Okay…I am back after a short Hiatus. Sorry people! Well…you see, I was a bit sick and then there was this writer's block, which as most of you would understand is a terrible phase of time to pass through. And then there was my dad who went berserk and changed the password and I couldn't get online. But I am back! And here's your chapter! I know the amount of reviews I am getting as time goes on is really coming down and I am the only person to blame for that…so, please? Review, ne?
A.N: I would like to thank the following reviewers…
Swiftly-gone: Thank you! Your reviews keep our day shining! And it doesn't matter what it says! A good review always helps a writer!
Arami: You are wrong! You did not chew my ears off and you're right! This does foretell some grave matter of great importance! And serves Haldir right! But Haldir is really atoning for what he did, isn't he? Hmm…I guess she would have run away…somewhere…far! Far away! But all things rebound to the glory of Iluvatar! Oh I sound like Manwe! Hehehe! Sorry! You are free to feel passionate about matters like these! And I completely understand you.
Anonymous: Hope you did your semesters well! And thanks for the review!
Ariendar: Thanks! Hope this chapter has a bit more of er…action…if you can call it that.
Sarobando: I am sorry for not updating for so long! Here's your next chapter!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: I know! I am sorry! Owies! I promise I shall update whenever I get the chance! Honest! I swear on Haldir! We swears on the Precious! We swears!
A Crazy Elephant: I know the agony that one goes through when one does what to update but is not allowed to! Hmm…glad you love elephants! That makes two of us!
I have also uploaded a one-chapter Glorfindel fic, under the name, Dannen Aglar Fallen Glory. If my dear readers would be kind enough to check it out and tell me how it is, I would find that very 'very' helpful.
Now that all is settled, let the story begin!
Disclaimer:
Hmmm…enough said.
Thoughts or dreams are in Italics
- Anarya of Lorien
CRYSTAL DREAMS
Chapter – 20 (Changes…)
Anya's Point of view:
"…And they're…done!" Olwen walked in with a pile of freshly laundered clothes, most of them were Ithilwen's with a small portion being mine. I looked up from where I sat. My pregnancy was really advancing well and I had check-ups with the healer every month. It really shook me up when I heard that elves gave birth after an entire year. But the healer had asked me to be careful from the eighth month onwards and here I was already in my sixth month.
Sometimes, there was a nervousness that gnawed at my mind. I was with child…yes…but was I healthy enough? Was I prepared enough? Questions! Questions upon questions and then there was Haldir.
Ever since he had come on the day I had met Séregon, he seemed to find it mandatory to visit me wherever he could. Since then, he had been to my talan for a couple of times, never minding if I wanted him there. The times he spent with me were all the same. He would walk in, place his bow and quiver upon the table and walking up to me, and order me to follow him to his talan, which he seemed to find as the most obvious thing I ought to do.
I sighed as Olwen seated herself next to me.
"How are you, Níriniel?" she placed her hand over mine as though trying to assure me. She was the only person apart from Haldir's family and Ithilwen and the rulers of Lothlorien to know the truth behind my pregnancy. The rest of the wood believed that the father of my child was some mortal Man who was now far away; in some battle…I smiled as I turned to Olwen.
"I am fine. How are you? And the wedding preparations are going on in full steam I suppose?" Olwen blushed as I mentioned her wedding. She nodded her head. She then turned to look at me.
"I shall be leaving you here…I shall be leaving for Orophin's talan." I lowered my eyes. I knew she would be going with Orophin. I knew the time would come. I nodded my head, as though I understood. It took luck, I guess, to be loved by a man as though you were the whole world…and I was really unlucky in that matter.
"And, will you not come, Anya?" I laughed as I nodded my head, while I gave my friend a really tight hug.
"Where else would I be?" Olwen smiled as though pleased.
"Well, I shall be leaving you. Remember! If you feel the need for anything, do not hesitate to ask me."
