Lilly was caught off guard but in the end smiled and hugged the woman.
"Thank you! I will never forget!" She said happily before running off to continue her gift giving.
Rosa smiled as she watched the little girl run off.
"... Thank you for allowing her to give you her gift. She gets rather upset when they are rejected." She said honestly, remembering back in Middle-Earth the humans would be so confused by the gesture and many would turn the girl down. Lilly would end up in tears, not able to understand why they didn't want the gift. "It means a lot to her to be able to share whatever she can with others. It mostly stems from her not believing her life is her own but a gift she got from another tree herder." She added, remembering when Lilly was very little.
"What she believes in is actually partially true." The woman said and reached out to take the cloth back what she worked on, then returned to her job. "Our own lives are a gift from our parents. And your parents are descendants of tree herders. So, it is right." She said, looking over the fabric. "She is very cute and selfless with this belief. However, one has to make sure to keep this all in bay. If she gives too much, she might regret it later. Just an advice. A little selfishness is always required. It is just natural. The way we work and live."
"Heh... it is more true than that even..." She admitted, stopping and going through a transaction before turning back to her mentor. "It is hard to tell, looking at her now but when she was little... Lilly had a bad heart and lungs. Sadly this does happen in our species... normally if we are born this way we don't make it past the first year... Lilly proved everyone wrong, though. She lived past everyone's expectations but because of it she wasn't allowed to come home. It wasn't until she turned 3 that in a way we finally got lucky with a new heart for her. The surgery was done and even though her lungs are still rather weak she was able to finally come home. However, she seemed to understand just how lucky she really was and from there on she started doing... this. She seems to know that someone else had to die in order for her to live. It sounds sad but I've never seen her cry over it. So, I guess it's alright."
"Oh... I haven't noticed that..." The elleth said, looking up at the girl with a frown. "She was running around without trouble with the others the other day and at the celebration. Her lungs seem to be fine." She told her, then looked back at her work before putting it down, going over to the shelf to look for a new thread with a new color. "And how can someone get a new heart? Is this even possible? Is this even... I am sorry for what I say but... Is this even right to go against nature's will?" She asked carefully, not wanting to offend her. Elves surely were intelligent enough to do all that the humans did but... They prefer not to. Most of these medical treatments go against nature in every way. If someone is born sick... then they don't do anything to change that. Nature simply doesn't deem that child lively enough and they die because if they would save that sick child... then he or she will have their own children, transferring this sickness deeper into the race of elves. So they knew to let nature decide the fate of the living.
"Not since we got here. No. Part of the reason we came here was for Lilly but don't tell her that. The air here is cleaner and not only that but the magic seems to have made her body that much stronger. She has been far more energetic than I have ever seen her before." Rosa admitted, happy for this. Back home Lilly would have had to use her inhaler and take her medications regularly in order to do half of what she had done so far. However this world seemed to be doing her a lot of good. When asked if this was right Rosa had to think. "Honestly? I don't think it was nature's will for her to die. If so then she would not have lived as long as she did. The majority of our kind who are born like she was don't last nearly that long. Our bodies also won't accept any parts not of our own kind. If she was meant to die then I don't think nature would have allowed things to go the way they did. I just think... maybe nature wanted Lilly to be the way she is now. I'm not sure why but... Lilly is probably the most caring, loving and motherly person I have ever met. Maybe there is someone that she is supposed to help someday." Rosa suggested, knowing this sounded farfetched but something in her just couldn't believe that nature wanted her sister to die.
"Fate is indeed unpredictable." The shop keeper concluded, smiling as she sat down to continue her work. "No one knows if she was meant to live by nature's rules. We elves follow her guide. If a child is born sick, then something is wrong. And this wrong... might seep into our race if they live long enough to have their own children who will carry this same sickness. Of course we don't kill the sick children but wait and see. If they survive and heal, then they are meant to live. If not... then nature solves it in her own way." She explained, trying to sound as soft as she could. She didn't want her to think that she questioned her survival or thought Lilly should have died. Oh no. She was only explaining to her what they believe in.
Rosa nodded and thought it over. If she was honest, there was a lot going against Lilly at one point and she likely would have died if left alone but when she looked at Lilly... even back then, the little girl was very stubborn and strong willed. Maybe that alone would have been enough.
"I guess we will have to see what nature decides in the end, then." She said with a smile, turning back to her own work.
- Sometime later -
After spending the whole day giving out gifts, then dragging Silentbark's gift out only to find out the tree herders weren't even in the area and they would have to wait until they got back they were finally finished. Lilly sat leaning back against Lord officially worn out. She had never had to give THAT many gifts out before. It had been a lot of fun, though. She smiled over at her friend.
"I think we made a lot of people very happy today." She said, obviously pleased with how today's events went.
Lord wasn't better off. He had been dragging all the gifts around and now his age finally caught up to him, so was lying on the ground, panting a little, his head laid out on front of him, relaxing all muscles he had in his body. He closed his eyes to rest a little but let Lilly and Naril lean against him if they wished. He just couldn't move anymore and didn't have the energy to listen to the conversation.
