Chapter 27 ended with:
Glorfindel lied on his back, looking at the sky and the clouds, and pulled her against him so she wouldn't see his dismay. Would he ever be able to fully claim his mate again? Would they be forever coupling like unbound lovers rather than like bonded fëa-mates?
The Valar:
Manwë King of the Valar and his wife Varda (Elbereth) Queen of the stars
Tulkas Champion of the Valar and his wife Nessa the Dancer (sister of Oromë)
Namo (Mandos) the Doomsman of the Valar and his wife Vairë the Weaver
Aulë the Smith and his wife Yavanna the Fruit-giver
Oromë the Huntsman and his wife Vana the Ever-young
Ulmo King of the Sea
Irmo Master of Dreams and his wife Estë, Healer of hurts and weariness
Nienna Lady of Pity and Mourning, sister of Namo and Irmo
Chapter 28 - Valinor
Their children had been discreet when they had come back from the river. None of them had been in the hallways, although Glorfindel was sure they all were aware of the new development and that they were only waiting for a sign to come rejoice with them. Their children all assumed that the moment their parents would resume their sexual life, the bond would be reestablished and the darkness gone from her fëa.
They had remained in their apartment for most of the evening and the night. Unfortunately, Glorfindel was still captain of Imladris, and he needed to make a tour of the borders to ensure that the realm was protected against the small bands of orcs still roaming in Middle Earth.
He left Valerie half asleep, promising her that he would be back within three days. He had been planning to ask their children to keep an eye on her and entertain her to ensure she would not become melancholic again. As he came out of the apartment, he was surprised by the presence of their brood sitting in the hallway, some reading and some just dozing off.
He closed the door softly and watched them with a questioning look. "You could not wait for news in your own respective rooms? What will the servants say?"
"The servants will want to know how Naneth is doing just as much as we do," Gil-galad scowled.
"Did you renew your bond?" Nimrodel asked.
It was quite a personal topic, but there was no way getting around it. At least, Phoebe was not there to make it worse. "We were intimate. But I was not able to renew our bond."
There was a collective sigh of disappointment. They all wondered why it had not been possible, but knew that their adar would not have an answer for them. His grieving expression was self-explanatory.
"Are you still going to the borders?" Galadhon asked. "You are leaving Naneth alone?"
"I must. We have to get back to our normal routine. Which means you cannot overwhelm her with your constant attention while I am away. You must act exactly as you did before she disappeared."
"I think it would be best if you all go to the borders," Nimrodel said.
"Oh, and you will remain with Naneth?" Oropher asked, his tone sarcastic.
"I will go to the borders," Turgon said quietly. "Adar is right. We have to give her space. Let her come to us at her own time."
Slowly, all his brothers nodded, although Oropher did so reluctantly. They stood and left the hallway to get ready for a small journey. Nimrodel remained in front of Glorfindel.
"I never promised to give her space," she said after he had observed her pensively for a while. Of Valerie's daughters, Phoebe had always been the most deviant. Mithrellas had embodied sweetness. But Nimrodel? She was manipulative and knew how to get what she wanted.
"Take care of her then. I better not hear that you overwhelmed her."
"You will not!" She kissed him on the cheek, and in an unexpected move, she walked around him, opened the door to his apartment, entered and closed the door behind herself.
"What?" he mumbled. Through the door, he listened attentively to what was happening in the apartment, ready to intervene if Nimrodel was out of line. He heard the soft noise of bed sheets being moved, and the quiet whispers of feminine voices.
He turned around to join his sons, deciding not to let them know that Nimrodel was benefiting from a major head start in her re-acquaintance with their naneth.
OoOoO
Nimrodel had been aggravated to be left behind when her adar, Phoebe and her brothers had gone near Mordor to capture Valerie. She realized that she was no warrior, and that this mission had been very dangerous. The group had benefited from an enormous amount of luck and the support of the Valar during their mission. The fact that they had taken Valerie back to Lothlorien without any loss of life was a miracle by itself.
