Her eyes blinked a few times then opened just a bit. She could see the dark sky turning lighter and the shades of grey mixed with pink from the clouds. Draped over her ribs was a strong protective arm and the most delicious warmth that radiated along her back. Fingers slowly splayed out and a large hand pressed to her belly and she found herself smiling at the gesture.
"Good morning wife." A deep voice grumbled from behind her.
"Good morning Melamin." She managed to wiggle around so she was facing him. Her face nuzzled against his chest and she was drawn into his his embrace. "This will all be over soon. Then we will return to you."
"All three of you better. I would be quite miffed if you don't"
She breathed deeply of his scent and let it permeated her. "The three of us?" She asked softly.
"Yes, you my beloved wife and also my dear husband and the life they created."
He woke up suddenly and winced at the pain in his side. Celeborn had him tucked away in his tent with guards and someone with him at all times. Just then it happened to be his insufferable cousin himself.
"You really are a fool Thranduil." He heard Celeborn and felt his eyes roll all on there own.
"Your ribs were broken 2 days ago and you quietly bound them yourself and went to fight a dragon." Celeborn scolded him.
Thranduil looked around his tent and sighed seeing the familiar yet empty décor of his dwellings then looked at the hand that had been holding her just moments before and as he breathed in her scent still lingered in the air around him and emitted from his tunic.
"Celeborn, I was just with her." He said softly and stared at his hand.
Celeborn was just about to speak and he pulled back his further words of admonishment. "You were with her? Juniper?"
"Yes, I was holding her and I felt her spirit and that of another life within her. I told her the three of them best return to me when it was all over with. She seemed frail in my arms but she was not frail. She was strong and ready for the fight." Thranduil finally looked towards his cousin. "I have never felt like I feel right now. I need her, This longing is ... it is keeping me going and killing me at the same time. It's making me reckless and I can not be so. "
Celeborns brows lifted and he was silent for several long moments. "You mean Juniper his with child and facing Morgoth in a fight? Thranduil are you not worried?"
"Oh I am," He nodded and just looked to Celeborn and sighed. "I know I just made a big thing about not being reckless but I need to get up. I have too much to do Celeborn. There are troops to tend to and .."
"and you are in no shape to see to them. Even your own guard would side with me at this time and happily face sedition charges later." Celeborn reached out and gently pushed Thranduil back against the pillows. "The troops are being tended by gods right now Thranduil and Feren has everything else under control. You need to heal as much as possible."
Juniper was silent as she spooned her breakfast past her lips. Elthian kept eyeing her, just waiting to see any spark of actual life in her eyes. She seemed so lost in the moments after she had woke up and he wondered about her dreams. He made no secret of watching her. There was no need to, not at this time. She did not even taken notice of it. She sat in the morning sunlight. Her hair turning that glorious shade of gold. Her flesh took on the golden glow. He leaned back and looked at her in her surroundings. The purple mountains in the distance. The green field that sprang up around her kneeling form.
Even the trees seemed a bit greener. These evergreens that sprang up in small groups that dotted the land scape. "Juniper why are you so quiet this morning?" He asked in a soft gentle manner. She blinked as if being pulled from somewhere else. Her purple gaze lifting to his. She found a smile in those moments before she began to speak and he found it curious with how melancholy she had been just moments before.
"I was with him last night. Just a few moments in a dream. We awoke and he was holding me. I could smell him and feel the heat from his body. It was real Elthian, for some reason we are connecting in our dreams. I think we are closer than we could know right now. He knows about me, he knows that you and I created something wonderful and though he tried to hide it he is scared for us. He in his own way commanded all of us to return to him." Her eyes were locked on the silvery pools of Elthian's gaze. He did not hide a single emotion from her. He saw the light of his fea and the joy such words brought him.
"Well then lets hope that he is not disappointed. That would be dreadful." He grinned.
On the ride that day she sought out Minol's company so she could talk with him. He seemed a bit more gaunt than usual but she could not feel one change in him. He held her closely and wrapped her in the shade of his leathery wings.
