I can make a thousands reasons or rather excuses why I didn't update this, frankly busy, but then again I have been writing the third novel well outlining it at least. Hope you like, and reviews appreciated.
Chapter 16 Emptiness
He walked up too the front and watched as Hama and Gamling rode ahead. His thoughts on her, he turned to see her. His heart sunk, he had done exactly what he meant to do…he destroyed her heart in the process. Legolas heart cried in protest the moment he took his first breath but his mind was set, as he told her last night. If she was to leave how could he…would he be able….he didn't want to know. His head throbbed and pounded a rapid pulsing sound of his heart, what Dawn called a "migraine from hell itself." In all his life he had never felt this empty, there were no emotions, no thoughts running through his head. Legolas had only felt this one other time, when he had lost his sister. The very thought of her, sent a shockwave of pain, as his arms numbed and he clenched his jaw. His beloved sister, the only one who ever wrapped her tiny frail arms around him for condolence, reassurance, and love. But she had been stolen from him, from this world just like Dawn would be. Could he have fell into his emotions and spent his days with her, knowing that one day that he would only have one more embrace? Could he let her go? When her golden brown locks never flew in wind again, when her ocean blue vivid eyes made that "puppy face" when she protruded her lip out in outright protest, when she arched her left eyebrow in amused questioning? Could he miss her so called Willow rants, or her girlish laughter when she saw Gimli run? How could you simply dismiss her like that? But if he had not, would he die alone, lost without her? A blood curdling scream ripped him from his thoughts, tt was then his eyes saw the movement Warg Riders, one had already killed Hama, he pulled out his bow and shot one coming for Gamling. He then calls to Aragorn who would respond to his voice whether Legolas had looked for him or not, he was walking at that point but quickly ran to his side. Legolas mind clicked into Dawn's "slay mode"
"It was a scout."
Aragorn runs down the hills, to Théoden and Éowyn, who were engaged in a deep conversation, Théoden calls to Aragorn, alarmed at his paling face.
"What is it? What do you see?"
Aragorn shouts back with urgency, "Wargs! We are under attack!"
Théoden shouts in a authorities voice, "All riders to the head of the column!"
The crowd of people panics, and Dawn watches as Etópal nervously takes the reins of his horse, Dawn couldn't resist no matter the depression, the pit of voidness she felt, karma is a bitch.
"What's the matter? Haven't you been in a real battle before?"
He looks at her his face is pale she then sees Eraion, she runs to her,
"Eraion, I must beg of you, I need Silvermane, please, I cannot watch them die! I cannot just stand here!"
Eraion jumps off Silvermane, mind you much quicker than any pregnant women should ever be able to and takes her daughter off, and then turns to her, and gives her a hug, as Dawn quickly jumps on the horse, and rides after the riders. She gallops past Gimli, who is being helped onto his horse. Screaming
"march forward!"
Dawn hit's the horse ass and it gallops away. She then quickly pulls up her black cloak, for she had never taken it off, and pulls out her bow, she gallops past Éowyn, who stops to look at her, and Dawn looks back at her, and throws her a sword. She catches it and descends down the hill, moving the people. She rides pass Legolas, who swings himself onto Arod, and he looks at her, but she does not look at him, and she lets an arrow fly. Theoden is screaming to charge. He rides next to her, and looks at her too, she lets another arrow fly it hit's a warg. He smiles and raises his sword higher. She watches him hit the first orc, in a matter of seconds he is dead, but his mutant hyena, is still alive, and apparently these things are trained to kill, just like them damn orcs. These hyenas weren't anything like the one's in The Lion King. The hyena charges and she turns Silvermane, and throws out her axe, it hits him with great accurateness, right in between the eyes. She gallops by and leans over ripping out the axe. Only to see Gimli, attempting to lift a dead Warg, and Orc, then another Hyena, approaching, she gallops forward, stopped by another warg, no she thought, as she tried to kill them both at the same instant. She does not pay attention to her battle, but watches Gimli, and then a spear goes flying into the warg. Aragorn rides past her, and cuts the orc in half. He screams at her,
"You should not be here!"
