Chapter 21~ Remembering
~Baldor's Point of View~
Song: "Until I Found You" by Stephen Sanchez
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She frowned, seemingly trying to wrap her mind around the information I had given her. "You... are? And people hated you because of that?"
I swallowed hard, feeling my heart begin to pound. "Yes. They did."
She crossed her arms over her chest, an eyebrow raising. "That's stupid."
I had to keep the relief from showing through at seeing the old Callie show through. I could practically see her standing there with paint splattered clothes...
I cleared my throat and said, "That is what you said when I first told you, you know."
"Really?" She asks with a small laugh. "Well, it is a stupid reason. You don't get to pick who your father is. I certainly wouldn't have picked mine." She paused. "You know, I think I'm remembering it now."
I felt my heart skip a beat. "Really? What do you remember?"
She furrowed her eyebrows. "It's strange. Like a dream. Like it didn't happen, but I know it did." She took a cautious step closer to me and met my eyes. She slowly reached for my hand and took it, holding it gently in both of her small ones. "I remember your hands being warm. You were healing me. I could see it in your eyes how much you seemed to love and care for me, but... you didn't act on it. Why?"
I gently held her hand, my thumb caressing her knuckles as I said, "You were with someone else. Happy with someone else. I wanted you to be happy, so I let you stay with him."
"But I ended up with you, instead." She said softly, a coy smile appearing on her face, but then it faded. "He wasn't a good person, was he?"
I shook my head. "No. He was not. He hurt you." I lifted a hand to her cheek, gently tracing a knuckle across her cheekbone.
Her fingers tightened around mine in response and she whispered, "Then you saved me from that relationship."
I chuckled. "Actually, you saved yourself. It was quite admirable watching you beat him away. He was a coward and didn't deserve you."
"What was his name?" She asks.
I hesitated, then said, "Boromir of Gondor."
She wrinkled her nose and I almost laughed. "Wait- as in Deneothor's son? A human?"
I resisted laughing, but merely smiled at her. She returned my smile, and she didn't release my hand. "Yes. A human. You certainly lowered your standards for him."
"Perhaps I was just lonely."
"You were." I said softly. "Alone."
"You knew that?" She asked, frowning. "Why was I lonely?"
"We were friends at the time. You were in a strange place surrounded by strangers. We both just happened to be the misfits with a lot in common. You had a strong will, and it wasn't common there."
She looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "That makes sense." She paused, her expression turning sad as she looked down and said softly, "I'm sorry I don't remember."
"Hey," I said gently and tilted her chin up. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, Calissa, and I would do it all over again if asked."
She smiled and asked, "Are you willing to do that? Wait for me for that long? I don't know how long it'll be before I get my memories back, Baldor, and I can't expect you to stay around for that long."
I smiled and said, "Calissa, I would wait another thousand years if that's what it took for you to remember. Because now that you are here, I don't want to ever lose you again."
She looked at me, and her eyes suddenly filled with tears. She stepped in closer and wrapped her arms around my waist, her head resting on my chest. I gently moved my arms up around her, running my fingers through her hair.
"Thank you." She whispered, her arms tightening around me somewhat.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I held her close and whispered, "There's no need. I told you I'd find you again, darling."
She suddenly pulled away and looked up at me, meeting my eyes. "What did you call me?" She whispered.
"I..." I froze. "I'm sorry, I-" I was cut off by her grabbing the collar of my tunic and pulling me down and into a kiss. I felt my cheeks go hot, but I moved my hands to her cheeks and kissed her back.
She pulled away, a huge smile spreading across her face as her eyes filled with tears. "Baldor, I remember!"
I felt my heart squeeze and my eyes watered in relief. "You do?" I managed.
"Yes." She said, tears racing down her cheeks.
I felt my eyes water and I dropped to my knees, and she fell with me, holding onto me tightly, her hand in my hair as I balled the skirts of her dress in my fists. I couldn't help it. The tears flowed freely as I held her close, unable to believe I had her back.
She pulled away slightly to hold my face in her hands as she kissed my tears away and I smiled, laughing a little.
I tucked a strand of hair behind her pointed ear and smiled softly. "What made you remember?"
"Only one person has ever called me 'darling', and it was you." She says and kisses my forehead. "And also- who technically found who? You were already here, and I showed up." She says and smirks.
I rolled my eyes. "You're funny."
"I love you." She says, gazing into my eyes.
"And I love you." I whispered and kissed her once more, softly.
Suddenly, I heard Galadriel say something in my head that chilled me to my bones. Come. Your sister is here. She is gravely wounded.
"What? What's wrong?" Callie asks, eyebrows furrowed.
"Galadriel just contacted me. My sister is here. She's hurt." I said.
Callie's eyebrows drew together. "You need to go to her."
"Callie, I just got you back, I..." I managed. "Please."
She smiled gently, her hands gripping mine as she kissed my forehead. "Then I'll come with you. Come on. Stand, love." She says and gets to her feet and pulls on my hands until I stood.
She laced her fingers through mine as we turned and made our way through the corridors and pathways of Lothlorien to the main structures at the center where the healing wing was. Galadriel met us at the stairs.
A small smile touched her lips as she took note of our clasped hands. "I see Lady Calissa has regained her memories."
"I have. Thank you." Callie replied, smiling up at her. She squeezed my hand and I looked her. She jutted her chin up the steps. "Go on. I'll be here."
I hesitated, then kissed her once, and turned and raced up the steps.
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