Chapter 10
Nienna recognized Lórien as soon as she exited with Ereinion. She shook her head at him, putting a hand before her.
" Celebhiril, you shirked coming with me across the Sea before, but I have searched high and low for you. You will come with me to Valinor."
Nienna lifted her head.
" You forget to whom you speak, little brother."
The Vala's fiery eyes narrowed.
" You will come with me or by Eru," Lórien began.
Ereinion stepped forward.
" Good Elf, I am Ereinion Gil-galad."
Lórien simply sent him an uncaring stare.
" I know who you are."
Nienna looked upward, biting her lip.
" Why did you come? I thought you went across the Sea."
Lórien shook his head.
" I should have never let you have your own Halls."
Glorfindel then moved forward.
" Good Elf, I am the escort of your sister. My actions were mandated directly by the Vala Mandos and Manwë."
Lórien drew in a deep breath, before shaking his head. Nienna touched his arm, her voice falling into the tongue of the Ainur so that only one other forgotten Elf understood her soft words.
" Eru sent me Himself, Lórien. I did not wish to come, but who am I to go against my Lord?"
Lórien looked down before jutting his chin towards Glorfindel.
" Mandos sent you with Glorfindel, the Balrog slayer?" He spoke back in the same tongue.
Nienna nodded.
Ereinion watched the display with a careful eye. He did not like her fiery brother; not one bit. Galadriel moved to his side.
" They speak in the tongue of old." She said in a reminiscing tone. "They speak in the language that was before Quenya."
Glorfindel cast her a wary glance.
" You understand it?"
Galadriel nodded.
" Am I right when I say that the Elf is none other than-"
Glorfindel sent her a violent headshake, silencing her with a harsh motion.
" We will speak later in private, Artanis."
Galadriel seemed a bit taken aback before she drew herself up to full height.
" What is going on, Balrog slayer?"
Glorfindel glanced at Ereinion.
" I cannot speak it without my Lady's permission."
Ereinion glanced back, and then back again. Celebhiril stood alone. Her brother was gone. A murmur went around the gathered Elves as she turned. Ereinion extended a hand to her.
" Where did he go?"
She shook her head.
" Away. Who knows his mind?"
Ereinion studied her with a careful eye. Sorrow seemed to have seeped back into her mood.
" I wish to speak with you, Celebhiril." Galadriel suddenly spoke in the ancient tongue.
Celebhiril gazed at the woman with a hard look before nodding.
" Fetch Elrond then and we shall speak."
Galadriel crossed her arms.
" And my husband."
Celebhiril nodded inclining her head.
" As you wish."
~*~
Ereinion closed his study door and bolted it. Celebhiril bid them to sit. Glorfindel paused by her, turning his back and murmuring something to her. She shook her head and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Something passed between them. Glorfindel nodded, backing away to stand beside Elrond.
Nienna pulled a necklace off her neck, untwining her long raven tresses from the chain. She took a few steps handing to Ereinion. He glanced at it and then up at her.
" Tis the mark of Nienna." He drew one from his collar. " She is your patron Valië also."
Galadriel just rose.
" That Elf was no Elf, Celebhiril. That was the Vala Lórien that you called brother."
Eyes fell on her with surprise. Celebhiril inclined her head.
" He is my brother, as is Mandos, Manwë and Morgoth." She sighed. "I am Nienna." Nienna motioned to Elrond and Glorfindel. "They know already. Glorfindel I was assigned to bring back to these shores and then remain until time deemed my return to Aman. Elrond found out by unlucky chance."
" Twas your fault." Elrond protested good-naturedly.
Ereinion stared down at the charm and then back up at her.
" So you are a Valië, one of the Aratar?"
Nienna nodded sadly.
" I cannot just go around heralding my presence. I ask that you keep it a secret." She put her hands forward in a beseeching manner. "Please do not treat me any differently. In this form, I am just like an Elf. I feel. I am just like you, just with a few more powers."
Celeborn then spoke up.
" How long will you be here, my lady?"
Nienna shook her head.
" I do not know."
~*~
Ereinion sat, a pipe in hand as he blew the swirls out. Rarely did he take out the curved pipe, and only when he was perplexed.
*Of course I would fall in love with an unattainable Valië.
He leaned back on his elbows feeling the sand seep into his robes. He finally laid all the way back, using his outer robe as a pillow as he stared up at the stars. He sighed, his mind holding her image in it.
A soft song began. Ereinion sat back up on his elbows, careful not to disturb whoever sang. Hundreds of yards away, standing amidst the water she stood, oblivious to him. He watched her, her heartrending song seeming to set the beat of the waves. She bent down, running a gentle hand along the waters and then standing to stare towards the West.
Before he knew it, he had risen and was only a few meters away from her. She sighed softly, and he heard her whisper.
" What am I to do?"
He put his hand in his pocket, feeling the cool chain of her pendent. He coughed into his other fist, alerting her to his presence. She turned partly, biting her lip in apprehension. He drew the jeweled chain, far more beautiful than the one he wore, from his pocket, presenting it to her.
Nienna faced him, her hands covering his hand and closing it into a fist.
" Keep it. It is a gift."
Ereinion smiled slightly and looked away, uncertain of what to say. Nienna sighed.
" I knew I should not have told you."
Ereinion's brow furrowed.
" You would have kept lying to me?"
Nienna shook her head, her eyes begging him to believe her.
" I never once lied, save about my name. My brothers had gone across the Sea, years upon years ago. I did see your grandfather and great uncles. My soul did die the day the Doom of Mandos fell."
Ereinion turned his head.
" You are a Valië."
Nienna rubbed her arm briskly.
" I am Celebhiril, not Nienna now." She took his hand. " Please do not treat me like a porcelain doll to be coddled. I just escaped that with Lórien."
Ereinion gazed down at her not caring that he was blatantly staring. Nienna ran a hand down his cheek. He caught her hand, twining his fingers with hers.
" May I escort thee to breakfast in the morn?"
Nienna's breath caught at the implications of what he asked. He was formally asking if they indeed could be a couple. Nienna's lips spread in a soft smile before she nodded silently. Ereinion's grin quickly appeared.
" Thank you."
Nienna leaned up, hesitating a moment before kissing his cheek gently.
" The pleasure is mine, Gil-galad."
AN: I know it is commonly known among those that have read The Silmarillion, that Nienna's brothers are Mandos and Lórien alone. I beg to differ with this opinion. In The Lost Tales and Other Writings, Tolkien adds that Manwë and Melkor (Morgoth) are also her brothers. For this reason, Nienna may have pleaded for Morgoth's mercy when he was first imprisoned and judged. If you wish to debate this point further, please email me. If this small note totally confused you, ignore it entirely or go buy The Silmarillion. I greatly recommend it!!