Disclaimer: I don't own any LOTR Characters.

Note: Telepriën and Charity are the same person.

Chapter 7 ~ Slowly Dying ~

What is life like through

your eyes?

If I step into your world

what will I see, hear and feel?

Your life is black and white.

Dark and light.

So simple good and bad.

But how come everything

I see is in darkness?

Black and White

You do not see beyond.

Your only sanctuary

is yourself.

When I touch anything

through your fingers

it turns cold.

When you walk, the

ground burns beneath you.

Your face, your reflection

is only a mask.

You fool everyone

that you meet.

But I see a flaw,

your mask has a crack.

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Four days had past since the meeting, yet the days felt so long. The days dragged on ever so slowly, clouds flew over the land with unspent rain. Summer was coming to an end, the leaves were turning into a golden yellow. The meeting had taken a toll on some, their face grim and sad knowing their friend's life was wasting away. Yet, she did not know it herself. They tried not to mention anything to her, tried to look happy, like nothing was happening. Some kept themselves busy, trying to get their minds off the situation. Though, Aragorn and Arwen's wedding would be soon, Arwen wanted to make sure this would be a grand party. For Charity's sake, it may be her last wedding she would see. Through the darkness, a friendship was being rekindled. Legolas and Wilwarin were becoming best of friends again. They were remembering their pleasant memories of Mirkwood. Legolas had loved her before, but she did not feel for him at that time. Wilwarin however, now wanted to become more than just friends.

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Gandalf walked into the garden, his staff lightly pounding the ground. He hummed a tune while he walked, the sun could hardly be seen. Many flowers and bushes were planted in the garden, there were also many trees. Under one certain weeping willow tree laid a fragile girl. She was tapping her feet together.

"Good evening Lady Charity." Charity turned her head.

"Hi." Gandalf sat beside Charity.

"I have something to tell you." Gandalf said.

"Is it about me not really being...me?" Charity was a bit confused to what she had just said.

"Yes, how did you know?" Gandalf was surprised.

"A certain intoxicated hobbit told me."

"I see."

"But I'd like to know more." Charity sat up, she braced herself, not knowing what he would tell her. Gandalf looked at her with uncertainty.

"Well...how do I start?"

"You are not really Charity Willows...your original name is Telepriën." Gandalf waited for a reaction, but was given none. Her face had no expression at all.

"Long ago you were born, and you were gifted with magic. You were given to me...as an apprentice. I was to teach you magic so that you could fight against evil, but some though you were not ready for battle, so you were...sent away for safekeeping." The meeting had told much more detail, but Gandalf did not want her to be overflowed with so much confusing information. He did not want to tell her that he was her father, not yet.

"So let me get this straight. My name is Telperiën?" Gandalf nodded.

"I was here in Middle-earth before, learning magic. So why don't I remember this?"

"Your memory of Middle-earth was totally erased for safety."

"So I can pull rabbits out of hats and play magic card tricks?" Gandalf looked at her strangely.

"No, you posses more power than...pulling rabbits out of hats. I would like to test you tomorrow, to see if you still have power. Maybe even start training." Gandalf said, he started pondering how to magically get rabbits out of a hat. Charity nodded her head, not knowing what she was getting into. To her surprise, she was not angry, or frightened by conversation, every time she was around Gandalf she felt safe.

"Uh...so, what am I doing here now?"

"Well, I'm am going away. Leaving Middle-earth, you are here to keep middle-earth safe when I'm long gone."

"Oh..." Charity was not grasping the words being said to her, she sat in silence trying to make sense of the situation.

"I'm confused...I'm 17. Yet, you say that I was here in middle earth before. You also said, that I was to stay here long after you are gone." Charity said puzzled.

"Well, you never have to go back to where you once came from." Charity felt a relieved, never will she have to go back.

"Yes, but my age... shouldn't I be older if I was here before?"

"Alas, you are immortal." Charity snapped her head up, she looked at Gandalf with her jaw dropped.

"You're joking right?"

"No, I'm certainly not." Charity groaned and let her body fall on the ground again. Gandalf could hear her mutter 'I hate this' under her breath.

"Do you need time to think this through?"

She didn't respond, she was still in shock. Gandalf looked at her with his wise eyes, but got up and quietly left the girl.