"So you saw him last night. To answer the question on the tip of your delicious little tongue, No I did not have anything to do with it. You and I did not commune when Elthian came to sleep next to you. I moved to my own bed. "
She tilted her head back and looked to Minol. She watched the curve of his chin and his jaw line as he spoke. The stared into eyes that were mostly purple at the moment. "There is a reason the connection between you both is so strong. You're probably close at this moment relatively speaking though there might be 100's of miles between you." He shrugged a bit, "Also there are gods in play Juniper. This had become something wonderful in it's own right. I think they just might want you both to communicate."
"I see, I find it oddly refreshing that you are somewhat more forthcoming in your answers these days Minol. What gives?" She leaned back and asked as her eyes narrowed.
"My Dear Little Flower, We are so close to the end that what ever I say can not stop the course of events. I get to relax and watch everything I have planned fall into place. I am watching my greatest work ever play out." He said with a wide smile. "My love for you only blossoms Juniper. I hope you will never forget this about me."
His voice took on a smooth quality and the look in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. She looked down suddenly and leaned in against his chest.
Thranduil sat up in his bed, leaning against pillows looked at a worried Ryu and smiled. "I killed another dragon with the help of gods Ryu. I am feeling a bit more powerful than I look at the moment I assure you. So stop worrying." He reassured her. After her time spent in Eönwë's arms she looked shockingly strong and had an aura of might around her. Yet when she looked at him he saw the truth of her emotions.
"I feel her too my Lord. Stronger than before. Our paths are converging. I feel like we are on the cusp of a battle so large nothing like it has been seen since the first elves were just taking their first steps out into the arda. I am not an expert but I am not blind. There are so many just gone, Human, Elf, First Orc. Even with Grah finally showing up we are weak. The battlefield is covered in the dead and they are splayed out before a dead dragon. This is grim Thranduil. We must fight to keep her path as hidden as possible."
Thranduil listened to wise words from the lips of one who should never had need to be in a war. A precious creature, just as precious as his own wife. "I will speak with this Grah. Do not believe this is hopeless Ryu, There is another army coming. Lets just hope they are in time."
The scream echoed through the vast halls of his stronghold. Drannor was furious as he threw his armor to the side. "He betrayed me. That fucking piece of worm shit. I will melt the flesh from his bones with my bare hands." He raged as his hands turned to flames. The heat level in the room began to rise and even Melkor shifted in his seat and watched the anger from his pet grow into a white hot rage.
"we had that battle won Master. They were about to fall even with the dragons demise we had them beaten and Grah arrived only to betray me and kill his own kin." He hissed as his hands began to grip so tightly at a chair the wood began to crack.
Melkor rose and poured a drink into a shimmering goblet. The liquid within a rich honey color and smelled of spices. He drifted towards the seething Drannor and offered him the goblet. "Oh do take the drink my dear. You need it," The words hissed from his lips. "Losses on Thranduil's side were great. They were great on our side as well though not terrible. Your strategy worked. We slowly picked them off and now that army is small. I am sure Grah and his heathens will fall rather easily soon enough."
Drannor finally took the drink and began to sip it. The rage still burning brightly within him and it made Melkor tingle. "While we did loose the battle with these eastern elves and their monsters, Their losses were significant. Their army is much smaller as well. Let them come for me. I have so much to give my pet." He reached out and grabbed Drannor by the chin and squeezed tightly. "stay close to me, you will be needed here." The very thought of Tulkas being there made his skin crawl and now he felt the need to be protected.
Another morning was upon him. Thingol stood outside his tent and watched the camp being struck. Crouching beside him was this strange orc, Thurmog. He was different from any orc or Uruk Hai he had ever encountered. While crafty and sneaky he was also very intelligent and oddly enough Thingol did not sense true evil within this creature. What he did see was an intense drive to live and save perhaps a few of his own kind.
Thurmog had held nothing back in the days since he surrendered. He told them all quite openly about the horrors inside the dark lords stronghold. The tortures and the twisting of mind and body. The creation of his own kind and many others for the dark lord had been busy in his time back in middle earth. Yet it seemed that his power was not as great as it had been before and many of these creatures were held to him not by sway of the mind but physically.
