A/N: Thanks to the following reviewers –
Lady Serensa: I am happy that I was able to Humor you, but rest assured, those mistakes were never deliberate, and as for spell checking, other readers informed me as well and the future chapters are free from any errors, except for one chapter with excess exclamation marks. Guess I was over excited! And as for the suggestion of a self-insert, this is NOT a self-insert at all. I am a person who does not believe in Mary Sue type of stories though I have nothing against them. So, I hope that clears your doubt. And this is fan fiction. That means we can create worlds of our own within the given world. As long as we do not change certain rules, it's fine! And I assure my dear readers that I have formulated the plot only based on Tolkien's work. If we were to follow the books very ardently, then there isn't much scope for Fan fiction is there? And the Elvish part, Even Tolkien had elvish phrases in his book. And as a somewhat faithful follower of his language, I thought it would be nice as the speakers are either elves or someone who knows elven. I give the translations then and there. So I don't think it damages the flow that much. But I always thank you for taking your time for correcting me and giving me pointers. Thank you. Cheers!
JessieRose: You back! Squeal! Thanks for the review! I think they are cute as well. They are in my story! Duh! Anyways, thanks a bunch! And as for the updates, let's just say I have a LOT of time at hand! LOL
Slowness: Ever my good reviewer! I thank thee and wish thy review days would go on in all glory. You feel happy? It explains. Just kidding! LOL
Another A/N: we are almost at the end of this story. In another two to three chapters, I intend to complete this story and get on with another story, which has been bugging me for a long time now. Thank you for all the support you've rendered to me.
Disclaimer: I don't own LOtR.
The Prophecy
Chapter 15 (Meeting the torment)
He sat there, dreading each and every minute. She would wake up. But that was the excuse he had been giving himself for three days now. Silme slept on. Aragorn had become hysteric when they had searched the entire castle and found nothing. They had however found a map, which marked the lands further east from there. Gandalf had shut himself in a room trying to map the area and find the shortest and not necessarily the safest route to the fort of Nwalme. But Legolas felt more pressing matters on himself as he guiltily wiped Silme's brow with a damp cloth. She had suffered emotional storms, which had left her weak. How he prayed he might have stayed! But he thanked the Valar that Gandalf had smelt through the treason soon enough or what would have happened he dared not to think.
"Silme, please wake up. Don't leave me as you promised." He held her hand, which was pale and cold in his and gently kissed her palm. Aragorn had offered to sit beside Silme while Legolas would rest but the elf had refused to move from her side.
"Amin dele ten' ho." (I am worried about him.) Aragorn told Gandalf later when he came down from Silme's room and informed Gandalf of the rejection for his plea to relieve Legolas. Gandalf merely nodded in understanding as he turned to look at the room inside which Silme now slept.
She slowly stirred, her eyes focused on nothing in particular as she tried to gather what was happening around her. As she screwed her brows together, her head seemed to break. An involuntary moan broke out from her mouth as she closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt somebody shuffle beside her. Someone was kneeling besides her holding her hand.
"Silme, can you hear me? Silme." His voice shook as he held her hand in his. Her deep brown eyes rested on top of his golden locks. He was bent on top of her hand, crying? She couldn't tell. But Legolas was away. Fighting the minion. Then it all came back to her – Mila and Wenya – Mila's betrayal – every single misery.
"Mila – where is she?"
Legolas looked up to smile at his charge. Her face was bemused as though terribly confused.
"She is dead, melamin. She died." Silme's eyes widened a little as she heard his voice.
"Legolas?" she asked feeling his touch on her right palm. He nodded a little as he smiled. He had not slept for so long. She could tell. His hair was haphazard and faint lines were seen beneath his eyes. She gently placed her left hand, which was free on his cheek, feeling its smoothness.
"Uuma dela, Silme. You are safe."(I don't care, Silme. You are safe.) Silme nodded smiling as she felt the bed below her. Its softness was comforting.
