Aredhel played it safe. She kept off the main road the first day and most of the next. She saw a single group of guards about six hours after leaving the palace, but she no longer matched the description of the elleth for whom they searched, and they let her pass.
Her progress was slow as she spent most of the time leading her mare through the forest outside of Menegroth. The downward slope was steep, and the spring melt made the ground slippery for both her and the horse.
The trees around Menegroth were not as tall as the trees of Nan Elmoth, and the bright sunshine shone freely through their naked limbs.
Aredhel looked up to see tall monuments of grey and white cloud moving slowly across the sky. They reminded her of the high white walls of Gondolin, and for a moment she pictured the main entrance to her brother's palace with its tall arched doorway. It was watched over by statuesque elven guards - not so different from those who guarded Menegroth. In Gondolin, they were chosen as much for appearance as for strength, and their bright gold mail shone impressively in the ever-present sunshine.
Her people appreciated overt displays of wealth. Of course her brother would say that the Noldor simply appreciated beauty. Yet her time with the understated Sindar has taught her to appreciate a more natural approach to things.
"The Noldor build great monuments to the Valar, but if you really want to honour our Creators, spend time in the monuments they built for us," Eol had said to her once, as they walked through a copse of majestic oaks.
She looked forward to returning to Eol's cosy stone house. While she was giving up certain luxuries, she was gaining so much more; a partner, a lover, a family.
She pictured the two massive hearths and the pretty tapestries of the Great Room and wanted desperately to be home under its warm wooden beams. Home. The word filled her heart with pleasure.
The corner of her cloak caught on a sharp branch and she tugged it free. She was grateful to Galadhon and Lilieth for the ellon hunting clothes. Freed from the confines of a gown, she could climb down rocks and scree more freely, and the thick material warmed her against the cool spring wind.
She glanced down at her boots, now covered mid-calf with mud, and couldn't imagine how much worse it would have been wearing her favourite white grown.
Her mind wandered to the possibility of her passing Eol unknowingly. The trees affording so little cover this time of year, that she had no choice but to walk far from the road. The downside was that she was often out of sight.
It was a balance: Stay close enough to the road to hear other travellers, but far enough to stay safely out of view, yet still close enough that she could quickly make herself visible if it was Eol.
She kept her ears primed for the sound of hooves, and, more than once, rushed to the road, taking cover as she watched a party of mounted elves pass by on their way to Menegroth. But Eol was not amongst them. Each time she reassured herself that it was just a matter of time before he crossed her path.
At night she slept under the stars. On the first night, against a rock face that protected her from the wind and rain. Still so close to Menegroth, she had not dared light a fire.
But on the second night she felt the discomfort of the cold and lit a small campfire to alleviate the chill of her damp clothes.
She noticed that the smoke of the fire did not rise sharply; a sign of rain. She hoped it would hold off for the night as she had not built a shelter and was far too exhausted to start building one now.
She burrowed into her warm blankets with a sigh. She was tired and hungry, but at least her newfound clarity had brought her peace and a sense of purpose. Although she did not sleep comfortably, she did sleep long and dreamlessly.
Early on day three, she awoke to the sound of rolling thunder. She hurriedly packed away her bedding and made sure her packs were water tight. She pulled the hood of her heavy cloak over her face and secured it around her waist with her tunic belt.
She exhaled through her nose. Progress had already been slow, and the last thing she needed was a storm to hamper her further.
On the upside, the road would be nearly empty for few would travel during a spring storm. Only those that needed to, like her. She made up her mind: She would continue on for as along she could and then seek shelter if she needed it.
With a determined step, she led her horse out to the main road and turned east.
The rain had not yet begun although the sky was an ever-deepening grey and the air was heavy with ionization. In front of her, she saw an endless horizon of brown trees, punctuated by an occasional trail of campfire smoke where other travellers were taking refuge.
