Chapter 2: The fight

Belaraniel took the group of kids to the city to go and look at the ships. Belaraniel was a little lonely and decided she'd take her son and his friends out. She hadn't gotten to play with those little fillies for awhile either. She saw Tinóng who was putting up a sign.

"Hello Tinóng!" Tristan said running up to the elf who was smiling down at the prince.

"Hello young swords master, how is that hawk doing?" Tinóng said looking at the young prince of Mirkwood.

"Beleger is doing great, my mom is actually brining me down here with my friends to ask some questions about Beleger," Tristan said as he watched the shop owner climb down from his ladder.

"Where is your mother?" he asked looking around to see the queen of Mirkwood walking down the road with a red head boy, and two centaur fillies. "Good morning Mrs. Greenleaf."

"Good morning Mr. Applebrown, but you need not call me Mrs. Greenleaf. We are friends, call me Belaraniel," she said smiling at him. He smiled at her before placing his hand on Tristan's shoulder.

"Very well… Belaraniel," he said with a smile. He looked down to Tristan before bending down and talking to him. He was so good with kids, all the kids crowded around him excitedly.

"So when can I let Beleger out and he'll come out? And how often should I feed him? OH! What should I feed him? I've been feeding him mice, but he doesn't seem to like it very much," Tristan said excited while Belaraniel stood by him in her lavender dress.

"Well you can let him out once he recognizes the name, when ever you feel well bonded with him. Hawks like varieties, so once he is able to fly off and is well connected with you… then he can fly around for his own meals. You will know if he caught something, for he'll bring it into your room when he comes back. But these birds are good hunters, some people once used them to hunt for more then food for their birds, but themselves as well. Anymore questions young prince?" the store owner said with a smile. Belaraniel watched him in amazement as he wooed her child.

"Nope thanks again Tinóng! You're the greatest!" Tristan said excitedly. Everyone else smiled happily as they ran off.

"Well I better get going, my son…" she said pointing back… "is gone," she sighed realizing she lost her son, "I really should be going, that little boy can get himself into so much trouble."

"Well here, let me help…" he said smiling before peaking his head in the door of his shop and yelling to someone to take over his spot for a moment. The two trailed off looking for her son. She saw her son with a large overweight man, he had her son by the shirt.

"Hey!" Belaraniel yelled jogging towards the man and her son, "let my son go."

"Queen Belaraniel," the man said looking up at her, he smelled of alcohol.

"Let my son go," she said walking to him angrily, he didn't obey, "I command you to release my son!"

"Let go of the prince!" Tinóng said running up behind her. She looked back at Tinóng who obviously was trying to help.

"This little brat…" before he could finish Belaraniel interrupted.

"How dare you talk about my son like that," Belaraniel said defending her son. He was not loosening the grip on Tristan's shirt no matter how much he was struggling to get away.

"He shot my son in the foot! I have every right to teach him a lesson," the man said spitting all over Tristan's face as he talked.

"You have no right, release him now or I'll be forced to use physical force," Belaraniel said placing one hand on her hip.

"Never!" the man was obviously not an elf, there was a woman who looked embarrassed as she held a bag, she was a beautiful elf… was she his wife? Belaraniel punched the man in the face making him drop Tristan, Tristan looked at his mother in shock. She was never violent.

"Go mom!" he said smiling up at his mom. Belaraniel grabbed her son and pulled him up and placed him beside her. The man looked like he was going to swing at Belaraniel, but she would never know if he was going to hit the queen of Mirkwood for Tinóng's fist met the mans face knocking him to the ground, "whoa!" Tristan said looking at Tinóng. He went to turn and look at them when Belaraniel yelled to him to watch out. The mans fat fist met Tinóng's face. The man hit Tinóng again until he was falling backwards, Belaraniel stepped on the big hairy mans foot making him holler. Arabil kicked her two back hooves kicking him in his privates, he dropped to the floor in pain. Nellia and Arabil did high fives as they looked down at the man on the ground. He got up and walked to the girl holding the groceries and grabbed her arm dragging her away from there in embarrassment.

"Oh Tinóng I am sorry, are you ok?" Belaraniel said looking at his bloody lip, and large bruise on his face.

"It was worth it," Tinóng said looking up at her from the ground.

"Thank you for your help," she said looking down at him and helping him up.

"Just doing my civil duty," he said as he stood up and looked down at her.

"Oh," she said looking down to her son who was smiling and laughing with his friends.

"Protecting those who matter," he said smiling down at her, 'this isn't right,' she thought looking down and away from her. Why couldn't it have been Lómebrilas there instead, Tinóng made her feel less lonely.

