A Woman's Heart

Bane of the Dunedain

So since in my story I'm going to keep Glorfindel's part in the tale intact, unlike in the movie, here he is - in the artwork of the insanely talented Magali Villeneuve. I wanted to have his picture up for the previous chapter since it was his first appearance, but his necklace seemed like a better choice in the end.

With that, I'll shut up now and let you lovelies enjoy the new chapter. Don't forget to toss me a little comment and let me know what you think~ ( ˘ ³˘)❤

= oOo =

She knew she was dreaming... at the very least she hoped she was dreaming; but this felt much too real for a mere dream.

"What is this place?" she whispered, and her own voice startled her for it was dry and hoarse, as though she had been deprived of water for days.

Such a barren and desolate land she had yet to see; the very air around her seemed to be nothing but poisonous smoke, clogging her lungs and throat... the earth beneath her feet was so scorched that it crumbled to dust with each step she took... and yet there was no sun in the sky... only shadow. And though she could not shed tears her heart quivered and wept at the terrible sight around her.

"Mordor...?"

What she could recall of Aragorn's words from so long ago certainly led her to believe that. But why...? Why was she there? Why was she dressed for battle and why was the blade in her hand split in half along its length?

Again she glanced around only to be startled when the ground shook beneath her; upon glancing downward she watched in awe as the earth moved beneath her feet like the waters of a river... and when she again raised her eyes she was before the base of an incredibly tall tower built of a black stone she did not know what to call.

It was when she succumbed to curiosity and reached out to touch it, that something caused her to move again; and she was this time transported to the top of the odd building... and there she found...

"Sauron..."

Her shaky whisper paled in the sound of burning fire and amidst the whispers of Black Speech which now surrounded her. By all accounts it was just a dark crystal wreathed in flames... and yet the blaze held no warmth and the sharply cut jewel looked too much like an eye staring into her very soul. She could not tell how long she simply stared back, unable to tear her gaze away, the sound of her racing heart and her labored breath drowned in the raging inferno; all sense of time seemed lost to her, until a tall figure clad in dark armor – seemingly emerging from the depths of the eye – startled her when it spoke.

"Your cursed race has robbed me of my right to rule..." he said, his voice freezing her to the very core of her soul; such was the weight of hatred and death flowing in his tone.

At those words the figure raised his right hand, revealing his missing fingers, and Leeya felt a sudden, different kind of dread creeping along her spine for she knew well what Sauron spoke of.

"Isildur's heir will fall..." he again spoke, and though his voice was a mere whisper it filled her heart with despair and sorrow, finally drawing forth the tears she wanted to shed. "And from your blood I will raise the Dúnedain's bane!"

With his other hand he now reached for her and veiled her like black mist, whilst the coldness of his words seeped into her mind and heart, once more numbing her very soul in their icy grasp.

=o=o=o=

The scream which had begun in her dream – painfully tearing itself from her parched throat – accompanied her into the waking world even as she shot up in bed. Amidst her heaving breaths, she realized she was drenched in sweat and that her hands were clenched onto the linen covering her stomach, yet could not bring herself to move as if some force had paralyzed her. It was like that that Elrond found her when he arrived, and one glance was enough to tell him that she had likely had another vision – by her expression, he dreaded to hear what she had seen.