Disclaimer: I think by now everyone should know what's mine and what isn't mine, right? Oh, and warning, if anyone reading this hates my OFC, please just bear with it/skip the chapter and don't flame me. It's her history and the role she's playing in this story. I'll summarise the chapter at the bottom.
HistoryEstel was drawn rudely back to the world of reality by someone shaking his shoulder. He cracked open an eyelid and growled at the person who dared to interrupt the lovely dream he was having about Legolas.
The face of a rather annoyed-looking Elrohir filled his vision. "Get up. The Lamia wants to see you."
"Now?" Estel groaned. "But, she just saw us a few hours ago. And it is barely dawn."
Elladan's face joined his twin's as he hissed into his Human brother's ear. "I suggest you get up before Zykon starts ranting again. I have no wish to be burnt at stake like he suggested." He nodded at said person, who was lounging at the door to the hut and looking decidedly annoyed with his role as messenger.
Estel scowled and rolled over, stretching the kinks in his bones before he sat up. "Alright, alright. Let's go."
"Not us. Just you."
"What?!" Estel glanced frantically between his brothers and the scowling Zykon. "But, but the Lamia will eat me!"
"Just get moving, Estel." With that, they bundled him out of the hut and left him in the cares of one Mage who looked more like he wanted to fry the intruder than talk civilly with him.
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.XEstel found himself back in the same hut as the night before, only this time it was devoid of an audience.
"I apologise if I interrupted your rest," the Lamia said as soon as he had taken his place before her throne, with Zykon at her feet, and Hectrix and Firga standing on either side. "We were discussing your situation, after you retired, last night, and I believe we have some good news for you."
Estel's eyes lit up. "Really?"
The Lamia smiled at the Human as she nodded. "Yes. There is a way to break the spell."
"Well, what is it?" The Human could barely contain his excitement.
Hectrix moved forward and smiled kindly at him. "Have a seat, this will take some time, and will most probably come as a shock to you."
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
"What do you think they want him for?" Elrohir asked Elladan as they waited for Estel to come back.
Elladan shrugged. "I have no idea. But it is rather strange that they would call for Estel only, don't you think so?"
"Hmm… You don't suppose that they would…" Elrohir's voice trailed off as he imagined his baby brother being tortured by the mages.
"No. Zykon may hate us, but I believe that Firga, at least, would stand up for him."
"So I guess that just leaves us with nothing to do but wait."
"Unfortunately."
Silence.
"I'm bored, 'Dan."
"… I'm not your entertainer."
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
"As I was saying," the Lamia began once Estel was seated on the floor before her, "we were discussing your situation last night. And I believe that Hectrix has thought of a solution that might help your friend." She nodded to Hectrix to take the floor.
"First, how much do you know of blood magic?" Hectrix asked the Human.
"Not much, actually. Save what I have been told by others regarding the current situation."
"Good." Hectrix gave a sigh of relief. "This will make things much easier, because in order for you to understand how to break the spell, you must first understand the true origins of blood magic.
"This form of magic came into existence a long time ago, when Danin was but a babe in arms. It originated from a very small and obscure village…"
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
The smell of smoke drifted out of a simple hut that stood in the middle of a small village.
"I did it, Hir! Look!" A redheaded Elfling squealed as a small fire sprang to life under her hands.
Hirga smiled proudly at her little sister. "Well done, Firga. You will be a great mage one day."
"I want to be just like you," Firga claimed. "I want to make the fires dance like you do! Teach me, teach me!"
"Not yet, little one. First, you must master the flames, or they will consume you. Look, the fire you made is dying down."
Firga glanced back at her handiwork and squeaked. She quickly closed her eyes and frowned slightly as she concentrated on the spell that would keep the fire burning.
There was a sudden whoosh of flames and the fire consumed the small pile of sticks underneath it in a blink of an eye. Firga stared in astonishment at the ashes before her, soot covering her face. Hirga smothered a giggle as she said, "What did I tell you? You must master the flames properly, before you can think of making them dance for you."
A shadow fell across the engrossed sisters and an outraged screech was heard. "HOW DARE YOU?! HOW DARE YOU PRACTICE YOUR SORCERY IN MY HOUSE?! GET OUT THIS INSTANT, YOU WITCHES!!"
