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coopsgirl · 1 year

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The Shadow and the Sunrise - Chapter 4

Read on AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45918361/chapters/117255877

Story Summary: Ranyare, a member of the original eldar who awoke on the shores of Lake Cuiviénen, has survived into the Third Age and has lived hidden away from others in Fangorn Forest. Forced to come out of hiding, she meets the elves of Lothlórien and Greenwood. Much to her surprise, she and Thranduil become friends and together they will work through their pain and traumas to finally find peace and love.

Chapter 4

Many centuries passed and the first millennium of the Third Age came to a close. The elves of Thranduil’s realm prospered and had made great strides in replenishing their numbers after losing so many at the end of the previous age. They were happy and their joy made Thranduil happy too but he did not feel whole. He missed someone, someone he feared he would never see again. Ranyare had indeed lived unbothered in Fangorn but recently she had begun experiencing a strange series of dreams. She saw a black cloud moving over the trees until they became dark and twisted. It felt so real and dreadful but she tried to put it out of her mind. One afternoon she was walking to the spring to fetch water when a small yellow bird began circling her head and chirping cheerily. Many birds had been her friends throughout her life and this was the most recent one to befriend her. “Good morning little bird.” The bird noted that she looked tired and she explained the distressing dreams she had been having. “I do not believe this is a vision of Fangorn. I think it might be Greenwood. I do not know what to do.” “Yes you do. Follow your heart.” These words came from the bird but were not spoken as usual. Ranyare heard them in her mind and the voice was that of a man, warm and comforting. Before she could question this, she heard the voice again. “Follow me!” and the bird flew back in the direction of her camp. As she was running to keep up with the bird, she knew she must go to Greenwood. “I will send you help” the bird said as they reached her camp, now speaking as it normally did, and then flew off through the trees. Ranyare quickly packed a few things and just as she finished, a large deer came out from the trees and knelt down indicating she was to get on its back. She rode the animal to the edge of the forest and was then on her own from there. She walked day and night only stopping for short periods to rest until the edge of the wood was in sight.

As soon as she walked in amongst the trees, she could feel a change in the atmosphere. It was a lovely Summer day but the air suddenly felt colder and almost claustrophobic the closer she got to Amon Lanc. When she was close enough to see the fort off in the distance she stopped and was frozen in place. Orcs walked along the parapets and she could see none of the elven soldiers. She quietly snuck around to the back of the guardhouse, the entrance to the old city, and saw the bodies of the slain elves. One elf however remained alive as she saw his chest moving up and down in very shallow breaths. She could see no orcs from her position so she quickly ran to him and knelt down beside him. “If I help you, do you think you can walk?” she asked looking into his eyes. “No” he said in a raspy voice as each breath became more labored. “I must get you out of here somehow.” “No. Tell the…king we…were ambushed. They…mean to…take…the fort.” “I will not leave you. Not again” she said as she grabbed his hand and held it tightly to her chest against her heart. He did not understand what she meant by ‘not again’ as he delivered his final words. “You…must…warn…them. Please…go.” She watched as the last bit of life left his body and his head fell limply to the side and away from her gaze.

Realizing she could do no more for him, she let him go and began to run. The tears flew from her face as she dashed through the forest. She was not alone however as an orc thought he heard something and he was also running her way. Ranyare heard his footsteps as he began to close the distance between them. She stopped and quickly climbed up a tree hoping he would soon give up and retreat back to the fort. She held tight to the tree trunk as she sat crouched on the branch watching the creature stalk around below her. “I smell you elf!” he shouted with disdain. He soon sniffed out her location and began to climb the tree with a sickening smile on his ugly face. Ranyare reached into her pocket to retrieve her knife, unfolded the blade, and then hid it behind her back. “A she-elf! You’ll regret crossing my path girlie” he said with a sickening smile as he got close enough to see her. His voice nearly made her blood run cold but she took a deep breath and once the orc was within reach, she sliced his throat with one quick movement. He made a horrible gurgling sound as his black blood spurted out onto her and then he fell, landing with a thud and the sounds of bones cracking. Ranyare couldn’t see any others who may have followed him so she climbed down and ran.

