Chapter Twenty-two: The Woodmen and Beorning's Warning
Gil-celeb and Legolas did not tarry long with Aerandir and Míriel. They took their leave and left with the two handmaidens. Aerandir made sure the door to their private quarters was locked before returning to his wife. She lay in bed with her eyes closed, perspire running down her face.
"Míriel…" Aerandir called to her softly.
Her eyes opened slowly.
"Hold Celoneth." he said.
The Princess raised herself into a sitting position as Aerandir placed their daughter into her arms. Míriel gently stroked her infant's soft, smooth face with her fingertips. Then she bit her lips and turned her face away. Aerandir saw a few tears run down her cheeks.
"What ever is the matter?" he asked gently.
Míriel composed herself before answering:
"I wanted to bear you a son who could carry your family's name. When Celoneth bears children, they will not belong to your family."
Aerandir shook his head. He turned Míriel's face towards him.
"Meleth nín, it matters not to me whether you bear me a son or not. My only desire is to sire your children. I am not like other men who desire only sons, and detest daughters." Aerandir told her.
Míriel smiled slightly at him.
"I am sorry, Aerandir! Forgive me!" she whispered.
Her husband sat down next to her. He leaned forward and began to nuzzle her face. Míriel moaned softly. Aerandir drew his arm around her waist and turned her face towards him. The Princess felt his tongue inside her mouth, and a hunger for her husband welled up inside her. Just as she was about to submit herself to him, Celoneth uttered a cry. Aerandir immediately released his hold on his wife.
"Ai, sell nín!" she said. "You are hungry!"
Aerandir watched with glowing eyes as his wife turned onto her side and placed Celoneth next to her, so that she was nursing from her left breast. He lay next to Celoneth, so that their newborn daughter was between them. For awhile, they said no word. They were too absorbed in watching their small miracle that lay between them—Celoneth.
Aerandir spent the rest of the day with Míriel. He insisted on tending to her himself. The result was that he fed her, bathed her (which was a rather enjoyable affair for the pair), and sat next to her as she rested. Míriel was grateful for all that Aerandir did, and she knew it was his way of being romantic and proving his undying love to her. It also gave Amorith and Giliath a chance to rest. Both handmaidens had tended to the Princess' every need unceasingly before she gave birth. For time was running drastically short for Aerandir.
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The next day, only eleven days after Legolas left his home, and the day after Míriel gave birth, the Princess emerged from her chamber. The dining hall erupted into thunderous applause and cheering as she entered with Celoneth, arm in arm with Aerandir. Their friends gathered around them to see their newborn daughter, and she was passed around the hall. All the Elves forgot about their morning meal. It is their nature that whenever they see a newborn, be it animal, Elf, or human, they forget all else. Elves are excellent parents, and they love all young beings.
While Gil-celeb's granddaughter was being passed around, much to her mother's pride, an advisor of his came to him.
"Hîr nín, some messengers from the Woodmen and Beornings have arrived. It concerns Falathar." he said.
The King excused himself from Legolas and hurried away. The Prince watched him with puzzlement. It seemed to him that Falathar carried with him a heavy burden concerning southern Eryn Lasgalen. He was not completely satisfied with what Míriel told him about Falathar. He wanted to know the entire truth. Unknown to him, the opportunity was rapidly approaching, and it would alter his future forever.
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"Good day to you." King Gil-celeb said to the messengers.
They all bowed to him politely. Then one of them spoke up quickly.
"We do not wish to waste your time, so we will be quick. We feel there is a grave danger coming to you. You may recall your subject who betrayed you to become the Dark Lord's servant in Dol Guldur. After it was destroyed, you said he disappeared. From the description we heard, we concluded that he relocated to an old, abandoned castle just beyond your borders. That was why your spies could not find it. It is within our land. We have noticed that it has been quiet for some time. Our spies have reported seeing him joining with a band of Elves travelling north. It is interesting to note that rumor has it that the Prince of northern Eryn Lasgalen himself was among the band on his way home." he said.
Gil-celeb bolted to his senses. He remembered reading in the first letter Míriel received from Legolas that he met up with an apparently wandering Elf named Avathar who later became his personal servant.
"Continue." the King said apprehensively.
"Everything has been quiet since his departure. An excursion to the castle revealed that he used a fell winged beast. It has been utterly destroyed. His castle has been demolished."
"Then everything is fine."
"No, it is not. About six days ago, a group of Elves passed through our land. They claimed to be the Prince Legolas and his guard. We did not speak or help them in accordance to a warning you issued about possible dangerous strangers. It has been confirmed that they are indeed the Prince Legolas and his guard. We sincerely apologize to them. Only two days after the Prince departed from our land, your traitorous subject passed through. He killed for a horse, and it has been confirmed that he went in the direction of his castle. He will find it destroyed. Doubtless he will make his way here. We only wished to inform you so you may take whatever precautions necessary to stop him."
Gil-celeb was struck speechless. His advisor stared dumbly at the gathered messengers. Neither spoke for several moments.
"I thank you for informing me. This is most invaluable information. I will warn my border-wardens." Gil-celeb said sternly.
The messengers bowed once more before leaving the King and his advisor to themselves. The pair looked at each other.
"What shall we do?" the advisor said. "We know what he wants. He has waited many ages for it, and this has only fueled his hate."
"Bring Legolas. I must speak with him." the King ordered.
A few minutes later, the advisor returned with Legolas. The Prince was astounded to see the grave almost frightened look on the King's face. He immediately bowed deeply to him. Gil-celeb waved his hand.
"Tell me, Legolas, how did you meet Avathar." he said quickly.
Legolas related everything to the King. He felt that it was a dire need, so he included all the details that he could remember. He saw the King and advisor's close their eyes and their faces fell.
"Did you notice anything strange about him?" the King asked.
Legolas hesitated. The King and advisor looked at him hard.
"What is it?" Gil-celeb asked sharply. "Speak!"
"He overheard me talk about Míriel. Then he fed me a great lie, which, I must admit, I believed, but not any longer. He said Aerandir forced Míriel to wed him, so Falathar could not wed her." he said.
Gil-celeb's eyes blazed.
"The liar!" he shouted furiously. "Míriel never loved and never will love him! Aerandir did not force Míriel to wed him. She chose him!"
Legolas grew quiet.
"Did you notice anything else?" the King persisted.
"At times, if I came upon him unawares, he seemed different. He looked dark and terrible to behold…" the Prince answered.
The advisor drew Gil-celeb aside and whispered into his ear. They both looked at Legolas intently then nodded their heads.
"You have confirmed the report that the Woodmen and Beornings related to me. Míriel feared this, and it has happened." the King said.
"What did Míriel fear?" Legolas asked quickly.
"Never mind, Legolas. Listen to me very carefully now. You will go about your usual visit here as if nothing has happened. I never asked you to speak, and you never told me anything. My very life and the lives of both Aerandir and Míriel depend strictly upon this, perhaps even the entire existence of my kingdom. Do you understand me? Not one word."
Legolas looked deeply into the King's eyes. Even though he did not know the full reason behind everything, including his questioning, he felt that it was vital to cooperate. Aerandir was his mentor and a dear friend, and he did not wish any harm to come to him, Míriel, or even Gil-celeb.