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Chapter 29

June 15

Seeking Redemption

The dream was pressing in on her. She could see the death around her, dragon fire and ruin, trolls, Balrogs, Orcs, and Wargs tearing and sundering everyone she loved. She could see those men and women she fought beside in the past torn apart piece by piece. The Elves and Dwarves stood side by side in battle, brave and strong, but even they were no match for the darkness before them. Wereworms, or Stone Eating Dragons, drove up shattering the ground beneath their feet, opening great rifts to allow even more of the enemy through. Oliphaunts carrying Easterlings and Orcs came against them. They were vastly outnumbered.

She did not recognize this place. There were white towering walls behind her and her men but she could not make out where she was. In the back of her mind, a great fiery eye taunted her. Kíli stood beside her and beyond him were Fíli and Thorin, both prepared for the coming battle, steel looks in their eyes. The Company was all there, as were Oropher and Thranduil. Gil-galad and Eärendil awaited her signal, as did Commanders of Men that she did not recognize. Elrond and Elros stood together waiting for the battle to begin. Then she saw them. Morgoth and Sauron. Together along with creatures long thought dead, Ungoliant in her cloak of Unlight, Draugluin, Carcharoth and Thuringwethil. It was then that it dawned on Rylee; this was Dagor Dagorath.

Why was she dreaming of the Battle of all Battles? She didn't understand. It could not be upon them already could it? Morgoth and Sauron attacked first and Rylee moved forward. Her entire army did as they were ordered and piece by piece, they surrounded the Enemy driving them to their deaths. It looked like they would be victorious until Morgoth and Sauron separated from the group and came after her and the Company. One by one, the Dwarves fell dead around her, magic attacks against her friends, attacks that they could not fight against if they tried. Thorin tried desperately to get out of the grip of the madness that consumed his mind but there was no use, Morgoth was tearing him apart from the inside out. Fíli too was dragged into darkness and despair, his humanity stripped from him bit by bit until there was nothing left of the cheeky intelligent Dwarf that she knew he was.

Rylee tried desperately to protect Kíli from the same madness only for Sauron to take hold of him and physically tear him apart, starting at his feet and working his way through his appendages before eviscerating him. His screams echoed in her ears as she screamed for them to stop this madness. It was then that Morgoth reached for her, telling her to stop resisting the darkness in her heart and to succumb to him. To join him against the Valar. She looked at him and screamed her vow, "Never!"

Rylee jerked into wakefulness and found that Kíli was already awake beside her, crooning to her and rubbing her back, "I have you Rylee. I am here."

She curled into him and choked on a sob that suddenly built in her throat. He was warm and alive, still beside her in her bed. Rylee blinked and looked around taking in the time of the night. "How long have we been sleeping Kíli? What time is it?"

"We have about four hours of night left. Why?" Kíli whispered back as he kissed her cheek.

"I don't think I will be able to sleep after seeing that. Your death is always the worst. I may be biased but my dreams always make yours the worst," Rylee sulked against him. She was feeling despondent and morose. She needed something that would take her mind off of her dreams and tire her enough to sleep some more. Closing her eyes she listened to the sounds around her, trying to relax back into sleep. She could hear the leaves rustling the trees, the call of birds and the chatter of small nocturnal animals as they scampered through the underbrush. Then there was the music of the waterfall as it flowed from the high walls of the mountains and into the large pool beside the house before running downriver into the city of Rivendell beyond the protective wall of trees. She should have felt soothed, but her mind would not stop.

The worry and the weight of her quest pulled at her as did the events of Lerain's attack. Rylee still felt guilty for going ahead with the wedding. She felt guilty for being cut off from her new friend when she needed support the most. They just did not seem to have time for anything. Rylee knew that Thorin would want to leave as soon as the map was read, regardless of whether they would be able to access the mountain or not. His dislike of the Elves was too profound to allow them to stay overly long. Mid-Summers Eve was fast approaching, Rylee tried to count the days, but her time in the forge kept throwing off her count. She lifted her head from Kíli's shoulder and looked at him, "Kíli?"

"Yes love?" Kíli sighed as he realized that she was not yet relaxed enough to settle back down.

She looked pensive all of a sudden, "How many days are there until Mid-Summers Eve?"

"Um, five or six I believe. It depends on what today is, all I am certain of is that it falls on the twentieth," Kíli said softly. He looked at her as she seemed to suddenly become agitated, "Why Rylee? What's going on?"

"Five days," Rylee sighed and burrowed her head back under his chin, "'Tis not enough time."

"This isn't about your dream, is it Love?" Kíli pulled her closer, he could almost feel her anxiety and frustration, "Does this have something to do with Lerain?"

"Aye, I just hope we can help her find her path before it is time to leave," Rylee sighed in dissatisfaction.

"What happened? Can you tell me?" Kíli asked softly. He did not want to pry, but he did not want Rylee to torture herself over whatever was going on either.

"Lerain was attacked during our Last Night celebrations," Rylee confessed to him. She did not want to keep secrets from him, but this was not her secret, "I cannot tell you everything because it is not my story to tell, but she needs help to get past the darkness."

"Is it something similar to what you went through when you ran away? Minus the dragon and Werewolves, of course," Kíli pressed for a little more information, he could not help her if he did not know what he was dealing with.

"Nay Kíli, it was a different kind of ordeal but no less terrifying or soul shattering," Rylee whispered. "Rohinna has experience dealing with darkness like this, but my hope is that if Jovina helps her, Lerain will heal faster and Jovina will find closure."

"Why does it have to be Jovina and Rohinna who help her? What about you?" Kíli inquired softly, "Don't you think you can help her? You have been through darkness many times."

"I would be little help to someone so innocent, I would do more damage than good," Rylee scoffed derisively.

"How can you say that?" Kíli rolled them and rose on his elbow to look down on her, a frown marring his face. "You are compassionate and caring. You are one of the most warm-hearted people I have ever met."

"I am also brash, reckless, impulsive, and intimidating," Rylee admitted in annoyance, looking up at Kíli when he started to chuckle. "Don't tell Thorin I said that. He will get a big head if he knows he is right. I also tend to be overbearing and zealous when I am passionate about something. According to Jovina I am a terrible teacher since I expect too much."

"I think you underestimate your influence over people Rylee," Kíli told her, sitting up and turning towards her. She looked up at him in the filtered light of the silver moon, loving the way his dark hair shimmered softly in waves around his face, the way his dark eyes reflected the low light. His handsomeness was displayed with the soft silver light, his straight nose and strong jaw, the arched brows that highlighted his dark eyes. She raised her hand and ran her fingers along his jaw.

