Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Hearts of fire, souls of ice	By : Nuredhel Category: -Fourth Age to Modern times and beyond > Het - Male/Female Views: 2339 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, it belongs to Tolkien, and i do not earn any money from this work of fiction, it is solely written for entertainment and not for profit at all.I do not own Lord of the Rings, it belongs to Tolkien,

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
Final chapter of this story! Does it end well? Will they live happily ever after? Rated M for a reason!

Chapter twelve: As you have my heart

Nireariel had never thought that time could fly so fast, in fact she barely managed to hang on. She had lessons in everything from etiquette to dance and she tried to do her very best but sometimes it was hard to do anything at all. She was learning how to use her song without draining herself of strength and she had already healed many. The people loved her beyond any doubt and Thranduil adored her more and more. He was as always busy with his duties as the ruler of this realm but he managed to get some time each day which they could use together. They went for more rides in the woods and spent a lot of time in the libraries too. Nireariel felt how her presence always made him relax and he would smile and even laugh when she was around. They had sent invitations to the other realms and Thranduil had sensed that the news of his upcoming wedding was met with a mix of disbelief and shock.
Nireariel had hired the same tailor who sew her dress for the night when she first met the king to make her wedding dress too and the elf went to work quite eagerly but also a bit nervous. The pressure was on, he had to make the perfect dress. Nireariel had not wanted purple for this dress, instead she had chosen a very pale color of sea green and everybody told her it would look amazing. Thranduil had told his jewelry smith to make her an amethyst necklace and he promised her that it would match her dress perfectly. The wedding was getting closer by the day and Nireariel knew that she was getting the wedding jitters, big time! She was so nervous at times she had to go to the gardens and hide for a while, just to gather her thoughts. She and Astar had been given better housing further up in the palace and now she lived almost next door to Thranduil. The windows had been covered for her sake and new chandeliers brought in and mounted to give enough light. The rooms were amazing and she loved them but she knew that they were just temporarily her home. Soon she and Thranduil would share his chambers and she could not think of it without a little shudder.
The butler and the servants were working like crazy to make everything perfect, food was being prepared and the ladies of the court were running around with wild eyes and their arms filled with decorations they wanted to use. It often ended with rather heated debates of who should decorate which room and sometimes the butler had to intervene to prevent a real catfight, much to the dismay of the guards who would be more than happy to haul some pretty ladies out of the meleè. Nireariel had gotten a whole new set of clothes and she had never worn fabrics this soft or shiny, nor dresses which showed off her curves in such a way. Whenever she was alone with the king she could clearly see that he liked the sight of her wearing them, she had to blush when she thought of how many times they almost had gone a bit too far and become too intimate. They had stopped in time but she knew that it was getting increasingly challenging for him to stay in control of himself. He had admitted to her that he had been soiling his sheets rather often lately while dreaming of her and this little confession had made her giggle and feel that weird tingling sensation again. The day when they would be as one also in the flesh was getting nearer and she did not know whether or not she was looking forward to it or if she dreaded it.
Then one evening just a few days before the big day Astar came to her while she was reading by the hearth in their rooms, he was looking a little weird and she frowned and stared at her father’s rather peculiar expression. “Ada, what is it?”
Astar blushed and dropped a small black book into her lap. “Ah, well, you are to be a married woman in a few days and…”
He took a deep breath. “Your mother is not here to explain certain matters to you, I am not qualified to explain these….female…things for you so this book should provide you with all the information you should need, regarding the night to come”
Nireariel felt how her face turned beet red and she had problems speaking. “Ada, I am a healer, I know the details of…marriage!”
Astar sighed. “You know the physical details yes, the biology but you now naught of the other side of it. Read this, it is written for healers but it provides also a lot more than just dry facts.”
Nireariel swallowed hard and stared at the black book as if it was a poisonous snake someone had dropped right before her and Astar had a strange expression in his eyes. “My little girl…On the brink of becoming a woman in full, I never thought I would live to see that happening.”
