Title & Chapter Number: Elencálë (The Light of the Elves) 22/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth/Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Rating: NC-17 Romance/Adventure
Disclaimer:
Warnings:
Betas: Thanks to Maisha for the Beta.
Cast: Legolas/Shu Lien
Timeline: AU - Post RotK
Spoilers: None
Summary: This story takes place about 100 years after the quest of the One Ring. Even after the fall of Sauron, the foul breath of evil can still be felt on the winds of Middle Earth. Some say it is just the nature of the world, the shadow of the light. Some say it is rising and has once again become sentient. King Elessar rules with a just and even hand, but Men throughout the land are falling into darkness, succumbing to greed, hatred and violence among themselves and against the world. The Light of the Elves departs as the Eldar continue to withdraw to the West, leaving darkness in their wake.
Notes: Elves do not close their eyes during Reverie. While I have updated the sexual culture of the Eldar to reflect more modern values (and indeed the fact that I feel that such sensual and advanced beings would revel in such a pass time and consider it natural and pure), the concept that Elves can tell if other Elves have had sex actually is Tolkien's.
A note about Mu Bai: To warn you, if you are familiar with the movie, Mu Bai's psychology is rather an extreme extrapolation away from his controlled, intense, suppression that one sees in CTHD. In this fic, while his surface seems serene, still waters run deep, so to speak. And when those waters are stirred (as we have seen with Shu Lien) the outcome can be tsunami-grade. I want his character to speak to the dangers of suppressing instead of releasing, of ignoring instead of accepting. Hopefully I have created a realistic psychological process for him, and will succeed in relating it along the way. But you'll let me know where I fall short, I am sure! [wink] I just want to call out a thank you to Celebrethil and Amy!
Credits:
(1) Song lyrics by James Schamus (Love before Time, CTHD)
(2) Altered slightly from "Love" in The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran
Chapter 22
Meldanya: My beloved (Quenya)
Callonya: My hero (Quenya)Five more days stretched on as they climbed higher, finally crossing the craggy peaks of the Misty Mountains over the High Pass. The terrain was rocky, with little cover and the wind was bone-chilling, even though it was not the cold season. One expected the crown of the world to be more majestic, and indeed the sweeping views of Middle Earth - when not obscured by cloud cover - were breathtaking but the landscape itself was grey and somber. The twisted, scrubby vegetation that survived on the High Pass of the mountain range had the air of affliction and gave the traveler the impression that he was traversing an area of trial where the compassion and warmth of loving soil had long since worn thin. Whispers of uncaring detachment, aloof and unapologetically judgmental, swirled with the winds. The thinness of the air and greyness of the rock and road was bereft of the playful, humid greenness of forest and plains, and told the unadorned tale of a land that had aged bitterly.
The party passed quickly, somber, quiet.
They road hard during sunlight, and were on guard when night fell. Falmalinnar pushed them enough so that they were well-worked, but not to the point that they would be too fatigued to do battle. Within two sunsets of Shu Lien's waking Legolas had completely recovered his strength and took evening watches with the other two Elves.
Shu Lien's body had healed remarkably well. But where her body recovered, her mind began to ail. The whispered voices of Elencálë grew ever more bold in their trespasses. Haunting her dreams and plaguing her meditations, she was never without the ethereal breath of the ring. It spoke as a Lady, in soft, tantalizing tones that seemed so deceptively delicate as to be threatened by the gusty wind of the mountainside. But the brutal tenacity of the voice belied its otherworldly nature.
The ring was seductive, alluring, enticing, beguiling. The sounds began to crystallize into words who promised peace, wholeness, warmth, light if only her embrace were accepted. Posing as a sister, she repeatedly entreated Shu Lien to give herself and be free. Or she sang songs that lingered on Shu Lien's tongue with the taste of tragedy and sorrow in a Quenya so old that only occasional words were understandable. There was nothing she could do to procure silence and peace, so she accepted the torment as a guest and tried to play a dutiful host and still her mind around it. The ring railed against her persistently and a dull and pervasive pressure and pain began to bloom behind her eyes. The effort of focus and endurance was all-consuming and Shu Lien began to withdraw from the world.
Life on the road with this company was somber and sedate. Even Gimli rode either behind Legolas or Elrohir in comparative silence, only muttering to himself occasionally or having a half-hearted chat with whomever he rode with.