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"I cannot believe she is to die." Merry said, his face resting on his hand.

"Do not say such thing! Gandalf said that there is still hope, hope for her to live."Frodo's words tried to rival with the dark mood Merry was having, but Merry just looked away. The room was quiet and tense, but Haldir broke the silence, trying to somehow cheer up the room.

"So she's really immortal?" Haldir asked, leaning on a chair.

"Yes she is." Frodo said.

"Well, it's great pleasure to know that she will be here for a very long time. A long time to tease her." The march warden said, still leaning on his chair. He cocked his head back, a mischievous grin was on his face. Aragorn was watching him from afar, he knew what was on his mind.

"Haldir, don't you dare get any ideas!" Aragorn looked at Haldir with an eye brow up. Haldir was startled and almost fell back onto the ground.

"Aragorn, I would never do anything to degrade her nor my innocence! " Haldir mockingly said, fluttering his eyes. Pippin and Merry started laughing, Gimli merrily laughed a long. Haldir was thinking of a way to lighten up Charity's mood.

"I see Merry and Pippin have been influencing you." A small bit of tension seemed to disappear. Aragorn tried to suppress his laughter and turned his attention to Legolas, who was silently sitting in deep thought. Aragorn thought this might be a good time to ask.

"Legolas, I see you have taken a liking for Lady Wilwarin?" Legolas was staring at the ceiling, he blinked and looked at Aragorn.

"Yes I do like her, but then again I've liked her for a long time. I just never got around to saying it." Legolas said.

"So do you love her?"

"Yes. Before I left Mirkwood, before I joined the fellowship. I had love for her." Legolas answered quickly.

"That was before, what about now?" Aragorn asked again

Legolas took a long time to respond, by then everyone's attention was on Legolas.

"Yes I do." Legolas turned to Aragorn

"Then why is their doubt it your voice?"Aragorn raised his eyebrow. The others anxiously waited for an answer, but Legolas could not find words. For once in his life, he could not figure his feelings out.

"I need to go think." Legolas stood and walked passed the group and out of the door. He made his way to the garden, but stopped when he Gandalf walking towards him.

"Did you tell her?" Legolas questioned.

"I told her very little. I did not tell her a great deal about her past, I would only confuse her. However, I did tell her she may have magical abilities. I must test and train her starting tomorrow. I hope in the name of Valar, that she still posses the power and skill." Gandalf looked worn out.

"She was glad that she did not have to go back to her old life, but she did like the fact that she was immortal. It seemed to upset her very much, so I left her with her thoughts. I never told her that I'm her father, nor did I tell her that she is dying. Telling her may just cause her more stress, and I would very much not like to speed the process of her dying. I will keep my hopes though, I will do my best to keep her alive." Gandalf was weary, Legolas put his hand on his shoulder.

"Go rest, you are tired my friend." Legolas looked at him with concern.

"By the way...how do you magically get rabbits out of a hat?" Legolas looked at Gandalf strangely.Legolas shrugged, still strangely looking at Gandalf. He weakly smiled and walked out of the garden. Legolas pondered about Gandalf's question but stopped when he saw Charity.

He did not like what he saw, her body was outstretched on the dry ground, golden leaves fell onto her, leaves skittered by her. One arm across her stomach the other placed on the ground. Her dark hair was sprawled across the ground, like shadows. Her eyes were closed, she was still, for some reason it reminded him of death.

He began to worry as he saw her begin to convulse.

**Flashback**

"Oh, this guy is so hot!" The brown-eyed girl giggled as she turned the page of a teen magazine. The blue-eyed girl laughed.

"Hey, thanks for letting me sleep over!" The brown-eyed girl said, munching on a cookie.

"No problem!" The blue-eyed girl picked up curler and put it in her hair, she watched as the brown-eyed girl turned on the radio.

"Hey do you want some chips, I think I've got some in the pantry." The blue-eyed girl asked.

"Uh, yeah sure." The brown-eyed girl went back to the magazine. The blue-eyed girl walked out the door, and down the stairs. She was slightly bobbing her head to the music from the radio. She walked across the living room and into the kitchen, she opened the pantry door and looked around. She saw the chip bag up on the shelf, she was on the tips of her toes as she reached for the chip bag. 'Got it' She turned around and closed the pantry door. She made her way back to the room when she heard the backdoor open. In came her mom.

