By: Lady of the Rings
Rating: PG-13 for some tense moments and poisons.
Disclaimer:
The lyrics in this chapter, namely those from China Roses in the CD The Memory of Trees, are not mine and I do not claim them so do not sue me. They belong to their respective copyright. The only characters in this story that are mine are Celebmîr, Nionë, and Annos. All else belongs to Tolkien and I in no way claim his creation as my own, I am not making money off this, and this story was written for pure enjoyment only. Also, the quotes from the book Morgoth's Ring were taken without permission, and as I am making no money off of this and again it was strictly for enjoyment only, please do not sue me. Thanks. :D
Spoilers: None
Feedback: LadyoftheRings35@hotmail.com
Summary:
This is placed in a tiny pocket of time when Gil-galad and Elrond brought their army to Rivendell in the Second Age to meet with Elendil. Elendil's niece, Nionë is being poisoned—but why, and by whom? And when the attacker goes after Elrond, things take a deadly turn…
Series:
None yet!
Additional disclaimers:
Within this text there are likely to be quite a few errors, and while I have gone over it numerous times with a fine-toothed comb, there are likely to still be errors. Please forgive any that you find. I am not a Tolkien expert and do not claim to be. I will to my best to keep everything looking spick-and-span, but even writers make mistakes on their manuscripts. I know that things would have been really grim in the time that I am writing about, but such stories depress me. Just think of this as a little alternate reality story with Tolkien characters in a Tolkien world, and that it actually might have happened. Thank you for being so understanding. I also know that Elrond would not be spending his time teaching a too-perfect girl how to speak elvish, but that's the way the story came out. Also, a '*' means there is a translation or a note at the end of the story. I put this next to all of the elvish.
A/N: First of all, I will try and write a sequel, since even though this probably turned out to be my worst story, I had the most fun writing it and I'd like to get to know Nionë's daughter a little more. I edited it slightly and reposted one or two chapters (well, actually I just reposted the last one) but if you have any questions you can always email me. Possibly one of the reasons I loved writing this so much, even though by most standards it wasn't all that great a story, is because Nionë is my real name in elvish. I found it one day, just after I started this story, decided it sounded better than "Shalona," Nionë's original name, and changed it. I probably had more fun writing this story than almost any other story—except Daughter of the Elves. So if its not my best or your favorite, forgive me…authors have to write a silly Mary-Sue sometimes, just to get it out of our systems. Thanks for putting up with it anyway. :D
-LadyoftheRings
Chapter Four
I walk the maze of moments
But everywhere I turn to
Begins a knew beginning
But never finds a finish
I walk to the horizon
But there I find another
It all seems so surprising
And then I find that I know
-Anywhere Is, sung by Enya
Nionë whispered affectionately to her hawk, stroking the beak and head of the hunter who sat patiently on her shoulder. She was curled in her window seat. After her talk with Gil-galad she had been unable to find any rest. It was nearly an hour past dawn, and most of the household was awake or stirring. A knock tapped against her door.
"Isa…"
"Coming, my lady." The petite, buxom girl trotted over to the door and pulled it open a crack.
She glanced over her shoulder. "It's your father, my lady."
Nionë went white, but her voice was steady. "Show him in."
"Have I heard correctly?" Annos' voice was very cold as he entered carefully, guided by a manservant. He waved the man away impatiently as he took a seat on a chair. "You're still fraternizing with this elf-lord?"
"I am learning much from them, father."
"Obliviously not much on the virtue of staying chaste until marriage."
"Father!"
"Do not deny it. I know what you've been doing with him, and it sickens me."
"You are wrong!" she shouted. "For once in your life, father, believe me when I tell you I have never slept with a man of the Noldor nor plan to!"
"And you are a liar now, as well. What a wonderful daughter you have grown up to be."
Tears of frustrating blinded Nionë as she turned away. "What difference does it make? You never believe me. You never, ever believed me when I told you something. Not after mother…"
"We're not here to talk about your mother!"
