Many thanks to Arabella Thorne. This chapter wouldn't have been written if
it hadn't been for your encouragement. God Bless.
All of Tolkien's stuff belongs to him. Sareei and Liam are mine.
The Firebrand - Chapter 10 - A Happy Ending
Elrond looked out over the ford. His archers were in place and ready. He looked at the elf mounted next to him. Liam sat on his horse behind the tree, his dark gray eyes peering through the leaves; intently watching for the approach of Sareei's uncle. He was mounted on Sareei's black stallion Ariel with his sword at the ready. Elrond could see a fire burning in his eyes, one kindled by anger and determination. This elf apparently loved Sareei very deeply, enough to give up his place in Valinor to be with her. Elrond's thoughts went to Arwen. Did she really love Estel this much? Liam's face was still, his love for Sareei shining on his handsome face. He had often seen the same look on Arwen's face as she watched Estel ride away. His father's heart was glad she had found someone who truly loved her; but it rebelled at the thought of never seeing his beloved daughter again. Elrond frowned and turned back to the ford. He needed to stay focused on the task at hand. A movement to his right caught his attention. He looked over at Liam as he received his thoughts.
"My lord Elrond, they are not far from here now. If I may be so bold as to ask, what are your plans for Sareei's uncle? Will you deal with him personally or may someone else have that privilege?" His intent was plain. The uncle had hurt his soon to be wife. He wanted to deal with Ugru Dalad himself.
Elrond looked appraisingly at Liam. From his stance and the way he held his weapon, he was obviously a trained warrior. He would be a match for any mortal in Middle Earth, much less this human who held his beloved Sareei in such disregard.
He smiled at Liam. "My lord, I understand your anxiety. When I will give the order to attack, the archers will fire a volley into the enemy troop and then we will charge." At Liam's questioning look, he chuckled "and then lord Liam, you may attend to the human."
Liam's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Many thanks my lord. I have a few things to settle with this.....person." His voice was deadly calm and his face reminded Elrond of a hungry wolf about to pounce on its prey. No, he did not envy Ugru Dalad when Liam found him.
The sound of footsteps reached their ears. A moment later the troop came into view. A group of thirty grey warriors were approaching the ford. Their reptilian appearance was repugnant to Elrond. Their red eyes darted here and there. Apparently they felt something was amiss. Elrond chuckled. Ugru Dalad rode in front of them, his horse lathered with sweat, it's sides bleeding from the rider's spurs. Elrond took note of this. Ugru Dalad's horse would soon find a warm stall in his stable.
Liam watched as the group entered the ford, grimacing as the evil creatures placed their tainted feet in the clean water of the ford. Then his eyes lit on the Ugru Dalad and all else disappeared for him. He was aware of his surroundings but his opponent held his main focus. He looked over at Elrond. The elf lord was cool and collected as he watched the uncle and his troops enter the trap. As the group reached the center of the ford, a twenty foot wall of water erupted from upstream and washed half of the gray warriors down stream, a group of drowned corpses.
The other half sprang to the bank and escaped the flood. Elrond gave the signal and his archers finished off a large amount of the surviving group. As they died Elrond gave the order to charge and the elves fell upon the remaining gray warriors with a vengeance.
Liam broke through the trees like a fury, riding straight for the focus of his wrath. Ugru looked up and saw Liam coming, his face a mask of rage, his whole body glowing with elvish light. He broke on Ugru like a hurricane as Ariel slammed into his horse knocking it off its feet. Liam swung his fist at Ugru Dalad, knocking him from the saddle and onto the ground.
Both warriors jumped to their feet, swords at the ready, the battle raging around them. Ugru swung at Liam's head with an insane ferocity. Liam slipped out of the way, sweeping out with one leg, and dropping the uncle to the ground.
Ugru jumped to his feet, slashing out at Liam's chest as he jumped back into a more defensible position. Liam stalked him calmly, the sunlight glancing off his silver sword. Ugru moved backwards as he looked for some weakness in Liam's defense. He found none. Liam was like a tidal wave bearing down on his opponent. His sword blows were beginning to make Ugru's wrist go numb. He decided to go on the offensive and finish off this elvish fool who thought his niece was of any worth. She was a woman, a tool and nothing more. An evil thought came to his mind. Sneering at his opponent he started to harangue him about Sareei.
