Taliel slid across the stony ground as an arrow ricocheted off a nearby rock, barely evading it. The orc who had fired it quickly fit another to his bowstring, letting it loose without even aiming. Quickening her pace, the nimble elven warrior heard the arrow make contact with the ground behind her feet. She scanned the battlefield ahead of her, hoping beyond hope to see any sign of Caledorn or his allies.
Suddenly Taliel felt herself being lifted into the air by an unnaturally strong gust of wind, and stumbled to the ground as she attempted to compensate for the unexpected breeze. The sound of laughter caused her to spin around, scrambling back to her feet as she saw Zaskia standing before her.
"You thought I'd allow you to go so easily?" The sorceress purred with a twisted smile. "How naive."
Taliel rubbed her hands together, cleaning the soot and dirt from her palms. She was tired... and she did not know what Zaskia was capable of. Part of her wanted to attack the sorceress outright, but it was risky. Who knew what powers the evil woman possessed? No... she would have to be more devious in her approach.
"Well, you do seem to be struggling to keep up," Taliel replied with a roguish grin. "Perhaps you should have spent more time practicing running than dabbling in powers that are far above your comprehension."
Zaskia's smile disappeared immediately, and her eyebrows furrowed angrily. "I could kill you where you stand, wench."
Taliel danced backward playfully, ensuring that Zaskia's orcs didn't flank her. "Oh? Then why haven't you?"
At this, a deadly twinkle came into the sorceress's stormy violet eyes, causing Taliel's heart to drop. She had asked the wrong question.
"Because, my dear..." Zaskia began like a teacher lecturing a disobedient student, "I wanted you to see the one you love die... but I see now that I cannot have everything my way. A pity you asked, I might have let you live a little longer if you hadn't."
As the sorceress raised a hand into the sky, a faint crackle began to be heard just beneath the ground. Taliel wasted no time waiting to find out what was causing it, instead launching herself backward and taking off at a run. Before she had a chance to flee, however, a deafening clap like the sound of thunder suddenly sounded behind her and an unseen force sent her falling to her knees once more. When her hands hit the ground, small tendrils of lightning forked from the ground to meet them, causing her to cry out in pain.
"There are powers in this world that you couldn't dream of..." Zaskia hissed from behind. "This world shall wither, and you and your wretched kind with it."
The shocking pain traveled up Taliel's arms and wracked her entire body. She clenched her fists and collapsed onto her side, biting back the scream that was building in her throat.
"You know nothing of pain... Not yet. But you shall!" A hard boot planted itself into Taliel's side and she instinctively rolled over, meeting the stormy eyes of her foe. Fear filled her heart when she saw that the sorceress had drawn a jagged dagger from her cloak.
"Pain is to life what paint is to art..." the sorceress began as she knelt over Taliel. "It gives color to a dull existence, and paints the tapestry of our lives with vivid hues. Pain is what gave me the power I have now... and it is what will bring you an inglorious death." She brought the knife close to Taliel's forehead and placed the blade upon her skin, causing the elf to instinctively recoil from the cold steel.
"I gain strength from pain..." Zaskia continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Most are drained from it."
Taliel gritted her teeth as Zaskia's dagger cut into her skin and stifled a cry of pain. She tried to reach for her own dagger but was pinned in place by the raw electricity that coursed through her.
Suddenly the thunder of hooves shook the ground, and seemingly out of nowhere a midnight black horse appeared. Zaskia barely had time to turn to face it before it bowled her over and its ebony-clad rider swung his blade at her, barely missing her head.
The rider immediately attacked her orc minions, killing them all with blinding speed. He then pulled his steed around to charge Zaskia again. That's when Taliel recognized him... the dark armor, the intense green eyes like those of an angry forest spirit, the twin ebony daggers strapped to his belt.
Caledorn!
Zaskia slowly rose to her feet, shaken by the sudden onslaught. Her spell momentarily broken, Taliel sprang to her feet with what strength she had left, retrieving her sword from the dusty ground.