"I can fight, better than most of these men!" She screams back as she rides after him, heading towards 3 wargs. She takes out an arrow and shoots it, it hit's a warg, then another goes flying and the orc falls dead. He does not look at her, but she could tell there was a small smirk on his face. They ride and he turns to her left and she goes to the right. She stabs an orc, and then she is knocked off Silvermane by a warg. It was then she saw a flash, Aragorn he was entangled in Wargs saddle he was falling off the edge. She looks for him, where is he? She nervously says, scanning the fight for him. She whistles for Silvermane, and she points him towards the opening where the refugees head for. He stops and looks reluctant, be he is too good of a horse to die here. She whispers to him to run, and he gallops away. She now has only her axe, her bow, Ethaúþl . She continues to fight the orcs, that had been shot off their wargs, on ground. She then sees Legolas on foot, shooting wargs and orc. An orc was running up too him. She took her the hidden daggers out of her boot, and throw them, the orc lands less than a foot away from Legolas. Who looks around and sees her. He watches her for a couple of seconds, he had heard some of the orcs, mutter and scream, "the masked rider of Sauron." He watched now as she killed two orcs, and ran after the third one. Stupid asshole, she screamed, she ran after him, and there she saw Etópal. Attempting to fight an orc, and now they were beginning to gather around him. Including a warg. She ran towards him, and she was against his back, she whispered to him,
"how many can you take?"
Realizing there were 5 orcs, and two wargs now approaching.
"Uh….um…..I can't…."
"Well today's your lucky day, this orc to the left the small one, he is already wounded, he is yours."
With that she stepped forward, and hit the first orc with her sword, he died instantly, she then had some trouble, a warg knocked her down, and she shoved her sword into its open mouth, and then Gimli came upon the scene, he went over and sliced the orcs head off, and then the wargs. She expected him to yell at her too, but he pulled her to her feet.
"Lassy, what were you thinking giving that boy, an orc to fight?"
She laughed at him and took out her bow and killed the orc Etópal had been fighting, she then moved towards him,
"Get on your horse, leave now, your causing distractions!" She hit the horse hard, and he was seen galloping down the hills. She then saw another flash, Aragorn was falling, falling into the water. She screamed as the last remaining orcs were slaughtered. She looked frantically for Aragorn, calling for him, screaming his name. She heard Legolas, calling for him too. She walks to where Gimli and Legolas stand, they're talking to a dying orc.
"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing." Gimli says, putting his axe to the orcs throat.
The orcs begins to talk, "he's…."he coughs, "dead….." he laughs, "he took a little tumble off the cliff."
Legolas shakes him, "you lie!" Dawn stands at the edge of the cliff, and quietly says, "he does not"
She felt her body begin to shake, and Legolas and Gimli, peered over the edge, Legolas hold's Arwen pendant in his hands. She starts to shake violently, she hears Théoden voice, but cannot hear him anymore. No, she felt the anger rising, there is no one left now, she fell back into darkness. Gimli looked over at Dawn, her eyes were misty, and she did not move, she began to tremble intensely. Her eyes begin to fade, and a dark green is now appearing, a tear rolls down her cheek,
"I am alone." She says, in a soft voice, a voice of no hope, a voice he had never heard from her before.
………………………………...
He does not try to move her. Legolas looks at her, his emotionless face had suddenly become a depth of desperation and anxiousness. Dawn still grasps an arrow, not yet knocked onto her bow, it breaks in her hands, and the wood, hits her hand, blood is seeping through. But she does not move, she looks only at the water. Legolas moved forward to comfort her, she stepped from him quickly, her arms quivering as his comforting hand was rejected. She is the last to the leave the battlefield. She whistles for Silvermane, he comes running, and she climbs up on him, and follows the remaining riders, to Helm's Deep. Her thoughts and mind slowly falling behind a thick wall. She is the last to enter Helm's Deep, she sees Éowyn, her head is down. Dawn wasn't one for an interrogation, as her head pulsed with anger, Dawn turns her head, and watches as Gimli motions for her to follow him. She jumps off her horse, and throws back her cape, revealing her darkening green eyes. She is in a stone room, with some other riders of Rohan, and her two companions. Her clothes are changed, she wears the black suit, with the black cape. The necklace Galadriel had given her, now matches the color of her dark green eyes. She listens to them talk,
"Draw our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate, and set a watch on the surround." Théoden says, and Gamling then says, "What of those who cannot fight, my lord? The women and children?" Theoden looks sad for a moment and then says, "get them into the caves!" His eyes fall upon Dawn, she does not move.