"Oh hey mom, how was work?" The blue-eyed girl said casually, tearing open the chip bag.

"Oh fine." The women removed her jacket and put it on a kitchen chair. Her mother tucked her hair behind her ears, she walked across the kitchen to get a glass. The blue-eyed girl took out a chip and put it in her mouth.

"Why didn't you wash the dishes?" Her mother looked in the sink, two dishes were dirty.

"Oh, um sorry I forgot. I'll do that right away." She walked to the sink.

"Why didn't you do it before! So you wouldn't have to do it now!" Her mother yelled.

"Mom, please. We have a guest upstairs!" The blue-eyed girl tried to hush her mother.

"OH! Excuse me for not wanting this place to be tidy!! So just because one of your prissy friends is here, means that you get away with anything!" Her mother started to walk towards her, with booming footsteps. The blue-eyed girl was motionless with fear. Her mother took the chip bag and smacked it across her face, chips fell to the ground.

"Oh would you look at that! There's more dirt from you! You'll have to pick that up, unless you can't because you have GUEST!" The woman spat on the blue-eyed girl. The woman pushed the girl down to the ground, behind the couch. The women lifted her fist and pounded them onto the girl's face. The blue-eyed girl could see at the corner of her eye, the brown-eyed looking on with terror.

**End of Flashback**

Legolas watched the girl, her face had turned abnormally pale. Her eyes were drained of their color. It was probably another memory, he knew death would be looming over her. All he could do was watch the girl, and hope for the best. For five minutes he watched the small rise and fall of her chest, until he heard her take in a long breath.

Charity blinked, her eyes returned to their color, she felt her skin becoming warm again. Her head felt like it was spinning, she felt sick, so she rolled over on her side, there was an urge to vomit.

"Lady Charity? Are you okay?" Legolas knew that the memories were now affecting her body. This was not a good sign.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Charity managed to mutter out.

"Eat this." Legolas gave her some sort of herb. Charity took it and looked.

"Legolas...I don't eat leaves."

"Trust me, just eat it." Charity agreed and put it in her mouth. As she chewed, she could taste a hint of mint. The urge to vomit started to suppress.

'This elf is a walking medicine cabinet'

*******************************

"You must be so happy marrying Aragorn!" Gwilwileth said.

"Hm...yes. I'm so happy." Arwen said gleaming, but in the back of her mind she knew he was mortal. They both walked into Arwen's room.

"So Wil, have you chosen a dress to wear?" Arwen asked.

"No I have not, I don't know what to wear!" Gwilwileth said with a bit of panic.

"Don't worry, I'll get my hand maidens to make one for you. Just tell me the color and how you want the dress to look like." A servant came in with measuring tape.

"Oh, that's beautiful! You can see the whole garden!" Gwilwileth walked closer towards the balcony, her hair moving with the wind. Arwen followed.

"Yes, it's the best scenery." Gwilwileth put her hand on the railing, then she tilted her head.

"Is that Legolas?" Arwen turned around to see what she was staring at.

"What is he doing with that girl?" Gwilwileth gently said.

"Oh that's Lady Charity, um...I'm not sure what they're doing." Arwen looked on with wonder.

"They're not...?" Gwilwileth asked with earnest.

"No, Lady Charity and Legolas are just fri...acquaintances." Arwen knew Charity had a slight disliking for Legolas.

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Charity started panicking, the memory she just had was racing through her head. She tried to pick her wrist up, but Legolas pinned them down.

"Do not do this to yourself Charity, you have to remember."

"I do not wish to establish these memories in my life." She grimaced

"You must."

"Legolas you do not know the pain I feel." Legolas still had her arms pinned to the ground, he kneeled close to her head. He looked down at her. She was right, he did not know of her pain.

"Remember."

"No." She firmly said.

"Then death is upon you." Legolas sadly whispered.

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing...but please at least find a different way to release your anger, without hurting yourself." Charity looked up at Legolas, upside down. She screamed, it was a long scream. Legolas couldn't stand the noise and let go of her arms, he backed away a bit. She clenched her fist and punched the ground, she sat up and stopped screaming. Her knees bent, and her hands covering her face. She still felt dizzy. Legolas stood quietly, a little frightened by her fit.

