Chapter Six: Aerandir and Míriel's First Night Together
The trio did not tarry long outside. They joined the others at the feast in the dining hall, wide smiles on their faces. Míriel and Aerandir found themselves, naturally, the center of most of the feasting Elves' attention. Many toasts were drunk to their health and a blissful wedded life. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn congratulated them.
"At last, Míriel, my kinswoman, you are wedded to Aerandir. Your greatest wish is fulfilled." Lord Celeborn said. "May you know naught save happiness with him!"
Lady Galadriel only smiled warmly, saying to Míriel kindly, "My heart is glad for thee."
After the food was eaten and the wine tasted at least thrice by every Elf, room was made in the middle of the dining hall for dancing. Elf-minstrels from each realm played their own soft music, so that they drifted into one song. Strange but very beautiful it sounded, and the Elves danced merrily to it.
"Let us dance." Aerandir said.
"I cannot. Too many-" his wife began.
All the same, Míriel found herself pulled to her feet and led to the dancing area by Aerandir. Space was made for them, and soon they were twirling slowly around the floor, all eyes upon them.
"I am so embarrassed!" Míriel whispered.
Soon, however, other pairs joined them, so they were not alone. Aerandir smiled as his friends passed. He knew they were happy for him. Much to everyone's surprise, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel danced.
"To us they are Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood. To each other, husband and wife." Aerandir said, watching them silently.
Míriel and Aerandir continued to dance for some time before taking leave from Gil-celeb, who was seated next to Thranduil. As they left the dining hall, Míriel saw his eyes upon her.
"He still loves me." Míriel said quietly.
"Do not turn away all whom you may judge to be a rival, for through them is the key to heal the bitter past."
Lady Galadriel's words came back to Aerandir.
"He remains within his boundaries, and he is fine." he said.
They made their way to the private wing set aside for them in the palace. While Aerandir was gone, Míriel oversaw the preparation of their new chambers, which included a bedchamber, sitting room, library, and other rooms. They had access to an enclosed garden, away from all eyes.
"I pray you like it." Míriel said as they entered.
The walls were hung with richly decorative tapestries of the elven Haven of Brithombar. There were pictures of its former days of glory: ships sailing proudly, white gulls flying in the clear blue sky, and the
Sea. Aerandir yearned to return.
"Aerandir?" Míriel whispered, touching his arm.
"They are beautiful." he replied truthfully.
"I made them myself, the only domestic work my hands have done. Very different it is from the wielding of bows and knives."
"You made them?"
Aerandir lifted her hands to his lips.
"How I longed for this day." he whispered.
They went into their garden. Tall beeches and oaks surrounded them, and the soft green grass met the touch of their unshod feet. A sweet fountain was in the midst, the water like soothing music to their ears. Lying side by side on the ground, they admired the silver stars.
"This reminds me of when my life began here. First of all things I heard was the sound of water, and starlight was what I first beheld with my eyes. By Cuiviénen's waters I awoke." Aerandir said.
"Then you surpass me in age." Míriel said.
"It matters not. Tell me, is Lord Celeborn your kinsman?"
"My sire's cousin." Míriel replied. "Distant somewhat, but my kinsman indeed. I was born in Doriath. Elu Thingol is akin to me."
They were silent after that for some time, busy star-gazing.
"Do you remember the first time I saw you?" Míriel said suddenly, breaking their silence.
"Very clearly, my dear." Aerandir murmured.
"It was after Doriath's ruin, when Bright Eärendil became friends with Círdan. My sire and I wanted to see the Isle of Balar, so we accompanied Eärendil when he set out to build Vingilot. And there I first saw you as we arrived, clad in blue like the Sea's color."
Aerandir remembered very well.
"I saw you as you stepped off the ship onto the port, shimmering in a gown of white. Yet grief was in your eyes, for Doriath's ruin was still very recent. You stole my breath." he said.
"And you my heart." Míriel replied softly.
Aerandir drew her on top of him. He looked into her gray-blue eyes.
"You stayed while Eärendil built Vingilot. Often you came to the shores of the Isle, watching me as I helped with the building. And on the eve of the day we sailed West, we spoke of our love." he whispered.
"Do you remember we exchanged rings as tokens of our love to each other?" Míriel added.
"Yours I mysteriously lost when I came here. Long I sought for it." Aerandir said sadly.
"Yet yours I kept." Míriel said.
Drawing from around her neck a silver chain, Míriel unclasped it. There, on the end, was Aerandir's ring. Its blue stone flashed.
