I apologize for the lateness of this update. I was extremely busy and didn't get a moment to myself.
Unfortunately the fight scenes are over for awhile (there will be more later.) This chapter is more to explore Laitheryn's past.
Please review and leave constructive critisms if you wish. I like hearing the opinions of my readers. Thanks to those that have reviewed already.
He could not see past the veil of darkness that surrounded him, as if his senses had been rift of him and he had been left idle in their wake. The darkness seemed to be everywhere around him and never seemed to end. Laitheryn likened it to falling into a void in the deepest of nights; when not even the suns' light could reach through. It seemed to be around him, and yet be a part of him at the same moment. Laitheryn had the impression that his body and mind were separate and this darkness was only in the latter.
There was something he should have remembered. Some recent event that had been swept from his mind in the darkness Laitheryn had found himself in. Some grievance, some pain, something had occurred; but what he did not know. But as he fought to recall the incident, the darkness pressed deeper and he surrendered to its call as an unknown agony swept him away and he knew no more of the night that was around him.
It seemed as if he had closed his eyes and then opened them once more, but he was conscious enough to know that more time had passed than that act would allow. Laitheryn expected to see the same gloom that had been around him earlier, but he found himself in a forest; in a memory.
It played out before his eyes, viewed from the child he had been so long ago. Of his first horse, a dark tan coloured animal with soft eyes. He dreamt of their rides with other elflings at his side. Above them towered the majestic branches of deep brown and autumn coloured leaves, just ready to fall. When they did, there would be a celebration; a feast which all would attend.
A rustle in the trees distracted the elflings from their talk and Laitheryn watched as a leaf broke free of its confines and drifted in the soft breeze straight down towards him. He watched, from the child's vision as the leaf fell and was not surprised when a childlike hand reached forward and caught the leaf gently. It was a green leaf.
The other children in his vision came forward to see what he had caught, and Laitheryn recalled the sensation as their own horses neared his until they surrounded him. He sensed their gazes lock on the object he held in his hand. The one his own vision self gazed at. And a child from that memory spoke, her voice echoing in his mind even now.
"How amusing, that you would be the one to catch the last green leaf of the summer."
Laitheryn frowned at her words, as his vision self and the other elflings laughed. He did not understand why that had amused the small group gathered around him, and he equally was confused at his own laughter at her simple words.
The children of the image, Laitheryn first identified them as friends of that child he was. Then their names began to flash through his mind, to quickly for him to catch them all. But he was thankful for the names he did hear from his subconscious.
As he tried to memorize their childish faces, Laitheryn almost gasped at the pain that ran through him, leaving him almost shaking as it passed. The memory faded and another replaced it.
This one involved the horse he had seen just moments prior, in another ride through the deep forest that had once been his home. Only he was riding another horse, not the one Laitheryn identified as his own. The soft tan horse followed obediently in the wake of the other two horses he knew to be there.
It seemed that some time had passed between the first vision and the next. 'Or,' his thoughts continued. 'This memory may have, in fact, occurred before the first vision.'
Laitheryn sensed more than saw the presence of his Nana riding beside the child. Her presence in the vision, and even now, soothed Laitheryns' mind. 'Please look at her.' He prayed to the child he had been. 'I wish to see her again.' He called despite knowing his past self could not hear. 'Please, Valar. Let me see her.'
As if bidden by his silent plea, the child did look over and Laitheryn was granted his longing to see his mothers' face once more. She rode a mottled grey and black horse. She turned her attention over at him, for something he had said to her; her golden curls falling free around her face and glinted in the soft sunlight. He spoke again and her brilliant smile brightened his heart and he and the child smiled in return. Her laugh echoed in his ears, and Laitheryn felt his heavy heart brighten.
He had been tired then, and had leaned back and nestled into the protective embrace of his Ada, content to be held as the distance passed them by. A moment later his Ada's arm tightened around him, securing him where he was. Somehow, Laitheryn had recalled that his Adar had been there, but he still felt a flash of surprise for his presence.
Laitheryn was aware that the child had closed his eyes for the barest of moments, and as the vision darkened by the child's action it did not return. He was surrounded by the dark once more, but it now seemed more forceful than before. As if, somewhere, he had become aware of some pain in the outside world; a pain he did not feel here.
Then it felt as if the darkness spun, twisting him in many directions at once. Laitheyn clung to whatever anchor he could in the spinning darkness, but soon felt like he was being dragged back into its depths. He likened the feeling to one of being blown by a strong wind and having not enough strength to withstand its power.
