Author's Note: It's been a while since I updated, since no one seemed to
be reviewing. But then I figured, I'd written this to amuse myself and
Arien so it didn't matter. Then I figured I might as well post the rest up
on fanfiction.net so that all the bits and pieces would be together (and if
anyone did happen to read it I wouldn't seem like a complete flake). So,
here it is. The next installment. This is where the real story takes off.
Unfortunately, a really nice, kind of important, chunk of the story has
been lost :( Arien had written a very cool part with Boromir, Arien, and
Aragorn that introduced the Arien character (yes, this is Mary Sue, get
over it LOL) and it had a VERY interesting dream sequence that I am very
sad was lost to the angry computer gods ::sniff:: But, the lowdown on
Arien is that she was discovered wandering the borders of Mordor and Gondor
in much the same way that Tinuviel was found in the woods on her way to
Rivendell. The only thing that Arien remembered were the words "Protect
Gondor" and she ended up saving Aragorn from an arrow. The bad thing about
all this is that Aragorn now (since he's attracted to Arien and thinks this
is being disloyal to the memory of Arwen, so he has push Arien away) has
this idea that they may both (Arien and Tinuviel) be connected to Moria in
some way. So now he has shown up in Rivendell and found that Legolas and
Tinuviel have just been married. Clear as mud? Good. Let the games
begin.
Tinuviel and Legolas stood talking with the old wizard Legolas had introduced as Gandalf. He was a pleasant old man and had some sort of familiarity about him, though she could not place it. The day had been a whirlwind of activity, with Thranduil showing up and accepting Tinuviel into his family, making the marriage a Lifemarriage, rather than just the Bondmarriage that had originally been arranged. She was so happy she thought she could fly, but it was also very overwhelming. She held tightly to Legolas' hand and he squeezed it gently, giving her a small, reassuring smile.
"Look what I have found, dredged up from the bottom of the river." Gimli the Dwarf, who had was resplendant in silver and gold mail that seemed somewhat odd at a wedding but seemed perfectly fitting for him to wear, came through the tight crowd of people. He did not seem to mind that everyone, including Tinuviel, stood head and shoulders taller than he. He carried himself as regally as any king would as indeed he should since he had taken the seat of the kingdom when his father died. He and his wife, Telora, had arrived
several days before to help with the preparations of the wedding and Tinuviel liked them very much.
Tinuviel fingered the long tail of silver and gold hanging beneath the her long, raven tresses that Telora had braided into a small hank of her hair as a bridegift from she and Gimli. She smiled widely as she saw the men he had in tow. "Aragorn! Boromir! We feared you would not be here." She hugged both of the men as they entered the small, but growing, circle.
Legolas clasped their arms and shone one of his rare smiles. "My friends. The messenger bird returned from Gondor with news from Faramir that neither of you would be able to attend. I am glad to see you both." He clapped Gimli on the shoulder. "You have indeed brought a gift with you."
Boromir smiled at him. "We were much surprised when we arrived last night to find preparations for your wedding."
"Boromir more than I," Aragorn teased, "I knew when last I saw you that it would not be long ere you joined the ranks of married men."
"You make it sound like a disease," Tinuviel scoffed, goodnaturedly.
Aragorn became serious. "I am sorry, Tinuviel, to interrupt your celebration, but we did come here with another purpose, if we could steal away your husband and Gimli, and Gandalf too now that we know where to find him." He turned to Legolas. "Elrond is waiting for us, we have something of importance to discuss."
Tinuviel studied the seriousness of his face for a moment. "If it is unavoidable." After a bit she nodded. "Well, then. If you are to deprive me of my husband and all my companions then I shall have a dance from you as payment when you return." She cast a small smile on Boromir. "And you as well."
The larger of the two men smiled down at her. "Easily and gladly done."
Legolas frowned. "Can this not wait until tomorrow?"
"It possibly could," Aragorn nodded, thoughtfully, "or it might be more dire than we suspect."
Turning to his newly wed wife, he brushed the back of his knuckles over her cheek and kissed the hand he held. "I shall return as soon as I may." And the group of men left her standing there alone.