Steadily the clouds thickened, and she felt the first drops of rain. Dense and heavy, they fell with a splash. She heard another rumble of thunder and raised her head. The landscape in front of her was disappearing as the clouds lowered.
"It's fine," she said aloud, fighting a prickle of anxiety. "As long as there's no lightning and I keep to the road, I can travel safely in the rain."
A sudden bolt of lightning lit the sky followed by a sharp crack of thunder. Her horse sidestepped nervously and lifted its head.
"Dammit." With a sigh, she led her horse back into the trees to seek shelter.
She followed what looked to be a small path leading away from the road. The rain was falling more heavily and she regretted her decision not to find a shelter from the beginning.
It only took a minute or two before the wind intensified and small branches whipped dangerously around her face. The rain began to fall in blinding sheets. Within moments she was drenched, but she lowered her head and continued on, relying less on vision – for she couldn't see a thing – and more on instinct.
She remembered Eol's story about the elf in Nan Elmoth who had almost died after injuring himself in a fall during a spring storm. If she were injured in a fall, there would be nobody to find her. She would most certainly die of exposure or starvation.
Her mare twitched nervously with each peal of thunder and Aredhel pulled down on the reins, doing her best to keep the horse's head low and relaxed.
She realized she had placed herself in a dangerous situation. The four feet she could see around her afforded her no shelter. She needed a cave, a rock or a rotting tree trunk – anything that would provide protection from the wind and against which she could build a shelter from the rain. Her eyes focused on a grey outline in the distance. Perhaps a large granite boulder?
She set out to investigate when the forest lit up with a blinding flash, and the tree in front of her split in two and burst into flame. She froze.
For a moment, the charged air around her glowed and she felt her hair stand on end and her skin tingle. Behind her, the horse reared on its back legs, and Aredhel was thrown off balance. She fell onto the ground and beneath the horses' airborne front hooves with a crash that knocked the wind from her.
Suddenly a dark figure dove into her and, wrapping an arm around her torso, rolled her out from under the horse a moment before the horse's hooves crashed back to the ground.
She laid in the mud for a moment, catching her breath, before she remembered the horse and scrambled to her feet.
Through the rain she could see the other elf grabbing the reins and forcing the mare's head down over and over again until finally the horse relented.
The forest shook with the violence of the storm, and beside her, another tree exploded into flame. She could smell the lightning in the air around them. She leaped forward and grabbed the stranger's arm.
"We must find shelter!" she screamed to him over the roar of the storm.
She thought she saw him nod, but it was almost impossible to see and it was only by virtue of his dark travel cloak that she could see him at all.
The elf began to lead the horse further along the path (although Aredhel was not even sure it was a path anymore) and she followed a short distance behind them, blindly trusting that this elf would deliver her from this storm, and praying she could convince him not to deliver her to King Thingol's dungeons.
Her ribs ached from where he'd grabbed her, and she felt slightly sick from abating adrenaline caused by the nearby lighting strikes.
She kept her head down, trying to shield herself from the unrelenting rain, and didn't see the cave entrance until they were upon it.
Tied close to the entrance, two frightened horses huddled together, one black and one white, and the stranger tied Aredhel's mare beside them, before heading inside the narrow entrance to the cave. Aradhel followed him without hesitation.
The inside of the cave was black but heavenly dry. Around them, the wind howled as it blew through the shadowy passages – a ghostly sound that made the tiny hairs on her neck stand up – but with a shake her head, she put her fear away. She was safe from the storm and that was what mattered most.
Ahead of her, the other elf lit a match and the small cavern was instantly illuminated by the soft warm glow of an elven lantern. He placed the light on a small rock shelf and turned to face her. He lowered his hood, revealing silver grey eyes, a sharp nose and a generous mouth framed with shining black hair.
"Eol!"
She rushed forward and, in a flash, she found herself at the point of his black sword. She stilled.
"Not so fast, young ellon. First you will tell me who you are and where you are going."