"Legolas, you should leave...I'm sure you have something better to do than watch me have a mental break down." She said through her hands.

"I will not leave you, I know you are danger to yourself. So I will stay, but I will keep quiet if you wish." Legolas seated himself next to her. Charity however, was trying her best to understand the memory, though, it hurt her. The temptation to hurt herself was so strong, it was taunting her, her wrist were throbbing, but as long as Legolas was here she could do nothing. Legolas was in his own thoughts, contemplating his love for Wilwarwin.

"I can't believe I will be carrying all this pain forever." Charity muttered.

"All you have to do is understand these memories you're having, then the pain will eventually disappear."

"I walk hand in hand with pain every day, and I will for the rest of my life. Alone. End of story. " Legolas didn't want to argue with her, Charity quickly changed the subject.

"Legolas...where am I?"she mumbled. Legolas was confused.

"Pardon?"

"I've been here for weeks but I don't even know where I am."

"In Middle-Earth."

"I know that..."

"Oh, you're in Gondor...specifically Minas Tirith." They both went back to their own thoughts.

"Why are there so many people coming here?" Charity broke the silence again.

"They're here for Aragorn and Arwen's wedding." They were also here for Lady Charity, but he didn't say it.

"Lady Charity!" Arwen yelled out, Charity looked up and saw Arwen and Gwilwileth standing on a balcony.

"I have a couple dresses you should try out!" Arwen waved.

Charity boringly thought to herself, 'Ah crap ...dresses..again. Why don't I just dance around in a pink frilly dress like a pansy'

"Are you sure you're well?" Legolas asked.

"Mmm hmm" Charity lied, but she also did not want to sit with this elf for all of eternity. Charity stood up, but stayed still.

"Is something wrong?" Legolas asked.

"Um...I don't know where her room is..." Charity tapped the point of her shoe on the ground.

"I'll take you to her." Legolas looked up at Gwilwileth, she was gazing at him. He smiled. Legolas and Charity walked into the castle and walked up the stairs, they walked across a long hallway. Charity looked down, she saw the hobbits sitting at a table conversing.

"Here we are." Legolas knocked on the door, Arwen opened the door. They both stepped into the room. Gwilwileth swiftly came to the side of Legolas, she clung onto his arm, and looked at him with a smile. But he was not looking at her, his eyes were on Charity. She sat on the bed, bad postured, she was slouching. Arwen was experimenting with Charity's hair, she had put white rose petals in her hair, the color clashed with her ebony hair, for some reason he was intrigued.

"Let's go." Gwilwileth whispered into Legolas's ear, he shivered. Elves' ears were sensitive. It tore his gaze away from Charity and focused on Gwilwileth.

"Sure." They both walked out of the room, Legolas shut the door behind them.

"Arwen...um...what are you doing?" Charity nervously asked.

"I want you to look special for my wedding, I'm trying to figure out what to do with your hair." Charity nodded.

"I got you something for your training." Arwen walked in a closet and brought out a Coat. It was a black fitted coat, it fell to her knees. It was a rough material on the outside, but on the inside it was soft. It had a hood, made of silk. There was also a tunic and black pants, but Arwen managed to make them a bit more feminine, by adding embroidered leaves across the chest area.

"Wow, This is for me?" Arwen nodded smiling.

"Oh, I also need you to try out these dresses for the wedding." Arwen went back into the closet, and brought out a white dress and a green dress. Charity frowned.

"Please wear a dress!...For me?" Arwen looked at her pleadingly. Charity knew she had to wear a dress, it was Arwen's wedding. Charity nodded in defeat.

"All right, first try on the green dress." Arwen handed the dress to Charity, Arwen walked out of the room waiting for Charity to change. The door opened slightly.

"Okay I'm done." Charity whispered. Arwen walked in and looked at her.

"Turn." Charity turned slowly. The dress was too big for her, it was almost falling off. Charity struggled to pull the dress up, but the sleeves were so long she couldn't grasp the material. Green was not her color, Arwen shook her head. She stood looking up and down at Charity, then her face lit up.

"Never mind these dresses! I have a whole new idea!" Arwen called for a servant. Arwen walked back and forth as the servant took Charity's measurements.

