Copper Arrow: I am so glad you liked this chapter, a lot of work went into it. I even had my sister crying over that part you cited. Thank you for your thoughtful reviews, I was beginning to think that no one had read this chapter beside Annamariah and Annie789. Please continue reading!

Annamariah: Yes, she is totally out of this world. Why was she lucky enough to be born an elf? I can think of a lot of people who should be elves besides her, like all my lovely readers and reviewers! Thanks again!

Annie789: I know how bad schedules can be so I totally know where you are coming from. Thanks for taking the time to review anyway! Hope things slow down for you!

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Fingolfin sat brooding in his tent, Maehsos had been in to tell him what had accrued, and now he sat waiting for the right moment to go to his ward. He knew that he could not help her decided her course, no this was far too close to his own heart. He could never separate his own wishes from this issue.

A page entered first and announced "Lady Aeroniel, to you my Lord."

Artanis hastily excused herself and made way for the girl to enter. Fingolfin looked at the pitiful sight of the girl, her lovely face was red and tear stained.

"Aeroniel, come here child." He beckoned to her the familiar urge to protect and defend over coming his other feelings. She ran into his embrace and wrapped her arms around her foster father's waist.

"I am so afraid." her words were muffled against his tunic.

"I know child, I know. I wish I could help you, but you know I cannot."

"Please, tell me what to say."

"I can't Aeroniel."

She looked up, her huge eyes pools of misery. Her hair was caught back in a net showing her too thin face in sharp contrast to the softness of her summer gown. He took her little hands in his and said "Dear child I have tried to be a good guardian for you but I have to leave this to you and my son. It is your heart at stake here as well as his. It is not given to me to toy with your fate."

Just then a page rushed in to say that Fingon was here to see his father but before the poor boy could finish the Prince entered. His steps faltered when he saw that Aeroniel already stood there.

"Atar, I didn't know…" he began.

"It doesn't matter Fingon what you have to say is not for me, but for her. I will leave you together." Fingolfin squeezed his wards hands. "Whatever you chose to do Aeroniel, be strong."

With a last look between his son and his ward Fingolfin let the tent allowing the heavy materiel to fall into place behind him. Silence reigned in the luxurious room and Aeroniel was conscious of the thick fur rug under her bare feet. The only sound was of rapid breathing, and it came for Fingon, she dare not meet his eyes.

"Aeroniel, are you certain this is what you want to do?" he asked.

"I am." She said her voice barely above a whisper. He covered the space between them and lifted her head so she looked into his eyes.

"Are you sure, love?" he asked again, his deep blue eyes searching hers. She felt the familiar thrill of being in his arms and almost wanted to stay, but she looked away focusing on a pitcher and goblet that rested on a nearby table.

"Yes, Fingon I am sure. Please let me go."

Disbelief shone from his eyes as he slowly, ever so slowly released her and stepped back. She would not look at him; if she did her strength would fail her. He was still staying so close that she could feel his warmth and the gentle stir created by his breath.

"Aeroniel, I…I beg you to reconsider this, think of what life will be like when you are gone!" he said despair filling every word. She shook her head and turned away only to be forced to look upon him again.

"You don't understand why I am doing this; and I can't think of way to convince you it's for the best."

"Aeroniel, stop and look at me. Don't you see what this could do to the both of us? If you go…I don't know what I would do." He pulled her back to him, her frame straight and unyielding, cold to his touch.

"You would go on as you have done before, and one day you will forget me." She said quaking to see the fire in his eyes. His grasp was desperate and harsh though he did not know it.

'How can you say that? Do you think I care so little for your love? Do you count my love so cheaply that a mere handful of years would diminish it so? You are cruel if you can think that."

"I must not allow myself to dwell upon it Fingon, it hurts to much, please release me!' she cried helplessly trying to escape his hold. Struggling once more she was free, and she turned her back to him.

