A/N: Okay I back track a little here, but it was the only way to make this
chapter work. Cheers and here's to no more exams!!
Louise Blue
Chapter Eleven: Delivery
Rosa had sent her the message telepathically to tell her when to link and without a further breath, she had linked with her.
'My Lady linking with me dulls the bond with your husband, you won't feel him and he won't feel you, it is essential that your whole attention is on the birth, otherwise we could lose the child.' Rosa sent and Celebfaer nodded.
'It is alright but it hurts so much. Is it supposed to hurt this much?' Celebfaer asked.
'It is normal for the first birth, though you are in a lot more pain than I thought you would be. It is amazing that your voice is so strong.'
'I learnt a trick from the Elves that allows me to keep my mind free of the body, but I do not know if I will be able to maintain it.'
'You can draw your strength from me, it is why we link.'
'I will only do that when it is necessary.' Celebfaer replied as another wave of pain hit her and the healers instructed her on what to do and she no longer spoke to Rosa telepathically.
It seemed to take forever and with each contraction that came the pain got worse. Very quickly she got tired, but it wasn't until she was almost at the point of exhaustion that she drew on Rosa's strength. The baby seemed to not want to come out. It was almost as though something was holding it in, wanting to kill both her and the baby.
'Rosa, I do not think I can make it.' Celebfaer said after many hours, she was utterly exhausted, mentally and physically and yet the Elvish healers still expected more of her because the baby had not yet been born.
'My Lady hold on. There is not much to go.' Rosa replied then Celebfaer felt Rosa give in completely to her. 'You must live my Lady. I am not important, so take my strength.' Rosa added but Celebfaer refused to drain her completely.
'Nay. You are strong Rosa, I cannot take all your strength.' Celebfaer said with new-found confidence and Rosa felt Celebfaer block some of her mind off to Rosa so that Rosa could not let Celebfaer drain her.
Then the oddest sensation overcame Celebfaer. It was almost as though her soul was being torn in two and it took her a few seconds to realize what was happening. Over the course of the pregnancy Celebfaer's mind had also expanded in its capacity and it was now being downsized back to its original state. The other half was trying to break away from her, and it was this half that was the baby.
'Rosa can you feel that?'
'Yes. It is the child.. This is the reason that all fairies have all their abilities when they are born, because their mind merges with their mother's. A mother's link to her child is always strong because of it.' Rosa explained, though her voice was showing how tired she herself was.
But then something strange happened, the soul that was to be the baby's separated itself, then it started to flow upwards, as though it did not want to stay on the earth.
Then Celebfaer's ears heard the words of the Elvish healers.
"He's not breathing..."
"No!" Celebfaer said out loud, opening her eyes and looking around at the healers and her newborn son who to her amazement was not breathing. Closing her eyes, she retreated into her mind, throwing Rosa out as she did, then she took flight after the baby's soul. She knew she could find it, even though she was exhausted.
'You cannot!' She called out to it, but it was flying a lot faster than she was. In order to speed up Celebfaer knew she would have to desert her body entirely. Knowing what that would likely mean she took the risk. She would not loose her child and if it meant her death then so be it.
It was surprisingly easy for her to leave her body behind as she increased her speed and caught up with the baby's soul, overtaking it and stopping in front of it.
'Go back!' She said to it, but it just laughed then tried to dodge her. But she was ready for it and she grabbed it and clutched it tightly in her hands before speeding back down to earth and the room where her body lay.
She found her son, in the arms of one of the Elvish healers and she pushed his soul into him, then using her mind she threaded and weaved until the soul of the baby and the baby itself were one.
"He has started breathing!" The healer that was holding him exclaimed and Celebfaer nodded, then knowing her job was done, she allowed herself to relax and she began to float upwards. She was so exhausted that she did not even have the strength to bind her soul back to her body.
Rosa smiled as she heard the words then she looked around at the Elvish healers who were all rejoicing at the fact that by some miracle the child had began to breath again, but a few seconds later Celebfaer's hand, which had not let go of Rosa's the whole time went limp.
Rosa understood then and she knew what she must do, so she sat on the chair next to the bed and then she retreated to her mind, trying to find Celebfaer's soul.
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Legolas waited for a whole month before he got anything else from the healers. True he did not return to his rooms to sleep much, but he was so worried and lost without Celebfaer that he did not know what to do. Rosa had also gone into the same state as Celebfaer, but she was still gripping her hand, so the healers had put two beds side by side and put the two of them there.
Legolas spent most of his time sitting by the bedside, holding their son in his arms as he wished for Celebfaer to open her eyes or show some from of life other than the painstakingly slow breathing.