"Lerain reminds me so much of myself, I don't know if I can help her without falling back into that darkness, those fears. She is in such a place of darkness that I can either pull her out, or she can pull me in. Her pain is my vulnerability," Rylee's eyes glistened with sudden moisture. "If I give in to the fear-"

"He was wrong," Kíli interrupted her gently but ardently, "He may have been right that Eru would sever your ties with your family, and that you would create a rift, but he didn't say why it would happen or that you would be able to fix it. He also said you would never find you One. I am proof that he was lying to you."

"I know this, but it doesn't stop the doubt," Rylee sighed in frustration. She wished she could find a way for herself to find the light. Kíli was asking her to help Lerain find what she herself found most elusive. She did not even know where to start. She did, however, know someone who did, her eyes widened as the realization hit her. "I need to talk to Ossë."

"What? You mean the Maia of Wind and Storms?" Kíli asked in surprise at her sudden change in subject.

"The very same," Rylee said with a small smile, "He was once aligned with Melkor before he became Morgoth, Uinen was able to help him find the light again. He might be able to help me."

"He is a tempest Rylee; you told me that he was one of the Maia who was the angriest with you after you ran away. Do you really think he will help you?" Kíli asked uncertain. Fíli had told him many of the sea faring stories of the Elves about the temperament of the Maia of the Sea. There were times that he would be in your favor and the next he would be in a foul mood and be set against you. It was in his temperament to change.

"It cannot hurt to ask," Rylee's smile fell as she thought about it and her brow furrowed just a little, "Even if he won't see me, Uinen might, I have yet to make amends with her anyways. As for Ossë, even if Uinen can pass on a message to him, it would be enough."

Rylee traced a pattern on Kíli's chest with her fingernail, she was always writing in runes. It took him a while at first to decipher what she was writing, but the pattern always repeated and he knew the moment when she switched to the familiar lettering of Khuzdul. He didn't know the other glyphs and runes she was using but he knew the Khuzdul and Westron and she wrote the same in both languages. She wrote out the words 'Kíli, my love, my heart, my One.' When she switched to a more curling cursive he asked her, "What language is that?"

"Quenya, my cradle tongue," Rylee's husky voice whispered in the night air. She finished her pattern and her hand went still.

He asked her softly, "Will you be going on the Path of Dreams then?"

Rylee rolled out of Kíli's embrace and rose, going to her wardrobe. After a few minutes of rifling through one of the inner drawers she pulled what looked to be a long scrap of silk from within. Pulling a thin chemise over her head, she turned back towards Kíli, the pale ivory silk skimmed her body delectably and Kíli swallowed painfully. With or without clothes his wife was stunning, if she wasn't dead set on going to Valinor he would ravish her again, just to be able to remove the waterfall of silk that covered her. As if she read his mind, she grinned at him and climbed back onto the bed, crawling toward him. Kíli arched a brow at her in question.

"Probably not a good idea to visit home while naked as a newborn," Rylee explained.

"You just like to torture me," Kíli sighed as he held the blankets back, waiting for her to curl up beside him. He wondered what it would be like to sleep beside her while she was away, her mind and spirit in another place. He wanted to hold her in his arms as she worked out her troubles, keep her protected when she was so very far away and vulnerable. He wanted nothing more than to cuddle with her and feel her close to him.

He curled around her and her around him and within moments she was gone, he felt her body relax, completely and totally. Her breathing was even and soft, her only movement was the quick flicker of her eyes under her eyelids. Not wanting to wake her, Kíli stayed where he was, combing his fingers through her hair. He kissed her cheek and nestled in against her and allowed himself to drift away.

Rylee walked through the silver leaves and along the sliver starlit path making her way through Lórien. She spied Irmo in the garden and greeted him with a warm hug and a smile. "I am enjoying being the Vala of Dreams Rylee, I see your smile more than any other here in Valinor. I am honored."

"It is I who am honored dear Uncle, I am also saddened that I did not spend time with you before I left," Rylee said as she stepped away from him.

"My lessons were not yet yours to learn my dear," Irmo smiled back at her and walked with her to the gates of Lórien, "Off you go now, there is not much night left for you to waste with me."

"Time with you is never wasted Irmo, but you are right, I do not have much of it. See you again soon!" Rylee called as she concentrated on finding Ossë or Uinen. The land was a blur as she was raced to the seaside. With a single thought and feeling she was in a familiar place where she once spent months with Ulmo, Ossë, and Uinen, learning how to swim.

It was a large cove that was sheltered from the outside seas by a long, tall stretch of sand, rock, and coral. The beach itself was covered in fine white sand, so pale, soft and pure that it felt like soft powder beneath her feet. She knew that the sand stretched all the way across the cove and into the deep sea beyond it. The water was so clear and blue that she could see the vast arrays of colorful fish as they swam through the waters. The plant life along the shore was vibrant and green. She took a deep clearing breath of the briny air and reveled in the freshness of it all.

At first she thought that she was alone in the cove. It was so serene and silent other than the call of the odd sea gull and fisher hawk. Then she spied Uinen on the far side of the bay sitting quietly on a rock waiting for Rylee to join her. Uinen was beautiful in a way that the other Maia and Vala were not. Instead of pale skin, Uinen was darkly tanned, turquoise scales covered her collarbones and shoulders, her forearms and webbed hands. Her legs were covered in the same scales from mid thigh down to her webbed feet. Her hair was as white as foam capped waves mixed with strands of ocean blue. Instead of ears with a single point, Uinen's had three, with soft membrane flesh threaded between each point. She had many piercings in each ear, all threaded with turquoise jewels. She wore a dress that hung to mid thigh made of shimmering sea foam colored silk, adorned with pearls of every shape and size.

Rylee stepped into the water and swam across the vast bay. Hard, strong strokes pulled her through the calm waters, and she was quickly within reach of the Maia. When she came up beside the rock and looked up at Uinen, she saw a small frown upon her face. Rylee was immediately morose and shameful. Rylee once told Ossë that he had no right to speak to her or tell her what to do. It happened right after she told Yavanna and Nienna to seek her forgiveness in the Void with Melkor, for she would never speak to them again. Her anger and rage was so potent that she never even thought to hold her tongue when Ossë tried to tell her to apologize to her mother and aunt. She told him that he was not her father. She called him a traitor and that he could rot in the ocean for an eternity for all she cared. When Uinen tried to admonish her, Rylee told the Lady of the Sea that her advice was as welcome as her husband's and that she would prefer silence than to hear the sea songs again.

