A test of time

by MizzMarie729

It is twenty years past the the war of the ring. But the fellowship is not quite over, through their kids their adventure has just begun. I think it's better then it sounds... please R&R

4. seven through ten

Chapter 7: The Child Of Evil

Belaraniel sat their putting little braids in her hair as she thought about Lómebrilas. She sat in front of the mirror looking at herself. The necklace hanging down her long neck felt warm on her skin, the moon was half empty and the sun was filling up, she didn't understand why it did that. Her white skin, her pink cheeks, her medium lips, her straight plain hair… she hated how she looked, so how could Lómebrilas, the guy all girls found handsome… look at her? What DID he see in her? It didn't matter he was gone now. She heard a knock at the door and went to answer it. Once she opened the door a bag went over her head and pulled her out of the room. She struggled as something crashed into her head knocking her unconscious.

Jidda pushed the already opened door to Belaraniel's door open. Belaraniel wasn't there. She ran down to Calicien and Ducla's room. She told them that Belaraniel was gone, and told them the secret she read, including the part about the necklace and why she was changing. And that their was only one way to stop her, to stop the necklace. The girls paced trying to figure out where she would be.

"I know where she is," the Melcher admitted.

"What?" Jidda asked looking at him with curiosity and nervousness.

"I uh, didn't meet you by accident. I was suppose to bring Belaraniel to them, I didn't know their plan, what they were going to do to her, I didn't know she was nice, I didn't know I'd meet you. They didn't say they'd come here, they must have seen me with you or something, but if you want I'll sneak in and save her, you guys don't have to come," he said quickly.

"No I'll go, Calicien you will stay with Ducla and come in to help or ride for help if anything goes wrong," Jidda said not looking Waredith in the eye anymore.

"No you should leave, go as far away it will be dangerous," Waredith said worriedly.

"I don't know what to believe from you Waredith… I never thought I'd say this but… I'm now scared of you," she said backing away from him.

"Don't say that, please… for you I'd do anything Jidda… it's me, you can trust me," he said looking into her eyes, and for the first time they weren't black like usual, but slightly blue. She seemed to get caught in them, and she knew she could trust him.

"I trust you," she said gazing into his eyes. She gave him a half smile before breaking eye contact. "Now is not the time, our friend is with those horrible creatures, we will ride to death to save her, if not leave now, are you with me?" Jidda said packing her ax.

"I've been with you," Calicien said placing her sword in scabbard and packing her bow and quiver.

"I'm not going anywhere, I finally have something to live for, and honorable to die for… real friends. I'd be proud to die by your side for one who would die for us," Ducla said packing her sword and throwing knives.

"I'll follow you anywhere," Waredith said placing his hand to his heart like he did when he was a soldier.

The group then headed down to the stables where they grabbed their horses and rode off in the direction that Waredith directed. It was a ten minute ride to the cave, nervously they climbed off their horses. All of the horses were scared except Narduril, the black stallion unicorn walked into the cave first holding his head high. They slowly walked into the caves and then they heard a familiar voice.

"I've been looking for you guys, I couldn't stop them from coming, there was so many, that I had to hide, we have to go in there, we have to get her out, if we fail now, we'll never get her out," the fairy sang quickly and frantically. They all snuck in together quietly as possible. There hanging on the wall was Belaraniel.

"Tell the fairy about what you read," Ducla said hastily.

"My name is not fairy, that doesn't make me merry, call me Tinxie, or you'll be winking," Tinxie sang softly.

"Anyway," Jidda began, "I was going through some magical books, I found a book on magical items read about how her necklace is to cause her changes, but if it is given to the Divine Light, and I have been informed she is… that it change them permanently on the second sunrise of her necklace… well this will be her second… she will be turned into the ultimate killing machine, she will then lose the one thing that means a lot and the problem is we think that will be Lómebrilas, she will probably kill him, that though is a theory. I know that doesn't sound to bad, especially when I say that there is away to end it, before it runs its fullest course, BUT the problem is that Waredith was going through the book of prophecies. It is said that The Divine Child will be reborn to a well known king and queen, a daughter out of five kids, thought to be mistaken for the Child Of Evil, both nearly the same, yet completely different, having something connected them, one must kill the other… but the Devine Child will be betrayed by one she loved against her will, she will be turned into the killing machine against her will she was foreseen to be, together the two will destroy the world, and eventually each other… but… evil itself will kill her, for the Devine Child was not built to be evil. There is also another key to the Child Of Evil, also bound to both Devine Light and Child of Evil… I can't remember what it said from there on. But I know it was important, I think Lómebrilas is the Child Of Evil, it makes sense doesn't it? Speaking of evil she said seeing Lómebrilas entering the cave. Calicien held up her bow and pointed it towards Lómebrilas, Eldarion stepped out from behind him.

"Put that down Calicien," Eldarion said nervously. A strange noise came from a ways down.

"Take Lómebrilas somewhere else," something inside him seemed to open up, strange words seemed to fill his ears and he reached for his sword.

"Lómebrilas!" Eldarion said as Lómebrilas attacked Calicien. Eldarion jumped on Lómebrilas' back. Lómebrilas threw Eldarion to the ground and held him at sword point. But there was something in Lómebrilas' eyes that didn't seem right, Eldarion seemed to be the only one to notice it. Lómebrilas walked passed them, they for some reason couldn't move, was it caused they were terrified or did he somehow keep them there. Lómebrilas woke up from his sleepwalk looking around, the red stone caught him off guard. There hanging from the ceiling above a circle with Ancient words written in it. All of a sudden the sun started to go down. Outside rows and rows of orcs, trolls, and goblins got order to start marching towards Rohan and Gondor. Once the sun started to go down they lowered Belaraniel slightly, they cut her hand and held Lómebrilas down. Her blood fell from her hand onto a picture of an eye, it spread through it making the eyes red. That was when a figure came out, carrying Belaraniel's sisters. Belaraniel woke up to see the girls, she struggled to get down to see them.

"We have our sacrifices," a large cloaked figure had, he then walked to Belaraniel and touched the necklace on her neck.

"Leave them alone, take me, kill me, sacrifice me, not them," Belaraniel begged looking at her sisters, the weird thing was that only two of them were crying.

"Oh we need you," the figure began to say.

"We?" Belaraniel asked curiously looking at the cloaked figure. He pulled his hood down, he was not ugly, but he had markings all over his face. Crirawen walked over to him and held his arm.

"Crirawen? But how could you? Betray your own family?" Belaraniel said a tear falling from her eyes.

"I always knew I didn't belong, that I belonged in a greater purpose, I was never good and pure like you were, everyone favored you, although I was the better looking one," Crirawen said nervously.

"Who are you?" Belaraniel asked as she dangled, "looked at our terrified sisters. Why are you doing this to them… to yourself? To the world?"

"Did you not hear me! Everyone loved YOU better, our mom, our sisters, our grandfather, even my own future husband!" Crirawen said looking to Lómebrilas who was being held down on his knees. "Now you guys can be together, if you make it out alive."

"Please…" Belaraniel began.

"No more pleases! It is done, I will not sacrifice our sisters, it says it needs the blood of the Divine Child's blood, funny that the Divine Childs sister happened to be her opposite The Child Of Evil? You two are the keys to my successes, you are the key to his destruction, and I am the key to yours," Crirawen said with a smile. With that she cut her wrist so that the blood poured onto the dusty floor, the blood separated filling each symbol. A gust of wind blew through the caves, for some reason Jidda, Calicien, and the others couldn't move, as if time itself was being altered, that they could hear it, but do nothing about it.

"Her sister, I always knew she was a snot," Calicien said with the best ability.

A gust of light shot out from the floor, filling Crirawen up with the light, with the ancient magic. Something was taking over Belaraniel she could feel herself lose control again, she screamed out trying to keep control but she lost it. Lómebrilas looked at her, for the first time in awhile since he had seen her, and she was being hurt again. Something filled him up as well, he shot up straight feeling something enter him, and then the red ring he had found as a child that he wore burnt up on fire. He felt himself being pushed down into a dark and cold place, where he watched what happened but it was not him. He stood up no longer able to control himself, the eclipse ended and the sun showed again. Belaraniel busted out of the rope and hit the ground breaking the earth beneath her. The gang was now released and they ran for a hiding spot. Lómebrilas and Belaraniel looked at each other with hatred searing off of their bodies for each other.

They walked out and had to be separated for the whole time she wanted to kill him, and he wanted to kill her. Their love had been replaced with hatred. Calicien cried in Eldarion's arms. Jidda sat with Waredith. They all had decided that they needed to go look through some more books. For hours each person went through each book carefully. Finally they found out what they had to do… only problem was to get enough people to help. They had to go back and get the princesses, so they would start there.

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The army swept through the lands sending woman and children racing off the other nations. Rohan had heard the news and had gone to Gondor to tell them of it. Then from there on they got other men from other nations. They had a large army, but they had no idea what they were up against. All the refugees fled to Gondor, and the men ran to where a bigger army waited so they could fight, fighting that large army with a small human army was suicide.

For days the horde of orc, goblins, trolls, Child Of Evil, key to the Child Of Evil, and the Devine Light traveled untouchably. Ever since the eclipse, the sun never went down, and night never came. Everyone found this odd, and knew something was up, but they were not prepared when two princesses of Gondor, and the prince of Mirkwood led the army to destroy all of mankind. Aragorn and Legolas rode to the front of the army, their mouths dropped when they watched their children sit in front of the vast army of evil creatures.

"I knew that Belaraniel was not good, I knew she was evil, even worst she brought her sister into, as the key… and your son, he followed her, he did let her destroy him. I must kill her, oh my sweet beloved Belaraniel, how ever did you become this," Aragorn said looking at his daughter sitting tall. Her eyes were circled with black, she had war paint on one side of her face. Lómebrilas' had black pain on his cheek it started from is down to the corner of his lip. They sat on monstrous beast, and their outfits, Lómebrilas had skin pants on, Belaraniel had worn cloth shorts, boots, and a small shirt. Crirawen looked the same, but she looked the most evil at the same.

The man in front of her called out to his crew. He stood beside Belaraniel and looked at her. He bowed before tell him her to throw fire balls. Fire rained from the sky, the men yelled as their clothes caught fire, the screams haunted her, but she could do nothing of it. She pulled the fire back, and she spun around threw her arm out making a large gust of wind make most of the men fall out of order, then the orcs and creatures charged. The men scrambled to get back up and tried to stop them. The battle had begun.

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They had gotten the princesses and had begun gathering magical creatures, such as more fairies, mermaids, pixies, sprites, elves, unicorns, and any other magical creature or being. They all headed towards a special place called, "Hunyena the crystal peak," a pool of magic. They hoped their plan would work, it would take awhile so they hoped that they would not be too late.

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With one hit anyone who came near Belaraniel, or Lómebrilas they would go down. They had not crossed paths yet, though they hoped they would. They wanted to get rid of the competition. Both fathers decided they would face their children. Aragorn stepped in front of Belaraniel.

"Belaraniel… think of what you are doing? What I are you doing this? All we ever did was love you," Aragorn said putting his sword down slightly. Belaraniel looked at him, she didn't move.

"I know not… who I am… where I am… all I know is to kill, to kill the key, to kill the… The Child of Evil, that is my purpose," she said realizing what her purpose was.

"The Child Of Evil?" Aragorn asked, Belaraniel turned to look at Crirawen, Crirawen did not expect this to happen, she had no idea that the real legion was The Devine Child's first obligation was to killing The Child Of Evil. Belaraniel started walking towards Crirawen. "No, you do not want to kill your sister."

