This is a re-post of my original chapter. I have modified it slightly, hopefully for the best. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings belongs to J.R.R Tolkien, Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema and their associates. I am making no money from this; it is just a wonderful way for me to write for an audience with room for me to improve upon my skills/technique through their comments and criticisms.
Cymbeline was written by William Shakespeare (c. 1609) and belongs to him, not me.
Rating: Most likely R, although some may argue it PG-13.
Author's Note I: Well, it certainly has been a while since I last updated. Sorry about that! I've made this chapter much longer than all the others in hopes to make up for my absence.
I deleted the chapter that I was previously going to post here. I was quite intimidated by all of the positive reviews I'd received (silly, no?) and was afraid that I'd let you all down. So, after much reflection and sitting in the wilds alone I think I have something worthy for you all to read. :o)
And now for the wonderful news! I have created a video trailer for this story, and now the wonderful Sirnonenath has created a web page to house it! I greatly encourage you all to visit it. There you can see a lovely visual she's created and download the trailer! I hope you all enjoy it. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts.
http:www.angelfire .com/scifi2/blackhawk
You can also reach me through my livejournal page:
http:www. livejournal. com/users/blackhawkgirl/
Once again- hannon le Sirnonenath! :oD!
I also understand that most of the last few chapters have seemed as if they may have been the last, so to avoid confusion, I ask that you trust in me. ;o) When it's the end, I promise, I'll let you all know. :O)
Fear No More the Heat O' Th' Sun
V. Thou Art Past the Tyrant's Stroke
Aragorn was dreaming. The air about him was cool. The colors were soft blues and blacks. There was just the soft rustle of the wind blowing through his hair. His heart was at peace. A slow smile came to his face as he felt cool lips gently press to his brow. The sensation seemed to linger, lulling him into contentment. In this dream world all could be well. He longed to fall into its gentle embrace yet something tugged at his senses. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he attempted to roll over and turn away from the unwanted wakefulness that tugged at him.
Suddenly he was falling and in the next instant he was stopped abruptly by the surface of something hard and unforgiving striking the left side of his ribcage. His eyes snapped open as he jerked awake, half falling out of his chair. As his adrenaline dissipated he felt the rosy tendrils of embarrassment creep up the back of his neck before being washed away as his reality all too quickly made itself present. He remembered who he was. His aching ribs now reminded him of where he was. As he placed a hand to their tender side he could not resist a grimace. How feebly they protected his heart!
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he began to stretch yet froze with his shoulders half rolled back. His eyes widened. The sunlight outside continued to gain strength. The voices in the hallway continued to mumble as souls passed by. Yet inside of the room he was alone. The bed before him was empty. Legolas was gone.
A great gray steed grazed in the shifting shadows of tree-shade by a small creek. His tail swished at a fly as he snorted, ripping more grass from the earth, more than happy to be out on this fine morning. The grass of the meadow stretching before the horse was a vibrant young green. Small white and violet flowers dotted the glade. By late morning they would have all been hosts to many welcomed visiting insects. Some were already making their rounds, their busy wings carrying them swiftly in the ever-warming sunlight. Spider webs covered in dew droplets glistened in the grass, finer that the jewelry of any nobility. The sharp and melodic chirps of small birds echoed endlessly, their flitting shapes occasionally seen darting about from tree to tree.
It was there that Aragorn dismounted, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. His bay mount wandered off to greet the gray horse before grazing on its own. The king's heart rose and light shone in his eyes once more, for there before him, leaning gently upon a low branch of a wizened oak tree, was the prince of Mirkwood. He had doubtlessly known of the other's presence for some time although it wasn't until now that the Elf turned to face his comrade.
His face bore a whimsical expression. His attire was neat; his golden hair elegantly fell about his shoulders. His color was back; there were no dark circles under his eyes. He looked every bit a Mirkwood prince.
Aragorn felt his spirits rise. Legolas was healthy again. He had defeated this plague upon him! He would remain by his side until death found him as he had always imagined. Things were going to turn out as they always should have. Life would go back to the way it was. He had many adventures with his friend yet left. Sheer bliss pulsed through his veins and he wished to shout and dance his joy. All was well. All was well.