"After you sailed, my sire and I returned to Sirion. And before Beleriand was destroyed, we came here. Ever I pined for you, thinking
that never again would we meet. Thranduil came after my sire sent for him, informing him of his wish to divide Mirkwood between them, or Greenwood the Great as it was called then. He wedded my dearest friend, Celebrindal. It was after her death that we met again." Míriel whispered.
"Your sire," said Aerandir, continuing the tale, "remained friends with Círdan, my first Lord. When he sent a messenger for his friend Thranduil, I learned of it. In my heart my desire to see you welled up, for I like you spent many nights thinking of you and thought we would never meet. It is around this time that your ring vanished. Though I searched endlessly for it, I found it not. Taking leave from Círdan my lord, I set off with Falathar my brother once we were allowed to do so—five hundred years after Thranduil's departure."
"Yet Thranduil dwelled then in Lindon, and not in the Havens. How did you come to learn of the message?"
"Círdan went to visit Gil-galad, who ruled Lindon, and from him I learned of the message."
"So you set off…" Míriel said lovingly, stroking his handsome face.
"In time we came here, and I enlisted in your sire's royal army. For at that time Dol Guldur was not present, but the spiders were. Though I am a mariner, a warrior I am also. Soon I moved up the ranks until I was made captain. And it was on the night of my ceremony that we met again. My eyes, I thought, were cheated by some spell, for there you stood in front of me, dressed in the same glimmering white gown."
"And you were clad in the same tunic and leggings, as blue as the Sea." Míriel finished softly. "And the rest is history."
They kissed once more, arms wrapped around each other. Now that they were together, and no one would disturb them, their lust for each other could not be contained. Very soon, Míriel was moaning softly at Aerandir's touches.
"We have been betrothed far too long for my patience. Ever I lusted for you in the darkness of the nights." she said into his ear.
"We are wedded now. Our lust will be addressed." Aerandir replied.
Míriel smiled shyly at him.
"I did not think you lusted for me. I thought your only joy was in battle." she said playfully.
"Are you not a warrior as well?" he replied.
"I became one to watch over you." she teased.
Aerandir laughed softly.
"Which do you prefer, the warmth of an enemy's blood on your hands, or the warmth of my body in your hands?" she asked seductively.
Aerandir's eyes glittered.
"I shall find out." he told her in his warm voice.
Carefully he lifted her in his arms. Aerandir was not aware of the rapid pounding of his heart, nor of his quickened breathing. All he knew was that Míriel wanted him to make love to her. He was excited, for she never asked him before when they were betrothed. It seemed she was losing her fear of her terrible past, or so he prayed and hoped.
They reached their four-poster bed at last. Aerandir laid Míriel tenderly on her back before removing his clothes. Míriel beckoned him.
"Remove your dress." he commanded her.
She did what he told her. Now she was in her corset and girdle.
"Remove your corset." Aerandir said quietly.
Míriel let it slide off of her.
"And now your girdle." her husband told her.
"You must do that." she whispered, fluttering her eyelashes.
Míriel lay on her back once more. She watched with a smile as Aerandir began to slide her girdle down her legs. His hands trembled a little as her body was revealed to him in full. He dropped the girdle onto his clothes. Míriel smiled.
"What, are you shamed?" she teased.
Aerandir needed no second invitation. He lay on top of her, feeling her arms wrap around his neck. He kissed her breasts and cupped them gently. Míriel wrapped her legs around his, bringing him closer to her.
"You are perfect for me." he whispered.
Míriel replied by nipping his shoulder. She felt him explore her tenderly, his touches ever so gentle. He ran his tongue over her stomach and down her thigh. She moaned. He repeated it. She moaned again.
They rolled over so that Míriel was on top of Aerandir. By now, they were both very hot. Beads of perspiration ran down their bodies. For Elves, as in everything else they do to perfection, are much more passionate love-makers than are mortal Men.
The Princess of Southern Mirkwood stared into her lover's eyes. She nuzzled his face, nipping his ears. Her hands she let run over his smooth bare chest. She sucked at the hollow space beneath his neck, and he groaned pleasurably.
"Míriel…"
She looked and saw his strong arms gripping her by her hips. There was a silent plea in his eyes as he looked at her.
"We shall try." she told him.
She lay on her back again, opening her arms wide for him. He straddled out her legs before laying on top of her, feeling once more her soft arms about him. Slowly, he neared her sweet spot.
But fate, it seems, would not allow it. Try as she may, Míriel could not keep the memories away. She saw Falathar once again, his cold voice ringing with laughter as he lay on her. Míriel uttered a piercing scream.
"Míriel!" Aerandir cried, getting off of her. "I did not even enter!"
"Goheno nin. I cannot!" she wept bitterly.
Aerandir held her close as she wept, feeling sorry for his dear wife.