"Fingon, you know why I must do this, and in time you will let yourself see it as well. But now we cannot allow our feelings to cloud the issue." She took a deep breath and said,

"Your people need you more then I do, they will need your leadership, long after I am gone; and I cannot rightfully rob them of that."

"Do you truly believe that?" he asked his tone harsh and bitter. "Do you truly not need me?"

" I..I don't." she stammered, she felt his gentle hands take her and wrap her in his embrace as sweetly as a summer rain. His gentle kiss fluttered against her temple.

"Can you say that now?" he asked. A tight lump formed in her throat and she longed to hold, and caress her like before. But his death once again flashed before her eyes and she wrenched away saying,

"Do not touch me again Fingon! I forbid it. No, I do not need you as your people do and I wish you would let make this choice and not try to persuade me otherwise. Do not think it isn't tearing me apart as well!"

"Is my love so cruel?"

"Fingon, I believe that you have misinterpreted this feeling, regard, perhaps affection, but not love."

"How can you say that?" Fingon demanded in shock.

"Because you don't know me. You've been away too long to know who I am." she breathed a deep sigh, "And I don't know you."

"What are you saying? That it is impossible to love someone with knowing their very personal trait?"

"No, but this is too important and life changing a decision to make on the spur of the moment. I cannot allow this to happen so haphazardly, and neither can you."

"I know." was the quiet reply.

Fingon looked down at his hands where they hung at his sides when she had pulled away, they trembled slightly and he clenched them into a fist. His braids had fallen forward and hid his face from her; and she could not see the emptiness in his eyes.

With careful and deliberate movement he slid the silver ring off his finger, he reached out to place it on the table. But blinded by sudden tears he missed and the ring fell striking the edge and singing out one lone note before being silenced abruptly on the ground.

"I hoped to change your mind, but I see that I cannot. Just know that everyday you are away I will die a little more inside and never…" he stopped and struggled to contain his emotions. "..Never will I forget you, or think of any other, but you until you will return to me. Whether it be in this life time or the next, I will never forget you."

He went toward the door and stopped just behind her wanting to reach out one last time, but his hands remained at his sides., "Namárië, meldanya. Nírë tulë i lumessë autielyo" And he was gone, the wind rushing in the room as the tent flap fall into place again.

"Farewell my dear, my tears come at our parting."

Aeroniel fall to the ground and clasped the abandon ring in her palm, she kissed it and whispered, "Nai cuilelya nauva mára melmenya."

And some sweet wind came and wafted her words quiet though they were spoken to the ears of the Prince.

"Live well, my love."

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Before Ron and Sauron meet.

Shelby sat at the main desk tapping out last night's report, he slurped his coffee and winced as the now cold liquid went down his throat. He was waiting for Serena to come in and take his place, she was much better at doing this them he was. She was a speed typist, while he laboriously typed each key slowly, one at a time.

"Mornin' Shel," said Serena as she sailed through the door shedding her coat and coat in a heap by the coffee maker. Pouring herself a cup of coffee she sipped it and made a face. "Your coffee's lousy."

"Humfp" he greeted absently continuing to work on the report. Serena leaned over his shoulder squinting at the screen and said "You spelled "influenza" wrong, it should be I-n-f-l-u-e-n-z-a. Not I-n-f-l-e-u-n-z-a."

"Do you want to do this?" He asked annoyed.

"Nope, but I would recommend spell check if your going to do your own report. By the way who has influenza?"

"The Jane Doe in solitary." was the answer. Serena wrinkled her forehead. "I didn't know we had a Jane Doe, when did she come in?

"Right after we sent those transfers the Robacker. Shelby answered. "Why? Is it important?"

"It may be. Look I'll finish that for you if you can bring me her file, okay?"

"Sure, all I have left is the formal stuff about her medicine and food, which she's not touching. I think we'll have to go to intravenous soon if she doesn't start eating."

"Sure, whose in charge of the case?"

"The new guy, the British one with the really big ego?" said Shelby as he flipped through the file cabinet.

