Disclaimer: I don't make money off of Lord of the Rings. I don't make money off this story. I don't own Lord of the Rings. I am not Tolkien. I am not Peter Jackson. I am not an Elf. Or a Ranger. Or a Maia. Or a dragon. Or a Hobbit. Or a...you get the point.

A/N ~ Okay, I lied. This isn't the last chapter. LOL Too many things started happening and I don't want to just rush, so yeah, I am not sure when the last chapter will actually be... *shrugs* Oh well.

Haradaic

Narm Rezwuq = My Songbird

Elven

Naneth = Mother

No dhínen, Nithig. = Be silent, my young ones.

Ada = Father

Mell = Beloved

Dracon

Kaleilorin = Dragon Haven

Bold is mind-speech. Haradaic is in italics.

Avad ~ Reluctance

(dream-vision) "Naneth, Naneth!"

Arienel watched as her vision self looked up from the book she'd been reading. White stone was all around, gleaming in the sunlight. Vines and flowers grew in lush gardens and trees, some larger than others, provided shade. It was the City of Minas Tirith, that much Arienel could tell, though, it looked much more alive, more renewed than it had when she'd left and as she watched, two children, both female, came running down the path, their hair flying out behind them, one loose and the other in a tight braid. The vision Arienel smiled and laughed as the two elflings, looking no older six, wrapped their arms about her waist as she stood from the bench she'd been previously sitting on.

Two sets of eyes, one sky blue set in a flawless face with dark-brown, braided hair and the other pair being rich brown framed by wild red hair and freckles, looked up at her with love and excitement. The two children tugged on the elleth's clothing impatiently, babbling together at once and the vision Arienel set a hand on each of their heads, silencing them. "No dhínen, Nithig. Now tell me, in a calm manner, what has gotten you two so excited?"

The brown-haired, blue-eyed elfling spoke first and her speech was very precise and soft, containing a gentle spirit, but no lack of courage. "Freewalker's eggs are hatching, Naneth and you promised that we could see them when it was time for them to hatch."

The other child was much more exuberant in her speech, bouncing slightly as she talked, her words almost running together in some places. "Can we go see them, Naneth? Please? We promise to be very quiet and Morroch and Freewalker told us we could when the eggs hatched! Please, may we? Ada can come to if he wants!"

Arienel watched as her vision self bit her lip against laughter and nodded solemnly. "Yes, I did promise, didn't I? Very well, we will go, but you must promise to be very quiet and stay still. Freewalker loves you, but she will not be tolerant if you scare her dragonlings. Understand?" There were jittery nods from both girls as they practically bounced with anticipation and the red-haired elleth shook her head before looking down at the child with sky blue eyes. "Very well, Elhirisel, go and find your Ada and tell him to meet us at the Kaleilorin." She turned her attention to the brown eyed child as Elhirisel ran off to do what she was told. "Carafiniel...behave."

The elfling smiled and nodded...before promptly running ahead with a gleeful giggle, making the vision Arienel shake her head with a sigh before running to catch up with her over-exuberant daughter.

The vision seemed to fade, shift, become disoriented and Arienel frowned, forcing it to focus once more. She blinked a few times, adjusting her eyes to seeing again and watched with interest the scene before her.

Her vision self, Elrohir, two men and their two daughters were inside a large, large sand-bowl that was covered by stonework and a roof that kept out the rain - not that it was raining. She cast her eyes about and gasped silently. They were on a mountain! A mountain city consisting of simple houses and what looked to be pens with large openings and sand-bowls inside...or priceless treasures...or leaves...nests! There were nests inside each partially enclosed, covered pen. And as she looked, Arienel began to see the simple intelligence that had made this city possible. The sun would hit each pen just right during the day to warm the sand, providing heat for the remainder of the day. The houses were spaces apart nicely, each one close to a pen that housed a dragon. The entire mountain city overlooked the White City of Minas Tirith and the Pelennor Fields. This was the city in her vision, the Guardians of Gondor!

The truth of it made her smile in pure wonder, but Carafiniel's laughter and her own voice shushing the elfling brought her attention back to the vision and Arienel watched as her vision self held the twin girls around the waist, one arm around each of them as she crouched. They watched intently as an egg rocked back and forth. Freewalker's eyes never strayed from the cream and speckled egg and Morroch was right beside her, his own gaze flickering between his rider, his mate and his offspring. Even in her vision, Arienel could see he'd aged some and curiously, the white speck on his nose had spread to encompass some of his muzzle. It struck her as strange, but he was still Morroch, she could feel that with every fiber of her being and so the white nose didn't matter in the least.

Elrohir stood quietly beside two other men - humans - who looked so familiar that Arienel lost her focus on herself and her daughters to study them. The elder one had shoulder-length dark brown hair that was almost black and streaked with gray. His stature was kingly despite his old age and she soon saw why as a simple circlet of silver glinted on his brow. His eyes were a sharp, steel gray and his smile...Aragorn! This man looked like Aragorn, but...he wasn't. He both was and wasn't. The younger man to his left was much younger, only in his late thirties or early forties - young for a Dunedain. His hair was a lighter brown, but his eyes were as gray as the older man's and his stature no less noble for his youth. He spoke to Arienel of an Aragorn likeness as well, but she knew he wasn't the Elessar. Nor was the man beside him, but in her heart, she knew these were Aragorn's descendants. How far down the line? She couldn't tell.