"Here, come to the castle, I'll take care of that mess on your face," she said looking up at him. He nodded and they walked up to the castle.

"You were so awesome Tinóng!" Tristan said excitedly walking beside Gwaldor who was laughing about the incident. They all walked in the castle as they talked about what happened.

"You can always depend on kids to make something horrible so awesome," Belaraniel said grabbing a wash cloth and pack of ice. She helped cool off his cheek, and clean off the blood. She would have healed him, except Belaraniel wanted no one to know of her powers.

"Yeah that is what makes children so exhilarating, there ability so see life for what it is… instead of seeing it as a job, to have kids, to work, or in your case to take care of your people and work out others problems," he said smiling at her. She found comfort in his words.

"Yeah, I remember those days… but I still haven't gotten down helping others with their problems, I can barely help myself with my own," Belaraniel said sadly. She finally admitted to herself and a stranger she had a problem.

"What problem is that milady?" he asked smiling up at her as she held the ice pack on his face. She gave him a look of 'don't call me that,' before speaking to him.

"My marriage I guess, everyday my husband is gone, when he comes home it is for a mere day or so. Then he leaves again, my son is growing up without his father, I am forced to make decisions on my own, and everyday I fall more and more out of love with him. I hate being the queen, I hated being a mother at one point, but now I have come to love it," she said sighing. Tinóng felt bad for her as he looked down.

"You are a good mother, and you are a good queen, but if you do not want to be queen… why have you not hung up your crown?" Tinóng said looking at Tristan who walked in with Gwaldor. She didn't answer but looked to her son.

"Tristan Greenleaf, did you shoot that mans son in the foot?" Belaraniel said looking at him seriously.

"Yes…" Tristan said putting his head down, he'd never lie to his mother. Belaraniel handed the ice to Tinóng and placed both hands on her hips. The velvet crimson sash that tied around her waist tickled her hands as she held her hips, "but mother he was threatening me, he was going to hurt Gwaldor. That is how we met, they were picking on him and I told them to stop, and they wouldn't so I told them they better, and then they got into my face… mother…" he said feeling tears come to his eyes.

"Tristan I can't explain to you how dangerous this world is…" before she could finish he interrupted.

"Yes you've told me so mother… over and over again," he said angrily. Before he walked off he said one last thing, "what are you afraid of?"

"Maybe you should give the kid a little slack. He did what was right by him, you cannot be angry at him for that," Tinóng said looking to Belaraniel.

"Now you sound like my husband," she sighed before looking out the window of the beautiful castle, "Mr. Applebrown… Tinóng… the reason I don't leave my royal duties is because of my son… because I miss that time, the faces, the memories you can't erase, or replace. I miss it, and I can't believe… it's so hard to say it, to hard to leave it. I want to relive those days, and I know there are certain things I wouldn't change. Problem is it's hard to say it, but I know it's time to say it… to say goodbye."

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Tinóng and Belaraniel became very close friends, they went shopping together, they ate together, they took the kids on rides together. Belaraniel had grown some feelings for him, but they were not enough to get her to want to be with him. She was merely attracted to him, dependant on him… mostly because all of her friends were back in Gondor, or somewhere else. For weeks they spent time together, became good friends, and nothing more.

One day Arabil, Nellia, Tristan, and Gwaldor were a little ways out of Mirkwood sword fighting when they saw a large group of people approaching on horse back. Tristan looked out at them and trotted his horse to get a better view before seeing the horse his father left on.

"Dad," Tristan said smiling as he turned his Pegasus around and rode off towards Mirkwood. He entered the forest and rode for the castle followed by his other three friends. Tinóng and Belaraniel were not at the castle but walking around the beautiful city of Mirkwood. Lómebrilas and his men rode through the city making lots of noise. Everyone looked out to see their king riding through the streets to the castle. Lómebrilas put his horse away and took a few moments petting Lamia. When he walked to the castle Belaraniel was not there, but Tristan was. He had been waiting with his friends.

"Tristan!" Lómebrilas said as he saw his son running to him. Lómebrilas lifted his son into the air and squeezed him tight.

"Dad! It's been forever!" Tristan said excitedly. Lómebrilas put his son down and kissed him on the top of his head.

"Where is your mother?" Lómebrilas asked as he looked around. She wasn't even there to yell at him about being gone for to long like she always did before they made up.

"She is out with Tinóng… he is so cool dad! He sat there and tried to beat some guy…" before Tristan could finish Lómebrilas walked out of the house. A girl rode up on her white horse and hopped off.

