A/N: Thank you all for you reviews. Whether you like the story or not, I do appreciate everything you all have written. I would only be upset if you all did not tell me honestly what you think! Of course I know this is a mary-sue. Come on guys! With a name like 'Tinioniel' as the main character, that kind of gives it away! I have written some very angst filled stories before, and thought it would be quite a change. It just so happens that this is the first one I have posted! For anyone who is still interested in the story, Legolas is not the love interest of Tinioniel. Not like I don't love Orlando/Legolas any less, he just isn't the one in this fic. Please keep reading and continue to tell me everything that I can do better. Hopefully, you will review with politeness and not a sarcastic attitude. Thank you all again and I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions! ^_^
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Legolas looked around for Tinioniel to enter the room. She had yet to come to dinner, as he feared. Legolas felt something when he left Tinioniel's room earlier. A feeling being emitted from her body; a feeling of despair. He did not want to push her into telling him what was going on, but it was not an option anymore. Legolas had to know what was going on in her mind. Legolas saw with his peripheral vision that someone had entered the room. He turned, and to his discontent, it was just a guard. The Guard walked across the room briskly towards Gandalf. He bent over the Gandalf's ear, and whispered something that even his ears could not discern over the high level of noise in the room. The expression on Mithrandir's face, however, was enough to tell him something was wrong. Gandalf followed the guard from the room, going a faster pace then him. Legolas decided to follow, so he exited the room as well. He heard footsteps following him, and saw Aragorn, Gimli, and Eomer following him. Legolas smiled when he saw them trailing. Gimli, with his proud steps, tried his hardest like always to keep up with the giant strides of the humans. Legolas forced his attention on Gandalf, as Eomer, whose feelings were overwhelming, caught up with Legolas' strides and surpassed him.
- ~ * ~ -
This was it. It was not the cliff that she had intended on, but Tinioniel could not be picky. She was so eager for an unwanted but necessary death. She slipped off the shoes that she had been wearing, and felt the small amount of grass that was left underneath her feet. Peering down the steep drop, Tinioniel made her way ever closer to the edge, wrapping her toes around the rocky surface. This was the end. Not just for her life, but the end for all those who suffered because of her. She could not decide if she was being selfish or not, but it did not matter. Soon, she would not have to worry about being in the way. Soon, the people of Helm's Deep would be safe. A tear trickled down her soft cheek as the wind tore at her hair and clothing.
- ~ * ~ -
Gandalf was told of Tinioniel, and was not completely surprised to see that she was gone by the time they arrived. Eomer was behind him, followed by Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli.
"Fool! How could you leave her alone?" The guard was taken aback, and was at a loss for words. "And you are supposed to be a guard are you?" Gandalf's frustrated voice rose, as Eomer placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We are wasting time. You can be as hostile as you want, when Tinioniel is safely back in her room." Gandalf agreed, a little shameful that he allowed his temper to rise. They four of them mounted horses and rode off into the night, in the feverish search for Tinioniel, before something else found her.
- ~ * ~ -
A sensation besieged by a chilling power. Tinioniel felt out of control of her own body. She began to panic, but then another feeling soaked into her. Some reason, the last precipice seemed peaceful. It was tranquil, and probably the most relaxed she has been in days. Everything seemed to be falling into place, as she closed her eyes. Tinioniel moved one foot from the ground and set it upon the air. Using her other foot, she jumped, launching herself into the air. Then, her feet hit something solid. Tinioniel opened her eyes to found herself floating on the air, as if an invisible platform was beneath her. The crystal around her was glowing soothingly. Tinioniel smiled, as her hand enclosed around the gem.
- ~ * ~ -
"I think that we should split up." Gimli spoke, his heavy Scottish intonation coming down on them.
"Well this is a first for me; A dwarf with a good idea."
"I didn't hear you pitch any ideas out there master elf, so I don't think you should be talking at all." Legolas lifted his hands in defense, as a smile lit up both their faces.
"Good idea. Aragorn and I shall ride, and Legolas, Gimli, and Eomer will walk. Be swift in your search. Time is against us." Gandalf rode with Aragorn, searching with quick eyes.
"Eomer, I think we should split up as well. Gimli can come with me and you can go alone, if you do not mind." Eomer shook his head in approval and they set off their separate ways. Eomer ran through the open, desolate fields, hoping to fine her, but they were completely devoid of life. Then, Eomer saw her, suspended in the air.
"Tinioniel!" Eomer screamed, rushing to the edge of the crag. Tinioniel turned and looked into his saddened eyes.
"It is alright." Her voice was soothing and sweet. Eomer reached out his hand for her.
"Please, Come here. I will help you."
"I do not need help. Eomer, I killed those people. I killed them. I lured the orcs there. I killed them."
"No! It was not your fault!" He retorted, trying desperately for her to come into his arms.
"This is for the best. I can not get home. I am only a burden and in the way here."
"You are not a burden! I am happy that you came! Because of you, I was given new life."
"You are in danger if I stay. Everyone is in danger if I stay, so I will take my own life to compensate."
"But you do not need to do that!" Tinioniel walked on the air over to him as if she intended to stay and not fall. She grasped onto her hand, and took something from her finger. Holding out her hand, she passed the object to Eomer. Eomer reached out his hand and felt a lukewarm object. She closed his hand with her own, and stayed in her position. The radiant light glowing around her got slightly brighter, but only slightly as Eomer opened his hand. He saw the object placed in his hand was a ring. The blue jewel sparkled magnificently in the darkness as Eomer admired it.