"Naneth, look!" The excited whisper brought her attention back to the scene with her daughters and both Arienel's smiled as one of the eggs in the sand-bowl cracked open in one spot, a tiny, delicate dark red nose peeking out for air. The small nostrils flared, smelling, resting before having to work once more to break the hard shell. They watched for what felt like mere moments as the baby inside struggled to get out, encouraged by the gentle crooning of Freewalker and the light taps she gave to the outside of the shell with her claws to weaken it. Sooner than any of them were truly prepared for, the small, dark red-to-sand dragonling spilled out of the egg. It chirped indignantly and tried to get up on weak legs, its leathery skin covered in sand and its wings flopping. Both Carafiniel and Elhirisel giggled as the dragonling fell over, getting tangled in its own wings, squawking in protest. Arienel chuckled and stood, bidding her daughters stay and leaving them with their father as she went to the baby and with ease and long-time practice, lifted it to its feet and folded its wings against its back gently.

The vision Arienel looked up into the gold and black eyes of Morroch and Freewalker. "What is his name?" Arienel didn't know how her vision self could recognize the dragonling for a male, but she knew the knowledge would come in time and she listened just as intently as her vision self did as Morroch looked thoughtful. Dragon names were not to be taken lightly as when the dragonling got older they would add to them. The shape-shifter finally answered, though. "Renn." Her vision self nodded and looked up at the two men in the entrance. "King Eldarion-" The older man laughed softly. "I have already informed the cooks of Kaleilorin that we will need meat for the little ones."

Arienel blinked, looking at the older man again. Eldarion! This was Aragorn's son. And so the younger man...would be his grandson! She felt a smile come to her lips and focused on the vision as a whole again. It took hours, she knew it did, but the process seemed like mere minutes, watching each dragonling hatch. There was the second egg, a white-to-sand female that Freewalker named Es. The third egg was a male, black-to-sand in color. He was called Valnar.

The fourth egg's entrance into the world was a little different than its previous siblings and Arienel watched in amazement as the dragonling hatched and Carafiniel immediately broke away from her father's hold to go to the baby. Freewalker looked startled, but Morroch and the vision Arienel brought up a tail and a hand - respectively - to still the dragoness as they watched the small elfling help the even smaller black dragon. Carafiniel finally looked up at them, her brown eyes shining in delight as she held the small dragonling to her, the baby snuggling right in. "Mori. That's her name." She said it with such finality that both Morroch and both Arienel's grinned, remembering the day that they'd met and she'd named her shape-shifter something very similar. They looked at Freewalker and the dragoness merely nodded, looking amused. It would seem the bond now extended to the second generation.

The fifth dragonling was born with less fanfare, but no less love and excitement and Morroch named the black-to-dark blue female Bara. Arienel watched the gathering, the families from her place somewhere above and smiled, her heart filled with peace. There was hope, happiness in their future and it warmed her. (end dream-vision)

The elleth awoke with a small smile and found gold eyes looking at her with amusement. "You can't even sleep anymore without a vision, can you?" His tone was teasing and Arienel chuckled, pushing the black dragon's nose away, moving it about a half inch altogether. "At least it was a good vision. I am getting better." Morroch snorted and stood slowly as she sat up, both of them stretching.

"Yes, only now I can't be surprised by the names of my own children!"

Arienel thumped his scales with her fist, glaring. "Well, I couldn't help that, you great warg. Why don't you try having the visions?" She closed one eye, still scowling as the shape-shifter warm breath blew her hair askew. The black dragon rumbled pleasantly. "I couldn't do that. It would take away the fun of teasing you. Do you not see this?"

Sky blue eyes rolled as the elleth mounted the dragon, settling into place. It was late noon and time they started getting back to the palace. Besides, Morroch had a flutter of worry in him that he'd not yet sensed, but Arienel had. Something was wrong, but until they knew what, she wasn't going to say anything. "Oh, yes, forgive me for that oversight. I suppose I shall have to be satisfied with my role in life." Morroch nodded solemnly and sprang into the air. "I am glad you understand this."

It took all of two minutes for them to fall apart laughing, Arienel draped across his neck with giggles and Morroch weaving unsteadily as he struggled to stay in the air around his laughter and then great hiccups.

The dragoness' heart was slowing.

The sudden thought, the simple knowledge of it brought a strangled sound to Kahilnar's throat as he raced down the hall and his breathing grew more difficult than it already had been. The Easterling flicked black hair away from his eyes with a twitch of his head just in time to see two figures racing for him from the opposite direction. A jolt of adrenaline swept through his system, the instinct to strike first before he could be harmed surfacing, but just as soon as the desire came, it vanished. These two were not enemies. In fact, they were technically allies and his frantic mind soon made this connection as all three of them slowed, facing each other.

Amr and Nusayya both studied the Easterling before them, worried. He was much too pale under his tanned skin, his hair was damp with sweat and tremble came and went in his body like a wave. It was his strangled breathing and the circle of pure red around the outside of his own black-colored eyes that caused a jolt of alarm in them, though, and Amr stepped forward, grabbing Kahilnar's shoulder as he wavered on his feet. The Easterling didn't protest, only looking up and seeming to truly focus on both the royals.