"I must kill Child of Evil, that is my purpose for living," she said pulling her sword out. Inside she screamed ,"FATHER FATHER! JUST LET ME DO IT!" Aragorn lifted his sword.

"Break through it Belaraniel, I do not want to fight you," he said hoping he would not have to kill his own flesh and blood. Meanwhile Legolas and Lómebrilas were going blow for blow.

Belaraniel charged her father their swords hit each others in noise that cracked the sky like thunder. In unison their swords met, Aragorn was good, but Belaraniel had magic on her side. With a quick punch to the face and a grip of his shirt she threw him out of the way. She then heard Lómebrilas hitting Legolas. She ran at Lómebrilas and hit him hard, Lómebrilas fell to the floor.

"I must kill Child of Evil, and the key to Evil," Belaraniel said holding her sword up. Belaraniel and Lómebrilas' swords hit each other so hard that they broke. Both kings watched as their son and daughter hit one another. Belaraniel grabbed him by the shirt and punched him rapidly in the face, with a quick head-butt Belaraniel stumbled back. With a hard back hand from Lómebrilas Belaraniel went flying into the air, she hit a couple orcs knocking them to the ground. She got up and ran at him, she crashed into him flinging him into the ground. He got up and by the hair dragged her down, he punched her rapidly until she was on the ground completely. He was running to jump on her, and when he did she used her feet to kick him over her head. She then ran, sat on top of him and punched him in the face five times, he grabbed her wrist that supported her and made her fall, he flipped her over and he started punching her. Blood trickled down both their face, both were getting tired. She grabbed a sword from an Orc and he grabbed a bat from a goblin. Just as they did something weird happened.

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The girls stood by the pond, they all held hands. Together they said a spell, more of a prayer to the sky god. Everyone worked together hard, the pond and waterfall was beautiful, the magic radiated off of the top making them feel at peace. With a drop of Tinxie's blood, the goddess appeared. She granted them their wish, and within ten minutes, a black spot started covering up the sun sending darkness through the lands, a darkness that would only last for five minutes.

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Lómebrilas swung at her and missed, he did that a few times, and just as he swung and she ducked the short sword found his side. She went for another stroke before something in her made her fall to the floor, darkness had spread over the land. For a moment she had control of herself. She looked at Lómebrilas. He laid there breathing heavily, everyone looked around curiously, still fighting, but not as much. Crirawen understood what was happening, the sky goddess had been called upon, and someone was trying to meddle in her plans.

"Lómebrilas?" she asked breathing heavily, she could feel something broken inside her.

"Belaraniel?" he asked looking up quickly. He scooted towards her, they were both sprawled out on the floor. Amongst all the fighting the two sat holding each in each others eyes.

"Lómebrilas?" she said excitedly before coughing. He sat up and pulled her to him, "I tried to stop myself, I am SO sorry," she cried.

"I know, so did I… I don't understand," he said holding her tight. Aragorn and Legolas stopped fighting to look over and see the two on the ground holding each other. They both made their way towards their son and daughter. "Lómebrilas you must understand, I am going to kill Crirawen, she is the Child of Evil, I am suppose to make sure she dies, if I kill her successfully, make sure to kill me."

"I won't kill you," he said holding her tighter ignoring his wound.

"You must… Oh Lómebrilas," she cried pulling him closer.

"I won't kill you, I promise I will do what ever I can to fight it," he said stroking her hair, they could tell their time was limited.

"You won't, trust me… promise me this, that you know I love you, and promise me that you love me," she said not caring anymore.

"I promise I love you more then anything, and I will not give up, but just know that I don't want you to cry a tear for me once I die, cause there comes a time we must all say good bye, and if you are what the heavens are made of, I am not afraid to die," he said holding her tight. He stroked her hair, "but I want you to know, no matter how much we fought against it, I always knew we'd be together, even if it is for this one moment, I will never let you go in my heart Belaraniel… and if you ever get ready to sell out, reconsider."

"Lómebrilas, don't talk about death because there is something that I've longed to admit to you, living for love might mean taking chances, but it was worth taking, loving might have been a mistake, but it was worth making… because I had never been happier," she cried her father and Legolas listened to them, and knew they were themselves.

"One more request," he said seeing the sun starting to come back.

"Anything…" Belaraniel said pulling away.

"Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance, and you'll never forget me," he said grabbing the sword.

"No!" she cried out holding onto him tighter, "Don't there is another way," she cried and kissed him as she began to understand, as long as he lived he gave power to Crirawen, she would be unstoppable if he had the curse in him. So she ripped his ring off, and kissed him gently as she felt the sun on her neck. She knew it was time. "No, no! NO!" she yelled grabbing the necklace and pulling on it, "I make my own decisions! I call my shots, I will no longer do what I don't want to! I will no longer be anyone but me!" she yelled finally ripping the necklace off. She fell to the floor gasping looking at the shattered necklace in her hands. The clouds started to come out and she knew she broke the curse.

"Everyone get back!" she yelled to her fathers men. The orcs retreated towards their rulers. Crirawen knew what had happened and she lifted her hand out and threw a long stream of fire towards them. Belaraniel held her hand up stopping it, with the other hand she flicked the fire back unexpectedly at them. All the orcs, trolls, goblins, and even Crirawen was caught un expectedly in the fire. Screams came from everywhere. Most of the orc army died, the rest scattered and Crirawen retreated… burned to a horrible disfigurement.

Belaraniel walked back towards the men, they cheered at her success, even though the ground was covered in bodies of innocent people. Belaraniel walked feeling her eyes get teary everything was hazy, Lómebrilas laid on the floor. All the worst things ran through her mind. She saw no more wounds, until she saw the wound she had caused. It was bleeding badly.

"He needs help!" she screamed as she tried to stop the bleeding. Aragorn and Legolas ran to see what had happened. Aragorn grabbed a horse that had lost his or her rider. Familiar rider rode up, someone she hadn't expected. It was the Melcher. Everyone held their swords up in defense. He climbed off of Narduril and walked to Belaraniel. She ran to him and hugged him feeling awkward. "I am so happy to see you, thank you for bringing Narduril," Belaraniel said pulling the black stallion and walked towards her father. "Father take Narduril, he is the fastest horse… because he isn't a horse but a… it doesn't matter his gate is much smoother then most horses. Please father, don't let him die," she said looking to him and handing him her horse. Narduril wouldn't leave Belaraniel now that he was with her again. "Narduril, my friend you have always been by my side, but now I need you the most… ride, ride for me… to save Lómebrilas."

With the Aragorn climbed on top and some men handed the prince of Mirkwood to the king of Gondor. Aragorn rode off for the castle with Lómebrilas in front of him. The closest place was Minas Tirith his old home, the city of kings. The horse trampled the ground going faster then he had ever ridden. Finally the white city came into view. Aragorn slowed the horse down once he reached the gate. The doors swung open so that they could welcome their king. Aragorn took him to The House Of Healing, he carried the wounded prince into the room. He got a few of the miracle workers who were from Rivendell, who had come to Gondor for a life of healing. Together they saved the prince, he was an easy case, he needed mostly resting.

Belaraniel and Waredith found a horse, it took awhile before the horse would let the Melcher on, but eventually they were off towards her home town, not knowing that Lómebrilas was taken to Minas Tirith her old home. Each race and soldier headed back to their hometowns. Belaraniel, Waredith, and Legolas led Gondor and Mirkwood's warriors to Gondor. Some headed back for Minas Tirith, some for Osgiliath, and all the other tiny cities in Gondor. But most of them went back with Belaraniel. Finally the large city, came into view. It was indeed one of the largest cities in Gondor, smaller then Minas Tirith, but longer then Minas Tirith at the same time. Belaraniel rode to the castle where her mother waited with her two sisters. She jumped off of the gray and white mare and ran into Arwen's arm. Arwen had some people come out and look at Belaraniel's injuries.

"Where is father? Where is Lómebrilas?" Belaraniel asked curiously. Arwen sat there before answering her daughter.

"He hasn't returned, I was given news that he went to Minas Tirith, but you have some people here waiting to see you," Arwen began before Belaraniel grabbed the mare she had ridden home on. Minas Tirith was two hours away, she'd ride through and find Lómebrilas.

"Mother, make sure no one harms Waredith here. He is a friend not a foe, and I promised to find him a cure to turn him back into the human he was before the orcs poisoned him. I shall return," with that Belaraniel slapped the rings and rode off for Gondor. For two hours the horse carried her across the land towards Minas Tirith, it was not a long ride, but it was painful for every second she wasted Lómebrilas could be dieing, needing her, or he could be… dead. She did not know he was alright, she did not know he lived, that at that moment he was dreaming about her, that he missed her. All she knew is that he laid there, she sat on a horse riding the mare to hard, risking injury.

Finally the cities white gates came into view. She heard a soldier call to open the doors, that the princess of Gondor rode. Finally she entered the city and could hear the horses hooves hit the stone road. The horse turned sharply at her command. She rode for The House Of Healing knowing that was where he would be. She raced against the setting sun, through the cold winds, through the tears, and through the worries. Finally she pulled the reigns back and the horse slid to a stop on her hind legs. She reared into the air before Belaraniel climbed off. The moon started to appear, the moon… her favorite thing. A young girl came out and took her horse from her and took I to the stables. Aragorn saw his daughter walking into The House Of Healing. He ran after her and grabbed her arm. Belaraniel had never noticed how gray her father was. He had always had silvery hair, but never was it gray, he barely had any wrinkles and she felt sad for her father was getting older, she would not get any older looking for a long time, a gene she got from her mother. The woman elves seemed to age slower then the male elves, so her mother looked younger then both Aragorn who was mortal, and Legolas who was an elf.

"No tinuamin (No my daughter) not yet, he must rest, he is fine," Aragorn said trying to calm her.

"I need to see him! I need to!" Aragorn still wouldn't let her go no matter how much she begged, "I swear I won't wake him, just let me look at him!"

"Fine, but know that it is not you who put him there," Aragorn said releasing his daughter. She walked down the hallway past each door. Finally she saw a blonde elf resting. Tears filled her eyes. She stood in the doorway looking at him, he didn't look bad except for the bandages around his waist, one going around his arm pit and shoulder, and one around his ribs. She could feel her own body aching, and she knew she made it worst by riding so much. Her father walked behind her with some of the people who healed Lómebrilas. "Come my daughter, they will heal you. His worst injury was not the sword wound you inflicted, but the power that sucked away at his life to feed your sister with power, that is why he sleeps, that is why he was fading. His sword wound hit nothing fatal, it bled a lot but not enough to kill him. But now we must help you," Aragorn said placing his arms around his weary daughters shoulders. He never thought he would have any talk about the wounds of her lover, telling her that he had to fix her wounds… battle wounds. He never though he would have to see her fight, to have to fight her, that she would EVEN fight.

Belaraniel laid in the sun lit room sleeping. It was peaceful there, nothing but good vibes. She could feel her ribs reminded, and the weariness inside of her washed away. The residue of the evil ancient magic washed off. She felt clean, and pure again. For the moment she had even forgot she had taken some of the lives of her OWN men, that she had stabbed and tried to kill the one she loved. She only thought of when she was with Lómebrilas, they were so stubborn, yet so different. Lómebrilas she thought before climbing out of the bed. She was no longer in the filthy outfit given to her by sister, but in a normal dress. She felt like her old self, like the princess of Gondor, daughter of Aragorn and Arwen, sister of Eldarion and the princesses of Gondor, friend of Calicien, and the one loved by Lómebrilas Greenleaf.

