Chapter 19, My Immortal
By : SilverRose82
Callisto Star : Marriage maybe? Why did Ren dismiss Artemis? well umm it has to do with her past a Princess Serenity and as Serena. (Which I may write a fic about?) Differences in ideals, no Art is not a disliked character, I like my moon cats very much, Helios understands the pains of living for a sole purpose just a little bit better that Art can and so Art does not truly understand the effects that living in the Cosmos Palace does have on Ren and she, I dunno, doesn't want to explain the effects they have on her. Ooh just going to have to wait for the last chapter to figure all of this story out. I'm just realizing that, there is only one more chapter... no more researching chapters of the books to help me.
Queen Diamond : Welcome, yes this story did take a lot of time to come into play, but I'm lovin' every minute of it. ^_~
A.N. One chapter left, just one more. Then this story is over…. So that means you all better review or I'll send a Cile and Tipsy after you, a green dragon and a red round…… a red round dot. This would have been updated last Thursday(7/17) but that's when FF.Net decided to stop working for me. Bluntly that pissed me off, and I ended up making cartoon dolls for the next four days.
Part 2 This would have also been updated on the 24th but my computer needed to be reformatted to get rid of spy ware which was destroying my hard drive.Part 3 I have a Sailor Moon Fanfic out there, Infatuation so go check it out please.
Grrr, The only other time I've ever had two reviews was for the second or third chapter. Where has everyone gone? It's upsetting really that I worked extremely hard on these two chapters and I get next to no reviews, I'm not saying I want like ten reviews or you don't get the last Chapter. Because I believe that's rude and the reader should not be bossed/cornered into reviewing. But when I get a great deal of reviews for some chapters and then almost none for others I think that I've done something wrong and I would like to know what it is.
Is it because I didn't put any romance in this story? Because Ren didn't go with Legolas? If that's the case, I dunno, I just remember some girl saying she wasn't going to read one of my stories anymore because Heero and Serena didn't get together on account that I didn't count reviews that just said Heero/Serena because I asked for them to give me a great reason as to why they should go together other than they look "cute" together. And as much as that was upsetting, well no it was upsetting I was happy that I was getting to write a Quatre/Serena fic so it really didn't bother me that much, it bothered me more that everyone didn't read the rest of my author's note and prove to me that Serena and Heero should have been the prized couple. I mean I read author's notes just so if I have something to say or they have a question I know I can answer for them I'll know it.
I am, however, working on a Legolas/Serena fic…. Well, I think it will be a Legolas/Serena fic, she may go with one of the twins. And no I'm not talking about Concrete Angel or Silivren Mîr, I'm working on a new story. But it won't be loaded onto FF.Net until I'm half way done with it because lord knows once school starts up I'll be hunting for time.
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It was early the next morning that the remaining members of the fellowship met to leave Minas Tirith to go back to Rivendell. Frodo peered around the courtyard, Ren had been the only one not to show up as of yet, he knew she would not transport back to Rivendell for she disliked doing so. Looking over at Merry and Pippin he smiled at his cousins before turning to talk to Sam. Sam gave his friend and encouraging smile as the two discussed what they were going to tell Bilbo once they returned to Rivendell.
Though it was obvious that the company listened more to the banter between Merry and Pippin than they did with their own conversations. However, seconds before Frodo figured the two cousins would settle their argument in mock battle, did Ren appear. She looked physically tired for the first time since he had come to know her, her dreams must have been unsettling, Frodo figured, as she walked up to the group. She smiled at him, before ruffling up Pippin's hair startling the young hobbit who had not expected anyone to sneak up on him. Pippin gazed over at Ren as she moved to stand off to the side close to the stairs.
There was silence between the group heading back to Rivendell as Aragorn and Arwen made their presence known to them. Following behind them was Gandalf, it for the first time was clear to Frodo that the white wizard would be going with them. He had known Legolas and Gimli were going back to Rivendell because of Legolas' father, Ren, he and his friends to spend time with Bilbo, but he had expected Gandalf to stay in the white city. Gandalf smiled at Frodo as he made his way down the stairs to stand with the small company.
"Tis been a great and hospital stay here in Minas Tirith, however, it is time to return whence we came." Gandalf told Elessar and Arwen as he nodded before the king and queen of Gondor. While Aragorn gazed at the company he had traveled with, exchanging words with few of them, Arwen and Ren were gazing solely at each other. The queen of Gondor had said few words to the queen of Cosmos after the wedding had taken place, neither queen had anything truly to say to one another. Arwen nodded silently as she watched Ren turn to follow after Legolas as the company left Minas Tirith on foot.
