I'm Sorry for the Wait, but I have a perfectly good explanation! …
…okay, maybe I don't!
I'm so sorry, and if you want to stab me with pitchforks and watch my body burn in fire, I don't blame you. I hate myself. It's not just school, though. I've had massive writers block because I know what I'm going to write, I just don't know how I'm going to write it.
And, I can't believe I've got 24 reviews! Thank you all so much for all the reviews, it really does mean a lot! Thanks to everyone for all your continued support!
This Chapter Will mainly be a Filler, just because we are nearing the end of the First Book. There will be some essential parts but nothing major. Sorry!
PS: There is a link at the bottom of my profile that sends you straight to my DeviantART Gallery. You can see a Picture of Rosalie there.
PSS: They song used for the beginning of this chapter is Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Emily Browning
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If I Die Young
Chapter 7
The Lady Galadriel
…Sweet dreams are made of this…
…Who am I to disagree…
…Travel the World and the Seven Seas…
…Everybody's looking for something…
…Some of them want to use you…
…Some of them want to get used by you…
…Some of them want to abuse you…
…Some of them want to be abused…
…Sweet dreams are made of this…
…Who am I to disagree?...
…Travel the World and the Seven Seas…
…Everybody's looking for something…
…Some of them want to use you…
…Some of them want to get used by you…
…Some of them want to abuse you…
…Some of them want to be abused…
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Aragorn nearly had a heart attack when he saw Rosalie collapsed. The Group had been moving albeit slowly; still grieving over Gandalf's Death, but they were at least making progress. Rosalie had been in the middle of the group and had been running as fast as everyone else, until her run turned into jog, a slow walk, then she fell. Boromir had reached her first and, turning her over, was shocked to see crimson blood running down his fingers. Catching everyone's attention, he yelled,
"Rosalie is wounded!"
At this, Aragorn and Frodo knelt beside him, the others not far behind, everyone staring worriedly at the pale girl. Frodo was shocked; Rosalie must have hid the pain well for him not to notice.
"How…?" Aragorn trailed off, lifting the end of the shirt gingerly to see two mysterious symbols, seemingly cut through the Mage's pale skin. The blood was quickly flowing and, without seconds to lose, the Ranger fumbled through his pack for bandages. In the meantime, everyone stared at the symbols in worry and confusion. None had seen how it happened and they would have had to have oblivious to not see them before. Legolas, however, looked on with a strange expression on his face, almost an understanding one, crossed with worry, like the others.
The wound was quickly dressed and, without a word, Aragorn scooped the frail girl up with little to no effort. Within seconds the group continued running towards the Woods of Lothlorien. Despite the heavy bandages, Rosalie's wounds still bled heavily, worrying the Ranger. They couldn't lose her. He couldn't lose her. Not so quickly after Gandalf. Aragorn had quickly become fond of the small girl. She had obviously thought of Gandalf as a father-figure, and the Ranger didn't know what kinds of grief she would be going through.
After a while, the witch awoke sharply, murmuring in a strange language. Her once-crystal-white eyes were a charcoal black, fear flashing through them. After breathing heavily for a few seconds, her eyes closed once more, her body going limp…
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Aragorn held onto Rosalie tightly, his worry for the young girl growing as they were led into Lothlorien. Within seconds the wound was in need of fresh bandages, ruby red blood seeping through the others. The Witch was breathing raggedly, words muttered in-between breaths and she was as cold as the snow she detested. In short, she was getting worse and Aragorn was getting scared.
The group was met by Lord Celeborn and his wife; Lady Galadriel. The beautiful woman seemed to float towards them, worry crossing her face when she saw the blood-soaked girl. She turned to The Ranger and said in a melodic voice,
"Bring her to me, Aragorn."
He followed wordlessly; slightly confused at the help Lady Galadriel was giving to the dying girl. Most elves don't trust humans and when one does it is a rare case indeed. The two walked through a long hallway, Rosalie's eyes fluttering as she dreamt, her skin going deathly cold. They were losing her, Aragorn could tell. In merely minutes the life would ebb away from her completely, leaving only a husk as remembrance…
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"Try again."
The exhausted mage gave another deep sigh, tugging at the blindfold around her eyes.
"But Gandalf I can't with this stupid blindfold on!" She yelled, throwing her long staff to the concrete floor in exasperation.
"You will learn how to defend yourself, Rosalie."
At this, the girl's shoulders slumped and a frown spread on her face. If her eyes were visible, Gandalf was sure that they'd be a blood red in annoyance and anger.
"You sound like Wynne…" She grumbled, crossing her arms and legs as she sat on the rough floor.
Gandalf smiled at the girl's mention of her grandmother figure; Wynne. Sitting next to the huffing girl, he said,
"You miss them, don't you?" He didn't expect and answer. He already knew what she was going to say.
"Just a little bit…" She grumbled, still annoyed at the wizard and his teachings.
"We shall see them again soon, Rosalie. I Promise."
