*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ BALLAD OF BROKEN SWORDS ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ A FATHER'S LEGACY ❫ ❞
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ACT ONE  ── ad melinora 🏹 ⁺⑅

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CHILDREN OF ARDA DUOLOGY  ⋆ ☄.
♯ ❝ I SHALL NEVER FORSAKE A VOW ❞
CHAPTER SEVEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ the third age ─── year 2950
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━━ ˚ ₊ ♡ 🏹
❝ 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙮,
𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 ❞

*✧ ─── GYDA USED TO BELIEF ( ━ DESPITES ITS UNTRUE NATURE ) THAT OTHERS VASTLY UNDERESTIMATE HER CAPABILITIES. RANGING FROM HER ABILITIES AS A WARRIOR TO THE CLAIM OF HER CAPTAINSHIP. It is why she does not compromise, nor holds back. She has put herself past her limits as well as the people under her command; even the Aranel herself gets put on her back when Gyda is not pleased. It is probably also why princess Elgarain views her as rigid and unforgiving, especially when she trails behind the future High-Queen like a shadow.

It is hard for her to remember a time where she had not held an ounce of fear. Gyda had descended from a long line of warriors, both skilled with sword and spear as with wit. The very nature of battle flowed like an invisible wave inside of her. Her father had always told her the inner light of the Valinor, Lachend commonly known in Lindon, was the brightest he had ever seen in her eyes. And if her flame-eyes were any indicator of her future, all seemed very optimistic. And as she grew, she'd done everything to live up to their battle born legacy. A vivid ambition, not a worry of doubt and her father to guide her, had surely prepared her for all things to come.

So she had believed.

Then the Last Alliance of Elves and Men marched to the plains of Mordor, and even then Gyda had strutted with a head held high, assured with her strength. She was not called a prodigy for nothing right?

The final battle had matured her in a way she didn't think she would ever be capable of. The pretence of invincibility had cracked, her believe in herself depleting, despite the uptake of responsibilities. Gyda, albeit her prominence in battle from a birds-eye view feels the need to prove herself more than she ever had before, because it wasn't others doubting her capabilities, she herself was doubting them.

"That was unrefined." The sharp tip of her spear was raised under Galion's neck, the honey-haired elf's own sword on the ground next to him.

Galion grumbles, like a scolded child and pushes Gyda's spear away from his skin. His brows furrow as the brunette rolls back her shoulders, twirling the spear in her hand before placing it firmly on the ground as she glowers at him.

Gyda rubs her temple, eyes flickering up to look at Cirdan and Daros close by, practising too before looking back at her closest friend. "If we are to impress the Mirkwood elves ━ "

"Nothing impresses them." Galion cuts in.

" ━ we must show them skills they do not yet have themselves." She keeps talking despite Galion's interruption, bitterness seeping in her words at the end. "We are to strengthen the bond between Imladris and Mirkwood in the name of Lord Elrond, but ━" she increases the volume of her voice to gain the attention of the other two Nõldor elves. "We are of Lindon, we are Elves of the Light and we must show King Thranduil despite our struggles after Sauron's defeat, we are not to be seen as less."

"I know this is important for you Gyda." Galion says softly, placing a hand on her shoulder, "but I promise the burden is not yours alone to carry."

Gyda smiled gratefully at him, but the tension remains in her stance, "Besides, wouldn't it be rather opportunistic to send Nõldor's greatest bowman to the elves who have been said to be the only ones that truly have mastered such skills and show them up?"

"Galion, mellon. " Daros calls out, twirling his own spear skilfully, "you overestimate yourself."

Galion's eyes narrow, brows crease together and by the subtle twitch of his hand, Gyda already knows what comes next. She doesn't even bat an eye when the elf marches forward, lifts his arm and beckons for his weapon.

She already had taken his sword from the ground, and tosses it up with lethal precision that makes it easy to catch. "Cin will iest cin never lam-tuin words!" the spoken tongue of their homeland slips from his mouth. The Noldorin Quenya dialect sounds soothing to her ears, when she and her friends had mostly spoken Sindarin since their arrival in Imladris.

