The next chapter is up!

WARNING: Mentions of past violence and rape in this chapter. As well as past character death.

Dream Sequences will be inItalics.

Enjoy :)

Dream Sequence Begins...

He couldn't move. No matter how hard he tried. It felt like his insides were ripped out with each plunge and pulling out of the many blades. A few punctured his lungs, and he started having a difficult time breathing after that. He took a spastic inhale desperate for air only to find himself gargling and choking on his own blood as it started pulling in his throat.

All he could do was lie there on the forest floor and look up helplessly, filled with anguish and despair as his beloved children all took turns stabbing him repeatedly. What was just as sad and disturbing, was the sadistic glee in their eyes as they went through with the barbarous act.

As the pain rampaged through his body like wildfire, through the painfilled haze of his mind he cannot help but remember that this is exactly how Sauron went all those centuries ago up in Durnost in Forodwaith. His children at that time had executed the evil Maia in the same exact fashion, until his body exploded in a shroud of cold light and ice that overtook everyone and everything in the surrounding area.

Tears left his glazed over eyes as his uruk children looked down on him with nothing but betrayal and hatred. Then through the haze, he saw him, Sauron. A couple Uruks had stepped aside to allow him to stand between them.

When the evil sorcerer's cold gaze met his dying foe, his lips twisted up in a sadistic grin. Showing how he truly reveled in causing him as much pain as humanly possible. Though what made it hurt all the more is who carried out his execution rather than the act itself.

"My...my children...What have...you done...to them?" Adar weakly asked.

"I showed them a better leader and they accepted it. But then you have no one to blame but yourself. After all, you're the one that brought them here as lambs to be slaughtered. So, it's only natural they came to me. And now...they're all mine and you lost." Sauron taunted.

"No." Adar weakly whispered, as a few more tears left his eyes only to roll down the sides of his cheeks and drip into the wet soil beneath him. Soil saturated in his own blood.

As his vision started to slowly blur and darken, he saw one of the Uruks offer him a blade, with a bow of their head. Sauron took the offered sword and the uruk took a step back.

Then the evil sorcerer shifted his dark gaze back down at his old enemy.

Sauron gripped the hilt with both hands then raised both arms above his head with the blade poised down at Adar who still lied helpless and immobile on the ground.

"Just remember, you brought this on yourself." Sauron spoke in acidic tone.

Then he let out a short yell as he plunged the blade down and through the former father of orcs' heart.

Adar awoke with a start, gasping and looking around the room with a bleary wide-eyed look.

At first, he was riddled with confusion because he forgot where he was as he looked around the strange dwellings. It took him a few moments to calm his rapidly beating heart down. A thin sheen of sweat coated his face and body.

Once he got his breathing under control, only then did he remember where he currently was.

He was on the world known as Earth, taking up residence with a young woman who had found him and took him in and started to care for him and has been showing him a great deal of kindness and consideration. Something he hasn't received from anyone in a very long time.

Adar let out a slow exhale and ran his hands over his face then through his hair.

His gaze shifted to the small digital clock on the nightstand beside him. Mia had started teaching him about time and reading it a couple days prior. Just like everything else she has shown him thus far, it wasn't that difficult to learn about.

The bright neon green numbers flashed 3:04. It was the middle of the night.

After that horrific dream, he doubts he'll be able to go back to sleep. Usually after having a nightmare, he can't fall back asleep afterwards. So, he just usually ends up getting up and doing something else to fill the time. It's always been this way for centuries after awakening from horrifying nightmarish memories from his dark and turbulent past as a captive under Morgoth.

He thought about grabbing his word cards and going over them. They were right there in a neat stack on the nightstand being held together by a rubber band.

Before he reached for them though, he got out of bed and left the bedroom. He awoken feeling parched and went to grab a glass of water from the kitchen.

As Adar left his room and turned to go down the hallway, his gaze shifted to something out of place.

He saw Mia's bedroom door was open. Normally, when he got up in the middle of the night and left the room for something, her bedroom door was always closed.

When he walked by, he took a glance inside, and saw her bed was vacant and she was nowhere around.

Still, he didn't want it to seem like he was intruding on her personal space. So, he stepped away from the doorway and continued down the hall. Once he left the hallway and entered the living room, he went to walk past the basement door on the right.

Adar barely made it past the door when he thought he heard music.

He approached the basement door and stood before it, listening. As he did, he could make out a steady tune and what sounded like singing. Though it was all muffled behind the door.

Curious, he reached up and grasped the doorknob. He slowly twisted it and opened it, trying not to make a sound. When it opened, he can hear the music more clearly now.

He started to walk down the stairs, when the song came to a stop.

Once he got more than halfway down though, another song started up after it. The haunting tune of a harp started playing, then a few seconds later, there was a woman's voice singing.