It seemed the more he fought against the darkness, the more confused his mind became. Laitheryn fought as long as his energy would allow, struggling against the dizziness that threatened to claim him. It seemed only moments later when a burning pressure seemed to erupt from his head, leaving him cold where the pressure did not apply. Laitheryn became aware a moment later that his left arm, back and stomach also pained him greatly. And yet, despite this physical agony he was in, there was another injury that haunted him more.
It was then he became aware of something that seemed to match the steady rhythms of drums near him, and a fleeting impression of being hauled over the shoulder of something. He shuddered internally and his mind blanked once more, and Laitheryn found himself retreating to the darkness.
There seemed to be no distance between his temporary surrender to when he became conscious of another vision.
He stood in a large clearing, where no tree grew. Behind him, in this vision was a large building that cast flickering shadows over his child self and the other elves that stood with him. The trees that were absent from where the child stood, grew normally a short distance away, their shadows becoming darker as the forest deepened.
Ahead of the child, there lay several posts, with large targets embedded on them. On those, Laitheryn noted, that there were several circles each becoming smaller as they neared the center. Laitheryn found himself wondering what was occurring here.
Just as that thought emerged, an answer appeared. The child he was lowered his gaze to a bow he held in little hands. Laitheryns' breath caught in his throat as he beheld the object. It was dark, darker than the Lorien bow he had, and had a golden leaves cast into the pitch wood by skilled hands. It did not escape the elf's notice that the bow was similar in design to the bows the Greenwood elves commonly uses in combat and competitions. 'Ada made that for me.'
Laitheryn was not sure where that thought had emerged from, but did not doubt it was true. That small bow had been a gift from his Ada, but where it was now, he did not know.
The child slowly notched the bow with little hands and just as slowly aimed at the target directly in front of him. 'Archery; of course. Haldir said I showed much promise as an archer. I had wondered why I preferred the bow.'
His younger self released the arrow and both watched as it found its way to the target one across from the one he had aimed it at. Laitheryn felt a flicker of pride for being able to hit something at that tender age, but consternation that it was not the target he had wished.
"I hit it! I hit it, Ada." The child's voice echoed from the vision.
The elfling turned to face the one he addressed as he spoke. 'At least I am contented with that accomplishment as a child. I should not be so hard on myself. I was but a child.'
"Aye, you did. You do well for one so young." His Ada answered.
Laitheryn took that moment to take in the elder elf's appearance. Not much had changed from his first glances at the one that had sired him. He still had flowing golden hair, donned up in small braids just above his ears, and one behind his head, holding the rest of his golden hair out of his face. The elf wore forest green that matched the colour of his eyes exactly. That was something he had not noticed before, despite their similarities in face, their eyes were of different hues.
"I hit the wrong one." The child continued suddenly, breaking Laitheryn's concentration off his Ada.
'Apparently not much has differed between myself and that child. That trait has seemed to have passed through without problem.' He continued musing.
"Aye. But you, at least, hit one of them." The elder elf countered.
This did not seem to work, as the elfling he had been, seemed to pull further into the pout that had been threatening to appear. Laitheryn saw the laughter in his Ada's eyes and knew now that elf had humoured him.
"As you grow, you will become better. With practice, Penneth, your shot will improve. Have patience, ion – nin."
That vision faded just after those words. But Laitheryn could not help the pleasure he felt at his Ada's words and the affection behind them. Those words alone gave him hope, and he reaffirmed he would not fail.
Then he shuddered as if touched by a cold hand. Laitheryn frowned, becoming aware that something had brushed his forehead. In response a flash of agony erupted from that area. The darkness seemed to thin, for the barest of moments and Laitheryn struggled once more to be rid of this dark world. Without warning the pain returned and Laitheryn found himself retreating back into the now welcoming darkness.
The cold touch came again, as if trying to force his mind and body to reconnect. Laitheryn knew that he was probably unconscious, only awake partially. His consciousness was dimmed, allowing for his subconscious (the holder of his past) free reign. Without the controls he had cast over himself, his memories were beginning to emerge, but he had yet to hear his name.
Something wet touched his forehead once more and Laitheryn shuddered and wished he was conscious enough to tell the being to desist its attempts to retrieve him of this realm. But there was something of the liquid touching his face that brought a memory to the surface. And as if bidden to recall that event, his mind brought it forth.