"I shall remember that, Olwen." She kissed me on my cheek and slowly turned around and in a few moments, was out on her way to her talan. I slowly placed my hand over the spot where she had kissed me and I smiled. It was then that I heard another knock on the door.
I slowly opened the door.
"Séregon! What a pleasant surprise!" I beckoned him inside." He bowed before me and from behind him, stepped Síladiel, his daughter. I smiled at her as she walked towards me and hugged me tightly. I caressed her head as I turned to Séregon. To my surprise, he seemed to watch this scene silently…as though meditating on a though or memory…
"Séregon? Lord Séregon!" he started as I waved my hand in front of his face and then turned to smile at me.
"Ah! Lady Anya! Síladiel wanted to see you, and it would be a complete fib if I said, I wasn't of like mind. And so here we are." He smiled as he bowed once more. I smiled as I nodded at him.
"Indeed, Lord Séregon! Oh! Please come inside!" I walked into the hall, followed by my guests. As the three of us seated ourselves, I turned to Séregon.
"And, what about your wife, Lord? I thought you came here to visit her!" Séregon looked up from Síladiel who was playing with the birds near the birdbath in the terrace. He smiled sadly as he nodded his head and replied,
"And I do meet her everyday." I nodded.
"Then will you not take me to meet her, or will you not bring her here?" I asked, curiosity getting the better out of me. Séregon nodded his head.
"I am afraid she shall not be able to visit you, and I do not think you can travel that far in your condition!"
"Oh come on! Séregon! You live but in the talan above mine! I can surely manage a small climb like that!" Séregon smiled.
"I know your capabilities, fair one! But Meril does not live in my talan." I turned to look at him abruptly.
"Is that so? Why! What is the matter? Why do you live in separate talans? Surely! You have been separated long enough, Séregon!" I winked at him. All I got in response was a sad smile.
"She will not come." I shook my head. "What? Why wouldn't she come! Hmm…I think we shall go to meet her immediately." Séregon looked up at me alarmed. I smiled as I nodded my head.
"Oh, come on Séregon! Will you not even do me this honour of introducing me to your wife?" his gaze fell on to the ground. He then silently nodded his head.
"If you insist, Anya. But Síladiel-" the door opened slightly and in stepped Ithilwen.
"Mae govannen, Anya! How ar-" it was then that she spotted Séregon. A small blush crept up her cheek. She smiled embarrassed and then bowing before us,
"I see you are busy. I shall come later," I shook my head as I walked towards my friend and dragged her in.
"Oh, you goose! It's your talan! We are your friends! There is nothing to feel bad about! And stop acting so awkwardly!" I then turned towards Séregon.
"Séregon, this is my dear friend Ithilwen. She has just returned from training the recruits." I then turned towards Ithilwen,
"You're home early, Ithil! What is the matter?"
"I was let off early. Rumil is taking my part. Oh… and who is that?" she pointed towards Síladiel. I turned to see the small girl approach Ithilwen cautiously before slowly extending her hand as though to shake hers with Ithilwen. Ithilwen smiled as she took the little pink hand and placed a kiss on top of it.
"It pleases me to be honoured with your presence, my lady!" all of us laughed. I then turned towards Séregon.
"Ithilwen and Síladiel shall entertain each other quite beautifully. Then, you shall show me Meril. Is that all right with you, Séregon?" he sighed as though resigning into my decision and nodded his head. I smiled gleefully as I turned to Ithilwen.
"And is that all right with you, Ithil?" she smiled as she lifted Síladiel from the ground and placed a kiss on her brow, only to have the favor returned.
Soon, I was traveling with Séregon, walking through the mellyrn, to find Meril, the woman who was lucky enough to have Séregon for a husband.