"He struck you that way to?" laughed Serena as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

"Yeah ,he did, but you know I like him. He knows what he's doing and gives you credit for your work. He's a lot like Ron actually, I think they'd get along better then they do."

Serena snorted as she paged through the folder. There was no information about her condition other then that she was dangerous, and that could mean she liked to attack people with plastic spoons. Other then her condition of influenza and that she wasn't eating there just wasn't a lot of info. It had to be her.

"Earth to Serena? Hello! Come in Serena?" called Shelby waving his hand in her face. Smacking it away she said "You said she wasn't eating, will she talk to you at all?"

"Nope, she seems to think I'm evil in some way, you know the whole dark side of the force type of thing." snickered Shelby as he pulled his Steelers jacket on. "Look I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Sure, see ya' Shelby." she said. Fixing her cap on her head, she armed herself with clipboard, thermometer and stethoscope. Then going to the side door she opened it and Ron, Maehsos and Bill came in.

Handing Ron the file she said "I am going to find that guy and see if I can get any kind of lead as to who she is and see of I can't get in to see her. You'll have to find a way to keep him busy okay Ron?"

"Sure, but this says she has influenza!" said Ron concern.

"Is it serious?" asked the Steward.

"It could be if she's never had it before or if she's never been inoculated against it." said Serena.

"She hasn't, we never had much sickness in Middle Earth during the time she was with us." said Maehsos, he was really worried now.

"Okay look, you have the car waiting Bill, I'll go after the good doctor and Serena you go with Maehsos. If you find her just leave, I follow later in another car or taxi. Whatever you do don't wait on me. Everybody got that?" asked Ron as he throw his lab coat on.

They all nodded and splitting up they went in opposite directions. Ron took a deep breath and went to his office to await the doctor.

"No, I'm waiting for Sauron. I have to remember that Sauron. What would be the best way to seem harmless? I guess I could always pull the stupid act but I was never very good at that. I suppose I'll have to wing it."

Meanwhile…………

"How on earth are we supposed to know which one of these keys is the one that we need?" asked Maehsos surveying the rows of key rings.

Serena grabbed one and said "All you need is the master passkey and you can get anywhere in the hospital. Now this Jane Doe is in the farther wing and we'll have to go by Ron's office to get there."

"We must have Sauron busy so we can work without him suddenly appearing over our shoulder. Do you think you could find him and send to Ron?" asked the Steward.

"You mean bait him? On purpose?"

"Yes, please Serena I 'm sure it will work. He isn't who he is for nothing you know." Maehsos said glancing down the hall for signs of the doctor in question.

"Okay, I will you wait here and if anyone asks you what your doing here just say you're my nephew. At his look she shrugged and said "You look about twenty, the only thing that might give it away is that your too good looking to be related to me."

She smirked back at him and said "Just wait here and I'll be back in a second."

She was right barely five minutes went by before she came around the corner and grabbed him saying. "He's on his way and we need to move fast!"

They ran down the hall passed confused nurses and orderlies and equal confused patients that wandered the halls. A few reached out to Serena and she quickly had to brush them off as she went feeling guilty the whole time.

"Serena! Serena! Where are you going I need you help to call my son today, I can't get home if you don't call him!" cried one woman. She looked about thirty and was pulling on the nurses arm in desperation, Maehsos took her arm and said gently. "Serena's very busy Ma'am perhaps I can help you?"

The woman looked him up and down and asked confusedly "Do I know you?"

"No, but I can help you if you want, would you like that?" he offered kindly.

"We really don't have time for this Michael." said Serena out of the corner of her mouth. She was trying to get one patient settled as another would come up and ask for something.

"Yes, we do. I know what I am doing Serena." he said. He sat the woman down and laid one pale white hand on her forehead. "Just sleep now child and when you wake up you can go home. But sleep first."

"Okay." the woman answered sleepily. She laid down on a couch and curled up in a ball to sleep.

