Chapter 15: The Breaking of the World
When Galadriel woke, the first thing she noticed was the silence. The last thing she remembered was the rushing noise of a great wave, but now she was blanketed by quiet. Her body ached, but it was a dull, distant feeling, stiffness in her joints and heaviness in her limbs. The cold remained though. It was stifling.
It felt like the light of Valinor had been snuffed out before her eyes again.
"General Galadriel?"
The voice was soft, hesitant. Galadriel blinked open her eyes, squinting at the onslaught of light after the prolonged darkness. Cerys was leaning over her, brow furrowed and face pale with worry.
Cerys waited a moment, but when Galadriel did not speak, she continued. "King Halbrand asked that we fetch him when you woke. May I leave you?"
Galadriel forced a small nod then closed her eyes again, already tired from that small exertion. She heard Cerys rise and exit the room. She must have drifted off again, for the next thing she knew, Halbrand sat beside her, gently tracing his fingers over the back of her hand. It was easier to open her eyes now, and she focused on her companion's concerned face.
"When I came back with Cerys and found you asleep again, I feared I'd have to wait another day for you to wake. Luckily, you only slept a short while this time. How are you feeling?"
"Can you feel it?" Galadriel's voice cracked and she felt her throat burn from the strain of the words.
Halbrand arched a brow. "Can I feel what?" He asked gently.
"Valinor is gone. The light has died again." A sob wracked her body suddenly. She had not even known she was crying but now could feel the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.
"Not gone exactly, but no longer here. The very foundations of the world have been remade."
Galadriel sobbed harder, fingers clutching restlessly at her bedclothes. Halbrand gently took one into his own hands, running his fingers over it in a soothing motion. "I should have known you would be able to feel the shift. I wonder if all elves felt the breaking of the world, or only those born in the undying lands. I am grieved that it affected you so."
She glared at him through the haze of tears and fought to rip her hand from his grip. "You have wrought this evil. You enticed Pharazôn down this light-forsaken path and stole Valinor away from me again."
Halbrand's grip was tight but gentle as he kept her hand steady. "I will accept the blame for the dying of the trees, but I am not at fault this time. Pharazôn knew the law of the Valar and chose to disregard it. I told him nothing he did not already believe."
They were silent as Galadriel continued to cry. Eventually the tears slowed and stopped, leaving her drained and agonizingly empty. She stared unseeing at the ceiling above her. "How long was I asleep?"
"Two days. I confess I was far more worried for you than for the foolish men of Númenor." He rubbed her hand slowly, bringing Galadriel's attention to where it was still trapped in his grasp. She considered pulling it back, but the warmth was pleasant, and the required effort seemed insurmountable when she was so tired.
"Ah, it seems you require more rest. If you have regained enough strength, we will attempt to leave tomorrow. There are no signs of orcs left on this side of the mountain, so we can return to the city as soon as you can travel."
Galadriel fought to respond, but her eyelids were heavy. She heard a whisper from Halbrand and felt him drawing small circles on her hand. Then all sensation slipped away again.
xXxXx
By morning Galadriel had regained sufficient strength to begin the journey. She was still weaker than usual, but the worst of the fatigue had passed. However, her heart remained heavy, and she could not bring herself to converse with the men. They must have had some idea of what had occurred by this point, but no one questioned her about it. She was grateful.
Halbrand forced Galadriel to ride for the trip, so they lost no speed for her. Two days passed with little to note, but on the morning of the third day they met a messenger on the road from the west.
"Lord Halbrand," he called in relief upon reaching their party. "It is good you are already so near the city. Ontamo sent me to bring you back. Some great cataclysm has befallen Middle Earth, though we do not know what. A great flood appears to have overtaken Pelargir, perhaps four or five days ago. We received a messenger late yesterday from them. Refugees are on the way."
Halbrand frowned. "Was there any damage to our own city? We have few buildings upon the banks of the Anduin, but if the flooding was severe, they could have been affected."
"No, my Lord. The flood reached us, but there was limited damage. The worst was a handful of small boats that were not properly secured and were swept downstream by the receding waters."
