A/N: This story is set up in parts instead of chapters, because I don't think the chapters are long enough by themselves. Not that that has anything to do with story. Now what does have to do with the story—

Amil/Mamil is Mother/Mommy

Atar is Father

Yende, caure lá. is Daughter, fear not.

And just in case it is not clear, Iléyena's father is from the House of Fëanor, mother from the House of Finarfin.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkien's brilliant work.

Chapter One

My amil said that I was fortunate to have seen the light of Valinor, and the Two Trees shining forth in unparalleled majesty. Atar said I am fortunate for we will soon be leaving this land. There are ships, he says to me, to carry us back to the land from whence we came, the Hither Lands that he does not remember, and that Amil never knew.

I sat on our table where Atar placed me; my feet dangling over the edge. My eyes watched as my small legs kicked at the bottom of my purple dress, causing it to move as if in the wind, but my ears listened to the angry words of my parents.

My atar hurried through our house, as he tried to collect my amil so we may go. I understood enough to know we would not be returning, but still, I did not know why. The wisdom of the Eldar had yet to find me.

"This home has ever been our haven, when did it turn into our prison? Your judgment is clouded with lies of the rightly named Black Foe," Amil said to Atar, making no effort to hide her disgust at the events that had surrounded us.

"Your Lord also makes to leave, not only our new king. You asked me to abide here, by the wisdom of Nolofinwë, and judgment of Arafinwë, when I made ready to follow King Finwë, and so I did. Now I make ready to follow their decisions again, but still you wish to stay."

"Have you listened not to the words of our self-proclaimed High King, or just not heard their mirroring of Melkor's words?"

"Speak not the accursed name, Nenailin!" Atar shouted, resentment strong in his voice.

Atar had never before raised his voice to Amil like this, and I stopped the game with my dress to watch. My parents each stared in silence at the other, my amil's blue eyes bore into Atar's grey, but he looked away from the fury of her gaze.

"Stay then, if you will," he voiced, his tone less harsh, though no less resolved. "But Iléyena will come with me."

I did not move upon hearing this. Leave home was all we were meaning to do, never leave behind Nenailin too! But when Atar came to collect me in his arms, I could make no movement.

Amil reached me first; she picked me off the table and held me protectively against her breast.

"You will not part her from me."

I buried my face into her soft, golden hair, her voice frightening me so. Atar did not end his decision there.

"You have then no choice but to come," he told her.

In her shock at his response, I felt Amil's arms grow loose around me, and Atar pulled me from her lax hold, cradling me himself.

In a final attempt to disdain Atar from his course, Amil looked to him and proclaimed, "Nothing good will come from this," her voice displaying the wisdom of her life.

But Atar would not hear her. "Now is when we will depart," was all the reply he gave to her.

Chapter Two

We were stopped only briefly by a messager of the Valar, but King Fëanáro paid him no heed. We would shortly be in Alqualondë, but there was talk of not sailing. Many believed that the Teleri would not give up their ships, but others, like Atar, said they would not refuse.

They did refuse.

Amil cursed Fëanáro and his sons as Atar moved to join them in arms. I understood not what that meant, and watched Atar closely as Amil tried to shield me. My eyes grew wide and I screamed when I saw a sharp blade of the Noldor slice through the stomach of another Elf. I looked at Atar, and saw blood drip from his blade as well.

It was all a blur, the screams of terror and agony, the crimson blood blending with the shore's pale sand, the cries of war, Amil grasping my arms to pull me with her nearer her Lord. I could not tell how it began, or when it ended, but soon, all was over. 'Soon' passed slower than a lifetime as Atar walked back to us, blade in hand, and I cowered upon seeing it, shining red in the starlight.

"Yende," Atar said, "caure lá." He gently tucked my hair behind my ear. I looked onto him with more courage in my grey eyes, but no less fear in my heart. He tried to touch my face again, but Amil pulled me from his reach.

"Touch not my daughter!"

"Nenailin-"

"I will not hear this! What justice can ye find for raising blade against your kin?"

Atar paused. "I have no justice you will hear."

Chapter Three

Amil wept for the Noldor's wretched souls as she carried me aboard a waiting ship. I cried for what Amil called the loss of my innocence. Atar walked behind us, gently rubbing one of my small hands in both of his larger ones. He spoke no word, though my mind tried to cover its emptiness by waiting to hear him say, "Hush now, Iléyena," as he had when the Unlight of Ungoliant clouded my vision.

But no comfort did I find with him now. If he would turn his blade against his kin, then what of Amil and me? Never would he seem the same to me.

My arm latched tightly about Amil's neck when I moved, and I pulled my hand from Atar's. My tears suddenly ceased to flow as I looked back at the land I had once known. The shores were stained with bodies and blood, which mixed into Lord Ulmo's clear, blue sea. Seabirds choked in the air as lament, and some of their feathers dripped red as they flew. Fish who swam where the slaughter was greatest began to float, and I cried again.

I looked away from the battle scene, unable to scan the mourning faces of the great Teleri, and looked upon Taniquetil. I could not remember such darkness before, no light save the stars above, but I could still remember its fair, purple hue, adorned in green as Silver and Gold light mixed; the shining blue of the palace of Manwë, and Varda his Queen, I could still see as his sapphires twinkled in her dim light.

The last time I was there on the mountainside, the last time I would stand there, sitting upon Atar's shoulders as he climbed up with Amil at his side, I never would have believed…