Maehsos followed Serena down the hall asking "Are they all like this?"

"Most of them, in this ward at least. We have a few that are too dangerous to allow out with the other patients. But most of them are harmless and confused. That lady you just….whatever you did to her….has been here for over a year. Her son was in a car wreak and killed, she snapped and has been under the impression that he's coming to take her home ever since."

"Poor soul, at least she will going home tomorrow."

"What do you mean? She can't go home like that, she'll wander the street looking for him." protested Serena.

"Not anymore, all she needs now is some comfort from her family." said Maehsos as they turned down the nest hallway.

"Do you mean you did something to her?" asked Serena stopping in the middle of the hallway. Maehsos grinned back at her,

"Who me?"

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The horses were ready and prancing in place eager to be off, and Maedhros's huge stallion was practically tearing the ground up with his large hooves. Aeroniel's gentle mare shied away from the wild horses of the Feanorians; and she lead her away a little to keep any of the other mares from nipping her. She ran a soothing hand along the animal's trembling neck; and looking up saw Maglor shooting her a look that showed his displeasure at her presence loud and clear.

She turned away from him, she was so tried of having to worry about what would happen and what the others were thinking; that she really didn't care what the Minstrel thought.

Maedhros was glad to have her and at this point no one else mattered. The mare nudged her shoulder and nibbled at her cloak, she stroked the velvety nose and said "I am sorry sweet-one, but I don't have any sugar today, you'll have to wait till next time."

Maedhros had come up and held out a few of the white sweet in his large hand, "Here you can have mine, that brute over there isn't going to need it. He's already full of energy, I can tell he'll be a bit of a handful today."

She took the sticky lumps that he dropped into her palm and slowly fed them to the mare who lapped them up in happiness while the stallion, who didn't approve of his sugar being given way, stomped his massive hoof on the ground in anger.

"You had best say your good-byes my Lady, we'll be leaving in five minutes." he paused. "Are you sure about this?"

"If I wasn't sure, would I be doing this?" she asked .

"No, probably not, hurry now I see them coming." he said gesturing to the people coming toward them. Nessima, Alassë, Finrod, Cirdan and Artanis accompanied by the King, were making their way toward them. Nessima wore her traveling cloak and Finrod was carrying her saddlebags.

"What does she think she's doing?" muttered Maedhros, rising his voice he said "Nessima what is the meaning of this? Are you to come a s well?"

"By my wish and the King permission, I am to accompany the Lady wherever she goes." The light haired elf turned to Aeroniel and bowed a little. "If my Lady permits."

"Of course I'll allow it, I would be very glad to have your company in Himring. Thank you so much." she returned her eyes bright.

Cirdan, who had been leading the elleth's horse began fastening the saddlebags into the animal and said "My Lady, I hope you will think about coming to us before the winter sets in. It's a hard cold season there even for elves."

"Thank you my Lord, I will consider it."

Facing the rest of the group, she took a deep breath, this was the hard part. Time to say Good-bye.

The children of Finarfin came forward, their golden hair gleaming in the fresh morning light.

"Aeroniel, we wish you all the best in our journey, and hope that you will not forget us in your new home." said Artanis, her voice soft and formal in tone.

"It may be that we never meet again my Lady and I would like you to have this, it is not very feminine perhaps, but still useful." Finrod said fixing a golden brooch to her cloak instead of the simple chain that had worked as a clasp before. Worked into the surface of the brooch were two entwining hands spanning a large gulf.

"I made it when men first appeared, and now I want it to go with you. Pass it on to whoever you believe will need it next. Farewell my dear, Eru guard your way."

Aeroniel nodded, her voice stuck in her throat, she couldn't trust her voice. Coughing a little, and blinking rapidly she cleared her eyes and said "I will treasure it always Lord Finrod, Lady Artanis. I hope we will meet again."

They stepped away and the King was standing there alone, while Cirdan, Finrod and Artanis went their separate ways. Maedhros was pretending to fasten a strap on his horses pack, but he lingered only to be here for the girl.