Some time later Tinuviel stood with a group of female elves, sipping at her wine and looking around to see if there were any sign of Legolas. Not that she was uncomfortable with the throng of well wishers, she'd been in Rivendell for more than a year, and it had become her home. These people had become her friends. And if she didn't think too much on it she could almost believe she was really one of them. She loved them all, but she loved Legolas more and would like to be able to show him just how much she loved him sometime soon. It seemed like forever since he had gone off with his friends to talk about some oh so important issue.
"Come, Tinuviel, sing with us." Dariel took her by the hand and urged her to the fireplace where she sat her down on a padded stool and pressed her harp into her hands.
"But this is my wedding day," Tinuviel protested, laughing, "should it not be you entertaining me?"
"Alas, a year and more you have spent in Rivendell and you still do not understand our ways," Dariel joked, taking up her own harp. Dariel was younger than Legolas. Only a bit over 1500 years old, but it still surprised Tinuviel how young they could seem sometimes.
Still smiling, Tinuviel plucked at the strings and began humming. "What shall we sing?"
Gaylorn took up his flute. "Since this is a wedding feast it should be a story of great love, and since you are named for her, I think we should sing the song of Beren and Luthien."
"Beren and Luthien it is, then." Bregolas, Dariel's brother, joined them on the drum and they moved into the familiar song.
The leaves were long, the grass was green,
The hemlock-umbels tall and fair,
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering.
There Beren came from mountains cold,
And lost he wandered under leaves,
And where the Elven-river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing.
He peered between the hemlock-leaves
And saw in wonder flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves,
And her hair like shadow following.
Enchantment healed his weary feet
That over hills were doomed to roam;
And forth he hastened, strong and fleet,
And grasped at moonbeams glistening.
Through woven woods in Elvenhome
She lightly fled on dancing feet,
And left him lonely still to roam
In the silent forest listening.
He heard there oft the flying sound
Of feet as light as linden-leaves,
Or music welling underground,
In hidden hollows quavering.
Now withered lay the hemlock-sheaves,
And one by one with sighing sound
Whispering fell the beachen leaves
In the wintry woodland wavering.
He sought her ever, wandering far
Where leaves of years were thickly strewn,
By light of moon and ray of star
In frosty heavens shivering.
Her mantle glinted in the moon,
As on a hill-top high and far
She danced, and at her feet was strewn
A mist of silver quivering.
When winter passed, she came again,
And her song released the sudden spring,
Like rising lark, and falling rain,
And melting water bubbling.
He saw the elven-flowers spring
About her feet, and healed again
He longed by her to dance and sing
Upon the grass untroubling.
Again she fled, but swift he came.
Tinúviel! Tinúviel!
He called her by her elvish name;
And there she halted listening.
One moment stood she, and a spell
His voice laid on her: Beren came,
And doom fell on Tinúviel
That in his arms lay glistening.
As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.
Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of ireon and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless.
When the song was done, Tinuviel stood, laying her harp down on the chair. "I was certain Legolas would be back by now. Whatever could be keeping him?"
Dariel put a soothing hand on Tinuviel's back. "Do not fear, he will return ere long. Why do you not stay with us and enjoy the singing."
Tinuviel smiled at her. "I find I am anxious to see my husband and my mind is not on singing, but please, I do enjoy listening to you as well."
Nodding, the tall elf woman moved back to the circle of musicians and joined them in another song.
Moving through the crowd of people, Tinuviel stopped by the window and looked out at the green hills and the rolling waters of the many falls that could be seen from the main building. She sighed, wondering where Legolas was and hoping he would return soon.
"Lady Tinuviel?"
She turned to find a tall, dark haired elf standing behind her. She had seen him before, with Legolas' father. "Yes," she smiled as she remembered the name Legolas had told her. "Aldan, isn't it?"
He inclined his head slightly. "It is. Legolas bade me ask you to meet him at the singing falls."
A smile crossed Tinuviel's face. That must be what was taking him so long, he was waiting for her at the falls. "Thank you, Aldan." Moving silently away, she hung her warm, deceptively thin, cloak about her shoulders and slipped into the darkness.
The moon was shining on the breast of the falls as Tinuviel came to stand at the bottom of the fell of boulders where she and Legolas frequently visited. She looked around for some sign of him but could find none. *Surely he wouldn't have climbed the fell at night,* she thought, but Elves had amazing senses and he could see his way as easily at night as in full daylight. Often Tinuviel wished she could have the night vision that Legolas and all his kindred had. Or any of their heightened senses. She'd often wondered what things would taste or smell like if she were an Elf.
