Thanks in advance to all my future little helpers with this story.
Thanks also to all reviewers that show up when this chapter is up.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I just own the words. Words aren't ownable though, despite what US copyright laws say. So, lets just say I own nothing and am content with that.
Author's note: This chapter is written in first person. The rest will not be. And they certainly won't be so cheesy. Think of this as an opening.
This story was inspired by the song "Across the Universe" by The Beatles or Fiona Apple. Both have performed it. The original idea was from the ending of the movie "Pleasantville" where the song is sung by Fiona Apple.
Images of Broken Light
Prolouge:
"It seems like ages have passed. It seems it has been so long. Ever since that day, the world has fallen apart around me. Yet, I stand as a pillar to my family, my lands, my people. A pillar with the burden of the world upon it.
"I used to tell him I would never want to be separated. I told him we never would be. And if he were to die and pass to a better world, I would do my best to be worthy of a spot in the same place. And if he were to be damned, I would ask to be damned myself. A thousand arrows striking me all at once was little punishment compared to leaving him.
"But now he's gone and I linger on. I still do not know why. Perhaps for my sister. She needs me still, though she is half a world away. Perhaps for my people. Nay. I have no people. My people have all passed. Then it is for my lands that I stay. Endless trees that used to be comforting have turned into an ominous shadow, ever looming above me.
"It is torture. It is like death. Like hell. Yet somehow it's like heaven to know he's happy now. I don't know if I'll ever quite be content with one answer. Answers. That's all I've been seeking all this time. Answers to my eternal questions. These questions refuse to leave me. Can he come back? Will this sorrow in my heart ever leave? Yet, there are questions that seems more vague. And the one question nobody will ever answer. Why?
"But as I said before, it seems like ages have passed. According to the laws of time, it has been a month. There is no way something is broken this quickly though. I was simply sitting there, content as usual, and something suddenly felt wrong. I can't explain the feeling, and I doubt anyone will ever feel it again, but it's simply a sudden prick at your heart, like you're about to die, but then you're alive and you know you aren't supposed to be.
"Call me crazy, call me mad. Just never say I didn't try to find out what was wrong. I knew something was. I saw the look of false happiness. The shadow of pure grief hiding behind bright grey eyes. I remembered the true look of happiness. The look of innocence.
"His eyes were grey, though not in a dull way. His hair I thought never left those two raven braids. It was always knotted. And his posture was always competition to my own perfectly straight stance. And his lips never left a grin. It was a look of innonence yet a look of guilt. I knew it matched my own perfectly, but I never thought so until I saw his falsified happiness. The glee that could kill you in an instant.
"Grey eyes, youthful and jovial. There was something odd though. Perhaps more age to them, as if he had grown an extra ten years of wisdom all at once. They were tired and fading behind a mask. His hair had been loose of braids for several days as if he simply got too idle to braid them again. His posture as slumped ever so slightly and I could have sworn there was a heaviness to his step. A weariness.
"And then he told Arwen. He didn't have the decency to tell me. My own twin didn't tell me of his ill fortune. The last time I saw him was upon his leaving to Gondor to speak with Arwen of it. I told him he was idle and needed to go somewhere and be of service. My lasts word to him was 'brother'. So, at least it wasn't completely in vain. I hope he understood I was simply joking.
"And I haven't seen him for sixty years. Sixty years is like a day to an Elven lord. It is like an hour in a sea of time. Like a single raindrop in a thunderstorm. But to him, it was a lifetime. A lifetime to live, love, learn, and see clearly for the first time.
"Arwen told me Elrohir died happily. I only hope she didn't lie. She said he was pleased to finally be done with it. He had said even though it was over, it was not the end. And he made a comment about mud I will not share, but will never forget.
"And I stand before you today, broken in a way, but finally complete. I will say my farewells, because I am the last of a dying line and I shall finish it here and now." – Elladan.
Author's note: Yes. Very odd way to start a story. And really quite sad if you think about it. Just wait to see what happened though. And the rest will be in third person, not first, so don't worry about talking in riddles. xD Please review!