He turned around and left and Nireariel stared at his back and felt a bit troubled by his words. She did in fact know very little and she sighed and took up the book, it looked very anonymous and she opened it up and gasped, placed her hand across her mouth. It was a drawing and it was extremely realistic and a true work of art, but it showed a couple who were obviously enjoying themselves a lot judging by the expressions on their faces. She had to giggle, could an ellon and an elleth really do it like that? Like a stud and a mare?
She felt her hand shiver and opened the book at the first page. First were several chapters of anatomical drawings and explanations and she did learn a few new things she had not known before. Then followed chapters explaining everything from how to touch a lover to how one should proceed to enhance the chances of conception. She was blushing and giggling as she read and she had never expected that there were so many aspects of this. There were more drawings, positions and such and some which made her gasp. She had never known that anyone could use their mouth like that?! And there?! She was shocked but also intrigued. She wondered if he would react if she tried some of those tricks?
She put the book away and felt a little less nervous than before, at least she knew a little more and could face it with her head held high. The next day she would have to try her dress on for the first time and she was very excited. She was afraid that she would do something stupid at the wedding itself but she did no longer fear the wedding night, at least not much. When she fell asleep that night she dreamed of them together and she woke up in the morning with her sheets in a tight roll at the end of the bed and a strange aching feeling in her belly. She knew it was her womb begging to be filled, to bring forth new life.
The dress fitting turned out to be quite a mess, there were ladies running around trying to catch a glimpse of her and the tailor was sweating and swearing. But the dress was so beautiful it almost made her cry and she knew that this was one thing of which she had no need to worry. Thranduil would not see the dress before the wedding and she had to smile when she imagined how his face would look when looking at it. The palace was ready for the big day and the first guests arrived. Nireariel was too busy greeting new people to have time to be nervous and then all of a sudden it was the big day. She had only been able to speak with Thranduil for a couple of minutes the last days and she just longed for it all to be over with so they could spend time with each other again. She was awakened by some servants and taken to the baths to get cleaned up properly. Her hair was washed and perfumed and then she had a rather big breakfast before she was getting dressed. She felt how her stomach appeared to be filled with butterflies. She had rehearsed their vows over and over again and felt like she knew exactly what to say and when to say it and yet she feared that she would freeze and forget the whole thing. She got the necklace he had promised her and it was wonderful with pale stones set upon pure mithril. She knew that it was extremely expensive but she would not ask him the price, it would be an insult. Instead she just treasured it knowing it was from him. It could have been made from river rocks and clay and she would not have cared at all.
The guests were assembling and she had been pleasantly surprised by how friendly they all appeared to be, some were stunned by her appearance but soon they got over the shock and Thranduil had been almost aglow with pride when he officially presented her to the guests the night before. She had never met so many powerful people and she had heard so many names she felt like her head was buzzing, she would never be able to remember them all. It appeared that all were glad that the king of the silvan elves finally had found love once more. She was ready and her father came and kissed her cheek, gave her a hairpin her mother had owned and attached it to her long braids. Astar was almost in tears and Nireariel felt like crying too, she was leaving her old life behind now, she would no longer be just Nireariel but a queen and her life would change in almost every way imaginable. Legolas came and kissed her cheek too, he whispered that he would be waiting by his father’s side to catch him if he should pass out by the sight of her. She heard the joy in his voice and knew that he cared about her too.
She just grinned and Astar took her hand, the grand hall was prepared and everybody was in place. A small group of musicians were playing a very sweet melody and she bit her lower lip and tried to hold her head up high. He was waiting for her by the throne and she tried to focus only on the fact that he was there. He was the things she should think off, the rest of the room didn’t mean anything. The music changed and she knew that this was the clue they had been waiting for. Astar nodded and gave her a sweet but also sad smile. “You are more beautiful than Elbereth herself, I am almost sad to give you away.”
She giggled. “No you are not!”
He smiled and gave her his elbow and then they walked. There was a sudden gasp when she went through the doors and the crowd saw her, everybody was there and she blushed and tried to remain calm but it was hard until she lifted her gaze and saw him standing there. He wore a dark robe and tunic and black pants and boots and he was so handsome she could barely breathe. She saw only him from that moment on and then it was suddenly easy. Many bowed as she walked forth and the gasps of admiration were many. She could see that he stared at her. Legolas stood by his side with a smirk on his face, ready to catch his father if he should faint. She had heard the servant girls talk of how some of his friends and his son had thrown him a rather wild party the night before and she wondered if he had slept at all that night. He probably hadn’t.
