Author's Note: Forth and final step.. Wow.. I and this story could not have made this step without Ireth known here as Elwing-Evenstar. I would have given up on this if not for her kind words and encouragement. Thank you Ireth you're a great friend!
Also everyone in here but the Tolkien characters and Carmelor are the screen names of friends of mine from different sites. They are good people and they deserve to have people know it.
Thank you Lightmare852 for your review, this is the last chapter so I won't be able to give clues but that is a great idea, and I might later revise the story and do that.
Also the songs in this step are Tolkien's and can be found in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.
And Now...
The Fourth Step: The step home
I turn to face them newly named Dareth and Rela. I knew I was close to something good and familiar...home maybe..whatever that was and who was there waiting.
What do I need now?
They look at each other somberly "We won't tell you, you must know what is on your own to get it and you shall never find yourself again without it." the said in eerie unison.
A sudden fear ran through me, I can't remember my self or my home but the thought of never having either again terrifies me greatly for some reason.
Please what do I do? How can I remember you must help me! Please!
I say suddenly feeling desperate
They merely shake there heads I sigh and go and sit in the floor trying hard to remember something... anything...
The past few hours have gone by excruciatingly slow. Still nothing not one hint of a memory. I going to be stuck in this cave forever! The crystals stopped shining soon after I got here. It is dark, quiet, and an apparent enemy of sanity.
I look to Dareth and Rela they sit at the foot of the cave looking out. The sun is beginning to set along mountains... suddenly a familiar feeling.. mountains those look so.. like.. it feels right seeing them...there is a strong cloud in them...a mist.
Mist.. that word.. it strikes something in me, I heard it with something.. a lot.
All of a sudden light of the setting sun streamed into the cave setting the crystal cave ablaze with bright beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Fire! I remember a great fire! But I don't remember fear with it.. I remember .. happiness, joy..
Then a voice sprung up at first I knew not whether in my mind or outside, it was beautiful the voice, I realize Rela is singing
Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together!
The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.
That song! I've heard it before, I know it well.. I think. Then another voice came up this one low and sad, now Dareth sang.
Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea
This one made feel suddenly sad more then just one hearing the fate of an unfortunate person.. like knowing that unfortunate person, like losing a friend.
Then Rela started up agian
Dane all ye joyful, now dance all together!
Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!
The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;
Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.
Ahhh! Where have I heard that.. May.. I remember warmth, song, dancing... fire.. Elves!
Where? Where? Where was I then, why am I not there now? A river.. it feels like I know a river well.. from where?
Before I have time to think further Darath comes in agian
His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen:
the countless stars of heaven's felid
were mirrored in his silver sheild.
Gil-galad! I think I knew his, I feel excited at this. Then sadness rushes in, pain, hurt. I... I can remember the clashing of steel, the smell of blood, the cries of pain, despair, and savage victory
Then Rela comes in again he attention is once again stolen away
Sing we know softly, and dreams let us weave him!
Wind him in slumber and there let us leave him!
The wander sleepth. Now soft be his pillow!
It feels as though I have been hit in the head now before I can even contemplate what I've heard
Dareth sings again!.
But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
I did know him! I know his death, I know the war! The Last Alliance, that last stance against Sauron! I fought there!
Suddenly Rela's voice for one last time steals my thoughts
Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow!
Sigh no more pine, till the wind of the morn!
Fall Moon! Dark be the land!
Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash, and Thorn!
Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand!
Water! The River! RIVENDELL! That's were I live!
I stand up suddenly, they turn and stare at me,
I have to go I yell
I have to go home I know who I am!
Suddenly the crystals that had been like fire turned to ice, bright blue and white shone strongly from the prisms. Its shines brighter and brighter till all I see is white, then the world and my consciousness goes out.
Cold... I feel cold so cold. I sit up quickly remembering all that had just passed. I brush the snow off my clothes an hair and go quickly forward. I am as tired as before but I know now I must keep going. I here something.. water.. a river. The River! I'm home.
I run for I don't know how long and come across the river my river half frozen. I stumble and slide across quickly, my feet crunch in the snow as I now rush forward with haste. Then I here a voice call out it is Erestor I am home!
"Elrond! Your alive, where have you been? You look half dead, we looked everywhere after you disappeared from the group but could not find you!" he stopped to take a breath "It was like you vanished from Arda!.. Why did you get separated in the first place..?"
I breath out watching by breath in the frozen night then I remember I saw a vision it startled me.. I fell off my horse and woke up again alone.. I wandered for hours trying to find the others again..
I saw something Erestor
I cry out
A golden ring with writing of fire, a halfling, a great war... what does it all mean?
The End.