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

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CHILDREN OF ARDA DUOLOGY ⋆ ☄
.♯ ❝ I CAN HELP YOU CARRY THEM ❞
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ the third age ─── year 3019 ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

━━ ˚ ₊ ♡ 🏹
❝ 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝙮𝙤𝙪 ❞

*✧ ─── THE VIVID SCENE FROM GALADRIEL'S MIRROR HAD STAYED WITH GYDA AS THE DAYS IN THE HEART OF LOTHLORIÉN passed by. And yet whilst it made her heart ache, a certain peace had settled in her bones too that had quenched the chaos in her head. Gyda spend most of her days in the Lothórièn Healing Halls as her body stitched itself together again, her weakened strength replenished and the sickly pale skin she had gained was slowly returning back to its normal color.

With it came the restlessness of waiting, a virtue Gyda was not all that comfortable with. Certainly not with the dangerous journey ahead of the Fellowship. Her fingers itched to pick up her sword again, to hold the familiar weapon in her hands, the weight a great comfort. Like her father's hand resting on her shoulder when she was younger. But still, it laid untouched in the corner of the room, carefully placed in its scabbard and leaning against a small wooden cabinet of healing herbs. One where she had often seen Elgarain stand, meticulously picking herbs and preparing salves for their journey.

Now the sun stood high in the sky, filtering through the beautiful leaves of the Mallorn tree towering above them. The warmth a gentle caress on her skin as she stands leaning against a silver pillar staring out at the vast space spreading out below her. Gyda closes her eyes, let's the melody of the forest speak to her. The sound makes her smile and she turns to look over her shoulder as gentle footsteps enter the Healing Hall.

A silver haired Ellon donning a simple light blue tunic enters, dark eyes sparkling warmly as he approaches her. Gyda had seen him often, a young apprentice of one of the Healers that had been tending to her wounds. In a way his gentle hands reminded her of Elgarain's touch. With him, he carries a fresh set of bandages and a green ointment in a glass jar.

"Gi suilon."

Gyda turns fully, nodding her head in reply. Like clockwork, she moves, slow but steadily toward the chair next to her bed. Head bravely held high, and a grimace of smile of on her face when she sits down.

Crouching down, the Ellon starts to unwrap the bandage from her arm. The skin is that is revealed is no longer dark and rotten. The gash is still an angry red color as it throbs like a second heartbeat beneath her skin. But she is alive, breathing and the experience has broken down something in her she believed had long since died.

The silver haired elf gentle runs his fingers over the wound as he inspects it, prodding and checking as he hums quietly underneath his breath. An vaguely familiar eleven tune from the First Age. Gyda waits, watching as he moves with precision, something akin to how she knows Elgarain to work. Completely in her own world, focused on the task and everything else in the world fades away.

She knows this because that's how she feels when she fights.

Her eyes drift back to the windows that stretch from floor to ceiling, the faded light that had seeped through the leaves of the Mallorn tree bright and warm. A gentle breeze carries around the room, and brining with it the soothing smell of nature.

"It is healing nicely." The Ellon speaks warmly, sparkling eyes of kindness meeting her own before he rewraps the new bandages securely around her arm. She lets her fingers drift over the fabric, following the invisible line of the jagged scar that runs over her skin.

"When may I train again?" She wonders, eyes as always drawn to her sword.

The silver haired elf grins as he rises to his full height again and neatly clasps his hands together in front of him. "You may start again, but I must insist you practice restraint."

Her heart flutters in excitement, but she knows that he speaks true words, however difficult they may be to accept.

Gyda nods in silent agreement before she moves to gather her belongings. She pays no mind to the soft and gentle retreating footsteps and the silence of her own heart beat that remains.

She makes quick work of reattaching her armor before she falters at the sight of arm bracers ─ one still complete, but the other is broken, cut through and sullied with her dried blood. It is a thick black color, as if it had died in her veins and turned rotten.

Almost unsurely, she picks it up, thumb rubbing at the flaking blood. A forlorn feeling settles in her gut as she puts both bracers on a small cabinet next to her bed.

She swallows away the dread that follows when memories resurface of that night. But Gyda denies them the power to hurt her more than they already have.

A flare of determination burns through her like a bright forest fire and she moves with sure and strong steps, grabbing the leather scabbard on her way out of the Healing Halls.

A timid smile reaches her lips as she takes in the glory of Lothlorien. How the stairs wrap themselves like vines around boughs of silver trees and sunlight glitters through golden leaves like liquid gold. Peace wraps around her and makes her skin tingle with a feeling of joy as she slowly makes the descend towards one of the glades below.

The water glisters like the night sky, a pool of stars that shine around her reflection.

