She Walks on Starlight Ch: 3

I found myself standing next to an open window. The silk white and silver curtains whispering softly in the breeze as I eyed the green breathtaking countryside. Down below appeared to be a garden of sorts. Complemented with elven statues and benches, even cobbled pathways leading further into the silent wood for I assume private moments. To my right, it appeared to be a father and son playing…I had never seen an elfling before…even in the movies, never had I seen one. While they were a good distance away, and while they couldn’t see me due to my elevated position, I could still make out their features. The child “appeared” to be roughly four or five…but I knew better. With long chestnut hair, slightly curling at the tips. His cheeks where slightly red from chasing his father, giggling up a storm in the process.

“Sky-laar?”

The voice momentarily startles me, reminding me that I was in the elf lord’s study. Turning I see Elrond observing me softly, his eyes slightly pinched as he turned his gaze towards the parchment in his hands. He assesses the sketch of the gun and jeep momentarily before opening a hidden drawer located to his right. I see Hayln and Elladan eyeing the elf seated at his desk, eager to see what the elf conjures. Elrond leans back up, silently resting my handgun atop the wooden desk.

Immediately I notice the safety is unlatched. Hands twitching I go to grab the gun when firm palms grab ahold of the scruff of my shirt. Wincing slightly I turn to see and to my surprise, Hayln…for something so small she sure had a secure grip.  “The safety!” I raise my hands, hoping that was the universal sign for peace as I asses the Elf Lord before me.
His eyes crease together…this was the universal sign of confusion….sigh. “Prestad?” Now it was my turn to appear confused.

“The safety is off. You need to pull the small red latch down otherwise you’re fucked if you so much as put pressure on the trigger.” Silence…Nothing. But. Silence. Que the part where the crazy girl rips her hair out in sheer frustration…and will Hayln get off my back?
“Mellon,” I turn to gaze at the ellith who’s situated to my right, hoping my eyes reveal I mean no harm. She hesitates momentarily, her grey orbs darting to the elf lord.

“Ne’sta, Hayln.” I’m confused why he’s addressing her when suddenly she releases me. Her fingers slowly unwind from the sweater I wore as I see Elrond beckon me forward.

“Boe?”

It was the ellith who had spoken as I again turn to see her rigid form taking a small step back. “Ava sorya, vuin Hayln.”

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Hayln was perturbed by the human’s actions towards the strange device. While she may not have been present during said objects use but she, and many others, had already heard of its supposed destructive power. She may not have seen what it was capable of, but she had heard it. Like the sound of a sharp whip, a sudden crack of thunder before retreating back into abrupt silence.

She remembered the shiver that ran down her spine, how she had paused mid-step as her dark head whipped in the direction the threatening sound had originated from. Quickly she had taken note of the clear blue skies and the whisper of the gentle wind and knew immediately it was not the result of nature, but of something alien.

Coming back to the present moment she scrutinized both the woman and the lord of Rivendell as he beckoned the she-human forward. She mumbled something again in her foreign tongue before quickly touching the object. There was a definitive click, while soft in sound, caused the fidgeting ellith to give a momentary startle.

And simply like that, the woman once again backed away, her hands up in silent surrender. What had she done? Hayln leaned slightly forward in hopes to see what had caused such a fuss, to see the results of this woman’s handy work….nothing appeared to be different.
What in the sweet name of Valar?

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Once I was satisfied all was well, I again point artificially towards the sketch once more, my eyes wide and expectant as I gaze at the elf before me. “Jeep?”


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Striding up to the large animal I wince…Were they expecting me to actually get on? To my right I hear the distinct chuckle of Elladan as he strides up to stand beside me. He pats the mare in a soothing nature, either to calm the horse or myself I was unsure.
“Hiril vuin?”

…What?

Confused, I gaze at the towering elf, his grey eyes questioning as he sweeps a hand to once again rest atop the horses side. Upon seeing my bewildered expression he sighs, all the while leaning down to the point his knees nearly touched the soft grass. His hands wove together to create a bowl shape. He gazes upward this time, his eyes expectant and immediately I understood…I guess this was the universal sign for, ‘here, let me help your short self.’

I snicker internally at the small jab, albeit, the jab was aimed at me but it was sill funny. Instantly I think of Sam, I think about what she would have said in that moment, “don’t let it bother you Sky, all short people are treated special” and I could see her use air quotation around “special” and I could all but hear her sarcastic tone…Thinking of my friend promptly made me also think my family…would I see them again? How am I supposed to get home? Is that even possible? How did I even get here in the first place?
In a span of a heart beat my humor dies, leaving a sour taste in my mouth as I obediently place my boot over his opened palms. Instinctively my left hand goes to grab the horn of the saddle, while my other splays on the horses’ side for extra securement.