Séregon's Point of view:
I sighed as I saw Ithilwen play with Síladiel. She seemed to find the wrong time to enter. Now there was no other way but to take her there. But then, I had been her good friend for so long…was it safe to tell her the truth? And then…there was another feeling that seemed to shoot through me whenever I saw Anya. The way she seemed to accept Síladiel into her heart, and the way she seemed to consider me as a good friend of hers when she hardly knew anything about me…that trust…Her husband was a lucky fellow. But then…he was in battle far away and Anya had told me once that she did not count on his return. She seemed too composed and collected when she had told me this. Mayhap things were not that good between them…but then, what about her child?
Things could change because of a single night's passion, I reminded myself. Anya stood before me in her grey cloak all set to visit my Meril…she carried a small covered basket in her hand. I looked at her bemused.
"Anya, what is that?" she smiled at me as she followed my gaze towards the basket and uncovered it.
"From what you say, it looks as though your wife is sick. So, I thought, maybe I could give her some treats…you know, some fruit and home cooked vegetable stew. I am not good. But I thought I could help." It struck me when she said that…here she stood. The mirror image of Meril in her character. I blinked, hoping she wouldn't notice. Her smile faltered a bit. But I turned around immediately saying aloud,
"It is getting late…shall we leave?"
"Yes." Her voice seemed soft. I stepped outside to feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I smiled involuntarily.
It brought memories…
"Séregon! Wait for me!" I turned around to find her running towards me, clad in the attire of a soldier; she looked as demure as any maiden could.
"Meril! It is my turn this time! You are not going for border duty! Not now." she stopped before me, and started to breathe heavily, for want of air. As she felt more stable, she looked up at me, her grey eyes imploring…
"Séregon! I don't want to stay behind. You know what will happen! My parents will force me into another chore I have no interest in…and then I'd feel like a stupid girl and as you know already, I am not that very famous with the other girls of Rivendell. They'll make fun of me! And I love you!"
I sighed as she took my hand in hers and pressed it gently. Not all the training in the world could harden that touch. I smiled as I nodded my head and turned around…only to feel something heavy on my back.
"Meril! I told you to follow me not ON me!" I shouted…all I heard was her suppressed giggles. I rolled my eyes and trudged forward with her behind me, on my back…the sun could never have been warmer…
"So, tell me about her, what did she do before you married her?" I started to find Anya trudge before me. She turned around and looked at me.
"She was a guard in the service of king Gil-Galad. Then, she settled in Rivendell with me after we were married." Anya nodded her head.
"Oh! You two are from the same profession then! I mean…were." I looked up at her abruptly. What was she talking about? She smiled as she continued, "She did leave her job after she married you, didn't she?"
I nodded my head, as I now understood her correction into past tense. We were walking through the mellyrn. The snow around us, slowly thickening. I knew that the Lady of the Light had some magic that seemed to cause all cold and frost to stay its advance into Lothlorien. Soon, we were surrounded by pristine white…snow was everywhere! Anya stopped abruptly as she looked around.
"I never thought that there would be so much snow around! Are we away from the borders, Séregon." I shook my head.
"No, milady. We are still within the borders…only that the magic of Lothlorien is not that very pronounced here."
"Your wife is sick, and she continues to live here? In this cold? She must be really out of her mind to be doing this! Your talan is so comfortable! Why is she staying here?"
It was time. I slowly walked towards a clearing in the woods…a place where there was a stone slab…a tomb. I slowly placed my hand on it…Anya followed me and stood there watching me bend over the tomb, slowly running my hands over it.
"Séregon? What is the meaning of this?" her voice seemed strained, as though she had struck near the answer, and yet wished she were wrong. I turned to look at her, not even pretending to wipe my tears away now.
"Anya, I would like you to meet my wife, Meril." I pointed towards the tomb. Anya clapped her hands over her mouth as she turned to look at the intricately carved stonework on the tomb… the basket fell from her hands and the apples that rolled out from it contrasted from the white around them. I smiled as I slowly walked towards her.
