Winds kissed her face, waking her to the greetings of the bluest of skies. Overhead, the bright sun peeked through the foliage of many shades of green. Her hair, a stream of shining gold in the sunlight, splayed out across the thick green moss beneath. Crimson flowers dropped from the tree nearby lie scattered around and over her white dress. Here the wind blew forever, cold, and refreshing, carrying the fragrance of spring flowers- a place of eternal bliss. As she sat up, with the wind came the silvery notes of a song. Despite the protests of her body for the comfort of the moss bed, she rose.
The song carried her to a meadow, strewn with wildflowers of many colours. At the far end sat four people, of Elvenkind, singing a beautiful song. For a moment she wondered whether she was in the Undying Lands in the west of the world. One of the singers turned and welcomed her and led Erenien to her companions. They were the happiest group of people she had ever met. All of them felt strangely familiar. Her voice joined theirs in song for some time. After a while, the song ended, leaving a yearning ache in her heart. One of the two women who sat opposite her rose and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"You have fought bravely, dear one," the woman with raven black hair said, holding her at arms length and eyed her with such fondness that left Erenien speechless.
"I am afraid I haven't put up much of a fight, my lady," Erenien hesitated, which earned hearty laughter from the lady and her companions.
"Not all wars are fought with a blade, little one," one dark-haired ellon replied, smiling at her. "You fought the evil that infested your world. You are fighting it even now," he added.
"The time has come for you to make a choice," added the other ellon, who looked much alike to the one who had just spoken. Erenien deduced them to be close kin, or even brothers.
"What choice?"
"Either to stay or to go back. You are free to choose. Remember, once the choice is made, there will be no turning back," said the other woman, smiling, as the wind fluttered bronze hair tickled her face. Her face too was much similar to that of her male companions.
Erenien had wanted to stay, to be away from all the pain that the world had offered her. Then she remembered the faces of her father, Legolas and her friends. Just as she had wanted to stay, she had wanted to meet them again. With one yes, all pain would fade away and she would enjoy eternal bliss, only at the cost of her loved ones. The decision was made.
"Nana...Ada," sounded a tiny voice as a little girl trotted across the meadow.
"Aerien," her mother, the black haired woman extended her arms, into which the child eagerly jumped. She covered the little face with kisses, and tucked back a strand of golden tendrils revealing tiny, pointed ears. For a while, there was only joyous laughter in the meadow as the little one passed from hand to hand. The child met eyes with Erenien and smiled- a strangely familiar smile. The child extended her arm towards her. As their fingers touched, Erenien felt the pulse of energy beneath her fingertips, and the world spun round.
***
Erenien jerked open her eyes to find that she was swinging upside down. To be more precise, she was thrown over the shoulder of an orc. Just as her mind was trying to sort out a dream from reality, she was dumped to the ground, quite unceremoniously. The flare of pain woke her to full consciousness. The trees withered at that part of the forest, which she soon realized to be her home. Somebody yanked her hair and hauled her to feet. Without looking back, she staggered forward. The trees were dead. The branches blocking her pathway left trailing marks of red on her face as her eyes failed to see their sharpness.
A whistle cut through the air. She turned back to look and fell backwards as something hit her hard. The pain registered a few moments later. A thousand sharp stones cut onto her back. But what shocked her most was the shaft that protruded from her shoulder. She blinked up at it and without much thought, yanked it out. Findir, her trainer, would have scolded her, if he had happened to see this. In normal circumstances, it would have been a horrible idea. But she didn't trust her captors to be merciful in shooting her with a normal arrow. She dragged herself up and staggered forward. Crooked laughs followed her. Her left arm felt as if it was on fire, with every passing moment, as the poison slowly spread. Too exhausted she was that she missed the sudden dash of green and brown above her and the familiar faces ahead. With one last heave of the clean air, the ground rushed up to meet her.
***
Laerdil was running; as fast as his legs could carry him. Unshed tears boiled in his eyes. He was furious with whoever did this to her. He was angry with the Valar and at the cruel hands of fate that left its claw marks on her fair face. He held her close, afraid that if he was not careful she might slip away. Old memories flashed before him. The way she listened to his songs, eyes closed and fingers tapping, and letting the music give colour to the unseen realms and battles fought long before she came to this world... The way sunlight turned her hair into polished gold. He blinked away the tears. His steps can't falter now, when her life hangs by a thread. Blood seeped through her shoulder wound and kept on dripping as he rushed through the palace courtyard, blocking out all the gasps made at the sight of him.
He ran through the corridors leading to the healers. His steps were suddenly put to a halt. There stood the Elven king, with a sober face, who had just come out of a council meeting. Laerdil watched as all the colour left the King's face. They stood there for a moment, immobile, her blood pooling in between them. Then Thranduil rushed forward, red colouring the hem of his silver robes, took his daughter into his arms, and hurried to the healers. Laerdil stood there for awhile, catching his breath, his whole body shivering, not wholly because of the sudden exertion. Her golden waterfall of hair was sheared away. She was pale and was burning up. He was afraid, that she too, might leave him just like his father; that everyone he ever loved was doomed to be gone.
Notes
Undying Lands- The Undying Lands were a realm inhabited by Ainur (heavenly spirits) and Eldar (elves). The area included the continent of Aman and the island of Tol Eressea.
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The Eternal Starlight
Fanfiction"I cannot raise a child!" Thranduil said aghast. "What she needs is a mother and a father- a proper family," he sighed. "Maybe she has found them in you..." It was said that after the death of his Queen, the Elven king became bitter and cold. Everyo...
