A young elfling, only seventeenwinters behind her, huddled in the corner of her home, watching as her mother and father embraced a final time. Tears rolled down her face unchecked, for she was worrying already for her Adar. Her arms lifted immediately as he came to her, wrapping them around his neck as he hugged her tightly. As Maieron pressed a kiss to her moist cheek, he spoke words of love, of the time they will see one another again.
"Take care of your nanneth for me, promise?" At her solemn nod, he gave her another hug and set her down, his lips lingering in the silver of her hair before he is gone, the brilliance of his armor and the strength of his sword leaving his wife and daughter behind.
As she turned her head to look at her nanneth, who was bent shouldered with either fear, grief, or both, she moved over, her tiny feet making no noise on the floor of the only home she'd known. Reaching up, her small hand laid itself to Selastas' arm only for her entire frame to be engulfed by her mothers embrace.
"I love you, Maie, my darling daughter. Remember that always and forever, until the very end of our days." Hands that had never been anything but gentle and loving touched her cheeks, forcing the child's overly large pewter colored eyes to lift to orbs of the exact color looking back at her. They shared an embrace, the love that flowed from each equal, a mother to child returned with a child's whole and unquestionable emotions.
"Do not leave me Nana, please." The miniscule voice held strength in it despite its youth. The plea in her voice was strong and broke the elder elf's heart, for she knew that, should they find a way out of the city, her daughter would never see her father again. Celebrimbor had already been slain and now the hunt was on for the remaining smiths.
"Come, Maiestas, we must go now through the tunnels." Turning, she kept hold of the small hand she found and pulled it, grabbing a bag she passed.
Maiestas kept up with her mother, though loud sounds came from just outside. She heard her fathers voice calling forth a warning, followed by a great clang of steel. Her Ada's voice, usually so loving and filled with jokes for her, was suddenly silenced and never heard on Arda again.
Her mother cried out, knowing it was too late and that orcs had found their home.
"Meleth nin!" yet no chance is given for the young elfling to argue her mother's cry, for she is yanked forward with surprising strength, her feet dragging the ground as her body is shoved to the floor. Her mother wraps her arms around her, shielding her slight body from any view of the door. Her head lifts to look into the eyes of her daughter, yet no words are spoken from lips that are parted.
The door behind Nanneth was shoved open, the kick of an orc too strong for it. Arrows were aimed inside, yet only one was needed to find the mark. Maiestas withheld a gasp as she felt the warm body of her mother jerk, though her eyes dropped to the point of a black arrow that stuck grotesquely from her chest.
"Nana?" tears streamed down her face as her whisper left lips that trembled. Selastas' gaze remained locked on the face of her beloved child until the reflection of the stars faded from the mercurial depths. Her body went limp, falling onto the child sized body beneath her.
"No! Nanneth?" a sob was pulled from her throat, constricted with pain and fear, sorrow having not yet had a chance to grab hold. It did not, either, for as realization dawned upon the child that her mother and father had now left this land, she fell into a state of shock, her face paling.
Selastas had known her husband had fallen and so too would she and her child. By hiding Maiestas as she had, she had saved her life, for the orc had taken time only to shoot what he saw, and not to investigate. Maiestas had been spared only by the grace of the Valar that day.
Hours later the door opened again, yet she did not hear this, nor even see it. Her eyes stared listlessly forward, seeing nothing. Her light could very easily fade if she was but left alone. It was not to be, for as her mother was pulled from her, as the large hand she had gripped in her own for hours was pulled free, she seemed to come aware of a dark haired being before her. The touch of warmth to her chilled skin had her cringing back, drawing within herself even further.
"I will not hurt you, my child. We have come to help you… to take you to safety." He spoke in the tongue of her people, causing her tears to slip unnoticed down cheeks as pale as death.
"They killed Ada and Nana… they're dead." Her voice is laced with such agony and sorrow, for now Maiestas was alone, and knew none.
The Elf Lord, known to some as the Half-Elven, to others as Peredhil, leaned down to wrap strong arms around her, lifting her close to his chest. A final glance to the woman who had given birth to this young silver haired child and he turned, leaving behind that chapter of her life.
Elrond had found Maiestas.