Mu Bai usually rode at the rear of the party, stoic and imposing on his horse. The serious, stern furrow to his brow and the slight frown that always seemed to thin his lips seemed almost in conflict with the organic fluidity of his robes and eastern ways. He was respectful, but aloof and very formal with all in the group. It was obvious that it was not all due to the Mandärin restraint. Legolas would catch his eyes subtly watching Shu Lien, but other than that he avoided her completely. The tension was palpable.
While disapproval and disdain did not disrupt Mu Bai's impassionate mask, it was plainly held out to Legolas whenever their gazes met. For the most part Mu Bai merely fulfilled his duties among the group and the rest of the time was no where to be found - he was either meditating or training in the forest. His taciturn mannerisms and distance seemed to worsen as the journey stretched on and dampened the mood of the party like the darkening skies of a coming storm.
Shu Lien had retreated completely into herself, riding in a meditative state, a somber silence, or speaking in short, hushed response to the attempts at conversation by Falmalinnar or Legolas. Knowing her as the two did, they did not question her past seeing to her health, but let her build the boundaries around herself that she needed.
But Legolas was worried. He watched her sitting at the fire, staring silently at the dancing flames. They had camped on the open hillside, nestled among rocks and shrubs for there was no real cover to be had. Shu Lien had eaten little at dinner, attended to her duties and then, after laying out their bedding, had sat at the side of the fire wearily seeming distracted and distraught.
Legolas watched as Falmalinnar squatted beside her and asked her something quietly. She squinted up at him as if she were in pain and answered with a short whisper. Legolas` brow furrowed. Granted it was only five sunrises since she had awoken, but her body had almost completely healed and she had even begun Kata training once again. At first he had thought that her reticence was due to her weakness, as she professed, but yet even as she healed, she withdrew all the more He wondered if it had to do with Mu Bai or with the ring, or both.
She did not readily speak of whatever internal trials she endured, and Legolas was unsure of how to proceed in the face of her stoicism. And they got very little time together alone in which he could make any attempts. She would ride beside him whenever Gimli sharing Elrohir's horse and sit silently at his side when they camped. Legolas had always felt he was lacking in his ability to find the right words, and actually was rather self-conscious in the shadow of Elrohir`s eloquence. He had never shared Elrohir's (or his brother, Elladan`s) confident ease with communication and overt controversy. When dealing with his own troubles, he always found comfort in action rather than talk, for the most part, though he had found that since he had met Shu Lien he had begun feeling more comfortable with discussion.
So he offered solace the only way he knew how: by making himself always available and hoping she would turn to him when she was ready, and by offering the little physical reassurances he could along the way.
Walking up behind her, Legolas put the brush he was carrying beside her and his palms on her shoulders. Leaning over behind her ear he whispered, "My love, may I tend you hair...?" Every evening she brushed and rebraided it out of lifelong habit. It was still somewhat of a ritual for Legolas to plait it, but he had not done so since Falmalinnar and Mu Bai had joined their party.
Shu Lien turned to look at him with troubled, struggling eyes, as if she were trying to emerge from a most disturbing dream. Her gaze washed over his face several times, before it locked with his. For a moment he thought she would refuse him, her eyes were so unreadable. But then the tiniest hint of a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth and she surprised him by leaning into him and brushing her lips lightly over his before pulling back to regard him again. "Legolas, I love you so very much."
Pleased by her reaction, he smiled and leaned over to press his lips again to hers (wishing to capitalize on her unusual moment of inhibition since he had barely enjoyed the first kiss!). He then went about unbraiding her hair and brushing out the shimmering black strands. He enjoyed this task immensely. It was soothing for him, and it always seemed to deepen their connection. As he worked with her hair, he sang a soft Quenyan ballad under his breath and inhaled the comforting scents of the warm jasmine in her hair and the sharp scent of fire on the chilly slopes of the mountain.
Falmalinnar inconspicuously stretched himself out on the other side of the fire a little ways away and watched the couple out of the corner of his eye as he drank his tea. The others of the party were already wrapped in their sleeping rolls against the dry chill of the mountain and Gimli was snoring softly.
Shu Lien's head hung slightly and Falmalinnar could sense her intense fatigue and unrest even under Legolas' attentive care. Falmalinnar had the utmost faith in her strength, will and focus, but to see her suffering so profoundly broke his gentle heart. It was indeed a blessing that she had her mate at her side to offer some comfort.
