- I've been reading All The Young Dudes and this fic has destroyed me -
AN: I apologise for how long it takes me to write a chapter, unfortunately RL is a pain and I do not have much free time. Life has been extremely hectic lately. Please know that I will NOT abandon this story, I am still completely smitten with LOTR and Alysae. I have planned everything till the end, yes I know what is going to happen. This is all very exciting as we're reaching the end of Book 1, which means that a third of this story has nearly been written. :)
I want to thank a few new readers: SunMoonAndAllTheStars, Ten Duel Commandments and minstrelgirl451. Thank you!
Because you said so nicely, minstrelgirl451, I am answering all reviews here!
Ponytail Goddess: Honestly, at that point, I don't know how Alysae copes with it. I also love poetry and music in books! I couldn't help myself with Gandalf's Lament ;) Enjoy this chap!
Scylla's revenge: God, YES. I got so sick of Legomance fics, ngl. It was getting too much. So I decided, you know what? let's do something different. Legolas is fierccely protective of Alysae, and still sees her as a small child sometimes. I really hope that will change :) Enjoy reading!
PrettyRecklessLaura: The Ring... Is it calling Alysae? Maybe...? :) I hope you enjoy reading this chap!
Ten Duel Comandments: Oh sorryyyyy, but that's the fun in writing cliffhangers ;) Thank you for leaving a review. :) Enjoy!
SunMoonAndAllTheStars: (what a long penname... :) ) Thank you! Hope this chapter is to your liking!
minstrelgirl451: double reviews?! I'm glad my messiness was enjoyable :) Can't say I'm sorry about the cliffhanger ;) YEs, things will get much, much worse, but don't you worry! :) It makes me so happy that you think that I portrayed things the way I wanted to (sometimes it's hard to get it right.) I always loved Gandalf's Lament, so it's my pleasure that you now know what it means. :) Thank you! Enjoy
Katia0203: To me, this story is honestly about character development, and I really want to see Alysae evolve. If you compare Alysae now, to Alysae in the beginning, they are very different. So, throwing all those dark, mean things to her is to test how she reacts, and well, it's a tale about coming of age, too. Does that make sense? I'm rambling. Sorry. Anyways, yes Mr. WHITE. I hope he'll be able to help... Enjoy this chap!
mystarlight: AWWW! your review made mine :))) I hope this chapter will also make your day ;)
Mustard Lady: *sigh* I ask myself the same question every day. Enjoy! ;)
Enjoy :)
. . .Chapter 22- A little blue. . .
.~.
"I need the shade of blue that rips your heart out. You don't see that type of blue around here."
― Cath Crowley, Graffiti Moon
.~.
Alysae watched as the girl jerked on the ground before her. Her eyes rolled in her head, her limbs thrashed uncontrollably. Eyebrows furrowed, mouth open in a silent scream, the girl rolled around in the grass.
A small man watched in horror, his mouth parted in shock. His hand clawed at his tunic.
Then, Alysae saw two tall men run towards the thrashing girl; one was dark-haired, with used boots, and the other had long golden hair, and he was very fair.
With a jolt, Alysae realised it was her brother. Legolas...
She squinted her eyes, stepping forward. What on all of Arda would Legolas be do-?
She let out a gasp and took a step backwards. It was her!
She was the one thrashing and screaming, although she could not hear anything. What on earth was going on? She gasped and nearly toppled to the side at the realisation. She tried to call her brother; her mouth would open and form the words, but no sound would come out.
Legolas! Legolas! I'm here! Come! Help! She shouted in her mind.
Nothing happened.
She tried to move, tried to lift her feet to walk forward but it felt as though a force was keeping her in place. Her arms waved wildly at her sides as she tried to propel herself. She was stuck.
She wanted to scream.
Why was she stuck here? What was going on? Her breathing began to come in shallow gasps. She could not comprehend why she was out of her body, watching the scene unfold and unable to do anything about it.
The look of panic and despair on her brother's face made her more desperate to reach him.
Just then, from the corner of her eyes, a soft white glow came about, spreading and filling up her vision. Walking out in the midst of it, a tall lady strayed forward. Her dress gleamed like pearls, her long golden hair floated down her back. Lady Galadriel.
The lady moved forward, a white light about her. As she neared Alysae's body on the floor, both her brother and Aragorn left her side, letting the elleth approach the girl.
The other Alysae, the one who was watching, horrified, had stopped struggling.
