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━━━━»•» act one. age of ruins

12. the stars pleaded «•« ━━━

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ third age ━━ year 2949

𓇻 eriador; imladris {rivendell}

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IT WAS RAINING THAT MORNING. Thick droplets formed puddles on the muddy ground and Elgarain watched numbly how the circles spread and rippled as the drops continued to fall. It was almost as if the sky had sensed her mood and decided to mirror it with a heavy downpour. Once she might have danced in it, but now every bone in her body seemed to weigh as heavy as her soaked dress. She was shivering as she finally turned away from the window and continued to walk to her room, arms wrapped around her waist to capture what little warmth she had left. Her gaze was turned to the ground, not seeing anything as last night replayed itself in her mind like a never ending nightmare.

"Tell me what?" she'd muttered, heart hammering nervously in her chest.

Estel could barely seem to bring himself to look at her, his eyes darting around the room and only occasionally landing on her face. "The reason Lord Elrond had summoned me to my study. He thought it was time I knew-" His voice drifted off as he seemed to get lost in thought.

"Come on," she whispered, taking his hand and pulling him with her as she took a seat on the ground. Even then she did not let go of his hand, holding it tightly as she tried to provide comfort for whatever seemed to be haunting him. "Start at the beginning. What did he tell you?"

He blinked and finally his grey eyes settled on her. "The reason for everything. Why my mom brought me here when I was little, why my father was killed, everything."

She wondered what secret had been kept from him all these years. A secret so important he hadn't even been allowed to know why he'd been brought to Rivendell in the first place. It must've been something important for him to be this shaken by it. "Tell me," she said softly, encouragingly.

He took a deep breath, then took her other hand in his as well, as if holding her was the only thing anchoring him, keeping him from drowning in the new world that was revealed to him. "When we were attacked in the woods," he began, "one of the orcs said something, you were the only one paying attention to it at the time."

She remembered that day as if it was only yesterday, and not just because she managed to defeat Estel in a duel. But also because she'd been terrified and managed to put that fear aside and do something. But she also remembered one of the orcs, saying the strangest thing. Though Lord Elrond had told her not to worry about it.

"Three heirs," she muttered.

He continued as though he hadn't heard her. "He wasn't mocking us. He knew."

She frowned but remained quiet, not wanting to push him into telling her. But her curiosity, and worry, was growing as time passed.

"Somehow they knew the heir of Isildur was hiding in Rivendell. They'd been searching for the valley, waiting to strike, waiting to kill me."

It took a moment for the words to gain meaning but then she remembered. Her father's history, her history, now tied together with the man seated in front of her, more than she could ever have imagined. It hardly seemed possible and yet at the same time, why not? The house of Isildur had been scattered for a long time and it was hardly an unknown fact that the Dúnedain were descendants of the Númenóreans. So how strange could it truly be if amongst them the bloodline had been kept intact...

"My father was killed trying to protect our village from the invading orcs. My mother then decided to bring me to Imladris and for my safety she and Lord Elrond decided to keep my lineage hidden. Until the day I would come of age."

"Isildur's heir," she whispered, stunned.

The rightful King of Gondor, seated right here in front of her.

As it turned out there was more than their race and mortality keeping them separated. They were destined to rule different parts of the world. Two kingdoms that had not stood together since the battle at the black gate, now met beneath the moonlight with nothing more than a dream of what they once used to be. Two heirs standing on the ashes of their inheritance.

He took a shaky breath, eyes finding hers. "My path was never my own. It's bound to the blood of my forefathers, same as yours."

She smiled sadly, remembering one of their very first conversations when he'd told her they made their own paths, undefined by their history. But now it seemed like they were both tied to the expectations of their people. Never free to choose for themselves, their own dreams.

"What will you do?"

Estel dropped her hands and got back to his feet. She followed, although a little hesitant because of the sudden wall he seemed to have put up.

"Lord Elrond advised me to join the Dúnedain to learn more of my people," his voice was strangely flat, all the earlier turmoil she'd seen in his eyes now carefully hidden.