"Lenatre. Give the white Rovina Lenatre." It was whispered, more like slurred and Nusayya looked at her brother with wide eyes as he actually swore out loud, seeming to know exactly what Kahilnar spoke of - and this made sense seeing as her brother had been in Rhûn for half a year the year before. She darted forward as the Easterling's black-red eyes rolled back in his head and his body collapsing, helping Amr catch the man. The golden-haired princess looked up at her brother from where they both crouched over the still form and froze when she saw a strange mixture of green and red specks in his own dark eyes. Amr quickly looked away and stood. "Call the servants to help you get him to his room. I will see that the antidote is given to Sharpmist." He sprinted down the hall, toward the healing wing and Nusayya frowned after him, wondering.

She shook her head and looked up at the guard that was constantly nearby. "Get me the boy Asabiarn and two strong men." The guard nodded and was soon gone and then back with the people she'd requested. Nusayya wasn't surprised to see Sumay walking beside Asabiarn and smiled at both of them as the two grown slaves lifted Kahilnar and started down the hall. The older princess shook her head and greeted her sister as they followed. Sumay raised a brow.

"What happened?"

Nusayya glanced at Asabiarn, but knew the news would be getting back to Arienel and Morroch soon enough. "Kahilnar has been poisoning Sharpmist." Just as she suspected, the Rohirrim child looked horrified and his gaze darted to Kahilnar with the beginning of distrust. The Haradrim princess touched his shoulder and shook her head. "Asabiarn, do not judge him so harshly. His life is not yours and his bond is not yours or Haasin's. To each his own choices. Kahilnar did nothing to harm your dragon."

"But he did harm a dragon!" The protest, surprisingly, came from Sumay and Nusayya met her sister's fiery gaze. Her younger sister spoke again. "What others do to those that should be dearest to them are the things we can judge people by. You would judge Kahilnar's family for things they do to him if you met them. You judge me by how I treat others. Why not him?"

"Sumay, I don't judge people. I use discernment to understand who I am better off not knowing and who I would do well to make a relationship with. This is not judging. I do not think that you are any better or worse than Kahilnar because of your actions. I merely choose to interact with you more than I do with him because I know that your actions are better for me than his. Judgment is not the same as wisdom and discernment."

Her younger sister looked down, thinking about that and Asabiarn merely nodded, understanding. His voice was quiet as he spoke again. "That is why you gave me the Gift of Eru, isn't it?" The Haradrim princess smiled. "Yes, it was. Now Asabiarn, I called you here so that you might deliver a message to Arienel when she and Morroch come back. Can you tell them what has happened here? Tell them they need do nothing but take care of Sharpmist. Make sure Arienel knows that I am seeing to Kahilnar." She looked the boy in the eyes and the child seemed to get her meaning and nodded before darting away. Sumay took another look at her sister before doing the same.

Nusayya sighed and entered the room the other two slaves had just left, crossing her arms as she stood close to the bed. "You don't learn, do you?" She sighed, reaching her hand out to brush his dark hair back from his pale face and sat in the chair near the bed, simply waiting. Arienel had explained the bond to her, told her how in the beginning, a dragon's pain was the rider's pain and vice-versa. Morroch had added that some bonds worked this way early on and some not much at all in the beginning. Edonar had been close to Wiseheart, a dragon who had been dying and the man hadn't felt like his body was suffering all that much. At least not to the extent of death.

And then there had been Morroch and Arienel themselves. Arienel could feel Morroch's pain and he could feel hers, but it was more of a mental thing than a physical one. They could feel each others discomfort, but it didn't seem to affect their own bodies. Kahilnar and Sharpmist were obviously much different. The Easterling seemed to actually suffer from the poison just like his dragon. Maybe in a slightly different way, but now it was killing him all the same, just like it was killing her.

Or was it the tension in the bond that was doing that? Was it the fact that with each struggling heartbeat from Sharpmist, the bond grew weaker and Kahilnar's connection to her was strong enough - despite his resistance - that his heart was shattering, too? Nusayya had know way to know and for the next hour she stayed by the unresponsive Easterling, checking his pulse when it it looked like he might have stopped breathing and praying for both him and the dragoness.

She felt a surge of relief when he finally groaned and only half-awake, rolled to the side of the bed and heaved - into a basin that had been set there for just this purpose. Nusayya wasn't a fool when it came to sickness. The princess merely folded her arms, not moving from her seat as he finally stilled and winced, bringing his fingers to a temple. He'd yet to open his eyes and Nusayya smirked, not at all feeling sympathetic. "Perhaps next time you will think of the consequences before you try and poison your own dragon."

Green eyes snapped open to meet her black and Kahilnar groaned again, curling around his stomach. The princess frowned, her hard expression fading a bit as she sighed and stood, coming over to sit on the bed, moving the basin aside with a grimace. She looked down at the young man and shook her head, rubbing his back gently with the palm of her hand before she gave it much thought. He was completely stubborn and arrogant, infuriating, but there was something about him that made you want to fix him, to make whatever was wrong better. She was surprised when she realized what she was doing and even more so that he hadn't protested...still wasn't protesting.

"What were thinking?" Her voice was quiet and the Easterling swallowed hard, at least showing her that he wasn't asleep as he didn't open his eyes. "My people will massacre me." Nusayya sighed. "Your people are misguided and as stubborn as you. Dragons are not evil, Kahilnar." The only answer she got was a soft snort and the princess frowned and her hand stopped, resting lightly on his upper back. "Kahilnar, Sharpmist isn't going to go away. The fact that you are feeling better means she's alive and will get better, too."