Once settled the elf easily hoists himself up and over, sliding right behind me. Immediately I freeze, my back all but seizes as I feel a fresh wave of hot blood fill my cheeks, not to mention the heat of Elladan’s chest. In a feeble attempt to acquire space I lean forward, my body all but laying over the mare’s neck.

“Elladan.” The elf and I both gaze to our right, there, Elrond on his own majestic white horse comes bounding towards us. “Sky-laar,” the lord nods a greeting. Silently, and perhaps a bit awkwardly I nod in return, all the while fully conscious of a certain elf prince.

Words are exchanged between the two and in the flurry of confusing dialogue I can’t help but notice how the son is a striking resemblance of the father. Although, Elrond, while oozing fatherly persona, didn’t appear to be that much older…but I knew better.

Three other elves, all male, also came riding up. Their silvery capes and long flowing hair billowing in the sweet air. Despite their near ethereal appearance I too took notice in the leather arm guards protectively incasing their wrists and upper arms. I saw the gleam of a beast plate peeking through the somewhat translucent cloak and of course the longbow and quiver full of long wooden arrows strapped securely to their broad backs.

I presumed with the Orc incident from earlier they believed it necessary to send an escort, to which I wasn’t complaining…not in the least. To be honest and if I could help it, I would much rather never have to face such an ungodly creature. Even now the unclean, almost burnt smell of its sickly looking flesh suddenly came to mind. Needless to say it took every inch of self-control to keep my convulsing gag reflex in control.

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Soon we were off. Two elves I was unfamiliar with took to the front, while another strode a few good paces behind, leaving Elrond, Elladan, and myself to occupy the middle. Both father and son spoke softly in Sindarin, as for myself, I attempted to memorize each turn, each hill and stream. All the while I marveled at the scenery before me. The sun was starting to crest over the horizon, casting a dazzling splash of pastels; pink, purple and reds to highlight the tops of the fluffy clouds that hung suspended in the light, baby blue.

Golden ray’s filtered through the clouds, cascading down to illuminating the tops of the trees, the deepest shade of evergreen accented each leaf, almost appearing to glow with life. What type of place is this?

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We probably traveled a good two miles when Elladan taps my shoulder and, with an intangible phrase, point’s dead ahead. There, as the tree line reseeds, sits my yellow jeep.

I couldn’t have been separated from “normalcy” for more than a day, if even that, but in that moment, as I focused on the jeep unlimited, my eyes began to mist. A lump, hot and invasive, settled in the deep recesses of my throat and, before I knew it, a rush of air expelled from my tight lungs.

Now, only meters away, Elladan pulls gently upon the reigns, uttering softly to the horse, whom I’ve now named Biscuit. She whinnies softly as the mare comes to a placid stop. With uncanny agility, the elf prince swivels his body to easily slide off the side of the large animal. His landing was feather lite as he then turns to face me. The elf’s long digits, like that of a musicians, are deceptively strong as his hands slide underneath my arms, easily hoisting me from the back of Biscuit. The moment both feet are planted firmly onto the warm earth I all but dart towards the jeep, my fingers flexing with anticipation as the door handle comes within reach.

Like my arrival, I all but throw the door open. Although this time (thankfully) I’m not in a state of panic nor being chased by something that resembles a demon, but instead I simply wanted to be reacquainted with my belongings…things that are uniquely my own in this rather, other-worldly place.

With deft fingers I press the unlocking mechanism for the back of the jeep, to which I’m rewarded with a soft click. By now, each elf has too dismounted their own steads, their eyes alight with raw wonder. Ignoring the unwanted attention, I continue to step around the jeep, my boots brushing against soft grass as I unlatch the back door.

Silently it swings open, causing me to sigh wistfully at the very welcomed sight. I reached down, fingering the small green duffle that housed various things. Things such as gym clothes, a few pairs of jeans, socks and thankfully a relatively new pair of sketchers. I considered removing my boots now in exchange for the sneakers but refrained, I’d simply inherit more ardent stares…not to mention I’m sure seeing my ankles, or anything else for that matter, would be all but scandalous…Bye bye to the tube top I know to be stashed inside the confines of the bag.

Grabbing the thick strap I sling the bag up and over my shoulder when I see it. Sitting there, nearly tucked below the back seat, rests a small case. I had been so consumed with the idea of changing my hot layers of clothing that I had forgotten its presence.
I slide the sleek, black case from its otherwise hiding spot, my fingers reaching under to unlatch the two prongs of metal , only to gaze down at the burnt umber, classical violin. The fading light of the sun gleamed red against the polished surface.

