(Chapter Eight)
Siladhiel laid out on the limb of the tree looking up into the starry sky waiting for Frodo to return. It had been a few days since they arrived in Lorthlorien and Frodo was speaking with Galadriel. She knew from experience that he would be upset knowing the way she found her way into the minds of her friends. It angered her more than anything. Still, these three days have done nothing to quill the darkness fighting to consume her. She knew what was needed and it was time, to tell the truth. Legolas was close, almost too close just watching out for her as well as the others.
"Frodo" She whispered not taking her eyes off the sky sensing his return
"Quenya" Frodo said in fright eyes filled with fear at the images he had seen
"Tell me what you saw" She said softly gracefully landing before him and placing a hand on his face looking him over "Do not let them way heavy on your heart"
"I saw fire, Sauron winning, the shire burning" Frodo said with tears in his eyes touching the ring hidden underneath his clothes.
"Frodo" She said softly taking a breath and motioning for him to sit next to her as she sat on the ground in the clearing "The future is always changing; those things serve as nothing more than motivation. We will not fail"
"How can you be so sure?" Frodo said seriously "He is too strong"
"Frodo look up" She commanded softly, and he looked up "For my entire life, the stars served as the greatest reminder that anyone can gain"
"What do you mean?" He questioned in confusion looking at her
"Darkness is a lot evil, but the light is like hope" She said offering him a small smile remembering her father's words from so long ago 'One must always remember that no matter how dark it is, shadows cannot and will not ever exist where there is light"
Frodo's eyes went wide at the statement "Look into my eyes Frodo" She commanded as she kneeled before him "Sauron is as evil as one can get and is the darkness of night but know this and remember it"
Frodo looked into her eyes as if being drawn in and was surprised as his heart lightened "When all else fails, when darkness seems to have won" Siladhiel whispered sharply pushing her soul out releasing it for the first time in years
"I will not fail to be the light to drive him back, I have and will always be the rising sun" Siladhiel said with conviction that pulse through the air and into Frodo driving out the darkness "I will not fail"
Frodo broke down at her final words knowing she meant so much more. She wouldn't fail the world or her people. She wouldn't fail the fellowship. She wouldn't fail to see the end of Sauron. But most importantly, she would not fail to see him home. He felt her draw him into her arms and held him close as he cried for everything that has happened and fear of the unknown they were facing. He cried because she allowed him too without judgement.
"What did Sauron do to you?" Frodo questioned after he had calmed knowing it was the one question everyone wanted to ask
"You wish to know my past with Sauron?" She questioned glancing at the hobbit
"No one seems to know why you fight, just that you do" Frodo stated looking at her gently "You don't have to tell me if don't wish to"
"It's okay" Siladhiel said placing a hand on his shoulder "In all honestly, I was born to fight a great darkness. My mother had a vision when I was born and when my father brought me to this land to form Lindon he knew as well. He trained me personally from a very young age to fight and I always could see things differently than most. I knew Sauron was the darkness from the moment I met him"
"What do you mean?" Frodo questioned looking at her in confusion
"I have been fighting him long before he was even known as Sauron back when he was Annatar" Siladhiel said softly knowing the others were listening as well "I met him in Lindon before I even came of age and knew he carried darkness in him. I warned my father and he immediately knew it as well. We fought him but somehow, he always managed to barely survive. This time I will not allow that to happen"
"Everyone says that you lost the most" Frodo whispered in confusion and she gave him a sad smile
"Not the most, I walked with my life. Though at the time I wished I had died instead of what I did lose in the final battle" She explained shocking him "I would have given anything in that moment"
"You wished to die?" He questioned unable to see her wishing such
"You must understand that the final battle in the war lasted a long time. I was tired and covered in blood after years of fighting. Glorfindel was my closest companion and should he have survived we would have wed. Despite not being a true match, we care deeply for each other" Siladhiel explained feeling shock from the others at the statement, it was carefully hidden from history
"For centuries we courted in the mist of war and depended on each other. I wasn't far away when I saw him approach Sauron and I knew from the look in his eyes that he was going to fade after he couldn't fight off an attack. I can't ever forget the way it felt when his told me that he loved me always. I have spent centuries haunted by that moment, realizing that in all the time I spent with him at my side. I never told him I loved him" Siladhiel explained honestly "and I did love him, despite now knowing that it doesn't compare"
Frodo looked at her with wide eyes and she looked at the others looking at her with pity. She hated that look, she hated being pitied when she at least lived to see this day. She had her promise to destroy Sauron and nothing would stop her. She would see the end of him one way or another.