"Legolas!" she called over the soft, insistent sound of the falls, but there was no answer. *Have I missed him,* she wondered.
She did not have long to wonder. Feeling eyes upon her, she turned to find Aldan standing behind her with two other Elves she did not know but vaguely remembered from the feast. Fear welled within her, but for what she was not entirely sure. "Aldan. I do not suppose Legolas has sent you here with another message."
The look on his face was utterly cold and expressionless, but within his eyes burned hatred and anger the like of which Tinuviel had never seen in an elf before. "No, Lady Tinuviel. I am afraid that was but a ruse to get you away from the feast."
She began to back away, though she knew she could never scramble up the fell before he caught her. "Why would you wish to do that?"
"It is very simple really. Before this morning, Thranduil was prepared to denounce Legolas as his heir and name me heir to the throne of Mirkwood. Already I have promised things that I cannot deliver if I am not made king." He spread his hands out expressively. "So you can see that Thranduil's change of heart is not in my best interest."
Backing away until her legs were backed against one cold stone, Tinuviel was gauging what possible effect might be had if she tried to use her songspell to turn this situation around. "And how do I fit into this problem?"
"We cannot have any other heirs from Thranduil's line. I must kill Legolas, but it cannot be here. I need you to lure him away from Rivendell."
There was nowhere for her to go but up. She turned to climb the fell and scrambled up the rocks. To her surprise, they let her go. When she came to the top she stopped, there was nowhere else to go. On two sides were sheer cliffs with no handholds or even roots to pull herself up with, on the third was the fell of rocks that led back to where she began, and finally there was the falls. It was possible that she could jump into the cold water rushing below and live, but it was a very slight possibility, leaning toward the impossible. Still, it was a choice and the only one she had.
Aldan followed leisurely behind her, allowing her to reach the top. He smiled when he reached the top and found her standing next to the falls. "Not the best of options, is it?"
She looked at him and then down at the water. She felt safer with the water. "Perhaps not, but it is better than the one you offer." She moved to the edge and was about to jump when Aldan's hand clamped tightly, painfully about her arm.
Handing her into the hands of his two friends, he looked down at her. "We do not have time to try to fish your body out of the water, but you have given me an idea." Leaning down, he tore a bit of fabric from her wedding gown. It took a moment to find an appropriate spot, but when he did he snagged the material onto the sharp bit of rock. Taking his silver dagger out of his boot, he held her hand and pierced the soft flesh of her palm with the tip, letting the blood drip down onto the rocks below. "Now. That should slow them down a bit and give us more time to get away." Replacing his dagger into it's sheath, he started back down the fell. "Bring her. We ride straightaway for Mirkwood."
AN: The song of Beren and Luthien belongs to JRR Tolkien as do all the other characters, places, etc. borrowed from his brilliant works.
Tinuviel and Legolas stood talking with the old wizard Legolas had introduced as Gandalf. He was a pleasant old man and had some sort of familiarity about him, though she could not place it. The day had been a whirlwind of activity, with Thranduil showing up and accepting Tinuviel into his family, making the marriage a Lifemarriage, rather than just the Bondmarriage that had originally been arranged. She was so happy she thought she could fly, but it was also very overwhelming. She held tightly to Legolas' hand and he squeezed it gently, giving her a small, reassuring smile.
"Look what I have found, dredged up from the bottom of the river." Gimli the Dwarf, who had was resplendant in silver and gold mail that seemed somewhat odd at a wedding but seemed perfectly fitting for him to wear, came through the tight crowd of people. He did not seem to mind that everyone, including Tinuviel, stood head and shoulders taller than he. He carried himself as regally as any king would as indeed he should since he had taken the seat of the kingdom when his father died. He and his wife, Telora, had arrived
several days before to help with the preparations of the wedding and Tinuviel liked them very much.
Tinuviel fingered the long tail of silver and gold hanging beneath the her long, raven tresses that Telora had braided into a small hank of her hair as a bridegift from she and Gimli. She smiled widely as she saw the men he had in tow. "Aragorn! Boromir! We feared you would not be here." She hugged both of the men as they entered the small, but growing, circle.
Legolas clasped their arms and shone one of his rare smiles. "My friends. The messenger bird returned from Gondor with news from Faramir that neither of you would be able to attend. I am glad to see you both." He clapped Gimli on the shoulder. "You have indeed brought a gift with you."
