Author's Note: Exuberantly, I say unto all: I have finally finished with the dreaded task of revisions! I have added only "minor" story changes. The most dramatic would be Chimera's given elf name which is Calenmîr, as stated in chap. 7. However, I feel that the story now flows smoothly (and I have added Elvish dialogue which I will continue throughout upcoming chapters). If any read the previous chapters (I revised ALL 16 of them)- and review on them, I would be most thankful. Thanks to all who have helped along the way, and have supported this story.

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Meliana places herself next to Julian on the foliage. She strokes his small feathered head while thinking, That spell must have rendered him entirely weak. I wonder if a spell of my own would be helpful. Meliana opens the small pouch of lavender magic dust. She sprinkles the pouches contents into her ivory palm. She draws her hand close to her lips, and blows the powder over the unconscience hawk. Shimmers of lavender sparkle within the darkness of night's daybreak.

Softly she whispers, "If you can hear me, know that I am trying to help you as much as I am empowered to." Meliana begins to chant words of magic in Pixie. Reassuringly, she softly speaks, "This shall transfer half of my energy into you, Julian." She closes her eyes as the loose, ebony strands of her hair whip around her clear complexion melodiously. Gently, Meliana places her hand upon his frail chest. The energy slowly surges from her fingertips into Julian. Weakened, she removes her hand, and falls limply upon the cool earth suckled in morning dew. She manages to barely utter the words, "How fare you now, Julian?"

Julian's eyelids flicker open, trying to take in his surroundings. His vision is blurred and hazy as he tries to focus, but it renders useless due to his weak state. His energy, overwhelmingly consumed, that nothing, not even Meliana's spell could heal him so quickly. Julian's eyes focus briefly on Meliana, and then shut feebly. Absently, he whispers the name Salogel had given to Meliana at their first meeting, over two hundred years prior, "Silalye, Vanimelda*." He succumbs to a deep, relaxed sleep.

Meliana instantly stiffens. Her heartbeat quickens as the whispered voice of Julian speaks forth the name Salogel had lain upon her. She perches upon her arm, her head cradled within her hand. She studies the fragile hawk while thinking to herself, Only by Sulgul's lips has the name Vanimelda escaped to don me with the title. She summons as much strength as she is able to muster. Meliana grips the floor of the grass to hoist herself up and look down upon Julian. Her delicate fingertips graze over Julian's face, and onto his eyelids. She gently parts them. They open slightly to reveal his golden eyes.

Instantly, Meliana's palm kisses her mouth as a gasp of surprise escapes the recess. Her breath's whispered words caress the palm as they escape her lips, "Glor!* She scrambles up as she stares down at the figure beneath her. She thinks to herself, His eyes are of gold like Sulguls- like Laurean's. Her eyes remove them self slowly from Julian's form and out toward the direction of the castle. She leans against the rugged oak next to her. "It would serve no purpose to transport while he is in this weaken state." Her light purple orbs settle upon Julian, "Rest, dear creature, so that your strength may return."

Meliana scoops up the white rocks with golden tips from off the ground. Her eyes shut tightly as she chants continuously. The sound of her euphonious voice softly fills the darkness. A gentle breeze stirs at her feet, taking hold of her. Her dress and hair writhe within its command. Meliana cringes as her body contracts in a giant spasm. Suddenly she is turned into a raven. Stormy black silk feathers surround her. She extends her wings as she soars into the air and lands upon the same tree's branch.

Meliana takes a deep breath as she reminisces of the past. Abruptly she remembers the treasured keepsake that she abandoned in Alqualondë. The purple hues in her eyes light up as she hastily extends her stygian dark wings and takes flight beneath the silvery glow of the stars and moon. Her wings take her to the Kingdom. She perches momentarily upon a small tree, using it as a resting spot. Her tired, tiny bird-lungs heave within her chest as she inhales the fresh air. Wariness begins to flood her tiny head as she swoons briefly. Once she regains her senses, her wings spread as she embarks towards the castle.

