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𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵𝑻𝒀 𝑺𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑵
❝ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒊𝒏 ❞
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THE NIGHT SKY OF EDORAS GLEAMS down at Vera as the luminance enlightens her ethereal face. Her sharp features glow like a radiant angel in the moonlight as the soft, translucent rays hit her peaceful visage. Everything around her is dark as the black sky covered her surroundings, making her the only light in the shadowed world. Her hair seems to be more full and murky against the fairness of her smooth skin. Her rosy lips with matching pink cheeks bring more color to the paleness, only adding more to her beauty. Legolas always likes how Vera looks when under the glare of the moonlight as she appears the most relaxed and effortlessly sublime. He recalls a time like this where the same woman had stood under the moonlight, the same air of elegance surrounding her, and they had confessed their feelings to one another.
That night isn't so different from the current dawn.
He is standing a little ways behind her, his presence remaining a secret to her mind as she basks in the loneliness of the night. He had approached her rather quietly, hoping not to alert her, and stopped just a few feet away to give her more time alone. And, admittedly, he wanted to revere at her graceful beauty in the night sky as the twinkling stars wink down at her, contrasting greatly against the blackness of the sky. He always liked the stars, ever since his mother had pointed out the allure of it when he was just an elfling. They reminded him of home, and when he would stay out at the late-night just to gaze upon them in thought, perhaps in remembrance to his grandfather or the many fallen friends he has encountered. But as he stared up at it that night, he didn't want to think about the fallen soldiers of Middle Earth. No, he wanted to cherish the elegance of seeing his beloved under the moon's gaze.
So, the couple stood in the silence of the shadowed night, merely stuck in their own thoughts.
The night had ended long ago. It was on full blast just a few moments before the initial end, and the duo had ultimately decided to stay with one another for the rest of their dance. Legolas truly did miss Vera and after everything they have gone through, he didn't want to leave her side. Vera didn't argue much with his reasoning as she had also missed him since she fell into consciousness. She would never voice it aloud but when she was able to think for a moment in her unceremonious hellhole, she would only let herself think about Legolas as the glory of his presence wrapped around her during one point in her timeline. They both missed one another, and it is evidently shown in the conversations they uphold as they danced the night away, stuck in one another's companionship as the world around them fades away slowly.
But while the world vanished between the both of them, they weren't entirely invisible in the eyes of the others in the Hall as they watched the couple dance with happiness and curiosity inside their eyes.
Eventually, though, the two would have to split as the first guests of the night decided to take their leave, moving over to King Thèoden to share their thanks before leaving through the doors, beginning the end of the celebration. Therefore, King Thèoden had requested Vera's presence by the entrance of the Hall, seeing as she did appear much soberer after spending some time with Legolas and is in vigilant shape to actually bid their guests farewell. Èomer had recommended her presence as a sign of respect and gratitude from the two official monarchs, and Thèoden seemed to like that idea as he reluctantly broke the dance up between her and Legolas. Soon, with the promise that they will meet one another again, Vera unwillingly left Legolas's side to be with Thèoden, embarking on another conversation with her relative as he points out her less drunk state. Vera had blushed at Thèoden's knowing gaze before beginning to bid their guests goodnight.
The night had dragged on from there. With either monarch standing by both sides of the doorway, they went to work by bidding their guests farewell, occasionally having prolonged conversations with some as they had a small talk with the King and Queen. Sometimes, Vera would kiss a child's forehead sleeping onto their father's shoulder as a sign of good luck from her culture and a blessed gift before letting them return home. That action didn't go unnoticed by the others as Aragorn made a quip about having children one day, a thought that hasn't let Legolas's mind since he mentioned it. At one point, Thèoden had been asked to kiss a child's forehead, and after much persuasion from his niece, he complied — though his hesitance is rather obtrusive.
However, Vera had ultimately grown tiresome of repeating the same sentence over and over again, but as the night lugged on painfully slowly, Vera had granted some control over her impatience and carried on. The numbers in the Hall have diminished greatly and she could practically wilt in relief if not for her constant reminder that it would be rude to do so in front of the guests. The only thing that got her going is the admonition that she will be able to rest later on, and sleep to her heart's content as Trewyn informed her that she needed to sleep and rest due to her circumstances. By the time that her relatives consisting of Aldwin, Grimmund, and Edgar had passed through those doors to return home, the Hall has somewhat quietened down and there are only a few number of people inside the Main building. The servants had begun clearing the foods and mess on the wooden tables while the remaining occupants aided them in the task or held small conversations.
