** Disclaimer: I only own Zana ****************
I got the review number 200, thank you very much! : ) It's so nice to see that I'm not alone with this story! I wish I had more time to write, but I'm a busy person, and last weekend was too stressing : ) It will inspire some of my next chapters for sure : ) And like I always say, I would like to reply you all in person, and one day I'll do it, ok? I think that when I'll finish this story I'll miss you all a lot!
************ ************** **************** ****************
Mothers weep, children sleep
So much violence ends in silence
It's a shame there's no one to blame
For all the pain that life brings
If you will just take me It might just complete me
And together we can make a stand
Stand - Jewel
Legolas opened his eyes.. what had just happened? Looking around, there was darkness. Something had beaten on his head, and he felt a strong pain. And something more.. emptiness. When he was finally able to move and stand up, when he was finally able to see the stars, the moon and the trees under their light, he realised that he suffered a big loss.. inside him. He tried to remember, and he remembered, yes.. he had feelings towards the human girl.. but now they were gone.. as if he had lost his memory, his mind, his body.. they didn't reply to the emotions.. he was the same Legolas, but the Legolas before Zana had arrived.
Haldir looked at him, shocked. Also empty. Walking towards the elf, trying to look for the rest of friends, he felt the loss too. His blue eyes narrowed, he put his hands over his chest, and waited.. nothing. He wasn't sat at all.. simply, he was the Haldir he had always been.
"I feel it too, Haldir" Said Legolas, looking at his worried friend. "I don't know what happened some moments ago, but I'm afraid it erased all my feelings towards her.. I can't believe it.."
"Where are them?" Haldir turned around, and saw nothing. "Did they pass? Legolas, have you seen them?" Legolas shook his head, shocked.
"The water from the fountain.. where did it come from? " Legolas whispered, sitting on a rock. "It's like paying a price in return.. the lake allowed us to pass.. but he got something from us.. why?" Haldir looked in the distance, his eyes full of.. tears? Was that possible?
"We must find them, whatever happened before, we can't stop here.. Zana will feel shocked, sad.. we must pretend that nothing happened. "
"No,Haldir.. I can't pretend that I love her if I don't.." Legolas sighed.
"Me neither" His low voice full of sadness. Then he heard a noise.. some voices in the distance. Walking towards the trees, he listened. "She's alive.. she's speaking to Gimli!" Legolas joined him, with a look of hope in his eyes.
"Lets go there"
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------- --------- ----------- ----------------
I had fainted, how was that possible? My forehead was bleeding a bit.. nothing important, I supposed. But I felt dizzy anyway.. I only remembered the water coming behind me.. and suddenly I felt froze. Someone had been caught, but.. who? I tried to stand up and saw Fern and Gimli. I fell on my knees, crying. Legolas and Haldir had been caught. How could that happen?
"Don't cry, Zana.. I'm sure they're OK and that we'll find them.." Gimli came to comfort me, doubting, but finally he hugged me. "You'll see how things get solved, just wait. Legolas survived worst situations, as well as Haldir.."
"Haldir died once, Gimli" I said, shaking. Then I looked on my left, and saw Fern waking up. He watched at us and saw my tears, understanding everything.
"Maybe it's better like this, Zana" He said, sitting down.
"How can you say so? Are you crazy?" I shouted, and Gimli gave him a killing look. Then , my human friend put a face. "What's wrong?" I asked, watching him.
"I feel.. different.. strange.. as if I had lost something inside me.. " He touched his chest, confused. I looked at Gimli, and he shrugged. "Yes, Zana.. I don't feel anything.. I don't feel any kind of feeling towards you.. neither friendship.. it's as if you were completely unknown for me.. I can't understand it.. because I remember you, all the things we lived together.but I don't keep any kind of feeling from them.. "
"Don't scare me, Fern.." I said, but I realised that he was serious about that.. what if something had happened when they crossed the lake? But.. why did I still keep all my love for the elves?
"Obviously the lake did something to you.. and I'm glad it did. Now you won't act stupidly any more" murmured Gimli, taking his bag from the ground. "I was tired of your attitude, human. I will take Zana with me, I will take Zana with me.." The dwarf was imitating his voice, and Fern looked at him angrily.
"Stop arguing, please" I said, standing up. "We have to find Legolas and Haldir"
"It's not necessary" I heard Haldir's voice and my heart started beating so fast. I ran and hugged him, and I was surprised with his reaction. He separated from me, gently. When I looked into his eyes I saw nothing. He looked at the ground, avoiding my gaze. Then Legolas showed up, and I observed the same attitude on him.
