Languages :
'Valari words/ or Erika's mother tongue'
"Quenya/Sindarin"
"Westron/Common tongue"
"Others"
Disclaimer : LOTR and Silmarillion are properties of J.R.R. Tolkien and Tolkien Estates. None of the songs used in the story are mine too and only borrowed for entertainment purposes.
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Chapter 20
A Fish Out of Water
Glorfindel is a noble ellon. Someone who was raised as a little prince and was taught by the wisest beings in Arda, the same individuals who helped sing their world into existence. Those same teachers eventually mentored him as he matured in later years from academic knowledge, art, hunting, and to the art of battle and war. As one of the princes bearing the blood of the high elves of both the Vanyar and the Ñoldor his upbringing was fit for him to be called a wise leader and a reliable commander of an army who will face the army of Morgoth head on. And Glorfindel willingly drank all the knowledge that he could learn, he was a good and eager student. One of the reasons why he is loved by Nienna, Oromë and Aulë.
The mighty Lord Oromë once told him, never ignore your fear but never let it take you over as well. That way, you will not underestimate either a situation or a foe as one stroke of luck can easily turn tides. To the brave, fear is a warning while for the coward, it is the end of the road. Allow it to stop you and you will fail. Glorfindel was not new to fear, though many have sung a song of him slaughtering a valaraukar, many did not know of the sheer fear that was soaking every fibre of his very being right as he plunged his dirk upon the demon's body.
If there is something he does not know, it becomes an instinct for him to be on guard and to listen to his intuition.
Such teaching of being vigilant and careful was thrown on the ditch by the woman riding on the same horse as him.
"Hahahaha!"
He absolutely thought Erika would be having a hard time riding the horse or even at least scared of how fast the pace of their riding is. This might not be her first time but they have been riding since dawn and it is already high noon. There was also the fact that her body ought to ache or be sore in places she would totally regret.
But while they are rushing down on a steep slope, Erika raises her arms up as the strong wind blows pass them. "WOOO! Lessfakkengooo! " She said out loud, shrieking in thrill and clearly overjoyed as Glorfindel adeptly manoeuvres Rhosfein with one hand while the other is encircled around her waist to ensure she will not roll down from the steed and fall.
"Hold the reins, woman! You are going to kill yourself!" Glorfindel shook his head as Nestaron exclaimed his concern as the healer watched how her arms were flailing out of balance because of fast movement and the passing wind.
Erika just cackled, the distinct sound of it echoed through their ears. Yes, she is no longer at the bracket of laughing but downright maniacally cackling at her antics and maybe also because of the reaction she gained from the healer. It made Glorfindel shake his head with a grin. He set their path south-east to bypass the Hills of Evendium heading towards the White Downs. They will pass settlements and woodlands where they could replenish their supplies before heading straight to the East-West Road as it is the shortest possible route to reach Imladris.
At that time, Glorfindel wanted to reach the bottom of the nearest hill where they could set up a camp to rest and fix themselves some food. He will not risk their nourishment as attacks could happen anytime and he prefers his company to be ready in case a battle ensues. Especially now that they will pass an empty plain where open attacks or an ambush from the enemy can happen.
"Heh, that was fun." Erika said with a wide grin as they continue to ride, they have now passed the slopes and are riding smoothly.
"Sweet Tulkas." Nestaron exclaimed while shaking his head and looking at the young woman with an exhausted expression.
"I think I want to learn how to ride a horse."
"We shall do that once we reach Imladris, meleth. I shall find a good mare for you or a gentle stallion."
"This concerns me, hír nin. Should you really do that?" Aeglos, who was grinning widely and riding at Glorfindel's left, pitched in.
"I do not think it is a good idea as well, hír nin." Bronwëg said with a complicated expression.
"Even a good steed would be compromised." Nestaron added.
"What do you mean, I'm going to ace that with a little practice, I'll show you." She said again with a cackle.
In all honesty, Glorfindel is worried too but it would be better if she knew what she was doing. When he learned about the fact that she has no riding skills, Glorfindel wondered how her people use transportation. When she did not say anything, the ellon did not ask any further. He promised he would not push her to say something about her origins. He will wait until she opens up and tell him about it on her own will.
