Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 16

Xander turned away from Tauriel, who had approached him in the hallway, and she followed him as they descended the stairs together. A wave of sorrow washed over Tauriel as she glanced at her brother, her heart heavy with concern.

"Everything about it—the way she was mistreated, right up to the moment she was..." Xander's voice trailed off as he shut his eyes tightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the fury within him reigniting.

"I understand how difficult this is for you, Xander; what you’re experiencing is incredibly painful, and Elowen certainly did not deserve such a fate. But if you let this anger take over, it will consume you," Tauriel cautioned gently.

"How can I possibly help her, Tauriel? How can I help my mate? What if she’s carrying Wraithkin's child? I know the child isn’t to blame, but the father’s actions are unforgivable," Xander replied, his thoughts spiraling into despair.

"Then you must continue to extend your hand to her, showing her that you will stand by her side, Xander. She will need your strength, and she will need all of us now more than ever," Tauriel affirmed with unwavering conviction.

"If she is carrying Wraithkin's child, would you still accept her as your mate?" Tauriel inquired, her voice laced with concern.

"Absolutely, she never asked for her to be r***d by that," he replied, his voice trailing off momentarily.

"Liora," Xander heard her call out gently. "Join us for dinner before it gets cold,” she urged.

With a nod, he made his way into the dining room, sitting next to Thorin, Raven, and Riven.

Tauriel positioned herself beside Liora, both of them observing Xander intently.

"I know the questions you are asking, Tauriel," Liora spoke softly, her gaze fixed ahead.

Tauriel turned her eyes from Liora to her brother, who was engaged in conversation with Riven.

"Is she?" Tauriel finally pressed.

"Yes," Liora confirmed quietly. "Xander will undoubtedly adore him, especially since the child will inherit his mother's traits rather than his father's." Liora elaborated gently.

"Will he?" Tauriel inquired, her voice laced with concern as she referred to the child.

Liora met Tauriel's gaze with a warm, reassuring expression. "Will he be good?" she responded in a soothing tone.

Tauriel took a deep breath, her resolve strengthening as she nodded in agreement.

Turning her attention back to Xander, Liora continued, "Yes, he will be.”

"Come, let us join them," Liora said with an elegant grace that warmed the room.

Tauriel nodded in agreement, and together, they made their way to the dining room where Thorin, Xander, Raven, and Riven were gathered. Liora's gaze fell upon Xander, who was absentmindedly pushing his food around his plate with a fork. Sensing his unease, she leaned closer and gently squeezed his hand, reassuring him that everything would turn out fine. Xander responded with a slight nod, and though he remained quiet, he eventually began to eat his dinner. Once he finished, he excused himself and ascended the stairs, going down the hall to Elowen's room. He settled into the chair beside her bed, taking her hand in his, feeling a sense of calm wash over him as she stirred in her sleep. "Elowen?" he whispered softly, hoping to rouse her gently.

With a struggle, she turned her head toward him, her voice barely above a murmur. "Xander? What are you doing?" she asked, curiosity lacing her words. Xander met her gaze with a tender smile, his heart swelling with affection. "I'm just checking in on you," he replied, his warmth enveloping the room like a comforting embrace.

Elowen shut her eyes again, a deep furrow forming on her forehead as she reluctantly admitted, "I’m sore." Xander felt a pang of sympathy for her, momentarily lowering his gaze before locking eyes with her again. "I know, kitten," he said softly, his voice filled with understanding.

She narrowed her eyes, attempting to focus on him, her lower lip caught between her teeth—a clear indication of her anxiety. "I’m..." She hesitated, the weight of her words hanging in the air. "I’m sorry for not listening to you," she murmured, her voice trembling and barely audible, tears on the verge of falling.

Xander leaned closer, his tone soothing as he replied, "It's okay, kitten. Let's not talk about that right now, okay?"

Elowen carefully pulled the blankets away, her vision clouded and her eyes puffy, as she became painfully aware of her vulnerability, still unclothed and noticing the crimson stains on her legs. Overwhelmed by a wave of sorrow, she wept, her face marked by bruises and battered, a deep sense of shame washing over her as she felt utterly shattered.

Xander rose from his spot and settled beside her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace as she let her tears flow onto his chest. He tenderly cradled her head, his fingers gently running through her hair, providing solace as he rested his chin atop her crown, offering her a moment of peace amidst the turmoil.

Xander felt a deep ache in his heart as he gently cradled her in his arms, swaying her softly while grappling with the right words to ease her pain. The silence hung heavy between them, filled with unspoken emotions and the weight of her sorrow. "I want to go home," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Is that what you want?" Xander asked in a tender tone, his concern in his voice.

Elowen responded with a small, resolute nod, a longing for the comfort and safety of familiar surroundings.

Xander leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "All right, kitten, I’ll take you home." He assured her that he would summon either Liora or Tauriel to assist her in getting dressed. With a gentle touch, he laid Elowen back onto the bed, and as he did so, she instinctively flinched at his sudden movement. Recognizing her discomfort, he paused, pulling back slightly to give her space, his gaze filled with empathy as he understood her reaction.