"King Lómebrilas," the girl said smiling at him in aw. He smiled at her and bowed his head and walked off leaving her behind. She was so beautiful, with long flowing blonde hair, and the heavenly look most of the elves had.

"Glólindë," he nodded his head as he raced to get Lamia. Lamia was so happy to finally be able to run around, she had not been ridden in awhile except once by Belaraniel who was feeling bad for Lamia. He rode down towards his city looking for Belaraniel who was no where to be found. This worried him and angered him. He rode home and sat waiting for Belaraniel. She hadn't returned for hours. Glólindë had been there to accompany him for awhile. Belaraniel opened the white and silver castle doors and shut them. A passing servant bowed to her before finishing his work. Lómebrilas sat in the room where people got together and talked. Belaraniel looked at him sitting there with Glólindë. Glólindë got a nervous look before she stood up and bowed to the queen of Mirkwood and left.

"Lómebrilas," she said walking into the room and shutting the door behind her. Tristan and his friends were in the castle getting a bite to eat.

"Who's Tinóng?" Lómebrilas asked sitting with his arms crossed.

"A friend," Belaraniel said honestly, it felt like forever since she had seen him. He looked the same to her, yet different as well. He still looked so youthful, he hadn't changed at all over the years and neither did she.

"Liar," he said getting up out of the chair in anger.

"Lómebrilas I have no reason to lie to you, if he was a lover I would have told you," she said staring at him angrily, "it is you who is gone all the time leaving your wife and…"

"Belaraniel everything I do is for my people…" he said angrily before she interrupted him.

"But what about your son? What about me?" she said getting into his face angrily. He just turned around and began to pace.

"When you run off with other men what am I suppose to do?" he said sitting down in anger then standing up.

"Because you leave me alone Lómebrilas… I have no one because of you, because I chose you…" before she could finish he interrupted her. Tristan could hear them fighting and felt it was his fault.

"Yes it is all my fault blame it on me, because I wasn't there, because I wasn't there to hold your hand every second of the day," he said folding his muscular arms together.

"It was the first time I had ever felt that lonely, and I wished someone could cure the pain. It's funny how you think it's going to work out, then you choose to explore over me, your so lame. I thought you were perfect until the point you didn't return when you said you would, I finally figured out your almost all the same. When you're here I try to make you smile, I try you feel sorry for yourself, you feel lifeless, you stay alone in your own little world, what… is what I ask of to much? Can't you see you lie to yourself? You can't see the whole world, and you can't just wait until the smoke clears, cause I can't always be here by myself waiting, alone," he didn't say anything just looked out the window, "I can't find where I am anymore Lómebrilas, I was lying there alone in fear, afraid that I'll have no one to claim and end up alone again. That one day you wouldn't return. I thought you'd come around when I ignored you, so I thought you'd have the decency to change, but I guess you didn't take that warning but I guess not so… I'm not about to look at your face anymore…" she went to walk off finally catch his attention. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her.

"I am sorry," he said trying to hold her in a hug, but she kept trying to push him away, "I am sorry Belaraniel… I am sorry."

"I won't do it, I won't sit by and just…" before she could finish his lips found hers. He pulled her close to him, his hand strongly attached to her back. His hand found her face as he tried to calm her down. It had been so long since they had been together, touched each other, kissed each other, held each other, or felt each others skin. Her heart began to pound in her chest.

"Wait… wait," she said pulling her face away from his. He looked at her needing her, longing for her, wanting her.

"What?" he asked his face still next to hers.

"What if someone comes in?" Belaraniel asked her husband. He looked at her and smiled.

"So," he said letting her go and walking to the door and locking it. Belaraniel looked at him and remembered him sitting with the blonde she-elf. He looked at her as she backed away from him, "Belaraniel?"

"I can't," she said unlocking the door and leaving the large white room. Belaraniel ran to the stables and climbed on Narduril. It was the middle of the night, she knew she no longer felt the way she use to about Lómebrilas… something about him changed. Narduril pounded through the dark as Lómebrilas ran out the door to catch his wife. He watched her race for the city.

Tinóng opened the door to the shop and looked at Belaraniel who was in tears. He stood there confused, it was getting late. Belaraniel didn't say anything, she didn't need to. He let her into the shop so they could talk. He made her a cup of tea and then sat down across the table from her.

"What is wrong Belaraniel?" he asked her worriedly.

"Lómebrilas is back," she said between sobs. She felt like a child all over again, crying over the most silly things.

