D/C: I do not own nor profit from JRR Tolkiens works or characters
A/N: I am reworking and making minor adjustments to this story. There will be a chapter later on highlighting the post-published changes I have made to the story.
Wherever you go, go with all your heart - Confucius
Beriadanwen looked up to the ceiling of her apartment. The sun leaked in here and there through the green lacey curtains she had hung just weeks before. Wafting through the air, the smell of freshly brewed coffee beckoned to her. "Good morning sleepy, do you want to wake up now?" She smiled inter her pillow as Adam peeked his head into the room.
"Mm, no, I don't want to get up." Berri dug her face into the pillow smiling.
"Would you get up for a nice cup of coffee?" Berri giggled into her pillow, knowing he would have been as sweet as to bring her coffee in bed. This was the cup of coffee she needed just to get out of bed and get a cup of coffee.
She had been worn out from so many weeks of planning her wedding. Four years ago, she had met the love of her life. Or so she had hoped. She was worried about living the rest of her life with him, as they had their trials and tribulations throughout the relationship. But alas, he was a kind man, a gentle man, and knew so much about her, she felt as though they would be able to spend their lives out in perfect harmony. She was only the tender age of twenty two, so young, she thought. But if not now then when? He had a good job as a critical care nurse, and she had found her calling as a medic.
Even though she was young, she started her classes at the age of sixteen at a community college so she could attend the program for paramedic. While she shadowed at a local trauma center, she met Adam. He was working in the emergency department at the time. She was taken with his wit and sense of humor, even though he would be stressed about his patients. They began taking their friendship outside of the hospital, and remained that way for two years. At eighteen, she entered her course, and found herself doing a rotation at his ER. By the time she graduated, she had found a job across the state, and took the opportunity to start her life fresh independently.
Berri and Adam talked almost every day on the phone. She shared her frustrations with him, and he would vent to her about the goings-on's around the unit. He had moved from the ER up to an ICU floor, hoping it would be a little slower, with more reasonable hours. It was the beginning of winter, around the first snowfall when she got a call from him. It was the same as any other day in fact. They laughed and talked, and they pondered aloud to one another. A knock on the door interrupting their conversation sent her into happy tears. Staring back at her was Adam, staying the winter with her, having gotten a job at the hospital there in her new town.
Their accommodations were only to be brief with one another. He would stay until he found his own place, but, along the way, they found themselves sharing a room more and more, and the flirting becoming more serious. Their romance was a whirlwind, working through her long hours on the ambulance, and his infidelities (she was firm on saving herself for marriage,) they had almost lost the relationship many times, but they endured. Now two years later, they were on the verge of getting married.
She rolled out of bed vehemently, overdramatizing her disdain for having to be anywhere other than her warm cozy bed. Today, she and Adam were going out on his father's yacht with his mom and her parents. Berri always enjoyed when they were able to get together, since her sisters never really showed much interest in her life, and his brothers weren't around enough to take an interest in his. Shuffling through the house in little more than a tank top and a pair of underwear, she finished off her cup and started a new one.
"We need a coffee tree for you." He smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. "But as much as I would love to keep you here in my arms, in those panties, we have to get ready to go. So hop in the shower and get ready, we will have plenty of time for that later." He smiled evilly at her. She gave him a soft smile, before turning to their bathroom.
The water came was warm, breaking through her black, thick long full bodied hair. The foamy body wash left her smelling of the purest rose. From the bottom of her feet, up her long slender legs, to her full hips and lean core, above and below her round breasts and down her lean, strong arms, she rinsed away the suds, and greeted her new day officially. She had to thank her father for his years of putting her into athletic activities for the body she had now, though as she looked at herself, she felt inadequate.
"Berri, sweetie, now that you've depleted our nearest reservoirs, are you going to get out soon? We need to get ready to go." Adam urged her, tapping his fingers on the bathroom counter.
Berry walked back to the room drying off. The sun was brighter, scattering over the light gray carpet and her dark blue bedding. She sat down and dressed in a yellow flowing dress and sandal flats.
"Do you have your bag packed up?" Adam asked from the kitchen between mouthfuls of cereal.
"Yes honey, my bag is all packed for the night." She made sure that she had her extra changes of clothes and shoes for the next day. After pulling her hair back in a loose high bun and dabbing on a small amount of makeup, she gave herself a reassuring look and nodded. Now she was ready to go.
Traffic was light, as they drove down the freeway. They were a few hours out from the ocean, and Berri leaned back in the seat of her fiancé's truck for most of the ride. She always liked looking out at her surroundings when she drove. That is what always gave her such a good sense of direction. She used to joke that her mother mated with a messenger pigeon because her sense was so good… Once she had been there once of course. No, her sense came from remembering her surroundings.
The couple arrived at the ocean sooner than she had expected. His father worked for a software company, and his mother was a realtor, so it was no wonder they were able to afford such a nice yacht. She watched it bob in the slip they rented as they found a parking spot. The sun beamed overhead, and the waters were calm. They were meeting up away from the main beaches that were crowded. While the day was fair and calm, she could not help but to be hurt that her sisters, Arya and Miriel would be missing the biggest day of her life thus far, and even this chance to get to know his family before the wedding.