She only stopped when she reached a point where she could barely breath and would stay still for no than a few minutes until she started running again. Her long legs carried her quickly across the great distance to the Woodland Realm and when she at last reached the entry gate she banged on the door and screamed for them to let her inside. “I must…see the king” she said practically panting as she desperately tried to catch her breath. The guards recognized her and one of them ran to fetch Thranduil. She was in a terrible state as she still clutched the knife in one hand and was splattered with orc blood. Her silver hair was practically wet through and through with sweat and stuck to her face and neck. The king came out to find her sitting on the ground still trying to recover from her great endeavor. Without saying a word, Thranduil picked her up and carried her inside to the room she had once used. Each time she tried to speak he would shush her and tell her to rest. He could feel how quickly her pulse was still racing and her breaths were short and shallow. He laid her gently on the bed and managed to pry the knife from her hand and place it on the bedside table. He then called out for his butler Galion. “Bring us some Miruvor and water immediately!” He sat on the edge of the bed beside her and held her hand. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head ‘no’. “Try to breathe slowly and deeply” he said doing it himself as an example for her to follow. Ranyare did the same and after a bit, she felt better. Galion brought the drinks and Thranduil poured her a small glass of the Miruvor used by the elves as a type of healing cordial. After she drank it, he offered her a glass of water which she also quickly drank and then asked for another.

“Tell me what happened to put you in such a state” he asked as he pulled her hair away from her face. “Orcs have taken Amon Lanc. They killed everyone there. One soldier was still clinging to life and he told me they wanted the fort. I tried to save him but…he was too far gone and he…he died in my arms.” Thranduil’s heart nearly stopped at this surprising and dreadful news. He pulled her up towards him and held her tight. “He told me to run and I did. I had to warn you” she said and she squeezed him tightly as well. “You have orc blood on you. What…” “One chased after me and I killed him. No others followed” she explained not letting him finish his question. “How did this happen? Why were you there?” He pulled away just far enough so he could look in her beautiful grey-violet eyes that he had seen so many times in his dreams. “I have been dreaming of a darkness covering the forest. I believed it was Greenwood and I knew I needed to warn you.” “I have felt something strange myself of late but could not understand it” Thranduil said and then he kissed the top of her head and gave her one more embrace before he let her go and stood up. “How many orcs did you see?” His voice was now strong and determined. “Fewer than a dozen but I do not know how many were there that I did not see.” “I must go at once. Please stay here until I return. Promise me you will.” “I promise. But you must also promise me that you will come back unharmed” she said as she lay down on the pillow still quite exhausted. He smiled and said, “I will do my best.”

A company of his most capable soldiers were quickly assembled and they rode in haste to Amon Lanc. The orcs were no match for these fierce elves and they dispatched them all but one. The prisoner was brought before the king whose silver armor shone brightly in the sun causing the orc to wince and squirm in a futile attempt to get away from the light. “How did you come to ambush my soldiers?” Thranduil said coldly looking down at the wretched creature who was kneeling before him. “You’ll never know…elf.” He said the last word with much disgust and then spit upon the king’s boots. The soldier holding the ropes tied around the orc’s hands behind his back yanked it a little tighter but the king gave him a look as if to say not to be too rough. “Your kind is not clever enough to have done something like this on your own. If you tell me what I want to know, I will allow you to leave here alive and return with a message to whoever sent you that our forest will never fall to your kind.” The orc laughed and said, “You are no match for the one who sent me. He means to have this forest and you can’t stop him. They didn’t see us coming because we were hidden from sight. Oh yes, he is that powerful. But I will give him your message all the same.” “Release him” Thranduil said and the soldier jerked him up onto his feet and cut his bonds. “You will not win this fight elf.” Those were the last words that orc ever spoke as the king’s sword moved swiftly and silently separating his head from his body in one stroke.

Thranduil entered the room where Ranyare slept. It was mid-afternoon the day following her arrival, but she was still recovering her strength as she had pushed herself to the very limit of elven endurance to reach them as quickly as she did. He picked up the chair in front of the vanity table and placed it beside the bed so he could sit near her. Her pack was sitting on the bedside table and he noticed something sticking out of it that looked familiar. He pulled it free and realized it was the tube containing the drawing he had given her and when he opened it and found the paper still inside, it warmed his heart and he smiled.

