(Archive) The Return of Melethron

Elendor - Wednesday, April 19, 2000, 9:49 PM

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Garden

Truly you are amazed at the sight which greets you here. The beautiful lush gardens of the Houses of healing are without compare in the city, including the Citadel itself. The ground is carpeted with tiny golden flowers fenced in along the paths by small, ankle-high bushes of pink, red and blue. Here and there small benches crouch beside the path beneath overhanging willow trees. Banks of rose bushes line the walls, the scent from their flowers wafting through the air gently, out of sync with the rush of the city outside these tranquil bounds. Tall irises and foxgloves sway slightly in the breeze, their purple and blue flowers just brushing the ends of the drooping trees above them. Along the low wall at the edge of the garden, purple and pink phlox creep, winding their way across the top of the stones, slowly working their way towards the ground. Beyond the wall, the entire plain beneath Minas Tirith is visible, stretching onwards towards the river to the east and the far city of Pelargir to the south. Directly beneath you, the hustle and bustle of city life continues, oblivious to the calm serenity immediately above it.

Contents:

Melethron

[Melethron(#29344)] The chill of winter can be felt in this place, for in the night when the lights of the homes is the only light for the eyes to take hold of there exist a darkness in places that cannot be penetrated by the eyes. The house of healing, a place for rest to those wounded in the defense of Gondor, a place to heal.

The night rest heavy now, a time when the moon rest high within the sky, with dawn many hours away, when the bitter chill of winter his bore a hole in the leaving the twinkling stars clear to the eye. There is little light in this place, but there is also little need, for the moon rest full upon this night, beaming down into the shadows of the garden casting a sheen of silver upon that which lurks there in.

Upon the wall of the gardern there rest someone, tall, cloaked in shadows of silver and black, hair bristling in the nightime wind looking out over the city towards the blackness that is Mordor. Tall, so tall, his shoulders broad, unyeilding. And there he rest, silent and strong, a statue of flesh and bone, of blood and spirit.

A brightly lit lantern seen in the windows of the House of Healing illuminates an auburn haired woman as she sits beside the bed of a patient. Soft is the smile given to the man as she patiently dips a cloth in a bowl of tepid coneflower water and wipes across his brow. Fevered eyes return her gaze, slipping in and out of consciousness as he tries to communicate with her. Gently she shushs the man and when all else fails begins to hum a familiar children\'s lullaby, the sweet melodic tone of her voice lilting through the almost empty room.

Finally does the man rest, a gentle rising of his chest barely noticeable as his body cries out for the haven comfort of sleep. Laying one hand across his brow, Aearwen sighs deeply in thanks as the heat once raging has now dissipated. Leaning back in the carven chair, the cerulean eyes of the woman once fraught with worry, not relax as she crosses her hands upon her lap and she sits quietly.

Time passes with no knowledge for the woman as she leans her head back in the chair, eyes gazing out at the full moon glowing against the blackness of the sky. Turning her head to one side, fingers reach up absentmindedly and curl one long auburn curl around a slender finger, lost in thought as the hours wile away.

[Melethron(#29344)] The figure rest, without stirring as a bitter gust of winter\'s wind gust through the garden, no he waits, so long that one of the nurses begins to grow worried of his presence. A busy body this one, ever with her nose in the affairs of others, so it is her that brings news of this stranger to the lady of the auburn tresses.

