DISCLAIMER: With the exception of a few insignificant minor characters, none of this is mine. Please don't sue.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, it's another cheesy rendition of the Celeborn/Galadriel story, but there's also lots of action, adventure, drama, and even a bit of comedy. Most of my stuff tends to be pretty well rounded. Pour a glass of wine with that cheese and start reading.
Chapter One
The sound of three merry voices filled the air of the edges of the forest just outside the walls of Menegroth, capital city of the fair country of Doriath. In times like these, it was rare occurrence to hear sounds of joy. Their happiness stemmed from their recent triumph over Morgoth, the Great Enemy of Middle-earth. Morgoth was not yet defeated, but his enemies emerged victorious from a crucial battle. However, there was more to this victory than coming out on top. It gave the free peoples of Middle-earth hope. Morgoth was powerful, but not invincible. Their success in the battle proved that they could also be triumphant in the war against him.
"So what happens now?" inquired one of the three. She was Luthien, daughter of Thingol, King of Doriath. She was an Elf, beautiful beyond words, and stories of her loveliness would be told throughout the ages.
One of her two companions, Beren, the son of Barahir, spoke the reply. "It is difficult to say," he answered. "This was a critical victory for our cause. Now that it has been shown that Morgoth is not invulnerable, it will be a great inspiration for the peoples of Middle-earth." Beren's father, Barahir, had recently been slain in the war against the Enemy. Beren himself had almost fallen alongside his father, but Finrod, ruler of the mighty Elven kingdom of Nargothrond, had taken the deadly arrow meant for him, sacrificing himself for the human.
"Someday, we will triumph over all evil," added the final member of their trio, an Elf by the name of Celeborn. "Our recent accomplishment proves this goal is not unfeasible."
Luthien's dark head nodded. "Let us hope so."
They walked in silence for a few minutes, basking in the afterglow of the recent victory. Celeborn soon decided to depart from their presence, as he sensed an unspoken desire from Luthien to be alone with Beren. He and Luthien had been raised together. She was not his sister, but they considered themselves siblings, and she may as well have been. He could read her thoughts as if they were his own. "I think I shall go over to the palace and make sure plans for the next assault on Morgoth are in order," he said, speaking the first excuse that came to mind. "Please excuse me."
Beren turned to Luthien as Celeborn left their company. "'Plans for the next assault'?" he repeated.
Luthien just smiled.
Beren smiled, too, as he was filled with comprehension. "There are no plans for the next assault, are there?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she turned her body so she was facing him and put her hands on his shoulders. They held each other's gaze for a few seconds, then kissed.
A noise from behind interrupted their moment. It was snapping sound, like a twig had been stepped on. But instead of a twig, it sounded more like a tree. Beren drew his sword from its sheath and stepped in front of Luthien. "Stay behind me," he instructed.
Luthien was not unarmed. A blade hung at her belt, crafted by her race so it was as light as it was strong. She withdrew the weapon from its holding and held it, ready to attack if called upon. A deep sense of foreboding filled the Elf. Something evil was nearby; she could feel it. Beren was a mighty warrior, and she herself was not one to be trifled with, but she had the feeling that even their combined skills could not easily defeat this unseen foe.
"We cannot do this alone," Luthien whispered. "We need help. We have to get inside Menegroth."
The walls of her city were less than a hundred feet away, but Beren did not think it wise to move. If they did, it would attract attention to themselves. "Don't move," he whispered back. "Stay as still as you can."
For a full minute, they were as statues, frozen in time. The air was as silent as death. Finally, Beren hissed through clenched teeth, "Run!"
She didn't need to be told twice. She took off at full sprint toward the walls, Beren right behind her. At that moment, a giant beast leapt out of the forest. It resembled a wolf, but it was three times the size of an ordinary wolf. Flames leapt from its nostrils, eyes, and mouth. Not even the light could defend them from this demon; its thick black coat protected it from the rays of the sun. It spotted its prey, then charged.
Thinking fast, Beren grabbed Luthien and threw himself on top of her, causing both of them to fall to the ground. The wolf did not have enough time to stop and ran over the top of them. As it did, Beren took his sword and shoved the blade into the creature's belly. It howled in pain, then turned to face the one who dared to attack it.