"What's wrong? What happened?" My voice was shaking, and when the two elves stared at each other I felt pain in my heart. "You also forgot everything.." My voice was just a whisper, but they heard it, nodding.
"I'm sorry" Haldir apologised, as if it was so easy.
"We don't know what happened, Zana.. but we all suffered the same effect.. except Gimli, it seems.." Legolas was trying to explain, he really looked ashamed. All the wonderful things I had lived with them. All the past days, all the confessions.. and it was for nothing.. I was in love, or this I thought, with them, or one of them.. but it was useless.. I was indifferent for them.. everything was lost.. now I really wanted to go back home. I didn't have anything to do there. I took my bag.
"Lets go on walking. I want to arrive in the Land of Eternal Ice, find out what happened there, and then go back to Earth, and forget that you ever existed" I felt my eyes full of tears, so I started walking, avoiding their gazes. Nobody came to comfort me. I was alone again.
-------------- -------------------- --------------------- --------------- ----- --------------------
Haldir was walking behind Legolas, the last in the queue. He was trying to recuperate some of the feelings, but it was impossible. He thought that if once he had them, sure he would be able to fall in love again.. but this time things were different and he couldn't explain why. This time he didn't feel the first sparkle, as they usually said.. when he looked at her, he felt nothing. When she arrived in Mirkwood, he felt fire since the beginning. His blue eyes looked at the sky, and he sighed, wishing that Galadriel was there to give him some advises.
Legolas looked back, to check Haldir's expression. Then his gaze went to Zana's place. She was so pale, so tired. The last hours she had been in silence. and he was an elf who always needed to comfort people, but he knew that it wouldn't be a good idea, so he was making a great effort, trying to ignore her. He didn't understand why they couldn't be just friends.. but he understood that by the moment, it wouldn't be possible. She kept strong feelings for them, also for him.. he wondered how was it possible that, once, he had felt the love, the love for a mortal.. he said to himself that it was impossible, that he could never feel it again. Not Legolas of Mirkwood.
A voice came inside Haldir's head. A known voice. Galadriel was speaking to him. He smiled, and concentrated. He needed her help more than ever before.
"Haldir.. nothing is lost.. you shouldn't have drunk from the Fountain of Truth.. it's a magical place that still keeps some evil forces.. keep the faith.. everything will be the same when Zana will be ready.. when she will make clear what is inside her heart, the one of you who she will select, will start feeling again. Be patient, Haldir.. it can be you, or it can be Legolas.. and when this will happen, there won't be more confusion. She will make her choice."
---------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------- ------------- - -----------
The cold wind was stronger there. Trees were disappearing, and there weren't more rivers any more. Only a flat land without vegetation, just grass and rocks. In the distance, I saw known birds.. but it was impossible.. they were seagulls! Then it meant that we reached the sea! I ran towards the edge of a cliff, and looked in the distance. Gimli came with me.
"It's amazing.. the Sea.." he murmured, watching the blue surface, very far away. "We'll arrive there in two or three days.."
"But.. if this is the end.. how we'll arrive in the Land of Eternal Ice? " I asked, worried.
"A ship will be waiting for us" Said Legolas, while his blue eye scanned the water. He had a wonderful sight. "Yes, a big ship with the flag of Lorien.. your people were fast, Haldir" Legolas smiled, and Haldir nodded.
"This was an action from Gandalf, Legolas.. nobody could have arrived here sooner than us. This ship was placed there with magic" We all stared in the distance, although I wasn't able to see anything, neither Gimli and Fern.
"We'll have to sail.." I murmured, hypnotised, thinking of all the dangers of the sea. I didn't know the creatures that lived in those waters.. I didn't know how to make a ship move.. I didn't know anything..
"You're lucky that I own a small yacht and I can help you with this" We all looked at Fern, who smiled proudly.
"I see that you were the typical rich boy from the city" My voice sounded a bit sarcastic, and he looked offended, but didn't reply anything.
"In two days, our lives will change a lot.." Haldir looked at me, while he was saying this. I was confused with his gaze, as if he was expecting something, but I didn't know why. And I felt like the first time we had met in the halls in Mirkwood.. I felt small and shy. Then I looked at Legolas, and suddenly I felt the same I had been feeling on Earth when I thought about him.. suddenly I saw something clear inside my heart, and when I thought that once I had the chance to be with him, and I had refused it.. I felt so bad. My feelings grew up watching at that elf, and his expression changed. He caught my look, and frowned, confused. Then he took a deep breath and looked around.