He created these new races, allowed the to flourish on their own. To reproduce and have families. Thurmog had a wife and a new child. Thurmog was made to fight while his wife and child were held hostage. Such was the story of many of his kin while others fell deep into the darkness and embraced the brutality of Melkor some resisted and dreamed of better things.
Thingol had grown of admire this about Thurmog. "Many would call me a fool for trusting you." Thingol said and cast a glance down to Thurmog.
The orc chuckled softly. "Many would say the same about Thurmog. Elves kill orc. You kill elves first. You do not treat with them. It is time we stop listening to the lies from the shadows and we step into the light. Thurmog is not ashamed of what he is. Thurmog is not ashamed of the allies he is making. All we know is what he says. There is more to know." He trailed off then and rose up.
While Thingol towered over him and most everyone he met. He found Thurmog maybe a bit taller than he appeared. He saw a leader in this orc. "How will you get in?"
Thurmog laughed now and looked up to Thingol as he turned. "Thurmog will walk in with other orc. Betrayal from us will not be seen." He smiled a toothy smile and held out his hand to Thingol who reached out and took Thurmogs forearm into his grip and Thurmog did the same.
"I wish you the best of luck Thurmog. For the first time in all of the ages may the Valar bless an orc." He said and released Thurmog's arm.
Maedhros stood back and watched this exchange. He nodded to Thurmog as he turned towards him then simply moved past him and out into grey morning.
"I think it is foolish my Lord." The red headed elf spoke as he moved closer to his King.
Thingol threw back his head and laughed heartily. "I knew you would say that. "The thing is Maedhros this isn't about second chances for only elves. If the world is going to change orc, elf, dwarf and man will all have to work together."
Across the camp Jeven was leaving his tent with a pack on his back. Tauriel followed him after. Gandalf waited on them near their horses with Elrond and the ancients. Jeven paused as he looked to them all standing there. Tauriel passed him and walked right up to Gandalf and gave him a hug. She then turned to Elrond and embraced him as well. Next was Hannibal then Hiroc.
"Where are you going Hannibal?" Jeven asked before finally taking another step .
He grumbled a bit and reached out to pull Jeven into a hug. Which surprised Jeven and he stumbled into the embrace. "My brother and I are going to gather our own. The numbers will be needed my friend." He released Jeven and looked at him. "I am so glad I have gotten to know you Jeven."
Jeven stepped back and looked up to Hannibal his eyes showing his concern. "Why does this sound like Goodbye?"
"Who knows what the future now holds." Hannibal said and turned to walk towards the trees.
Hiroc nodded then paused. "If I do not return tell Lia I love her."
That made Tauriel gasp softly yet she could not find any words to say. She watched as the ancients seemed to just disappear into the mist of time before her.
Jeven and Tauriel mounted up and Jeven looked to Gandalf and Elrond. "You will see us again. We will not miss this battle."
"Elrond, Mithrandir, Thingol is looking for the both of you."
Elrond turned to see Maedhros calling to them. He found himself smiling as he answered back. "Yes we are on our way." Maedhros lingered a moment then nodded gently before turning down the path.
Gandalf and Elrond walked together, in silence at first. Then Elrond broke the awkward moment. "You still wonder about the relationship between Maedhros and I."
Gandalf coughed and stammered a bit. "Well, well, well of course I have and perhaps still do have a bit of curiosity about it."
"You need to know I was not a child when the relationship started. As a child it was always Maglor. I called him Ada, Elros and I loved him just like that. He taught us everything. Healing and how to read and write in both Quenya and Sindar. He gave me tests on other languages as well. Ancient one's and when we found perhaps a new one we studied it as best we could. I learned all of my skills from Maglor. While decades into our adulthood we were just young and stupid. Maedhros returned and stayed with us a while again. How I felt about him began to change and my attention made im take notice. I was an adult Gandalf, and I wanted everything. When Maglor found out he did not approve but it did not stop us. A few years later they both disappeared. We were heart broken of the loss of our Ada and the loss of Maedhros stung very deeply." Elrond trailed off as they neared the war tent.
"Thank you Mellon nin." Gandalf said and bowed his head gently before he entered the tent for their last minute meeting.
