I made a promise, and I'm-a gonna keep it.
Chapter X Nuruhuinë
[ Death-shadow ]
So it was set. In less than one week, Aragorn would lead the Fellowship, Haíthwen included, out of LothLórien and down the river Anduin.
While the others gathered items and supplies they needed for the voyage, Haíthwen sat alone, thinking. She thought a lot, and very frequently, and this was good. Seeing that this was good, she rested. Then she woke, then she thought again. The thinking was all good, and Haíthwen was happy. She separated the thinking from the not thinking, and was pleased again. She then said, 'let there be thought.' She made the thought, and said 'let the thought be in the head'. And so the thoughts were formed in the head. Then Haíthwen ended the thought, and thought again that she had done good. And she was pleased.
Where in all nine hells am I going with this? Of all the half-assed, dumber than a doorknob things I do to occupy my time with, I quote.... That's what I get from hanging around blondes for thousands of years.
She laughed slightly and picked herself up from the rock she was sitting on, and wandered through the woods. I've been thinking about him a lot recently, but why? A shiver ran through her back as she looked to the night sky, only just realizing that it was indeed night. I gave my word to Aragorn that I would return before nightfall! Shit! She screamed at herself mentally as she took off running through the woods, back towards the fellowship.
What day was it today? She asked herself as she found the path and slowed to a quick walk. Yesterday was. which means. today is.
She slapped her forehead, realizing that this was to be her last night in LothLórien before departing. She groaned and continued on, knowing that she would get a talking to from Aragorn for being late. Not that she minded that, just that Aragorn certainly did not need to worry about her on top of other things.
It's like Cemendur used to say. she paused that thought as another chill, this time more violent, send shudders through her being. Something was wrong. but what?
She staggered suddenly, face paling. She closed her eyes, a sweat breaking out on her forehead. Her eyes widened, and she doubled over and gasped in pain.
* No.* Haíthwen thought, her now green-violet swirled eyes wide and open, but not seeing or hearing anything. "No!" She screeched.
Pain, fear, extreme anguish, and terror swirled around her, completely covering her, drowning her. She was curled up into as tight a ball as she could manage, tears streaming down her face, despite the fact that her eyes were squeezed shut. She ached and burned all over, and nothing she could do could shunt away the hurt. Then, as quickly as it had come, the misery and anguish fled.
The gaping void in its place was almost worse than the plain itself. Flooding through her were memories, flashes of pictures that went with the pain. Orcs, black and hideous, chains and knives, screams and cries; they all washed through her, through someone else's eyes. And in the middle of it. Cemendur, chained and bound, bleeding from numerous gashes and cuts, burns all across his body.
Haíthwen was aware of a scream, her own?, and was aware of the world spinning around her, threatening to crash down on her.
Unaware went the fact that the dark night around her was lit up by hundreds of shimmering, prismatic lights, pyreflies, flying in the air. Unaware was she of a green glyph, glowing through the grass beneath her knees, or as a ghostly figure, a male with long blonde spiky hair and brilliant jade eyes sat down beside her, wrapping her in an unseen and unfelt embrace. She heard or felt no more as the world finally overthrew her, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Galadriel felt the power in her Forest, strange and green, and knew immediately what was happening. Already on her way to converse with Aragorn, she gathered him, along with Legolas, and bid them follow her to the source of the surge in magic.
It was there that they found Haíthwen, long overdue to return to sleep. But what, or per say who they found with her, that raised more questions and concerns.
"Cemendur." Galadriel acknowledged, nodding her head to the soft moonlit figure that held the sleeping form of Haíthwen in his arms, stroking her hair softy. The only trace that he was anything but an elf were the green translucent wings that ran through his shirt, and the multifaceted shimmering rainbow orbs that floated around the pair.
"I never wished this to ensue her." He said solemnly, a young voice belying the knowing look in his eyes as he turned his head slightly. Wisps of spiky blond hair over fell his jade eyes, as his young eyes fell to her again, who still had tears running down her cheeks.