"She isn't really worth all this trouble is she?", he asked as he deflected a blow from Liam's sword. "That is; she is not worth it to you. I myself would find her much more useful..... " His eyes glittered in triumph as Liam's face flushed with rage.
But instead of loosing his cool and attacking foolishly, Liam became even more forceful and purposeful in his attack. Ugru felt an overwhelming shock of power as Liam swung at him, knocking his sword from his hand. Liam stood towering over Ugru Dalad, the other cowering on the ground before him. Liam's body exuded a blinding white light, the power pulsing from him in surges like the waves from a great flood. Ugru made as if to grovel at Liam's feet and then he swiftly came up with two razor sharp daggers. He slashed at Liam's midsection, trying to gut him. Liam stepped lightly aside. Liam looked him in the eye and swung once with his sword, removing his head. Looking around him he realized the battle was over. His opponent had been the last to fall.
Liam stepped back breathing heavily in his wrath. His face shone with light and his eyes were blazing with his surging anger. A feeling of immense power emanated from him, like a surging river about to overflow it's banks. Some of the elven archers took a few steps back. Liam looked at them and shuttered his power. The light faded and his face became more serene as he calmed his storm of emotions. His Sareei was safe now. He smiled at the thought and actually laughed in his joy. He turned his smile on several of Elrond's archers and they smiled back. He stepped to them and clasped their hands in gratitude.
"Well done my friends. I am indeed grateful for your help.", Liam told them as he shook their hands in gratitude. He turned his gaze on Elrond. He bowed humbly before the elf lord, his hand over his heart. "My lord Elrond, thank you so much for your help. I am deeply in your debt. I could not have taken on so many alone. You will always have my gratitude for you kindness and bravery."
Elrond took his hand. "Brothers do not speak of debts. You owe me nothing, Liam. This monster was a threat to Rivendell as well as to Sareei. They are both safe now."
He turned and looked around him at the scattered bodies of the enemy. "Come, my archers can attend to the disposal of the bodies. And I suspect that you are more than a little impatient to get back to Sareei."
Liam smiled. "Yes my lord, I am most anxious to get back to her. Tell me about her leg. How did she do this again?" The two elf lords mounted their horses and rode off towards Rivendell. They were laughing and chatting with each other, Elrond filling in the details of Sareei's injury and Liam shaking his head and telling Elrond some stories of Sareei when he had first met her.
"Did you know that when I first saw her, she was standing on a tree branch with a handful of rocks, intent on knocking me off my horse?"
"Indeed?", Elrond chuckled. "And when was this?"
"Well, she was five years old. I was on my way to her father's academy for a visit and..."
Their voices faded as they rode over the hill towards Rivendell.
Sareei sighed in her sleep. She felt him calling her, his voice soft and loving. She stretched and opened her sleepy eyes. There in front of her was Liam. His intense gray eyes warmed at her smile as his hand gently stroked her face.
"Wake up my little sleepyhead.", he said softly. "I have something to tell you."
Sareei stretched and yawned, then realized her left leg was numb. She glanced down at it and then at Liam.
He smiled at her. "I wanted you asleep, not in pain.", he said lovingly smoothing the hair from her brow.
"About that.", said Sareei. "I'm getting tired of waking up in different places and I never did like you putting me to sleep like that. Not to mention the fact that it's a pretty poor way to say hello.", she scolded.
"I know beloved, but I had a very good reason for doing so.", Liam told her, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
"What?", demanded Sareei frowning as she tried to sit up. What was she doing in Elrond's study? On his couch? She had just opened her mouth to demand an explanation when Liam interrupted her. He could hold back no longer. He swept Sareei up in his arms and kissed her passionately. All he could think of was how close he had come to losing her. This sent fire running through his veins and it was several moments before he could release her from his embrace. When he lifted his head, Sareei was limp in his embrace. He softly kissed her eyes, her forehead, her face, until she sighed and lay her head on his shoulder. He held her close as if afraid she might disappear. She could hear his heart pounding in his chest.
