Hello there, everyone! It has been such a long time since I have walked these paths! Yet…there remain so many of you who have not given up on me. This is to thank you all! A thousand words of gratitude for standing by me. Since I have just received my new system and the Internet facility is still a mere pipe dream for me, I was and shall not be able to update like the old days. But do not lose hope! I shall find some way or the other!

I would like to thank the following reviewers for their reviews!

Marie Carmen: I am really sorry! Not updating is killing me more than anyone else! Thanks for understanding.

Uptowngirl48: Please don't do that! You wouldn't know what happened if you died and I wouldn't like it very much if you died.

Ka: Oh really? I am so very happy so many people like my story actually! Thank you very much! Words always fall short in expressing my gratitude.

K-Jaye: Sorry for the delay! I was a Legolas fan myself. Even wrote one fic about him. Can I have some cookies? U

Crecy: Thanks for the review! And I hope this is as interesting as the previous one!

Kinvara: I am glad you liked it! More coming soon!

Isovexed: I am sorry I made you guys wait! But I had more problems than I wanted with college and exams. I am sorry. But here's your next chapter.

Joy4eva: Thank you very much!

Loveroflegolas: And you will mellon nin! Thank you for the review!

Elwen of Lorien: Ai Elbereth! Another maiden from the Golden woods! Well met and happy readings! Glad you liked it and yes! I love writing. I am sorry I wasn't able to update sooner. My life is so complicated sometimes.

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!

Elven Script: Really? Oh my! A supporter for Haldir! This will make his day!

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Don't worry! Nothing of that sort shall happen here! I am not that cruel…Okay…maybe a little!

Swiftly-gone: You don't have to. I understand. Here is the next chapter!

I would also like to thank with all my heart, all the people who kindly accepted me into the esteemed circle of their favorite authors and the many people who have my story on author alert! Thanks a bunch!

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 – 23 (To face the truth…)

Anya's Point of View:

"I am sorry, Séregon." I was running…running away from everything…

I woke up with a start. It had all been a dream. I was in my talan. I had slept off…I was dreaming.

"Níriniel…what happened?" I turned to see Olwen march into the room with Ithilwen. Both of them looked terrified. So it wasn't a dream…

"No. This is not the truth!" I closed my eyes as I slowly came to reality. It wasn't a dream…it meant that Séregon knew. I turned to smile at Ithilwen. She was worried.

"What happened?" I asked. Ithilwen felt my brow as she said; "We found you unconscious, and we also found Séregon running towards the eastern borders as though the entire army of Mordor was after him." she turned to look at me. "Did he meet you, Anya?"

I lowered my eyes and nodded my head. Ithilwen seemed to sense something was wrong. Olwen meanwhile had brought me some hot Miruvoir. I drank a little and turned to look at my friend gratefully.

"What were you talking about?" Ithilwen's voice cut through my thoughts. I turned to look at her, her grey eyes locking me to their gaze.

"I told him about Haldir." She sighed as though she comprehended what I was about to say.

"Hmm. I see. And he was shocked, I presume?" I looked at Ithilwen.

"Umm… that is an understatement." She smiled and shook her head. "Count it your fortune that we found you soon enough! And the child is safe." It was then that I panicked. I ran my hand over my bloated abdomen. Ithilwen placed her hand over mine, assuring me.

There was a knock at the door. I turned towards that direction though I couldn't see anything. Olwen walked towards the door. I strained my ears trying to eavesdrop into their conversation. Olwen soon walked towards my room. I had been expecting the person to be anybody from the Lady to Haldir. But not…

"Séregon."


Séregon's Point of view:

I ran…I ran as though the very depths of Angband were after me. I was soon near the borders of Lothlorien. Celebrant glittered in the winter sun…so cold…so distant…I clenched my fist as I willed myself not to cry.

To cry would be to appear weak. I am not weak!

Tears ran down my cheeks as I flopped onto the ground, sobbing. All was lost… why was I the one who was always left alone in the end? I sighed as I contained my emotions better. I wiped my tears away with my sleeve and slowly turned around to be shocked out of my skin – literally.

For there stood the Lady of Lorien herself! She smiled gently at me, as she extended her right hand towards me. I smiled as I took it and kissed it with as much grace as I could muster in the situation I found myself placed in.

"Mae govannen, Séregon." Her smile faltered a little as she looked into my eyes.

"So…the tale runs to swifter tidings. Just as I had guessed." She lowered her head. She raised her head again to look deep into my soul.

"But be assured Séregon that you running away like that was not the best of all solutions." Her voice though soft was a little stern as though she was admonishing me. I lowered my eyes, thoroughly guilty.