"It's all up to her now. It should never have been. I should have been stronger." He said, unmoving.
Galadriel moved to his side, and slowly put her hand to his shoulder. Aragorn couldn't help but gape as her hand passed through his arm, leaving a green mist where his arm was before returning to his proper form.
"So it's true. The race of the Faë has passed on."
"I cannot stay forever." He said sadly, nodding, smoothing a strand of silver hair from Haíthwen's eyes. Galadriel nodded.
"Be at peace, Olvaralië." She said. He nodded and rose, Haíthwen still in his arms as if she weighed not anything but a feather to him. He handed her over to Legolas, who was cautious not to let her fall from his care. Cemendur looked at her again, studying her face as if it were the last time to see it, and turned away, sighing.
"The things I should have said. I hope she never . I have to go back now." He said, a ghostly silhouette dissolving into pyreflies, their lights dancing upwards, fading away into the starry night.
Galadriel said nothing to them as she stared up to the sky, then closed her eyes and looked away. Such sad resignation on her face made Aragorn and Legolas both wonder if they knew the whole story surrounding the events that happened, but neither had the wish or the will to ask.
"Let her rest for the night that remains; in the morning, she will depart with you." Galadriel said evenly, walking away slowly.
"You would will her to continue?" Aragorn asked, confused and slightly worried for the response.
"She wills herself to continue; nothing you nor I might say will advise against her. She is strong of heart, she will endure." She said, almost coldly, but she glanced back at Haíthwen, lying curled into Legolas' chest, a look of motherly dismay in her eyes; as if she, too, in all her power and knowledge, could do nothing to help.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas looked over the sleeping Haíthwen, asleep on her side and curled into a ball. Aragorn had volunteered to watch over her during the night, but Legolas could see the exhaustion in his eyes, and made sure he slept, rested and ready for the next day, their last day there.
As Haíthwen shifted in her sleep, burying her head in her arms, Legolas wondered if that was the right thing to do, him having counted this the third nightmare during the four hours he had watched over her.
She seemed so frightened in her sleep; as if the realm of dream threw everything it could to her to hinder rest. Legolas wondered briefly of it was simply her mind's work or perhaps the Ring's influence that plagued the so-very-few times he had seen her try to rest.
Wishing he could do something to help her, anything, he could only watch as she writhed under her blankets, hiding from a world she could not escape till she awakened.
Eyes shut furiously against the world, tears still managed to escape down her cheeks; suddenly her eyes opened and she shot up, trembling and breathless.
Legolas' heart was torn ; as her eyes, horror-struck and hysterical, shot around, anxiously searching for the next danger to her. "What's wrong?"
Tears spilled down her cheeks unchecked again, and Legolas gathered her into his arms, murmuring soothing words. She collapsed into his embrace, her tears soaking into his tunic. She curled up against him, sobs shaking her shoulders uncontrollably.
He was worried, and looked to Aragorn for help, wishing he wasn't asleep, leaving him alone to deal with her. Never have I seen her this shaken up before. he thought, as he looked down to her. What should I do? Never had he so much as worried about women, never mind crying ones; but there was no way he could ignore this one, seeming so broken and vulnerable.
Legolas held her, rubbing her back comfortingly. He waited until he thought she'd calmed down enough before he asked her again, almost afraid of making her cry again. Tis the last thing I wish to do, make her cry or recall something painful...
"Haíthwen." he whispered, "Haíthwen, what happened?"
She turned a tear-streaked face to him, her bright violet eyes welling with tears. "I." she sniffed, "I. don't know."
He waited patiently for her to continue.
"It was like. I wasn't even here. I was watching through someone else's eyes, and feeling their pain," She finally had control of her voice, and a few tears slipped past her guard and trickled down her cheeks. "Every nerve exploded with pain, and."
Legolas' heart almost broke at her sad expression; the corners of her mouth turned down slightly, and tears trickled down her cheeks; she looked so broken, so helpless that his heart went out to her. What I would give to stop her from hurting, to make her smile and laugh again.
