The darkness of night penetrates all, including the stables of Imladris, where only a few lamps are lit inside. The doors to the south bang open, a burst of swirling snow and wind entering like a demon. An elleth follows, closing the door behind her, shivering as she only wears an oversized tunic and skirt. She throws herself into a corner, her sobs piercing the peaceful warmth of the stables.

Galuial turns around swiftly as the doors fly open, snow and wind scares the horse whispering elvish before going to the sobbing elleth that vaugly reminds him of Ilwin but alot less happy. stridding to Ilwin Galuial looks down and say, "Why hello tere, your sobs are wrenching my heart please tell me what is wrong," wait ing for Ilwin's reply Galuial kneels down to look at Ilwin. (assuming the fact she threw herself into the corner means she is on the groud)

Ilwin looks up, her face and usually bright eyes red and dull, the trails of many tears covering her face. "It-it's Mordhrin." Unable to continue, she lets out a few more sobs, her drying tears flowing freely again. She wraps her arms around herself, and closes her eyes trying to relax. Bare toes stick out from beneath her skirt, shaking as the rest of her.

A whistle emits from Galuial his mare walks up to him speaking word sof elvish to her she lays down. Galuial pulls Ilwin into his arms and set her into the hslf circle the horse has made. Walking to the place the stable boy ussualy stays and brings a blanket to Ilwin. Opening the blanket and spreading it over Ilwin Galuial says, "What did he do?" Galuial not really being the friend of Mordhrin has his eyes full of anger. Waiting for Ilwin's reply Galuial sits on the ground.

Ilwin looks at Galuial, her eyes full of thanks for him. "He-he thinks that his love for me is torture and pain, and begs to end our relationship, to save me." she quickly says, finally letting it all out. "But if he did that, I would go through the ultimate torture, my heart having had a taste of love, then being rudely ripped back to someplace dark and cold, never to see light again."

Galuial eyes burn with the fire of Feanor, in a voice forced to be calm he says, "Mordhrin did that to you?" eyes still burning he remember his cousins last words to him...'do not fall in love it will kill you in the end' Galuial vowed he would not let anybody through his shell. But that failed looking at the crying figure of Ilwin Galuial says, "I do not know what to do not even Master Elrond can heal this pain," looking at Ilwin with cobalt eyes full of sorrow he awaits.

"I just don't understand. I thought that the love I gave was returned. In fact I know it was, or else it was all a lie. All I'd ever dreamed and hoped and lived for was a lie?" Ilwin shakes her head, no longer crying as no amount of tears or crying could describe the pain stabbing through her heart. The pain of a thousand poisoned arrows, all piercing her heart without mercy or stopping.

Galuial sighs and says, "It seems it was returned but what would I know of love my first intent of the infirmary scene was to yell extremly loud and punish you both, but then I saw what you meant to each other," Galuial sighs not knowing what to say as this helping people with emotional problems was part of becomeing a healer not knowing what to do Galuial sits and waits.

The stable doors open slowly again to admit a tall edhel wrapped in a hunter's cloak leading a pure bay horse with his right hand. Whicker softly, the sleek creature nuzzles his shoulder. A gloved hand pulls back his hood to reveil the hunter as Naralgos, his blue eyes colder and harsher than the weather outside, yet filled with deep pain. Patting the hose's neck, he moves over towards his sister and the edhel comforting her in the safe circle of the horse. "Ilwin," he mutters softly. "I have just seen Mordhrin." He swallows and leans against the wall, as though he cannot support himself through his own pain of the knowledge of what Mordhrin had done. "You trusted him. And I trusted him. Yet my heart knew, but you...I trust you above all other, my sister...so I made myself to believe you were right. That I was mistaken in my disliking of him." Naralgos titles his head to rest against the wall. He lets out a long breath and closes his eyes tight.

Ilwin looks up at Naralgos' coming, her eyes watching him as he speaks. "You are both wrong, I love him, and I know that inside he feels the same. I think that his love is too strong, for he feels that it hurts me, and didn't want me to be hurt." Ilwin sighs, and shivers, from crying and the cold, her breath finally returning from her run. She sighs, and looks at her brother. "I'm glad that you trust me, and I hope you trust me now. Trust me that what I say is true, and I will prove it to you!"