"You should have told us your secret," Uinen admonished her. "We would have helped you through it."

"I tried, a thousand times I tried," Rylee choked out through her guilt and the familiar self directed rage, "I couldn't put it into words. When Eru came I told him, since he already knew anyways, but by then it was too late. The damage was already done and he told me that the effects of what I had done would ripple out through the Ages. Anirisae was meant to die that day. I saved her life and changed the future. Eru promised me that it would be for the betterment of all, but I could not tell anyone unless I found my One."

"Yavanna was watching when you told Kíli what happened, she said you didn't even tell Mahal or Thorin the whole of it. Manwë said that he guessed there was more, but Eru advised him that it was your secret to keep and to deal with on your own," Uinen whispered softly. Her long vibrant foam capped hair spread around them and floated upon the waves like silver ripples. "The things you were shown, were they really so horrible to make you doubt our love that much?"

"Worse than horrible Uinen," Rylee lowered her eyes in disgrace. "With everything that happened I was vulnerable and he knew it. He took advantage and when things happened as he said they would, I-I was compelled to believe him. I regret every word I said to you and Ossë. I am sorry I doubted you and I am sorry that I pushed you away without reason."

"But you did have reason Fry," Uinen told her, using the nickname she gave Rylee as a child when they were trying to teach her to swim. Fry was another term for a baby fish. Uinen's sea-foam blue eyes were filled with tears as she continued, "Us Maiar and even the Valar were awful in that moment. You were right in so many ways and wrong in so many others. It was up to us to guide you and like any other beings, we were certain that we were doing right by you. It never dawned on us to ask you your opinion in those matters, in our eyes you were still just a babe."

"No Uinen, I should not have been so selfish in my desires and I should have listened to reason. Yavanna has never disallowed me anything without good reason. I don't know why I thought she was being unfair all of a sudden," Rylee shook her head, she was in the wrong. She would take the blame for her actions. "I should never have tried to play Nienna off of Yavanna, nor should I have allowed anyone else to become involved. My selfishness caused all of this and I am so deeply sorry."

"Come here child," Uinen smiled softly reaching her webbed hands out to Rylee to grasp. Rylee reached up and allowed the Sea Maiden to pull her onto the rock beside her. She was about to ask about Ossë when Uinen reached up and plucked a small sea horse out of her hair and released it into the water. Rylee looked at her reflection in the calming water and snorted with mirth at her reflection. Her hair was green with frond after frond of deep green sea plants. "I think you can officially add Sea Urchin or Festitycelyn to your list of names little Fry."

"You did that on purpose Uinen," Rylee laughed lowly. She clenched her teeth at the pain of someone else's hands in her hair as she waited patiently as Uinen pulled out the seaweed. Then Uinen used her magic to clear away the seaweed from around the rock. "Not that I didn't deserve it."

"Right you are Fry. I did do it on purpose." Uinen laughed along with her, a hum of magic rose around them as a small wave of clean water rose up and wiped softly across Rylee's cheek, "Do you remember the time that you and Yavanna came to visit? You were just past your twenty-first year and you attempted to make her a crown out of sea flowers?"

"You mean when I finally mastered the art of swimming?" Rylee laughed at the memory. Beautiful Yavanna, the Lady of Nature, dripping and sodden with a seaweed crown, that slopped and stuck to her face like algae on a rock. Rylee and Uinen were highly amused until Yavanna's powers made it start to grow and morph into a sea monster with eight black and green arms, a bulbous head and small black eyes. The suctioning tentacles caught Rylee and Uinen and pulled them into the air, hanging them upside down while the other six tentacles when about tickling them. That was until Ulmo and Ossë arrived and started splashing Yavanna with wave after wave of water. She had no choice but to command the eight armed beast to put Rylee and Uinen down in order to command it to splash Ulmo and Ossë. The creature was turned back into seaweed, but Eru later gave Yavanna and Ulmo permission to create a similar creature for the sea, and much to their delight he gave it life. "That was possibly the largest water fight I have ever witnessed. Ulmo and Ossë were so surprised when we all gained up on them. I don't think I can remember a time that I had such fun in the ocean."

"There were no winners that day," Uinen grinned mischievously as her wave of water finished cleaning Rylee's face and arms.

"It was just after that when everything went sideways," Rylee sighed as her thought turned to the events that led up to her running away. "Everything just felt too restricted, like I was being pressed into a mold that no longer fit. I tried to tell them, but nothing I said seemed to make sense to anyone. Only Nienna understood what I was going through, from there it was so easy to play Yavanna off of Nienna."

"We are all to blame Fry. You must not try to take all the blame onto your shoulders. Not even one as strong as you can control the likes of the Valar or the Maiar, only Eru can do that and he has never broken our will," Uinen advised her sagely.

"I know that but I am the one who started it, so I need to be the one to make amends and fix it," Rylee met Uinen's eyes. Her heart was on her sleeve as she pleaded to the Lady of the Sea, "Will you forgive me for being an impudent and intolerable brat and giving you the cold shoulder for all of these years?"

"Years!" Uinen chided her with a small chuckle, "You realize that for us time is both irrelevant and lingering, it has been Ages upon Ages since you shook the ground of Aman!"

"Point taken," Rylee smirked and lowered her face. She was running out of time and she still had not yet asked about Ossë or about fighting the darkness. How did one broach such a subject?

Rylee didn't need to ask, Uinen already knew what it was that she needed and she was a step ahead of her, "Ossë is not here Fry. He is not ready to see you yet. Your revelation to Kíli shook him hard. It stirred bitter memories and he wants to face them before seeing you."

"Oh, okay," Rylee said feeling a little small, "How did you help him through it Uinen? How did you bring him back from the lure of Morgoth?"

"With patience, love, some well spoken words of frustration, I asked him to trust in me and allow me to help guide him," Uinen said softly, her sea-foam eyes were glistening in the light, "it was not easy Rylee, and there are still days when he becomes upset about everything that happened. He is called a tempest for many reasons, all of them valid, yet he is still loved by the seafarers and fishermen."

"I can understand that, some days are better than others for me too," Rylee sighed sadly. She would have loved to talk to Ossë, he knew what the seduction of darkness felt like, succumbed to it and even fought back from it, while Rylee was still wallowing in it. She wanted to know how to escape it, or if it was even possible.