When they had received a note from Glorfindel announcing that Valerie was now safely in Lothlorien, she had wanted to leave Imladris immediately with Mithrellas and Allison. Lord Elrond had refused, waiting to hear if the fellowship would be successful or not in destroying Sauron. The lord had known immediately in his fëa that the darkness had been vanquished the minute it had happened. In the following days, they had started preparing for the journey to Lothlorien, before everyone would get together to travel to Gondor for Estel's coronation. They had had to wait for Arwen to recover from the beginning of her fading. Nimrodel always had loved Arwen, but had been very impatient for her recovery to be complete. One more week of delay and Nimrodel would have traveled alone through the Mountain Pass to join her naneth.
Seeing her for the first time had been a shock. Physically, Valerie had been similar, although her brothers had told her that her eyes had been those of a cat when they had reclaimed her. However mentally, she was a completely different person. Valerie had been taciturn, observing the people around her but rarely interacting with them. On the way to Gondor, she had ridden with Glorfindel and had started to speak to her children a bit more, but only of trivial matters. Nimrodel had tried to discuss her memories with Valerie, and tell her how she had missed her, but with very little success. When she had almost been killed by a mob in Gondor, and that they had decided to travel back to Imladris immediately, Nimrodel had decided not to stay with the rest of the party. Lord Elrond had wanted to stay for a few months with his daughter, and as a consequence, his sons and Allison had to remain in Minas Tirith. Since Legolas had vowed to stay with Estel, Mithrellas had also remained in the White City. Phoebe having elected to go back to Greenwood with Thranduil, Nimrodel knew that she would be Valerie's only daughter with her for months. This idea had pleased her greatly, although she was not so proud of her selfishness.
She entered her naneth's room slowly and saw that the boudoir was empty. She tiptoed to her parents' bedroom and looked inside. It was dark, and her mother was lying in bed.
"Nimrodel?" Valerie murmured.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
There was a pregnant pause. Nimrodel thought for a moment that Valerie would say no. She was about to turn around and leave the apartment when she heard: "Is there something wrong, Buttercup?"
Nimrodel could have cried from joy. Her mother remembered her childhood nickname. She was suddenly overcome with relief. She could not even speak, her throat was tied in a knot. She just let out a small whimper.
Valerie sat in her bed. "Come, Nimrodel," she said, opening her bedsheets for her daughter to lie beside her, like when she was a young elfling who needed her naneth's comfort.
Nimrodel walked to the bed and lied on her side to face her naneth. Valerie pulled the sheet above her daughter and looked at her expectantly.
"I missed you. Oh so much, Nana."
Valerie caressed her daughter's hair. "I am back, honey."
"Are you really? Back with us?"
"I am trying as hard as I can."
"But you are back with Adar, yes?" Nimrodel asked, although it was a rhetorical question. She could smell her adar's scent in the bed, the faint but familiar smell of her parents having been intimate during the night.
"Yes," Valerie confirmed, blushing.
"I am glad. He missed you so much."
"Tell me… how it was. All these years."
"My brothers were beyond themselves with guilt. Oropher canceled his departure to Valinor, swearing to remain in Middle Earth until we knew what had happened to you. Adar was actively looking for you with them in the mountains. They searched every cave, made maps of the tunnels, killed many orcs… I even went on site a few times, hoping that I would make a difference in the searches. It lasted for years. Our lives were on hiatus. Finding you was our priority, our only goal in life. We were supporting Ada… And then, he started being different. He was distracted, less attentive to his duties, although Lord Elrond never held it against him. Our lord was suffering also, reliving terrible memories of his mate's ordeal. Many times, he tried to convince us that there was no hope left, to stop the searches and move on. He thought you were in the Halls of Mandos. Ada kept saying you were alive… which was fueling my brothers' desire to keep searching for clues. Until Phoebe came here, bringing news that a creature, who had been imprisoned in Mordor prior to be held in Greenwood, was talking about a lady in Mordor. She was convinced it was you. This news arrived at the right time. I am not certain if Adar would not have lost some of his sanity if it had lasted any longer..."
Valerie remained silent, absorbing the information.
"I know I cannot even begin to imagine what happened to you while you were held captive. My siblings mentioned a few things, but only vague information. If you wish to confide in anyone, Nana… I swear to you I will not judge you or tell anyone what you will tell me."
"Thank you."
Nimrodel waited for her naneth to speak, but Valerie didn't say anything. Obviously, she was not ready to confide in her. "Do you want to take a bath?" she asked, changing the subject for safer and more familiar grounds.
