- - CALINA - -
"Will she wake up soon?" A voice asked from beside her. Though her eyes were still closed, she knew it was Frodo. As she lay there, still silent and unmoving, she could establish that she was resting in one of the most comfortable beds she ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. But her mind was still in such a fog that she was having trouble putting everything together.
From a further distance, she heard another voice answer the Half-ling, "In good time," they said. Oddly enough, this voice was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
Frodo spoke again, "I hope that happens sooner rather than later. Do you suppose she could attend the Council meeting?"
Her thoughts were jumbled, 'Council meeting?' She wondered idly, still trying to clear her mind.
The voice continued, seeming to have moved across the room, "Perhaps."
Frodo sighed, "I have so many things I want to ask her."
She then turned her head and forced her deadened eyelids to open. "Ask away," she murmured. Despite how horribly dry and cracked her voice sounded, her words were humorous.
Calina watched with dazed glee as Frodo's eyes widened. "Calina!" He exclaimed joyously. Without a moment's hesitation, the Hobbit bounded off the chair he'd been sitting in and threw himself at her, hugging her fiercely despite the countless layers of blankets she was wrapped in.
She let out a melodious laugh and hugged him back as the stupor of her extended sleep faded away. Once both of them calmed, she moved to sit up, the Hobbit now sitting contentedly in her lap as he beamed up at her. He seemed right as rain, and was also wearing a fresh set of clothes. She gently clasped her hands around his. "It's good to see you too, Frodo." She said, still smiling widely.
"You'd been asleep for so long! We were all beginning to worry." He claimed. His face then lit up ever further. "I'll go and fetch the others," within seconds, he was halfway across the room, "they'll be so happy to hear you've woken up!" By the time he'd finished speaking, he was already out the door. She couldn't help but laugh again, her expression soft.
With the Ring Bearer gone, Calina let her eyes trail around. The bedroom she found herself in was subtly lavish with deep hardwood furniture and cream-colored stone walls. A bureau stood against the opposite wall and she saw her cloak had been folded neatly and placed on top of it. Beside it was a velvet armchair, her boots and pack beside it. A quaint vanity was not far from the bed and other small pieces of décor accented the room. To top it all off, a magnificent stone archway opened directly to her left and led out onto a balcony, letting daylight pour into the room.
She noticed a figure standing out on the balcony. It was hard to say who they were, for the sheerness of the curtains was enough to distort her view. Though his back was to her, it looked like a man. He was tall, and had long brown hair that fell a great way down his back, and he held himself in a regal manner. His hands were folded neatly behind him, and his clothes looked so elegant that she knew he must've been some form of royalty. A breeze suddenly rustled the curtains and she saw his pointed ears. All curiosity vanished and was replaced with a sense of dread. All of the pieces suddenly fell into place. 'We're in Rivendell.'
"It has been quite some time, Shadow Walker. Thirteen years, if I recall correctly." He said, striding back into the room.
She spoke his name as if she'd seen a ghost, "Lord Elrond."
Their eyes locked the instant he passed beneath the archway. Calina went stiff as his gray eyes pierced into her. Her mouth ran dry. She kept her chin tucked in a respectful manner, and kept her eye on him as he paced, "It is to your great fortune that I am sworn to do you no harm. It was even requested that we treat your wound." She was suddenly aware of the large bandage on her arm. Relief began to trickle through her, but he was quick to rob her of it. He closed the distance between them in a mere half step and loomed over her, his glare unrelenting. Her skin prickled at his closeness, and the tension between them dropped like lead, "But if you give me even an ounce of reason, I will ensure that you are exterminated from this earth in mind, body, and soul."
"Calina! I could only find Pippin, but I sent him off to find the others–" Frodo had sprung back into the room. But upon entering his jovial expression faltered and his words died, the hostility in the air palpable. Frodo quickly crossed the room and placed himself in the already narrow space between the two of them, "I trust things are well?" Frodo inquired, clearly questioning the Elf Lord's intentions.
To the surprise of both the Elf and Hobbit, Calina spoke next. "Things are fine, Frodo." She said, a smile on her face. She placed a hand on the Hobbit's back, "Lord Elrond and I were just talking, that's all." She said pleasantly.
Frodo looked at her. It was blatant that her smile was forced, but he did not argue. "Yes," Frodo said finally, turning to look back at Elrond with distrust. The Hobbit then plopped down next to her on the bed and grabbed her hand that had been on his shoulder. "I will wait with you until the others arrive."
