A/n: Whee! Love and kisses. I love you, darlings, I do.
Unfortunately for you an me an Erin, this lovely story is drawing to a
close. I wish I could answer the questions you ask me in reviews, but that
would give plot away. ;_;. Sorry! Oh, and please, IM me!!! If I decline
the first time, send a new message, because that's my way of making sure
you ain't a porn robot. -_-. Well, I have a ton of stuff needs doing.
Ugh. Overdue homework, a history project looming on the horizon, another history project looming on the horizon, a third history project looming on the horizon, a book report, a new student, a new section of notes, another new section of notes, and a psycho nazi homework-police mother. Oh, and report cards. _. Who needs grades?! I can write! Well... That is... I think I can write. *looks mournfully at reviwers* POUT. Can I write for a living? Could I?! Hmmm.
Should I write this as a book? It would have the same title. But different people, another place. Yeap. Maybes a dorm or summat. Well, tell me in a review, dears.
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh. But I want to claim Erin as mine, you hear?! And the plot. No using them without permission! ...yeah, as if you'd ever want to use my pitiful Erin or my equally pitiful plot. Hah.
Chapter Fifteen: Finding the Exit
She straightened, her fist stuffed into her mouth. No one had heard her. She had shut the door, after all, and the walls were sound-absorbent. No one was coming. She noticed, with some interest, an insect fluttering by the window.
She smiled sweetly, and used her fingernails to flip it over. It squirmed, helpless, until she grinned ferociously and impaled it, purple juices splattering her hand. She sat back, still wearing the same ear-to- ear grin, and began to laugh, rocking herself back and forth.
She was awake. Gwaloth, on the other hand, was asleep.
//no,// whispered Gwaloth, and stirred in her slumber. //No.// Her mental "eyes" flew open.
She sat up in bed, sighing. //Gods, what a dream,// she thought aimlessly. She smiled. Then she noticed her hand, stained with the gore of an insect, and her smile cracked.
//No. I didn't do this. I didn't! I was asleep! How could my body have moved while I was asleep?!//
Gwaloth moaned as something hit her, inside her head, in her mental "gut". She passed, docile and comlacent, into sleep. The other woke up, and reattatched her deranged smile. She stood up, and went to the door.
//ke he he... I have an important job today.// She walked quietly, like a wraith, over to Haldir's talan, and put her ear against the door.
"-soon as possible. In fact, if you think you can find someone to look after Legolas, we can begin this evening. Send word if you're able to, and we can meet in the Archives. All right?" That was unmistakably the voice of Galadriel, the other thought with a pout. But, wait... someone to look after Legolas? She chuckled soundlessly to herself.
"Good day, my lady."
The other stiffened, and concentrated on hiding herself. Unbelievably, Galadriel did not notice her. The other shrugged. She supposed the wretched Lady was preoccupied with something.
The other grinned. Nursing the Prince? The other "others" of Gwaloth would be very interested. Especially- She shuddered.
Especially... the dark one. The one who scared everyone, not just the others. He- she? it?- would make certain that dear Gwaloth had a calm day. After all, they wanted her in a good mood, so that they could put her in the right place at the right time.
Gleefully, the other dashed Gwaloth's body back to her talan, and arranged herself in the exact position Gwaloth had been before the other had taken over. Then, like a whisper, she slipped away, and Gwaloth awoke, a bit confused, but happy, and certain to herself that nothing was going to go wrong today.
//Yes. Nothing shall go wrong today.//
In the back of her mind, the others agreed. No, they whispered maliciously amongst themselves. It won't. ******************************************************************
Legolas sat amicably in the bright sunlight of midday, his hair brushed until it shone. He had asked Haldir to leave him alone for a few minutes, because he truly needed some time to think.
//There is a wall. There is a wall in my mind, and now that I am aware of it, it has stopped clouding me. The -Dark One- must have done something about this. Did he/she/it? I am not certain. I do not remember back then. I can barely remember last night.// He held his head in his hands, wary of the headaches that mind-searching brought on.
//I can remember a bit more. It was the Dark One. The Dark One was there during the hurt and the pain. The dream I had was frightening. And the things in the dream made me afraid of Haldir. Is that what the Dark One wants? I can't even look at my memories of Haldir. They're too painful, too painful.//
Legolas absentmindedly twisted a piece of hair between his fingers, spinning the lock until it doubled up on itself.
//Maybe the Dark One wanted it that way. It's possible. But... but I have to trust the Dark One! I have to believe in the Dark One.//
But why? whispered a bold voice within him.
Legolas sighed. He knew why.
//Because. If I can't trust the Dark One... who is there in this night? If I don't have the Dark One, I'm all alone. And I can't stand on my own. I am lost in the dark, blind, and the Dark One is a voice I am following to stumble my way around.//
Galadriel sighed, and stopped reading the Prince's thoughts from her audience chamber. It took some effort to maintain a mental link from this distance for such a long time. She sat back, discouraged, and barely paid attention as Celeborn whispered soothing words to her. "Where is the Dark One leading you, blind one?" she asked to the empty air.