She meant to answer him, was about to explain, but the words died in her mouth. Even though she stood at the mercy of his sword, even though he clearly did not know her, a wave of relief washed over her and she began to cry.
His eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. He lowered the sword but an inch in confusion.
She slowly lowered her hood. Her dull silver hair hung limp over her small shoulders, but she smiled up at him, tears streaming down her face.
His sword fell to the floor with a clatter.
"Aredhel?"
At the sound of his voice, her tears began to resemble something akin to joy, and she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
"Eol!" She closed the distance between them and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into her so she could kiss his neck and face.
At first he hesitated, his body stiff, but after a few shocked moments, he relented, and his arms surrounded her in an embrace that grew tighter as the reality of their reunion swept over him.
"Aredhel, meleth nin," he murmured into her hair. "I thought you were in Menegroth, how is it you are here, in this storm?" He closed his eyes and smiled as he received her kisses.
She leaned back to look at him. She could feel his heart beating through his clothes and watched the lump in his throat move as he swallowed his emotion. Her fingers rose to touch the vulnerable skin of his neck and she rose on her toes and planted a kiss there.
The faint aroma of the horses and pine needles lingered on his cloak and mingled with his familiar cedar scent.
"They wanted me to take an oath never to return to Doriath, but I refused. I could not promise never to see you again."
He looked down at her, his smile widening. "So I heard," he replied. He curved his hands around her cheeks, gently wiping her tears with his thumbs, and looked at her in admiration. Then he pressed his forehead against hers.
"Aredhel," he whispered. "What on earth happened to your hair?"
She looked away and began to laugh sheepishly. "You would never believe it."
He gently released her from his arms and spread his heavy cloak on the cavern floor. She spread her own overtop of it to give them extra padding and was suddenly aware of the strange intimacy of the act. She paused, and bowed her head to hide a secret smile.
He lowered himself down the cloaks and smiled coyly up at her to join him. "Try me."
The slight eyebrow raise at the end of his double entendre undid her. Oh Valar.
She sat on her knees in front of him and self-consciously touched her ruined hair. He reached out and clasped her small hand between his own.
She took a breath and offered a pretty shrug. "I did it to escape. It was the only way to remain in Doriath, but not in Thingol's dungeons."
"You escaped?"
She looked at him sitting cross legged in front of her and noticed how he leaned forward and his mouth fell open as he listened. The feel of his hands around hers warmed her entire body.
She tamped down the urge to surge forward and embrace him, to tangle her fingers in the softness of his hair, a softness so at odds with the hard contours of his lean body. She had to take a deep breath before continuing.
"I had help….no, I can't tell you who," she said, in response to his raised eyebrows. "But they dressed me like this and turned my hair…whatever colour this is…so that I wouldn't be recognized. Except I was recognized. I thought all was lost, but Iaron had talked to one of the guards – the Captain I think - and he let me go so I could find you. My…helpers…said you were on your way to Menegroth, thus I have been searching for you along this road for three days."
He looked at her for a long while, then he shook his head and smiled.
"I never left for Nogrod," he said. "When it came time to depart, I found that I couldn't leave you behind. Nor could I stay in Nan Elmoth without you. I decided to go to Menegroth to find you before you travelled north. Give it one last shot.
"The day after I left, I received Iaron's message that you were being held. And the next day another message that you had refused the King's offer. I rode day and night until this very morning, when I found myself waylaid by the storm. I knew of this cave from my days as an elfling – we used to camp here, and I was tying my horses when I had a vision of Queen Melian. She urged me back into the forest. I cannot say why, but I felt compelled to obey."
"Yet again, you saved my life."
"Danger follows you almost as closely as I do."
"But you are faster."
The wind howled through the passages of the cave and they fell silent. The soft light from the lantern flickered on the black walls.
He reached out and touched a strand of muted silver hair, a wistful look on his face. "You did this for me?"
She nodded.
