Chapter 75: Biological Parent? Einar?
Tauriel stared blankly at the translucent woman in front of her, mouth agape, her mind struggling to process the stranger’s words.
She slowly sat down against the gnarled base of the tree, the chill of the bark biting into her back and jolting her already-worn body. Her voice was faint but filled with doubt. "You’re just a figment of my imagination... Then why does everything hurt so much?"
Then she opened her mouth agape as if she knew the reason. "It must be because I’m dying. Its just a dying brats imagination."
The woman hovered closer, gently clasping her hands together, her translucent figure shimmering beneath the moonlight. "No, dear. I’m not your imagination. I’m real... Well, that might be subjective, depending on your definition of real."
Tauriel’s head snapped up, eyes sharp as daggers. "Then why lie? How could anyone be awakened from birth? My parents—my real parents—weren’t awakened."
She paused to catch her breath, voice rising with anger. "Maybe you’re just some sick creature feeding off my pain. You saw me broken and thought it’d be fun to play games."
Then she turned away, sobbing and weeping to herself.
The woman groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Oh please, do I look like some hideous parasite? Just look at me." She twirled mid-air, showing off her elegant, curvaceous figure and her ethereal sapphire gown. "I’m gorgeous."
Tauriel didn’t smile. "If you’re not lying, then explain how you know so much about me. Who are you? Why are you helping me?"
The spinning stopped. The woman’s expression shifted—distant, melancholic. "Because I’ve lost something, Tauriel. Something precious. And I don’t want someone else to repeat my mistake."
Tauriel lowered her gaze and mumbled. "Still why me?"