Forget me not

Chapter 10

I left the barracks in a hurry, leaving a very upset Merewen behind. I decided to take on whatever was haunting these woods on my own. I ran into the woods in search of anything, but found nothing.

“Why does everything have to be so difficult?” I screamed. I decided that my behaviour of just running off was not the best reaction, so I headed back to the palace.

I went to see Helas, not to go in, but to watch from a distance. But when I walked down the hall, there was a bunch of people gathered outside the doors, healers running in and out of the room.

“What is wrong?” I asked one of the healers.

“Oh! Inwe, it is just you. I have grave news to tell you, though I do not know how to say it.”

“Just tell me!” I said raising my voice, showing that I was not in the mood.

“Helas, he…he has died.”

This shattered my world, whatever I believed was right in this world was gone. “How can this be? Helas is a strong warrior, he was supposed to pull through, just as you said he would.” I was crying now, not caring who saw me. “I must see him.”

I practically screamed as I burst into the room. I saw Helas’s lifeless pale body lying on the bed. I almost rushed over to check if the healers were lying to me, which they were not, for his skin was cold to the touch.

“Oh, by the Valar, what have we done to deserve this punishment? We were in love, and now you have ruined it. I knew I should have never left to go to Rivendell when I knew I had found love here.” I was crying and screaming at the sky at the same time. “Please, just let me have him back. I need him. Please?” My thoughts were now running rapidly through my mind, confusing me to no end. I decided to pay Lady Galadriel a little visit.

When I arrived at her chambers, they noticed that I was distraught and would not allow me entry. “Please, I must speak to the Lady, for Helas has died.” I pleaded frantically to the guards, who, in turn, allowed me in. I strode across the room quickly, finding the Lady at her desk.

“How could you?” By the look on her face, I realized I shocked her a bit.

“How could I what, dear?”

“How could you needlessly send out your soldiers to face unknown odds? Do you have any idea what has happened?” By the blank stare on her face I took that as a 'no' and continued. “Another immortal flame has been extinguished, and it’s all because of you and your foolish grieving. But now though there are many more who must grieve, for many soldiers are now dying. My Helas is one of them.” A shocked look crossed her face, obviously she didn’t know. “Helas died this morning, and I place the blame solely upon you.” With this, I stormed out of the room, slamming the doors as loudly as I could.

Does she not know that if she cannot control her emotions she will lose her power of foretelling?

I ran as fast as I could, seeking the aid of Haldir. I found him in the courtyard and ran over to him. “Please Haldir you must help me, I must find what haunts the woods and only you can help me.”

Haldir was taken aback by me telling him that he was the only one that could help me. “What about your friends? They will surely help you.”

“No, I need you to help me, no others.”

“How do you plan on finding the problem that haunts the woods, surely you don’t know where they are, do you?”

“I have an idea!” I lied. “Please come, we must leave now!”

“Very well, milady.” With that, we readied the horses to leave, not slowing down to look back.

Thoughts and emotions were running rapidly through my mind, almost toying with me. We rode for a while when I suggested we dismount and continued on foot, though secrecy was the last thing on my mind. We ran for a while until it was so dark we could no longer see anything.

“I will collect fi...” but Haldir was cut off by me grabbing him by the shoulders and planting my lips firmly atop his. He had no idea what hit him, I let my hands roam up and down his body until he pulled away.

“Milady, what are you doing?” He did not get a response, but only to have me throw myself at him again.

He grabbed me forcefully by the shoulders, overpowering me. “Let me go!” I screamed.

“No, Inwe, you are not yourself.” I kicked and continued screaming, not caring if I attracted any unwanted attention. “Calm yourself, I can tell you are upset from what happened to Helas, but this is no way to act.”

I continued to ignore him whilst kicking and screaming. I bit down hard on his shoulder, then he lessened his grip, which I took advantage of and twirled out of his arms, drawing his own sword in the process. “No, Haldir. I am acting normally for I have always desired you greatly.” In my mind, I knew it was a lie though I made it appear as the truth. Haldir was taken aback by this realization.

‘Does she actually desire me, or is it just a spur of the moment act?’ He thought to himself, but was not able to ponder further for several giant creatures advanced on him from the shadows.