Boromir smiled at him. "We were much surprised when we arrived last night to find preparations for your wedding."
"Boromir more than I," Aragorn teased, "I knew when last I saw you that it would not be long ere you joined the ranks of married men."
"You make it sound like a disease," Tinuviel scoffed, goodnaturedly.
Aragorn became serious. "I am sorry, Tinuviel, to interrupt your celebration, but we did come here with another purpose, if we could steal away your husband and Gimli, and Gandalf too now that we know where to find him." He turned to Legolas. "Elrond is waiting for us, we have something of importance to discuss."
Tinuviel studied the seriousness of his face for a moment. "If it is unavoidable." After a bit she nodded. "Well, then. If you are to deprive me of my husband and all my companions then I shall have a dance from you as payment when you return." She cast a small smile on Boromir. "And you as well."
The larger of the two men smiled down at her. "Easily and gladly done."
Legolas frowned. "Can this not wait until tomorrow?"
"It possibly could," Aragorn nodded, thoughtfully, "or it might be more dire than we suspect."
Turning to his newly wed wife, he brushed the back of his knuckles over her cheek and kissed the hand he held. "I shall return as soon as I may." And the group of men left her standing there alone.
Some time later Tinuviel stood with a group of female elves, sipping at her wine and looking around to see if there were any sign of Legolas. Not that she was uncomfortable with the throng of well wishers, she'd been in Rivendell for more than a year, and it had become her home. These people had become her friends. And if she didn't think too much on it she could almost believe she was really one of them. She loved them all, but she loved Legolas more and would like to be able to show him just how much she loved him sometime soon. It seemed like forever since he had gone off with his friends to talk about some oh so important issue.
"Come, Tinuviel, sing with us." Dariel took her by the hand and urged her to the fireplace where she sat her down on a padded stool and pressed her harp into her hands.
"But this is my wedding day," Tinuviel protested, laughing, "should it not be you entertaining me?"
"Alas, a year and more you have spent in Rivendell and you still do not understand our ways," Dariel joked, taking up her own harp. Dariel was younger than Legolas. Only a bit over 1500 years old, but it still surprised Tinuviel how young they could seem sometimes.
Still smiling, Tinuviel plucked at the strings and began humming. "What shall we sing?"
Gaylorn took up his flute. "Since this is a wedding feast it should be a story of great love, and since you are named for her, I think we should sing the song of Beren and Luthien."
"Beren and Luthien it is, then." Bregolas, Dariel's brother, joined them on the drum and they moved into the familiar song.
The leaves were long, the grass was green,
The hemlock-umbels tall and fair,
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering.
There Beren came from mountains cold,
And lost he wandered under leaves,
And where the Elven-river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing.
He peered between the hemlock-leaves
And saw in wonder flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves,
And her hair like shadow following.
Enchantment healed his weary feet
That over hills were doomed to roam;
And forth he hastened, strong and fleet,
And grasped at moonbeams glistening.
Through woven woods in Elvenhome
She lightly fled on dancing feet,
And left him lonely still to roam
In the silent forest listening.
He heard there oft the flying sound
Of feet as light as linden-leaves,
Or music welling underground,
In hidden hollows quavering.
Now withered lay the hemlock-sheaves,
And one by one with sighing sound
Whispering fell the beachen leaves
In the wintry woodland wavering.
He sought her ever, wandering far
Where leaves of years were thickly strewn,
By light of moon and ray of star
In frosty heavens shivering.
Her mantle glinted in the moon,
As on a hill-top high and far
She danced, and at her feet was strewn
A mist of silver quivering.
When winter passed, she came again,
And her song released the sudden spring,
Like rising lark, and falling rain,
And melting water bubbling.
He saw the elven-flowers spring
About her feet, and healed again
He longed by her to dance and sing
Upon the grass untroubling.
Again she fled, but swift he came.
Tinúviel! Tinúviel!
He called her by her elvish name;
And there she halted listening.
One moment stood she, and a spell
His voice laid on her: Beren came,
And doom fell on Tinúviel
That in his arms lay glistening.
As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.
Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of ireon and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless.
When the song was done, Tinuviel stood, laying her harp down on the chair. "I was certain Legolas would be back by now. Whatever could be keeping him?"