And no matter how much Thèoden edified her tiring mind, she just couldn't handle the exhaustion anymore as her head began to ache.
So, with the excuse that she needed some air and after many tight hugs from her friends — which practically cut her blood circulation — Vera departed from the halls of Mudeseld to the outer steps of the Golden Hall to have some alone time. Legolas had noticed her leave and wanted to dart towards her but held himself back after Thèoden informed him that she just wanted some time alone. Vera was left to her thoughts in the wintry breeze outside in Edoras while Legolas continued to finish his task of helping the servants clear the food. Gandalf is practically supporting his sleeping sister as he told him that he will escort her to the chambers she shares with Èowyn and Vera. Èowyn and Èomer are talking among themselves by the far corner, Gimli is conversing with Corin, while Neptune is snoring atop a chair. Aragorn is nowhere to be seen but after waiting, Legolas decides to search for him or his beloved.
Somehow, he had been led to Vera magnetically and is now standing behind her silently, waiting for the right moment to voice his presence.
Vera, though, had noticed his presence a long time ago. As Legolas opened his mouth while stepping forward to alert her of his appearance, Vera had beaten him to it. "I know you're there, silly elf," Vera announced with a hint of humor inside her tone but she barely spared him a glance.
Legolas falters, flushed. He remembered a time where he would call Eden that rather commonly before he was aware of her secret, and long before he called her his naneth. "How long have you known?"
Vera smirks. "A long time, now. I was just wonderin' how long it would take for you to announce your presence," Vera told him, turning her head back to meet his eyes as she squints teasingly.
Legolas rolls his eyes before walking forward to be in line with Vera as they both stare out into the open fields, the moonlight shining for them only. "Now, that's enough gloating from you today. If I had a gold coin for every time that you hectored me today, I would be plenty rich," Legolas says with a slight grumble.
Vera scoffs playfully, turning to Legolas as she glares lightly at the elf beside her. "I have not hectored you! You're just a painfully overzealous, pointy-eared elf prince with a rather narcissistic and stubborn mindset! And, may I remind you, you are a prince who has enough money as it is. Let the others hear about that and they may think you're a bad influence on me."
Legolas lurches himself slightly at Vera, nudging her to the side in the offense to her statement as she shared a contagious laugh. "My own friend, speaking of me so harshly. I have done nothing to you but shower you with affection, truly, Vera."
Vera laughs before resting her head on Legolas' shoulder, feeling his arms wrap around her waist and bring her closer to his body as they rested comfortably with one another. Legolas could detect the most diminutive of sparks in Vera's eyes as she peers up at the sparkling stars, a sign that she is rather tired from her rendezvous in the Golden Halls of Mudeseld. He would never voice it out willingly but he worried desperately over his companion as she had gone through a lot of things the past few days and she had rushed rather swiftly back to her normal, daily life. He may have allowed her to do so but it didn't stop the unsettling feeling in his chest. He worried so much over her wellbeing and he hoped that he would be honest about it when he asks.
"Did you enjoy the night?" Legolas asks quietly, moving his head so it rested comfortably atop hers as she sighed in response.
Vera hums, "truly. The people need to have some sort of happiness before we are forced into another battle that we may not win. They have gone through so much alone, and they will be needed for the last battle soon. Whether they like it or not...I just hope that they won't be separated from their families so soon."
Legolas chuckles. "That's adoring to hear, truly, but I was asking if you enjoyed the night."
"Well..." Vera starts hesitantly, "I suppose I did enjoy it. I bonded more with your sister — she is truly a wonderful mastermind when it comes to certain things, I'll tell you that—"
"— Hope is not a mastermind, she's more of a pansy, if I am being honest," Legolas cuts off, grumbling. Vera laughs at that and hits him softly in the ribs.
"Well, of course, you would, she's your sister! Every sibling insults theirs...it's natural," Vera tells him as she laughs. "Anyway, as I was saying, your sister is truly quite the character. My toes are quite numb form dancing, though, but everything else feels so...surreal. Like, I am happy, this is the happiest night I've had since the battle, and I really don't want it to end. So, I suppose I did enjoy tonight. And— oh, did you meet the old man with the mild kleptomania? I swear, he tried stealing my hairpin but Neptune tackled me! Honestly, it was rather funny," Vera adds excitedly.
Legolas smiles gently at Vera, hearing the excitement in her voice as he nodded. He did encounter the same old man while talking to his sister during the night and was a known witness to Hope smashing her heel into his foot as he tried stealing something in her purse. He did admit that it was rather funny. "Neptune is rather bellicose when he is drunk," Legolas comments.