"I was fighting my way to his body on the ground when Sauron thrust a hand through my father's chest in front of me" She said feeling her begin to shake from the emotions of that moment
"Gil-galad" Frodo whispered, and she nodded in confirmation
"He was the strongest warrior in this world and watching him fall, my father and my hero fall to the ground was pure agony. I tried to stop the bleeding, but he knew what was happening" She said taking a breath "He said he would watch over me always as my mother has. I remember the moment he took his last breath the rage that filled me burned as I picked up his spear and drove it through Sauron's chest as his hand was cut off"
"The day we sent them to sea was the day I started sealing away who I was and turned away from my strength. Piece by piece until I was nothing more than a shadow. Until I was more known as Quenya, the name Glorfindel gave me" She explained gently before looking at Frodo "Sauron wanted one other thing besides the ring"
"What?" He questioned in confusion overwhelm from hearing just a little piece of her story
"Me" She said shocking them again "Since he visited Lindon the first time, he wanted me as his dark queen by force if need be"
"I would never allow that to happen" Legolas said with rage in his eyes burning strongly "Sauron will not have you"
"I know" Siladhiel said with a chuckle "I would never allow that to happen, none of us would allow Sauron to get anything that he wants"
"So, you're a queen?" Pippin questioned causing her laugh to drift over all of them and they smiled in relief
"Technically" She said softly "Though I have not accepted it in my heart. I have spent a lot of time hiding from my past and thus sealing away parts of myself. I didn't notice until the mines that I have weakened myself greatly and lost much in doing so"
"The question is what do you do now?" Aragorn questioned softly, and she smiled at him knowingly
"When the time comes, I shall accept my fate and until them I shall reclaim those parts locked in the memories of the past" She explained softly causing everyone to smile at her "One cannot run from fate forever"
"We shall be at your side" Legolas whispered kneeling before her "I shall be at your side always"
Siladhiel blinked as the promise made from his soul sent a pulse through her strengthening their bond. She smiled at him softly touching his cheek in acceptance. She felt another crack form on her seal and knew it was only a matter of time until her true self was revealed, the child of both Elves and the Valar would raise to take her father's place. She just needed to wait for the sign that told her it was time.
"There is no one worthier to stand at my side and lead me if I shall need it for the rest of my days" She whispered honestly as his eyes widened as her aura wrapped around him sinking into him
It was the first promise she made to him, the first time the bond had been reinforced from her to him. A promise that was as solid as diamond because she just accepted his place at her side. She had knowingly and willingly accepted their connection beginning the next step of their relationship, she accepts his claim to her soul as it was rightfully his to claim. She was his true match and she finally accepted without a doubt that he was hers.
"Did we miss something? Why are the staring at each other like that?" Pippin questioned loudly breaking their moment
"Come Frodo, let us rest our weary minds and souls in the safety of Lorien while able" Siladhiel said softly standing looking at the hobbit
"Quenya" Frodo said causing her to pause "I am sorry you lost much in this war"
Siladhiel blinked at him and smiled softly at him "Thank you Frodo for listening" She said honestly before kneeling before him "Don't feel sorrow for my lost, they live on in me and every action that I make"
"Goodnight Siladhiel" Frodo said softly causing her to smile at the use of her real name
"Goodnight Frodo" She whispered before allowing him to walk off and looked at her Prince "Stay with me"
"Always" He whispered grabbing her hand and kissing her cheek
Siladhiel smiled allowing him to drag her to bed knowing that soon they would continue their journey and she would become the traveler again. Soon she would face the darkness that had chased her for her entire life. Soon the fate of the world would be decided. But for tonight, she was just a Princess in the arms of her Prince.