"Very good. Join us for now on the trip back. If the damage was limited, there is little news we can provide to Isildur. Once we know more, I will send you to him."
The messenger bowed and took a place beside Halbrand to present the rest of his news as they traveled. Galadriel took the opportunity to drift back somewhat in the group. Halbrand had kept her close to his side since she'd woken, but for now she wished for solitude.
The aching void in her chest still throbbed, as if a hunger that would never be sated. Of all those around her, only Halbrand knew the true loss to the world that had befallen them, but he had seemed almost smug when he spoke of the probable fate of Númenor. Galadriel hoped desperately that those of the faithful that remained in the city had been spared. She dreaded to consider that after everything, she might have to bear the news to Isildur that his family had perished.
Before her, Halbrand laughed at something Tindómëon had said. Had Tindómëon also left loved ones behind? Loved ones who likely had succumbed to fire or water or some other ghastly punishment. Halbrand truly cared for her and the men under his charge. She believed that completely, as she had seen his diligence and compassion every day since he'd taken up the throne. And yet he seemed so unbothered by the possible eradication of an entire race of men.
"A fitting punishment for his treatment of you." That's what Halbrand had said before they left Pelargir. Nausea twisted her gut. Did any crime merit such a sentence?
Lost in thought as she was, Galadriel found the day passed quickly. They came into sight of the city just after sunset, and all the men chose to carefully pick their way through the dark rather than camp again so close to home. Although Halbrand told her to retire to her quarters and rest upon arrival, she returned him a glare and took a seat in the hall to wait for the messenger from Pelargir.
The man who met them was middle aged and battle worn. He did not bow but greeted them courteously and introduced himself as Avalôzîr. "Halbrand, king of the Southlanders, as your men have told you, five days past our city was struck by a great wave. The harbors and palace were pulled into the sea along with the very ground they stood upon. Only the northernmost stretch of the city remains standing. We have relocated all that could be saved to the intact portions of the city, but we no longer have room to house all the survivors, and much of our stores have been destroyed.
"Many of those pulled from the wreckage are understandably fearful of remaining so close to the ocean. They have sent me in their stead to request asylum here in your city. They know men of Númenor are well treated here after all."
Halbrand responded without hesitation. "Of course, any of your people in need of a new home may find it here. There is plenty of room in the barracks now that most of our people have settled into homes of their own. We also still have a number of tents for any families that would prefer privacy to comfort."
Avalôzîr thanked him and plans were made to bring the refugees to the city in the coming weeks. Before he withdrew, Galadriel stopped him. "Avalôzîr, have you yet received any news from the west?"
"My lady? I'm sure I don't know what you mean." His face betrayed open curiosity, though Halbrand's expression was chiding.
"A wave powerful enough to destroy a portion of your city could have damaged the ports of Armenolos as well. I suspect it will take some time for any news to reach you, but several of our people have family back in Númenor. If you would share any news you receive, they would be most grateful."
Avalôzîr agreed with a slight bow, and the door slipped shut behind him. Galadriel turned her attention back to Halbrand who had relaxed. Tindómëon, who stood beside him, was pale, as if he just now considered the possibility of harm to those in Númenor. She stood and walked to him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "There has been no news, so we must not let our fears suffocate us. For now, all we can do is create a safe refuge for those who may need it."
He relaxed slightly, returning Galadriel a breathed thank you before both turned to Halbrand awaiting his orders. The king was silent, staring at the door through which the messenger had departed. Finally, he turned back to them. "I agree with Galadriel. We have no knowledge of the current state of affairs outside of our borders. Pelargir may have been the only casualty, but we cannot know that. We must wait for news."
After finalizing plans for the morning, Halbrand dismissed Tindómëon and stood as if to retire as well. A whispered summons as he passed brought Galadriel to his rooms a short time later once everyone else was ensconced in their own quarters.
She knocked once on the door and was ushered in immediately. Halbrand's rooms were slightly larger than her own, but only just. They were equally bare, however. A few maps had been tacked up on the walls alongside a variety of notes, but they only increased the sense of utility, like the apartment was an extension of the war room.