Firga buried her face in Hirga's dress as their angry aunt started slapping both of them. "I told you never to practise your craft while under my roof! How dare you go against me this way?! Your father should never have married that witch, and she deserved to have been burnt to death by her own people!"
Hirga clamped down on the urge to show her how it felt like to be burnt. It was not their fault that they had inherited their father's immortality and their mother's gifts! Instead, she quickly scrambled out of the hut, desperate to get her little sister out of harm's way.
"Stay out of my sight, you filthy half-breeds!" The shouting behind them was cut off by a wail. Immediately, the irate Elf's tone changed to one of care and concern. "Oh, my poor little Danin. Were they scaring you? Hush now, Naneth's here."
Hirga rolled her eyes as she carried Firga towards the well. The other Elves shunned them as they walked past, purposely going out of their way to avoid coming into close contact with the 'cursed' sisters.
"Are you alright?" She asked gently as she set the Elfling down by the well.
Firga looked up and nodded tearfully, the blackness of her face intersected by the lines made by her tears.
"Let's get you cleaned up then." Unable to find a piece of cloth, Hirga dipped the corner of her skirt into a bucket of water she had drawn and started to scrub the soot away from her sister's face and hands. Firga winced as her sister happened to run the cloth over a sore spot.
"What's wrong?" Hirga brought Firga's hand up and examined it closely. "You burnt yourself! Does it hurt, little one?"
Firga shook her head. Hirga smiled, amused by her show of courage. "Wait here for me, little one, let me see if I can find something to make your hand feel better."
She hurried off, leaving the Elfling sitting by the well, swinging her legs. Darkness covered the land, and the only light came from the torches lighting each hut and surrounding the village.
Suddenly, there was a whistle and streak of light from a flaming arrow flying past, and a thump, as the projectile landed on a thatched roof, setting it ablaze. It was followed by another, and another. The tranquil village erupted into screams as the Elves sought to flee.
"Orcs! Orcs!"
"Run while you can!"
"My son! I can't find my son!"
"Naneth!"
Hirga whirled as the crowd rushed past her like a river. Everyone was fleeing in the same direction. It was clear where the Orcs were coming from. Above the pandemonium, she could hear the sound of smashing and terrified screaming as the first wave of Orcs broke through their meagre defences and started the slaughter and sack of the village.
And Firga was near to the frontline.
Immediately, she started pushing her way back to her sister, not caring for her safety at all. But it seemed as though for every step she took, she was pushed back two. When she finally came in sight of the well, she stared in horror to find Firga gone, a menacing wall of Orcs with bloodied swords and bodies of Elves who had not escaped in time littering the floor.
"Firga!" she screamed.
Her mind refused to register the fact that these Orcs had probably just killed her sister and would do the same to her. Hands shaking and blood boiling, she suddenly recalled a seemingly unrelated thing her mother had once told her:
"Daughter, never mix magic with blood. It will only complicate matters. Remember, it is forbidden."
She clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. It might be forbidden, but she would not let her sister go unavenged. She opened her eyes and spied an old dagger, probably dropped by the villagers in their mad flight. She snatched it up, staring unseeingly at the Orcs who sneered and licked their lips in anticipation of spilling her blood. With a strange smile playing across her face, she drew the blade up the length of her arm and gave in to the flames of rage that consumed her soul.
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
When the Orcs charged, Firga had been swept to her feet and away from the well by the panicked Elves. There were few warriors among them, as most had already been decimated by earlier attacks. The only chance they had was to flee for their lives while the Orcs pillaged and plundered what they had worked so hard to keep.
"Hirga!" Firga tried to turn back, to go back to the well. Her sister had told her to stay there, she had to go back! What if she was looking for her now?
She felt herself being lifted by her waist and struggled madly. "Put me down! I need to find my sister!"
"No, little one, you can't. Right now, we must run." A male voice said above her as he suited his actions to his words. "Your sister will find you later, if she survives."
They followed the mad rush of the Elves, headed for the forest that surrounded their village. If they could get there, they could lose the Orcs in the trees.
