AN: LAst chapter of Fellowship of the Ring! Wowowowow. Next chapter (already half written) will be posted (hopefully) vv soon.
Book recs for the day: So i finished The Time Machine by H. G Wells. And I LOVED it. Definitely really cool and interesting, it's very short as well (for those who can't stand six hundred pages long novels!). I recommend it!
Another book I recommend: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, it is so poetic, so morally questionable, filled with philosophical questions, forbidden desires, and sins. It was beautiful. I loved it so much, definitely one of my favourites.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller was an absolutely incredible book and I only wished I wasn't so passionate by greek myths and didn't the story before the end! I was bracing myself all throughout the book! I'm sure I would have cried if I had not known the myth before hand. Really poetic and beautiful. Recommend.
I've been reading the Shadow&Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, and I've also enjoyed it. I recommend it!
Thank you for all the follows, faves and reviews :)
Stygian Willow: I am sad for her too :( Thank you for the well-wishes, and yes the injury is completely gone! Sad that my favourite horse is retiring tho
Scylla's Revenge: haha yes! Alysae is quite naïve to be honest, poor thing. Poor Sam's dirt box, i know. It's like the whole ending of the Return of the King (where the Hobbits have to fight for the freedom of their Shire), I was so sad it wasn't in the movie! The books you recommended are definitely getting in my cart (over three hundred pounds I must say, oh dear me). I had a look and they sound really interesting! (i love getting book recs)
Ten Duel Commandments: Hmm, pro-Haldir you say? Interesting... very interesting... Anyways thanks for reading! :)
PrettyRecklessLaura: Enjoy this update!
Mustard Lady: I do try to add humour (I am unfortunately not a very funny person, altho I wish I was. I laugh a lot tho). As for who Alysae is going to end up with.. all I can say is: it's classified, sorry! :) Enjoy!
Annabel Jones: Oh! You're alive!
lilyflower477: Aww thank you! Enjoy :)
sorry for the small chapter, but next one should come out soon (like next week -or even sooner!)
. . .Chapter 24- Another Goodbye. . .
.~.
"Because the birdsong might be pretty,
But it's not for you they sing,
And if you think my winter is too cold,
You don't deserve my spring."
― Erin Hanson
.~.
Alysae was sick of farewells.
She did not want to watch her brother and Aragorn, and all her friends, leave. Again. She told herself to be brave, and that everything was going to be alright. She seemed to be telling herseelft that a lot, lately.
She was getting tired of what her life had become. Of darkness growing around, and death winding itself, threading with sorrow, and hopelessness, the fear for her loved ones, the worries about the war...
Most of all, she was sick of herself. Of what she had become. Where was the carefree, mischievious, happy girl who hand enjoyed running around and playing pranks? She was gone. And now all there was left, was the Alysae 'after'.
She bent down to grab a small package amidst the ones on the floor. A sweet smell rose from it. Bringing it to her nose, she realized it was a pack of lembas. It brought back so many pleasant memories. She felt a smile spread over her face.
The making of lembas bread was a very delicate process and a well-kept secret. As far as she knew, Alysae was the only non-elven to know how to make it, or nearly enough. Lembas were a gift from the Valar, given to them by Oromë during their grand travel to Valinor. They are made from wheat made by Yavanna, a plant which can suffer no illness and withhold anything. It required days, patience and secrecy.
A group of elleth known as the Yavannildi or Ivonwin, which means Servants of Yavanna, are a very selective group and the only ones to know how to make them. They had a special kitchen in Imladris and they would make lembas bread and then give it to the other kitchens. That lembas was sent out to Lothlorien and to the Greenwoods as well.
When she had been young, somewhere along two winters after she had joined the Greenwood family, she had been so bored that she had spent a day out exploring. The twins had been away, off to some expedition to kill Orcs (although at the time she hadn't been made aware of that precisely), and Arwen was nowhere to be found.
She'd gotten tired of staying holed up in Erestor's library, and had just come back from a ride with Celeg. Feeling a bit hungry, she'd made her way over to the kitchens, but by taking a completely different route than she was used to. She ended up in a part of Imladris she didn't know.
Warmth filtered through the open window in the wall of the building, and a strong sweet smell filled her nose. The window was so high up she could not see inside, and there was no tree near it to climb and peer in.
So she simply knocked on the door.
A moment later it opened, and Arwen appeared before her.
"Arwen!" exclaimed Alysae, grinning. "I've been looking for you! What are you doing?" She tried to catch a glimpse behind the elleth, but it was hidden from view.