Gyda can only watch as they spar ━ no need to intervene when they actually take this more seriously than the training they were previously doing. She leans against the pillar in the courtyard, taking in their stances and strategies silently.

"Looks serious."

Gyda looks up when a shadow falls over her, blocking out the sunshine filtering in from the canopy of trees above her. Elladan grins down at her. He looks healthier than the last time she saw him. The paleness had vanished completely, his fair skin returned to normal. He still walked a bit stiffly and leaned on his right leg, but at least he was walking.

"Has your brother finally let you out of your cage mellon?" the hazel eyed elf questions jestingly.

"He is not my keeper Gyda," Elladan speaks almost disgruntled at the mere indication of her words. "that role is reserved for my adar."

"Well... has he cleared you?" the question is more timid this time. A genuine curiosity for his wellbeing.

Elladan nods to confirm her earlier thoughts, "Almost completely healed. I'd have to thank your Aranal when I see her next."

She hums, eyes returning to the full out battle that is happening in front of her. Galion and Daros had completely taking over the whole courtyard and no elf in the vicinity was safe from their onslaught it seems as they barrel around pillars, trees and the elves gathered.

"I was not aware Galion had an affinity for swordplay." Elladan states as he takes in the sight.

"He does not." The brunette shakes her head, and as if the world tries to prove her point, with one strong strike, Daros unarms the honey-haired elf who hisses as his sword clatters to the ground.

"I would like you to know I do not appreciate this slander of my skills!" Galion calls out, chin jutted upward in defiance.

Gyda shouts back, the tension in her shoulder had finally eased, a more tranquil feeling spreading through her body.

"Are you ready for your journey to Mirkwood?" Elladan inquires after a moment's pause.

"I am. We are." She nods biting the inside of her cheek. "But I must confess I worry about Elgarain."

"Why so?"

"It is my duty to protect her." She speaks as if the answer is obvious. "That is hardly possible from Mirkwood."

"Is it not also your task ask Captain to preserve and communicate with your allies." The dark haired elf suggests wisely. "have you not also vowed to take care of your homeland?"

Gyda doesn't let is show she is startled by the fact Elladan hints at his knowledge of her vow to Elgarain. She masks her expression carefully when she speaks next, "vows should not contradict one another."

"maybe..." he shrugs. "but sadly they often do. Keep your queen safe, keep the people safe. Defend the innocent, protect the weak. You will find you will always forsake one vow for the other."

"Then why would we make them?" She whispers under her breath, and Elladan can barely pick it up. Her father never taught her anything like this. He was proud of his vows to his High-King, to his homeland. Did he ever forsake a vow? Would she?

"Because we make them when we are young. When we still believe good will always prevail and it does not," He replies firmly, "and you will find history repeats itself. We forsake our vows, only to make a new one hoping it will turn out better."

"Have you made any vows? Forsaken any vows?"

"No. but I most likely will." Elladan replies earnestly, "we live long lives mellon. Once it will feel like forever, it will become hard to hold on to them. The world will change, and we will remain the same."

Her eyes flash, like flickering flames, "I will not, nor shall I ever forsake my vows." She speaks with her father's pride in mind. His hopes and dreams for her. His legacy.

Elladan bows his head but says no more about the subject.

"Captain!"

Red haired, fair skinned Ithel comes running in the courtyard. Eyes wide and frightful and Gyda's heart stops beating for a second. Fear crawls up her spine when their eyes meet.

Her back straightens, stance rigid, a hand on the hilt of her sword, the other tightening around the spear. "Ithel what has happened?"