Vera chuckles. "Oh, he isn't that bad, truly. You should have been there when Corin was laughing with Gimli, that merman can't handle his alcohol."
"You're one to talk," Legolas retorts amusedly, "I have never seen someone slip into such a state after a few sips! Now I know why you refuse to drink."
"Don't be so smug, Legolas. You have had a few drinks yourself and I rather remember every word said tonight," Vera warns as she narrows her eyes at his amused visage.
However, the elf suddenly shifts into a more somber and serious mood as a thought returns to his mind, and he is reminded of something that he said during the celebration. He was a little hesitant in mentioning it in fear that she would reject the idea now that they have enough time to speak and talk between themselves. They have never really talked about it before considering they didn't spend as much time but maybe it was the pressure of war and the idea that they could die at any moment that made him want to say the words, but he did nonetheless. "Every word?" he questions, surprising Vera as she turns to meet his eyes, facing him as she holds his hands.
It seems that she knew what he was trying to ask as a genuine glamour appears in her hazel eyes, the moon rays gleaming down against her to create a heavenly glow. "Every word," she confirms in a whisper, leaning closer to him as she remains eye contact. "And I meant every word I said, Legolas. I do want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I know that it may seem rushed or unlikely or frowned upon by others but I have never felt this way with someone in my entire life, and I have lived a long life. You mean so much to me in ways that are indescribable and I know that this doesn't make sense or it seems...abnormal and unpredictable but isn't that what we are? From the beginning to now, we are spontaneous and wild, and I love that about us. I don't know how you feel about this all, I don't want to scare you but—" Vera rambles on and on until Legolas decides to put a stop to it, shutting her instantly.
His lips connected with hers in a flurry of passion and fire as they firmly pressed together. She barely has time to register what is happening but her lips are responding just as fiercely. She didn't expect an elf to be so passionate about such things like this but she definitely liked it as the mermaid involuntarily let out a moan. The kiss deepens as they flush against one another, their bodies melding into one as their spirits soar beautifully. She couldn't think and she couldn't feel anything except for the fire in her veins, the beating of her heart, and the taste of his lips against hers. She wanted more and she could feel it so deeply in her system. If they didn't stop now, they would never stop, and she didn't want to bond with him in a night like this.
So, with heavy reluctance, she pulled away, her eyes fluttering open as she pants weightily. Legolas places a hand on her cheek, bringing her orbs to meet with his as he sincerely smiled, placing a soft, chaste kiss on her swollen lips. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too, Vera, and I promise you now that I will make that happen. This war will not steal me away from you and I will be by your side without any hesitation. Because I love you. From the depths of my heart and beyond, I love you."
Vera smiled, something glistening in her eyes. "I love you, too."
And as they wrapped themselves within one another, Vera and Legolas felt their hearts and spirits mold together as one, their hearts beating in tune as they conversed quietly, sharing stolen kisses and pretty words.
And that was the first night that Vera Adelaide let down a tear in happiness.
A tear with white memories strung along...a mermaid tear.
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Later into the night, Vera soon decides to retire to her bed chambers.
After long, long hours of them just talking, Vera succumbs to the exhaustion in her system from the dragging night she had with the celebration and the death of Saruman and leaves their small area a little after realizing the fact. She places a quick kiss on Legolas' lips as she greets him goodnight, telling him that she'll see him tomorrow before reluctantly detaching herself from his tangled arms to enter the dim Halls leading towards her chambers. The mermaid passes Aragorn on the way as he sends her a teasing smile before kissing his cheek goodnight as well. She stops by the entrance for a moment, turning her head to gaze upon her Ranger friend speaking quietly with Legolas as they stare out at something in the far distance. She couldn't exactly understand their words from her hearing range, and as another surge of exhaustion hits her, she opens the door and enters through it, leaving her friends out to talk.
Vera rubs her eyes tiredly, walking as softly as she can as to not alert the others who are asleep. The Hall is mostly empty from what she can see, which isn't that much considering her eyes are failing her — she truly is tired — and the torches lined up on the columns supporting the roof are diminished, leaving the room cold and eerie. Vera involuntarily yawns, stretching her arms as she did so before she began to remove her cloak, walking past the middle of the room. However, she stopped short as Vera realized that there is, in fact, someone inside the Main Hall of Meduseld. She slowly turns, blinking twice to ensure that she isn't hallucinating before stepping back as she notices her blonde cousin sleeping cozily on the ottoman in front of the dwindling fire.