He gently caressed her cheek, swiping at the tears sliding down her cheeks. "Don't cry." he whispered. "Everything will be fine."
Haíthwen struggled against a new wave of tears, pulling away from him like she'd just been stung. Her bottom lip trembled. "How can you say that? You don't even know if you'll live to see tomorrow!"
Legolas sighed, his fingers smoothing her tousled pale hair. "No. No, you're right, I do not know that, and I should not have said that. But, I know that having you here with me is good enough for now, and I don't need to worry about tomorrow."
He didn't exactly know why he said what he did, but it mattered not since it got the response he wished for. She buried her face in his neck, throwing her arms around him. They stayed in that embrace for several long moments, until curiosity got the best of Legolas.
"Haíthwen?" he whispered.
"Hmm?" she mumbled softly, pulling away from him just enough to be able to look him in the eye.
He shifted slightly. "What was it you dreamt of?"
She managed for a moment not to look extremely depressed, and instead, she looked wistful. "I. it was from my bond with Cemendur. It was his death."
She shivered, which then turned to trembling, and he pulled her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She collapsed into his chest, her breathing still uneven but calmer than earlier. She stayed like that for some time, not wanting to move or Legolas wishing her to.
After time, her breaths became deep and even, and Legolas looked down to find her asleep, curled in his hold. He tried to move her back down to her blanket, but found she held tighter to his chest when he tried to move. He sighed and leaned against the tree to his back, where he actually found himself comfortable. He draped a blanked over her, and let her sleep where she lay.
Part of him wondered what the morning would bring, another wondered what the others would think if they saw him and Haíthwen as they were, and another part of him wished they could just lay there forever.
The end. Well, no, not really. [are you kidding? I'm just getting started!]
Meh. I'm really not any good at this. Anyone wanna help? Please, I am on my knees begging! Pwease?!?!
How bout some flames??? Anyone??? *crickets* aw man. is anyone there???
Chapter X Nuruhuinë
[ Death-shadow ]
So it was set. In less than one week, Aragorn would lead the Fellowship, Haíthwen included, out of LothLórien and down the river Anduin.
While the others gathered items and supplies they needed for the voyage, Haíthwen sat alone, thinking. She thought a lot, and very frequently, and this was good. Seeing that this was good, she rested. Then she woke, then she thought again. The thinking was all good, and Haíthwen was happy. She separated the thinking from the not thinking, and was pleased again. She then said, 'let there be thought.' She made the thought, and said 'let the thought be in the head'. And so the thoughts were formed in the head. Then Haíthwen ended the thought, and thought again that she had done good. And she was pleased.
Where in all nine hells am I going with this? Of all the half-assed, dumber than a doorknob things I do to occupy my time with, I quote.... That's what I get from hanging around blondes for thousands of years.
She laughed slightly and picked herself up from the rock she was sitting on, and wandered through the woods. I've been thinking about him a lot recently, but why? A shiver ran through her back as she looked to the night sky, only just realizing that it was indeed night. I gave my word to Aragorn that I would return before nightfall! Shit! She screamed at herself mentally as she took off running through the woods, back towards the fellowship.
What day was it today? She asked herself as she found the path and slowed to a quick walk. Yesterday was. which means. today is.
She slapped her forehead, realizing that this was to be her last night in LothLórien before departing. She groaned and continued on, knowing that she would get a talking to from Aragorn for being late. Not that she minded that, just that Aragorn certainly did not need to worry about her on top of other things.
It's like Cemendur used to say. she paused that thought as another chill, this time more violent, send shudders through her being. Something was wrong. but what?
She staggered suddenly, face paling. She closed her eyes, a sweat breaking out on her forehead. Her eyes widened, and she doubled over and gasped in pain.
* No.* Haíthwen thought, her now green-violet swirled eyes wide and open, but not seeing or hearing anything. "No!" She screeched.