"Take it. And remember me, do not forget. Please keep it. It is my gift to you."
"I will not keep it for it is yours! You shall wear it!"
"I have no need for it now. It is a gift. Accept it."
"I will not! You shall wear it! Please do not kill yourself!"
"There is no other way." She replied, her voice still serene like placid water that has been untouched. It seemed unreal to her normal voice, almost possessed with deep tone. Tinioniel started to back away, getting farther away from Eomer.
"Please. Do not go away. I do not know what I would do with out someone to pick on!" Eomer felt his voice shake, realizing feelings being stirred within him. Tinioniel only smiled. The crystal dagger grew ever brighter, and the unseen land that Tinioniel stood begin to falter. She leaned back, throwing herself to the wind as she began the descent downwards. "No!" Eomer bellowed his hand outstretched trying to reach her. Tinioniel's eyes were closed, and tears still poured through them floating upwards to Eomer. Tinioniel felt the world slip away from her, when a warm hand grabbed her around the waist.
"No." She weakly protested. "Let me die, so I may protect the ones I love. The one I love. I do not want them to die. Let me go. Please." The concealed hand continued to pull her upwards, as Tinioniel passed from all thought and knowledge.
- ~ * ~ -
Gandalf steadied his staff as he raised Tinioniel's body from the darkened abyss. Eomer held the ring in his hands, and slipped it onto a plain chain that he already wore around his neck. His friends stood around him, anticipating Tinioniel's safety, as Gandalf concentrated on protecting her. 'I wanted to protect her. I failed her.' Eomer thought, but his thoughts were taken from him as Tinioniel's body peaked over the edge of the sheer drop. Eomer cradled her limp body in his arms, wanting nothing more then for her eyes to open. Gandalf seemed exhausted, but stayed standing over the two on the ground.
"Wake up." Eomer pleaded. "Please wake up now." Tinioniel's eyes flickered open, and she sat up abruptly after gaining her bearings.
"Why did you have to interfere? I was so close!" Aragorn and Gimli were surprised at her remark, not expecting scolding but praise and thanks for her safety. "If I do not die, then others, many others will take my place. I have to die to save them."
"You know nothing of this matter! Do you want to know why they died for you? They died for you because you were promised to them. You are filling an age old prediction, that a girl with extraordinary powers would come and save Middle-Earth in its deathly hour. You are the reason they died, and they died for a good reason! You selfish girl. How could you think about jumping off a cliff?" Tinioniel looked at the men surrounding her, and at the cliff that was not too far away.
"W-What happened?" Tinioniel remembered what had just taken place as if she snapped out of a trance. Tinioniel climbed to her feet, and walked away from the group of men. "Do not look at me." Gandalf was the first to oblige, then the others followed, not sure why she wanted not to be seen. Then, a sob was heard. Tinioniel tried not to cry aloud, and was always embarrassed when others saw her cry. It made her feel weak, like she was inferior. Eomer heard her cries, and could not help but feel the need to comfort her. He wanted to hold her, to tell her that everything was alright. Tinioniel's whimper reached his ears, and he could no longer suppress his feelings. He started to make his way, moderately to the place where she stood. Tinioniel did not pay attention to the sound of his footsteps, so she was not aware of him, as he placed his arms around her, pressing his body against her back.
"Please." He begged her. "Do not go away." Tinioniel's eyes were wide, as he spoke sweet words to her. "I never realized how much of my life I was living, until you came. It was like I had never felt any emotion before. As if, all the years of my life, I had been skimming over them like reading an unwanted book. No one has ever really touched me, but you touched my soul. And when you did, I felt life like taking in my first breath. I look at you, and think that you not only came from another world, but it must have been a heavenly world to house a creature as pure and sweet as you. I have seen many facades of your personality, and I want to know more about. You make me feel like I have never truly lived, and I want to feel that. I want to experience new things with you. Because," Eomer paused, knowing that it was too late to turn back now. He felt her chest rise and fall with every breath that she took, making him feel like one with her. "because, I want you around. Every since our first meeting, I wanted to hold you tightly, and never let you go, never let you go for anyone. I wanted to protect you, but I could not. I let you fall, when I could have stopped you. I should have protected you, helped you. I still want to do that, if you still think me worthy, and there is nothing else I would rather do then to be by your side." Tinioniel stood in a hushed quiet, not sure how to respond to such a statement, which came completely with out warning. Eomer filled the silence with his lustrous voice. "You do not have to speak now. I know this is sudden, but when you fell, I thought of all the things I wanted to say, but did not." There was another long pause, when Tinioniel turned around and faced him. His green eyes looked into hers with concern. Her eyes were slightly red from her crying, but still did not take away from her beauty. Tinioniel threw her arms around his neck and hugged him deeply. She knew that she loved him, and before it seemed all so sudden, but it came all together; like the missing piece of the puzzle was found, and she felt complete in his arms. Eomer hugged on to her tightly, afraid to let her go. Whispering in her ear, she spoke softly. Eomer raised Tinioniel into his arms, and carried her over to a horse. Aragorn, Gimli, Gandalf, and Legolas mounted their horses and the six of them rode back to the deep.