I don't own the song in here by Avril Lavigne 'Nobody's Home.'
Anything in parentheses (words) means it's in Elvish.
Captured in a Dream
Chapter 37
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Last Chapter:
A few days past and Frodo finally woke up to sunlight streaming down on him. He sits up on the large bed and is shocked to see Gandalf in front of him, smiling.
"Gandalf?" Frodo asks in disbelieve, wondering if it was a dream.
Gandalf smiles widely, nodding. They both begun to laugh at an unknown joke they have long for to tell one another. Merry and Pippin opened the door when they heard laughter and yelled out Frodo's name. They run towards the bed and jump up on it, the three Hobbits jumping up and down, laughing and smiling. Gimli comes in next, arms wide open and laughs.
"Gimli." Frodo cries out and looks up to see Legolas walking into the room as well, smiling.
Aragorn soon follows his friend afterwards, followed by Alejandro, Alejandra, and Ailish. They all stand next to Gandalf, looking at Frodo. Sam slowly walks in, cautiously to see what was to happen.
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It seemed as though time has stopped within that little room with both the last of the Fellowship and the three adults from a different world, a different time. Sam stood behind the group, looking towards Frodo, a bit afraid. While Merry and Pippin talked away of what has happened since thy parted and the things they have seen. But Frodo only half listened as he smiled over towards Sam, happy for his friend to be alive and well.
Sam smiled back, happy to have Frodo as the way he was before. Not completely normal before the Ring came to him, but enough to trust one another once more. Seeing the two to be friends once more, Aragorn spoke up.
"You four Hobbits are to stay within the White City for as long as you want. You are welcome."
The Hobbits smiled at one another, Merry and Pippin eye's twinkling with much mischief. Seeing this, Ailish spoke up, smirking to the all ready plan the two trouble makers were planning.
"Don't even think it you two. If either of you cause trouble within this city, I will hold you responsible and make sure you get the punishment you both deserve." Ailish said sternly, pointing her forefinger at them back and forth.
Both Merry and Pippin put their hands in defense, shaking their heads as they said at the same time, "never even thought of it."
The two cousins shook their head, eyeing the two. "Uh-huh, sure you didn't." They said in unison.
"I think it is best to give Frodo some privacy to dress and look about the city." Gandalf suggested, the Fellowship (besides the three Hobbits) and the adults all walked out.
When the group took their separate ways, Ailish walked next to Gandalf, the memory that was suppose to be erased still within her mind.
"Is true that the portal will continue to stay open if we don't return?"
Gandalf stayed silent for a while, as the two of them walked out from the hallway and into the fifth level street. The people were busy going from here to there, cleaning and repairing all that was lost because of this war.
"Yes." Gandalf finally said at a length. "I fear as Evil still roams these lands of Middle Earth they might fall upon the portal."
"But it is near Rivendell? And that Kingdom is very protective." Ailish argued, looking up to the wizard.
The two stopped near the edge, both looking down to the other levels. Gandalf spoke softy to her, Ailish almost not hearing him.
"Yes, but now that peace has come to this world, the Elves are departing to the Undying Lands of Grey Heaven."
Gandalf looked down to the young adult. In all her time spending with the White Wizard, Ailish saw just how old and tired Gandalf truly was. After this heavy burden was lifted off from his shoulders, it's as though years have finally caught up to him.
"Rivendell will not always be protected, my dear. Soon the Evil will come across it and enter your world. Maybe even destroy the history that you all made." Sighing, Gandalf turned away from her, looking back down to the people.
Ailish knew the silent question he never wanted to ask. 'Only one of you will have to return to your world and close the portal forever.' Unshed tears formed in her eyes, her lips trembling as she tried not to cry.
"W-when is Ar-Aragorn's crowning?" Ailish asked, her voice trembling with promising sobs to come.
"A year from tomorrow." Gandalf answered.
Nodding, Ailish turned and walked away but not before stopping and asking him a favor.
"Don't tell Alejandro or Alejandra. I don't want to burden them with such a decision. They should live their life in peace, they deserve it."
"What of your own life? What of your own decision? Does that not matter?" Gandalf asked, looking to Ailish's back.
Ailish shook her head. "No. They went through a lot worse then I. They deserve to live with those they love."
