Chapter 1

Castle in the Sand

S.A. 570

'Now the sun is sleeping

And the moon shines overhead

Come magic creatures creeping

Around your little bed

But be not afraid my child

For you are their creator

Out of your dreams they're styled

As beautiful as their maker

They dance about on silent feet

As lightly as a feather

In rhythm with the unheard beat

Then bowing all together

And all the while I watch you

Amazed by your perfection

No length I wouldn't go to

To give you my protection

I wonder if you know

How much you mean to me?

This love that through me flows

Is deeper than the sea

I soar every time you smile

And worry whenever you cry

So here I shall stay awhile

Just to be by your side

But all too soon the dawn arrives

And hence the spell is breaking

Your creature friends must say goodbye

Before you are awaking

One final dance and then they're gone

Beyond this world once more

The echo of their parting song

Now fades out through the door

Yet in their wake, birds start to sing

To ease you from sleep

So delay no more my young sweetling

The world is at your feet'

Elarinya's voice drifted off as she ran her fingers through her daughter's dark hair as she leaned back against Maglor's chest. The sun, low in the sky, casting its last rays of light across the land, the wind causing shadows to dance upon the ground.

"Maglor, how do we help her?" She whispered, closing her eyes. Aeroniel was now in her twentieth year, and they had been long years for everyone. She grew both physically and mentally as she should. Every day she grew stronger, grew smarter. She could speak the native language of the Lossoth, Avarin, common tongue, and Quenya. But she could not read and could not write. She was not blind, but she also did not see the ways others did, and she struggled to describe how she did see, but she could not. It frustrated her, it frustrated them.

Kissing her lightly on her head, he replied, "I do not know." He wrapped his arms around her waist, breathing in the sweet rich scent of her. Maglor could not help but think this was punishment for his sins. The Valar had allowed him to love, given him a greater gift than he could ever repay, but they hurt his daughter. Day by day his resentment grew, his hate and anguish returning. Why would they punish his daughter? She was innocent of the crimes of her father, she did not deserve the fate bestowed upon her. How would she survive, how could she be happy in such a world? Never would she see the tender buds of spring, watch them bloom as the harsh winter winds leave. She will never see the snow that covers the ground in winter, sparkling in the sun, nor the birds and animals that roam the land. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks as he held his family close.

…

The next morning, they were on the beach, letting Aeroniel play in the sea and sand. After the frustration of the day before, they wanted her to feel like a normal child. She played contentedly along the shore, building a castle from the sand. Elarinya and Maglor watched from their blanket further up the beach, taking in joy in the rare time of peace their daughter found.

Her little voice broke their revere as they watched her bound back to them. It was not uncommon for her to do so. While she was quite an independent elfling, she also clung to them from her insecurities. Her moods could shift like the tide depending on her surroundings. Aeroniel flung herself into her father's arms.

"What is it my little one?" He chuckled as he ruffled her hair, her little arms gripped his legs tightly.

"There are strange people on the cliff." Came her muffled reply as she buried her head in his chest.

They both froze, bodies tensing. Looking up, they saw of whom their daughter spoke, only they were not people, the Valar had come. Standing, Maglor lifted his daughter in his arms and offered his hand to his mate. Together, they stood a united front as the Valar descended upon them.

They bowed their heads as the Valar stopped before them. Aeroniel, curiosity getting the better of her, removed her head from her father's chest and looked at the strange people before her. They stood near eight feet tall at least, they dwarfed her father, of whom she thought of as a mountain. But that was all she could make out. Colors danced before her eyes shooting out from their outline, disrupting the area around them. She scrunched her forehead, angry and frustrated.

Oromë spoke, his voice just as Elarinya remembered it from so long ago. "Much anger and resentment I sense." He paused and Maglor opened his mouth to speak, but the Vala held up a hand, silencing him before he even began. "You believe your daughter's sight is a punishment for your sins, Maglor son of Fëanor."

Elarinya jerked her head up to look at her mate, seeing the truth in his eyes that he never voiced. She kept her hurt to herself, knowing he saw it in her eyes.

"She is not blind and there is nothing wrong with her eyes, she just does not see the world as the rest." He gently cupped the elfling's cheek, studying her intently. "She sees energy fields and auras." He removed his hand, "She just needs to learn how to see and she will be unstoppable."

"Tell me Aeroniel, how do you know who your parents amongst the others?"

She furrowed her brow thinking about the question the strange man asked. Not sure how to answer, she had never thought about it before. She just knew them, they stood out to her. She Looked at her parents, noting the differences. Their forms were clearly defined to her eyes. The shape of their bodies flashed before her eyes as a silvery-grey, the energy their souls put out radiated around them.