“I knew that was you, even before I opened my eyes” Ranyare said as she awoke and turned to face her visitor. “And how exactly did you know that?” he asked with a smirk. “You always smell of Vetiver. I like it. It is warm and comforting, like being in the heart of the forest. A very kind elleth gave me some lovely rose scented soap for my bath. I have always made my own soap but it is fairly crude and did not have such nice scents. Oh, I know I am babbling; I suppose I do not want to hear any bad news you may have brought. I am however very glad to see you returned safely.” “We all returned safely and we brought back our fallen brethren so they may be properly laid to rest.” “That is very good news indeed” she said sitting up. Thranduil didn’t yet have the heart to tell her the rest of the troubling tale and decided he would save that for another time. “I should go and let you rest. I only wanted to check and make sure you were doing well.” He rose and moved towards the door. “I am feeling much better. Could we dine together later?” “That would be wonderful” he said as left her and then immediately went to the kitchen to plan the perfect meal.

Later that day, he knocked on her door and announced that dinner was ready. “You look lovely” Thranduil said as she was wearing a simple light blue dress and had put her hair in a long braid. “Thank you” she replied as she blushed a bit at the compliment. “Is that the staff I made for you?” she asked as he held it in his hand. “Yes. I was planning to leave it as you made it but after you left I had it plated in silver. If it was the only thing I had to remember you by, I wanted it to last.” Ranyare smiled and took his arm as they walked to the dining room. “I kept your drawing as well” she confessed. He already knew this but he said nothing about it, simply smiling instead. “I hope you still like venison and roasted potatoes with honey cakes for dessert.” “You remembered” she said a bit surprised that he had indeed remembered that had been her favorite meal when she spent the Winter with him so many centuries ago. He looked her in the eye and said in a very serious tone, “I have forgotten nothing about the time we have spent together.”

They enjoyed their meal and then went outside to spend the Summer evening in his private garden. She had not seen it when she was there earlier as the plants went dormant for the cold Winter. He knew the name of every flower and bush and seemed to beam with pride as he showed her around. “Do you tend the garden yourself?” Ranyare asked. “I do. It was my mother’s and I helped her with it from time to time. Before she sailed West, I promised her I would always look after it.” “You have done a fine job. Everything is so beautiful. I do not think I have ever seen roses this color” she said as she stopped to admire the blooms that were a shade of pale purple. “A result of my mother’s very green thumb. My father used to tease her that she spent more time in her garden some days than with him.” His face practically lit up when he spoke of his parents. Ranyare had long wondered what it was like to have parents or a family. She was fine on her own but there was always a tiny bit of her that couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be part of a family. “Speaking of your father, how are you doing in regards to dealing with your anger towards him?” Before answering, Thranduil sat down on the stone bench in the center of the garden and she sat beside him. “I have forgiven him. None of us are perfect and while he did have his flaws, pride and stubborness in particular, he was a good ellon and a wonderful father.” “I am glad to hear that” she said truly happy for him. “How have you been?” he asked. Ranyare sighed and then answered him truthfully. “I am tired. So very tired of carrying this pain for so long.” “I would do anything to lessen your grief and burden.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Part of the reason I returned was to warn you of what I saw in my dreams but I also wanted to see you again. Your friendship was very special to me. I often felt at peace when you would visit and I have missed that…missed you.” “I felt a true kinship with you and it hurt me quite deeply when you left.” “I am sorry. Is there any possibility that I could have your forgiveness as well?” “I would forgive you in an instant mellon nin, but I do not wish to repeat this cycle. Will you stay for a while and then run away once again?” Ranyare hung her head and was quiet for a bit. “I am tired of running. I am tired of solitude.” He gently lifted her chin with his fingers and said, “Then stay here, with me.” She nodded and he put his arm around her and she leaned her head against his neck and closed her eyes. For a moment, they both felt a sense of overwhelming peace and they stayed in that same spot for many hours until the sun rose.

Thranduil left her to have breakfast alone as he had business to attend to although he would have much preferred to stay with Ranyare. She did not see him for much of the day and when she caught sight of Galion in the late afternoon, she asked about him. “He will join you for supper my lady.” The king’s long-time friend and faithful butler had been sworn to secrecy by Thranduil as to the nature of his business as he wanted to tell her himself. “If you do not mind my saying, we are glad to have you back amongst us and your presence has greatly lifted Thranduil’s spirits. He has not quite been the same since you left long ago.” She smiled and thanked him for the kind words. Her heart beat a little faster too knowing how much he had missed her, just as much as she had missed him.