Ailish took several steps to leave but abruptly stopped at Gandalf's next question.
"And what of Faramir's feelings? He does not deserve such a thing! He deserves to live happy and to love and have a family!" Gandalf said with anger evident in his voice but his tone was never come above to a shout.
"He does deserve such things… But not from me."
And with that Ailish walked away. Gandalf shook his head sadly, hating fate and destiny at the moment.
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Time slept by quickly for everyone. The White City was repaired and back to what it was. A few Orcs and Evil Men were spotted but nothing too hard the Gondor soldiers could not have handled. During this time, everyone spent as much time (and working to restore Minas Tirith) with one another. They knew what little time they had with one another, for after the crowning of Aragorn, the Fellowship and the adults will have to part and return to the homes that await them.
Ailish spent as much time with her brother and the two begun to catch up from the years that was taken from them. As she spent with her friends and her lover. But time was short and Ailish knew it. Soon enough the hardest decision that she knew was the right thing to do will come soon and all those she love dearly will never be in her life again.
On the night before Aragorn's crowning, Ailish laid awake in her bed, looking up to nothing but the ceiling. Sighing, Ailish sat up on the bed and scooted over to the edge, her toes touching the cold marble stone. She has all ready made up her mind the day she finished talking with Gandalf. In doing so, Ailish believed she should spend one last time with Faramir and give him what rightfully belongs to him.
Standing, Ailish took off her pajamas and put on a simple white robe. She walked over to her door and opened it. She peeked out to see no one in the halls and made her way out of her room and down to her left. She knew where Faramir's door was and quickly made her way to it.
Once in front of it, Ailish took a deep breath and turned the handle downwards carefully and opening the door. She quickly entered the room and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Even with that little noise, Faramir was awake and sitting up on his elbows. He frowned as to what Ailish was doing in his room. Smiling to the man she has ever loved since the first time she saw him in the movies and in person, Ailish walked forward.
By now Faramir has sat up on his bed, a curious and a frown upon his brow. At the foot of his bed, Ailish slowly, without losing eye contact with Faramir, undid the strings and slid off the robe from her body to let it drop to the floor. Faramir's face turned a bright red as he looked up and down the naked female before him. Smiling Ailish walked to the side of the bed, Faramir pulling back the covers, Ailish sliding next to him.
When Faramir covered Ailish's naked form, he rolled on top of her and begin to kiss, a long night of a passionate love shared to become one.
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The next day, everyone from within the White City, to those living in kingdoms far away came far and wide to stand upon the seventh level. They were dressed in their best clothing, all watching Gandalf taking a crown from Gimli. Standing next to Faramir, Ailish put her fingers through his own, Faramir squeezing it as he smiled to her. Ailish smiled back and they both looked over to the rest of the ceremony.
I couldn't tell you,
Why she felt that way,
She felt it every day,
And I couldn't help her,
I just watched her make,
The same mistakes again,
What's wrong, what's wrong now?
Too many, too many problems,
Don't know where she belongs,
Where she belongs
Gandalf raised the crown high above Aragorn's head for all to see. The ever so slowly he lowers it and sets it upon Aragorn's head. Looking up at the crowd, Gandalf speaks as loud as he could for all to hear.
"Now come the days of the King."
She wants to go home,
But nobody's home,
That's where she lies,
Broken inside,
With no place to go,
No place to go,
To dry her eyes,
Broken inside,
Aragorn, trembling a bit from the image of not everyone not wanting him to be king, looked up at Gandalf. The Wizard reassured him with his eyes, Aragorn smiling briefly, Gandalf returning it with his own as he spoke softly for only Aragorn to hear.
"May they be blessed."
Stepping to the side, Gandalf watches Aragorn walk the rest of the way up the stairs. At the top he blows out the breath he was holding and turns ever so slowly.
Open your eyes,
And look outside
Find the reasons why
You've been rejected
And now you can't find what you left behind
When he fully turned around, everyone clapped in joy that they have a king once more and that Evil has finally been rid off… for the time being.
"This day," Aragorn says loudly, everyone going silently. "Does not belong to one man-"
"Or woman!" Ailish, Alejandra, Eomer, Faramir, Haldir, and Damon yelled, starling several of the people around them.
