Her breathing was irregular, sweat was running down her face and body, her hair was sticking to her skin and her muscles were throbbing. She needed that so much more than she had initially thought. Adrenaline was running wild through her veins and it felt so damn good.
Boromir was staring at her, slightly dazed and apparently as affected by their recent activities as she was. There was fire in her eyes, burning her satisfied expression in his memory.
Finally Leanna sheathed her sword, and smiled widely for the first time since, well she couldn't remember when.
"You have improved greatly, Leanna"
"Many thanks for the compliment" her smile became even more relaxed "I still prefer dual blading, though".
She had become able to freely use either style, yet using two swords seemed more natural, more familiar to her.
"You are certainly as dangerous as you are beautiful, my lady" Boromir's tone was nonchalant, as he stepped towards her. He wasn't lying, he truly believed she was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his life,
"Well consider me flattered"
"Shall we return now?"
Sun was starting to set, and as other days before that was the time to go back with the others.
"Yes..."
"Child"
A beautiful female voice resounded in her mind, it was calling for her and she knew exactly where she had to go.
"Sorry Boromir, I'll go back later"
"Is everything well?"
"Yeah, just there's someone I must meet" she handed him her sword "I won't need this for the moment"
"Understood, be careful"
Maybe leather boots, leather pants and a white blouse wasn't the proper attire to meet elven royalty, but we'll she had just been training when called so the woman just took a breath before walking the last steps.
It was a hall of the sorts, in the center, was a pedestal, Leanna could feel energy coming from it, almost like static. She went closer, the lines on her forearms started to glow, they were more clear now, the intricate design made of vines was beautiful.
"I remember you from my dream, you spoke to me"
"Yes I did"
The brunette turned around, it was the first time she saw Lady Galadriel, beautiful was an understatement, she didn't even seem real, Leanna was certain that her face would be impossible to draw trying to do so would be enough to drive the greatest pintor to madness.
"You saw too" Leanna's eyes darkened along with her voice, her mind was a dark place, she knew that better than anyone else and spent huge efforts in hiding that truth from others, yet the elven woman in front of her knew it all.
"Your burdens are only yours to bare, I will not tell them to others that choice is only yours. You were however able to share a part of it with the son of Thraundill"
It took Leanna a moment to realize who she was talking about. Yes she had confided in Legolas, he was her friend, he always looked at her almost as if he could really see her it was at the same time reassuring and terrifying. Strangely enough, the fact that Galadriel was aware of her conversation with Legolas seemed absolutely normal.
"Will you tell me about this?" the young woman extended her arms.
"It has been a very long time since I last seen this markings"
"They have something to do with those memories, the ones that aren't mine"
"So you do not perceive them as such?"
Something similar to sympathy flashed on the elder one's eyes, it was close enough to pity to annoy the brunette.
"Perhaps it would be best if you see for yourself" Galadriel signaled for the pedestal, and Leanna turned towards it.
On top of it was a mirror, the surface was so tranquil that almost seems like glass but at the same time it wasn't.
"You made it" she said, staring to her reflection "it has your magic"
"In deed, this mirror is of my own creation"
"What do you expect me to see?"
"I am also curious, the wandering people left this shores far too long ago and yet you appear carrying their arts"
"The wandering people" Leanna didn't ask anymore, and instead looked at the clear surface, waves appeared in it, altering her reflection.
There was caos, fire and blood were ravaging the lands, her companions fighting and dying. She was fighting alongside them, at first struggling but eventually a coldness had settled in her eyes one that turned into bloodlust.
The woman in the mirror was a ruthless assassin, a weapon, and was intoxicated in all the blood and adrenaline. The image overlapped with a teenage version of herself, with a broken lip and bloody knuckles, smirking, mocking the pathetic ass that had tried to harass her and was turned into a whining mess in the floor.
The image changed, there was a door, like the one in Moria, but a pair of wolves were howling at a full moon, and this door was made of wood, carved in a tree. It was half covered by spiderwebs, and she could almost hear the sounds made by giant insects.
