Candaith and Gwin have reunited…although circumstances are a bit less ideal than they hoped. Read on to find out what happens next!

Chapter 66

Gwin's POV

It was such a relief to see Candaith's handsome face so close to mine. He was looking at me gravely, with tears in his eyes, and I could feel my own sliding down my cheeks. He brushed them away gently with his warm fingers, his hand shaking slightly.

The pain had been fading, becoming an all-encompassing numbness that made my muscles seize up and my body shake. I felt darkness fluttering at the edges of my vision, but I pushed it away, for now. I had much I wished to say to Candaith, but I was losing my strength.

Despite this, I continued on, "I hope you have found as much happiness as I have found with you, meleth."

"More than I can possibly say," he said softly, his deep voice always a comfort.

"We have made such wonderful memories," I whispered.

He nodded solemnly. "We will make many more," he insisted, looking at me almost pleadingly. He likely suspected what I was trying to do. I sighed, and noticed Elladan and Elrohir looking at me with some alarm.

"Penneth, I know what you are implying, and I will not allow it," Elladan said firmly, but his voice was shaking.

He knew I was trying to say goodbye.

I raised an eyebrow, "Stubborn, as always." I tried to laugh but winced as I felt a searing pain in my chest, and I needed a moment to catch my breath.

"Lothrandir, have you found it?" Elrohir asked, and I was saddened to hear his voice break with emotion.

I quirked a tiny smile when I heard Lothrandir swear in Sindarin, but then felt despair settle over me. I knew in my heart it would likely be too late, even if he did find the antidote and administer it to me.

"Muinthel, you must fight this!" Elladan cried. "Do not give in!"

Before I could gather the strength to say something in response, Gevorch started moaning in pain, and Elrohir glared at him. "Do you have something to say, mortal?"

"It-it is in…in the sheath of…of my dagger," he croaked, gasping for breath and looking at Elrohir in fear. I was not surprised; Elrohir could be terrifying in anger, and was twisting the arrow shaft in Gevorch's shoulder painfully.

"Lothrandir, check the dagger sheath!" Elrohir shouted, and I could hear Lothrandir and Levra searching even quicker. Things seemed muffled, like I had ear muffs on, and it brought a pleasant memory to my mind.

I shivered as I rode into Suri Kyla. Forochel was colder than I had anticipated, and all I wanted was a warm fire and a place to change my clothes, which were wet from a tumble into a snowbank while fighting an angry polar bear. I was unsure who to speak to; I could pass on the good word from those I had aided further south to their chieftain, but I had to find him first.

Curiously, the first person I came across was…a ranger? He quirked a curious smile at me and bowed. "Suilad, my lady," he said formally, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

I dismounted, and replied with some caution, "Suilad. May I ask your name?"

"I am called Lothrandir, lady...?" he asked leadingly.

"Gwinthilnel, but no "lady" title required," I answered. He must have noticed my shivering state, because his eyes widened and he escorted me inside the gates. I was surprised that the Lossoth allowed the ranger to go where he willed, as they were a very suspicious group of people, but determined I would ask about it later.

Soon enough, I was inside a small-sized building, and Lothrandir stoked and added logs to the already welcoming fire. I looked around and noticed it was likely a dwelling of someone. Curious, I asked, "Is this your home?"

He turned to me and nodded with a smile, "My temporary one, anyway." When I looked at him with some confusion, he elaborated, "I am of the Dunedain, and lived most of my life in Esteldin. My chieftain tasked me with getting to know the people here while getting a sense of their loyalties. He wanted to know if we had another enemy to worry about. Thankfully, the Lossoth are slow to trust others, but honorable. They have no interest in Sauron or Angmar, and wish to simply live in peace." He frowned. "Which unfortunately has been difficult as of late due to Angmarim and a significant increase in the number of Gauradans."

"I see," I replied slowly, unsure what to make of this. "Well, I thank you for the fire at the very least." I moved my face closer to it, perhaps almost too close, for Lothrandir put a stalling hand on my shoulder. "Do you wish to get burned? The fire is hot, and you are quite close to it."

I blushed, embarrassed. "My ears are very cold, and the heat feels pleasant."

"Aha, I have something that may help!" the ranger exclaimed, and went over to his pack to dig something out. He stood up and handed me what looked like two circles of fur connected by a linen strap, and I looked at him quizzically.

"What are these?" I asked.

"They are ear muffs," he replied. I must have seemed skeptical, for he laughed and explained. "They go over your ears to protect them from the cold."

My cheeks reddened as I felt somewhat embarrassed at the fact that I hadn't made the connection. "Ah, yes, that makes sense." True enough, once I put them on, I immediately started to feel warmer, although it did muffle my hearing somewhat. I let out a contented sigh and he grinned.