"You should go now Rylee," Uinen wrapped one of her pale, opalescent arms around her and gave her a half hug. "You might have time to stop at home and visit the Tree of Jewels, it has always given you peace. I will tell Ossë you were looking for him."

Rylee's heart stopped for a moment before it began to thunder in her chest. The Tree of Jewels, she could not remember how it happened to grow in the middle of the Hall of Thoughts but it was what brought Rylee back from the brink of darkness. The Hall was now called the Hall of Divine Treasures due to the magical tree that grew within. Rylee kissed Uinen on the cheek and whispered, "You are a genius, I love you Uinen. Thank you for everything!"

Rylee slipped from the rock and back into the water, swimming as hard as she could for the far shore. She felt wonderful, exhausted yet energized as she rose from the water and made her way ashore. She was completely dry the moment she stepped ashore, as though she was never even in the water, not a speck of seaweed on her entire body. The magic of the Path of Dreams was an amazing thing. She could see, feel, and hear everything, her interactions were completely real, as though her body was actually in Valinor and not at her home, in bed, curled into Kíli's arms. It was like the elements of the world had little to no effect on her person.

She thought of Mahal's halls and at the speed of thought she was at the doors to the Great Mansions she called home. The halls were warm, they always were in Mahal's Mansion, the great forges kept the entire place warm whether it was morning or night. It was silent, the hammers were not ringing against metal, stone, or wood and the place felt empty. It was one thing she always remembered about the dwelling places of the Valar and Maiar, when they were home the building would fill with a vibrancy that was unique to the owner. When they were away their energy would go with them, leaving behind a void. As Rylee walked through the halls, the only energy she could feel within came from the Tree of Jewels.

She stepped into the Hall of Divine Treasures, where it was said that many of the Valar and Maiar came to think and come up with ideas for creating and designing things of beauty, and looked around. Great paintings and portraits filled the walls, objects of beauty filled great glass cases that were positioned between the paintings. The curtains were drawn closed, there was no light entering the room from outside. The only light was that in the fireplace and yet the room was filled with bright colorful light. Rylee looked up at the tree, the tree that was purely made of gems, black onyx, green emeralds, red rubies, and garnets. A tree made of jewels and yet life flowed through it and filled the room with a gentle and vibrant power. Rylee closed her eyes and let the power wash over her, comforting her as it always had.

It was in its summer season and was covered in bright blossoming red roses. Every facet from every leaf and flower caught the faint glow of the firelight and cast rainbows of light around the room. The tree itself cast off so much light that there was no need for the curtains to be opened in order to light the entire room. It had grown since the last time she was in the Hall. The trunk was cracked and fissured, but no less strong than the day that it first arrived. The leaves were many shades of green unfurled and open, catching and reflecting the light of the fire. She stood in front of the tree. It was in bloom, bright red roses filled the branches, a faint breeze made the branches move and the leaves chime in a soft serene song of light and love.

"It is so beautiful, so pure. Of all things in Aman it is the one thing I am most connected to," She lovingly touched the trunk of the magical Tree of Jewels. Her whisper was choked with emotion and unshed tears, "I am too dark Eru. I have let myself become tainted."

"Are you tainted Rylee?" Ilúvatar's voice asked as the Hall filled with blinding light. He did not correct the use of the name she called him, since she learned to talk, she called him Eru. Rylee was trying not to look at him, afraid that she would not be able to, he was that pure. Ilúvatar pulled a rose from the tree making the gems tinkle and sing like chimes as the branches moved back into place after the flower was pulled away. "Or is it your fear that keeps you in the dark? Is it the dark things you have witnessed over the years of your life that create darkness in you? Is it the venom of Ungoliant's Unlight that flows through your veins? Or is it simply the choice you have made to see yourself as a dark creature?"

"I-I don't know," Rylee whispered softly. She looked in the general direction of the light, without trying to focus on him. "Can it be all of them? Everything around me is so confusing that I cannot seem to grasp it. So many evil things are happening in the world around me, I just don't know what to do anymore. How can I help Lerain if I cannot even help myself? How can I become pure again, as I once was, when I feel so completely lost? The only time I feel like myself is when-"

Rylee stopped, unable or unwilling to go on. Ilúvatar prodded her forward with gentle words, "Keep going Rylee, when do you feel like yourself?"

"When I am with Kíli," Rylee whispered softly. "He is the stars in the night. Kíli is the sun and the moon. I fear being away from him. I fear that I will fade just by being parted for even a short time."

"You fear many things Rylee, many more than you should," Ilúvatar sighed softly.

Rylee thought of her fears and where they began. She thought of the one being that was the creator of all darkness on Arda. Finally she gathered her courage and asked, "Eru, why did you allow the discord? You have the power to change everything and yet you did not. You allowed the discord and you allowed Morgoth to remain. Why?"

"Do you remember the story I told you all those years ago? The story about choices? How one person's choice can affect the path they will take?" Ilúvatar asked in return. Olorin, Gandalf was much like Ilúvatar in this manner, answering a question with a question, a riddle with a riddle.

"Yes, I remember, I will never forget it," Rylee said softly, "I still do not agree with his choice and I do not understand why he chose as he did. He could have been a father, he could have been happy, but he chose Morgoth. It was an accident, he could have been happy."

"You will come to understand the story Rylee, and when you do you will understand why I allowed Morgoth to remain," Ilúvatar told her softly, he was always gentle with her, even when he was angry and giving punishment, he was gentle. "When you tell Lerain the story of Thrái you will begin to understand the meaning behind it. Just do me one favor, tell no one about their daughter, her time has not yet come."

"Will I ever see her again Eru?" Rylee asked suddenly, full of curiosity. "Will I ever see Lys again?"

"Perhaps in time, to do so you must finish this quest and complete all of your tasks," Eru told her softly, "do you remember them?"

"Well I found my Archer and he is trying to teach me. My memory has been restored so I have found what has been lost. Thranduil still holds what is mine and I don't think he will part with it easily," Rylee sighed at the thought of confronting him. He never did like her much. From the day he met her, he showed her his dislike and that only grew once his father pushed the betrothal on them. "He thought I disliked him for his scars and because of what the dragons did to him, even though I promised him that was not the case. He will see my marriage to Kíli as deception and dishonesty. He will want to know why I left him to go after Ancalagon."