'Turn out the lights

Feed the fire, til' my soul breaks free

My heart is high as the waves above me...'

By the time he made it past the wall on the right side of the stairs and he made it down to the landing, he first spotted Tundra lying on the couch a few feet down against the wall by the stairs, then his gaze shifted and landed on a figure on the other side of the finished off basement.

It was Mia, and she was dancing.

He watched her move with grace and fluid movements that he didn't know humans were even capable of, matching the words and music of the song playing.

'Don't need to understand

Too lost to lose

Don't fight my tears 'cause they feel so good

And I...I will remember how to fly

Unlock the heavens in my mind

Follow my love back through the same Secret Door'

The dancing was very captivating and beautiful. He can't say he ever saw dancing like this before. She moved with the grace of a dancing Elleth. For they were some of the only ones who could move with such beauty and grace.

He stayed where he was on the small landing, with his hand still on the thin metal railing.

Mia knew he was there; she caught movement out of the corner of her eye as she spun around and saw him standing on the lower landing gazing at her.

She didn't let it deter her though and continued.

'Look past the end

It's a dream as it's always been

All life lives on if we've ever loved it

And I...I will remember how to fly

Unlock the heavens in my mind

Follow my love back through the same Secret Door...

~Instrumental~

He watched her continue to make elegant and fluid spins on the tips of her toes while arching her body, matching the rhythm of the instrumental solo part of the song.

These moves made her look both fragile and strong at the same time and for some reason it made one thing come to mind, on what she reminds him of.

'I...I will remember how to fly

Unlock the heavens in my mind

Follow my love back through the same Secret Door...'

~Instrumental Ends~

She slowly dropped back down with her feet together, one in front of the other at the ankles, and slowly lowering her arms until they came to a rest at her sides by the time the last note hit.

Once she finished, Mia walked over to the mirror, bent down and picked up her iPhone off of the floor. Then she went into it and paused the music.

Afterwards, she started walking across the smooth wooden floor towards Adar. He gave her a soft smile as she approached, as he cleared the two steps that lend down to floor level from the landing.

"That was very beautiful, Mia. You're clearly very talented and gifted with this form of dance." He says.

The young woman gave him a small, yet shy smile.

"Thanks. It certainly is an amazing way to express one's emotions, while making you feel alive. At least, that is always what it has felt like for me, since I started doing it years ago as a toddler." She admits.

Then she paused for a moment and gave him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, was the music a little too loud? Did I wake you? I try to keep it low and make sure the door is closed when I'm down here." She told him.

Adar shook his head, "No, I was already awake. I got up to get some water from the kitchen and as I was passing by the basement door, I could faintly hear music on the other side of it. I became curious and decided to head down. Though I am rather surprised to see you down here at this hour, dancing. Thought you would be fast asleep at this time."

Mia shrugs, "I woke up around ten minutes ago, and just couldn't go back to sleep. Happens from time to time and when it does, I usually come down here to dance."

He nodded in understanding.

"Yes, when I awaken and cannot fall back asleep, I get up as well and do other various things. Most of the time, I find myself going on a walk through the settlement or woods that surround it, to help clear my head." He says.

"So, you really do have a hard time sleeping too then?" She asks, as she walks over and picks up a large glass of water off of the top of the flat surface of the cubby shelves not far from the couch.

"Yes, more often than not. It's been that way for a very long time. Even when I lived back on Middle Earth." He said, as he walked over.

Mia then approached the couch and ushered Tundra off of it. The large pooch got up with a huff and jumped down onto the floor.

Then she took a seat on the couch with her glass of water and made a small motion for him to sit with her. Adar was there withing moments and sat down on the small canvas couch right next to her.

The pair sat there in momentary silence for several moments.

Remembering he was thirsty; she offered him her glass. He took it with a 'thank you' and took a few sips from the large glass, before handing it back to her.

"I can't begin to imagine how shitty that is. Here I thought insomnia was bad for humans. But for Elves having to endure it for decades or even centuries, that has to be hell." She stated.

"And it was. It never really got better with time either. The restlessness was just as bad from the beginning all the way up until now." He replied.

Mia was silent for a moment, before speaking.

"And you...never figured out the cause for it?" She asks.

"I know what the cause is. I've known it from the start." He tells her.

Hopefully, she doesn't come off as rude or intrusive for asking her next question.

"What is...the cause then?" She inquired.

"Nightmares." He said, while looking ahead, before shifting his gaze to her.

The young woman gave him a brief nod, "Me too."

Though she will admit, she was pretty surprised by his answer. What is it an elf could possibly have nightmares about? Was he involved in a lot of battles and saw a lot of the horror that unfolded with them?

It just made her remember that she still doesn't really know much about him. Only that he was an elf who came from Middle Earth, and he has been to many places within Middle Earth during the span of his very long life. Otherwise, he has never really told her much about his life.