"What happened, Legolas?" the elf sighed. "Had we known of Mila's treason, we would have never left you. As we left you with Mila and Wenya, we seemed to be covering the same place over and over again. We were terribly trapped in her illusions. She even fooled you with an illusion of the glade. She almost killed you. But I am glad you are alright now." He gently kissed her hand as he dropped it onto the bed. Silme smiled but then a frown graced her face,
"You son of an orc! You left me after all that I told you. I feel like killing you right now." She raised her hand in a folded fist as though to punch a hole through his chest. He caught her hand gently in his as he bent down so that his face was just inches above hers.
"Then it would be better. I would die in the hands of the ones I love rather than fall prey to an ugly orc." He was smiling. Silme stopped frowning as his face approached closer and finally he sealed his lips on top of hers. She closed her eyes savoring the bliss of the moment. As they slowly broke apart, he was looking deep into her eyes. Silme smiled as tears ran down her eyes. Legolas gently wiped them away with his thumb as he whispered,
"Haven't you cried enough already?"
Silme laughed a little as she hugged Legolas' neck as he bent down again to kiss her.
It was at this moment that Aragorn and Gimli chose to walk in. Both the elves seemed oblivious to everything else. Gimli felt his pipe slip from his mouth as he stared open mouthed at his best friend kiss Silme. He then turned to Aragorn and whispered gruffly with a smile on his face.
"This is the second time I see them kiss. And they don't even know it!" Aragorn smiled knowingly and ushered the dwarf out of the room. Legolas looked back just in time to see his friends vanish through the door. He smiled as he turned back to Silme who was also smiling though a slight blush had crept up her cheek. She slowly traced a line across his cheek as he gently moved strands of hair from her face. She gently curled one lock of golden hair in her finger as she asked in a whisper,
"Mankoi lle auta, Legolas?" (Why did you leave, Legolas?)
He looked surprised at this question. He smiled and stroking her hair gently,
"Because I loved you. And I still do. That was what prompted me to return didn't it?" he said though he found his throat running dry.
"Hush." She said as she placed her finger on his lips preventing him from speaking again. He smiled as he bent down again to kiss her again.
"My liege, both your warriors are dead. What now?" the orc asked as he bowed low to the throne. A bejeweled hand rose from her person.
"I will regret their loss. But what else can we do?" a deep female voice boomed across the dark halls. The orc who has spoken earlier, covered.
"My liege, the child is a threat. Why don't we destroy her and be done with it?" another elleth to the left of the throne spoke, her green eyes shining in the torchlight. The figure on the throne turned its head towards the elleth who had spoken.
"She is an asset! With her on my side, I can rule Middle Earth! With her on my side Valinor will be my fortress. I shall place my court in Valmar. I see you not complaining to that." The elleth blushed. The figure spoke again this time to the orc.
"Send out my best warriors. They shall have to be killed. Go." The orc nodded as he bowed and left the room. She then turned to the elleth.
"My own kin do not support me." The elleth blushed a little.
"I was just-"
"Haven't I heard enough of your petty excuses?"
The elleth bent her head down. The voice paused for a while and then on a softer tone asked,
"Where is the child?" the elleth looked up a little. "I have her locked in a room. She seems to suspect us. She won't talk to any one. How ever are you going to bring her to our side?" the figure rose from the throne. An elleth of unusual grace and beauty stepped into the light. Her blonde hair falling about her being beautifully. Her golden brown eyes shining like liquid gold.
She looked at the elleth beside her. "Why oh Karnil, do you worry about petty things as this? The only sword she can wield to kill me is my own. That, I shall not be careless enough to leave lying around and she does trust me doesn't she?"
Karnil looked at her mistress apprehensively. "If she were to find the true purpose of her birth, she will kill you. You know that. Don't you, Nwalme?"
The elleth smiled at the suggestion. "All I need is her energy which I sap as days go by. Let the fools approach. It will not be long before she completes one year in life. Then she can never even dream of approaching me."