“What does this mean?” asked one of the realm’s elder members as he along with several other elves were gathered in Thranduil’s throne room including key figures of their defense forces. “I am not sure but I can tell you that something nefarious has taken up residence at the old fort and I do not believe it is a force we can fight with swords and arrows” the king replied. “Please my lord, tell us exactly how it looked and what you felt” one of the marchwardens asked. “We easily dispatched the orcs and as we were leaving, I saw it from the corner of my eye. I turned and could see a dark cloud low in the sky moving towards the fort. It settled over the structure and all around it everything became very dark. I order the soldiers to retreat back to the tree line as I moved closer to it. My horse was reticent to go so I made my way on foot. With each step I could feel the presence of something evil bearing down upon me until I could physically go no further.” This stunned the elves as they knew their king to be one of their strongest members, both in body and in will. “I fell back with the others and we watched for quite some time with no change in situation.” “I am loathe to utter this name, but it is possible Sauron has returned?” one of the younger elves, who was born after the Dark Lord’s defeat, asked. Thranduil couldn’t help but shutter at that name but this was also something he had wondered. “I suppose it is possible. It is also a possibility that it may be one of his minions, perhaps one of the Nazgul.” “Surely we will not simply accept this abomination!” one elf practically shouted as this was quite an upsetting situation. “Of course we will not” Thranduil said calmly. “I have sent a company to monitor the situation and I have also sent letters to King Amroth and Lord Elrond asking if they have had any similar troubles.”

The meeting ended and the king went to join his guest in the dining room. She could tell something was upsetting him and as they waited for the meal to be served, he explained to her what he had seen. Neither spoke while they ate and as their appetites were both diminished, they merely picked at their food and ate little. “Come with me” Thranduil said tenderly as he rose and extended his hand to her. She took his hand without speaking and together they walked to the garden. “Are we to be left alone once again to fight this enduring evil?” Ranyare asked as they walked along the little path. Her voice was weary and filled with anxiety. “Eru made this world and the Ainur helped shape it, and it is for us, all the children of Ilúvatar and we must defend and protect it. They have not abandoned us but instead they give us the strength and wisdom to do what must be done.” She was quiet for a while and then she began to think of all the times birds had come to talk with her. They gave her news of the world and were often quite helpful such as the one who brought her the deer who enabled her to quickly reach the edge of Fangorn on her way to warn Thranduil. Suddenly she halted as the realization dawned on her that maybe her dream was a warning from them and that those were not mere birds after all. “Thranduil, I think you may be right. Perhaps they have been helping us in ways we did not even realize.” He was surprised at her words but delighted in hearing them. “Often have the Valar come to our aid. Ulmo gave Turgon the inspiration to build the hidden realm of Gondolin and then also sent Tuor to warn him of its impending destruction. The Númenóreans were given multiple warnings in the forms of clouds shaped like Manwë’s great eagles to turn away from Sauron’s evil ministrations. We have free will and do not have to follow their signs or advice, but they do still often try to help.” She smiled up at him and said, “I have been so blind and so consumed by my own failings that I did not see. It was easier to blame them for not helping us sooner than to face my own weakness.”

Just at that moment, a small yellow bird flew by them and landed on a nearby rose bush. A bright glow began to emanate from around the bird and in a flash it had changed into the shape of a tall man. He stood before them clothed in a long green robe with his dark hair falling loosely over both shoulders. His bright eyes looked upon them both with love and his smile quickly put them at ease. “I am Taurënur, a Maia in the service of Oromë. Long have I waited for this day when your faith would be restored and you would know peace.” Ranyare recognized his voice as the one she had heard in her mind when last she saw the little yellow bird. “It was you. All those times, all the different birds, it was you” she said stepping towards him. “Yes my child. I was sent from Oromë to watch over you. It has laid heavy on his heart that he was not able to save all the firstborn of Ilúvatar from suffering at Morgoth’s hands. You and Nowë are the only elves left in Middle Earth from those earliest generations and it has been my honor to watch over the both of you.” “Nowë is still here? I thought I must be the only one” she said as tears filled her eyes and one broke free running down her cheek. He gently wiped it away with his thumb and then reached down to take her hand in his. “He is the lord of the Grey Havens and he builds the ships sturdy enough to make the journey to the blessed Undying Lands.” “That is Círdan. The elf whose name you did not recognize” Thranduil said stepping forward to join them. “Why did you not tell me who you were?” she asked confused why he kept his identity a secret. “Faith is strongest when you find it for yourself and you will need your faith to be strong for the dark days that may be coming. I know what you saw Thranduil, but do not let fear into your heart. You are strong and you are a great king. Help will soon come from Valinor in the form of counselors to guide the free peoples of Middle Earth through whatever tribulation may lie ahead.” “Thank you. We are always grateful for any help that may come from Eru or his blessed Ainur” Thranduil said with reverence as he put a hand to his heart and bowed his head.