"How is Anya?" I was surprised that I asked her that! There was silence for a while. I looked up again to find her smiling at me, thoroughly amused.

"And what shall you do if I tell you? Run back to her? Life is not that simple, Séregon."

"Why? What is the matter?" something was wrong. Or else why would the Lady be here at the borders! She walked towards me, taking my hand in hers…

"She is deeply wounded by all that happened in her talan. She is deeply wounded – shall we say – by the way you received the news she gave you."

"Why didn't she tell me that before? When she had the chance!" I found my voice and her eyebrow rising. I lowered my head,

"I am sorry, Hiril nin." She pressed my hand in hers as she nodded her head.

"She fainted." Her calm voice sounded through the gloom of the winter around us. My head snapped up as she said this.

"WHAT!" I felt my pulse quicken. She had fainted and that too when she was…

"Séregon…Séregon! She is fine." I looked at her face bewildered.

She is not in danger. But that will not excuse you from your behaviour. You know what to do!

I smiled at the Lady. "I shall immediately go and meet her, my Lady. I shall apologize for my behaviour." She nodded smiling at me. Just as I was about to take my hand away from hers, she held onto to mine…I looked at her questioningly. Her gaze seemed to bore right through me. It did not threaten me but I felt my soul was left bare for her to read all my thoughts. Then a smile lit her lips…an understanding smile that seemed to get me right at my soul.

You are not alone, Séregon. I stood there bewildered as she released my hand and turned away and was soon gone beyond sight.

I smiled as I slowly made my way back to her talan.


Anya's Point of view:

He stood there, breathing deeply as though he had run a long distance. His face was pale and there was a tinge of worry in his face. He slowly walked towards me.

"Anya." His voice was just as warm as I could remember. I lowered my head, "Mae govannen, Lord Séregon." He turned to Ithilwen and Olwen and as though they understood, they turned towards the door.

"We shall be waiting outside, Níriniel." I heard Olwen call as she slowly closer the door of the room I was in. for some reason, I did not panic. He seated himself beside me…his hand slowly and gently falling over mine…that reassuring touch. Oh! If only I had met him before Haldir! That name brought me back to reality.

"Anya-"

"Séregon-"

Both of us stopped abruptly having begun at once. He smiled as he took my hand in his and kissed my finger tips. "Let me speak, Anya."

I lowered my eyes. What more did he have to say? I did not understand.

"I know it is not your doing. I know you have not been at fault." His eyes seemed so deep…so caring…

"I know you would never return the love that I still give you. I know that would be to ask too much of you. But still…" the way his sentence hung in mid air made me anxious.

"Haldir has never spoken about you in a way that a father would speak to the mother of his child. You mean little to him. In fact this child could mean nothing to him." I looked up at him. Did he call me back to his talan so that he could be done with this burden? No! Haldir would never do that. Séregon was definitely exaggerating.

"You worry a lot on my behalf, Séregon. And I am grateful for that as is my child. But still…I must say that Haldir is not that evil."

"It is not evil, milady. If it were, he wouldn't be an elf in Lothlorien. But it is the pride that he has in him. The pride of being the model elf for many years. No elf would dare to touch a maiden without her consent, whatever the reason. No elf would stoop to such low behaviour." His eyes shone with anger as he clutched tightly to my hand. I couldn't help but smile.

"I know you are worried, Séregon. But there is little that we can do now. I can still remember the time when I was dropped here. It was a strange place then. But now, I have become accustomed to the life here. And this…" I placed my hand over my belly. "I never expected such radical changes in my life. But if this be God's will, then I shall not deny it. And moreover…I still do not think I shall go with Haldir just for the fact that I bear his child."

"Then why-"

"I can't do this to you, Séregon. For some reason I cannot. I hope you'd understand." His eyes clouded over with disappointment. It hurt me. But still…he smiled as he stood up.

"I understand, Anya. But that wouldn't lessen the love that I bear for you. I can never stop loving you. For some reason I cannot." He gave my hand a final kiss and walked towards the door. Just as he was about to leave, he turned to look at me.

"Garo arad vaer, Séregon." He smiled gently and turned away. I felt as though a huge burden had been lifted away from my shoulder. I would have good dreams when I sleep. I closed my eyes when I heard someone call my name.

"Anya!" there was a bang as the door was opened forcefully. I jolted back to reality and opened my eyes to find Haldir stand there, his face livid and his fists clenched. I hardly knew that good dreams could turn to nightmares so fast!


At last…this chapter has ended. I thought it would never get over. I was having severe writer's block and then, I don't have my own system…I was waiting for a new one and it is took more time than it took for the universe to form!. I find myself begging and pleading other people so that I can update. And I hate begging. So…there you have it. Please read and review.

- Anarya of Lorien.