Their son, he had named Feanin, because they could not wait for Celebfaer to come back to the land of the living and help him decide on a name. Feanin was growing healthily though the healers were amazed that the child was alive. They had told him that when the child had been born it had not been breathing and when Celebfaer had discovered this she had closed her eyes and a few minutes later the baby was breathing again, but Celebfaer was breathing only slightly. But when Rosa had realized this she also had retreated into her mind and neither of the two women had awoken since. It took him a whole month to get that information out of the healers and after that a numbness took him. If it weren't for Feanin he would have given in to despair.
Feanin had taken to drinking goats milk quite nicely and the baby was very healthy. Legolas just wished that Celebfaer was there to share the joy of the newborn child with him.
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Finally she had found her. She was in a little garden of her own where it seemed like it was always spring, fruits growing on the trees and flowers all around her and the sun shinning down brilliantly. Celebfaer was walking through the garden singing a happy tune, a content smile on her face.
'Celebfaer!' Rosa called out and Celebfaer turned to look at Rosa's spirit, a frown on her face.
'Who are you?' She asked.
'It's Rosa, my Lady.' Rosa replied, suddenly afraid because Celebfaer had not recognized her, which was a bad sign. It was worse than Rosa had first thought.
'Rosa? Why are you here?'
'I must take you back.. You are not ready to go..' Rosa replied and Celebfaer laughed.
'But it is so nice up here. Where else would I want to be other than here?'
'What about your husband? What about your son?'
'Husband? Son? I do not have either of those. I have everything I need here. Come and walk with me through the garden.' Celebfaer said, reaching a hand out to the spirit-like form of Rosa.
Taking Celebfaer's hand, Rosa was pulled into her world. She was in the garden, and it smelt divine, not to mention the feel of the grass under her feet. It was almost as though all her senses were amplified to feel how beautiful the garden was.
'Would you like a pear?' Celebfaer asked picking a pear from the tree and offering it to Rosa.
Taking it, Rosa took a bite and marveled at the taste. 'It is magnificent.'
'Yes. I have grown all these trees myself. But no one ever comes to visit. I am so glad to finally get someone to keep me company. The fruits would go to waste otherwise and I do not like waste.'
'My Lady, this is not the real world.' Rosa said, putting her pear on one of the branches in the tree, only half eaten, but even as she put the pear down it disappeared. 'This is the spirit world.'
'Nonsense. I am real, you are real even though I do not know who you are.'
'My Lady, what happened to you? Do you not remember Legolas?'
'Legolas?' Celebfaer asked frowning. 'The name is familiar, but I do not know of who you speak.'
'He is your husband. An Elf of the woodland realm, Eryn Lasgalen.' Rosa replied, hoping anything would jog her memory and make her remember.
'An Elf? Nonsense. I would never wed an Elf. I am a fairy, keeper of the trees and all things in nature.' She replied laughing at Rosa. 'You also are a fairy, so I do not understand why you would be around Elves.'
'My Lady, do you remember nothing?' Rosa asked, despairing now, because she knew if they did not leave soon, Celebfaer would loose her memory of everything back in the real world and then she really would be dead in the real world. The body could not live without the mind, but the mind could live without the body, because the mind was the essence of everything.
'I remember an Elf with brilliant blue eyes, but I think I did not like him because Elves are the enemy of Fairies are they not?'
'Nay, my Lady you dwelt with the Elves for over 2500 years.'
'Nonsense.'
'Do you not remember your own name?'
'Celebfaer. I remember that, though I do not know what it means.'
'It is Elvish for 'Silverspirit'. My Lady you have so much for you in the real world, please come back. Your husband, Legolas, the Elf with the blue eyes, and your newborn son need you.'
'But who will look after the trees?'
'The Valar will look after the trees.'
'Who are the Valar?' Celebfaer asked and Rosa sighed.
'My Lady, if it would please you then I will stay here instead and look after the trees, as long as you return to the real world. You are important.'
'Why?' Celebfaer asked but before Rosa could respond, they heard a loud crash and Celebfaer's eyes widened in shock. 'Madam you must get down, he will be here any minute and I must defend the trees.' Celebfaer said and Rosa nodded then lowered herself to the ground as Celebfaer flew up into the sky, just as a creature the size of a dragon flew into sight.
It was as large as a dragon, but it was not a dragon. It was long and thin with two large wings protruding from its back. And it looked more like a worm or a snake with wings if anything. It saw Celebfaer and began to fly in her direction, but before it could hit, Celebfaer had called lightening and the beast was struck and it died almost instantly. In its dying moment however, one of its arms flung out and hit Celebfaer, sending her plummeting to the ground. But the beast, instead of falling to the ground disappeared as though it had never existed. Rosa could not believe that a beast as big as that had just disappeared, but she had to worry about Celebfaer. Getting up she looked around, trying to find where Celebfaer had fallen.