“Please, can you tell me what happened to my friends. The ones who were taken, and the ones I left behind?” Ranyare asked with such desperation that Taurënur did not hesitate to answer. “They are safe and protected in Aman.” So relieved was she to hear this that she fell to her knees, while still holding his hand, and she laughed with great joy as if a weight as massive as the Misty Mountains themselves had been lifted from her heart. “So many times I wanted to tell you, but that would have given myself away and I was not permitted to do so until you found your faith again.” “Thank you” she said almost in a whisper as she was still so overcome by the glad tidings. Taurënur helped her to her feet and then extended his other hand to Thranduil and the king stepped forward and took his hand. “Your parents are also together again.” Thranduil was too overwhelmed to say anything but he graciously nodded to the Maia. “I must return home now, but I feel confident that I am leaving you in loving hands.” With another burst of bright light, he turned back into a bird and flew away to the West.

Notes:

Taurënur – Forest friend

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fantasies-fairytales-n-fics · 1 year

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Thranduil and Josie Part 101- Seven Devils

Summary: The superstorm continues as Thranduil's physical form goes missing. Where oh where could he be? Grief consumes the the King's loved ones as all sorts of new information and trouble arises. Josie is left reeling after Jareth's revelation.

Notes: Credit to @redeemer46 for the superstorm term.

Warning! *Language, angst, dark story, death*

All Hallows' Eve 2 am

Although you vowed to kill Raven, you could not leave Thranduil. You sat beside your husband rubbing his hand that you laid upon his chest. "Baby, please...please open your eyes. Breathe. Please..."

"Somebody...please do something!! Daddy??"

"My sweet girl I...."

"Don't you call me that!!" you raged.

"My Jo...You know I cannot bring back the dead. Nor can you with all of your healing powers. I am so sorry my child. He is gone. You must let him go. We need to go now!" Julian came to you and pried your hands free of Thranduil as you kicked and screamed.

"Let me go! No!!! I will not leave him!! He needs me! I need him...I will die without him."

"Josephine...you must not say those things. You have a part of him alive inside of you that you must care for." Julian harshly said as he gave you a shake to snap you out of your hysteria.

"For god's sake man, let her grieve. and be with her husband." Garrett growled.

Julian scowled at the protective vampire. "Coming from someone who has never let her be with her husband? Why are you still here? No one except your own kind wants you around." It was clear your father was never going to accept Garrett in your life.

You shoved Julian off of you and looked around at everyone's face for some glimpse of hope. Legolas was still frozen as he knelt beside his father. Haldir's sympathetic eyes begged for you to come to him for comfort as his heart broke seeing you in so much pain. Selene offered you a compassionate eye as she knew this pain all too well when she believed Michael to be dead. She then whisked away and you knew right where she was going. To find Raven and bring her to you. Then your swollen eyes caught Garrett's, which were glassy and wet. As much as he despised Thranduil, he never would wish such suffering upon you. If he could do something to fix this, he would move heaven and earth to do it for you. He displayed a broken half smile to you and extended his arm out, offering you his shoulder to cry on like you once did for him. To Haldir's and Julian's dismay, you went right to Garrett and broke down in his arms as you clutched the pendant in your hand. He held you tight and said nothing, allowing you to grieve with no pressure, like Julian had displayed.

Haldir then took off on a war path also to find Raven, but Selene came back in which stopped him. "She is gone. They are all gone!" she intensely informed.

You stepped out of Garrett's arms. "What??!! She cannot get away! She knows something more, I can feel it! Haldir, why didn't you ask her more!??!!"

He tried his best to understand you were not angry with him or blaming him, that it was only your grief speaking, but it still hurt him. "I..I was only trying to locate Thranduil. I felt it to be the most imperative at the time and when she told us, you rushed off so we followed to help you. I am sorry I failed you...and Thranduil." He then quickly departed.

You knelt back down over Thranduil and placed your quivering lips upon his, long and deep. The soft suppleness and warmth of them were gone and he had an unrecognizable taste. It was bitter.

"Nin beautiful aran erain , nin mel, nin emel, nin faer. Im will avenge thee, an im mel cin more than nin own cuil. An all -o uir." (My beautiful King, my love, my heart, my soul. I will avenge thee, for I love you more than my own life. For all of eternity.) You said as you rubbed the back of your hand down his cheek, then buried your face in his neck and breathed in his lilac scent that was strangely still potent as ever. The rain always seemed to magnify it for some reason, so you figured that to be why.