At the castle's base stands a magnificent abundance of flowers, plants, and shrubs. The pungent aroma of the different plants mixed with the sweet blissful smell of the multitude of different flower species drifts wantonly into Meliana's nostrils. In the distance, between the Uilos*, Eirien*, Meril*, Ninglor*, and other beautiful flowers housed within the garden a dirt patch protrudes. Meliana looks about her surroundings, and soars down into the encompassment of the shrubbery. Quickly she transforms back into her true form, and digs through the dirt. The soil burrows itself into her fingertips as she impels her hands beneath the earthy surface. Her sleek fingertips graze upon s small, hard, oval surface. Her hand scoops up the tiny item and retracts it from the dirt.

She opens her dirt-smudged hand to reveal a lavender stone. It is very small in size, no bigger than a pebble. Meliana caresses its smooth, glossy surface as memories of Sulgul and their last encounter together flood her being. She sets the rock upon the dirt's surface and refills the hole with loose dirt. She pats it down securely, and quickly returns into the form of the raven. Her beak reaches down, and plucks the stone from the ground. She takes flight, soaring high above the shadowed Alqualondë.

Meliana lifts her eyes onto the dark heavens as though she was beckoned. The stars shine with an abandonment of wild fury. In the utmost she makes out the star Borgil*. Its red light glows superior in comparison to its fellow stars. It strengthens her with immeasurable speed, as though lightning surged through her. Her eyes meet the tree in which the fallen Julian is housed at its base. She lands upon the ground next to Julian, staring intently at the feathered creature below her. Her eyes bore into his chest. Seeing Julian's faint respiratory movements sets her worried frame at ease. She tilts her black head as she deposits the purple stone next to her.

Meliana stares moonily at the purple stone. She sighs as she recalls the sadness of the days event, in which Sulgul and Legolas departed from Alqualondë. Their golden manes danced within the breeze of the warm Norui* day. Legolas, most of his memory of Chimera torn from an ill-fated curse, stood in the distance as Sulgul and Meliana shared a tender embrace. Their kiss was as long as it was passionate. His words were forged in love and devotion as he promised he would return to her. The sound of the promise he made still rides upon the warm breezes, "Entúluva, Vanimelda*." He gave her a token of his love and affection, so that she would never forget him. Yet, she knew she never would no matter what gift he bestowed upon her, for her heart was already branded with desire Sulgul inscribed upon it. Tears dissipated from their eyes at the departure. To her wonderment, it was only weeks after their last meeting she understood she was with child. Meliana sighs as the emotions wash over her. Tears brim the edges of her eyes, igniting the lavender into a deep plum coloring. Her thoughts of the past escape her as she wonders how Chimera and Laurëan are faring.

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The door swings open, radiating a light from the lit candles as well as the hearth. Chimera and Laurëan adjust their eyes to the sudden brightness. Chimera shelters her arm over Laurëan, drawing him close to her to bosom. His honey-gold eyes search out hers. "Come, Erneth*, are you hungry? There is some fish and bread inside." She smiles reassuringly at him, but thinks to herself, Unless Gimli ate it all! Suddenly a sharp blade of an ax appears in front of them. Light dances and flashes upon it, adding fury upon its menacing tip. Startled, Chimera's fingertips grip tightly onto Laurëan's shoulder. Laurëan's eyes widen at the threatening blade positioned by their necks. Chimera meekly directs, "Gimli, it is I, Chimera, unhand your ax!"

The ax slowly departs from their sight, as a curious head appears from below. Sweat beads the bushy red brows of Gimli. His languid hand reaches up to his rotund face and wipes the sweat from it. A heavy sigh escapes his weathered lips. "Whewww, that was a close one, eh? I almost made kabob's out of you two...." His eyes dart behind Chimera and Laurëan. "Where is Julian? Nothing happened to him did it?" Anguish settles upon his hard features as he thinks to himself, I would die if something happened to him! Not only that but Legolas would have my head! He looks questioningly from Chimera to Laurëan. "Who is this elf? Did Salo..er..Julian shrink?" He scratches his head with the dull surface of the ax's blade, hoping to escape scrutiny from his last questioned outburst.

