When the Snow Falls Red
Chapter 18: Time to Shine
Don't own.
I'm kinda proud of my self for writing chapters 14-17 so far just while on vacation. I know they're not long, but hey… it's all good. Haha.
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At the same time that Náessë and Aranel were finding out about Eärendir…
Órelindë leaned over Thranduil, the snow melting and soaking through her dress, making her knees cold. She was cleaning out his wound the best she could before it got infected. So much had happened so quickly, that she was also using this time to collect herself, and prepare herself mentally for what may come.
Because not only was she worried about Náessë, Aranel, Haldir, and Thranduil, there was also Aranel's crazed twin brother going to the Hall of Healing at that very moment to try to kill Legolas. She had to do something. Valar knows how long it would take Galadriel and Celeborn to find Finwë.
When she finished cleaning the wound, she pulled a small amount of bandages from her dress pocket and wrapped it. If he woke up before she could get him some pain killers, he would be in a lot of pain.
Sighing, she pulled her sleeves over her hands and rubbed her face. She had not noticed the tears that were falling down her cheeks.
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Uruviel closed the little blue book that Náessë had let her borrow from the palace library. She had just finished it and she enjoyed it a lot. The stories were classics that all elflings knew, but the book elaborated on them.
Feeling very good, she got up and started to redress Legolas's wounds on his arms and shoulders. The silence in the Hall of Healing was a welcome change, though, she did not know what was going on outside of the Hall. As long was it was nothing bad, she didn't really care.
As she was finished with the bandage on Legolas's shoulder, the door to the Hall opened. She turned, and saw Prince Aranel walk in. She smiled. "Good Evening, your highness." She said with a smile. He smiled back at her.
"You would mind letting me have a little alone time with my brother?" He asked. Uruviel nodded. She picked up the little book and left the room, going into the smaller room off to the side of the Hall of Healing. She left the door open a little, just in case the prince called to her.
Of course, the reader knows that it was not Prince Aranel who entered the room, but rather Eärendir. He smirked, and drew closer to the recovering elf, who had already felt the wrath of this elf. Slowly, Eärendir drew the long dagger from his belt and held it high over him.
"Farewell Legolas."
Uruviel had suddenly forgotten something she had to do while cleaning Legolas's wounds, so she leapt up from the chair and went to the door, throwing it open. She saw the Aranel holding the dagger up over Legolas, and she screamed.
Eärendir turned and saw the healer apprentice standing in the doorway, her hands clasped over her mouth. He growled, then lower his dagger. This girl would surely cause more commotion than needed. He would have to kill her. He broke out into a run, but Uruviel stepped back into the room and pulled the door shut. Eärendir grabbed the handle and yanked on it. He was too strong for her, and the door flew open, and Uruviel landed with a crash on the floor. He grabbed her by the front of her dress and held her up in the air and pressed her body against the wall. With his other hand, he held the dagger to her neck. She could see the blood that was on the dagger already, and she wondered who he had attacked.
She looked into his eyes, and she could see his malice and his anger. But she wasn't scared. A painful memory came back to her that had inspired her to become a healer…
--Flashback--
Uruviel was playing with her best friend and little brother by the river one afternoon many years ago. They were swinging on the low branches of the trees and splashing their feet in the river. Their parents had told them to be careful and to not swim in the river, for it was too fast moving for them, and they would be swept away.
While they were playing, Uruviel saw some berries on the other side of the river. "Look!" she shouted. Her friend and her brother looked, and they too saw the berries.
"I wish we could get some." Her friend said.
"Me too." Her brother agreed.
"We can! We just have to get to the other side!" Uruviel said. There was no doubt in her mind that they could somehow get the berries. "Someone could just climb through the branches. It doesn't look that hard." she said, looking around. "Why don't you try?" She said, looking at her friend.
"I don't think so." Her friend said. "I don't want them that much." Uruviel rolled her eyes and looked to her little brother.
"How about you? Why don't you try?" She asked. Her little brother, who always aimed to please his big sister, nodded with enthusiasm.
"Why don't you go?" Her friend asked, looking angry.
"I'm too scared." Uruviel said. Her friend rolled her eyes back at her. Both watched as Uruviel's little brother climbed up into the tree. He walked along a branch, and for a moment they thought he might make it, but his foot slipped, and he fell… down into the rushing river below.
Uruviel and her friend screamed. They watched as his small body hit the water, and it started to tumble downstream. They ran along the edge of the river, calling to him, trying to get him to swim to shore, but he couldn't hear them.
Things got worse after that. As they ran, they saw the large rocks that jutted out from the river. Uruviel's eyes went wide, and she turned her head, screaming her brother's name.
White noise pounded at her ears, then everything was silent. Uruviel opened her eyes, but did not look at the river. Her friend was staring at her, tears in her eyes and falling down her cheeks.
"Look at what you did! You are a horrible person Uruviel! You only ever think of yourself! If you hadn't been so insistent on those stupid berries then you would not have caused your own little brother's death! How could you! You will die and be disgraced forever!" He friend screamed at her, then ran away. She left Uruviel there, alone, crying.
--End Flashback--
She became a healer to make up for the wrong she committed. Her family shunned her, and she had no place to go, but Órelindë took her in and taught her, not caring what Uruviel had done in the past.
And now, here she was, a dagger to her neck, ready to die. Perhaps the Valar would have mercy on her soul if she died buying a little time for Legolas. Maybe someone heard her scream.
Closing her eyes, she drew a breath, what she thought might be her last one…
But the pain never came. She opened her eyes to find that the prince was looking in a different direction. He looked angry. He let go of her, and she dropped down to the ground. "I'll be back." he growled, and he went to the window. He pushed it open, and climbed out.
Uruviel ran to the window and looked down, but he had not jumped. That would be foolish. She looked into the trees, but he was gone. She backed away from the window in time to see the door open. Finwë, the captain of the guards, and Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel enter the room.
"Was there someone else in here with you?" Finwë asked after looking around the room, finding no one else there. Uruviel nodded.
"Prince Aranel was here, but he left through the window. He was trying to kill Prince Legolas, and then he tried to kill me, but he didn't. He said he's be back and then climbed out the window." Uruviel said innocently.
She must have not noticed that she was shaking, for Galadriel went to her side and wrapped an arm around her. She reached to Uruviel's face and wiped away the tears that were falling. "That was not Prince Aranel." Galadriel said in her low voice. "It was his twin."
"Twin? But how?" Uruviel asked. Galadriel shook her head.
"All will be explained in time." She said. Uruviel nodded, and allowed Galadriel to lead her to one of the beds. She laid down and a few minutes later, Galadriel handed her a cup of tea. Soon, Uruviel's lids were heavy, and she fell asleep.
Galadriel smiled at the healer. She had been very brave through her little ordeal. She turned to the rest of the room. "I would give everyone a sleeping herb, except that our threat is not yet over." She said. Her husband and the captain nodded. The three of them heard footsteps, and the turned and saw Órelindë walking into the room. Behind her, there was two guards carrying Thranduil. She pointed to a bed and they put him down on it, bowed to Órelindë, and left.
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Haha I know. I'm really slow. But you know, there's the whole thing where I get busy and don't really have time, plus the Sims 2 came out so I've been spends like all my time on that game. I love it. It rocks! Anyways, review as always.
Reviewers:
aroswein: Yes I do know your opinion. Hehe. Of course I won't kill Haldir. I like him too much!
KissTheRainGirl12489: I wasn't planning to kill them, I might have other plans than a cell though.. hehe.
leggylover4ever: I know I'm sorry. I'm slow! BUT THE SIMS! Haha.
Later all-
Blue September Rain