She smiled again, squeezing his hand in return. "Thank you."
As if on cue, the remaining three Hobbits burst into the room and launched themselves at her, not caring at all for the looks they received from the Elf Lord as they leapt into a heap onto the bed. As they all dog piled gleefully, the ranger had appeared in the doorway, looking as refreshed as the rest of them now that they had found sanctuary in Rivendell. Upon seeing them so jovial, he smiled and leaned against the doorframe in a contented manner as the Hobbits chattered away excitedly about all that had happened since they'd arrived.
During their excited banter, the ranger glanced at the Elf Lord. Upon seeing Elrond's dark expression, the ranger's face dropped. Elrond then turned and walked to the doorway and cast the man a hard stare before silently walking from the room. The ranger poked his head outside the room as he watched the Elf Lord go. He sighed deeply. As he was about to pull back into the room, another voice spoke out to him.
"I hear she has awoken." The voice called out.
"Gandalf!" Strider exclaimed, his smile returning as the wizard approached.
"Let us see how she is doing." The pair then walked back to Calina's room, the wizard's staff tapped quietly on the floor as they went.
The sight that greeted them upon entry was a fond one, for everyone was all smiles. While the Hobbits were no longer in a heap, all of them were still hanging on and around Calina joyfully. Pippin chatted about some of the events that had happened a day before during dinner, with Sam, Frodo, and Merry adding in extra details.
Frodo caught sight of the wizard and ranger as they lingered in the doorway. He flipped around and sat up. "Gandalf! Aragorn!" He said, still gleeful.
"Aragorn?" Calina asked, her brow furrowing at this new name. The ranger waved vaguely from across the room. She stared at him for an instant longer before realization struck, "Aragorn? As in, son of Arathorn, the heir to the throne of Gondor?!"
The ranger rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged in admittance. To this, Calina flopped back onto her pillows, taking Pippin with her as she went. 'Strider is Gondor's true king. What will the boys think? What will father think?' She pondered, still reeling.
"Yes," Pippin agreed, now sprawled out beside her. "We all had a very similar reaction."
Calina pulled herself upright, "Just what else have I missed?" She asked.
"I must first ask this: what is the last thing you remember?" Gandalf said, placing both hands on his staff.
She tapped a finger to her chin, "Frodo had gone with Arwen, and the rest of us were still heading towards Rivendell. We'd been running for a long time, and then…" She paused, the room now silent, "Actually, I don't really know what happened after that. I vaguely recall being by a river, but that's all I can remember."
"It is as we feared, Aragorn. She has no memory of what happens while the magic is in control." The wizard concluded seriously.
"What are you talking about?" Calina said, perplexed.
"Well, we'd been traveling just like you remember," Sam began, "but then you collapsed. When you woke, your eyes had turned black and you weren't yourself anymore. Then you got really angry and vanished into a nearby shadow."
"I didn't hurt anyone, did I?" She asked anxiously.
"No." Gandalf answered, the calm in his voice permeating the room. "You managed to regain yourself before it came to that. Though, you were quite worse for the wear when I found you."
Calina cocked her head, "How did you even know where I was?"
"I'd been with Elrond beforehand. He Saw you approaching the city and we both could sense you shadow jumping. Though he won't care to admit it, he also Saw you overcome the darkness. He'd sent scouts to retrieve you, but fortunately I got there first."
Merry scoffed, "Good thing you did. The Elves would've dragged her back in shackles." The others gave him a scolding look, but he threw up his hands, "What? We all know that's what would've happened."
"Unfortunately, Merry is not far from the truth." Gandalf conceded.
"I could sense how hostile Lord Elrond was to you." Frodo commented, "It isn't right. Why can't he understand everything was an accident?"
Gandalf paced the room, "The incident left more than just physical wounds. It left his pride wounded as well. But now, my dear, I have another question: when Elrond attempted the spell, where did he cast it?"
Calina did not hesitate as she brought a hand up and placed it on her chest where the starburst shaped scar remained. "Here. Over my heart." She answered.
To this, Gandalf let out a guttural sound, shaking his head, "Then it is no surprise his attempt failed."
"Why's that?" Sam asked.
"Because the mind is a far easier thing to sway than the heart." The wizard answered.
"But you can teach her how to control the magic, can't you Gandalf?" Frodo asked.
"Other than basic concentration exercises, no. My magical power is in light and flame. What's more, Calina's magic was brought on by a curse, and those sorts of abilities are far different than my own, and are not something that can be taught."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" She said hopelessly.