"We are but 4 days from meeting with Thranduil's army."
They both paused and looked at the golden hair of Inglor, He standing with his back to them and addressing all those gathered.
"We need to send a messenger, someone that knows everything and can update Thranduil."
Elrond stepped forward. "I will go." Now all eyes turned to look at him. "Who better is there than I?"
Elrond left the tent in a hurry with Gandalf running after him. "Elrond for the love of Eru would you slow down."
Elrond stopped and exhaled a deeply held breath. "I must get ready to depart I do not have time for idle chit chat."
"This is hardly idle." Gandalf said gruffly before they started to walk at a slightly slower pace. "You must look in on Ryu as well. She and the Queen are connected in ways we are not. Not even Thranduil can understand and I suspect he suffers from their bond in these times."
Elrond turned and moved past several elves rolling up tents and getting camp packed away. Finding he own things being loaded into a wagon he leaps into the wagon and begins to look. "I understand what you are saying Gandalf. Of course I will tend to Ryu. Are there messages I need to pass?"
He looked down at Gandalf for a moment as the bustle of the army moved around him. He grinned, His head tilting just a bit to the right. "You tell Thranduil that the Queen is mighty." Elrond nodded and continued to pack.
"I see your escort coming." Gandalf said as he watched Narl coming up the path. Finnola and Glorfindel walking along beside him.
Minol was on high alert and had made the decision to move through the night. Now they were stopped and listening. The moonless darkness was inky and thick. There was the scent of something foul on the breeze and none of it felt good. She remain curled up inside her pouch . The tension of Elthian's body was felt distinctly against his growing anxiety. Vorondil stayed close to him and on ready as well. A bow in his hand, an arrow nocked.
Suddenly Minol motioned with his head and silently they turned and rode through thicker cover. The scent became heavier and the still of the wilderness around them became even more obvious. Nothing moved. Their pace picked up until the sound of fighting made everything suddenly feel very much alive. All turned to look and there in the distance was action. The darkness swirled with the dust from feet and the roars and screams told them it was a vicious fight.
Vorondil stood in the saddle and finally he saw it. The distinct glow of the Vala who lead this fight. "Orome," He whispered to Elthian. Now Juniper wiggled and poked her head out.
"Me must go." Minol whispered. Then looked towards where Minogos just seemed to appear from the darkness. She knew it was him. She could feel it was him but it did not look like him. He was nothing but a shadow upon his dark horse. He was clad in the clothing of the killer. Dark leather seemed to be wrapped around him like a second skin. On his face a dark mask. His head was this time left uncovered. The pitch color of his hair blended with the shadows, it was simply pulled back.
Elthian rode closer to Minogos and Juniper watched him getting closer and closer. Then she felt as if there was someone else there. Briefly, then he was gone. Minogos no longer looked like a shadow but not he was solid right there before her. The eyes that peered to her from behind the mask were his. Those Lavander pools looking into her own.
The sound of the fighting behind her began to fade. The fight was almost over and they rode away. The night just seemed to linger the drone of the silence combined with her growing hunger was making her rather uncomfortable. Then blissfully they stopped for a rest. There would be no fire but she would have a soft bed roll and Elthian's warmth. Loratha lay behind them. The Meara shielding them from the wind. She found herself asleep soon enough.
There were no dreams just sleep. Then she was being awoken again. Vorondil shoved a piece of lembas in her small hand. "You must wake up my Lady and please eat." He spoke softly and when Elthian sat up a piece of lembas was shoved into his hand as well.
"What I wouldn't give for a bowl of that rabbit stew Turin made." She whispered and took a small bite of the lembas.
"Or just some eggs and sausage." Elthian muttered and took a bite as well.
"The Lamentations of the Queen I can understand but, from you Elthian?" Vorondil teased him as he began to check his saddle.
Elthian scowled and got to his feet. Loratha following suit. Juniper rose and was captured rather quickly in Elthian's arms. His lips down upon hers in a sweet yet firm kiss. He grinned as he released her. "There now my day will start off better." He turned his back to her so her could get Loratha saddled up. He felt the jab from her small elbow immediately. " Ow" He turned to see a smug looking Juniper eating her lembas.