Mordhrin walks up the path, stumbling into overhanging branches, landing face first in the dirt. He looks at the extreme other end of what and elf should. When you look in his eyes....there is nothing. He barely breathes, he looks as if he has slept out on the wilderness like a savage. Elethin's words cling to his mind, despair overtaking him. His face is cut and bloody from the branches, his eyes blood shot. He stumbles towards the stables but stops hearing a familiar voice. He does not have the strength to confront her let alone the "other" one. He turns his back on the stable....his path chosen.

Galuial sighs and says, "I said nothing on what is feelings were for you only that to me he appeared to love you and if you gave you that necklace, he must really be in love with you but fears for you," Galuial moves his hand to touch the necklace that Mordhrin gave to her the one of undying love(or at least what I rememmber of that meeting) Galuial looks up to Naralgos not sure if they have met maybe in the battle or before the battle he doesnt rememeber that too much do to the hit he took to the head. Galuial nods to Naraglos's direction but keeps his eyes at the hurt elleth as formalities can wait.

And who is behind Mordhrin but Elethin, walking in perfect silence along the path, and watching him. She wears her healer's garb now - still a perfect white. "You were doing well," she says drily. "Will you turn back now?" She looks ahead into the stables, then back at him.

Naragos pushes himslef away from the wall and sits on the opposite side of her sister from where the other edhel is. "Don't prove it to me, little one. Your word is enough for me." Unfastening his cloak, he wraps that around her as well. Addressing the edhel on the other side of Ilwin, Naralgos gives a grateful smile. "Thank you for helping her, mellon. I am called Naralgos."

Mordhrin turns to her, his face focused on soemthing behind her. " How long have you been following and why? I doubt you are here for me," he says with a snear, an evil, twisted expression that only serves to make him look more pitiable. " There is no choice for me...there is but one path."

Ilwin holds up a hand to silence the edhel near her, sitting up to listen to something. Standing, she wanders towards the doors, keeping the blanket wrapped about herself, she opens it slowly, peering out and braving the snow. Spotting Mordhrin, a strangled noise escapes her throat, and she slips out the door, running to kneel at his side, no longer heeding the cold. Ignoring, or perhaps not seeing the elleth behind him, she hesitates, then lays a hand on his shoulder.

"My business is mine," Elethin responds coolly to Mordhrin's sneer. "As I had told you where I was going, you should not need to ask." Her attention is drawn past Mordhrin as Ilwinterhofal comes running out to him, and she spares the elleth a sympathetic smile before walking past to the stables, leaving the two their own space and following the sound of other voices coming from the stables.

Exchanging a look of surprise with the other edhel, Naralgos lightly springs to his feet a,d hurries after her. "Ilwin! Ilw-" Naralgos stops suddenly, skidding in the snow slightly, upon seeing Mordhrin, and his sister kneeling besie him.

Mordhrin seeing Ilwin, lets out a cry of despair or terror, you cannot be sure. He attempts to run down the path away form her, but succeds only in trippings himself and falling hard on the dirt. He lays there craddled up in a fetal position, crying unintelligble things,....oh how far this edhel has fallen.

Galuial's cobalt eyes go out the door to see Mordhrin a frown dampers his facial features (mord you say a word I CUT you)Galuial stands up slowly and walks out to see the pitiful looking Mordhrin, with a snort of anger Galuial says with a cold cobalt glare, "Mordhrin, I have no doubt you know what you have done and you allow it to continue what about the necklace you gave to her? Is that all but a joke?" his voice is more cold than normal and it does not hide the anger flowing wiithen him.

Ilwin stands, preparing to follow Mordhrin, but hesitates, not wanting to spur him away again. Instead, she only walks towards him slowly, ignoring Naralgos' shout and Galuial's taunting. Coming to stand near the edhel on the ground, she moves to where she can be seen if he should look, and kneels, her face filled with true pain, pity and love. A desire to go to him and comfort him shines in her eyes, but she refrains, instead only kneels on the ground a few feet away from him.

"Mellyn?" Elethin's voice is calm amid the din. "Galuial? Please allow Ilwin and Mordhrin the grief of this moment." She watches the others impassively, except for a slight furrowing of her brow. "It is she that was wronged. Let her speak." She moves slowly, reluctantly toward the knot of elves.

Mordhrin the shattered edhel tries to crawl away but gets no where. Thinking the person standing ove him is the "other" he says," Go away! Leave me to my grief. Is it no enough that i crawl on the ground like a snake....aaa," he stammers," a worm but that you have to rub it in! Leave me be! Go away." His strangled cries fade out til only a faint weeping can be heard.