Glorfindel often wonders about her home, when she tells them small things about it he wonders where it is located in Èa. Is it a place that has not been mapped yet? Is it an isolated country who does not like mingling itself with the rest of the world?
Or is it even in Èa?
It was only a mere thought that crossed his mind and at first, Glorfindel found it ridiculous.
But is it truly baseless?
Eventually he pushed the thought at the back of his mind and wrote it off as silly. But somewhere deep inside his mind was touching the possibility of it.
Erika and Nestaron exchange a few banters from time to time, even Aeglos is now included in their conversations, until they reach a good place to set up a camp.
Glorfindel mounted off first before reaching to help her go down.
"Thank you… ehh… uh…" she paused for a moment. "It's awkward to call you babe. It just doesn't fit."
Glorfindel chuckled. "What does that even mean?"
"I mean babe, short for baby. It's sort of like an endearment but I don't want to call you that, it feels lacking and unfitting."
"You can simply address me by my name, meleth."
"Ah, see, that's the point. You call me meleth but I have nothing to call you."
Glorfindel understood that she wanted to give him an endearment and it made him smile even more. "Perhaps as I am using an endearment with my people's tongue, how about you do the same?"
Glorfindel watched as she thought of it so deeply. "Hmm… how about… Mi vida? Nah, that's too cheesy."
"What is the meaning of it?"
"Well, I thought since you've been using 'my love' maybe I should use a different term. Mi vida means my life. But I feel like it's… you know, err."
" Meleth, you are my life now."
Erika paused and looked at him with a mock suspicion. "Are you trying to smooth me again?"
"I am simply telling the truth."
The woman looked at him with a serious expression and a knotted forehead. "Coz it's working, not gonna lie." She said flatly.
Glorfindel chuckled. The general took the reign of Rhosfein and gently pulled him towards a tree. "I am glad if that is the case."
Erika helped him tie around the reign on the trunk. "You know I'll kiss you if only we're not in front of the public."
The ellon grinned boyishly. He can really do that as he has been deprived of her lips for hours now. "I can ask my subordinates to turn around."
"No, habibi, we are not going to abuse your authority here." Glorfindel can only laugh at her response and her deadpan look. Every inch of her countenance was so expressive that it was so comical and he loved it.
Nestaron sighs and shakes his head when his sharp hearing helplessly picks up their conversation as the two of them help tie the other horses at the nearby trees while teasing each other. The others who were amused to their interactions just decided to continue with their tasks. It was, after all, a new side of their general that they have never seen before.
Heh, blast to those people who said he can not flirt with someone to save his life. If only they can hear him right now.
To many, he was known to be kind, generous and wise. He was like a wall, so high and sturdy. A wall that many can lean on but cannot afford to reach. But right now, he was not only seen teasing his beloved, but is also indulging her in a silly conversation.
Glorfindel the wise… is also just a simple person after all.
"Listen! I will just use everything at my disposal, Món Chèri. Everything that my chicken brain can remember. You deserve it anyway. One word is not enough." Erika said with such a serious yet proud expression and tried to reach Glorfindel's cheeks, but the ellon was too tall for her to reach so he bent down to make it possible. The woman gently flatten and squashed the blond's cheeks with affection which the ellon did not mind. In Nestaron's eyes, his lordship even appears to enjoy the attention she was giving him.
Glorfindel reached for one of her hands and planted a gentle kiss on her palms.
The company just chose to ignore how silly the two are and went to do their tasks, moments later, the young woman went over to help them but they kindly declined her and asked her to just rest next to their lord. It was a trait that was amusingly identical to Glorfindel as he would also come by to help them be it with menial tasks or not despite the fact that they are supposed to be the ones who are serving him.
Their lord is unlike any other. Though mighty and honourable, he never treated anyone as if they were beneath him. It is why he is one the most beloved eldar and many are loyal to him and to his house even back to the times when the great Gondolin still exists.
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After the company had rested and the steeds were ready to ride once again, we left the camp without any traces and headed towards the plan to cross the plains. According to Glorfindel, we would not stop until we reached the nearest hill of the White Downs. Due to the speed of the ride, none of the party were talking unlike earlier. Even I did not dare to utter a thing since we are moving really fast and Glorfindel told me it will prevent me from accidentally biting my tongue.