"And you will explain it to him, just as you will finally explain the birth of the stone that he has in his possession." Eru said softly. They both knew that she once tried to explain the origin of the Star and the Rose to Oropher, yet he never listened. The stubborn Elf would not hear her words and refused to let her continue speaking before she was unceremoniously locked into her rooms with guards at the door. "Námo was very unhappy with Oropher's actions, both those that he enacted against you and his impatience in the last battle against Sauron. Had he been patient, your current quest would not be quite so essential."

"What do you mean?" Rylee asked in surprise. Námo was neither patient nor forgiving when it came to injustices done by the children of Ilúvatar. He did not discriminate between the races when it came to allocating justice for foul actions. Her heart stopped and her stomach clenched tightly. She thought of all of the things that Oropher did, his theft of the Star would be among the worst. His actions in battle, though he thought them wise, would be seen as treason against Gil-galad, his true commander. Treachery was a horrendous crime. When Rylee returned for her third quest, Fleet told her that Maeglin was sentenced to the Void, along with his commanders, so were the Nogrod Dwarves that led the massacre in the Glittering Caves of Menegroth. Their followers were chained until they proved their loyalty in Dagor Dagorath. Even Saeros was sent to the void for his attempt to kill Turin. The only saving grace for Oropher was that he was a loyal, kind, and generous Elf, when he wasn't being foolish. Rylee looked up into the bright halos that surrounded Eru as it dawned on her what his punishment would be, "Oropher is chained isn't he?"

"Until the Star has been returned, he will remain chained," Eru agreed softly, "He has already been forgiven for his actions in battle, for while they were unwise, his intent was not evil. As for the Star, it is now up to his kin to find wisdom where he did not."

"So you agree with Námo's judgment on this?" Rylee asked him feeling somewhat surprised. Eru very rarely interfered or intervened in the lives of the Valar or of any of his children.

"It is a fair verdict and punishment for stealing from me and my War Maiden," his tone was soft and Rylee gasped in surprise. "The Rose and the Star were made by my hand and were made for you and you alone. For Oropher to take the Star from the Rose was a defacement of my work, for him to use it as a token of a betrothal to someone who was not your One was unbecoming of my laws, for him to keep it after you wisely counseled him to return it was blasphemy. The punishment is therefore quite befitting of the crimes. Now, do you remember the rest of your quest?"

"I am to Change the Hands of Fate," Rylee whispered, her heart stopped as she thought of losing Thorin, Fíli or Kíli. She could not live without Kíli, her heart would shatter if she lost him. To lose Thorin and Fíli as well, the world may as well end in that very moment for she would not want to take another breath within it. "I don't want to lose them, I just found my family Eru, and I cannot lose them. If I fail-"

"The world will not end, but it will be darker and the time of Elves and Dwarves will come to a close before it is time. Failure is not a welcome conclusion, you must do all that you can to ensure that you succeed in saving all three," Ilúvatar admonished her sternly, still his voice was gentle and shivers ran down her spine. "There was one more, have you forgotten?"

"I did not forget Eru," Rylee whispered softly. Her voice was reverent and emotional, filled with love for Him. "It is rare that I forget the words that you say to me. 'Be blessed, live fully, for this is to be your last,' I am trying to embrace life, your words gave me the courage to give Kíli my token and to say yes when he asked to be married."

"This is a good start, there is more you must do to fulfill this task," Ilúvatar chuckled softly, his laughter was a mix of bells and thunder and it was the most beautiful sound Rylee could ever remember hearing in her entire life. He handed her the rose he had plucked from the tree and held it out for her to take, "Give this token to Lerain when you tell her the Lore of Thrái. Have you given thought to what I told you when I gave you the Rose and Star?"

"You told me that during my quests I would be surrounded by darkness, that I would be tempted to fall," Without thought, she looked up into the blinding face of Ilúvatar and gasped. White light filled her eyes, opalescent and shining, brighter than anything she could ever imagine or explain, and yet to her surprise it did not pain her to look at him. "You promised me that no matter how dark it became, as long as I looked for the light inside myself I would find my way home to you."

"You will face the darkness many times on this quest Rylee. You must remain strong and fight the temptation," Ilúvatar told her quietly. He touched her hand where it rested on the trunk of the Tree of Jewels. Rylee closed her eyes at the familiar rush of electricity and power that flowed through her as his essence surrounded her. When she opened her eyes they were standing together before The Path of Dreams.

"Morgoth still fights to regain his power, doesn't he?" Rylee asked sadly as she thought of the darkness of the road ahead. Sauron was gaining power in the mortal world. Instinctively she knew that Morgoth was trying to do the same from within the Timeless Void. It was the only reason why Mikhaul would be gone so often and return so completely exhausted.

"It is his nature to want that which is not his to have. However, he is not of your concern, you have other responsibilities," Eru said sagely. He did not deny and yet he didn't affirm her question either. Rylee looked at the silver path set before her. She felt his hands on her shoulders, he turned her and nudged her gently down the path. Rylee could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke next, "Go now, your quest awaits."

They woke as sun was barely brushing the horizon. Rylee stretched her limbs and Kíli pulled her back against him dropping kisses along the nape of her neck and her shoulder. "Welcome back."

"Hmm, good to be back," Rylee whispered softly in the soft morning light. She wiggled around in his embrace until she was facing him so she could brush a soft kiss over his lips.

"Did you see Ossë?" Kíli asked her. She seemed reflective and at peace for the moment but Kíli knew that she would not stay that way for long.

"No, Uinen will give him my message though," Rylee told him. She told him everything that transpired while she was in Valinor, including her visit to the Tree of Jewels and her conversation with Eru.

Kíli was silent for a long moment, feeling both humble and quite awed by her journey. Even though he met Mahal, Kíli still found it amazing that he was truly married to someone who was so closely connected to the Valar. It put many things into perspective and yet raised so many questions. If the Valar were so close, why did they not step in when bad things happened in Middle-Earth? Rylee tried to explain it to him. The need for distance between the Valar and the Children of Middle-Earth was vital in the keeping of free will. This was why the Valar did not intercede when Oropher took the Star of Ilúvatar, even though they were in Beleriand at the time fighting in the War of Wrath.

The maintenance in the balance of free will versus the powers of control over others was the one Rule of Eru that the Valar took the most serious. Rarely during the history of Arda had the Valar ever interceded on the behalf of the children and only did so when Eru allowed it. She went on to explain that a person's actions in life would only ever be fully judged by Námo, Manwë, and Varda upon death or upon arrival in Valinor. After a few conversations with Rylee, Kíli understood now why it was actually a nearly traitorous act that Mahal did when he created the Dwarves, why it was truly important to honor both Mahal and Eru in life and in prayer.