Legolas was a good Elf. Falmalinnar was most pleased with Shu Lien's choice. As her Master, mentor and effective father he both loved and respected her, and was very protective. Falmalinnar would not have been so accepting of her choice if Legolas had not been worthy. But as it were, Legolas was as exceptional as he found Shu Lien to be and their love shined brightly with purity and depth. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised since they were Tatayafëar, but it put his soul at ease none-the-less.
Falmalinnar smiled softly as Shu Lien sighed and reached her hand back to catch Legolas' and brought it to her lips for a brief touch. The Elf wrapped his arms around her shoulders and nuzzled her partially plaited hair and she turned into him to pull him around her to lie on the sleeping roll. Grabbing the thick woolen blankets that were folded beside her, he covered them both as he lay down, enfolding her in his arms. Shu Lien snuggled up close, cheek pillowed on his chest, and her face plainly showcased her contentment and adoration in that brief moment of serenity.
Beautiful. Leaning back himself, Falmalinnar allowed his smile to broaden as he looked up at the winking stars above.
~*~*~*~
A silent hand touched Legolas' shoulder and immediately his eyes were open and focused on the brilliant green gaze of Falmalinnar. "Orcs," he hissed and, with the lightness of a cat, sprang to rouse Elrohir.
Legolas looked down at Shu Lien whose eyes were open and alert as she sat up, throwing the blankets to the side. Legolas' gaze did not waver from her as he stood and deftly fastened quiver and swords to his back.
Shu Lien stood, still holding her arm gingerly to her side while she stretched. She was oblivious to his scrutiny as she went about her battle preparations. Her fatigue was obvious to his Elvish senses, her movements still slightly strained, and he was very much afraid of the possibility of re-injury. But she was independent and proud and Legolas was worried she would never submit to sitting out a battle.
Instinctively his gaze looked up and found Falmalinnar also watching her intently as he stowed supplies in rocky crevices. His eyes cut to Legolas and his eyebrows raised supportively as he offered a small confirming shake of his head.
Shu Lien was trying to breathe into attention as she was strapping her swords on her back. It was somewhat awkward as she had to strap them over her right shoulder instead of her left, but she still managed to settle them comfortably. Her body felt heavy and a dull pain still throbbed in her shoulder and arm. The ring's whisper tauntingly called to her in her ear, pressing painfully behind her eyes.
The day of riding had drained much of her energy. If only this attack had been later and she could have had a few more hours of rest! No matter, she must accept things as they came to her. She closed her eyes briefly, bringing herself into the space where she could draw on her will. Breathing through the torrent of whispers cascading through her mindscape, she brought herself to the cool dark plains of attention which she now shared with Elencálë. The familiar hardening of her resolve and narrowing of her focus congealed the air around the ring's voice and she exhaled softly, maintaining the tenuous crystal concentration with supreme effort.
Shrugging her shoulders to test the scabbard on her back, she then knelt down to retrieve her knife from beside their sleeping roll. A warm hand came over hers, stilling it. Shu Lien looked up and met worried black eyes.
"Please..." Legolas whispered.
Shu Lien understood immediately and her brow furrowed slightly, her eyes becoming hard. "I am well enough to do my duty. I can--"
Legolas shook his head, squeezing her hand gently. "No.. please." His question was stated, softly emphatic. "I would not fail you again, my love." His hand brushed her cheek.
"You did not fai--" A soft finger stilled her lips.
"Meldanya... please." His eyes were desperately pleading.
Shu Lien took a deep breath regarding him. Truthfully, she was still so tired, both in body and in mind. But she had made it through Mordor by herself under the most difficult of circumstances. However, then she had had no choice. And now she did. She had never had to be dependent before and it made her feel desperately vulnerable. Her pride and obstinacy warred with her practical sense and the desire to appease Legolas, to whom this was obviously important on many levels.
He watched her expression melt slowly from a stubborn, indignant offense, to a hesitant acquiescence.
"What would you have me do?" She sighed resignedly as he leaned over and gratefully kissed her forehead.
"Stay with me at the fire. Keep it stoked." Legolas thought asking her to do something might at least superficially assuage her damaged pride. She saw through the attempt and raised an eyebrow with a little smirk that made him laugh softly. "Okay, just stay at my side, then."
Orc footfalls were now heard by human ears. The creatures appeared traversing the mountainside from behind the rocks and shrubs, alternately crawling and loping toward the party.