Astar stopped in front of the king and his face was serious but also filled with a gentleness which told everybody there that he also cared deeply for his new son in law. Thranduil was staring at her, his eyes wide and filled with disbelief and awe. She blushed and looked down. Astar took Nireariels hand and Thranduil held out his right one. Astar placed her hand in her husbands and nodded. “I now give you my daughter to wed, blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh. Be her shield and strength, her joy and her protector from now on and until the end of days.”
Thranduil nodded, she saw tears in his eyes. His voice was shivering and low. “This I swear by my fea, from this day forth and until the end of days, she has my heart as I have hers.”
There was a loud roar of cheering from the crowd but they weren’t done yet. She saw how her father stepped back, he stood next to Legolas who grinned and squeezed his shoulders.
The king turned around and faced the crowd, he took a ring from his pocket and held it up for everybody to see. It was rather simple and made to look like thin twigs which were woven together but she could see that it was made from Mithril too and it was a work of art. In the middle of the ring was a tiny stone and it shone like nothing else she had seen. If it was a diamond it was indeed a perfect specimen.
He turned to her and fell down on one knee. He placed the ring on her finger. “With this ring I do thee wed, forever more we shall be as one. As I have your heart, as you have my heart, I will be by your side through times of joy as well as in hardship and strife. By this I do swear.”
He got on his feet and she took out the ring he had given her the day before, his wedding ring. It was much more simple but beautiful none the less. She placed it on his finger and repeated the words. Everybody was silent and Poicano came forth and took their hands and placed his own on top of theirs. He was the chief healer there and therefore also the ceremonial master. He chanted an ancient song of blessing and then he lifted his hands. “All that are here assembled. Hail the king and queen, bless the king and queen, long live the king and queen!”
All got on their feet and repeated his words and Poicano nodded and urged them to silence once more. “Then from this moment on, they are husband and wife, one fea, one hroa.”
Thranduil winked at her and hid a small smile of relief, he had not messed up this important moment. Then he leaned towards her and they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Nireariel sensed only him, she did not hear the others there cheer them on, neither did she care about them. He whispered to her. “You look unbelievable in that dress meleth, it is beautiful but nowhere near as beautiful as you. I can’t wait to get you out of it.”
She giggled and blushed and he turned them towards the assembled crowd once more and bowed. She curtsied and Legolas came forth and placed a crown upon her head. It was made in a similar fashion as Thranduils but it was more discreet and feminine. She suddenly felt the weight of her new title and could only pray that she would be worthy of it. There was applause and then everything turned into a sort of blur. There were hands pressing hers, congratulations and presents and she tried as best as she could to smile and keep calm. She felt overwhelmed by it all. They went to the feast hall and were placed by the table and the hours went as dishes were served and wine flowed. Speeches were given and she lost count of how many times she had to toast. The butler had been warned and her chalice was filled with juice instead of wine, she was very thankful of that fact or else she would have been drunk as a skunk before they were halfway through the dinner.
Thranduil got a little tipsy and Legolas held his hand over his father’s chalice when the servants came with more wine. The king protested but Legolas claimed that he merely was protecting his father from making a fool of himself, passing out before he truly could call this bride of his wife. Nireariel blushed and had to look down and as the evening went people started to sing and dance and there was much merrymaking. Some told jokes which became more dirty by the hour and she was shocked to see that dignified and ethereal elves of the other realms let their hair down and danced around. Then she and Thranduil had to dance and she was so glad she could leave the table. She felt like she would be unable to eat again for weeks to come, she was full and she had no idea of what half of what she had eaten was. Then she danced with several of the other elves there including Elrond who told her that she was lovelier than the valar themselves and she had to giggle and blush by his obvious admiration. She danced with Celeborn too and he whispered to her that Thranduil was the damned luckiest ellon alive to have landed such a catch and she had to laugh at his jokes.
