It had been a thousand years since the ambush. And Luriel had kept her promise and had visited Greenwood again once she had recovered fully. She spent most of her time home, leading her people, her mother was growing very old and could do less and less when it came to ruling. Her mother lived much longer than most skin-changers, almost three times as long. She loved her mother dearly and wanted to help in any way she could. Her mountain home was beautiful this time of year. The mountain birds sang in the morning as the sun rose. Luriel was already awake and sitting atop her castle, though it was more of a manor than a castle. She was watching the sunrise. She wore a purple dress with silver flower designs. She sighed in content, Thordir sat next to her, having come to visit her this time. They had become engaged many months past, their wedding fast approaching.
"You were right, the sun rises are much more beautiful here in the mountains." He sighed contently.
She smiled and scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, he wrapped his arm around her.
"Luriel, I have been meaning to tell you something..." He started, sounding slightly nervous. She leaned forward slightly to be able to look at him.
"Yes Thordir?" she asked.
"I-" he started but a loud screech interrupted him. They both looked to the sky and saw a white hawk flying towards them. It dove at Luriel, hovering before her. She stood suddenly and extended her arm, which it landed on.
"Ardenan! What news do you bring from Eregion?" she exclaimed.
Ardenan chirped softly and extended his leg, which a note was tied upon.
Using her free hand she untied it. She read quickly, her face paling. She turned to Thordir, "Eregion is under attack! That Annatar betrayed Celebrimbor, I knew he could not be trusted, the Rivendell elves are there, but they need help!" Ardenan cawed in agreement, fluffing out his feathers, before hopping off her arm and landing on the roof.
Thordir stood as well, "What are you going to do?"
"I must tell my mother, and we must go and aid them! Come!" she jumped off the roof, transforming mid-air into a bluebird, landing at the door, changing back and ran in, leaving Thordir to catch up.
"Mama!" she called running up to her mother's room. Her mother was sitting, in deep red robes, reading a book. She looked a lot like Luriel, just older, her hair grey and her face wrinkled with age. She closed the book and looked up at her daughter.
"What is it child?" she asked, her aged voice full of wisdom and knowledge.
Luriel handed her the note, which she read quickly.
"We must aid them!" Luriel said pacing restlessly.
Her mother lowered the note, "Luriel, we cannot risk our warriors to fix the elves mistake, they were a fool to trust that false elf, you even told me so. We cannot risk the lives of our people, the elves are on their own."
Luriel froze in place and stared at her mother in disbelief.
"So we are to do nothing, leave our allies to their fate?! Would we wish them to do the same for us, I think not! We would want their aid! We wo-"
Her mother stood suddenly, "Enough! I forbid you from going and that is that!"
Luriel growled in frustrations then spun toward the door, nearly crashing into Thordir as she stormed out and towards her room. Thordir looked from Queen Thalia, to Luriel, before following the latter. Thalia sighed and collapsed into her chair, burying her face in her hands, hoping her strong-willed daughter did not do anything rash.
Luriel was storming around her room, rambling on in anger.
Thordir cautiously opened the door and entered her room, "Luriel?"
"I cannot believe her! Well, I am not sitting here whilst our allies fight to the death." She then grabbed a bag from the corner of her room and began packing some essentials.
"Luriel," Thordir repeated walking up towards her.
"I will fly there myself if I have to, but I will not leave them to their fate!" she continued on over him.
He suddenly grabbed her wrists forcing her to stop and look at him, "Calm yourself Luriel, you are not thinking rationally." He said firmly, silencing her.
She sighed, hanging her head.
"You are right my dear," she slowly raised her head and met his eyes, "but I will not leave them to die without aid," she said with determination.
"I know, that is why I am going with you," he stated, surprising her.
"You do not have to Throdir," she said.
He slid his hands from her wrists to her hands, holding them tightly. She looked down at their hands and back to his face. There was a soft smile on his lips, "I wish to accompany you."
She smiled slowly, and suddenly embraced him, "Thank you Thordir, thank you," she whispered.
He welcomed the embrace and brushed his fingers through her hair. She placed a kiss upon his cheek before moving away to finish packing, she moved to the window, opening it up, she smiled at him, "Coming?" and with that, she slipped out the window, and headed to the armory.
They both were armored up and ready to go in record time.
"I will transform into something large enough so we can both fly there as quickly as we can," she said as they left through the back. Thordir nodded as he followed. She crouched and concentrated, and transformed into a giant eagle. She turned with her wings spread slightly. Facing a stunned Thordir. She crouched, ready for him to hop on. Once he was on she took off in a couple flaps of her great wings. Thordir wrapped his arms around her great neck, exclaiming in shock at the sudden accent. She cawed in amusement before focusing on flight.
"So this is what it is to fly!?" he called over the wind.
She screeched in confirmation.
"You know if we were not flying into war, I would be enjoying this right now!" he said sitting up slightly.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, her worry and fear reflecting in her eye. They both knew not the horror that awaited them, but they were ready for it.
