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[heal_theworld]

[Martel is wandering around the city again, because she really needs to get more familiar with it, after what happened a week ago, when she met Elrond. Are there more elves and half-elves in the city? Or is it just a fluke? ...She should really ask. So she sits down on a bench in a quiet part of town and opens her journal. But then she pauses for a moment, as there's another reason she's been coming to town: To look for a good weapons shop for a dagger or even a manageable sword. She's tired of carrying around just her staff, especially after the expedition and being attacked while she had no defenses. It never hurts to be prepared. But the search hasn't exactly been going well, and she's not exactly rich. She admits that she may need some help.

She could ask Yuan...but then she would have to admit exactly what happened that day and her feelings on the matter. Zelos she could ask, but then again, he's the one who brought it to her attention. She didn't want to burden him more that he probably already felt with looking after her. So that really left only one person to ask.]


...Has anyone ever heard of there being elves or half-elves among the townspeople?



Do you...ever use anything other than the Buster to fight? Like a regular sword?


{And with that, she sets her journal aside and just sits, enjoying the day.]

Comments

[heal_theworld]

I know, it must be upsetting to know that part of your family doesn't remember. But... It has to be hard for him too. Because he can't remember, and you keep telling him you know him.

[inafadingcrown]

I know...

[She falls silent for a moment, considering, before writing in a filter.]

Do you have a moment? I would prefer to speak of this in person.

[heal_theworld]

[She was not expecting this...whatever it is.] I'm in town right now, so if you don't mind the walk...? Or I could come back up.

[inafadingcrown]

[This is Galadriel realizing that she can't bottle everything up forever.]

The walk is no trouble. Where shall I meet you?

[heal_theworld]

I'm sitting on a bench outside of [insert name here]. I'll still be here for a while.

[inafadingcrown]

I will be there shortly.

[And when she gets there she'll seat herself beside Martel, looking... strangely hesitant. Someone isn't as good at talking about her own feelings as she is at telling other people that they need to.]

Martel.

[heal_theworld]

Galadriel. [She looks over at her.] What's wrong?

[inafadingcrown]

[There's a pause. If she backs out now, she can still avoid talking about this- no, no. That won't do any good. Martel is too much like her.]

I have yet to tell you have my daughter. Or of my husband's loss. Is that not so? [Because it's going to take a while to explain this completely. It's complicated.]

[heal_theworld]

[...This is new information.] No, you didn't tell me that you had a daughter. Or about your husband's loss.

PRETEND I DIDN'T TYPO ALL OVER THAT LAST COMMENT

[inafadingcrown]

[There's a little sigh.] My daughter is my husband's loss. Before I told him otherwise, he thought we were childless.

To worsen matters, the memory of her is all that is left to us. She sailed into the West long ago. The reasons behind this choice were...not pleasant. She suffered. She suffered greatly.

Lord Elrond is her husband. I had hoped- [She looks away, not wanting Martel to see the tears threatening to spill, but her voice cracks a little despite herself.] I do not want to carry her memory alone.

I cannot speak of this to Celeborn; that he does not remember hurts him too greatly. [So she's said nothing of it to anyone, naturally.]

[heal_theworld]

[She hopes you don't mind hugs, Galadriel, because you're getting one. A really tight one.] Galadriel, he will remember. I promise you. You won't have to carry her memory alone.

And even if he wasn't here... You still have your friends to help. [She smiles.] Tell me about her, if you can?

[inafadingcrown]

[She's not entirely used to hugs, but... this one is welcome.]

Her name is Celebrían and I have never seen a child or woman more fair. She is gentle and kind, clever and full of wit. Softer than I, but not without spirit. [She just loves her so much it hurts.]

[heal_theworld]

Celebrian... Such a beautiful name. [She smiles softly.] She sounds wonderful. Just like you.

[But now, to the bad part.] ...What happened to her, to make her leave?

[inafadingcrown]

[There's another long pause before she answers. If it was difficult to admit the source of her problems, this story is nigh impossible to tell.]

She was...taken. Captured by orcs and subjected to such torments- I will not speak of them, even by the light of day. Her sons rescued her and Lord Elrond saw to her wounds as best he could. But he could not mend her spirit.

[Quietly:] She was on her way to Lórien.

[heal_theworld]

[She bites her lip, and gives Galadriel another tight hug. She can't say she didn't expect something like that.] You don't need to speak of them. I have an idea.

To see you? [She sighs.] It's not your fault. You didn't send the orcs, it was horrible and terrible that it happened, but...there was nothing you could do.

[inafadingcrown]

I might have foreseen it. [It's out of her mouth before she can filter it. She knows it's not logical, that her gift doesn't always work like that. But it still eats at her- this feeling that, as powerful as she is, she could have done more.]

[heal_theworld]

Right... You can sometimes see the future.

Well, sometimes, seeing the future isn't always helpful. What if you had seen it, and then still hadn't been able to save her? Or by trying to avoid it, it still happened.

[inafadingcrown]

I know. I would say the same to any other; Foresight is not so simple. And yet...

[heal_theworld]

And yet...?

[inafadingcrown]

And yet my heart does not always listen to reason.

[heal_theworld]

Neither does mine. [She sighs.] I doubt Celebrian would want you to mourn her, though. She would want you to remember the happy times.

Because even if she isn't dead, she's still out of reach for you to see her. Your memory of her face, of her mannerisms may fade, but you have what she's left you to cherish. Her husband, her children... Every place she walked, anything she touched, you still have. Because our loved ones never leave us, not really.

...When people die on Aselia, they say their mana is recycled by the Great Tree in other people and plants and animals. That maybe if you're lucky, you may find a bit of the person you have lost. A flower, a tree, a person that you have never known before but can't help but smile to see. I believe that it's true, in a way. Celebrian may not be dead, but the sentiment still stands. She's everywhere, in the trees of your forest, in Elrond's home, in Elrond, in Celeborn, in you. So don't despair that you'll never see her again or forget her. Because in a way, you can't. Not when you can look in a mirror.

[inafadingcrown]

[She just blinks for a moment, a few stray tears making their way down her cheek, before taking Martel's hands.]

Thank you, my friend. [She should say more. But for once, she can't find the words.]

[heal_theworld]

[She shakes her head.] No thanks are needed. Not at all.

[inafadingcrown]

[A thin little smile] If you would... I would prefer this remain between us.

[heal_theworld]

Of course. I would never tell anyone.