"I am sorry my love, I could not contain myself. What was it you wanted to say?", he whispered into her hair.
Sareei frowned trying to remember. What WAS she going to say? Exasperated that she forgot, she lay against his shoulder and muttered "Never mind."
Smiling Liam took a deep breath and explained. "Your uncle and his gray warriors were approaching the ford. He intended to take you from Rivendell." His darkened gray eyes met those of Elrond.
"We did not let him.", said Elrond quietly from behind his desk.
Sareei looked up at Liam. "But where is he?"
Liam gently stroked her hair. "He is dead Sareei, along with the monstrous creatures he created. You are safe, my star." He kissed her forehead softly. "All your battles are finished."
"But I wanted to..", Sareei said with a frown.
"Perhaps you would like some tea.", Elrond smoothly interrupted. He poured some fragrant tea into a delicate cup and offered it to Liam.
Liam laid her gently back down on the couch and reached for her cup. "Here my love. Drink your tea." He handed her the steaming cup. "Lord Elrond and I have been discussing your injury. We feel that you should be back on your feet again in a few weeks. Provided you listen to Lord Elrond." Liam settled down in a chair in front of Elrond's desk and took the cup offered him by Elrond. "Thank you my lord.
Sareei looked down at her cup. "What about the orcs?"
"What orcs?", asked Liam, sipping his tea.
"The orcs sent a hunter out to finish me off. I really need to thank them for that.", Sareei said darkly, fire in her eye.
"Sareei, you can't possibly know which orcs sent the hunter out and you have no way of finding out.", said Elrond, looking her in the eye.
"We will see.", answered Sareei.
Liam interrupted. "Sareei.", he said taking her hand and kissing it. "Can this not wait until later? I haven't seen you in two years."
Sareei put down her tea. "Liam they started this and they aren't likely to stop sending out hunters unless I stop them myself." She tried to get up but only succeeded in getting her good foot down on the floor. She stepped down on the corner of a silk coverlet that Elrond had placed over her.
As her foot hit the silk Elrond was already coming around the corner of his desk. "Sareei, you know very well that I don't want you to put weight on your injured leg yet."
Sareei started to protest. "Lord Elrond, it will get better more quickly if I walk on it and work out some of the soreness."
Elrond didn't argue with her. He simply scooped her up into his arms and headed for her room, her angry voice protesting as he carried her down the hall. "Really Lord Elrond, I'm fine. All I need is a little exercise."
Liam stood listening to the sound of her voice until it had faded down the hall. Then he knelt down in front of the couch where Sareei had been laying. He lifted the corner of the silk coverlet and tenderly kissed the place where her foot had touched it.
"If I could call the moon and stars down from the sky, I would wrap them in the blue velvet mantle of the night and give them to you, my sweet beloved.", he whispered, his heart pounding with emotion.
He rose and followed the sound of Sareei's voice until he found her room. She was still trying to reason with Elrond. He was having none of it.
"Sareei, if I must I will put you to sleep until your leg is totally healed. Must I go to such lengths for your recovery.", he frowned, waiting for her reply.
"Only if you can catch me.", Sareei muttered irritably.
Liam saw Elrond's eyebrow go up and a stern look come into his eyes. He put a placating hand on Elrond's shoulder. "Please excuse me my lord Elrond. May I speak to Sareei for a moment before she goes to sleep?"
Elrond nodded. He gave Sareei a stern look before leaving the room. Probably to make one of those awful cordials thought Sareei sulking.
Liam smiled down at Sareei's defiant face. He loved everything about her, even her defiant nature. She had such spirit, such fire. Much like the elves at the beginning, he thought. Perhaps that is why he loved her so. She renewed in him a passion for life and made him feel an excitement about what each new day would bring. As the tall elf stood smiling at her, she realized he hadn't spoken yet. She looked up at him expectantly. He sat down on the side of the bed and caressed her face with his fingertips.
