Ascend the Dragonborn | Lord of the Rings

Chapter 7 - Confessions

Anaynah sank into the warm water of the bath, letting the heat seep into her bones. The gentle rippling of the water echoed softly around the room, creating a serene contrast to the turmoil within her mind. The steam rose in delicate tendrils, mingling with the soft light filtering through the window, and outside, the tranquil sounds of Rivendell whispered—a distant waterfall, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, the faint murmur of Elven songs carried on the wind.

Rivendell. It had been a year since she had last set foot in this place, yet it still felt like a dream, a sanctuary far removed from the darkness she had faced. After Erebor, she remained here for a while. Then she ventured out again. This time, however, she did not leave in the middle of the night unseen.
The beauty of it all, the sheer tranquillity, was almost enough to make her forget the horrors of the past days.

Almost.

As she leaned back, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders, her thoughts drifted to the recent journey. The memories clawed at her, refusing to be silenced.
The ring.
The One Ring.
Its evil power had taken hold of her, drawing out something she wasn't sure she wanted to acknowledge. How had she been so weak? How had she allowed it to take control of her so completely?

Or had it been controlled at all? The question gnawed at her, relentless and unforgiving. Was the ring forcing her hand, or had it simply revealed her true nature? The darkness she had always feared was within her, a darkness she had spent years trying to suppress. Ahriman's voice echoed in her mind, his promises of power and liberation still haunting her. He had known exactly what to say, how to dismantle the defences she had built around her heart and soul. Had he broken down her barriers, or had he merely exposed what was already there? Was he right? Were there things he could teach her?

She shivered, though the water was warm. The uncertainty of it all terrified her. She had always prided herself on her strength, her ability to resist temptation and remain true to the light. But now, that confidence had been shaken. The ring had not just brought out her fears—it had shown her a glimpse of what she could become, and that frightened her more than anything.

Her thoughts spun wildly, each one more troubling than the last until a soft knock on the door jolted her back to the present.

"Anaynah?" It was Arwen's voice, gentle and melodic.

Anaynah quickly sat up, her heart racing, as if caught in some forbidden act. "Arwen! Don't come in!" she called out, her voice slightly strained. "I'll be out in a moment."

There was a brief pause, and then Arwen replied, "Take your time."

Anaynah exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead as she tried to calm the storm of emotions within her. She needed to compose herself, to push these thoughts aside—at least for now. But even as she prepared to leave the sanctuary of the bath, she knew that the questions would not leave her easily. They would linger, shadowing her steps, until she found the strength to face them—or until they consumed her entirely.

Anaynah stepped out of the bath, her thoughts still a swirl of confusion and doubt. She wrapped herself in a soft, embroidered robe and walked over to where a violet elven gown had been laid out for her. The gown shimmered with a gentle iridescence in the candlelight, the delicate fabric feeling almost weightless in her hands. She slipped into it, the material flowing around her like water, hugging her form yet allowing her to move with ease.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, the violet hue of the gown accentuating the deep colour of her eyes. Her long curls were still damp, hanging loose around her shoulders. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she truly belonged here after everything that had happened. But she quickly brushed the thought away, smoothing down the gown and squaring her shoulders.