*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ BALLAD OF BROKEN SWORDS ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ WITH A HEAVY HEART ❫ ❞
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ACT TWO ── audentes fortuna iuvat 🏹 ⁺⑅

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CHILDREN OF ARDA DUOLOGY ⋆ ☄.
♯ ❝ I KNOW MY PLACE ❞
CHAPTER FOURTEEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ the third age ─── year 3018
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━━ ˚ ₊ ♡ 🏹
❝ 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙
𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙚 ❞

*✧ ───THE ROAD TO RIVENDELL HAD CHANGED OVER THE YEARS. TREES HAD GROWN, PATHS HAD CHANGED BUT THERE WAS a certain darkness looming around them that reminded Gyda of her very first trip to Mordor. Shadows shifted and wolves howled ferociously in the night. The tension and her rigid posture hadn't change since they moved away from the inner city of Mithlond. One hand clutching her sword and the other holding her horse's reign tightly. Hazel eyes obscuring every little detail with utmost precision in the hopes of spotting danger before it became dangerous to their small delegation.

At least this time on their voyage to the Hidden Valley, Elgarain traveled with more poise of Queen than a young elfling as she kept her eyes on her surroundings, flanked by both Galion and Cirdan on either side of her. It gave her a small moment of relief as she looked over her shoulder to see her on her own horse in the middle of their group.

It was clear the elves weren't the only ones sensing the growing darkness that had fallen upon Middle-Earth as they came across people far and few in between. And when they did, it were the roguish type that liked the danger. And never once did the sun break through the onset of dark storm clouds that hung above their heads like a dark omen. It was only upon arrival at Rivendell that serenity fell upon them again. The air changed the moment they crossed the pathway behind the river Bruinen. A warmth enveloped her and a spark of recognition swelled in her gut at the familiar sight of Imladris. It had not changed at all.

The dark horse she rides upon trots a bit faster, as if sensing the comfort of a stable close by. And even Gyda can admit she cannot wait to enter the house of Lord Elrond again. Once she had only been filled with dismay at the sight of the elven haven, but now, the sight made her feel a sense of home.

With a gentle nudge, Gyda stirs her horse over the stone bridge, letting the familiar sound of water cascading down from the cliffsides assure her of the safe journey they made and she can't help the smile that forms at the sight of a familiar ellon in the distance. Dark blue robes swirling in the western wind.

"Mae govannen!" Lindir greets them with a smile despite the circumstance from the courtyard in front of them.

Gyda waits until Elgarain passes her before she let's herself down from the black steed.

"Mae govannen, mellon nin," Elgarain puts her fist against her chest in greeting, a warm smile on her face as she regards the ellon.

Despite the warm welcome, Gyda senses an underlying anxiousness in the elf as his eyes shift nervously. "I must ask you to head to the Healing Rooms immediately, Tárinya. Lord Elrond requires your help."

Gyda watches the High-Queen tense, like she always does at home when there are people in need before glancing sideways at her and Galion. "I will meet with you later."

Gyda nods, eyes filled with worry. "Of course, go." She replies before watching as Elgarain hands the reigns of her horse to Lindir and taking off in the direction of the Healing Halls. Almost as if she has never left.

"Let's us get inside, you all must be wary from traveling such long distance." Lindir motions towards the courtyard, the very same one she had entered all those years ago for the first time.

Gyda nods, as another elf steps forward to guide her horse to the stable, before shadowing Lindir's steps with Galion by her side, eyes rapidly moving around the familiar surroundings. "She'll be around here somewhere mellon nin." She clamps her hand around his upper arm and Galion frowns, but quickly let's a smile break out on his face again as if silently agreeing with her words.

Elladan and Elrohir have already passed them, walking in step with Lindir, animatedly talking about their short visit in Mithlond and the beauty of the Grey Havens and she chuckles.

It is Elrohir who hears and looks over his shoulder at her with a youthful grin while Elladan innocently shrugs. "Let's us get something to eat." He suggests as they walk up the steps of the stairs leading them inside.

Galion nods, as does Gyda and with a quick goodbye to Lindir, the two Noldorian elves follow after the twins.

"How have you all been?" Galion wonders, throwing his arms around their broad shoulders. "more importantly how is your sister?"

Elladan pushes his arm of him, but he can't stop the smile that creeps up his face. "Arwen is well Galion. She misses you."

A more sincere smile finds its way on his face at the words. "I miss her too."

"How about you Gyda? How's Lindon?" Elrohir questions her.

She hums, mulling over her answer for a second before replying. "It's fantastic. I really missed the sight of the Gulf of Lhûn, the cliffsides...the smell. And El and I have gotten along so well—"

Galion coughs.