Caledorn dug his heels into his mount's side, urging it forward. The beast frothed at the mouth, clearly already tired from a long ride but intent on following the orders of its master. It reared onto its hind legs and leapt forward, quickly covering the ground between it and the sorceress.
Before Caledorn had a chance to strike, however, Zaskia drew a long, cruel sword from the concealment of her cloak and lashed out with a powerful stroke, severing the horse's head from its body. It immediately collapsed to the ground, sending Caledorn flying forward.
The elven warrior instantly took advantage of the situation, twisting his body towards Zaskia and tackling her in one swift move that sent them both tumbling to the ground. After a moment of grappling one another on the ground, Caledorn swiftly rose to a crouching stance, daggers raised to attack. Zaskia rolled backward with surprising grace and stood to face Caledorn.
"Ah, so you have come at last," she said breathlessly, still managing a slight smirk. "Perhaps my plan will come to fruition after all."
Caledorn glared, visibly grimacing under his mask. "Not likely. You know nothing of the powers you make such frivolous use of."
Zaskia arched a dark eyebrow. "On the contrary, Caledorn Ingwalen, I believe I do. And I know of you and your constant meddling in the affairs of others. Hoping that you would somehow make a difference in the world. How chivalrous. Or at least, that's what you'd have others believe. I know of your past, elf. You are not so virtuous after all."
"Do not speak of my past," Caledorn growled. "I know of the wrongs I did."
"And yet you still try to make up for them... As if you can make amends for your actions," Zaskia hissed mockingly.
Caledorn's emerald eyes narrowed, his grip on his daggers tightening. "I shall never fully atone for what I've done... But you are not the one I have to answer to."
"That is where you are wrong. It is customary to admit your guilt to the last one you speak with before your demise."
It was when she spoke these last words that Taliel saw the dagger.
"Look out!" Taliel exclaimed, leaping into action. But it was already too late.
The dagger flew from Zaskia's hand with lightning speed, and Caledorn barely had time to blink before the jagged weapon embedded itself deep into his chest.
"No!" Taliel cried, launching into a swift flurry of attacks that Zaskia barely managed to block. The elven warrior attacked with all her might, fury coursing through her veins. This sorceress would pay for what she had done. She would die.
Zaskia, though not a warrior herself, seemed to almost predict Taliel's attacks before they happened, and dodged every single one with what was an almost apathetic demeanor. Growing increasingly frustrated, Taliel increased the speed of her attacks, hoping that she could wear down the sorceress's defense. Instead, Zaskia seemed to be biding her time and was seemingly unfatigued from the constant attacks.
Then, when Taliel executed an overhead strike, Zaskia lashed out with the speed of a viper, slashing Taliel across the midsection. Taliel cried out and leapt backward, glancing down to survey her injury. Though it was not deep, it was bleeding profusely and was incredibly painful. Instead of giving Zaskia the satisfaction of seeing her in pain, Taliel bit back her pain and rushed forward to attack once more.
Unfortunataly, her pain made her weaker, and Zaskia could tell as well. A cruel smile began to tug at the edges of her mouth and she quickly struck out, switching from the role of defender to attacker. Taliel retreated backward, struggling to fend off the blows. Zaskia seemed to be growing in strength with each attack, and it seemed to Taliel that she might be drawing on some dark magic to give her power. She knew that she couldn't hold out much longer...
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Meanwhile, Caledorn recoiled backward, grasping the hilt of the dagger with both hands. Sharp pain shot through his body, and he gasped for breath as he felt a burning in his right lung. Durin's bane, it hurts, he cursed silently to himself as he struggled to recover. He had never felt such searing agony before, and his eyes swam as the figures fighting in front of him began to blur in and out of focus. His legs suddenly felt incredibly weak, and he felt himself fall to his knees. He blinked rapidly, vainly trying to orient himself. Eru, this is how it ends, isn't it? He felt the sudden urge to retch, but fought it back. Vague outlines of strange figures began to appear in the corners of his vision, and he couldn't tell if they were real or imagined.
