Disclaimer: Though I am immensely fond of Tolkien's work, (Biggest understatement I have ever made) I would never stoop so low as to claim them as my own.

Author's Note:

Another chapter, and another day with my internet. (Sigh) You really don't know how much you miss it until you lose it. My dad said he'd fix it soon, so I pray to God that soon means sometime this week. In the meantime, Happy Reading!

Chapter Eight

Fever

When I awoke again, I felt no better. In fact, I felt worse. My limbs burned with a passion and everywhere was hot. I groaned and cried, but it didn't stop. "Victoria, please. You must warm up." Warm up? I was burning with heat! I wanted to be tossed out into the snow just then. Anything to make it stop! I couldn't move, couldn't see. Fire everywhere. My body was drenched in sweat and I couldn't stop shaking. I was out of control. Something cold touched my forehead, but it too burned like ice that's too cold. Then someone else was brushing my hair back.

"Shhhh Victoria. It's all right iel." The voice was familiar, and though I couldn't open my eyes I knew who it was.

"Mirlaic." I croaked, the words wouldn't come out right. My throat burned.

"Yes child, I'm here. Your going to be fine." Her voice was distant, like reality fading into a dream. She brought a cup to my lips and helped me to drink. Cold water rushed into my parched throat, it tasted wonderful. "That's better isn't it?" came her dream like voice again. I wanted to hug her, she was so good to me. But my arms lay weak and lifeless at my sides. And the pain had flared back into my small awareness. Everything was growing fuzzy, I couldn't think straight. My eyelids too heavy to open. She began to sing softly, I couldn't understand the words. They were different then Sindarin. No... it hurt to much to think. So I listened to the sweetest melody that I had ever heard, like rain dripping through spring leaves, water rippling through the stream. Wind through grassy plains, waves crashing gently on the shore. And I fell back asleep.

When I awoke again, I didn't feel so hot. But now my heart ached with each burst of pain. And for the first time in nearly a year, I wished reverently for my mother. Someone was holding my hand as I slowly fought to open my eyes. They widened,

"Hello Victoria."

"Faerlain?" I whispered in astonishment, my throat hurt and it was a struggle to say anything at all.

He smiled and pressed a finger to my lips, "Don't speak. I'll talk for you." His hand moved to my brow and he gently caressed my face. I smiled weakly in return, though I didn't stir from the blankets that seemed to encase me in their warmth. I watched him, and he watched me before he finally spoke.

"You're probably wondering why I am here." That was a good guess. He'd only been away for how long...? "My company had to pass through this area so I asked my commander if I could spend a day here. I come only to find my best friend so ill." If I could of shrugged, I would have. Everything seemed too confusing. He talked all day, I didn't say anything at all, obeying his wish. I was too tired anyway, it was draining me just to stay awake and alert. I couldn't remember most of what he said. All I was aware of was his eyes. His beautiful eyes. In what seemed like minutes, thought I knew to be hours, he said he had to go. And told me to sleep, and look on my table. Then he kissed my feverish forehead, and he was gone.

I couldn't tell later if it had only been a dream or not when Mirlaic came in and helped me to eat some broth. I was too weak to even hold the spoon. It wasn't until the next morning after I had slept again that I found a letter, and I knew it had been real.

"Rest now iell, you are still very ill." Mirlaic said. It still hurt to talk, so I could only nod as she propped my pillows up behind me so I could sit up a little. I felt so weak, but I knew I would get better. I had to. After she had gone I looked at the table by the bed and picked up the letter I found there. I unfolded it, breaking the wax seal so I could read it's contents. It was many pages in length, maybe five or six. And at the top written in Faerlain's neat Tenqwar, The Tale of Luthien and Beren : The Story of two lovers, an Elf and a Mortal.

I was in tears and exhausted by the end of the letter. What was he trying to tell me? I sank against the pillows and was asleep once more before Mirlaic could tuck me in.

The days passed slowly in a confusion of dreams and painful awakenings. Sometimes I would see Faerlain by my side, only to awake and find it had only been a dream. Now it was becoming harder and harder to determine what was real, and what was only a dream. About three days later I had another visitor, I was reading and rereading Faerlain's letter and was at the point where you start to read sentences over and over again. I was reading and rereading Faerlain's letter and was at the point where you start to read sentences over and over again. I was reading and rereading Faerlain's letter and was at the point where you start to read sentences over and over again,(1)(see bottom of chapter) when Mirlaic knocked on my door causing me to look up.

She smiled warmly, but I could still see worry written on her face. She hadn't spoken much since I had started to get better, and as time progressed I wondered what was wrong. I had no time to think on that however. I was still weak and it hurt to move or talk to much. But I felt much better then I had earlier.

"Iell, there's someone here to see you." She ushered a tall Elf in, her hair was long and dark brown. She had bright green eyes and she seemed strangely familiar. Then it clicked.

"You're the one who found me in the forest." I exclaimed in surprise.

She nodded and smiled.

"Victoria, this is Araviniel. She wanted to see you." Mirlaic said, then saying something to Araviniel after which I couldn't hear. Then she glanced swiftly at me and closed the door. Araviniel stood there for a moment, staring at me with her green eyes.

"This is sort of awkward." She said finally. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to drop in on you like this."

I shook my head and gestured to a chair near to my bed. "Want a seat? It's no trouble at all."

She took it and settled in it after nodding to my reply. "I wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Thanks to you I'm doing much better." I said.

