-General-
"Purify, huh?" murmured Aldril, lying back on his soft duvet. His eyes blurred as he weighed what to do with all those skill points. It wasn't that he wanted to waste them; they were difficult to accumulate and he needed to assign them according to his needs.
'I suppose, at some point, I'll level up the purification magic. That would shorten my stay in Mirkwood,' he thought, placing a hand at the back of his head. 'As for leveling up my attributes, I'll save that for an emergency.'
The fact that he regained all his energy upon raising one of his basic attributes gave him a strategic advantage. He could easily deceive his opponent: once they believed he was exhausted, he would recover to full strength, taking advantage of the sudden change.
With a sigh, Aldril shook his head, clearing the cobwebs of thought forming in his mind. He would take action at the right moment; for now, he would force himself to rest. They would leave at dawn, and he needed at least some sleep.
---
The dawn in Mirkwood was, at the very least, strange. The pristine golden rays of the sun bathed the revived vegetation, where small flowers grew, dancing to the gentle breath of the wind. In contrast, on the side where Sauron's dark magic prevailed, the light was devoured, as if a mouth of the abyss absorbed even the tiniest speck of brightness.
"Hurry up, we must arrive before nightfall!" commanded Thalwen. Her polished and elegant attire was now hidden beneath silver armor, whose gleam shone at the touch of the sun's rays. Her crown of vines gave her the grandeur of a queen, but the small flowers embedded in its openings enhanced her inherent beauty.
From a distance, Aldril admired Thalwen's presence. That loving and playful woman now stood as the experienced warrior she was. Without a doubt, knowing her true self, reserved only for those she trusted, was a great honor that any elf, whether from Rivendell, Mirkwood, or Lothlórien, would appreciate as a work of art not to be tarnished.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Tauriel at Aldril's side, pulling him out of his daydream. His stern gaze, hardened by dragon's blood, softened as she focused on those bright green eyes. Definitely a delight!
"I did, and you?" he replied, while combing one of Tauriel's rebellious strands of hair. It had become a routine between them; if Tauriel noticed any imperfection in Aldril's clothing, she would always adjust it, and if Aldril saw one of her rebellious reddish hairs, he would always comb it.
"It was a relaxing dream. The warmth of the surroundings embraced me like a mother; the nature is certainly grateful to us," said Tauriel, glancing quickly around her.
"It's natural. Lady Yavanna has given life to the entire forest. The purification has cured its sickness, so we will always be welcomed in it," added Finduilas, approaching the two.
"Is that so? That explains why elves thrive where there is abundant vegetation," said Aldril, glancing at the vibrant forest.
Seeing both of them distracted by the small area of purified forest, Finduilas clapped to grab their attention.
"There will be time to talk about that later. Now, we must depart," she added before pausing and looking at Aldril.
"By the way, dear, Thalwen mentioned something about the dark magic having entered you. Are you alright? Do you need help?"
Grateful for Finduilas' concern, Aldril nodded with a smile. "It's all fine; Lady Varda's blessing has helped me purify that magic."
Still not entirely convinced, Finduilas took Aldril's hand and approached him with grace and delicacy. "It's fine, but if you feel any discomfort, don't hesitate to tell me."
"I will. I appreciate your concern, Finduilas."
The atmosphere between them radiated harmony. The wind, with a will of its own, tousled Finduilas' hair, her distinctive golden curls shining together with the golden rays. For a moment, Aldril was dazzled by the beauty that emanated from Finduilas.
"Alright, it's time to go," said Tauriel, feeling a pressure in her chest as she watched the interaction between the two.
She decided to interrupt. She knew that feeling, her mother had told her about it.
She was jealous and could only interrupt, feeling downcast, as despite the time spent with Aldril, their relationship hadn't advanced much.
But she wouldn't give up! She was known for her stubbornness and wouldn't let a Vanya-descended elf take away the one she liked.
"Yes, we must go," murmured Finduilas reluctantly. She couldn't help but notice how Aldril had been hypnotized by her beauty. She trusted her a lot, since she had also managed to charm the stoic Turin, so Aldril would be no different.
Aldril shook his head, turned around, and followed the elven group along with Finduilas and Tauriel. It wasn't that Finduilas' beauty attracted him sexually; on the contrary, it was like with Lady Thalwen: a beauty worthy of admiration, like a work of art.
---
The journey was plagued by spider attacks, which, despite their number, were overwhelmed by the strength of the elves. Additionally, among the elven group were four beings blessed by the Valar. Despite the momentary interruptions, the path remained calm.
Part of this was due to Aldril, who, tired of the constant interruptions, unleashed his draconic presence, frightening not only the spiders but also the elves following him. However, neither Thalwen, Finduilas, nor Tauriel were affected by this, as the blessing upon them protected them from such things.
The journey, which was expected to take a full day, was shortened to just half a day. This was because the interruptions ceased, leaving them a clear path.
Now, closer to their destination, they were able to spot the imposing structure of Dol Guldur in the distance. Despite time and darkness, the elven architecture stood firm. That structure now lay tainted by cobwebs, broken parts, and, above all, withered trees.
"Dol Guldur, this time it will be reclaimed, and with it, the forest will finally be free," murmured Thalwen, glancing at Aldril from the corner of her eye.
"And for that, the purification must happen without any interruptions."
***
Filthy orcs! remember to give your power stones! we can't lose to those fic that only talk about obscenity!
"[email protected]/Mrnevercry"