Chapter 2 - We have won! Sauron is defeated!

Weeks passed slowly in the city of Lindon as all held their breath for news from the south. Long had it been since the large host left to fight in the Last Alliance, and no news had yet been returned.

Thuriniel was the most worried. Having weeks to think about her last conversation with Ereinion left her knowing what his thoughts were. He knew something terrible was to happen and he knew he would not return to Lindon. This was a thought she could not bear for so like a father Ereinion was to her.

At first, after she had awoken from her frozen state of thought, she had searched the palace, room to room, for the missing scrolls. More did she long to know about the past. But nowhere could they be found, not even in Ereinion's chambers. The guards and servants had helped at first, but soon they knew it to be a lost cause. Only once did they bother her as she tried to search Ereinion's chambers, but only good reasons she had.

Her search left her hopeless, as she found nothing. She remained locked up in Ereinion's palace, refusing to go anywhere or do anything. The maids who usually cared for her only worried greatly at her behavior for so unusual it was.

Finally the day came. A rider appeared on the horizon as he rode swiftly towards the elven city. The guards at the gates hurriedly let him in and he continued until he had stopped in the plaza of the great city. Already, just the sight of the elven rider made Lindon buzz loudly once more in anticipation for his news. Thuriniel noticed the change in the air and wandered from her seat in her chambers to the balcony to see what was happening.

The rider remained on his horse as his face glowed triumphantly. "We have won! Sauron is defeated!"

A roar came from the crowd as the elderly and children alike cheered, but the wives only wept. Whether it be for joy or for not knowing the fate of their husbands, Thuriniel could only guess.

"Our men rest in Gondor and prepare for their journey home," once more his voice rang through the square. But his glowing face turned solemn suddenly as he did not wait for the crowd to hush before announcing the worst news of all. "King Ereinion has fallen, and has appointed Lord Círdan to his place."

Suddenly silence dropped on the crowd and all was still for a moment in the great city. Few women cried still, even more at this terrible news. Thuriniel was among them.

No more could she take and she retreated from the balcony. She knew this would come, but still it was not less painful. She let tears flow freely from her grey eyes as she moved to sit on her bed. Still the city was quiet, as she could hear them clearly from her keen ears. But little did she care about them, for once in her life in Lindon.

Not long did it take for anger to well up within her. Her sorrow was overcome as her mind searched for reasons as to why.

"It's not fair!" She screamed into the quiet air. The guard outside of her room was startled, but he had heard the news and understood her sorrow.

The Valar were cruel to take him from her, especially before he could tell her more about her or where he had hidden the scrolls. In her mind, life had suddenly become unfair and she so despised it with all of her being. First not a thing she could remember from her childhood nor was she allowed the identity of her parents, and now Mandos had taken the one with most of the answers.

Little did she know that this trait, this anger that had suddenly risen, that was so unnatural of her nature, was a very obvious clue to the part of her that was most like her father.

The more her anger grew, the more the air shifted. Even the guard outside could feel it and he grew uneasy. Her eyes grew bright as did her form and soon she was bright as a star.

A child was the first to notice the great light in the palace window. Quickly he ran to his mother to tell of the wondrous light, and easily did they both spot it once more. Thuriniel was a beacon of light, bright for the stars to see her in daylight. As more saw the light, more they grew curious as to the source. Most knew of Thuriniel but all thought her merely another elf, and as they could not see the source, they did not know otherwise. The guard outside of her room had left his post to retrieve other guards to see the light that was growing brighter through the cracks of the door and decide if they should check to make sure if the maiden left in their charge was alright.

But before they decided, the great light began to fade. Tired and weary Thuriniel suddenly grew as her rarely used anger had depleted her new energy quickly. Slowly her light faded as she quickly fell into a deep sleep. No dreams did she have, unlike the previous months, only quiet slumber.

The guards outside of her door waited until the light was no more before knocking lightly. As no answer came, they grew worried and kicked open the locked door. But as they rushed in, no terrible sight welcomed them, only the sight of sweet and fair Thuriniel fast asleep.

Full of wonder, the guards quietly and thoughtfully returned to their posts, keeping whatever had happened in the room a secret amongst themselves.