"But if there were to be another child," Nwalme turned sharply which silenced Karnil. Nwalme smiled a little as she walked closer to Karnil.
"Then, my dear Karnil, I shall have the energy of this child now, wouldn't I? She has the power of the Valar. At first, I couldn't approach her. Then slowly I made her trust me and now I am happy to say she will willingly believe anything I tell her." she paused a little.
"How are the training sessions going?" Karnil smiled as she said, "soon, she will beat any great warrior on the face of this Middle Earth. There is no way that any of those who approach her will find a way to win her in battle."
Nwalme smiled at this. "That is happy news indeed!"
"We have been on the road for almost a month now. Where is the god forsaken fort?" Aragorn was getting impatient. If his calculations were correct, his daughter would turn a year old tomorrow. Then, if he did not find her, it would be too late.
"Patience my lord! My heart tells me that your child is safe and well taken care of." Silme smiled reassuringly at the king. Aragorn smiled a little. "You offer me no consolation, Silme. I am afraid my heart shall not rest until it sees my child."
Gandalf broke into the conversation as he stated,
"Then your wait is over. For I see the fortress right before us." Aragorn looked around him. He could see nothing but barren land but to his front, he saw what his heart had hoped to see for almost a year now. Time had definitely flown. The sinister structured glared at them through its bare windows and rickety towers.
"This place could use with some sun light!" Gimli stated as he looked around, seeing nothing but barren wastelands and dark shadows.
"This is the land of an evil greater than Sauron. But the fact that it was hidden for so long is both a mystery and a thing to amaze at." Legolas wondered loudly. Gandalf turned and warned the elf to keep his voice down.
"We do not want to be heard. That might be the last thing we might want." He hissed. Legolas looked surprised but nodded his head.
Nwalme stopped in front of the door. Her hands gently pushed them open as she walked in. another possibly younger elleth sat there by a table gazing at the darkening sky.
" You are awake, Luinil?" the elleth withdrew her gaze from the window and turned to look at her visitor. Her gaze lingered a little while longer. She then turned back to the window. Nwalme frowned a little but she put on a smile on her face and walked towards the elleth.
"What is it, my dear? You seem – disinterested."
"He is here." Nwalme looked sharply at the reply she got. "What?"
Luinil looked back at Nwalme with the tiniest traces of a sarcastic smile. "Aragorn, son or Arathorn. King of Gondor approaches."
"What is he to you? Why do you worry for him?" some of the smile from her face had disappeared.
"I don't know. But my heart aches for him. Though I would be happy to meet him, his arrival would also be sad. But I don't know why."
Nwalme hissed at this. Luinil glared at the elleth beside her.
"Is there something wrong?"
"You pity for a man who is nothing to you. I feel disgruntled. You are my child. He is not related to you. He doesn't know you."
The blue eyes narrowed as Luinil got up. Nwalme almost took a step back.
"I don't know if I can trust you. I don't know if I can trust myself." She then turned away from Nwalme.
"I must see him. I know I belong there. Deep in my heart-"
Nwalme shut the door forcefully. Luinil turned to find herself facing a closed door. She sighed a little as she walked back to the window and saw the group approach ever closer. They would have a tough time breaking the defenses of the fort. But she did not know why, her heart ached to see him come; yet she felt peace seeing his horse gallop ever closer. She closed her eyes as tears slipped down her cheeks. Her brown hair dancing in the wind, she opened her eyes.
"Tira ten' rashwe, Ada." (Be careful, father.)
Her eyes flew open with shock and surprise when she realized what she had just said.
Outside the fortress, Aragorn felt his eyes water with tears despite himself. Sadness unexplained enveloped him.
So there it is. Nwalme has arrived! DUNDUNDUN!!
And wait for ending chapter, which is not far off. Thanks guys! Please Read and review.
- Anarya of Lorien.