The sun was already setting when we reached the hills. The area we chose to set our camp was covered by huge boulder-like rocks while the foot of the hills were surrounded by trees of different shapes and sizes.
Bronwëg and Elgalad were tasked to scout the surroundings, possibly to set up a perimeter, making sure that there are no threats as far as their eyes can reach before the night camps are settled.
The others started their own tasks again as soon as they found a good place to settle. Some are attending the steeds, feeding and giving water to them, checking their hooves and cleaning the debris and stones stuck in their shoes during their ride. The others were cooking and readying a campfire big enough to cook food and small enough not to be noticed by enemies.
Glorfindel, with the help of Aeglos, was laying down a sheepskin mat and a wool quilt atop of it near a big tree. I helped them clear out debris and stones that could possibly be stuck underneath it, that would be really annoying for the people who will sleep on it.
I noticed that as the sun goes down, so does the temperature around. Though it's not so bad right now, for sure at midnight it would be freezing cold.
When some of the elves are done with their tasks, they also lay down their own mats albeit a little far away from our space. They settled down on it, not even bothered by the dropping temperatures.
Glorfindel pulled me into the mat that he fixed. "My apologies, nin meleth. I would love to build you a proper canopy to sleep in but it would leave a track." He said with a frown, the emotions swimming in his eyes were as clear as a crystal.
"It's okay, I don't need a tent. Thank you so much for the thought though." I smiled at him.
"I will be next to you. It will get colder as the night deepens."
To remove his worry about me, I took off my boots and sat down on the mat. "Yeah, you will be my space heater. But this is not bad though, it's very soft. Besides, I like sleeping on the ground."
" Meleth, put your boots back on." Glorfindel said with a chuckle.
"Why?"
"Your feet will freeze."
"But I always remove my boots before going to bed."
"We were in the tent."
"I'm Asian. We don't put shoes inside the house let alone in the sleeping areas." That was a golden rule amongst golden rules. Though I do get why he would have preferred me to put the boots on as seconds tick in. I was just being a brat.
Glorfindel shook his head while chuckling. " Ai, melethril. I know how much you hate boots, there is no need for explanations." He said while picking up one boot. He knelt down near me and gently lifted one of my feet. "I know it would be extremely uncomfortable. But once we reach Imladris, I will bring you all the comfortable shoes that you can have. Shoes that will not hurt your feet nor your ankles even if you run around the whole elven city. Look, your feet are freezing. I should have brought some socks for you." He said as he was about to put the boot back on my feet.
"Sheesh, wait, I will put it on myself. You don't have to do this" I said laughing.
"Allow me." He said still insisting on putting back the boot. His gentle and graceful hand was warm around the coldness of my feet, he gently caressed and massaged it to warm it up before sliding the footwear back.
Jeez, his hands were making the butterflies in my stomach to cause a riot. "This is embarrassing…"
"Well, you brought this upon yourself." He said with a smirk as he did the same to my other feet, which was in the same leg that was previously injured. "How is your leg? Does it still ail you in some ways?"
I shrugged and shook my head. "No, yeobo. It's good as new."
He smiled at the endearment that I used. Though I assume he did not know the exact meaning of it, I can see in his face that he was pleased. I still can't believe this man… ellon, is in love with me. He sure has some weird taste.
That was the time Lathron came in and handed over a small pillow to Glorfindel. Where did that come from??
"Sís, hérënya." Lathron said in their language, which I don't mind.
"Ah, Hantanyel." Glorfindel accepted it. He smiled towards me and passed to me the pillow. "Here, this is for you to use."
"Oh… uhm, thank you, Lathron. But what would you use?"
"I thank you for worrying about it, herinya. But I do not need it." Lathron bowed as he smiled and walked back to what he was doing.
That time everyone who was finished with their tasks were relaxing in their own mats. Lying down after a day of just riding made me realise how exhausted I was but surprisingly, I did not feel the hip pain that Glorfindel was worrying about. When the simple food they were fixing was done, everyone dug in and ate their fill. It was a soup made with vegetable, lembas bread that tasted heavenly, and pieces of meat jerky.
