A.N: I would like to thank the following reviewers…
I am so glad you didn't give up on me! I am so sorry for not updating before…But my condition is really pathetic!
Group Huggles
Crecy: Thanks for the review! And I hope this is as interesting as the previous one!
Ariendar: Thanks a bunch and I can't believe so many people are for Séregon! Hmmm…
Arami: You bet! Thanks for your wonderful review again! And here's a teddy bear for reviewing! And you're supporting Séregon too? Hmm…Haldir! This is a warning to ya!
ElvenScript: I am so glad you guys understand me! Thanks! And here's the next chapter!
Soul In Stiches: Glad I could provide you with a good chapter…and here's the next one!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Don't you worry my friend! We both know, Haldir won't leave that easily! Bloody battle ensured!
Now that all is settled, let the story begin!
Disclaimer:
We have wasted enough time on this. You as well as I know that I own nothing! I own Anya and a few other characters that Tolkien didn't write about. So that's about it.
Thoughts or dreams are in Italics
Anarya of Lorien
CRYSTAL DREAMS
Chapter – 22 (Confrontations)
Anya's Point of View:
I smiled at my friend who sat there beside me, her harp at hand and her sweet voice floating around me. Ithilwen hardly seemed to be the singing type. But that was a misconception of mine that was corrected immediately when I heard her sing. It had been as an accident. I was walking towards my room when I thought I heard someone sing in the open space…'the house of the swallows' I had named that place.
"And if you've had enough song for the day, I'd suggest you take some rest. It shall do the both of you some good." I groaned as I shook my head.
"Here we go again! I am not that weak that I should lie down and do nothing all day long!" Ithilwen smiled at me.
"I do not doubt your strength. But was merely suggesting that you don't overtire yourself." I nodded my head.
I lay down on the bed as Ithilwen stood up from the chair beside my bed as though to go. I caught her hand before she could move away. She turned back to look at me.
"You have a wonderful voice. Ithilwen." She smiled as she shook her head, as though to modestly disagree with what I had said,
"If my voice captivates you so much, then Laurelin would have you entranced by her songs." Her smile turned a bit sad as she said that. I knew she missed her sister and I also knew that I was connected to Laurelin in some way. I had not told her I had visited her grave… I looked at Ithilwen.
"I would like to talk to you, my friend." She raised her eyebrow in question. But she smiled as she sat back into the chair. I twisted the quilt in my hand. Maybe she had sensed the discomfort I was facing. She slowly moved her hand over mine, assuring me that I could tell her anything.
"I think I have an idea of what you are going to tell me." I looked up startled. How did she know! She smiled at my obvious confusion.
"It is about Séregon, is it not?" there was a silent moment.
"Um…yeah. One of the things I wanted to tell you. But besides that…" her attention got sharper.
"I presume you know that I visited the grave of Meril?" she nodded her head. I lowered my eyes as though wondering how to say this.
"Well… I happened to visit another grave, besides that." Her hold got tighter. I smiled at her reassuringly.
"I saw Laurelin's grave." She closed her eyes. As she moved to take her hand away from mine. But I wouldn't let go.
"Ithil! Listen to what I have to say." She turned to look at me. Her eyes sad yet soft. "I felt as though…I do not know how to tell you this." I sighed as I let her hand go. I knew that she would not leave me now.
"Ithil…it felt as though I was seeing myself through those stones! As though I was seeing my grave. It was terrifying…yet satisfying…as though…it cannot be explained in any language I know."
I turned to look at Ithilwen look at me shocked. "Ithilwen?" she shook her head as she lowered her head, gently sobbing into her hand.
"Ithilwen! Have I hurt you in anyway? Ithilwen!" she stopped my sentences short with one tight embrace.
"No, Anya. Mayhap it is that this was the answer to my query. To a sign I long awaited! I wouldn't know." I broke away from her embrace to look at her. Was she insane? What sign? What query?
"I am afraid I don't understand you, Ithil." She smiled as she got up.
"I am sorry to tell you this, but I shall have to leave you now." I looked at her dubiously. She moved out of my room and was back to my room, but this time, she word a deep green cloak as though she was going to visit someone.
"Ithil, where are you going?" she smiled as she placed a kiss on my brow. "I shall be back and I presume Olwen shall come to visit you in some time from now? Then I shall not tarry." She then with a final bow, left me bewildered.
I slowly got up from my bed, finally tired of lying down. It was then that I thought of Olwen. It would be a surprise to her if I went visiting. I threw my own cloak over my shoulder and taking some odds and ends for Síladiel, I walked towards the door. I climbed the steps slowly; my condition was a hindrance when it came to transportation. I was about to knock at the partially closed door when I heard voices coming from her talan.