He doesn't know why, but it was during this time, he decided he wanted to tell her how it was he came to be here to begin with.

"I never really told you how it was I came to find myself here." He said.

Mia furrowed her brows at that.

"What do you mean? I thought you said you didn't know how it was you ended up here." She pointed out.

Adar sighs, "At first, I was unsure of how I did come to be here. It didn't take me very long to realize though that the Valar had sent me here after...I died."

Her eyes widened in shock upon hearing that. Then her mind flashed back into the state she found him in upon arrival. More particularly, the numerous mysterious holes in his armor and shirt.

"The holes...in your shirt..." She trailed off.

He swallowed before answering.

"I was stabbed to death. And since then, that is what my nightmares have been about." He confessed.

Mia's eyes widened even more, and her hand flew to cover her mouth at his startling confession.

Her eyes then became a little glassy as she slowly lowered her hand from her face.

"Oh god, Aerin. I'm so sorry." She says.

He gave her a sad smile.

"It's alright. I knew that my life would end sooner or later. That it was only a matter of time." Adar told her.

He knew it too. The turbulent life he led, all the dangers and horrors that it entailed. In the end, he knew where it would eventually lead to. How it always ends for those that have done unspeakable things like he has.

"I guess, being a warrior, that sadly would make sense. Though how is it you came to be here and that you're alive, as well as human?" She asked.

"It is said, that when an elf dies, they don't generally stay dead. Instead, they are given a new life, reincarnated into a new body. Then they get to choose if they wish to reside in Valinor or return to Middle Earth. Though I cannot say I ever heard of instances where an elf would find themself here on Earth as a human. And that is what baffles me. For I am not sure the Valar's reasoning for sending me here and giving me a second life in a human form. I didn't choose this; I wasn't given a chance to choose. They just decided to send me here and that was that." He explained.

Though he knows an elf living their second life was not unheard of, given at least one elf before was given that option and chose it. But even then, they weren't sent here to Earth afterwards, they were sent back to Middle Earth where they spent the remainder of their mortal life.

He doubts Luthien ever regretted it either and heard she enjoyed her short but happy life as a human with the man she loved.

Still, a human would've been his last choice if given the option to choose to live a new life. Hell, he's still reeling over the fact about being given a chance at all. When he shouldn't have been given one. For he was not pure like the other Elves. He was a corrupt and tainted soul that was twisted into one of the very first Uruks by Morgoth.

Yet, at this point, he needs to stop dwelling on it and just be happy that he was given this second chance at a new life, especially after learning these last several days that being a human wasn't so bad. If anything, he found himself coming to accept and enjoy it.

He has Mia and her company to thank for that.

"You may not know why that is. And while I never really thought myself a spiritual or religious kind of person, it still seems like they must've done it for a reason. It's something you either may figure out or never figure out. Regardless, just be happy that you are alive and have this chance. I don't believe humans here really have that chance at all.

They say when you die, your soul goes to heaven and tends to remain there for all eternity. Though there are some people who do believe reincarnation and the chance at a second or even multiple lives throughout different times in the span of history. Still, the truth is, you really don't know for certain what happens to you until you do die and your soul passes on. Most would tell you that you were given a gift and are truly lucky." She says.

"Yes, I suppose I am. Even though I don't deserve it." He replied.

Mia wanted to know what he meant by that last part. But before she could ask, he spoke again.

"You say you have nightmares too...what about?" Adar asks.

He watched as her bright eyes became dull and she slowly tilted her head down, her gaze meeting the floor at their feet.

She felt a hand on her upper back shortly after.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to come off intrusive like that. Whatever it is, it is obviously very personal." He apologized, as he lightly rested his hand on her back in comfort.

The young woman shook her head.

"No, you opened up and told me the reason for your nightmares. It's only fair...I tell you the reason for mine." She told him.

Though in doing so, it would mean letting out the inner demons that have been haunting her for the better part of the last two years.

Mia took a deep breath.

"Up until a couple years ago, I was a professional ballerina. During that time...there was a man who was a fellow dancer. Being a part of the same dance team, we have worked together for years on shows worldwide. Though despite for knowing each other for a while, we have only dated for about a year and a half. I... loved him and I believed...he loved me. Or so I thought. Then a couple of my closest friends who were also fellow dancers confronted me and told me they believe him to be involved with another dancer. Not only that...but there was a rumor circulating between some of those on the team that he was taking drugs.

Of course, being the lovestruck fool I was, I refused to believe the rumor or that he was seeing another woman behind my back. That was until one day, he had left his iPhone behind in one of the changing rooms. I went to go back and get it for him. I had just picked it up and was about to leave with it when a text tone went off.