"Yes, I would like that. But do not ask the servants to bring water yet, I want to stay here, with you a little longer. It feels… peaceful."
Nimrodel smiled. "Do you want me to read for you? I have your favorite book of poems in the boudoir."
"I like poems?"
Nimrodel was a little stunned by the question. "Do you not like poetry anymore?"
"I am not certain. Would you… would you sing for me? I so love the melodious voice of an elf singing. I missed it dreadfully."
"All right." Nimrodel started singing a ballad about a courageous elf looking for his love who had disappeared.
Valerie cried during the song, and used a corner of the sheet to wipe her tears. "I cannot believe they wrote a song about my disappearance and how your father looked for me," she murmured once Nimrodel was done.
"Nana… This song is about me."
Valerie stared at her daughter, and Nimrodel saw the memory surface in her mother's mind. Her naneth would really need time to become herself again. But she would be there with her.
"I am ashamed. I had forgotten..."
"Worry not. I love you."
Valerie took her hand and kissed it.
OoOoO
Imladris
Summer of the Year 3021 of the Third Age
2 years later
"You are back earlier than I expected," Valerie told Glorfindel, who had joined her on the balcony of their apartment. He had told her he would spend the entire afternoon with Lord Elrond and Erestor.
Her mate sat beside her, looking pensively at the nearest waterfalls. She knew that he had some important information to share with her when he seemed so pensive after a meeting with his lord. A few years ago, she would have interrogated him until she had gotten all the information out of him. She had used threats, cajoling, negotiation as a way of obtaining the information she had wanted. That had been her past self. Nowadays, she was more reserved, more prudent, still not very comfortable with her mate. She was more patient also, and wanted to let him share whatever he wished to share at his own pace, and in the level of details of his own choosing.
It was her choice to keep things that way between them. She felt different. That darkness inside her was always present, making an appearance on a regular basis. Sudden and overpowering need to lash out at people, to tell them offensive remarks simply because she was unhappy about something. Desire of making people suffer when they displeased her. She had unfortunately not always resisted, and she had slapped Glorfindel or her sons quite a few times since her return to Imladris. This was unprecedented behavior in a peaceful race. Only Thranduil and Phoebe were known for displaying such distasteful traits of character.
As a consequence, people were walking on eggshells around her, and she herself made sure to keep her interactions with people outside of her family to a minimal level. Her relationship with Glorfindel was going through ups and downs, and he was going at the border quite frequently, in fact, more than it was necessary. Valerie understood how difficult it was to be around her. Furthermore, he was plagued with nightmares once more, and she was of no help in the matter since they had never been able to renew their bond. They were intimate once in a while, but Glorfindel was no longer attempting to connect his fëa with hers after a few attempts in the first year of her return.
"Our lord received a missive from Lady Galadriel," Glorfindel suddenly told her.
A few moments passed in silence. Valerie wondered if he would share more with her or not. A missive from the Lady of Light was not so rare that it would render Glorfindel speechless like this.
"Is she well?" she inquired, wondering if an innocuous question would help him open up.
"No, she is not. She feels the waning of her powers. It is taking a great toll on her health."
"I am sorry to hear this."
Glorfindel kept watching the waterfalls.
"I went for a ride earlier today with Oropher and Turgon. It was a beautiful morning."
"I am glad you enjoyed your day."
"Nimrodel wants to organize a family dinner later this week. She wondered if you would prefer-"
"She wants to sail."
"Nimrodel?" Valerie's heart froze. Nimrodel and her had been very close in the past two years. She had spent countless hours with her mother, reforging a mother-daughter bond that had been severely damaged by her captivity. She did not want to lose her. Nimrodel was the only one who was spared Valerie's anger, because she managed to always give her everything she wanted.
"I meant Lady Galadriel. Lord Celeborn wishes to remain here longer."
Valerie was so relieved that she did not immediately understand the consequences of that.
"When is she leaving?"
"As soon as Lord Elrond is ready to go."
"Lord Elrond wants to sail now?"
"Yes. His mate is waiting for him in Valinor, and he wants to escort his mother-in-law."
"But Arwen..."
"Arwen will more than likely live many more decades. They cannot linger here any longer. The time of separation has arrived. Lord Elrond will send Arwen a message today to inform her of his decision."