Aragorn smiles but continues with his speech. "But to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace."
Everyone claps, cheering as loud as they could. White petals begin to fall and blow amongst the wind. The people then quiet down as Aragorn beings to sing in Elvish.
Be strong, be strong now,
Too many, too many problems,
Don't know where she belongs,
Where she belongs,
She wants to go home,
But nobody's home,
That's where she lies,
Broken inside,
With no place to go,
No place to go,
To dry her eyes,
Broken inside,
After the song, Aragorn walks down the path, everyone bowing as he walks. He looked over to Faramir and Ailish, smiling at their happiness. But if Aragorn only. If only knew what was really going to happen to that happiness.
"Are you certain of what you want to do, little one?"
Ailish looked across from her towards Galadriel, who looked back.
"Yes. I don't want my other friends to leave that which they long for all their lives. They have forgotten and yet I have not." Ailish looked down towards the path to see Eomer walking forward, holding hands with Alejandra at his side, both bowing. "Maybe it is Destiny or Fate, whatever you want to call it, for only me to walk through that portal and close it forever."
"And that which you love?" Galadriel asked sadly, knowing it was taking a lot for the young mortal to do this.
Her feelings she hides,
Her dreams she can't find,
She's losing her mind,
She's falling behind,
She can't find her place,
She's losing her faith,
She's falling from grace,
She's all over the place, yeah,
Looking from her friend and her lover, Ailish sees Legolas walking forward in his princely clothing of silver, the circlet upon his brow. Aragorn puts a hand on Legolas right shoulder as Legolas does the same to Aragorn. Aragorn greets him, but Legolas only smiles and motions his head to the right.
Aragorn frowns in confusion, looking past his friend. Two Elves move to the side while the elleth holding the banner moves it to reveal Arwen wearing her circlet and a white silky dress, her father behind her and smiling.
"Go to him." Elrond whispered to his daughter, as she moves forward.
Aragorn moves forward as will, frowning in disbelief. Arwen holds back her tears, smiling to the man she loves.
"And that which I love. I know it is what I must do and no other should be burden with this but me. I am the only one left with the memory and I should compile to do this." Ailish told the Lady of Light, smiling to the happy couple.
She wants to go home,
But nobody's home,
That's where she lies,
Broken inside,
With no place to go,
No place to go,
To dry her eyes,
Broken inside,
Aragorn and Arwen stop inches from each other, not knowing what to do or say. Aragorn takes the banner and gives it to woman nearby. Arwen bows her head, but Aragorn frowns in disproval and lifts her head up, Arwen smiling at the small gesture.
Suddenly, Aragorn couldn't take it anymore and kisses Arwen, swinging her around. Everyone smiles and claps to the couple in love.
Ailish looks back to Galadriel, eyes once again forming but unshed.
"I am truly lost of what my destiny should be. I don't know why this task was put in front of me. All I know is that I am lost of what I am suppose to do."
She lost inside, lost inside,
She lost inside, lost inside.
Looking back to the happy couple, Ailish sees that Aragorn is now holding Arwen, the both of them touching each other's hair and cheek making sure that it was real. Laughing, Arwen hugs Aragorn once more, kissing his cheek. Aragorn continues her way down the path, greeting the people he was to rule over, Arwen now at his side. Soon, the two couples find themselves in front of the four Hobbits, who don't know what to do as they look at each other.
Hesitantly, they bow to Aragorn and Arwen. Aragorn takes a step forward, shaking his head.
"My friends," the Hobbits look up at Aragorn unsure. "You bow to no one." Aragorn tells them, going on one knee as Arwen curtsy at them.
Everyone upon the seventh level does follows suit of their king and go upon their knees or curtsy towards the four shocked Hobbits. Pippin looks around with a smile, as Merry is too stun for any reaction as is Sam, while Frodo feels uncomfortable about the whole thing.
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Soon after the ceremony is over, the entire people who have came for this are inside a very, VERY larger room for all of them to fit in and have a party of the newly crowned king. While Faramir talks away with Aragorn and those who knew his brother, Ailish stayed in the back, holding the temptation to cry out in public. Three familiar presences walk from her right, making her shake her head. She turns and looks to the two Elven Lords and a White Wizard.