She walked down the long white halls, it was a heavenly place, full of pictures of Gondor, Minas Tirith, sunsets and sunrises in Gondor, the wild horses of Rohan, festivals of the elves, but one picture caught Belaraniel's eyes… a picture of the Fellowship Of The Ring. Her father looked so youthful, Legolas handsome and skilled, Gimli serious, the hobbits happy, Gandalf… proud. The day that her father became king of Gondor. She smiled slightly before turning around. There standing in a patch of light stood Lómebrilas smiling at her. She stood there watching him, afraid to blink and he'd be gone. He walked to her smiling, a tear rolled down her cheek as she ran for him. He ran towards her too and took her in his arms, he spun her around squeezing her tight. When they pulled away they met with a loving kiss.

"Belaraniel," he said softly when they pulled away from their kiss. She looked up at him and stared into his deep blue eyes, "I love you."

"And I love you Lómebrilas… and I am so sorry…" she began trying to apologize for something that she didn't really do. He kissed her before she could finish it.

"It isn't your fault, and it's over now… it's over," he pulled her into another breath taking hug.

"It is, and I never lost faith, like you asked me to," she said resting her head on his chest.

"And I kept holding on, I pictured your face, and you pulled me out of the darkness, out of my prison cell. Now comes the hardest part…"

"I know…" she said biting her lip. Her father would not allow them to marry, yes he was a prince, but he would fear for them and he had already signed something saying he'd marry Crirawen, even though she no longer was apart of their family.

"What do we do?" he asked still holding her.

"I don't know…" she said swallowing nervously. What do they do? Even if her father approved it, they could not change his other proposition.

"We can run away, live in a forest some where… we can be together," he said hastily.

"No… Lómebrilas, we'd always be running, my family would hate me, we'd be a shame to everyone we ever knew, can you really see us living that life?" she asked biting her lip and pulling him closer.

"As long as I was with you…" before he could say anything else she interrupted.

"Think hard on it Lómebrilas. I'll give you a day if you decide that you can live in the shadows, to be unknown, to be hidden away, to be alone… though we'll have each other, we will be outcast, living in danger… think hard on it. I know you are alright, so now I must go, I'm going home. I'll see you there, I am sure there will be some kind of celebration, they have a celebration for everything," she said trying not to smile. He smiled holding back a laugh. He let her go and kissed her gently before walking off in his white robes and pants to pack. Belaraniel watched him walk off and tried to be strong.

Chapter 8: Duty to your people vs. duty to your heart

Finally she was ready to head back. Her father accompanied her on the trip home. As well all the wounded soldiers who were resting in The House Of Healing were traveling home with King of Gondor and princess of Gondor. When they entered the other main city of Gondor the woman and children came out to see the large group. The princess and the king rode in the front and the prince of Mirkwood rode in the back with the soldiers. Arwen, Haiweth, Kaoiwia, and Eldarion all walked out to see the crowd enter. Belaraniel jumped off her horse and ran to Eldarion, her brother swung her around in his arms. Lómebrilas began to wonder if she even loved him, if he had risked his life for nothing, if he loved her for nothing. He had never really even loved before, was it really love? He couldn't stop questioning it. Then he came up with something. What if she rejects me? he asked himself nervously. He couldn't handle a rejection, he had too much pride for that.

"Wow, I am so glad to see you, I really feel like I haven't seen you for months," Eldarion said looking at his sister while he held her arms so he could hold her still while he looked at her.

"Really? It hasn't felt that long," she laughed out loud. He nudged her and gave her a look like you brat which made her laugh harder though she couldn't stop thinking of Lómebrilas, "I'm just kidding. I've missed you so much Eldarion."

"And I you my most beloved sister, come let us not talk out in the streets of our city. Let us go inside," Eldarion said locking arms with his sister and taking her in the house. Her mother Arwen followed after them, her sisters came up as well. When they were inside she hugged her mother and her sisters. Belaraniel saw Calicien, Jidda, Waredith, and Ducla Rafter all walk down the stairs. They stood there looking at Belaraniel with a smile, she was back to normal, and the necklace was off. They all ran to her and hugged her, except Waredith, he feared if he ran with them someone would shoot him thinking he was attacking them.

"As I promised Waredith, I shall bring you back to your natural form," she said with Calicien hugging one side of her and not letting go, Jidda hugging the other side, and Ducla hugging her waist. Belaraniel smiled putting one arm around the two hugging her neck. Everyone smiled and laughed as the group sat in a large hug. Eldarion walked up his eyes locked on Calicien, his relationship was as hopeful as Lómebrilas and Belaraniel's.

The day began to end and everyone dressed for the large celebration that was being held. Her father walked into her room as she sat looking at herself in the mirror. The new dress she wore was made of crimson and gold, her hair hung long, she had never liked her straight hair so much, it was hers, and hers alone… she had control what she did with it. She decided to tie the front portion back, her father smiled.

"You look a lot like your mother, well at least in spirit, you are the closest to the way she use to be. I just want to tell you how proud I am of you," he said sitting on her bed.

"Thank you father, I thought you be ashamed," she said putting her brush down and looking towards him.

"You love him don't you?" Aragorn asked his silver hair not covering the youthful look in his eyes as he saw his daughter sitting before him, grown up, strong, sweet, and love by many.

"I do…" she said not letting herself cry.

"I wish you could be with him Belaraniel, if I had it my way I would let you be with him. I will do what ever I can to try and get you what you want," Aragorn said seeing the pain in his daughters eyes.

"My king… my lord… my father, I love him… I do, but I will not ask you to give me the impossible, I understand why it is that you had wanted to chose our marriages, what done is done it cannot be erased on your part and mine. We cannot change that I fell in love, and that you gave him away. So I will not fight my fate, but father know that all I ever did was to please you, so that you would be proud of me," she said thinking of how Ducla Rafter felt, and realizing her whole life she felt the same until recently.

"Then know that all I ever was, was proud of you. But I feared to show it, for I feared if you no longer seek my love, you would seek it from someone else. I wanted to give you a life that you deserve, never did I know that having a say in it would be what made you happy," Aragorn said standing up and hugging his daughter.

"Father, trust me when I say that this experience has changed me, for I never knew that when it said I would have to sacrifice something I loved, that I would sacrifice the safety of the one I loved, my friends and family… as well as sacrifice myself, to lose my freewill. Freewill father, without it is the worst thing ever. I will never take for granted my free will again," she said looking up at her father.

"And I will never let anyone take it from you," he said stroking his daughters silky hair.

"Do not make such promises father, promises that will be hard and nearly impossible to keep," she said looking at him with a half smile and a broken heart, "but you can promise me that you will never make me feel unloved again."

"Then my sweet Belaraniel, I shall never try to make you feel unloved, for in my heart you will always be even after my life has ended. You are a princess of Gondor, you are my flesh and blood, you are pride and joy, and you are my daughter. Now I will leave you, the celebration of your safe return has started," Aragorn kissed his daughter on her forehead, "come down when ever you are ready Belaraniel."

"I will father," she said smiling as he walked away. Belaraniel finished getting ready before leaving her room. She walked down the hallway until the staircase came into view. She knew that they would hold the celebration in the city, for it was a celebration for everyone. The stars were beautiful twinkling up in the night star, the moon watching over her, knowing her pain and guarding her on that night from any evil. She walked over to the dancing square where men and woman danced together. Calicien and Eldarion were dancing around, Jidda and Waredith were dancing alone, for no one would go near him. Lómebrilas spotted her watching the dancing without any expression. Her father had a huge speech prepared, but at the moment instead of practicing he was dancing with Arwen and a little girl who was six years old.

"Belaraniel," Lómebrilas breathed just loud enough that Belaraniel turned to see what said her name.

"Lómebrilas," she smiled happy to see his face. He smiled at her slightly, maybe she had changed her mind.

"I need to talk to you," Lómebrilas said looking to an alleyway that seemed secluded.

"What?" she asked once they were out of earshot. By the look on his face she knew he had thought about what she said, "I need to talk to you to actually."

"Really? Should I go first?" he said not sure how to react, "I decided about what you said…" he began before she interrupted him.

"There is someone out there, but it's not me… so it's only right to set you free, I have to turn away…" she began not wanting to be the one who got shot down.

"Funny, I came to tell you the same thing. I guess it's what we have to do," he said turning and walking away, he had made a full of himself, to even think he could say he would be alone for her. He left to find his father, he wanted out of there before he turned around to beg her to forgive him for even thinking about that. Legolas was dancing with Arwen as Aragorn danced with the little girl, "father… we need to leave."

"Lómebrilas what is the rush? Can't it wait until morning?" Legolas asked looking at his son.

"No, I am leaving tonight… I will meet you back in Mirkwood," Lómebrilas said leaving for the castle to pack his things. He took everything he could carry, went to the stables and rode off for Mirkwood trying to convince himself he was doing the right thing. The rest of the night Belaraniel sat at a table drinking wine, not wanting to feel the pain. Eldarion found his little sister asleep at a bench table. He lifted her into his arms have hearing the news about Lómebrilas leaving. He knew that one of them said it wouldn't work, for now his little sister reeked of wine.

-------

Belaraniel woke up feeling dizzy and sick. She walked out of her room, to the bathroom where she let the pain of the night before loose. If there was Valar, why was he letting this happen to her? She walked back to her room wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her night dress. She then remembered that Legolas and Lómebrilas and the elves were leaving. She quickly threw on a dress, ran her brush through her hair a few times, then ran down to the courtyard. Legolas stood alone with Thrédith, Lómebrilas was not there. She walked down the way. She curtsied to Thrédith, she had not talked to or seen him since the night she was told she'd marry him… SHE WAS SUPPOSE TO MARRY HIM! She had just remembered. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"My lord, where is your son?" she asked not seeing Lómebrilas coming from anywhere and his people getting ready to leave anyways.

"Princess Belaraniel, he left for Mirkwood last night, I am sorry he wasn't here to say goodbye," Legolas said looking at her sadly.

"Must you go captain Thrédith?" she said feeling like she should be polite.

"I will stay if her majesty wishes me so, and if my lord will allow me," Thrédith said with a smile.

"I think captain, that it would not be wise that you stayed," Legolas said thinking of Lómebrilas.

"But my lord, he will return, I assure that he will. I just wish he'd accompany me on a short journey to my mother home city for a day or two. I will have him back to you in a week or two, if that is what you fear," she said taking the captains arm. Legolas would tell Lómebrilas, good… she wanted him to feel what she felt, he did not even ask her to reconsider.

"That is not what I worry about m' lady," Legolas said bowing his head slightly.

"Then it is settled then, thank you my lord. My the Valar bless your trip," she bowed before leaving with Thrédith.

"Lómebrilas is going to be furious," Legolas said quietly as he got onto his white horse. Gimli had already left for Mirkwood, Legolas had asked Gimli to watch over Lómebrilas. Gimli didn't hesitate for he was angry that his daughter claimed she was in love with… at the minute a Melcher… but she claimed would be a man and then she could see his real face. He had claimed he would never speak to Jidda again, but everyone knew that he could not stay mad at his daughter for too long. Aragorn, Arwen, and Legolas all talked a little about their children before Legolas parted from Gondor.

Belaraniel spent the day with the handsome young general. All of the girls stared at the handsome elf, he was not as handsome as Lómebrilas, but the woman didn't see a difference, and it didn't matter for he was almost as handsome as Lómebrilas, and he would never for a moment make Belaraniel feel unloved. He made her feel beautiful, though she could not get herself to love him, she found that he would be an ok match.

"I thought that you and Lómebrilas were an item, why as he left without you?" Thrédith said knowing that if he wished to marry Belaraniel, and to be king of his kingdom and no longer just a captain of an elven army, he'd have to be careful to not scare her away.