\"My lady,\" the hefty sized woman says waddling ever so delicately into the room, \"My lady,\" he whispers again trying catch the attention of the resting healer, \"I mean not to disturb thee... but there is one out there within the gardens that I do not care for...\"

Clouded blue eyes turn in confusion as Aearwen casts a look upon the assistant healer, with no small amount of irritation marring the smoothness of her brow. Having a well known reputation for being a busy body, Aearwen sighs deeply as yet another -emergency- is brought to her attention by this nosey woman. Her voice is droll with sarcasm as she asks, \"And pray tell, what is it about the person that you do not care for? Is it the manner of his dress? Or perhaps the tilt of his mouth? Oh, I know, tis the manner of speech this time?\"

Rising wearily from her chair she motions to the items used to tend the patient and says clearly, \"See to cleaning up this mess while I attend to the problem in the garden.\" Without another word she strides across the room and opens the door to the garden. Blinking for a moment as her eyes adjust to the moon lit night, she finally focuses on a figure before the wall.Hesitating for moment, she glances back into the room and then back to the figure and calls out clearly, \"May I help you with something?\"

[Melethron(#29344)] In the wake of her words there is only silence, silence given weight by the chill within the air and the weariness of the late night hour. And for a time it rest that way, then the vigilant stare of the figure breaks as his eyes lower, his head bowing, \"For years I watched, guarded and defended this country,\" comes a voice, a voice low and soft, full of weight and weariness, \"For years I struggled, against the Enemy, his minions, and myself...\"

Then his words fall away again and there is silence, but only for a short while, \"And in the hours of greatest need my life was near taken, but saved for a reason I know not.\" A pause in his words again, suddenly the cloak stirs as the figure turns, silver light giving shadows and structure to a face, a worn face dark from long days in the sun, \"Saved but without hope, save for the knowledge that somewhere, someone sought to find me, to bring rescue and aid...\" the voice so soft, so distant, \"...but they never came..\" and a sigh sounds, \"For some I am dead, for others a name only spoken of as a memory from the past.. I am a spectre for others, a pain that resides within the heart...\" then his eyes close, \"For in the depths of the night, when the cold winds of the desert blow, I felt the love strong and true within the borders of this land, I heard the words of the promise...\" then his eyes open, looking directly into hers, \"I have returned to you as promised Aearwen Bragollach.\"

Puzzled by the silence after her question, Aearwen steps through the doorway and takes one step and then another towards the figure in the darkness. Her words inquire gently, \'Are you injured?\" and then a voice sounds from the figure and she strains to hear the words spoken, low and soft, yet full of weight and weariness.

An odd expression strains the face of the woman as she peers forth in the darkness, hands clenching and unclenching in nervousness as something about the words strikes a chord in her. Closer she draws and then suddenly, one hand rises to the fullness of her bosom and her chest heaves as if clawing for air to replenish her lungs as she screams out in disbelief, \"Melethron! No, it cannot be!\"

Laughing hysterically as tears pour down her face unchecked she picks up her skirts and runs the remaining distance to where her beloved stands. \"Oh Melethron\", her voice quivering with the depth of her emotion as she wraps her arms around his neck. \"Hold me, please.\" Leaning back to look at the face of the Swan Knight, one slender hand rests on his cheek and her lips quiver as the tears continue to drip from her face and spot her gown, \"They told me you were dead, my love. Where have you been? Are you alright?\" Not awaiting an answer she presses her tear soaked lips against his, wanting to reaffirm her love is a reality and not a cruel figament of her imagination.

[Melethron(#29344)] Her touch, so soft yet at the same time fierce, but his is a mirror of that for as her arms find their way about him and her words cry out for his embrace, the tall warrior\'s arms encircle her and pull her close to him, silent for a moment as he relishes in the feel of her within the confines of his arm.

His story, his words come again now, though soft, a whisper into her ear, \"The tale of months past is a long one my love,\" comes the words along with the heat of his breath, \"A tail of slavery and torture... have you the strength this night bear the measure of the tale?\"

Dozens of soft kisses rain across the face of her beloved as Aearwen continues to laugh and sob at the reality of touching Melethron. Soft arms link around his neck tightly as her face buries in his neck, inhaling the sweet familiar scent of the man she loves. Long slender fingers slide through his hair as she whispers in his ear, \"How I have missed you.\" Pressing as tightly as possible she clings to him with an urgency, \"Time has been a cruel master since you left Dol Amroth, many days I thought it not possible to endure another second of living without you in this world\"