I looked down at the text and saw who it was from. I don't know why, but I tapped on it and opened the text and started reading the messages. The messages I saw that they were exchanging sadly pointed out that what my friends were telling me all along was true. He really was having a relationship with this other dancer behind my back. It felt like the ultimate betrayal, especially seeing as this dancer was a part of our team and I knew her well. She knew we were together, and I never would've thought she would do something so low like this.

I was utterly devasted and heartbroken. And if that weren't bad enough within one of the messages, she had sent him one text in particular warning him that our boss was planning on doing random drug tests on us. And that he needs to stay clean for a while because of this. That was even more shocking. I have known him for so long and have been with him for a while and not once have I ever suspected him to be into any drugs. Not only was it fucked up but it's extremely risky and stupid to do so, because if caught, a dancer could lose their position on the team and their livelihood as a dancer.

That following night after our latest performance, I met up with him at his temporary apartment during our stay in the city. I confronted him about the other dancer he was seeing and asked him how he could do such a thing to us. And he had the nerve to deny it and tell me it wasn't true. That was when I called him out on it and told him I knew he was lying and that I had in fact saw the text messages going on between him and that I also knew he was doing drugs. Not long after I said that his face darkened, and next thing I knew...I felt a hot searing pain in cheek and found myself crashing to the ground." She explained.

She paused and let out a shaky exhale, before resuming.

"He...then started...beating me up. Then he...threw me against the wall and...started ripping my clothes off and... he raped me." Mia finally got out, as hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

Adar couldn't help but feel for the poor girl. It was clear, she knew pain and horror, just as he has. Sadly, he was no stranger to rape either. Morgoth and Sauron had made him force himself on many unwilling she-elves all to breed the first generation of Uruks. It made him feel just as violated as them as they were both forced by the evil powerful Vala to copulate with one another.

He soon found himself gently wrapping his arms around the young woman in a comforting embrace.

She found herself leaning into his embrace pressing the side of her face into his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. He tilted his head and lightly pressed his cheek to the top of her head, as he continued comforting her.

"I'm sorry, Mia." He softly says.

Eventually, her tears died down, as she stayed leaning into him, and he continued to hold her.

"I'm just so tired. Tired of...being afraid. After the attack and testifying against him, and having him put away, I retired from ballet right after and spent more than a year in this house, too afraid and depressed to go out. I only gained the courage to go back out around five months ago." She said.

"I know it is hard to believe, but you taking that step, has showed you are healing. It may seem slow or minute at times, but it's there. By going back out into the world, you have shown you are less afraid now then you were before. So, don't doubt yourself. You are stronger than you realize." He tells her.

A faint smile appeared on her face upon hearing his words.

Funny, how a few words from someone she has just met not too long ago and taken in, reached out to her more than any of the words some of the bullshit therapists have told her when they visited her for sessions in her home since the assault.

"Thank you, Aerin." Mia says.

Then she slowly pulls back a little from his embrace. His arms loosened and dropped down a little.

She looked up to meet his gaze.

"Just like I know you will be fine here. Despite the horrible thing that happened to you and being brought here, you are doing great at learning to adjust and live here." She told him.

A warm smile slowly appears on his face.

"And I have you to thank for that...Wilwarin. I don't believe I would've made it this far without your help." Adar says.

She couldn't help but return the smile.

"You're welcome." She replied.

But then her smile faltered a little and her brows creased in confusion.

"What does 'Wilwarin' mean though?" She asked, curious.

His smile widens a little.

"In Quenya, it means 'Butterfly'. Seeing you dance earlier, the fluid and graceful movements, fragile yet strong at the same time, and beautiful. Reminded me of a butterfly." He said.

Warmth spread throughout her cheeks and chest at the meaning behind it. She couldn't help but find it very sweet and enduring that he referred to her as that. Even more so, because butterflies are among one of her most favorite insects. She had a small tattoo of a couple butterflies fluttering around a couple flowers on the back of her left shoulder.

"Butterfly huh? Does this mean I should come up with a nice nickname for you too?" She lightly teased.

He huffed out a brief, silent laugh.

"Knowing you, I'm not so sure I want to know what kind of crazy name you would call me. Might be something embarrassing." He teased back.

At least he was glad to see she seemed better now and no longer sad.

"Don't worry, I promise it won't be 'that' embarrassing. If that helps." Mia continued teasing him.

"That doesn't sound very promising at all. How about we just stick to my actual name." He says, with an amused grin.

Mia sighs, "Ok, we'll stick with just your name...for now."

"I suppose this is as far as I'll get at changing your mind, sadly." He joked.

"You're not wrong." She said, trying to get the last word in.

In the end, Adar just started laughing at her persistence and humor.

They continued chatting a little longer, until they decided to head back upstairs. Both of them felt like a weight has been lifted off once they shared a little about their harsh past with one another.

Perhaps the reason he was brought here, was so that they could heal each other.

Quenya Translations:

Wilwarin -Butterfly

Until Next Time ;)