AN: Ack! I've been trying to upload this for days, but my internet refuses to work. Note to self, cable is evil. It's nice when it works, but my connection has decided to die, so I am unable to get online. ARGH!!!!!
Gomen again about the cliff, though the angst was so much fun! ;D But it was a good chap, doncha think? ;D I really enjoyed it, so what can I say. But without further ado, here's chapter 15, where a bunch of stuff gets explained, such as how Sauron was able to reach her through the Mirror... hope it makes sense. Enjoy! "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN or definition, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. And Happy Belated International Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day!!! YARRRR!!!
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She was moving. That much was clear. But it seemed to be the gentle lulling movement of a swing. She snuggled deeper into the soft thing in front of her. But then why did the wind whip at her hair so mightily?
Groggily, she opened her eyes and left the darkness to discover that she was astride a galloping horse. No, not just any horse, she realized. This was Silhith, her mother's unicorn. And a unicorn's gallop is far faster than that of any normal creature. [AN: 'Silhith' means 'shining (white) mist']
Slowly, Celebithil lifted her head from Silhith's soft mane and gazed at the landscape that was whizzing by. The colors blurred, and she couldn't make out anything, but she seemed to be on a vast flatland, running parallel to some ominous... shadow?
Sensing her mistress was awake, Silhith slowed to a trot, and Celebithil was able to see the land more clearly. It was a grassy flatland that stretched to the horizon with a few rocks scattered here and there, but it was more hilly than she had first expected. And to her right was the shadow of a great forest, dark and menacing. Even though she had spent much of her life in Lorien, she dared not enter this strange forest with the angry trees.
'Where am I?' she wondered hopelessly. 'And why am I here?'
~*~*~*~*~
Hours later, Silhith was walking very slowly while Celebithil tried desperately to locate a familiar landmark. Judging by the landscape, she guessed she was in the South somewhere. But try as she might, all her sharp elven eyes could see was the grasslands and the dark forest beside her-- which she was guessing more and more might be the enormous dreaded Fangorn. The thought did not comfort her any.
Then, finally, she heard it. The ground trembled softly in anticipation of many footfalls and swift horses. And as she strained her elven eyes to the distant horizon, she could just make out a faint cloud of dust.
She stood still as a statue and willed Silhith to do the same. It was a large company, that was clear, but Celebithil strained all her senses for a hint as to whether they were friend or foe.
As they neared, she was able to decipher the footfalls from the hoof beats, the soft sure-footed footfalls of elvish feet. Celebithil laughed in relief as she rode out to close the last mile between them.
She cried out in surprise. She could see their faces, their oh so familiar faces riding out in the front of the company. Menelsul, dressed like a warrior with her short hair almost hidden, and Taurenreil, her ponytail flapping in the wind, rode out in front, looking ready to pummel someone. Naurfea, her free dark hair flying wildly around her face while she tried, unsuccessfully, to conceal her fear. Little Kemenuial, the small girl with strange intuition, riding beside her Mirengaer-mama, her face white and shocked. Mirengaer and Nenloth, the two who loved water so much, both so wise and kindly but worried sick. Hinenmel, her golden hair pulled back by a ribbon, blind to the gorgeous elvish warriors behind her and looking scared beyond belief. And Ertirhiril, calm and collected upon the back of the other unicorn of Caras Galadhon, but silent and knowing...
Kemenuial suddenly caught sight of the lone elven girl riding towards them and cried out. Instantly, the eight women or horseback broke free from the company and rode forward, laughing and crying, to their lost friend.
Celebithil was surrounded in seconds, with everyone speaking and hugging and crying all at once.
"Ithil!" "Four days!!" "What happened, Ithil?" "Oh Ithil, we were so worried!" "FOUR DAYS!!!" "Are you alright? Are you hurt? Are you ill?" "Oh Ithil!" "We were so scared!!"
"Aikuu."