She gave a cracked smile. She knew.
"He is leading you into the abyss." ******************************************************************
Rumil sat next to Lalwen in Orophin's talan. Orophin himself was sitting across from Rumil. Lalwen, on the other hand, was snoring lightly. It was an endearing snore. Rumil didn't particularly mind it. He was well and truly drunk, after all.
"Orophin."
"... yes?" Orophin said quietly.
"Can we talk?"
"That depends."
"On what?" Rumil asked, taking another swig, eyes blurry.
"What do you want to talk about?" Rumil sat back, smiling oddly.
"It's something we need to dicuss. The- the suicide. At least, I thought it was a suicide. Funny what wine does to your brain, eh?"
Orophin looked away, eyes getting teary. He shook all over in a shudder that went straight to his bones. "I- I don't know if I'll be able to talk, Rumil." He looked back at Rumil, to find that his brother had gotten another glass out and was smiling. Rumil winked.
"We have the rest of the day. Now, take this," he said, pushing a thick and sweet-smelling glass of red liquid over to Orophin, "and get started. Trust me, Orophin." Rumil looked away, his smile growing melancholy.
"Alcohol numbs the pain."
Orophin looked at the goblet of hard liquor, and seemed to come to a conclusion. Nodding, almost to himself, he reached out and took the glass in his hands. He took a long sip, letting the fire of the drink burn in his stomach, burning to ashes the pain that had shot through his heart for the past few days.
Orophin and Rumil looked at each other, and there was a long silence. Then, Rumil held his glass forwards.
"To the ones who have died. To the future. To healing from all of these damned wounds." Orophin smiled, and held out his glass as well.
"Okay."
"Now," Rumil said firmly. "We need to find out about that 'suicide.' Didn't something feel wrong to you?"
"As a matter of fact," Orophin said with a deep frown, "it did."
******************************************************************
Erin sighed, brilliant red hair swinging as Helle combed it for her, her mind having found a safe haven from her usual rutted track of thoughts. She didn't normally think like a sane person, she knew. These moments were rare, few and far between.
//I cannot wait until they figure it out,// she thought wistfully, looking out the window, up towards Haldir's talan. //Maybe after the Dark One dies, I'll be able to break out of this prison. This prison in my mind.//
*****tbc*****
A/n: The ending is revealing itself! It won't be long now! Next is the last chapter! *huggles* I love you all. Really and truly. You're the reason I write so well (if you could go so far as to call this "good"). Now, poll: Should I or should I not make Labyrinth into a book? I may have to create a fantasy world for it and end up writing a frickin series, but should I nonetheless? Would you go out and buy it? ... Hmmm. Answer, por favor, mis amigas y amigos.
lyl
Nightbird*Songbird
Ugh. Overdue homework, a history project looming on the horizon, another history project looming on the horizon, a third history project looming on the horizon, a book report, a new student, a new section of notes, another new section of notes, and a psycho nazi homework-police mother. Oh, and report cards. _. Who needs grades?! I can write! Well... That is... I think I can write. *looks mournfully at reviwers* POUT. Can I write for a living? Could I?! Hmmm.
Should I write this as a book? It would have the same title. But different people, another place. Yeap. Maybes a dorm or summat. Well, tell me in a review, dears.
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh. But I want to claim Erin as mine, you hear?! And the plot. No using them without permission! ...yeah, as if you'd ever want to use my pitiful Erin or my equally pitiful plot. Hah.
Chapter Fifteen: Finding the Exit
She straightened, her fist stuffed into her mouth. No one had heard her. She had shut the door, after all, and the walls were sound-absorbent. No one was coming. She noticed, with some interest, an insect fluttering by the window.
She smiled sweetly, and used her fingernails to flip it over. It squirmed, helpless, until she grinned ferociously and impaled it, purple juices splattering her hand. She sat back, still wearing the same ear-to- ear grin, and began to laugh, rocking herself back and forth.
She was awake. Gwaloth, on the other hand, was asleep.
//no,// whispered Gwaloth, and stirred in her slumber. //No.// Her mental "eyes" flew open.
She sat up in bed, sighing. //Gods, what a dream,// she thought aimlessly. She smiled. Then she noticed her hand, stained with the gore of an insect, and her smile cracked.
//No. I didn't do this. I didn't! I was asleep! How could my body have moved while I was asleep?!//
Gwaloth moaned as something hit her, inside her head, in her mental "gut". She passed, docile and comlacent, into sleep. The other woke up, and reattatched her deranged smile. She stood up, and went to the door.
//ke he he... I have an important job today.// She walked quietly, like a wraith, over to Haldir's talan, and put her ear against the door.
"-soon as possible. In fact, if you think you can find someone to look after Legolas, we can begin this evening. Send word if you're able to, and we can meet in the Archives. All right?" That was unmistakably the voice of Galadriel, the other thought with a pout. But, wait... someone to look after Legolas? She chuckled soundlessly to herself.
"Good day, my lady."