But Celebfaer stood up and started to walk in the opposite direction to where Rosa was, as though she had forgotten Rosa was even there before Rosa had found her. Frowning, Rosa ran after her, calling out to her to try and get Celebfaer to stop.
'My Lady?'
Celebfaer stopped and turned around, a frown on her face when she saw Rosa. 'Rosa? What are you doing here?' Celebfaer asked and Rosa frowned. Seconds before Celebfaer had not remembered her and now after falling to the ground from the blow she had taken she finally remembered her.
'I was...' Rosa started but Celebfaer cut her off.
'Does my son live?'
'Yes, my Lady, he lives.' Rosa said, glad that Celebfaer's memory seemed to be back to normal.
'Good. I've been searching for a way to get out of this place, but I can't seem to find it.' Celebfaer said looking around and Rosa smiled.
'Take my hand, my Lady and I will take you out of here.' Rosa said, so Celebfaer took her hand, as Rosa flapped her wings and began to fly upwards.
They climbed until the garden had disappeared behind them and then Rosa began the decent back to the real world.
'I feel as though I am leaving something behind.' Celebfaer said, her face slightly confused. 'Was I looking for something?' She asked and Rosa shook her head.
'Nay. You are coming home now.' She replied and Celebfaer let go of her hand.
'I can fly without assistance. Though I do not know where I am going.' Celebfaer said and Rosa nodded.
'Then follow me and I will lead you back.'
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It had been a year and a half since the day that the Feanin had been born and the child was walking, running and talking now, much to Legolas' delight, but still there had been no change in Celebfaer's, or Rosa's condition. So reluctantly and under the direction of his father, Legolas had spent a few hours every day in counsel with his father, preparing for the day when Thranduil would leave the realm and Legolas would take over the running of the kingdom. His father also forced Legolas to eat and sleep in his own rooms, so he would only spend the afternoons sitting in the house of healing, playing with his son as he willed Celebfaer to come back to them.
He had almost given up hope, but he was still sitting beside the bed wondering if she would ever regain consciousness and if she did not what he would do without her.
It was late in the afternoon and Feanin was playing with a ball that someone had made for him. Feanin had inherited his mother's hair as he now had a head full of brown hair. It was short, as it was for most Elvish children, until they turned ten when they were allowed to grow it long. Feanin was a sweet child and he had a smile that would melt his father's heart. If it wasn't for Feanin, Legolas knew he would have fallen into despair long before this.
"Feanin." Legolas said now and the child looked up and smiled at him.
"Da?"
"Time for some dinner?" Legolas asked and Feanin nodded.
"Yep. Hungry." Feanin said and Legolas laughed then looked at Celebfaer for a little while longer.
But just before he was about to tear his eyes away and turn in for another night he noticed a change. Her breathing began to quicken and as he watched it quickened to that of a person that was sleeping normally. It was strange to watch, because seconds before she had been breathing so deeply and so slowly that he could count over a minute between each breath and now she was breathing as though she was just sleeping, nothing more.
Too shocked to do anything but stare he watched and she moved her head ever so slightly as one does when they are sleeping.
"Da? Me hungry." Feanin said, walking to stand at his father's feet, and tugging on Legolas' leggings.
"Feanin, run and get the healer, quickly." Legolas said, without taking his eyes off Celebfaer.
"But, Da..."
"Now!" Legolas said and Feanin nodded then ran from the room, calling to the healers and Legolas leaned forward and grabbed her hand. "Melamin, could it be?" He whispered softly and then two healers arrived. Both of them had their eyes wide as though something frightening was about to happen and Legolas looked up at them as the eldest one spoke.
"Your highness?" She asked.
"She is breathing normally. What is going on?" Legolas asked. He could not explain it but he could see a faint aura around her now too, but he still could not feel her in his head. Hurrying, he rushed to where Rosa lay and as he walked over, the maid's eyes fluttered and she opened them as though she had forgotten how to do it.
"Rosa!" Legolas called urgently and Rosa looked at him, her eyes taking a while to focus.
"I found her." Rosa said weakly then she closed her eyes and was back asleep before Legolas could ask any more.
"Rosa!" Legolas called, then he shook her shoulder, but the only response he got was Rosa shifting in her sleep. "Rosa!" Legolas called again urgently and he tried to shake her again, but one of the healers came up to him and stopped him.