"No, you're right. I forgot. You're too ashamed to have a half-elven daughter to even speak of her mother!"
"That's enough!" he roared, loud enough to bring the roof down about their ears. Nionë clasped her hands over her head and wept softly. "I will have no much such disobedience! Or I will strip you as my heir and send you to rot in the northern wastelands!"
"I dare you to try it," she answered, beyond rage now. "I just dare you. I am no man's thing and I never will be. You could never accept that I had a mind of my own like my mother!"
"Enough of your mother!" he shouted. "We are here to talk about you!"
"*No father, we are here so I can tell you something. I am relinquishing my title as your heir. From now own I am no longer part of the house of Elendil; no longer Elendil's second cousin through your bloodlines I am Nionë, child of a dead father and a lost mother, and I have no relation to you or your family. My only kin is those of the elves; and my only love is for them. So now, father dear, which one of us have you dammed to hell?"
Her father's cry of denial could be heard down the hall.
* * * *
Elrond stared at Nionë in stunned silence. Elendil was in shock—it was the first show of volatile emotion Elrond had ever seen the noble warrior give.
"Nionë, Nionë, why did you do this?" he asked through his tears. "You have torn apart your own family! Don't you realize what this means? You will be stripped of everything except the clothes on your back. You will be nothing more than a peasant, and the blood of Númenor will fade in your noble veins."
She knelt and took her uncle's hands. "I understand that, my dear uncle, but understand this; I can live no longer with my father's abashment of our kinsmen the elves. I will live no longer with the outrage for I know that he will surely banish me if he finds that I have married an elf."
"You what?" Elrond and Gil-galad cried in unison.
"Yes." She put her fingers to her lips and gave three quick whistles, a long blast, and then two short whistles again. Her hawk appeared through the window and landed on her thickly padded wrist. She whispered to it and then launched it into the air again.
"Who?" Elendil asked sternly.
"Celebmîr."
"Celebmîr is Sindarin!"
"Of course. When is said I had never slept with a man of the Noldor, nor planned to, I was telling the truth. It was he Elrond saw standing over me."
"Then who has been trying to kill you?"
"I do not know," she answered sadly. "If I did, I would be happy indeed."
There was a knock on the door, and then it opened and in stepped Celebmîr. He stopped when he saw the three lords and his wife gathered in the room. Erestor stood behind him.
"Who knew?" Elendil's voice was low with anger.
"I guessed, my lord," Gil-galad said quietly.
Nionë turned on him, surprised. "You did? What gave it away?"
"Your love for the Eldar for one, my dear. The second was how adamant you were that you would never marry the son of a human."
She smiled shyly and looked down as Celebmîr came to stand protectively at her side. She leaned into his embrace. They were quite a pair. Both tall and fair beyond mortal standards, his dark hair shoulder-length and flowing, hers short and curly.
"I knew." Erestor stepped forward. "I married them." Elendil looked shocked, and even Gil-galad blinked in surprise.
Elrond sighed. "While we're on the topic of suppressed secrets, I suppose I should tell you this, Nionë. You're pregnant."
"You are?" said Elendil.
"She is?" exclaimed Celebmîr.
"I am?" said Nionë.
Erestor smiled demurely. "It has been about two years since I married them. I suspect that is enough time."
"Erestor!" Elrond was shocked at his bluntness.
"Oh, grow up, Elrond. I've seen the way you look at Celebrían."
"She's a friend, nothing more," Elrond protested as Elendil and Gil-galad laughed heartily.
"Two years?" Elendil said when he was sober. "Do I know nothing of what goes on within my own family?"
Nionë had the grace to be embarrassed. "I wasn't sure how you'd take it, uncle." She turned to Elrond. "How many months?"
He smiled. "She'll be born in high summer of next year. Eight months from now."
"How do you know it's a 'she'?" Elendil demanded.
Elrond gave him a look. "I'm a healer, my lord."