Naralgos holds himself perfectly still, his hands clenched by his sides. Cold, hard blue eyes watch the snow off to on side of Mordhrin, not able to look at him. WindRunner walks out of the stables delicately, his dark coat contrasting shockingly with the white of the snow. Nudging Naralgos's shoulder, the horse shakes his noble head and points his muzzle to Galuial. Shuddering, Naralogs lays a hand on Galuial's shoulder and gestures with his hand for silence. "Let them work it out. I think Ilwin may be right in her thinking. Leave them at it."

Ilwin frowns, then speaks to Mordhrin again, quietly enough for the others not to hear, but loud enough for the edhel near her. "Mordhin, I will not go away, unless you were to kill me." She moves a bit closer to him, reaching out to him again, tenderly touching his shoulder, trying to get him to look up. Tears run down her face, as she looks at him, her love still going deep.

Mordhrin flinches away, hard, almost as if her touch burned. The creature, for you can no longer call it an elf, its shirt and pants in tatters, its face repulsive, twisted from the pain ( think grima x4). How can anything love this thing, it is truly a repulsive sight. It crawls away slightly, not going very far.

Galuial looks over to Elethin and says softly, "From what she told me, he wants to end their relationship because of his thoughts that his love for her will cause her more pain than she will go through his dumping of her to put it plannly...though we didnt get far as Naraglos has come and then you and him," Galuial jeks his thumb in the direction of Mordhrin.

Ilwin frowns, and follows Mordhrin, this time grabbing his shoulders and sitting him up. "Mordhin, you can not run away forever. You -need- to face the feelings inside of you, whatever they are. If you truly believe that your love will hurt me, then I welcome you to do so. But what pains me most is seeing you like this. I cannot bear to see you hurting so much. If this pains you so much, then say it. For I will always love you as I told you many times. You are the one that will keep me going." Ilwin's face is covered with tears, her head covered with snow.

Naralgos glances at Elethin. "Thank you, but only they can ease my mind, mellon. Their story, their whole story, is something you must ask one of them once this is over. I was not privy to all the details as my part in it was small." Naralgos turns from Elethin to pet his horse's neck, trying his hardest to ignore Ilwin's and Morhrin's conversation.

It breaks her grip trying to run awa. As he turns, his attention is caught by something shiny on her throat. He looks at it, seeing the necklace for the first time." The necklace," it croaks," you still wear it. Why?"

Elethin nods, looking back at Mordhrin. "I would almost say that he likes pain," she winces, "by the way he brings it upon himself." She watches him writhe on the ground. "I have not seen such, not even from the sons of Feanor." She watches Ilwin wonderingly. Despite Naralgos' reprimand, she keeps the hand on his shoulder. "I am a healer, mellon," she reminds him, smiling briefly at him. "I do not give up my duties so easily."

"I wear it because I love you." Ilwin replies. "And because I know that you return the love. I told you I would never take it off, even in death. And to that I hold true, I will not ever remove it, even if our love stumbles like it has." She tries to smile through her tears, seeing past the pain on Mordhin's face, to the soul behind the mask, the true person inside. "Mordhrin, come out of your pity, come back with me, and neither of us will have to experience this pain any longer."

Galuial looks at Elethin and frowns then he says, "You know as well as I do that healers cannot heal emotional pain." Cobalt eyes show no room for arguments even though he is lower in rank he has experience with trying to help gfrieving patients...like his cousin. Looking back to two with the only cure for the other and that is their love.

"Yes," Naralgos sighs. "I can see you are a healer. I am an apprentice to your art. I, however, have seen his like, long ago." Naralgos looks at Mordhrin for a moment, something akin to pitty in his eyes. He turns away again quickly. "Old memories long hidden should not be stirred so vividly." Offering an equally brief smile, Naralgos changes the subject. "If anyone needs healing, it will be Mordhrin, though not much can be done unless he finds some way to heal himself enough to be reached."

" Can back to you? How can I? No its too late....too late. Love has failed, it is weak.... I am weak."