It was Haldir. Calming down, the girls parted, and he embraced her. Celebithil almost cried at the look on his face-- so much worry and fear and stress, and even red streaks on his pale face. And now, finally, all overcome by relief. His eyes sparkled with tears.
"I've missed you," she said honestly.
"Amin hiraetha, Aikuu. I wish I hadn't needed to leave like that. But I left as soon as I could, as soon as I heard . . ." he trailed off.
"Heard what?" questioned Celebithil.
"That you were missing," supplied Hinenmel sadly.
Celebithil looked from face to face. "How- how long was I gone? And where am I now? What happened that I suddenly find myself so far from Lorien?!"
"Four days," muttered Naurfea under her breath, while the others looked at Celebithil with shock. "Do you realize how long it's been since I've gotten a proper sleep?"
"You... you don't know?" Mirengaer said as they stared at Celebithil.
Celebithil shook her head slowly. The last thing I remember was... was looking into the Mirror. Then- then there was darkness and I woke up on the back of Silhith, far from Lorien." She fought back the memories of pain and loss that threatened to resurface as she thought of the reason she used the Mirror.
Ertirhiril stared at her intently. "Excuse us for a moment," she said to the others. "Something has just come to my attention that could make this situation more serious than we expected."
She led Celebithil away, towards the shadow of the forest. Behind them, she could hear Haldir ordering the large crowd behind the girls to relax and rest until nightfall. It was that she noticed the strange garb of the others.
"Ertirhiril... they're dressed for war?!"
"Questions later," she said as she stopped by a boulder. "Now tell me, Ithil, what is the last thing you remember seeing in the Mirror? Think hard."
Celebithil was silent for a moment as she examined her incomplete memory. "I... I saw the Fellowship. And I... I saw Boromir die," she choked on the words and wiped her eyes quickly as they filled with water, but struggled on. "Then two of the hobbits were taken. And then I..." She suddenly fell silent.
"You saw the Eye," said Ertirhiril softly.
"Yes," struggled Celebithil.
"Did you touch the water?"
"N-- yes..." she said miserably. "Yes, I remember now. The Eye, it was horrible, but the more I stared at it, the more I was drawn to it, and I lost control of my mind and body. And I touched the water. That was the last thing I remember, and then darkness."
"It is as I feared," murmured Ertirhiril. Celebithil looked at her with confusion as she continued. "There is a story you need to hear. The tale of a secret event that took place hundreds of years ago, but is nonetheless very true.
"You have heard of the palantiri, of course. The nine Seeing Stones that Elendil brought from Numenor and were scattered throughout Middle Earth. One by one, as the millennia passed, all the stones were lost as their cities were attacked, besieged, or destroyed. But in Osgiliath [AN: For non-book readers, this is the city where Faramir takes Frodo in the end of TTT movie], hundreds of years ago, a guard of the Tower acted. He had guarded the Tower of the Starstone for decades and he understood how powerful, dangerous, and precious the Stone was. Even among the other palantiri, the Elenstone was regarded as one of the greatest for its ability to show the past, present, and future. But the great city was burning, and he knew that nothing could save them. Before enemies could find the palantir and befoul it, the man took the Elenstone and fled.
"He was wounded by a poisoned arrow as he left the city, but he struggled northward. Somehow, his will to protect the great Stone, despite the poison eating away at his body, gave him the strength he needed to get so far. He traveled countless miles, along the Anduin, all the way to the eaves of Lorien . . .
"Some of the Vakhar found him, barely alive. He pleaded with them to let him see the Lady, and in the end, they pitied him in his doomed condition and brought him to the city.
"He told Galadriel of the fall of Osgilith. He presented her with the Elenstone and with his dying breath, begged her to guard it.
"The Starstone was lost to history, but secretly Galadriel used her magic to keep it safe. She placed the Elenstone in a small clear pool in her garden, and with the help of Nenya, the Stone reached out to the starlight reflected in the waters and liquefied, diffusing its magic throughout the water. This was the origin of the waters of the Mirror, the waters that seem silver with starlight and magic.