At the end she could dance with Thranduil again and felt safe once more, no one tried to disturb them as they were dancing cheek to cheek. He was whispering endearing words to her and she felt at ease and at home. The night fell and the party was getting a bit wild, the more important guests had gone to bed and there was nobody there to put a dampener to the joyous mood. The butler looked terrified, he was thinking of the work they would face the next day when this mess was to be cleaned up, he swore that it looked as if a whole bunch of dwarves had been partying there.
Nireariel was happy to just be there, in his arms and she did not notice that he had brought them closer to the door leading to the living quarters. She was feeling a bit drowsy and clung on to him. Astar approached them and he winked at his son in law but there was a glimpse in his eyes which was free of mirth. “Be gentle with her mellon nin. That is an order!”
Thranduil nodded. “I know, I promise hir-adar.”
Nireariel broke out of the drowsy state and Thranduil grinned at her and kissed her on her cheek before he hoisted her up. “I think we better get started or what? The night is still young!”
She felt nervous again and blushed as he carried her to their rooms. The servants had done a marvelous job and the rooms were warm and cozy and she giggled and felt just silly. It was going to happen and she felt how she shivered with a weird mixture of anticipation and fear. He filled a chalice with wine and gave it to her. “Here meleth, to calm your nerves!”
She drank and he took of his crown and helped her with hers too. Then he kissed her and let the kiss deepen. He removed her necklace and then he unlaced the dress. She had only a very thin dress on under it and it was transparent. He was suddenly breathing as if he had been running for hours and she started to get a bit nervous again. He got out of his robe and tunic and boots and then he embraced her tightly and kissed her once more. This time he kissed her neck and earlobe, let his mouth slide along her skin towards her shoulder and it felt like fire against her skin. She gasped and he lifted her again and stopped in front of the open fireplace. A thick pelt of bearskin was placed there and it felt so soft against her now naked feet. He continued to kiss her, he let his hands glide over her body and pressed her towards him. She could feel how hard he was, he was more than ready and she did not know if she should be frightened or not. He still had his pants on but they could be removed rather fast. He kissed her breasts, teased her nipples with tongue and teeth and suddenly she felt as if she was on fire. She grasped onto him, could not get him close enough. He fell to his knees, pressing butterfly kisses towards her stomach and she felt how her heart was hammering, she had a suspicion as to what he was thinking about doing now.
He was, she was right, he suddenly flipped her over and laid her down upon the soft fur and then she felt him explore her gently and teasingly with his mouth and tongue. She whimpered his name, had to grasp onto locks of his long silky hair and she had no control of her own body. She was pressing herself up against him, squirming as he caressed her most sensitive areas with expert technique.
He lifted his head and his eyes were dark with lust, he panted. “I had to taste you my love, just relax, I won’t stop until I get you there”
He continued and Nireariel suddenly knew that the book lied, it felt so much more intense than she could ever have anticipated. It felt like madness, like wildfire in her veins. She was unable to speak, unable to think. All she could do was feel and she let go of every attempt to control herself, she just allowed herself to float with the current and before long she felt how a warm feeling seemed to build up within her. She gasped his name and he increased his efforts, she took two more deep breaths and then it just exploded and she screamed as waves of intense pleasure rushed through her. He panted and got out of his pants with a few quick moves, got into position over her. He could not wait any longer, he had already waited for too long and he knew that he wouldn’t last. She opened her eyes and a grimace of sheer fear flew across her face as she felt him against her opening. He looked deep into her eyes. “I love you Meleth, I promise you, it will hurt but only this first time. Just hold onto me, breathe with me.”
He grasped her hands with his own and let their fingers entwine. She panted, he was a lot bigger than she had imagined and she was afraid, she had to admit that to herself. He kissed her forehead and pushed his hips forward, felt how her warmth started to embrace him. When he felt that he was on the right track he squeezed her hands hard and thrust his hips towards her, sheathed himself in her completely. Nireariel gasped and tried to avoid a scream but it was hard, she felt as if she was getting split in half and yet it felt good, in a strange new way. She felt whole, she could not describe it otherwise. He was gasping for air, trembling. She was so tight and warm and it felt so good he wanted to let go of all control and fuck her like crazy but he could not, not this first time. He kissed her and saw that tears were running down her cheeks. “Look at me meleth, you will get used to me, it will get better, I swear.”