"May your travels be safe." Elessar called out as the last of the group left the white city, Merry and Pippin turned to wave before spinning around to make sure they did not crash into anything or one as they were prone to do. The two elves turned and bowed swiftly before completely vanishing from view. Arwen turned to her husband, her left hand fingering the silver pendent Ren had clasped around her neck. The sea green light glowed brightly at her touch before slowly dimming back to its normal soft tone.
"They will be safe in the company of the queen." Arwen whispered as she smiled softly, Aragorn turned to Arwen compelled to ask her what she meant. But the soft look she had taken made him change his mind, she would not answer his questions no matter how he pressed her to do so. Smiling he lead her back into the building the chestnut doors being closed behind them, painted to stand out even from a great distance, etched with great care on both doors was the complete image of the white tree.
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"How long should it take us to get to Rivendell?" Pippin asked as he appeared on Ren's right side, she smiled at the youngest hobbit before turning to gaze into the horizon for a moment trying to calculate the distance in her head to days.
"We should reach Rivendell in no more than a month, given how the weather fairs." Ren told him as she watched Frodo and Sam speak quietly in front of her, to her side Merry was speaking with Gandalf. Turning to watch as Legolas and Gimli spoke silently to one another as they stayed close to the front of the company she shook her head. Waves of golden hair shimmered in the sunlight as she smiled at the strange group they made. Gandalf more sure of where he was taking them kept them near the road so that he could navigate through Rohan; for the open plains had become a place of battle and had been scorched, destroying most natural land markers.
"Lady Ren, where have your other companions gone off to?" Gandalf asked as they group packed up and started on their way once more. He watched as she silently packed up the small items she had taken out to use, cradling the pack in her arms she turned to gaze at Gandalf. Her eyes were slowly beginning to brighten as the days past, shaking her head she looked into the sky as if in prayer, turning back to Gandalf her eyes were no longer soft.
"They have left." Ren glanced at him shortly as she followed after Pippin, the wizard stared at her sourly before shaking his head and following after the strange company. The hobbits were once again joking with each other, speaking of the elves and of all they would tell Bilbo when they returned. Legolas and Gimli were up ahead arguing over who had over all killed the most Orc and Uruk-hai. Ren was repeatedly caught staring out into the shadows, she had been the only one that would not speak of what she had been doing during the Battle of the Pelennor. Even the hobbits who were known well for getting her to speak of almost anything were unable to get her to breathe a word of what she had done during the destruction of the One Ring.
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"Pippin, you could not." Merry cried out as he moved to stand beside his cousin, Pippin glanced over at Merry with a smug grin before turning his gaze back onto the bow. Merry turned to look at Ren who had a soft smile on her face as she watched the two hobbits, turning back to watch Pippin study the bow he shook his head.
"Neither could you." Pippin laughed as he studied the ivory long bow closely, peering over at his cousin he laughed at Merry's less than thrilled look before turning to gaze at the bow again. Merry growled something under his breath as he sat down on the forest floor, content with just watching Pippin and not joining in.
"I wouldn't touch Legolas' bow without asking first, Pippin." Frodo warned as he watched his youngest cousin begin to reach for the beautiful elven carved bow. Turning to gaze at Frodo, Pippin shook his head as Merry laughed at his cousin getting caught for something he had no hand it. Frodo smiled at Pippin warmly before turning back to help Sam with their food.
"It would probably be hard to learn Pip." Merry whispered as he watched Legolas come back to their makeshift campground. A few large fish strung together in his hands, turning away from the group he winkled his nose at the sound of scales being sliced through. Gazing off to the side he watched Ren leave the campground to get away from the smell of dead fish and blood.
"Well, we should not be discouraged." Pippin told his cousin as he too sat on the forest floor, having tired of standing over the bow, turning to Merry he sighed. "We would have learned, remember, but Ren had to leave to help some planet and we just never had time for it later."
"Yes, seeing as the only two bows she has are the silver one and the fire one. Nothing hobbit size." Merry sighed as he looked over at his cousin, then turning to stare at the path Ren had taken to leave. He could just make out her golden hair near the crest of the hill, and knew she would not be coming back any time soon until the winds had taken away the smells. Pippin gazed at Merry, his blue eyes wide with enjoyment, shaking his head Merry sighed tiredly.
"But the elves might." Pippin pointed out as he thought of the elven city they were traveling back to, Merry looked over at Pippin in awe for a moment before he laughed. Shaking his head Merry stood up, reaching down to help Pippin up he brought up the one thing he had been thinking about throughout their conversation.
"But there will be no one to teach us." Merry spoke quietly, his words were the one factor that not even Pippin had thought of, the young hobbit's shoulders droop as he let reality set it. Neither had seen Legolas appear behind them to gather his bow and quiver. The sindarian smiled as he listened to the words being spoken between the two hobbits, his eyes studying them as he began to situate the leather straps to his quiver.