Legolas switched immediately into battle focus and had his arrow notched and released before Shu Lien could even get her bearings in her fatigued state. Her hand went automatically to where her sword was strapped to her back, but she did not draw. For the first few minutes of the battle she felt an unbearable anxiety at not being part of the fray but slowly she adjusted and took advantage of her unusual position to watch the battle from the new angle it afforded.
It was a comparatively small number of Orcs this time. They were disorganized and obviously not expecting a party that was prepared and well-trained; a ragtag band of pirate Orcs. Nevertheless the creatures threw themselves at their opponents with the mindless viciousness of their dim wits.
The warriors of this party were amazing to behold in battle, each in their own individual way. Falmalinnar moved like the wind on the mountainside leaving a clean path of instant lethality in his wake, Elrohir's bow sang true with a sweet and effortless grace. Gimli was yelling his hoarse battle cry as he swung his axe with vicious precision. Strangely Mu Bai had fallen into an unspoken battle configuration with Legolas and had taken up position on Shu Lien's other side. He executed his silent, flowing thrusts and slices with a dignity that almost made the killing appear civil.
But it was the form of her love that held her gaze.
Each time Legolas drew his bow, a creature fell, its whining battle cry smothered into gurgling silence. Over and over, he drew. The creatures impossibly outnumbered the ability of his bow, however and they still bled past the arrow's defense.
As they approached, Legolas seamlessly slung his bow on a shoulder, simultaneously drawing one of his twin long knives. He thrust the blade into an approaching Orc and then easily resettled his bow into position. Drawing an arrow from his quiver with the hand that still held the hilt of his long knife, he notched and released it into another creature.
Hearing the hiss of Shu Lien's sword being drawn, Legolas turned to see her preparing to attack an Orc who had gotten by Mu Bai's defenses, as he was occupied with three creatures at the moment.
Somehow, even in the furor of battle, he was gentle but firm as he pushed her behind him. Springing forward, he instantly impaled the creature, then retrieved his blade with a yank. Launching into a leaping side kick in front of her, his golden hair flying, he stunned a creature with the impact who was approaching from the other side. He finished it off with a quick slice to its throat.
Legolas' face was set in impassionate concentration. He was focused, intense, and brutally, unapologetically lethal. Repeatedly he leapt and turned, and hit and sliced, and then drew and shot an arrow as he fought before her with a fury that, had he not the grace and beauty of the Eldar, would have been called savage.
But throughout the fast-paced battle, he never lost his bearing with regards to Shu Lien. He kept turning quickly to take stock of her position and to assure himself that she was still well.
Shu Lien felt a swelling adoration warm her chest. She had always appreciated how formidable a warrior he was, but seeing him in battle from this perspective renewed her considerable respect.
But even as she watched her love showcase his virtuosity, her dignity and personality rebelled at being vulnerable. She was fiercely independent and had always taken care of herself, so this situation was both unsettling and aggravating. However, oddly enough, she began to realize that at the same time it was also comforting to be well-protected when she was so tired and raw, and by one she knew respected and revered her own skill. She supposed she had never really trusted and loved someone enough to relinquish the need to be in control. It was unsettling, but also therapeutic to realize that she didn't need to be perfect at all times.
The battle was furious but brief. The vicious creatures were soon but a field of corpses around them and Shu Lien felt a measure of pity and sadness as she regarded the massacre before her. There had been no choice, of course, but for a moment the feelings she had struggled with earlier in this long journey returned to haunt behind her eyes.
Those feelings quickly dispersed as Legolas, who had wiped and sheathed his blades, was approaching her with a covert glowing satisfaction and relief in his eyes that made her smile.
"You are unhurt?" he asked softly. It was a rhetorical question really; he had made quite certain that none had gotten near enough to breathe on her.
Shu Lien stepped forward, still smiling at him and put a hand on his arm. With a quick glance around at the rest of their otherwise engaged comrades, she went up on the balls of her feet and pressed her lips to his. "Thank you, callonya." she whispered against his mouth, pulling back with a slightly mischievous smile.
Legolas just looked down at her with a lopsided and charmingly boyish grin that made her smile broaden. She could almost forget the insistent throbbing of her head for the endearing pleasure in his gaze.