Beren stood, his sword black and dripping from the wolf's blood. The beast did not wait to charge him again. It leapt over Luthien, and its great paws landed on Beren's shoulders, knocking him over with the force. Beren dropped his sword in the fall, but still had his wit to aid in his defense. He rolled to the side and out from under the wolf's legs. Once free, he struggled to his feet. However, his demonic foe kept coming, and quickly had him pinned on the ground once again.
Beren struggled to keep the wolf's flaming jaws away from his throat. The fire stung his fingers, but he was able to endure the pain to prevent worse. "Luthien!" he called to his companion. "Run! Get help!"
"I won't leave you!" Luthien responded, seizing her own weapon and leaping on to the wolf's back. The pain of her Elven blade piercing its thick flesh caused the creature to howl in pain. For a few seconds, it was distracted from the human, and turned its attention to the Elf maid with the small but bothersome weapon.
Luthien took several steps back, keeping her weapon hoisted and her eyes locked with the wolf's. Beren recollected himself and grabbed his sword. He drove the blade into the wolf's massive body. It wheeled around, forgetting about the Elf and concentrating fully on the human. Black blood mixed with fire oozed from its jaws, and it let out a vicious snarl before charging.
The wolf was on top of him once again. Its fangs found flesh, and it tore open Beren's throat. Luthien screamed in horror when she saw her love being slaughtered. Mad from pain, she tightened her grip on the handle of her weapon and charged the wolf again. She forced the blade into the flesh of its neck. It howled and jerked to the side, causing Luthien to stumble backwards. It began to rush her, but she was ready.
The blade of her weapon met flesh between the wolf's two fiery eyes, penetrating its full length. It let out a cry and reared its neck. The handle was yanked out of Luthien's hand, and she was left to face the demon without a physical weapon. But she was an Elf, and like other Elves, she had been gifted with special powers. She began to utter sacred words, and could feel the energy flowing through her fingers. However, the wolf recovered before she could finish, and it lunged at her, taking her torso in its jaws. The power left her, and she was helpless.
The wolf tossed its head and released Luthien from his mouth. She flew through the air and landed several feet from Beren. She struggled to sit up, a task that proved to be next to impossible. Blood was flowing out from many wounds over her body, taking life with it. Her pain was great, but she was not dead yet. Not dead yet, Luthien told herself. If she was going to die, then she was going to die fighting alongside her love.
Beren, surprised that he was still alive, cried out in pain as the wolf's claws ripped open the flesh of his chest. It was about to take him in its jaws, but an arrow hit it in the neck. The sudden pain distracted it, and the wolf let out an angry roar. It turned to face this new enemy, but did not get very far, as another arrow in its neck caused it to fall back several feet. Before it could recover, another arrow pierced its eye.
Luthien had closed the distance between her and Beren. She laid his head in her lap, and tears streaming down from her face fell onto his and caused his eyes to open. "Beren," she said, "don't leave me."
He gazed up at her longingly, then, with his dying breath whispered, "I love you." Following his statement, his eyes closed, and his body went limp as all life left him.
Luthien could feel her own life slipping away from her, and the death of Beren did not help to ease her pain or aid her will to live. "No…"
Five arrows later, the wolf slumped to the ground and lay still, dead at last. Its slayer dropped his weapons and rushed over to Luthien and the lifeless Beren. "Is he…"
Luthien nodded, but even that was an effort as her strength left her. "I'm not going to make it, Celeborn," she said, her voice as weak as her body.
"Don't say that," Celeborn responded, reaching for her. "You cannot leave us, Luthien."
Her head rolled to the side as she lost her strength to support it, and her body slumped over. Celeborn caught her and pulled her toward him. "It is over," Luthien said. "My love is dead, and I shall be dead beside him before another minute has passed. Good-bye, dear brother. Good-bye."
He began to protest, but stopped when her body went limp. Grief seized his heart and tears stung his eyes. In a choked whisper, he spoke her name. She did not respond. His breathing quickened, and he was filled with feelings of helplessness and despair. He was too slow. If only he had gotten here sooner, he could have helped them. He could have saved them. But because he didn't get there in time, they were dead.
"Luthien?" he tried again, hoping that by some miracle she would be able to hear him. "Beren? No. This can't be happening. No…
"Luthiennnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!"