She nods understandingly to herself before slowly stepping back with gentler footsteps, intent on making a stealthy exit but stops as Èowyn begins to mumble in her sleep. Vera stops, flinching slightly before relaxing after seeing Èowyn slip back to sleep, forgetting completely about Vera's footsteps. The brunette smiles to herself before proceeding to continue but stops abruptly as she feels something stirring from within her.
Her feä begins to react strangely to something within the Hall, reminding Vera of what she felt when she was within close proximity of Saruman before his death. Like there is a darkness lingering within the borders, threatening to attack at any moment if Vera let her guard down. An unsettling feeling befalls her system, making it harder to remain conscious as the pain begins to erupt in her body. Something doesn't feel right. Leaning against a pillar, she tries to stop the grunts from escaping her lips as burn surges through her veins but as her knee hits the angular corner of the table, creating an alerting noise as Èowyn awakens in confusion. Vera unwillingly elicited a cry of pain as her knee made contact with the sharp object.
Èowyn carefully approaches her in concern, leaning over Vera as she tries to compose herself, the darkness getting too unbearable as she let out another cry, tears beginning to cloud her vision as she tried to do everything to stop the pain.
She could barely hear Èowyn worriedly calling out to her, nor did she notice the arrival of another one of their friends as she groans achingly. Hope looks down at Vera in confusion, concern blurring her vision as she immediately helped Èowyn in composing Vera.
But that would do nothing...the darkness is too strong.
Soon, something switches inside Vera as the pain stops threateningly, making her pant heavily as she tried to think but couldn't. No, all she could feel is the pull from her spirit to the chambers down the hall...the chambers she knew was occupied by her friends from the Fellowship...and the Palantir. As the thought occurs in her mind, Vera straightens her position as best she can, exchanging glances with a confused Hope and Èowyn before running straight towards the room, ignoring their confused shouts. Noise can be heard eliciting from the large room and her alarm only raises, fueling her footsteps harder. Legolas and Aragorn have entered the Main Hall, too, and have encountered Hope and Èowyn as they tried to explain what happened but they were already gone, forcing them to follow after the strange trio.
Vera enters the room without a second thought, her eyes flashing between the stirring form of Gandalf, Merry shouting in concern from the corner, and to Corin's wrestling with Pippin as he clutches violently onto the glazing Palantir. There is a colorful movement happening from within as it blindingly flashes at Pippin, erecting a reaction from the poor Hobbit as he desperately attempted to stop his juddered movements. Pippin is weeping and yowling in pain from the effects of the Palantir while Corin has moved from the Hobbit to the chest in the corner, attempting to scavenge for something to break the Palantir and save Pippin. The distress of the situation reaches Vera's heart, and a moment after Legolas and Aragorn arrive at the scene, Vera is already lurching towards Pippin and the Palantir to hold onto it and take it from his grasp.
"Vera!" several people exclaim in shock and warning but her system blocks them out.
Almost immediately after touching it, Vera shrieks in pain and torture before her eyes rolled to the back of her head, making Legolas and Corin dive towards her in order to catch her — the former wins as he supports the woman in his arms — while the Palantir slips from her unconscious fingers and towards the ground, landing with a loud thud without so much as breaking. Gandalf has officially woken up from his state as Hope successfully does the task, rushing from his reclined position and taking a cover with him. Anger and worry mixed together in his system as he throws the cover over the Palantir, stopping whatever reaction it had on Vera and Pippin.
He whirls around, eyes blazing, to look down at his friends roaringly. "Fool of a Took!" the maiar shouts angrily, weaving through the blankets to reach the paralytic Hobbit with fear so evident inside his eyes. Legolas caresses Vera, who appears rather disgruntled in her unconscious state, as he watches worriedly. Hope, Corin, Merry, Èowyn, and Aragorn watch along with them, switching from Vera to Pippin in concern as Gandalf tries to make Pippin speak. "Look at me! What did you see?!" he demands.
Pippin struggles to string words together as his eyes remain wide open, fear dancing behind it tauntingly. "A tree," he manages to force out, "there was a white tree in a courtyard of stone. It was dead...the city was burning." His voice is low and shaky with fear, and his tone is hesitant.
"Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" Hope piques up, confused as her eyebrows furrow.
"I saw him! I saw him!" Pippin whimpers out, ignoring Hope's question. Gandalf's eyes widen. "I could hear his voice in my head."
"And what did you tell him?" Hope asks, her tone more distressed.
Gandalf shoots her a look before turning back to Pippin. "Speak!"