Chimera arches an eyebrow at the unfounded final statement. Her grip lessens on Laurëan's shoulders, as she brings him into the small hovel. "Julian is fine, Gimli." She places Laurëan on the cot as she continues easing the dwarf's worries, "He stayed behind with Meliana." Her eyes search Laurëan's, "Stay here, Erneth*." She stands up and walks over to Gimli. His back leans against the wall, and uses his ax for support. Her voice lowers as she speaks to him, "He performed a great deal of magic, which resulted in an explosion. He is greatly drained from its intensity." Gimli's eyes widen in suspense as she weaves the encounters of the night. "Do not worry, Gimli. Meliana would not allow any harm to fall upon Julian. She, herself, is finely skilled in the art of magic. It courses through her blood. In all born Pixie's."

Gimli feigns a smile at Chimera's attempt to comfort his thoughts. "Pixie too you say? Is she of any relation to you Chimera?"

Chimera stifles a giggle, "No, Gimli. I am of pure Elvin blood. Although I was trained in the craft of magic by the mother of Meliana."

Gimli's eyes wander over to Laurëan. He looks sharply at the young half-elf. Chimera lowers her voice as she continues, "That is Laurëan. He is Meliana's." Gimli's eyes dart to Chimera's. They widen at her revelation. Her eyes widen in response, "I mean she is his to look after." Gimli arches a curious bushy eyebrow at her, as she lends him a smirk. She quickly crosses pass Gimli, to the wooden table. The food contents lodged within her bag remain suspended on it. She opens its confines and removes a small loaf of bread. She brings it to Laurëan who sits on the cot, questions filling up his eyes. "Here. Eat."

Laurëan graciously takes the bread offered to him, "Thank you, Chai." He gradually consumes the bread. His bright, golden eyes take in Gimli's stout form placed against the wall. He tilts his head to the side, causing his long straight light brown hair to falter to the side, "Are you a Pixie too?" The innocence of his words stream out.

Gimli instantly combusts in a jovial uproar. His ax drops to the ground as the metal bellows out in distress. He lurches over as he slaps his knee in praise of Laurëan's words. "Oh, no lad, I'm a dwarf. Gimli the name, Son of Lord Gloin." He digs within the recess of his back pockets. He yanks out a small pouch tied with a leather cord. He unties the cord and opens his palm. He shakes the pouch's contents into his opened palm. A small round object falls from the sack, making contact with Gimli's hand. He quickly stuffs the small pouch in the safety of his back pocket. He walks towards Laurëan, and holds the object outstretched in his hand. "You wouldn't happen to be interested in a sweet mushroom would you, young elf?" He turns to see Chimera sitting at the table with a loving expression aimed at Laurëan. "You two must be dreadfully tired. I kept the fire going so that when you arrived you would be able to rest by it. I found some other fur rugs, and set them out . If there is anything else I can do please just let me know." He smiles at Chimera and the young elf

Laurëan stares at the item sitting in Gimli's palm. He looks at the burly dwarf, and then quickly reaches his hand out to encompass the morsel. "Sweet mushroom?" He studies it intensely. "Is it used for magic?" he asks as the extent of the night's activities begin to take its toll over Laurëan's fair features.

Chimera smiles warmly at him from the table, "No, Erneth*, it is for eating."

"Eating?" Laurëan's eyebrow arch in wonderment. He brings the tender bit to his lips, breathing in its musky aroma. He slowly sinks his teeth into the edge of the mushroom, tearing off a small bit. He gnaws at its rubbery surface, but his mouth fills with the sugared sweetness. His golden eyes brighten, as he looks at the dwarf, "Thank you for your kind gift. It is most delicious."

Chimera removes herself from the table and walks towards Laurëan. She kneels down next to the elf sitting upon the cot. Her eyes look at his, as concern pours from them. "Erneth*, are you no longer hungry?" She raises her palm as her slender fingertips graze over his face, pulling his hair from over his left eye. She moves the ash strands and tucks them gently behind his ear. "Your eyes betray your heart, Erneth*. As much as you wish to stay up, it is a struggle. You must rest. The day will begin anew tomorrow." Chimera looks lovingly at the elf. Although he is a hair over two-hundred years in age, in mortal standards he ranks in the vicinity of a young adult in their early teens. Poor thing, she thinks, sighing. She regains her structure, and stands up. Chimera turns to Gimli, "Thank you for your help." Her eyes twinkle in awe of the kindness the dwarf Legolas sent to her, exudes. She walks towards the piled fur mats and removes the top one from the stack. "Shall I lay a mat out for you, Gimli?"

