Disclaimer: Okay, the characters you don't recognize are mine, the rest of the lot belongs to JRR Tolkien, and the depictions belong to what's-his-face, Peter Jackson, there you go. I don't make any money off of this either. But if you have some spare change... just kidding. And I really don't feel like writing this every time, so this applies to all chapters, k?
A/N: Okay, as some of you know, I've done a song fic before, but this is my first actual fanfic, so PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE(add about a million more E's here)ASE review, but please don't flame me, just give me constructive criticism. It ain't that good yet, and I'm actually almost done, because I don't write chapters like "spur of the moment", I like to be satisfied with my chapters before I actually post them up, so be patient, I'm going to add things like I guess every other week? Maybe more often? I don't know, I'm slow, just be patient.
It may be a little far-fetched, but hey, give me a little bit of dramatic license here, okay?
And don't criticize me about my Elvish, I ain't completely fluent, but I tried my best (found this sindarin dictionary, and I think I worked it right, but I guess the story-line is more important... I mean I hope it should be)
By the way, once you read it, look at my Profile and IM me, tell me what you think, and if you have any ideas for what I should do to it, and then review too, okay? THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH in advance.
Anyway, I really hope you like this; I worked real hard on it, and... well... enjoy!
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--(Prologue)--
"Maranwë," Glorfindel said quietly. "Innas lle lau an pedo na Naneth lîn, henio?" Will you allow me to speak with your mother please
Maranwë, who took Larien, her newborn sister, from her mother who had been breastfeeding her, nodded, sat down, and perked up her ears intently.
"Maranwë, im faeg ed i lhaw na hên lle," he said as harshly as he could without frightening the girl, for he knew not how to break it to her. He had to admit that he had no idea how to tell Elena either, but it was easier than to inform an eighty-five year old elfling. I meant out of the ears of you children
"Maranwë," Elena said somewhat harshly with her light tone, fiddling with the top of her dress so that her breast was now covered. "Na i hiril. Lasto an Glorfindel." Be a lady. Listen to Glorfindel
Maranwë acquired her normal sarcasm, saying, "Mae, Glorfindel. Ben iest lîn." She nudged his shoulder, taking herself and Larien out of their mother's room. Fine, Glorfindel. According to your wish
Elena laughed after her eldest daughter had shut the door behind her as she continued to straighten her bed sheets. "Lle garo an laden he, Glorfindel. He uisto ir an garo lam lîn, fael don' orda tâd lîn uhannad." You have to excuse her, Glorfindel. She knows not when to hold her tongue, just like both her parents unfortunately
"Elena, hiril nîn," Glorfindel began, turning his head down to the floor. My Lady He tried with all his might to hold in his overpowering tears, yet one flowed over his lashes. He quickly brushed it away.
"Uma, Glorfindel? Man naa ha?" asked Elena, concern possessing her emerald eyes. "Lle thio o presta. Man naa ha mellon nîn?" Yes, Glorfindel? What is it? You seem troubled. What is it, my friend?
"Ha naa oh Hîr Aranthi, hiril nîn," Glorfindel continued, his face turned toward his feet. It is about Lord Aranthi, my lady
"Man naa ha, Glorfindel?" she repeated more anxiously, trying not to sound as fearful as she felt. What is it
"Hiril nîn, ho naa fern," Glorfindel whispered sadly. My lady, he is dead He couldn't bear to turn up his head to look at her, but after too long of a silent moment he looked up and saw her trembling.
"N'uma, n'uma," the grieving wife said to herself, falling back onto her bed, crying hysterically. No, no
"Hiril nîn, im hiraetha," he murmured, trying to think of words to ease her pain, yet he could think of none. My lady, I'm sorry
"Lemb, Glorfindel," she ordered, her voice breaking, curling up into a ball atop the coverlet. Leave
"Hiril nîn..." My lady A tear streaked down his pale face seeing her in such anguish and torment.
"Im pedo lemb nîn!" she yelled, succumbing to misery. I said leave me
He reluctantly followed her instruction, looking back at her with his light blue eyes that had turned misty. Glorfindel knew in his heart that this was the last time he would see her alive, which it was.
