Several months had passed and Geliriel's pregnancy became increasingly more evident. She still did her walking, but was accompanied by Amrod. Since she wasn't able to fit into the clothes she had anymore, Amrod had a seamstress brought in all the way from Maglor's Gap to make her new clothes. He even hired her to stay on during the pregnancy so Geliriel would never be without clothes.

His attentiveness, along with everything else, had the desired effect on Geliriel. He was sure she was in love with him, but had not actually said so. He thought that only one thing kept her from doing so. She still had not told him of her past. He wasn't exactly sure why she hadn't told him, but he hoped she would soon. He promised her he'd wait until she was ready, and would not press her into telling him, but he was becoming impatient.

It became their routine to eat breakfast in the east garden gazebo when the weather permitted it. Then they'd take a turn around the manor before going to her room to lie down. Around mid-day, they would either take lunch in her sitting room or outside as a picnic lunch. Dinners were moved to the smaller dining room. Glinneth and Berior would join them there, at Geliriel's insistence and with Amrod's approval. The four soon became a tight-knit group of friends.

During those months, Geliriel was introduced to three of his brothers when they came to the manor at various times. She adored Amras, who visited often, and Maglor, who had written a poem for her during his stay. She only barely tolerated Celegorm. There was something in his manner that didn't sit right with her. She quietly thanked Iluvatar that he didn't stay longer than a couple days before he went back home. At Amrod's request, Maglor and Celegorm took back news of Geliriel to his absent brothers, who wrote short notes of welcome to her.

After dinner one evening, Amrod escorted her back to her rooms. They sat on pillows in front of the fireplace, talking quietly about whatever came to mind and holding hands. At one point, a curious look spread over Geliriel's face. It passed and nothing was said of it. Moments later, though, the same look crossed her face again.

"What's wrong, dearest? Are you okay?" he asked, quickly becoming concerned about her health.

"I'm fine, Amrod. The baby moved..." Once again the look crossed her face and she smiled. She placed his hand on her belly, and sure enough, the little one moved again! Geliriel couldn't help but laugh as Amrod's face filled with wonder and excitement. He began to laugh as well. It was something both of them were experiencing for the first time, and they found themselves sitting in silence feeling the active baby move.

Later, Amrod got up to leave. Not wanting to remain seated while he left, Geliriel got up as well. She walked him to the door and their goodnights were said. Before he turned to go, he gathered her in his arms and they held each other in the embrace. Then, he kissed her cheek. It was short, and Geliriel was momentarily surprised. In short order, he kissed her again, this time on the mouth. It was long, heated, and passionate. There was no doubt left in her mind how he felt for her, and there was no doubt left in his mind about her feelings for him. Slowly, they broke the kiss, and he took her face in his hands with a soft caress.

There was no mistaking his desire for her. It shone clearly in his eyes, which brought back her memories of Melannen. She held back the tears as Amrod turned to go. Once he was out of sight, she quietly shut the door and leaned back against it, letting the tears fall.

Her dreams that night were of Melannen and her son. They were happy and playing together. But the dream soon changed. Amrod was there, and Melannen turned to him with a sad smile on his face. He clasped his hand in greeting, then picked up his son and handed him to Amrod. He laid his hand on the child's back, then turned and walked away, slowly fading in the distance until he was gone. Geliriel woke, calling Melannen's name, and crying herself back to sleep.

'I can't make Amrod wait forever,' she thought. 'I have to tell him what he wants to know. I have to tell him about Melannen.'

The next day passed by as if it were any other day. Geliriel met Amrod for breakfast in the east garden and ate lunch in her rooms. Then, around early evening, while the sun was setting, Geliriel decided it was time. She sent a worried Glinneth with a message to meet her in the west garden, by the pond. She went out to wait for him in the cool evening air, dressed in a simple, dark blue dress and covered with a shawl. Berior waited until Amrod came to meet her, then left quietly.

"You wished to see me, my love?" He asked her. She nodded and they sat down together on one of the nearby benches. She took a deep breath and let it go slowly, wondering how she was going to tell him. Finally, after another deep breath, she began.

"I'm not sure how to begin telling you about my recent past, before I came to you here."

"Are you sure you're ready, love?" He asked her seriously. He wanted so desperately to know, but he had to know she was sure about doing so.

"Yes. It's time. In fact, I'd have to say it's long overdue. You deserve to know all about me. It's only fair." She said quietly. He nodded and waited for her to start.