"Your highness." She said and Legolas stopped then looked at her before sighing and nodding.
"Sorry." He said and then the healers started talking excitedly to each other and Legolas looked from one to the other, not following what they were saying.
"Do you know what is going on?" He asked and the eldest spoke up.
"Their spirits have returned." She said and Legolas could have cried with excitement, except that Feanin was watching him, curiously.
"I will leave you to your work then." Legolas said, smiling at the healers and they nodded. "If either wake up you are to send for me instantly and I will return. But now I have a hungry son to feed." Legolas added and the healers smiled at him.
"Certainly your highness."
Legolas nodded then he picked up his son and headed to the kitchens to get some food.
Eran found him sitting in the empty dinning hall, feeding Feanin a short while later and his brother smiled at him.
"Is it true that they have returned?" Eran asked and Legolas nodded.
"They live. By some miracle Rosa has managed to bring her back." Legolas replied and Eran nodded then sat down next to Feanin and began to play with him. "Eran, I am trying to fed him, please!" Legolas said irritably and Feanin laughed then stuck his tongue out at his father.
"Yucky food." He said, screwing up his nose and he knew the lecture he was about to get, so he got up from his chair and began running around the room, like a lunatic. Legolas thought yet again that it was a good thing he did not have wings or else Legolas would never be able to keep up with him.
"Feanin!" Legolas called, but the child ignored him. "Feanin you will come back and sit down then finish your dinner, or you will starve for a week!" Legolas bellowed, angrily and that stopped the child.
He came straight back to the table and then even offered to feed himself, which Legolas allowed him to do. He had been in no mood for nonsense now that his hope for Celebfaer had returned with a strong force.
"How do you feel brother?" Eran asked, as they watched Feanin.
"Relieved. Though I will feel better when she is awake. I have missed her terribly this past year and a half." Legolas replied and Eran nodded.
"I have seen you suffer." He said. "We all have."
But before he could answer Feanin's laughter surprised him.
"Ma awake!" Feanin said. "Ma awake!" He said again, louder this time and Legolas frowned then realized that he could feel Celebfaer in his head once again, and she was in fact awake.
Legolas did not hesitate, he jumped from his seat, sending the food on his plate, that he had not touched, flying and then without looking back he ran from the room.
He ran straight into the house of healing, then straight into the room, where one of the healers was feeding Celebfaer some soup because she was too weak to do it herself. Rosa was not yet awake, but Legolas had no eyes for her, though the healer jumped when the door burst open and he strode in, panting from the running he had done.
Celebfaer looked up and saw him, then smiled weakly, but she could not speak and before she had blinked, he was standing beside her bed and he had leaned down to kiss her, half sitting on the bed as he did so that he could get close to her.
"Melamin." He said softly, cupping her face with his hands not being able to contain his joy that she was awake. Then he leaned down and kissed her again and the healer retreated from the room. "It has been too long." Legolas whispered. "Too long." He said again and she looked at him, questioning.
"How long?" She croaked so softly that he barely heard it and he did not recognize her voice.
"A year and half melamin." Legolas said, not wanting to let her go, but knowing that he must, so he went and sat in the chair that the healer had just occupied, but he took her hand, not wanting to let her go in case she fell asleep and did not wake up again.
"Our son?" Celebfaer asked in that soft croaky voice that he did not know.
"He is healthy. Walking and talking, it's amazing. He has your hair..." Legolas started, running one of his own hands through her hair as he spoke and at that moment Feanin came through the door himself, and Eran came behind, trying to stop the boy, but he could not be stopped.
"Ma!" Feanin called when he saw her sitting up and then he jumped onto the bed and hugged her, winding Celebfaer and Legolas pulled him off, scared that he had killed her or something.
"She is still weak, you must be gentle!" Legolas said, warningly and Celebfaer smiled weakly.
"Name?" She asked and Legolas smiled but Feanin frowned.
"Speak? Can't hear!" Feanin said and Legolas laughed, then held him back from jumping on Celebfaer again and doing worse damage.
"His name is Feanin." Legolas said and Celebfaer smiled.
"Perfect." She said then she closed her eyes, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Wake Ma!" Feanin said and Legolas silenced him.
"We will go and wait for you to regain your strength." Legolas said but she opened her eyes and tried to shake her head.
"Don't leave me.." She started and Legolas sighed.
"I shan't." He said then he took her hand and told Feanin to go and find Eran, who was most likely waiting outside to hear some news.
