Title & Chapter Number: Comfort 1/1
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Well, I don't own the male lead in this... though you'll probably guess who he is. Although nameless I do own the female lead.
Warnings: None
Betas: Amy B.
Cast: Male & Female Elf
Timeline: Middle Earth, anytime
Spoilers: Nope
Summary: Just a little something I wrote in the middle of the night last night.
Notes: To my newest beta reader, Amy B. Mucho grasias! Now, my handy animal book had plenty of information on the bird mentioned in this story, except for if it was primarly a nocturnal or a diurnal bird. Since I felt the bird fit better than another, I kept it, and since I cannot set this during the day... well... just tell yourself the bird's looking for a date or something. LOL!
The dark-haired maiden sat on the rock, legs folded underneath her, as she sullenly stared out over the dark, still pond. No frogs made their music. No night birds sang their song. All was silent except for the warm breeze blowing softly through the trees and whispering in her ear.
The full moon peered down through the canopy, playing over the pale, blue fabric of her dress which shimmered like blue mithril. Pale skin seemed to absorb the light and surround her with a soft, yet unearthly, glow. Two pools of deep blue caught the beams of moonlight reflecting off the surface of the water.
A tear slipped silently down her cheek.
Determination cracked.
Another tear slid.
Eyes closed.
Another tear slid.
Sheer will broke around her in pieces as she lifted her hands and her body heaved in silent sorrow. When her hands fell away after several moments, she let out the piercing wail of a grief-stricken heart. Her face was streaked with tears now falling to shatter the stillness of the pond.
A gentle hand fell upon her shoulder and she turned toward the intruder with a startled gasp. She made an half-hearted attempt to leap to her feet, but she could not find the energy or will to complete it and sank back down to her knees. She turned her head away sharply from the shadow that fell over her.
"Forgive me," the fair male voice pleaded softly. "I did not mean to intrude upon you." He was silent as she ignored him. "Would you like me to leave?"
There seemed to be a hesitation before her nod. Unseen by her, he gave a nod of respect and stepped back, his hand falling away.
As he turned, she let out a choked cry of, "No, wait!"
He stopped and faced her. She lifted her face to him and the sadness was drowned for several moments in her wonder.
The moon spilled across one side of him, lending a silver hue to the golden hair falling over his shoulders. His blue eyes shined as if they held the stars above and his face had the look of a life-like statue carved from love. His black tunic seemed to ward off the light and was a stark contrast to the silver-gray cloak draped upon his shoulders. An ornamental clasp of a green leaf glinted in the moonlight.
He gestured to a place beside her. "May I sit?"
She nodded as she began wiping her face.
He slid down beside her, energy radiating from him. He silently kept her company as she once again stared out onto the pond, tears flowing again, little by little. She wrapped her arms around her knees as she pulled them to her chest.
"May I ask what has you grieving so?" He watched her with patient understanding, as if he knew what pain she felt, even if not the cause of it.
She did not make an attempt to answer at first. Then softly she said, "I had a choice that needed to be made." There was a pause. "I made it."
He shifted slightly. "And you are not happy with the choice you made?"
She shook her head. "No, but it was the only choice I could make."
He pushed a few strands of hair over her ear. "Was it?"
She took a few moments of consideration and let out a sigh not of relief. "Yes. I know it was, but living with the choice is still difficult."
"Not all choices are easy, the important ones are the hardest. Life must continue with the ones that were made."
She nodded, squeezing her eyes shut as the flood came again. Her hands clasped together over her chest as if her heart was actually being torn in two.
His arms were suddenly around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace as her tears began to soak his tunic. For a few minutes her sobs filled the air as his quieter murmurings followed them. When she quieted he pulled her along as he stretched out on his back, cradling her in one arm. A shadow briefly passed over them and they raised their eyes to the night sky.
He raised a hand to point at the bird soaring over them. "The eagle. Swift. Sure. Deadly to its prey, but they do not hatch from the snug shells of their eggs like that. They can live or die by the choices they make. Their decisions are often ones of survival. Most times there is no room for error." They watched the great bird circle a couple of times. "In the beginning their choices are guided by their parents' encouragement and, occasionally, as is often with youth, their own daring and lack of knowledge. When they leave the nest they must learn to cope on their own, but a parent cannot teach their offspring all things. Their choices must then be made on instinct."
There was silence between them as the eagle weaved and then flew out of sight.
"But I am not a bird of prey," she whispered.
He gave a light laugh. "No, perhaps not, but the idea is the same."
"What's that?"
He clasped his hands together, folding her into a secure embrace, as he smiled at the moon. "Trust your instincts. Follow your heart. You will survive."
The End
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