Lady Galadriel murmured a few words to the girl, who grew limp, and drew her in her arms. She walked back in the direction she'd come from, a serene look on her face.
Lady Galadriel! Help! Alysae shouted in her mind. But the lady did not answer.
Instead, she continued to glide forward, and, at the last possible moment, her eyes caught Alysae's, and she gave her a small smile.
It was so sudden, so quick, that Alysae wondered for a moment if she had imagined it.
Then before she could wonder about anything else, everything twisted.
And then, there was only darkness.
-xxx-
...You are fading...
...When I felt for your spirit, I could feel it slipping away...
...Forgotten memories... buried...
...Isildur's Bane...
...One day you shall blossom, and when that happens, you will find yourself...
...The Ring must be destroyed...
-xxx-
There was her father, Thranduil, first, smiling at someone behind the mirror, in her direction. He said something but Alysae could not hear, only see his lips moving. His eyes were bright, and his smile carefree. Alysae had never seen him like this so, so… happy.
The image changed; there was a tiny elfling with a shock of blond hair and wide, blue eyes running past. He laughed and chased a butterfly before swirling from view.
She saw Imladris in all its splendor, with light reflecting off its waterfalls like floating lace in the wind. The sun rose behind the valley, basking it in a warm glow. In the main courtyard, elves were swarming by, as though it was for some sort of feast; and yet, as Alysae looked closer, she could see the worry on their faces. She saw Glorfindel, in shining armour, sword gleaming at his hip, and spear in hand, as he mounted his white stallion, Asfaloth. Behind him rode the rest of the Imladrin guards; they kicked off and galloped away. Lord Elrond was left standing with his brows furrowed and his eyes distant.
The dream shifted.
A blonde elleth with a gentle smile on her fair face as she stared lovingly at her swollen stomach. She passed her hands on her belly softly. Suddenly she looked up, as if someone had called her name, and smiled back at Alysae with such love in her eyes that Alysae felt her breath catch. The elleth's eyes seemed familiar somehow, as if she had seen them before. And yet she'd never seen this elleth before.
There was a ripple and Alysae saw herself, young and scared in Thranduil's throne rooms. Her face was tear stained, and her eyes wide and terrified. Thranduil stared at her cooly.
The image changed once more. This time, Alysae saw the Fellowship running in the dark, terror written on their ffaces. The ground trembled and shook beneath their feet. In the distance, something glowed red and yellow, like ravaging flames and roaring fires. Alysae caught a glimpse of Boromir stumbling and Legolas catching him before they both fell backwards.
Then she saw herself again, falling into nothingness, her hair flying around her face like a yellow flag flapping around the wind, her hand reaching out to hold on to something.
A ripple changed the scene, and Alysae saw thousands of Orcs swarming like ants, with deadly spears and torches, yelling, and cackling, and showing their yellow crooked teeth. It was terrifying to watch.
She saw forests burning, Orcs killing, children crying. She saw Gollum with a green flame in his eyes. She saw Mirkwood invaded, elves vailantly fighting.
Then, she saw herself; lying pale and frail, gasping, dark shadows under her eyes. As Alysae watched, she saw her thin hand grasp at her chest, blue veins standing out, as her breathing fell to a stop. Her eyelashes fluttered and she went still. Besides her, Legolas shook her shoulders and shouted something, his eyes burning with tears.
Bodies littered the floor, crimson blood tainted ruined faces and grasping hands. Pale eyes looked unstaring from under strewn bodies. There was so much blood… And a voice was crying out, "Alysae! Alysae!"
The water churned.
And then fire came and burned all, and a voice cackled and hissed, The Valar are weak, they should have never saved you. I will destroy everything you hold dear… A great red eye focused on her, trapping, pulling her in. Alysae felt herself fall forward, her hands gripping the railing so tight her knuckles were white as she pulled against the terrible force.
-xxx-
With a cry Alysae opened her eyes. In one movement she had pushed the covers off her and had jerked up in a sitting position. Harsh breaths escaped her.
"You are alright," came a soothing voice. "Everything is alright."
She could barely hear it with the blood pounding in her ears. "What- what happened?" she choked out, looking around her. Her eyes made out a blurred shape sitting besides her bed.
"You are fine, everything is fine."
"W-what-?"
"Breathe, Alysae."
She realized that it was Legolas, and that he had placed a calming hand on her shoulder and was rubbing her back with the other. She melted into his embrace.
"I saw, I saw terrible things, Legolas!" She began to sob.