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The Fellowship was relieved when Aragorn came back with news of Rosalie's condition. The severe bleeding had stopped and the wounds were patched up, though there would be slight scarring. Confusion and Worry was evident, however, when Lady Galadriel appeared, asking to talk to the hobbit in private. Sam was the first to ask about the wounded girl.
"My Lady? How did Rosalie get hurt like that?"
The beautiful woman simply continued walking, appearing to think about the question.
"Just how much do you know about Rosalie?"
The hobbits seemed to think about this before Merry gave an answer.
"Only Bits and Pieces, she doesn't know a lot herself."
"A Wise answer." Lady Galadriel smiled softly at them, thinking of the recovering girl.
"The mysterious wounds were caused by a curse she inflicted on herself."
This shocked the rest of the group into silence, the un-answered question hanging in the air. Frodo stuttered a bit before asking the question everyone was thinking.
"H-how?"
"She was using a very painful curse, painful for both the witch and the target. When she was finishing the curse, two symbols finished carving into her skin. She knows what happens when she uses the interficiens curse and I am very disappointed that she used it without my permission." Lady Galadriel said a frown appearing.
Continuing, she re-assured the Hobbits,
"She will be fine, though, and will wake in a few hours." At this, the hobbits relaxed, knowing that their friend will be okay.
"The loss of her Mentor shall be a heavy burden for her to face, and I expect you gentlemen to help her through it." The Golden Lady said with a look to the hobbits standing before her.
Pippin, Merry and Sam all nodded and gave quick answers though Frodo stared into space, worry for the girl settling in. If she had used that curse twice now to help the group, would she die protecting them later?…
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It wasn't long before Rosalie awoke, her head aching and her patched wounds once again bleeding. Everyone visited and even through the pain of losing her mentor, the young girl gave a soft smile to each of them.
When the subject of her wounds was brought up, however, she went silent. Her eyes were blank and, for once, she didn't talk.
It worried them for a while, as the hobbits were used to the witch telling them everything, this one secret confusing them.
It was one night that she decided that enough was enough so she skilfully crept outside. Noticing some late night elves wandering about, she took to the trees. Thankfully she was still in her own clothes so the climb only caused a sharp pain to her stomach.
She cast her silvery-white eyes upwards and gasped at the beauty of the stars, glittering in the ebony sky, lighting her face with an ivory glow.
Swinging her legs over a rather thick branch, she lightly grunted when her stomach wounds protested angrily, Shadra joining in.
"This is hardly the time to be Reminiscing, Child."
Rosalie merely huffed at the spirit, giving a mental slap, finally shutting the shadowy woman up.
"Do you never stay where you're told?"
The mage's crystal eyes snapped towards where the masculine voice came from.
Silence fell.
"I'll take that as a no, then?"
This summoned a small smile from the broken girl and within seconds the Ranger was up in the tree with her.
"I'm sorry, Aragorn."
This startled the man out of words, his mouth open in a silent question, eyebrows raised. When he finally found his voice it was filled with concern for the small girl.
"Whatever for?"
She looked at him then, eyes filled with anguish. The girl was by no means old but her eyes held millions of emotions making them look old, wizened even.
"When I tried to stop Gandalf… I hurt your hand, didn't I?"
Aragorn didn't answer for quite a while. He then took her hand in his lightly bandaged one and gave it a little squeeze, showing he forgave her for the mistake.
This small action sent her over the edge, however, and tears spilled freely from her tired eyes as she gave a quiet sob, falling against the Ranger's back as he murmured no coherently to calm her.
He simply held her for who-knows-how-long, before her crying stopped and she fell limp against him, her eyes finally drooping.
They went statue still, except from the girl's occasional rock back and forth and if you didn't know any better you could say they were even deep asleep. They weren't though. They just held each other, the stars twinkling above them as the events of the past few weeks unfolded before them…
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The morning after, Rosalie woke once again with aching bones. Opening her bleary eyes, she saw she was back in the bed that Lady Galadriel and some other elves had stitched her wounds in. Subconsciously she traced the scars along her stomach and gave a slight sigh. She smiled, however, when she realized that Aragorn must have brought her.
Hearing Sam's voice outside with Merry and Pippin laughing a second after, she stood up and began to put on parts of her leather armour. Slipping her metal gauntlets on she smiled at the familiarity of simply watching the hidden blade slip out from its sheath.
She was about to walk out when something in the corner of the room caught her eye. She gave a silent gasp when she saw the ribbon.
The Mage slowly walked towards it, her feet not making a sound as she seemingly glided towards the silk ribbon. She picked it up gingerly and with a moments hesitation, tied it around her eyes. It was only when she was sure she couldn't see a thing that the witch summoned a spell.
Blades materialized around the witch and, in a split second, flew towards her.
Without a sound, the girl dodged 4 bladed simultaneously before putting up a magical barrier to block the next two.
A shuddering breath came from Rosalie as she released the barrier and remembered the last time she dodged without sight. Shadra chuckled darkly in the Mage's mind and suggested that she keep on the blindfold for as long as possible.
Despite the obvious humour in the spirit's voice, Rosalie thought about it. There was always the possibility of an accident but… it was exhilarating…
When a minute passed, the witch made her decision and walked out of the room.