*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝙫𝙤𝙬𝙨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵
𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰, 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝘵𝘰
𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩

─ michael j. sullivan

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆

third age ━━ year 2949

NOT LONG AFTER ITHEL'S WORRISOM ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELGARAIN'S DISAPPEARANCE, THE SUN HAD DIPPE BEHIND THE VALLEY, BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN, SHROUDING their surroundings in darkness. Gyda had immediately notified Lord Elrond, and the elf had managed to hold her back from storming away in the wild in search of the princess. Now, as the stars shone above her head, the torchlight illuminating her fair skin. Galion had already been tasked in searching the city, while Daros and Cirdan had returned to fetch the horses in case Elgarain would not soon return.

Nerves increase with every waking moment, and Gyda itches to do something, anything. She will not see Elgarain hurt, she will not see her vow forsaken.

"No one has seen the Aranel in the city." Galion's familiar voice echoes behind her and Gyda closes her eyes with a winch. Gnawing on her bottom lip, she nods, as if answering a question that has not been uttered.

"Still no sight of the princess?" Daros appears next with his own horse and hers. Ilya neighs at the sight of her and the brunette immediately latches on the reins. Fist tightening around the soft leather.

"No." She thinks back to their journey from Nõldor to Imladris. "I will scout the woods." She announces, voice rising so others hear her too. "you will stay here. You will check the city again. You will turn every stone, every brick, find every nook she can hide behind."

Daros bows his head, but his eyes betrays his thoughts. "What is it Daros?"

"Is it smart to go alone, especially now?"

Gyda closes her eyes, insecurities creeping in crevices she thought she had closed off. "I am the captain." I made the vow. "Elgarain is my responsibility. I shall look for her out there."

"Gyda." Galion calls out when she mounts Ilya, and stirs the mighty mare towards the bridge leading out of the valley. "Be careful."

"Hope for the best." She just replies plainly, a small grin on her face that is barely visible.

"Prepare for the worst." Despite the fact that she should not worry about what is beyond the sanctuary of Rivendell, Galion's words are words of caution.

"Always." She gallops forward, hooves meeting stone, until they pass the gap that leads her outside the border of Imladris.

The darkness makes the woods look more haunting, bigger, easier to hide in she suspects, but all Gyda can think about is finding Elgarain. Elgarain who likes to watch nature, to sit in peace with the flowers, to not be kept in the walls of Rivendell like it is a golden cage.

It was only a matter of time the brunette elf thinks, before this would happen. She can only hope no dangers have found the princess. And if they did, that her lessons at least protect her enough.

The trees and bushes blend together, cold evening air crisp against her skin as the familiar road takes her further away from the safety of Imladris. She takes a deep breath, trying to clear her head, hone in on the sounds around her.

The sound of nocturnal animals are the first thing she hears besides the rustling of leaves and the steady flow of the river Bruinen. But then beyond the noise of nature, she can hear the sound of feet hitting the ground, the sound of rocks rolling down a hill.

With startling realisation she notes the footsteps sound familiar, and they are the sound of running. Stirring Ilya in the direction of the noise, the trees slowly thin out, before a clearing comes ahead, the slope of the large hill illuminated by the moonlight that beams down upon Middle Earth. Keen elven eyes focus ahead, in search of the source of the noise before zeroing in on the silken flurry of white that waves in the wind like a beacon.

Elgarain.

But then, another set of footsteps can be heard, and Gyda can make out a second figure running, no chasing after Elgarain. The darkness shields whomever gives chase, but Gyda has already urged Ilya forward. She raises her sword in the air, the light of the moon gleaming off of the steel as she approaches with haste.

fear tightens its hold on her, not again. she tells herself. never again.

She nears quickly, bypasses Elgarain who has stopped at the bottom of the hill, breathing heavily but in her worry, Gyda does not note the soft laughter escaping the princess' lips.

Closer now, Gyda can make out the second person. He is tall, dark tunic covering his strong build, but to her luck, it seems he does not carry a weapon. When he spots her, sword raised, storming towards him he falters.

Ilya slows down when she is within a couple feet of him, and she jumps of the grey mare with practised ease. Feet hit the ground and she marches forward, fury in her veins.

The boy...man? When seeing her advance, still with her sword held up and no sign of slowing down, stumbles back a bit. He opens his mouth as if to say something but Gyda has no time to waste with the princess' life in danger.