You whispered into his ear. "Nin aran erain, take nin awaui o hi awful near." (My King, take me away from this awful place.) The exact words you professed the night you escaped Peter's cabin and blindly ran off into the forest. Thranduil came for you then and you believed he would come for you again. You just had to believe it.

"Legolas..." You placed your hand on his. "Please...stay with him so he is not alone. I will not be long. I must find Raven."

The Prince only slightly looked your way, but not in your eyes, then he returned his concentration on his father. It was his way of letting you know he understood. Your heart couldn't possibly break any more than it had, but it did for Legolas. You then raced off as Julian, Selene and Garrett quickly pursued.

It was now a torrential downpour outside and the moon had strangely changed back to a glowing moonstone like Thranduil's eyes. The 13th hour had ended in Jareth's time and he was ready to play.

You all had reached the edge of the forest when a horrendous yell came from the church. It was Legolas. You ran back as fast as you could with the others following.

As you returned to where you had left Thranduil and his son, there stood Legolas but Thranduil was gone. All that was left was the pool of blood on the ground being washed away from the rain pouring in from the broken roof.

"Legolas!! Where is Thranduil??!!" you screamed.

He just stood paralyzed, staring at the ground where his father had been.

"Legolas!!!" You grabbed his arms and shook him. "Where is he!!!!??"

"He...he...he just....vanished..."

"What do you mean he just vanished???? Did he just get up and leave? Were you not watching over him?? I asked you to stay with him!!"

"I did Josie!!! I never left! He just...it was like...stardust...and then...he was gone...right before my eyes..."

"W..wh...wha..." You stammered as your eyelids rapidly blinked from the rain drowning them. You couldn't even speak. You then began marching around the rubble in a frenzy. "Thranduil!!!"

He was nowhere. Just gone. You fell to your knees and sobbed so hard you almost vomited.

Large chunks of stone began falling as the rain hammered down through open ceiling.

"Josephine...we need to leave here now!" Garrett shouted.

You glanced up at him with the saddest of eyes. "I...I can't...feel him anymore....I....tell me this is all a dream...."

Garrett forced you to stand. "I so wish I could sweetheart. Josephine...I am so sorry for what is happening but I will be damned, even more so than I already am, if I am going to let you die!"

He held your head in his hands. "G..Garr...I don't feel so..."

You passed out and Garrett swooped you up in his arms. "We must get her inside where it's warm."

The five of you just got outside when the entire ceiling caved in. Back into the castle Garrett carried you as the others carried on beside him.

You awoke disoriented about 30 minutes later. "Thranduil!!" you gasped.

"Hey, hey. It's alright. Selene, Legolas and I are here." Garrett sweetly spoke and stroked your cheek. Julian was gone though.

"Where's my dad??? I need my dad?"

"He went to look for the others and try to find Jareth." Selene answered. Legolas stood staring out the window in silence.

You abruptly got up. "I am not going to just sit here while Jareth and Raven wreak havoc on more people I love. I promised my husband I would avenge him and that I will do!" But then, you felt extremely nauseated and dizzy and fell back onto the couch.

Garrett whisked to your side. "Josephine, what is it?"

"I...I think I am going to be...." You made a gagging sound as you covered your mouth with your hand. Then it all happened so fast, you didn't even see it. Garrett sped to one side of the room and back, placing a trash can in front of you just as your morning breakfast made it's way out of your mouth. He then held your hair back.....just like Thranduil had done for you. You then made a terrible frown as you wiped your lips with the back of your hand. The taste...it was just like when you kissed Thranduil. "Wh...what is that???"

Garrett peered into the trash can. "It appears to be...possibly fruit, crackers and maybe some...OJ?"

You smacked his arm, quite hard. "Garrett!!! Now is not the time for your stupid fucking jokes! I meant the smell....I tasted it on Thranduil's lips."

He leered at you in shock and offense. "I actually was being serious because I thought that is what you were asking. Sorry!" he snapped and got up.

Selene smelled it and veered around the couch, taking in a stronger whiff. It's....wolfsbane...." she whispered in utter disbelief. "I know it all too well. It has many uses but I know it because of Michael. In the right dosage and mixed with other herbs, it can stop his transformation just like the talisman bracelet I gave him. But...it is also very toxic and too much can cause....."

