The Darkness Bearer

●●Chapter One of Part Two●●

Cody woke up screaming, sitting up right. Her past life filled her once peaceful dreams, almost shattering the last bit of sanity she had left. Sweat trickled down the side of her face and she wiped it away with the heel of her hand only to draw it away and looked down at her hands.

While she had been sleeping someone had come in and bathed her, treated to her wounds and kept her hair nicely kept. Her hands were wrapped in thick bandages as were her arms. She threw back the covers and let out a choked sob when she saw her destroyed leg.

It was a sickly green color from what was visible. What she could not see was the destroyed and inflamed flesh slowly being fused back together by the elves magic healing. She tried to move her toes but it caused her too much pain and she cried out.

Moments later a young woman walked into her room carrying a bowl of water and a small rag hung over her shoulder.

"It's good to see you awake at last." she said in a voice as sweet as honey.

"W-who are you? Where am I?" she croaked. Her throat was raw from screaming and ash from the mountain.

"My name is Eowyn of Rohan. And as for where you are, you're in the healing chambers of Gondor."

"Gondor...." she murmured.

"I've heard many things about you Codalia." she smiled as she gently dabbed the wet cloth over her brow. She worked with graceful movements of her arm and wrist yet her eyes held a determined look, wanting to finish the task at hand.

She looked up at her in confusion. "Heard many things from whom? I'm not alone here? The others are here?" she questioned excitedly.

She chuckled and continued to cool her forehead. "A little hobbit such as yourself by the name of Merry has told me many stories about you."

"Merry! Where is he?" She demanded.

"He's resting. Your friend was wounded in battle. He saved my life. I'll forever be indebted to him."

"What about Frodo? And Sam? And Pippin? And Stri-"

"Hush little one," she chuckled and put her hands up to stop her. "Your friends are fine. They're all safe here in Gondor. In fact, you'll be dining with them tonight. I came to bring you this." she held up a small box then set it down on the bed beside Cody.

Her fingers reached towards it but then she stopped and glanced up at Eowyn. "May I?"

"Of course, it is for you after all."

She looked down at it then hesitantly removed the lid and gasped when she saw the contents. Laying perfectly folded, and wrinkle free in the box, was a dress of the most beautiful silks. The light danced off the sleek fabric, causing the ocean and it's foamy waves to appear on the blue dress.

"It's beautiful," Cody breathes as she picked up the dress and examined every inch of it. "Could you help me dress?" She asked Eowyn and looked up at her.

"Of course." The woman smiled and pulled the sheets back from Cody.

After many cries and mumbled apologies, Eowyn zipped the dress up and smoothed out any wrinkles she could find in the now tight fabric. "There you are my dear." She smiled and turned a large mirror in Cody's direction.

Codalia shifted on her crutches as she looked into the mirror before her. Standing there was not the young girl from the Shire. The young who wore rags and curls in her hair was gone. This woman who looked back at Cody had seen too many hardships, uttering words she thought she would never say and touching the soft lips of both her brother and her lover. She looked down and felt tears form in her eyes.

"Will you please move the mirror? I can't bear this sight any longer." She whispered.

Eowyn, with a sorrowful and understanding nod, turned the mirror around so Cody was no longer in the reflection. In those moments she knew, it would be a long time before she would be able to look at herself in the mirror once again and love what she saw.

I am no longer the girl at Bilbo's party, too shy to even go near Frodo. She thought. I'm the Darkness Bearer and there is no changing that. I will always be this. Now, and forever.