Sigilion's Story

The morning of the surgery dawned bright and sunny, as if trying to dispel our gloomy thoughts. I kissed him tenderly, then rose and dressed. Returning to his side once more, I gathered him into my arms, clutching him tightly to my breast, as if to never let him go. I inhaled his fragrance, trying to implant it on my memory. My eyes mapped his face, his body, imprinting the vision of this glorious being in my brain, afraid that I would never be given the chance again.

When Lord Elrond came to us, telling us it was time, Anders appeared in the doorway, and I kissed Carth one final time, pouring my heart into the kiss as he did as well. "I love you," I whispered against his lips, and pulled back reluctant to let him go, fear gripping my soul. "I must go to Faerfaen now." He clutched me to him once more, kissing me desperately then told me he loved me and asked me to Faerfaen the same. We both had tears in our eyes as I took my leave, looking over my shoulder and blowing him a kiss before leaving. My last vision of him was of love-filled eyes and my heart knew both pain and joy.

I collected Faerfaen, who was excited about our picnic and her surprise, and I held her tightly. I found a measure of comfort from our daughter and vowed to be strong for her and try to make this day special. Hand in hand we collected Tefys before making our way to the stables, where I had arranged to have a picnic basket awaiting us. Faerfaen looked at me quizzically when we got there, telling me that this was no place to have a picnic. I had no choice but to chuckle at her concerned expression. Her squeal of joy, along with that of Tefys, when I presented the gentle mare to my daughter and settled both elflings on her back, was payment enough for all the time and effort I had spent in training the mare.

I led them to a quiet glad near our swimming hole, and once again gave them a swimming lesson, then after we had eaten and they had dried, settled them once more on the mare's back to lead them to the river. I needed more company and so I went looking for others. I needed help to keep my mind away from what was happening in the healing wing. My fear was constantly mounting, and the foreboding was getting stronger.

When my fellow guardian came running up to us, my knees trembled at the look upon his face and my heart clenched in my chest. His words telling me I was needed in the healing wing immediately, was a blow to my chest and it was all I could do to remain standing. Yet, my concern for the elflings over-ruled my own weakness and to their merriment, I lead the mare at a trot, their squeals of glee giving me a small measure of comfort.

I dropped Tefys at her home, before returning the mare to the stables, then holding Faerfaen tightly to my breast, I swiftly too her to her aunt. I kissed her and told her how much I loved her and that her ada Carth loved her very much and I know that she sensed my fear, for she clung tightly. I badly wanted to run to my beloved's side, yet could not in my heart yet abandon our daughter to her fears. Finally, when her arms loosened their grip on my neck, I set her down and whispered that I would collect her that eve. I knew I would need my daughter close that night for she would ease my fears. With a quick whisper to her aunt, I hurried away, finally breaking into a run as soon as I was out of sight of the cottage.

My fear lent wings to my feet as I made my way straight to Carth's room, knowing that I had spent too much time assuaging our daughters fears, yet I could have done no less than I did, for it was as he would have wanted. As I rounded the corner and approached his room, Anders walked out, closing the door behind him. When he turned his face to me and I saw the flood of tears streaming down his cheeks, I collapsed against the wall, my anguished scream echoing through the halls. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE END