"Tahjun, awaken!"
"Tahjun, Awaken!
He heard her voice as sweet as peace itself. If it could take on a form Tahjun thought it would be in the likeness of Hiril Galadriel herself. "My great hunter…" she whispered tenderly in his mind. "This broken heart you speak of is what has driven you to absolute despair. Follow with me my hunter so I can give you a gift…a vision." Her voice was filled with melody, gentleness, but in a moments time it thundered, "For what has been hidden in the shadows will no longer stay hidden for I will draw it out!"
The ancient Noldor could not help but surrender his will to Hiril Galadriel. Tahjun opened his eyes out of meditation that was mending his wounded body and into vision of revelation.
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side as his past of lost one's visited him one by one just like his vision that has been tormenting him. "Tahjun why do you torture yourself?" He looked down for her words stung deep. "Learn to celebrate what was lost…to give thanks for those who graced your life for a time, those who are still in it, and those who are to come. Let not a moment be wasted. But I tell you this…they are not here with you now to bring joy to your heart! No! Their design is much more crueler for you than this! I will show you…."
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as he was with Curunír, other wise known as Saruman the White, the leader of the White Council of the Istari. He was once more in his keep being held captive after the Wildmen betrayed him and the Rangers. Saruman stood before Tahjun trying to persuade him to follow his path. He had mindlessly argued that to continue in aiding the Free People would be great folly. Hiril Galadriel spoke as Tahjun watched the vision play out before him, "This is where your black vision truly begins Tahjun. Watch the white wizards lips as he hears you denounce him!" Tahjun used his keen eyes to focus on the White Wizards mouth and that is when he saw what he had missed. He was casting a spell over Tahjun! "Yes! I tell you this is where your vision starts hir Tahjun. This is where your nightmares begin and this is where your peace ended. For he cast a spell to have possession over you my hunter!" Tahjun's remained stoic but inside he was raging.
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as he was with the Warband of Imladris as they made plans to go to Mirkwood. Than she took him to the moments he was owned by his black visions at the Ford of Bruinen, and she boldly spoke, "These are the moments you fought against the White Wizard as he tried to take you by his will. He had hope to learn more of the invasion of Mirkwood but you denied him hir Tahjun…you denied him. You fought against the shadows, which was not a making of your own."
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as he was in the cave with the brigands who had been tormenting the local people by taking their goods. "Watch hir Tahjun as you fight off the vision denying once again Saruman's desire to use you. It was his hope to gain the brigands riches to use for his own purpose. It is your ancient Noldor battle cries that will keep you in safeties grasp. You failed to take life with grace but you aided those in need!" Tahjun said not a word but looked on the vision with anger towards himself.
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as he was in the woods amongst the great boulders. He saw the the Rohirrim woman that he had come to aid. She pursued something hidden in the landscape before her. Hiril Galadriel spoke again with confidence, "This maiden of Rohan she seeks for something that should never have been found. For her steps lead her unwittingly into a trap designed for one purpose…your end hir Tahjun! Hiril Galadriel brings Tahjun closer to the hooded figure that was hiding in the shadows…seen but unseen. "Look closer my great hunter! Who uses the shadows and hides in the wilds who once use to love the trees?" Tahjun brings the figure to focus and the face becomes known to him, Saruman!"
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as he was watching himself make haste to the Rohan maiden surrounded by wargs. "Listen to the voice on the winds Tahjun…listen!" Tahjun paused to listen... It was the moment of silence before the attack and than he heard what he did not hear before. The voice on the winds was foul and it gave a command to the wargs to part so the elf could safely pass to the woman. Once Tahjun saw himself by her side ready to fight for her….he heard the next command given by the voice, "Kill the elf and his horse!" Tahjun recognized the voice…Saruman!
