Annamariah: Thank you for the review. I especially like the part about Maglor and his men. They're my squishes. Keep reviewing please!
Anon: Well, I can't say that I like the idea that you could have been reviewing all this time and haven't. But then I am a very forgiving person. Thank you!
frodofreak88Sorry, but I have to have a reason for you to keep coming back don't I? Gosh! Thanks for the review!
TodaygirlThere's your up date!
The Last Temptation of HomerYour name is so funny; I just wish it was from the man who wrote the Illiad. Keep reading!
late – reader: Well, late reader you are too late with the puppy eyes! I say you shall have to wait for this up date till you…er….read this reviewer response.
Miriel : Well, I don't think that sex is something that you write about and post on the net. Sorry. I gave you the closet thing I could to it but that's it sweet heart.
Skye : There's your up date! Would you like fries with that?
Soothing BurnInteresting name…and as for the story…I can do whatever I darn well please!
Dumbledore's Bitch: Dude, sucks to be you. After all your sugar Daddy is gone now. Anyway, I hate the name but thanks for the review!
Chapter Twenty Six
In the Morning
Aeroniel swallowed and backed away a time or too as Fingon made his way toward her through the crowd of sweating horses and human beings. As much as it thrilled her to see him there, the glint in his eyes, the dangerous light that filled him was a bit frightening. Aradan looked at Aeroniel's suddenly white face.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Captain," Fingon's voice broke the noise of milling men like a whip, "I must speak to that solider please."
Maedhros, looking over the crowd of his elves watched in amused concern as his cousin moved toward the young woman in armor. Without thinking the red haired giant began moving toward the same spot to prevent anything …serious from happening to the human Captain.
Aeroniel stepped forward and said, "What would you speak of my lord?"
Fingon's jaw twitched slightly and he seemed to tower over the slight woman. Aeroniel was a tall woman if weaker in strength but hard months in the mountains had given her more strength then she had ever had former.
"What the hell do you think you were doing? You could have been killed in battle!" Fingon said his voice a harsh sound.
"I knew that. I would fight to help defend my land as well as you." She fired back, "I am no longer a child my lord, I had the permission also of my liege lord. If you have a quarrel then I challenge you to look to him for account."
Fingon shook with adrenalin and his fierce joy at seeing his love. But his joy was coupled with the knowledge that he might have lost her forever on the field of battle. He might have lost his most precious love and never have known it before it was too late.
Aeroniel's heart was thumping madly in her chest and suddenly her armor was a bit too snug, "What would you have me do my lord?" she finally asked. He was so near!
Without a second Fingon pulled her to him and laid his lips on hers in a passionate kiss. Regardless of the watching eyes of others Fingon poured all his doubts and fears and longing of the last few years into that kiss. Feeling her shake in his arms he pulled away and said, "I would have you marry me daughter of men."
"Then do so and get it over with!" Maedhros shouted, "Hithlum needs an heir!"
The men and elves broke into wild cheering and even the sons of Fëanor smiled and Maglor blow a blast on his trumpet that rang over the valley. Aeroniel buried her face against Fingon's chest and allowed happy tears to flow down her cheeks.
Fingolfin, watching from atop his horses felt at once happy and sad. His son loved a mortal woman; she would die and leave him with immeasurable pain. But his son had found one he loved above all others and was happy. Gathering his reins in his hands Fingolfin rode to where they were standing.
"I do believe that you should marry." He said, a smile tugging at his lips.
Fingon knelt and said, 'Father, do we have your blessing?"
Fingolfin swung down from his horse and raised his son to his feet. They stood, eye to eye and the new light in his son's eyes caused tears to gather in the Nolder King's. Fingolfin pulled his son to him and said, 'I have no other wish then your happiness my son."
Another cheer went up and for the first time in a long time Aeroniel entered Fingolfin's embrace without reservation or fear. The end of the battle had come for both the Nolder and the couple. That evening the camp was wild and festive as the elves and men made ready for a hasty marriage. Fingon and Aeroniel had waited apart for so long that neither would wait for the return to Hithlum and the pompous ceremony of the court.
Fingon stood still as his pages strapped his armor on again and fastened a clean cloak of blue to his shoulders. In the corner, Maedhros leaned his giant frame back against the main tent pole, a smirk gracing his handsome face.
"You look for all the world like the cat that ate the cream." Fingon said tersely.
"And you look like you're in the throes of death and pain rather then about to marry the woman you love." Maedhros returned, "But I suppose that marriage and death can't be very much different."
"I can't imagine that's true." Fingon said and turned as the pages finished putting the last of the decorations in place.
"Not, of course, that either of us has any experience of it." Maedhros said with a grin.
Fingon went to his friend and laid a hand on his shoulder, "I hope that one day I will be the one congratulating you on your marriage."
Maedhros merry blue eyes suddenly lost some of their luster. He smiled sadly and shook his head, "I do not think that such a fate was ever meant to be mine, Cousin. And with this…" He held up what remained of his right arm, "I cannot ask someone to expect this."
