Hello readers. This is the last chapter. Demons of the Heart has come to an end. I hope this ending is good. Uh, I will probably go back later and change some aspects of the story, such as the modern language. It seems to have bothered me as much as the reviewers. So that will be altered, but not the plot. I like my plot. Hehe. Only teeny-tiny changes will be made. If I ever get around to it. Here it goes. . . . .
Legolas looked around at the utter destruction that lay before him. Only one word could be used to describe it. Battleground. Wreckage was strewn everywhere, making just walking through perilous. A hundred of Mumakil riders would have made less ruin. Though this was what he had to pass through, he was given no choice.
He stepped forward hesitantly, wincing when something glass shattered under his foot, spilling a foul-smelling liquid. Something caught his eye, though Legolas decided he would rather not know to what purpose it was used. There were things there that he had never before imagined, and was glad he had not. With every step there was a loud crunch, reminding him sharply of his passing through the Paths of the Dead, so many years earlier.
"AERIN!"
There was no response. Only menacing quiet. He was only given one choice. He grabbed his daughter roughly by the ankles and drug her from the warm cocoon she had herself wrapped in. Ignoring the steady snaps and crunches under his feet, pulled her, screaming, into the bathroom before throwing her into a steady stream of icy water.
"Ugluk u bangronk sha pushdug Adar-glob bubhosh skai!" (Untranslatable)
"You're welcome."
She stepped out, dripping. She snatched the towel from his outstretched hand, growling something obscene in Orcish.
"Nayes Anarya." she grumbled.
"And we are going to the beach."
"The beach?"
"Yes."
"How long will we stay there?" The question was innocent enough.
"Your mother and I do not plan on coming back." He said, the sentence carrying the weight of an executioner's axe.
It took a while for his words to set in. "You're leaving."
He nodded.
"Then I am going too."
He looked at her for a long time, "So be it."
The Sea was dead calm, and Aerin could no longer see the shore. The small boat they were in dipped slightly back and forth in the water. It was as if she were in limbo between the two worlds. If she went forward or backward, she would plummet into an unending abyss. She glanced at the compass by the wheel, its small hand was traveling around and around, never stopping. The same, she noticed, with her watch. Though the fact that it was still daylight comforted her. Though the sun was nowhere to be seen, only a steady glow from all directions.
"Aerin, can you see it?" Legolas asked, pointing out away into what seemed an unending sheet of silver glass.
She stared hard out across the water, but slowly the form of a tall peak rising from the water came into her view. "What is it?" she gasped, unable to hide her amazement.
"Tol Eressea."
The name meant nothing to her, nothing but a tale that she had heard as a child.
They continued on their course, never wavering, as the peak grew nearer and nearer. Though suddenly a deep fog enveloped them, making vision impossible. Even as the bow of the boat parted the mist, like curtain of stilled rain, islands appeared upon either side. Not close enough to see beyond the thin beach and thick trees behind, but not far enough away to be completely masked by the fog.
"Adar . . . ."
"The Enchanted Isles." he said, answering the question in her mind.
A legend, a myth, an old tale. Nothing had prepared her for this.
Aerin turned when she saw something in the corner of her eye, but nothing was there. Though she heard the phantom paddles dipping in and out of the water away beside them, shrouded in the haze. She shivered, everything had suddenly become cold, ice tipped the bow of boat, coating the rails. Andave ya, nirnaeth arnoediad nalluvalyer, a ghostly voice came from deep within the mist, Ar i Valar peluvar Valinor leo ar teluva el eth an u elye lom nainiero autuva i ered. I tie na pahta.
"What are they saying?"
Legolas looked around, his blue eyes trying to pierce the unearthly mist. "They speak of the Prophecy of the North — the Doom of the Noldor. How not even the echo of their lamentation should pass over the mountains. The way is shut."
Then the voices faded, becoming nothing more than a breeze that carried away the fog. Aerin gasped, before them spread a new ocean, with many sea birds dipping in and out of the waves. Not far off there was land, with a great peak rising from the water that was crowned by a star. She could see the piers thrusting out from their stony havens. The young Elf children splashing each other in the waves. So, this is it. She thought, This is the end.
When, finally, they stepped off of the boat, a new weariness came upon them. Little did they know that nearly four days had passed in the land of ever mist. Immediately many Elves came to them. The children were inspecting their strange clothes, and pulling them towards the haven, while others draped them with sweet smelling flowers. Aerin had never felt so at home.
