Of song and wind
Thingol paced back and forth on the balcony of his private studio. The sun was vanishing on the horizon. The beautiful colours and shades that the yellow rays cast upon the pine, elm and birch trees were unnoticed by the elven king.
His mind was troubled and his brow was furrowed with anxiety. A few hours ago Melian had gone into labour and now his heart began to fear something had gone wrong.
His pacing was interrupted by a small figure that made their way to the balcony without a sound and pressed its forehead on the railings of the balcony. The small being bore silver hair that encased a well formed young face. Dark grey eyes stood stern among long lashes and fair skin.
"Do not worry Daeron" The king said kneeling to look at his firstborn in the face "All shall be well, and before long you will have a younger sibling to play with"
His voice was calm and soothing in contrast with his stormy heart. Daeron did not need to know of the worries that burdened Thingol's mind.
"I-It's just…" the child said softly, "It's just that…Nana/Mommy always watches the sunset with me"
Thingol's heart softened when he heard the cause of his child's distress.
"And now the sun is nearly gone and Nana is not here yet" Daeron stated with his brow furrowed in worry.
"Naneth is very busy right now ion nin/my son" Thingol picked the elfling up into his arms and ran his hand through his child's pale, shining hair "Why don't you watch the sunset with me?"
Daeron nodded, a small smile creeping into his lips. The child put his small arms around his father's shoulders and rested his head on the king's chest. Daeron sighed with pleasure.
"I would like that Ada/Daddy '' He said simply and began humming a gentle tune.
The king swayed at the rhythm of the melody, reproaching himself for not taking the time to do things like this more often.
Two hours after sun set, Thingol was sitting on his desk immersed in all the paperwork. Daeron had gone to sleep and there was no point in sitting and worrying about Melian. Pouring his mind into the reports, letters and accountings helped to put him at ease, at least for a while.
The king was brought back from his musings when a soft knock was heard from his office door. Thingol arose from the desk chair and reached the door with swift, graceful strides.
A brunette elleth (by the name of Timmuil) was at the doorstep. Her simple garments were the evidence that she was one of the healers and maids that worked at the palace. But the plain dress did nothing to conceal the elf's loveliness. Dark brown hair arranged in an elegant yet seemingly ordinary bun. Green eyes and rosy cheeks. She was down right stunning.
But Thingol could not care less of the elleth's appearance, he knew she was one of the maids that was helping with Melian.
"The queen," he said before the maid could speak "how is she?"
The fair elleth smiled softly,
"Queen Melian is well your highness," Timmuil said nodding with a courtesy "she requests your presence in her chambers at once"
The king nodded and followed the elf maid to the room where Melian had been in labour for most of the evening and night.
As he walked through the halls of the palace, Thingol felt his heart beating wildly against his chest. But his mind was put at ease when he heard a familiar voice floating through the gentle twilight breeze. It seemed as if the earth itself was singing along, with the enchanting melody. A sense of quiet peace filled Menegroth. The queen was singing and her song was that of rest and ease of mind.
When Thingol set eyes on the queen, he sighed in relief. He was glad Melian looked well in health after the delivery.
The moonlight filtered through the windows. Candles flickered their light upon the room, making the shadows dance and sway. Melian sat in a large bed. Singing a simple song to soothe the watchful elves that had been awake and worried for her during labour. Her back resting against a pile of pillows. Her face was serene and she gave no indication of just having given birth.
The elven king came closer and sat on the bed,
"Melethel nin?/My darling?" he whispered, watching his wife closely. She appeared to be far away "Are you alright?"
"Yes," the queen answered with confidence, but there was a certain glimmer in her voice that the king was not able to recognise, "your daughter is being examined by the healers, they will bring her to us soon"
Thingol frowned inwardly, there was something odd in Melian's behaviour. But he couldn't figure out what it was. And before he could think more of it, another thought struck him.
"A daughter?" the elven king asked, his heart soaring with delight.
"Yes, a daughter," Melian replied, mirth coming back to her voice "you are the father of an elven princess"
Thingol smiled as he pulled Melian in an embrace.
As soon as he let go of the queen, the head healer (named Elgadêl) walked into the room, followed by Timmuil.
The brown haired elleth was holding a bundle, wrapped in dark blue silk.
"Your daughter, Ara nin/my king" Elgadêl presented, as Timmuil placed the child in Melian's arms. The king and queen beheld their daughter. She was sleeping, but her eyes were visible through long, waving lashes.
Thingol absorbed every inch, every detail on his daughter's face. He smiled openly when the child stirred and gazed into the elven king's eyes.
"Welcome penneth/young one," the queen said, brushing her fingertips on the child's nose.
Melian shifted the baby's position slightly, releasing the child's hands from the cloth that was wrapped around her. Instantly the princess of Doriath took hold on one of her mother's dark locks.
"That is Nana's hair little one," Thingol informed the child "soon you shall have beautiful, waving, dark locks just like hers"
The elven king turned to his wife, who seemed to be still deep in thought,
"I have a name for her," he whispered with a smile.
The queen's eyes looked up at him expectantly,
"What shall you name her?" she asked.
Thingol stroked his wife's hair and softly touched the baby's cheek,
"Her name shall be Merelindel," he declared, his eyes beaming with fondness "a flower of tune and song. A song that is carried by the wind"
Melian's eyes were serious for a moment. Her eyes met the new born's.
Thingol feared that something was wrong. He knew Melian's heart was troubled as his own, but he dared not speak of it. For it would become even more real and evident if he voiced his fears. So he let the queen be.
"Merelindel will be her name," Melian said at last, brushing a kiss on the child's brow, "her song shall be heard in the winds of dusk and twilight, the coming of night and the breaking of dawn"
Its like an ungodly hour but…what can I say?
I hope you like this chapter. Its a bit shorter but…it was harder to make than the first one.
Please leave a review if you liked it :)
Next chapter will hopefully be posted soon!