Pain, fear, extreme anguish, and terror swirled around her, completely covering her, drowning her. She was curled up into as tight a ball as she could manage, tears streaming down her face, despite the fact that her eyes were squeezed shut. She ached and burned all over, and nothing she could do could shunt away the hurt. Then, as quickly as it had come, the misery and anguish fled.
The gaping void in its place was almost worse than the plain itself. Flooding through her were memories, flashes of pictures that went with the pain. Orcs, black and hideous, chains and knives, screams and cries; they all washed through her, through someone else's eyes. And in the middle of it. Cemendur, chained and bound, bleeding from numerous gashes and cuts, burns all across his body.
Haíthwen was aware of a scream, her own?, and was aware of the world spinning around her, threatening to crash down on her.
Unaware went the fact that the dark night around her was lit up by hundreds of shimmering, prismatic lights, pyreflies, flying in the air. Unaware was she of a green glyph, glowing through the grass beneath her knees, or as a ghostly figure, a male with long blonde spiky hair and brilliant jade eyes sat down beside her, wrapping her in an unseen and unfelt embrace. She heard or felt no more as the world finally overthrew her, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Galadriel felt the power in her Forest, strange and green, and knew immediately what was happening. Already on her way to converse with Aragorn, she gathered him, along with Legolas, and bid them follow her to the source of the surge in magic.
It was there that they found Haíthwen, long overdue to return to sleep. But what, or per say who they found with her, that raised more questions and concerns.
"Cemendur." Galadriel acknowledged, nodding her head to the soft moonlit figure that held the sleeping form of Haíthwen in his arms, stroking her hair softy. The only trace that he was anything but an elf were the green translucent wings that ran through his shirt, and the multifaceted shimmering rainbow orbs that floated around the pair.
"I never wished this to ensue her." He said solemnly, a young voice belying the knowing look in his eyes as he turned his head slightly. Wisps of spiky blond hair over fell his jade eyes, as his young eyes fell to her again, who still had tears running down her cheeks.
"It's all up to her now. It should never have been. I should have been stronger." He said, unmoving.
Galadriel moved to his side, and slowly put her hand to his shoulder. Aragorn couldn't help but gape as her hand passed through his arm, leaving a green mist where his arm was before returning to his proper form.
"So it's true. The race of the Faë has passed on."
"I cannot stay forever." He said sadly, nodding, smoothing a strand of silver hair from Haíthwen's eyes. Galadriel nodded.
"Be at peace, Olvaralië." She said. He nodded and rose, Haíthwen still in his arms as if she weighed not anything but a feather to him. He handed her over to Legolas, who was cautious not to let her fall from his care. Cemendur looked at her again, studying her face as if it were the last time to see it, and turned away, sighing.
"The things I should have said. I hope she never . I have to go back now." He said, a ghostly silhouette dissolving into pyreflies, their lights dancing upwards, fading away into the starry night.
Galadriel said nothing to them as she stared up to the sky, then closed her eyes and looked away. Such sad resignation on her face made Aragorn and Legolas both wonder if they knew the whole story surrounding the events that happened, but neither had the wish or the will to ask.
"Let her rest for the night that remains; in the morning, she will depart with you." Galadriel said evenly, walking away slowly.
"You would will her to continue?" Aragorn asked, confused and slightly worried for the response.
"She wills herself to continue; nothing you nor I might say will advise against her. She is strong of heart, she will endure." She said, almost coldly, but she glanced back at Haíthwen, lying curled into Legolas' chest, a look of motherly dismay in her eyes; as if she, too, in all her power and knowledge, could do nothing to help.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas looked over the sleeping Haíthwen, asleep on her side and curled into a ball. Aragorn had volunteered to watch over her during the night, but Legolas could see the exhaustion in his eyes, and made sure he slept, rested and ready for the next day, their last day there.
As Haíthwen shifted in her sleep, burying her head in her arms, Legolas wondered if that was the right thing to do, him having counted this the third nightmare during the four hours he had watched over her.
