To Love a Mortal

A story after LOTR: The Third Age.

Berethor woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the soft, faint sounds of the rivers flowing through Imladris, and rolled over to his side and smiled softly. He always loved to wake up his beautiful wife, Idrial. She was always such a magnificent sight to him, with her sparkling emerald eyes, her soft pale skin, pink rosy lips, and her golden hair that shines brighter than the sun when in the light. Berethor moved a lock of hair out of her face and gently kissed her lips as she started to wake up.

"Good morning, Love.", he said when she opened her eyes and Idrial, still wanting to sleep, grabbed the nearest pillow and covered her face with it.

"I am still asleep, go away.", came a muffled response and she lifted her hand to swat her husband playfully but before she could touch him, he caught her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

"What about now?", he as with a smirk and grabbed the pillow off of Idrial's face, out of her hands, and chuckled when she groaned in defeat.

"I ask again, are you awake now?", he asked again, earning a mock glare from his wife.

"Yes, I am awake!", Idrial said in mock anger.

Berethor and Idrial both jumped a little after they heard a cry from the next room. It was there two year old daughter, Beriadanwen, and they knew right away that she wanted attention, and wanted it now. Idrial decided she was the one who was going to take care of her, and got out of bed to walk over to their daughter's room. When she got in, the small girl was gripping the wooden bars of her crib, still crying, but when her mother picked her up, she calmed right down.

"Good morning, Beri.", Idrial said, calling the child by her nick name.

"Nana!", the child cried happily at her mother.

Idrial smiled and brought her daughter in to her and Berethor's chamber with her, and handed the girl to her father, who was now out of his night clothes and in a tunic and leggings.

Berethor smiled and kissed Beri's nose. "Hello, little one."he said and she bounced in his arms excitedly. "Are you hungry?" he asked, and she nodded. "Alright then.", he said and stood up off of the bed, the child still in his arms.

Berethor noticed Idrial was leaning against the wall, looking paler than usual, and he gave her a worried look.

"I have to go.", Idrial said, covering her mouth with her hand, rushing out of the room and down the hall while Berethor ran after her.

"Idrial!", he shouted. She was to much in a hurry to listen and he stopped running and watched her, wondering what was the matter with her.

"I hope she is alright.", he said looking at Beriadanwen after his wife was out of sight, but he had said it more to himself than to his daughter.

"Nana?", Beri said softly.

To be continued...