"Eh? No." Gimli replies as his stodgy limbs trudge pass her towards the chair she momentarily occupied. "I will stay up and wait for Julian and Meliana." He grips the wooden rest in his right hand, and removes his ax from the ground with his left. He looks back at Chimera with a scintillation in his eyes, "Or in case any foes might come along." He drags both objects, and himself outside. He sits the chair, propped up against the door and heaves his exhausted body onto the chair. His ax rests securely upon his lap.

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Meliana lays her feathered wings over Julian's body. Her undersized black wings contrasting with his tanned broad feathered limbs. She gathers the purple stone within her talons and grips it tightly. Her eyes shut as the incantation she chants summons a wind. They're weightless bodies become entangled in the air as it coils and twists. Suddenly the two figures vanish from all sight and they land upon the soil on the outskirts of the forest. Salogel's house bathes within the silvery moonlight far in the distance.

Julian's eyes begin to flutter open. His drowsy state offers no aide in opening his eyes. Slowly, his memory pieces together the foregone events of the evening. Especially those of Meliana and Laurëan. At the thought of Laurëan his eyes widen and he shouts, "Laurëan!" The slumber escapes from his eyes as he instantly awakens.

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Chimera unfolds the fur and lays it next to Laurëan's cot. Still donned in Legolas's garb, she unfastens the cloak and uses it as a blanket. She lies down, but sleep does not encompass her, her mind reels with concern over what took place that night in Alqualondë. Heavy are her eyes that burden her as she fights to regain placidity in her mind. Finally sleep rescues her and allows tranquillity to set in.

Laurëan curbs a yawn that is about to form. His jaw clenches the unwelcome visitor. His body falls rigid against the cot. His arms are placed directly behind him, and his palms cradle his head. He turns his attention to Chimera who is huddled below his cot. His body shifts as he turns on his side to view her. His eyes look down upon the lovely she-elf before him. Ever slowly he reaches his hand out to her. His fingertips gently graze over her hair as they interweave through the long, red locks. His eyes tiredly begin to flutter shut. He strains to keep them open, but their strength is ceaseless. Before succumbing to their demand he whispers, "I have missed you so much, Chai."

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Meliana's attention is quickly struck by Julian's shouts. She faces him as her lavender eyes intensely seek out his golden hues. "Feeling better?"

Startled, Julian looks at what he fears is an apparition his mind has created. He squints as he faintly whispers, "Mel-Meliana?"

The purple-eyed raven before him answers, "Yes, it is I. Do not be afraid."

Relief washes over Julian, "It is you." His confirmation more for himself, than her. He composes himself and props himself up from the ground. His head spins as feelings of wooziness surpass him. He closes his eyes to regain structure. "Are you and Laurëan okay? Did everything go as planned?" His eyes open and search their encirclement. "We are back in Mirkwood?" His eyes meet with Meliana's. They stare continually into each other's eyes. Julian thinks to himself, It has been so long since my eyes were treated with the fair graces of her enchantment. I forgot how beauti.... His thoughts cease as he looks down at the dew-kissed ground. His mind erupts in a tempest of foreboding thoughts, There is so much dishonesty. I must put a stop to it! But how? Legolas! I have to get in touch with Legolas! Surely he must be returning soon! Perhaps he has already arrived, and is at his home this second!



Before he is able to blink, Meliana changes into her true form. Julian. notices a flash of lavender coming from in between Meliana's slender fingers. He stares intently at the object hidden in her hand, and thinks to himself, Could it be? It has been so long- yet she still possesses it. Perhaps her heart still longs for mine?

Meliana looks subjectively at Julian as her hand slowly unravels the stone from its secure hold. The stone lies unscathed upon her delicate palm and glows eerily beneath the twilight. "Sulgul bestowed this token of our love to me on our last meeting. It was before he and Legolas left Alqualonde." Her eyes are interlocked with Julian's. "Before your energy drained, you uttered words."

