Disclaimer: I don't own anything that belongs to Tolkien. See, pretty self-explanatory.
Cyberwing: OMG Crazy! I had been so busy. Midterms are killing me!!! I have to cram stuff into my brain at the last minute TT, which is a bad habit. Anyway, it's Friday, and it's the weekend so...FORGET SCHOOL AND WRITE! BAHAHAH!
I am so happy today is my B-day!! (dance dance)
Don't Love Me Too Much-ch19
Narie held onto the tree branch as she swung down and kicked two men off the cliff. Before other men could even react, she ran to another hiding place, ready to strike again if the opportunity comes.
In terms of numbers, it was something which she couldn't compete with. However, she could take them out one by one, just like a guerrilla. With her medical skills, she knew where all the weak points on the body were. With her knowledge about this area, she knew exactly where she could attack and defend at the same time.
If she played her cards right, she would be able to get rid of them all.
Her only hope now was for Culina and Coire to be alright...
Flashback
"Mother, why do I need to go live with the humans?" A young Culina inquired as she watched her mother packed her stuff into the luggage on her bed.
"Because," Her mother buckled the luggage. Sitting beside Culina on the bed, she caressed her daughter's cheek. "Because you can learn a lot from humans."
"But isn't the humans the ones who are always finding us the Elves admiring?" Culina protested, "I don't want to leave Lorien. I love this place. There is nothing to learn in humans! They are weak and poor... and... they don't even bath often!"
Her mother smiled, looking at Culina, "but there is. In some ways, humans are also admirable. They have a shorter life span than us yet they are able to make the best of it. They are able to make significant differences in their lives and the lives around them. They live and they strive. Some show dedications that can't be compared. I want you to learn their perseverance and use that to achieve your goals in life. We, as Elves, are more privileged than them in terms of time. I don't want you to life a life accomplishing nothing and die regretting about the things you could've done."
"But I thought that the human race has fallen." Culina said, "They are basically in a time where they can't even find a permanent settlement everywhere. They brought this upon themselves though, since they are selfish, they didn't destroy the ring."
"But there are also many who aren't." Her mother cut in, "we simply cannot classify a group of people based on the action of one person. I want you to expand your horizon and I want you to go out and make a difference in somebody's life, an accomplishment that you will be proud of."
"But who's going to make a difference in my life?"
"There will be one Culina," Her mother gave her a peek on the cheek; "there will be someone who you will meet in the future that is caring and loving. If you return the same affection, then..."
"Really?" Culina asked incredulously, "Is someone really going to care and love me that much?"
"There will be one."
"But how do I know?"
"You'll know when the time comes. And when it does, everything in the world will be different because of him."
end flashback
Culina was lying down onto the ground on her back, pressing on the deep wound on her left waist which the 'man she loved' made. She felt the hot fluid flowing out of her body. She slowly turned herself over, and tried to push herself up to a standing position, only to fail as her legs buckled beneath her...
Why did that memory come back to haunt her?
That conversation was almost the last one she had with her mother before she and her father went to the Undying Lands. It was the time before she had followed a group of elves to Rohan and entered the human world.
At that time, Culina thought her mother was a fool. After all, she was still a child; her world consisted of her parents and herself. Who would care about the humans anyway? However, she went out to that world with the fantasy of some god-like person coming down from somewhere and loved her for the rest of her life.
Yet, this belief was quickly dismissed. Life was never easy, especially if you were a girl and particularly an elf. In the beginning, it was easy, for the group of elves had taken care of her till she was able to find herself a place to stay in the village. The humans living there were nice, helping her out from time to time.
But how many times could one ask for help? Once? Twice? Or five times?
How can you ask them when they have problems surviving on their own?
Time went on... almost ruthlessly.
Her mother wanted her to broaden her horizon and to learn about the humans. Well, she did. Nobody could dismiss the fact that she had matured quickly within those years for Culina had discovered the solo thing that could make a difference in others and her own life.
Money...
How could anyone help another person when he or she is powerless against his or her environment?
It had taken some time for Culina to be able to collect the money she required to open an inn. She worked in farms, markets, basically anywhere that was willing to hire her. She ate a little less and saved a little more money every day. Things became better when she opened her inn; slowly she expanded it, buying farm lands around it for a continuous supply of good and manpower. Now, her inn brought merchants, traders to the village, giving the people there a chance to do business. The village was one of the economic centres of Rohan.
She thought that might be the 'difference' her mother wanted her to do. After all, she got so many people employed so they won't starve. Yet, she didn't meet the one who would rock her world. So she waited...