"You count yourself too cheaply," Fingon's vice broke.
Maedhros squeezed his cousin's shoulder, "But you did not. I will never forget that Fingon. It is a debt that I will never be able to repay."
"I never asked for payment." Fingon said, "And I never will. You are my brother as much as you are my cousin and rightfully my king. Maedhros, you will never truly know how I love you."
The cousins embraced and Maedhros allowed a few tears to escape before his tossed his head back and said, "Now, it is your turn to marry. I intend to see it done and well enough. I'm sure after this that you will hardly remember that I ever exist."
Laughing the two cousins left the tent and went to the meeting place where the rest of the Fëanorians were waiting with King Fingolfin. Everyone had cleaned up as best as they could and they were looked fairly respectable in semi clean armor and freshly scrubbed faces.
Celegorm had found a comb somewhere and forced every one of his brothers to use it. The twins were transformed from their battle worn selves and had reverted to their normally boyish personas. They were now arguing about the number of orcs each one had slain. Caranthir gave them each a good kick and they subsided. Maglor was sitting to the side trying to look like his wasn't crying but it wasn't working very well.
Curufin was whispering something to his Celegorm when Fingon and Maedhros appeared suddenly stood up to attention. Everyone's eyes trailed to where Aeroniel stood, in a simple brown dress, her hand on Aradan's hand. She had brushed her hair till it gleamed catching the light and showing every shade of red and brown that it had.
She came to Fingon's side and she placed her hand in his and they faced Fingolfin with all the ease in the world. They exchanged vows and rings and all the greatest Nolderin lords watched on, some disapproving and some with gladness. And Maedhros beamed as though it had been his idea all along.
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Ronald leant forward, "Then what happened?" he asked. Aeroniel smiled at his boyish expression and continued.
"Then, that night without any preparation at all Fingon and I were married. His companions cleaned his armor, and I wore the cleanest battle clothe I could find. There was nothing remarkable about our marriage other then the fact that our races were different."
"You married on the fields of Angeband?" Ronald sat back, "That doesn't found…well, if you'll forgive me, particularly smart."
Before Maehsos or Bill could jump in Aeroniel replied. There was a note of sharp rebuke to her words as she said, "You forget who they were Dr. Hadhafang. These were not the armed forces of some weak men. These were the Nolder, the strongest and most feared among the elven races. Morgoth was deeply afraid and hiding in his caves. Do you think that we would have wed if there had been the slightest danger?"
Ronald felt heat rise in his cheeks, "I am sorry, but I wasn't there. I was only going by what I knew."
Aeroniel sighed and shook her head, "No. No, I am sorry. I shouldn't have been angry with you. But you must understand. I have lived all my life with these noble folk. I cannot separate themselves from them. Too often were they good and noble deeds forgotten in the name of kinslayer. I have grown used to fighting for my people."
"But you are human. Did you separate yourself so wholly from them that you do not even think of yourself that way anymore?" Ron asked.
He tried to sit forward but the pain laced through his body again and for a few minutes the group was concerned only with his comfort. When the pain had somewhat subsided Aeroniel continued. Her voice was suddenly weary and her face pale again. Ron remembered, she had been torn away from her family another world quite suddenly. He mentally made the note not to over step himself again.
Aeroniel's eyed grew warm and she had the same look on her face as though she had known Ronald all his life. This glance never failed to fill Ronald with the thought of having found something that was lost.
"You are right Ronald. I had to adopt that ideal. Once I was married to Fingon I had to, in a sense, pretend that I was of the Eldar. You must know that the all the elves were not exactly thrilled when Fingon married me. But it was done and I knew that I had to do what I could on my part to make that acceptance easier."
"Well, that sucks." Serena snorted, "My ex husband was like that and his family. I told them to take a hike and I got a divorce." Serena frowned at the look on Aeroniel's face, "What they don't have divorce in…wherever you were?"
"No." was Aeroniel's short reply.
"Well, mercy me." Serena sniffed and disappeared into the kitchen for more soda.
Bill suddenly gave a snore from the couch and Maehsos said, "I think it's time that we all got some sleep anyway."
Aeroniel nodded, "I think I like that suggestion. Ronald, if you need anything let me know."
Ron nodded and they went to where they had elected to spend the night. The last light in the house went out and for a time all was peaceful and quiet.
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The next morning, Fingon lay with his beloved in his arms. He had slept deeply that night without any dreams of past pain. Aeroniel lay with her head on his chest, her hair curled around her face and her eyes closed as she dreamed. Fingon caressed her bare shoulder and neck, thinking of how beautiful she was, how frail.
But now they would never be parted. She would be by his side everyday. They joys would be in each other and nothing would stand in the way of their happiness. Someday, perhaps children would grace they lives ever more. After all there was no reason to think that they should not have children of their own. Aeroniel sighed, and lazily opened her eyes looking into his.
"Good morning husband." She smiled.
"Good morning wife." He answered, and kissed her.
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