Aeroniel faced the King, his tall frame and proud face so familiar and yet so distant now. He held out his hand and she clasped it, he touched lightly the first finger on her right hand with the pad of his thumb, noting the absence of the silver band. She felt a lump in her throat as she saw him cup her hand in his, she was leaving for good.

"There is so much I wish to say my child, but I fear any more words would be superfluous." he looked at her, "I am sorry for this, but you will not be left friendless. I am sending Lord Aradan and his men with you to learn how to fight in the mountains. I hope that will comfort you.

"Thank you Sire, for everything you have done for me. I am sorry we must part this way. You must know I never might for it to end like this." said Aeroniel finally feeling her tears spill over the dam and course down her cheeks.

She looked up to the King and saw his face was damp with tears as well. He pulled her to him, and they clung to each other for moment sharing in a moment of parting.

"I am so sorry my child, so sorry." he said his tears dropping on her hair, where they lay like shinning gems. For one second she wished for her father, her human father, to be the one holding her and whispering comforting words. She pulled away saying, "Sire, I leave for you and Fingon, please don't forget me."

"I never should you know." he answered gently. She nodded and he helped her onto the mares back. Handing her the reigns he said, "Thank you Aeroniel, for giving my son back to me."

'Take care for him, I am so worried what he may do. I don't want anything to happen to him because of me. I have no message for him, but please, please…don't…don't.. she broke down crying. Fingolfin squeezed her hand .

"I understand , my child, Farewell."

And so they set out with much singing, and calling as friend took leave of friends. Dwarves and men wished them fair journey and safe passage to the mountain. Some called out promises to visit in the near future, Aeroniel pasted a smile on her face so that the people wouldn't have something more to gossip about. She was going to Himring of her own free will, and she wouldn't have them saying that the King forced her into it.

She looked for Fingon in the crowd, but he wasn't there. It was for the best though, a long good-bye was something she could never have endured. But still not to say Farewell, to touch his hand once again in love, or to feel the gentleness of his kiss was gut wrenching. She felt so hollow as they rode away, like she left all her vital life behind in the beautiful glade in Irvin.

Falling in behind them Aradan's men were speculating on whether or not they would reach the mountain by dark. In the front of the group Maedhros, Maglor and Aradan were conferring on the route to take, while the others rode just behind. Nessima had brought her mare to Aeroniel's side, but wisely said nothing as they slipped passed the final border of Irvin. She allowed her presence to be a silent support to the human girl, giving her strength over to the one who had given up so much for them.

High above them a solitary figure watched them, his ebony hair blowing freely away from his handsome face. In his hands was the golden circlet he wore always to show his royalty, the golden bonds dangling down to the grass. As he watched the party of riders disappear under the heavy covering of trees his hand twisted the delicate crown into a mangled heap of precious metal. Fingon rarely cried, he was strong that way, he had cried when Turgon's wife died, when he saw the pitiful body of Maedhros after his rescue. But this? Now he felt the barriers in his heart break and he fell to his knees the sobs shaking his whole frame as his grief overwhelmed him.

Dropping the ruined crown, he lifted his voice, he sang, such a lament broken by sobs and tears, as was never heard.

Ever after the people and elves of the Feast could not remember the sound without a tear coming to their eyes. It wafted down the mountain to their ears and such was the sorrow a few thought it must be Nienna herself grieving for some fallen love. Only a Fingolfin knew the beloved voice was his son, and his heart broke to hear the pain expressed.

'But it is done." he told himself. "It was done for the best."

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Author's Note: Very soon the story will take a swing forward in time. We will skip to a few years after the separation and see how each of the them is dealing with life; and living without the other. If there is anything you think that should be brought out let me know. I have put a lot of time into this and need a little more feed back to know if I should change things or keep them as they are. Please, I live off your reviews!

Love Always

The Mysterious

Jaffee Leeds