He knew his joy had reached his face and Legolas lightly smirked. "I had feared you would come."
The ghostliness of the words sent a chill to Aragorn's heart and he felt his muscles tense. Not wanting to ponder the possible meanings behind his friend's words, Aragorn chose to speak of his elation. "Legolas, look at you. You are well again." Warm tears of joy spilt down his high cheekbones.
The Elf gave him a wistful smile. The pity in his eyes was that for a child who did not know the truth of what was to come. Aragorn felt apprehension curdle in his stomach as he recognized the patronizing look.
Legolas blinked and the expression was gone. The Elf instead raised his head to the sky and let his eyes roam the visible tops of trees for a moment, as if listening to some important message. His gaze grew distant. "They call to me, Aragorn."
The man felt his body tense at the words. Who? His lips parted slightly yet the words never came to his struggling mind.
He watched in a trance as Legolas let go of the branch and took two slow steps forward, the sun glistening off his flaxen hair in a beautiful dance of ethereal light. Far away as he was he could not reach the prince in time when the Elf's legs failed him. "Legolas!" In an instant he was kneeling at the side of his kindred spirit, taking the prince's uncharacteristically weak hand in his own. Something within made him afraid to touch the Elf further, as if he might break.
Legolas gazed upwards, the clear blue of his eyes becoming shrouded by the sprit world. It was then that Aragorn let himself believe what had been happening all along. Legolas had come here to die. He did not notice as the tears began their journey down his bearded visage. He squeezed Legolas' hand tighter within his own. "Oh mellon-nïn..."
Legolas inhaled a labored breath. "I needed to be with them. To hear their songs for one last time..."
Aragorn feebly glanced up at the surrounding trees through tear-blurred vision. They seemed to awaken with the breezes that now blew through them. "Aï Legolas, even I can tell that they mourn for you."
Legolas looked at him then, smiling amusedly. "They have always liked you, Strider the Ranger. Long have you kept them safe. Now you do so as king. But they do not mourn, Aragorn."
The king's eyes searched the face of his friend. There was so much to say. "This is all my fault, Legolas. I should have told you to sail with your kin long ago. It was the world of Men that kept you here. The same world that now steals your life."
Legolas' brow furrowed slightly, his voice ever musical. "Nay, Aragorn. It was love that kept me here."
Aragorn's face broke as a sob escaped. Legolas smiled wisely. "You are so young, Aragorn. And I am so old. I have lived a good life. I leave few regrets in my wake."
"You are only old compared to Men. For your kind you are yet young!" The king paused as he desperately searched the face of his dying friend. "You are immortal, Legolas. This is not right!"
The prince's gaze began to grow distant once more. "There are no immortals, Estel."
The use of his childhood name melted his heart. "What do you mean?"
Legolas' gaze was elsewhere. The prince was far away. When his lips parted again they formed the melodic tunes of an ancient song. "All lovers young, all lovers must consign to thee and come to dust."
Aragorn blinked back his tears as the Elf's eyes began to glaze even further. Fear coursed through him. No, not yet. Oh by the Valar not yet!
"Legolas," his friend did not move. He grabbed the Elf by the shoulders and shook him gently. "Legolas!"
To his immeasurable relief his Elven companion blinked and his eyes focused again on Aragorn. He struggled to draw breath, his brow slightly furrowed once more as if he had a mission to carry out before he left this world. "Aragorn..." the Elf blinked once more as if trying to fight the veil descending upon his eyes. The effort was futile. "Aragorn, please, tell Gimli that I love him. Tell him that I will never be far from him for he has always been in my heart and mind. Tell him that," his lips curled into a fond smile. "Tell him that even though I won, and that I hope the situation doesn't arise, I will be keeping count for him."
Aragorn also smirked at the statement, remembering the game the Elf and Dwarf had played during the War of the Ring. "He never learned how to count properly, did he?"