"Let us leave now. I have said my goodbyes for over a year and I wish not to alarm anyone at the moment."
Elrond and Gandalf nod, Elrond speaking up. "Understandable."
Sighing, Ailish looks back towards the group that contained of her friends, family, and lover and silently said her goodbyes. Ailish turned and they four of them quickly walked out of the room and towards the outside of the seventh level heading straight towards the stables.
"I do hope you don't mind riding in a fast gallop in that dress of yours, Lady Galadriel." Ailish tells her, as she walks up to Mariposa.
"No, I do not." Galadriel replied as she walked up to her own brown mare.
A stable boy was walking down their row and Ailish stopped him.
"Give these to Lady Alejandra, Lord Alejandro, Lord Damon, and Lord Faramir in four hours. Will you remember that?"
"Yes my lady, do not worry a thing."
Ailish smiled and gave the boy a peck on the cheek in thanks. The boy blushed and went back to doing his job before he was to be yelled at his father.
Once they were all mounted, the group of a mortal woman, a White Wizard, and two Elven Lords rode hard and fast out of Minas Tirith and towards Rivendell, one never to return no more.
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It was will past five hours and Faramir has looked all over the room for his love. He has asked everyone who knew her and those who did not. The Fellowship, the two cousins, Damon, Eomer, and Haldir have split up and searched all over but none has seen Ailish in the last five hours. Standing outside on the seventh level, the group tried to think of where Ailish might be. That was when a stable boy walked up to them and handed to Alejandra, Alejandro, Faramir, and Damon a letter with Ailish's writing.
Each letter said of goodbyes, past memory and present memory that was full of joy and happiness. She said her apologizes and wished them all a happy life without her and that they hope they could forgive her in time.
Faramir grabbed the stable boy, tears falling down his cheeks. "When did you last see her?"
"Just five hours ago my lord."
Letting the boy go, Faramir ran towards the stables, Alejandra, Alejandro, and Damon behind him. They all hoped it was not too late to catch up to her. Just like those who left, this group rode hard and fast, only one place in their mind at that moment: Rivendell.
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It has been two days since the group of four left Minas Tirith and was now slowly riding through the forest of Rivendell, where Ailish first became to be here. Galadriel, Elrond, and Gandalf rode next to her, all in deep thought. They rode nonstop, knowing full well that those after Ailish were behind them and close by too.
Ailish admired the beauty of Rivendell for the first time. Never having the time to before, as evil was always near and a mission to actually complete. She saw how green the leaves and the grass were. How close together the trees were, and so tall, shading them from the sun. Though some sunlight peeked through the trees here and there, giving it a more mystical, enchanting, and surreal look.
Ailish stops Mariposa and looks at the portal for a moment, seeing the pure white snow covering the woods behind her house. She gets off of her trustworthy horse and hugs her around the neck. Ailish turns to the two Elf Lords and the White wizard, smiling sadly at them.
"Take good care of her Gandalf."
Gandalf smiled at her. "Of course. I would not let any harm come to her."
Ailish paused for a moment, smiling. "Will," she said slowly. "I guess this is goodbye. Thank you for everything that you have done." They all nod their head towards her.
Ailish turns around and takes a few steps towards the portal, touching it lightly. The portal made small ripples, seeming as if it were water. Taking a deep breath, Ailish got ready to step forward but yelling behind the group made her stop. All four of them turned to see what was coming their way, even though they knew who it was.
Ailish looks back to see her friends, brother, and lover riding towards her, yelling at her not to go. Ailish held back a sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. For the first time in four years, Ailish was crying. And had let the tears fall, which held all her emotions, not even ashamed that she was crying.
"Goodbye." She whispered, taking a step back into the portal, which seemed to go slowly for her.
Ailish fell backwards into a black void. Flashbacks of her past as will as her present life pass before her eyes. Every heartache. Every tear. Every bloodshed that seemed to never go away. Every pain from a loss of a loved one. This was one past, Ailish did not want to remember.
"Daddy!" A seventeen year old Ailish cries in a echo.
"Haldir! No!" The voice of Aragorn's echoes.
"Don't go Faramir! It will be the death of your men!" Ailish's voice echoes.