"I will teach you what I can. But do not discredit yourself. You've protected others with your magic, and what you managed to do at the riverbank was no small feat. You fought the darkness and reclaimed your mind all on your own. So do not be disheartened. There is hope yet." Gandalf said with encouragement.
"So what do we do now?" Merry asked.
Gandalf carried on, a light breeze flowing through the room, "The Council meeting is some days away. But the people of Rivendell know you all are here, and they know what Calina has done. There are those within this city who would gladly take matters of vengeance into their own hands. To leave her alone would prove disastrous."
"I could just leave." She muttered quietly, thumbing her silk nightgown. A resounding chorus of 'no' broke out from all present. To this, Calina felt her heart swell.
"Elrond would not allow it either way." Aragorn added.
"Why not?" Sam inquired. "If he already dislikes her so much – no offense Calina – then why keep her here?"
"Because he's already caught me in his trap." She said ruefully.
"Unfortunately, she is correct." Gandalf agreed disdainfully. "He won't let her out of his grasp so easily now that she has so willingly walked right through his doors."
"We can protect her." Pippen chimed in, his words splitting the tension. The wizard and ranger shot the Hobbit a questioning stare. Pippin huffed, mildly exasperated, "Well, not with swords. But we can at least be with her, you know? No one would try anything if we were around to see it."
"Not a bad plan," Gandalf concluded, which earned a grin from the Hobbit at the wizard's approval. "Given the circumstances, it'll have to do. Hobbits! Henceforth, two of you must be with Calina at all times during the rest of our stay in Rivendell. Can you do this?"
The Hobbits all looked fiercely determined. Pippin saluted the wizard. "You can count on us, Gandalf!"
"We won't let those Elves get anywhere near her!" Merry added valiantly.
"Thank you." Calina added with a gracious smile.
"You've protected us enough already." Frodo chimed in, "Now it's time for us to return the favor." The other Hobbits all nodded in swift agreement.
"It is settled then." Gandalf concluded. "We still have three days until the Council meeting, and more folk have yet to arrive. All of you must be on your guard." He looked at Calina directly as he continued, "There will be those who will try to taunt you into action. But you mustnot give in. To do so would spell your own demise."
"I understand." Calina's acclaimed, her resolve set for the trials that were sure to come.
.
The three days had gone by since Calina's awakening. To their word, the Hobbits had vigilantly acted as her escorts. However, this did not put a stop to the scornful looks and merciless taunts she received. Her current companions were Merry and Sam, with the three of them having just left the dining hall when a pair of Elves had once again chided her mockingly as they walked past.
To their comments, Merry scowled, his hands balling into fists. "Those no good twits." He growled not too quietly, knowing they heard his brash comment.
"Easy, Merry." Calina instructed gently, her midnight blue dress fluttering at her ankles as she pressed on. "They're just trying to get a rise out of me."
He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and scuffed his foot angrily against the floor. "I know, but all they've done the past three days is give you dirty looks and insult you! It makes me so angry."
"We could go back to your room for a while and rest a bit." Sam suggested.
Calina quickly agreed, still overhearing the Elves rude commentary, "That's a good idea, Sam. Let's go." The group then wove through the corridors and walkways to her room, thankfully not passing anyone else along the way.
After shutting themselves up in her room, the three of them sighed in unplanned unison. Calina pulled off the pair of black flats she'd been given and unceremoniously flopped back onto her bed. The Half-lings were quick to scuttle up beside her. "Are you feeling alright?" The gardener asked, a look of concern on his round face.
She turned to him and smiled, "I'm alright, just worn down. Their comments I can handle, but there's so much light magic in the city that it's wearing on my nerves." She admitted before letting out another great sigh.
"Take a nap. We'll keep watch." Merry said, rolling off the bed and settling himself into the armchair, picking up one of the books Gandalf had brought them. Sam quietly did the same, grabbing another book and seating himself on the balcony to enjoy the sunlight.
'This place is so overwhelming. It's a miracle my magic hasn't reacted to it yet.' She thought blearily. Despite it being the middle of the day, she yawned and rolled over and let her eyelids fall shut and she promptly fell into a dreamless sleep.
.
Calina was snapped out of her slumber at the sound of the door making a quiet 'click'. She hastily rubbed her eyes. The light that poured into her room was now a warm amber hue. "Is it that late already?" She mused as she pulled herself up right. As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her eyes swept across the room. She was alone. "Merry? Sam?" She asked, coming to stand. Their books were on the floor, but the two Half-lings were nowhere to be found. A breeze fluttered into the room and cast the sheer curtains into billows. Her eyes snapped to the balcony, seeing a figure standing there. She dropped into a defense pose. "What do you want?" She asked firmly.
