Healing without chakra, or so Sakura was discovering, was so very tedious. More so when one's soulmate was nowhere in sight. Though that was probably for the best, Sakura mused as she finished another stitch on the little piece of fabric she had been given to alleviate her boredom. She probably deserved the boredom over anything fun – dragons weren't allowed to have fun. Well, aside from when they were sowing seeds of dissent and hatred. Sakura had sworn off those aspects of her nature.
Though the golden thread she was using to stitch an ugly pattern on her fabric square probably proved otherwise though. She, like the rest of her kin, had an uncanny obsession with gold. It didn't particularly help that her soulmate's hair was practically an imitation of just that. Fitting, she thought, humming quietly under her breath. Oh, yes, the voice whispered, makings its appearance then. A golden hero has to be the most fitting soulmate for an ugly black dragon.
"Do try to avoid pricking your fingers this time," Noeneth called from the chair in which she sat a short distance away. "They hardly appreciate being stabbed many a times," the elleth remarked, a wry smile set upon her lips as those eyes flickered over onto her.
Sakura hummed. "I wouldn't be so sure," she mumbled, momentarily forgetting that elven hearing was better than an ordinary human's.
"Should you keep growing injured, no matter how small," Noeneth spoke, voice slicing through the oddly thick air in the room between them, "then I would fear there to be another problem. Though I have no doubts that between Lord Glorfindel and Lord Elrond, the matter would be seen to and solved." Grey eyes bore into her own, despite the metres of space separating them. "The pair of them tend to be rather... tenacious when their interest is piqued – and you dear Lothien, have definitely piqued the curiosities of many."
Sakura shifted in her bed with its far too soft mattress and quilts. "Are elves always so terribly curious as to the matters of others?" she asked, tilting her head, resuming her angry stabbing of the material in her hands. "I was rather led to believe it the complete opposite."
"You would be correct," Noeneth remarked. "However, you have taken up residence in our realm, injured and without home as you are. That, I believe, makes you somewhat of our business – how else are we to welcome a guest if we know nothing of them?" she questioned, and Sakura felt herself squirm once more. She didn't like attention. Sakura supposed she never had, aside from perhaps in her first and second lives, and perhaps she had wanted the attention of precious few in her third life. She had been a shinobi for two of her four lives then and there, and those rarely wanted to be noticed amidst enemy territory.
Elven territory was certainly just that. She was still waiting for the protections of the valley to scorn her so. She didn't quite understand why they hadn't, though Sakura supposed she was now a guest there. Maybe that was it? Her shoulders slumped, and blood welled up from the now-broken skin of her finger. She had tricked them into believing her a guest... That had to be the answer to many a mystery.
"I feel as though, perhaps, you may have been better served with taking up painting as a hobby," Noeneth said, and Sakura sucked on her finger, setting her stitching to one side as she flopped back on her bed. "It may have been far messier and harder to complete on bedrest, but I doubt even you could be clumsy enough to injure yourself by painting."
A snort escaped her lips before she could catch it. "My," Sakura muttered. "That almost sounds like a challenge..."
Noeneth sniffed then, glaring at her pointedly with those grey eyes which didn't really leave an impact on her. She had seen prettier, but then again she was probably biased. "Lothien, I feel as though I ought to remind you of the fact Lord Glorfindel has asked for confirmation of your activities upon his return – if only to ensure you do nothing so foolish, such as lugging around a heavy pot of water with broken ribs and numerous other bruises and abrasions to your skin..."
Sakura scowled. "Nobody is ever going to let me forget that, are they?" she grumbled, staring determinedly at the ceiling, as Noeneth continued as though she had never spoken a word in the first place. It was practically a confirmation that nobody would ever forget her trying to be self-sufficient and less of a burden on her hosts. Sakura hadn't really seen the problem with her doing just that.