"What's happening..?" He murmured, and I saw Haldir's face, shocked. Yes, I liked Legolas more than ever. And he looked at me again, and suddenly smiled. Strange. I couldn't understand anything, so I turned around again, avoiding their gazes.
"Zana, talk to me" I heard Haldir's voice behind me. He looked serious and .. brave? " Stop thinking what you're thinking.. you have to be strong, ok?"
"I don't understand what do you mean, Haldir.. "I said, blushing. Suddenly he nodded.
"Yes, you're right.. for a while I had the need to say this, but.. now.. I don't care.." He smiled to himself, and shook his head. "Yes,it was a kind of flashback.. but now I don't need it again.. it's strange.." When he turned around I felt sad again. It was horrible to see how they were ignoring me.. how things were going on.. it was too much for me. I remembered the night of the dance, when Haldir tried to kiss me, and Gimli showed up, spoiling the moment. I smiled with the memory, and also with the memory of our first kiss.. yes, that time when he finally gave the first step.. I blushed when Haldir turned around to see me, with the same look as Legolas.. a confused look. What was happening there?
We went on walking for some hours, in silence again. My heart was jumping from Legolas to Haldir, and from Haldir to Legolas, and whenever this happened, each of them looked at me.. as if with my memories I activated their minds.. and I felt something warm in my hand.. the ring of Haldir was shining.. with a soft light.. I watched at it, amazed.. it gave me strength, forces to go on.. and I heard Galadriel's voice. "The time is almost over, Zana.. soon you'll have to take very important decisions.. you must get ready and let your heart free.. he knows what is better for you." Once the voice disappeared, the light went away too. I had a feeling of hope after her words, as if there was still a chance for everything. But I didn't know how to make those chances appear.. maybe I would only have to wait.. or maybe I would only have to act.. no one could tell me. I looked at the ring once more, remembering the day that Haldir had given me it. My heart started beating fast, and I saw Haldir stopping and waiting for me. I blushed.
"Are you feeling ok, Zana?" He asked, gently, and I nodded. I felt so shy again. He smiled and went on walking. Everything was like at the beginning. a confusing beginning.
I got the review number 200, thank you very much! : ) It's so nice to see that I'm not alone with this story! I wish I had more time to write, but I'm a busy person, and last weekend was too stressing : ) It will inspire some of my next chapters for sure : ) And like I always say, I would like to reply you all in person, and one day I'll do it, ok? I think that when I'll finish this story I'll miss you all a lot!
************ ************** **************** ****************
Mothers weep, children sleep
So much violence ends in silence
It's a shame there's no one to blame
For all the pain that life brings
If you will just take me It might just complete me
And together we can make a stand
Stand - Jewel
Legolas opened his eyes.. what had just happened? Looking around, there was darkness. Something had beaten on his head, and he felt a strong pain. And something more.. emptiness. When he was finally able to move and stand up, when he was finally able to see the stars, the moon and the trees under their light, he realised that he suffered a big loss.. inside him. He tried to remember, and he remembered, yes.. he had feelings towards the human girl.. but now they were gone.. as if he had lost his memory, his mind, his body.. they didn't reply to the emotions.. he was the same Legolas, but the Legolas before Zana had arrived.
Haldir looked at him, shocked. Also empty. Walking towards the elf, trying to look for the rest of friends, he felt the loss too. His blue eyes narrowed, he put his hands over his chest, and waited.. nothing. He wasn't sat at all.. simply, he was the Haldir he had always been.
"I feel it too, Haldir" Said Legolas, looking at his worried friend. "I don't know what happened some moments ago, but I'm afraid it erased all my feelings towards her.. I can't believe it.."
"Where are them?" Haldir turned around, and saw nothing. "Did they pass? Legolas, have you seen them?" Legolas shook his head, shocked.
"The water from the fountain.. where did it come from? " Legolas whispered, sitting on a rock. "It's like paying a price in return.. the lake allowed us to pass.. but he got something from us.. why?" Haldir looked in the distance, his eyes full of.. tears? Was that possible?
"We must find them, whatever happened before, we can't stop here.. Zana will feel shocked, sad.. we must pretend that nothing happened. "
"No,Haldir.. I can't pretend that I love her if I don't.." Legolas sighed.