"Oh… is that a bad thing?" he said putting his head down slightly so she couldn't see the disappointment in his eyes.

"No and yes, today when I got home he was so angry, I was ready to leave and when he kissed me… it was like we use to, but so different at the same time… he is so different. I just… I don't love him anymore," Belaraniel cried into her hands. He looked at her confusedly.

"Belaraniel? Then why do you put yourself through that?" he asked the young half elven queen of Mirkwood.

"Because of my son," she cried sadly, "I cannot leave him because of my son."

"Belaraniel…" he said softly before getting up and giving her a hug. She pulled out of their hug looking at the ground. His hand grabbed her face and he then kissed her. She kissed him back for a moment before pulling away.

"Tinóng… I can't," she said softly looking at him, "it will only make things harder."

"What is it? Is it because I don't make enough money? Because I do not have a city? Is it because you don't like me?" he asked looking at the ground.

"No, I like you Tinóng, I do but I am married. I find you very handsome, and sweet, charming, great with my son…" she began before he interrupted.

"Then what?" he asked hastily looking to her.

"You're my friend, and friends don't go from this to that. They stay this… my son wouldn't understand. Please understand and don't hate me," she said looking to him. He took his hand and placed it onto her face and wiped a tear that fell from her eyes.

"I could never hate you, not you. But if you change your mind I'll be waiting for awhile, but until then… friends," he said knowing he'd have a better chance at getting with her if she got closer to him.

"Friends, thank you for understanding Tinóng, but I should go home…" she said kissing his cheek before giving him a brief hug and leaving, "thanks for the tea."

"Your welcome," he said laughing slightly as he watched her climb onto her horse, "one more question."

"Yes?" she said looking at him from on top of the beautiful black stallion, his horn spiraling up shining under the pale moons light.

"Why does the prince always get the beautiful ones?" he asked with a smile. She laughed out loud before answering.

"Trust me I was not so glamorous when him and I first started out, not until I reached about twenty three or twenty four did I learn to make myself pleasing to some peoples eyes," she smiled at him before tapping the reigns on her horses neck and riding off towards the castle. Belaraniel reached the castle and Tristan sat out side crying. Belaraniel wondered where Gwaldor was. They had let Gwaldor live there for he had been orphaned.

"Tristan what is wrong honey?" Belaraniel said sliding off of Narduril's bareback. Tristan looked over to his mother.

"I am sorry mother that you and father are fighting. It is all my fault isn't it?" he said between sobs. Belaraniel felt her heart drop.

"No sweetie, daddy and mommy were fighting because we missed each other. You see men and woman sometimes get jealous when there partner is around another person of the opposite sex," Belaraniel said kissing her sons head.

"Oh, I am sorry that dad is upset with you being friends with Mr. Applebrown," Tristan said looking up at his mother.

"It is not your fault son, come let me take you to bed," she said taking his hand and walking him into the house. She walked him to the room and put him to bed like she use to.

"Your not going to leave are you mom?" he asked looking up at her sadly.

"What gives you that idea?" she said sitting on the edge of his bed.

"You haven't been happy for awhile, and dad is always gone, all you have is me… and I am not always around to take care of you… I have rarely seen you smile, so I thought you'd go away to a place that would make you smile," he said sadly.

"The only place that makes me smile is with you," she said kissing his forehead. She sighed looking at her son feeling bad, "goodnight son."

"Good night mother," he said as she stood up and walked to the candle by the door to blow it out, "oh and mother."

"hmm?" she said looking to her son trying to hold back tears.

"I love you," he said smiling at her, she smiled at him before blowing him a kiss and then closing the door. Belaraniel walked to her room and laid down, Lómebrilas never came down. Belaraniel cried the night away, Lómebrilas walked passed the room and heard her sobs. He did not know what to say to her. For a week Belaraniel and Lómebrilas didn't talk, they barely looked at each other. Belaraniel spent time with Tinóng and Lómebrilas spent time with Lamia and his old childhood friend Glólindë.

Tristan climbed onto Rascal, Gwaldor climbed up behind him and they rode off towards their favorite part of the forest they lived in with Nellia trailing behind them. They laughed as they rode out into the open. There standing on a tree branch was a girl, she jumped down in front of them. Her pointy ears hidden behind her brown hair, she was a Lorien elf! They rarely saw brown haired elf's besides the queen of Mirkwood there.

"You may not pass," she said with a serious look. They looked at her and laughed, "EXCUSE ME! How dare thou laugh at me," she said putting her hands on her hips. She looked about the same age as Tristan.