Someone was waiting for her on the other side of that door, calling her.
So many images appeared then that made her dizzy, different times, different people, past present, it was all mingled together, all the strange dreams she had been having her entire life, all of them were memories.
The picture changed, and she saw herself embracing him, the orange light of the fire dancing over their skins, lost in each other intoxicated by desire.
And then there was a single image, a completely different place, she and Legolas, one in front of the other, both showings signs of battle, wounds and cuts all over them. Leanna's blades where forgotten on the ground. The prince's expression was so full on pain, he seemed helpless, exhausted and he was holding a sword, pointing it at her chest.
The Leanna in the mirror wasn't afraid, she was already badly wounded, barely standing on her feet. He yelled and she smiled, a tired smile and took a step forward and the sword cut through.
"This is what you wanted me to see?" Leanna took a step back, red drops fell on the floor from where her nails had cut through the skin on her palms "I KNOW what I'm capable of, I know the violence in me, no news there."
"Past and future are mingled together in you, spiraling"
"Those memories, the tree, they are part of me. Aren't they?"
"Your soul has walked this lands, and many others, Leanna, your people carries the souls of your ancestors within yourselves"
"My people? The wandering people? I'm just a human. I'm..."
"You were born on this lands, child, you ran through this forest with your kin".
She couldn't deny it, she had remembered it in the cold mountain, and the sense of familiarity hadn't left her ever since she set a foot on Lothlorien.
"And also died, and the kin you speak of, left, leaving me behind. But why was I reborn in a different world? And why did he called me, here..."
That's right, she had been called, summoned back to Middle Earth, that Eye...
"Galadriel, what use has my soul for him?"
Legolas was unsettled, it was late at night and Leanna had yet to return. She had been different lately, after they talked, the woman had put some distance between them.
She was mindful of her words and actions in front of him, avoiding all alone time between them. Maybe he had meddled too much, what if he had offended her, or hurt her somehow.
He heard steps, she was back.
"Legolas" she seemed surprised, all the sudden her face tienes red and avoided his eyes.
"Leanna, has something happened?"
"Nothing, I'm tired"
She passed by his side and walked away, without another word, he turned wanting to stop her, to say something. But he just couldn't.
ter washing herself and wearing a clean dress, Leanna went back to her friends.
"Aragorn" she called the man, he was sitting a little further, smoking. She sat next to him.
"You seem as if you wish to tell me something"
"Aragorn, I need you to listen to me, it won't take much of your time but there's something you should know" she breathed "I think, the reason I'm here is because the same thing that is looking for the ring, summoned me here"
Aragorn didn't speak, just stared at her.
"I'm not entirely sure why, or how. And... Aragorn I need you to give me your word, if it comes a time when I'm dangerous to you all, you must do what's necessary".
"Leanna, you are our companion, our friend"
"Yes I am, I am now, you are the only one I can ask this from"
"You ask for too much" his tone was severe.
Leanna looked down, the visions shown by the mirror still as clear as when she first saw them. She flinched when a warm hand rested on her head.
"I have watched over you all this time, and I know what you fear. Sometimes even if a warrior leaves from the battlefield the battle follows him. But you are not alone, and you are stronger than you believe little sister"
She gave him a troubled smile.
"Even if this little sister of yours, turns out to be a witch?"
"Well you seem to be quite bewitching" he said with a knowing smile, his voice more relaxed.
She arched a brow, not sure of the meaning of those words"
"That she is in deed" Gimli was approaching them "You have both men and elf under your spell, lass"
"What?"
"Huh, that Boromir has trained more these days than all our time travelling and our poor little prince is about to loose his pretty hair because of the spell" the dwarf mocked.
The blush covered her face, right up to her ears.
"That's not... I didn't..."
"The fools can not even tell they are haunted, so please do not mind them lass, it is quite entertaining to watch"
"Gimli!"
The dwarf laughed, and even Aragorn was holding back a smile.
"Ugh, you guys..."