Legolas waited for Celebfaer to fall asleep until he left the room, but once he left he did not want to be in the company of other Elves, so instead of trying to find his brother and son, he went straight up to their rooms and as he lay down on the bed, a feeling that the world would be okay overcame him and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Louise Blue
Chapter Eleven: Delivery
Rosa had sent her the message telepathically to tell her when to link and without a further breath, she had linked with her.
'My Lady linking with me dulls the bond with your husband, you won't feel him and he won't feel you, it is essential that your whole attention is on the birth, otherwise we could lose the child.' Rosa sent and Celebfaer nodded.
'It is alright but it hurts so much. Is it supposed to hurt this much?' Celebfaer asked.
'It is normal for the first birth, though you are in a lot more pain than I thought you would be. It is amazing that your voice is so strong.'
'I learnt a trick from the Elves that allows me to keep my mind free of the body, but I do not know if I will be able to maintain it.'
'You can draw your strength from me, it is why we link.'
'I will only do that when it is necessary.' Celebfaer replied as another wave of pain hit her and the healers instructed her on what to do and she no longer spoke to Rosa telepathically.
It seemed to take forever and with each contraction that came the pain got worse. Very quickly she got tired, but it wasn't until she was almost at the point of exhaustion that she drew on Rosa's strength. The baby seemed to not want to come out. It was almost as though something was holding it in, wanting to kill both her and the baby.
'Rosa, I do not think I can make it.' Celebfaer said after many hours, she was utterly exhausted, mentally and physically and yet the Elvish healers still expected more of her because the baby had not yet been born.
'My Lady hold on. There is not much to go.' Rosa replied then Celebfaer felt Rosa give in completely to her. 'You must live my Lady. I am not important, so take my strength.' Rosa added but Celebfaer refused to drain her completely.
'Nay. You are strong Rosa, I cannot take all your strength.' Celebfaer said with new-found confidence and Rosa felt Celebfaer block some of her mind off to Rosa so that Rosa could not let Celebfaer drain her.
Then the oddest sensation overcame Celebfaer. It was almost as though her soul was being torn in two and it took her a few seconds to realize what was happening. Over the course of the pregnancy Celebfaer's mind had also expanded in its capacity and it was now being downsized back to its original state. The other half was trying to break away from her, and it was this half that was the baby.
'Rosa can you feel that?'
'Yes. It is the child.. This is the reason that all fairies have all their abilities when they are born, because their mind merges with their mother's. A mother's link to her child is always strong because of it.' Rosa explained, though her voice was showing how tired she herself was.
But then something strange happened, the soul that was to be the baby's separated itself, then it started to flow upwards, as though it did not want to stay on the earth.
Then Celebfaer's ears heard the words of the Elvish healers.
"He's not breathing..."
"No!" Celebfaer said out loud, opening her eyes and looking around at the healers and her newborn son who to her amazement was not breathing. Closing her eyes, she retreated into her mind, throwing Rosa out as she did, then she took flight after the baby's soul. She knew she could find it, even though she was exhausted.
'You cannot!' She called out to it, but it was flying a lot faster than she was. In order to speed up Celebfaer knew she would have to desert her body entirely. Knowing what that would likely mean she took the risk. She would not loose her child and if it meant her death then so be it.
It was surprisingly easy for her to leave her body behind as she increased her speed and caught up with the baby's soul, overtaking it and stopping in front of it.
'Go back!' She said to it, but it just laughed then tried to dodge her. But she was ready for it and she grabbed it and clutched it tightly in her hands before speeding back down to earth and the room where her body lay.
She found her son, in the arms of one of the Elvish healers and she pushed his soul into him, then using her mind she threaded and weaved until the soul of the baby and the baby itself were one.
"He has started breathing!" The healer that was holding him exclaimed and Celebfaer nodded, then knowing her job was done, she allowed herself to relax and she began to float upwards. She was so exhausted that she did not even have the strength to bind her soul back to her body.
Rosa smiled as she heard the words then she looked around at the Elvish healers who were all rejoicing at the fact that by some miracle the child had began to breath again, but a few seconds later Celebfaer's hand, which had not let go of Rosa's the whole time went limp.
Rosa understood then and she knew what she must do, so she sat on the chair next to the bed and then she retreated to her mind, trying to find Celebfaer's soul.
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Legolas waited for a whole month before he got anything else from the healers. True he did not return to his rooms to sleep much, but he was so worried and lost without Celebfaer that he did not know what to do. Rosa had also gone into the same state as Celebfaer, but she was still gripping her hand, so the healers had put two beds side by side and put the two of them there.
Legolas spent most of his time sitting by the bedside, holding their son in his arms as he wished for Celebfaer to open her eyes or show some from of life other than the painstakingly slow breathing.