"Anya…"
"I didn't know…I didn't mean to…Séregon! I…I'm…"
"There is nothing that you could have done, Anya. I did not want to tell you…but then, you were so trusting that…I couldn't help telling you." I walked closer to her; she had started crying openly now, her shoulders shaking with the tears that she spilt. I placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to comfort her only to have her hug me, crying harder than ever.
I gulped as my own emotions were slowly forcing their way up. Wasn't it my cue to weep unrestrained and for her to console me? Why was the very reverse of that happening here? As she calmed down a bit, I released her from my hold as she looked up at me, wiping her tears away a bit embarrassed.
"I am sorry, Séregon. I should have been a bit more careful…but I get so very emotional these days that…you understand don't you?" I nodded my head. I did. I did understand, perfectly sweet Anya. I smiled as she knelt down gently to pick the apples that had fallen from her. I knelt down beside her and helped her pick the fruits that had fallen down. As I gave her the final apple, my grasp fell on hers, a different sensation tingling through my mind. Her small hand seemed to almost fit into mine, her hand soft in my huge calloused hand. She looked up to me and smiled, as a small blush crept up her cheeks. Could she read what I felt? I pressed her hand gently before getting up, helping her as well.
"Thank you Séregon. You are really a very good friend. What would I do without you?" I smiled as I joked,
"Still be there in your talan. Shall we leave, Anya?" she smiled as she nodded.
Anya's Point of view:
She had died! Oh…now I knew why Olwen spoke of tragedy and all! I mentally shook myself for being a fool not to have guessed anything of that sort. There he was helping me stand up as though he was perfectly fine. But I knew better. He was facing a mental turmoil. He was calm, because he acted so…he was calm for me.
It was then that I felt the eerie sensation…as though I had been there…or that there was some thing of mine that I still had here…I turned around to find a wisp of mist floating a few yards to our left.
"Séregon," he turned around as well, gazing in the direction where I was staring.
"What is it, Anya?" he asked. I turned around fully to face the direction I wanted to explore,
"What is it over there?" I asked, pointing towards the mist. There was silence as Séregon walked a few paces to stand beside me. He seemed to be intrigued too.
"I do not know. But if we travel there, we'd be too close to the borders. And these borders are not really as heavily protected as they are in other parts…let us leave."
" No Séregon. I would very much like to go there. Can you not take me there?" I turned to look at him with a pleading look. He sighed as he nodded his head, placing a hand on his sword.
"Whatever pleases my lady." I smiled as I nodded my head, knowing I had won.
I walked as fast as I could towards the mist only to find myself in another clearing like the one I had just left.
I looked around to find Séregon follow me. Both of us found a huge stone tomb just like the one we had seen earlier. Only that I felt dread and excitement flood my veins as I slowly made my way closer towards the monument.
"It is only a tomb. Must be for someone who died in a fight…it seems to be built for a warrior who died in a fight. It looks more magnificent than most tombs…or maybe the dead one came from a rich and affluent family…we would never know.
I nodded my head…I had heard nothing of what he had said. I was busy looking at the carved vines that ran around the corner of the stone that covered the tomb. It was then that a dreary wave hit me.
"Séregon…" I called out, fingering the various branches of the tree that was carved on the cover of the tomb…
"Laurelin. That's what it reads. The person who died, it was an elleth. Her name was Laurelin." Séregon's voice seemed as though it came from afar…I nodded my head.
" I know." I whispered for me to hear. Even my voice sounded so far off…so different. Séregon placed a hand on my shoulder. In that instantaneous minute I knew he was tensed.
"Anya, we must leave now…I sense trouble." I nodded but before I could turn around, I felt a wave of weakness hit me and I fell unconscious as I heard the distant horns of some foul legion.
It was happening again… it was happening again…Haldir!
So…. I am back with a bang…I guess. Oh well, you know the drill, Read and review. And I'd like to see a bit more reviews Please!!!!! Hannon lle.
- Anarya of Lorien
