't care, because for some really weird reason, I seem to continue to hate you."
"You swore to your king you would conduct yourself well when you became an archer."
"Don't lecture me, whore." Ifina shrugged.
"Whore? You know less about me than I thought."
Kilikai looked over at the half-elf. "I would have lived up to my oath to Elessar, but for some reason you just snap at me!"
"WHAT!" Ifina yelled in disbelief. "I did no such thing!"
"You talk to Pippin often. I know you do. And I know you have this.weird way of making people open up to you, tell you all their secrets. So why don't you tell me what Pippin tells you when you use your so called 'charm'."
"He has never spoken to me, kilikai, although it's not like I want to talk to anyone that's in your bed. And you call me a whore!"
"The difference between us is immeasurable. You're just a common tavern whore, Ifina. You're good at keeping secrets, at making people believe you, using only your 'charm' and your body. How can I even believe now that you are telling me the truth?"
Ifina shook her head in disbelief. "You are so thick headed the dwarves could crack diamonds on your head. And just to prove to you that you're wrong, I'll do a scrying. Right here and now. Come over here if you want to truly know what your master Peregrin has been up to." She lifted a little vase and filled it with water.
"Fine."
Ifina poured the crystal clear water into the basin and motioned for Kilikai to join her. Soon, images appeared in the still surface.
She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Pip, I see the way you look at her. Longingly. You want to tell her, don't you?"
"Yes," he whispered quietly.
"Then do it."
"I can't." He stood and walked slowly away. Limalo rushed after him.
"Why?"
He turned angrily. "Because of that accursed Verik.actually, because I'm leaving tomorrow," he said nonchalantly.
"Leaving? Where?"
"I'm heading to Mordor."
Kilikai gasped. "Oh no. He's leaving. My god, he'll be lost to the fires of Mordor."
"All the better for Gondor then."
Kilikai turned and spat in her face. "Have you no feelings? You walk around like 'it's not my problem' when all the while people are dying, starving, and losing loved ones. All you can do is flaunt yourself to your 'king', not a care in the world. Pippin could truly die. He helped Frodo destroy the ring; HE saved Gondor and all of middle earth. He is a valiant hobbit. He is the reason you are alive today. SO show a bit more appreciation for your hero."
With that she left, and Ifina, sat down again. Kilikai had hit a spot in her.
"I can't let him die," she said, coming to realize just how important Pippin was. She didn't know what had happened to Kilikai but she was willing to bet it was something that hurt her deep.
As the sun rose high into the sky there was the clatter of hooves, then a horseman burst through the trees. In his arms he held a little bundle wrapped in red cloth. When he reached a cottage he smiled.
"There you are.Uvia." He fell off the horse, and she softly rolled to a stop, wrapped tightly in her blankets. She began to cry softly, and the couple that owned the cottage came out. They saw the man on the ground, arrows sticking out of his back and red blood staining the snow. A little farther away there was a red bundle crying. The woman rushed over and picked the bundle up.
"Geros! It's a baby!"
He stood from examining the man. "Why do you think he had her?" he asked, gesturing to the man.
"Maybe it's her father."
"Lets get them inside."
**Present**
Uvia dried her tears and lowered her hood, then rode past the gates and into the city. The townsfolk stared at her foreign clothes, but she paid no attention. Instead she headed straight to the castle and into the courtyard. Guards rushed forwards as her stallion reared, then stopped. She fell down and was caught by an elf, and all she could manage to get out was "Help him." Then she fell into unconsciousness. Ifina, who was also the royal healer, rushed forwards. "Here, Legolas. Give her to me." Legolas nodded and handed the young woman to Ifina who lifted her on a cushion of mage-magic and bore her away towards the healing houses.
"Be careful, Ifina. You know that if you overexert your magic, you'll be weak for weeks."
"Legolas, there is something wrong with this girl and I need to figure out what it is. I'll do anything to do that."
"Just be careful, sister."
"I always am." Legolas watched Ifina rush off to the healing houses after the floating charge. Once he was sure she couldn't see him anymore, he sank to the ground. He had never seen anyone quite so beautiful before in his life. The shape of her eyes, nose, her lips.everything about her screamed beauty. He slapped himself around the head once or twice.
"You're betrothed, Legolas. To a beautiful girl. You can't think like that."
Suddenly Limalo stepped out from behind a pillar. She had heard the commotion, and also what Legolas had just said.
"Legolas." The elf turned around, worried.
"Did you hear?."
"Yes."
"Limalo.I." She came ever closer to him, the long robes she was wearing clinging to her body. She placed a finger to his lips.
"Don't speak. I.I release you, Legolas."
"What?!"
"I will send word to your parents and mine that we want to be released from our contract. They will understand."
"What do you mean?"
"Legolas, we both love other people. You have fallen in love with that girl and I."
"Merry."
"Yes."
"So you're releasing me?"
"I'm not going to hold you to it if you don't love me."
"I'm sorry, Limalo."
"Don't be. I understand. I'm not in the least bit angry with you. Well.I am a little bit. But I will get over it. You have every right to be angry with me, though."
"Why?"
"I.I'd rather not say."
"Did you.share a bed with him?" Limalo looked down. "I won't be angry. I just want to know."