Glorfindel handed me some dried fruits as Lathron collected the wooden bowls from us. I asked them how we are going to wash those things when I can't see any body of water around. Glorfindel told me that by tomorrow we will pass a small flowing river where we can wash our stuff and even refill our water skins.
"Wait, how did you know that?" I asked again as I settled myself on the mat while unfurling my hair from its messy braid.
Glorfindel possibly felt my struggle and took the braid from me and undid it himself. "I have passed it in many instances as I travel or scout. The terrain might have changed as hundreds of years pass, even so, the bodies of water remain as if it was the aid of the Valar to all children of Erú." He said as his hands fiddled my hair. His eyes shine with a strange inner light.
I sighed internally, sometimes I still forget that this beloved of mine is ancient.
"Now. We should lay down now and rest now, my friends. Aeglos and Túrthogor will be on the first watch, Belegrior and Vanarwë will be on the second as the night deepens. Naergon and I will replace them as dawn approaches. We break our fast and depart again as soon as possible."
The ellyn acknowledges their lord's words with a bow before going back to their own businesses. Glorfindel then laid down our mat. You hear me? Our mat. Realising again the fact that we just became lovers last night was mind boggling. He smiled at me and opened his left arm.
I took the pillow they gave me earlier and placed it underneath his head. He was confused at first just to eventually give me a boyish grin as I pulled the blanket and lay down next to him, resting my head on his arms.
Fudge nuggets, he smells divine. Like vetivers and soft mint.
When I settled myself next to him, I felt weird sensations blanketing all over me. I felt my muscles relax and my head instantly lighter.
"You're doing it again." I whispered. He just smiled. He told me once that he can flare out his power, some kind of an aura, to his will. He can use it to subdue his enemies or heal the hurt. In my case, he uses it every night to give me a deep and peaceful slumber. It was one of the reasons why I wake up in the morning fresh and energetic.
I got curious and asked him if all elves can do it but was surprised when he told me that was not the case. It was a power that only elves like him who witnessed the light of their two legendary trees have. In this continent called Arda only two elves have this power aside from him, his cousins Galadriel and Maglor. It was also one of the reasons why he looks like he has a star in his eyes. Bright, piercing and keen.
"Sleep, my love. You are exhausted."
"But I'm not exhausted. And I want to talk to you more."
"I can feel your heart, meleth. You do not have to hide it. Even now I know it is not wise to bring you with me, but you allowed me to be selfish. The least I can do is to give you a peaceful sleep."
"You speak as if you dragged me here against my will, Glorfindel. You know I wanted this as well and I don't regret anything. It's normal only to be tired so stop being too hard to yourself." I lifted my hand and caressed his cheek. "I love you."
He closed his eyes and leaned his face into my hand. I felt his warm breath into my hand and my skin.
A minute must have passed before he spoke. "Say it again."
I smiled and moved my thumb across his cheek. "I love you."
He opened his eyes and kissed me on the lips. It was chaste and gentle at first and I instantly melted on his hold. His hand took my chin and gently pulled them down with his thumb, my mouth slightly opened and it gave way for his tongue to slide in. Maybe both of us had already forgotten that we were not in our little tent when both of us deepened the kiss. We just knew it was something we needed. Glorfindel especially was too passionate. I felt something stir in my mind and in my heart. Like a connection establishing between us as we hold each other.
Something is reaching out to me.
And I wanted to reach back. But Glorfindel departed his lips away from me even before I could reach back whatever was that.
"Not here, meleth." He whispered breathlessly.
"Huh?"
Glorfindel chuckled. "Forgive me. My passion was too strong that I subconsciously reached out my fëa to you." He said, taking my hand into his and kissing the centre of my palm.
"Your passion has always been strong when you're kissing me, what are you talking about?" I said, still confused.
"When the eldar reach out their fëa to their significant other, it is a call for the union of souls. A bond of our soul that even death can not break. Through life and death, we swear to love one and only one." My heart skipped a beat and it almost made me gasp out loud. "It fills me with great joy to know you are willing to reach back to the calling of my fëa, meldanya. But not here. In the right place and at the right time for the sake of your honour. For I promise you all the best that I can give and do."