"Death...." you whispered in horror. "Oh my..god....my mother poisoned him....but....but how???? He swore to me he would never drink anything she offered him."

"But she also had a spell placed upon him. And...it doesn't have to be ingested to be effective. My guess is that it was on the knife." Selene revealed.

"But that makes no sense??" You stood up and began to anxiously pace. "She used the spell to obviously render his senses useless and lure him to her. She could have then easily had gotten him to drink it, so why stab him??? Why even use the poison??? There couldn't possibly have been enough on the blade to kill him. The wound alone would do that. This makes no sense!! She had some bigger plan here and it was interrupted when she was killed. So now what??? Where is his body?? How can he just dissipate into thin air????" You began to hyperventilate and ran to the trash can becoming sick again.

"There was obviously enough poison on it to make you sick just by a simple touch." Garrett said and turned you to face him. "We need to get it out of you asap." He placed his fingers on your chest and his hand glowed of a light blue as you peered up at him in confusion.

Sheer pain coursed over his face as his eyes rolled back. You felt nothing but a tiny tickle where his fingers were.

"Garrett?? What is happening??!!"

He couldn't speak and then he just dropped.

"Garrett!!!! Oh my god, wake up! Don't you do this to me!! I need you!! Selene, what is wrong with him??? What the fuck did he just do??" you reeled in panic as you knelt over him, smacking at his cheek.

"He took your poison into him. He will be alright. Try to calm down. He just has to go through it."

"What??!! Go through it??" you profusely panted as you stared at his motionless body.

"Yes...his own poison, the venom, will eat the toxin but it's not exactly a comfortable process. He will feel the effects of this for awhile."

Although you felt one hundred percent better physically, you still felt sick to your stomach at the thought of what Thranduil must have felt after seeing Garrett like this....and you only had a small amount in you from skin contact.

Garrett began to awaken and you helped him sit up. "What the hell was that?? Why did I not know of this power you possess, or...the one you pulled on Raven too for that matter?? Please tell me you are alright."

"I will be. I guess there was never a need to tell you."

"Ok?? Well, there's a now need for you to tell me so spill it." you demanded.

"It's really not that big of a deal Josephine. Some powers we obtain are carried over from our human lives, only magnified into something else. It all varies. It can be things we were really good at, or strong emotions we possessed...or even related to trauma we endured...and some are just based off of our sign....some don't even have any powers at all except the basics of speed. As far as what I did to Raven, turning her own power against her, I believe I received that ability due to my insane desire for justice upon that pos that killed my sister...you know, karma? Or how I felt I had no control in my life, but now I can paralyze someone with just a glance...I mean, look at Kate...her ability to electrocute someone...that happened to her in life and she was put on life support until Craven changed her. As far as what I just did...I can take people's sickness from them, but I have to suffer for it. My desire to keep my brother alive and not become a monster like me....to me it is a sickness and I did not choose it. No one chooses to be sick..My sister did not choose what happened to her, and all I wanted to do was heal her....so I think that's why I have this ability...to help others."

"First of all, I know you better than anyone and you are no monster. A monster doesn't do selfless acts. Second...that means...you are a healer...like me? What other tricks do you have up your sleeve that I am unaware of?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out....Sorry....stupid fucking joke, I know."

You had obviously scorned him earlier, just as you had done to Haldir without intent. "Garrett...I...I am sorry for what I said. You have to know, please, that I do not really think that. Your humor, it brings light into my darkened world. And...what you just did for me...I have no words except thank you."

"Don't thank me. I owed you. You healed me twice now so I still owe you another...let's just hope it's never needed."

But it was needed, only his kind of healing couldn't help you.

Legolas had been silent the entire time and kept to himself. You understood his pain as it was a pain only you and him could feel. You went over to him and took his hand. "Legolas....talk to me. I need you. We need each other."

He slowly removed his hand from yours and his eyes darkened. "What I need is my father. Apparently though, you have all you need right here. You just said so moments ago. I do not need you. In fact...all of this...it is your fault. My father would be alive right now if he hadn't gone chasing after your psychotic mother all to prove his love for you that he always seemed he felt he needed to do because you always made him feel he was not good enough for you."

You gasped as he glared at you. Grief, you told yourself, was all this was and that he didn't mean it but it hurt like hell and he knew right where to hit you.

"Hey!! Do not speak to her like that!" Garrett snapped.

"Or what filth?? Get out of my way..." Legolas snarled with his nose flaring just like his father and stormed off as Garrett stepped aside and sarcastically gestured with his hand to go.