"—alright, we mostly get along, we don't fight as often anymore." She corrects herself before continuing. "I have started up the new warrior classes for the elflings." Her eyes spark in the delight as she speaks about the elflings under her and Cirdan's tutelage. How well they do, how proud they make her, how excited they are.

"I miss them already."

"You just miss Theon because he's a mini-you." Galion jests and the twins laugh boisterously at the quip.

Gyda wants to frown, deny favoritism, but she cannot lie. "He's really good." She just shrugs.

"If he has your blessing mellon nin, he must be very good." Elladan states.

The dining hall comes in sight, sunlight shining brightly between the beige stone pillars, casting the room in a joyful light and Elladan wastes no time in ducking into the kitchen in search for an elven maid.

Just as Galion, Gyda and Elrohir sit down on the oaken bench Elladan appears again, four plates of stew balanced in his hands. It's a comical sight to see him walk so carefully whilst he normally walks without a care in the world.

"Tuck in." He grins, placing a plate in front of each of them.

"Why was the tarinya called to the Healing Halls?" Gyda wastes no time, hoping that either one of them had heard something from Lindir when they were walking earlier.

"From what I gathered, the Hobbit in possession of the ring, was attacked on the road by the Nazgûl."

The answers startles her as she takes in a sharp breath. Her father's words ring in her head Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his great Shadow, his most terrible servants.

"The nine?" Galion gasps and Elladan nods solemnly.

"Will he make it?"

"Hopefully."

Gyda nods, stirring the stew mindlessly, suddenly no longer having an appetite. "Should we see how they are faring?" she suggests after a moment.

"We'll only be in the way." Elrohir denies and Gyda slumps in her seat. Sometimes she wishes she possess some healing skills.

"But there's word the Mirkwood delegation would be arriving today." Elladan starts, "We could always welcome them, now that adar's time demands him elsewhere."

"As responsible sons we should." Elrohir echoes his brother's words and the two Noldorian elves can only laugh as they quickly devour their meal.

"I'm sure the Woodland elves will be pleasantly surprised to be greeted by you upon their arrival instead of Lord Elrond." Galion teases and Gyda nudges his shoulder harshly.

"Let's go then." She hauls him out of his seat by his tunic color and Galion mutters protests under his breath as he is forced to drop his spoon on the table.

"I wasn't done with that yet."

"Now you are." She pulls him along after the twins, who were already moving back outside again. "Might even come across Arwen if you're lucky."

Begrudgingly, Galion let's Gyda move him along, a faint smile on his face at the possibility of seeing Arwen.

As if fate had destined their meeting, just as Galion and Gyda walked into the courtyard, galloping horses could be heard in the distance. The twins were already standing by the bridge, hands clasped behind their backs and smiling warmly.

Gyda moves to stand behind the twins when the Woodland elves come in sight, but she falters, breath hitching at the sight of a familiar silver-blonde haired ellon.

"That's him." She breaths out in disbelief, "the soldier from Mirkwood."

Those words easily catch Galion's attentions as he perks up, eyes darting around the group. "What? Where?" he follows her gaze, but suddenly he frowns. "That's not a soldier Gyda."

"What..."

"That's the prince of Mirkwood. That's Legolas Greenleaf."

Just as the words are spoken, the soldier—no Legolas, looks up and their eyes meet after so many years once more. Recognition sparks in his eyes and it is as if he wants to walk forward, to approach her. But as soon as he starts to move, Gyda takes a step backwards. Heart aching in embarrassment before she spins on her heel and leaves the courtyard altogether.

*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
𝘪'𝘷𝘦 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵
𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧, 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.
𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘐'𝘮 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝘢𝘵

─ hannah harrington

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GYDA NEVER FELT LIKE THIS BEFORE AS SHE STARES OUT AT THE CLIFFSIDE FROM HER BALCONY, HAIR HANGING LOW LIKE A curtain shielding her face. Hundreds of thoughts run through her head, but for some reason she can't get a grip on any of them. It's a chaotic mess and the only thing she really notices is the embarrassment that courses through her and all she does is feel stupid. Stupid for not knowing who he was, not noticing the resemblance to his father. Just stupid.

She grips the stone railing tighter and leans forward, hoping the fresh air will clear her mind, make her forget the encounter all together and carry it away on the wind, but as she closes her eyes all she can see are his flashing clearly in her vision.

The only saving grace was knowing no one had seen them together. No one could have seen her indiscretions and blame her for forgetting her place. And anxiety fills her up at the thought that maybe someone did see. What if they would think her not good enough for her position, think her tactless?

She blinks away the tears that threaten to spill, and once more do her thoughts drift to her father. What would he think? Interacting with the Mirkwood Prince the way she had. Would he blame her for not even recognizing him.

She sniffs, and she squeezes her eyes close again before taking a deep breath, not even noticing the faint knocking from her door.

"Gyda?" the voice startles her from her dark thoughts and she snaps her head around "Can I come in?"