"My love, you have been through so much these past two years." He took her two hands and held them cupped between his own. "It is over now. You do not have to run from your past anymore. Come my love, name the day we will be married and set my heart at ease. Let me know that I will not lose you again."
Sareei looked into his intense gray eyes. They seemed to capture her own, drawing her down into them. "We can be married whenever you please, my love.", she whispered, realizing how much she did love him. The words seemed to lift a great weight off of her shoulders. She didn't have to run anymore, wondering when she would have to confront her uncle again.
She smiled at him, then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Liam wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her gently, feathering his lips across her own. Then he held her to him and kissed her passionately as if he might never get another chance. He held her in his arms and sang softly in her ear until she dropped off to sleep. Then he set her gently down on her pillow and tucked the covers around her to keep out the cold.
"Sleep a sweet blessed sleep, my heart.", he whispered kissing her forehead softly. Then rising, he left the room. He had just stepped out of the doorway when he met Elrond coming back with a cordial in his hand.
"Lord Elrond, I hope you will forgive me.", Liam said. " I sent Sareei to sleep. You are right. She needs to rest."
Elrond looked at the now useless cordial in his hand. "Many thanks lord Liam. She is a most difficult patient sometimes." He stopped at the look on Liam's face. The elf lord was beaming.
"You seem very happy, Liam. Do you have good news?" Elrond could guess what the good news was but he wanted to give the elf lord a chance to share his joy with someone.
Liam almost shouted the news in his joy. "She has told me we may be married whenever I please, lord Elrond." His face shone.
Elrond smiled at the excited elf lord. "My congratulations Liam. And when do you plan to take your vows?"
Liam thought. "We will have to find someone to marry us. And then a proper place for a honeymoon." He stood smiling, his excited thoughts running through his mind.
Elrond smiled at Liam. "Lord Liam, nothing would give me more pleasure than to have your wedding here in Rivendell."
Liam clasped Elrond's hand in gratitude. "Many thanks my lord. And it would honor me greatly if you would be the one to marry us."
Elrond smiled broadly. "I would be most honored, Liam." He laughed. "This will be a wedding that will be long remembered in Rivendell."
All of Tolkien's stuff belongs to him. Sareei and Liam are mine.
The Firebrand - Chapter 10 - A Happy Ending
Elrond looked out over the ford. His archers were in place and ready. He looked at the elf mounted next to him. Liam sat on his horse behind the tree, his dark gray eyes peering through the leaves; intently watching for the approach of Sareei's uncle. He was mounted on Sareei's black stallion Ariel with his sword at the ready. Elrond could see a fire burning in his eyes, one kindled by anger and determination. This elf apparently loved Sareei very deeply, enough to give up his place in Valinor to be with her. Elrond's thoughts went to Arwen. Did she really love Estel this much? Liam's face was still, his love for Sareei shining on his handsome face. He had often seen the same look on Arwen's face as she watched Estel ride away. His father's heart was glad she had found someone who truly loved her; but it rebelled at the thought of never seeing his beloved daughter again. Elrond frowned and turned back to the ford. He needed to stay focused on the task at hand. A movement to his right caught his attention. He looked over at Liam as he received his thoughts.
"My lord Elrond, they are not far from here now. If I may be so bold as to ask, what are your plans for Sareei's uncle? Will you deal with him personally or may someone else have that privilege?" His intent was plain. The uncle had hurt his soon to be wife. He wanted to deal with Ugru Dalad himself.
Elrond looked appraisingly at Liam. From his stance and the way he held his weapon, he was obviously a trained warrior. He would be a match for any mortal in Middle Earth, much less this human who held his beloved Sareei in such disregard.
He smiled at Liam. "My lord, I understand your anxiety. When I will give the order to attack, the archers will fire a volley into the enemy troop and then we will charge." At Liam's questioning look, he chuckled "and then lord Liam, you may attend to the human."
Liam's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Many thanks my lord. I have a few things to settle with this.....person." His voice was deadly calm and his face reminded Elrond of a hungry wolf about to pounce on its prey. No, he did not envy Ugru Dalad when Liam found him.