"King Théoden!" Eomer's voice echoes.
"I love you." Faramir whispers echoes.
"No!" Alejandra's yell echoes.
"I must do this. I can't burden those who deserve to have a peaceful life."
"DAMON!"
"Baby sister, you are growing up too much for my liking."
As Ailish continued to fall backwards into the black void, a mixture of voices filled the darkness saying unknown things in a different language. Than one clear voice overpowered them all.
"Go back... Wake up from a dream that never happened... You do not belong anywhere but your own world... Wake up from this peaceful dream that became your nightmare... Wake up..."
Sauron's eye than appeared in front of Ailish, glaring at her. Fire and shadow surrounding the single eye, as the pupil became a narrow strip.
"You will never stop me!" The voice was menacing, and had an echo of Black Speech with each word. "Never... RETURN!" He yelled.
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Ailish bolted up right in her bed, sweat covering her body. She tried to catch her breath, which seemed to come in gasps, as she looked around her room. Little light came through the closed curtains. Ailish looked down to her floor to see her digital clock, the red numbers saying it was 6:30 in the late afternoon.
"Just a dream." She whispered, lying back down. "Just a dream becoming a nightmare."
Shaking her head, Ailish gets out of her bed, making her way towards her bathroom to take a quick shower. After drying her body dry and blow dry her hair, Ailish walks into her walk-in closet and puts on a pair of black pants, with a black tank top. She puts on her black boots that stopped midway of her calf. She walked back out into her bedroom and walked to the opposite of her bed and stopped in front of her bookshelf. Next to it was a security pad. Ailish pressed in the password and the bookshelf moved to the left.
Ailish walked inside the room, which was full of long swords, short swords, throwing knives, arrows, quivers of all sizes, bows of different colors, scimitars, etc. Ailish grabbed a long sword, throwing knives, a medium quiver full of arrows, a black bow with white leaves surrounding the bow, and on the top saying in Spanish: Tenga fe, y esperanza. Por todo es posible. Which translate to: Have faith, and hope. For everything is possible.
Getting the rest of the weapons Ailish needed, she put on a black overcoat that went to her ankles. Ailish stepped out of her house and walked down the street, the sun sitting over the west side.
"Ojala que estos monstro no traigan mas de sus amigos." (Hopefully these monster didn't bring more of their friends.)
"And thus it was. A fourth age of Middle-earth began. And the fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended. Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar sight. We were home.
How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.
Bilbo once told me his part in this tale would end, that each of us must come and go in the telling. Bilbo's story is now over. There would be no more journey's for him… Save one.
But I still think back two years ago. Ailish Soria literally sacrificed her life, desire, and love to have those closes to her a peaceful life. I now wonder, what has come of Ailish? What has she been doing back home? Why did she not just let the portal stay open?
Faramir has been depressed since that day. He has never loved another girl like he loved Ailish. He keeps himself busy just to try and forget all about Ailish.
But we all know that at night he has nightmares and dreams of her. Her smile, laughter, jesting, and her face will never go away from his memory.
Her brother, Damon, never forgave her for what she did but did admire for doing it. But he did tell us once that he was truly grateful to have seen her once more and to have caught up with her from the years they have missed.
Alejandro and Alejandra were taking the hardest. They were like family and a part of that family has been lost. Alejandra married Eomer and became Queen of Rohan, while Alejandro married Eowyn and the two stayed within the White City.
Damon fell in love with one of Arwen's maids and the two were wed just a year ago. Her name was Hithaer and they now have a daughter named Nengel (which means Water Joy in Elvish) Ailish. I believe she is three months tomorrow.
Now the time to end this story has come to an end. But not before those who have yet to live a long life with family and friends. They are to write their own stories down and pass it down to generation to generation. Maybe now everyone came live in peace and try to live on with Ailish with us no longer."
The End
A/N: Thank you for all those who reviewed! I had a great time writing this and I am happy you all enjoyed it! An Epilogue will be up soon and as will as the second of my own little Trilogy which is called Lost In Darkness. I don't know when I'll have it up, but I assure you it'll probably be up around August or so. (I have the first chapters on my lap top and I'm still grounded from using it) Will, for one last time, (for now) please review!