2. Chapter Two
Disclaimer: Elwë belongs to Tolkien; but "what" he found I claim as my own.
Elwë was lost. In the midst of Nan Elmoth´s shadows, hopelessly sitting on the ground, there was nothing he could do, and the voice was now gone. Gone.
He had lost her. The thought was so overwhelming, that he couldn´t even bring himself to fear or mistrust his surroundings, the creeping sounds stirred by the wind that blew hard across the twisted branches, or the occasionary glimmer of an evil looking light behind the bushes he tore apart to find a path. And, as unresponsive as his mind, his body too could no longer feel the pangs of hunger and cold.
Maybe she had only been a vision. A trick of the deceitful and evil monster who imprisoned and killed Elves and sent his Orcs to fight them.
"Were you? Were you a vision?" he cried, hoping that somebody or something, even the innocent chirping of a bird, would come to reassure him. That silence was what he could not stand at all.
He got no answer.
"Yes, she was." Elwë thought, sadly, because she would not have just vanished in the air. Tears began to slide down his cheeks. Of course, he had to be different. He could never have been interested in any Teleri, Noldo or Vanyarin nís like his brother and friends, but why? Each time he saw Olwë´s face when he caused with Alquawen, or Finwë kissing Míriel behind a tree, he wondered why was he unable to feel that happiness, for ever so intent in following things out of his reach like figures in a dream. To think he had even agreed to go to Valinor, that far away and unknown land, not to decide the fate of the Quendi, but only to search for those figures there!
And now, he was baffled again. Baffled, and lost. He knew he should be trying desperately to find his way back through the wood, but even his knees refused to budge, for, what was the use of it, anyway?
However, as he was lost in this thread of thoughts, a shrill noise was suddenly heard from afar. His heart leapt. It was a voice. It was her!
She was crying.
* * * * * * * * *
When at last he found the cause of all his pains, in a small clearing bathed in starlight, she seemed not to notice him. Her back rested on the trunk of a great tree, and she was wringing her hands over the ground with something akin to despair, pulling out weeds by their roots and watching listlessly how the wind blew them away. Fascinated by the phantasmagorial sight, he came closer, but as that unsettling visage was revealed before his eyes, he couldn´t suppress a gasp.
Fair indeed it was. And strange, in such a way that made Elwë know she certainly was no Quendi. Divine creature, hideous enemy...she could be both, he thought in amazement. Long shreds of radiant blonde hair fell down her back, stirred by the wind, and her skin was pale, so pale it was impossible to find any trace of life in her face or hands except for a pair of impressive red- glowing eyes that, like those of the wolves, could be seen from a great distance.
And, still, the most disturbing thing to be seen there was no doubt her expression. Not sad, but rather hopeless, utterly forlorn, reminding him of someone who once slipped and fell into a hole without anybody being able to reach out a hand and save her. In fact, so strong became those memories in his mind that he took her hand in his before even noticing what he was doing.
But she was not startled at all by his move. All she did was to bring the hand to her lips, and kiss it.
"Who...who are you?" he began in amazement, as he saw his fingers wet with a yellow fluid. It was her tears. "Please, say something to me. Is there... is there something I can do?"
The cold wind started blowing again.
"Do you want to help me, Elwë of the Teleri?"
"Yes." he answered without a moment´s doubt. Trapped in the lure of her soft hissing voice, even the fact that she seemed to know his name passed unnoticed for him.
"Then do not leave these shores. Do not leave them ever." As she spoke, she stretched her white arms to entwine with Elwë in an ethereal embrace. "Stay here with me. You...you were never meant to go. You were born here...as I was."
A burning desire raged inside Elwë´s body as she ran her cold limbs through his. There was nothing he could deny to this unknown creature, nothing he could argue, nothing else he could do. Trapped forever...
And no wish to escape.
"I love you." Those were his only words, while she kissed his forehead gently, stroking the bright silver of his hair.
He could not remember any more.
* * * * * * * * * *
For months and years, the people of the Teleri searched for their lost king, but it was in vain, for he never appeared again. The eagerness with which they had expected Ulmo's return to carry them back to their kin became anxiousness now, for many of them knew they could not possibly go without him, while others, especially those who had friends among the Noldor, said that they were ready to leave Middle- Earth´s shores even if he was not found, for surely he had to be dead by now.
Nobody, not even his brothers, could possibly suspect the truth.
(To be continued)
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.