The sound of footsteps reached their ears. A moment later the troop came into view. A group of thirty grey warriors were approaching the ford. Their reptilian appearance was repugnant to Elrond. Their red eyes darted here and there. Apparently they felt something was amiss. Elrond chuckled. Ugru Dalad rode in front of them, his horse lathered with sweat, it's sides bleeding from the rider's spurs. Elrond took note of this. Ugru Dalad's horse would soon find a warm stall in his stable.
Liam watched as the group entered the ford, grimacing as the evil creatures placed their tainted feet in the clean water of the ford. Then his eyes lit on the Ugru Dalad and all else disappeared for him. He was aware of his surroundings but his opponent held his main focus. He looked over at Elrond. The elf lord was cool and collected as he watched the uncle and his troops enter the trap. As the group reached the center of the ford, a twenty foot wall of water erupted from upstream and washed half of the gray warriors down stream, a group of drowned corpses.
The other half sprang to the bank and escaped the flood. Elrond gave the signal and his archers finished off a large amount of the surviving group. As they died Elrond gave the order to charge and the elves fell upon the remaining gray warriors with a vengeance.
Liam broke through the trees like a fury, riding straight for the focus of his wrath. Ugru looked up and saw Liam coming, his face a mask of rage, his whole body glowing with elvish light. He broke on Ugru like a hurricane as Ariel slammed into his horse knocking it off its feet. Liam swung his fist at Ugru Dalad, knocking him from the saddle and onto the ground.
Both warriors jumped to their feet, swords at the ready, the battle raging around them. Ugru swung at Liam's head with an insane ferocity. Liam slipped out of the way, sweeping out with one leg, and dropping the uncle to the ground.
Ugru jumped to his feet, slashing out at Liam's chest as he jumped back into a more defensible position. Liam stalked him calmly, the sunlight glancing off his silver sword. Ugru moved backwards as he looked for some weakness in Liam's defense. He found none. Liam was like a tidal wave bearing down on his opponent. His sword blows were beginning to make Ugru's wrist go numb. He decided to go on the offensive and finish off this elvish fool who thought his niece was of any worth. She was a woman, a tool and nothing more. An evil thought came to his mind. Sneering at his opponent he started to harangue him about Sareei.
"She isn't really worth all this trouble is she?", he asked as he deflected a blow from Liam's sword. "That is; she is not worth it to you. I myself would find her much more useful..... " His eyes glittered in triumph as Liam's face flushed with rage.
But instead of loosing his cool and attacking foolishly, Liam became even more forceful and purposeful in his attack. Ugru felt an overwhelming shock of power as Liam swung at him, knocking his sword from his hand. Liam stood towering over Ugru Dalad, the other cowering on the ground before him. Liam's body exuded a blinding white light, the power pulsing from him in surges like the waves from a great flood. Ugru made as if to grovel at Liam's feet and then he swiftly came up with two razor sharp daggers. He slashed at Liam's midsection, trying to gut him. Liam stepped lightly aside. Liam looked him in the eye and swung once with his sword, removing his head. Looking around him he realized the battle was over. His opponent had been the last to fall.
Liam stepped back breathing heavily in his wrath. His face shone with light and his eyes were blazing with his surging anger. A feeling of immense power emanated from him, like a surging river about to overflow it's banks. Some of the elven archers took a few steps back. Liam looked at them and shuttered his power. The light faded and his face became more serene as he calmed his storm of emotions. His Sareei was safe now. He smiled at the thought and actually laughed in his joy. He turned his smile on several of Elrond's archers and they smiled back. He stepped to them and clasped their hands in gratitude.
"Well done my friends. I am indeed grateful for your help.", Liam told them as he shook their hands in gratitude. He turned his gaze on Elrond. He bowed humbly before the elf lord, his hand over his heart. "My lord Elrond, thank you so much for your help. I am deeply in your debt. I could not have taken on so many alone. You will always have my gratitude for you kindness and bravery."
Elrond took his hand. "Brothers do not speak of debts. You owe me nothing, Liam. This monster was a threat to Rivendell as well as to Sareei. They are both safe now."