Naril on the other hand chuckled in return, also sitting next to her, leaning against Lord as well, his arms lying limply on his stomach, resting them.
"It was quite the trip. They all were very happy. But the happiest person should be you." He commented, then closed his eyes, sighing, trying to get rid of this fatigue. He still needed to get used to all this work with strength and stamina. Even this trip tired him out...
Lilly stroked Lord's head in a sympathetic manner. She would have to remember to ask her mama to give him extra oats for all the work he did today. When she heard Naril's comment she smiled at him and nodded.
"I am very happy when I see other people are happy." She admitted before remembering something. "Oh! I nearly forgot yours! Stay here and close your eyes! I will be right back. Don't move." She said, getting up and running into the house to get his gift.
The elf raised an eyebrow and watched as she left. Yes, he naturally didn't expect any gifts, especially not on her own birthday... but... he was still a child who was naturally curious about such things. He wondered what she made him or what she found. He knew it wasn't something big or expensive but it was just as valuable as what he will give her. What counts is the thought behind it. This is what every elf thought. What he was told, those in Middle-Earth only cared about how much they spent on the present. The more one gives up for it, the more they like the present... Not the nicest way of thinking.
Lilly came back and made sure his eyes were shut before she walked up and took his wrist. She grinned, sitting back.
"Alright. Open them." She said. Around his wrist was a bracelet. The band was rather simple. A basic thick string that would make sure that the real prize that was on it wouldn't fall off. It was rather small but there was a stone in the shape of a heart that changed color as one tilted it. Lilly grinned. "I
found it not long after we got here. I wanted to give it to someone special. Who better than my best friend?" She said rather pleased. She had taken a lot of time with this one, making sure the rope was long enough and braided extra tight so there was no chance of it unraveling anytime soon and she -of course- cleaned and polished the stone as much as she could before getting her brother to help her create the hole through it for the rope to go through. She had been so scared her brother might break it but it turned out very well.
The elfling looked at his wrist, having felt that she was doing something there and smiled when he saw the bracelet. He raised his hand to look at it more, finding the rainbow stone a nice addition. It was simple indeed, many would be disappointed by such a gift, however Naril couldn't stop smiling and looked up at her, clearly touched and happy that she found him worthy enough to call him as her best friend. He only had friends so far... no best friends. But now, he has one. And he will make sure to never let go.
"Thank you. Now, it is your turn." He told her and gestured for her to close her eyes before doing the same thing she did, binding his own bracelet onto her wrist, then letting it go and told her to open her eyes. The bracelet was simple but yet complex. It was made without any strings. The main body was a thin flexible branch, the different kind of leaves and colorful feathers were bound there by the peeled off outside layer of the branch itself. It had no stones on it, since the real prize was not visible. It took him a while until he found a tree who let him pick off some of its leaves and break off a branch, since such bracelets can be only made of fresh materials. The birds were more than happy to donate a feather or two. "It is called the Lucky Charm. It looks simple, I know but while what you gave me had its main feature on the outside, mine has it in the inside." He explained and pointed towards the bracelet. "It has a charm on it, that we call the Secret Charm. A blessing to be precise. No one knows how it truly works, as its effect is a secret itself only known by the elders. All they say about it is a part of the charming itself. 'If you are lost, fear no more. Light shall grace your path into your future and defend you from all that is dark."
Lilly was surprised as he gave her a gift. She opened her eyes and looked to the bracelet. Even without the charm she would have loved it. She looked at it for a moment before hugging her wrist to her chest. She thought over the charm, smiling.
"I think I have an idea what it means." She said, then hugged him tightly. "This is the best present anyone has ever gotten me. I will keep it forever." She said, meaning to never lose this special gift she was given. Normally if it was anyone else she would have instantly tried to give the gift back or given it to someone else but this time she chose to keep this gift. Something in her just could not bring herself to let it go.
Naril chuckled and smiled as she embraced him, gladly returning it.
"I am happy that you like it. Friends forever?" He asked, only wanting to confirm. Of course they are friends, even best friends as she expressed it but it is his way of reassuring himself and promising that they would never fight and never go against each other. They will stay friends forever. He looked at the bracelet on his wrist, then smiled and moved it next to hers. It was like exchanging friend bracelets, both of these representing the other and their eternal friendship.
Lilly grinned up at him and nodded before taking his pinky with her own.
"Pinky promise. Friends forever." She said, very much believing they would be friends for the rest of time. She did not yet understand the differences between their two species and the hardships they would later have to go through. Honestly, she didn't care. As far as she was concerned there was no difference between them.
When she looked at the boy next to her she didn't see an elf.
Just her best friend.
That was more than enough for her.
*drip*
...
*drip*
Outer Earth...
*drip*
The new world they call Outer-Earth was fresh. Its ground had no forcefully taken blood flowing on it. No rivers of the disgusting fluid bathed its surface. No wars brewed... The people were unaware. Yes... It was fresh, just right and ripe for the picking...