"He as left because… he was already assigned to my sister, he cannot marry another family member of her family, so we could not be together, because we'd have to be together, he did not fight for me, though he could not just throw his title away as easily as I could without hurting his father and kingdom, my father has a son and two other daughters, Legolas only has Lómebrilas. I would not ask of him that, but I wished he would have at least tried to convince me it would not work, I guess he did not love me after all. Though I do love him, do not get me wrong commander I was and am much fond of you, but I loved Lómebrilas and I thought he loved me. But he is gone," Belaraniel began sadly.

"I would never do such a thing to you princess… Belaraniel. You are something to be treasured, to be loved. Though you could never love me the way you love Lómebrilas, I wish that you would try… that you would give me a try. I have not changed my mind, I still think we would be a good pair, and we could be a good king and queen together, I would like to choose you to be the queen of my people to the south. A hidden away city of elves, that is if you would have me. You would be good for my people, and for me… and I believe we would be good for you, so what do you say?" he asked taking her hand in his and looking into her eyes. She bit her lip a moment and thought about it, they would make a good match… she would make a good queen, a good mother, a good wife, and she would never love again anyways… so if it was the only thing to get on with her life, then why not?

"I think that we would make a good match, I can not promise love, but I… will marry you. I cannot give you my heart, for it has been broken, I do not know if he even still has it, but I will give you a try and maybe I shall grow a new one, but I cannot make you any promises," she said swallowing as she looked at the handsome elf. His blonde hair colliding down his shoulders, his handsome facial features, and his blue eyes.

"I will not ask of your heart, but all I ask is that you do not give up on hope, anything is possible," he said kissing her hand. That day they stayed together all day. They rode back to the castle for dinner, her mother would have a fit if she missed dinner. When they walked into the hall Aragorn looked shocked to see the captain of Legolas' army still in Gondor's realms, and that Belaraniel was with them.

"Welcome captain Thrédith, your presence is a surprise, but please sit you down," Aragorn said standing up.

"It was a shock to me when Belaraniel asked me to stay, she wishes to go to Rivendell," he said sitting down beside Belaraniel.

"I see," Aragorn said his smile fading as he looked to his daughter, did Lómebrilas' early leave have to do with the handsome captains sudden stay, or was his stay planned driving Lómebrilas away. They ate all joking and laughing, they barely noticed that Crirawen wasn't there anymore, they actually liked it better sadly.

"So captain how long do you plan to stay?" Haiweth asked as she drank from her goblet.

"As long as your sister wishes me too," Thrédith said looking over to the princess smiling beside him. He never noticed that she had a beautiful smile, her perfect teeth and medium lips, not small like her sisters, but almost like her mothers.

"And how long do you wish him to stay?" Aragorn asked observing the two. Belaraniel almost choked before looking to her father. Thrédith patted her on the back to help her. She wanted to laugh and looked at her father finishing the process of swallowing her vegetables.

"Well, my lord," she said trying to be polite, they were always told to show respect to the king their father by calling him my lord or my king, but she never followed it and he never wanted her to. She cleared her throat before going on, "well… I am not sure yet. I want him to go with me to Rivendell, he has not seen it there, and I have not seen I since childhood. I would like to see my favorite uncle Elrohir, then… when we return, we will stay here, and then go to his hometown," Belaraniel said looking to him for support. He held her hand under the table and as uncomfortable as it was she held his hand back.

"My lord what she is trying to say is she has agreed to marry me," Thrédith said looking to the king.

"You will not take my daughter," the king said looking to her, he did not want to lose her yet, unless it was to someone she loved. Eldarion watched them with anger, she had betrayed him, and Lómebrilas. Eldarion got up and left the dining hall. The king watched his son, "I will not allow it."

The king had left the room, Arwen ran after him, her sisters decided to leave as well cause it felt awkward in there. It was only Thrédith and Belaraniel left in the room. He took her hand other hand and looked her in the eyes.

"I will talk to your father my love," he said looking at her, "it will be ok."

"It will be I suppose, but not I will talk to my father," she said sighing. She was caught off guard when his lips fell on hers, her lips tingled with excitement, but she still could not feel it. Yeah she had affection for him, but her love for Lómebrilas over powered it. She smiled at him weakly before getting up to find her father. She knocked on her parents door hard. Arwen answered and looked at her daughter. "Mother, I can speak with father please," Belaraniel said to Arwen. Arwen kissed her daughters forehead before leaving. King Aragorn stood on his balcony in his nice kingly attire.

"Why?" Aragorn turned around asking his daughter. Belaraniel didn't know how to answer that.

"Because father…" Belaraniel said putting her head down.

"Because? Because! Belaraniel… I thought you loved Lómebrilas?" Aragorn asked curiously.

"But he is not here is he? He left me… I will not go to Rivendell with Thrédith, I am taking my friends, and when I return I will marry… for Gondor," Belaraniel said realizing her duties to her country.

"Why though? Why him? You know you can never love him? Why not find Lómebrilas? I will take you," Aragorn said placing his hands on his daughters arms.

"Because of my duty as a woman, my duty as a princess, my duty to Gondor, this alliance will be good for the people…" Belaraniel began hurriedly.

"Nonsense… what about the duty to yourself? What about the duty to your feelings? What about the duty to your heart? There is hope still Belaraniel, if you chose to marry this captain then I will not stop you, but know that this will not solve the problems of your people, of your family," Aragorn said looking down at his daughter.

"I cannot have any duty to a heart that is not there, a cannot have duty to feelings that are confused, I cannot have duty to myself when I was born to do the duty that is good for the country and people I love. He loves me, he hasn't left me, he is here. Beside all I need is the love from friends and family, there support is all that I ask, that I need for now…" Belaraniel said looking at her father. He smiled and nodded.

"You have my love and support, you have my blessing, if this is what you wish I will not get in the way… but your brother on the other hand," Aragorn smiled thinking of all the anger bottling up inside Eldarion.

"Father I have one request…" Belaraniel said looking at her father. He smiled down at her.

"Anything at all my most beloved Belaraniel," he said letting go of her arms.

"Eldarion… he is in love with Calicien, you can change the rule about marrying those in lesser rank, father… you're the king, and they love each other, take it from some one who has suffered that kind of pain, do not part them. Let them marry, and let him still be the king… for he will make a great one. That is all I ask of you," Belaraniel asked her father looking at him seriously.

"I… thank you Belaraniel. I too understand what it feels like, I will talk to him when you leave," Aragorn said, somehow he knew that she planned to leave when the morning sun rose. She hugged her father and then ran down the stairs towards where Eldarion sat pacing.

"Eldarion," Belaraniel said as she walked down the stairs. He sat staring out a window.

"If you marry that prideful ape, I will disown you," he said seriously turning towards her, "how could you do this to Lómebrilas?"

"He left me!" she yelled, "he could have fought for me! I knew what he was going to say, and he left he walked away, when I agreed… he's gone…" she cried out finally letting loose. She fell to her knees as her knees gave away. Eldarion lifted her up.

"He left for you, he told me about what you asked him to think about, he loves you Belaraniel, he would have ran away with you," Eldarion said lifting his sister off the floor.

"It's to late Lómebrilas," she accidentally said not realizing who's name she used.

"What?" she looked at him realizing what she said.

"Eldarion… I mean it is to late Eldarion. He's gone, he could have come back. I leave for Rivendell tomorrow morning, when I come home Thrédith and I will wed, I do wish you to be in the wedding Eldarion. It is my time Eldarion, I must do my duty as a princess, I will probably never get an opportunity to start over. I know I will never love him, I can never give him my heart for someone else has broken it… but Lómebrilas told me he didn't want me when he left, when he crossed the border of Gondor and left for Mirkwood. Good night brother and may the Valar protect you until I come home," she said kissing his forehead. Eldarion's eyes watered, his sister had changed, she had lost her spirit. Her eyes no longer glowed, she had given up hope, she was beginning to fade.

Chapter 9: Fading

Belaraniel woke up feeling achy and tired. She didn't want to get out of bed but knew she must. Belaraniel knew that going to Rivendell before she was bound to a man she could not love. She slowly put her dresses on and looked into the mirror. Her skin had gotten a little whiter, and she looked as if she did not have a good night sleep. Belaraniel sighed, she then brushed her hair wishing she had curls again. She had lost her free will again, but she lost it willingly.

She slowly packed things she would need, she packed her weapons, but not her armor, she was not preparing for battle. She looked at the armor in her closet, the blood still sat upon it dried to a crimson crisp. She though back to when it was being taken off of her…

'His head turned to the door and he stopped touching her face when Calicien walked in, she pretended she hadn't seen anything. She brought over the medicines he had asked for. Together they applied the green stuff over her scratches, and over the large cut on her face so that her soft skin would not scar. He told her to go and get Eldarion, that they needed to look at her leg and pull out the arrow. Calicien left the room, he slowly began to un fasten the armor. He worried about what was under the armor, so he laid her on her bed and grabbed a dress from her closet. He returned and laid the dress on her bed, he slowly unhooked the armor. Belaraniel woke up and looked at him, she tried to role over but every part of her burned with pain.

"Don't move, you'll only make things worst. Don't worry, I'm here to help you. Now I am only taking off the armor, I need to look at your wounds," Lómebrilas said as he un fastened her breast plate. He then softly took off the bottom part of her armor. All that was left was the shoulder pads, he slowly pulled those off making her wince. He picked up her hand and kissed it softly, "forgive me if that hurt."

"It's fine," she said looking up at him and swallowing, "where is my brother?"

"He went to inform your father of the Orc's, he told me to take care of you, he is on his way up," he said helping her sit up so he could pull the soft purple dress over her head. He then took a knife and put it towards her.

"Whoa, whoa… what are you doing with that, I didn't mean to attack you in the woods," she said hastily trying to move.

"Calm down your majesty, no hard feelings, I except that you beat me. I just wonder why someone like yourself would have such skills," he said cutting the material around the neck so that it would be easier to pull out the arrow.

"I'm scared… am I going to die?" Belaraniel asked nervously as a tear formed in her eye.

"No my lady, you won't die, and don't be scared… I am here, after all I saved you," he said arrogantly. She rolled her eyes but didn't feel like arguing. Her brother entered the room looking at the two. He walked to her side and looked at her leg. It looked like it had been pulled out of joint. It didn't look that bad when she was fighting, it must have happened when she was pulled off her horse, and when she had the Orc fall on her legs, or maybe even from when they dragged her, for they dragged her by the legs.

"Look…" Eldarion said Lómebrilas. Lómebrilas didn't need to… he already knew, he had already seen it.

"I've seen it, but I am not good at that kind of thing," he said to Eldarion nervously.

"Hold her still, shield her eyes, I have to do it," Eldarion said sitting down at the bottom of the bed. Lómebrilas sat in front of Belaraniel and lifted her into his arms, her face buried in his chest. She screamed out as her brother yanked on her leg and pushed it back in, tears filled her eyes and her nails found Lómebrilas' chest. He clinched tightly cause she had a good grip, she was losing her strength and she began to slide down him, he held her tight. She sobbed silently into his arms. He told her to turn around, she slowly did with tears piercing her burning eyes. He held her there talking into her ear in elvish, his words were comforting even though she couldn't understand, "this is going to hurt, we are going to need something to stop the bleeding."

