Syah's Tears

The horses had been spooked away, and Syah really couldn’t blame them. Walking into the mountain cave was making her nervous, though she did not show it. They were standing in front of a door and she could feel Aragorn’s emotions conflicting. She touched his arm and he looked at her. “Do not fight this path, Aragorn...”

It was whispered but Aragorn heard her. The words seemed to make up his mind. “I do not fear death.”

And they walked in.

It was dark, and Syah could feel death riding her skin. Not death for one of them, but that death lived here. Restless spirits not able to leave this world. They entered a large room and before Syah could blink they were surrounded by ghosts. No, not ghosts...they were something else. Cursed spirits.

A spirit came before them, looking straight into Syah’s eyes. She stood, frozen to her spot. “I know you...” he said, sending chills up her spine. “You are the blood of Sierra. I remember her...I remember her...”

Syah stared at the spirit. “Yes, I am her great-granddaughter. You are the traitor?” she made it into a question, using Aragorn's description of these spirits.

The spirit scowled at her. “You are just like her but more. I will enjoy stealing your life!”

Aragorn stepped in front of her. “She is not of concern to you, I am. I have a proposition for you...”

Everything happened so fast after those words. Aragorn proved he was the rightful King of Gondor, and that he could free their souls if they fulfilled their oath of past. After a short show of doubt, they agreed to stand by the King. Syah wasn’t sure how to feel. All she could feel was Aragorn. She was so very proud of him that she wanted badly to hug him to her.

They were out of the cave soon and the minute they hit sunlight once more, though shortly, Syah felt a wave of danger sweep over her. She grabbed Aragorn’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “We do not have much time, King of Gondor. There is already much death in Minis Tirith.”

Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas exchanged looks of worry, then looked back at Syah.

“Trust me, my friends,” Syah said. “There is much I need to tell you but it will matter not if we do not hurry!”

*****************

As they drew closer to the White City, Syah could feel death upon her. She braced herself for the rush of pain, the rush of loss...and courage. There was so much courage!

“Syah, are you all right?” Legolas asked her, concern in his voice.

She turned to him and said, “I am fine. I can handle this. This is my path.”

Legolas wasn’t sure what to say so he just nodded. There was a new strength to her. Something inside of her was growing and he felt it as though it was growing in him also.

“Focus Legolas,” she smiled and turned to all three of them. “This is our land, our home. And filthy orcs and giant beasts will not rip it from our grasp. We will never bow down to the Lord of the Ring again!”

The three looked at her. She could feel the pride, the courage, the fight rise inside of them. She smiled and winked. “Come, my friends, my family...let us kick some orc ass!”

*******************

And kick it they did! Syah had never been so overwhelmed in her entire life. The wave of new hope choked her, and the wave of loss and the sight of how many had been lost stole her breath. But this war was not over yet. The remaining men were now riding to Mordor. To help Frodo and Sam in any way possible. As she watched them ride off, she heard a voice in her mind.

My blood, draw on our strength. Draw on the gifts of Arda inside of you. Reach out to Sam. Frodo cannot complete this mission without him. Give him hope like you gave to the men. Send him our strength to double the strength that is already inside of him. Make him realize that he can do this, he can help change the world...

Syah grabbed the stone railing on the balcony. She instinctively closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She used her empathy to locate Sam’s mind and reach out to him. She whispered, “My family...help me help him. Help me give him the strength to realize his own.”

She felt a wave of familiar touches, her family’s touch, upon her skin. She heard whispers all around her body, in her mind. She felt Sam’s despair as he held Frodo in his arms, on the slopes of Mount Doom. She poured all of the strength inside of her into him. “Sam...Sam hear me. Give him your strength. Show him what he can do...lean on me. Feel me. Do not give up on him!”

She felt Sam register her words and he brought her to tears with his courage as it poured out him. He was her hero! What strength lay in him! She stayed with him, Sam, until the end, giving him all of her support. Until the ring, and Gollom, were no more. Then she was suddenly ambushed by loss and pain. She felt the cold stone on her back, and all went black.

********************

-Dreaming-

Syah opened her eyes to find Boromir sitting beside her bed. “I am dreaming.”

He smiled, looking younger and calmer than in life. “Yes, you are.”

Syah smiled back at him. “We won the war,” she stated.

“Yes, because of the strength and support you gave to these men. You enhanced what was already inside of them. You gave them the hope they needed, but it drained you and you have been out for a week now.”

“Are Frodo and Sam all right? Did they make it?”

“Indeed they did. They are resting and healing as well.”

Syah swallowed before she spoke again. Everything part of her felt so weak, so...empty. “I feel...empty.”

“When your contact with Sam was broken, you were bombarded by the loss and pain from the amount of fallen warriors. You were feeling the impact of the War. But it will pass. You will sleep and heal, and you will be strong again.”

“What happens now, Boromir?” there was fear in her voice. “Must I...leave?”

Boromir was silent for a moment and Syah knew he was trying to choose his words carefully. “That is your choice, Syah. You were meant to be in this time. This is where you belong. But you do have the choice, of when you wake, to wake here or to wake in your time.”

“My time...”

“It will be as if you never left,” Boromir explained. “But you will always remember this. You will always remember us.”

“But, won’t staying here upset the future?”

Boromir shook his head. “How can it upset the future, Syah, when your future was meant to be here?”

“And my responsibilities in my time?”

“I have been informed by nameless sources,” he smiled, “that everything will be taken care of by Bane’s partner. You are free to choose your course, daughter of Arda.”

Daughter of Arda...Syah thought long and hard about those words. Boromir held her hand to support her and she was grateful for his touch. His touch!. She could not live without the touch of her new family. Gimli and Aragorn. Eowyn and Eomer. And, by the Gods, Legolas! Her soul could not bear to be without him! He was like breathing for her. It burned her insides at the thought of leaving him. He was...hers.

“Legolas...” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.

She felt Boromir grip her hand tighter. “Your elf-blood is strong now, as well as the gifts of Arda. You will live as long as he does. But if you go back to your time, you will remain mortal.“

She could not leave and she knew it. She had healed here, she had family here. She was here. “I will wake here.”

With that, Boromir left her, kissing her on the forehead, and she fell back into a deep sleep.