"What were you doing in the forest anyway?" She asked curiously. Unlike many of the other Elves I had seen, Araviniel did not have the same haughty and wise look. She looked alive and calm. Like anyone you would see in my own world. And I liked her. Now she smiled, "I heard mortals were slightly foolish, but that was suicidal."

I flushed a deep shade of red, "I got lost."

"Oh."

But I knew from the way she was eyeing the bandage around my forehead that she didn't quite believe me.

"Mirlaic was telling me about you. Do you like Gilloth?" She asked after a brief period of silence.

"Yes... What brought you here Araviniel?"

"I was visiting family in the village. I've been away for a long time. I had lived in the palace for years now. And well, I'm out of the job. So I came back home."

I looked at her curiously, "You don't look that old for an Elf." It was a rude comment, but she didn't seem to notice and I had no time to blush over my comment.

"It's because I'm not. I would be about 18 if I was one of your kind." She replied, her athletic figure relaxing in the chair.

"That explains it. I'm 19."

She smiled, again she reminded me of someone else. But I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Who's your family? Perhaps I know them?"

"You are both bold and rude human. But isn't all of your kind?"

"Just as you Elves are so polite." I retorted in jest, for I could see laughter in her eyes even though a deep frown decorated her face. She laughed,

"Touché. I was here to visit my mother, Alphril, the merchant's wife. My father passed on long ago to the Havens."

My eyes widened again, "So your brother is..."

"Faerlain." She interjected. "Do you know him?"

Know him? My mid was spinning at the mere mention of his name. Unknown emotions had begun to well up inside my chest. Now a real frown rested upon her lips, "Are you all right? You look ill."

I managed a weak smile and leaned against the pillows. I felt suddenly drained. I clutched Faerlain's letter tighter in my hands. "I know Faerlain." I said softly.

She looked at me with a funny expression and then reached out and felt my forehead. "You should get some rest." She said.

"I'm fine." I protested, though sleep was beginning to sound like a good idea, I didn't want her to go. Araviniel was the first person close to my age and I enjoyed talking with her. "Faerlain is a good man." I said sleepily. Oops, Elf. I meant Elf. She didn't catch it thought and had instead looked out the window.

"Yes, he is. I cannot wait to see him again."

Neither can I. Her gaze turned to me once more and she leaned on the bedside. "I have to go now. You should get some sleep."

"How would you know?" I grumbled.

"I make it my business to." She replied.

I closed my eyes, submitting to her order. That was the last thing I could remember.

"Araviniel is my apprentice you could say. She was a lady-in-waiting to the queen before she decided to become a healer." Mirlaic said as she spooned some broth into my mouth. My hands shook to much.

"What changed her plans?" I asked between spoonfuls.

"The Queen passed into the Havens. Alphril insisted she learned from me when she learned of her daughter's interest. The stubborn old coot." I grinned at the usage of one of my own words.

"Because you both look so old right Mirlaic?"

"Fresh tongue you have. And we may not look it, but sometimes you start to feel it inside. You know you really lived a long life."

I nodded, though I didn't quite understand. After I had finished with a full stomach and feeling very warm, I settled into the blankets with a contented sigh. Mirlaic picked up something from the floor. "What's this?" She held up Faerlain's letter, the paper was starting to wear from all the times I had read it.

"It was from Faerlain." I said as she handed it to me. I chewed my lower lip and looked up at her. "Mirlaic?"

"Yes iell?"

"Is the tale of Luthien and Beren a true story?"

She paused, turning to me with wide eyes. "Who told you about that?"

I gestured to the letter, "Faerlain."

She hesitated, glancing at the letter and then back into my face. She looked suddenly very sad and she nodded, "Yes. Did he tell you how the story ends iell?"

"What do you mean? They fall in love don't they?"

She shook her head, "I think the rest of that story should be told to you when Faerlain returns."

My fever came back that night, and I tossed and turned fitfully in my sleep. Dreams haunted me. Over and over I saw Zach die. It was in slow motion, my fearless brother on Talorta. The jump was all wrong, and Talorta ran right into it, crashing into the fence beside it.. Zach flying off and landing through it, his head twisting with a snap. I could hear my parent's cries as they ran to him. But I stood still, not doing anything. His eyes, I knew in a moment he was dead. They stared up to the sky. Unseeing. Lifeless. I stared. Just standing... watching his still body.

Mirlaic said later I had been very ill that night. That I was lucky to be alive. I knew something had changed in her, because she had experienced how fragile human life can be first hand. How death can take us so quickly. Now we were even. And I knew I had scared her to death.
(1) Don't know if anyone even got this part, with the sentences repeating over and over again. I thought it was funny! And I got it from the Series of Unfortunate Events. Good books... I only read the first one though. Oh well. Just so you all knew.

Thanks to all who helped witht the spelling of : touché! I would have never learned how to spell it otherwise. :) I know it is highly unlikely that elves would be speaking French in Middle-earth, but hey, this is only a Fanfiction and it doesn't have to be perfect:)

Well that's all. Hope everyone likes it so far and didn't you love the bit with Faerlain? He's so dreamy... uh... I mean...yes. I told my mom that I didn't need to worry about guys because I make up my own in my stories. So as you can imagine, the only boys I'm in love with, are my fictional ones and the really hot actors out there. But hey, don't all girls like those hot actors:) Ha. Ha. Happy Thanksgiving to all you US people out there. :)

Thanks to Kiann, my beta. :)

Namarie,

Luthien