"I am helping with the making of something of secrecy," whispered Arwen, her eyes twinkling.
She perked up. "Secrecy? I want to help as well!"
It had taken quite a bit of convincing - first with Arwen, and then with the Yavannildi, but eventually Alysae had been granted passage in the kitchen.
The ellyth had all been kind, but they had made clear she would never know the recipe. Instead, they let her help with kneading the dough, or cutting the waybread into squares. Arwen had a similar task and told Alysae that she too was not allowed to know the secret recipe.
She didn't know the exact recipe, but she was closer to it than any other mortals.
"What's that, lassie?" asked a gruff voice behind her. Alysae turned around and smiled at Gimli. Their relationship had definitely improved massively ever since his arrival at Lothlorien. Legolas had mentioned in passing that it may or may not have been the result of instant star struck adoration for Lady Galadriel. She had snorted, imagining an awed Gimli with stars in his eyes as he stared at the lady for the first time.
Either way, the animosity he once held towards elves was completely and utterly gone, and Legolas and him were now the best of friends. Since then, Alysae had decided to give him a chance, and realised that really Gimli was an incredible person to be around with.
He was funny sometimes, fierce, very protective and loyal, gruff and more than thick-headed. And he loved talking about rocks, although Alysae couldn't really understand the appeal if she was being honest. Rocks. Dead, grey, hard, sharp rocks.
"Oh, it's only lembas bread, made especially for the Fellowship," she replied.
Gimli's eyes lit up. "Ah, yes, I remember that! Tastes most exquisite indeed."
Alysae turned the leaf-wrapped lembas over in her hand. "The Elves, it seems, have mastered perfection in every way."
"That I agree," nodded Gimli, no doubt thinking about the Lady. "But we dwarves prefer strength and force!"
Just then, Legolas appeared behind him, as quick and silent as a cat, a finger on his lips. Alysae bit back a giggle. She watched her brother push Gimli forward so that he toppled and fell over, in a racket of metal against metal. The dwarf brought himself back to his feet, curses falling from his lips, his helmet crooked.
Alysae let out a long peal of laughter.
As she clenched her sides, her mouth open,her eyes closed, incontrollable laughter tearing out from her chest, she could almost forget about the War.
-xxx-
At last, all was made ready.
The light elven boats were loaded with the Fellowship's things; packages of lembas made by the elves, weapons, clothes and the gifts from the lady. Alysae had caught Legolas more than once eyeing his bow with excitment.
Alysae found herself in front of the Fellowship, a whisper of an echo reminding her of the past few months. She remembered when she'd said goodbye to them, wasn't it just two months ago? This time, though, she hadn't prepared anything.
Wordlessly, she embraced each member of the Fellowship, from Boromir to Gimli, and then Merry and Pippin, Sam and Frodo, and finally Aragorn and Legolas.
Her brother's arms tightened around her. "I love you, Alysae. I promise to do everything in my power to return to you."
"So do I," she murmured back, her throat tight.
She pulled away with a small smile and ruffled his neat blond locks. He didn't even glare at her.
As she watched the Fellowship get into the boats, Alysae felt presences around her. Laereth, Taurya, Caladwen and Belegieth were silently surrounding her, giving her comfort.
She felt a little stronger when their boats disappeared in the distance, swallowed up by the mist rising from the water.
And she was alone, again.
-xxx-
The next day, Alysae was awoken by voices. Confused and still sleepy, she opened the door to look outside of her room. There were elves bustling around, some looking concerned, while others seemed excited.
Alysae stopped one such ellon. "What is going on?" she asked him, her eyebrows furrowed.
The ellon turned towards her, a glint in his eyes. "It's Mithrandir! He's alive!"
"Huh?" Alysae stared blankly at the ellon. Her mind was running slow, but she was very very sure that the words he had said simply did not make sense. Mithrandir was dead.
"The great Gwaihir has brought Mithrandir on his back from the cruel peak of Zirakzigil, and he is alive! He has been brought back by the Valar." The ellon gave her a small smile. "I must go and inform the others. Namarie!"
And he left, leaving Alysae standing like a fool on her doorstep, a million thoughts running through her head, and her stomach churning.
She stumbled and gripped the door tightly.
Mithrandir was not dead.
-xxx-
Dun dun dun.
Lemme know what you think! :)
also, WOOHOO FINALLY! We are moving on to The Two Towers. See you soon!