"Legolas!!" you shouted and chased after him. As you both came upon a back exit to the mountain stream, there stood a grotesque creature that you had never seen before and it was staring right at the Prince and then it charged him.

Legolas' reaction time was slightly impaired from his grief and he didn't get his arrow raised in time. The hideous creature swung his arm hitting Legolas so hard, slamming him against the wall.

Legolas NO!!" You ran and stood before the Prince who was barely conscious. Your love for him and Thranduil sent the fire shooting through your veins and out it came with no effort. A flash of blinding light struck the dark form, catapulting it through the air and setting it ablaze.

Legolas got up with a minor bloody nose and you both noticed an orc on a warg out by the dock that stopped to gaze at you both.

"Next time I need your assistance, I will ask for it." he snarked and took off after the beasts as horns began to blow. One was familiar. It was the Lothlorien guard that had remained in the shadows until needed. Haldir must have ordered them out and you could see why. The other horn you were unfamiliar with but had to assume it was Narcisse's army.

"Legolas!! Please stop!" you cried. You were scared to death he was going to get himself either severely hurt or killed with the state of mind he was in.

Garrett and Selene came running up and you spun around to them. "What the fuck is that thing I just killed and why are there orcs here??!!!"

Selene walked over to the smoldering atrocity and kicked it. "That my dear is a wendigo. And I am certain Jareth has conjured them up, along with the ghastly orcs and their wargs."

"A wen...what??" you sputtered.

"A wendigo. Powerful monsters that have a desire to kill and eat their victims. In most legends, humans transform into wendigos because of their greed or weakness." Garrett answered. "They are much like vampires, evil ones anyways. They can infect you if bitten or scratched even."

A clock in the room chimed, grabbing your attention. It was now 3 am. The witching hour. Jareth's wrath was now upon all of Chateau de Lioncourt.

"Time is short....." you whispered in fright. "We have to go now!! We must find the others. This is bad....like really bad!"

"I will let nothing happen to you or your child. I will die first." Garrett swore as he laid his hand upon your cheek.

"What he said." Selene vowed with a grin. You all then raced off with the vampires on each side of you.

The storm kept up as you all followed the blazing horns which led you to the front of the castle grounds. You could see a multitude of the glowing eyes of orcs lining the forests borders and hooded figures opposite of them that appeared to be more reapers, aka death dealers. You were right about the foreign horns you heard. There stood Narcisse in front of his squad with your father at his side and Haldir with his as Aragorn led. And then....there was Lestat with his own clan, Maharet, Marius, and Armand included, and even Michael. A vampire army. Your heart dropped as if you had fallen from a cliff, which you knew that feeling all too well as looking at Haldir just now reminded you of it in Rivendell. The sound of Aragorn's command caused you to almost piss yourself.

"Thranduil...." you whispered and began to cry.

The wind suddenly kicked in. A glow of orange lit up the sky with a scent of citrus floating through it. Aragorn promptly ordered the guard to hold.

There was Jareth without a drop of rain upon him. And at his side stood the cowardly Clover smirking at you. You wanted to rip her limb from limb but you needed her alive to find out what happened to your husband's body.

He gazed at you and you cringed. He was just as you remembered him from your dream that had actually been a memory. All that could be heard in the dead silence was his words that echoed across the grounds. "Come back Sarah...come back before it's too late."

You glanced at Garrett, then Selene in great perplexity, then at Julian who had a mixed emotions tangled on his face of rage and fear.

"My child, do not fear me. Did I not tell you I would see you soon? It would have been much sooner, but your whereabouts were of great uncertainty after...my brother expired and you underwent the protection of the Elvinking. And of course, your interfering mother. Good riddance to her, may she rest in hell." Jareth grinned.

Julian flew over to you. Just another power of his that you never knew he had. "Do not listen to him child! He is a demon and filled with lies."

"Oh little brother. it has been a long time yes? So not good to see you alive and well." Jareth teased.

"D..daddy? Why is he calling me Sarah?"

"My child...I do believe you are addressing the wrong person. Do tell her Julian, witch hunter and 7th son.... or shall I?"

Julian death glared him. "Watch yourself Jareth, for you do not want my wrath, or have you forgotten my warnings."

"Ok, what the fuck is going on here????" you reeled. It was obviously more than some sibling rivalry.

Jareth belted out a sinister laugh. "Is it not clear to you yet my child? Julian is not your father. I am....."

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