*drip*
The people were too comfortable, their guard was down, not prepared for any kind of aggression. Why would anyone attack them? Only elves populated this world. They were strangely united... Not like Man. The race of Man was so easily influenced. Their mind was weak, they naturally followed the strongest among them. Like orcs. Only, perhaps, more intelligent. As foolish and petty they were... they could find many servants among them who did their bidding for a couple of shiny coins. Truly, not great of a price for rolling heads. Where he pointed, they sliced. What made them weak were their emotions. For this, he despised them. They were easy to scare, easy to lose. They had the habit of breaking down only after a few harsh words thrown at them. How weak was that?
*drip*
Emotions...
Emotions were the weakness of all things that could be great at his side. He never understood this unseen force. Reading emotions were now easier for him but understanding them? He gave up on that a long time ago. What he despised about them was that he could not follow them and sometimes they were unseen. Emotions changed with every word that was spoken, with every action that was done without any kind of rule he could make up for them. Sometimes, people had more than one emotion among their expressions, so which one should he concentrate on? Sometimes it even changed without any reason or any indication towards a difference. How? Why? It was confusing and frustrating at the same time.
*drip*
Confusion... Frustration... Yes. Two weeks have passed ever since he and his only servant traversed to this new world with the purpose of overtaking it and were locked into this prison in return. He truly did not understand what they were expecting from him. Yes, his servant told him they wish for him to change but what change did they want? Did they expect him to suddenly shed his cloak and walk around like an elf? To be seen? To be the public pet who was to do everything people tell him and yet cannot show any displeasure and if he bit... then he was to be put down? He would not stand for that. Because at the end of the day, he was a Nazgul. The darkest of beings that walked the surface of Arda. No amount of magic flow or persuasion will deter him from fulfilling his mission. His mission, to claim the wide world in the name of his Dark Lord. That was his last command. Until he completed his task... he will not rest.
There comes a drip...
*drip*
Ren found it hard to concentrate...
Ever since their stay in this Morgoth-forsaken cave, he did not have a true refreshing meditation. His mind was exhausted, mainly because of the noise that came from the top of the cave. The wraith knew they had plenty of watch above. The White surely spent a lot of time to stand guard. He could feel his aura all too strongly. If this was not enough irritation, he also had the audacity to sing a disgustingly happy song every now and then. And if it was not the White, then it was some long ear, who either played some kind of annoyingly noisy instrument to pass their time or they had the company of another of their kind. Inside the cave offered enough distractions as well. The space was not exactly dry, the water that soaked the opening from which the stream came constantly dripped onto the stones below. What irritated him was that it only dripped from one single place. If a couple of drips happened in the same manner, he would not care but this single drop in a perfect rhythm... it made his mind want to just shriek and claw his way out of the cave. It echoed so badly... Ren spent quite some time daily to try and dig them away but it was no use. It still dripped... It still echoed through the cave... It still did not let him meditate.
Not to mention the frogs. Or the grasshoppers. Their cries did not help him either. Both seemed to be Hyano's favorite prey, as she usually chased after them during the day.
The rocks at the cave's entrance suddenly moved. They were small, just a little nudge. Then there was silence again.
/> This drew the attention of the Nazgul, who turned his hooded head towards it, although made no noise. His mind could be playing tricks on him right now, although he trusted each of his senses and did not believe in something like that. But Hyano insisted that if he heard or saw something that was not there... then his mind was playing tricks on him. How? He did not understand how a noise that he could hear was not real... yet he could hear it. That was just too confusing to think about. Not like his mind was in a shape to do so anyway.
With this thought, his mind slipped into a meditating state involuntarily, having spent too much time in control of the spectral body at once. There was nothing he could do about it. His constant thinking and frustration only exhausted him through the days and drained him of the magic that he needed to exist. It was such a relief.
Not long after this, the rocks moved once again, this time some debris fell from above it as someone worked on removing the layers beyond.
The movement itself didn't jerk the wraith awake, instead he was meditating, resting his mind in the middle of the cave with Hyano in his lap, who was possibly asleep but he wasn't sure. Not like he cared at the moment. He was too much concentrating on getting enough magic through her.
The change in the magical flow didn't affect him as much as Hyano or anyone else hoped through the past two weeks they spent in this cave prison. Or it simply was a much slower process than they thought it would be. His appearance didn't change, of course, but remained the same cloaked invisible creature that he always was. When he thought Hyano was purposefully wishing to annoy him by looking into his hood, she was actually examining him for any changes. o eyes stared back at her. No skin, no matter in what condition, peeked from under that hood of his. The spectral body that he possessed was just as cold as a grave in winter. There was no heartbeat... no breathing. Just the cold invisible corpse that he was. This did not mean he did not change, just that one should have lowered their expectations. Hyano never awaited anything different or major after just two weeks but she did predict more after months or years of their altered magic flow. The change was more prominent in his behavior and aura. His aura lost some of its dark taste and instead started sporting something milder but still could not be called a light aura.
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