Please notice I've changed the Elvish for "mother" from Atara to
Naneth, which is really the correct form (I hope). I wish I had known that
before I posted the other chapters, but I'll try to fix them also now.
Vané Alasse
A/N I'm not sure this chapter is as good as I'd wanted; I've really struggled with it. Just when I thought it was done I had to go change something... Argh. Oh well, here it is... Vane Alasse
Wait for the Sunrise
by Vané Alasse
Chapter Seven
Our Land Will Be Free Again
Falath walked behind the warden in a daze. Her steps were short and she was dizzy from lack of restful sleep. Each time she closed her eyes Firion's cold, pale face flashed against a screen of blackness. Her thoughts wandered, and memory played evil games with her mind.
Guilt began to foment in her conscience. She saw her brother lying on the street, his head against the paving stones. Scattered armour and the dead lay all around him. Each time her eyes closed the scene expanded. She had left him there, alone. She had abandonded him.
The warden led the way through a maze of rooms and hallways. They took a stair down to the ground. At last they reached a heavy wooden door, and the warden stopped. As he opened it the hinges groaned. Falath followed him as they passed beneath the doorframe and into a dimly lit room.
Standing and sitting around the floor were women and children. Most did not seem to notice the arrival of the warden. In the far corner a young woman sat on the windowsill. The warden pointed her out to Falath.
"Do you know her?" he asked quietly.
Falath looked at her earnestly, but she could not properly discern her features. She shook her head.
At that moment the young woman turned her head around. She gave a little gasp and jumped to her feet.
"Falath!" she exclaimed, and began to run to her.
Falath took a step backward.
"Falath! Oh, Falath! It is me, Brethil!" she cried, opening her arms to her sister.
Falath fell against her shoulder. Brethil laughed softly, but Falath began to weep.
"Hush," said Brethil. "You needn't cry. We are here, see. Naneth is here also. We made it, Falath. We are all safe now."
Falath felt her mother wrap her arms around her and gently kiss her cheek. Tears fell from her eyes, and she thought of Firion. But she had not the courage to tell them now, sadness could wait. For now they were together again, and that was the most important consideration.
Suddenly a noise sounded through the air. It penetrated the room and vibrated the floor.
Everyone stirred and commotion broke out.
The warden hurried to the window.
"The horns of Rohan!" he cried. "The Rohirrim have come to our aid!"
"Rohan? The horse lords have come?" asked Brethil.
They drew close to the window. The view was stunning.
Over the black fields of the Pelennor the armies were spread everywhere, like black maggots greedy to devour a carcass. But far in the distance over the edge of the plain the calvary of the north was marshaled.
On the plains line after line of soldiers in flashing mail mounted a sea of restless horses. The sound of the horns bellowed louder and filled the air with a thick, warm resonance. In one united motion the calvary began to charge, rippling over the Pelennor like a golden wave. The thundering of hooves and battle cries of the riders melded together into a churning herald of hope.
Shouts of relief and happiness erupted sporadically through the room. The horse masters had fulfilled their oaths.
Amidst the commotion around her, Falath felt frozen in time. She could hardly comprehend everything. Shouts of relief and happiness erupted sporadically from the house as the news spread from one room to the next.
"Look!" shouted one of the children. "The sun!"
It was true. Over the eastern hills of shadow pure rays of sunlight were piercing through the evil haze. They dashed asunder the far-reaching gloom. The forces of Mordor on the fields quavered before the sun's stunning brilliance. In the city streets of Minas Tirith the fell creatures of darkness trembled before the blazing curtains of light cascading over the land. Warmth spread from housetop to housetop as hope was rekindled in the hearts of everyone fighting for the survival of the people of the West.
A lance of golden light fell before Falath's face. Warm sunlight danced on the wall. It reflected in Falath's eyes and darted playfully over her hands. Falling in brilliant shafts through the darkness it glittered on the dust hanging in the air.
A voice somewhere in the room broke into singing.
Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor!
The sun has come to drive away terror,
And the pureness of dawn will cleanse us all.
Sing now, and rejoice!
For the sun has come to save us!
Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor!
The beams of hope shine once more upon you.
Your land is fair and will be free again.
Sing now, and rejoice!
At long last the sunrise has come!
THE END
Replies to reviews:
Harpie: Oh no! I checked so carefully for spelling, too. Nuts! Oh well, thanks for telling me. And for faithfully reading each chapter. :)
Lossenrhos: Thanks for reading this! I really appreciate all your reviews; you're very honest and helpful, not to mention encouraging. I was so excited when you found my stuff here; you were my favorite reviewer on Barrowdowns. Thanks!
Golden Hobbit: Please keep reading! :) Thanks for reviewing.
LotRfan: Are you still following this? Please review, thanks! :)
OB-sessed: Thanks for reviewing, and please keep reading!
Elvenwood: I like your name! (The Annoying Little Freak nic made me laugh . . .) Please do check out my other stuff... it's mostly poetry, but I do have an Arwen and Aragorn tale (One Last Time). If you're interested my friend and I are co-authoring a post-RotK story (Seven Stars Set in a Silver Sea) about the children of Arwen/Aragorn, Eowyn/Farmir, Legolas/wife (sorry, no name yet), and a mystery that is changing their lives. (I'm really bad at summaries, but I think it's a pretty good story. Based on the reviews, Legolas's son seems to be the high-point...)
Mysterious Jedi: Thanks for reviewing! Please keep reading. :)
Beam-y: "Not dear, sweet, inocent Falath!" I love it... :) Thanks for reviewing! (And for reviewing my other stuff also. Did you know you reviewed I Will Be The One, Silent Pain, and One Last Time twice? Nothing wrong with that, I love hearing from you!)