"She will be very sad. You think she will do the journey to Imladris to see him once more?"
"It is not likely. She is queen now, with all the duties of a queen. No, when Lord Elrond left Gondor two years ago, it was their last farewell in person."
"How sad," Valerie said pensively, thinking of her friend who had chosen mortality. She hoped that Arwen had never regretted her choice.
"You should write to Mithrellas. And to Phoebe."
"Why? I wrote them each a letter not even a month ago."
He turned to look at her and took her hands in his. He caressed her palms gently, and she closed her eyes to savor the tender gesture. "Because we are sailing with him. You must tell them and see if they will make the journey to see us one last time."
"We are leaving?" she asked, staring at him with an uncertain look.
"Yes," he confirmed. "In a few months, we will journey to the Gray Havens and sail to Valinor."
Valerie pulled her hands out of his. They had spoken of sailing once in a while, mainly during discussions about how her arrival in the land of peace would certainly help her fully recover from her traumatic captivity. She had been both thrilled with the idea, and saddened as well, as she knew that not all her children would sail at the same time. This would mean separating from some of them, maybe for centuries.
"Who would be coming with us?" She already knew that Phoebe and Mithrellas would remain in Middle Earth with their mates. Aranel, her granddaughter, would remain in Greenwood with her parents while Mithrellas and Legolas didn't have a child yet. More than likely, Allison and her son Elrinor would remain in Imladris with Elrohir, who would become the Captain of the guard in replacement of Glorfindel, while Elladan, as the firstborn son, would become the Lord of Imladris.
"It seems that most of our children will sail with us. Nimrodel is certain to sail, and so are Oropher and Turgon. Gil-galad is still ambivalent but I believe he will sail too. He constantly talks about your health, I believe he will want to see you cured and follow us to ensure you are well once in Valinor."
"Galadhon?"
"He is wondering if he will remain here with his son Celeborn, or sail with us."
"Glorfindel, I do not like the idea of being separated from my children. Especially if there is an ocean between us. We already have lost Adam, I do not wish to lose another one. Please do what you have to do to convince as many of them as possible to sail with us," she pleaded ardently.
"I will see what I can do," he answered, knowing that he would only have to tell them that Valerie wanted to sail with them all, for most of them to actually follow. It could be called manipulation, but he was no longer beyond such tactics.
"I missed you this morning," she murmured with a small smile. "I wanted to be with you after… after what we did last night."
It had been a great evening indeed. Valerie had rarely been so passionate in the recent years, a nice change from her usual passive submission to his desires. And hearing her saying she missed him almost sounded like a declaration of love.
"You want to get back in the apartment?" he suggested, half-hoping that she would be interested in more romantic activities.
She blushed, but pulled on his hand until he stood and followed her in their apartment. No one saw them until the next morning.
OoOoO
They were on the quays of the Grey Havens, where a massive ship was waiting for the last passengers. Mithrandir was already on board with Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Lady Galadriel was sadly saying her goodbyes to her grandsons while her mate was standing beside them, waiting to give her a final kiss before she boarded the ship.
Mithrellas and Phoebe had made the journey to Imladris, but not to the Grey Havens. Valerie had said her farewells to her daughters in Imladris before they went back to their realms. Phoebe had promised to sail within the next two decades. Mithrellas had not been able to make such a promise. Legolas had seemed quite shamed when Valerie had remarked that Mithrellas should have had a say in the decision of remaining near Gondor until Estel passed away.
Valerie had cried for many days the loss of her daughters as they were journeying towards the Grey Havens, but she was vastly reassured to see that all of their sons without exception were sailing with them. She had no idea what Glorfindel had told them, but she was very grateful to him to have successfully kept their family mostly united.
Valerie embraced Allison in a long hug, knowing she would miss her but that Allison would be happy in Imladris for many more decades to come. She said her farewells to Elrohir, Elrinor and Elladan, and without a look back, walked in the direction of the ship.
"She was more than ready to go," Oropher said as he grabbed his uncles for one last friendly hug.
"I hope that she will heal with the help of the Valar," Elladan replied.
"As I am sure that your own naneth has fully recovered too."
After all the family was done with their farewells, Lord Elrond gently pulled Lady Galadriel towards the ship. Glorfindel's family followed them, along with Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lothlorien.