"Y.almost. We were close but.I didn't have him like that."
"So.is this it, then? We're.over? Completely?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. But I'll always regret this if I remain close to you, even as friends. So.I have to ask you to forget all about me."
"I understand. Just."
"Yes?"
"Would you just.can I just kiss you one last time?" Limalo smiled sadly and nodded. As she and Legolas kissed she experienced something she'd never felt before. I didn't know.I could feel.both extremely exhilarated and yet.extremely regretful.at the same time. Happiness and sadness and guilt.all at once. Then she was lost in the moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"He could tell from the beginning" Limalo told Pippin "I never should have lied to him, but still I couldn't have him hate me."
Pippin nodded all the time, letting his mind wander. could he let Kilikai know he was in love with her?
"Pippin? What do you think?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah I think so."
"You think I should stay betrothed to him?"
"No! No, sorry."
She smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Pip, I see the way you look at her. Longingly. You want to tell her, don't you?"
"Yes," he whispered quietly.
"Then do it."
"I can't." He stood and walked slowly away. Limalo rushed after him.
"Why?"
He turned angrily. "Because of that accursed Verik!... actually, because I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Leaving? Where?"
"I'm heading to Mordor."
"Mordor?! Why?"
"Because!" he snapped. "I'm going to go and find Frodo."
"But didn't you tell us he said he'd be here?"
"Well he obviously isn't."
Pippin stalked off angrily, heading to get supplies.
*~*~*~*
Merry kneeled beside the bed that Uvia lay in.
"So this is the woman that freed my beloved from the snare of marriage."
"Yes," came Ifina's voice from the back. "I have no idea why though. She probably doesn't even know it."
"No, she wouldn't."
He replaced her warm cloth with a cold wet one.
"Merry, is it true that you can reassure people?"
"Uhh, maybe," he replied a little embarrassed.
She sat down at the foot of the bed and sighed.
"You know me as a waitress, a lowly servant woman. And Aragorn is a king. All of Gondor would frown upon us if we were together. But I love him so. And I'm just a half elf serving the travellers their ale, and giving them my body in exchange for a few extra coins, a common whore."
Merry contemplated her words. "No, you're a woman Ifina. And as one you deserve to be with anyone you choose."
She looked at him, and then smiled. "They were right about you Merry. For a hobbit you have so much wisdom."
He grinned. "I just wish I could help others."
He thought about Pippin and his dilemma. His poor best friend.
********
Kilikai sat on the cot in the healing houses staring blankly ahead. She could hear the voices talking in the background, talking about her, but she didn't care. Soon Ifina entered and sat on the edge of the cot.
"Get away from me." Kilikai spoke in a cold, harsh, deadened tone.
"It is my job as healer to be attending the sick."
"I don't care, because for some really weird reason, I seem to continue to hate you."
"You swore to your king you would conduct yourself well when you became an archer."
"Don't lecture me, whore." Ifina shrugged.
"Whore? You know less about me than I thought."
Kilikai looked over at the half-elf. "I would have lived up to my oath to Elessar, but for some reason you just snap at me!"
"WHAT!" Ifina yelled in disbelief. "I did no such thing!"
"You talk to Pippin often. I know you do. And I know you have this.weird way of making people open up to you, tell you all their secrets. So why don't you tell me what Pippin tells you when you use your so called 'charm'."
"He has never spoken to me, kilikai, although it's not like I want to talk to anyone that's in your bed. And you call me a whore!"
"The difference between us is immeasurable. You're just a common tavern whore, Ifina. You're good at keeping secrets, at making people believe you, using only your 'charm' and your body. How can I even believe now that you are telling me the truth?"
Ifina shook her head in disbelief. "You are so thick headed the dwarves could crack diamonds on your head. And just to prove to you that you're wrong, I'll do a scrying. Right here and now. Come over here if you want to truly know what your master Peregrin has been up to." She lifted a little vase and filled it with water.
"Fine."
Ifina poured the crystal clear water into the basin and motioned for Kilikai to join her. Soon, images appeared in the still surface.
She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Pip, I see the way you look at her. Longingly. You want to tell her, don't you?"
"Yes," he whispered quietly.
"Then do it."
"I can't." He stood and walked slowly away. Limalo rushed after him.
"Why?"
He turned angrily. "Because of that accursed Verik.actually, because I'm leaving tomorrow," he said nonchalantly.
"Leaving? Where?"
"I'm heading to Mordor."
Kilikai gasped. "Oh no. He's leaving. My god, he'll be lost to the fires of Mordor."
"All the better for Gondor then."
Kilikai turned and spat in her face. "Have you no feelings? You walk around like 'it's not my problem' when all the while people are dying, starving, and losing loved ones. All you can do is flaunt yourself to your 'king', not a care in the world. Pippin could truly die. He helped Frodo destroy the ring; HE saved Gondor and all of middle earth. He is a valiant hobbit. He is the reason you are alive today. SO show a bit more appreciation for your hero."
With that she left, and Ifina, sat down again. Kilikai had hit a spot in her.
"I can't let him die," she said, coming to realize just how important Pippin was. She didn't know what had happened to Kilikai but she was willing to bet it was something that hurt her deep.
