I'm back finally, thanks to the encouragement of loveofthering. Yes, it does get frustrating when it seems like you are writing something for nobody, but I shouldn't let that get me down! And don't worry; I would never leave a story unfinished, even if it hadn't been reviewed by anyone. The story line would still be playing inside of my head, and it would eat me alive! (Not literally!)

This chapter is going to be a lot shorter, but mostly because it is centered on one very pivotal event. (Have I gotten you intrigued yet?)

Enjoy!

************************************************

At times he would depart alone and secretly, and visit his house that stood amid the fields and woods he had once possessed; and this became known to the servants of Morgoth . . .

(Silmarillion, Of Beren and Luthien)

************************************************

Like a candle shattering the starless black cover of night, the glow from some unknown source within the derelict house beckoned to Gorlim. Despite the tiny voice inside of him whispering a warning, Gorlim cautiously crept up to the side of the house. He had seen no signs of anyone anywhere nearby this once-familiar place since his love had been taken. Perhaps it housed his love once more? Had his Eilinel come back!?

The closer Gorlim came to the window, the more ethereal the world became. The radiant brightness cast shadows across the ground, which grew larger by the second, and began to twist and flutter across the still grass. The silence became palpable, and hung in the air like a think fog. But Gorlim was unaware of it all. His entire mind was centered on the warm rays of light, as if from the sun itself, beaming through the broken window.

Suddenly, Gorlim was aware of a sound. He strained his ears to listen. It almost sounded like someone weeping. It was! Someone was inside his former home, weeping. Before Gorlim could react to this new realization, whoever it was broke free from their heart-wrenching sobs, and cried out despair-filled words.

"Gorlim! Where in all this world could you be?"

His heart skipped a beat. He would know that beautiful voice anywhere! Gorlim knew exactly who it was; he would bet his life on it if had to!

He sprinted the remaining yards, and sprang up to the window, gripping the windowsills tightly, and peering in with hope-filled eyes. Yes! There she was! It was his Eilinel! She was sitting in her favorite chair, with her warm quilt spread over her lap, her sleek red hair falling in waves about her shoulders. Thank the Valar! His wife was alive!

But just as Gorlim was about to open his mouth and announce his presence to his darling by shouting aloud his eternal joy, he realized that something was wrong. Very wrong.

He took another, closer, look at Eilinel. She was sitting in her favorite chair, but she had pulled her legs up, hugging her knees to her chest like a frightened child. Her sleek red hair, sleek no longer but now coated with muck and dirt, lay in tangles over most of her face, hiding her sky blue eyes. Her dress was in tatters, and her delicate shoulders were wracked with sobs.

Gorlim couldn't speak. Eilinel had always been full of joy; a light in a world filled with darkness. What had happened to her?

Suddenly Eilinel bowed her head, holding it in her hands, and began to speak. "Gorlim. Where did you go?"

She sounded so hurt that it would have torn his heart out if it weren't already gone. Although he wanted to go in there and reassure his love that he was here and would never leave her side again, Gorlim found that he couldn't speak. It was as if his tongue had been glued to the top of his mouth.

His desperate angel spoke again. "Gorlim, why have you forsaken me?"

This time, the now discernable tint of anger in her voice tighten Gorlim's throat to the point of severe pain. How could his love believe that? He loved her with all his being! He hadn't forsaken her! Had he?

Eilinel's moaning tears increased in intensity, as if she sensed Gorlim's doubt. "How could you have left me to those monsters?" She spoke with vehemence. "They came and took me away. They could have killed me! But where were you? Off with your soldier buddies as always. You couldn't even find time to be with the woman you loved!" Her voice gradually grew louder, and by the time she had finished speaking, she was shouting the cruel words through her pain.

Gorlim watched through the window, too shocked to react. What was she saying? Surely she knew of the importance of Barahir's men to the safety of Dorthonion! Didn't she? He had tried so very hard to serve his land and be with his wife, but it had been so hard. Maybe he hadn't tried hard enough.

Gorlim felt tears of his own form little rivers on his cheeks. He didn't think it could get any worse, until the next few words that his Eilinel whispered past her dry lips.

"He didn't care at all. I don't think he ever even loved me."

Gorlim's legs turned to jelly, refusing to support him, and he sat down hard on the ground.

He had always loved her. He had devoted his entire life to her.

Why was she saying these things? Didn't she know that he loved her?

She obviously didn't. Why was she blaming her capture on him?

Maybe she was right. Maybe he HAD failed her.

Maybe he hadn't done all he could.

He was a failure.

"NO!" Gorlim suddenly shrieked, pushing himself back up to his feet. "Eilinel, no! I do love you! I . . ."

He was cut off as a sudden gust of wind blew through the window and extinguished the light, hiding his wife from his view. He began to call out to her, when the entire area around him was suddenly filled with the mournful howling of wolves. They echoed through the trees, swirling around him like ghostly apparitions.

"Eilinel!" He screamed, trying to get her attention. He was not going to let her be taken from him again. Even if this was where they were going to die, he had to tell her that he loved her. "Eilinel!" He shouted again, and he prepared to jump through the window after her.

But heavy hands grabbed his shoulders, dragging him away from the window, and throwing him violently to the ground as he continued screaming the name of the woman he loved, and dreaded to lose.

TBC