Valerie waved at those still on the quay, crying, no one being sure if they were tears of sadness or joy. It was a bittersweet moment.
OoOoO
The sailors were very experimented, in Valerie's opinion, to maneuver so fast around the treacherous rocks near the port of Alqualonde. Soon, the ship was at quay and the gangway was swiftly installed. Passengers, tired after more than a month of traveling, were almost running off the ship to see their awaiting families.
Valerie was not expecting to see anyone she already knew. She was eager to finally meet Lady Celebrian and Queen Tialyn, Oropher's wife. Tialyn had sailed a few years after Oropher had been killed in the battle of Dagorlad. She had had the courage to remain in Greenwood with Thranduil, to show him how to rule the realm during his first years as king.
Galadhon's mate Malrin had also sailed after the passing of her husband.
She hoped for Glorfindel that his friend Ecthelion had been reborn by now. Nimrodel and Turgon were also hoping that their fëa-mate had been reborn, but none was speaking about it openly. They may be pleased, or disappointed. She would be with them should they have to keep suffering from loneliness for many more decades to come. Turgon's mate Elenwë, who had not survived the crossing between Valinor and Middle Earth in the First Age, may have been reborn by now. Nimrodel was hoping that King Amroth had been reborn too. They had not been married but had been promised to each other. Would their love still hold true after this long separation?
Ereinion Gil-galad, unmarried, had no expectations whatsoever. He was not planning to actively look for a mate once they arrived. He wanted to see his first parents again, like all his brothers and sister, but was not too worried about the reunions to come.
Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond were still on the ship, letting the impatient passengers disembark first. Nimrodel was clinging to Valerie, too nervous to even look on the quay to see if her former lover was waiting for her. Her brothers were teasing her while looking for people they knew, when Glorfindel suddenly froze beside them.
"What is the matter, Glorfindel?" Valerie asked, following the gaze of her mate. He was staring at two very tall elves who were standing apart from the crowd, theirs arms crossed and a serious expression on their very handsome faces. Their skin was glowing under the sun, something Valerie had never seen before. But the scariest thing was – they were watching her intently.
Glorfindel pulled her against his side while their sons encircled them warily.
"What do they want?" Oropher questioned out loud.
"Who are they? Why are they watching me like this?" Valerie whispered to her mate, trying to catch his attention, but he kept staring at the two strange ellyn without answering her question.
"Naneth, these are two Valar," Turgon informed her. "More specifically, Lord Tulkas, Champion of the Valar, and Lord Aulë, the Smith. They are the two strongest Valar."
"As if we would put up a fight," Gil-galad murmured.
"Are we not going to?" Oropher asked.
"No, we will not," Glorfindel stated firmly. "I am certain that they will not hurt anyone."
"What is going on?" Valerie demanded to know. "Who wants to hurt whom?"
Glorfindel turned her to face him. "My love, we believe that they are here for you."
"For me? Why? I have not even set foot on the land yet-" She suddenly stopped, understanding what this was about. The Valar knew that she still carried a little piece of Sauron in her fëa. That little piece that didn't allow her to be herself completely, that created dark, unhappy thoughts in her head even when she was supposed to live happy moments. That little piece that was only waiting for her to be with child to be reborn and create havoc in Valinor.
"They will not hurt you, I will not allow them to," Lady Galadriel said, suddenly beside her with Lord Elrond.
"Will they not even let my children be reunited with their family before taking me away?" Valerie whispered, on the verge of tears. "Now that I have served my purpose..."
"Do not say that!" Galadhon forcefully said. "We may be seeing our first families here today, but you are as much my naneth as my first one. I will not leave you in the hands of the Valar as if I did not care for you!"
"I will not either. Wherever they are taking you, I am going too," Oropher stated. His brothers and even Nimrodel nodded.
At this point, only the sailors and the Imladris people were still on the ship. The Valar were showing signs of impatience. The crowd was remaining on the quay, curious to see what the Valar would do, or because they were actually waiting for the Imladris people to disembark to be reunited with them.
"We have to go," Glorfindel decided once he saw the Vala Tulkas frowning openly in their direction. He took Valerie's arm while Nimrodel was still on her other side. Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond were walking in front of them with Oropher and Turgon, while Galadhon and Gil-galad were following behind.