Mu Bai looked up again from where he was carefully cleaning his sword, the Green Destiny, and watched as Shu Lien went up on her toes to kiss the Elf. He closed his eyes to the fire that immediately ignited in his belly and breathed out a breath that was surprisingly free from smoke. Why did he continue to concern himself with what she did? It was vexing to be sure to see the Elf's dishonor continue to be rewarded, but, as everyone, he had learned long ago that life was seldom fair. He must focus on his task ahead. His duty. He found their luxuriant liaison to be indulgent in the dire face of this quest, but that was not his concern. His focus should be on his responsibility to this quest and seeing Shu Lien and the ring safely to Rivendell. Basking in the illusion that the rest of his tumultuous and visceral emotional reactions had fallen away, he stood with frosty resolve and began packing the camp to move it from the battle site.
~*~*~*~
The following evening:
Shu Lien was drawn from the frightening torrential flow of words, songs, and images that was her dreamscape now. Grasping the hand of consciousness as soon as it was offered, she pulled herself up with the desperation of one who drowns and drew a sharp breath from the waking world. Her eyes popped open to the glow of a camp fire in the deep recesses of the night. Why had she awoken?
She was glad, because sleep was now something unpleasant to be endured out of necessity only. The voice of the ring haunted her dreams with worrying, demanding, frantic images and words that shattered against the cool hard surface of waking into feelings and emotions that strangled her. She never remembered what was said, or what she saw, but she never felt rested. If her body had not demanded that she sleep, she would have spent the night with the watches at the fire. As it was, she kept her eyes open until they were burning and blurred, and the hand of exhaustion brushed over them, closing them.
Eyes traveling over the slumbering camp, she ended resting her gaze on Legolas' form. He was sitting beside her by the fire, on his watch, though sorely distracted. As she studied him she realized that it was his turmoil that had awakened her. His unrest was tangible as he sat, looking into the fire, his cheek resting in his hand and a liquid sorrow brimming in his eyes.
She knew that expression. She had seen it, one time or another, on every one of her Elvish friends. The mortal world was an endless source of grief for the Eldar. The pain of the constant loss was something that haunted the soft intimate space behind their eyes, though they tried to hide it.
So enwrapped in his own thoughts was he, that he had not noticed that Shu Lien had awakened. A vision in his Reverie that evening had awoken a burning fear of letting go in Legolas. He found himself wishing to clutch Shu Lien to him with hands whose knuckles went white in the effort. He had dealt with similar feelings around Gimli over the many years. But Dwarves were given a longer time in this world and, while Gimli was very dear, it was not the same. His heart and soul would leave this world with Shu Lien, he knew that.
Western Elves had dealt with the mortal world by distancing themselves from things that they would have to lose. He had understood what he was entering into when he had said that he loved her. It had been easy to accept in that moment, and indeed he knew it could be no other way. But he also knew the searing reality of these feelings would rise again and again to haunt him throughout her life. And then after...
Unless he was the first to leave. Legolas had had a vision that night that disturbed him and stoked the fires of dread. It had made him worry that all might not happen as he had imagined. He himself had never feared death, other than the momentary pain of passing, but the thought of leaving Shu Lien any earlier than the end of her life wrapped a choking hand of anxiety around his throat.
He started slightly (instantly berating himself for his inattention) as her hands, warm from the sleeping blankets, crept up to his face, turning it gently to her. Shu Lien looked into his black, sorrowful eyes for a long moment, silently assessing. She rose up to press her lips to his - chaste and long - and then pulled back to regard him again.
"I am here now." She simply whispered, continuing to hold his gaze.
"I know. It is foolish of me to live looking for the next sunrise. This grief just rises within me this moment. I do not want to lose you." Legolas returned, voice soft and hushed for his troubled heart as well as the sleeping camp.
The crackle of the fire, the scurrying of an animal, the rustling of a shifting slumber punctuated the moment of silence between them.
"I had a vision tonight. It has filled me with unease." Legolas spoke hollowly.
Shu Lien let her hands drop to his and scooted closer to him, looking up at him with attentive concern.
Legolas licked his lips briefly and then spoke softly. "In it I was being pulled into darkness by the icy hand of shadow. My other hand held yours, warm and alive. I could hear your voice, but could no longer see you for the gloom that was pressing about me. Our hands were so clasped that I feared your fingers would break in my grip, but yet still it began to slip. I lost your hand to the darkness but I tried to wait...I tried to wait for you to join me. But you never followed. Finally even your voice had faded. And then it was so cold..." Legolas was staring into the fire reliving the vivid dream, a lump rising in his throat.