"Then I shall teach you." Legolas told Merry and Pippin as he buckled the strap to his quiver, having taken it off the night before. He had been watching Merry and Pippin examine his bow from his spot by the fire pit, having assisted Sam with cleaning the fish he had speared for the group's breakfast. It had amused him that the two wanted to learn how to use a bow, and he would allow them to leave without say they had not at least tried. Merry and Pippin stared at the elf in shock, not having heard him walk up behind them. Legolas tilted his head to the side as he waited for the two to say something, Frodo's laughter rang through the forest as he watched his cousins.
"I think when they can they shall thank you, Legolas. However, you have given them a bit of a shock." Frodo smiled at the archer, Legolas smiled at Frodo's words, nodding his head he moved back towards the fire pit where the fish was just beginning to be cooked.
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"Milady, what haunts you?" Legolas asked as he tended to the fire that had been lit to ward away creatures of the night. Ren gazed at Legolas her eyes were once again lifeless, this put fear in the young elf's heart to see the female elf so lost in her life. Ren shook her head to clear her darkened thoughts before thinking over what Legolas had asked her.
"Many things, Legolas. There are many things in my life that haunt me. Yet there is nothing that I can do to stop them and there never shall be a way." Ren answered him with a soft smile as she gazed into the burning embers of the fire, the small company were already back in Hollin, and without the constant worry of spies they would make it back to Rivendell in less than eight days.
"You worry the hobbits." Legolas turned to gaze at the four bodies huddled close to one another and the dying firelight. Ren looked at him before gazing at the hobbits with a small smile, turning back to Legolas she shook her head, her eyes landed on her golden hair. Grasping a long strand, she held it up before her face, turning the lock around as she studied it, Legolas watched her in interest as she continued to mutter words under her breath. Tossing the stand behind her back she rolled her neck before turning her attention back on the elf.
"They worry that I shall soon take leave of Middle Earth, my hair is nearly back to its normal state. My time on this planet is coming to an end, which is why I travel to speak with Bilbo, I do not believe that I will ever speak with him again." She whispered as she stared into the black unknown that as just out of the reaches of the light, turning to look at Legolas she smiled softly, her eyes lightened as she turned to gaze at the star lit sky. "Tis my life, to come and go."
"Why do you allow your life to predetermined as such?" Legolas asked as he placed more wood into the fire pit, embers popped and crackled at the new wood they were able to consume. Ren stared at the dancing sparks, her gaze never wavered from the flickering light. Pulling at the high collar of her shirt she turned to Legolas, knowing that she would have to answer his question or he would pursue her until she did.
"My life has been predetermined since the dawn of all creation. I guess my soul was picked out of all the millions to be the one that was to put up with the most. Harmony decided that I would be able to withstand the most, for my soul was pure, I was light itself as many say. I lived many lives before I became Princess of the Moon and from there my fate was forever determined, I would be reborn again after witnessing the destruction of my kingdom, I would fight all evils that tried to take over my planet, I would ascend to queen, the only thing they did not foresee was that Chaos would return and destroy all that I had fought for, in turn making me into Cosmos the soldier destined to forever stand alone, with the power to lose everything and the power to save everything, to except all." She spoke quietly, her words well picked and thought over, it was rare that she would ever have to explain her existence to others, not since she had been queen of Crystal Tokyo had she had to explain. Looking up from the rocks and dirt below her feet she stared silently at Legolas, the elf appeared to be thinking over her words carefully making sense of all that she had told him. He gazed up at her after a moment or two, his eyes shone with admiration for all the hardships she had gone through and still be able to truly smile.
"Have you ever thought of defying them?" Legolas asked as he turned to peer into the firelight after asked his question. Ren studied his features for a while, her eyes searching for what she did not know, a soft smile came to her lips as she shook her head.
"I defy them daily, but as I told you earlier I gave them eternal rest allowing them what they were never allowed." She smiled in earnest, it had been her goal in life to figure out ways to anger the fates knowing that they no longer held her life strand in their spinning hands. Giving them into peace she let fate and destiny determine when a person's time was up, no longer were the fates allowed to play with a person's life strand. "No more words on my life, I know most if not everyone that has played a part in this quest except for you, tell me of your life in Mirkwood is it not?"
