Syah's Tears

Syah spent the next few days trying to decide whether or not showing Legolas the truth of her feelings was a smart idea. Not that she had meant to do it, something had compelled her to. But why had she done that? Why had she shown him her weakness? He had spoken nothing of it to her, he was being patient and, it seemed to Syah, easing her into their lives more. Gently and with care. Why did he care so much? Why did the other two care so much?

They were getting ready to ride again, in the early hours of dawn. Syah had started her period that morning and she needed a little more time to prepare herself for the ride. She was mixing the liquid with a cup of water when Hathol came to check on her. He saw the bottle of liquid she was slipping into the velvet pouch. His face showed concern.

*Are you well, hiril nin?*

Syah stood with her water in her hand. “I am fine, Hathol.”

He gave her a look of disbelief. Was she really going to have to explain this? Apparently, because he didn’t seem like he was going to budge until she did. She rolled her eyes, drank the water and turned back to Hathol.

She put a hand to her stomach, looked down at herself once and said, “It’s that time of the month.”

He looked confused, until she showed him one of the cloths that Marien had given her. “Female problems.”

He nodded, turning as red as a lobster. He was so clearly embarrassed Syah had to fight not to laugh.

“Henion,” he said.

“Do no tell them, Hathol.”

He seemed to pick that one up pretty quick and he left her to her privacy. But he stopped for a moment, and turned back to her. *Are you in much pain?*

The concern on her face almost undid her. She shook her head, clearly understanding his question. “No. I will be fine, Hathol.”

He accepted this and continued back to the others. She could not believe she had just done that! But the look on his face was priceless. She hurried and packed the pouch inside of her small sack. When she was ready, they continued on their journey.

Aras rode with Syah, who were five or so feet behind Hathol and Legolas. She couldn’t hear what they were saying. Did she really want to? No.

*Do not ride too hard this day, Prince.*

Legolas gave him a look of bewilderment. *Why on Arda not?*

*Do not look back at her or she will know I told and Eru help me then...*

*Is she well?* the Prince said, concerned for Syah.

Hathol nodded. *But she is in some pain. Marien gave her some pain liquid to mix with her water.*

*She took it? Why?*

*She is human, Legolas. It has been almost a month since we left Mirkwood. Think on that.*

Light dawned in Legolas’ mind. *I will pace us at a trot and no more. We will slow to a walk every now and then.*

Hathol nodded, thankful that Syah had not heard or become suspicious of his talk with Legolas. While he was embarrassed about the incident, he was truly concerned of how much pain she was in. One did not take the pain medicine unless the pain was beyond that of uncomfortable. He chose to tell Legolas because Syah had taken it, which meant she was in a good amount of pain. She was probably cramping beyond belief. He hoped the slower speed of today’s ride would ease it somewhat. She was becoming like a sister to him and, while he knew she was perfectly capable of handling herself in the wild, he was still watchful of her. Whatever she was, he felt it. He sensed her need to keep them all at a certain distance, but he also sensed they were breaking her walls. He sensed her fear of this.

*She will come around, Hathol. I swear it.*

The determined and certain tone of Legolas’s words came through loud and clear to Hathol. He nodded to the Prince. The rest of day was spent riding in almost complete silence.

Aras had to shout at Syah four times because of this. Finally, towards dusk, he talked to her continually so she would stop wandering off in a different direction.

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

Two days before they were to arrive in Rivendell, Legolas decided to set up camp by a river. Mostly to let Syah wash before she met Lord Elrond. She would feel uneasy enough due to the reaction the lord would surely have to her. The elves of Mirkwood had quite a reaction to her, but none as strongly as his father’s or himself. He hoped she would not be overwhelmed by the attention she was sure to get in Rivendell. It worried Aras and Hathol as well. Syah did well in silence and when she was out in the open, but when she was confronted by others, like her father, she seemed to grow uncomfortable. She liked small numbers of people. She was comfortable with just the three of them.

To him, Syah seemed to grow closer to the three elves around her. But she still refused to allow them entrance into her heart. No, they were in her heart. It was her soul that she refused them entranced. That wall was still up and well guarded. He prayed to the Eldars that he could change that. Not only for her sake, though she was the most important thing, but for his as well. A part of him longed to be let in where she wouldn’t let him. The feeling burned at times it was so strong. But he would not let her see this. She was like an elf in the way of observation, he needed to careful at all times. And that night, when she finally fell asleep, the urge to hold her grew stronger than ever.

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

Syah was caught in awe. She couldn’t move. Rivendell was beyond beautiful. It was...exquisite! This was just too much to take in. Never had she seen a place like this before. Her home was the forest, but she could see why one would live here forever.

*Aras, lead her horse.*

She slowly slipped out of her daze when she felt Edhel moving beneath her. “Sorry,” she smiled.

The three shook their heads. Legolas looked back at her, grinning. *So you do not wander off of a cliff, hiril nin!*

Syah laughed out loud at this. She knew well and good what he had just said!

