Light Within The Darkness 12

Light Within The Darkness

Part 12

Posted: July 11, 2008
Title: Light Within The Darkness
Author: Zilah

*****

I love you, my angel,
More than life itself.
My home is in your heart,
Now and forever.
For you, my soul is singing
For you, my heart is beating.

*

Elrond looked dumbfounded, as two Celebríans stood beside each other and both stared at him.

“If you are the real Celebrían, then who are you, who was supposed to marry me?” He asked. Námo had disappeared again, but Irmo and the three strangers were still here.

“It is time for you to take your true form,” Irmo said to the fake Celebrían and suddenly she started to change. Her wavy, silvery hair quickly darkened, finally turning raven and her eyes shone bright green instead of pale blue.

Elrond paled, as he finally recognized the elleth that now stood before him. He had never seen her, but she had been described him so many times that there was no possibility of any mistake. And even if he didn’t remember those features, he had known the truth by looking into her taunting eyes.

“Vanmoriel,” he said. The elleth that had caused great sufferings and almost killed his foster-son.

“Your brains are finally starting to work, half- elf. Pray tell me; are all in your household such freaks? The ellyn shagging each other and claiming that it is normal? Did you already make your own whore pregnant?” Vanmoriel hissed mockingly.

“Enough, Vanmoriel. It is time for you to return to the Halls of Waiting,” Irmo said reprovingly. The Vala waved his hand and the wicked elleth was gone.

Elrond felt nauseous.

“…And I was going to… By the Valar! I must have been crazy,” he breathed, feeling sick.

“Nay, Elrond. We never had any intention of allowing that marriage to happen. But now you understand, don’t you? The damage you almost caused with your struggling had been severe.”

Elrond hung his head in shame.

“I hurt him terribly. How can I ever face him with a clear conscience when I have committed such crimes. And Celeborn… it is my fault…” He whispered, burying his face in his hands.

“You have to leave it behind, Elrond. Don’t dwell in past; you must concentrate on the future. Soon Legolas will need you more than ever. But before you can go to him, you need to pay back to someone.”

With those, enigmatic words Irmo waved his hand and Elrond saw the Vala and two elves disappearing. He was alone.

* * * *

Legolas stood still, not knowing what to do but finally he decided it to be best, if he went to his adas. They would surely be relieved that he was back at home.

He walked through empty corridors, thinking how his whole life had changed. He had left from Mirkwood heart-broken, sure of that he would be alone forever. And now… he suddenly had everything he had ever wanted from life: Elrond’s love. And if the Valar were gracious, he was already pregnant for his beloved hervenn. A dreamy smile rose on his face, as he thought of Elrond’s child in his arms.

“Saes, give me his child! Let him to be back with me soon and unharmed!” Legolas prayed, as he continued his way to his adas’ chambers.

* * * *

Legolas was almost there when he suddenly heard a very unusual voice. His ada Lindir wailed brokenly, as if he had been in a great pain. Legolas’ heart clenched with fear and he broke into a run. What was going on?

He saw that the door was open and without thinking, burst into the chamber. When he saw the sight that waited for him, his heart almost broke.

“Saes! Don’t take her from us!” Thranduil begged, staring at the Vala that stood silently before them. The King held his weeping spouse in his arms and panicked Lindir pressed their daughter tightly against his chest. Their tears and pleading gazes revealed the identity of the Vala to Legolas in one fleeting moment.

“Master Námo! Have mercy, saes! Don’t do this,” Legolas said to the Vala, stepping forwards. His own eyesight blinded with tears when he realized why Námo was here. He was about to lose his beautiful sister.

“I have no choice, young Legolas. You know, why. The other half of her soul is dying, and only your sister can pull him back now,” Námo finally said.

Legolas was stunned wordless at first, but then he realized what the Vala meant. Linniel’s soul-mate… He remembered the gentle and silent Lord, how he had confided to him and how he had felt for the older elf whose life had been only misery for so long…

“It cannot be… you cannot mean… Celeborn! What has happened to him?” Legolas asked.

“He is now free from Galadriel’s grip but he doesn’t want to return. It is understandable after all he has gone trough, but if he doesn’t change his mind, your sister is doomed. Even I cannot keep her alive without her soul-mate,” Námo explained, a hint of compassion in his voice. The Vala looked at the little family and thought silently that they really were worthy of Valar’s blessings. The love that was between them was heart-warming.

“What happens to Linniel if she comes with you?” Legolas said with a resigned voice. He feared terribly for his sister, but there was nothing he could do. His heart ached to see his parent’s pain and he felt so helpless.

“If she succeeds to convince Celeborn to continue his life, she will be able to return to you. But if not… I let you choose. If you want to keep her for a little bit longer, it is possible. But eventually she will fade.”

