Author's note: Hurray! I wrote this quick 'cause I had to put it down. I'm
putting it out now. This chapter is a little shorter than the others but I
think that this one has some important things that will show up as we keep
moving on the story.
I got two more reviews! Thanks very much to you guys for taking the time to
send one in! Your encouragement means more than you think! (In other words,
send in another one!) Enjoy chapter 4 because 5 won't be far behind.
Stars
I ventured into the night. The chilly breeze blew gently. My hair whipped back and my dress rippled. I kept walking. Thinking.
I thought that he had seen. Boromir. The way that he had locked his eyes to mine. The way he looked different when he left. Was it my imagination? Did he really see? I couldn't, wouldn't have let him. But it had happened, more than once.
When I was younger, I used to make my brother cry. I'd only looked at him for a moment, but then he'd burst out, bawling. My mother and father didn't understand. Finally, when they could get my brother to sit calmly, he'd said that he saw a young man. The young man was surrounded by orcs. The orcs were stabbing him. The man screamed and screamed, and he could not make out the words, but he knew that the man's last words were: "For Gondor, for Gondor!"
He was scared of me. My parents suspected something. I didn't know why this happened. I had seen the young man too. I had seen him die. We lived in Rivendell, so the most obvious thing to do was to see Lord Elrond. He watched me when he thought I didn't notice. We met on multiple occasions. I told him about what I liked to do besides studying. He knew that I wanted to be a warrior. I had asked him many times to tell my father so. But he would just say that it was my father's authority to choose what I was allowed to do. He talked to me and told me some things about himself. But still, I was unhappy.
And then it happened.
After dinner, one evening, most of the Elves went to sing and dance. I lingered behind, afraid to join them. Lord Elrond, to my surprise, asked me to dance with him, so I did. He taught me some of the simple patterns. As I looked up to thank him, he saw.
He saw his death.
I saw it too. It was sorrowful, and yet, very abstract. It wasn't as straight and cold as my brother's. It was more like something that fades away. I was shocked. He was a little shocked also. We made quite a scene, him taking me aside before the end of the song. When he asked me to recollect what I had seen, I just cried.
From then on, my father didn't love me as much. He saw me as some sort of freak. I wanted him to love me like he loved my mother and brother. I cursed myself. I cursed the secret my eyes held.
I could show you how you died.
Who wanted that? Who wanted to see such sad and horrible things? Who wanted to hurt someone who hadn't hurt you? Who wanted to be scared every time you spoke to someone? Who wanted to be shunned because of something they could not control?
Who wanted to be me?
I pondered these thoughts and sighed aloud, closing my eyes. I stopped and looked around. The moon was setting, its crescent dipping into the mountains to the West. To the East, the fires of Mordor blared incessantly. They evoked a sudden fear and worry in me. What if the Free Peoples did not unite? Could we risk war? The elves could not help Men, they would be sailing off soon. My choice would come.
My thoughts wandered back to myself. Alright, I wasn't hideous. I might even be bold enough to say that I'm a fair lass. I was old and young enough to be a man's wife. But who would want me? I was a half elf like Lord Elrond and his children. He had decided his race. I would have to decide mine soon. I didn't know how. Why hadn't I asked Lord Elrond how he did it?
I shook my head. No use worrying. I'd have to decide soon enough. I sighed. If I became an elf, it would already be time to sail into the West. If I chose to be of the race of Men, I would die one day. Did I want too?
I was worrying again. Alright, time to find that staircase. I looked around. Still on the outside of the circle, I observed the floor above, trying to find some way connecting the two circles. I didn't see one. Finally, I decided to check it out on foot some more. I sighed again, how much farther?
I looked at one of the sentries who kept watch during the night. He stared off into space, taking no notice of me. I wandered closer to him but stopped. No. Don't ask. He might see. If I got sidetracked, he would see. I wouldn't let that happen.
Feeling quite odd with myself, I trudged on. I peered at the buildings to my right. Okay, alley stairs, a door, and oh, another alley. After half an hour, I stopped in my tracks. The moon had set some time ago. My feet ached and I was frozen to the bone. I seemed to be nowhere near the staircase, wherever it was.
I didn't want to turn back. To go back empty-handed seemed stupid. I cursed myself for no reason. To my right was a corridor. A light flickered in one of the doors. Maybe I could just ask them quickly. No eye contact. I started off, turning into the City.
I walked quickly down the hall. Nothing. The light was gone. I thought I saw some movement to my right. I whirled around. Silence. The wind was tricking me. I went left and found myself facing a fork. I went right and kept walking.
"Come on," I muttered. I turned right again. The wind chilled me. I ran, frightened. I was lost. I kept running and running. Finally, I slowed to a stop. I needed to rest. Panting, I put a hand out to brace myself against a column. I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath.
I looked around. It was very dark and I took a few timid steps forward. A well. Some doors surrounding it. Stairs.
Stairs! I hurried up the narrow steps to my left. At the top, I stopped, frowning. A corridor snaked before me. It was lit by torches and farther on, the corridor forked. I hurried down the beginnings of the corridor. When I reached the fork, I turned left. I kept going but skidded to a stop. A star. The door had a star etched into the wood. My brother's chambers! I could barely believe my luck.
