Shards in a Dustpan

by CrackinAndProudOfIt

Third Age, LotR-centric drabbles and vignettes from B2MeM12, feature many genres and characters, from Aragorn toward Caradhras, to Frodo post-Quest, to the tragic past of Denethor, to everything before, behind, and in-between! Very bookverse.

4. Not Asleep

Bingo #: N32

Prompts: "He sees you when you're sleeping"; grey

You didn't understand. Who could blame you? You would never have thought that it would come to this; the pallor of death upon your master's face was incomprehensible to you. In my Mirror, you saw only what you wanted.

But here on the rock, beneath the cleft of Torech Ungol, the vision comes to horrendous fulfillment in the grey half-light of the Black Land. All you see is the stillness of his face, its ashen hue, the lividness overcoming his complexion, and the glimpse granted you of your future becomes crystal clear.

"Not asleep, dead," you say, and who am I to correct you? From afar, as I anxiously keep watch over every move of the Ring that was almost mine, all you see is the image in the basin. Neither asleep nor dead: that thought does not even cross your mind, my little gardener.

But you will see, and though foresight may fail all the Wise beneath Mordor's shadows, I know that when you do, the Ringbearer will be in faithful hands.

Quick A/N:

A big thank you to my anonymous reviewers Lainie and yolanda! Even though you don't (yet?) have accounts, your feedback still means a lot to me. :D

To yolanda: Thanks for the request! All of these were written back in March, but fortunately- well, you be the judge of that- I do have one about Faramir and Éowyn. However, I decided against posting it on account of severe dislike for it... If you'd still like to see it, though, shoot me another review, and I'll put it up next update. :) Thanks so much!