| Subject: A silent city |
Author:
Laeriel
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 02:25:11 06/04/02 Tue
Laeriel walked through the silent passages in the castle, bitterly cold air blew against her face, and perfectly contrasted the cloudless sunny sky. If one were indoors, one might have thought it a beautiful day. Laeriel's heart new better, the change in the air signified only one thing-- the coming of winter. Laeriel paused to look out through one of the glassless castle windows onto the garden. The trees were dressed in beautiful shades, ranging from red to golden, honey to sienna. Every time the wind rustled, a few orange hued leaves would flutter to the ground in a cascade of fall colors. But as most were enjoying the autumn foliage, the faeries were growing more heavy hearted and introverted with each passing moment. Though they loved all seasons, winter's coming meant Laeriel's people would be lethargic and quiet, a contrast to their usual jovial nature. Winter signifies not sadness, though, but ending. A time to rest and reflect, a time to prepare for what the new year and what spring might bring to them. A threat loomed in the air, though, and Laeriel feared whatever they were facing would strike soon, and strike hard. She new, also, that this meant their enemy was smart, and knew faeries were involved. And may an enemy meet a faery in winter, for he has a better chance then if they were to meet in spring.
What worried her most, however, is how this enemy would know that faeries were a threat. At first, she had thought perhaps they has seen her or one of her siblings journeying to Minas Tirith, that would be logical. She new, though, that there was another way they could know. But it meant they had something so terrible, so destructive, she didn't dare speak it, or even think it. All she knew was that in her present state, she was powerless to defend herself against it. She prayed this power had not fallen into the hands of evil, but deep in her heart, she knew it already had.
Another bitterly cold breeze blew through the passageway. Laeriel shivered and pulled the sides of her cloak more tightly around her. Her quick footsteps echoed in the empty stone halls, Laeriel had grown accustomed to the sound. The halls were usually empty now. The entire city was silent. Now that word had spread about Arwen’s leaving, and the King’s interest in a servant girl called Namün, the people of Minas Tirith did not know what to think. A cloud of sadness and confusion had descended upon the city, all who resided their could feel it. No one knew what to think of the King, not even the King himself.
Laeriel’s spirits continued to sink. The King had been unavailable for the past two and a half months entirely. The faeries kept to themselves, primarily, and the residents of the castle paid them little heed. Laeriel thought the coming of her siblings would lift her spirits, but still her heart felt heavy. Rhylin was cold and uncomfortable around her, and she could do nothing about it now. Before, if she tried, she could bring him around for at least a small time. Enough time for them to feel the essence of their old friendship slowly returning. But even the shadow of the way the once were had disappeared entirely over these last months. Laeriel avoided him, for the most part. It was time to stop fighting and accept it, they will never be friends again. The very thought of their lost friendship brought tears to her eyes, they trickled down her cheeks and tasted salty in her mouth. She fiercely wiped them away with one hand, but they continued to flow. She walked quickly ahead, her head fixed on the floor, her sobbing so silent it could not be heard over the echoes of her footsteps.
Laeriel continued to walk forward, trying her best to stop crying. But it was to no avail, she still tasted bitter, salty tears. She continued walking, not thinking about where she would go. She didn’t care, maybe she would walk forever, mourning her lost friend. Perhaps she would walk all the way back to Carenina, maybe she would walk even further than that. She could live in the mountains, with the trees. And spare herself and Rhylin all this pain. Maybe… maybe…
She had been paying so little attention to where she was headed, she ran straight into someone else in the passage way. They hit shoulder to shoulder, so hard it spun Laeriel almost clear around. She turned to face the other person.
“I’m so sorry, I must not have been paying attention. Forgive--” the other cloaked figure turned to face her. A wave of emotions swept through her, primarily, happiness.
“Rhylin! I haven’t seen you in days!” she said, flinging her arms around his neck without giving second thought. For a moment, she was happy.
Then, she felt his muscles tighten, he did not return her embrace. She let go of his neck, looking up at him, her eyes filled with hurt. He looks as if he was about to say something, she didn’t care. She took a step backwards, and then another, and another still. All her thoughts came rushing back to her at once. It was time to stop fighting and accept it, they will never be friends again… She shook her head. No, we’ll always be friends…I can’t loose him, he means so much to me…, she repeated it in her mind, he did mean so much to her. Her eyes clouded with tears, she spun violently on her heals, and ran.
She ran faster than even she knew she could run, truly not caring where she was headed, this time. She faintly heard Rhylin’s footsteps behind her, she ignored them. She turned and ran up a stairway, Rhylin close at her heels. She didn’t care if he followed her. She kept running up, up, the stairs seemed to go on forever. Finally, she felt the cold wind on her face, she was outside, on some sort of tower. The expansive land stretched out endlessly before her, she could see for miles. She walked to the edge, peering over the stone wall that guarded one from falling. Bellow her, she could see the city, silent and still. No one was happy there, not a single man in the castle or the city could boast of happiness. Her tears began to fall again, she collapsed on the ground, her back leaning against the stone wall. She drew her knees up to her chest, and closed her arms around them tightly. She watched the entrance to the tower, wondering if Rhylin had followed her.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|
Feedback: 