He inhaled and unconsciously bit his lip. His eyes dipped to the grey cloak beneath them, then returned to her face, hopeful. "Does this mean you wish to return to Nan Elmoth?"
"Yes, Eol, if you'll still have me, that is..."
He closed his eyes, and an odd look crossed his face that she couldn't read.
She leaned forward. "Eol, are you alright?"
He opened his eyes to her, and she saw they were dark with uncontained desire. He lips curved up in a smouldering smile. "I love it when you say my name…"
Something within her shifted. She felt a crack in the foundation of her defences. This was it – her surrender point. No more games, no more hesitations, no more excuses. Eol was playing for keeps, and so was she.
She leaned over and pressed her lips against him. She opened her mouth to him, inviting him to taste her and he responded by sliding his tongue against hers. Aredhel couldn't help but moan as he tugged on her bottom lip with his teeth.
He wrapped his arms around her back, clutching her to him, then eased her back onto the cloaks, lowering himself over her.
Her skin burned where it touched Eol's and he answered with a rising fire of need as he kissed her neck and ran his hand under her tunic. She moaned as his fingers brushed her nipple, and Eol paused.
"Is this real Aredhel? Can you really love me?" he asked, breathless.
She responded with a gentle laugh. "I love you, Eol. It is real."
His breath hitched and he brushed a lock of hair from her face.
"You will be my wife?"
Tears filled her eyes and she bit her lip. "Yes," she whispered.
His face filled with joy and he pressed his lips to her forehead. "I promise, I will make you so happy…" He wrapped her in a joyful hug.
His next kiss was deeper, more heartfelt, and just one of many as they spent their first night together, wrapped in each other's arms, exploring each other's bodies, and keeping the cold of the storm at bay.
A thin ray of light tumbled in through the narrow entrance of the cave and illuminated the rocky floor.
Aredhel opened one eye and, for a moment, she wondered where she was until Eol's breath on the back of her neck brought back the events of the day before.
They had waited out the storm in the cave. Making love one moment, sharing stories the next.
But to relieve himself, he had not left her side, indeed he could not resist touching her. Many a story was interrupted with kisses and many more were abandoned all together as pleasure overtook the two elves. By nightfall, the rain had relented to a calm but steady rhythm, and exhausted, the two elves slept peacefully entwined.
She slowly eased herself up, careful not to wake Eol. As she maneuvered around him, he sighed sleepily and turned to lay on his back, one arm thrown behind his head.
Aredhel knelt to look at him closely. Mercy. His chin was more pointed than square and she shivered at the thought of his teeth grazing the back of her shoulder as he made love to her the night before.
His mouth was full and wide with cupid bow lips that were slightly open as he slept, and she could see now that his second tooth was just a little turned in. She smiled. Not so perfect after all. Her eyes swept over his high cheekbones and the thick black eyebrows that gave his face such character.
Looking at him now, as he slept like this, she was overcome with a sense of desire mingled with deja vu. This was where she was meant to be.
She leaned over, and, very softly, touched her lips to his. She ran the tip of her tongue across his upper lip and touched her hand to his cheek as he stirred.
He was musky with sleep, but as she pulled away, his hand reached around the back of her head and he drew her back in to him. As their lips met again, his warm fingers traced the curve of her spine, her hips and finally wrapped around her arms, keeping her pinned to him. She let out a small moan as his lips moved down her neck.
As her body melted into his, she became aware that Eol was wide awake in every way. She pulled back, her lips and cheeks flushed with his kiss.
"Don't go," he murmured. "You taste good." Suddenly her stomach growled and Eol laughed.
Embarrassed, she stood up quickly and smoothed her hair.
"Are you alright?"
She turned back to look at him and smiled. "Everything hurts."
He gave her a sexy smirk. "You don't look too upset about it," he said as he laid back, his arms behind his head.
"You look like the cat who ate all the cream."
He regarded her through heavily lidded eyes. "Then come back here, because I'm hungry again."