The Elf weakly chuckled. "No, I fear he did not."
The bitter-sweetness of the moment was short-lived as Aragorn squeezed the Elf's hand tighter, never wanting to let go. The Elf gazed upon him fondly, drinking in his features. "Long have you and I walked this path of life together, Estel."
Aragorn felt fresh tears threaten to spill and they angered him for he could not see his friend clearly through their watery cloak. "Legolas, no, please...don't," the croak of his voice sounded foreign to his ears. "I can't bear for you to say goodbye."
The prince's face remained whimsical. "I will never leave you, Estel. As we have walked the paths of life together so shall we still. I will always be with you."
Aragorn's face contorted in pain and anguish as he brought Legolas' clasped hand closer to his face.
"Whenever you need me, just listen to the trees. That is where I shall be," the fingers of the Elf's free hand moved slightly as he felt the softness of the live grass beneath him. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep the scent of the earth and natural world around him.
The action was not missed by Aragorn and the weeping king found himself kissing the archer's fingers. "I love you more than words can say, my brother. Nïn noss faer."
Legolas smiled, though his gaze had become glassy and distant. "And I you, gwador-nïn." The Elven prince took a labored breath, his voice became more distant. "I just wanted to see them one last time..."
The Elf's eyes slipped shut. There was a moment of silence, as if time had stilled. The birds ceased their songs. The trees ceased their rustlings. It was as if the pulse of the earth had slowed.
Aragorn sat in silence for a moment, in awe of the change that had overcome the land. It wasn't until a brave bird chirped that he found himself again. The panic and pain within him was unbearable. "Legolas?" When he received no response he swept the archer's torso into his arms, cradling his body closer to his. "Legolas?!" his friend's name was morphed into a painful scream of anguish that startled the nearby horses and seemed to echo into eternity.
As he kneeled there weeping, hunched over the form of his dear friend, the words of that melancholic ancient song came back to haunt his mind. Unable to resist its haunting whispers he gave in to the voice within him. The Elvish words spilled forth, slow and mournful, yet unfathomable meaning was etched into every word. He sang for Legolas. He sang for himself. He sang for Gimli. He sang for the trees. He sang for Middle-earth's loss.
"Fear no more the heat o' the' sun
Nor the furious winters' rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages.
The sceptre, learning, physic must
All follow this and come to dust.
Golden lads and girls all must,
Consign to thee and come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o' th' great;
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke.
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the read is as the oak.
The sceptre, learning, physic must
All follow this and come to dust.
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee and come to dust."
Elvish Words:
Mellon-nïn: My friend
Nïn noss faer: My kindred spirit
Gwador-nïn: My sworn brother
Author's Note II: Although the lyrics of Cymbeline remain the same, I cut one line that aged the song (a reference to chimney-sweepers) and rearranged some of the lyrics to better fit this story.
Please Review!
Review Responses:
Partheon: My ever faithful reviewer, how are you?! :o) Well, I hope! I hope that your project went well! And yes, sigh I definitely understand where you're coming from in terms of huge projects, LOL. Thank you so much for your in-depth reviews! They are always such a joy! I'm glad that you are enjoying the foreshadowing. Wow- what a compliment to hear my prose compared to poetry! That's exactly the feel I was going for in these first chapters. Thank you again so much for noticing it! :o) I'm sorry for the little tidbits I've been feeding you all, so I hope that this was a big steak for all of your patient waiting! ;o) Once more, mellon-nïn, hannon le. :o)
Christine: You are so welcome, sweetie! I am so very glad that you're enjoying it! :o) I hope that you liked this chapter, said as it was. Heck- they're all sad, aren't they? :os LOL. Well, anyway, I hope you enjoyed this one! ;o)
Naitriab: LOL- your name reminds me of high school chemistry! LOL! Aww, thank you so much for your review! I am sorry for what I've done to Legolas. That must have really disappointed you. But please, listen to his words in this chapter for he offers us all some solace about death as he does Aragorn. ;o) I hope to hear from you again soon, sweetie! Namarië!
mIzXxXmALfoY: LOL- your name still confounds me as well, my friend. Although I DO understand who Malfoy is. I've read the first two books! ;o) I know, I'm sorry about this story being a bit of a downer but that's sadistically what it was meant to be, lol. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope to hear from you soon! Love ya girl!