"Galadriel knew of the dangers of the Seeing Stones and set up safeguards, but safeguards can be broken. The Mirror was kept secret, and only Galadriel, Celeborn, and myself knew of its origin. While looking into the Mirror or allowing someone else to look, Galadriel would weave her magic to ensure that the Mirror remained like a tinted window that one can use to see out into the world beyond, but others cannot see in. But without Galadriel present, the Mirror is like a clear glass window-- not very noticeable, but visible in either direction. And when the strange waters are touched--the magical remains of the powerful palantir--the safeguards fail, and the raw power of the palantir reigns. This power would easily attract any eye that is looking, especially if they are using a palantir, and puts the one using the Mirror in great danger."
Ertirhiril grimly looked up into Celebithil's clear, fearful eyes. "The Dark Lord of Mordor, with the stolen Ithilstone, was drawn to the power of the Elenstone in the Mirror. I do not understand his full purposes, but somehow he was able to put you under a dark spell and lure you from the safety of Lorien. He may have been possessing your body or controlling you in some other way, but after days of being unable to recontact you and restore the spell, it gradually wore off. I believe it was your subconscious will alone that kept you from riding straight to Mordor."
"My will?"
"Your being's willpower to resist the Darkness. Though I suppose that Silhith, being a creature of the Light, aided you along in her faithfulness. But there is only so much a unicorn can do against a dark overlord."
"Ertirhiril," Celebithil shivered, sensing something behind the older woman's words, "this is only the beginning, isn't it? Everything is changed now. I won't be able to go home and relax and be free, not for a while anyway. And... And it's only going to get worse, isn't it?"
Ertirhiril, the guardian of Time, turned away, her face a mask of sorrow. "I'm afraid so, tarien."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Celebithil sat alone and silent by the eaves of the wood as the light faded into twilight. Again and again she relived the horror of the Eye in her mind, and cold dread gripped her heart. She had survived the first encounter and not told him anything that would endanger Middle Earth. But she doubted she could be so lucky a second time. She had heard horrible tales of Sauron's soul-searing Eye stealing even the deepest secrets from the most guarded of hearts. Celebithil knew of the plans to destroy the Ring, to bring down Sauron, and of the small hobbit that would, even now, be heading towards Orodruin [Mt Doom]. She knew, and if Sauron found her again, she knew she would be unable to withstand him and would tell all. He would reclaim the Ring and his lost might and cover all the lands in an evil darkness.
And Celebithil knew in her heart that he would not let her be. Whether by a memory from the past or something he saw within her, he would hunt for her until she was taken to Mordor, consumed by darkness.
"Aikuu."
Celebithil gasped in horror as a voice disturbed her silent dreadful thoughts. Seeing that it was only Haldir, she took deep breaths and forced her wildly beating heart to slow down.
"Haldir," she said, her voice betraying her relief, "it really is good to see you again."
He looked at her strangely for a moment, then suddenly leaned down and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Celebithil was shocked by his sudden move, and as he slowly moved away, his face showed a strange hunger, eying her in a way that was foreign to her. In an instant, this expression disappeared and was replaced by only genuine concern for the girl before him, though the lingering memory of that brief foreign look unsettled Celebithil.
"It is a great relief to my wearied heart to see you alive and well again," he said. "But I regret to inform you that we must be on the move once more."
Celebithil pushed aside the strangeness of the kiss and wondered why he'd want to continue traveling at dark. "But what is the need for haste?" she asked.
Haldir sighed. "We have a time limit, Ithil. We go to battle."
Celebithil gasped in shock. It had been ages since such a great host of elves had gone to war. Not since the Last Alliance of Men and Elves at the foot of Mt. Doom...