"Let me see him, I am going to kill him!" Laughter erupted as the short, stocky Dwarf shoved his way through the Eldar, stopping in front of Legolas. Pointing an accusing finger at the Elf, he started talking in his gruff voice. "You — you left me on that ship to come here with all of the blasted Elves!" Legolas fought to keep a straight face. "They need to learn more about Dwarven folk, here in Eldamar." Though, for all his criticism of the Elves, Gimli turned a surprising shade of red when a tall Elf woman kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"So I see."
Gimli growled.
"Come, they are waiting." The same Elf who had Gimli so entranced said, leading them towards the stone buildings carved in the sides of the high cliff. "I am Celebrian, daughter of Galadriel."
"That explains a lot about the Dwarf." Legolas muttered.
Even as they were walking into the great chamber, a call from behind them made the three turn. "ATAR!"
Elros nearly knocked them down at his speed. Legolas embraced his son, who had not expected such a reaction from the grim warrior he remembered. Then he turned and smiled warmly at Aerin, his azure eyes shining.
Then he answered their unspoken question. "Mandos had tired of us and sent us back." By us Legolas assumed he meant the twins and Glorfindel as well as himself.
"Aerin." He bowed slightly, kissing her hand lightly.
"So chivalric." She laughed.
"Of course." He grinned. "Come, they are waiting."
They followed, but after a few steps Legolas spoke. "Who?"
"The Valar."
Aerin suddenly felt light headed.
After the feasting and rejoicing Aerin wandered out onto one of the many balconies that overlooked the sea. She sighed, Valinor was everything she had expected, and much more. She had met many people she had only before dreamed of. Lord Elrond, Cirdan the Shipwright, Glorfindel, Galadriel, Celeborn, the Valar. They all had welcomed her with open arms. The only people she had not met were the twins. Thank Iluvatar. She had heard enough stories about them to be glad of their absence. Elros seemed only a few years older, though she knew otherwise. He reminded her so much of Legolas it was surprising. Same twisted sense of humor. She thought dryly.
She startled when a hand wrapped around her neck and brushed away her hair, ever so gently. She felt her heart banging loudly in her chest.
"Titta nat, man istanyel?" A deep voice said behind her, his warm breath rushing over her like a wave of passion. Before she could answer, he spoke again. "Man caril tyalien?"
Did he just ask what she thought he just asked?
She turned, his eyes were like two pools of molten silver, and she was helpless underneath his gaze. She was captured by his spell. "Holmelya na ve lot, ar leva anto na ve lote." She licked her lips, he was bad! Was he trying to make her blush? If so, he had succeeded.
Aerin was already having trouble standing, what ever would she do if this god in front of her ever did anything more than just talk? He smelled of leather, pine, and sweat, creating a most distracting combination. She decided that Sin had a face, and she was looking at it.
"Mibo im."
Now that request she could not refuse.
Legolas looked around, Aerin had left the hall nearly half and hour earlier. He hoped she was not lost in the complex network of halls here. He shifted and leaned against one of the massive pillars, watching the merriment unfolding before him.
Someone tapped his shoulder lightly. Legolas turned around to see Elladan standing behind him, looking unusually smug. He was dressed a black leather jerkin, a finely tailored, white, silk shirt with billowing sleeves and tight cuffs, and, finally, tight black pants, which were also leather. His arms were crossed and he had a mischievous smile.
"Your daughter is quite charming."
"Don't even think about it."
He laughed. "Too late."
THE END!
Thanx to ALL of my reviewers! If you didnt get it, Elladan was the one seducing Aerin. I just HAD to put that in there. Yeah, that ending has been in my mind for a while. If you enjoyed this, Deja Vu is FINALLY being tended to, after about a year of abuse. Though I am completely changing that, I realized how much it sucked and, anyway, now I know whats gonna happen. :) Wow, I just realized that it took me about a year and two months to write this. If anyone was curious, I started this at summer camp after seventh grade (I remember writing it on a piece of funky green stationary :) lol) I hope u liked it! Personally, I cant believe I'm DONE! I have been working on it for so long it became like a part of my daily routine 'write orcs/DotH' Namarie, nuri nin! (Goodbye my friends)