Elithraniel: My, what a lovely Elven name you have there, sweetie! ;o) I'm so glad that you like the way I've revealed the plot so far- I was hoping that readers would enjoy the semi-mystery of it all. So I was very happy to have read your review.
Blushes Thank you for your kind words about my writing. It means a lot to me. Hannon le.
Alatariel-Greenleaf: Welcome to the group my new friend! I'm so glad to hear that you like the story and thank you so much for reviewing, sweetie! I look forward to hearing your thoughts again! Hannon le!
.:Tithen Min:.: Suilaid mellon-nïn! LOL- yes those silly Hobbits are meddlesome like leprechauns, aren't they? Always eavesdropping and getting into everyone else's business... but alas, I digress as well! I'm glad that you like the sorrowful elements to this story- I do too (well, duh, otherwise I wouldn't have written it, lol!) I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter my way cool Irish friend (no, I haven't forgotten about that! ;o)) Until next time, namarië!
Dreamality: Oooh- what a neat name you've got there! Make perfect sense, too :oP Your kind words touched me deeply, mellon. Hannon le. It means so much to know that someone appreciates your efforts in the world. Thank you for that. It was a conscious choice to end each chapter powerfully and I was overjoyed that you took the time to tell me that you'd noticed that. Once again, thank you mellon! :o) I am truly faltered by your praise. I hope to hear tyour thoughts on this chapter, as well!
Lady Laswen: You can speak Welsh? What a wonderful gift, mellon, and if it so pleases you, then happy St. David's Day! ;o) While my family and I use St. Patrick'sDay as a day to celebrate our Irish blood rather than religion, it appears that I have been missing out, for I have Welsh blood in me, too! ;o) Hannon le for enlightening me thus, mellon-nïn! ;o) I'm glad that you liked the chapter and I hope that you like this one, too! :o) Until next time, namarië!
Snuffles2: Awww! Here ya go hands Snuffles a Kleenex box I hope that saw you through this chapter. It was a tough one, I know. LOL. Thank you so much for reviewing, cutie pie. ;o) I hope you enjoyed this chapter, too, although it was sad, wasn't it?:o) I look forward to reading your thoughts! :o)
LP13: Hannon le, mellon-nïn! Your review was most welcomed! :o) Your encouragement has ever given me strength! Once more, hannon le. :o)
FlyingPurplePig: LOL- I still crack up every time I read your name, mellon. LOL! Thank you so much for your review and your encouragement! I'd love to hear what you thought of this chapter. Sorry it was sad! I hope to hear from you soon! Until then, namarië!
Merry Lad: Hiya Aymie! I'm so glad that you like this story! Thanks for the advice- I'll definitely take it into consideration! Thank you so much for your support, mellon-nïn! It really means a lot to me. :o) I hope to hear from you soon! Namarië!
BButtercup: LOL- you know what? Your name reminds me of one of my favorite movies, The Princess Bride ;o) Blushes Thank you so much for your kind words, I found them immensely encouraging. Hannon le. I hope to hear more from you soon! You're thoughts are invaluable, mellon-nïn. :o)
Sirnonenath: Ah, I come to you at last my dear friend. Once more, thank you so much for the time and effort you put in to make that site. It's wonderful. :o) As for your response to the last chapter- I'm sorry for making you feel such pain, but it does feel good, does it not? I agree with what you said about rape, that's actually part of the reason I wrote this. If Elves die from rape then they die, although it is hard to read about something like that. I must admit that I am one of the readers who sits wide-eyed praying that Legolas won't die, lol. Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. Hannon le. I would love to hear your thoughts about this chapter. :o) Until next time, namarië!
And to anyone else out there, thank you very much for reading, even if you leave no footprints on the trail you trod. Hannon le. ;o)