The other stiffened, and concentrated on hiding herself. Unbelievably, Galadriel did not notice her. The other shrugged. She supposed the wretched Lady was preoccupied with something.
The other grinned. Nursing the Prince? The other "others" of Gwaloth would be very interested. Especially- She shuddered.
Especially... the dark one. The one who scared everyone, not just the others. He- she? it?- would make certain that dear Gwaloth had a calm day. After all, they wanted her in a good mood, so that they could put her in the right place at the right time.
Gleefully, the other dashed Gwaloth's body back to her talan, and arranged herself in the exact position Gwaloth had been before the other had taken over. Then, like a whisper, she slipped away, and Gwaloth awoke, a bit confused, but happy, and certain to herself that nothing was going to go wrong today.
//Yes. Nothing shall go wrong today.//
In the back of her mind, the others agreed. No, they whispered maliciously amongst themselves. It won't. ******************************************************************
Legolas sat amicably in the bright sunlight of midday, his hair brushed until it shone. He had asked Haldir to leave him alone for a few minutes, because he truly needed some time to think.
//There is a wall. There is a wall in my mind, and now that I am aware of it, it has stopped clouding me. The -Dark One- must have done something about this. Did he/she/it? I am not certain. I do not remember back then. I can barely remember last night.// He held his head in his hands, wary of the headaches that mind-searching brought on.
//I can remember a bit more. It was the Dark One. The Dark One was there during the hurt and the pain. The dream I had was frightening. And the things in the dream made me afraid of Haldir. Is that what the Dark One wants? I can't even look at my memories of Haldir. They're too painful, too painful.//
Legolas absentmindedly twisted a piece of hair between his fingers, spinning the lock until it doubled up on itself.
//Maybe the Dark One wanted it that way. It's possible. But... but I have to trust the Dark One! I have to believe in the Dark One.//
But why? whispered a bold voice within him.
Legolas sighed. He knew why.
//Because. If I can't trust the Dark One... who is there in this night? If I don't have the Dark One, I'm all alone. And I can't stand on my own. I am lost in the dark, blind, and the Dark One is a voice I am following to stumble my way around.//
Galadriel sighed, and stopped reading the Prince's thoughts from her audience chamber. It took some effort to maintain a mental link from this distance for such a long time. She sat back, discouraged, and barely paid attention as Celeborn whispered soothing words to her. "Where is the Dark One leading you, blind one?" she asked to the empty air.
She gave a cracked smile. She knew.
"He is leading you into the abyss." ******************************************************************
Rumil sat next to Lalwen in Orophin's talan. Orophin himself was sitting across from Rumil. Lalwen, on the other hand, was snoring lightly. It was an endearing snore. Rumil didn't particularly mind it. He was well and truly drunk, after all.
"Orophin."
"... yes?" Orophin said quietly.
"Can we talk?"
"That depends."
"On what?" Rumil asked, taking another swig, eyes blurry.
"What do you want to talk about?" Rumil sat back, smiling oddly.
"It's something we need to dicuss. The- the suicide. At least, I thought it was a suicide. Funny what wine does to your brain, eh?"
Orophin looked away, eyes getting teary. He shook all over in a shudder that went straight to his bones. "I- I don't know if I'll be able to talk, Rumil." He looked back at Rumil, to find that his brother had gotten another glass out and was smiling. Rumil winked.
"We have the rest of the day. Now, take this," he said, pushing a thick and sweet-smelling glass of red liquid over to Orophin, "and get started. Trust me, Orophin." Rumil looked away, his smile growing melancholy.
"Alcohol numbs the pain."
Orophin looked at the goblet of hard liquor, and seemed to come to a conclusion. Nodding, almost to himself, he reached out and took the glass in his hands. He took a long sip, letting the fire of the drink burn in his stomach, burning to ashes the pain that had shot through his heart for the past few days.
Orophin and Rumil looked at each other, and there was a long silence. Then, Rumil held his glass forwards.
"To the ones who have died. To the future. To healing from all of these damned wounds." Orophin smiled, and held out his glass as well.
"Okay."
"Now," Rumil said firmly. "We need to find out about that 'suicide.' Didn't something feel wrong to you?"
"As a matter of fact," Orophin said with a deep frown, "it did."
******************************************************************
Erin sighed, brilliant red hair swinging as Helle combed it for her, her mind having found a safe haven from her usual rutted track of thoughts. She didn't normally think like a sane person, she knew. These moments were rare, few and far between.
//I cannot wait until they figure it out,// she thought wistfully, looking out the window, up towards Haldir's talan. //Maybe after the Dark One dies, I'll be able to break out of this prison. This prison in my mind.//
*****tbc*****
A/n: The ending is revealing itself! It won't be long now! Next is the last chapter! *huggles* I love you all. Really and truly. You're the reason I write so well (if you could go so far as to call this "good"). Now, poll: Should I or should I not make Labyrinth into a book? I may have to create a fantasy world for it and end up writing a frickin series, but should I nonetheless? Would you go out and buy it? ... Hmmm. Answer, por favor, mis amigas y amigos.
lyl
Nightbird*Songbird