I nodded absentmindedly. Did he just propose to me?
I felt his lips on my forehead. "Besides, we can not exactly make love in front of my people." He said with a voice tainted with humour.
Is this what it means to marry and bond with an elf? Is that why he said it's not the right place and the right time? Oh unfortunately, he challenged the wrong person. "Fuck the honour, do it."
Glorfindel's laugh echoed through the camp.
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Glorfindel's party moved out of their camps as soon as the dawn breaks, he wanted to pass by the nearest settlement before the nightfall to gather information about what was happening on further paths. The scouts of the Fallohides guards mostly the White Down's northern lands and their hunters sell their games at the settlements near the entrance of Chetwood and East-West Road. Their information allows them to build their plans and formations before they travel the areas mostly considered as dangerous because of possible attacks by the bandits from the South Downs and Mitheithel.
According to the Fallohides, there is not that much enemy attack that has happened during the past ten days. The biggest of their problems was the attack of wolves and no recorded orc attack. That was good news for the elves.
They passed the halflings settlement without a hitch and went from the East Farthing straight to the Bridge of Baranduin.
It was on the fourth day of their ride when they reached the human settlement near the forest of Chetwood. Unfortunately, there was a storm that brew by the mid noon and fell down before nightfall. It was a big hindrance to their journey but Glorfindel does not want to risk the well-being of their steeds especially as they have been riding for days with only minimal rests in between.
Fortunately, there was a small tavern and an inn in the settlement and they took refuge there.
Glorfindel saw the relief on Erika's face, though he mistook that as her being tired and can finally sleep on a proper bed. When he asked his beloved what was wrong, she simply told him she was hungry and wanted to eat some steaks.
Of course he indulged her desires and brought everyone a fancy dinner and paid for their rooms. As it was a small inn, the fair travellers took all the big rooms in the inn and had a good respite from their travel. The steeds were taken care of as well and were brought to the inn's stables.
Glorfindel especially took a room for them with its own bathroom. He allowed Erika to use it first and he wiped his armour while he waited.
It was a while before Erika emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head.
"Your turn, baobei.." she said cheerfully before sitting next to him in the big bed. His eyes followed every movement of hers out of fondness so when she removed the towel in her head, his sharp eyes caught thin trails of mist coming out of her hair as she dried it out with the towel.
The ellon decided to give it no mind as he eventually thought it might have been from the heat of her body and the fact that she has a massive amount of hair, which she is now towel drying without a care. He again took the liberty of taking care of it by gently snatching the towel from her hands.
"Have mercy on your tresses, meleth."
"Yes, I know, handsome, but can I please just cut off some length? I feel like they are growing as fast as the weeds in the gardens of Eden." Erika complained.
He chuckled as he kissed her forehead. Glorfindel noticed him doing that a lot not only since the last few days that they were together but ever since he met her. "Alright, alright, meleth. But not here. We will do all the things we cannot do right now once all these problems are over."
Erika sighed. "Yeah? You promise?"
"I promise." He said and she kissed him. The ellon closed his eyes as he basked in her warmth and freely returned the kiss. Something he cannot do for the last four days out of respect to the company, though the ellyn has grown used to them teasing each other.
After some moments of them sharing each other's presence and whispers of their love for each other, Glorfindel half-heartedly left her to take a bath.
When he returned, Erika was comfortably snoring upon the bed with her hair sprawling around her. Glorfindel soon followed her after he finished fixing his armour. Falling into a comfortable sleep as he pulled her body closer to him.
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Little blue eyes with hues of green imitating the reflection of summer seas opened sleepily. Through the eyes' colours imitates joyful moments and happiness, its expression was somewhat lifeless.
Alcariel's heart was weeping in pain and sorrow as she watched her little son look around him, and still be disappointed that they were not at the safety of their home but inside a dark cave filled with a sense of death and rotting.
"Gi suilon, nana." Still even if Legolas was in this situation, everytime he looks at his naneth his face bloom with life.
"Greeting to the star of my life." Alcariel hugged his little form. The elven queen did not even know how many days they have been in this cave turned prison since the time of their capture but it has been eating at their fëa.