Celebrían walked in a few hours afterward. She looked at the once radiant young maiden that had now become pale in skin tone, even by Elven standards. Elena was in the same place that Glorfindel had left her, tears soaked into her pillows. However much she wanted to deny it, Celebrían knew that it wouldn't be long now. "Elena, im hiraetha," the Lady of Rivendell said sadly. I'm sorry
"Nau hiraetha avon tegi ho sí ad," Elena murmured, another tear streaking down her face. Being sorry will not bring him here again "Lasto an nîn, Hiril Celebrían. Im peleth. Im innas firi. Im estel Maranwë ar Larien an i Aran o Rohan," Elena whispered weakly. Listen to me, Lady Celebrían. I am fading. I will die. I trust Maranwë and Larien to the King of Rohan
"Rohan? Mankoi? Elena, hain naa edhil! Mankoi garo hain galo am na aphadon?!" Celebrían was frozen. Rohan? Why? Elena, they are Elves! Why have them grow up with Men
"Aranthi ar i Aran o Rohan naa mellyn maer. Ennas i iellea innasna a'mtene na berio," Elena said, although Celebrían could hardly believe it. She was so incredibly stunned that she hardly heard Elena's plea. "Henio, hiril nîn Celebrían." Aranthi and the King of Rohan were good friends. There the girls will be provided with protection. Please my lady
Celebrían knew that all that Elena wanted was for her and Aranthi's children to be protected, yet why in Rohan was still perplexing to the Lady. Imladris, with the power of the Elves, was immensely stronger than the crumbling kingdom of Rohan. Elena's thoughts were becoming hard to understand, even to Elena, but she did not wish to question the gods that had blessed her with the vision of both her daughters being raised beside the Men of Edoras.
Of course, Elena knew as well as Celebrían did that if she had asked for her daughters to stay with Elrond and she, Celebrían would have done it in a heartbeat. But it just wasn't an option.
Celebrían sighed, obviously defeated. "Im annun lle, ha innasna nat." I promise you, it will be done
"Hannon lle," Elena said even more weakly. Thank you Celebrían made a quick exit. Elena then felt darkness gradually begin to numb her.
Elena's heart beat its last not two hours later.
Maranwë didn't quite comprehend what was happening as Lord Elrond took the torch from its silver vase on the ground and set it to the oiled pyre where her dead mother laid- and surprisingly her father as well. The elves that discovered his dead body had apparently also brought it back. Although Aranthi had been decapitated to death, a silk strip had been laid across where his neck and head should have been intact, so it looked perfectly natural. And they were both beautiful together- if you didn't know that they were dead, they would have appeared peacefully asleep.
Elena was draped in a beautiful sheer white gown that complimented her light blonde hair that the wind began to play with. Her favorite mithril necklace still hung around her throat, and her mithril bonding ring still remained on her right hand. Aranthi was still in his best tunic, his chainmail beneath it. His narrow face held a straight expression, his eyes were shut, and his lovely dark brown hair was smoothed down below his shoulders. They were beautiful and haunting in the same instant.
Sorrow began to take over Maranwë. It was a gargantuan burden for the elfling to carry- both parents dead at such a young age. Tears formed in her eyes, yet she had cried too much before- she had no more tears to release, at least none that she had the strength to let out.
Glorfindel, who was standing next to the young girl, moved closer and gently rubbed her back, frowning as much as anyone had ever seen him. Tears slid down his face gently. Glorfindel knelt down to comfort her as the flame quickly caught on the bodies. Maranwë turned around and sobbed into Glorfindel's shoulder, loud and hard- giving in to the many emotions she had been trying to avoid within herself. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to calm and quiet her, but neither words nor any amount of time could heal her pain. However he tried nonetheless.
Celebrían tried to remain as strong as she could, but she could no longer endure it. She cried quietly, rocking the sleeping form of Larien in her arms as if that would bring them both comfort, but to hear Maranwë break down like that was painful for all who heard it.