"He asked me my name," Pippin adds, "I didn't answer...he hurt me."
Hope and Legolas exchanged worried glances before the latter looked down sadly at Vera, who is beginning to shake violently.
"What did you tell him about Frodo and the ring?!" Gandalf asks again, urgently.
Pippin is silent for a moment before shaking his head slowly. "No. I didn't say anything...about Frodo and the ring."
Gandalf practically wilts in relief but there is something behind Pippin's eyes as he tries to move his head to look at Vera in worry. Merry notices the slight hesitance in his eyes and frowns, looking between his cousin and his friend. Legolas suddenly notices that something is wrong with Vera, making him stand slightly from his sitting position. "Gandalf!" he calls out worriedly as Vera begins to mumble words out, her eyes rolling to the back of her head and her arms beginning to thrash.
The maiar immediately maneuvers towards the elf, alarm in his eyes as he gently takes the mermaid from his arms, setting her down on his lap instead as he closes his eyes and waved his hand to detect the problem. She isn't well, there is darkness deep within her and it is invading her mind. Gandalf didn't know what is happening exactly but he has a feeling that it has something to do with the Palantir and Pippin. Gandalf places a hand on her head, wincing at the burning temperature before muttering a spell under his breath to delve within her heavily protected mind. It is a little harder than expected but he wasn't surprised; Vera is from a very powerful bloodline.
Aching flashes are the first thing he sees as he groans in pain but concentrates on transferring his energy into hers. He wonders how Vera can appear so peaceful when experiencing such pain but dismisses the thought. Fire, water, clashing together. Bloodshed, war, death, happening before his very eyes. Thousands of people laying atop one another, dead and lifeless from different races; elves, dwarves, men...and the powerful merfolk of Atlantis. White kingdoms, ethereal structures, intimidating buildings...Atlantis in all its glory above land. A meadow, green and lush, with people of the dead roaming atop it, happy. Spirits, water ghosts, souls wandering a sacred chamber. A Queen, golden crowns, divine ceremonies of riches and gold. Terror, screams, and fear spreading through the land.
He didn't know what those meant but they had to be connected to Sauron and Vera by the looks of it as an eye appeared lastly before he opened his eyes, panting heavily. He glanced down at Vera, who appears much more peaceful and calm than before as she slips into a relaxed state. Barely giving Hope enough time to take Vera from his arms, the white wizard angrily turns to Pippin in alarm.
"Peregrin Took! Did you let him inside your head? Did you let him delve the surface?! Did he see Vera?!" Gandalf infuriatingly asks, marching towards the shaking Hobbit as Merry protectively stands in front of him, blocking him from Gandalf.
Pippin looks down, tears appearing in his eyes as he worriedly looks at his friend. He didn't mean to but Sauron is strong, even from a distance, and the small Hobbit is no match. He thought he would be able to defend himself, he thought that Sauron wouldn't see anything of importance but he had wondered if Boromir felt pain like this when he was dying, and his mind soon drifted to Vera. A mistake he made that could cost him his friend's life. Gandalf looked distressed, making it hard for Pippin to look him in the eye but he quietly asks, "Is she going to die?"
Tha question alone alarms the others in the room as Legolas stands on his feet, standing between Gandalf and Pippin in confusion. "What is happening? Gandalf?"
The maiar sighs, rubbing a hand over his forehead as he tried to collect his thoughts and find a solution. He knew what Vera had encountered when she was in her unconscious state before. He knows that Vera had a different purpose as a Queen in this war, having been informed by the Valar of what they had planned for the young mermaid. She is the next key in stopping Sauron from ever returning to Middle Earth again — and stopping Morgoth for a long, long time — along with the destruction of the ring. No one was supposed to know about Vera and her purpose, and Sauron was definitely not supposed to know about Vera's existence entirely...but he did and it could ruin everything.
He needed another plan...but for now, he needed to get his friend to rest.
After ordering Èowyn to take Vera to her room and awaking Neptune so he could hear what to say about his sister. With seven eyes staring up at him in confusion, Gandalf sighed, turning his back to close his eyes and look into the visions in his mind once more. "The enemy knows about Vera's existence. There is a reason why the merfolk are involved in this war and have not been involved in Middle Earth since the beginning. There is a time where one — from both worlds — needs to make a sacrifice for the greater good. Evian Decourt may have been a problem but he has unknowingly saved us all when Vera Adelaide got involved. She is the key...we must keep that a secret. Vera must be protected at all costs...or we might just face certain doom."