Just as they cleared the last row of huts, Firga suddenly had a blinding vision of her sister. She was standing with a blade in hand, facing the army of Orcs that had invaded their village. And somehow, she just… knew.
"Hirga! No!" she screamed, even though it was too late.
Her sister slashed her arm and the blood poured freely, dripping down her wrist and onto the floor. The Orcs howled in glee and rushed forward, driven by the sight of her blood. Hirga closed her eyes and began to chant the strongest spell she knew. Fire swirled about her and the flames that consumed the huts beside her started dancing as well. Firga could not hear the spell she was using, but she noticed that even after her sister's lips stopped moving, the flames continued to roar far above her into a towering inferno…
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
Hirga opened her eyes and gazed up at the fire, amazed at the strength of the spell. She finally understood what her mother had said, but it was too late. She had used the forbidden blood magic and would pay the price for her folly. She could feel it clutching at her, choking her with the intensity of its power. Her eyes gleamed strangely and she gave a twisted smile, almost as though she had been possessed by something else…
"Burn."
The tower of fire crashed down on her and spilled over to the Orcs, sweeping over the entire village like a wave on a stormy sea. Orcs, and Elves alike, who could not escape in time were reduced to cinders instantly.
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
Firga's breath came in gasps as she felt the heat from the fire roll over her. She didn't need to look to know that she had just lost her sister to blood magic. Her heartbroken wail carried through the night as the surviving Elves sought refuge in the trees.
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
Estel was speechless as Hectrix took a deep breath from telling the tale. He noticed that Firga had her eyes closed tightly and was shaking slightly.
"The Elfling. It was Firga," he stated, before he turned to Hectrix wonderingly. "Why are you telling me this? Do you mean to say that Firga is Danin's cousin?"
"Yes. And, if it weren't for me, the tale of the mage who used blood magic to kill the village would never have come into existence. Danin wouldn't have stolen your friend's soul. And I would have…" Hectrix trailed off as she broke into sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
Estel stared at the Human mage who spoke as though she had experienced it herself. But it was impossible. She couldn't be that old, unless…
He had heard the stories that Glorfindel was the reincarnation of a Balrog slayer who was killed in battle, could it be that…
"You were Hirga, weren't you, Hectrix? You were Hirga in the past,"
"I'm sorry."
Estel laid a gentle hand on her shoulder as he tried to calm her down. "It wasn't your fault. You did what you had to. Perhaps, even if you didn't use blood magic, Danin would have found out some other way. I don't blame you for what happened to Legolas."
"You don't?"
"No, I don't." He smiled at her. "You were sent back for a reason, and given a chance to right the mistake you made in the past. If you hold yourself responsible for what happened to him, then help me. Tell me how I can bring him back."
Hectrix stared up at him for a few moments in disbelief before she gave a laugh that seemed to choke her. "I had guessed that I was sent back to atone, but I never imagined that I would be forgiven so easily." She took a deep breath and collected herself. "I thank you, for your faith in me. Now, listen carefully to what I say. It might not work, but it could very well be the key to saving your friend."
X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X
TBC
Author's notes:
Err… apologies for the cheesiness of the chapter. For those who skipped the chapter, basically, Hectrix was an Elf-mage in her previous life, cousin to Danin and older sister to Firga. She destroyed her entire village and killed herself in the first documented use of blood magic, which led to it being banned by the mages after they regrouped in Dol Guldur.
If anyone's wondering why I'm not hyper and bouncing madly, I have a cold and a frog in my throat. And I've an interview on Friday. Bleh. I'll try to post the next chapter on Saturday or Sunday, to make up for this one, cos I dun think it actually interests many people.
Oh, and the name 'Hirga' is the product of my un-imaginative imagination for names. ((bangs head on table)) The most important reason I will never be an original fiction writer. I can't name my characters for nuts. Thank goodness she's the last OC I have in this story.
