As always, this is rated PG-13 for mentions of violence, and I don't own the Tolkien characters.

The Game of the Gods, 8

"It's your move."

Varda didn't reply for a moment, still eyeing the piece that Morgoth had put forward with disfavor. Morgoth fought the urge to whine or stamp his feet. At least the stars were only about as bright as Wilwarin normally was.

"I hate Sues like this," said Varda, disgust in her voice.

"You hate all Sues," said Morgoth. "Why should this be different?" But he had to fight to keep from grinning. He was upsetting Varda. This was the most fun thing he had done in several Ages.

Of course, almost anything was fun after being trapped in the Void, but Morgoth wasn't going to think about that right now.

"Yes, but this one is particularly disgusting," said Varda.

"That means that you can't defeat her, right?" Morgoth asked, his grin widening.

Varda just rolled her eyes.

Morgoth chuckled and sent the Sue into motion.

-----

"We are almost there, my Queen."

Elacathaleeleria pushed her hair out of her eyes with one silver glove and nodded. "Then ride ahead, and bring me word when the walls of Rivendell are in view."

The scout bowed and turned his horse, pounding on ahead. Elacathaleeleria sighed and caressed the neck of the delicate dove-gray unicorn she rode.

"Sometimes," she said, "people overlook the obvious."

The unicorn snorted and nodded in agreement.

It was impossible for anyone to overlook Queen Elacathaleeleria of the Realm of Starhaven. She shone even now, after spending three months riding from her Kingdom of Starhaven in the far East of Middle-earth. She had long golden hair, just lightly twined with silver, that had made the Lady Galadriel of Lórien very jealous when Elacathaleeleria stopped in the Golden Wood to rest. The Queen had tried gently to persuade her out of her jealousy, but Galadriel was having none of it; she had locked herself up in her palace, and the Queen and her weary train had been forced to ride on. It didn't really matter to her people, of course, since they could look on the beauty of their Queen and be more content than they could with food or rest, but it mattered to Elacathaleeleria of Starhaven, because she hated to see her people distressed.

Her eyes were large and emerald, flecked with gold; they shone with a thin line of blue when she was upset. They might have had a touch of blue now, but only because Elacathaleeleria was upset with the excessive deference of the scout. He should have brought her back a report only when they were in sight of Rivendell, as she had instructed. But he had come back before the time to gaze once more on the tender beauty of his Queen, and the wisdom and sorrow in her face. Elacathaleeleria had lost her only love, and that infused her with a light of gentleness that all who knew her huddled near, as the one shining star in the darkness of their lives.

-----

"Oh, go on."

Varda shook her head, her lips pursed together.

"You know you want to say something," Morgoth went on in the coaxing tones that had once persuaded Manwë to act like an idiot. "Say it."

"There are no words for the depths of your heinousness."

Morgoth grinned. "But you can't stop her, can you?" he asked softly. "Starhaven isn't on any maps, but it could be."

Varda just glared at him and was quiet.

----

"We are nearly there, my lady."

Elacathaleeleria took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She had come to the Council of the Ring to offer her advice. Starhaven lay almost within the shadow of Mordor, and she had more experience fighting Sauron than anyone there. They needed her.

But she would see...him again. She knew that much. Even though Sadamir had died in her arms gasping that he loved her, she would see the reincarnation of him at the Council.

She had to be ready.

Queen Elacathaleeleria of the Realm of Starhaven stiffened her shoulders and settled into the unicorn's gallop.

******

"We must destroy it, in the fires of Mount Doom."

Elacathaleeleria straightened her shoulders and stepped forward. She had hesitated a long time, but now she wore the gold and green gown she had last seen Sadamir in. He would know her at once, the new incarnation, and cleave to her. And then they might cast the Ring into the fires.

"No one can do so," she said, as she moved forward, brushing the guards aside as if they were nothing by the sorrow in her face, "save the Queen of Starhaven and her destined lover."

And there he was, turning to face her. The beauty in his face! Elacathaleeleria had never forgotten Sadamir, but she thought he looked even better now. And while he had been kind and loving in his other life, in this one, sorrow had taught him wisdom. She could see it on his shoulders like a mantle, and she trembled, fighting the urge to gasp. She had to hold strong. They would be on the trail to Orodruin within a few hours, a pair of Elves going to repair the Elves' folly.

He turned to face her. There was a long silence. Elacathaleeleria waited for the gasp of recognition, the cry of delight.

Instead, he only shook his head and said, "Who are you, my lady?"

Elacathaleeleria blinked. How strange that he did not know her! But he will. He must. "My lord, your lady. Queen Elacathaleeleria of the Realm of Starhaven. Once, you lived with me and loved me, in the form of an Elf named Sadamir."

Startlement entered his eyes, and then a look of pity. "My lady," he said in Quenya, with all the gentleness of a healer and all the sternness of an eagle, "this is my only incarnation. I was born in the last days of the First Age and have dwelt in Imladris since the Second. I have never died."

"But... you must..."

He shook his head. "No, my lady. I have only ever been Elrond Halfelven, and I will be until I sail over Sea."

Elacathaleeleria staggered, tried to catch herself on a chair, and fell. "But- I remember Sadamir. I know that you are he."

"Poor woman," said a gruff voice. "She's been driven mad, surely."

"But my heartbreak," said Elacathaleeleria, turning her head so that she could see Elrond as he crouched above her. "My heartbreak was the center of my life, but you are not Sadamir, you say."

"I never was."

She struggled to breathe. Had all the heartbreak that defined her life been a lie?

It seemed that it had.

Queen Elacathaleeleria of the Realm of Starhaven breathed faster, and faster. Her heart labored in her chest for a moment longer before it burst.

------

Morgoth stared at Varda. "You can laugh now."

Varda, who had her hands clapped across her mouth, looked at him.

"I know you were holding back," said Morgoth in disgust. "Go on, laugh. I suppose it's no more than what I deserve."

Varda dropped her hands and burst out laughing. A corresponding burst of radiance made Morgoth fall back from the table and lie whimpering on the floor until the bad memories- and the light- faded.

When he got back up, he said sulkily, "I don't see what was all that funny. Tragic love- Middle-earth is full of tragic loves. A realm far in the east- no one really knows what lies beyond Rhûn. Perhaps there's a realm there after all."

"But you chose Elrond," said Varda. "I mean, come on."

"'Come on?' Do you know how undignified that makes you sound?"

"Do you know how undignified you look sprawled on the floor? Or getting upset about a Sue that could die of heartbreak?"

Morgoth sat back down and moved forward a Sue carrying a long slender tube.

Varda shook her head. "You never learn, do you?"



Not as violent as some of the others, again, but that was fun.