"You have been around our precious golden lord for naught but a matter of weeks at most, so perhaps you are unaware, but to catch the eye of an elf lord is to subject yourself to their interest," she said, and Sakura could only glance over at her blithely, uncertain as to where the elleth was going with her tirade. "Those caught are lay open to scrutiny, and more so in the case of Lord Glorfindel, concern." Grey found green yet again. "Very few humans have ever found themselves in such a situation, and none of them have ever been quite prepared for that which it entails."
Sakura blinked, mulling over her words then, trying to figure out the meaning behind them – because apparently elves loved being very, exceptionally wordy with their words. Don't you sound so very intelligent? the voice whispered, and Sakura scowled. "Do tell me then... What does it entail?"
The dark-haired elleth sighed softly then, features softening from the glare they had been stuck in until that moment. "First, I believe you would have to understand what Lord Glorfindel means to all of us here," she said, a shadow passing over her face so very quickly that if she had blinked she would have missed it. "He is our hero," Noeneth said, ignorant to the mocking voice in the back of her mind. The hero and the monster... I do wonder how such a tale will end? "Delivered back to us in a time when hope was dying. I, myself, grew up on tales of Gondolin and how hard it fell... To see a legend in flesh with my very own eyes... I doubt there is a way to fully describe that feeling. Nevertheless, that is not the point here. He came in on the tides, and with them he brought hope. That was what he was to the Noldor who reside on these shores."
Sakura stared down at her hands, bitter thoughts welling up inside her at the revelation. Her soulmate had brought hope to his people. Sakura was fairly sure she would only bring disaster to them, as was in her nature. All the more reason for her to hurry up and leave. Her hands curled into fists, tucked under the blankets out of sight as they were. But you're far too greedy and selfish to do that, the voice whispered, cruel and taunting. Chasing after something you'll never get to have...
"I have little doubt that when he returns his focus will be on you," Noeneth continued, and Sakura felt her heart both sink and skip a beat. "I have my doubts you will be familiar with the affection he will show... but I have little doubt you will soon learn what it means to hold the attention of a very old, and very powerful elf."
"That doesn't sound ominous in the slightest," Sakura muttered, loathing and longing beating inside her chest at the thought of being shown affection. She knew she didn't deserve anything of the like.
"Since I am mostly in charge of your care, I feel as though I should tell you that I will be the one bombarded with many a question about your wellbeing," she said. "You have proven that you care little for that." A wicked smile pulled at her lips then, and a shiver rolled down Sakura's spine. "I can honestly say I look forwards to what our golden lord will do to instil a sense of self-preservation within you."
"Joy," Sakura grumbled, stomach twisting and squirming as though it were a live snake at the thought of being in close proximity with her soulmate once more. "Though I guess I have yet a few more days of this interlude before the second act begins," she said, and Noeneth laughed. "So glad I can provide entertainment for you, my lady."
"I think you may find yourself providing entertainment for the entirety of Imladris, Lothien," Noeneth replied, lips still curved into a smile. "Nevertheless, may you and Lord Glorfindel both find happiness and peace... I have the strangest feeling you may both just be the answer to the other's problem."
One eyebrow rose then, and Sakura stared at the elleth. "And here I thought that Glorfindel was a shining beacon of hope to you all... someone without fault..." she remarked, acrid green meeting grey yet again. Grey was such a pretty colour. Though again – bias. She was so very inclined to that particular eye colouring because it was similar to his. Her perfect soulmate's, and he could hardly be anything less than perfect.
"Everyone here in Imladris is all too aware of his obsession with dragons, but not even Lord Elrond can get through to him on this matter," Noeneth said, lips pulling down then, concern clouding her expression so. "He has this idea set inside his mind... and he is stubborn on this matter—"
"You're talking about his obsession with hunting down dragons," she mumbled, sucking in a sharp breath through her teeth as she spoke that truth aloud. It was a truth that shouldn't have hurt her... but it did. "I don't think I can help there."