He turned and looked around him at the scattered bodies of the enemy. "Come, my archers can attend to the disposal of the bodies. And I suspect that you are more than a little impatient to get back to Sareei."
Liam smiled. "Yes my lord, I am most anxious to get back to her. Tell me about her leg. How did she do this again?" The two elf lords mounted their horses and rode off towards Rivendell. They were laughing and chatting with each other, Elrond filling in the details of Sareei's injury and Liam shaking his head and telling Elrond some stories of Sareei when he had first met her.
"Did you know that when I first saw her, she was standing on a tree branch with a handful of rocks, intent on knocking me off my horse?"
"Indeed?", Elrond chuckled. "And when was this?"
"Well, she was five years old. I was on my way to her father's academy for a visit and..."
Their voices faded as they rode over the hill towards Rivendell.
Sareei sighed in her sleep. She felt him calling her, his voice soft and loving. She stretched and opened her sleepy eyes. There in front of her was Liam. His intense gray eyes warmed at her smile as his hand gently stroked her face.
"Wake up my little sleepyhead.", he said softly. "I have something to tell you."
Sareei stretched and yawned, then realized her left leg was numb. She glanced down at it and then at Liam.
He smiled at her. "I wanted you asleep, not in pain.", he said lovingly smoothing the hair from her brow.
"About that.", said Sareei. "I'm getting tired of waking up in different places and I never did like you putting me to sleep like that. Not to mention the fact that it's a pretty poor way to say hello.", she scolded.
"I know beloved, but I had a very good reason for doing so.", Liam told her, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
"What?", demanded Sareei frowning as she tried to sit up. What was she doing in Elrond's study? On his couch? She had just opened her mouth to demand an explanation when Liam interrupted her. He could hold back no longer. He swept Sareei up in his arms and kissed her passionately. All he could think of was how close he had come to losing her. This sent fire running through his veins and it was several moments before he could release her from his embrace. When he lifted his head, Sareei was limp in his embrace. He softly kissed her eyes, her forehead, her face, until she sighed and lay her head on his shoulder. He held her close as if afraid she might disappear. She could hear his heart pounding in his chest.
"I am sorry my love, I could not contain myself. What was it you wanted to say?", he whispered into her hair.
Sareei frowned trying to remember. What WAS she going to say? Exasperated that she forgot, she lay against his shoulder and muttered "Never mind."
Smiling Liam took a deep breath and explained. "Your uncle and his gray warriors were approaching the ford. He intended to take you from Rivendell." His darkened gray eyes met those of Elrond.
"We did not let him.", said Elrond quietly from behind his desk.
Sareei looked up at Liam. "But where is he?"
Liam gently stroked her hair. "He is dead Sareei, along with the monstrous creatures he created. You are safe, my star." He kissed her forehead softly. "All your battles are finished."
"But I wanted to..", Sareei said with a frown.
"Perhaps you would like some tea.", Elrond smoothly interrupted. He poured some fragrant tea into a delicate cup and offered it to Liam.
Liam laid her gently back down on the couch and reached for her cup. "Here my love. Drink your tea." He handed her the steaming cup. "Lord Elrond and I have been discussing your injury. We feel that you should be back on your feet again in a few weeks. Provided you listen to Lord Elrond." Liam settled down in a chair in front of Elrond's desk and took the cup offered him by Elrond. "Thank you my lord.
Sareei looked down at her cup. "What about the orcs?"
"What orcs?", asked Liam, sipping his tea.
"The orcs sent a hunter out to finish me off. I really need to thank them for that.", Sareei said darkly, fire in her eye.
"Sareei, you can't possibly know which orcs sent the hunter out and you have no way of finding out.", said Elrond, looking her in the eye.
"We will see.", answered Sareei.
Liam interrupted. "Sareei.", he said taking her hand and kissing it. "Can this not wait until later? I haven't seen you in two years."
Sareei put down her tea. "Liam they started this and they aren't likely to stop sending out hunters unless I stop them myself." She tried to get up but only succeeded in getting her good foot down on the floor. She stepped down on the corner of a silk coverlet that Elrond had placed over her.