" To think that you would be so blunt is in itself a stupidity, Séregon!" So Séregon was there. I panicked for a while before I turned to hear it all.
"But I do love her. And I have been anything but honourable in my intentions." His voice sounded clipped.
"She carries the child of another, have you forgotten that or has it eluded your vision?" my friend questioned again.
"And what if she does? I do not see the problem that would bring up." I could hear Olwen give out an exasperated sigh.
"She doesn't love you, Séregon. She hasn't told you she did." I closed my eyes as I tried to move away from that place.
"-And neither has she told me that she does not." My eyes flew open instantaneously. What I had decided to be a very subtle way of telling him that I did not love him in the same fashion as he did, he had taken that message for my acceptance.
"She will not love you, Séregon. Haldir-" I panicked. He knew nothing of what Haldir had to do with me. And I truly wished it would remain that way.
"And what does the March Warden have to do about it? He seems to take an unnatural amount of interest in the affairs of Anya. It seems absurd."
I decided they had been alone for quite a long time. I knocked at the door and there was silence immediately. A few minutes and the door opened to reveal Olwen looking at me quite startled.
"And if elves couldn't hear clumsy mortals lumbering towards their doors, then these are queer times indeed!" she smiled as she moved away from the threshold to welcome me into her house. There true to word sat Séregon. He looked up from his seat and his golden eyes roved over me. I knew it instantly that he had sensed me standing outside. But he smiled at me as he stood up to welcome me.
"Anya. It is a pleasure to see you this day."
"Yes. It is. What is the matter Anya? Why are you here?" Olwen asked from behind me. I turned around to look at her.
"Oh…it is nothing. I just thought I'd visit you before your ceremony. It is wonderfully kind of you that you agreed to have a public ceremony to announce you marriage. I happened to know that, it wasn't really a compulsory ritual."
Olwen smiled a little as she waved her hand as though to dismiss my words.
"We have so many friends and well wishers around, that it would be natural for us to think that they should have a part in this celebration as well!" I smiled gratefully.
"Yes. Thank you." She nodded her head as she turned to look at Séregon. He was looking at me.
"And Séregon was leaving." Séregon turned to look at Olwen for a minute as thought to convey to her that it was the farthest thought from his mind. But then his eyes turned to mine and he smiled slowly as he turned back to Olwen.
"Yes. I was. And I shall not interrupt your meeting with Anya." He looked back towards me.
"I shall be seeing you again, lirimaer." I nodded my head as I lowered my head as though as a parting greeting. He then slowly walked towards the door and before he left, he turned to me and kissing his fingertip towards me, turned around and walked away. I turned to look at Olwen who looked at me sympathetically. She walked to the door and shut it close before turning to me and with one anxious glance whispered,
"I understand how you feel." I smiled as I hugged my friend tightly, both of us breaking into fits of laughter. One had to admit it, even though it was tense, my life was humorous.
Séregon's Point of view:
I slowly walked down the steps towards the forest floor. To my left halfway down the way was Anya's talan. Should I stay behind and talk to her? I knew that my confession was a bit hurried but I knew she liked me. I wondered if it was impossible for that liking to turn into love.
"Mae Govannen, Séregon!" I turned to my left to find Rumil the betrothed of Olwen jogging up the stairs, taking two at a time. In hardly days from now, they would marry each other and then, there would be happiness. The same happiness that I shared with Meril. I smiled sadly as I continued my way towards the forest floor. I knew I had to get my mind away from the things that ran through my mind now.
I walked through the pathways bordered by the golden mallorn. Soon enough I could hear the twang of many bows. There they stood, many elven archers practicing in the archery range. I found that there were only two elves practicing there, one was a stranger who I did not know, he was probably new to the woods. But the other one I did know for there, stood Haldir with his back straight and his aim true. I had half the mind to leave the place but he turned around just in time to spot me. He sent me a stare that was as indifferent as it could get. I felt anger well up inside me. I strode towards the weapons store and selecting a strong bow and a quiver to suit me, I walked towards the target right next to Haldir. He cast me another look. I placed my arrow on my bow and aiming for the bull's eye, let my arrow fly. And it hit the target quite successfully. I turned to find Haldir's arrows had gone off the target. But his recent shots seemed perfect. I smirked at him and turned towards my target.