Calicien came in holding a few rags as if knowing what they were thinking. She stayed there and held Belaraniel's hand. Eldarion gripped the arrow and breathed a couple times with tears in his eyes. It wasn't fatal, unless she bled to death. His grip on the arrow was firm and he breathed heavier and heavier he started thinking, 'I cant do it, I can't…' and as if Calicien knew what he was thinking, she placed a hand on his shoulder. He then closed his eyes and pulled on it hard, it ripped through her skin as fresh blood spattered out and soaked the ripped purple dress staining it black. She screamed out in pain and tried to pull away from Lómebrilas, she squirmed and cried as the others tried to place the rags on it to stop the bleeding.

"LAY HER DOWN!" Eldarion yelled as Lómebrilas held her down. He held her hands to the bed and talked softly into her ear. He was telling her she'd be alright, and all other kinds of soothing things. She nodded to him, she slowly started to close her eyes for she was feeling tired. "Stay awake, Belaraniel, stay awake, it's almost over," Eldarion pleaded.

"I'm so tired, I can't…" she said closing her eyes as the blood dripped down her chest and past her neck.

"Belaraniel… you must stay awake… stay with me… look at me…" Lómebrilas said placing his hand on her face. She looked into his eyes and nodded yes, but she started to doze off again, "stay with me! Look into my eyes, if you go to sleep you might not wake up… your brother and friend do not want that to happen… I don't either," he said not wanting her to feel bad. She looked at him and nodded, Calicien got a needle and thread, they stitched it up quickly. Once the wound was clean and stitched up they let her sleep.'

She stopped thinking about it to notice that she had been crying. Belaraniel pulled down on the neck part of her dress to reveal small scars, and one large round scar, her finger traced over it as she looked at it through the mirror. Belaraniel grabbed her packed stuff and walked towards the stables. Her brother ran out with her mother, sisters, and father. They all said their goodbyes, told her how much the loved her and would miss her. Her friends then came out, Ducla, Jidda, Calicien, and Waredith. Calicien sat with Eldarion saying a special goodbye, the king looked at them and saw that Belaraniel wasn't lying when she said they loved each other. Thrédith walked out with a half smile, he seemed disappointed that she was leaving without him.

"I am sorry Thrédith, you must understand, this is one last journey for me… with those I have journey with, battled side by side with, fought with, and would have died for… this is a goodbye reunion for us. When I return we shall be reunited, and get married. I must take care of some unfinished business," she said pointing to Waredith.

"I understand, I shall go back to Mirkwood so I may say my own goodbyes, so goodbye until we meet again," with that he pulled her to him and kissed her. He never hugged her, that was the one thing she missed the most about Lómebrilas was his loving, strong, passionate embraces. They waved goodbye to the girls and the Melcher who rode off towards Rivendell.

-----

Belaraniel held tight to her reigns, she was beginning to feel sick. For hours they rode, and she was the first one to suggest to stop and rest. They stopped by the border of Gondor, they were heading for the mountains, where they would have to cross to get to Rivendell. They sat around in a circle while Belaraniel rested, they ate watching her. They woke her up knowing that it was time for them to get going, the sun hadn't even begun to lower. They had hours before the sun would even begin to set. Belaraniel didn't ask to stop again even though she was so tired. Belaraniel began to fall asleep on her horse… she… began to… fall… into… a dream…

"What is your problem? Why don't you just leave us alone," Lómebrilas said holding her against the tree, not knowing who she was. Belaraniel head butted him making him stumble back. Something inside her made her not notice the pain, maybe it was the adrenalin, but the prince was having a hard time keeping up with her. She hit him with the hilt of her sword making him fall to the floor, and now she was on top of him again with her sword to his throat. An arrow was planted next to them. She looked up at her brother who held the arrow.

"Who are you? Show your face or I shall be forced to place an arrow in your skull," prince Eldarion said warningly. Belaraniel got off of prince Lómebrilas and used one arm to try and pull off her helmet. Her hair fell down and sweat dripped from her face as she was breathed heavily, "Belaraniel?"

"It can't be…" before Lómebrilas could finish his sentence she interrupted him.

"It can't be what your highness? You got beat by a woman… by a princess?" she said with a smile. She had forgotten her injuries for the moment.

"I didn't get beat, you're the one that bleeds," he said angrily.

"That could be arranged, besides I first cut you before you stabbed me," Belaraniel said looking to the arrow, she never had enough time to look at it. The blood made her a little queasy when she saw it. Her brother stood their looking at her with a hurt look on his face, "brother…" ……… "Belaraniel?" with that Belaraniel jumped and the horse reared as something shot out from around her, nearly knocking the other horses and riders down.

"Belaraniel? What's the problem?" Ducla asked as her little horse stumbled to stay on his feet.

"I am sorry… I was just… I fell asleep," she said looking to Calicien, and Calicien could see in Belaraniel's eyes that a certain elf plagued her dreams. It was a bond of friendship that allowed the two to know what the other felt when it came down to it.

"Don't be sorry," Calicien said placing a hand on Belaraniel's shoulder. A warm smile from Calicien made Belaraniel feel better. The group rode down the grassy plains and towards the mountains, towards Rohan and Helmsdeep, they would have a weeks journey. They would have to ride to Nimrodel, if they wanted to they could go through Lorien, they would ride through Moria so they wouldn't have to go over the mountains. It wasn't as long as they thought though, the Shire was further away.

For days they traveled stopping for food and water, and occasional sleep. The scenery was beautiful, for they actually had time to enjoy it. Belaraniel felt a little happier when she was in Fangorn forest. Something in their seemed magical, almost spirit lifting. Belaraniel stopped at a creek to take a quick dip. They were by Nimrodel, so they decided that they would not stop to sleep until they got to Nimrodel, then they would stay in a bed, and take a bath. Finally they were on the rode again, and the city of Nimrodel came into view. The gates opened and the group swooped through. Everyone stared at the Melcher who journey with the group of girls. Is that safe for those girls? people always wondered. Belaraniel just waved at them, people recognized Belaraniel as the princess of Gondor most bowed, some nodded their heads. They came to an Inn called The silver scale they walked in and saw a man standing at a counter.

"My lady," he bowed looking at Belaraniel.

"Oh so now everyone knows who you are," Ducla said rolling her eyes.

"Hello, I would like one room please," Belaraniel said smiling, the man looked her face over, she was not as vibrant and youthful as people had told him. The great princess of Gondor, saved many, and killed many. She looked tired, pale, and frail. She still had an innocence to her, but even that seemed to be fading. Could the necklace be doing this to her? She took the necklace off before it's time, was that why she was beginning to look lifeless.

"Yes, we shall have a room ready in a little while, please come back and we'll have it ready," he bowed. Belaraniel curtsied not sure how to act. Had everyone heard of her? It didn't matter… her and her friends left to go shopping. Belaraniel walked around smiling at the shops, she had seen an armory, and went to it. Calicien and the others followed after her. The shop was full of beautiful weaponry. Swords, axes, bows, arrows, knives, and all other kinds of things she had never seen before. She looked at some small moon looking blades, they had no handle… it was odd.

"It is to throw at your enemies my lady," an old man said standing beside her. He looked at her and noticed that she was the princess. He looked down, none of this stuff was good for the princess of Gondor. He turned to her and looked at her, "but I have things that would suit you. I have a room full of the best weaponry, if you and your friends would like to take a look that is."

"Yes, of course," Belaraniel said excitedly. She looked to her friends and whistled. They looked at her and then followed. The shop owner pulled out some keys and unlocked it, the room opened to a room full of mithril weaponry. They couldn't believe their eyes, it was all beautiful.

"I have been collecting it all my life, traveling the world looking fort he best weaponry," the shop owner said looking at his stuff proudly.

"And you are selling it?" Belaraniel said looking at him then to the stuff. A bow caught her attention, her fingers ran over it, made of white wood, and silver markings… it was large unlike her last bow, it was light to the touch.

"Only to you and your companions your majesty," he said to Belaraniel. She smiled at him.

"How much for this bow?" she asked looking at him with a smile.

"It is one thousand gold pieces, but for you I will sell it to you for five hundred gold pieces, for two hundred more gold pieces I shall give you one hundred mithril tipped enchanted arrows," the shop owner said looking at one of his half-breeds.

"Done, and I also would like some of these mithril and diamond throwers," she said lifting up some of the moon shaped blades she had seen before.

"Ah yes, those are very special… not as special as the bow… but indeed, they are so strong that if thrown into a wall it will not break, and it will stay in place, one hundred gold pieces, and fifty silver pieces," he said looking at the beautiful blades, "I will also throw in some regular ones… you can use them to practice with."

"Done, anything else you want you guys?" Belaraniel asked her friends. They looked around a bit, Jidda grabbed a mithril ax the most strong and beautiful ax they had ever seen, Waredith grabbed a sword and a regular bow with regular arrows, Ducla grabbed a sword, and Calicien grabbed a bow and arrows, as well as a light weight sword. Calicien was the only one who was not good at sword fighting, but she was good at shooting arrows.

The group headed off, they did a little more shopping, spotting some good riding clothes. The girls also bought a dress, for incase they stopped off at a celebration. Belaraniel grabbed a royal blue dress, it was tight on her which she grew to like. Belaraniel and the others headed back to the Inn, the room was ready. They were taken to a room on the very top, you could see over the town and almost to Rivendell, it was beautiful! The nicest room that they had ever seen in a Inn, they all laid down and went to sleep. A knock woke Belaraniel up, the inn owner stood at the door with breakfast for the whole group. The others woke up and ate with delight, they were already starting to enjoy their little adventure.

-----

Eldarion paced in the castle uncomfortably. He worried about his sisters safety, he shouldn't have let her go alone. The two girls he loved the most in the world were alone running around Middle Earth with a Melcher, who everyday became more and more like his kind. Thrédith walked into the hallway where Eldarion sat.

"Good morning prince Eldarion," he said walking past him. Eldarion stopped and walked after Thrédith.

"Why Belaraniel? Why her? Why not one of my other sisters? Why couldn't you use them for your scheme to be king?" Eldarion said standing up for his sister.

"What are you talking about my lord?" Thrédith said turning to look at the prince in the face.

"I am talking about my sister Belaraniel, why do you have to marry her?" Eldarion said angrily.

"Because I love her…" before Thrédith could finish Eldarion finished.

"No! I love her! Lómebrilas loves her!" he yelled angrily. The captain kept his cool.

"Well I love her differently then you do…" Thrédith said with a smile.

"If you love her at all then indeed, but my love for her, a friendship brotherly sisterly love is stronger then your love for her, and Lómebrilas…" before he could finish Thrédith was the one to interrupt.

"Lómebrilas is not here my lord, I am here, I have stayed… he loves her and loved her not," Thrédith said hurriedly, he did not love Belaraniel, but he was fond of her, very fond of her… and she was convenient, so he would do what ever to keep her convenient.

"He is not here to challenge that or defend himself," Eldarion said angrily defending his friend.

"Correct, and why is that my prince? Because he left her here to rot away in misery, I will not let that happen to her, I am giving her second chance, I know she will never love me, but as long as she gives me a chance I am more then happy. Goodbye for now prince of Gondor, I head for Mirkwood, the next time I shall see you is when your sister and I marry," and with that Thrédith left behind a fuming Eldarion. He had thought up a scheme. Eldarion ran to his fathers side, Aragorn wondered at why Eldarion was not at fighting practice.

"Father, Thrédith goes to Mirwood," Eldarion said out of breath.

"Alas, I had know my son," Aragorn said standing up from his chair, he set down the scroll he had been reading and walked his son to the balcony where they could talk.

"I wish to go with him father, he is after all, to take the hand of our very own beloved princess of Gondor, father… someone should watch over him," and with the look Eldarion gave Aragorn, Aragorn knew what he was getting at. A smile crossed the king of Gondor's face, Eldarion had a plan.