"So you are saying that Thranduil and his family are the only ones who can release Oropher from the Chains of Mandos?" Kíli asked thoughtfully. He agreed with Eru, it was a fitting punishment for the crimes that he committed.

"Aye and that will only happen if he returns the Star of Ilúvatar," Rylee sighed, a small frown marred her face, "I can only hope that he has become more reasonable since I last saw him. He was not very open-minded when I knew him in the First Age."

They rose from the bed at the sound of a cart being pulled up the path and the soft voices of several Elves as they talked about how much stuff this couple suddenly seemed to own. They looked out the window at the cart that was being hauled up the path. It was overflowing with what looked to be furniture wrapped in gold string. Rylee gave Kíli a pointed look, "The Company is up to their pranks again."

"It would seem so. I really do not own that much, so there should be no need for a cart," Kíli said with a small grin.

Rylee shook her head with an amused sigh, "Shall we go see what they have brought for us?"

They both dressed quickly, Kíli wore only his new breaches from the wedding since they were the only ones he had available to him. Rylee pulled on a pair of black breaches and a pale green tunic that hung to her thighs. She pulled it into place with a thick black belt embroidered with threads of red mithril. They ran down the stairs as quickly as their feet would carry them.

They were opening the door just as the first pair of Elves carried in one of the benches from the courtyard where the dwarves were quartered. Kíli's bow was tied to the piece of furniture with strings of twine, knotted and braided intricately, to the point that if Kíli wanted to safely remove his bow, each knot would have to be untwined by hand. His sword, daggers, shovel, pack, belt, and each single article of his clothing were similarly tied hostage to the elves furniture.

"Mahal help us! I forgot about this," Kíli groaned looking at the mass of knotted twine.

"Forgot what? Is there some reason why Fíli's sword is tied to your bow?" Rylee asked after examining the bench, "or why Orcrist is wrapped in your socks, which is tied to that pillow?"

"'Tis an old wedding tradition, meant to test our love and devotion to each other. They usually just tie the wedding gifts together into one massive bundle, but it looks like they have improvised by tying up their weapons and the furnishings from the courtyard. We cannot cut the strings. For every knot and braid we unravel, the stronger our union will be," Kíli sighed as he looked at the Elves as they carried several more pieces of furniture into the large living area of the House of Aulë. "Dwalin's axes are in the legs of my trousers, and Bofur's mattock is tied to my tunic. There looks to be something lumpy tied amongst it."

"I am afraid that every piece is strung up similarly," one of the Elves told them with a twinkle in his eyes, as he regarded the dwarf couple standing before them. A couple of the other Elves chuckled at the elaborate prank that the Dwarf Company pulled off. "The one called Fíli said that your wedding gifts are hidden within, and they still expect to see you for breakfast."

Rylee started to laugh and Kíli looked at her and grinned. It always surprised him how willing she was to be the butt of a joke or prank. It was between breaths that she gasped, "Fíli would hide our gifts in this mess. They know quite well that you have no other clothes to wear, otherwise they wouldn't use your britches to hold Dwalin's axes."

"Aye, we have no choice but to go through all of this and untie it all," Kíli quirked his brow at her, a smile played about his mouth.

"Aye, I suppose we do have to unwrap it all, otherwise you are going bare," Rylee snorted in her mirth.

Kíli shook his head at her as he waited for her to calm down, "They will expect us to be bringing their weapons to them."

"Do we really have to return them?" Rylee asked hesitantly. Hauling the massive amount of weapons back to the main house seemed like a needless task, so she suggested, "Can we not just invite them here so they can retrieve them themselves?"

"We could hide them around the house so the Company has to play seek and find if they want their weapons back." Kíli suggested with a mischievous grin. He continued on a note of sarcasm, "Since they so obviously want to move their quarters here, we may as well make it interesting."

"Well, they did donate all of their furniture, we are lucky that there is plenty of room," Rylee laughed. She sent a cheeky grin to the four Elves who were now finished with the furniture, "You won't tell them of our plan will you?"

"Wouldn't dream of it Rúnyatári, as long as we don't have to haul it all back to the main house," said one of the Elves as they turned towards the door, "We are to report to Glorfindel for our next orders, so we will not be seeing your company again anytime soon."

"Very well then," Rylee said with a grin, "Thank you very much for your assistance. If you need anything in return, please let us know."

"It was no trouble My Lady," the last Elf through the door grinned at her, "have fun with your knots."

Kíli and Rylee looked at the furniture and then at each other. They set to work, knowing that before long they would need to depart for breakfast on the terrace where they were to meet with the others. Rylee stopped at one point and looked up at Kíli, "You don't really think Thorin would allow the Company to stay here do you?"

"No, I would be surprised if he did," Kíli smiled at her. They were newlyweds, there was no way that Thorin wanted to be anywhere near them during a time meant for intimacy. Rylee blushed as Kíli's eyes slowly meandered over her body, she turned back to her knots to keep herself from mauling him and Kíli chuckled softly.

"I wonder who took it upon themselves to wrap Oin's Battle Staff in your long underwear," Rylee said as she gently worried a knot open on the very items she spoke of.

"'Tis the only thing I own that is long enough to fit it," Kíli blushed in embarrassment, then laughed as he imagined the old healer's expression if he knew where his weapon was, "Whoever it was, they seem to have enjoyed wrapping it up, there are more knots on my long underwear than any other garment or weapon."

"I knew Durin was cheeky old dodger, and Kaia was always up for a prank, but I never thought the trait was to be engrained so completely in all of his descendants," Rylee snorted as she found a framed picture tied with hundreds of fine knots to a settee. "This must be from Ori, 'tis a drawing of the wedding, he even framed it."

Rylee used her knowledge of knots to unravel many of the finely twined bindings, Kíli watched for a moment before he moved closer and Rylee showed him a few tricks to make the task faster. For every item of clothing they found of Kíli's they found one of the Dwarves weapons as well as a gift from one of the members of the Company. They placed the weapons in one pile, the gifts in another, and moved the furniture into a place around the large room to accommodate their guests later. Rylee painstakingly rolled the twine into tight coils, using one of the large bowls from the kitchen to contain them all.