A deep shudder wracks her body as the emotional intensity pours from Aearwen. Soft lips press kiss after kiss upon the face of Melethron and her laugh is one of giddy relief as she says, \"My love, I have the strength to endure anything, now that you are safe.\" One soft hand gently caresses the side of Melethron\'s face as says, \"The question is, do you have the strength to tell me? We need not rush your tale of slavery and torture. Oh Melethron, my heart is just bursting with the happiness of seeing you again.\" The softness of auburn curls brush against his cheek, as once again, tears slide down the face of the woman and soak his shirt.

[Melethron(#29344)] He remains silent, strong throughout the barrage of kisses and emotions, he smiles merely causing the light to give shadow to the new scars upon his face, \"I have returned to you as I had promised so long ago.. I would not fail in that promise...\" he whispers to her, \"Much have I faced and in that my love for you has grown, the empty months when all that I had to keep hope alive in my heart was the memories of you.\"

And then his grip visible weakens, his knees buckle slightly as his head falls forward just a bit, \"I have waited for longer than I care to imagine to tell you this...\" he smiles weakly at her, \"I love you..\"

Finally, after much time has passed, the soft sobs issuing from Aearwen abate, leaving in their wake, a little hiccup from time to time. Drawing in a deep, cleansing breath, she leans back to take a good look at the face of Melethron. A shadow of pain crosses her face as sea blue eyes scan the new scars, a finger reaches to gently trace the path of the scars as Melethron talks to her. A gentle, loving smile is given to this tall, handsome man as he speaks of his return. Whispers of reassurance slip from her lips as she reaches to hold tightly to the visibly weakened man, \"I love you Melethron. No other words of love have passed my lips since we last we spoke.\" Wrapping her arm around his waist she says, \"Come, let us sit on the bench and rest for a bit.\"

Concern etches deep grooves into her face as she inquires, \"Are you injured?\" Sea blue eyes quickly scan his body looking for bandages or signs of blood and then return to his face as she says, \"Shall I fix you something to eat? Oh my love, I cannot believe you are alive. My words and thoughts are tumbling about in my head to the point I know not what to say or do first.\" An embarassed laugh sounds as she admits, \"And the truth, if it were spoken, I almost feel shy, so deep is my love for you.\" Scarlet quickly floods her cheeks as she ducks her head against his body in an effort to hide the shyness suddenly springing from her as she says, \"So long have I had this love for you....\", her words drop off without finish.

[Melethron(#29344)] \"No Aearwen,\" He speaks her name so softly, \"I am not injured, save for my hear that breaks with the sudden amount of joy that has been cast upon it.\" But there are signs now, something is amiss within his body, for he falters but a moment, then rises again, \"The days have been long...\" he says, \"...without...\" his words begin to falter again, \"..you. The shipwreck...\" as the word falls from his mouth his body becomes likened to that of the dead, for it falls with no sense of self, of posture, falling to the ground as a crumpled doll cast aside from a childs hand.

And there he lay, his arms having been still about the frail form of the woman it is with no surprise that she is to be found sprawled atop his now limp form. But breath still comes from his lips, for the steam cast by the mixing of hot and cold stirs from his lips and nose, and her hands, no longer wrapped about his neck but pressed upon the clothing of his torso sick places, and there is the scent of dried blood about him.