"Request granted," Aragorn said with a smile, "you leave in an hour. Now pack your things, travel lightly."

"Thank you father," with that Eldarion ran to get his stuff ready. Lómebrilas and Belaraniel would be together no matter what happened. Thrédith had a look of surprise on his face when he saw the prince pull his horse beside him.

"Where do you go my lord?" Thrédith asked nervously.

"With you captain, you are the future husband of my father, I must make sure nothing happens to you," Eldarion said with a smile, a nervous look came across Thrédith's face. And together they rode for Mirkwood, Eldarion did not let them stop to rest for even a moment. Days later and finally the great elven city came into view. Thrédith nearly fell off his horse in tiredness, they only got to rest twice.

"Captain Thrédith," Legolas said walking out to meet the two men on horse back, "prince Eldarion what a unexpected pleasure, welcome."

"Hello lord Legolas," Eldarion said, Thrédith made an angry face, even the prince of another region got more welcoming then someone who lived there for a long time.

"My lord, I have come to tell you that this will be my last visit, I am returning to my home lands," Thrédith said trying to get some attention.

"Why is that Captain?" Legolas said stopping to look at Thrédith.

"It is not important, can't it wait until a more appropriate time captain, we've had a long journey," Eldarion said looking at Thrédith with a captain. A beautiful blonde she-elf came out smiling and looking at Thrédith, Eldarion looked at her in shock, she was staring at Thrédith the whole time. Thrédith knew the danger to look at any of the elven woman, with his future wife's brother near by breathing down his neck. Lómebrilas was trotting up the rode with a few soldiers behind him when he saw the captain and… Eldarion? His friend was there to visit, maybe it was about Belaraniel? He snapped the horses reigns and the horse galloped down the dirt rode passing the forests tree trunks.

"Eldarion, my old friend," Lómebrilas said climbing off his elven horse. Eldarion turned around to see his friend.

"Lómebrilas," he said walking to the elf who was climbing off of the gray and dapple stallion. They gave each other a swift hug.

"How are you?" Lómebrilas asked his old friend, a smile crossed Eldarion's face, "how is your Belaraniel?"

"She is fine," Thrédith said listening in, Lómebrilas looked to the captain.

"Good of you to finally show up captain," Lómebrilas said getting ready to walk towards the captain.

"Not now my prince of Mirkwood, I shall talk to you of my sister later, let us go…" Eldarion said leading Lómebrilas into the castle.

----

Belaraniel decided to stay another night, she wanted to do some research from the books they got from the city of Bree. For hours she read through the book. Something caught her eye, 'Belarchian Shardeyth,' the spell to request one wish from the elven god of the sky. She scanned through the spell, and noticed in fine print all of the things she would need to cast the spell. She could wish Waredith back to his original form. It was time to shop. She jumped from the bed and raced out of the room and down the flights of stairs. She scanned the stores for items she needed, all she needed was four large rubies, two candles, some salt, a piece of hair from the wisher. Easy! She started with the salt, then she got the rubies, and then the candles. It told her to go to a lake, problem was… there wasn't a lake anywhere near, the nearest lake was an hour away. Belaraniel packed her stuff, the book, and climbed onto her horse.

They raced towards the lake with excitement. She slowed her horse when she saw the sunset reflecting off of the tiny lake. It was a very tiny lake, but it was beautiful. She set two rubies on each side they were five feet apart, she then set the two candles in front of her, with her sword she cut a piece of her hair from underneath her hair. The sun finally began to set, she had to wait until the sun reached the bottom of the earth. When it was dark out she lit the candles, the light reflected off of the water and her face sat still in the water. She read the instruction and waited a few minutes before starting. She took some of the salt in her hand and through it out into the water. She then began to say the spell,

"Minhiriath, tar Luinil, re is ba, irmaamin lle kyerma (Between the rivers, beyond a star, day is dead, I desire you present)," Belaraniel said taking the piece of her hair and burning it, she then threw it into the pond. A gust of wind blew out the candle, the rubies started to glow. A figure started to come up from the water.

"What do you seek from a god princess of Gondor? That you disturb him in his never ending sleep? Is it love you wish for?" the god said glittering under the sun.

"I wish not for love my god, but I wish for help for my friend Waredith. He has been made an Melcher, and I wish as well as he that he is placed back into his former self, that any sign of his former Melcher habit, is wiped clean, that he is the human he once was without altering time," she said breathing slightly.

"That is a noble request from one who suffers, someone who is about to enter darkness, but if that is your wish, then consider it granted, bother me not again she-elf, good luck and I shall watch over you," and with that everything went black and the candles re lit. She blew them out, grabbed the rubies, climbed on her horse and walked away. She did not question or think upon his comment of being in darkness, she knew darkness was swallowing her whole, nothingness was not far away, she would not fight it, for she knew not why it was happening.

-------

"Eldarion tell me… is your sister alright?" Lómebrilas swallowed back sadness, he had longed to hold her, to touch her, to be near her, just to see her, to know she was ok, but missed him. He paused a moment but could not hold the question in, "does she miss me at all?"

"I know not if she misses you or not, she says it, her eyes speak of pain, but… maybe I should not tell you her latest plans… she has left for Rivendell when she returns…" he didn't say anything he wanted Thrédith to let it slip that he was going to marry Belaraniel, and then Lómebrilas' would handle that situation.

"What my friend? What is her plans?" Lómebrilas said hastily fear spreading across his face.

"It doesn't matter right now, but I do not think she is well. I think she is dieing I know not what of, I've heard rumors around from those who've seen her, her skin pales, her eyes darken, she looks tired… when I saw her last, I could tell that light in her that we all love so much had burnt out, she is fading my friend," Eldarion said changing the subject. He swallowed before going on, "my father told us that my mother queen Arwen had nearly died of heart break, but he said that everyone nearly fell into a sadness once the war of the ring ended, your father had sea longing, that something tragic can change a person, this last battle could have changed her, I think it was the wind that blew out her candle. Only she will know, I only hope she is strong enough to last. But I can tell you this my friend, every time I saw her, when I looked into her eyes, you were written a crossed her heart."

"We must find her, let us go to Rivendell now, let us find her. I have made a mistake, tell me there is a chance she still loves me, just a chance and I will race there and force her to marry me," Lómebrilas said hastily.

"That is too late," Thrédith said walking around the corner.

"You had the chance to tell him Eldarion, what were you waiting for? Were you not going to tell your closest friend?" Thrédith said staring at the two princes'.

"Tell me what Thrédith?" Lómebrilas asked looking to his friend. What could his friend possibly be leaving out? Thrédith walked past him with a smile.

"She does not love you, she basically told me so, you ruined any chance to be with her," and with that Thrédith disappeared before either one of the princes attacked him.

"What is he talking about Eldarion?" Lómebrilas said curiously. Eldarion knew it was the right time, but for some reason he did not want to tell Lómebrilas.

"I will tell you later, do you not hear that noise? Dinner is ready, I will announce it then, but I guarantee you won't like it," Eldarion said walking to the dining hall of the elves.

Everyone sat around the long silver table, it was much more elegant then Eldarion's dining hall, this one was white and silver, his walls were stone with red and gold drapes along the wall to keep it warm. Lómebrilas sat down waiting for his friend to join him, Eldarion and Thrédith were both missing from the table. Finally Eldarion came in and sat down, Thrédith took a couple more minutes. They all talked and laughed while Eldarion and the captain glared at each other, and Lómebrilas stared at his plate thinking of Belaraniel.

"So captain, why have you come to say goodbye? Where do you plan to go?" Legolas said smiling amongst his friends and generals of his army.

"I plan to go back to my own home, after here I head back for Gondor…" he paused a moment to look at the Mirkwood prince who poked at his ham with a fork, "where I shall marry the princess of Gondor, go home and be king," Thrédith said looking at Eldarion.

"Well congratulations," everyone said to Thrédith except Lómebrilas, Eldarion, and Legolas.

"Which princess of Gondor captain?" Legolas said no longer smiling. Thrédith stuffed his mouth with salad so he would not have to speak.

"Do not be shy captain Thrédith, you can all tell them how you are marrying my most beloved of sisters, Belaraniel," Eldarion said before looking to Lómebrilas who choked on his food and began to go into a fit of coughs. Eldarion patted his friends back trying to keep his friend from choking.

"Captain Thrédith! You…" before Legolas could finish scolding his captain Thrédith stood up.

"Excuse me my lord, thank you for ruining the night prince of Gondor, I guess I will leave sooner then I expected," Thrédith said throwing his napkin down. He then stormed off leaving a group confused from the mess, and a teary eyed blonde elf maiden. The mysterious girl from earlier got up and left through the other door. Lómebrilas got up and was followed by Eldarion.

"Thrédith!" Lómebrilas yelled after the speed walking captain. Lómebrilas' voice got louder, "Captain Thrédith!"

"What do you want my lord?" Thrédith said while stopping and turning to face the prince of Mirkwood.

Chapter 10:

Belaraniel reached the cities wall, lights lit the streets. Belaraniel slowed Narduril to a slow trot as she looked for the Inn. She heard a familiar voice from behind. She looked around for her but couldn't see her anywhere. She kept calling out for her, and finally she appeared.

"I am hear, don't you fear," the tiny voice sang, finally Belaraniel could see her.

"Where did you disappear to Tinxie? We looked everywhere," Belaraniel said happy to have some company.

"I left for awhile, I went miles, my work was done, so I was gone," she sang sadly, "but I am back, that is a fact, I missed you all, so I came home," Tinxie's tone got happier.

"I am glad to have you back," Belaraniel said smiling.

"I am glad to be back, like I said, it's a face," Tinxie buzzed resting on Belaraniel's shoulder. Together they found the inn and went inside. Everyone was already asleep except for Waredith, he looked out the window. He was no longer a Melcher.

"Waredith? Is that you?" she asked nervously incase it wasn't.

"It was me… I now feel like I've lost apart of me, I had begun to gotten use to the stairs, the screams, I had excepted my fate, that I was a Melcher with a soul…" he said looking at his reflection in the window. He was handsome, shorter then she thought he'd be but he was handsome.

"Is anything I do good enough?" she said beginning to cry. Waredith didn't realize what he said, he didn't think that he'd upset her.

"Oh Belaraniel I didn't mean it, of course things you do are good enough, you did it, you've done a lot of things but you cannot control how people feel after it. I am grateful for now I can be with Jidda and not have her feel there is no hope for her father to ever talk to her," Waredith said standing in front of her. Belaraniel got a sudden dizziness and felt like she would puke.

"You are ill," Waredith said looking at her, she was turning paler and colder to the touch. If her heart had not been beaten she would have already looked dead.

"Yes Waredith, I am," she said sitting down placing her hands to her head.

"Why do you think that I go to Rivendell? Yes to see my uncle, but to spend time with you guys, because went this trip is done I will be done, all that will be left is my body, for my spirit is broken, I am hoping that Rivendell will lighten my spirit, I was told that it could lift any bad mood with its soothing sound, the fresh breezes, and soft melodic chime to the city. I get weaker by the day and I do not tell them because they won't understand, to have gone through and seen so much, to have fought a power and lost to it…" Belaraniel said sadly.

"Nay Belaraniel, not lost to it… surrendered to it for a moment, but defeated it in the end," Waredith said going down on one knee, his dark hair shoulder length like her fathers once was, and his pleasant face looking up at her.

"I gave up, I've given up…" she said sadly.

"Not given up my friend, for your fighting it until you get to Rivendell," Waredith smiled at her, "you are stronger then you look. But you don't have to be strong anymore, because we are here to help you."