Her forearm pushes against the man's chest, and he stumbles back surprised by the sheer force behind the blow. He coughs, feet caught on a rock, but she grasps the collar of his tunic before he can fall down completely. Her sword comes to rest at his throat, her eyes aflame as she stares down at him. "You dare attack Aranal Elgarain of Lindon!"

Laughter rings out behind Gyda, and the elf's rigid stance falters in surprise. Twisting around, her strong hold on the man still unforgiving, the sword still bracing against his skin.

She sees Elgarain, staring with wide eyes at the sight of them, and Gyda notes, it is the princess whose laughter echoes over the clearing. "Aranel?"

Trying to catch her breath, Elgarain manages to stutter a few words: "He's not-" she hiccups. "He's not attacking me,

"A strange man, giving chase to you in the darkness of night?" Gyda bristles, "what shall we call that?"

Elgarain grins. "It's called a friendly challenge of "who will reach the bottom of the hill first"?"

Anger consumes Gyda at the nonchalance of Elgarain's tone. The fear inside Gyda is still not quelled. the idea that something could have happened. for her to have been there when her princess needed her. "And what shall we call princesses who trick their sworn guards to go frolicking with strangers in the dark?"

"It's not my fault you are so scared of making a mistake that you wish to be told of my every movement! Is it really so wrong of me to make a friend without your knowledge! I'm your Aranel, not your prisoner!"

Pain flashes through her eyes, but Gyda is quick to mask the impact of Elgarain's harsh words. had her father and the deceased High-King been like this once? had they been on opposite sides of an argument? Gyda had only ever seen her former High-King and her father as a united front. strong, in-sync, trusting one another. All she sees now are all the things she is not. Not trusted by her princess, not united, and she feels shame. Was this what her father had wanted for her? Or did she just not life up to her father's legacy?

She drops the man? Boy? She still does not know and marches to the princess, anger mixed with shame and regret. The words spilling before she can stop herself. "if once, you might act like the Aranel, Elgarain, I should not have to treat you otherwise. Your duty is to your people, your duty is to become High-Queen. You play pretend to say otherwise. You act like a reckless elfling. You know what's out there, you have seen what evil can do and you act as if you are invincible to it all. Your father has made great sacrifices for Lindon's safety, for your safety. He has died for it. So has my father. I have fought that evil and for you to disregard all my intentions of keeping you safe are insulting and in no way, how a future queen should behave."

She takes a deep breath to calm herself, and turn back to the stranger, "I assume you hail from Imladris too if you have met Elgarain. You found yourself here, I assume you can bring yourself back."  Gyda focuses back on Elgarain, grabbing the sleeve of her white dress to move her towards her horse. "Let's go."

The return to Rivendell was spend in silence, and Gyda did not mind much. The silence was welcoming as both elves remain with anger in their veins. The trip back is a blur, and before the hazel eyed elf knows it, the city of Imladris appears in front of her again. A couple of guards still stand by the entrance of the bridge and Gyda halts her horse beside one of them. "Please inform Lord Elrond and the others the Aranel has been found. I shall escort her to her chambers myself."

The elf nods before taking off in a different direction.

Gyda casts her eyes upwards at the night sky, where stars light up in the dark and takes in a breath to steady yourself as she thinks of her father. Her heart aches still and when Elgarain only silently stares ahead, without acknowledgement it feel like its cracking.

It feels as if fate was decided then and there Gyda thinks solemnly. She shall never have what her father had with the High-King. She shall not know of such bonds. She sighs defeatedly, but refuses to let her troubles show on her face.

Gyda guides Ilya towards the stables where she finds Galion waiting, half shrouded by the shadows of night and one side illuminated by the torch next to him. When he sees her expression, his lopsided grin fades and she is happy the elf does not say anything else. He gives her a single nod before departing from the stables.

Gyda dismounts Ilya swiftly before helping Elgarain down before guiding her towards the entrance of the south corridor where there chambers are located.