The Easterling finally moved, sitting up slowly, resting his head between his fingers as he sat cross-legged. His head was killing him and his stomach hurt, but the sheer ACHE he felt, the feeling of being battered that his whole body and even deeper inside felt was far worse than either head or stomach. It was a feeling he couldn't properly explain in words and wasn't about to attempt doing. "I don't care."

"Oh, yes, I can see that. You don't care at all. The fact that you were running down the hall, near frantic, slurring over an antidote for a creature you poisoned and profess to hate shows me you don't care at all one way or another."

A green eye opened to peek at her. "Do you ever shut up?"

"Kahilnar, your people should not be what keeps you from your dragon. Your people are barbaric and don't know the first thing about dragons. They-"

"Are my people, Nusayya!" The Easterling had lifted his head and his green eyes -very slowly seeping black - blazed with an anger and pride she easily understood. The princess knew she'd gone too far and quieted, but Kahilnar was not done and his voice was hard, his entire demeanor changing, growing more familiar as the moments passed. He was closing up again and she knew there would be no hope of getting back the young man who had let her rub his back, let himself be cared for a few minutes before. "I am a Jaryn. I know that now, but that does not mean that I accept it or that I want a dragon, any dragon. As soon as I can find a way to rid myself of this 'Rishten' I will. My people may be barbaric and you may think them misguided, but they are MY people and I will stand by them, Princess of Harad."

"They will kill you." She whispered it, almost pleading with him to at least listen.

"They kill everyone." The answer was so calm, so cold in coming that the princess could only nod, pressing her lips firmly together. She could not understand the hatred, fear and yet loyalty he felt to a people like that of which lived to the East. His reactions to them were so disjointed and fluctuated so much that she could never tell what he might do when they were mentioned. And so she didn't speak of it anymore, instead closing her eyes and listening to a different voice, a much more comforting voice that had been before Kahilnar and would be after him. A voice that had created the Song, a voice that had song the Valar and Arda into being. She listened to her Creator and a small smile curved her lips as she opened her eyes. She must have been sitting there for a longer than she thought because Kahilnar had already risen, bathed and was dressed, drying his hair, looking at her with both an impatient and curios expression, his eyes fully green once more.

Nusayya stood and smiled a bit more, a mysterious light in her eyes that the Easterling paused at. "I have something to give you."

An eyebrow rose and a smirk crossed his face. "I shudder to think it is more advice, princess."

"No. It's something else." Now Kahilnar did look interested and the Haradrim princess swiftly pulled the glass-like chain from around her neck and stepped toward him. Kahilnar backed up, wary, but then stopped and didn't hinder her as he slipped the necklace over his head. He immediately wished he had. Nusayya backed up, a sad expression on her face as the Easterling before her seemed to convulse while standing, clawing at the delicate-looking chain about his neck. It held and wouldn't budge, not even when he tried to lift it upward. It was like it was burned to his skin and Kahilnar whimpered at whatever was going on inside his head, in his heart.

She'd given him the Blessing of Eru. Understanding and Peace, two things Kahilnar did not have and did not accept. Nusayya knew that the water-cross was at work now, earnestly trying to do its job and Kahilnar was resisting it, not wanting what it wanted to give him. The princess also knew the struggle would only end when the stronger power gained dominance - not to say that there wouldn't be more struggles of course. Her heart tore for the young man before her. She'd only ever had to watch this once before and the similarity between the two men was uncanny in their stubbornness and the hurt they hid. Alagos hadn't liked the Joy of Eru anymore than Kahilnar seemed to like the Blessing of Eru. But then...Alagos had also been ready to simply give up on life altogether and the determination to do something, anything that the wind-cross had given him and been hard for the shape-shifter.

Kahilnar was a little different in his simple refusal to accept anything. He didn't accept good or bad from people and it was frustrating to say the least. That was why she hadn't asked before simply slipping the necklace over his head. He wouldn't have accepted and she would have had a problem. Now though... She had to wonder if had been worth it. The sudden peace she felt and the soft voice of her Creator let her know it had been...or would be and the golden-haired princess held on to that promise as Kahilnar finally stilled, breathing shakily. His black eyes snapped up to meet her own and the fury she saw there made it clear which power had won this time around.

His teeth were gritted, bared at her, his eyes dark with more than just his gift, hands clenched into fists and Nusayya felt a flutter of fear. She didn't move though, speaking quietly. "It is called the Blessing of Eru. It is understanding and peace to its bearer. The Creator-"

"I don't care about your damn creator! What did you do to me!" She jumped as he shouted and swallowed. Kahilnar didn't seem to care about her reaction and for a moment, Nusayya saw his world. She saw what he witnessed every day, saw the way his father had treated his mother, saw the way his people treated each other and for the first time, she was truly afraid of Kahilnar's reaction. He was of the East and had been since his birth. Why had she let herself believe that he was somehow different than his people? The princess' voice shook. "I..I'm s..sorry. I..I didn't..." She didn't know what to say and took a step back.

The sudden movement seemed to catch Kahilnar's attention and Nusayya watched him still, each muscle going rigid and he stayed that way for a moment before his hands slowly loosened until they hung open at his side. His eyes were still black, but the princess was relieved to see green seeping in around the edges, bleeding into the black like light into a depth-less night sky. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and finally looked at her. Whatever he read in her mind, saw in her eyes, it made him wince and look away again. "I am sorry. I didn't..." His eyes met hers again and Nusayya knew it took courage to do so.