None of them looked at their mates or family as they walked in the direction of the two Valar. The group stopped a few feet away from the lords.
"Welcome to Valinor," Lord Aulë told them.
"Are we truly welcome here?" Lord Elrond asked.
"Yes, you personally are," Lord Tulkas replied with little patience. "But Lady Valerie of the Golden Flower must follow us."
Valerie blanched. What did these living gods wanted to do with her?
"What will you do with her?" Oropher inquired forcefully, wondering the same thing. Glorfindel put his hand on his son's arm to remind him who he was speaking to.
"I see that your second father remembers how a Vala must be addressed," Lord Aulë stated. "We will not tolerate disrespect to our persons."
"I apologize for my family," Glorfindel said, bowing deeply. "We all are extremely worried about the welcome my mate is receiving. We are aware… of her particular circumstances and we were seeking your help in order to heal her."
"Your mate will come to not harm, Glorfindel of the Golden Flower. Killing your mate would be a poor reward for the mission that you have accomplished in Middle Earth on our behalf."
"I never imagined that this was your intent!"
"But some of your sons did… and so was your mate," Lord Tulkas said. "Do not be afraid, child, we will bring you to our council so we can discuss how to heal you."
"Lady Galadriel already tried..." Valerie murmured.
"And she helped greatly, we saw that," the Vala acknowledged by smiling to the Lady of Light. "But only a Vala, and a strong one, can handle him."
"I trained Sauron when he was still called Mairon, I showed him all the secrets of my craft," Aulë the Smith revealed. "And see what he used it for? Now it is up to me to get rid of his threat for good."
"We will leave immediately for Valmar. We do not have horses for all of you. Only your parents will come with us for now."
Her sons were about to protest, but Glorfindel lifted his hand and they all went silent. "Please go see your first families. You know where we will be if you wish to have news."
"We will follow you," Gil-galad promised.
"I am not leaving my naneth!" Nimrodel stated firmly, defying the Valar. "I will not be separated from her."
"We expected it, with your past history… We have a horse for you too, Lady Nimrodel. Please follow us now."
Valerie barely had time to hug her sons before she was pulled by Glorfindel in the direction that the Valar had taken, Nimrodel following closely.
"Do not worry, Nana, they will not hurt you."
"How far away is Valmar?" Valerie asked.
"Two days away."
"Two days? We will ride for two days?"
Glorfindel hushed her. "We would ride a month if the Valar asked it of us. They are the gods of the elves," he reminded her. "Whatever they ask, we obey. We do not have a choice."
He helped her mount on a beautiful mare, helped Nimrodel and swiftly mounted the stallion the Valar had reserved for him. Asfaloth was still in the hold of the ship. Lord Tulkas turned around and started riding south. They following him without any further discussions.
OoOoO
The room she had been introduced in was spacious. It had many large windows that allowed the sun rays to lighten it up, with heavy curtains in richly embroidered fabrics. Every portion of wall was covered in beautiful tapestries, representing moments of elven history. She had observed one of them attentively before a throat clearing told her she was testing the patience of the lords who had entered the room with her.
Glorfindel and Nimrodel had not been allowed to stay with her, and were both waiting in the next room. She originally had refused to leave them but Lord Aulë had been clear that she had no say in the matter. The Valar had told Glorfindel that he needed to trust them, that they would try to keep Valerie safe as much as they could. Small reassurances that had not comforted her mate and her daughter, far from it. Before she was pulled into the vast room, Glorfindel and Nimrodel had hugged her desperately.
Lord Tulkas made a gesture for her to walk in the direction of the thrones at the end of the room. Most of these thrones were empty, and only males were sitting on them. Valerie wondered where the female Valar were, she would have felt much safer if there had been people of her own gender in the room, even if they were gods while she merely was a half-elf.
"You are right, we preferred to deal with this without our wifes and sisters," Lord Tulkas told her after reading her mind.
"What are you going to do with me?" she whispered, terror slowly building in her heart.
"Come, we will discuss it with you."
They walked closer to the thrones and the four gods who had been sitting stood in front of her. The other lords went to join them. She now faced six beautiful and intimidating beings who were staring at her with guarded expressions. It was clear that they considered her a sort of threat, but not one that needed immediate and forceful action. She knew, looking at them, that she would be dead by now if they had thought she was bringing uncontrollable evil in the Undying Lands.