"I miss Lómebrilas," she said feeling her chin shake as tears filled her eyes. He took her into his arms.

"I know you do, I am sure he misses you," Waredith said before letting her go. She thanked him laid down and fell asleep, and he laid down next to Jidda. He thought to himself over and over again, "and I am sure my lady, that your journey has not ended, it has just begun, for you have and will save us all…"

------

"I want you to stay away from Belaraniel," Lómebrilas said angrily.

"I don't think so, you don't love her, you left and gave up on her, she has agreed to marry…" before Thrédith could finish his sentence a large fist crashed into his face. Lómebrilas stood over Thrédith, he grabbed Thrédith's green shirt lifted him up slightly and with his other hand punched Thrédith in the face over and over again. Eldarion smiled.

"I think that is enough," Eldarion said walking to him. Eldarion then looked down at the captain sprawled out on the floor, "stay away from my sister, Lómebrilas is going to be the one at the alter with her."

"I will not give her up so easily, just because you are the prince of Mirkwood doesn't mean we have to give the ones we love to you," Thrédith said blood trickling down his nose. With that Lómebrilas lifted him up and through Thrédith into the wall and punched him a couple more times.

"You don't love her, I love her, I'd die for her, and I will not give her to you. You may think she'll marry you, but she'll see you for what you really are, she will want nothing to do with you," Lómebrilas said dropping the Captain.

"I guess we will let her decide that now won't we, besides have you ever thought what was best for her, with you she can only suffer, I can give her a life where she will not live in pain," and with the that the captain pushed Lómebrilas off of him and walked off. Lómebrilas sat there for a moment, Thrédith had a point. Maybe he should let it go. Hours rolled by and Eldarion was pacing in his room, he heard a noise outside of his room, and got curious. He waited for the familiar voice and extra voice to go around the corner before following. Eldarion then opened and shut his door, he stopped at the corner to look at Thrédith and the beautiful elf maid from earlier stand by the door. "I cannot Melamin, I must marry… I do love you."

"Thrédith then don't do it, marry me… I love you and you told me yourself she could never love you," the maiden cried.

"Oh, how I wish it were you instead, but I need her… I am sorry, it must be good bye but know that you will be the only one I think about," he said kissing the maiden Eldarion's jaw dropped. He had not seen such display that should be kept in the bedroom out there in an open hall, he had her against the wall with his hand upon her waist as they rubbed together. Did he not worry about getting caught. As if Thrédith had heard his thoughts, he pulled the maiden into his room. Eldarion didn't know what to do, a voice from behind him caught him off guard and scared him.

"Whoa Eldarion, didn't mean to spook you," Lómebrilas laughed. The look of nervousness didn't leave Eldarion's face. Eldarion could barely speak, "what is the problem Mellonamin(my friend)."

"Thrédith… girl…" he said pointing to Thrédith's chambers. Lómebrilas understood then, he walked to the door and busted it open. Thrédith looked to the door where Lómebrilas stood, Thrédith had been shirtless between elf maidens legs. He tried to get off the bed but Lómebrilas' hands found the elf captains hair and brought him to the ground. The girl screamed as the prince of Mirkwood beat her secret lover. Eldarion had to pull Lómebrilas off as Legolas entered the room. He had heard the scream and came to see what it was.

"Captain Thrédith, I cannot believe all the trouble you have been causing. I had high respect for you and your people when you came to live in Mirkwood, you have shamed my house with your filthy act, the king of Gondor shall here of it, for I love his daughters like my own, and I had hoped that Belaraniel should be my daughter one day," Legolas said looking to his son, "and she will be."

-----

The group were packed and ready to leave with their new weapons. They were all glad to see Tinxie back, as well as Waredith back to his human form. They all hugged him no longer afraid he'd bite them. They now were traveling to Moria, Jidda was excited for some of her Dwarf ancestors had come here to rebuild what had been damaged. They would start a new dwarven city. Though they would not get to go into the caves, they would still ride by them. It took them four days to the through and out, finally they were close to Rivendell. The great big city came into view, it was as beautiful as she last remembered it. Her uncle ran out to great her with arms wide open, she met his with a body blow thrust into his arms.

"Oh my sweet Belaraniel," Elrohir said smiling at his favorite niece, "I have missed you."

"And I you my favorite uncle," Belaraniel laughed.

"Where is your mother? Your father? Sisters? Where is your brother Eldarion?" Elrohir asked looking at the people she traveled with.

"What am I not enough?" Belaraniel joked, Elrohir smiled and hugged her close. His long brown hair matched her mothers and grandfathers, and even hers. He was handsome for an elder elf.

"Of course you are, believe me you are MORE then enough," he joked back. She nudged him and smile.

"So," she said not knowing what to say.

"So…" he said back, he finally got a good look at her, he had talked to her hugged her, but never looked at her face. Her eyes were no longer vibrant blue but a gray sad color, her eyes were puffy, her skin paler then the moon. He placed his hand on her face, it was freezing. He stared at her and she knew, "Melamin Mani marte? (My love what happened?)"

"Amin anta est (I need to rest)," Belaraniel said looking away from her uncle.

"Fine, but we will talk about it later, I have something talk to you about," Elrohir said seriously. She sighed and followed him to a beautiful room he had prepared for her. She laid there day and night, until finally she walked out onto the balcony. She was getting weaker and thinner for she ate very little. Calicien walked into the room, they hadn't had a moment alone together like they use to.

"Belaraniel you should come down to eat, you haven't left this room," Calicien said worriedly about her friend.

"No I am not hungry," she said using the same excuse she used before so she wouldn't have to eat on the journey to Rivendell.

"Your body needs food to regenerate, no wonder why your horse riding skills were sloppy," Calicien said angrily.

"Your body tells you when you are hungry for a reason, you don't have to eat unless you need to, I am not hungry Calicien. You may leave now," Belaraniel said feeling a little stunned that she said that. She had never used her power as the princess on her friends, only on annoying servants, or her sisters.

"Yes My lady… as you wish… Crirawen," she said basically saying that she was acting like her sister who betrayed them! Before Belaraniel could defend herself Calicien had left in an angry fury. Belaraniel looked at the light green dress that was designed with beads, it was one of her mothers old dresses. She smelt and swore she could smell her mother on it, she missed her mother, and her father and brother, even her sisters. Belaraniel laid down on the large feathery bed.

"Don't say such a thing Belaraniel. You will make whomever you must marry very happy, you will be a great queen. I must admit, you are very outspoken, rebellious, and adventurous to be a queen, but never will you be a regular… boring queen, unlike your sisters. I guarantee where ever you rule… it will be the most favorite place to travel too. I am glad I came," he said looking at her as they stood in the stables. He had never noticed how exhilarating it was to not be near a normal woman. Her childishness was something hard to find, something that made the days fun. He smiled as he said, "besides, I don't think that anyone will be attacking your nation once they see the queens great skills."

"Oh brother… you say that cause you have to, you are trying so hard, I almost feel bad," she laughed before walking past him to the door.

"Belaraniel…" he said seriously. She stopped and turned to face him. He walked up to her slowly, "I mean it… and when I must go, I shall miss you," she looked at him in shock. What had he said? He was standing so close she thought she could feel him breathing, but it was probably the pounding of her heart. She was not the most beautiful girl but her personality blinded you from seeing that. Just then the doors open and Arwen walked in. She stood their looking at the two, she slowly walked out. Belaraniel looked back at him then turned to run, he grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"What do you want?" she said looking at him and then to the door that just closed, "my mom probably thinks…"

"I don't care what anyone thinks Belaraniel. You asked me what I wanted… and I will not lie to you. There is something about you… something that's got me thinking," he said interrupting her.

"You teased me when I was a younger, this kind of teasing hurts and will not be allowed," she said trying to pull her wrist from his large hands.

"I am not teasing… I am not kidding, I am not joking… Belaraniel listen to me," he said quickly and nervously.

"You're marrying my sister!" she said finally succeeding in freeing herself from his grasp. She ran out the door ignoring him calling out her name and running away. He ran out after her finally catching up to her.

"I don't care that I am Belaraniel!" he yelled to her, she walked faster trying to hold back tears. This was not a funny joke at all.

"I do! Now leave me alone!" she yelled before jogging off to the castle again leaving a shocked Lómebrilas standing in the grassy field.

"If only I had known then that I'd be laying here, thinking about him, missing him, yet engaged to another man," she sighed out loud. For days she laid never leaving, people brought her food and water, she drank regularly but rarely ate. With all the rest her appearance did not get better, her eyes were not puffy, but her skin still pale and cold to the touch, her eyes a lonely gray, and her body thinner then it should be. She lay there staring at the beautiful white and silver canopy of cloth above her head.

Her uncle walked in, she had been there almost a week and still she hadn't left her bed, he hadn't got to talk to her. He looked at her, and knew that her look the day he saw her was not from traveling. But another form, her heard brain willed her heart to beat, when her heart wished to not beat.

She looked at him and then he spoke, "I have seen your condition once my beloved niece, once in your mother."

------

Lómebrilas and Eldarion packed for their journey to come. They were going to find Belaraniel, for king Legolas had a plan. They packed everything they needed, weapons, food, water, and clothes. Lómebrilas grabbed something else that he did not show Eldarion. He placed the necklace she gave to him around his neck. It felt cold, almost freezing when it touched his skin, so he jumped making Eldarion look at him. Eldarion walked to him to look at the necklace.

"It is my sisters necklace," he said astonished, "I forgot you had it, it is cold, my sister is fading, this necklace represents her spirit, the one thing my grandfather loved most about her, were you wearing this when you were turned evil?"

"Yes, of course why?" Lómebrilas asked curiously.

"It is suppose to protect the wearer, that is why you are alive, you are not fading… even though you say you missed my sister, I began to wonder whether you missed her or not for you were not as ill looking as my sister, this necklace… it has protect you, my grandfather gave it to her to protect her from heartbreak," Eldarion said in aw.

"So it is my fault that she is fading?" Lómebrilas asked looking at the beautiful necklace. Eldarion nodded hesitantly, "then let us go so I can take away the pain I wish I never caused. Eldarion I would like to ask you permission to marry her."

"If she will have you then yeah," Eldarion said slightly joking about the 'if she'll have you' part, but ultimately it was up to her, "I'd be honored to be your brother Lómebrilas, it would be great to have the house of Gondor and house of Mirkwood united." With that the boys rode off towards Rivendell, it would only be a week ride, where as from Gondor it would have been a two week ride. A memory came back to his mind…

"I was hoping to speak to you before I left…" he said looking at her. She stood before him ready to listen. "When I return, I swear I'll listen to you, then you can tell me what I've been lacking. But I want you to help me hold on, tell me I have a reason to return," Lómebrilas said towering over her, "whatever it takes to make it better, I'll do whatever I can to make you see that love worth having doesn't come free, and I'll pay any price to keep you mine."

"If love is deadly, then let me die… for I've already fallen. I always dreamed of love, then it was crushed when my father said he would choose our lovers… but I've lost my heart to you, and I will surely die if I am not with you, so if either way I will die… then I'd rather die with you, then with out you. And I want to believe… in us. I will fight for love… I will fight for you," she said placing her necklace in his hand. He looked at it and then into her eyes. It was an elven necklace, the necklace of king Elrond.

"I can't take this from you," he said holding it in his hand and holding his hand out.

"You must… it will protect you, you can return it to me when you return. I give you a reason to return," with that she placed her hand on his face and kissed him. She turned to walk away before he grabbed her wrist. He pulled her into a long hug.