"I won't hurt you." He ran a hand through his black hair and it promptly fell back into his eyes. "I am furious at you right now, but I won't hurt you, Nusayya."

"You looked like you might." She was glad her voice was steady again and Kahilnar nodded, his eyes closing. "I know. I'm sorry. I have more of my father in me than I would like."

"Kahilnar-"

He shook his head, silencing her. "Just tell me what you did."

Nusayya sighed and spoke calmly, knowing he wouldn't be anymore happy with her this time than he'd been last time she'd tried to explain, but at least now he was actually listening and thinking. "The cross is called the Blessing of Eru. It gives its bearer peace and understanding. There are three crosses and you have one. This cross also gives its bearer a power with water. It doesn't matter if you've had this gift in that past or not, you will be able to eventually learn how to control water." She gave him a hard look. "And whether you like it or not, whether you believe in Eru or not, He DID tell me to give the Blessing of Eru to you and I know He has a purpose in doing so."

Kahilnar was silent for a long time, but finally he opened opened his eyes - having closed them - and looked at her, his voice sounding more tired than she could ever remember hearing it. "Does your creator care about anyone other than himself?"

Nusayya nodded, smiling a bit sadly, knowing he was going to struggle with this, the same as he struggled with everything else. "Yes, Kahilnar, He does. Giving us reasons to trust Him and seek Him out is one of the ways He shows us He cares. You've been avoiding Him for so long...I think He's trying to draw you back." She watched the Easterling shake his head and resisted the urge to sigh again, simply speaking instead. "A messenger came from the East today." She'd just captured his immediate attention.

"Who?"

"He didn't say, but he bore news of your father." She gave him a raised brow. "Is it true?" The Easterling rolled his eyes upward before running his hand through his hair again. "Yes, I am the Crown Prince of Al-Salyha. Would you tell me what the message said?"

"Only that your father is worried for you and that he wants you to come home. My father is arranging an escort." Nusayya watched in interest as Kahilnar's face drained of color. He was suddenly moving, going for his pack and the princess stepped forward and grabbed his shirt, halting him and ignoring the glare he gave her. "Would you stop? Both my brother and I know you won't go back to Rhûn, that is why I am telling you this, but you can't go yet."

"Why not?"

The princess raised a brow and released him. "My wedding for one. If my father finds out you have left without attending, he will take it as an insult from the East. I might jeopardize the alliance." Nusayya watched the frustration grow in his eyes and had to fight the urge to smile. The things she was saying might technically be true, but in reality, all she was trying to do was keep him here until Sharpmist recovered. There was no way he was going to leave the dragoness if she could help it, not now. Nusayya was careful to keep her eyes away from his, not wanting him to read her thoughts. "The second reason is that with this little poisoning situation, suspicion will be on you if you suddenly disappear. There are consequences for your actions, prince."

Kahilnar shot her a glare and Nusayya did smile this time, unrepentant. He wouldn't be going anywhere.

Rewind about a half-hour, Arienel and Morroch's point of view...

Arienel could feel Morroch's worry and tension the moment they landed and her sky blue eyes darted across the courtyard as she slid from the dragon's side with ease and grace. She spotted the disturbance right away and the shape-shifter did as well, both of them moving together as they rushed to the white dragon and the four other dragons and humans by her side. Arienel relaxed a bit when Amr - one of the humans - looked up and gave them both a tired, but reassuring smile, straightening. He didn't get a chance to speak, though, as a brown-haired blur raced forward and attached itself to Arienel's side, looking up at her with light brown eyes.

"Princess Nusayya said to tell you that Kahilnar tried to poison Sharpmist, but that he also gave the antidote for the poison and the dragoness is going to be fine. Princess Nusayya said for you to stay here and take care of Sharpmist and that she is taking care of Kahilnar. I think she is lecturing him." The boy said the last part with a small smirk and Arienel could only blink, trying to take in everything he'd said at once. Morroch's anger came before her own and the shape-shifter rumbled a deep snarl that made Asabiarn look up in alarm. The elleth wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Asab, go to Haasin and stay with him." The Rohirrim child nodded and darted away toward his own dragon and familiarity.

Arienel laid her hand on Morroch's black scales and his enraged gold eyes met her own. She honestly wasn't sure where his anger began and her own ended, though. "Morroch.."

"I'll kill him!"

"Then you will only be killing Sharpmist yourself!" Her retort was sharp and the shape-shifter looked away, knowing she was right, but not wanting to accept it just yet. Arienel could feel his anger though and she knew her words had stuck. The elleth sighed a rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "Can we never come back to peace?" It was mumbled, but her dragon heard it and he growled. "No."

The red-haired female was inclined to agree, but remained quiet as they both moved forward again, drawing nearer to the white dragon that was curled loosely, her tail near her nose and her feet tucked under her comfortably. Morroch sniffed her muzzle quietly and looked up at Freewalker as his mate approached, pressing her scales to his. Arienel started at the subtle tingle that ran over her skin and her cheeks went red as she immediately closed off the part of their bond that let them physically feel what the other felt. Morroch gave her an amused look, his silent chuckle ringing in her head and his rider just glared at him. "Warg."

"Now you know why I always do that when you kiss your elf."