This memory was not as pleasant as the first had been, it left him shivering and cold just as it began.
He was running, and at first that was all Laitheryn knew. Laitheryn could sense the flickers of the trees that he passed and dodged to gain distance. He was aware of the quick footsteps echoing the rapid beating of the small child's heart. The child's gaze was locked on the ground, as he ran; as if to avoid tripping over unseen roots and bramble. He could hear his child self whimper as the desperate flight continued. Something had happened. Something horrible had happened, and even now Laitheryn could sense the trauma of that event.
The child's gaze filled with salty tears, and they coursed freely down his small face as he ran. This was not a game, something pursued him; something he feared greatly but could not place.
The child was afraid, terrified even. That description came closer to the amount of panic that Laitheryn felt drifting from the little being. Whatever followed in the wake of the elfling was clearly some great evil. For the child's fear seemed to have affected him, in the present. Laitheryn felt his own heart quicken in response to his past self's plight.
The little golden haired elfling cast a desperate glance behind him as the chase continued. Laitheryn sensed the motion from the trees above them, at the same moment as the child did. Something came from the trees, and even in the vision Laitheryn could hear their calls, and their attempts to warn the elfling of the great danger that followed.
But his past self was too scared to respond and with another heart wrenching whimper he changed direction. The rivets of tears that came from the little one's eyes flickered off his face at the turn and now streaked behind them. From the corner of the elfling's eyes, Laitheryn caught the sight of something dark pounce from the trees where he had been just moments before. 'A spider.'
This time, Laitheryn was sure he had whimpered at the same moment as the child had, but could not be sure. He heard the hiss come from the creature that had landed and knew that it had scaled another tree in pursuit of its intended victim.
The deadly game of hunter and prey continued, with the frightened child. Laitheryn heard the whispered Nana that brushed past the golden elflings lips, and could not explain the grief that boiled up from his soul at that. Surely he had just been separated from his family in the forest and they had not been able to aid him. But in his soul, Laitheryn knew that was not the answer, and something worse had transpired instead.
There was a new panic rising from the child. And Laitheryn realized that the spider had vanished once more from view and could not be tracked in the trees. He continued to run for his life, away from the fearsome predator that haunted his steps. Dimly near him, Laitheryn could hear the whisperings of a river ahead of him, but wondered if his mind did not imagine the sounds in the panic.
Suddenly during the flight something changed, a great amount of pressure descended from the trees. The child, caught underneath the spiders' strike was sent flying due to the extra weight added to him, and he lost grip on the small bow he held.
Laitheryn had not realized that his child self had that bow in hand as he ran and was surprised to see it skidding away from him. He saw the child's desperate gaze lock on where the weapon landed, hidden in the shadow of a young group of trees, to far to reach.
The spider a top of the child, hissed in satisfaction; ignoring its captives struggles and the cries that emitted from his lips. It seemed only seconds before a great pain erupted from Laitheryns' back, and the elf likened it to being pierced by a sharp sword. But no sword he had encountered stung as painfully as that wound had.
The spider had bitten him, sending a dose of its vile toxins into his blood. Laitheryn was not sure if he was actually feeling the pain his past self had felt at the foul wound, or just recalling it. Either way it was incredibly painful; Laitheryn was extremely lucky that the spiders bite had not been strong enough to kill him.
Laitheryn could feel the little one's strength weakening as the burning pain emitting from the bite continued. It felt as if hot fire had been applied under his skin and left to sit there. Worse, Laitheryn recalled while watching this scene play out was; the pain and the fiery sensation spread from the initial location of the attack and began to consume the rest of his body. Almost immediately the heat of the bite seemed to have warmed his body past what he was comfortable with.
It was in that moment that the elfling laid still, as if giving up in his struggles with the spider. The elder elf knew what his past had thought at that moment, let the spider think it has won and then fight back. Surely enough the spider hissed in pleasure that its prey had finally stayed still.
Laitheryn recalled his panic as he listened to the insects' hiss, and the elflings' battle over his fear to not react too soon. The spider gave another hideous sound to express its satisfaction and Laitheryn sensed its intent to sting him once more. A second sting would have surely killed him; and Laitheryn was surprised that he survived the first.