Review replies time! It'll be short again cos the crappy side of my brain has shut down and been taken over by the 'runny nose' side of my brain… wait, I think I can feel it returning to me… it's ALIVE!!!!!! ((is tied up and gagged by rabid bunny muses)) Ahem. Big thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter:
Spanishgoddess86: Here's the update! Well, Estel will die if Legolas does because they're connected by fate. As to why…. Well, it's coming up in the next chapter or the chapter after that. My brain is woozy, I can't remember. Sorry! ((sheepish grin))
Someone Stupid: ((lol)) Err… they are a cute couple cos of the angst and torture?? ((borrows Elrond's eyebrow of doom)) But yeah, of course they WANT each other. XD Btw, did you watch 'Alexander'? That is the way LotR should have been done between Aragorn and Legolas. XD
Child of Magick: ((sweeps up nails and hands them back)) Tee hee. Glad you like the plot. FF7:AC is still in the works I believe. ((death glares Square Enix)) And with luck should be released in Feb next year. You can check this site ff7ac. net (I think that's the address) for updates, they've got pretty!pretty!pretty! trailers and stuff under the downloads page. XD
KeshieShimmer: Err… actually I have no idea where I'm going either. ((consults compass)) Kidding. I'm getting to the point of the story. Really. ((crickets chirping)) Well, yeah. Hehehehe. ((whistles and sneaks away))
Marbienl: Yup, yup! Love is the best medicine for the Elfy in distress!! ((flings out hands dramatically)) ((crickets chirping)) Ahem. Well, I figured that if you haven't seen something for 1000 years, even if it's good, you'd be scared of it… right? ((ponders over weird logic)) Whatever. I think my cough syrup is making my warped logic even more warped. O.o
Empath89: ((lol)) Yes, yes, I get the hint. ((scribbles notes)) Must write more slashy scenes. Yup, there's hope for Legolas… now all the fangirls rejoice! ((conducts the Hallelujah Chorus)) Now, allow me to go hit my rabid fangirl self on the head before I scare you away. XD
Crazyrabidfangurl01: Sugar makes the world go round!!! ((does rabid sugar dance)) And I don't mind being pestered… I actually… enjoy being pestered? I sound masochistic. Anyway, pester to your heart's content, it might inspire me to update more often than I am now.
Grumpy: Hee hee… Galadriel has a way of poking her nose into other people's business, so she's a convenient means of getting them together in the dreamscape. As to what she saw in her mirror… well, I don't exactly mention it in my story, but she sees both a good ending (both of them live) and a bad ending (both die). But as she told Frodo, some of them won't come to pass, so she doesn't know how it will end yet.
Losing Grip: Had to make it very nice and sweet and un-cliffie-d so that I wouldn't get killed by all the readers waiting for slashy goodness. Glad you liked the chapter, but it's back to more angst and torture!! ((evil laughter))
Akuri: Wow… ((blushes)) Thanks! Glad to know you're enjoying this. One of my friends told me that this story is really off the wall, so I'm really glad that I've got so many nice people who like it. ((beams happily)) Hope you didn't find this chapter clichéd though…
The-Serious-Padfoot: Ooh… do I get to make a thank you speech? I'd like to thank my family, my friends, my pet dogs, and OOH THE FANS!! HOW COULD I FORGET THE FANS!!! ((squeals and jumps around)) ((rabid bunny muses appear to drag crazy writer off)) Ok! Ok. I'll behave. But I'm still really, really surprised that you printed everything out and put it into a binder… reminds me of the first time I read fan fiction. My classmate printed out a 100 page story and silly me actually thought it was some previously unpublished work of the author… But glad to know you guys are enjoying it. ((bounces happily))
Tmelange: I haven't written sap in a long time, so I'm glad you found it mildly cavity-inducing. ((wink))
Varda's Servant: Hmm, I'm not sure if they used contractions, but after I read your review I tried to get rid of as many as I could, but some stuck, otherwise the speech would have sounded strange. And I must say you're pretty sharp to pick up the difference, because the time lapse between my writing the previous chapter and the one before that was about 3 months, so my style changed. ((applause)) Thanks for the helpful feedback!
That's all folks! Next chapter coming up soon, and it'll have much less of my OFC in it. thanks for reading and remember to review! And while I'm at it, let me do a shameless plug for an 'Alexander' story I wrote. XDXD Go read!!!
Ps: Someone help me find and turn off the tap for my nose… gaahhhhh… I hate runny noses. ((wibbles off to bed))