The skies spread over the female figure that stood on the window seat, gazing up into the vast heavens. Her dark hair was loose and it waved at the rhythm of the wind that came from the east.

Another figure entered the room and approached her from behind. The lamps that illuminated the chamber revealed the being's features. A tall ellon, of silver hair and grey eyes. His appearance was kingly and majestic. For he was the elven king of the sindar elves, Elu Thingol.

His gaze fell on the female that was still placed on the window seat, with her face turned towards the stars.

Thingol stared at his wife for a moment. Her cheeks were as marble, and her lips as a fresh rose. He came forth, and stroked his wife's hair.

"You are looking stunning tonight Melian melethel/darling" he whispered with fondness.

The fair being turned her head towards Thingol and graced him with a shining smile.

"So are you melleth-nin/my love," she said.

Her melodic voice was music to the ellon's ears.

Thingol thought there was no other place in all of Arda where he would rather be. He still couldn't believe Melian had accepted to stay with him, an elven king, when she could have gone back home to her own people, the Maiar.

"Where is Daeron?" the king asked, looking around for his son.

"He is already asleep," said the dark haired female "he wished to wake up early tomorrow to play his flute at the same time that the sun rises with the morning birds"

Thingol smiled fondly. His son had always taken pleasure in small things like this. Daeron was his mother's child. So much like her in character and in spirit.

In the dim light Thingol noticed that his wife's eyes were bright with wonder and excitement.

"Melian! You look as if you will burst with enthusiasm!" he said, kneeling beside her, taking her hands into his own and watching her in confusion, "Will you tell me what it is that brings you such joy?"

Melian smiled again, her expression so radiant, that it seemed as if the stars of Varda were shining in her eyes.

"I have something to show you" she said, grabbing a slightly glowing object from the small table at her side. She placed the item in Thingol's hands, and waited for him to look closely at it.

Thingol studied the article his wife had given him. It was a necklace made of silver, it bore a flower of delicate craftsmanship. At the very centre of eleven glimmering petals, there was placed a silver blue gem, a moon stone.

Thingol stared at the flower for a while. His eyes came back up to meet Melian gaze,

"I don't understand," he said in confusion "What does this mean?"

Melian chuckled,

"It means that a new flower is about to bloom" she whispered tenderly.

Realisation filled Thingol's mind as his eyes widened in surprise. His heart leapt with joy and he held Melian's face between his hands,

"Do you mean…" he couldn't finish the phrase.

"I am with child!" Melian interrupted with her musical voice.

Thingol pulled his wife closer and kissed her flushed cheeks as they laughed with mutual delight.

Their joyous voices could be heard down in the halls and corridors of Menegroth. The elves turned their eyes up to the royal chambers and smiled with tenderness. They loved their king and queen and their merriment brought joy to the hearts of the sindar elves. It ensured them that all was well and that they were safe.

Too soon, their laughter was interrupted when a fair haired young elf stood in the doorway, shifting his weight slightly with uneasiness. The queen was to take notice of the lad, he couldn't be much older than a child.

"What is it?" Melian asked, her voice still merry with laughter.

"My apologies…y-your majesties," the young elf stammered slightly, dropping to one knee before his king and queen. "for interrupting you…"

Melian smiled kindly as Thingol turned to see the young servant elf with solemn but comprehensive eyes,

"Not to fear child" Thingol said, putting the young elf at ease. "I am sure you have a good reason to be here, do you not?"

"Yes ara nin/my king!" the young elf replied earnestly this time, as if he had just remembered the errand in which he was.

"Well then, please" the king replied beckoning for the messenger to come into the royal chambers.

The fair haired elf stood up and walked through the threshold. His light blue eyes met the king's grey stare with caution but also admiration.

"Ara nin/my king, word has reached us that a Maiar of high authority has been seen riding eastward through our borders, heading to Menegroth" the young elf reported dutifully.

The king's brow furrowed and the queen looked a bit puzzled.

"How long ago did this happen?" The king asked with a stern voice.

"The message just reached us," the fair-haired youth replied "not longer than a minute ago"

"Did the message say when he was seen?" Melian suddenly asked.

The young one turned to his queen "Yes your majesty! He was seen two days ago, he passed our borders and headed in this direction"

"This is strange indeed" Thingol said partly to himself "I cannot find a solid reason why would we receive the visit of a Maiar"

The king turned to Melian, but his wife did not look at him.