As her foot hit the silk Elrond was already coming around the corner of his desk. "Sareei, you know very well that I don't want you to put weight on your injured leg yet."
Sareei started to protest. "Lord Elrond, it will get better more quickly if I walk on it and work out some of the soreness."
Elrond didn't argue with her. He simply scooped her up into his arms and headed for her room, her angry voice protesting as he carried her down the hall. "Really Lord Elrond, I'm fine. All I need is a little exercise."
Liam stood listening to the sound of her voice until it had faded down the hall. Then he knelt down in front of the couch where Sareei had been laying. He lifted the corner of the silk coverlet and tenderly kissed the place where her foot had touched it.
"If I could call the moon and stars down from the sky, I would wrap them in the blue velvet mantle of the night and give them to you, my sweet beloved.", he whispered, his heart pounding with emotion.
He rose and followed the sound of Sareei's voice until he found her room. She was still trying to reason with Elrond. He was having none of it.
"Sareei, if I must I will put you to sleep until your leg is totally healed. Must I go to such lengths for your recovery.", he frowned, waiting for her reply.
"Only if you can catch me.", Sareei muttered irritably.
Liam saw Elrond's eyebrow go up and a stern look come into his eyes. He put a placating hand on Elrond's shoulder. "Please excuse me my lord Elrond. May I speak to Sareei for a moment before she goes to sleep?"
Elrond nodded. He gave Sareei a stern look before leaving the room. Probably to make one of those awful cordials thought Sareei sulking.
Liam smiled down at Sareei's defiant face. He loved everything about her, even her defiant nature. She had such spirit, such fire. Much like the elves at the beginning, he thought. Perhaps that is why he loved her so. She renewed in him a passion for life and made him feel an excitement about what each new day would bring. As the tall elf stood smiling at her, she realized he hadn't spoken yet. She looked up at him expectantly. He sat down on the side of the bed and caressed her face with his fingertips.
"My love, you have been through so much these past two years." He took her two hands and held them cupped between his own. "It is over now. You do not have to run from your past anymore. Come my love, name the day we will be married and set my heart at ease. Let me know that I will not lose you again."
Sareei looked into his intense gray eyes. They seemed to capture her own, drawing her down into them. "We can be married whenever you please, my love.", she whispered, realizing how much she did love him. The words seemed to lift a great weight off of her shoulders. She didn't have to run anymore, wondering when she would have to confront her uncle again.
She smiled at him, then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Liam wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her gently, feathering his lips across her own. Then he held her to him and kissed her passionately as if he might never get another chance. He held her in his arms and sang softly in her ear until she dropped off to sleep. Then he set her gently down on her pillow and tucked the covers around her to keep out the cold.
"Sleep a sweet blessed sleep, my heart.", he whispered kissing her forehead softly. Then rising, he left the room. He had just stepped out of the doorway when he met Elrond coming back with a cordial in his hand.
"Lord Elrond, I hope you will forgive me.", Liam said. " I sent Sareei to sleep. You are right. She needs to rest."
Elrond looked at the now useless cordial in his hand. "Many thanks lord Liam. She is a most difficult patient sometimes." He stopped at the look on Liam's face. The elf lord was beaming.
"You seem very happy, Liam. Do you have good news?" Elrond could guess what the good news was but he wanted to give the elf lord a chance to share his joy with someone.
Liam almost shouted the news in his joy. "She has told me we may be married whenever I please, lord Elrond." His face shone.
Elrond smiled at the excited elf lord. "My congratulations Liam. And when do you plan to take your vows?"
Liam thought. "We will have to find someone to marry us. And then a proper place for a honeymoon." He stood smiling, his excited thoughts running through his mind.
Elrond smiled at Liam. "Lord Liam, nothing would give me more pleasure than to have your wedding here in Rivendell."
Liam clasped Elrond's hand in gratitude. "Many thanks my lord. And it would honor me greatly if you would be the one to marry us."
Elrond smiled broadly. "I would be most honored, Liam." He laughed. "This will be a wedding that will be long remembered in Rivendell."