She'd never known he had such a capacity for hiding his emotions. Simply because he'd never had to with her. A small voice inside of her whimpered and seemed to realise that even if they were to see each other again one day, it would never be the same. She'd already lost him.

"Estel-" "Lord Elrond told me my father gave me another name when I was born."

She clenched her hands to stop herself from reaching out to him, she knew he would only pull away. "So what am I supposed to call you then?"

He looked up at her and his gaze felt like a knife being pushed into her heart. "Aragorn."

"Aragorn," she said, softly, trying out the name and finding that, strangely, it suited him. "The price we are paying is great and hopefully, in time things, will change for us." She took a trembling breath before continuing. "I will miss you."

And despite the walls he'd drawn up, the smallest of smiles tugged at the corner of his lips. He lifted his hand, his fingertips brushed her cheeks, sending a shiver down her spine. "Goodbye, Elgarain."

She reached for his hand and tangled his fingers with her own. Yes, they'd both known goodbye was coming but both of them held the belief that one day they'd find each other again. But now they knew their paths were never meant to cross. They would diverge from here on out. Nothing more than an echo of a dream...

"Goodbye," she whispered.

She'd watched him leave and remained there until dawn kissed the night goodbye, unable to bring herself to start the walk back to her room. Only when it had started to rain and her body was begging for warmth did she finally leave the moonlit cave.

Which was how she'd arrived at her room, completely soaked. Though she hardly felt the cold. The ache in her heart was all consuming, as if a limb had been cut off. Was this what it felt like to lose the one your soul was meant to meet? Was this what her mother had suffered through for years after losing her father? All those men and women who lost their loved ones? Did all of them experience the same hollow ache inside their hearts?

She could hardly remember putting on a dry dress and wrapping herself in a blanket, lost in thought. It's only when she hears a knock against the door that she's brought out of her catatonic state. With a frown she stands up from her bed and makes her way to the door. When she opened it she was greeted by someone she couldn't decide she's happy or sad to see.

"Gyda? You're back."

"Hello Elgarain. Can I come in?" Gyda smiled at her.

She blinked, somehow having to get used to seeing her guard again. "Yes," she said, taking a step aside to let her pass.

Gyda's eyes darted across the room, as if having to get used to being inside Rivendell's walls again. Elgarain noted how her eyes landed on her sketchbook, opened at one of her drawings of Estel – Aragorn. She quickly looked away from it, her heart unable to bear looking at it for too long.

"I've brought you something," Gyda said as she held up the long wrapped package she'd been holding. "I know you wanted to learn to wield the weapon of our people."

With a small frown on her face, Elgarain took the package from her hands. She untied the cord and unwrapped the cloth to reveal a masterfully crafted spear. It was made of a light wood type and was engraved with beautifully made orchids. Slowly Elgarain drifted with her fingers over the design, almost like she was afraid to break it.

"My father made me my first spear when I became a hundred years old. To start my warrior training with. He crafted it, and infused it with things that reminded him of me. Oak as the base, for it is strong, the bronze coreopsis flower carved in for strength. Your father is not here to make you one, so I did. I made yours from arbor fortis. It's a wood native to Mirkwood. It is just as strong as oak, but lighter in weight. More balanced for those who possess less strength."

Elgarain noted how she tried to lighten the atmosphere with that last comment. But she simply isn't in the mood to verbally spar with her guard.

"The flowers are orchids," Gyda continued when she realized Elgarain would not react to her jest. "They bring good luck, harmony and balance."

Elgarain studied the spear closely and though her heart still felt heavy, she felt a small smile tug at the corner of her lips. "I'm honored," she spoke softly.

"You should be able to learn the art of the spear," Gyda murmured. "I should not have denied you when you had asked it of me. It was a selfish decision because I did not want you to get hurt. I should have known earlier that keeping you defenseless is what will get you hurt. I should know I cannot always be by your side to protect you, so it is my duty to make sure you can protect yourself."

"But how did you know I started training with a spear?" Elgarain wondered out loud.

"I didn't..." Gyda frowned, "please tell me you haven't been fighting with a spear, Aranel."

