01 ❆ Text

[needlebearer]

[ It's taken Arya a while to figure out how to use the phone properly, let alone consider posting to the network. But there's a question that's been on her mind ever since she arrived, and she figures it's about time to get it asked. ]

someone told me that people who have died in their own world can come here and live again. have you known anyone that's happened to? have they been happy to be alive again, or angry that they can't go home?


[ A moment later, another text. ]

i dont know what any of the machines in my kitchen are supposed to do. can someone help me out?

Comments

[bythewaves]

That is one theory - and mind, it is only that, a theory! But there are people from, different times, even in the same world, here. And yet, those from the "future" as it were, do not recall those in the "past" ever vanishing. Is that not strange? Surely, if one knew the future, one would try and... meddle, yes? Or if a family member were to vanish, surely it would be noted? And yet, none of this is true. So there must be something like that happening, we think.

[needlebearer]

If any of it's really happening. The gods could just make us think that to confuse us, couldn't they?

[bythewaves]

They could. [ He agrees ]

But take my example - my cousin Fingon died some seven thousand years of the sun ago. I was there - I saw his body, broken and burned, and I held my brother as he wept over the ruin of his banners. I helped... [ He falters briefly, eyes bright with pain before he masters himself ] ...to light the funeral pyres myself, for we had no time to bury them.

Yet Fingon walks here in Hadriel, alive and well, and he remembers the battle but not the blow that killed him, for it never had time to fall.

[needlebearer]

That's ... amazing. [ She'd been sure it was all some trick, as she's certain most everything here is, but she feels a little hopeful now. ] That would be much better, if they could come from before they died and not have to remember it happening.

[bythewaves]

It would, although not all are so kind. My... brother Maedhros comes from the Halls of Waiting... he ... [ Maglor chokes, briefly ] can remember dying.

[needlebearer]

I'm sorry. [ Actually she's more curious than anything, but she knows that's the right thing to say. ] There must be a way to control the door, so that he could go back alive.

[bythewaves]

Don't be - you did not know, eh?

[ He pushes the grief back down ]

We hope so, but ... death doesn't quite mean the same thing for us Elves as it does for you Men. Even if tis to the Halls he returns, it isn't the end for him.

[needlebearer]

That must be nice. Knowing you'll see each other again one day.

[ It was more than she could hope for, unless her mother or father or Robb turned up here. ]

[bythewaves]

[ Unless one of you is Exile and the other possibly condemmed to the Eternal Void BUT HEY ]

It does make things a little easier, knowing that the occupants of the Halls will find their way home.

[needlebearer]

And having it confirmed that what you think is beyond death is real.

[ She'd lost faith there a long time ago. ]

[bythewaves]

That does rather help. [ He agrees ]

We're a bit more fortunate, in that regards. I don't know how things are for you, though. Men have always been a mystery to us - we used to call them "Guests", because they aren't tied to the world the way we are.