Neledh

[inafadingcrown]

[She has spent much of her time here speaking with others, receiving and giving counsel in turn, and she is glad of it, for she has learned much through these conversations. However, one must also take time for oneself to think over such things. And so it is that Galadriel finds herself in gardens once again this evening, this time with a harp.

Her

Comments

H-HOPE THIS IS OKAY this can totally be incognito if you want considering the announcement

[deathwarder]

[ Two flaming eyes flicker upon Galadriel from an overhanging tree branch, those of a sleek raven. Deathwing has yet to fully understand the workings of the journaling system; he had merely encountered the elf due to chance, as a result of his exploration of the castle grounds. A most beautiful sight to hold, a most corruptible one. He is instinctively drawn to her, craving her blood. ]

The answer to that is simple.

[ The dragon masquerading as bird makes itself known, fluffing its feathers with a cocky tilt of its head. ]

The star that speaks to me, that speaks to us all, is the star of destruction.

/SCREAMS. Yes, it's awesome. Is it cool if she senses some dark power, though? Because DUDE.

[inafadingcrown]

[She looks up in mild alarm. With statements like that, her ability is somewhat superfluous; he might as well just announce his intentions. But for the moment she maintains her seat, watching the creature with interest, and answers softly.]

Not to all.

Of course. He is Deathwing, after all. :>

[deathwarder]

[ A cackle of laughter, a crow of amusement. ]

Destruction is an inevitability, an end and a beginning to all things. To deny such is foolish for a creature of your bearing.

[ The raven hops to a lower branch, closer to her. ]

Will you not play me another melody? Another song? The sonnet of the dying... that is what I wish to hear.

[inafadingcrown]

[She pulls back, visibly repulsed by what she senses. Birds may be servants of the enemy, true, but this power was far beyond that. It was more like...]

I do not deny the power and constancy of destruction. Merely that it speaks to all. There are those who would create, protect, and nurture, even in the midst of darkness.

[And now she's irritated that he would defile what she has just sung so by such a suggestion. It was a tribute to the undying light and the power that sustains it.]

I do not play such things; I have heard enough of them in my time. You would do well to look elsewhere if such is your amusement.

[deathwarder]

[ A familiar reaction. Deathwing drinks in her disgust, her hatred for him. His flesh begins to morph and change into something human, yet not quite, a monstrosity of a man decked from head to toe in armor standing before her moments later. ]

You will hear yet more before I am through.

[ Deathwing the Destroyer opens his hand to a lush vine of roses, tainted miasma seeping from his fingertips. In an instant, the flowers wilt and die, giving off a hideous smell. At this, Deathwing smiles. ]

In the midst of darkness, those who create, protect, and nourish--

[ The remnants of the unfortunate vegetation are crushed in an iron-clad fist. ]

--too shall perish.

[inafadingcrown]

[Never before has she cursed the castle so strongly for her loss. Without Nenya, she is so exposed, so vulnerable. She has not even the bows of the Galadhrim to call to her aid. She stands and steps back, still too proud to run, though it has crossed her mind.]

You think you are the first to tell me as much? If I must fall, I will do so on my own terms and to my own ends.

[deathwarder]

[ Deathwing seems surprised by her reaction. He merely seats himself upon a nearby bench, hands upon his knees as his eyes glow with morbid curiosity. ]

Calm yourself, maiden. I have no intentions of harming you here.

[ Not out in the open, at least, where Alexstasza and the others can interfere. ]

Sit. Sit and tell me of the stars you hear, and I will tell you of the ones I have unmade.

[inafadingcrown]

[Yes, well. That's what happens when you've lived through wars with two Dark Lords. In her world, she would be a delightful prize for any villain to bring back to his master. But she does calm somewhat as he sits- it is not a move that her own enemies would have made.]

I prefer to stand. [Just because you told her to sit. Someone doesn't take orders well.]

What I would tell would not be to your liking.

[deathwarder]

Very well.