When they passed through a gate, they all dismounted. An elf came to collect their horses. He stopped when he saw Syah. She immediately knew the look upon his face. He as well had sensed something in her. He saw her barriers.

“Gohena nin,” the elf said and led their horses away. He looked back once at Syah before disappearing from sight.

Syah turned to Legolas. “Will I get that often here?”

He knew what she had asked. He had been expecting it. “Aye, hiril nin.”

She nodded to him. Aras and Hathol walked behind her as Legolas led the way into the house in front of them. It was exquisite inside as well. She felt very out of place suddenly. Her mother and aunt would have loved this. But before she could think to clearly on it, a man met them as they passed through the door.

“Mae govannen, Legolas,” he smiled.

“Suilaid, Lord Elrond.”

Elrond than turned to greet Aras and Hathol. That is when he saw her. The three elves had walked to one side of her, not but a few feet from her.

Syah, through years of loss, had kept her calmness in check. Though she was a tad nervous at the reaction this elf was having towards her. What was she to do? Was he royalty as well?

Elrond inwardly shook off his shock. He bowed slightly to her. *Welcome to my home, hiril nin. I have not felt one like you in many years.*

He had said what the King had said to her at their first meeting. What was she that they had this reaction to her? She could tell what he was saying to her.

“i eneth nín, Lord Elrond of Rivendell.”

Hathol had taught her how to introduce herself during their journey. “i eneth nín, Syah.”

Hathol was very proud at that moment. He had taught her well. She had spoken perfectly.

*Can you speak much, Sindarin?*

Syah shook her head. “I am learning.”

Elrond nodded to her.

*She is learning slowly. Though she seems to understand us with ease.* Legolas stated.

*There is a reason for that. I will explain it to you later. She must desire a decent bath and clean clothes.*


Syah looked to Legolas for translation. She smiled when she heard the word for bath and the word for clean.

*I will take that as a yes,* Elrond smiled.

He called out a name and a woman entered the room. *This is Ariana. She will see to your needs. Does she need a dress, Legolas?*

*Yes. Though whether or not she will wear it is a different story.*

Aras and Hathol chuckled at this.

But Syah turned to the woman and smiled. “Aphado le?”

They laughed as she followed the woman upstairs to a room. Yes, Syah thought. A nice, long, hot bath. That would be most excellent.

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

Downstairs in Lord Elrond’s study, Gandalf the Grey had joined them. Legolas related the event that were originally his reasons for coming, to tell of Gollom’s escape. Once relayed, the subject turned to Syah.

“You will understand more when you meet her, Gandalf,” Elrond said. His eyes danced with amazement. “How did she come to you, Legolas?”

Legolas related the tale, from her falling off the tree to the time they left Mirkwood. Elrond and Gandalf were stunned. “So it is true, the legend of the past.”

The three Mirkwood elves turned towards Gandalf, asking for an explanation. The wizard smiled for a moment before answering.


“There was someone like her that came to us once, if she is who Elrond thinks she is. The woman came to us during the first battle with Sauron.”

Elrond jumped in then. “Yes, she had much the same feeling as Syah has. The woman, Sierra, even looked close to what Syah looks like. She was born with the spirit of the forests. But Syah feels like much more. As if...something else beside the forest is inside of her.”

“What of this first woman?” Aras asked. “Why was she sent to Arda?”

“She was sent to aid us,” Elrond said. “She was here to protect the forests but her mere presence invoked a sense of...it is what made us, in part, form The Last Alliance of Men and Elves.”

“What happened to her?” Legolas asked, a little frightened of the answer.

Gandalf smiled. “She vanished.”

“She what?”

“Not vanished, just...left us. I believe she was sent from a future time of Arda. Thousands of years in the future. I do not believe she had a choice in leaving. It broke her heart to leave, it was in her eyes.” Elrond said, saddened by the memory of Sierra’s eyes the last time he saw her.

“So what is the purpose of Syah’s arrival?” Legolas asked.

“I do not know. Gandalf and I will have to spend more time with her. Do you think she will be alright with that?”

Legolas thought on this. “She is...she has many barriers upon her. Could you not see the pain behind her eyes, hir nin?”

Elrond nodded. “Yes, I did. She has a tired soul. She is beginning to shut the world out of her heart and soul. I saw her walls as well. This worries me. Though, I sensed around you three they are not so strong and she fears this.”

The three nodded. Aras said, “I think she will be fine to talk with you one at a time. She is most comfortable outside, in the fresh air. She will no doubt wish to explore this place.”

“Yes,” Legolas agreed. “That will agree well with her. But she will also wish to explore it on her own.”

“That will be fine,” Elrond said. “Let us first have some lunch with our other guests, unless that would be unwise.”

“Keep things small at first, Lord Elrond,” Legolas said. “She will not show it but all of those eyes upon her will overwhelm her self of calm.”

Elrond stood from his desk. “Then let us eat in private, my friends. And we shall decide what to do from there.”