Julian thinks to himself, It is the stone I gave to her. But wait, she brought it here? To Mirkwood? "Words?" Julian tilts his head not understanding what she refers to.

"Tell me... Julian, what does Vanimelda* mean to you, to utter it so freely?"

Julian's eyes widen in dismay. He thinks to himself, Was I a fool to carelessly allow such betrayals to slip from me? "Salogel must have mentioned it at sometime when he spoke of you." He looks down as thoughts come to him, These lies cannot continue! "You know how to transform into different creatures?"

Meliana's eyes lighten at Julian's words. "Yes. I have had the ability of transformation since I was very young. Magic is a prominent culture for Pixies. It courses through our blood. But I have eschewed myself from magic for quite some time." Meliana tucks a loose strand of her ebony hair behind her pointy ear.

She covers her mouth as a yawn flows from at. She places the small purple stone within the tiny pouch her magic dust is stationed. Her heavy sleep-deprived eyes look to Julian. Her arms extends, "Come, we are near Sulgul's home, are we not? Let us go inside and rest our weariness."

"No. You are tired. The freshness of the night air strengthens me quicker than the stuffiness of confinement. Please, stay with me out here." Julian's eyes search Meliana's

"Very well," was all words that came from Meliana's lips. She delicately applies herself to the crisp grass and her eyes trickle shut.

Julian marvels at Meliana's beauty as she slowly descends into a tranquil slumber. He picks himself up and hops quietly to her. He looks down on her overlapped eyelids and smiles fondly at the sight. As strange as the thought of those not of elf-kind to sleep with their eyes shut, it is not strange, but of much beauty, when the act is performed by her, he thinks to himself. His feathered wing stretch out to caress her closed eyes as whispers pour from his tongue. His chants are of her native tongue, Pixie, and are magical.

"Sleep, Valimelda*, sleep deeply in the magic." Julian removes his soft feathers from her glowing skin. His eyes shut instantly, and as quickly as they close, they reopen. Opaque, solemn eyes greet the world as he succumbs into a trance. He searches stealthily for his cousin, Legolas. He is shown a distant figure lying beneath a tree. A white steed stands in range of the tree, grazing on coarse grass. Suddenly Julian's eyes snap open, and his wings take flight. He heads to the Southeast end of the Rhovanion Wilderness.

He swoops down beneath the tree that lurked in his vision. Rightly beneath it, Legolas lies in a world of dreams. His chest rises and falls slightly as inaudible breathing escapes from his parted tense lips. His blue eyes are filmed with a dull glaze.

Julian steps back from the close proximity by Legolas. His wings spread, as the albino color begins to fill them. A bright radiation illuminates Julian's form as he transcends into his true self.

The slight sounds awaken Legolas. His body contracts as the upper-half springs forth from the ground. He reaches up to shield his weary eyes from the light. A figure comes into view, as Legolas slowly draws his trusty blade from his side. The shadowed figure reaches both hands up, signaling surrender, "Legolas, it is I, Sulgul."

Legolas's hand slips away from the hilt. "Salogel, why have you come? I entrusted Chimera's welfare into your hands!"

Salgoel briskly breathes in the air he rejected in his hastiness to pursue Legolas. "Forgive me, cousin, but I sought you out so that I may speak with you. I fear the one thing we have turned a deaf ear upon may accost us without our able consent."

Legolas's eyebrows knit in confusion, "What are you referring to, Salogel?"

Salogel rests his palm against the tree as he places his body weight upon his hand. "The stone. It has found its way to Mirkwood."

Elvish Translations:

Uilos: A small white everlasting flower also called simbelmynë, alfirin, `evermind'

Eirien: Daisy (flower)

Meril: Rose (flower)

Ninglor: Golden water-flower, gladden

Vanimelda: Fair-love

Silalye, Vanimelda: Thou shinest, fair-love

Glor: Gold

Borgil: (Star of the Hand)- A red star

Norui: June (sunny)

Entúluva, Vanimelda: I will come again, Fair-love"