Arienel couldn't help but snort and laugh, and it was Morroch's turn to give her a look of loathing. The elleth knew he didn't mean it and she scratched his scales, watching out of the corner of her eye as the tip of his large tail spun in small, happy circles.

"She didn't tell anyone. I don't understand it." Freewalker's voice drew them out of their silent conversation and Arienel frowned, thinking. "Perhaps she wanted to handle it on her own." The dragoness looked at her and the elleth knew that Freewalker would judge her words double what she would any other person just because of who Arienel was. The elleth spoke calmly, knowing she was probably right in her idea anyway. "When Morroch and I have a problem, we don't involve anyone else. They can't understand the complications that go with feeling, hearing and knowing almost everything about the other person so they cannot help. Newly bonded pairs have more complications than most. Perhaps Sharpmist was taking a chance on Kahilnar."

"That's foolish! Why would she trust that human? We could all see he-"

"Free." Morroch's voice, authoritative and yet gentle toward his mate halted the dragoness and she sighed, shaking her head. "I don't understand this Rishten. How can it make a dragon do something so...crazy?"

"I works the same as the thing that makes a mother run into a burning house for her baby." The answer didn't come from Arienel or Morroch, but from Asabiarn. The child had been listening intently from where he sat on Haasin's clawed feet and he now spoke quietly. The Rohirrim child met the dragoness' eyes steadily. "What makes a father jump into a river after his drowning wife? Or a brother give his life for his sibling? They love each other. They don't want the other person to be hurt, they are willing to do impossible, painful things to help the other person because they love them. Sharpmist loves Kahilnar just like I love Haasin and Arienel loves Morroch." Light brown eyes looked up at the sand dragon above him and Asabiarn smiled. "I would take poison for Haasin if I knew it would save him somehow."

Freewalker looked surprised, but the expression cleared as she glanced at Morroch and for the first time since they'd met, she was finally starting to truly understand. The knowledge dragoness nodded slowly. "I understand. Sharpmist did it because she thought it might reach Kahilnar." Asabiarn nodded approvingly and the dragoness looked down, unsure. The black dragon rubbed his face against hers, a deep rumble in his throat and the dragoness finally smiled, giving a light trill back to him. Morroch's rumble deepened, but it soon faded as he looked back at Sharpmist. He sighed as he studied the white battle dragoness, thinking of the way she'd come to protect HIM. It hadn't worked out well... His mate easily saw his train of thought and spoke softly to him - Arienel remained quiet, even knowing exactly what Freewalker did. "This is not your fault. We could not have foreseen this. Now, I will watch her. You look like you could sleep."

"I did no more flying than you." His protests fell on deaf ears as she'd made up her mind and Freewalker butted his neck gently, but insistently. "Go." The shape-shifter grumbled, but obeyed, more than relieved and more than a little comforted. Arienel started to follow, looking at the dragoness as she did so. Freewalker merely nodded and the elleth did the same before running after the black dragon that was now a black wolf.

Freewalker looked up swiftly as her nose caught the scent of a familiar person, though, she could not put a name to the smell as of yet. It became apparent why she hadn't heard the person as Elrohir smiled at the dragoness and stilled his quiet movements. "Migove Freewalker. Might I talk with you?"

The dragoness blinked, but nodded, puzzled, but interested as the elf came and sat in the sand by her claws, much as Arienel had done the night before. The knowledge dragoness studied the male before her. He was much like the blond elves she'd seen while with the Clan in build, but his hair was a dark brown, almost black, and his eyes were not the light or dark shades of blue she'd grown accustomed to seeing on the elven folk, but a rich brown like the earth. His demeanor, the calmness and affable feeling about him was the same as the other elves that she'd met, though, and Freewalker had to wonder if it was because they all came from Rivendell. She'd heard the legends that it WAS the Last Homely House...

"Why are you here?" Perhaps not the most tactful way to ask and Freewalker regretted the choice of words immediately, but they couldn't be drawn back in. Elrohir didn't seem to mind, though, and smiled. "You sound much like Arienel when she is curious." The dark-haired elf watched the scarlet-sand-indigo colored dragoness before him start to shut down at the mention of his betrothed's name and tilted his head. "You are worried that Arienel will take your place." The simple statement made the dragon's black eyes snap to the elf's brown and Elrohir saw the truth there, the hurt.

"How..how did you know that?"

"I felt the same way once." At Freewalker's confused look - for Morroch was a dragon unable to take a two-leg form - Elrohir elaborated. "There was a point in Arienel and my relationship, right after the war, when Morroch took the form a half-elf. It was only for a day and it was because of a very complicated situation, but it did happen and none of us knew it would be only a one day occurrence at the time."

"What happened?"

The elf smiled slightly. "I let them go. I let them talk alone, worrying the whole time and when they came back, Morroch was a wolf once more and Arienel kissed me." The fond note in his voice made the dragoness chirp in warm amusement and Elrohir saw her start to relax, her tail going in small circles instead of lashing about. "She chose you."

Elrohir shook his head. "No, they chose not to pursue something that wasn't there between them. Morroch was the one who instigated the conversation between them and they both admitted that while it might have worked had Morroch been able to take a two-leg form sooner, it was only a fond idea at that point. They both know that their hearts, the part of them that longs for a spouse is not going to be completed in each other. You have nothing to worry about Freewalker."

