Disclaimer: I won nothing so therefore I am making no money on it.
Summary: After the death of his friend, Aragorn falls into depression and there may only be one person who can draw him out of it.
~*Author's Notes*~ Thanks to all the people who are reviewing my story. My gratitude is sent out also to those who gave me info for my next tale. Oh, and about this chapter, I don't think that there will be much romance in it but there will be much angst. It will focus more on Nessime's story and what will happen regarding that. I hope you still find it entertaining, I will try my best to make it a good chapter. But worry not, more romance is going to be coming most definitely. I hope you like it and that you keep reading until the end.
How Can I Survive
Chapter 35
"Please what?" he demanded. "Please forgive you for killing my mother? Please forgive you for lying to me? Please forgive you for acting as if nothing had happened? Or please forgive myself for falling in love with you?" Elrohir yelled at her.
"Then it's true, you do love me" Nessime said, but she couldn't really smile considering the situation.
"Stop it" the dark haired prince shouted as he pulled his arm away from her grasp. "Just stop it. I thought I knew you and that's why I developed feelings for you but now…" the younger twin covered his face with his hands. He finally looked up at her and she could see tears streaming down his pale cheeks. Although he was trying hard to be strong, anyone who saw him could tell that he just had his heart broken. The person who saw this the best was his brother who had just come upon the confrontation along with his father, his sister, Aragorn and Glorfindel.
"But now, I wish that I had never met you" he hissed. "You can't mean that" Nessime denied. "I do, you better believe it" Elrohir snapped. She reached out and grabbed his hand, but he quickly snatched it back. "Don't touch me" he cried, as he fell to his knees down on the blue carpeted floor.
"You had better wish that my father banishes you or so help me I'll kill you myself" Arwen threatened as she ran past the sylvan elf over to her brother.
Glorfindel silently walked over to the visitor from Mirkwood and placed his hands on her shoulders. "We have to conduct a judging for your sentence" he told her in a flat tone as he subtly carted her away from Elrohir who was presently being comforted by his family, even though right now they were all in need of some consoling.
"A judging" Nessime asked disbelievingly.
"Yes, you have committed a very serious misdemeanour, Lord Elrond's family need to have some sort of retribution for the pain that you have caused them and the people of Imladris" he informed her, not at all regretting having to be the bearer of bad news.
"But I have changed and I'm sorry" she pleaded. "Save it for the connoisseur" he replied unenthusiastically.
*****
Nessime heard a knock on her door and she already knew who it was before she opened the door. So she wasn't at all surprised to find three guards standing outside waiting for her along with Glorfindel.
"I trust that you are ready" he stated.
"Yes, I am ready" she replied.
They quickly made their way down to where the counsel was going to be held and Nessime's stomach was in knots the whole time. She was really loathing having to face the family of the elf that she had killed. Especially considering the fact that she loved one of them.
It was being held in Elrond's study, like most other important matters. Everyone was seated around a long rectangular table. The peredhil was seated at the head and at the beginning of the right side sat Elladan and Elrohir was at the start of the left side. Aragorn who was also there was beside Elladan and Arwen was next to the younger twin.
Others who were invited to the judging were Glorfindel, two other advisors to the lord of Imladris, and the three elves who had survived the attack placed on Celebrian's party.
The place across from Elrond at the opposite head of the bureau had been reserved for the impeached.
"We will proceed" the peredhil commenced. It was apparent the he was struggling to remain as impartial as possible but under the state of affairs it was quite impossible to do just that. After all he was judging the person who had had his beloved murdered.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" he asked Nessime.
"I am so sorry for the pain that I have caused you, all of you. But I promise you I have changed and if I could go back in time, I never would have sent people to kill her. I see now that it was wrong and I have regretted my decision since the day that I learned that my plan was successful. If I could, I would willingly take her place and be the one who died" the she elf said in her defence.
"That's funny, because I would do the same thing. Have you be the one who is killed, I mean" Arwen mumbled, but everyone heard her loud and clear. "Undomiel…" Elrond said, so his daughter once again became silent.
"What do you think your punishment should be?" the elf lord questioned.
"Whatever you see fit, is the best sentence that could be given to me. I feel as if you and only you should make that decision because it would not be fair if I gave my input since I am the one who will receive the chastisement" she answered.
"Very well, I have been thinking of some sort of penalty to give the murderer of my wife from the time when she was killed. But seeing as how you weren't actually the one who executed her, your castigation can't be as severe as I would have hoped. However, given that it was you who set the whole thing up, you can't get away with only a warning" Elrond informed her.
"What will my reprimand be then?" Nessime enquired.
"Your punishment will be loss of all titles that you may hold, and banishment from Rivendell for a period of a 150 years. But because you are a resident of Mirkwood, Thranduil will have to see to further reprisal for your actions. You will be accompanied back there first thing tomorrow morning" the peredhil enlightened her.
Sorry that this chapter was short and didn't really involve any of the headlining characters but it was needed in order for the story to continue. The main people will be in the next chappie, so at least you have something to look forward to.
~*Judy Greenleaf*~
