Chapter 13
"We were stuck in the darkness," Limloeth started her story, "and we had no idea what was going on. No sound penetrated the rock that closed of the entrance, and no light. It was as if we had ceased to exist. I couldn't see Lainfea, I could only feel her holding me. I could feel she was scared as she gripped me a lot tighter than necessary. Ages went by as every minute seemed to last forever. I was praying to the Valar for the corsairs to sail away without seeing us. And then I felt them…Souls fleeing away from their bodies. I could feel their pain, their anger.
They were moving closer, surrounding us.
But then we heard Lanthir scream. Lainfea got really scared, and she tried to get out. She trew herself at the rock trying force her way out."
Legolas shivered. He had seen the bruises on Lainfea's upper body. "She threw herself at the rock?" Limloeth nodded.
"I grapped her and tried to calm her, but she didn't stop. She kept whispering that she had to get to Lanthir, and to you, to help."
Limloeth was silent for a while, trapped in memories. Legolas sat beside her silently, stroking her hair, waiting until she was ready.
"I pulled Lainfea on my lap and held her close. Then I sang to her. Nana's song. Do you still remember Nana's song?"
Legolas nodded. He started singing, his soft voice causing the notes of the song to be carried throughout the room.
"If you're stranded in the darkness,
And the wolves have come,
Just remember, Elvish baby,
Just remember to be strong.
If all the stars are veiled,
And their light is gone,
Just remember, Elvish baby,
Just remember to hold on.
For where there is light,
Darkness will fade,
And where there is you,
There is light.
If you're ever lost, my sweetheart,
If you're ever scared, my child,
Just remember, Elvish baby,
Just remember to shine bright."
Limloeth smiled sadly. "I didn't remember that last verse. I didn't sing it to Lainfea…" at these words, her voice broke into sobs. Legolas pulled her closer.
"Hush, Lim, you did great. I'm sure Lainfea calmed down. I'm sure it worked. It was a very smart idea."
"I miss her so much," Limloeth said, meaning their nana.
"We all do," Legolas said. "You know, when I was with the corsairs, I thought I saw her. She walked towards me and looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes, and everything was good again."
"You must have been dreaming," Limoeth said, her tears slowly ceasing.
"It was a very good dream," Legolas answered.
"Do you want to know what really happened?" Limloeth said quietly.
Legolas nodded.
"I sang to Lainfea until she fell asleep into my arms. When I stopped singing, the corsair's souls came back to haunt me again, so I had to start once more. The singing seemed to keep them away. I sang all the songs I knew, and when I ran out, I sang them over.
Then the rock that closed of your hiding place moved and I had to stop. I was so relieved when I saw it was Lanthir opening it, that I jumped out and threw myself at him. He fainted."
Legolas nodded. "He told me he was mortally wounded. He told me you healed him."
Limloeth shrugged. "I think so."
"You think so? You healed a mortal wound and that's all you can say? How did you do that? Who taught you?"
"No one taught me, Legolas, I just knew what to do. It's like falling asleep. No one has ever taught you how to do it, you just know. I can't explain. I could just feel what needed to be done, so I did it, but it took all my strength and I collapsed onto the ground. Lainfea woke me and Lanthir by throwing the content of the waterskin over our heads."
Legolas laughed. "She is something, that little sister of ours."
Limloeth agreed. "She's very practical," and much softer she added, "Enough to be annoying," which caused Legolas to laugh even louder. Limloeth smiled at his laughter. It was so good to hear again. She had missed it greatly.
"When Lanthir told us the corsairs had taken you, we started running. We followed the river as fast as we could, taking only water and food. I wanted to carry Lainfea, but I wasn't up to it so she ran herself. We ran for three days straight before we could finally see the corsair's ships in the distance."
"Lainfea ran for three days straight?" Legolas aksed incredulously.
"And she didn't complain once," Limloeth added. "But I knew we couldn't keep running forever. I could see Lainfea burning up. It was frightening, seeing her lips dry up and crack, but her back and forehead were soaking wet. When I suggested a stop she just let herself fall to the ground. Lanthir and I were very worried about her, but she pulled through."
Legolas looked sideways to his youngest sister. She had woken up and had silently listened to Limloeth. "So," he said to her. "You have ran a long way, haven't you?" Lainfea nodded.
"And Lanthir said I was very good at it."
"Did he now?" Legolas smiled. "Well he must have been right then."
Lainfea smiled proudly.
"But running is not the only thing Lainfea is good at, is it?" Limloeth said. "Lainfea is also a very good sneak."
Lainfea nodded.
"A good sneak? Now there's a story I want to hear," Legolas said. "Will you sit on my lap as Limloeth tells the story?" he asked the elfling.
She nodded and quickly moved from her bed to theirs.
"When we were resting, I could see the corsair's ships manuvering between the mountains. At some places the walls were extremely close to the ship.
The ships had to move very slow not to hit any of the sharp rocks on the bottom of the river, so when we moved again, we had a chance to get ahead of them.
As it grew dark, they couldn't go on, because the risk of running into something was too great. That's when we snuck in."
Legolas was shocked. "You snuck into a corsair ship? Are you insane?
Did you have any idea just how dangerous that was?"
Limloeth nodded.
"Then why did you do it?"
"Because we had to save you, you idiot! Don't even think we would have left you there to die!"
TBC..
Well since you write in reliews you would want me to post twice a day.. Today i actually might... That is.. If you are all nice and review this one.. (I will pst the second chapt today somewere at night... like say 02.00 at night, European time. )
Aly K: You will see Thranduil at the end of this story.. I'll promise you that. But the story will be about 40 chapters long.. So it might take a while..
Karone Evertree: OH! Elvish words! I would love that! (But I wouldn't understand them.. so I would love a translation too..) Or just English.. Or Dutch...
s-belmyne : I love the fact you love my story! It is good to know it is read.
Moriarwen: LOL I don't think Biddy will. LOL.
moonshine44: Yes Lim is a healer..
Rutu: WOW your reviews always made me smile.. And I will post twice today.. (just for once) If I'll get nice reviews and FFnet allows it, that is. And yes Legolas almost always is the youngest. and he rarely has sisters. And in the stories he isn't the youngest he is an only child.. But that just didn't seem right to me. So this is my take on it.
Sam611: Yes, they are safe now.. BUT>> this story will be 40 chapters long: Enough to have a lot of Kleenex moments!
Nessa Ar-Feiniel: Yes he is. And he misses his Ada..