"Thank you for the message child," she said to the young elf "You are dismissed"

The messenger bowed again and exited the room quickly, having sensed the tension in the voice of the queen.

"Melian?" Thingol asked quietly.

The king's wife tilted her face upwards, from her sitting position so she could look at him in the face. Her eyes betrayed dread that planted fear in Thingol's heart. He had never seen his wife look this concerned, she almost seemed to be afraid.

Kneeling once again Thingol wondered whether he should ask her what was wrong or if it was wiser to wait for her to speak. Melian seemed deep in thought until her eyes flashed with a light that Thingol did not like at all.

"Melian…?" the king asked again, this time with an undertone of caution.

The queen gave no indication that she had heard him. Suddenly she stood up and strode through the room with a graceful but urgent pace. She opened a closet from where she provided herself with a red travelling dress and a dark cloak.

"What in all Beleriand are you doing?!" Thingol asked as he placed a hand on Melian's shoulder. He was not ungentle but he was strong enough to make her slow her steps.

"Melian, what are you doing?" he had never seen his wife in such a mood before. "Tell me what troubles you!"

Thingol knew his wife was not unreasonable and that she always acted in what she deemed the best course of action. That was why it was so alarming to see her urgency.

"We must go and meet the Maia that has come to Doriath" Melian said as she shook off the hand of the king from her shoulder.

"Meet the...but Melian!" Thingol protested as the queen went into her dressing chambers.

"Why must we do so meleth nin/my love?" the king asked in confusion.

Melian came out of her dressing room, arrayed and equipped for a journey.

"If you wish to come with me," Melian stated staring at her husband up and down "you will have to change your royal garments for travelling clothes"

Thingol furrowed his brow and resisted the urge to huff at his wife's comment.

"You are not allowed to leave the palace without my consent," Thingol growled under his breath. But at the same time he strode towards his own dressing room. Making himself ready in record time.

He dressed himself with a light blue tunic and a silver cloak.

Melian refused to take horses with them since it would attract too much attention. So both the king and queen of Doriath stole away from their own palace keeping to the loneliest and less transited areas.

Silently through the forest they made their way westward, successfully avoiding detection from guards and scouts. Both of them, skilled in speed and stealth, managed to travel several miles in just a few hours.

At midnight they came to a small valley that was surrounded by beech trees.

Nature was quiet and still. Neither birds nor wind could be heard. The forest seemed to fall silent at a strange presence that roamed the place. Thingol and Melian stood holding their breaths, they knew someone was approaching, even though they couldn't hear anything that indicated the location of the newcomer.

In a sudden rush of wind, a figure clad in light colored robes and mounted upon a translucent horse came into view. Piercing clear eyes stared unwaveringly at the two beings that stood in the middle of the forest. Thingol could feel Melian tense completely at the arrival of this bright being, who was unmistakably the Maia they were told of.

After a moment of silence, the light-colored being spoke in a distant yet sharp, airy voice.

"Hast thou forgotten how to greet thine own blood, Melian?" the figure said as he dismounted the horse in a single swift movement "And hast thou despised thine own people completely?"

Melian was standing tall and rigid, her face was carefully kept in an emotionless facade.

"I have not forgotten nor despised such things" she said calmly but defiance was clear in her voice.

"Why then doest thou linger in this land," said the other Maia "refusing to come back home amongst thine own people?"

Melian straightened herself and answered calmly,

"I have made my decision. I shall remain among the elves"

The light colored figure grew dark in completion. And his eyes flashed dangerously,

"Thou hast decided to do so?" he whispered in anger "Reckless has been thine choosing"

Thingol made to step forward, loathing the statement and the one that had uttered it. But Melian made him freeze to his spot with a single stare that communicated a command to stay out of the affair.

Even though Thingol was stilled in his body by his wife's piercing stare, his tongue did not follow her instruction.

"And just what might be reckless about it?" The king asked threateningly.

The maiar turned his face to look upon Thingol. He did not answer the king's question. Instead he stared at him with distaste. His eyes revealed such coldness and contempt that Thingol himself felt shivers run down his spine under the Maia's gaze.

"Maglantir!" The queen said sternly, making the named being turn his attention back on her.

"Is this it?" Maglantir scornfully asked "Is this the race thou hast cherished over me, thine own blood?"