"Seriously, the three of you? Stop playing around, That was a serious fight last night. We will see more and more small patrols, there is only so much Orome can do. We need to be vigilant and we might start traveling only at night." Minogos came to rain all over their parade.
"Sorry." Juniper said softly and pulled her cloak tighter about herself before she went small and Elhtian lifted her to the pouch.
"I will be vigilant Minogos." He too spoke softly.
The ride that day was rather quick and one could cut the tension with a blade. They did stop for a meal. Most for her and she knew it. Elthian sat with her in his lap. They were eating dried fish that had been purchased from the village where they took the survivors. There wasn't much left but she was given the protein she seemed to need.
"Elthian, I wonder why Beleg follows Turin so closely. I know they are friends but there is something else there." She truly just wanted to hear the sound of his voice and how it rumbled in his chest . He was happy to oblige her when he began to tell her a story she did not know.
"Turin was raised by the elves. He was adopted by Thingol himself, That is why they call him Adanedhel." Elthian explained.
"Elf man that makes more sense now."
"Yes indeed, Beleg was his friend from the time he was a child. Turin was captured and tortured. By Beleg rescued him and Turin in his fevered mind slew Beleg." Elthian looked somber as he told this story.
"That is awful." Juniper gasped.
"A very long time has passed since then and while we are unsure of where human fea goes when they pass, it seems that the Valar stepped in and pulled Turin into Aman. Their friendship, as I understand it had never faded despite what Turin had done." Juniper was now hanging on each word. "I can understand Turin's stake in this Juniper. You know what happened to him and his family. I can understand Curufin's and Celegorm's stake. Not to mention Maedhros. No less their adar." She smoothed a bit of her hair behind her ear as she sat forward and turned to look at him. His finger slowly trailing down over the softness of her cheek. "Then I see you. I feel like none of this should have ever been placed upon shoulders so fair as yours. Yet it has melleth and I can only do everything I can to see you through it."
She looked deeply into his silver gaze to see the exhaustion behind them. Yet he did not show it otherwise. She saw the love well up in that gaze and felt it as he embraced her tightly.
Ryu sat on the edge of Thranduil's bed. He was speaking with Feren and Ellesar concerning Grah. Taking their council before his meeting. She stared into nothing for a moment. Her small hand reaching out to Thranduil. His train of thought lost when he noticed how Ryu was behaving.
"Minol?" She said in a whisper. Then Thranduil took Ryu's small hand into his.
Elthian held Juniper as her body began to tremble and tears threatened to burst from her eyes, yet she fought them. "The next time you see him in your dreams or otherwise. You tell Thranduil how much you love him. You tell him how much I love him." Now tears began to drip down Elthian's cheeks. I could use some of his never wavering confidence right now."
She sniffled and lifted her head. "I can hear him saying. Chin up, Shoulders back, wings up." Elthian used his sleeve to dry her eyes. "I will tell him how much we love him. I will tell him, lets get this done."
"That's the spirit Melamin." Elthian tells her and kisses her forehead.
Minol stumbled a bit and reached out to press his hand to his horses flank to steady himself. Minogos stepped closer to him and looked on his father with worried eyes. "What is it?" His tone was concerned and Minol just shook his head and sighed. "It's nothing."
Thranduil gasped and leaned forward suddenly. His eyes locked on Ryu's. Ellesar and Feren looked between them. "What did you see?" Feren asked.
"I saw them together, They were speaking of..." Thranduil paused and his cheeks pinkened a bit before he cleared his throat. "Their mutual affections for me and began to remind themselves of how I would scold them when they were slacking." His tone took on a more stern inflection and he looked on them with lifted brows.
Ryu held her fingers to her lips to cover the smile and stifle the giggle. She too cleared her throat.
They rode well into the night before they finally stopped again. The wilderness was once again silent, giving the whole world around them a feeling of foreboding. Again she slept against Elthian. Only tonight he sat leaned back against Loratha with her small form against his chest. Vorondil rest next to them. His back against the meara's side.