Here, Gyda decides, surrounding by the calmness she will strengthen herself again. Her hand wraps around the familiar material of the handle of her sword. It feels cold to the touch, but a jolt surges through her body ─ almost as if she is reunited with a missing part of her soul.

With one swift pull, the steel comes free from the scabbard and it shines brightly in the light.

And Gyda starts moving, as if the gentle breeze guides her movements.

Swift and precise, she goes through the familiar motions. Step, jut, twirl, slice and repeat. Gyda does so without thought, and it comes as easily as breathing to her. Everything else fades away and it is only her heartbeat in her head that she hears.

"Gyda?" First it is spoken unsure, before a gleeful lilt repeats her name far more confidently. "Gyda!"

Gyda brings her sword down, turns around and spots Merry and Pippin standing on top of the last couple of steps of the stairs.

"Hello─ " The words are barely past her lips before the two Hobbits come barreling into her at full speed, almost knocking her off her feet as they wrap their arms around you.

Pippin looks up, brown eyes gleaming. "You're better!"

She chuckles, placing her hand on his shoulder, touched by his concern for her health. "I'm doing much better."

Both their eyes lock onto the neatly wrapped bandage on her arm, almost as if they expect the black blood to seep through the white fabric.

"It was mighty scary was it not Merry?"

"Sure was Pippin."

Gyda shakes her head, pushing the two Hobbits backwards ─ they stumble over one another trying to keep standing. They both land on the grass, elbows pushing their body more upright. "Have you continued training?" She then asks.

They stare at her, stare at one another and back at her.

"yes─ "

"No─ "

"Sort of." They say together.

Gyda raises an eyebrow at the pair as they sheepishly smile at one another.

She grins, pointing the tip of her sword at Pippin's face and the Hobbit excitedly jumps to his feet, brandishing his own ─ albeit smaller sword from where it was attached to his hip.

"You may stand a chance now that I'm injured." Gyda jests and Pippin puffs out his chest before swinging his sword at her.

Gyda easily blocks his attempt with her own, before knocking him back with a kick to his chest. A soft one of course.

Pippin huffs out a breath, brows furrowing in concentration as he wraps both hands tighter around the hilt of his sword. He juts forward, using his height to dodge beneath her sword before swiftly ramming his own body into her back.

Surprised, Gyda falls forward, and without thought sticks her arm out to brace herself for the impact. A jolt of pain crawls up her body and her eyes flash with unshed tears from the pain. But she grits her teeth and pushes herself up again.

Moving her hair out of her face, Gyda's hazel eyes look up to find Legolas standing at the edge of the glade leaning against one of the boughs of a Mallorn tree. Concern is written across his face and he flexes his fingers at his side, almost as if was ready to take up arms against Pippin for harming her.

When he notices he's been spotted, he dips his head, a faint pink coloring his cheeks.

"Are you alright?" Pippin brings her attention back, and she can feel her own cheeks warm up.

The small Hobbit is worriedly looking between her eyes and her injured arm. She smiles at his thoughtfulness. Gyda shakes her arms, as if to rid herself of the small tingles still pulsing beneath her skin. "I am Pippin. Worry not." She smiles at him. "It was a good move."

The Hobbit preens at her praise, as Merry hollers with pride behind her. "Thank you."

Gyda brings her sword up again, and that's all the permission Pippin needs to attack once more.

This time Gyda is less gentle with the Hobbit as she blocks and swings in quick succession, twirling around the Hobbit as he tries to keep up with her fast movements. One strong blow to his hand with the flat part of her sword has the Hobbit dropping his sword and before he can reach to pick it up, she has kicked it away from him. Her own sword resting underneath his throat.

Pippin heaves in a couple of deep breath, sweat coating his brow. "You win, this time!"

Gyda laughs retracting her sword and bending down to give Pippin his sword back. Placing it back in his hands as she crouches down, Gyda smiles proudly at him. "You've learned much Peregrin Took. You should be proud." She looks over her shoulder at Merry. "As should you."

The duo beams at the words of praise. And Gyda rises back to her full height, a small hiss leaving her lips as another jolt of pain runs up her spine.

A familiar hand is on her back before she had even heard him approach. "Are you alright?" Legolas asks worriedly, dipping his head slightly to look in her eyes.

A shuddering breath leaves her lips, "I am." She states.

But Legolas' eyes remain fixated on her, a knowing look in his eyes as the hand on her back slowly trails down, from her shoulder to her arm until his fingers gentle wrap around her wrist to lift up her injured arm. "I am okay Legolas, I promise." She lets her own hand rest on top of his and squeezes it softly.

He sighs, nods before releasing her hands reluctantly. The world around them ceases to exist for a moment as they bask in the peace of each other's presence.