"There will be a great battle three days hence in the country of Rohan, a place called Helm's Deep. It will be a last stand for men, and if they fail, Middle Earth will fall. Galadriel had foreseen it and Ertirhiril has confirmed it. [Setsuna] The alliance of old has been invoked once more. We ride to the aid of these men, to save Middle Earth from darkness." [AN: Actually, the Battle of Pelennor Fields would be *the* last stand, but without winning Helm's Deep, who knows how far they could have made it?]
"But... Hinenmel and the others . . ."
"...insisted on joining the company as a search party. As it happened, I was summoned to Caras Galadhon to lead the host of elves, and news of your disappearance reached me when I was halfway there. I hastened the final miles to the city to find your maidens and friends tirelessly insistent that they go out beyond Lorien and search for you. The Lady wisely decided that they should travel with the host of Vakhar and Imladris warriors, for their own protection and for yours."
"But then, I... we are going to fight?" She gulped nervously. Though she had secretly learned swordsmanship and some archery from her brothers, Haldir, and Estel, she had never seen a real battle. And though part of her was eager to finally put her skills into action, the other half feared the strange violence.
"No," said Haldir firmly. "I will find a safe place for you and the girls, away from the battle, where you will wait."
Celebithil frowned. She was nervous about fighting, sure, but that didn't mean she didn't want to try it. One thing was sure, she did *not* want to be locked up like a caged bird!
"It's for your safety, Aikuu," Haldir continued before she could form words of protest. "Now come-- we ride!"
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AN: Some of you might be wondering why she's not still grieving about Boromir. Well, she is! But have you ever experienced the loss of something (however major or minor-- maybe a relative or a pet, or maybe just a favorite pen) but something happens soon afterwards that is so sudden and shocking that for a little while you forget about your loss? ... No, that doesn't make much sense, gomen. ^_^' But remember, four days might have passed, but to Celebithil, it's only been a few minutes since her encounter with Sauron. And now that she understands, she's even more shaken. And don't worry... pretty soon, something *else* will happen that, combined with everything else, almost gives Celebithil a mental breakdown. Huzzah! ^_^' Lol.
Time for... REVIEW RESPONSES!!!!! THANK YOU MINNA-CHAN!!!!
HANDHELD Uber Rei Model 05- Lol! Do you mean the senshi's elvish names or the LotR canon characters? I try to give as many hints as possible as to which senshi are which though. If you need help, feel free to check back at the lists (that translate the names) or email me. Callistostar786@hotmail.com And I really recommend finishing the trilogy. They are amazing works of literature, and RotK... well, it's sad that so many people start the trilogy but quit before RotK. Because that is the most amazing book of all time... ::is in awe just thinking about it:: ::glomps her trilogy:: GO READ!!! ;D
Branwen-of-Emrys- ::kicks her comp too:: What is it with this baka technology?! It's supposed to make our lives easier, not more hectic! But as for the next victim, as you so eloquently call it, I think you can answer for yourself. I said I was gonna mostly follow the movie version of Helm's Deep (besides the fact that no one remembers Erkebrand (or however you spell it!) who *really* saved the day). Soooo... who dies in Helm's Deep!movie-ified? ... Mwhaha. Yeah, it's gonna be even worse than that though. Let's just say, I'm on an evil!streak. MWHAHAHA!!!!
LightAngel- assuming the internet keeps working, you should be getting/have gotten an update. Thanks!
koldy- Thanks for reading AND reviewing! ;D
Nimriel- ::cheers:: I just love to surprise people! Glad that you liked it!
Loopy Lu- ^_^" LOL!!! Yis, angst is tres fun. ;D
angelwings6117- mwhaha. I guess you would call it another 'love interest', but really it won't be the same. There will even be a (dark) sequel about how none can replace her first love, Boromir. Basically, from now on (besides Haldir), it will be people getting close to her because they want to help and protect her. Dunno if there will be any real romance (i.e. kiss) anymore.
And hopefully my internet connection will start cooperating, but no luck yet. Argh. Hope you enjoyed it and PLEASE REVIEW. Next time: Helm's Deep. Mwhaha!!! Ja, minna-chan.
~Calli-chan