“And pray tell me, what she could possibly do to help anyone? She is a baby, for Valar’s sake!” Lindir cried desperately, swaying his daughter in his arms.

“Her soul is not young, Lindir. She is an ancient soul who had been waiting for a chance to re-born for a very long time. Let her go, and I promise to do everything that is in my power, so that she will be able to return to you.”

Silence fell between them. Lindir shook from head to toe, when the truth finally struck him. It was possible that he would lose his beloved daughter if he let her go. But if he didn’t, she would be doomed to a certain death. Silently weeping, he raised his daughter so that Thranduil and Legolas could kiss their goodbyes. He held her close, as he kissed her one last time.

Lindir didn’t resist when Námo walked closer and took the elfling in his arms but his heart-broken wail echoed in the chambers, when the Vala and the child disappeared into thin air.

* * * *

Linniel looked at the familiar room, feeling a wave of memories washing over her. She had forgotten much of her former life, but now it all came back to her. Námo lowered her on the ground, and suddenly she felt dizzy. When her eyesight cleared again, she noticed that she was in her adult-form.

“So, he is here? Can I see him?” She asked, almost fearing to believe that she was about to see his beloved after many millennia’s separation. Námo didn’t answer but only waved her to follow. Linniel did as the Vala bid, her heart starting to race.

The door opened and after a moment’s hesitation, Linniel stepped in. First she could only stare at the elf that stood in the middle of the room but then she walked slowly closer.

Celeborn seemed old and tired, but to Linniel, he was the most beautiful creature in all Arda. She whispered his name and was caught in a strong embrace.

“I missed you so much, meleth nín!” Linniel sobbed between their kisses. She caressed Celeborn´s face, exploring anew those beloved features. Celeborn held her tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go and his eyes were full of tears.

“I thought... I lost you forever,” Celeborn whispered in a shaky voice, not wanting to let his beloved go.

“Celeborn… oh Celeborn! You could never lose me. There is no matter how long I have to wait, but eventually I will have you as my own. You just need to be patient for a little bit longer,” Linniel said plaintively, and her tone was not lost from Celeborn.

“What do you mean? Can you not stay with me now? How could I ever give up on you when I finally found you, after so much grief?” Celeborn asked, desperately. He looked into his beloved’s green eyes, searching the answer, but fearing it at the same time.

“I would love to stay… but… you must understand, I can’t, not yet. And you too have to come back, if you want to have me as your own,” Linniel explained, as her tears started to flow anew. It felt horrible to know that after this brief meeting, they had to wait decades before they were free to love each other.

“There is nothing for me in Middle-Earth anymore, Linniel. I don’t want to come back. Isn’t there any other way?” Celeborn whispered with a bitter tone that tore at Linniel’s heart. Was it possible that Celeborn’s wounds were too deep for him to continue his life? She gathered all her strength to change Celeborn’s mind, for she had every intention to return to her little family she loved dearly. Her ada Lindir would be heart-broken if she didn’t succeed.

“Listen to me, meleth nín. There is still so much to do, so much to love, if you just came back with me.”

The silence fell between them, but finally Celeborn asked:

“How so? I thought… haven’t you been in here since that…kinslayer managed to get you killed?”

“I was; that is true, but not anymore. I am re-born now, and I have a loving family. I cannot leave them behind for I love them too much to cause them such grief.”

A glint of remembrance lit in Celeborn´s eyes, as he whispered:

“Legolas… he is your brother, isn’t he?”

“Do you know him? He is the best big brother any elleth can have. And my adas… they love me so much. You would be welcome with open arms if you just wanted to come back,” Linniel smiled, smelling the victory.

“But… Legolas said… you were only one year old. I needed to wait…” Celeborn said hesitantly, but Linniel cut his struggling with a kiss.

“… 49 years, aye. Is it really too much, after many millennia’s waiting?” She asked, almost purring. Her tone finally succeed to break Celeborn’s resistance. He knew he couldn’t deny anything from his beloved when she asked him like that.

“It is not. Nothing is too much when you are concerned. But I wait only that 49 years, and not a single day longer. The very day you reach your majority, I will come and claim you as my own, and I will not listen to any complaints about it,” Celeborn said, and Linniel heard new strength in his voice. She smiled, as she kissed him one last time.

“I will wait for you, I promise.”

Celeborn’s heart ached when she suddenly disappeared into thin air from his arms, but deep in his soul resided finally peace. After one more time of waiting, he would finally have his meleth back.

* * * *
Elrond stirred from his thoughts, when the door suddenly opened. He began to say that he didn’t want to see anyone. Words died on his lips, when he saw the newcomer.

”Am I welcome?” The former Lórien Lord said, just before he fell unconscious on the floor.

*****

previous | Chapter Index | next

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Zilah