Shu Lien looked at him as if she expected more. When it became apparent that he had told her all, she sighed slightly. Her gaze joined his on the fire as the words wrapped around her heart. The idea of him leaving the world before her terrified her. He would take her heart and soul with him, she knew that. But what she feared more than death, was the living after. Such was the curse of the First Born - being forever tied to pain and sorrow, loss and grief, watching the world die around them while they stood sentinel. Shu Lien was afraid of this pain of surviving.
Taking a few deep breaths Shu Lien tried to find her center amid the ceaseless murmuring of the ring and its vice-like grip behind her eyes. She squeezed Legolas' hand as she turned back to him. He met her gaze, his eyes pained.
"There are no words to ease the suffering of life. But I take comfort in the fact that sorrow is merely the shadow of joy. And you have brought me so much joy. Were you to be taken tomorrow, I would have no regrets." Shu Lien spoke through a sad smile. Legolas closed his eyes briefly
She paused a moment reaching a hand back up to Legolas' cheek. "We have right now, meldanya, we know not what tomorrow will bring, but we have right now."
She rose up to press her lips to his, lovingly. Sensuously, sumptuously her soft full lips caressed his silken mouth, kissing the corners, running her tongue between his lips, nipping the bottom one with her teeth. Legolas sat very still, his breath becoming uneven, his eyes closing, memorizing the feel of her mouth on his.
She pulled away slightly and pressed her face to his neck just under his jaw. Then, wrapping her arms around him, she quietly, gently sang to him the songs of her land until the sun began to soften the hard edges of night.
If the years take away
Every memory that I have
I would still know the way
That would lead me back to your side.
The North star may die
But the light that I see in your eyes
Will burn there always
Lit by the love that we have shared before time...~*~*~*~
After another five days of decent, the terrain began to soften. A greenness returned along with moisture to the air. They had encountered but one more relatively harmless band of Orcs who were easily subdued and they had made good travel time. It was less than a week's journey before they saw the fabled Rivendell and the completion of Shu Lien's duty.
Falmalinnar was glad. He glanced over to where she rode wearily on her horse, silent, shoulders rounded almost imperceptibly, eyes downcast. The weight of the ring was undeniable in her carriage and introversion. Truth be told, he was very worried for her. He knew of no other who was as determined or willful - he had the utmost faith in her ability and endurance - but she had suffered so much already that he was worried for the effect on her spirit.
Shu Lien knew she was being stoic but simply did not have the energy to spare for communication or interaction. All of her resources were funneled into her focus and endurance. Shu Lien was accustomed to a disciplined mind that was clear and focused and the elusion of this state was a particular hardship for her. In addition, the physical pain in her head continued to bloom and it's bearing robbed her of her strength.
She knew Legolas was worried for her, but she didn't want to discuss the ring with him for she knew it troubled him greatly. For her it was a burden, a trial be endured, only until she was able to hand it over to Lord Elrond and her duty completed. But for Legolas, having been part of the Fellowship, it brought forth much more. However, she did not discuss her ordeal with Falmalinnar either. She was used to bearing her burdens unaided, and old habits die hard. So she did the only thing she knew to do, and withdrew, going within to try to preserve her strength, to try to preserve her sanity.
Stopping at the summit of a foothill, Falmalinnar paused and surveyed the countryside. He had been looking for an opportunity to give Shu Lien a moment alone with her friends. The road was clear, the day was bright... his party rode up behind him and he announced. "It looks as if there may be water in the valley beyond, and still I see no stream intercepting our road. Mu Bai and I will ride down to scout for water and meet you along the road for our mid-day break. May we have your extra water hides?"
Automatically, Mu Bai moved to collect the hides from each of the party. When his gaze came upon Shu Lien, it skimmed over her, aloof and distant. Legolas watched the subtle blink of her eyes as her gaze lowered to her hands and he clenched his jaw. Didn`t Mu Bai realize how much he hurt her by his cold disdain? Falmalinnar and Mu Bai finally rode off silently down into the valley below them and Legolas breathed an almost audible sigh of relief.
Rather surprised - but pleased - by the sudden change in travel company, the four friends looked at one another for a moment. Clicking to his horse, Elrohir grinned broadly at his companions and started down the road. Shu Lien urged her horse in step beside him and Legolas' horse, also bearing Gimli, followed behind them. They rode in silence for several minutes, letting the tension fall away and adjusting to their old travel configuration.
