The waves rocked the ships and the wind filled the sails, but neither caused Tauriel a moment's distress.
In fact, Lord Ulmo had come below when she and the children boarded and taken her in hand, leading her up onto the deck to watch the Grey Havens fade into the distance behind them.
The cool, salty wind blowing in her hair and caressing Tauriel's face felt wonderfully refreshing.
"Beautiful..." Tauriel told him.
The Valar who ruled the sea and all its inhabitants smiled at her. "Yes, I have always found it so." He looked down at her belly. "The boy likes it as well. The rocking motion suits him, lulling him to sleep in his own personal sea."
"You can see him?"
"I feel him, perhaps more strongly than you yourself can, though that seems rather unfair as you are the one who carries and nourishes him." He shrugged, "It is a shame the First Ones lack more of a mind to mind connection with your young, such as the one often shared between husbands and wives. I think your son would have much to say to you. Still, the boy can hear your voice, he knows the tone and timbre of it already. The songs you have been singing to him each night are his favorite."
Tauriel smiled and rubbed her hand over her belly, heart swelling with pride.
"This night, I will return after the evening meal and teach your forest born children their first songs of the Sea," Ulmo promised her. "Perhaps, I can convince a few of them to take up the ways of the Falmari. So few Elves are called to the sea in this Age."
Their voyage was over more quickly than Tauriel imagined, and she found once her feet were again on dry land the weight of most of her worries fell away and she could admit she enjoyed the trip, and sailing in general.
While she preferred the open air to stuffy cabins below decks, especially after dark when Ulmo would tell them tales about the stars and the creatures who called the sea their home, the twins passed much of their time in the various cabins socializing and teaching their fellow passengers games played with intricately carved Dwarvish dice.
Tauriel made it a priority to speak with everyone, and in this time she bonded with the other elleth. It truly felt as if she had their respect and trust for this endeavor, even as reluctant as she had been to take on the responsibilities of such a group. They understood her, and felt for her being kept apart from their Prince by circumstances beyond their control, and their kindness made her efforts worth it.
Ulmo told Tauriel to expect to be introduced to others of the Valar when they landed at the port in Alqualondë and true to his word, three cloaked figures waited at the dock for Tauriel to gather her wits and courage and descend the wide wooden ramp.
The first of the three pushed back his hood revealing Ulmo himself with his billowy, wild hair. Kindly, he took her small calloused hand in his huge one, brushing his lips over her knuckles before he greeted her. "Welcome to Aman, Lady Tauriel of the Woodland Realm, wife of Legolas Greenleaf, chosen of King Thranduil. You, and all of your people, are welcome in these lands."
Tauriel lowered her head, her cheeks coloring a little from the warmth of his greeting. "Thank you, my Lord Ulmo. Your sea was kind to us, and you are a true friend to the Eldar of the Woodland Realm."
He led her to the second figure, "This is the High King of all the Valar, Manwë." The tall man pulled back his hood to show a strong, handsome face and long golden hair. His ears had pointed tips like the Eldar, and his bright blue eyes held both wisdom and compassion. He was attractive to Tauriel's sensibilities, but the power radiating from him was enough to make her quickly avert her eyes. "And his beloved Queen, Varda."
Tauriel went to her knees, as gracefully as she could manage. "My Lord and Lady. Thank you for allowing us here in the lands of the Valar. It is important to my King for our young ones to be kept safe, and I fear the war does not go well back home."
Cool, smooth fingers lifted her chin and Tauriel found herself looking up in to the face of the most beautiful woman Tauriel had ever seen, with golden hair that caught the light of the sun and glowed like a fiery crown around her head. "Our world is more than merely a place to hide or give shelter, my dear, the magic of these lands will lift your spirits and lighten the burdens of your hearts, long darkened by the Shadow which crept into your home in Greenwood the Great. The magic here is strong and full of light and hope and love." She placed a kiss on Tauriel's cheek. "Welcome home, Tauriel, daughter of the forest. There is much forest for you and your kin to explore in Aman. Your faith, although blind for we are not well known to you, will not be in vain. We are so pleased you have come."
"More than pleased," the High King added. "Much time has passed since the First Ones felt hope enough in the future to have children. Your offspring are a much needed gift from Eru himself. A sign of peace and joy in the future, and of a renewal of the Song."
The Queen easily lifted Tauriel off her knees with only a light touch on her upper arm. "I look forward to meeting your twins. I have always loved twins. Is that they trying to move down the planks with silent steps?"
Tauriel turned to look over her shoulder, and found her children had indeed followed her. She went to them, but didn't scold, instead she took their hands and led them forward. "This is Eryniel, my daughter, and Legoliôn, my son."
The twins followed their mother's example and knelt before the Valar, but almost immediately Varda told them to rise. "Come, young ones. We have a gift for you and your mother. We will take your ships a bit further down the coast from Alqualondë, and in a short time, you will have a surprise worthy of such beautiful Eldar."
The three Valar escorted Tauriel and the twins back onto their ship and Ulmo ordered the Captains to sail south down the coast away from the harbor city, about an hours journey by ship, until they came to a large, deep water cove ringed by beautiful beach with a range of green, steep sided mountains hugging the coast like the massive spines of a pair of sinuous snakes.
There was only a dock for a single ship in the deepest water of the inlet, but the King of the Valar said, "Have the others anchor in the harbor here. We will return shortly, and if Lady Tauriel, her children, and her assistants like our surprise, the other ships can unload their passengers one at a time."
Glorfindel smiled at Tauriel, and she noted Lindir was even more pale than usual at the presence of the Valar.
"Do you know what they wish to show us?" Tauriel asked the Balrog-slayer under her breath as they follow the Valar across the beach and up an overgrown pass between the mountains that wasn't even visible until they were nearly on top of it after a short walk.
The valley that made the pass was wider than it looked, four wagons could roll abreast between the foothills of the tall, picturesque mountains.
"I do not," Glorfindel confessed. "I did not spend much time exploring this coast."
They walked on, following their guides until they came to a staircase carved in a narrow side canyon.
"Not much further," Queen Varda told the pregnant wood-elf and her companions. "The best way to view our surprise is to go up here and get above the tree-tops."
They climbed four long flights of stairs cut into the mountainside, the path overhung with branches, but not terribly so. It was the overgrowth which hid the buildings until they were almost upon them.
Between one step and another, Tauriel cleared the edge of the forest and gave a cry of surprise and delight. Before her eyes lay a town lovingly crafted from many terraces on the West side of the mountain.
Lindir and the children were speechless. Glorfindel looked puzzled, and was likely trying to decide which of the Eldar built this place and what had become of them.
The more she studied the dwellings, the more the village, for it was obviously an abandoned village or small city carved into the granite of the mountain, the more it reminded Tauriel of Minas Tirith mated with the Eldar design elements of Rivendell and Lothlórien. It did not resemble the harbor city of Alqualondë much at all.
The widest terraces curved around the bottom of the mountain, hugging the contours of the cliffs with new levels stacked increasingly narrower the higher they ascended. Without counting them, Tauriel had no way to know just how many dwellings there were.
It was clear the settlement had been abandoned long ago, if it was ever occupied at all. Tauriel managed to mumble, still stunned by the beauty, but also the sense of emptiness here, "What is this place?"
It was Manwë who answered, "This city was built for a group of sea dwelling Teleri. It was nearly completed, but sadly, never occupied. There are enough homes here to house two or three hundred families in comfort. It would never do for all of Thranduil's people, but it might make a comfortable starting point for your group. The plan was to expand to the other mountain further south should the group need more homes."
"Some of the elements look to be made of Dwarvish architecture," Legoliôn said.
"As well they should, lad," a new male voice told him. "The designs are Elvish and Dwarvish. I had a hand in the design of this settlement. It broke my heart to see it sit empty for so long. Most forgot it was even here." A new Valar stepped out of the shadows of the trees, he was tall and could pass for one of the Eldar like the others, but he differed in looks greatly with shoulder length waves of ebony hair and dark, piercing eyes. "I am Aule."
"Mahal," Eryniel breathed in delight. They knew more of him than any of the others because of Tauriel's friendship with the Dwarves of Erebor. Dwarves spoke often of Mahal, and sang song or made offerings to him.
"Yes. I should have known you would know me better by the name my Children use. As your mother is a titled Lady of Erebor, after all." He came to them on the path and kissed Tauriel's hand as Ulmo had, and then repeated the gesture with Eryniel, which made her blush. To Tauriel he said, "If only my Dwarves could produce beautiful babes as effortlessly as the pretty Silvan wood-elves..." He flashed perfect white teeth at her in a genuine smile.
"Probably better for them, and Middle Earth, that they do not," Manwë told him. "They do well enough just as they are."
Legoliôn gave the High Queen a thoughtful look. "My Lady, it feels like the whole forest is... Sleeping."
Varda smiled at him, "You are a very insightful young Elda. The magic of the forest here is very much sleeping, conserving its great power for when it is needed by people who would like to make this land their home."
"If we make our homes here, how will we wake the magic?" Eryniel asked her.
The Queen of the Valar made a solemn face, and told them, "Come here to me, children, and I will tell you."
The twins hurried to where she was standing at the edge of a railing carved of stone, she turned them to look out over the forest below. "The magic needs an Eldar Prince and Princess to wake it," Varda told them with exaggerated seriousness. "They must be pure of heart, brave and true, and swear a solemn vow to exist in peace and harmony with the plants and creatures of the forest. The magic loves every living thing in this valley, and anyone who would live here must love them just as much." She gave the twins a smile, "If the forest approves of the Eldar Prince and Princess, the magic will awaken for them."
