Gradually, the exchange with the Valar presented a certain dilemma, concerning the manner of our return to the land of the living. I am certain that there were many means by which one could transport any number of the dead back into the world of the living. However they planned to do it, I should hope they would make it the easy way instead of the hard. Mallor and I had already died and we weren�t so certain that there was much else for us to do.
Eventually a decision was made, but apparently Mallor and I were not privy to the information pertaining to the rest of our fates. The five of the Valar that were present were speaking amongst themselves, completely ignoring the fact that Mallor and myself remained situated on the grass directly beside them. It was not that I could not hear their words, but that they were so quickly spoken that I missed parts. This also was leaving out the fact that I had no idea where half of the places they spoke of were located.
�We have chosen the best course of action,� said Yavanna suddenly, smiling at me strangely.
�And what is that, my lady?� asked Mallor softly.
�In the place where your bodies have been laid to rest,� answered Mandos. I stared at him questioningly. That would mean that they were probably sending us back to the forest, known to many as the Trollshaws. That was, after all, where Mallor and I had been killed by those bandits. To be entirely honest, there was no way for me to even be certain that our bodies were still there. They could have been dragged off somewhere, burned, or eaten. Eaten, perhaps was a little extreme, but those woods were called the Trollshaws for a reason, and trolls are queer fellows.
�Do not fear,� interjected Nienna calmly, before I could even begin to protest. �All shall be well. Rest now, and when you awaken you shall find yourselves among the living.�
As she finished saying that I noticed that my eyesight darkened slowly. The sunny day in the valleys of Valinor was dimmed to a hazy grey. I saw the grass before my eyes as my head hit the ground, sleeping. It would be the last I would see of Valinor for a very long time, indeed. It seemed as though I traversed through the darkness for a long while. I did not feel much of anything during this time. I could not sense Mallor, but I think something inside my soul told me that he was going through the exact same thing I was.
I do not know how much time had passed before I started feeling cold. That was the beginning to my regaining consciousness. Soon thereafter I could feel parts of my body as I moved them, but it was still terribly cold. I opened my eyes but I saw only darkness. As I really began to come to, I started feeling around, but realized that I could not move very far. I felt with my hands that I was surrounded by stone. It was in that moment that my heart jumped suddenly and I recalled all that had happened in Valinor. I then realized where I was; in a tomb.
Panic-stricken, I moved my hands in attempt to push at the top to the stuffy, stone coffin I was in. I thought I felt it give way but just a little, but my efforts were not enough to aide my escape. I let out a sort of strangled cry then, feeling tears come to my eyes with my fright. I had not gone through everything only to be brought back to life and then to die again. I hit the top of the tomb with my hand a few times more before I heard a thump come from somewhere nearby.
I could have sworn I heard some more noises and I kept banging on the tomb and yelling, shrieking really, at the top of my lungs. The thumping got louder and then I heard this strange grating noise that almost sounded like stone being rubbed against stone. Suddenly, with a great flash, the top to the tomb-like box I was in was suddenly hefted up and pushed to the side. I took a few moments for my eyes to adjust, but by that time strong arms had already wrapped about my shoulders and pulled me up.
When I finally could see properly, I was surprised that there was no sun, only haze and fog. The ground was covered with the falling leaves of autumn and the sky was grey. I was gripping the arm of the person who had pulled me out of the tomb. When I looked at the arm I saw burgundy sleeves; it was Erestor. I knew that instantly, even without looking at his face. I turned around to look at where I was, and right beside the grave that I had just been pulled out of, knelt Mallor, brushing the dirt off the robe he was wearing with one hand and running his other through his hair. I pulled away from Erestor and hugged him.
�We are just fine,� he soothed, pulling me close. �We only had a bit of a fright there, but nothing more than that.�
�I never want to be buried alive again,� I said, letting go of Mallor and turning to look at Erestor. �You have brilliant timing, do you know this?�
�I should think that I do, yes,� he said with a relieved sigh. �When I came here to pay my respects I was not entirely expecting to hear the dead making noise and thumping about like that, I should have you know.�
�When they told us they were sending us back, well, I had no idea that this was what they were planning,� said Mallor.
He was just as perplexed as I was. I knew that the Valar had sent us back, though for what purpose I had no idea. Regardless, they had determined it was better for us to go on living in Middle-earth than to remain with the dead in Valinor. However, they had picked a rather peculiar was for us to come back to life. In fact, had Erestor not been there, it is quite possible that we may have died again.
When I died, the Valar and I were going to have a very long talk.