Nionë squeaked in surprise as Celebmîr pulled her into an embrace and kissed her quickly. She grinned and leaned against him. Gil-galad smiled at their newfound joy. It was a pleasure to see such a thing in such dark times.
"Yes, brother. Ever was she your joy—and your downfall."
Celebmîr turned in surprise at the voice of his brother, keeping Nionë close to him. The elf blew a dart at his brother's face and then collapsed. Elrond ran to his side and touched the fallen elf's shoulder. "Poison," he whispered, and turned at Nionë's cry.
She cradled her husband's head in her hands, weeping softly. Elrond knelt beside him and pulled the dart free. He gasped with pain and his eyes shut.
"No, Celebmîr, no," she sobbed. "Please, no!"
The elf opened his eyes and stared at her without seeing. "Mother?" he said uncertainly, and fell still.
She let out a cry and fell forward on top of him. Gil-galad knelt down and looked at Elrond, who shook his head silently. There was nothing the healer could do. Gil-galad gently but firmly pushed Nionë away, into the arms of her uncle. He rolled up his sleeves grimly and closed his eyes.
Ever has teaching been our greatest joy.
"Elbereth Gilthoniel," he whispered. "I hear do sacrifice my life in place of this elf's."
You give us hope, littling.
"I give my spirit to save him. Should I die I will never be reborn in Middle-Earth or Valinor. This is the sacrifice I offer thee."
Do you know fully what you offer, Ereinion son of Fingon?
Ever has teaching been our greatest joy.
Yes, I know what I sacrifice.
Your sacrifice is accepted son of Fingon. You shall never be reborn in Middle-Earth or Valinor as long as Arda shall exist. In return the elf's spirit shall be rehoused.
Gil-galad stood up slowly. He didn't feel any different, didn't think he would live any different from what he planned, but it was a strange thing, this feeling. It was as if a heavy burden had been placed upon his shoulders, bending him slightly but not breaking him. But when life was breathed back into Celebmîr's cooling body, when he opened his eyes and Nionë let out a gasp of amazement and pulled her husband into her arms, when he thought of Nionë's unborn child, he knew that his and Elrond's sacrifice had been worth the cost.
Elrond pulled him aside, his face serious. "What did you sacrifice to save him?" he asked in a low voice.
Gil-galad placed his hand on the younger elf's shoulder. "Naught more than what you sacrificed for Nionë, my friend." Without another word he turned and left the room, leaving the elf-lord, the lord of humans, and the newlyweds holding each other close in disbelief together as the sun set in the western sky and the breeze stirred the golden leaves.
You and yours give us hope, my little one.
* * * *
On July 2nd, 3234 of the Second Age, a beautiful daughter, Liltanellë, was born to Celebmîr and Nionë Galad-rondil, who would like it known that they took their last name in honor of Gil-galad and Elendil, deceased 3441, and Elrond Peredhel, currant Master of Imladris in the Northern Kingdom. Annos, Nionë's father, passed away that same day, apparently from a heart attack.
*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*?*
*Celebmîr= Silver Stream
The lyrics from Enya's CD's A Day Without Rain (Wild Child and Only Time) and Paint the Sky with Stars (China Roses and Anywhere Is) are not mine and I do not claim them. They are copyrighted their respective CD's and the lyrics are only borrowed because I like starting off chapters with little quotes and what not. Please do not sue me, I am not claiming these lyrics are mine, etc.
Please note: All of the elvish is Quenya:
Tye ulundo! = you monster!
Fúmë = sleep
Titta quén = little one
Mára raimë, otorno = Good hunting, brother
Undu! = down!
Quildë hinya = quiet/hush my child.
*Arda=Earth
*This story is taken from Morgoth's Ring, from the chapter Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, or the Discussion of Finrod and Andreth. I highly suggest reading this, as it is very interesting.
*Nionë is related to Elendil because her father is a cousin of Elendil. Technically their second cousins but I just have her refer to him as "uncle."
Liltanellë = laughing brook