Kíli found a box containing a matching pair of daggers from Dwalin strung up within a pair of cushions from the sofa. Balin gave them each a Journal for planning their crafts which was hidden within a chest of drawers tied tightly shut. Dori gave them each a pair of well made leather belts, while Nori made them tall feather quills with bone finger pads near the sharp metal tips, with inkpots made of white bone carved with their personal sigils.

Bofur and Bifur made them an intricate chess board that doubled as a box in which to contain the pieces. There were dragons for pieces on one side, and the heroes on the other, these were hidden within Kíli's jacket pockets, sleeves, and hood. Rylee fingered the assembled pieces and showed Kíli. She had tears in his eyes as she whispered, "Looks like Ori has finally deciphered First Age Khuzdul, these are all from my accounts in my journal."

"Aye he finished while you were in the forge," Kíli said watching her carefully. Tears ran down her cheeks but there was a small lift to her lips that belied the pain that had obviously caught her. Ori spent the entire week regaling them all with tales of her battles. Kíli didn't get to hear most of it since he was too worried about Rylee to listen, but the night she agreed to marry, he spent a good portion of the night reading Ori's translations. The chess pieces were obviously well imagined depictions taken from her descriptions and drawings in her journal. Bofur and Bifur were both Masters of their craft and it showed in the delicately carved pieces. "You don't mind that they used your accounts to make them? I know many of the heroes were your friends and they are gone now."

"They have been honored in a way I could never have imagined. Only Fram and Fleet Took should be counted among the heroes, and Scatha and Esgaud among the dragons," Rylee sniffled wiping away her tears. She set up the game on a low table and put all the pieces in place, as though waiting for someone to play the game. She picked up the pieces that depicted Glaurung and Ancalagon. Ancalagon was being used at the King since he was the largest dragon, and Glaurung as the Queen. Rylee thought this both ironic and wrong. There was still one dragon that the Company didn't know about, Rylee looked at Kíli and asked, "Should I tell them of the Dragon Queen Kíli? Should I tell the others of Gostir?"

"Only if you are ready to," Kíli said softly, taking the two dragons from her hands and placing them on the board. He didn't see it as anyone's business and Kíli knew that she had a hard enough time telling him about the trauma that led up to and surrounded that battle, even after fifty years. He was not going to pressure her to tell anyone about the Dragon who nearly killed her, or the terror that came after that near death experience. "You have spent years with many of these people and have never felt comfortable telling them, what is the rush to do so now?"

"I lied to Thorin. It kills me inside that I lied. Thorin thinks he knows, but he doesn't know what you do," Rylee told him meeting his gaze. Kíli pulled her into his arms and held her tight. She clutched him tight against her as she confessed, "He doesn't know everything."

"He will understand Rylee," Kíli promised her as he rubbed her back, kissing her temple. "When you are ready you will tell them everything."

He held her for several minutes as Rylee collected herself and allowed herself to settle the doubts that ate at her. Rylee pulled away from Kíli, thankful for his support and the empathy he gave her. She kissed him softly, brushing her lips over his, then she sighed softly and looked around the cluttered room, "I suppose we should get back to work, eh?"

They went back to work unraveling more and more knots, discovering more wedding presents and retrieving Kíli's clothing. Oin gave them a box of tea hidden inside a compartment under a fancy footrest. Not only was the footrest tied with intricate knots, so was the actual box of tea and herbs, tightly wrapped and tied into Kíli's light blue undershirt. After several minutes of struggle Rylee finally freed the shirt and tossed it at Kíli's head, laughing loudly at his surprised face. In turn Kíli tossed a twine ball at her head. Rylee shrieked in surprise as she caught it and tackled him, pinning him to the floor. She sat on him, with his hands pinned under her legs at his side, her hands on each side of his face holding him in place. Kíli was completely at her mercy. She looked down at him with a huge grin, "Whatever will I do with you Kíli?"

"Whatever you like Rylee, I am at your service," Kíli smirked up at her expecting her to kiss him. She laughed and leaned forward, kissing his forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, cheeks, nose, and chin. He frowned up at her wanting her to claim his mouth. She continued to pepper his face with small kisses until he was fighting to lift her off of him, wanting to take control. "You are driving me to madness Rylee, I want your lips on mine."

"You only had to ask my love," Rylee teased before brushing her lips over his. Soft, sweet, and light, her lips teased his with seductively drugging kisses. Her hot breath made his lips tingle and his heart race. She slowly eased down his body until her hips were over his, straddling him. All the while she kept brushing her slow soft kisses on his lips. He growled at her as he belatedly realized that she released his arms. He rolled them over and pressed her into the ground, threading his hands into her hair. He held her close, devouring her mouth as he wished. His kisses were deep, intimate, and roaring with heat.

When finally he broke away they were both gasping for breath, still he whispered, "'Tis unfortunate that we are expected for lunch on the terrace. I would much prefer to eat here."

"Kíli, do not tempt me, such words will only lead us both to trouble," Rylee breathed softly as she ran her hands over his shoulders and arms. "We were to meet Thorin and the Company for breakfast, and thanks to their wedding prank we will be late enough as it is."

"I suppose I will have to wait for tonight," He sighed as he brushed his lips over hers one last time before pressing up onto his knees, "let's hurry this up, the faster we get on with our day, the faster I can have you back in my arms and in my bed."

They got back to work discovering more presents hidden among Kíli's clothes and the various weapons of the company. To accompany the tea, Bombur gave them a rack filled with little pots of spices for Kíli to cook with. This was packed in Kíli's cloak and then tied to the back of a chair along with Ori's slingshot and several of Fíli's daggers. Gloin created a small treasure box for the pair of them, a place where they could put all of their beads, jewels, and clasps when not wearing them. It was hidden inside of a tall vase which in turn was tied closed and braided and strung between the four legs of a small table, along with Balin's sword. Thorin and Fíli gave them a Smith's tool kit, filled with an assortment of tools made for intricate metal work. It was large enough that it stood alone on top of the other pieces but tied with so many strings of twine that it took nearly half an hour just to get the kit free from the string.

The bowl of twine was nearly overflowing with twelve large spooled balls of thick golden thread. Every weapon that Rylee knew the company carried was in the pile, along with many that she had never seen them use before. Their gifts were set carefully to the side for safekeeping and Kíli was finally able to change his clothes. Then he stood over her and offered her his hands, pulling her to her feet. He grinned at her pulling her towards the pile of the Company's weapons, "So, are you ready to play a game of hide the weapons?"