Black eyes blinked slowly and the elf saw a slow shimmer of hope appear in them, a happier emotion than there had been before, but something was still bothering her. "If they had to choose...they would choose each other, wouldn't they?"

The son of Elrond sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair, messing it up badly. "I would like to think that what you say would never happen, but I must be truthful to myself and to you for both our sakes." He shook his head. "Freewalker, marrying a Rishten dragon or a Rishten two-leg will always come with a risk. If they had to choose, they would choose each other so that they could both live, but are we, their spouses to wait in fear and anger for that day to happen?" His brown eyes met hers and the dragoness didn't look away. "Freewalker, if you love Morroch, you will trust that if the time ever came, he would make the right decision in that circumstance, but you can't live your life fearing that the day will come when he has to choose between you and Arienel. Why not do everything in you power to keep them both safe so it never has to happen?"

A silence rang between them and the dragoness finally spoke, her voice lighter, sincere. "Thank you, Elrohir. You make a great deal of sense...and I will try to do as you say. You are right. I can't change what will happen, but I can't live in fear of it either. I love Morroch and I want to trust him as well."

The elf smiled a stood, resting a hand on her scaled side. "I am glad and I pray you find some peace about this, Freewalker."

The dragoness snorted and looked at him with amusement. "I think I already have."

Next day, afternoon...

Sumay took a deep breath as she looked at the doors to the throne room. She'd been in here many times, sometimes just to discuss something with her father like she was now, but never before had she wanted to discuss something so serious. The thought of actually asking her father to do what she wanted, not just explaining her plan to Asabiarn, made her nervous and the princess played with the end of her braid before flipping it over her shoulder and straightening her shoulders determinedly. She was a Princess of Harad and she would not back down in the face of this challenge.

The twelve year old girl opened the door and slipped inside quietly, paying no mind when the adviser talking to her father stopped in mid-sentence and scowled at her. She could have cared less what he thought. SHE was the princess, this was HER father and HE was a simple adviser that could be replaced at any time. They both knew it and the fact made the man back away as she approached the dais. King Ikrimah looked at his youngest child and smiled, beckoning her forward.

"Sumay, narm Rezwuq. What troubles you?" The King of Harad might not have been the most devoted of fathers when it came time to play or interact physically with his children, but in matters of discussion, he'd become very good at reading their facial expressions and discerning what it was that they didn't say in a conversation. Sumay bowed her head respectfully to her father and then sat carefully in her mother's seat at a nod from him.

"I would make a request of my Lord."

Ikrimah's brows rose at the formal tone coming from his youngest daughter and he dismissed his advisers with a backward wave of his hand, not even paying attention when they left the large room. "Speak."

Sumay gathered herself and steadied her voice, trying to look as grown-up as possible - a mission better accomplished when your feet DON'T hang off of a throne too big for you. "My King, I would make a request to be an ambassador for Harad. I request to go with the Northerners when they depart for their home-land as a sign of goodwill between the North and the South." The princess took a breath and then waited, almost already wincing at the rejection she was sure was to come, but her father merely looked at her, surprised and Sumay got the impression that he wasn't sure WHAT to think. Finally the King of Harad tilted his head slightly and smiled a bit, a curious expression on his face. He had to admit to himself that he hadn't seen this one coming and was genuinely surprised, but not necessarily shocked. Sumay HAD always been the wildest of his three, the one most restless.

"Why do you want to be an ambassador?"

"You're not upset?" Sumay's questions showed just as much puzzlement as Ikrimah's and the King laughed, shaking his head. "No, I am not upset, Rezwuq, but I am interested as to why this sudden request when you have shown no interest in the Northerners up until this point." What had brought this on?

The girl looked down, but then thinking that too childish, met her father's eyes again, impressing him as she answered calmly despite the anxiousness he knew she felt. "I have made the friendship of one of the Northerners and I feel my connection to them in this way would aid Harad. You can show that Harad is willing to offer a full-pledge peace between our lands by sending one of your own children to the North and I can learn the ways of the Northerners to teach our people on my return."

Ikrimah looked at his daughter as if seeing her for the first time, truly seeing the intelligent young woman she was becoming. He called her Rezwuq, 'songbird', but perhaps she'd been caged too long. Looking at her now, the King of Harad was sure of it. Maybe, just maybe it was time to let the bird fly free for a time to stretch her wings. A smile came to the father's lips, affection and yet tinged with sadness. She was no longer a little child and probably hadn't been for some time growing up in this land. It would be hard to let her go when the time came. He only now had to decide WHEN that time would be, but this was not a decision made quickly. He settled his hand on her head and Sumay waited with baited breath, knowing she'd given the best argument she could have.

"I will think on it. Be content with that for now, my daughter."

Sumay merely nodded. It was a lot better than an outright 'no' and she would take it.

Arienel leaned back against the chest behind her, breathing in the unique scent of the dark-haired elf. Her hand was entwined with his and Elrohir's chin rested on her head, making her smile widen when he spoke, the sensation a strange, but not unpleasant one. They were outside of the city, by the Lake Citroprn, anxious to find some quiet amidst the wedding preparations. They'd finally managed to get away and Morroch had taken this opportunity to find some time to go flying with his own mate. It was nice to just have some time to themselves.