She seemed so frightened in her sleep; as if the realm of dream threw everything it could to her to hinder rest. Legolas wondered briefly of it was simply her mind's work or perhaps the Ring's influence that plagued the so-very-few times he had seen her try to rest.
Wishing he could do something to help her, anything, he could only watch as she writhed under her blankets, hiding from a world she could not escape till she awakened.
Eyes shut furiously against the world, tears still managed to escape down her cheeks; suddenly her eyes opened and she shot up, trembling and breathless.
Legolas' heart was torn ; as her eyes, horror-struck and hysterical, shot around, anxiously searching for the next danger to her. "What's wrong?"
Tears spilled down her cheeks unchecked again, and Legolas gathered her into his arms, murmuring soothing words. She collapsed into his embrace, her tears soaking into his tunic. She curled up against him, sobs shaking her shoulders uncontrollably.
He was worried, and looked to Aragorn for help, wishing he wasn't asleep, leaving him alone to deal with her. Never have I seen her this shaken up before. he thought, as he looked down to her. What should I do? Never had he so much as worried about women, never mind crying ones; but there was no way he could ignore this one, seeming so broken and vulnerable.
Legolas held her, rubbing her back comfortingly. He waited until he thought she'd calmed down enough before he asked her again, almost afraid of making her cry again. Tis the last thing I wish to do, make her cry or recall something painful...
"Haíthwen." he whispered, "Haíthwen, what happened?"
She turned a tear-streaked face to him, her bright violet eyes welling with tears. "I." she sniffed, "I. don't know."
He waited patiently for her to continue.
"It was like. I wasn't even here. I was watching through someone else's eyes, and feeling their pain," She finally had control of her voice, and a few tears slipped past her guard and trickled down her cheeks. "Every nerve exploded with pain, and."
Legolas' heart almost broke at her sad expression; the corners of her mouth turned down slightly, and tears trickled down her cheeks; she looked so broken, so helpless that his heart went out to her. What I would give to stop her from hurting, to make her smile and laugh again.
He gently caressed her cheek, swiping at the tears sliding down her cheeks. "Don't cry." he whispered. "Everything will be fine."
Haíthwen struggled against a new wave of tears, pulling away from him like she'd just been stung. Her bottom lip trembled. "How can you say that? You don't even know if you'll live to see tomorrow!"
Legolas sighed, his fingers smoothing her tousled pale hair. "No. No, you're right, I do not know that, and I should not have said that. But, I know that having you here with me is good enough for now, and I don't need to worry about tomorrow."
He didn't exactly know why he said what he did, but it mattered not since it got the response he wished for. She buried her face in his neck, throwing her arms around him. They stayed in that embrace for several long moments, until curiosity got the best of Legolas.
"Haíthwen?" he whispered.
"Hmm?" she mumbled softly, pulling away from him just enough to be able to look him in the eye.
He shifted slightly. "What was it you dreamt of?"
She managed for a moment not to look extremely depressed, and instead, she looked wistful. "I. it was from my bond with Cemendur. It was his death."
She shivered, which then turned to trembling, and he pulled her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She collapsed into his chest, her breathing still uneven but calmer than earlier. She stayed like that for some time, not wanting to move or Legolas wishing her to.
After time, her breaths became deep and even, and Legolas looked down to find her asleep, curled in his hold. He tried to move her back down to her blanket, but found she held tighter to his chest when he tried to move. He sighed and leaned against the tree to his back, where he actually found himself comfortable. He draped a blanked over her, and let her sleep where she lay.
Part of him wondered what the morning would bring, another wondered what the others would think if they saw him and Haíthwen as they were, and another part of him wished they could just lay there forever.
The end. Well, no, not really. [are you kidding? I'm just getting started!]
Meh. I'm really not any good at this. Anyone wanna help? Please, I am on my knees begging! Pwease?!?!
How bout some flames??? Anyone??? *crickets* aw man. is anyone there???