"How can we tell?" Eryniel asked.
"Give me your hand, Princess, and we shall test it."
Eryniel put her hand in Varda's, and the High Queen in turn put a section of the vine from the railing across the young Elda's palm. Almost instantly the vine sprouted buds which opened into golden flowers for Eryniel. She looked up at Varda in shock, "Did you do that?"
"I did not. Your touch made the flowers bloom. The vine likes you."
"I've never done that before," Eryniel told her.
Varda laughed, like the sound of crystal bells on the breeze. "You are a daughter of the Woods, as you are so named. The magic approves of you. Now, shall we test your brother?"
"'Golion is braver than I am, the magic will love him." At his sister's insistence, the young Prince took hold of a dormant section of vine and a bright blue flower blossomed just above his fingertips, causing Eryniel to clap her hands with delight. "See! I knew the magic would love him. What about Ama? She is a Princess, because she married a Prince."
Tauriel resisted the urge to roll her eyes as the twins tugged her over to the railing and handed her the thin branch from an overhanging sapling. She didn't expect anything to happen, assuming it was the High Queen humoring the children. The branch buzzed against her fingertips, much like the vines from her farm in Dorwinion had. She closed her eyes and focused on the branch, asking it to wake for her.
A chorus of startled gasps from Lindir and the children made her eyes snap open. The slender branch she had been holding was now as thick as her wrist and three ripe apples hung from it where nothing had been before. "I cannot have done all that..." Tauriel insisted, waving a hand to the fully grown tree. "I didn't even know it was an apple tree."
"It wasn't," Manwë said, "Though, it is now." At her expression, he chuckled, "The apple tree might very well have been a request from the as yet unborn Prince." He nodded to her belly. The High King plucked an apple and handed it to her, "You are hungry. Please, eat."
The look on her face made Glorfindel burst into laughter. "It would appear, my Lady, all your children like this place. Perhaps, after your snack, we should do a bit more looking around." He turned to the twins, "Your brother put three apples on the tree, are either of you hungry?"
"I am," Legoliôn admitted. "I was too nervous to eat much today." He took an apple from Glorfindel and handed it to his sister. "You first, you ate nothing at all."
Eryniel nodded, "I was nervous, too." To her mother's belly, Eryniel bent her head close and said, "Thank you, little brother. I really like apples, too."
The baby moved near where Eryniel's voice was. "He can hear you," Tauriel marveled. The baby kicked her hard, and Tauriel sighed, giving in and taking a bite of the apple. It was delicious and juicy, with just the perfect balance of tart and sweet. It was an effort not to moan as she chewed.
Varda came to her side, and asked, "Would you like to see what lies inside some of the buildings?"
"Yes, please," Tauriel said, allowing herself to be led off down a set of curving stone stairs.
When she was able to get a moment alone with Lindir, Tauriel asked him, "Are you feeling better, mellon? You were looking a bit pale and slightly sea-sick back at the beach."
"The power of the Valar," Lindir told her. "Is... unsettling."
"Yes, I felt it, as well. What do you think of this place? It has been abandoned for a very long time, but do you think we could make a home here, even if it is only temporary?"
Lindir's eyes widened, and he nodded emphatically, "I think this is quite beautiful, a nearly perfect fit for wood-elves who need to be close to the trees and it has the added advantage of a place for ships to land and ferry supplies. We are lucky to have been directed here before Lord Elrond found it first..."
"It reminds me very much of Rivendell, but bigger," Tauriel agreed.
To Glorfindel, she asked, "What should we do? I am tempted to ask for everyone to be let off the ships, so they can look around and give me their opinions."
"Certainly, we should give them a chance to see the area. It would be a simple thing to set up camp tents and cook fires tonight on the lowest two levels. It would be little different from what we are accustomed to when traveling the roads of Middle Earth."
Tauriel went to the High King and Queen and bowed her head, "You promised a surprise, and you have delivered one, my Lord. This is a lovely, magical place. I would like to bring the others and spend a few days getting to know the area. We have supplies enough for a week, and in that time we can judge if this place will suit us."
"A wise and sensible plan, Lady Tauriel. If there is something which does not please you, as you saw with the apple tree, the magic will take gentle direction on many things to make the area better suited. The ships will stay anchored in the harbor for as long as you need them. They are at your disposal." The High King smiled, "There are no large predators in this area to concern yourselves with. Take your time and explore. The valley runs down to a river between here and the Pelóri Mountains, and further south there is much wild land in Avathar. The evil was purged from that area long ago, and your wood-elves of all peoples can appreciate the sense of joy which comes from of taking back what once belonged to a giant malevolent spider."
"Thank you."
"We will return to check on you in a few days, and we will bring the other Valar to meet you. They are all quite anxious, as you can see with Aule. I trust he and Ulmo can answer any questions you have about the history of the area and they can use their magic to replenish any of your supplies, if need be."