Alcariel is not cowardly, in her blood, the blood of the kings and the great elves flow. But she is no warrior. She tried so many times to escape from this place but there was no other way but the crooked doorway the orcs use to give them something to eat. If you can call burnt birds, squirrels, or rabbits a food. Some of them were carelessly tossed in the fire, some were thankfully skewered but were not even skinned or defeathered.
Alcariel carefully salvaged what she could on these so called food to feed her son, as for her, she might have bites of these tasteless things but it was not enough to satiate a grown adult. It has been days since she ate properly and she is losing her strength as she basks her son into her presence. It was her instinct as a mother, if she does not do that, her son will fade.
One more thing that adds to her sorrow was the cruelty of the orcs. On the first day they were brought to that place, Alcariel was hounded and assaulted. Pounded with kicks and even hit by something she did not know as she was trying to use her body to shield her son away from them.
On that day Alcariel witnessed how the cheer in her son's eyes vanished.
The elven queen prayed to the Valar, hoping soon that aid and help would come. Or at least for someone to rescue her son away from that place. For now, her role is to be his protector until her beloved and their people find them.
"Nana, does your shoulder still hurt?" Legolas asked, his voice devoid of life and joy.
"No, my little green leaf. Nana is alright. See?" Alcariel, who had dislocated her left shoulder from a kick, was suffering the night before, especially as she forced the said shoulder to set back in its right place. To show her son that she was well, the elven queen forced her hand to close and open. And she was being honest, she no longer felt pain. But it was also quite numb. Perhaps it was her body's natural response to physical trauma. "Listen to me, my Legolas. Nana will protect you so do not be scared. Your ada will be here soon and he will defeat these evil beings. Is not Ada the strongest warrior of our kingdom?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, nana. I will also protect you, nana. I will be like ada, strong and valiant."
"And so you shall, my little love." Alcariel can not help the tears that were overflowing from her silver blue eyes. Those same eyes look at the lone dagger that was hidden in a far away corner of the prison cave.
It was a dagger that fell from one of the orcs who were beating her the day before. When they left her behind just enough to let her live, she told Legolas to take the dagger and put it away in that particular corner hidden by rocks and debris.
While her son was sleeping, the elven queen observed her surroundings and the places outside the prison cave. Though there was not that much to see, Alcariel realised that she is not the only prisoner in that place. There were more than five of the same prison cave that she and her son were in and there were people inside it based on the sound of their breathing. She did not know how many but some were alive and she confirmed that when one of them was visited by the orcs to be played with, the person, speaking a language that was unfamiliar to her, was speaking in a pleading manner but it was unheard. They were probably from the tribes of Haradrim as they are people who speak a different language other than their basic knowledge of Westron.
The sound of their torture was a nightmare and imidiately, Alcariel covered Legolas' delicate ear before she forced herself to sing a song for him and deafen the cry of a dying person. Alcariel closed her eyes as she heard the broken sob, her sharp ears picking up the sounds of his ragged last breath. And even as her heart was being torn apart, she continued singing her son's favourite Quenian lullaby.
Ter i lóme, nai lye ómanya rahtuva, Or i súre, nai lyenna órenya wilyuva…
Nai loruvalye, Hendu holine... Nai loruvalye, Éli calime...
Á sasta ingalya or telcunyat, nanwie nauvar ilye olorilyar
Á pata ter fend' ex' Ardanna, Á papátu mina tyelepta cala
Nai loruvalye, Hendu holine... Nai loruvalye, Éli calime...
Á sasta ingalya or telcunyat, nanwie nauvar ilye olorilyar…
Alcariel wished that the next time her son would listen to a lullaby, he would be laying in a warm bed within the safety of their home and under the watch of his ada and nana. In a room filled with warm light, in a place without pain and suffering.
"Varda, o Varda. Queen of the stars. May you shine your light to our suffering. Guide my people to our way. Save my son." Alcariel prayed in earnest.
And as she might have not known, the queen of the Valar heard her plea, for the brewing storm that was about to ravage its way towards Eriador was quelled. Stars were shining brighter as it helped guide the warriors of Greenwood the Great on their way out of Rhovanion who were tirelessly travelling even at night time to rescue their beloved queen and little prince.