Mingos was a shadow. Minol like smoke as they drifted around the trees and over the rocky terrain. There was movement everywhere in the distance. So far it was all moving away from them. "We will need to get going." Minol whispered to Minogos as he passed then turned back towards where the elves and the fae slept.
Minol woke Vorondil who woke the others. Juniper's body still wished to sleep. She struggled to stay awake and finally Elthian held a small fae on his palm. One which he gently tucked away into the safety of the pouch. They were moving again. Elthian watched the marks left behind by the dark forces. Swathes of ground torn to shreds by their steps.
The pace was relentless yet they had no choice but to keep going and hope for a bit of safety ahead. Here was most dangerous. She was now awake, her body sore from the journey. Her small head peeking from the top of the pouch. The terrain was the same and it felt like they were getting nowhere fast. Another boulder, of another evergreen tree and lingering in the background that heavy sense of everything being wrong.
Minol stopped suddenly and Minogos was motioning for them to go back quickly. The urgency of his command heard when he yelled to them. " NOW!"
Elthian and Vorondil turned as quickly as they could and urged their mounts to go . Juniper was aware of the sound of snapping wood and the thud that followed. Then another and another.
Her body knew what to do. She was kneeling beside her armor and had already begun to put it on. The sounds outside were getting louder and Elthian's pleas to Loratha were becoming more desperate. She crawled from the pouch and looked ahead. Elthian looked down to see her in her full armor, helm and all. "Alright Melamin I need you to turn around and face them. I know everything is telling you to not do this but I need to take down the trolls behind us or we are all squished."
"There is more than one." He said with a growl.
"Oh well you get to play too this round." With that she was big and sliding around her body to crouch behind him. He felt her cling to his armor.
"We need to turn and charge. I will take right, You take left." Elthian called to Vorondil who nodded and then they began to turn in a wide circle. Each going a different direction. When Vorondil looked back he saw the warrior queen in her shiny armor perched behind Elthian and ready to attack.
"Ok I will plow the center and let's hope that we meet Minol soon." She looked to his ear and lifted up. Her lips brushing it gently as she spoke. "I love you." Then she was gone in a flash He and Vorondil nearly out of the turn Vorondil had already shot several arrows and felled a few orc. Not one missed it's mark. He was a sight to see in action. This ancient elf with the face of a young ellon. In a flash his sword was meeting flesh and he was deep into a battle.
One troll fell then another. She was doing what she loved. Rowena and her monster killing. Now she could see Minogos with his scimitars cutting through the orc line. His movements like a shadow he would blink from view and return in another place. Minol rose from a pile of orc bodies. The demon coated in the black blood of his enemy.
Turning away her focus on the troll coming up beside Minol, she flew swiftly. Her agility unmatched and every chance she had to damage a foe she took it, all the way to the troll Which did not fall so easily. She had to dodge and maneuver herself around his defenses and attacks. He was wearing a thick leather armor with dangerous looking studs covering it. His vital parts protected and the club he swung was fast.
Finally she went low and turned to sweep her swords along the backs of his ankles. The trolls legs shake and he lets out a horrible scream before he starts to fall and she was already plummeting down with her sword positioned to pierce the back of his thick skull.
Taking to the air again . She blinks small to reappear in her big form behind the orc that was about to run Minol through and when she looked to Minol's face she saw the look of horror in his eyes . He began to yell as she turned to see Elthian being thrown from Loratha's back and over run with Orc. A troll began smashing it's way towards him. She was in the air and charging as fast as she could for the troll who's mace was lifted high.
She exhaled and picked up just a bit more speed and then she was in the warmth of the trolls insides. Cutting her way threw then out into the cold. Its blood and meat dripping from her armor. She turned on a dime to see Elthian desperately struggling against the orc that were on him . She lowered her head and shot straight for the orc in just half a beat of her wings the other orc rose from behind him and she saw the orcs blade run threw him. In the next half beat of her wings that orcs head flew from his shoulders.
Minol stood still for a moment then braced himself. Minogos had a mere heartbeat to brace before her lips parted with a scream unlike anything these filthy orc had ever heard. Minol cowered down and covered his head. Minogos did the same. When the screaming stopped and they dared to lift their heads they looked to see the blood soaked Pixie cradling the fallen elf.