"Me neither" His low voice full of sadness. Then he heard a noise.. some voices in the distance. Walking towards the trees, he listened. "She's alive.. she's speaking to Gimli!" Legolas joined him, with a look of hope in his eyes.
"Lets go there"
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------- --------- ----------- ----------------
I had fainted, how was that possible? My forehead was bleeding a bit.. nothing important, I supposed. But I felt dizzy anyway.. I only remembered the water coming behind me.. and suddenly I felt froze. Someone had been caught, but.. who? I tried to stand up and saw Fern and Gimli. I fell on my knees, crying. Legolas and Haldir had been caught. How could that happen?
"Don't cry, Zana.. I'm sure they're OK and that we'll find them.." Gimli came to comfort me, doubting, but finally he hugged me. "You'll see how things get solved, just wait. Legolas survived worst situations, as well as Haldir.."
"Haldir died once, Gimli" I said, shaking. Then I looked on my left, and saw Fern waking up. He watched at us and saw my tears, understanding everything.
"Maybe it's better like this, Zana" He said, sitting down.
"How can you say so? Are you crazy?" I shouted, and Gimli gave him a killing look. Then , my human friend put a face. "What's wrong?" I asked, watching him.
"I feel.. different.. strange.. as if I had lost something inside me.. " He touched his chest, confused. I looked at Gimli, and he shrugged. "Yes, Zana.. I don't feel anything.. I don't feel any kind of feeling towards you.. neither friendship.. it's as if you were completely unknown for me.. I can't understand it.. because I remember you, all the things we lived together.but I don't keep any kind of feeling from them.. "
"Don't scare me, Fern.." I said, but I realised that he was serious about that.. what if something had happened when they crossed the lake? But.. why did I still keep all my love for the elves?
"Obviously the lake did something to you.. and I'm glad it did. Now you won't act stupidly any more" murmured Gimli, taking his bag from the ground. "I was tired of your attitude, human. I will take Zana with me, I will take Zana with me.." The dwarf was imitating his voice, and Fern looked at him angrily.
"Stop arguing, please" I said, standing up. "We have to find Legolas and Haldir"
"It's not necessary" I heard Haldir's voice and my heart started beating so fast. I ran and hugged him, and I was surprised with his reaction. He separated from me, gently. When I looked into his eyes I saw nothing. He looked at the ground, avoiding my gaze. Then Legolas showed up, and I observed the same attitude on him.
"What's wrong? What happened?" My voice was shaking, and when the two elves stared at each other I felt pain in my heart. "You also forgot everything.." My voice was just a whisper, but they heard it, nodding.
"I'm sorry" Haldir apologised, as if it was so easy.
"We don't know what happened, Zana.. but we all suffered the same effect.. except Gimli, it seems.." Legolas was trying to explain, he really looked ashamed. All the wonderful things I had lived with them. All the past days, all the confessions.. and it was for nothing.. I was in love, or this I thought, with them, or one of them.. but it was useless.. I was indifferent for them.. everything was lost.. now I really wanted to go back home. I didn't have anything to do there. I took my bag.
"Lets go on walking. I want to arrive in the Land of Eternal Ice, find out what happened there, and then go back to Earth, and forget that you ever existed" I felt my eyes full of tears, so I started walking, avoiding their gazes. Nobody came to comfort me. I was alone again.
-------------- -------------------- --------------------- --------------- ----- --------------------
Haldir was walking behind Legolas, the last in the queue. He was trying to recuperate some of the feelings, but it was impossible. He thought that if once he had them, sure he would be able to fall in love again.. but this time things were different and he couldn't explain why. This time he didn't feel the first sparkle, as they usually said.. when he looked at her, he felt nothing. When she arrived in Mirkwood, he felt fire since the beginning. His blue eyes looked at the sky, and he sighed, wishing that Galadriel was there to give him some advises.
Legolas looked back, to check Haldir's expression. Then his gaze went to Zana's place. She was so pale, so tired. The last hours she had been in silence. and he was an elf who always needed to comfort people, but he knew that it wouldn't be a good idea, so he was making a great effort, trying to ignore her. He didn't understand why they couldn't be just friends.. but he understood that by the moment, it wouldn't be possible. She kept strong feelings for them, also for him.. he wondered how was it possible that, once, he had felt the love, the love for a mortal.. he said to himself that it was impossible, that he could never feel it again. Not Legolas of Mirkwood.
A voice came inside Haldir's head. A known voice. Galadriel was speaking to him. He smiled, and concentrated. He needed her help more than ever before.