[ He will not command you. Merely watch. Deathwing is on a mission to explore, get to know his adversaries, not provoke them outright. He holds his tongue as appropriate, then, rugged body showing no signs of aggression. ]

Are you so sure? I was once a guardian of the earth, of mortal life. Your secrets may be ones I already know.

[ Even if the earth no longer speaks to him anymore. ]

[inafadingcrown]

[At that, there's a flicker of recognition in her eyes. Is the story always the same? She herself had come so perilously close to falling...]

Then you are much as one I have already seen fall.

Melkor was his name, before he turned to darkness. Thereafter he was called only Morgoth, "Black Foe of the World" in the tongue of my people. He wrought much destruction before he was brought down by his kindred, the Valar, whom he had betrayed. Among them was the Lady Varda, Queen of the Stars, whom he hated and feared the most. It was in praise of her that I sang.

[deathwarder]

[ This meeting was simply too perfect to be chance, the pieces falling into place too easily. He chuckles at the story, at her daringness to hope. He would snuff that out soon enough. You are such a lovely example of everything he longs to crush, Galadriel. You have no idea how fortunate you are now. ]

Black Foe of the World... a pleasant ring to it, don't you think? Though truly he fell to his own weakness in fearing the forces of light. A true warrior of darkness cowers at nothing.

[ He observes the petals falling from his fingertips. They turn to ash before they can hit the ground. ]

Death marches ever onward, stilled only by the end of time itself.

[inafadingcrown]

[What she isn't telling him is as significant as what she is, of course. The rise of a second Dark Lord, the knowledge that evil is only pushed back, never completely defeated, the strong possibility of the domination of her world- she keeps these to herself, wishing to appear more certain than she is.]

There is little I find pleasant of one who has smeared the ground with the blood of my kinsmen.

[Her eyes also follow the petals.] There is death without darkness. The two are not the same.

[deathwarder]

[ Again, his reply is direct. ]

Look upon me, and you look upon death itself.

[ The corners of his mouth lift into a smirk. ]

What can you see, but darkness alone?

[inafadingcrown]

[The irony of being asked to look is not lost on her. Oh, she would like to look; she would love to push at his mind and see what she may discover. But it would not be wise at the moment, so she will keep that particular card up her sleeve.]

I see death born of hatred and violence. Yes, I see darkness. But there are other, gentler means of passing. Men may die even in times of peace, and there is no evil in it.

[She has to believe that. For Arwen's sake.]

[deathwarder]

[ Look as you please, tread where you should not dwell. You will find madness and madness alone. Deathwing's mind is a dangerous place to be, and even the most skilled would lose themselves in it. You have been warned. ]

You claim to know much, and yet you know so very little.

[ Deathwing scoffs, waves a hand to dismiss her. ]

Even if a man passes peacefully, darkness envelopes him in the end. He is weighed for his sins, and judged accordingly; either way, he suffers eternal agony, displaced from his loved ones. Evil prevails in the pain of separation, the pain of loss.

[ His gaze turns thoughtful. Reserved. ]

It is that pain I bear upon my shoulders each and every day. I understand it better than any other.

[inafadingcrown]

[There's a moment of hesitation because, it's true, she does know very little of the fate of Men after death. Elves dwell in the Hall of Mandos, but no one knows where goes the soul of Mortal Man. But she can't believe that the Valar would allow such a thing of the Second Born. Even if it is so in his world (which is still doubtful), it need not be in her own.]

The claims I have made here are very few. What knowledge I have is born of millennia of life, nothing more. [Well, that's not exactly true. She has her visions and her insights, but he doesn't need to know that.] I freely admit that much of what I have said regarding death is opinion and conjecture. Yet it is not without base, at least in my own world. I cannot speak for others.

[She marks the change in his gaze and in the conversation. Interesting. She answers hesitantly, slightly less hostile and slightly more curious.]And you would still inflict it on others? I would not presume to compare my pain to the suffering of another, but I am no stranger to such things. And I