"I guess I should start with my home. I was born in Gondolin, but my mother took me from there to live in Menegroth with her family. She never told me much about it, but said noting more than my father wanted nothing to do with either of us. I barely remember anything more, except what I've already shared with you. The songs mother would sing to me and playing with the other children.

We were happy there, but one day everything fell apart. All I remember was that people were running and screaming, fires were starting everywhere, and it seemed as if Menegroth itself was crumbling down. My mother grabbed my hand and we ran out of the tunnels into Neldoreth. She quickly told me to run to the Esgalduin, find a boat, and try to get to Gondolin to warn them of the attacks. She gave me a necklace and a ring. The necklace was made to identify me to those in Gondolin, and I was to go to either King Turgon, or if not him, than to my father Maeglin. My mother also told me of the memory charm placed on the necklace by Queen Melian. If I were captured, and the necklace removed, I would remember nothing except the name Morniel and the forest of Brethil.

I made it as far as northern Brethil, but was captured by bandits. I was knocked out. The next thing I could remember was darkness and his voice. His name was Creban at the time, and he was an agent of Morgoth..."

Amrod let out a startled gasp. She placed her hand over his for a moment. She could only guess at what he was feeling, but she had to continue.

"At first, he was my questioner and would constantly ask me who I was and where I was from. Since my necklace had been removed, I could tell him nothing more than Morniel and Brethil. I wasn't aware of the days or the time, so I don't know how long it was before the first change. He came to me and put some kind of hold spell over me. I couldn't refuse him anything. I was only aware of his lust for me moments before. He made me undress and I could do nothing to stop him. He had his way with me."

Another gasp came from Amrod. She looked at him and saw the emotions running across his face. He had even moved away from her, but only a little. He stared at the pond, but his expression told her that he didn't see it. It grieved her more that she had to tell him, and she was beginning to regret it, but she continued once again.

"As I've said before, I didn't have any perception of time. He would come to me at different intervals, each time he would take me and I could do nothing against it. After a while, I recognized a change within myself. I realized I was pregnant with his child, but I didn't tell him.

There was another change, and instead of using me himself, he'd humiliate me or cause pain. Then, when he still didn't get the answers he needed, he set his men on me while he watched. I don't know how I stayed sane, but I did. After there was no progress with that tactic, time passed again. Another change happened in him. He came to me one last time and told me we were leaving. We made love then. He didn't use his spell over me, and I didn't refuse him. I realized at that moment that, even though he had caused me pain and humiliation, I had somehow fallen in love with him.

We ran for our lives. He had a boat and we went down the Sirion. We stopped a couple times. The first time, he told me that he loved me. The second time he gave me back my necklace. He put it on and all my memories came back to me. I was Geliriel and I'm from Gondolin. I grew uneasy, so we ran again, taking the boat into the fens. Inside a cypress trunk, he gave me my ring, and promised his eternal love. He was my beloved, my Melannen. He forsook the name Creban and remained Melannen.

The hunters that were sent after us finally found us, but we got away. We ran together to the falls, but in one last effort to escape, he was killed. I knew I would either be killed or taken back, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of either. I ran to the Andram and found a ledge over the falls. I jumped, promising our child, my son, that we'd meet Melannen in the Halls of Mandos to be with him forever. The next thing I knew, I was here. With you."

Amrod was as silent as ever. She went to touch his hand again, to gain some kind of reassurance that everything was all right. But he moved his hand so she couldn't touch it, stood up and walked to the far side of the pond, his back to her. Tears welled up in her eyes. 'What have I done?' she asked herself. 'What will he do now?' He turned to face her as she stood up. She could not read his expression, and that scared her even more. Bracing herself against the worst, she was ready for his response.

"I must see my brother. I've had word from him two days ago. I will leave in the morning."

"When will you return, my lord?"

"I don't know." He turned away from her again and left, walking quickly. Geliriel sat down on the bench again and finally let the tears fall with a great sob. 'I've lost him. He will return and see me gone from his house forever. I've lost him.' She slid from the bench and crumpled on the ground and cried. She felt herself being lifted and carried back to the manor and her rooms. She did not know it, but Berior had seen the master leave quickly and ran to find her crying on the ground.

Once she was in her bedroom, Glinneth silently set about getting her out of the dress and into a night tunic. She helped Berior get the weeping girl into her bed. Then Glinneth kept watch in the room while Berior stood at her door. By mutual agreement between the two, Geliriel would not be disturbed. Not even by the master.