"I didn't think you noticed." Arienel's answer to his comment was a soft snort, amused. They had been talking for a half hour and she'd finally managed to bring up Asabiarn and the possibility of adopting him, bringing to light Elrohir's own fondness for the child. She shivered and then giggled as warm air brushed her ear, almost a caress in and of itself. "I love when you do that."

Arienel turned her head slightly to look at him, his own face now hovering above her shoulder. "What? Snort in a most unladylike fashion?" The son of Elrond smiled and hugged her tightly, eliciting a smile from the elleth. The male elf's head came to rest back on top of hers and he nodded. "Yes. Now answer my question." Arienel gave a cheeky grin that came through in her voice. "You didn't ask a question. You merely stated something that you thought." She shrieked in suddenly laughter as fingers tickled her side and tried to get away to no avail. She was being held too tightly.

The elleth laughed and could have easily admitted that it was times like this that she was the most happy. She loved being with Morroch, flying with him. talking and just being together, but Morroch was not Elrohir. Just as she was not Freewalker. The shape-shifter had completed her in a way no one else could, but Elrohir had taken one spot that Morroch hadn't had the ability to fill and Freewalker had done the same for the shape-shifter. It was nice that they got to spend time together with no one else. Though, this could be viewed as both bad and good by some. It was good in the fact that she and Elrohir could be alone to talk, unwind and just remind themselves just why they were willing to marry, were in love, but it could also be bad in the sense that it was not seen as the most honorable or appropriate thing for an unmarried couple to be alone. Still, they were here now and they were going to enjoy the brief time they had together.

The two finally settled and Arienel leaned her head back as far as it could go to look up at Elrohir - upside down. "I know you are fond of him, but I want to know what you really think about this. It's not just my life, Elrohir and I know that." The dark haired elf nodded, but didn't answer immediately and Arienel watched as his brown eyes grew thoughtful, distant. She found herself - in this moment - never wanting that expression to leave his face. Especially not if it made his fingers trace her jawline and the beginning of her throat like that... "Elrohir?" She smiled as he looked down at her, blinking as his eyes came back into focus, his fingers stilling. The male elf took a breath and nodded again.

"I would be fine making Asabiarn a part of our family, Mell. I am fond of him as you said."

There was a short silence between them before Arienel spoke hesitantly. "Do you think...do you think he will say yes?"

"I do. He doesn't have anywhere else to go and no other adults he seems to trust enough." Arienel sat up as he finished speaking and Elrohir let her this time, studying her face as she turned toward him. "No, that is not what I meant. Do you think he will like us for parents? I don't want him to say yes because he has no where to go, Elrohir. I want him to be happy with us not because he has no choice, but because he chose to accept us. Do you think he will say yes?"

Elrohir didn't reply right away, taking her hands and pulling her forward until their foreheads touched. His voice was soft. "I know he will. Asabiarn's eyes light up when you draw near and he greets you more enthusiastically than he does anyone else. He trusts you and I think he will be happy if he says yes."

The elleth nodded, relaxing as a smile made its way on to her face. She lifted her head slightly to look at him in the eye. "Do all the members of your family have a gift for knowing the right words or do you just fake it well?"

Elrohir grinned and their noses brushed. "We fake it. Really, really well."

"I thought so." Their lips met in a light kiss that lasted longer than it should have, but Arienel was grinning when she pulled back completely and she sat back on her knees. "Do you ever wish the wedding was sooner?" That startled a laugh out of her betrothed and he ran a hand thought his dark hair before looking at her with both admiration and love. "Yes, more than you know, I think." His hand reached out to run through her own red hair gently and he tucked it behind her ear, lingering over her cheek with his fingers. "I am willing to wait as long as I have to you for you, Arienel, but I must admit that I pray the wait is not too long." The elleth's laughter rang through the desert air and her eyes sparked with mischief.

"I think perhaps the wedding can wait a few years. I can merely find a few children to care for if the longing for a child should ever surface..." She giggled at the low growl that came from his mouth and tried to scramble away but was unsuccessful as hands wrapped around her middle again, tickling once more. Elrohir only stopped when she begged and looked down at the red-haired beauty trapped between his arms. In their tussle he'd managed to get one arm on either side of her chest and the rest of his body to the right of her, on his knees. The position he was in sent a wave of warmth through him and embarrassment, but the dark-haired elf did not move, thinking about the first time this had occurred. He'd been pushed by Gimli and had sported a few bruises in the encounter, but it had also revealed to him that Arienel loved him.

The elleth seemed to being remembering the same thing he was and she reached up to run a hand through his hair, her voice soft as she spoke her thought. "I love you." Elrohir stilled and didn't answer right away, pulling back and pulling her up with him until they were both sitting, puzzling Arienel until his lips met hers. The son of Elrond's voice was as quiet as hers had been. "I love you, but that is not a good position for us to be in." Arienel felt her cheeks flame the brightest red and nodded quickly, standing more swiftly than her blush had started. She knew her cheeks were still pink when the back of Elrohir's fingers brushed them in a loving gesture. "We should get back to the palace."

She nodded and took a breath, steady once more. "We should." She took a step forward and then grabbed Elrohir's arm, halting him. "Ro." Brown eyes met sky blue and Arienel smiled slightly, wistfully. "I want to go home and I want my fathers to give me away to you in marriage. I never want to be separated from you again. Not for anything." She leaned into the male elf as he wrapped an arm about her waist and Elrohir spoke into her red hair, breathing in her scent.

"I couldn't agree more, Mell."

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