She nodded, she knew that but it was hard to believe. He filled her to the very breaking point or at least that was what it felt like and she moaned and pressed her forehead against his shoulder, hid her face and her pain from him. “Nir? I have to finish, is that alright with you? I won’t last this time, it will be quick!”
She just nodded, braced herself. He started to move, very gently and slowly and she could feel how he shuddered and moaned. It made her feel strange, empowered almost. It was her body which gave him such pleasure and suddenly the discomfort was of no importance. She tried to follow his rhythm and he groaned her name again and again, his body was beyond his control now, it was his sheer need for release that dictated his every move and suddenly he froze and she could feel that he held his breath for a few seconds before he thrust into her hard one more time and roared. It made her feel very strange, even though it hurt she didn’t want it to end, she could feel him pulse within her, could feel something warm and wet deep inside and she knew it was his seed. She lifted her legs and locked them around him, held him as close to her as she possibly could while he climaxed and then calmed down. She stroked his sweaty hair and kissed him and she had never felt more at peace. He kissed her back, out of breath and still shuddering with the after-shocks of his very powerful orgasm. “I love you, oh Valar how I love you!”
She kissed him and just held him. “I love you too, now and forever”
He smiled and rested against her soft warm body. “Now and forever!”
Nireariel got used to her new title as queen rather fast and she made herself a name as a healer too. Thranduil bloomed with her by his side, his energy seemed to be without boundaries and he was making new plans all the time. The whole realm was rejuvenated and got new energy and it was as if hope returned to everybody. Before long the inhabitants of the nearby rooms started complaining about the royal couple and their joyous racket in the middle of the night and the guards just shook their heads and started wearing ear plugs. It was the same problem all over again but this time there was one difference. It wasn’t angry passion but true passion and it was a bit of a difference between hearing someone screaming about how much they wanted to kill their partner and hearing someone shout and scream confessions of undying eternal love.
Nireariel had developed an appetite for this just as great as his and they could barely stay apart for more than a few hours at a time. They made love in every thinkable and unthinkable place and they acted like some youngsters without even a thought of decency at times. It was wild and wonderful and Nireariel was madly in love with him and hoped that it would last forever.
Then one night she woke up to hear him moan in his sleep, he was tossing around sweating and showing obvious signs of distress. She shook him but he did not respond and she reacted by sheer instinct. Through their bond she could enter his mind and what she saw shocked her to the very core. No wonder why he had been so afraid of losing control, so desperate to keep everything as perfect as possible. She saw how his father had treated him like he was worthless and just a nuisance. She saw his desperate and heartbreaking attempts to get his father’s attention and love and she saw that horrible night when he had almost died. She saw it all, as if she was standing there as an invisible bystander and her heart was bleeding for him. She knew that his first wife would have noticed his nightmares but she had been unable to do anything about it. She had not been bonded with him. Nireariel was and gently she reached out to him, comforted his hurting fea and assured him that this was nothing but a memory, that it was the past and never would happen again. She felt how his soul sought hers, desperate and fearful and she embraced him and sang softly to him, erased the hurt and fear, showed him that there was no point in looking back at a past that was filled with sorrows and darkness. He had to turn his eyes towards the future for it was filled with hope and joy to come. Slowly she brought him with her out of the darkness and into the light and he drifted off into real sleep again. She knew that the nightmares never would haunt him again. He would of course remember the horrible things that had happened to him but it would never have the power to steal his strength and will again. He would be the master of his mind and memories and never again a slave of what had been ages ago. She embraced him and went to sleep again, she had healed his fea and felt very pleased with her own work. Best of all, he probably wouldn’t even be aware of what she had done, he would just notice that everything seemed so much brighter and better than before.