In a last-ditch attempt to regain awareness, he hit himself in the stomach with all of his might, hoping the pain from it would give him a momentary adrenaline surge. He let out a stifled cry of pain, but was relieved when his vision began to clear. That relief immediately turned to horror, however, when he saw the sight that greeted him.
Zaskia stood over Taliel, her scepter held high. Taliel, bruised and bloodied, lay with her back against a nearby corpse, her eyes wide with fear. Her armor had been pierced in several places and blood flowed freely from the wounds.
No... It can't be. His heart dropped to his stomach and tears began to sting his eyes as the scene began to fully register in his mind. Please no, not her, he begged to whatever divine beings might hear him. Anyone but her.
"Taliel!" Caledorn cried out, rising to his feet and stumbling forward, willing himself with all his might to reach her. Hearing his exclamation, Zaskia turned to glance at him, a gleeful smile playing across her features.
"My, you're a sturdy one," she purred, looking at the dagger that was still protruding from his chest.
His eyes burned with emerald fire, tempered with cruel resolve. He would kill her... If it was the last thing he did, he would end her wretched life here and now. He crouched low to the ground, powerful muscles tensed. Sulfurous smoke wafted between him and the sorceress, now and again obscuring her from his sight and twisting unnaturally around her dark form. Her cloak blew wildly in the wind, spreading out behind her like great sable wings. Her mouth was twisted into a cruel smile, and her pale hand held her staff in front of her like a triumphant queen of old. She was beautiful and repulsive at the same time, terrible and fiendish in the face of victory.
Without speaking a word, Caledorn rushed forward with every ounce of strength he had. His feet soundlessly propelled him across the rocky ground, and he leapt into the air to cover the last few feet between he and the sorceress. They met with a clash of steel, the strength of his attack shattering her staff into a thousand tiny shards. A wave of pure energy exploded from it as it broke, knocking both Caledorn and Zaskia off their feet. She let out an unnatural shriek and recoiled back, grasping the hand that had been holding the staff in pain.
"You!! Curse you!" She screamed. Caledorn smiled weakly.
"You have no power now... You're nothing," he said, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his ribcage. Oh wonderful... That's broken too now.
Zaskia grimaced. "For now, perhaps... But I will return, and you shall regret ever crossing blades with me." She slowly rose and turned, fleeing into the smoke. Caledorn let out a silent curse as he watched her escape, helpless to stop her. But then he remembered...
"Taliel!" He exclaimed faintly, crawling towards her. Each movement produced excruciating pain, and it took everything in him not to pass out from it. He stopped for a moment, looking down at the dagger. I'm not going to make it... Perhaps I can at least make my last moments less painful. He steeled himself and quickly pulled the dagger out. He covered his mouth and let out a muffled scream, the pain overwhelming him. After a moment, however, it subsided, and he continued to resolutely move forward.
He finally reached Taliel and propped himself up beside her. She appeared pale, but a gentle touch caused her eyes to flutter open.
"Caledorn...?" She said weakly.
"Yes, I'm here," he replied, drawing her into an embrace. Her breath was warm on his cheek, but it came out ragged and heavy.
"I didn't think I'd see you again," she whispered, smiling with what strength she could muster. Caledorn attempted to return the smile, but he could already tell: He was fading, fast.
"I had to find you..." He replied, his voice barely audible.
"I'm glad you did... You saved me," she said, resting her head on his shoulder. He buried his face in her hair, pulling her closer. They shared in a moment of silence, the distant sounds of battle the sole reminder of where they were.
Suddenly, Caledorn began to cough violently. His lung was burning, and he was growing lightheaded.
"Taliel... I don't think I shall survive this," he said after giving himself a moment to stop coughing. To his surprise, Taliel laughed quietly.
"I don't think either of us will," she replied. "It's easier though... Knowing that I won't be leaving this life alone."
Caledorn smiled at this, taking her pale hand in his own. "Whatever awaits... We'll face it together."