"Better?" he asked cheekily.

I rolled my eyes but nodded and replied, "Much. Hannon le."

"Would you like to sit for a little while? Perhaps eat something?" the ranger asked politely, but his eyes were still sparkling with mischief.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, "Am I missing something?"

Lothrandir laughed, "I have just never seen an Elf wear ear muffs!"

I felt a little put-out, but eventually joined in his laughter.

I had closed my eyes briefly while I was lost in the memory, and felt a little disoriented when I opened them to see Lothrandir in front of me, but there was no sparkle of mischief or cheeky grin on his face. He was sitting with Levra beside him, and they were quickly mixing the rain water into what looked like a dark blue powder. Candaith still held my hand tightly, and Elladan was rapidly undoing the bandages he had so efficiently applied just a few minutes ago.

I was shaking even more now, and felt completely out of control of my body. It did not listen when I willed it to stop moving, and my breaths were shallower now, as it hurt to expand my lungs. My vision was becoming slightly blurry, but I blinked it away rapidly and my eyes once again settled on Candaith's panicked face. He was watching the preparation of the antidote anxiously, likely aware of how little time we had. Radanir, whom I had forgotten was even there, was pacing back and forth anxiously. I noticed him roughly wipe his face, and I realized he was crying. His gaze found mine, and his eyes were full of fear.

"How quickly is this poison supposed to work?" Elrohir barked at Gevorch.

"She should not die for many hours, but…" I saw the Dunlending peek up at me out of the corner of my eye. "It seems she is dying faster."

Calenglad seemed unable to restrain himself any longer and grabbed Gevorch by the hair, putting his face right up to his, "Maybe we should give it to you, so you can see how it feels!"

I was tired of the yelling and the anger. "Please…please stop shouting," I said faintly, unable to raise my voice. I felt everyone's eyes on me. "If…if these are to be my…last moments, I would…have them be filled with…with music." I turned my gaze to Elladan, who's face had frozen in an expression of sorrow. "Would you sing for me, muindor?"

Candaith had turned toward me once more, "These will not be your last moments, meleth. See, even now they have finished preparing the antidote." He was pleading with me to listen. "Do not give up."

I smiled sadly at him, "Even so, I would like…to hear Elladan's voice."

I felt Elladan's warm hand on my shoulder as he murmured, "As you wish, muinthel." His voice was steadier than I thought it would be as he sang a familiar tune I had heard many times in the Hall of Fire. It was light hearted and peaceful, which was in sharp contrast to the anxiety around me. I closed my eyes and let it wash over me, pushing some of the numbness and pain aside.

As this was happening, I could sense Levra hand something to Elladan, who, while still singing, started wrapping the bandage around my shoulder once more. I assumed some of the antidote had been applied to it.

"Gwin, can you open your mouth for me?" Lothrandir asked softly, and my eyes fluttered open to see him with a pinch of the blue mixture in his fingers.

I furrowed my brow, "Are your…hands clean?" I asked, trying to make him smile.

He managed to quirk his lips into what could be a smile, but not quite. "Yes mellon nin, now let me put this in your cheek here." Obediently I opened my mouth and tasted something so vile I almost spit it out. Levra looked at me with some sympathy; she must be familiar with it.

Still listening to Elladan's calming voice, I grasped his hand tightly and felt some warmth flow into my fingertips, but it was not enough on its own to heal me. I had to trust in this medicine to somehow save me, but I felt myself sliding a little further back towards the darkness, which was fluttering at the edges of my vision again. Candaith must have noticed, for he turned my gaze to his, which begged me to stay without words.

"Meleth nin," I murmured faintly, and Candaith leaned closer. "I will do my best to fight this, but…" I took a couple shallow breaths to regain my voice, "If I do not survive…I…I want you to know…I will always love you." I felt some tears of my cheeks, but let them fall. "Forever."

"As will I," he replied brokenly, and it broke my heart to see the pain in his eyes.

I wanted to tell him to find love again, if I were to die, but did not have the energy or perhaps, a little selfishly, the desire to. Instead, I smiled, and pulled his face down to mine. Normally I would not do such a thing in front of others, but in this moment, I had no qualms. There was some desperation in the kiss, like he was willing me to survive through it. I poured all the love I had into it, and after we parted, I took my other hand in his and felt the comforting familiarity. The people I loved the most were here with me, and that was what mattered.

At that, I let my eyes close, and knew no more.

I got a little teary-eyed writing this; my emotions got the best of me. You can really sense the love Candaith has for Gwin, and that of the others. When beginning to type this out, I closed my eyes and set the whole scene in my mind, and just let the characters do and say what they wanted. I think it came out pretty decent; let me know what you think! Leave a review :-)