"I see them as silver-grey figures, but there is light that streams from them, separating them from everything else. Adar, he surrounded in dark murky red that is streaked with forest green most of the time. Naneth, she is a mix of light yellow and green."

"And you see that clearly?" Oromë asked.

"Yes."

"How do you see me?"

"I cannot, your shape is fuzzy, and colors are jumping all around ... you make my head hurt." She replied with the honesty only a child could. The Valar smiled.

"Do not focus on the colors, focus on me, my whole body. Notice whatever arises, but do not focus on it, just take it in as it comes."

Aeroniel did as she was told, watching in awe as the colors died down, wrapping themselves around the form before her as he became clear. Like with her parents, "You are clear, surrounded in green and purple, with streaks of all other colors seeping through."

"Very good my child, no more lessons for today, go finish your castle."

She wasted no time in obeying, rushing from her father's arms to go practice her new-found ability. While her parents stared after her in amazement.

"How did you know how to teach her to see?" Elarinya asked, unable to tear her gaze away from her daughter.

"Because it is how I see being the huntsman of the Valar and Tulkas the champion. By seeing the energy of all living things, we have the ability to predict the movements of everything from the greatest foe to the smallest leaf blowing in the wind and the ants upon the ground. The energy is ever changing as one's thoughts or by the action of others. Should I decide to raise my arm, my energy changes, there is a shift in that energy before I ever move my arm."

"Why does she have to see this way? Why can she not be normal?" Elarinya cried.

The Valar regarded her solemnly. "You, Elarinya of the Avari come from strong and ancient blood, already you are gifted with animals, binding them to you, able to see through thier eyes. You are the Princess to the Avari and your mate, though in exile, is a Prince of the Noldor and also of the strongest elven blood. You were bound to have exceptional children. Your daughter will be, and is your redemption Maglor, son of Fëanor."

He turned to face Maglor, "We were never deaf to your cries son of Fëanor. Great and many are your sins, but never were you forsaken, you were made for one another and your daughter could be one of the greatest among elves."

"Upon her majority she will inherit your gift Elarinya and another unique to herself. There is darkness brewing again in Middle Earth, Sauron is gaining strength, and will soon look to finish his master's work. Soon, his darkness will be felt even in the most remote reaches. There are few who know his evils better and those of his predecessor."

"Are you telling us the fate of Middle Earth will rest in our daughter's hands?" Maglor asked, both awed and angry as he watched his daughter build her castle. How could they ask such of an elfling? Even though he knew she would not stay that way forever.

"Not solely, but she plays a large role, without her, much could be lost...with her, many can be saved." Tulkas finally spoke, "Which is why we have come. To bring hope and knowledge. Do not fear for your daughter, for she shall be well prepared for what is to come, and for her destiny. It will not be an easy road, though rarely is anything in life worth obtaining," He added, eyeing them knowingly.

"On her fiftieth birthday, we shall return. We shall teach her all she needs to know. Your oaths to not again pick up a sword were heard, and we will not ask that you break them. I will teach her the ways of war and battle and Oromë of the hunt. You will continue to teach her the ways of the world and the things to hold most dear." Tulkas informed them as they began to fade from view.

Maglor pulled Elarinya close to him, holding her close as they watched Aeroniel continue her castle, obliviously to how close she was to losing her innocence. Silent tears glistened on their cheeks as Maglor's voice rose in song, drifting along the waves.

'For all of our toil, all of our plans
Castles are built in the sand
And after the storm, after the waves
Together we'll build it again

It's not for the castle, not for the sand
Not for the view from sea to land
It's for a smile that you can bring
It's just to build a beautiful thing

The hurricane came just in a day
The life that we knew washed away
I watched as my hopes disappeared in the sand
Until I saw one outstretched hand

It's not for the castle, not for the sand
Not for the view from sea to land
It's for the people, the care you can bring
It's just to build a beautiful thing

As much as I've mourned possessions that passed
Castles may not always last
Built for the process, not for forever
Built for the love we're building together

It's not for the castle, not for the sand
Not for the view from sea to land
It's for the people, the care you can bring
To live is to build a beautiful thing.'

A/N: The first credit goes to artist Eurielle The Magic Lullaby and the second song is credited to Muriel Anderson Castles in the Sand.

Also, previously, this had be part of my other story, Call of the Sea, however, I had always planned for it to be a Novella and after much debate, decided that Aeroniel deserved her our story and her past up to the LOTR. Please R&R! I love to hear your thoughts and opinions!