I knocked.
"Enter." Said a voice.
It wasn't my brother.
Stars
I ventured into the night. The chilly breeze blew gently. My hair whipped back and my dress rippled. I kept walking. Thinking.
I thought that he had seen. Boromir. The way that he had locked his eyes to mine. The way he looked different when he left. Was it my imagination? Did he really see? I couldn't, wouldn't have let him. But it had happened, more than once.
When I was younger, I used to make my brother cry. I'd only looked at him for a moment, but then he'd burst out, bawling. My mother and father didn't understand. Finally, when they could get my brother to sit calmly, he'd said that he saw a young man. The young man was surrounded by orcs. The orcs were stabbing him. The man screamed and screamed, and he could not make out the words, but he knew that the man's last words were: "For Gondor, for Gondor!"
He was scared of me. My parents suspected something. I didn't know why this happened. I had seen the young man too. I had seen him die. We lived in Rivendell, so the most obvious thing to do was to see Lord Elrond. He watched me when he thought I didn't notice. We met on multiple occasions. I told him about what I liked to do besides studying. He knew that I wanted to be a warrior. I had asked him many times to tell my father so. But he would just say that it was my father's authority to choose what I was allowed to do. He talked to me and told me some things about himself. But still, I was unhappy.
And then it happened.
After dinner, one evening, most of the Elves went to sing and dance. I lingered behind, afraid to join them. Lord Elrond, to my surprise, asked me to dance with him, so I did. He taught me some of the simple patterns. As I looked up to thank him, he saw.
He saw his death.
I saw it too. It was sorrowful, and yet, very abstract. It wasn't as straight and cold as my brother's. It was more like something that fades away. I was shocked. He was a little shocked also. We made quite a scene, him taking me aside before the end of the song. When he asked me to recollect what I had seen, I just cried.
From then on, my father didn't love me as much. He saw me as some sort of freak. I wanted him to love me like he loved my mother and brother. I cursed myself. I cursed the secret my eyes held.
I could show you how you died.
Who wanted that? Who wanted to see such sad and horrible things? Who wanted to hurt someone who hadn't hurt you? Who wanted to be scared every time you spoke to someone? Who wanted to be shunned because of something they could not control?
Who wanted to be me?
I pondered these thoughts and sighed aloud, closing my eyes. I stopped and looked around. The moon was setting, its crescent dipping into the mountains to the West. To the East, the fires of Mordor blared incessantly. They evoked a sudden fear and worry in me. What if the Free Peoples did not unite? Could we risk war? The elves could not help Men, they would be sailing off soon. My choice would come.
My thoughts wandered back to myself. Alright, I wasn't hideous. I might even be bold enough to say that I'm a fair lass. I was old and young enough to be a man's wife. But who would want me? I was a half elf like Lord Elrond and his children. He had decided his race. I would have to decide mine soon. I didn't know how. Why hadn't I asked Lord Elrond how he did it?
I shook my head. No use worrying. I'd have to decide soon enough. I sighed. If I became an elf, it would already be time to sail into the West. If I chose to be of the race of Men, I would die one day. Did I want too?
I was worrying again. Alright, time to find that staircase. I looked around. Still on the outside of the circle, I observed the floor above, trying to find some way connecting the two circles. I didn't see one. Finally, I decided to check it out on foot some more. I sighed again, how much farther?
I looked at one of the sentries who kept watch during the night. He stared off into space, taking no notice of me. I wandered closer to him but stopped. No. Don't ask. He might see. If I got sidetracked, he would see. I wouldn't let that happen.
Feeling quite odd with myself, I trudged on. I peered at the buildings to my right. Okay, alley stairs, a door, and oh, another alley. After half an hour, I stopped in my tracks. The moon had set some time ago. My feet ached and I was frozen to the bone. I seemed to be nowhere near the staircase, wherever it was.
I didn't want to turn back. To go back empty-handed seemed stupid. I cursed myself for no reason. To my right was a corridor. A light flickered in one of the doors. Maybe I could just ask them quickly. No eye contact. I started off, turning into the City.
I walked quickly down the hall. Nothing. The light was gone. I thought I saw some movement to my right. I whirled around. Silence. The wind was tricking me. I went left and found myself facing a fork. I went right and kept walking.
"Come on," I muttered. I turned right again. The wind chilled me. I ran, frightened. I was lost. I kept running and running. Finally, I slowed to a stop. I needed to rest. Panting, I put a hand out to brace myself against a column. I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath.
I looked around. It was very dark and I took a few timid steps forward. A well. Some doors surrounding it. Stairs.
Stairs! I hurried up the narrow steps to my left. At the top, I stopped, frowning. A corridor snaked before me. It was lit by torches and farther on, the corridor forked. I hurried down the beginnings of the corridor. When I reached the fork, I turned left. I kept going but skidded to a stop. A star. The door had a star etched into the wood. My brother's chambers! I could barely believe my luck.
I knocked.
"Enter." Said a voice.
It wasn't my brother.