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as they both stood by her mirror in the garden back in Lorien. The night was upon them and the land was illuminated in silver-bluish colors that danced in the trees surrounding them. Hiril Galadriel offered Tahjun time to gather his wits. Once she saw him at peace she spoke, "Your visions were not by your own designs my hunter. They were a tool used by the enemy to learn information, bring ruin to the Free People so they cannot stand against this present darkness, and to end your life. The White Wizard had hoped to drive you to utter despair, which is why your vision started with your past. Saruman saw that he could not command your body or mind at will so he moved upon you to bring your end. Your will is strong hir Tahjun as I knew it would be for you have proven it time and time again over the years. It is true I could have aided you in these dark hours but in order to loose one thing to gain anew…one must embrace the process of change so growth can bring new hope. For now you are more than just a Tir Daethor…a warrior who watches for shadows…you are a Sil Maethor Tahjun…a shinning warrior who resisted the darkness and refused to fall into it's great shadows. Now you know what it means to watch for what moves in the shadows, to wage war with what is hidden in the shadows, and to survive. It is time for you to bring this knowledge to Middle Earth for your last part of the vision is Middle Earth's truth. War is upon us all hir Tahjun and we walk on the edge of a blade…if we stray but a little we shall all fall to ruin. The White Hand of Saruman has joined forces with Mordor…they prepares for war! You will be needed in this present darkness. But also trust that there are many more pieces of this puzzle that will have to come together if Middle Earth is to be truly free."
Hiril Galadriel stood by his side in his vision as they both stood in the garden of Lorien. "I have one last thing to show you hir Tahjun. You refuse to awake now and it is not by the wounds upon your body that brings you to such a place, but your broken heart from all that you have seen others endure as well as yourself. Look to the mirror hir Tahjun!" The ancient hunter slowly walked up to her mirror. He knew what was to come…perhaps nothing…perhaps the future…perhaps more images of torment! Slowly his eyes peered over the rim and into the unknown. Before his eyes the mirror casted an intense light that exploded in brilliant colors of white, silver, and shades of blue. In the center of the light stood a figure of a elleth. Her hair moving about her face as an unseen breeze brought it to life. Her arm raised with the hand open to him in a kind gesture as if to invite him to a place of rest…a place of peace. The vision came to end and the hiril faded away…nothing more was to be seen. Tahjun felt a spring of hope surface within him as he pondered the meaning of what he saw. As he turned away Hiril Galadriel met his eyes, "My hunter, long you have suffered…long you have tormented yourself over things that were well out of your grasp. I believe there will be hope for you before the war, and this hope is what you will carry with you into battle. As for the leaves of Lorien that never found rest in your hands to encourage you forth….yes, there is life in the leaves of Lorien but without you as well as other's in our kin…there would be no life in Lorien at all!"
"Tahjun, echuio!
"Tahjun, echuio!"
The ancient hunter awoke from his vision. The Rohan maiden saw his silver eyes focus on her and she could not help but smile. In her tongue he asked her about his horse as he looked around. The Rohan woman's head lowered with grief for him. Slowly Tahjun got up. Before the vision he would have let despair take root in him but he refused. With his body racked in pain he limped beyond the camp…the Rohan woman came to his side and aided him. Tahjun looked down upon her and whispered, "Le hannon!" She looked at him not knowing what he said to her, but she sensed he appreciated her kindness. Together they slowly walked out into the valley until Tahjun came to a stop. In elvish he cried out for his horse. She did not come. Again he cried out. And again she did not come. Over and over Tahjun cried out to her. After time passed Tahjun looked at the Rohan maiden and said, "Let us return to camp. We need to eat and once we have strength we shall track her." As they started to make their way back Tahjun stopped. He turned around immediately as the Rohan woman looked puzzled over his movements. Off in the distance the sound of hooves echoed in the valley. She returned his cry with her own as she galloped to his side. His hands slowly reached up to her as he caressed her face. He spoke elvish to her and she respond to every word.
For the first time in a long time…the ancient hunter was eager to meet hope!
Note from the author: A big thank you to those who encouraged me to finish this series. You know who you are! Your friendship and kind words are most cherished! *Humbly bows*