The years went, the royal couple was very happy and content but Nireariel waited for her belly to be filled with a new life and it never seemed to happen. Thranduil tried to reassure her that it would happen in due time but she started to feel a sensation of doubt. He had already been blessed with a son, what if the Valar thought that he didn’t deserve more offspring? Her doubt was painful to watch and her longing just grew over the years. Then the times got darker again, the old enemy had indeed awakened once more and the forest and the other realms were facing a threat greater than ever before. Legolas went to Imladris for a council and Thranduil was horrified when he heard that his son had joined the fellowship and were going to Mordor. He had nightmares again, this time it wasn’t his own past he saw but his son, dying before the gates of Mordor as his father had so long ago. He was beside himself with worry and he sought comfort in her arms whenever he could, only there did he feel safe and only when he was with her did he feel as if there still was hope left in this world. The realms joined their forces and the walls of Mordor crumbled and fell, the earth shook and opened itself and few knew that it was Thranduil’s powers which were behind much of this. When he learned that Legolas had survived the war he was beside himself with joy and just a few weeks later he got another set of good news. Nireariel had felt a bit strange lately and she had woken up one morning feeling so sick she had to find the chamber pot and make use of it before she puked all over the lovely bedding.
She went to Poicano who could congratulate her, it had finally happened and for a few weeks the realms was cheering like crazy. Nireariel was beaming with happiness and Thranduil was close to tears every time he laid eyes upon her. Their love was stronger than ever now. Legolas returned, he was going to return to Ithilien to rebuild the ruined land and he was going to bring many elves with him. But he wanted to wait until his sibling was born, he was just as excited as the rest of the elves there and Nireariel was starting to show and she felt blessed by the Valar. Then one day she was visited by the midwife she had chosen to help her during the pregnancy and through the birthing and the elleth looked a bit puzzled. She touched Nireariels belly gently and frowned. “My lady, are you sure that you haven’t conceived earlier than previously assumed? You are a bit big I would say.”
Nireariel was getting worried. “I am rather sure yes, I haven’t gotten confused. I am five months on the way.”
The midwife shook her head. “I can’t believe you, you are way too big, and you are carrying too high too.”
She took out a small trumped shaped instrument and placed it against Nireariels belly, listened carefully. She grinned, a wide and surprised grin. “My queen, my pardons, of course you are right! Congratulations, you have not one but two on the way!”
Nireariel gasped and her eyes got wide with shock. “Twins?!”
The midwife chuckled.”Yes, and they appear to be strong and healthy too”
Nireariel started to laugh and the midwife got nervous the shock had been too much for the queen, after all she was very young still. “My lady?”
Nireariel wiped some tears from her face. “Oh my, he is always exaggerating everything, this time he has really done it. Two! I can’t wait to see his face!”
Thranduil went pale, then he went red and then he almost went ballistic with joy. Twins were extremely rare among elves and he was bragging more than a little in the months to come. Nobody should ever doubt his ability to sire elflings again. Nireariel was suddenly being watched over by a horde of healers and midwives and she got a whole new set of rules to live by. She had lists of what she should or shouldn’t eat, what she could or couldn’t do and she was treated as if she was made from the finest porcelain. It made her annoyed but she accepted it, for Thranduils sake. He was so afraid that something should happen to her he would have carried her around the whole day long if he could. She got huge rather fast and had to stay in bed and although everybody was happy on behalf of the royal couple they were also worried. A twin birth was no easy walk in the park and when her time drew near many gathered to pray for her in the gardens. She went two whole weeks over her due day and the healers were beside themselves with worry, the birth started late one evening and Nireariel surprised them all by being very calm and in little pain. In fact it went a bit too smoothly to be natural. Poicano suspected that her own healing power was protecting her from the worst of the agony because it would have been a terribly hard birth otherwise. The first baby was rather big and it got stuck for a moment and they all feared the worst but they managed to get it out. It was a healthy boy and Nireariel was utterly in love with him the moment she saw the red wrinkled little face. The next used a little longer time to meet the world but it too was a rather big baby, there was no wonder she had been so big and felt like an elephant. It was a girl and Thranduil was allowed to enter the room now the babies had been born and were washed and placed in her arms. She still lay in the birthing chair waiting for the afterbirth to be born and she cried with joy and her tears were shared by her husband. He was very proud and felt like the richest creature alive watching his beautiful wife and healthy twins. The midwife sat waiting for the afterbirth and Nireariel groaned as a contraction went through her, she gasped for air. “Don’t worry my lady, it will be out soon and then we can clean you up and give you some stitches, they tore you up good.”
