Chapter 2

Soon night fell upon the safe haven of Rivendell, and the glittering stars turned out to shine brightly upon the walls of the Hall of Fire. Faen had dressed in her one dress that she had brought along; it was a deep purple with flowing arms sewn with gold thread. It was one of Faen's most favorite of dresses; however, that was only the reason she had the particular along. The roar of the crystal waterfall seemed to grow only louder as Faen left her room. She stopped by Amanithil's bungalow along the way to check on her.

"You really don't have to do this actually," Amanithil said as Faen helped Amanithil with her hair. She placed the Randir-edhel jewel in Amanithil's smooth brown locks.

"You know just because I am pregnant doesn't mean I need all your help!" Amanithil said smiling as her husband Carcyll walked in.

"Oh shush," Faen said as she fixed the jewel into its final place in Amanithil's hair. Soon after, Faen, Amanithil, and Carcyll left for dinner.

The smell of cooked meat and the bellowing fire seduced the elves' senses as they entered the Hall of Fire. Tarin was before the fire singing a song of elven lore while other elves joined at the table. Elrond lifted his hand to silence the chatter before the elves ate.

"May the Valar bless the food and the elves as our time will soon pass. May the Valar bless my youngest daughter and the child she bears. Let us eat," Elrond said before sitting down to enjoy his meal.

Many a song and merriment came to the hall that night, and it was late before anyone left to their beds. After being filled with ale and roast duck, Amanithil and Carcyll walked to the bridge where Arwen and Aragorn frequently went. Faen silently watched as she leaned against the side of a doorway.

"Amanithil nin silale, calad am nin. I fuin hubs thuia e gwin cuil," Carcyll whispered to his wife. She smiled and kissed him passionately as though they were in Caras Galadon once more. Faen's eyes began to water up for her tough heart yearned, to some extent, for love. She quickly dried her eyes but it was too late.

"Why do you cry Faen?" Tarin asked as he appeared behind her. Before he could get a reply, Faen, embarrassed, ran quickly away to her room. No man before had ever seen her cry except for her father.

Faen jumped onto her soft bed, tears of embarrassment and jealousy pouring down her face. Tarin had seen her cry; it wasn't supposed to be! She felt more ashamed than ever, even more than the time she had been ostracized from a hunt. Tarin had followed her back to her room, secretly watching her every move. He had felt bad, but yet he did not know if it was he who upset her.

"Faen, did I say something wrong?" Tarin asked as he entered the doorway of Faen's room. A maiden of stone seemed to watch over Faen as she slowly wept. Faen looked up to see Tarin, who had a piteous look upon his face.

"N-Nothing! Go away and don't pity me for what state I am in!" Faen turned back to her pillows to weep more. Tarin tried to speak, but left due to the situation he faced: to try to calm her or to leave at her request. Obviously, he chose the latter. Faen smiled after he left; she was beginning to like Tarin even more.

Faen rested well that crystal night with the stars looming ahead. She woke at the wee hours of dawn to see a red sky glimmer with the resting stars and watched the great orange sun rise once more. Faen yawned and drew her cloak about her as a slight chill breeze from the north swept through the valley. A finger tapped her on the shoulder; she turned quickly around to see Tarin before her. His hair was in a frazzle and, surprisingly, he wore no tunic. Faen had to use all her self-control within her so she would not stare in awe.

"I guess all hunters wake up early, don't we?" Tarin said as he pulled a tunic on before Faen. She suddenly remembered the night before.

"Look before you say anything else, I want to say I am sorry. No one has really seen me cry in well, well let's just say in years. I am sorry if I was a little mean," said Faen, looking away sadly from her fellow hunter.

"I understand, a hunter isn't supposed to cry. It just matters that you live life knowing that you can live it and still be a little emotional."

"I guess so," Faen said, "I guess so."