"No, of course not."

"Don't lie to me."

"But you told me to say no! Besides Elladan, Elrohir and Estel—I mean Aragorn, were with me when the orcs attacked us in the woods." She winced at her own words, realizing she said too much.

"Orcs?" Gyda's eyes widened at the words.

"I shouldn't have said that," Elgarain mumbled.

Gyda shook her head, "It's okay. You're not hurt, that's what matters."

Elgarain frowned at her. "You're not going to lecture me? What happened to you in Mirkwood?"

"I don't always lecture you Aranel. I only fondly discourage you from impulsive decisions."

"Well, I wish you were here to discourage me from another impulsive decision I made," she sighed as she placed the spear beside her and wrapped her arms around her knees. Maybe the last few days had been easier if Gyda had been present to stop her from ever even giving in to her feelings at all.

With a worried frown, Gyda walked over to the bed and took a seat beside her. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"Not really," she muttered but then turned her eyes to Gyda. "But I have a feeling you're gonna make me talk either way."

"Your assumption is correct," Gyda smiled.

Elgarain looked away from her again, searching for the right words, wondering where to begin. It was all one huge mess in her brain. "Have you ever experienced the meeting of souls?"

Gyda frowned but then shook her head.

"My mom used to tell me about it," Elgarain continued in a whisper. "I always thought that when I felt it...nothing could take it from me." She chuckled bitterly. "But of course I had to fall in love with a human. The heir of Isildur no less. And now I'm destined to be alone for the rest of my life."

"My mother told me that Manwë makes no mistakes when it comes to twin flames. The love that blossoms in the meeting of the souls isn't just a jumble of fleeting passion, it is a feeling deeper within your soul that recognizes a part of yourself in someone else. And destined love cannot be broken, and you will never lose it."

Elgarain smiled softly. "Thank you." She gestured to the spear. "For your words and the spear."

"We can start training in the morning, after your healing lessons with Lord Elrond." Gyda suggested, placing a warm hand on Elgarain's cold shoulder.

It was only then she realized Gyda had no idea her arrival here meant they were heading back home. No one had told her of Lord Elrond's decision to end her lessons. "Well, actually, Lord Elrond told me he believes I'm ready. To go home and be crowned Queen." She took a shaky breath. "I'm not sure I agree but I know, now more than ever, that I have to try. If not for myself then for the people. All I can do is hope our people will grant me the same faith they had in my father." She turned to look at Gyda. "I hope that you will grant me that."

There was a softness in Gyda's eyes that Elgarain could not remember ever seeing before. "I could grant you my faith Elgarain, but you have had it since the moment we've left Lindon's keep. It was only faith in yourself that you needed to grow from young princess into queen. The journey ahead is still long and unfinished as is mine. You shall always have to keep learning, to be better, but if the people should put faith in anyone, it should be you."

She clenched her fists, as if she were able to crush all of her doubts between her fingers. "What if I don't live up to their expectations now? What if I fail to live up to the legacy my father made for our family?"

"You're not your father Elgarain, and neither am I mine," Gyda spoke softly, "We carry their legacy, but we will make our own. Together."

Elgarain smiled then, the first real smile since Gyda entered her room. "Does that mean we're truly going home?"

"We are."

Home. What a wonderful sound.

°∴,*⋅✲✦ ( ♕ ) ✦✲⋅*,∴°

𝕬𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝕹𝐎𝐓𝐄 . . .

And we have reached the last chapter of act one (which happens to be published on my birthday. Funny how that worked out).

I am so sorry for all the heartbreak in this chapter. I made myself so emotional writing it. I hate having to break out dear Ararain apart, but I promise this will not be the end ;)

I cannot believe we have reached the last chapter of act one already. It feels like I've only been writing this chapter for like two weeks. The amount of support this story has received is insane and I'm so grateful for each and every one of you!

Also a friendly reminder to go support  -voidlegends story about Gyda: Ballad of Broken Swords. Her writing is amazing!

I will see you all soon with act two, when shit gets real :)

xx Nelly