Ilwin seems at loss for what to do, stumbling for words. "No, love has not failed," she says finally. "It has not failed until I stop to love you, and that I can never do." Reaching out, she takes Mordhrin's hand in her own. "You said you would not hurt me, but look what you are doing. Seeing you like this, denying what you know to be true is hurting me most, like a thousand arrows all piercing my heart at once, never ending. Don't you see that? You know that I love you, and would do anything to make that clear to you."

Elethin shakes her head, but seeing Galuial's stubborn stare she changes to assent to Naralgos. "Only Mordhrin may heal Mordhrin. I believe that, despite himself, he has allowed himself a start. We may hope that Ilwin restores him to..." she looks at Mordhrin again. "To something that I may recognize," she finishes in a whisper.

Naralgos puts his own hand on Elethin's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze as though in reasurance. "I think Ilwin has spoken to him in time. He will come back to himself, eventully." Naralgos nods to them. Under his breath, he mutters, "Jalastan did."

Elethin puts her hand on the hand of his that is on her shoulder and smiles. "We may all hope that he will." She looks over at the two again. "I came to console Ilwin. She has found better, so there is no need for me here. Good even to you both." With that, she slips away as silently as she came, walking out into the woods to leave a wide berth between her and the two lovers. As the shadows of the trees break up her pale form, her voice drifts back out toward the stable, raised in a solemn song.

The feredir lets his hand fall to his side and listens to Elethin's fading song for a moment. Naralgos nods silently in agreement with the song. It suited the situation perfectly.

"It has not failed until I stop to love you, and that I can never do." It looks up as it hears those words, latching on to them, wrestling in his mind with the meaning. Slowly it stammers," You love me? You can love this....this thing, this worm....this pathetic excuse for a man? How I wish I was a better man. I see it clearly now, its not my fear of hurting you, its..... I do not deserve you. Go, find someone better, someone more worthy."

Ilwin shakes her head. "No, I cannot find anything better, for I see past what your sorrow has made you, to the one you were before. I can see that you finally realize that there is not a way to run from my love, that it will always find you, no matter where you go. If it takes forever, my love will find you, and be with you always." Clasping the other hand of the edhel in front of her, Ilwin looks closely at him, deep into his eyes. Her own tear-reddened eyes show love, and comfort, and courage to bring him back to the one he was.

It looks into her eyes, reaching deep into soul almost. It can almost feel the love pouring out of her, beckoning him to come back. All of the sudden he has a vision of two very different lives. In one scene a shattered, helpless, creature is struggling to survive like a savage, off of bones and carcasses. It might once have been an elf, but any grace that as once in this firstborn is long gone, gone ages passed. It is beyond help, a shattered wretch of its former self. It holds something in its hand, a bloody necklace...broken since only half if it is still together. The words once written on it can faintly be seen. The creature glances at the neckalces and lets out a blood curling scream for love long lost, time long passed. Mordhrin is dragged to anther scene, one where he is sitting at his house, in his normal clothes. There are several young children running around the yard, palying together... and what is that....it can't be....Naralgos standing by a young edhel showing him how to wittle. He hears a familiar voice and he turns, seeing Ilwin coming yo him. She has a strnage bulge in her stomach. When she sits down she grabs his hand placing it on her stomach, touching its skin. He can feel the life in her and the life os yes....their child....their child. He looks at her hand and at his, noticing the fine rings. They are married, and these are their children. Mordhrin is faced with a crossroads. he must choose, for better or worse what doom befalls him. He raises his head and croaks," I choose.............i choose love." With that he collapses in Ilwin's lap. HE is no longer a repulsive creature, a change has come over him, but a battered and bruised edhel.

Ilwin cries out as Mordhrin collapses onto her lap, a yell of joy, love, and worry. After watching Mordhrin battle with himself, she bends over his crouching form, cradling him in her arms, coming back to the reality they now sit in. "I love you Mordhrin," she whispers in his ear. She shivers, but ignores the cold, and reaches for the blanket behind her, covering Mordhrin with it, his own tattered clothing useless. She glances at Naralgos and Galuial, happiness written all over her face, along with joy and love. She turns back in front of her, putting all her attention to the edhel in her lap.

Naralgos watches Mordhrin and Ilwin carefully, looking for the sign that shows Ilwin has reached the distraught edhel. The moment of Morhrin's choice seems to shine brightly for Naralgos. Memories of another time brake free, and, for an instant, it is like seeing Jalastan chose Kalva all over again. A tear forms in his eye as his mind returns to the present, and Naralgos blinks it back, smiling softly to his joyous sister.