Legolas' mouth twitched. He continued to rub her back soothingly. "Tell me Alysae," he pleaded.
Alysae shook her head, trying to muffle her sobs with her hands. "I don't want to die," she choked out. "I-I don't want to die. Please."
Legolas opened his mouth, a tortured look on his face. He let out a breath and closed it again. "You are alright," he whispered, pulling her close. "Everything will be alright." He ran his hands over her back and in the curls at the top of her head, just like when she was a young child.
Her sobs did not subside and she weeped into his embrace.
"I am here for you, Alysae," he promised against her hair.
-xxx-
After that significant incident, Alysae decided to stay very far from the Ring. She knew it was more than a little hurtful to Frodo, and she felt embarassed and ashamed at her behaviour, but she knew that the presence of the Ring would bring terror upon her.
Twice had she touched it, and twice had she seen terrible horrors.
She was afraid of what would happen if she accidentally touched it another time.
Not only did it bring her gut wrenching horrors, but it also reeked of malice, and its touch burned her like hissing flames. Her being in its presence could prove deadly, especially to her. And she did not want it to poison her mind, to whisper nasty lies dipped in honey and sugar.
No, she would not go near the Ring.
Even if it meant avoiding Frodo and Sam, and the rest of the Fellowship. As long as she was safe from it.
She still saw Legolas plenty of times; Gimli and him oft spent their time exploring the Golden Woods, and Alysae had served as guide many time. She enjoyed being the one explaining things to her brother.
On the fifth day, Legolas and Gimli met all her friends. She had been a bit awkward at first, and unsure how to act, it was, after all, her brother, and she had never had proper friends before that weren't friends with him first.
It all went alright though.
"Legolas, Gimli," began Alysae, fingers playing with the sides of her skirts, "these are my friends Laereth, Belegieth, Taurya and Caladwen. They all have been immensely kind to me and have helped me a lot."
Legolas smiled at the ellith that easy smile he was so admired for in the Greenwood.
Alysae could sense her friends being more quiet than usual; she figured that being introduced to a handsome warrior prince like that, so early in the morning, might be slightly intimidating. She also did not fail to notice the slight blush on Caladwen's cheeks.
Laereth beamed at Legolas, pushing past the slight awkwardness. "I'm Laereth and I've heard so much about you!"
"Good things I hope," said Legolas, raising one eyebrow towards Alysae. She stuck her tongue out at him.
Laereth nodded brightly. "Oh yes, Alysae dearly loves her brother. I am sure you must be glad to be reunited." Both siblings glanced at each other with smiles.
Belegieth introduced herself, the image of calm and expressionless. Taurya had bounced on her feet, excited at the prospect to meet Alysae's dear brother, and had stumbled into Belegieth (not surprisingly); the latter had rolled her eyes and pushed Taurya off her.
Alysae, sensing her friends' hesitation, pulled Legolas by the arm. "It was wonderful seeing you, dear friends," she told them; "but I am afraid that there are still many wonders to show my dear brother here."
Legolas glanced at her suspiciously but decided to roll with it. He nodded at the ellith, a polite smile on his face. "I am in your depts, thank you for taking care of Alysae. I am happy to have met you." He directed his smile at Caladwen, whose cheeks coloured into a pretty rose. "Another time, ladies."
Gimli bowed slightly, and followed them.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Alysae whirled onto her brother. "What was that?" she nearly shouted.
"What?" He was the picture of innocence, his blue eyes wide and his mouth open in a small 'o'.
She narrowed her eyes. "Do not give me that face."
If it was even possible, Legolas widened his eyes even more. "What face?"
"That face!" she cried accusatingly.
Gimli chuckled, "Ai, I know that pointy- eared princeling cannot help but charm every lady he sees!"
Legolas gasped in mock horror. "Nay, such accusations wound me. I would never hold such hopes; besides one cannot help the way he is born, with such magnificent looks as mine!"
Alysae narrowed her eyes at him. "Magnificient?" she scoffed, "what a lie! Don't you dare take my friends away from me."
Legolas smirked. "I would never."
-xxx-
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! I really hope the Covid sitiuation will be over soon, I can't believe it's been over a year and we're still back on square one.
I appreciate every single person who reads this story, and your reviews bring a smile to my face, so thank you. :)
What did you think about this chapter? It turned out completely different from what I had imagined, but thats the fun in writing :)
Until next time, I'll def try to write the next chap faster. :)