The child lay still no longer and struck out when the creature was least expecting a counter attack. As its defences lowered against an attack, the golden haired elfling lashed out, kicking upwards with as much force as he could have mustered at that moment. The child's aim was true, and the hit was strong enough and came unexpected. The insect flew upwards, towards the trees it had descended from when it pounced, and off his small form. Laitheryn heard the spider fall somewhere behind the child he had been.
With the knowledge he had attained since that point, and hindsight in Laitheryns' favour; he knew the blow did more than dislodge the insect from his back. He had learned from the Greenwood representative that the spiders had one weakness, one they guarded most fiercely. Their stomachs were sensitive and could they be reached; it would cause great pain or death if hit by enough force. Unfortunately for the child he had been, the kick neither had the force nor the power to end the insects' life; but it would slow his attacker down.
The spider had fallen backwards and landed harshly on the forest floor due to his past self's strike. Not a second after the fall the creature hissed in anger as its brain interpreted the pain caused to it by its prey. Either it was strength or stubbornness alone that made the child continue; whichever it happened to be it was enough to draw the elfling up to his feet. Laitheryn recalled the agony that erupted from the bite as the elfling struggled to his feet and took clumsy steps in direction of the promised river.
The uncertain steps continued, as the child moved through the intervening forest. As the golden haired elfling continued in his slow race to the waters edge, Laitheryn could remember the burning in his body rising as he moved. The fever had set in, as the toxins continued to assault his body; the faster he moved the quicker the toxins would render him unconscious and at the mercy of the recovering spider.
Whatever will possessed the little one did not wane, as the river came closer in view. Laitheryn sensed the elfling place all of his concentration into reaching its banks. As the child stumbled on, in agony, the spider recovered from the attack and began to trace him once more. The small elfling seemed to sense the spider too, and tried to pick up the pace he was forced to maintain at the pursuit.
It would have been over in moments after the spider recovered. But by some luck, or by the will of the Valar, his past self's last defence seemed to have wounded the spider too for it did not muster the speed they were known for when following the elfling.
Sensing the movement the child had risked a glance behind, so close to his goal. The motion made his head spin, as he turned back to the deep waters. Unconsciousness was quickly catching up with the child, and it would not be long until he lost the battle.
The chase continued, and Laitheryn could feel the elfling's panic beginning to fade as the poisons began to take hold, and numbing his mind to all that had occurred. Laitheryn remembered that he had still felt the agony of the bite and the burning sensation, but now it seemed less painful than before. Without his control, the elflings eyes drifted shut, only to be forced open once more.
The more he struggled to the river, the harder his struggles were becoming. It had seemed, at the time; that even the lifting of one foot was a great chore and required much energy. It was as if his weight had been multiplied greatly, and his strength reduced, as if a great weight had been attached to him; with the intent to pull him down with every foot fall.
Laitheryn knew at that moment that his eyes were failing him, having not noticed until almost too late that a rock lay in his path. A mistake, even a stumble, could not have been made, for it would have cost his life. If he had fallen at that moment, Laitheryn doubted he would haveregained his feet.
The spider was closing, beginning to recover from the recent attack. If he fell, the spider would pounce once more and sting him until he could not fight back.
Somehow he made it past the rock, without missing the pace he had set and continued, with heavy feet to the waters edge. There was a small hill before the water, one that led into the depths. It was then that Laitheryn knew that the spider was nearly upon him, just seconds away from pouncing. He sensed the elfling panic further at the momentary attack and finally he fell.
Under infirm ground the child managed to dodge the next strike of the insect. Instead the ground gave way further and the helpless child rolled down the small escarpment and out of harms way. Laitheryn could remember the shocking fall and the equally shocking introduction to the cool water to his fevered body. The elfling did not have the strength to evade the rivers current and was swept away.
Laitheryn fought, in the vision, and with the present darkness that surrounded him like the cold waters; neither had the will to give in. The child was driven under the deep water by his failing strength; he could not count the number of times he fought for the surface and was only rewarded with one precious gulp of air before the water took him once more. As the little elfling fought for the surface, struggling through the pressures of the welcome embrace of unconsciousness and towards life, Laitheryn found himself fighting the darkness that was around him.
There was great pain, but as in the past and so true now, Laitheryn would not be defeated by pain alone. If the child he had been could have survived both the bite and the river's fury, he too could survive whatever had occurred both in the past as well as the present.
The small one continued with the battle over the river and just as it seemed most helpless the elfling found the surface. As the child gained what he sought and precious air, Laitheryn found the vision wavering and instead of water or the darkness he found himself staring into an intense light instead.