"I will not leave, I am no helpless women or child." He looks at her, but turns away, Dawn's eyes darken.
Gamling and Theoden, descend steps Theoden mockingly says, "Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here."
Dawn watched as the women and children were moved, towards the caves. She did not go though, despite the many arguments she had with the guards. This resulted in 3 bloody noses, and one broken arm. Legolas looked upon her, she wore her cloak and at all times, she stood in the dark. She would not go into the caves, she would not hide. Legolas approached her, her arms were folded across her resolutely across her chest.
"My lady, I think the king, asked for all women and children to be moved to the caves. Even those who can fight." he offered quietly, he already felt a widening pit of guilt overtaking his previous one, he should not have left her alone.
She looked at him, her eyes were dark and green, her pendant was not the same color, even her voice was different,
"I am no mere child, or some powerless woman, I am Aèrindil, and I will not hide from any battle!"
She then walked away, never before had he seen her so angered, or call herself Aèrindil. He watched her disappear into the crowd of men. She walked till she stood at the great wall. It was thick, and would hold against whatever came. She was looking out when she suddenly heard a voice in her head, a familiar voice,
"Aèrindil, so you come to Middle-Earth at last, my Aèrindil, you stand on the wrong side of the wall."
She tried to push him out, she knew that voice, who was it?
"Aèrindil, you will soon find you will be back in the hands of your keeper."
The voice left her head. She looked out and felt herself falling,
"no" she thought, its not, you cannot control me! She gripped the wall, no, I can't, I'm not the key, I'm Dawn, I'm Dawn. I'm here! Someone still loves me!"
"No" the voice the said in her head, it laughed at her;
" no I still have Aragorn, he is not dead. I know he is not."
The voice left. She gasped, as felt the power slowly begin to fade. Saruman watched her clutching the wall, through the Palantir.
"My dear Aèrindil, you will be mine soon" he stroked the ball lovingly
………………………………...
Aragorn saw the stone fortress. He looked to see a girl clutching the wall, her head bent down in frustration. His heart ached for her, how cruel could it be that both he and his daughter were having the agonizing pain of loosing a loved one? In some way as Aragorn hoped as childish as it seemed he hoped a gentle hug from him would comfort her pain. But other things were invading his mind, a war was approaching and Dawn's breaking heart would just have to survive the night, before he could go to her, that is if the fortress made it through the night. He comes into the great fortress. He hears Gimli voice,
"Where is he? Where is he? Get out of the way. I'm going to kill him!" Aragorn watches as Gimli pushes threw the crowd, and then meets him, an unreadable glare suddenly over showered with happiness and then gives me a hearty hug, "You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew!…..Bless you, laddie!" Although he was overjoyed to see him, Aragorn had seen the band of orcs, and there was now work to be done, as he looked down at Gimli who had enclosed him a tight hug,
"Where is the king?" Gimli motions towards the staircase.
Dawn stands in the corner of the room, thinking of the voice, the events play over and over in her head. The Areha begins to glow she sees Aragorn in the hall before the door. There he stands with Legolas.
"Le ab-dollen." Legolas says with a smile, and then he looks at Aragorn, "you look terrible."
Aragorn smiles, and then places Arwen's pendant his hand. "Hannon le."
She shuts her eyes, and looks plays with the dagger in her hands. She stops and places it so she can see the reflection of her face, her eyes are still a dark green. She plays with the daggers checking to see if her eyes changed color. Until Théoden calls to her.
"Did not I say all women and children go to the caves?"