"Rules of the game, all weapons must be hidden on this floor, within the house. I do not want anyone traipsing around in our bedroom, nor do I want them searching all over Rivendell. Otherwise let's do this," Rylee agreed with a small smirk. "What should we give to the company member who finds their weapon the fastest?"

"Hmm, a weapon? You are great at making them," Kíli suggested thoughtfully, "I cannot imagine that they would want one of my trinkets."

"Then they are fools not to. Your trinkets are treasures Kíli, you must realize that." Rylee said softly looking up at him. He seemed to hide from the fact that he was talented, the fact that his natural ability was worth something. "What if we allow them to make a request? Not all of the company is keen on weapons like Fíli and Dwalin are, Bombur would probably like food, and Bifur would love a new paint kit, his are getting pretty low. Nori could use some new pins since his are getting dull and bent from use and time, not that I condone the nature of his particular talent, but one never knows when one might need to pick a lock."

"I didn't realize you knew of his particular talent. That is a good idea though, personalized prize to the first who finds their weapon. Shall we get to work?" Kíli picked up Orcrist and moved to hide it inside one of the tall vases beside the tall windows. Rylee took Dwalin's heavy axes, Grasper and Keeper, and secured them to the top of one of the tall bookcases in the study off the main living area, out of sight. Fíli's knives were hidden in plain sight, along with several of Rylee's old knives and swords that were hung above the mantle. It took them more than an hour to hide every weapon well enough that each Dwarf would not easily be able to find it.

"Well now that we are done, we are really late for breakfast, it is closer to lunch," Rylee lamented and her stomach was making loud angry growling noises.

"Hmm yes, I see, we better feed that beast before it starts devouring you from the inside," Kíli joked poking lightly at her belly making Rylee squirm away from him.

Rylee grabbed her black satchel and placed each of the gifts within it, then she closed the sack and Kíli watched with wonder as she carried it back up stairs as though it weighed no more than when she brought it down. Kíli knew that all of the weapons that she made were already in that very satchel and she was planning to put all of his new weapons into the bag as well. "It is good that the satchel is linked with Aman, or there would be no way to carry all of this to Erebor."

"I agree. My bedroom in Mahal's Mansion must be packed nearly to the brim with my belongings by now. It is a good thing that this stuff is actually useful." Rylee smiled at him as she returned with a box. "Here I will let you open this one, it is our wedding gift from Curumo, sorry, I mean Saruman."

"Must be strange, all of your friends from Aman have different names from when you last saw them," Kíli smiled taking the box from her. He was trying not to imagine what her bedroom in Mahal's Mansion might look like, if the bed was big enough for both of them.

"It just takes getting used to, I suppose, I got used to Gandalf's name quickly enough," She replied softly. Standing before him, she watched as he pulled the string and peeled away the fabric wrapping to reveal a long pale wooden box.

Kíli flipped the fine metal clip that locked it and opened the box. Within were a pair of fine silver chains and strung on each were hammered silver pendants, etched with the Emblem of Durin on one side and the Emblem of Emitheral one the other. Kíli picked one up to examine it. The Durin side had an anvil and hammer surmounted with the Crown of Durin surmounted with the seven stars of the Valacirca. The other side had a pair of axes surmounted with the seven stars of the Valacirca within a ring of flames. "This is your Emblem?"

"Aye, I came up with it shortly after I created my weapons." Rylee nodded as she took one of the chains and placed it around Kíli's neck. Kíli did the same for her, kissing the nape of her neck as he closed the link on the chain.

"If I was not your One I would wonder if you were not supposed to be with Durin the Deathless. The emblems complement each other so well." Kíli smiled at her. He was thankful that she was not in fact his ancestor's One, thankful that she was his.

"That's only because we both used the Valacirca on our Emblems. Thrái, the seventh of the original Dwarrowdams, was meant to be Durin's One," Rylee explained softly. There was so much yet to tell Kíli of her history and so much that she still did not know of his. She hoped that they had centuries together so that they could learn and know everything there was to know. "She had black hair and lavender colored eyes. I have been told that I look like her in many ways, it was likely what confused poor Durin. Eridith was her reincarnation and we were often mistaken as sisters."

"Why would Eridith be a reincarnation of Thrái? Why wasn't she with Durin when they woke?" Kíli asked in surprise, there was no accounting of Durin's One being created by Mahal. Durin woke alone in Gundabad and travelled from there. It was well known that his wife was the daughter of a Blacklocks Prince.

"Thrái died before the Dwarves awoke in Middle-Earth when her lover set in motion terrible actions that tilted the balance in the favor of Morgoth. Whatever good that remained in his soul, died with her when he made the choice to join Morgoth and forsake Thrái. It is one of the many reasons that I was created," Rylee told him quietly. She sighed softly as she remembered the sad tale and her confusion as to why it ended as it did. "She was reincarnated as Eridith to create balance in Middle-Earth, especially since I was never meant to remain in the First Age. Eridith was Jovina's cousin."

"None of this is written in the histories of the Dwarves," Kíli said in confusion, his brow furrowed.

Rylee smiled at him with sad eyes, "Of course not, it happened in Aman just after Eru gave life and will to the Fathers and their Ones. It was long before the Dwarves or even the Elves were woken in Middle-Earth. No one in Middle-Earth knows the tale, even Eridith was oblivious to her beginnings and that was how it had to be. There was fear that if she remembered her previous life, she would return to her lover."

"But you knew her when you saw her," Kíli guessed as he watched Rylee's face as she remembered her history lessons.

"Of course, I saw her tapestry and Eru told me her tale," Rylee said softly. Her face was somber and sad.

"Wait, if she lived before the Elves were woken, who was her lover?" Kíli asked in confusion. Whoever it was they were immortal, otherwise there would be no danger of Eridith ever meeting him again.

"Once he was called Mairon," Rylee whispered.

They fell silent for long minutes, Kíli thought the name sounded familiar, but he used to pay so little to Balin's history lessons. The vast number of Valar and Maiar beyond Mahal and Eru were hard to keep track of, besides the history books didn't bring them to life like Rylee's memories and descriptions of them did. He knew more now about the Valar and Maiar then he ever did in his youth. He just could not remember which Maia Mairon was.

Rylee thought of the path that Thrái was forced onto and the fact that she could find good within someone so corrupt. "I cannot fall into darkness Kíli, I cannot become what he did."

"I would never allow you to fall to darkness Rylee, Mahal would kill me if I let it happen," Kíli told her succinctly.