Thank you all for reading my story! I love hearing what you think. :)
Vané Alasse
A/N I'm not sure this chapter is as good as I'd wanted; I've really struggled with it. Just when I thought it was done I had to go change something... Argh. Oh well, here it is... Vane Alasse
Wait for the Sunrise
by Vané Alasse
Chapter Seven
Our Land Will Be Free Again
Falath walked behind the warden in a daze. Her steps were short and she was dizzy from lack of restful sleep. Each time she closed her eyes Firion's cold, pale face flashed against a screen of blackness. Her thoughts wandered, and memory played evil games with her mind.
Guilt began to foment in her conscience. She saw her brother lying on the street, his head against the paving stones. Scattered armour and the dead lay all around him. Each time her eyes closed the scene expanded. She had left him there, alone. She had abandonded him.
The warden led the way through a maze of rooms and hallways. They took a stair down to the ground. At last they reached a heavy wooden door, and the warden stopped. As he opened it the hinges groaned. Falath followed him as they passed beneath the doorframe and into a dimly lit room.
Standing and sitting around the floor were women and children. Most did not seem to notice the arrival of the warden. In the far corner a young woman sat on the windowsill. The warden pointed her out to Falath.
"Do you know her?" he asked quietly.
Falath looked at her earnestly, but she could not properly discern her features. She shook her head.
At that moment the young woman turned her head around. She gave a little gasp and jumped to her feet.
"Falath!" she exclaimed, and began to run to her.
Falath took a step backward.
"Falath! Oh, Falath! It is me, Brethil!" she cried, opening her arms to her sister.
Falath fell against her shoulder. Brethil laughed softly, but Falath began to weep.
"Hush," said Brethil. "You needn't cry. We are here, see. Naneth is here also. We made it, Falath. We are all safe now."
Falath felt her mother wrap her arms around her and gently kiss her cheek. Tears fell from her eyes, and she thought of Firion. But she had not the courage to tell them now, sadness could wait. For now they were together again, and that was the most important consideration.
Suddenly a noise sounded through the air. It penetrated the room and vibrated the floor.
Everyone stirred and commotion broke out.
The warden hurried to the window.
"The horns of Rohan!" he cried. "The Rohirrim have come to our aid!"
"Rohan? The horse lords have come?" asked Brethil.
They drew close to the window. The view was stunning.
Over the black fields of the Pelennor the armies were spread everywhere, like black maggots greedy to devour a carcass. But far in the distance over the edge of the plain the calvary of the north was marshaled.
On the plains line after line of soldiers in flashing mail mounted a sea of restless horses. The sound of the horns bellowed louder and filled the air with a thick, warm resonance. In one united motion the calvary began to charge, rippling over the Pelennor like a golden wave. The thundering of hooves and battle cries of the riders melded together into a churning herald of hope.
Shouts of relief and happiness erupted sporadically through the room. The horse masters had fulfilled their oaths.
Amidst the commotion around her, Falath felt frozen in time. She could hardly comprehend everything. Shouts of relief and happiness erupted sporadically from the house as the news spread from one room to the next.
"Look!" shouted one of the children. "The sun!"
It was true. Over the eastern hills of shadow pure rays of sunlight were piercing through the evil haze. They dashed asunder the far-reaching gloom. The forces of Mordor on the fields quavered before the sun's stunning brilliance. In the city streets of Minas Tirith the fell creatures of darkness trembled before the blazing curtains of light cascading over the land. Warmth spread from housetop to housetop as hope was rekindled in the hearts of everyone fighting for the survival of the people of the West.
A lance of golden light fell before Falath's face. Warm sunlight danced on the wall. It reflected in Falath's eyes and darted playfully over her hands. Falling in brilliant shafts through the darkness it glittered on the dust hanging in the air.
A voice somewhere in the room broke into singing.
Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor!
The sun has come to drive away terror,
And the pureness of dawn will cleanse us all.
Sing now, and rejoice!
For the sun has come to save us!
Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor!
The beams of hope shine once more upon you.
Your land is fair and will be free again.
Sing now, and rejoice!
At long last the sunrise has come!
THE END
Replies to reviews:
Harpie: Oh no! I checked so carefully for spelling, too. Nuts! Oh well, thanks for telling me. And for faithfully reading each chapter. :)
Lossenrhos: Thanks for reading this! I really appreciate all your reviews; you're very honest and helpful, not to mention encouraging. I was so excited when you found my stuff here; you were my favorite reviewer on Barrowdowns. Thanks!
Golden Hobbit: Please keep reading! :) Thanks for reviewing.
LotRfan: Are you still following this? Please review, thanks! :)
OB-sessed: Thanks for reviewing, and please keep reading!
Elvenwood: I like your name! (The Annoying Little Freak nic made me laugh . . .) Please do check out my other stuff... it's mostly poetry, but I do have an Arwen and Aragorn tale (One Last Time). If you're interested my friend and I are co-authoring a post-RotK story (Seven Stars Set in a Silver Sea) about the children of Arwen/Aragorn, Eowyn/Farmir, Legolas/wife (sorry, no name yet), and a mystery that is changing their lives. (I'm really bad at summaries, but I think it's a pretty good story. Based on the reviews, Legolas's son seems to be the high-point...)
Mysterious Jedi: Thanks for reviewing! Please keep reading. :)
Beam-y: "Not dear, sweet, inocent Falath!" I love it... :) Thanks for reviewing! (And for reviewing my other stuff also. Did you know you reviewed I Will Be The One, Silent Pain, and One Last Time twice? Nothing wrong with that, I love hearing from you!)
Thank you all for reading my story! I love hearing what you think. :)
Vané Alasse