“Gwaem, Sky-laar.”

I jump at the sudden jumble of distorted words, even more so of the person who now stands before me…damn elves are awfully quiet on their feet. I attempt to accumulate the added weight slung across my person as I regard both father and son. Their light, grey orbs bounced from me, to the objects now in my hands, to the inside of the jeep, and back to me as they silently assess my person quizzically.

In my peripheral, I see the other three men…er elves, have already mounted their steeds again as they appeared to survey the area for any threats, moving their heads from side to side to no doubt put their acute hearing to use.  Only occasionally would I see their eyes rotate towards the three of us on the ground, their eyes severe as they gaze upon the strange looking machine…and probably the equally strange girl.

“Sky-laar?”

In that moment I wasn’t sure why, but a sudden sadness overtakes me, like a shadowy haze, looming over my conscious mind as I lift my head to gaze at the elf lord.
“Ga?” he gestures to the horses, then turns back, his gaze and the slight raising of his brows was enough to understand…he was asking if I was ready to go. Suddenly, that same mist spawned around my eyes, only this time it was much harder to fight off the onslaught of tears that threatened to crest. I will not cry….I will not cry.

I swallowed the lump that too has resurfaced as I nod once, my eyes not even meeting Elrond’s as I set around him and towards Biscuit when Elladan, like a gentleman, takes my bag. He eyes it skeptically, testing its weight when he goes, strapping it to the horses’ side. Biscuit whinny’s softly at the sudden weight but doesn’t cause a fuss.

I could only guess we had approximately thirty or forty minutes left as the sun began to dib dangerously over the horizon, nearly disappearing into the tree line. The occasional chirp of a bird came here and there but, other than that, all was relatively quiet.

I clutched the black case between my fingers, somehow and some way, I feel it served as a tether to things I know and love…I saw my family in that moment, their faces flashing before my mind’s eye; aunts, uncles, beloved cousins, grandparents, great grandparent, my brother, my mom….Sam. Would I see them all again? Would I get to spend time with them? To celebrate holidays whether it be sitting by the fire while opening presents, stuffing our faces with turkey or setting off fireworks? Would I get to see my home again? To sleep in my own bed? You don’t even have a bed…not anymore.

I had no answer to my infinite number of questions. I had nowhere to go. I had no one to speak to and not in any way that counted less I include frustration. I. Was. Alone. Even the elf lord, who was now perched atop his horse, even Lord Elrond of Rivendell couldn’t help me.

With that, my gaze settles ominously on the jeep. With the fading light the vehicle seemed to appear darker, less bright, seeming only to reflect my sinking disposition.
I was not aware of how acute an elf’s range of hearing was, so with that in mind the choked gasp of my silent despair escaped my lungs in a long exhale. I will not cry. I will not cry. I wasn’t sure if even, or if at all, I would be able to return so I branded the jeep in my mind…not how it is now, but for what is was. Bright, a source of freedom, of normalcy and of a world and a life that no longer existed.

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By the time we reached the stables (with smelt slightly of dew) the sun had completely disappeared. The soft whisper of crickets and the occasional whippoorwill served as white ambiance as Elrond and Elladan lead me away and towards a large building that overlooked the rest of Rivendell. I assumed it was the house of the elf lord, to where I must be staying.

I silently trudged along, my little black case still planted firmly within my palms as the elf prince carried the duffle. The two spoke in hushed baritones, only occasionally glancing over their shoulders to make sure I still followed. Surprisingly I didn’t see any others within the vicinity. One would think, especially on a nice night like this, folks would be walking about, enjoying the cool summer air but there was nothing…Even the evening seemed to mirror my sudden desolate mood.

After a few minutes of walking I was lead to a wooden, iron clad door. “Na lû e-govaned vîn, vuin Sky-laar. Pasto vae.” From the exaggerated way Elrond opened the door, his arm stretched out, beckoning me to enter, I knew this was my room. Suddenly, upon that understanding, I realized just how exhausted I was…not physically, but mentally. I was more than ready to be by myself for a while, not to mention take a shower…if they even have such a thing…probably not.

After Elladan placed my bag down next to the door the two elves left me to my own devices, to which I was utterly grateful. Like clockwork I reached down to grab the seam of my shirt before chucking it over my head only to leave the sweat coated material to bunch on the floor in a messy heap. I reached down, preparing to remove my jeggings when suddenly a female elf bounds around the corner from an adjacent room.