She remembered the books she had read about the Valar. She knew all the elves believed in them, but she had not truly adopted this religion of theirs. It simply seemed too strange that gods would be living amongst the elves and to be honest with herself, she had been a little skeptic about this all. But now that she was standing in front of them, there was no denying that all of them had a powerful aura. Lord Tulkas and Lord Aulë, although obviously very powerful physically, were less awe-inspiring than the other Valar. It may have been the reason why they had been sent to escort her from Alqualondë.
She quickly identified Lord Namo, Doomsman of the Valar, by his dark clothing and his stern expression. The next two were fairly easy: Lord Oromë the Huntsman had his bow leaning against his throne while Lord Ulmo, King of the Sea, was holding his trident. The last one had to be Irmo, Master of dreams.
They were all watching her attentively, with a touch of suspicion, as if she could attack them at any moment. Lord Namo put his hand on the hilt of his sword, while Lord Ulmo moved his trident in front of him. Instead of frightening her, their show of power somehow angered her. How could they try to scare her like this? Was she not a simple elleth, unarmed, facing six Valar no less? She was being treated like a threat while they could get rid of her quite easily and in all impunity.
Normally, she would have kept her thoughts to herself, but she knew they could read her like an open book. Something inside her snapped.
"Is this the usual welcome committee for all the elves arriving, or is this treatment reserved only to the half-elves?" she asked insolently.
"Elves usually do not bring... unwelcomed guests with them," Lord Irmo said gently, choosing to ignore her cheekiness.
"So I am an unwelcomed guest?"
"Not you exactly. However, that little part of Mairon that you carry is a problem we need to talk about," Lord Aulë added. She turned to him. He had not really spoken during their journey, but she had gotten used to him. "He was my former Maiar," he continued, "and as such, he is for me to take care of."
"And how do you plan to do that?" she asked. Would they actually hurt her? Kill her? She wondered if she could reach the door before they caught her. Glorfindel would protect her, he would not let them touch a hair on her head.
"Contrary to what you think, we mean you no harm. At least, not on purpose," the Vala continued.
"That does not reassure me at all," she murmured. "I want to see my mate."
"Unfortunately, he is gone. The Valier convinced him and your daughter to go to a nearby inn to wait for you."
"I do not believe you." She looked at them all. Some were looking at her suspiciously still, others with pity. "I do not believe you!" she yelled this time. "Glorfindel would never leave me alone! You are lying!"
"Stop accusing us of lying, impertinent elleth!" Lord Namo thundered, approaching threateningly.
"There is no need for this," Lord Irmo said, putting his arm in front of Lord Namo to stop his movement. "You know why she reacts like this. We can all feel him in her. This is not her fault." He turned to her. "Child, the queens can be… very persuasive. Rest assured that your mate did not have a choice. You will be returned to him, dear Valerie. But only once your fëa is yours and only yours..."
"What will you do to me?" she asked, walking backwards toward the door.
"Aulë? Do what you have to do."
The Smith of the Valar started walking in her direction while the others followed behind, their weapons ready. The last thing she remembered was Lord Aulë putting his hand on her forehead and feeling as if her head was about to explode.
A/N: Valerie is finally being healed by the Valar, she will soon be able to resume her life fully.
Do not miss the posting of the first Thranduil ficlet, it was posted just now on my profile. Hope you will enjoy these short chapters describing the potential life of Valerie and Thranduil as a couple!
Glassary: thank you for your nice reviews. The Thranduil story is starting, let me know what you think!
Princessnera: Valerie will be cured, and Glorfindel and her will find happiness back…
Shetan20: thank you for your reviews. I really appreciate them.
Paperlanterns86: they will heal her, they are stronger than that little part of Sauron left in Valerie…
Maggie: yes, I also love Phoebe and Thranduil a lot. I hope you will like the Valerie-Thranduil pairing, although Valerie will not be as violent as Phoebe can be… But I believe they will be entertaining!
Aralinn: Unfortunately, she never saw Aragorn in person again since only the Valar will be able to cure her from the darkness Sauron left behind. Thank you for your compliments! Don't miss the Thranduil ficlets - I posted the first one today.