Their son, he had named Feanin, because they could not wait for Celebfaer to come back to the land of the living and help him decide on a name. Feanin was growing healthily though the healers were amazed that the child was alive. They had told him that when the child had been born it had not been breathing and when Celebfaer had discovered this she had closed her eyes and a few minutes later the baby was breathing again, but Celebfaer was breathing only slightly. But when Rosa had realized this she also had retreated into her mind and neither of the two women had awoken since. It took him a whole month to get that information out of the healers and after that a numbness took him. If it weren't for Feanin he would have given in to despair.
Feanin had taken to drinking goats milk quite nicely and the baby was very healthy. Legolas just wished that Celebfaer was there to share the joy of the newborn child with him.
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Finally she had found her. She was in a little garden of her own where it seemed like it was always spring, fruits growing on the trees and flowers all around her and the sun shinning down brilliantly. Celebfaer was walking through the garden singing a happy tune, a content smile on her face.
'Celebfaer!' Rosa called out and Celebfaer turned to look at Rosa's spirit, a frown on her face.
'Who are you?' She asked.
'It's Rosa, my Lady.' Rosa replied, suddenly afraid because Celebfaer had not recognized her, which was a bad sign. It was worse than Rosa had first thought.
'Rosa? Why are you here?'
'I must take you back.. You are not ready to go..' Rosa replied and Celebfaer laughed.
'But it is so nice up here. Where else would I want to be other than here?'
'What about your husband? What about your son?'
'Husband? Son? I do not have either of those. I have everything I need here. Come and walk with me through the garden.' Celebfaer said, reaching a hand out to the spirit-like form of Rosa.
Taking Celebfaer's hand, Rosa was pulled into her world. She was in the garden, and it smelt divine, not to mention the feel of the grass under her feet. It was almost as though all her senses were amplified to feel how beautiful the garden was.
'Would you like a pear?' Celebfaer asked picking a pear from the tree and offering it to Rosa.
Taking it, Rosa took a bite and marveled at the taste. 'It is magnificent.'
'Yes. I have grown all these trees myself. But no one ever comes to visit. I am so glad to finally get someone to keep me company. The fruits would go to waste otherwise and I do not like waste.'
'My Lady, this is not the real world.' Rosa said, putting her pear on one of the branches in the tree, only half eaten, but even as she put the pear down it disappeared. 'This is the spirit world.'
'Nonsense. I am real, you are real even though I do not know who you are.'
'My Lady, what happened to you? Do you not remember Legolas?'
'Legolas?' Celebfaer asked frowning. 'The name is familiar, but I do not know of who you speak.'
'He is your husband. An Elf of the woodland realm, Eryn Lasgalen.' Rosa replied, hoping anything would jog her memory and make her remember.
'An Elf? Nonsense. I would never wed an Elf. I am a fairy, keeper of the trees and all things in nature.' She replied laughing at Rosa. 'You also are a fairy, so I do not understand why you would be around Elves.'
'My Lady, do you remember nothing?' Rosa asked, despairing now, because she knew if they did not leave soon, Celebfaer would loose her memory of everything back in the real world and then she really would be dead in the real world. The body could not live without the mind, but the mind could live without the body, because the mind was the essence of everything.
'I remember an Elf with brilliant blue eyes, but I think I did not like him because Elves are the enemy of Fairies are they not?'
'Nay, my Lady you dwelt with the Elves for over 2500 years.'
'Nonsense.'
'Do you not remember your own name?'
'Celebfaer. I remember that, though I do not know what it means.'
'It is Elvish for 'Silverspirit'. My Lady you have so much for you in the real world, please come back. Your husband, Legolas, the Elf with the blue eyes, and your newborn son need you.'
'But who will look after the trees?'
'The Valar will look after the trees.'
'Who are the Valar?' Celebfaer asked and Rosa sighed.
'My Lady, if it would please you then I will stay here instead and look after the trees, as long as you return to the real world. You are important.'
'Why?' Celebfaer asked but before Rosa could respond, they heard a loud crash and Celebfaer's eyes widened in shock. 'Madam you must get down, he will be here any minute and I must defend the trees.' Celebfaer said and Rosa nodded then lowered herself to the ground as Celebfaer flew up into the sky, just as a creature the size of a dragon flew into sight.
It was as large as a dragon, but it was not a dragon. It was long and thin with two large wings protruding from its back. And it looked more like a worm or a snake with wings if anything. It saw Celebfaer and began to fly in her direction, but before it could hit, Celebfaer had called lightening and the beast was struck and it died almost instantly. In its dying moment however, one of its arms flung out and hit Celebfaer, sending her plummeting to the ground. But the beast, instead of falling to the ground disappeared as though it had never existed. Rosa could not believe that a beast as big as that had just disappeared, but she had to worry about Celebfaer. Getting up she looked around, trying to find where Celebfaer had fallen.