Elgarain.

She curses her bad luck, eyes momentarily flickering up at the sky as if the Valinor would answer her.

Wiping away any sign of tears with the back of her hand, she quickly walks towards her door, taking in a deep breath before opening it. "Elgarain?"

The Elleth looks worried, hands wringing together "Is everything all right?" She inquired, tilting her head as she takes in her appearance.

Gyda shifts on her feet as Elgarain does so, blinking slowly before pushing some stray whisps of hair behind her ear. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

Please leave. Is all she can think as Elgarain frowns.

"It's just-" Elgarain falters under her stare, contemplating her words, "I thought you seemed distressed."

Gyda curses herself for deciding to stand on her balcony, of course someone would see her. She cleared her throat, ducking her head for a moment before facing Elgarain again. "It was just a...surprising encounter. Nothing to worry about tarinya." She can only hope to sate Elgarain's curiosity with those words but before she can make a move to close the door again, the High-Queen speaks up once more.

"Well, the fact you can hardly look at me while saying this does have me kind off worried," Elgarain tried to joke.

Gyda chuckled, but it sounded hollow. "it's not for you to worry about Elgarain." She pressed with a shake of her head.

Elgarain frowns, eyes darting across her face and Gyda hopes her eyes are not red rimmed. "Alright," she shrugged.

Relief floods her and Gyda's thoughts drift to the injured hobbit when both elleth's remain quiet. "How's the Hobbit?"

Elgarain pushed passed her into the room and took a seat on one of the chairs before she could blink. She stand in her doorway for a moment longer, eyes fixated on the stone wall across from her before she turns around again when Elgarain speaks "He'll make it. It took some work, but Lord Elrond says he'll be fine."

"That's good news." Gyda nods and as silence enveloped them once more she looked up at Elgarain. Her emotions were always easy to read, and the curiosity shining in her green eyes was a clear indicator that she had no choice but to talk. She hesitates for a moment, before thinking back to her last night in Imladris with Elgarain and decided, she could trust her with this. "When I was in Mirkwood...there was a soldier I got acquainted with." She chooses her words carefully.

"And why are you telling me this now?" Elgarain raises an eyebrow at her, and Gyda can see her suppress a smirk.

"I didn't expect to see him again. I didn't even know his name." She pushed her hair back again.

"So, does that mean you saw him again just now?" Elgarain guessed.

She swallows nervously. "He was not who I thought he was." She glared at the wall across from her, arms crossed over her chest defensively.

Elgarain frowns, "And why is that a bad thing? You said you didn't even know his name."

Anger bubbles in her gut at the thought of him, "He should have been honest and said who he was. I have made a fool out of myself for even talking to him."

Elgarain remains silence for a moment, contemplating written all over her face before she speaks again "Well, sometimes we don't really have a choice about who we are. Maybe he just wanted to be someone else for a change and he could do that with you."

Gyda scoffs, "You can't deny who you are." She rubs her temple, "it doesn't matter, after the council, we can part ways again. I'll go back to Lindon, and he can go back to being a princeling."

Elgarain opens her mouth, only to close it again. "Are you trying to tell me you had something with Legolas Thranduilion?"

Those words make her tense up, muscles taunt.

"I did not have something with the prince of Mirkwood." Her head snaps up to look at Elgarain. "We only talked a bit, and he taught me how to shoot a bow properly...and we might have fought some spiders in the forest?" she trails of unsurely, staring at Elgarain. "It meant nothing."

"If it meant nothing, like you said, there is nothing to be mad about, is there?"

"There is something to be mad about." She denies, "He knew who I was, knew I was captain of the Queen's Guard. He should have told me he was a prince. I could have stayed away then."

Elgarain gets to her feet, voice soft when she speaks again. "Okay, tell me this then. Would you have been happier if you'd stayed away? I saw you when you returned from Mirkwood, Gyda, you were glowing."

Gyda just looks away, "That doesn't matter. I know my place." She hates how defeated her own voice sounds and she looks down with her arms crossed over her chest, hoping the ground could swallow her whole.

"You and me both,"

Before she can even register what is happening, arms wrap themselves around her body and Gyda tenses up in response. She remains motionless in the tight embrace, crossed arms stuck between her own body and Elgarain's "I guess we finally have something in common, nésa."

She relaxes, albeit slightly and almost unnoticeably at those kind words. Her eyes glaze over and she takes in a deep breath, soaking in the moment silently before Elgarain slowly unravels herself from her and move backwards.

With one kind last smile, Elgarain moves towards the door and leaves.

And Gyda realizes, as the door softly closes,her thoughts aren't as scattered anymore.

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ELVISH TRANSLATIONS

mellon nin — my friend
Mae g'ovannen — greeting
tarinya — queen
adar — father
Nésa — sister