She panted and groaned again, it did not feel like just an afterbirth, it felt like she was pushing yet another baby out of her and she screamed as a very strong contraction shot through her. “That…is…not…the placenta! Oh Valar the pain!”
Thranduil was getting scared, the healers took the twins and placed them on a table and a second midwife rushed to tend to his wife. They started to examine her and their faces were white and filled with shock. They were about to witness something that never had happened among their race before. “There is another one!”
Thranduil just stared with his eyes huge as teacups. “What?!!”
The head midwife just nodded, they were rather busy all of a sudden. “Triplets, she has three elflings. The third must have been hiding behind the other two. We didn’t even hear a third heartbeat, I think this one is rather small, don’t get your hopes up too fast, it could be that this child won’t make it!”
Nireariel screamed again and again and nobody had the heart to tell her husband to leave the room, he was there the whole time, suffering with her. This third birth was hard, much harder than with the first two even though those babies had been big and this was tiny. It was as if this third child didn’t want to be born and when they finally pulled it out of her Nireariel was almost unconscious from fatigue and pain. It was a girl and rather small and nobody had ever seen a more beautiful baby ever. She met the world with a piercing cry of wrath and Nireariel knew that this child was a fighter.
All three of the babies would make it and when the news spread there was disbelief and joy in equal doses. Astar cried and wished that his Haldanare could have seen this, he spoke with Nireariel and she already had felt that the two twins carried the gift. But they did not seem to be cursed in any way and she started to get a strange and terrifying suspicion which slowly grew within her. The twins were perfect, healthy happy elflings without any flaws. Both had their fathers silvery blond hair and deep blue eyes. The girl on the other hand had her mother’s white hair but her skin was strangely dark and she had the piercing golden eyes of a cat. Something was not right with this child and she could look into the eyes of the beautiful little elfling and feel a sense of dread.
Then came the naming ceremony and they had decided to name the boy after Nireariel’s father, he was thus named Astarion and Astar was beaming with pride. The girl was named Raina since she was such a happy smiling little girl and she always faced everything in the same cheerful way. The last child they gave the name Ravenne which meant lioness, Nireariel had a sneaking suspicion that she would need a strong name, one which would protect her. A wise old elleth used to come to every naming ceremony to see the future of each child and for Astarion she could see only peace and prosperity with few sorrows and little toil. The same she could see for his twin sister, she would face more sorrow than him but her life would be a happy one. When little Ravenne was placed in the elleths arms she got quiet and when she finally spoke her voice cracked. “This child is touched by the shadows, what her siblings should have carried she has taken on herself, she is twice cursed as they are free, I cannot see her future cause it is hidden from me, all I see is darkness but do not despair. I see in her great strength and a fierce spirit, she will never surrender and never back down. Her path will be that of the sword, the way of the warrior and she will make you despair but also cause you greater pride and joy than the others. “
The old elleth kissed Ravennes white hair, “Hear me Valar, this is one so fierce she would storm right up to the throne of Manve himself and challenge you all, beware, for in her rests the strength of a dragon and the resilience of time itself,”
Thranduil and Nireariel were in shock by the old elleths words and the elleth smiled, a somewhat sad grin. “I am very old, among the first awakened by the fore fathers. I met Feanor once, and in this child I see the same wild spirit, the same free flame. Beware, she is already cursed, do not add to what once was, do not reawaken sleeping dragons. Let the lioness hunt alone, for that is her fate.”
Nireariel wept that evening, she had not anticipated to hear something like this but she sat down with the tiny babe in her arms and suckled her and knew that she already loved this child more than the other two. Why she did not know, but she suspected that her maternal instincts already knew that Ravenne would need her love more than the others. Thranduil had also bonded with the last born and he saw a strange kind of kinship in her which startled him. He saw a piece of himself in Ravenne which Raina and Astarion lacked. They were docile and mild of nature, in Ravenne he saw his warrior side and he prayed that the Valar would protect his daughter. Her path would be one covered with blood and turmoil and he would do whatever he could to protect her.