Elrohir felt immensely lighter and glanced back to his friends. Legolas smiled somewhat sedately, however Gimli positively beamed offering Elrohir a jovial wink. Looking over to where Shu Lien rode, eyebrows slightly furrowed as if in physical pain, Elrohir's smile dimmed slightly.
"Shu Lien, I miss your smile, " he said simply as her dull gaze turned to him. She attempted a smile for him and Elrohir chuckled. "You don't have to force it, little sister." He had never used such an endearment for her but it felt perfectly appropriate. She smiled at his words a little more genuinely and he beamed. "You should lean on your family in these times of darkness..." he encouraged softly.
She sniffed. "My family! What family? My parents were killed before I knew them - because of me - and my people have clearly abandoned my side! I find the family of Man far too fleeting for my tastes..." She almost spat under her breath. These words surprised even Shu Lien in their bitterness. She looked down, embarrassed at having spoken so forthrightly.
Elrohir's face took on an expression of complete seriousness as he regarded her. Glancing back he saw that Legolas was regarding her with undisguised worry. Elrohir returned his gaze to the woman. "Family are not those bound by blood or even by race. But those who love and support you." Shu Lien looked up and met his eyes and Elrohir smiled kindly. "You have a loving father in Falmalinnar, an adoring husband, a devoted brother," he bowed dramatically from his horse, "oh.. and then you have.. er... a lovely big sister in Gimli." The Elf snickered quite wickedly glancing behind him at the Dwarf.
Gimli offered a rather juicy objection from behind Legolas, who was unsuccessfully attempting to suppress his own mirth. Shu Lien unconsciously brought a hand to her throbbing temple and smiled weakly through the torrent of whispered words assaulting her. None of her friends missed this gesture.
"I am sorry Elrohir... it is just... I do not have the strength..." She said softly apologetic. "Will you just ride at my side...and I will remember our many days of laughter?"
Elrohir hid his anxiety behind a suave smile. "I am yours to command, little sister," he said with a flourish.
"Elf can you not speed up this blasted animal?!" Gimli complained to Legolas. Catching the hint, Legolas maneuvered his horse so that he rode on Shu Lien's other side, though the road was only barely wide enough to accommodate them. Gimli regarded Shu Lien inconspicuously a moment while he spoke to Elrohir. "Elrohir, what Shu Lien is too polite to tell you is that, though you try quite heartily, you fail at being even remotely amusing - a fact that you have showcased quite well this afternoon, I might add."
Settling himself a bit on the horse he continued with a satisfied grin. "You see, you do not possess the skill and wit of the Dwarves and therefore simply bore your listener until he chuckles in the vain hope that you will shut up and leave him be!" Gimli spoke plainly as if he simply related a well-known truth of the universe.
Elrohir rolled his eyes with a groan. "What about Legolas? He was laughing!" Elrohir took Gimli's cue and continued with the light banter around Shu Lien.
"Oh, he doesn't count... he is another pointy ear and pretty face..." Gimli dismissed, then an evil smile formed under his beard. "Actually, if anyone should be a sister..."
Before he could complete his intended insult, Legolas had spoken his horse into a rear and the Dwarf was unceremoniously unseated. He fell to the ground with loud thud which was quickly followed by all manners of Khuzdûl curses.
Elrohir just laughed merrily while Legolas grinned in satisfaction, and, with a little wink to Shu Lien, leapt lightly down to help the Dwarf back on his horse good-naturedly.
Once he had calmed down, Gimli launched into one of his more enthusiastic and raunchy stories that had both Elrohir and Legolas trading insults and sniggering along. A small smile curved Shu Lien's lips as she listened to the banter about her and she tried to focus on that light, comforting, normalcy in the face of the silent battle of endurance she was waging.
By the time they stopped for lunch it seemed like they were back on the road from Gondor. And while Shu Lien had not joined in, she had been somewhat rejuvenated by the joviality of her friends and their sensitive offering of distraction.
Still Elencálë's voice rose incessant, lodging silver words endlessly with a velvet hammer behind her eyes:
When I beckon you, follow me,
Though my ways are hard and steep,
And when my wings enfold, yield to me,
Though the sword hidden among my pinions may wound you.
And when I speak to you believe in me,
Though my voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.For even as I crown you, so shall I crucify you
Even as I am for your growth, so am I for your pruning.
Even as I ascend to your height and caress your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall I descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth....If you fear me and would seek but my peace and pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of my threshing-floor,
Into a seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.~ Next Chapter ~
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