Gyda notes her own steps are harsh and loud, unlike her normal quiet stealth. Elgarain falls in step beside her, gaze focusing ahead, lips set in a thin line as the walk up the stairs, turn down the left before reaching the end the hallway. "Inside." The brunette nods towards the wooden door of Elgarain's bedchamber.

The princess does so without speaking but when she goes to close the door behind her, Gyda is quick to slip inside the room.

"What are you doing?"

Gyda doesn't reply, instead moves towards the open balcony doors and shutting them with an audible bang before closing the silk curtains whilst the princess watches her with irritated eyes. She knows she is taking this a step to far, even if she stands by her words of Elgarain acting like a child.

Elgarain is still her princess.

Right now, Gyda can't find it in her to care much, but another part of remembers Elgarain's longing hidden in her harsh words.

"Making friends is not a bad thing Elgarain." She rarely uses her given name when speaking directly to the princess. "and I should not... I am not mad about that." She meets the elf's eyes. "But you cannot act so carelessly with your safety."

I need to protect you. I need you to be able to protect yourself. She thinks to herself.

Her words seem to surprise Elgarain, though she is quick to place her mask of indifference back in place. "If you would stop treating me like a child, I will consider it. I'm not a little girl anymore. Besides, it was you who taught me how to protect myself."

"Elgarain, you can barely keep up in training." Gyda sighs, "I know you have made progress, but a real enemy will not stop and wait for you to fight back. Besides, as long as I live, you shall never have to even face anyone alone."

"I've told you a sword is too heavy for me! But you refuse to let me practice with a spear!" She's snaps. Then she closes her eyes for a moment, as if realizing this is exactly what Gyda meant when calling her childish.

"You should be able to defend yourself with anything. Be it sword or spear of even a stone." Gyda's arms fall limply by her side. "But you should only need to when I am not there. And I will always be there."

She looks pained when she says: "Why do you even care? I'm princess of a people in ruin, daughter of a defeated king. Why do you care so much about what happens to me?"

She doesn't falter with her repsonse "Because I must." she inhales a shaky breath, "Because I promised."

That seems to surprise Elgarain. "Promised to whom?"

Her eyes glaze over, white noise filling her ears for a split second before she gathers herself. She takes a deep breath to steady herself before averting her eyes somewhere else in the room. "During the battle of the Last Alliance between Elves and Men, when my father had fallen..." she swallows, haunting memories evading her thoughts, she can almost taste the ash in the air "When he fell, I was there. I knew what my father was preparing me for. I've known my whole life. I never believed the responsibility would fall on my shoulders so soon though."

"What responsibility?"

"I vow to stand beside her, be her counsel, be her protector. Her shield and sword." She echoes her father's words. "I made the same vow my father made before me, and his father before him."

Elgarain opens her mouth, only to close it again, desperately searching for words. "You made a sacred vow to protect an incompetent princess?" She finally asks, though it's not an accusation but instead a soft declaration of self-doubt.

"I made a vow to the future High-Queen I know you will become." She replies at the panicked sight of Elgarain. "Besides it seems I'm not the most competent at protecting said incompetent princess."

"Well," she mumbles, "it's not like she made it easy for you."

"No she has not." Gyda chuckles faintly, warmth blossoming in her chest. "but then again, her guard might have been an overbearing shadow." She takes a step closer to the princess, holding out here hand. "We might do well to start over."

A peace offering.

A small smile appears on Elgarain's face as she steps forward and takes Gyda's hand. "I promise I will be more careful and not try to get rid of my guards."

"Then I shall make sure you'll have your freedom to live as you see fit." She pauses before adding. "if it's safe and reasonable."

She smirks. "Of course." She doubts for a beat but then adds. "Captain."

"Aranel."

She could almost visibly feel the air shift.

maybe not all hope was lost

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ELVISH TRANSLATIONS
mellon.— friend
Cin will iest cin never lam- tuin words — you will wish you never uttered those words
aranel — princess