Kate felt a strong shove and heard an explosion, before she knew she was hit. It was strange, but there was no pain…no sensation at all…she just looked down and laughed in shock to see that her feet and legs were doing a curious sort of dance about five feet from her body.
She tried to move and found that she was weighted down, covered by a grotesque being that smelled worse than death itself. Its yellow eyes open to a vacant stare, and its rotted mouth open in a silent eternal scream…
Light seemed to explode around her and her body began to jerk involuntarily at the pain that was coursing through her back. She began to scream as the pain overwhelmed her senses and futilely began trying to push or pull away from him. She didn't care where she went, she just needed to get away. Away from the agony that seemed to drown her.
Kate heard a voice calling to her, telling her to return to the light. Slowly she grappled with the memories until she recognized Lord Elrond's voice. "Lasto beth nin, Kate. You must leave this place and come home. Come back the light, child. It is a dream. You are safe now."
"Come back to the light, child. It is a dream. You are safe now," he soothed. With a sigh of relief, he watched as the light came back to her eyes. Although he had touched her mind before to pull her out of these nightmares, he had never seen the horror of her death as he just witnessed it. Fighting his own inner turmoil from entering the shadow world, he took her by the hand and helped her from bed.
"Come penneth. We should get some fresh air and talk of these dreams."
Erestor was exhausted. For the past few months, he had worked with Lord Elrond, both night and day, to establish security for the new safe haven; organizing patrols, assigning squad leaders, lieutenants, and commanders, overseeing the training and conditioning for the elves, and delineating patrol areas and rotation schedules. Cirdan had also sent word that a contingency of elves with a renowned elven warrior would be arriving within a fortnight to settle into Imladris. These preparations were enough for three elves to accomplish, but there simply weren't enough leaders with experience to accomplish this, so it fell to him and Lord Elrond, alone.
With all of the aforementioned duties, Erestor also supervised the masons as they built the supportive structures and retaining walls. This was the curse and legacy of his Noldor father, the ability to work with and understand the properties of stone. Earlier in the evening, he took some time to record the day's progress and work on the plans for the irrigation channels under the house. Lord Elrond had devised a new system of running water and sanitation in the house, and the creation of the plans rested with Erestor.
He didn't know when reverie came upon him, but he did know when it was interrupted.
"Erestor. Erestor! Erestor, you must wake. We have little time," a voice called urgently.
Erestor opened his eyes to see a very tall male elf – one that seemed familiar, though he did not know him. His mind struggled to understand his surroundings and what this being was saying to him.
"Erestor, it is time you learned of your family. Wake child, for your sister needs you."
Erestor peered at this elf and felt his irritation rise. "Who are you, and why do you speak of my sister and family?" he questioned. "They are long dead."
The tall being looked down at Erestor and smiled serenely. "Peace child. I am Manwe, and it is time that you learned the truth…"
Erestor woke in a cold sweat. His heart was racing at the Vala's story; and not just any Vala had chosen to come to him, either, but the leader of the Valar. His mind screamed in shock at the truth that his father was not dead, and that he had a younger sister. Kate. The elfling that nearly died protecting him. The elfling that had been adopted by all of the elves in Imladris. The Kate that would bring him lunch and mended his robe. She was only twenty two summers, it was inconceivable that she could be his sister; but Manwe would not lie. Erestor had been little more than an elfling himself when his family had died, and yet he had a sister that was an elfling. An elfling that had lived in the future of men. The Fifth Age of Men. It was inconceivable to him.
He cried as he had seen her sacrifice and death. Manwe had shown him the terrible future she came from. An elfling should not have seen such a war, let alone been trained or conscripted to serve in it. Elflings should not have their innocence taken in such a fashion. The elves that had fought in the Battle of the Alliance had more honor than to involve elflings. Both Ellyth and elflings were to be cherished and protected, not dredged to a battlefield filled with fear, rage, hate, suffering, and death.
He was angry, so very angry that his father could abandon him. He was still alive in this future Arda. Why had he NEVER tried to find him and raise his son – choosing to let others raise him? How could his father betray his family and his Amme by taking another woman to wife. How could he be so selfish to create another child in such a terrible world as Manwe had shown?
He was numb, he had a sister. A peredhel. She would not hold the gift of man. Manwe told him that she would be graced with the life of the firstborn. His sister was preordained, but ever born into his family due to his father's choices. She had an elven Fea, but the Hroa of a peredhel. It was too much to fathom that she had been born in the wrong time.
He was overjoyed, he had a sister. One who was of his blood. He was no longer alone in Arda.
He was confused. His sister, Kate, was an enigma. She showed maturity far beyond her years, but physically aged in the manner of elves. She was oh, so young, in their eyes – but she had the wisdom and experience of an ellyth who had reached her majority. It was so confusing.
Manwe's caution had resonated within his Fea. The Vala had told him that none were to know, except for the Lord of Imladris. Erestor was to help his sister grow into her destiny, but never reveal to any others what their relationship was. It would change the course of Arda's future, her history, if he did. Only when they sailed for Valinor could they reveal their secret, if they chose.
He felt all of his emotions coalesce into a single emotion. Love. He would protect her. He would be the brother that fate had robbed him of being so long ago.
Gathering his tunic and leggings, he dressed quickly. Erestor had one purpose of mind as he sought out Lord Elrond. His sister.
Kate was sitting in the great hall before the fire, nursing a cup of herbal tea. The memory of her death still lingered in the form of residual pain in her joints, and Lord Elrond knew which herbs would work best. Although he was liberal with the honey, she could still taste the sedative that laced the drink. She was grateful that he understood, and sipped it slowly.
They sat in companionable silence for a time, listening to the sounds of the night, then they began to talk of her dreams and her life in Arda. Kate shared her hopes, dreams and ambitions from her old world and then reflected upon the losses of these with her death. In this world, she was little more than a child, and she pondered aloud how she could fit into the second life that the Valar had given her. It was nearly an hour later before she felt the presence of her brother. He had stood in the doorway, listening. Erestor did not interrupt them, but when she looked into his eyes, she saw that the truth had been revealed to him.
"You know," she said, quietly.
Erestor rushed forward at her voice and wrapped her in his arms. "You are my sister," he sobbed quietly into her shoulder. "I have a sister…"
Elrond watched the two as they sat clinging to each other, crying softly. He was surprised with Erestor's actions and overwhelmed with the news that they were siblings. This would be an interesting story, but not one to indulge in now. For now, he let the two elves take solace in each other.
Later after Erestor took Kate to her room, the two lords sat and discussed this night's revelation. They spoke of Manwe's directive for secrecy and decided that Erestor would tutor her in the mornings. As she became more proficient in Sindarin, she would begin to work with the healers in the afternoon. Finally, to avoid questions, she would keep her own rooms, but be moved next to Erestor in the private wing of rooms where he and Lord Elrond stayed. They decided to keep joint guardianship over her, but given her affinity to Erestor, they would let those that came to Imladris make the assumption that she was his daughter. As they concluded their meeting, Erestor looked to the Elf Lord.
"If she is agreeable, I would give her a new name tomorrow," he ventured cautiously.
Elrond nodded, "What were you thinking, my friend?"
Encouraged, Erestor continued, "Kate McAdams will become the Lady Sedilwen. I can think of no better name, one that is more fitting, than to be known as the 'loyal elleth'."