Halbrand gestured Galadriel to a small wooden stool next to a trestle table while he took a seat on the bed. She began as soon as she was seated. "What did you tell the men of my spell. We have acted before them as if we know as little as they, and indeed, we have no proof of any of our theories, but I think it unlikely that we are wrong."
Halbrand smiled grimly. "I knew vaguely what was wrong with you from the moment you collapsed because I too felt the breaking. Before the men it was easy to feign confusion and panic. They do not know of any connection between that event and Pelargir, though some may work it out. If Arondir felt anything, he has not spoken to us of it."
"Arondir is young by elf standards and is of our forest kin. He does not have the connection to the West that those born in Valinor do. He likely felt a disturbance, but without knowing of my own condition nor the visions that plagued Miriel, he could not have known the cause."
Halbrand hummed thoughtfully. "Gil-galad knows you're here and acknowledged your formal role as ambassador, yes?"
"Indeed. He warned me to be wary of you too, though I do not believe he knows you to be any more than you appear to be."
A mirthless laugh escaped him. "Did he indeed? Gil-galad has always been shrewd. No, I wondered if we might hear from the elves. If this breaking sunk half the city of Pelargir, it may have had broader consequences than we suspected. If anyone would know, it is your kinsmen in Lindon."
Galadriel considered his words. "You may be right. If there was damage to Lindon, they will likely be occupied for the immediate future, but I suspect we will hear word from them eventually, especially if Númenor suffered the fate we think it has. It would be folly to attempt the journey ourselves with the world in flux."
"Do you truly think anyone survived in Númenor to bring word to Pelargir?"
Galadriel sighed, rubbing her face. After the day of traveling, especially following two days bedridden, she was exhausted. "I do not know. Selfishly, I hope Elendil has survived for Isildur's sake. I know he loves his father, and it would be a bitter blow to lose him now, after all that happened in the fight for the Black Lands. However, I must assume that at least any who sailed west with Pharazôn will have shared his fate. Whether Elendil would go against a direct order is something I cannot guess."
Halbrand nodded slowly. "He has no love for Pharazôn, but that does not mean Elendil would blatantly refuse an order. Even if he refused to follow his king, there is no guarantee he was spared."
Galadriel frowned down at her hands, twisting anxiously in her lap. "I cannot believe the Valar would judge the whole nation as one and punish the innocent with the guilty."
"You place too much faith in the justice of the Valar," Halbrand scoffed.
Galadriel scowled at him. "Just because you did not consider their judgement of you fair, does not mean they are not just."
Halbrand narrowed his eyes. "After Morgoth, their kin, sang his dissonance and threw the world into chaos, they asked that a general take full responsibility for all destruction and death over an age of the world. I do not claim innocence, but they sought a scapegoat, not a just punishment for the offenders.
"Of course, that may aid your friends among the Númenóreans. Perhaps the Valar will be content to pin upon Pharazôn every act of rebellion from all the generations of men that came before him, just as they did to me."
They glared at one another as the silence became tense around them. "Perhaps," Galadriel said finally, breaking her gaze from Halbrand's again. "The Valar weigh intent and regret alongside the actions themselves."
"Perhaps they do. If Elendil has survived, perhaps there is hope for us yet. After all, I am not the only one who rejected the Valar's offer after the war."
The words hung there, menacing in the ring of truth behind them. Finally, Galadriel sighed. "I could not go west, within sight of those blessed shores, and know I could never again walk upon them." She could feel the heavy weight settling on her eyes as she mumbled the words. Every blink seemed a great effort, and her shoulders sagged with the weight of her griefs, both long buried and new.
Halbrand studied her for a moment before he stood and offered her his hand. "You must be exhausted. Please rest now and take care of yourself." He pulled her deftly to her feet and gently led her back to her own quarters. At the door he hesitated a moment, eyes searching for something in her face. In a swift movement he leaned forward and kissed her forehead before bidding her goodnight and retreating.
She stood in the doorway to her room for a long time, staring out at the now empty hallway.