Three Dreams of Flight by amyfortuna

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Prompt and Path: Dreams, Red Path
Format: Ficlet, Triple Drabble
Genre: Character study
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Characters: Aredhel
Pairings: none
Summary: Aredhel, three times, seeks out her dreams.


Aredhel dreams. Valinor is wide, bright, and full of laughter. There are horses to ride, deer to hunt, gods and goddesses to cavort with.

And yet, the land closes in around her. It feels too small to hold her ambition, too crowded to contain her hopes.

In the wide lands beyond, she could travel for years and never see the same tree twice.

When the darkness falls, she immediately starts preparing to leave. She does not attend the gathering of the family. She does not witness the Oath. She kisses her mother goodbye, and rides hell for leather toward Alqualondë.

------

Aredhel dreams. Gondolin is fair, lovely, and full of music. There is work to do, games to play, a brother and a niece to cheer the days.

And yet, the city closes in around her. It feels too narrow to live a life in. The city streets choke her.

In the wide lands beyond, she could travel for years and never see the same face twice.

As soon as she can, she leaves her escort behind, and rides knowingly into danger and darkness. As the spiders fall to her bow, she laughs aloud. At last, at last, her future arrives.

------

Aredhel dreams. Nan Elmoth is dark, dank, and dreary. She does not see the sun. Her only light is the child in her arms.

The forest closes in around her. Her breath comes short. She puts a hand to her throat, as if choked unseen. Her eyes water.

In the wide lands beyond, she and her son could fly for years to be free of this hated place.

When the time comes, she immediately starts preparing to leave. Lómin by her side, her heart in her mouth, she rides like hell through the forest and out into the shining night.

Comments

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful! Just stunning! Such a strong fic with equally strong message. It makes you really feel for Aredhel as well as fear for her!

And I never thought of Aman as being too small before now, but you've just helped me to see that of course it is! Thanks so much for helping me open my eyes as well as for writing such an awesome story! :)

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Aredhel...she felt so confined, wherever she dwelt, except when out riding through the Wild. I can just see this!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

A great character portrayal.

[angelica-ramses.livejournal.com]

Aredhel has always been my favourite Silm lady and you portray her beautifully, her longing to be free and at the same time the choices that bind her, her constant insatisfaction and her impossibility to find a way out of the cages where she finds herself. Excellent!

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I think it is this constant restlessness of Aredhel that drives me the craziest about her character. You encapsulated her personality beautifully in each stanza.

- Erulisse (one L)

[zdenka]

I like this very much. I feel like you've captured Aredhel's restlessness and desire for freedom.

[independence1776]

My heart breaks for Aredhel.