Guiding their way towards the cruel and cold Mount Gundabad.
To the wonder of Glorfindel's company, the storm they were expecting to fall did not occur. By the next morning, the vessel of Arien was shining brightly and only little clouds were floating around her.
They knew instantly that it was a blessing from the Valar. Knowing that the powers of the world were watching over them, the elves departed the inn and crossed the border of the settlements.
Riding towards the vastness of the East-West Road. They will soon reach the boundaries of Imladris where their army is waiting.
Unbeknownst to Glorfindel, Erika had a dream that night. To her, she did not know if what she saw in her dreams were real. But there was the man with long silver hair again, standing near her. His eyes full of longing as he gaze towards her form.
'To gaze upon you, our child, is a joy unlike any other. But you are threading again on the Path of Dreams.'
Erika was surprised. He was speaking to her not in a language she can perfectly understand. It was unlike the Westron, the English that she spoke all the time with the others. It was a language that was like her mother tongue back from her own world. But it was not that language. It was strange how she could perfectly perceive it as if it was a language she grew up speaking.
'H-how are you speaking my tongue and yet not speaking it at all?' She asked the man in confusion.
'It may sound the same to you, but I am not speaking the language that you knew of before you came into this world.'
Erika was startled and surprised. He knew that she was not of this world. How come somebody knows her predicament when she did not even know what happened to her?
'I speak to you in a tongue that was unique only to our kind. Soon you will understand it. But right now, as you are already in the Olórë Mallë, you shall see the visions and remember them.'
'Wait, wait what do you mean?! Who are you? How did you know me?'
'Ulumiel…' Erika stopped as the man called her an unfamiliar name and yet she felt her soul respond to it. The man strides towards her and fondly cupped her cheeks to his beautiful and delicate hand. 'My dear child, like I said, you shall know soon. But right now, I will guide you again towards this vision. There is a reason why fate allowed you to thread the Path of Dreams. Remember.' Erika nodded, though confused. 'I will see you soon, in Valinor as your father promises to us, his brethren.'
'Wait what?'
When the white light consumed both of their beings, Erika closed her eyes and as she opened it again, her vision changed, replaced by the sight of a beautiful elleth cradling a young child in her arms. It was a cold and dark place and in her ears, screams of pain and suffering people were ringing. Amidst that horrifying cry, a sound of a gentle singing was heard along with a silent sobbing of a child.
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Author's notes:
️ I have a reader/friend who asked me who was my inspiration for Erika's character. Well to be fair, I have no idea, I just wanted to write her as someone who is quite relatable. Like if ever you're in her situation, you'll feel like you will do the same lol and despite having questions and doubts about your situation, you will still remain the same and be yourself. Erika is not the type of person who will mush herself on the society she is in, in fact she will do the opposite. And one good thing about her is she will find amusement in small things. If you're ever curious about what her famous cackle/laughter sounds like, just check out Selen Tatsuki laughing and then you'll get the gist of it. It's not totally her but just how I imagine her to gremlin laugh. You can simply C/P this link and check her /shorts/o1EQEDnCQsU?feature=share
Translations and Notes:
Sís, hérënya - (Quenya) lit. hérë Here, My Lord.
Herinya - (Quenya) my lady
Ellyn / Ellen - (Sindarin) plural of ellon, a male elf
–Ellyth / Eleth - elven maiden
–Quendë - (Quenya) female/male elf
The Law and Customs of the Eldar - an essay by Sir JRR Tolkien.
Fallohides - one of the three original division of hobbit-kind.
Song Translation:
Through the night, may my voice reach you,
Over the wind, may my heart fly to you...
May you sleep,
Eyes closed...
May you sleep,
Stars luminous...
Rest your head over my lap, all your dreams will be reality
Step through a door to another Realm,
Slowly walk into the silver light
May you sleep,
Eyes closed...
May you sleep,
Stars luminous...
Rest your head over my lap, all your dreams will be reality
Disclaimer: this is a song written by the Forest Elves, I do not own it.
Link to the song: /track/2298769/elven-lullaby