47 Years ago...
"My lord, she still refuses to change out of those dusty old clothes…" I heard my chambermaid murmur to someone outside of my quarters.
"Go tell the seamstress to make some clothes similar to the ones she's wearing." Glorfindel ordered, I heard the servant shuffle away before a knock came at the door. I felt the edge of the owl pendant in my hands that Glorfindel had given back to me.
"Come in." I said, the door opened slowly and Glorfindel stepped inside.
"How are you this morning Shyra?" he asked, I shrugged before nodding twice. My head was still tilted downward to my talisman. Glorfindel walked toward the balcony of my chamber, the gentle breeze blew in the room.
"It is a beautiful morning…" he said, I stopped studying the pendant with my fingers and tucked it into my pocket.
"I didn't notice…" I replied dryly back.
"Let us go for a walk." he said soothingly, I frowned.
"Are you going to hold my hand like a child and drag me around like a dog?" The Elf took a few steps toward me.
"Follow the bell." Glorfindel replied, now I was just confused. Until the sound of a soft bell rang in front of me. I tilted my head toward the sound.
"Come." The bell, along with Glorfindel's footsteps moved to the other side of the room and the sound of the door opening made me tilt my head toward the sounds. I slowly stood up and faced the direction in which the sounds had come from. I began to walk forward and Glorfindel rang the bell again. I headed toward the sound before I felt a hand on my left arm.
"If you need me to direct you better just say the word." he said, I nodded in reply and felt the hand drift away from my arm.
The bell jingled some more as Glorfindel walked away and I followed the sound. As we walked down the hall that led to my room I could feel eyes watching us. From what I could hear, Glorfindel was only a few paces in front of me. The bell suddenly stopped ringing and I stopped dead in my tracks. I felt a gentle hand take mine and I tilted my head upward just a little.
"Let me help you down the stairs." he said, I frowned and yanked my hand away.
"You should know by now that I can do this by myself." I scolded, I heard Glorfindel scoff.
"Must you be so stubborn?"
"Yes!" I snapped back and took one step forward, feeling the ground drop a little to the first stair. I stuck out my arms to balance myself as I took another step. I couldn't hear Glorfindel's bell now and it was making me a little nervous but I wasn't going to show that. I am really as stubborn as they get…
"Careful." Glorfindel remarked, I waved my hand back at him.
"Yes, yes I know!" I scolded, that was when I lost my balance and fell down the stairs...again. I rolled down maybe three stairs before reaching the ground. I writhed in pain on my side for a few seconds til I rolled on my back.
"Are you alright?" Glorfindel asked, I groaned and placed the palm of my hand over my eyes. I heard Glorfindel kneel down on one knee and I could feel him leaning over me.
"No." I replied drying.
"Do you need help?"
"Have you been listening? I am starting to think that I am not the only stubborn one here." I shot back, something told me Glorfindel was smiling. The bell rang again and I tilted my head toward the sound.
"Is this helping?" he asked, I huffed and turned my head away after I sat up.
"Yes." I said, I have way too much pride.
"Good, we will go for walks every day now, yes?" he asked, I sighed and nodded slowly before he placed his hand on my head. My eyes widened in surprise, the only one I let do that was my father. This gesture made me miss him more. I wanted to pull away but my body stood still and rigid for a few seconds before feeling his hand slowly smooth the red hair on my head gently.
"I would like that…" I replied softly, Glorfindel chuckled before removing his hand from my head. The sudden sound of thundering hooves came into my ear shot and I tilted my head toward the sound.
"Elladan and Elrohir have returned." Glorfindel murmured.
"Come, let us greet them." I stood up and followed the ringing of the soft bell Glorfindel carried closer to the Elf party.
When the bell stopped I stopped and listened to the sounds of Elves dismounting, horses snorting, the clinging of bits and the squeaking of saddles. Glorfindel began speaking elvish to the Elf party in which they replied with more words I couldn't understand.
"Shyra?!" A voice came from in front of me, I tilted my head up a little to make it look as if I was looking at them. Two pairs of footsteps approached me.
"Elladan, Elrohir?" I asked, a stillness came over us for a few seconds. I could tell they were gazing at my eyes. Useless eyes.
"Shyra...you are-"
"Blind." I finished, then brought my hand up close to my face and waved it in front of my eyes that didn't blink.
"I was going to say alive…" Elrohir said, I shrugged a little.
"It takes a lot to get rid of a hard headed woman apparently…" I replied.
"We heard of what happened, and we are very sorry for your loss." Elrohir said, I nodded and tilted my head down toward the ground.
"As am I…" I mumbled under my breath, after all, this was my fault. If I had stopped the Orc from slaying my father, if I had listened to my gut, telling me Orcs were on the ridge then maybe none of this would have happened…