A soft scream of surprise spills forth as the two figures in the garden sprawl to the ground. Aearwen quickly rolls from the frail form of Melethron, more aware of his condition after laying so intimately on him. Soft words sound as she pleads, nay begs of him, \"Please don\'t die on me now Melethron, I could not bear it. My love, please hang on.\"

The scent of dried blood wafts up to her nose clearly for the first time since seeing her beloved and with a screech of despair she calls out, \"Guard! GUARD!! Help me! Someone help me!\" Fingers grip his arm in a state of terror as she lifts his unconscious body up from the ground, his head rolling from side to side, \"You will -not- die on me Melethron! A promise is a promise and I am holding you to it.\" Again her voice screeches out, \"Someone help me NOW!\", turning to Melethron she kisses his mouth and says, \"feel the warmth of my love and keep living for this..this is yours and yours alone. Please hold on my beloved.\"

[Melethron(#29344)] Into the garden they come, three in number, two men and a woman, the woman from before, and to the healer in the snow the charge coming with all the speed and skill of those born in desperation. And as they stop, the men grasp the limp form of Melethron, hoist him from the snowy ground and begin to bear him into the structure, where the light and warmth exist.

And for the woman, it is she that glances over the lady healer, \"I told thee he was up to no good,\" she grumbles looking Aearwen over for signs of injury, \"Imagine, attacking one of the very best healers this great city has to offer...\" At this she harrumphs, giving birth to a blast of steam from her lips, though she reaches down now to help the Lady from the ground.

The hands of Aearwen reach to help guide the form of Melethron into the trusty care of the two men. Straightening his clothing and wiping the snow from his back, her voice is stern as she barks out orders, \"Careful! Careful with him. Take him into the room in the back and undress him. Throw some extra logs on the fire and brew some fresh broth.\" Taking the extended hand of the woman she gracefully rises from her knees and cold orbs snap with her ire as she hisses, \"He did not attack me you dense woman. That is Melethron, my beloved that fell in Umbar a year past. Now hush and go about your business, I have not the time to listen to your silly words.\"

Without another word she strides into the structure, not borrowing to wipe the snow from her own clothes. The doors to the supply cabinet are thrown open as Aearwen searches for the needed supplies, her arms soon full with the items she pulls from the shelves. Calling to one of the assistants she says, \"There is no one more important to me than this man. See to the patients in the healing room until I am free.\", with that she leaves the main room and enters the small sickroom in the back.

[Melethron(#29344)] Being borne into the room, and stripped of clothing, only a small cloth lays across the man\'s middle section leaving the gashes and scars prevalent upon his chest sides and some of the back bared to the, it would seem as though he had been in a fight with a bear, or a mountain cat given the jaggedness of these wounds, but they are all dried now, save for a few places that still seep with the life blood in his veins.

His body is thinner than before, tanned heavily save for the scars that remain white upon his flesh, some years old and faded, others less than a month or so old.

Dropping the supplies on the table beside the bed, Aearwen stands beside the bed for a moment, eyes glancing at the injuries upon the body of Melethron. A calmness pervades her eyes as she reaches into the deep pocket of her satin gown and withdraws a satin ribbon. Swiftly she binds the long auburn tresses her hair behind her and steps forth to meet the task before her.

A distracted thank you is given to the healer that brings in a bowl of heated water as Aearwen nods her head and immediately opens a small leather pouch and withdraws two tinctures of herbs and sprinkles it across th top of the water. Gently her fingers draw through the water, mixing the herb and testing the temperature. Dipping a linen cloth into the mixture she squeezes out the excess and turns to her beloved and tenderly draws the cloth across the gashes on his chest.

Thoughtful eyes examine each gash as she daps and wipes old blood, some new blood staining the cloth as she cleans each place with care. Time after time, the cloth is dipped into the water until every place of injury has been cleansed. A tin of salve is opened, the pungent smell of woundwort quickly fills the air as she dips two fingers into the ointment and leans forward to apply the healing salve to the lesser of the places. Softly she whispers as she works, \"You are going to be fine, my love. Just fine.\" Without thought she kisses one shoulder as she leans over to dip her fingers into the salve. Smiling to herself as the falling and rising of Melethron\'s chest becomes less laboured and he drifts off to sleep. Softly Aearwen whispers to the night, \"Rest well my love, you are safe.\" All night does the woman sit beside the bed of the Swan Knight as she oversees his care