"Haldir.. nothing is lost.. you shouldn't have drunk from the Fountain of Truth.. it's a magical place that still keeps some evil forces.. keep the faith.. everything will be the same when Zana will be ready.. when she will make clear what is inside her heart, the one of you who she will select, will start feeling again. Be patient, Haldir.. it can be you, or it can be Legolas.. and when this will happen, there won't be more confusion. She will make her choice."
---------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------- ------------- - -----------
The cold wind was stronger there. Trees were disappearing, and there weren't more rivers any more. Only a flat land without vegetation, just grass and rocks. In the distance, I saw known birds.. but it was impossible.. they were seagulls! Then it meant that we reached the sea! I ran towards the edge of a cliff, and looked in the distance. Gimli came with me.
"It's amazing.. the Sea.." he murmured, watching the blue surface, very far away. "We'll arrive there in two or three days.."
"But.. if this is the end.. how we'll arrive in the Land of Eternal Ice? " I asked, worried.
"A ship will be waiting for us" Said Legolas, while his blue eye scanned the water. He had a wonderful sight. "Yes, a big ship with the flag of Lorien.. your people were fast, Haldir" Legolas smiled, and Haldir nodded.
"This was an action from Gandalf, Legolas.. nobody could have arrived here sooner than us. This ship was placed there with magic" We all stared in the distance, although I wasn't able to see anything, neither Gimli and Fern.
"We'll have to sail.." I murmured, hypnotised, thinking of all the dangers of the sea. I didn't know the creatures that lived in those waters.. I didn't know how to make a ship move.. I didn't know anything..
"You're lucky that I own a small yacht and I can help you with this" We all looked at Fern, who smiled proudly.
"I see that you were the typical rich boy from the city" My voice sounded a bit sarcastic, and he looked offended, but didn't reply anything.
"In two days, our lives will change a lot.." Haldir looked at me, while he was saying this. I was confused with his gaze, as if he was expecting something, but I didn't know why. And I felt like the first time we had met in the halls in Mirkwood.. I felt small and shy. Then I looked at Legolas, and suddenly I felt the same I had been feeling on Earth when I thought about him.. suddenly I saw something clear inside my heart, and when I thought that once I had the chance to be with him, and I had refused it.. I felt so bad. My feelings grew up watching at that elf, and his expression changed. He caught my look, and frowned, confused. Then he took a deep breath and looked around.
"What's happening..?" He murmured, and I saw Haldir's face, shocked. Yes, I liked Legolas more than ever. And he looked at me again, and suddenly smiled. Strange. I couldn't understand anything, so I turned around again, avoiding their gazes.
"Zana, talk to me" I heard Haldir's voice behind me. He looked serious and .. brave? " Stop thinking what you're thinking.. you have to be strong, ok?"
"I don't understand what do you mean, Haldir.. "I said, blushing. Suddenly he nodded.
"Yes, you're right.. for a while I had the need to say this, but.. now.. I don't care.." He smiled to himself, and shook his head. "Yes,it was a kind of flashback.. but now I don't need it again.. it's strange.." When he turned around I felt sad again. It was horrible to see how they were ignoring me.. how things were going on.. it was too much for me. I remembered the night of the dance, when Haldir tried to kiss me, and Gimli showed up, spoiling the moment. I smiled with the memory, and also with the memory of our first kiss.. yes, that time when he finally gave the first step.. I blushed when Haldir turned around to see me, with the same look as Legolas.. a confused look. What was happening there?
We went on walking for some hours, in silence again. My heart was jumping from Legolas to Haldir, and from Haldir to Legolas, and whenever this happened, each of them looked at me.. as if with my memories I activated their minds.. and I felt something warm in my hand.. the ring of Haldir was shining.. with a soft light.. I watched at it, amazed.. it gave me strength, forces to go on.. and I heard Galadriel's voice. "The time is almost over, Zana.. soon you'll have to take very important decisions.. you must get ready and let your heart free.. he knows what is better for you." Once the voice disappeared, the light went away too. I had a feeling of hope after her words, as if there was still a chance for everything. But I didn't know how to make those chances appear.. maybe I would only have to wait.. or maybe I would only have to act.. no one could tell me. I looked at the ring once more, remembering the day that Haldir had given me it. My heart started beating fast, and I saw Haldir stopping and waiting for me. I blushed.
"Are you feeling ok, Zana?" He asked, gently, and I nodded. I felt so shy again. He smiled and went on walking. Everything was like at the beginning. a confusing beginning.