TWANG! My arrow had been split exactly into two halves by another arrow. I turned to Haldir who had his bow aimed towards my target. I felt my blood boil. I fitted another grey feathered arrow and let it fly, splitting his arrow into halves this time. He let out a scoff and turned back towards his target and started shooting more arrows.
I had been practicing for quite a long time when I felt I had to ask him something. I aimed my arrow at the bull's eye as usual.
"Been to see your beloved lately?" his voice distracted me and my arrow landed a few inches away from the center.
"Tsk-Tsk, you are easily distracted my friend." I turned to glare at him. He smirked at me as he unstrung his bow and walked towards the bench where he had placed his quiver. He had brought his own bow and quiver.
"I do not see what that has to do with you!" I shot back trying to get a proper answer from him. he stooped to pick an arrow that had fallen from his quiver and turned to face me when he had secured his quiver in place and had bridled his sword.
"Remember this, Séregon of Imladris-" his smile was mysterious, but I dreaded what he was going to say next.
"You might not be the only one who might vie for her affections. Nor can you be sure of your success so soon."
"Garo arad vaer." (Have a good day.)
I felt my mind reel as I tried to make out what he had said. The meaning seemed clear enough but I didn't want to accept it. There was only one way…there was only one person who could clear it out for me.
I slowly unstrung my bow as I walked to the weapons store and in another few moments, was out of the archery range.
Anya's Point of view:
"take care of yourself." I smiled at Olwen and nodded my head. I slowly stepped outside her talan. Night had already fallen. Time flew here!
I slowly hummed the tune that Ithilwen had been playing that day. She had told me that it had been Laurelin's favorite when I had told her that I found the tune really enchanting. I smiled as I hummed the tune slowly. The light was burning in my talan. Perhaps Ithilwen had returned. I slowly turned to handle and opened the door to find,
"Séregon!" he sat there with a book in his hands and his eyes looking at me.
"How long have you been waiting?" he smiled at me and slowly got up from where he sat. The sounds of night were around us.
"Maedollen!" he bowed. I smiled as I closed the door behind me. (Welcome.)
"It has been long. But not long enough for an elf." He jested. I rolled my eyes as I walked towards him,
"please sit down, Séregon." He caught my hand and pulled me closer. His golden eyes bore into mine.
"Séregon?" I asked. What was he doing!
"I have missed your sight." I smiled as I slowly freed myself from him. "I have not been gone for ages! And as you said it yourself, it was not long enough for an elf as yourself." He shook his head as he pressed my hand.
"You have not the least idea how I feel. I am acting more like a Man than an Elf, these days!" I laughed. But then I stopped short when I saw the serious expression he had in his face.
"Séregon." He shook his head.
"What is the relation that you share with Haldir?" it had been the most blunt question anybody had asked me. I sighed as I lowered my head.
"Séregon, I have wanted to talk to you about this…" he looked at me eagerly. I looked up at him.
"Séregon, I like you…and I would have loved you too, had we met at different circumstances." I knew he was hurt. His eyes widened and his breathing hastened.
"Séregon, there are a lot of things you do not know of me. There are secrets that I must tell you." His hand had left mine. I lowered my head again. I could not endure his hurt stare any longer.
"Séregon…this child…this child is mine. But my child has to have a father…I know, that you shall accept the child as yours without question. But I could never burden you with that huge a responsibility! And moreover, the father of my child is not a mere mortal Man." I turned to look at him. he was slowly understanding where I was leading.
"Haldir….H-Haldir is the father of this child within me," he seemed too shocked to react to what I had just said.
"I am sorry, Séregon." He got up from where he sat so quickly that I was startled.
"No. This is not the truth!" I got up. I was probably wrong in the way I had led matters altogether. I tried to calm him down first.
"Séregon…Séregon! Please listen to me!" I tried to place my hand over his but he kept pushing my hand away. he slowly backed towards the door and opening it, walked outside. Oh Gods! Had I just ruined a good friendship! I felt tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Séregon! Please listen to me!" I cried. But he did not listen to me but moved out of the door out into the semidarkness that lay outside my talan. I cried his names a countless times but he never came back. It was then that I wept. I wept as hard as I could. And as I turned to look at the door again, my entire world started spinning and before long, I felt darkness take me into blissful oblivion. The name that I uttered last before I fell there, onto the threshold unconscious were,
"Séregon…"
and I could remember nothing more.
End of Chappie! And you know what time it is! 'Tis time to review my hearties! And this is Anarya of Lorien signing off for now…and my computer's just been moved to my father's office…so, you know…I have to be slow or I will lose my computer privileges for ever!
Thanks for understanding me…
Anarya of Lorien.