She did not answer to him, she looked at him though, her eyes became dark, as she bent her head down again. Théoden looked at Gamling, they then looked at her she closed her eyes briefly as if she was struggling against something and then they flicked open startling them all and she began to hum a song they listened quietly to her words,
"Aèrindil, Aèrindil,
Your power is growing
As the young girl slowly dies
Aèrindil, Aèrindil,
Why do you despair?
The dark lord is calling
Aèrindil, Aèrindil,
The girl is loosing"
She would stop and then began again, every time she said the last line, her eyes would grow dark. The dagger would stop and she would look into her eyes. Then sing the song again. She stopped, the dagger flicked in her hand, and she looked at them marble black eyes glinted in the shadows, and threw the dagger, it hit a stone and was lodged into it.
"There is no love in here Aèrindil, don't cry, the girl will be gone soon!"
Théoden shuddered as he looked at her, her eyes faded into there hunter green she began to sing again, pulling out another dagger, Gamling looked at her with great fear.
"Who does she talk too? The name she repeats, tis not her name, she is being possessed by the dark lord, she will soon turn against us."
The doors swung open, and there stood Aragorn, his hand gripped firmly in his sword. He walked over towards where the king stood, and looked into the shadows to see the girl, humming her silent song. Aragorn eyes narrowed, he did not recognize this girl, this was not the girl he had left on the battlefield. Her eyes met his, the only part that could be seen was her darkening green eyes, she then lowered her head, and he saw her play with the dagger in her hand. He stared at her, then at Théoden who replied,
"A great host, you say?"
Aragorn with his eyes locked on Dawn, answered, not quite the girl he had pictured encountering.
"All of Isengard is emptied."
At the name Isengard, her eyes looked up, in the darkness you could see them, no other part was visible. He looked at her with confusion.
"How many?"
"Ten thousand strong at least."
"Ten thousand!"
Aragorn took his eyes off Dawn and looked at Théoden.
"It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall."
Théoden walk away and defensively replied, "let them come!"
It was then Dawn stepped out from the dark, and her eyes fell on Aragorn. She slowly moved her head in a deathly like way to one of the guards.
"You will die tonight, avoid the orc who carries the blue spear." she smiled maliciously as her eyes narrowed and her gaze darted over towards Aragorn, and her smiled thinned, as she walked out into the cool open air. Aragorn set after her, he walked into the hall met by Gimli and Legolas. Gimli held up his arm, catching him by the sleeve, watching her stop to glare at both of the worried men, and chuckled softly. To think the galiant men were more worried of Dawn then the 10,000 orcs approaching, very galiant and stupid all the same. -
"Let her go laddie, she is angered with all of us."
Legolas eyes followed her, watching the swish of her the black cloak.
Dawn watched as young boys and old men were pulled out of the caves. They showed great terror in their eyes. She shook her head, this battle they were going to lose. If these guys didn't show some strength or courage on their part. She walked to the keep their stood about ten men, practicing with their swords. Their forms were all wrong, they would be the first to die she thought. She walked up behind one of them and withdrew her sword to meet his. He was young in his late 20's. Dawn withdrew her sword,
"All of you attack me!"
"Your but a woman!" they laughed scoffing she met her sword with his.
They looked hesitate for a moment, then the first guy came she took his arm and threw him down,
"Now the rest of you."
Aragorn watched her from a higher wall, she was taking men on one by one, forcing them to improve. She then left, and he watched as she sat on the edge of the outer wall, with her feet dangling over the edge. She was singing a song,
"He once sang of leaves, of leaves of gold,
Told stories of the stars and the undying lands
I have dwelt too long upon these shores he says
All alone, in this land do I stand
Without him awaiting my death
My sword is ready
My mind is set
Awaiting thy battle that draws near
And its this time do I wonder
If he is also alone
Does he have the same fears?"
Dawn smiled sadly as she sung, and then looked out towards the sun, and stood up on the wall, and looked over, she began to walk along the wall. Humming her song. It was strange but she knew she was terrified of heights thanks to that tower she had tied to built by mental people, she found it even stranger that she could stand here on this wall with no fear. It was then Aragorn came up behind her, his hands behind his back, smiling he followed her as she walked. Her hands held up in the air to level her, although she did not need them, her steps were careful, but she clearly knew she was balanced, he had been able to draw himself away from the battle talk as Dawn called it, to finally talk to her.