"Aye, I come from Mirkwood, it truly is nothing like the elven realm of Imladris or Lothlórien, it lives up to its name for no light streams through the forest canopy and dark creatures roam in the shadows, spiders, black squirrels, and goblins mostly. There was the threat of the Necromancer of Dol Guldûr, however, with the passing of the Ring of Power I believe my people no longer have anything to fear. There are black waters that cause any who drink or fall into it to became drowsy and forget certain things, the Enchanted River, it runs from the mountains of Mirkwood to the Forest River. There are many tales of this river, most used to keep younger elves from venturing to it for mischief. My father loves jewels, gemstones and silver, he is a fair king and his people love him, but he always seems sad." His voice sounded far off as he thought of his homeland, Ren smiled softly as she kicked at the flames in the fire pit watching as the yellow and orange embers danced before her. The crackle of the fire brought her out of her gaze as she turned to stare into the black beyond, it was the night of a new moon and the land was bathed in darkness and queer things like to roam when there was no light of the moon to reflect their eyes.
"Have you ever visited Mirkwood? For you are well traveled from what I have heard?" Legolas asked after moments of silence, there was much he wished to learn about the woman before him. Having been one of the only in the Fellowship to have never met her before, it appeared that beside himself, only Boromir and Sam had never met her. He had been surprised that even Estel had seemed to know her or at least know about her. For the ranger traveled much and the woman seemed to not concern herself with the elven realms of the land.
"I believe I have been in Mirkwood, I would not say visit because it was certainly not planned, but it must have been before Mirkwood was known to many as Mirkwood, when it was Greenwood I believe I had appeared. But then again, one can never be certain of where they wish to travel when dark times are about." Ren told him, truly trying to remember if she had ever been to the forest of Legolas' home. She breathed deeply for a moment before shaking her head to clear her thought, not wanting anything to get the better of her before she would be able to react. Legolas smiled at her confused answer, many who had once visited Greenwood would not have believed that the forest would be the same since the coming of the Necromancer.
Not knowing any more to say, Legolas pulled out the silver white stone dagger that he had used only once. He had this blade to thank for his life, having not had time to bring forth either of his twin knives, the blade had but sliced through the neck of his Easterling attacker before falling dead. Pulling out a cloth to clean the short knife he gazed at the curved lettering that decorated the blade and the hilt of the short sword. Gazing over at Ren he noticed that her gaze was solely on the blade he held within his hands. Her blue eyes appeared to be searching the blade for any defect that would disprove her apparent thought.
"Where did you get that blade?" she whispered after studying the platinum blade in his hands, her eyes seemed to glaze over as she thought about a time well past. Her eyes darkened with knowledge that went far beyond that of any being, Legolas gazed at her as he continued to clean the blade his fingers running over the lettering.
"The Lord Elrond gave me this blade before we left Rivendell, as to where he came by it I know naught." Legolas spoke truthfully as he slowly folded the cloth he had been using, Ren nodded as she turned to gaze out into the shadows that surrounded them. She stood slowly, Legolas watched her as she moved to stand over his shoulder to gaze at the blade in his hands. Her fingers traced the lettering as she began to hum under her breath, Legolas allowed her to take hold of the blade's hilt so she could study the blade closer.
Ren sighed as she felt the power coursing through the blade, gazing into the heavens she spotted the black shadow of the round orb she was looking for, stepping into the sudden appearance of moonlight she held the blade up, letting the light bounce off the light metal the sword had been crafted from. Her eyes turned to Legolas as she continued to hold the blade before her, the forest around them lit up as the blade glowed suddenly.
"A blade of the Moon, this one is rarer than the pair Merry and Pippin carry and has seen battle once before." Ren spoke softly as she stepped out of the light that had come from the moon, as soon as she did the light vanished and the orb once again blacked out. She gazed silently at the words that wove across the blade, her memory trying to place each letter, each word, her eyes lit up in recognition as she placed the old sentence in her history on the Moon. "Aye, this blade is the Prayer Blade of the Moon, it gives luck to any who wield her."
"It holds importance to your people?" Legolas asked as he took back the blade, Ren let her hand slip from the hilt as the elven prince before her took the blade back into his careful grasp. She turned to him a smile on her lips as she moved back to her side of the camp. Legolas watched in amusement as Ren continued to hum the haunting tune she had remembered while gazing at the blade, she was unaware of most as she began to braid her hair. Legolas, though he did not know what the words on the blade said, was certain that the tune she had been humming before she even recognized the lettering was one and the same.
"Importance, aye, it was important, however, it chooses who its wielder will be and who's prayer it will answer." She answered without looking up from the locks she was braiding. Her hands moved with skill as she continued to braid her hair, pulling the finished braid into a knot she gazed over at Legolas. Her eyes danced with laughter as she watched the young elf gaze at the blade in his hands with interest.
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Review, Thanks, and Goodnight:
~*~ SilverRose82 ~*~