A tear trailed down his face, and Taliel reached up to wipe it away. "Do not cry, love. Our fate is bound together... In this life and the next. There is no one I'd rather have at my side, here at the end. Melinyel, Caledorn."
"Melinyel, an i medui en i cae, Taliel," he whispered, kissing her lightly.
Taliel closed her eyes, seeming unusually at peace. Caledorn gazed down at her, and he too began to feel a sense of peace that he had never felt before. It's over... My task is complete. As he closed his eyes, the pain began to fade... And he knew that he was ready to go.
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He awoke to a white light. His eyes slowly opened, and the first thing he noticed was that his pain was gone. He reached for his chest, but try as he might he could find no wound. Blinking slowly, he took in his surroundings. He lay in the center of what appeared to be a pavilion of white stone, with round pillars surrounding it. The faint call of gulls could be heard in the distance, and as he rose he could see waves lapping against a silver shore.
"Alatulya, melde," A deep voice said behind him. "I am Namo, though you may know me better as Mandos."
Caledorn turned to see a dark haired elf standing before him... No, not an elf. An Ainu. For he knew the name of Mandos, keeper of the Halls named after him. He was in Valinor.
"My lord," Caledorn said reverently as he bowed.
"Caledorn Ingwalen... Such was the name you went by in life. In Valinor, however, it is yet to be determined whether you shall continue to go by that name."
At these words Caledorn's heart skipped a beat. He knew that he was not worthy. His actions in life had been far too heinous... And no matter what he had done to atone, it would not be enough.
Mandos stood still for a moment, seeming to gaze into Caledorn's soul. His eyes narrowed for a moment, and he frowned.
"Your life was most eventful... Slaying a dragon. Few have that distinction. But... You slaughtered an entire colony of dwarves.... Dwarves who had done nothing to warrant your wrath."
Caledorn looked at the ground, his expression downcast. "I know what I did was wrong, and I am willing to suffer whatever consequences you deem sufficient. However, I would only ask one thing of you my lord..."
Mandos stared at the elf, stonefaced. For a moment Caledorn thought that he would not even hear what he had to say, but eventually it became clear that Mandos was merely waiting for him to speak.
He cleared his throat. "I would wish, my lord, to see my beloved once more. If my fate should be to wander these halls for eternity, I should like to know that she did not meet the same end."
Silence.
Then, Mandos did the last thing Caledorn expected.
He laughed. It was a deep, guttural laugh that shook the ground, and it was apparent that Mandos rarely made such a sound.
"Caledorn... You disappoint me. I had heard such stories about you! But you seem to think yourself a wretch. Nay, you delivered Middle Earth from disaster more than once, dark defender of Mirkwood! You have more than made amends for the actions of your youth. You shall dwell in Valinor for the rest of your days, valiant hero. But... I shall grant your wish regardless." The Ainu stepped aside, and Caledorn's eyes widened when he saw who stood behind him.
Taliel stood adorned in a white dress, her silver hair braided. The distinctive scar that once ran across her face was gone, and her eyes were alight with joy.
They ran to each other and Caledorn swept her up into his arms, smiling with pure happiness. Nothing could separate them now... And they both knew it. After a moment, he set her down and took her hand in his. They would face this new life together... And gone forever was the fear and guilt that had plagued him in the life before. Forever.
He thought of his companions... Gerithor, with his calm demeanor and eyes of blue steel. Kalan, always ready to bring cheer to those who needed it most. Glorfindel, his polar opposite in almost every way but a stalwart friend. He would miss them all... But he knew that he would see them again.
Taliel's hand in his, he stepped forward into his new life, never again to be seen in the land of the living.
This chapter was very, very difficult to write. I almost didn't do this, but it had been planned so far ahead of time that I felt it was only right to see it through. I was sort of scared to publish this, since I know there are quite a few Caledorn fans out there who may very well track me down and kill me. XD I also may have entirely slaughtered the elvish afterlife concept but I tried to stick with lore as best I could. Rest in peace, Caledorn and Taliel!
Milinyel, an i medui en i cae: I love you, to the ends of the earth