The temptation to snuggle back under the cloak with him was strong, but so was the need to relieve herself and fetch some water to drink. The more sensible option won and, with a grin, she headed outside.
By the time she returned to the cave, Eol was already outside, preparing food over an open fire.
She gratefully accepted a steaming mug of rose tea and turned to pat her mare who snickered in greeting. "Made it through the storm, old girl?" She rubbed the horse's nose fondly. Then she crouched by the fire to warm her hands and watch Eol work.
The last of the grey clouds had departed before the dawn and the sky was a clean and vibrant blue. The storm had washed away the final remnants of winter and the forest was left fresh and damp. Birds chattered and happily chased each other from limb to limb while overhead she spotted a hawk hunting for its breakfast.
"Four days to Nan Elmoth?" she asked.
"More or less, if the weather holds."
"And Glineth and Callon?"
"They are well. That reminds me, I have something for you."
He began to rifle through one of his packs. She rose with interest and peered over his shoulder. He turned and handed her a familiar looking leather bound book.
1000 Best Horse Names.
She began to laugh. "Was this Glineth's idea?"
He shot her a fake wounded look. "It was my idea," but the twitch in his lips gave him away. "And Glineth's."
She chuckled. "Well, I don't care. Anything that makes me think of Nan Elmoth is a happy present!"
Suddenly his eyes grew wary. "Aredhel," he said quietly. "Come stand behind me, near the horses."
He knelt down by the fire. To anyone looking in from the outside, it looked as though he were focused on breakfast, but as he worked, he discreetly unsheathed a dagger that lay in his kit behind him.
"Nadhordir," he said loudly. "Go in the cave and bring me my black bag. It has spices I wish to use."
She nodded and headed inside the cave. There, beside the black bag, was his sword. She concealed it behind the bag and carried both out to him.
"Hanon le," he said, dismissing her with a nod as his eyes scanned the forest. "Go back inside," he whispered. She was a few steps from the cave when a group of elven guards entered the clearing.
They fanned out around them, and Aredhel's heart sank when she spied the same Captain who had let her go. Now he has come to fetch me, she thought, as her eyes met his. It was too late to hide.
To her surprise, Eol's face broke out into a grin and he rushed forward to clasp the warrior's wrist in greeting. "Mae Govannen, Beleg."
Beleg smiled back. "Mae govannen, mellon nin. It is good to see you safe after such a storm."
Beleg's eyes looked beyond Eol to Aredhel and she thought she saw a flash of relief cross his face. She carefully schooled her features to appear neutral.
He led Eol towards Aredhel and out of earshot of the other elves, who stood silently, awaiting directions from their captain.
"I worried for you both," he said in a low voice. "The storm blew down many an ancient tree and even the upper chambers of Menegroth shook. It gladdens my heart to see you both safe."
Aredhel said nothing although her lips curved in the barest flicker of a smile. She kept her head low and her eyes to the ground. She was no longer a Noldo Princess; rather a servant to Lord Eol, albeit one with grubby hair.
Eol looked closely at Beleg. "You must be the guard who helped her – now it makes sense. You have my gratitude."
Beleg shrugged. "You are like a brother to me, and I have to admit, she has your courage."
Aredhel's eyes met Beleg's for an instant.
Eol smiled. "That she does, Beleg. But surely you are not here just to check on us?"
"Indeed not. The King and Queen command that we escort you the rest of the way to Menegroth."
Aredhel's eyes grew wide and Eol frowned. "That is not possible."
"It has to be possible, Eol. My entire company is here. They have not requested the presence of your servant, however. He could stay with me, until you return to Nan Elmoth."
Eol's eyes flashed. "My servant will stay with me, where he belongs."
"Then your servant will be imprisoned. Let him stay with me."
Eol rubbed the back of his neck and exhaled. "We will think of something."
Beleg stepped back to join his company. "We will depart in ten minutes."