I yelp, half from surprise and the other with embarrassment for being caught underdressed...“What are you doing? I thought I was alone!” My frustrations finally won as I but yell at the wide-eyed ellith. Her large silvery eyes shone with slight perspiration as she utters something quickly in Sindarin, pointing dejectedly towards the room she had just exited before briskly departing out the main door.

Silence once again engulfs the room, leaving an eerie ringing sound to infiltrate my ears as I hesitantly step towards the place the ellith had just come from, peeking around the corner in fear of another person to be waiting there. I got my wish, I was completely alone of any other biological organisms but as my eyes swept across the room, there, seated in the back, next to an open window, was a steaming bath.

A small part of me felt troubled at yelling at her but another part, a selfish part, could only think about slipping into the water that smelt like…is that lemongrass? The distressed ellith all but vanishes from my mind as I eagerly go to remove my boots, setting them aside as I retreat back into the main room to grab a pair of extra clothes.
I settle on a pair on boy shorts and a grey T-shirt that read, Thing One. I refused to acknowledge the fact that my family had only recently gone on that trip to Universal Orlando some months back. I refused to remember the lovely memories of riding the front row of the Hulk coaster, sitting on the patio of Jimmy Buffets Margaretville, eating hot jambalaya and chatting about our day and days to come…I refused to acknowledge that my days with them where…over.

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I sat in the tube until the water had grown cold, only half-assed scrubbing my body and hair with the lavish, essential oil infused soaps before I exited the bath. I patted myself dry and then proceeded to wring my hair from the cool water droplets.
After I had dressed I return back to the main room, only to see a dress or more so a sleeping shift from the looks of it draped over the queen sized bed, and a small tray of assorted fruits and greens…Vegetarians, of course. I ignore the shift, no way in hell would I wear that, the long thing would probably cause me to trip all over the place, no doubt injuring myself in the process.

Only in that moment, after I sat next to the tray, did I really gaze about my surroundings. Large, ornate marble slabs that had been neatly cut, made up the walls of the room, complemented with great sized windows overlooking the country side. No glass was there to shield the room from any outside influences but, on the contrary, thick green curtains hung prestigiously on either side of the openings. Mere paces from the bed sat a stone hearth, the black stain of coal and erosion located in its belly evident of its many years of use in the past. The bed itself was a large, opulent canopy bed, with thick silver and green sheets with a vast array of pillows, all varying in size, to cover the top of the mattress. The canopy itself appeared to have been made from the same green material as the coverlets and upon further inspection, it appeared that leaves and other such foliage were etched into the cloth via silvery threads.

There was no doubt in my mind the sheer beauty of this place. The hospitality was overwhelming…despite what that one ellith might think. I was grateful for Elrond. For Elladan…But despite all that, I simply just wanted to go home. Some small part of myself prayed this was a sick nightmare spurred on by stress, lack of sleep and perhaps even hormones. I prayed that any moment, any moment my alarm would sound and I’d find myself calling Sam to report of my inevitable insanity. She go on about how I’d finally come to my senses and then I’d comment on how insane that sounded…I chuckled in spite of myself, tucking my legs under myself as I remebered the tray of food.

I had only ate a few berries and a hand full of orange slices when suddenly I felt it. Vomit unexpectedly rocketed up my esophagus. A hand slaps over my mouth as I run for the bathroom, all the while the taste of fruit and acid coating my taste buds. Within seconds I’m halfway hanging out the open window, my stomach and throat contracting as I heave out the remains of my small meal into the woods below.

Shaking slightly, I grab another small towel that rested by the tub, my hand fisting the soft material as my other absentmindedly dips into the water to wipe vehemently at my soiled mouth. Only then, did I realize the salty tears that began to cascade down my face and onto the cool marbled floor…Cursing under my breath I finally had had enough.
I drag my spent body over the bed sheets, not even caring about throwing the silky duvets over my form as I curl into a small ball. Only in this moment did I fully allow the waterworks to come, for the dam to burst as silent sobs racked my body. I selfishly wept for myself, for this damned situation I was in…and I wept for the future and the family I had lost.




Translations:
(Hiril vuin) My lady
(Gwaem) Let’s go
(Ga) Go
(Prestad) Is there trouble?
(Mellon) Friend
(Boe) Is it necessary?
(Ne’sta) Peace
(Na lû e-govaned vîn) Until next we meet
(Pasto vae) Rest well
(Ava sorya) Do not dread
(Vuin) Lady

(Av-osto) do not be afraid
(Gi nathlam hi) you are welcome here
(Mi van me) where are you from
(N'i lû tôl) until then
(Tolo ar ninc) come with me