She met Noeneth's stare which felt terribly akin to being sized up – weighed and measured, and found wanting, the voice added snidely. You really think you could help... you? Her shoulders hunched, knees being drawn up to her chest as she stared glumly at the elleth. "I do believe you might surprise yourself there," she said, and Sakura could only bite her lip. Because Noeneth was wrong. She was so very wrong. But Sakura couldn't really explain the fact of the matter to her. Coward. Sakura nodded mentally at that.
"I doubt that very much," she muttered.
Noeneth hummed sceptically. "You jumped between the tail of a dragon and our precious golden lord," she continued breezily, as though she hadn't spoken those demeaning words. Which were so very true. "Over the many years in which Lord Glorfindel has hunted down fell dragons, none have done that which you did – and by that I mean bodily throwing themselves between him and harm. I believe that makes quite the impression upon a person... Your influence over him yet may be greater than you realise."
You're wrong, Sakura wanted to say. She could never taint that gold with black. But her lips wouldn't move, and she found she could only glumly stare at her feet as she sat upon her bed.
"The dinner bell will ring soon," Noeneth informed her, changing the topic of conversation away from that dangerous topic which made her want to curl up, tell someone, or simply put herself out of her misery. But you're too busy holding onto your precious hope, aren't you? the voice whispered, its words penetrating deep into her skull, boring into her still bleeding heart which wanted to be loved. Her chest felt as cold as ever, though that time the chill was accompanied by a bitter sting. No one will ever love you, the voice purred, and Sakura bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. "Do you wish to dine with—"
Sakura shook her head viciously. "No," she said, pulling the covers over her again, shivering at the thought of dining with elves. "I want to stay up here."
Noeneth frowned, but nevertheless accepted her decision. "I see."
::
The stars above her twinkled, diamonds set upon a dark blue raiment, staring down upon her as she basked under the light. The moon hung heavy in the sky, tracing its path across the world above, and Sakura sighed as she looked upon them. They were so very beautiful, unlike her. Though her form then was certainly deceiving in that matter. Ugly, the voice whispered. A sigh escaped her, and she stared up at the skies, listening faintly to the hubbub Noeneth was causing in her search for her.
Nights were cold, and most thought Sakura far too frail to face them without company nor blankets. She didn't want that though. Rather, she wanted to feel the cool night air upon her skin. Restless was the word to describe her after being stuck in her room for three days straight with only Noeneth for company. The elleth, Sakura wouldn't deny, was fairly good company. Though maybe the fact she was hiding had to do with the fact that Noeneth had changed from calling her 'Lothien' to calling her 'friend'. Sakura hadn't been able to hide the minute shutdown she had at being called such a thing. More so from a person who didn't have the magnetic pull to her that Glorfindel did. It was difficult to comprehend. How could an elleth and a dragon be friends?
Impossible, the voice whispered, and Sakura nodded in agreement even as she lay on the blanket of green grass amidst the courtyard. It was eerily similar to that which she had awakened to originally for her fourth life – and her second as that terrible dragon-shifter in Arda. All she was missing were a few trees. If there had been some, then maybe she could have pretended she was still in the forest. Before she had come across anybody. Before Fainbarad and Gilithien. Before Aravir and his Rangers. Before her soulmate and subsequent misfortunes which had befallen her. She could never blame him for those misfortunes though. There was never any doubt she deserved them so. She had certainly brought the elves enough misfortune.
"I wonder what you're doing," she mumbled, staring up at the stars which her soulmate could undoubtedly see. She was under the same stars as the one who was meant to love her through the workings of fate, or whatever it was called. Though Sakura supposed that perhaps... just maybe... her soulmate's reasoning behind his soulmark was correct. Fate might have as well decided to motivate a slayer of dragons through their soulmark.
It wasn't like he could ever or would ever love her for who and what she was.
She lay there for a while longer, content to simply stare at the pretty stars and avoid the company of nosy, but well-meaning elves. They were different to her kin. The fact they had taken her in was proof of that much. She was probably being ungrateful – avoiding everyone like she was. But after many days of barely having a moment to herself under the gimlet eye of Noeneth – who strangely enough considered her a 'friend' – she wanted an hour or two of peace. It was why she had ventured to that relatively remote and removed courtyard.