"You have a pretty voice, little angel."
"Yeah well that's thanks to a past experience."
She smiled remembering the singing demon, the musical day of her live.
"Do you know wish to tell me what upset you?" he offered gently, but with a stern voice, either she would tell him willingly or he would press or annoy her till she did.
"Nothing…" Dawn did not look at him she continued to walk looking over the edge, Aragorn then spoke,
"I did not expect to you put up such a fight against the king."
"Most men don't acknowledge how strong most of these women are."
Aragorn smiled he watched as she never looked into his eyes. He then said,
"Have your fighting skills improved, my lady?"
"Lets find out." she smiled and narrowed her eyes
She withdrew her sword and Aragorn jumped on the wall, the men began to gather as the clash of swords were heard. They stood on the wall like in Lothórlien, neither of them they gained or lost ground. He swung to his right, she moved, and stood on the very edge of the wall, she balanced herself, it was then Aragorn saw her lift her head slowly and her eyes were at least revealed, they were a sinister green, every clash of the sword, he saw her eyes. This was not the girl he had talked to five minutes ago, nor the girl who had begun to fight this battle. She began to move quicker, easier, Aragorn could feel her power growing. Aragorn held his balance, she was now taking ground gaining it quickly. She was agile, and she wasn't aiming to disarm but to kill. Aragorn watched her as he called her, she was becoming to fast for him, she was too strong.
"Lady Dawn!"
She did not look at him, her hair blew in the wind, her eyes began to darken, they were becoming black
"DAWN!"
She raised her sword, it was then an arrow was shot, past her face, her eyes turned to Legolas. She jumped down from the wall, all her fury could be felt and the men cleared a path for her. She headed towards Legolas. He had stopped shooting, he had only shot for with that strike she could have seriously wounded Aragorn, but now he saw her, she was approaching him, a deathly walk. Her demeanor was changed, her walk, her face, her eyes, even her necklace, which was slowly changing color, there was black beginning to grow inside the necklace. It was then she stopped. No Dawn thought, she had watched helplessly as she had fought Aragorn trying to force the key back inside, she was trying to make sure she didn't kill him. But when Legolas had shot at her, the key took over, no she screamed. She was a prisoner inside her own body. She screamed and tried to break through whatever was controlling her. No, no, no, this isn't right. She began to cry. Then that voice came, that sinister voice.
"Yes Aèrindil, it is right, no one cares for you."
"He does"
"Who that man, he fears you, like everyone else."
"That's a lie"
"You know I speak the truth, you are nothing Aèrindil, not even human."
"GET OUT OF MY BODY!"
"No ones loves you, you can never be loved Aèrindil, you are nothing. Not even the elf can love you, no one can, your not real."
"I am real…." she sobbed, "I am"
"No your alive for Aèrindil, don't worry though, you will soon die, and you will not go to your heaven, no you will not go, you will be stuck in Aèrindil, forever alone"
"Go away" her weak voice said, "go away."
She sobbed and fell to her knees, "go away."
"Aèrindil, that's who you are, your nothing, not real, no one ever loved you, they were forced to love you."
"that's not true…buffy loved me, my mother loved me, Jiles, Anya, Willow, and Xander loved me."
"Aèrindil, do not lie to yourself, do not torture yourself, I will rescue you from these men, they did not care for you, they left you, they abandoned you, like all the others. They don't trust you or love you, they only care about Aèrindil. Nothing more."
"stop it go away."
The voice laughed, she stood up
"you will not win, you lie."
She heard herself defiantly say. Where had the strong voice come from? She quickly thought and listened to the fading laughter of the voice. She felt the power sink back, she fell to her knees, and gasped for air. She heard herself say,
"you can't believe him they do care, they do."
She said bending past her knees in bowed down position, she wept onto the gray stone floor, the coldness comforting to her soft heated skin.