Galuial sighs and says "Thank the Valar that is over" speaking louder Galuial says in a teasing tone to lighten the mood, "Mordhrin I just let you out of the infirmary and look what you do to yourself...tsk tsk," a smile crosses his features then says, "Ilwin I leave him in your very capible hands, but I must leave and take my shift in the infirmary. towel duty here I come," with that Galuial walks down towards the house but turns around and says, "Gilm return to your stall(of course its in elvish)" the white mare turns around and walks into her star and shuts the door with her mouth locking it. Galuial form fades as he continues to walk down the road.

Mordhrin struggles clawing the air.At the top of his lungs," Ilwin! Ilwin! Where are you....I can't see." He reaches out and feels her form through her thin clothing he halls himself closer to her, shivering in the cold.

Mordhrin starts to mumble something about a horrible creature and pain and then," Ilwin..Ilwin dear we have children and your pregnant, and Naralgos....hes there too. And ...and...."

Ilwin starts at Mordhrin's sudden shouting, and moves him closer to her, wrapping the blanket around them. She looks at Mordhrin curiously. "What are you talking about Mordhrin? We have no children." She looks up at Naralgos, and beckons him over with her hand.

Naralgos nods a farwell to Galuial and turns back to Mordhin as he starts yelling for Ilwin. Gabbing up his cloak, he trots over to them as Ilwin beckons him. "Here," Naralgos wraps his cloak about Mordhrin. Placing a hand to the edhel's head, Naralgos furrows his brow. "He's a little feverish. He's been through a lot. What about you, Ilwin? Are you all right?"

Mordhrin claws at the cloth around her stomach, easily ripping it off. He places a hand on her exposed skin, feeling for something that is not there. " Where is it? Where did it go?"

"I think I'm alright, just a little cold is all. I think we both need to get somewhere warm though-" she stops suddenly, exchanging a bewildered glance with Naralgos. "Mordhrin, what are you talking about?"

" The baby where is the baby? What have i done? Is it ok? Where! Where!"

"Mordhrin!" Naralgos gently yet firmly takes Mordhrin's hands from Ilwin. "It's all right, mellon. You're just a little delusional, that's all. Now calm down. You might hurt yourself...or Ilwin!"

"Mordhrin, there isn't a baby." Ilwin looks at Naralgos. "Do you have any of your herbs with you? I don't have my bag, it was lost somewhere recently." She peers intently at Mordhrin, knowing exactly what he is talking about, as she could see what he saw, but keeps silent.

Mordhrin shakes his head. " We are married ....and...and the children? Where are they? Does Linniel have them? She is always spoiling them."

"Mordhrin, we aren't married, and there aren't any children, not yet anyway," Ilwin persists, looking at Naralgos helplessly.

"Yes, actually. I do." Delving into his pouch, Naralgos searches quickly. "Umm, yes, yes. The children are fine and with...uh..Linniel." Naralgos gives Ilwin a meaningful look as he pulls out a herb and quickly prepares it. "Ilwin's baby was born while you were out and you slipped in the snow and hit you head. So!" Naralgos gently puts a knee on Mordhrin's chest to restain him. "I need you to take this herb so you will feel better." The feredir places the herb in Mordhrin's mouth. "Chew this quickly. Here's some water to wash it down." Naralgos pulls out a small flask waiting for Mordhrin to chew and swallow to bitter herb.

Mordhrin takes the herb and chews, swallowing it with a gulp of water. He feels the world begin to slip away...until he goes limp, knocked out cold.

Ilwin watches Mordhrin, and smiles, though she looks a bit confused. Thinking about what she saw when touching him, the visions of the wretched creature, and the happy scene in a house. She bites her tongue though, and remains silent. Standing, she hugs her brother. "Thank you Naralgos, I think we should just move to the stables for now, it's too far to get to the house."

Naralgos sighs and rocks back on his heels, hugging his siter back. Releasing her, he shakes his head. "I can get him to the infirmary. WindRunner will carry him to the house. He needs a healer for any wounds he may have taken, but most of all, he needs sleep." Naralgos looks at Ilwin. "Is this alright with you?"

Ilwin nods. "It's fine, I think I'll come with to warm up though, and get some new clothes and boots." She smiles, and starts off towards the house, to warn Galuial of their coming, trusting Naralgos can handle Mordhrin.