Then she met Halbarad. He was a young man back then, around fifteen years or age. He started out working as an assistant cook. He was always in the kitchen, trying to redo the things which the chef had taught him or inventing queer foods. Culina was one of the nighthawks who would sneak into the kitchen for snack from time to time, and he would always be there.
She supposed it was the time when their relationship developed. They had great conversations. She even considered him as the one who her mother was talking about, the special someone.
He was so innocent back then, having great hopes and dreams... Who would've thought...
Culina was no better than her mother, even after all these years.
Culina snapped back to the present, blood gushed out of her wound as she tried once more to force herself to stand up. Before she could even stand up, she fell down once more...
She had loss to much blood...
The knife in her hand gave a crimson glow under the sun, now that it was covered in blood—her blood. She gave a bitter laugh as Halbarad didn't even bother concealing himself anymore. Instead, he stood egotistically in front of her, victory was in his eyes.
"Elves," he said, smiling innocently, "are so gullible. I only need to display some vulnerable pathetic human emotions and they will hesitate. How is it? My acting that is."
Culina glared at him, stoically.
Even if you are losing Culina, never show fear or pain on your face. Instead, show your enemy your determination; act as if you are not going to lose...
"What? At times like this you still look at me that way?" Halbarad laughed as he rushed to her, "as a person who is about to die, at least look like one, let me look at your pitiful face!"
At the moment of victory and defeat, at the moment of life and death, there is only one thing left to do and one thing only...
Culina forced herself to stand, and gave Halbarad a final blow.
Stand up to meet your opponent!...
Halbarad took a few more steps backward, looking at the knife which had impaled into his heart. He fell to the ground with a loud 'thud'.
Culina slowly turned around to face him. She had a look of disbelief on her face. What had happened? She was wide open; anyone with a will to harm her would be able to stab their swords into her body. Why was she unharmed? Why didn't he attack her for a second time?
She looked at him, studying him as if for the first time, memorizing his features. He raised his right hand, without thinking, she gave her hand to him, fingers intertwined.
"I couldn't..." Halbarad coughed as blood poured out of his mouth.
Culina kneeled down next to him. She held his hand with both of her hands, watching as his life slowly faded away.
She felt numb all of a sudden. Shouldn't she cry? The man whom she valued the most was dying before her eyes, she wanted to say something to him, she even opened her mouth yet no sound came out. What was there to say anymore? That she was sorry? That she was the one who ended his life? That she loved him? Or that she hated him for what he did? Hate him that she will have to live with this guilt for the rest of her life?
She didn't know what she was doing anymore. Between her hands was his hand, which was slowly losing warmth, covering the hands were blood—their blood.
"Too late..." Culina murmured.
It was too late to change what had happened. Even if she had taken him to the healer, it would be too late...
Too late for everything!
"Orcs " Halbarad choked it out, "go...warn...oth...ers..."
Culina remained silent; she couldn't even register what he was saying. All she knew was that his mouth opened and closed.
Why?
"Cu...lin...a..."
He was able to inflict a fatal wound on her on the first time. Why couldn't he...
"I..."
Kill her?
"So..."
She couldn't even die....
He stopped breathing altogether. She would never hear what he wanted to say to her. She would never get a chance to hear his voice again, never...
His hand slipped out of hers.
For, the man she loved was dead.
Then there was a strange sound, a high-pitched sound, a wail. Who was making this sound? Who?
Then she found mouth wide opened, she was the one who was doing it. She wanted to close her mouth; she wanted to keep her dignity intact. She knew she had to take care of the group of men around her. Her responsibility had yet to be fulfilled. Yet...her mind was no longer in control of her body...
She couldn't stop.
She didn't know how to stop.
But... with everything she had, she forced her mouth shut. She picked up her sword which lay on his side. With the help of her sword, she pushed herself up. Looking emotionlessly at the men around her, she memorized their faces.
"If I were to see your faces again, I will shred your body into tiny pieces. Leave!" She barked.
Maybe it was due to her facial expression. Maybe it was the fact that she had just fought with their leader and killed him; or maybe the fact that she had blood all over her. No matter what, they took a few steps back before they turned around and fled.
Everyone was gone, just like everything for her.
Gone.
Yet she was still alive, although maybe not for long.
But...he was right; she had something to do before that. Now was not the time yet.
Culina took a last look at the lifeless body on the ground. She turned her back to it. Going at the fastest speed which her shaky legs could carry her, Culina walked in the direction of Lorien.
She will never love again.
Well this is the end of the chapter!! What do you think about it? PLEASE REVIEW SO I'LL KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS STORY! ALSO IT MOTIVATES ME GREATLY TO HAVE REVIEWS (BAHHAAH). Thanks for reading!