Bitter Memories
Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR, but Melethril, Galen, etc and plot are mine
Melethril
It had been many years since I had walked under the trees of Lorien. I slipped my arm through the crook of Haldir's elbow and together we walked among the trees. The dew of the grass brushed against my slippers. The pulse of the trees drew me into the light. I suddenly halted and tilted my head up in the sky.
"Do the stars look as bright as they always were, Haldir?"
I felt him studying me as I continued to raise my face up to the sky.
"Yes."
"I miss the times we would just lie on the grass and stare at the stars,"
"Those were the old times when we were still young."
"Still every birthday I would look upon Elbereth and wish," I mused.
Haldir abruptly stopped in his tracks.
"What?" I asked concerned at his sudden behaviour.
He chuckled. "Do you not remember your own birthday?"
"Valor! I have forgotten. I have been caught up in so much…Haldir?" I trailed. I sensed him stiffened beside me.
"The Lady has spoken to me, she wishes for me to bring you to a dinner celebration," He informed.
"My birthday celebration," I inquired.
"Perhaps," he replied secretly.
I laughed.
It was more than a dinner celebration. For one night I would forget my troubles and be among my kin. Rumil and Orophin kept our company entertained and Niphredil asked me about Rivendell and the fellowship. Next, they presented me with gifts. Celeborn gave me a pair of gloves, which fit my hands like skin. Orophin sang me a song and Rumil gave another charm for my bracelet. I had not worn my bracelet when I left Rivendell, but I wore it on the necklace Legolas gave me. My thoughts now strayed to him and wondered where he was and if he was all right. I was quickly interrupted when Niphredil called my attention to receive her gift.
"I sewed something for you, but it went well with Haldir's gift so he has it." I clasped Niphredil's hand thanking her silently.
He quietly placed a thin silk cloth in my hands.
"What is this?" I fingered the soft material. I traced my fingers over the patterns. There were intricate weavings of leaves and flowers sewn in.
"This was your father's. He bade me to give you this when the time was right," he answered flipping open the flaps.
I tentatively reached my fingertips out and touched something cold. There were engravings on it and I began to trace them. Life is always a two-sided blade
"My father's blade!" I gasped. This was the same blade I had dreamed about. Was this a sign or a message?
You are troubled, young one
This all means something
"I hope it will serve you well." He said as I clasped the handle.
"Thank you," I touched his arm. "I will honour my father's wish."
"You are satisfied with your gifts Melethril?" Galadriel asked me later when we were walking.
"Very much, but to be honest with you, I had forgotten." I confessed.
"You have not received my gift yet but first I must show you something." She led me to her grove and mirror.
"Will you look?"
"Nay, for I have not the sight to see."
"Have you ever wondered if your stones could communicate with you through images?"
"I do not know if I wish to see such things."
"Perhaps the water wishes for you to see," she drew me nearer and left to fill the mirror.
"Go on, child," she urged standing her distance away.
I reached my hand until it was hovering over the water. I could feel the pulse of the power within me and then images began to flash before me.
"Ada! Wake up!" I shook with all the strength in me.
"He is resting, child," Galadriel soothed placing a hand on my shoulder. I turned and pulled on her dress.
"But ada looks so pale and he seems different," I said confused.
"Oh, little one! Once he wakes up he will be so happy to see your face," she took me in her arms.
"Can you not help him Galadriel?" I pleaded to her through streamed tears.
"I'm sorry little one. There now, don't cry. Your father wouldn't want that?" she said wiping the tears away.
"Nana?" I spoke hesitantly walking to her turned back. I sat down beside her and hugged her.
"Nana, you should go outside and take a walk. Breathe some fresh air." I said.
Still she said nothing, looking blankly into oblivion. I was suddenly consumed with anger and hurt. I jumped up and grabbed her shoulders shaking them.
"Why do you bring this upon you? Am I not worthy enough for your love? Why must you shut me out? I just want… want you to love me!"
Each word I said pierced her heart. When she looked at me, I saw so much grief and sadness that I fell to my knees.
"I'm so sorry… so sorry" I mumbled as I wrapped my arms around her.
"Melethril look at me," she commanded. I glanced up with the wetness of tears.
She dried my tears away and sat me on her lap.
"I am the one who should be saying sorry. You are still young Melethril, you have so much to look forward to."
"Nana, I don't wish for you to leave me!"
"The time will come, my daughter. Just like your father. Your pain will diminish eventually, but always remember that you are always in my heart,"
Something felt wrong. I could literally feel the presence of death. I turned and ran.
I reached the courtyard and already it was crowded with people. I weaved my way through and halted.
"Nana!" I cried moving to her. I sank to my knees and cradled her head in my lap.
Her eyes fluttered and her green orbs stared at me.
"Forgive me, sell nin," she said with such heaviness.
"Nana, do not leave me!" I begged tears dripping onto her face.
She reached up slowly and touched my cheek.
"I am so sorry dearest. I must pass onto you this burden," she grasped my hands and pulled them to her neck. I gasped at the immediate contact with the silver band.
"You know what this is?" she asked.
I nodded. I had stories and had touched it when I was little.
"You are the only bearer for them. You must seek out the other stones, for it was your father that spelled them," she said slowly each word drawing on her life.
"Amin mela lle, nana" I said knowing that her light was fading.
"You will make us proud," she smiled for the last time and the moments passed.