Nireariel was happy and content and so was he and when Legolas gave in to the calling of the sea and sailed west the three little ones helped ease Thranduils sorrow and grief. He did not want to leave this realm behind, his roots were there and the sea had never called to him as it had others. And so they stayed there while the other realms were abandoned, crumbled and were forgotten by all but the few elves who stayed behind.
Nireariel never had to use the curse again, she did not have to step in front of the dark angel once more and for that she was grateful. She and Thranduil were very happy together and as long as they stayed strong so did their realm. They did not want to leave middle earth, it was their home and although they missed the ones who had sailed they had each other and the three children who were growing and bringing them great joy. Then Nireariel conceived once more, and this time everybody knew that something was wrong rather fast. She was sick and got weaker and weaker and Thranduil was in despair. He could feel her pain and fear and although the two twins had inherited her song and could heal already they were not strong enough to help their mother. Ravenne was a hunter and she had become a strange and different young elleth who preferred her own company and she was already so skilled with blades and bow she could match her brother and father. Ravenne was the only one Nireariel confided in during these hard months, they had a very close relationship and the young huntress knew of her mother’s fear. Ravenne had taken the curses the twins should have carried to protect them, but what curses were they?
It became apparent the day Nireariel went into labor once more, she struggled and was in agony and the midwives could do nothing. The baby was too big and Nireariel too weak. It would not end well and Thranduil was close to a complete breakdown when Ravenne entered the room. The golden eyed elleth knelt by her mother’s side and placed her hand on her belly. Nireariel started to protest but to no prevail. Ravenne would not let her mother die. They all knew it then, Ravenne could not bring life through healing but she could kill, and kill she did. She took the life of the baby and saved her mother since they then could pull the unborn elfling out without having to worry about damaging it. Nireariel was in despair, she knew now that the curse her daughter carried was one far darker and more sinister than her own. It had been distilled and strengthened trough her siblings, and then made even stronger in her. To her the dark angel was a slave, a loyal servant. The huntress was born and Nireariel knew why the old elleth had mentioned Feanor who’s oath unleashed such bloodbaths they still were the stuff of nightmares. Ravenne had the potential to unleash hell once more, if she did not learn how to feel empathy and love she would become a monster and one nobody could hope to conquer. Not a dark lord this time but a queen to whom death was a servant.
The choice was so simple to make and yet so terribly hard. Nireariel was so weak she would fade if nothing was done and Thranduil feared for the sanity and future of his snow haired daughter. He could not leave them and he could not stand the thought of losing Nireariel so one morning in spring they all left what was left of Mirkwood and travelled west. They made boats and sailed and abandoned the realm and the world. They were the last elves to leave Arda and soon they became myths and legends and the remains of their homes crumbled and fell, brought down by time itself. Nireariel recovered in Aman and soon she was her own self again, joyful and loving and Thranduil loved her more than ever before. He missed their old life but knew that he had done the right thing, he had saved his family and if he felt bored and discontent he never told anyone He met his son again and many others he had lost and the peace and tranquility of the blessed realm seemed to calm even Ravenne down.
Little did anyone know that she one day would stand before an enemy nobody ever had imagined, that her skills would mean the difference between hope and ruin not only for Aman but also for the world of men and for a world yet unknown to anyone. The huntress would awaken once more and destiny would be decided by the tip of her blades. But it was yet in a future far away and the ellon who had been a king and his lady of snow had many centuries of happiness ahead before darkness once more reared its ugly head.
The end

This story will have a sequel, In a land of shadows. I plan on starting writing it rather soon as it is possessing my thoughts to the brink of insanity. Being overly creative is not fun when you can’t sleep due to an overload of ideas. But, I should not complain, my poor partner is suffering from a composers block so if anyone knows of a method one can use to transplant creativity from one person to another tips are welcome J
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Hearts of fire, souls of ice