Rising from the bed, Xander walked across the room, carefully closing the door behind him before heading down the hallway towards the staircase. As he descended, he noticed the concerned expressions on Liora and Tauriel's faces. With a heavy sigh, he spoke softly, "She wants to go home. Could one of you assist her in getting dressed? Something that will be comfortable, she is..." He hesitated, searching for the right words before finally admitting, "sore," his eyes cast down in contemplation.

"I'll take care of it," Tauriel replied in a hushed tone, ready to help.

"I'll fetch her some comfortable clothes," Liora added quietly, her voice tinged with concern.

Tauriel and Liora rushed to assist Elowen, carefully helping her clean up and dress in soft, comfortable dress. As they tended to her, Elowen winced in pain, groaning when they attempted to cleanse the deep cuts and bruises marring her back and ribs, remnants of the whip that had cruelly lashed her skin. A wave of panic washed over her as she felt the warm blood trickling down her legs, a stark reminder of her injuries. "Liora, is this normal?" she cried out, tears streaming down her face, her voice trembling with fear.

Liora's expression turned grave as she replied, "No," before hesitating, "I’ll fetch a healing sprite to assess the situation." Meanwhile, Tauriel placed a towel on the bed, encouraging Elowen to sit down to help stem the blood flow while she sat beside her, offering silent support. Liora summoned a healing sprite, and to her surprise, Evander appeared instead of Maggie. "Evander, thank you for coming on such short notice," Liora greeted him, her voice steady despite the tension in the room.

"My pleasure, Liora," he responded, his gaze shifting to Elowen, alarm etched on his face as he took in her battered appearance. He knelt before her, his heart heavy with compassion.

"What is your name?" he gently inquired. Elowen's head jerked up, searching for the source of his voice, and though she could not see him, Evander took her hand softly, reassuring her, "I'm right in front of you."

"Elowen," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Miss Elowen, I understand you are experiencing cramps?" he asked, fully aware of the gravity of her situation but seeking her confirmation. She nodded, shame flooding her cheeks.

"Can you tell me what happened?" he prompted gently.

Elowen's voice quivered as she spoke, "I was r***d," her words laced with deep humiliation. At that moment, Tauriel could no longer contain her emotions, tears streaming down her face in empathy for her. Evander squeezed Elowen's hand, his voice calm and steady, "Okay. I need you to lie back so I can examine you, and I will explain everything I’m doing. Do I have your permission?" Overwhelmed with emotion, Elowen sobbed but managed to nod in agreement.

Evander kept his promise, explaining each step of the process to Elowen with clarity and care. "First, I’m going to put on some gloves, then I’ll apply some gel to my fingers, and I’ll use a special instrument to locate the source of your bleeding, all right? It’s important that you stay relaxed; breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth," he instructed gently, his voice steady and reassuring. Elowen nodded, trying to muster the strength to comply.

As he examined her, Evander couldn’t help but notice the extent of her injuries, which made his heart ache. The moment he applied the instrument, a sharp scream escaped her lips, a sound that echoed her pain. "I know it hurts, sweetie; just try to relax for me," he urged, while Liora held one of her hands and Tauriel grasped the other, providing her with the support she desperately needed. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as heavy footsteps approached, and the door burst open to reveal Xander, his eyes aflame with rage. In a flash, he lunged at Evander, seizing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall with a force that sent shockwaves through the room. "Xander, Evander is here to help Elowen!" Liora shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "You need to let him go!"

Xander released his grip and turned his attention to Elowen, who was under Evander's careful scrutiny; her injuries were severe and visibly distressing. With a heavy sigh, Xander exited the room, leaving behind a palpable tension. "I'm sorry," Elowen managed to utter, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's alright, Miss Elowen. May I proceed with your examination?" Evander inquired gently. Elowen, taking a deep breath, nodded in agreement. As Evander continued his meticulous examination, Liora and Tauriel remained by her side, holding her hand for comfort. He worked diligently, stitching her wounds internally before discarding his gloves into the nearby trash can. "You might experience some bleeding, but it's crucial that you rest. I will return shortly to check on your progress, alright?" he reassured her softly. "Okay..." Elowen replied faintly, gratitude evident in her tone. "Thank you." "You're welcome," Evander responded with warmth. Liora added her thanks, "Thank you, Evander," to which he replied, "My pleasure," before gracefully winnowing out of the room. Liora and Tauriel then assisted Elowen from the bed, helping her change into a fresh dress and guiding her across the room. As they slowly opened the door and navigated the hallway, Xander noticed Elowen struggling on the stairs. "I can carry you," he offered in a gentle whisper. Elowen sought his voice, and upon finding him, she nodded.

He lifted her carefully, eliciting a small groan from her. "I'm sorry," he murmured, and she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest, feeling the weight of exhaustion wash over her. Liora held the door open as Xander unfurled his wings, lifting them both gently off the ground.