But Celebfaer stood up and started to walk in the opposite direction to where Rosa was, as though she had forgotten Rosa was even there before Rosa had found her. Frowning, Rosa ran after her, calling out to her to try and get Celebfaer to stop.
'My Lady?'
Celebfaer stopped and turned around, a frown on her face when she saw Rosa. 'Rosa? What are you doing here?' Celebfaer asked and Rosa frowned. Seconds before Celebfaer had not remembered her and now after falling to the ground from the blow she had taken she finally remembered her.
'I was...' Rosa started but Celebfaer cut her off.
'Does my son live?'
'Yes, my Lady, he lives.' Rosa said, glad that Celebfaer's memory seemed to be back to normal.
'Good. I've been searching for a way to get out of this place, but I can't seem to find it.' Celebfaer said looking around and Rosa smiled.
'Take my hand, my Lady and I will take you out of here.' Rosa said, so Celebfaer took her hand, as Rosa flapped her wings and began to fly upwards.
They climbed until the garden had disappeared behind them and then Rosa began the decent back to the real world.
'I feel as though I am leaving something behind.' Celebfaer said, her face slightly confused. 'Was I looking for something?' She asked and Rosa shook her head.
'Nay. You are coming home now.' She replied and Celebfaer let go of her hand.
'I can fly without assistance. Though I do not know where I am going.' Celebfaer said and Rosa nodded.
'Then follow me and I will lead you back.'
************************************
It had been a year and a half since the day that the Feanin had been born and the child was walking, running and talking now, much to Legolas' delight, but still there had been no change in Celebfaer's, or Rosa's condition. So reluctantly and under the direction of his father, Legolas had spent a few hours every day in counsel with his father, preparing for the day when Thranduil would leave the realm and Legolas would take over the running of the kingdom. His father also forced Legolas to eat and sleep in his own rooms, so he would only spend the afternoons sitting in the house of healing, playing with his son as he willed Celebfaer to come back to them.
He had almost given up hope, but he was still sitting beside the bed wondering if she would ever regain consciousness and if she did not what he would do without her.
It was late in the afternoon and Feanin was playing with a ball that someone had made for him. Feanin had inherited his mother's hair as he now had a head full of brown hair. It was short, as it was for most Elvish children, until they turned ten when they were allowed to grow it long. Feanin was a sweet child and he had a smile that would melt his father's heart. If it wasn't for Feanin, Legolas knew he would have fallen into despair long before this.
"Feanin." Legolas said now and the child looked up and smiled at him.
"Da?"
"Time for some dinner?" Legolas asked and Feanin nodded.
"Yep. Hungry." Feanin said and Legolas laughed then looked at Celebfaer for a little while longer.
But just before he was about to tear his eyes away and turn in for another night he noticed a change. Her breathing began to quicken and as he watched it quickened to that of a person that was sleeping normally. It was strange to watch, because seconds before she had been breathing so deeply and so slowly that he could count over a minute between each breath and now she was breathing as though she was just sleeping, nothing more.
Too shocked to do anything but stare he watched and she moved her head ever so slightly as one does when they are sleeping.
"Da? Me hungry." Feanin said, walking to stand at his father's feet, and tugging on Legolas' leggings.
"Feanin, run and get the healer, quickly." Legolas said, without taking his eyes off Celebfaer.
"But, Da..."
"Now!" Legolas said and Feanin nodded then ran from the room, calling to the healers and Legolas leaned forward and grabbed her hand. "Melamin, could it be?" He whispered softly and then two healers arrived. Both of them had their eyes wide as though something frightening was about to happen and Legolas looked up at them as the eldest one spoke.
"Your highness?" She asked.
"She is breathing normally. What is going on?" Legolas asked. He could not explain it but he could see a faint aura around her now too, but he still could not feel her in his head. Hurrying, he rushed to where Rosa lay and as he walked over, the maid's eyes fluttered and she opened them as though she had forgotten how to do it.
"Rosa!" Legolas called urgently and Rosa looked at him, her eyes taking a while to focus.
"I found her." Rosa said weakly then she closed her eyes and was back asleep before Legolas could ask any more.
"Rosa!" Legolas called, then he shook her shoulder, but the only response he got was Rosa shifting in her sleep. "Rosa!" Legolas called again urgently and he tried to shake her again, but one of the healers came up to him and stopped him.
"Your highness." She said and Legolas stopped then looked at her before sighing and nodding.
