Six Days of Spooky: Day 1

[illwynd]

And They Fled in Fear
By illwynd
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Rating: PG for themes
Notes: This drabble was written for the Six Days of Spooky, and it's kind of... spooky to think that I wrote it well before the recent events around here. It's kind of taken on a new feeling for me, but here it is anyway.
x-posted to tolkien100

Anyone who lived in Ithilien and yet did not see the darkness approaching was blind. During the eerie calm of the past months, I had prepared, gathered my family’s most treasured belongings into packs.

But when the moment came, I could not go, and my wife’s face mirrored my resolve. Ithilien was our home. Our son implored us in whispers, but fell silent as I kissed his children goodbye.

We watched as our neighbors rode away, crying out to each other as they went. We waited on the step, defiant, calm. And then the storm came upon us, bringing fire.

Comments

[caras-galadhon.livejournal.com]

*shiver* Oh, this is so resolute and sad. *sigh* The last line--
And then the storm came upon us, bringing fire.
--is especially powerful, and says so very much.

[illwynd.livejournal.com]

this is so resolute and sad.
Yay! That's just the sort of feeling I was going for with this. I'm so glad this worked for you, and thanks for the comment! ^_^

[lilan14.livejournal.com]

O_O *is speechless* Gosh...it IS spooky that you wrote it before the fire!!

I can relate to this, actually...I've heard lots of stories of people who refused to leave their homes after the Chornobyl disaster, and some still live there. This is a great picture of a family like that...

(Erm, I'm only getting down to reading your spooky fics now. I've had one big hell of two working weeks without a weekend in between, so I couldn't manage it earlier...)

[illwynd.livejournal.com]

Gosh...it IS spooky that you wrote it before the fire!!
I know! When I first came back and re-read it, it kinda freaked me out. Premonition or something... O_O

And yeah... there's always a few who won't leave no matter how bad whatever's happening is. I can understand why, kinda, and it's cool when they come through just fine, but of course some don't...

But anyway, glad this worked for you! ^_^ And *pats you* hope the work situation lets up for a while.

[roh-wyn.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I never considered how truly spooky some of the most well-known incidents in Middle-earth are.

And wow, how eerie that you wrote it before the fires in southern CA.

[illwynd.livejournal.com]

Heeh, indeed Middle-earth is full of spooky, though we don't always notice it. Glad you liked this! ^_^

And yeah, ain't it? It freaked me out a bit...

[edoraslass.livejournal.com]

But when the moment came, I could not go, and my wife’s face mirrored my resolve. Ithilien was our home.

Definitely creepy of a very identifiable kind, which always makes something even creepier. I'm always half-frustrated by people who won't leave their homes when they can see a disaster coming, but I always half-understand the urge to stay, as well.

[illwynd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know what you mean about that. I would rant about this couple I heard about a few towns over during the fires that sounded disturbingly similar to my imaginary Ithilien folks, but that's just depressing. :(

Anyhow, glad you liked this one!

re: Six Days of Spooky: Day 1 And They Fled in Fear

[lanthirel.livejournal.com]

So very intense. So very sad.