"Why is it," a smooth, familiar voice rolled out through the air, an echo of the words spoken to her only a matter of days before, "whenever I find you it is in the middle of you doing something so very inadvisable?"
Sakura blinked, turning onto her side then, mindful of her injuries for once as she stared at the elf leaning against one of the thin pillars which supported the roofed walkway between buildings. "Oh," she mumbled, staring at her soulmate who she'd thought would be absent for a few more days yet. "You're back already..."
He had been back long enough to shed the armour he had worn upon his leaving, changing it instead for soft, comfortable-looking slacks and a green tunic laced with golden stitching to match his hair. Though it only really reminded Sakura of her failed attempts at embroidery which were thankfully far away from her soulmate's discerning eye.
"Is that disappointment I hear?" he asked then, eyebrows raised as he ventured over towards her. Sakura wondered how she looked on that grass, dressed in the dainty clothing Noeneth had all but forced upon her in the name of the hospitality of Lord Elrond.
"Of course not," she said, propping herself up on her elbow as the golden elf lord took a seat beside her. "How could I be disappointed to see you returned safe and well..."
"I truly wish I could say the same," Glorfindel replied, a smile – so familiar and warm enough to make that heart of hers skip – on his lips. "Though, alas, I happened to come across a rather frantic Noeneth on my way to find you and report of my safe return... and she then informed me of your little disappearing act."
Sakura sighed, stomach twisting itself in knots as Glorfindel mirrored her position on the grass there, head propped upon his hand as he lay on his side. "Did she not inform you of how I had been bedbound for days previous – just like you asked of me?"
"I believe she was too concerned with tracking down her missing friend," he said, ignorant of the way she tensed slightly at the mention of her friend. "It is hardly kind to make her worry so..."
"You weren't the one stuck in a room with her for days on end," Sakura mumbled, rolling onto her back, folding her arms.
"Noeneth is hardly poor company, especially for you," he remarked, golden brows raising, and Sakura felt sick at the idea that she had offended him in some way. She wasn't supposed to do that – only a dragon would.
And, oh wait, the voice purred, that's just what you are... "She's good company," Sakura said, glaring at the heavens above. "I just wanted some time to myself."
"Did you have to come outside in the cold without a single cloak or blanket?" he questioned, staring at her pointedly with those grey eyes of his which always accused her and bore into her so. "I know you have at least one of each to your name now."
Sakura shrugged. "They did not seem necessary at the time I slipped away," she said. Because she deserved to be left out in the cold. She was a being of fire and hate – what was wrong with experiencing the chill of night time? Though she was far too cowardly to tell him such a fact...
"Once again, you prove yourself lacking a sense of self-preservation," he murmured under his breath, hand finding its way into her own, lifting it, a frown marring his brow then. "You are cold. I think it time you returned to your room."
"Can't I stay a little longer?" she asked, staring determinedly at the stars. "The stars are particularly beautiful tonight, and I can still feel all of my fingers and toes..."
There was silence for a few moments, and Sakura scarcely dared to breathe, an odd tension to the air. "So," her soulmate began, a dangerous edge to his voice. Sakura relished in it. "You believe the fact you can still feel all ten fingers and toes is a good enough argument to persuade me to allow you to stay out here yet?"
Sakura barely resisted the urge to squirm under the pointed gaze she could feel set upon her. "Yes?" she tried, a squeak of surprise escaping her as she found herself lifted from the cool ground.
"Then I am afraid you are terribly incorrect, dear Lothien," he said, and Sakura let her head flop against his shoulder, part of her relaxing and basking in the presence of her soulmate there and then. "I would hardly leave you there to freeze."
"You should've," Sakura muttered, burying her face in that green tunic of his, closing her eyes then as she fervently wished to fall asleep.