Melian remained silent, boring her grey eyes into Maglantir's pale blue ones.

"Thou hast betrayed me, sister" he said this last word as if it tasted sour in his mouth.

Thingol turned to look at his wife in shock. Melian had never mentioned that she had a brother. Something that didn't strike the elven king as odd, for Melian kept many secrets.

Thingol returned his attention to the two Maia in front of him.

Maglantir's face was dark and terrible. His anger was fierce and burning cold. The wind that was about him suddenly shifted around his tall figure until it became ropes that bound around Melian's hands, feet and waist.

An alarmed cry rose from the king's mouth, but Melian remained silent and unwavered. Her binds brought her closer to Maglantir putting their faces almost touching each other.

In his heart Thingo knew they were not just staring into each other's eyes. They were struggling and debating internally with the strength of their minds.

At last Melian spoke in a clear, shining and powerful voice

"I have made my choice Maglantir," she said. And the binds were removed from her as she spoke "there is nothing thou can do or say that will change my mind. My life is now bound to Thingol and his people"

Maglantir stared at Melian in shock. Knowing that Melian's words revealed her undying desire and will to stay with the elves in their land. He now saw the devotion and love she had for them.

His heart dropped and he became truly furious. When they had debated in their minds, Maglantir was able to see Melian's thoughts and he knew that she had already married and bore children of her own with Thingol. Sealing a pact and rooting herself to the king and their children. And what he at first had thought to be an impulsive and volatil passion, turned out to be a deep, true and everlasting love that he would not be able to chase away or defy.

His anger mingled with sorrow. He had loved Melian and wanted to keep her among the people of the Maiar. For he despised elves and any other inferior race. Therefore his heart was hardened against his sister.

"Ye hast bound thineself?" Maglantir asked. His voice was bitter as venom. His mind clouded by rage and grief "Stay then and despair! Know that thine future holds no happiness or freedom. Ye shall rue thine choice greatly in the ages to come"

As he said this the strings of wind returned with greater force. They went round Melian's throat, making her gasp and struggle against them.

"Stripped ye shall be from all that thoust heart loves!" the cords tightened with each word Maglantir spoke.

"Melian!" Thingol cried out in despair. For a moment Maglantir's face betrayed his grief and he stepped back doubtful and distressed.

The cords disappeared slowly from Melian's throat.

Thingol ran towards his wife who was falling to the ground, deprived of the strength to stand.

Rushing forward the king steadied Melian with an embrace sending a murderous (almost evil) glance at Maglantir.

"Be thine gone from these realms!" Thingol hissed dangerously "And never come back!"

Maglantir rose himself to his full stature. Towering over both king and queen of Doriath.

In a last act of fury Maglantir stood up mid air and his eyes shone with terrible light. He opened his mouth and his voice roared like thunder. Uttering words that were strange and unknown to the elven king's ears.

Thingol pulled Melian closer. Shielding her from harm.

Wind like a storm swivelled around them and time seemed to stand still as the trees wavered and trembled in the angry draft.

But at last the wind was gone, and so was Maglantir. Upon his horse he rode far and fast.

Thingol slowly dared to believe they were alone once more.

After scanning their surroundings, he turned his eyes to his wife. Melian was pale and looked ill. Thingol was startled by her unhealthy appearance and lowered her to the ground so she could sit and rest. But as soon as she was set down on the soft-scented grass, Melian covered her face with both hands and wept bitterly.

Thingol embraced her once more trying to calm her,

"It's alright meleth nin/my love," he said softly, his heart clenching because of Melian's tears "he is gone, you are safe"

Melian shook her head vigorously

"You don't understand," she said as more tears leaked from her eyes "he…he cursed…he…"

Thingol shushed Melian, knowing that she must be in some sort of shock. It hurt him deeply to see her in such distress.

Suddenly, Melian's voice came soft but clear from under his arms.

"He cursed our flower" she said and spoke no more.

Thingol frowned at this but inquired nothing of it, since he thought his wife was being affected by fatigue.

The light of day was dawning, when the king and queen were found by a search party that had been sent to look for them when they had disappeared from Menegroth. And they were brought back.

In the following months Melian's pregnancy was normal in everyone's eyes, except the king's and her own. Maglantir had done evil to them and to their child. Neither of them knew what, but secretly, they feared it might cost the life of the little one they already loved so much.