(chapter 11)

They ran quickly and soon they were within its massive trunk. It must have been recently abandoned by some creature. They caught their breath and were silent for a time. Raven was listening for the hunters, and Geliriel was left to wonder about what was going on. She knew they had to escape again, but from whom? Raven had assured her that nothing was left behind in his room that they could use to find him. Had they found some other way? 'Well, it is obvious they have,' she chided herself. 'Otherwise we would not be running from them.'

Once things were quiet, Raven turned to look at her. Now was as good a time as any to broach the subject of which way to go from here. They needed a plan and soon. It wouldn't do any good to figure it out on the run, nor as they went along. Raven was the sort that needed a firm plan in place before doing anything major. Like running from these hunters.

"I had hoped we'd have time to discuss this, but it seems we've been rushed into it," he began. "Which way would you like to go from the Falls, east or west?"

"Neither."

"Neither? What do you mean?"

"We need to go north. To Gondolin."

He was silent. She was from Gondolin after all. She really was the 'key' the Dark Lord and his master needed. She needed to know that this information was what they sought. She needed to know that she'd be a hunted woman from now on if anyone employed by Lord Melkor or his master should find out.

"Do you know the way into the city?"

"I know how to get to the gates. My mother told me I was to identify myself as Maeglin's daughter. If I was still refused entry, I would show them the necklace and ring as proof that I am Gondolindrim."

"Geliriel, listen to me. This is the information I was supposed to get from you. I was, until recently, Lord Melkor's servant. He's been looking for a way to destroy Gondolin, and he needed a 'key' to do so. You were that 'key.'"

She sat looking at him in growing horror. 'Does he mean to betray me?' she asked herself. 'Would he destroy everything between us to fulfill his duties?' He watched the emotions on her face. She was thinking that he'd betray her, and that was the last thing on his mind.

Taking the ring from the pouch around his belt, he placed it on her finger. Then, taking her hand in his, he looked into her eyes and made a promise.

"Not now, or ever, will I betray you, my love. I give you this ring as a symbol of my promise and my love." He watched as her eyes filled with tears and a slight smile graced her face.

"My love. My Melannen." She reached up and caressed his face. He was now, and forever Melannen. To her and to all he'd meet.

"Then we'll go to Gondolin." he said. Then he kissed her, long and passionately.

Suddenly, a great splash was heard just outside the tree. Looking out of the opening, Melannen saw a lone hunter standing with an arrow pointed at them. They had been caught. He could only hope that this hunter hadn't heard about their plans to go to Gondolin.

"Come out." the hunter ordered. "Any sudden moves and I'll shoot."

Melannen grasped Geliriel's hand. She was frightened, and she was trembling. They slowly exited the cypress and stood before the hunter. The man whistled a few notes of call, and soon they were surrounded by the rest of them. It seemed futile to try another escape, but Melannen had one more trick up his sleeve.

The leader of these hunters came forward. He held a smug look of triumph on his face that Melannen wanted so desperately to remove. He held in the temptation to strike, waiting for the perfect opportunity. But he didn't count on Geliriel providing it for him.

She had begun to sing, soft and soothingly. The hunters stood stock still, eyes glazed over, enchanted by her song. Melannen, very carefully, loosened a sword from one of the hunters. Geliriel kept singing as he methodically ran the sword through the leader and then several of the others. He was about to kill another when he felt a hand on his arm.

Turning to face Geliriel, she motioned that they should run toward the Andram. He nodded, and took her proffered hand. She sang as they went, getting louder so that the enchantment would last until hey were far enough away. Once the hills were in sight, she stopped singing and they ran. The hunters quickly recovered and followed the pair, catching up to them once again at the Falls.

This time, Geliriel could not sing. She was breathing too fast and hard from running to do so. A few of the hunters were ready to loose arrows, another few were getting out a net. Melannen then knew how things would end.

"Creban, called Raven. You have disappointed, and disobeyed, your master and the Dark Lord. For that, you are sentenced to die. The girl has a choice. She can either surrender to us and return to Angband, or she dies as well."

"My name is Melannen. You'll do well to remember it."

"We will remember nothing."

The hunters drew back their arrows, preparing to fire. Melannen turned around to face Geliriel. He mouthed the words, 'Run. I'll love you forever,' before the first arrow struck him. A wave of pain ran through his body and across his face. He was struck by two more arrows before he fell down dead.

For a moment, Geliriel stood in shock. The movement of the hunters with the net coming toward her got her attention. She turned and fled again, climbing the hills and going west. They followed her, bringing their net with them. They thought to catch her, but she'd never go back. She stopped on a small precipice directly above the Falls. Laughing, she looked at the hunters who were trying to get to her.

"My choice is to die, but not by your hands!" she yelled over the roar of the Falls. "You will never get the secrets I hold!" She placed one hand over her belly and apologized to her child. "I am sorry, little one. You and I will see him again in the Halls of Mandos."

She then reached up to take off the necklace. She held it in her hand as she stepped to the ledge. She let the hunters get as close as possible, knowing they still wished to ensnare her and take her back to Angband. As soon as they were close enough, Geliriel jumped. As she fell, she screamed Melannen's name before disappearing into the water and down into the depths of the Sirion beneath the Andram.