THIRD INSTALLMENT FOR QUEST FOR THE RINGS
3: REDEMPTION
I came up short as I entered my room. "I think you've done enough crying over him," Rorimac told me as I quickly began scrubbing at my hopelessly red eyes. "You need a little more happiness in your life and a little less tears. Come, sit with me," he gave me an encouraging smile and patted a spot on the bed next to him with an enormous hand.
Few people, even among our fellowship, quite understood the relationship between Rorimac and I. We had grown up together in the hills of Krellon, a wonderful wooded area with a plethora of soft, warm afternoons. Rorimac had been a brother to me all my life. Always looking out for me, protecting me, and comforting me when I needed him the most. Well, I needed him now, and there he was, as he had always been, and would always be, waiting for me with widespread arms and an understanding heart.
I gladly went to him and curled myself up into the crook of his arm. He didn't say anything more to me, and he didn't need to. The sense of comfort and protection emanating from his very soul rushed over me in a tidal wave of relief that soothed my aching heart.
I awoke with a start. I hadn't realized I had gone to sleep at all. Then, I ardently listened once more for the sound that had awakened me from the escape of my mercifully dreamless slumber. It came again, as a soft tap on my door. I suddenly realized that Rorimac was no longer at my side, and a part of me felt the loss of his presence keenly. "It's open," I finally called to my visitor.
Legolas took a deep, calming breath and opened the door. There she was, sitting up on her bed. Her face was an impenetrable mask, hiding the slightest bit of emotion behind those stone cold eyes. Through it all, however, he could see that Tarrodwen had been crying. A pang of guilt ran through him and served to bolster his courage.
"I'm sorry," he said simply. All the words he had so carefully planned out, all the excuses and justifications he had put together, flew right out of his mind when he looked at her face. He found that all he could do was admit he was wrong, and apologize, with only those two little words. Not another sound would his lips emit. His body stood locked in position, awaiting a single, solitary sign from her.
And then it came. Slowly, a hint of softness crept back into her eyes. Her jaw gently loosened its tight clamp, and a sense of calm and relief seemed to meld itself into her features. Legolas exhaled a breath he had not realized he was holding. Suddenly, his world seemed to have just a little more light, enough to penetrate the oppressive darkness that had been a cloak weighing down his shoulders since Aceleniel's death. A brief smile touched his lips, not quite making it to his eyes, yet wonderfully bright to Tarrodwen.
My heart turned cold when I realized who was at the door. He would receive not an inch from me. As much as I hated to do it to him, to Legolas, to the man I was in love with, I couldn't just let him fluster my emotions and tangle my thoughts. I had to be strong, as Gandalf said, for him, but mostly for myself. "Can he see my thoughts? Am I transparent? What is he thinking?" the questions surged through my head like a hurricane, all the while my stomach churning with anxiety. And then, his words so simple, yet so unexpected, cut right through all previous thought. My breathing stopped, my mind suddenly exploded with surprise and a new respect and love for him blossomed in me in an instant.
With deliberate slowness, I stood up and crossed the cramped cabin to stand in front of him. Something in him had changed, for the good, and the timid, half-smile he gave me lifted my heart to the sky. I strove to master my high spirits and give him a reply, but all I could do was smile. Finally, oh finally! I was able to curl my arms around his slender neck and bury my face in his soft shoulder. How wonderful his powerful body felt as he embraced me in return! The strong arms, firmly pulling me towards him, tenderly caressed my back as he simply held me for a moment.
All too soon, the blessed moment was over. He pulled away and gave me a heartfelt smile. "Thank you," he said with all the sincerity he possessed. "Though you are the one who possesses the Sight, it seems that I see clearly now." And with that, he left, his heart and mine, a great deal lighter.
3: REDEMPTION
I came up short as I entered my room. "I think you've done enough crying over him," Rorimac told me as I quickly began scrubbing at my hopelessly red eyes. "You need a little more happiness in your life and a little less tears. Come, sit with me," he gave me an encouraging smile and patted a spot on the bed next to him with an enormous hand.
Few people, even among our fellowship, quite understood the relationship between Rorimac and I. We had grown up together in the hills of Krellon, a wonderful wooded area with a plethora of soft, warm afternoons. Rorimac had been a brother to me all my life. Always looking out for me, protecting me, and comforting me when I needed him the most. Well, I needed him now, and there he was, as he had always been, and would always be, waiting for me with widespread arms and an understanding heart.
I gladly went to him and curled myself up into the crook of his arm. He didn't say anything more to me, and he didn't need to. The sense of comfort and protection emanating from his very soul rushed over me in a tidal wave of relief that soothed my aching heart.
I awoke with a start. I hadn't realized I had gone to sleep at all. Then, I ardently listened once more for the sound that had awakened me from the escape of my mercifully dreamless slumber. It came again, as a soft tap on my door. I suddenly realized that Rorimac was no longer at my side, and a part of me felt the loss of his presence keenly. "It's open," I finally called to my visitor.
Legolas took a deep, calming breath and opened the door. There she was, sitting up on her bed. Her face was an impenetrable mask, hiding the slightest bit of emotion behind those stone cold eyes. Through it all, however, he could see that Tarrodwen had been crying. A pang of guilt ran through him and served to bolster his courage.
"I'm sorry," he said simply. All the words he had so carefully planned out, all the excuses and justifications he had put together, flew right out of his mind when he looked at her face. He found that all he could do was admit he was wrong, and apologize, with only those two little words. Not another sound would his lips emit. His body stood locked in position, awaiting a single, solitary sign from her.
And then it came. Slowly, a hint of softness crept back into her eyes. Her jaw gently loosened its tight clamp, and a sense of calm and relief seemed to meld itself into her features. Legolas exhaled a breath he had not realized he was holding. Suddenly, his world seemed to have just a little more light, enough to penetrate the oppressive darkness that had been a cloak weighing down his shoulders since Aceleniel's death. A brief smile touched his lips, not quite making it to his eyes, yet wonderfully bright to Tarrodwen.
My heart turned cold when I realized who was at the door. He would receive not an inch from me. As much as I hated to do it to him, to Legolas, to the man I was in love with, I couldn't just let him fluster my emotions and tangle my thoughts. I had to be strong, as Gandalf said, for him, but mostly for myself. "Can he see my thoughts? Am I transparent? What is he thinking?" the questions surged through my head like a hurricane, all the while my stomach churning with anxiety. And then, his words so simple, yet so unexpected, cut right through all previous thought. My breathing stopped, my mind suddenly exploded with surprise and a new respect and love for him blossomed in me in an instant.
With deliberate slowness, I stood up and crossed the cramped cabin to stand in front of him. Something in him had changed, for the good, and the timid, half-smile he gave me lifted my heart to the sky. I strove to master my high spirits and give him a reply, but all I could do was smile. Finally, oh finally! I was able to curl my arms around his slender neck and bury my face in his soft shoulder. How wonderful his powerful body felt as he embraced me in return! The strong arms, firmly pulling me towards him, tenderly caressed my back as he simply held me for a moment.
All too soon, the blessed moment was over. He pulled away and gave me a heartfelt smile. "Thank you," he said with all the sincerity he possessed. "Though you are the one who possesses the Sight, it seems that I see clearly now." And with that, he left, his heart and mine, a great deal lighter.