"Sorry." He said and then the healers started talking excitedly to each other and Legolas looked from one to the other, not following what they were saying.
"Do you know what is going on?" He asked and the eldest spoke up.
"Their spirits have returned." She said and Legolas could have cried with excitement, except that Feanin was watching him, curiously.
"I will leave you to your work then." Legolas said, smiling at the healers and they nodded. "If either wake up you are to send for me instantly and I will return. But now I have a hungry son to feed." Legolas added and the healers smiled at him.
"Certainly your highness."
Legolas nodded then he picked up his son and headed to the kitchens to get some food.
Eran found him sitting in the empty dinning hall, feeding Feanin a short while later and his brother smiled at him.
"Is it true that they have returned?" Eran asked and Legolas nodded.
"They live. By some miracle Rosa has managed to bring her back." Legolas replied and Eran nodded then sat down next to Feanin and began to play with him. "Eran, I am trying to fed him, please!" Legolas said irritably and Feanin laughed then stuck his tongue out at his father.
"Yucky food." He said, screwing up his nose and he knew the lecture he was about to get, so he got up from his chair and began running around the room, like a lunatic. Legolas thought yet again that it was a good thing he did not have wings or else Legolas would never be able to keep up with him.
"Feanin!" Legolas called, but the child ignored him. "Feanin you will come back and sit down then finish your dinner, or you will starve for a week!" Legolas bellowed, angrily and that stopped the child.
He came straight back to the table and then even offered to feed himself, which Legolas allowed him to do. He had been in no mood for nonsense now that his hope for Celebfaer had returned with a strong force.
"How do you feel brother?" Eran asked, as they watched Feanin.
"Relieved. Though I will feel better when she is awake. I have missed her terribly this past year and a half." Legolas replied and Eran nodded.
"I have seen you suffer." He said. "We all have."
But before he could answer Feanin's laughter surprised him.
"Ma awake!" Feanin said. "Ma awake!" He said again, louder this time and Legolas frowned then realized that he could feel Celebfaer in his head once again, and she was in fact awake.
Legolas did not hesitate, he jumped from his seat, sending the food on his plate, that he had not touched, flying and then without looking back he ran from the room.
He ran straight into the house of healing, then straight into the room, where one of the healers was feeding Celebfaer some soup because she was too weak to do it herself. Rosa was not yet awake, but Legolas had no eyes for her, though the healer jumped when the door burst open and he strode in, panting from the running he had done.
Celebfaer looked up and saw him, then smiled weakly, but she could not speak and before she had blinked, he was standing beside her bed and he had leaned down to kiss her, half sitting on the bed as he did so that he could get close to her.
"Melamin." He said softly, cupping her face with his hands not being able to contain his joy that she was awake. Then he leaned down and kissed her again and the healer retreated from the room. "It has been too long." Legolas whispered. "Too long." He said again and she looked at him, questioning.
"How long?" She croaked so softly that he barely heard it and he did not recognize her voice.
"A year and half melamin." Legolas said, not wanting to let her go, but knowing that he must, so he went and sat in the chair that the healer had just occupied, but he took her hand, not wanting to let her go in case she fell asleep and did not wake up again.
"Our son?" Celebfaer asked in that soft croaky voice that he did not know.
"He is healthy. Walking and talking, it's amazing. He has your hair..." Legolas started, running one of his own hands through her hair as he spoke and at that moment Feanin came through the door himself, and Eran came behind, trying to stop the boy, but he could not be stopped.
"Ma!" Feanin called when he saw her sitting up and then he jumped onto the bed and hugged her, winding Celebfaer and Legolas pulled him off, scared that he had killed her or something.
"She is still weak, you must be gentle!" Legolas said, warningly and Celebfaer smiled weakly.
"Name?" She asked and Legolas smiled but Feanin frowned.
"Speak? Can't hear!" Feanin said and Legolas laughed, then held him back from jumping on Celebfaer again and doing worse damage.
"His name is Feanin." Legolas said and Celebfaer smiled.
"Perfect." She said then she closed her eyes, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Wake Ma!" Feanin said and Legolas silenced him.
"We will go and wait for you to regain your strength." Legolas said but she opened her eyes and tried to shake her head.
"Don't leave me.." She started and Legolas sighed.
"I shan't." He said then he took her hand and told Feanin to go and find Eran, who was most likely waiting outside to hear some news.
Legolas waited for Celebfaer to fall asleep until he left the room, but once he left he did not want to be in the company of other Elves, so instead of trying to find his brother and son, he went straight up to their rooms and as he lay down on the bed, a feeling that the world would be okay overcame him and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.