Without warning, Gyda raises her sword, but Legolas already notices the subtle movement and manages to barely dodge the hit, using his bow to block the swing and fashioning a small dagger from his tunic.

Gyda lifts her brow at the sight and he casually shrugs.

In a flurry of movements they start, Pippin even throws the Elven prince his own sword to fight with. Gracefully they move around one another, a dance of swords. No attacks land for either but it doesn't deter them. Gyda swings her sword, but Legolas ducks beneath her arm. He juts out his elbow, but she twirls around his body.

They continue, arm's losing strength and stamina declining with each quick move, but neither is willing to admit defeat ─ Gyda definitely ignores the ache in her injured arm.

Determination sparks in her chest and Gyda makes note of an opportunity. Before Legolas can comprehend her next movement, Gyda already has knocked him back.

The Mirkwood prince stumbles over a uncovered root, losing his balance in the progress, but before he can push himself back up again, the tip of her sword comes into his view.

He heaves, clear eyes flickering up at her ─ they are almost prideful Gyda notes. She grins at him, free and unreservedly. "I am fine Legolas." She breaths out, before retracting her sword again, and instead offering her hand for the Ellon.

He grasps it without a second thought and Gyda hauls him back to his feet. He doesn't immediately let go over her hand. "I just worry for you Gyda."

Her gaze softens slightly. "I know." She pauses, before hesitantly adding. "thank you."

Legolas opens his mouth again, but stops before he can say anything. Gyda notices how he furrows his brows at something over her shoulder.

Gyda turns around, her own curiosity sparked.

Walking hurriedly up the stairs is Elgarain, her arms wrapped around her middle and her gaze fixated on the ground.

As if sensing her worry and hesitance Legolas gently nudges her. "Go."

Gyda nods, placing her sword back in its scabbard and rushing up the stairs in search for Elgarain.

She follows up the twist and turns of the stairs, higher and higher and higher until she almost reaches the top before she halts. Eyes scanning her surroundings meticulously before they rest on a small secluded area furthest away from the halls and stairs.

The faint smell of herbs and flowers greets her as she walks closer, and as she walks down the small winding path she spots her.

Standing like a phantom in an abandoned castle, Elgarain hides among the herbs and flowers she knows so well.

"Elgarain?" She calls out softly.

She turns around, looking somewhat surprised to see her there. "What are you doing here?"

Gyda slowly approaches her, "Something worries you." She shrugs, "You only hide when you don't know what to do. I came to help, whatever it may inquire."

She chuckles bitterly. "Well, since you're offering, I don't suppose you could give Aragorn one of your sword lessons and knock him on the ground?"

"I've done it once before. I suppose a second time would do no harm." Gyda chuckles. "But you've never wished anyone harm before, even in jest."

She moves closer, noticing the tension in Elgarain body and places a caring hand on her shoulder. "You can trust me with you worries Elgarain. I can help you carry them."

Elgarain inhales deeply, avoiding Gyda's eyes when she whispers: "When I pledged to join this Fellowship, did you think I was trying to escape my duties?"

Gyda frowns, looking out ahead at the vast of Lothlorien that spread out in front of her. "I have known you since you were an elfling Elgarain. I have watched you grow, I have grown up with you." She turns to face her. "Your heart belongs to our people, it belongs to all that's good in this world. You've pledged yourself to this fellowship, not to escape them, but because you are fulfilling your duty as High-Queen."

Finally, she turns to look at Gyda, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you. I'm glad to have you by my side, Gyda."

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but by your side Elgarain." She pauses, hesitant. "You love him still?"

She frowns. "How did you know this was about him?"

"It wouldn't hurt you this much if it wasn't." Gyda replies, "It matters to you what he thinks."

"I tried to convince myself those feelings were behind me," she sighs, "but he's gotten beneath my skin and no matter what I try, I can't let him go."

"They do say we are bound to only fall in love once." Gyda murmurs. "Perhaps destiny has brought you together once more for a reason."

She chuckles. "So far the only reason I can think of is for him to agitate me as much as possible."

"I believe destiny has tasked me with such duty already." She jests, "But for what it's worth, I have never seen you as happy as when you were with him."

"Well, then you're lucky I like you now," Elgarain smiles, though it does not quite reach her eyes. A trembling breath escapes her lips. "We were. Happy I mean but that time has passed. We chose a different path." She turns her gaze to Gyda. "But it would seem your happiness has finally started."

A warmth spreads through her body, but Gyda decides to ignore it for now. "Perhaps ─ " she takes Elgarain's hands in her own. "But yours will return, I know it will."

Happiness shall return for all of them when they're done.

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El and Gyda have my heart