She knew he was an Elf before he had even crossed the threshold. She could feel it radiating from his aura. "Is that really a question you need to ask, Shadow Walker?" He chided as he stepped fully into view. Despite his lean build and dangerously charming smile, the dark haired Elf that sauntered into her room did not bode her any feeling of welcome.
Her eyes flickered to the blades at his hips. His intent was clear, they both knew. Her jaw clenched. "Where are Merry and Sam?" She asked, moving away.
"So sweet of you to care for them." He chided, slowly sauntering his way over to her.
"They are my friends." She defended, still creeping just as steadily away from him.
He barked a laugh, "Friends? You reek of dark magic. One such as you could never hope to have friends." He spat venomously.
Calina's jaw clenched at his words, but she kept quiet. He took another two steps towards her. "I know you." She claimed, suddenly recognizing his face. To her words, the Elf stopped and eyed her curiously. "You were the one who invited me here thirteen years ago." She prolonged, recalling the memory most vividly now that the Elf was standing before her.
"That would be me, actually." Another voice chimed in, appearing this time from the doorway. Calina's eyes widened, this Elf a spitting image of the first, the only difference between them being their garbs and the longsword at the newcomer's hip.
"You are twins." She concluded, her back now pressed against the little piece of wall between the bed frame and vanity. She could retreat no further.
"Looks like the wench has a brain, brother." The new Elf spoke. One of Calina's eyes twitched at the insult. She scowled back at them from afar, her fear quickly giving way to anger.
The first brother laughed again, "And it would seem a temper as well." He mocked. Both of them advanced on her. In a flash, Calina grabbed her sword—it had remained leaning against the wall beside the vanity these last few days. She held it confidently between herself and her two offenders.
"How cute. She's got a sword." One of them chided.
"Please. We don't have to fight." She implored firmly, holding her ground. Though peeved by their taunts, she was still desperate to forgo battle.
"But we do." The second brother claimed, still not lowering his sword. "You see, Elrond is our father and we have a score to settle." In a flash, he made a move to slice her, but Calina reflexively countered his attack. The instant their blades met, an explosion of blinding light rocketed through the room, and all of them were sent flying. Calina slammed into the wall, instantly winded. The world was suddenly spinning again, and her hands throbbed painfully.
She cursed as her vision cleared. The room was in shambles, and both of the Elves were on the ground. Her attacker was unconscious in one corner, and his brother was lying on his back in front of the massive bureau. He was clutching his head with blood trickling down his forehead. All of their weapons were strewn about as well. Two of the swords were smoking, charred where they had collided.
'This is just like what happened with Lord Elrond. I need to get out of this angelic hellhole.' She thought, the air around them cracking with magic. Calina staggered to her feet and hastily stumbled across the room. She yanked the door open, not bothering to shut it as she bolted. She could already hear the one brother calling out for help as she fled. Her dress whipped behind her as she ran and her heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest at the intensity of her frenzied pace, 'If I get caught, it's all over.'
By some miracle she hadn't crossed paths with anyone. However, the persistent voices of trailing pursuers forced her to maintain her sprint. While the distance between them never completely closed, she didn't dare look back to see how close they were getting. When she turned another corner, her hopes soared when she realized she was on the path that led out of the city. She would only need to pass through one last courtyard and cross the bridge then she would be free.
Without warning, she was mercilessly tackled to the ground. She hardly had time to blink before she found herself crashing into the ground. As they landed, her skull bounced against the ground, now completely disoriented and consumed by a strange and sudden exhaustion. Tears began to prick her eyes, 'I'm done for.' She thought dismally, unable to keep herself from going slack in her captor's hold.
But then, strangely enough, she was released and passed to another and much gentler set of arms. They lifted her from the dirty ground and pulled her into a strong yet exceedingly tender embrace. For an instant, she was too stunned to do anything other than let herself be held. The person shifted her in their arms, and then all too suddenly did things become vividly familiar. Calina's eyes widened as she looked up, 'It can't be.'
Upon seeing his face, her tears of sorrow turned to tears of relief as she flung her arms fully around his neck. His gentle touch and protective embrace, even the annoying feeling of chainmail beneath his clothes. All of it was the same. She took in his presence like a withered flower and clung to him with shaking hands. As a small crowd formed around them, she uttered a single word.
"Brother."