"There is my father's boat. That is what we will be going out on today. The worst part will be the reef, but, that's alright, when we get over it, it will be smooth sailing." Adam took his loves hand, guiding her towards the dock before they boarded the vessel. "Hello?" He called out.
"Adam! My dear boy!" An older man swiftly came and extended his arms to the son. He was clearly ready for the sailing weather, as he had on khaki cargo shorts, and cap to keep the son from his eyes. They looked much alike. Both had strong jaw lines, and dark eyes, black hair, though his father's hair was more of a salt and pepper. Both were tall, taller than Berri, standing close to 6 foot 2 inches.
"And Berri, you grow more beautiful every time I see you, if I must say so. Your parents arrived an hour ago." He took Berri by the shoulders and drew her into him, holding her with regard. Berri returned the hug before going below to set her bag down and greet her parents.
Adam was right, the worst part was getting through the reef, and he was right, it was smooth sailing after that. They all sat down for lunch, as the captain took the ship further out to sea. On the aft was a covered kitchenette and dining area. There were drinks and plates of food to go around. When the meal was well underway, conversation turned to the soon to be wed couple.
"So, tell me, where are you going for your honeymoon?" Berri's mother, Turwethiel asked. Her father, Nibenon sipped his wine. He was not as excited about his daughters union as his wife was, but was tasteful enough not to show it in the presence of the family. It was unlikely they knew what had transpired during the course of their relationship, but he knew, and was less than thrilled to think he would have to walk his daughter down the aisle and give her to this man.
"Well, we have thought of places such as France, and Italy, or maybe even Egypt, but we have also thought of the Bahamas, and Hawaii. I think Hawaii is an overrated destination, but, who knows, we might end up there." Adam held onto Berri's hand, smiling at her. He knew it made her father upset, but he also knew that Berri would not, or maybe could not tell him no at this point. Anger flashed in Nibenon's eyes.
"Berri, might I be able to speak to you privately?" He stood up. Confused, Berri followed her father down below. He had been contemplating this moment since they received the invitation from Adam's parents to join them for an overnight stay on their yacht. He and his wife had made a deal, but it was now time to realize that the elements had changed, and the deal had to change with it. It was a painful decision, and one that he could not explain now to his youngest child, but it was one that he hoped would be best for her. He heard the door close behind her before turning to address her.
"Berri. My dear Berri. My love for you is far stronger than what you may know, but, I cannot allow you to go through with this arrangement." Her father began to pace in what small space was available.
"What do you mean?" Berri stood, defiant.
"You are not meant for this man. He will not treat you the way you deserve, I know this much." He hung his head. "I only want what is best for you, and I know that this man is not it!" He frowned, looking at his upset child.
"But we love each other dad! He is good to me, you just won't see that!" She raised her voice at him. It was rare when she ever did, and it made her feel terrible. She loved her father deeply, and could not imagine a better father in the world, so to find herself yelling in anger at him killed her, and shamed her at once.
"My child, please. That man has only treated you in a passing way. He might smile at you, and talk kind words, but to disrespect you by infidelity is absurd and does not make him a good man! He not only disrespects you, but disrespects your mother and I by betraying your love and your trust! If you will not hear me, then I must show you." He watched as Berri's face twisted momentarily in disgust and pain. He knew it was a sore spot for her, and one he had hoped he wouldn't have to touch to get her to realize who she was marrying, but he could not sit idly by.
Berri suppressed her tears as much as she could, thinking about the first second and the last time she had found out he had cheated on her. The feelings of anguish and insecurity came back to hit her full force.
Berri ran back upstairs with tears burning in her eyes. She had turned to her parents for support when Adam had admitted what he had done. It took all of her fathers strength to not go to her home and fight Adam on the spot. She had hoped that they had moved past the incidents so they could marry in peace and start a new chapter in their lives, but it would seem her father was not too keen on having him in the family after all. They were on the other side of the yacht, out of earshot of the others as her father came up behind her with her leather knapsack.
"Beriadanwen, you are more than you will ever believe. So now, I must act on a deal I made with your mother long ago. I want you to take these." He placed two boxes into her bag and zipped it back up. "You will need these before the end, but I hope you hearken to them sooner than later." He kissed his daughters forehead, and looked at her one last time, before she went limp.
With great pain, Turwethiel kept the hosts attentions as she heard something drop over the side of the balcony. She knew what her husband had done, and she knew why. Though she had her own feelings about the decision, she did not blame her husband for acting now. Perhaps they had made their decisions too soon, and perhaps they wouldn't have made it if they had known how things here would have turned out.
"Berri!" Nibenon yelled over the edge. "Berri, no!" He clung to the edge as clouds gathered around quickly overhead. "My daughter, she has fallen! Where is she!?" They all looked frantically over the railing, trying to find any glimpse of the fallen girl, but none were found. Adams father radioed for help furiously, trying to get assistance with their search. The waves picked up, chopping the water and heaving the boat to and fro, making any attempt to enter the water futile. But Beriadanwen, was safe, floating down, down, down into the darkness, with seeds, a bag, and tokens of her father.