"Ah I've found a perfect color for your dress!" Without saying a word, Charity questioned her with a glance.

"You'll find out later." Charity changed back to her normal clothes, Arwen handed her the clothing for her training.

"Oh, I'm so excited for this dress! I can't wait till it's finished!" Even though this was Charity's dress, Arwen was more excited than her. Charity smiled courteously, and backed away from the frantic room. Arwen and the servants were discussing their ideas.

'I'm glad that's over with' Charity walked down the hallway, she saw Haldir leaning against the railing, looking down into the dining room.

'Crap!' Charity clamped her hand on her forehead. Haldir turned to Charity.

"Something bothering you?" Haldir had turned around so that his back was now leaning on the railing. Petals were still mangled in her hair, some petals fell to the floor.

"I forgot to ask Arwen for directions to my room." Charity removed her hand off her forehead.

"Do you want me to take you?" She nodded. Charity walked with Haldir, she could smell a certain scent from him, vanilla.

"I like vanilla." Charity said 'No freakin way! Did said that out loud?!'

Haldir turned his head and gave the girl an odd look, but soon grinned. 'Crap I did!' He had a feeling he knew what she was talking about. Charity was mentally swearing at herself as they walked towards her room. They walked passed Legolas and Gwilwileth, she was till clinging to Legolas's arm, they were both talking to Aragorn. Legolas couldn't help but look behind him and watch Charity walk away with Haldir.

"This is my room." She turned the door knob, they walked in. Charity dumped her training gear onto the bed, she went into the bathroom and turned on the water tap. She was about to take her shirt off when she realized Haldir was still in the room, it was odd, he was not smiling, nor grinning. 'Oh no' Charity was mentally swearing at herself again.

"Um...thanks for helping me find my room...." She said quietly, her body was close to her bed post. Instead of turning to the door, Haldir walked up to Charity, he slipped his hand onto the back of her neck. Charity did not falter at his touch, but she was surely nervous. Haldir bent down slightly, Charity wasn't really that tall. He leaned his head closer to hers, she could see his hypnotic eyes. Her only support was her hand on the bedpost, which was now failing to hold her. Haldir's face was getting closer and closer to her face. She let out a little squeak of fright, Haldir snapped his head back, Charity's hand slipped from the bed post, she almost fell back. Haldir quickly caught her, Charity's face was red from embarrassment, she wanted to run into the closet and never come out. Haldir's usual smirk was on his face again, he still held Charity. He leaned in once again.

"That wasn't the best time to make a sound." Haldir whispered. If it was possible, Charity turned another shade of red.

"Oh, if you were wondering. I was just examining your facial structure. Goodnight." Haldir said smoothly, removing his hands off of Charity. He walked out of the room not looking back at her, a silly smile on his face.

She collapsed on the bed, she looked at the ceiling dumbstruck.

'What just happened' She bluntly asked herself. She didn't know if she wanted to kill the elf for making her look like a fool, be delighted or just take it as nothing.

'What am I saying...me and someone else? No... I promised never to let anyone get the better of me' She shook her head, but deep inside she was longing for someone to care about her. Charity tried her best to convince herself to never love anyone.

"Oh crap!" She realized the water was still on in the bathroom, she ran into the bathroom and turned off the water. Luckily the tub was not overflowing. Charity undressed and placed her body into the tub, a bit of water splashed onto the floor. She laid there, with here arms on the edge of tub, she looked around. No one. The only sound being made was the water dripping from the faucet. Unhappiness sweltering within her.

You can give her a rose every single day of her life, give her the most beautiful dresses in the world, shower her with kisses, read poems, and she'd greatly smile at you. But at the end of the day, nothing really matters, because at the end of the day she's all alone.

~Thanks for reading! I would greatly appreciate it if you would Review!~

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I'm not sure if I did this chapter well, I have a tendency not to so well on lighter chapters, but I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for the wonderful reviews so far, but please keep on reviewing me. ^^ Wow! I can't believe I actually made one of you cry!

Some of you may wonder why Charity is hostile towards Legolas and not towards Haldir. My secret, you'll have to keep on reading and I'll keep updating. Mwahahaahaha...okay sorry too much caffeine! \(o_O)/ I added a poem to Chpt1