Dariel put a soothing hand on Tinuviel's back. "Do not fear, he will return ere long. Why do you not stay with us and enjoy the singing."
Tinuviel smiled at her. "I find I am anxious to see my husband and my mind is not on singing, but please, I do enjoy listening to you as well."
Nodding, the tall elf woman moved back to the circle of musicians and joined them in another song.
Moving through the crowd of people, Tinuviel stopped by the window and looked out at the green hills and the rolling waters of the many falls that could be seen from the main building. She sighed, wondering where Legolas was and hoping he would return soon.
"Lady Tinuviel?"
She turned to find a tall, dark haired elf standing behind her. She had seen him before, with Legolas' father. "Yes," she smiled as she remembered the name Legolas had told her. "Aldan, isn't it?"
He inclined his head slightly. "It is. Legolas bade me ask you to meet him at the singing falls."
A smile crossed Tinuviel's face. That must be what was taking him so long, he was waiting for her at the falls. "Thank you, Aldan." Moving silently away, she hung her warm, deceptively thin, cloak about her shoulders and slipped into the darkness.
The moon was shining on the breast of the falls as Tinuviel came to stand at the bottom of the fell of boulders where she and Legolas frequently visited. She looked around for some sign of him but could find none. *Surely he wouldn't have climbed the fell at night,* she thought, but Elves had amazing senses and he could see his way as easily at night as in full daylight. Often Tinuviel wished she could have the night vision that Legolas and all his kindred had. Or any of their heightened senses. She'd often wondered what things would taste or smell like if she were an Elf.
"Legolas!" she called over the soft, insistent sound of the falls, but there was no answer. *Have I missed him,* she wondered.
She did not have long to wonder. Feeling eyes upon her, she turned to find Aldan standing behind her with two other Elves she did not know but vaguely remembered from the feast. Fear welled within her, but for what she was not entirely sure. "Aldan. I do not suppose Legolas has sent you here with another message."
The look on his face was utterly cold and expressionless, but within his eyes burned hatred and anger the like of which Tinuviel had never seen in an elf before. "No, Lady Tinuviel. I am afraid that was but a ruse to get you away from the feast."
She began to back away, though she knew she could never scramble up the fell before he caught her. "Why would you wish to do that?"
"It is very simple really. Before this morning, Thranduil was prepared to denounce Legolas as his heir and name me heir to the throne of Mirkwood. Already I have promised things that I cannot deliver if I am not made king." He spread his hands out expressively. "So you can see that Thranduil's change of heart is not in my best interest."
Backing away until her legs were backed against one cold stone, Tinuviel was gauging what possible effect might be had if she tried to use her songspell to turn this situation around. "And how do I fit into this problem?"
"We cannot have any other heirs from Thranduil's line. I must kill Legolas, but it cannot be here. I need you to lure him away from Rivendell."
There was nowhere for her to go but up. She turned to climb the fell and scrambled up the rocks. To her surprise, they let her go. When she came to the top she stopped, there was nowhere else to go. On two sides were sheer cliffs with no handholds or even roots to pull herself up with, on the third was the fell of rocks that led back to where she began, and finally there was the falls. It was possible that she could jump into the cold water rushing below and live, but it was a very slight possibility, leaning toward the impossible. Still, it was a choice and the only one she had.
Aldan followed leisurely behind her, allowing her to reach the top. He smiled when he reached the top and found her standing next to the falls. "Not the best of options, is it?"
She looked at him and then down at the water. She felt safer with the water. "Perhaps not, but it is better than the one you offer." She moved to the edge and was about to jump when Aldan's hand clamped tightly, painfully about her arm.
Handing her into the hands of his two friends, he looked down at her. "We do not have time to try to fish your body out of the water, but you have given me an idea." Leaning down, he tore a bit of fabric from her wedding gown. It took a moment to find an appropriate spot, but when he did he snagged the material onto the sharp bit of rock. Taking his silver dagger out of his boot, he held her hand and pierced the soft flesh of her palm with the tip, letting the blood drip down onto the rocks below. "Now. That should slow them down a bit and give us more time to get away." Replacing his dagger into it's sheath, he started back down the fell. "Bring her. We ride straightaway for Mirkwood."
AN: The song of Beren and Luthien belongs to JRR Tolkien as do all the other characters, places, etc. borrowed from his brilliant works.