"We should move her, little one," the healer advised gently.
"Just a few more moments, please," I said tracing the contour of my mother's face.
Just a few more moments
I pulled my hand away breathless, tears on the verge of erupting.
"You didn't touch the water, but it rose up in front of you allowing me see what you saw," Galadriel replied finally breaking the silence.
"This is how ada died. It slowly ebbed away at his life. This will happen to me." I came upon realization.
"Yes. Your father had summoned too much power that he had no way of returning the power back. Every time you draw on power, it will inflect on you." Each word she spoke with sorrow and regret.
"I do not understand how will my fate be different from my father?" I argued.
"It will be. You must continue your journey Melethril. You only have the fire stone left and then all four will be reunited again. Here is my gift to you."
She took my wrist and attached on another bracelet. It was similar to the one Elrond gave me but the designs were different and in the center was the wind stone.
"Remember that the fire stone is bound to the other three and once you locate it you must unbind all four,"
"Why? I don't know how," I said frustrated.
"You will know what to do when the time comes."
She drew me in her arms and held me stroking my hair.
Go now for you have little time to spare
memory
I had not seen my father for decade and was anxious to meet him again. I twisted in my seat eager to see the Golden Woods.
"Patience, sell nin," my mother soothed my agitation by patting my head.
"Must we go at this pace nana. I want to see ada," I complained.
"I know you do, but Lord Elrond's army is immense and we must keep watch,"
"Well, can we send a messenger ahead?"
"Elrond, my daughter here has a proposal for you."
When I was but a few years old, my mother and I went to stay in Imladris on the bid of Lady Galadriel, my mother's teacher. Since Elrond acted as the herald for Gil-galad, there was a need for a healer and my mother was chosen.
"What do you wish, little one?" he asked riding up beside my mother. Elrond might as well have been my uncle. He and my mother got along very well.
"Wouldn't it be a good idea to send a messenger ahead and that way the guards will be prepared for our arrival?" I said excitedly.
He laughed and petted my head. "I see someone is insistent on seeing her father. Very well, I will send Glorfindel ahead," he rode back and instructed his friend.
I waited eagerly for a Lorien guard to come through the trees. Finally I sighted Glorfindel and another with him.
"Ada!" I yelled waving my hands immediately recognizing my father.
"My little angel!" My father swooped me up his arms and spun me around a couple of times.
I giggled as he tucked me into his arms.
"I missed you ada," I said tightening my hold on his tunic.
"So did I little one," he answered kissing my forehead.
"Nana missed you as well." I said turning my face to see my mother dismount her horse.
"My lord it is good to see you again," she replied formally. I made a face.
"Why you acting so strange nana? Hurry up and kiss!" I exclaimed.
The fellow elves standing behind us chuckled with laughter and watched with amusement as my parents shared a kiss with me in the middle.
"Your tongue is quick, sell nin just like your mother," my father remarked.
My mother looked pointedly at my father and commented dryly,
"And she is just as stubborn as you."
end of memory
"Melethril."
I startled out of my strayed thoughts. My head hit against a mellyrn trunk and I realized where I was.
"Haldir." I stated recognizing his voice. I felt him approach slowly until the weight of his feet was next to where I sat.
"How did you come here?" he pondered settling next to me.
"The Lady bid me to look into her mirror using the water stone and I fear for the consequences." I said wearily leaning my head back against the trunk.
"You spoke, 'make them stop' when I found you." He said softly. I stiffened at that mention.
"What happened in Moria, Melethril?" he pressured me to answer.
"Memories, painful ones." I replied.
I felt warmth on my shoulder and placed my hand over his.
"When Gandalf fell, I followed him into the depths of the mines. I sought the wind stone and when I retrieved and bounded it to me, I fell into the icy waters. Eventually I was lying within the snow of the Misty Mountains. It was there that I recollected my most haunted memories; the reason of my curse." I tilted my head up to find Haldir's face inches from me.
"Gwahir found you though?" he asked.
"Yes, but I insisted he let me down near the borders probably due to my feverish state." I took a deep breath and frowned.
"What's this Haldir? You are dressed in your armour!" I demanded.
He took my hands and helped me up.
"Saurman's army is marching to Helm's Deep, fortress of Rohan and the council of elves has decided to aid," he replied.
"And you are to lead them," I concluded.
"Yes, Orophin and Rumil are also going."
I sighed. "How has it come to this?" I spoke to no one in particular.
"It seems time for us is limited for evil is spreading." Haldir answered.
I said nothing but placed my hands on his armour and traced the ancient engravings.
"What is this?" I fingered a loosened string from his attire.
"This is the elanor wreath you plaited for me. You said if I felt myself in darkness that I should look upon it and it would bring light," he said placing my hand on the wreath.
"Indeed, may it help you in times of darkness." I held it for another second and then tucked in back into his armour.
"I do not know what path lies for you, Melethril but you must take care." He replied placing his hands on my arms.
I bowed my head down and then lifted it again.
"You have taken of me all these years, Haldir. I only wished you could have found someone."
"No, there could be no one. I only serve the Lady and you for I promised your father I would protect."
"I thank you, my dearest brother." I hugged him pouring into him light, lending to him the strength he would need.
May the valour protect you Haldir
Author's Note:
sell nin- my daughter
ada- daddy
nana- mother
Amin mela lle- I love you