"I will return to you, we will be together, whether we must run away, or we find another way," he said holding her tight being careful of her wounds.

"I know," she said with her arms around his neck and her head on his chest, "and when you do I will be by your side."

"I love you Belaraniel," he said burying his face in her long brown hair, "and I swear that I'll never break your heart, and I swear by the moon and the stars, I'll be back, and until death does us part, I will love you with every second my heart beats. I'll give you everything I can, and as we age and time turns its pages, my love for you will never age."

"I love you?" she said squeezing him tighter. His strong muscles pulled her tightly to them. Neither one wanted to let go, they heard the other soldiers bring their horses out.

His heart lifted as he remembered her words, they out weighed the last words he heard her say. For he believed the words he was just thinking about over the words she had last said to him. He then realized that she was in his heart no matter how far apart hey were.

------

"I don't have a condition," she said trying to get out of bed. She tried to forget the fact that she had spent the whole week in the bed crying. Not understanding where she went wrong, and why nothing she did was good enough.

"My niece you have not left this room, you have barely eaten, and you can barely walk," he said holding her arm. He was right, she felt her legs shake, why couldn't she feel better?

"I am fine," she snapped pushing him away.

"You are not fine," he said pushing his long dangling sleeves back as he tried to hold her arm. He helped her out onto the balcony.

"I want to fly Elrohir, to leap off this great balcony, feel the rush of the wind, and fall to a sudden death, to go to a place where there is no more pain, no more sadness, no more heart ache," she said sadly.

"Oh Belaraniel, have you no idea? You carry on heartache into the next life, and that is why those who are bitter and sour are born, like Crirawen," her uncle said looking at her hold onto the balcony and looking down.

"It feels like just yesterday we were together, back then I stood tall and I was so strong, with his arms around me I felt untouchable like nothing could wrong, now I cant breath, I can only see darkness, I am barely hanging on, and I cant deny or pretend I am not torn into pieces, he was the one, I thought he was the one. I told him everything, I let him and for once in my life I felt alright, and now all that is left of me is what I pretend to be for my friends, so together, but on the inside I'm dieing. I hate him, for letting me go, yet for hating him I blame myself, I see him in my head, and it kills me all the quicker, I try not to show the tears I've cried, but when I close my eyes he's in my arms and we never say goodbye, and that's the only way I've been able to go on," tears sprung into her eyes, "I'd give anything to hear his voice, to have him look at me and smile, but what I miss the most is him holding me in his arms."

"It hurts, I know… but you cannot let go, lay down and rest, may the Valar's wings protect you," Elrohir said helping her to her bed. She laid there sadly not sure what to do, a tear fell down from her eye.

-----

Lómebrilas felt something drip onto his hand. He looked down and at the tiny drop. He asked Eldarion if it was raining, Eldarion looked to the sky and said he felt nothing. Another drip fell on his hand, this time he lifted it to his tongue, it was slightly salty. He checked his eyes to see if he had been crying, he then looked at the necklace, was it crying?

"Eldarion… is the necklace crying?" Lómebrilas asked nervously.

"I don't think so," he said turning his horse around. He looked at the necklace, it wasn't leaving… he placed his finger under it and tasted the drop, slightly salty… it was a tear.

"My sister, she is crying…" Eldarion said pausing for a moment, "I never thought that it could be possible, the more closer we get the most of what ever she feels reflect through the necklace.

"Well let us hurry, before it is too late," Lómebrilas said slapping the reigns and preparing himself for the horses burst of speed.

-----

Her friends sat outside waiting for her uncle to come out. He told them that she was not ok, she needed more rest, and they needed to feed her, but ultimately it was her choice for her to get better. She was trying to hard to hold on. Another memory flooded back into Belaraniel's mind…

"I will return to you, we will be together, whether we must run away, or we find another way," he said holding her tight being careful of her wounds.

"I know," she said with her arms around his neck and her head on his chest, "and when you do I will be by your side."

"I love you Belaraniel," he said burying his face in her long brown hair, "and I swear that I'll never break your heart, and I swear by the moon and the stars, I'll be back, and until death does us part, I will love you with every second my heart beats. I'll give you everything I can, and as we age and time turns its pages, my love for you will never age."

"I love you?" she said squeezing him tighter. His strong muscles pulled her tightly to them. Neither one wanted to let go, they heard the other soldiers bring their horses out. They slowly let go and with one more quick kiss he rode off to meet with the soldiers. Belaraniel sat their trying to hold the tears in, both happy and sad. Her brother rode past her and said goodbye. She waved bye to him. She ran up the castle stairs and around to a spot where she could look over the six thousand men, elf's, and dwarf's lines up. She collided into the side of the wall so she could see Lómebrilas and her brother. Both boys looked back at her and waved gloomily.

She let another tear loose. A elf maiden stopped in bring food and drink. Belaraniel knew that her uncle would torture her with another lecture if she did not eat all of the meal, though her body protested, she ate it down quickly. Then… the rest was silence. When she woke up she only woke for a minute, another brown haired elf maiden was placing a dress on her. The green yellow dress was threaded with silk thread, it was soft, the arms were the same until the middle part of the top of her arm, there a soft flexible band of silver and gold connected the sleeve to a long flowing white piece of silk and cotton that fitted around her arm like a tube and fanned out so you could barely see her arm. She fell asleep again after she ate a little more. She did not wake up so easily again.

"Belaraniel?" a familiar voice asked, it seemed to echo softly. As if it was calling her through the dark, "Belaraniel?"

"Hmmm?" she managed to mutter feeling as if she moved she would crumbled into bits of bones.

"She is cold, get her a warm cloth," the mans voice said hastily.

"Lómebrilas?" she asked not moving, you could barely hear her words.

"No, it's not," Waredith said waiting for the warm cloth, "he's not here yet."

"He's coming?" she asked trying to move slightly. Waredith smiled, they needed something to pull her back. "so you need to help us help you."

"Where is he? I'm sorry, tell him I am sorry…" she began before he was interrupted.

"Tell him yourself Belaraniel," Waredith said, Lómebrilas walked to her side and looked down at her nervously.

"Oh Belaraniel," he said touching her face, she was so pale, so thin, she didn't look like the girl he knew, but she was still the maiden girl he loved.

"Lómebrilas?" she asked twitching hand trying to touch him, he placed his hand on her hand.

"I am here, do not worry melamin, I am sorry I am late," Lómebrilas said watching Eldarion stand beside him. Eldarion fell to his knee almost in a hopeless effort to save his sister. "Do no give up, she is not lost to us yet."

"I am sorry Lómebrilas, I did not mean what I said, I am not strong enough…" she said swallowing the best she could.

"You are strong, are you not the maiden I fell in love with? The girl I risked my life for? The woman I pledged to return to? The one who said she'd stay by my side and fight for love?" he asked nervously.

"I am lost… all I see is darkness, know that I did not lie when I said that if love kills me, then it is worth to have loved you. Never for a moment did I not love you," she said searching for his voice, he tried to hold back tears and said nothing. "Is anyone there?"

"I am here," he said hastily not wanting to lose any time with her, "if you love me then fight to be with me. I know I didn't fight for you, but I am here now, I fight for you now, I promise to never let you go."

"Lómebrilas, I am fading… my time is done, promise me that you will not forget me, but you will not allow yourself to be weak as I did, love again… never lose hope," she said a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Stay with me!" Lómebrilas yelled wiping her tear away. Eldarion took her other hand.

"Belaraniel, it is Eldarion… please stay, you must stay," Eldarion pleaded. He held his baby sisters hand, and though it was as cold as death he held it to his lips to warm her skin.

"Eldarion… I… do not… want to go," she said trying to hold on, "tell ada and mother I am sorry and I love them, and… I… Eldarion… Lómebrilas… tell my friends I love them… and I love you guys…" Belaraniel said her hand slipping from Eldarion's. He watched it hit the bed in slow motion before understanding she was gone. Her pain was gone. She had died with the ones she loved, she was not alone on her trip. Tears filled the room, Lómebrilas slumped to the floor in disbelief. The necklace' had gone colder, he could feel it threw his shirt. He took the necklace off and placed it around her neck, she was gone. Waredith held Jidda in his arms, Ducla hugged Belaraniel's uncle, and Calicien clung to Eldarion's neck crying. Eldarion sat there in shock.

"I have a remembrance of yours, I've longed to deliver… I pray you Belaraniel, receive it and take it with you on your trip to the heavens, he leaned over and kissed her lips gently. When he came up from the kiss a tear fell down and touched the skin of her chest, another followed it nearly missing the necklace. It seeped through and Belaraniel's heart started beating. She took a deep breath and looked around. Her eyes were wide opened, turning from gray to blue, her skin still pale but pink came to her cheeks, and her eyes rested on Lómebrilas.

"Lómebrilas?" she asked looking at him wide eyed afraid to close them, that she might be placed back into darkness.

"Yes," he said smiling grabbing her hand and placing his other hand on her head.

"I heard your voice in the dark, you pulled me back… and when I died, I felt your kiss… and something in me sparked," she swallowed looking around the room, "Lómebrilas?" she said sitting up, the moment she moved his arm widened and caught her. He laughed as he held her in his arms. Everyone smiled through red teary eyes, she hadn't died, nearly fell into a sleep, where only her true love could wake her.

"I will never let you go, I love you Belaraniel," he said hugging her close while sitting on the bed beside her.

"I know," she said smiling blinking back tears.

"How?" he asked not releasing her.

"The smile on your face lets me know that you need me, there is a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me, and the touch of your hand says you'll catch me when ever I fall, and I've noticed you say it best with a kiss, so when you say nothing at all, and I can tell by the way you hold me, the way you hold me says you'll never let me go… literally," she laughed along with everyone else.

"It is good to see you got you sense of humor back," Eldarion said with a smile. "The last joke you made was telling me you were actually going to marry Thrédith."

"Oh no," she said looking at Lómebrilas.

"I know… but do not worry melamin, you do not have to marry him. He was caught in a certain act with a blonde elf maiden who he claimed to love," Lómebrilas said smiling as he laid her down to rest. "Even if he hadn't do you honestly think that now we are together again that I'd let you marry anyone but me? Do you think I would have allowed you to marry him at all, I would have crashed the wedding before they even started."

"Oh Lómebrilas," she smiled kissing him, something she longed to do. His hand found her back, and the other her neck. He then stopped kissing her and pulled her into a hug. Calicien hugged Eldarion close to her.

"I never did get to answer you…" Lómebrilas said loud enough for everyone to here. She got a nervous look on her face, "I would live in the shadows, I would live in hiding, I would run forever, I would let everyone hate me, I'd even live in the gutters, as long as I was with you, even if it was just to know you loved me. That night, that was what I was going to say. That without you, my heart could not go on, if it weren't for your necklace to protect me, for I wore it everyday to feel closer to you, I would have died from heartache. But now you are safer in my arms, and together our hearts will go on and on."

"I think we will give you some time alone, we will prepare for the journey home," Eldarion said standing up and taking everyone out of the room.

Authors note: Disclaimer… I do not own any part of the lord of the rings… ;( sadly…

I know that was probably not as sad as I could have made it, I probably should have tried a little harder to make it sad but it's SO late. I hope you enjoyed… stay in tune and find out the secret question that the prince of Mirkwood has for that lucky princess of Gondor, as well another surprise. Also now that Lomebrilas and Belaraniel are together everything is should be great… well I don't know, it might be a little hard to find away for two who've already agreed to marry to marry one another. See how they get through it, and the return of Crirawen, any Ideas please let me know. I know gramar is probably bad, I am trying to get as much as out before summer starts… for then I won't be ableto start putting more out for awhile.