King Thranduil of Mirkwood was there too, with his four sons. The only one who showed true emotion was young Prince Legolas, who stood crying next to Maranwë. He looked longingly at her, yearning to hold her again and destroy every evil in the world solely for her. He had always wanted to tell her of his paralyzing love for her, and he was planning on doing so as soon as the King said they were going to visit Imladris, but when he had learned of the circumstances, he knew it was too much for her to endure. He didn't want to confuse her emotions more than they already were.
Lord Elrond had moved back next to his wife, a grim frown already formed on his face. Arwen was crying silently as well, and he patted her shoulder. The twins, Elladan and Elrohir, were also solemn, even though they really had not known Elena and Aranthi as well as they should have.
All that was left of the maiden and warrior were now a pile of ashes where niphredil blossoms had already begun to sprout. All the congregated elves soon dispersed, except for Maranwë and Glorfindel, who remained there together all night in silence, only to cry and be in each other's company. Maranwë finally cried herself into a dreamless sleep.
Maranwë awoke in the clearing where the ashes of her parents lay, but now the niphredil blossoms were blooming beautifully. She was too distressed to notice their beauty. She was experiencing too much pain and her jumbling emotions and thoughts made for too powerful a combination for her to barely move, much less do anything else.
Based on the cold feeling around her, Glorfindel had long since been gone. All that she noticed around her with her narrowed senses was a large commotion in the House of Elrond. The sorrow having no effect on her curiosity, she went to investigate. The first thing she saw was Glorfindel with his body out of sight from the doorway of the library but within earshot of those inside it.
"Glorfindel, lle lathron," she whispered harshly, giggling. Glorfindel jumped. Maranwë knew then that it must have been serious otherwise he would have been able to sense her presence. Something bad was happening- she could feel it. "Man naa martien?" You eavesdropper. What is happening
"Hîr Elrond ar Hiril Celebrían naa pedoien o Naneth lîn ar nad he pedoe yana he uma gwanna," he answered simply, leaning in to hear better. Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían are speaking of your mother and something she said before she died
"Naneth nîn?" she whispered back, leaning in too. My mother Glorfindel nodded as he placed a finger over her lips.
"Elrond, ha naa nat'irm meetima dîn. Lye innas ume man he yelene," pleaded the Lady. Elrond, it was her final wish. We must do what she asked
"Celebrían, ume lle utene lle? Maranwë ar Larien, na i neth, naa na i eldalie! Lye uume faain hain na Rohan an na orthaed an hain ai naa uedhilea," explained Elrond in a desperate yell. Celebrían, do you not hear yourself? Maranwë and Larien, though young, are yet elvish! We cannot send them to Rohan to be raised with they whom are not elves
"Henio, Elrond. Sen naa ri norn. Henio n'karn sen taurn norn an enni." Please, Elrond. This is so hard. Please make not this harder for me
"Im n'henia Mankoi hain gar na gwannatha ammen." I don't understand why they have to leave us
Celebrían sounded somewhat tearful. "He irmae sen, Elrond. Lye gar na." She wanted this, Elrond. We have to
"Im delutha ha ir lle naa tîr," Elrond said with a slight smile after a hesitant moment. I hate it when you are right
Glorfindel grew despondent as the meaning of their words took hold. He had known that Aranthi had been a friend to the King of Rohan, but never did he imagine something so ludicrous as for his daughters to live with him if he happened to die. Glorfindel was making up excuses, lying to himself, because he never wanted both girls to leave. He had come to love them far too much.
Maranwë had been so deep in thought during the conversation that she missed most of it. But she didn't want to know the outcome. She had heard her mother's conversation with the Lady of Rivendell and now knew where she and her sister were to go. She simply did not want to face the harsh reality of it all.
Celebrían hesitantly, but faithfully, carried out Elena's last request.
Glorfindel kneeled, Larien in his arms, and hugged Maranwë after the trio got off of their horse at the Golden Hall.
"Guren nîn innas nalla uluithaid na cennea lle ad, Glorfindel, mellon nîn." My heart shall cry until it sees you again, Glorfindel, my friend
"Na maer, Maranwë," he replied, trying to hold back tears. Be good
He handed the baby to the King, mounted his horse, and rode off without looking back at the girls. It would have been too painful.
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