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Lathwinn noticed her aunt leaving. She turned to Lastanan and Ranthalion also standing nearby watching this. She whispered to her older brothers. "Go with our aunt, watch as she travels this dark place, but don't interfere if you don't have to."

Both brothers nodded and turned to do just that. Lastanan's jaw was set grimly. Ranthalion scowled darkly at Celuant over his shoulder before looking away to take his first step after their aunt. Lathwinn sighed in relief as they went. She'd sent two of the best warriors in their family to guard the least warrior-like member of it. And she also might have stopped Ranthalion from committing murder in front of the Valar.

Lathwinn looked back to Narkal and the King of the Valar. Thranduil stood behind her in case he had to enfold his wild wife in comforting arms. The scarred Noldo, meanwhile, still stared open mouthed up at the Valar of wind, air, and mercy.

The bent-backed elf finally spoke, "You make this offer to me?"

Manwe nodded. "I think you are ready."

Narkal bowed his head his eyes looked at the Valar's feet. "I do not know what to say."

"I do not mind waiting for your answer, though I cannot tarry for days."

"I … do they want to see me? My family? My friends still there?"

"Greatly."

"And those I hurt … those I … killed?"

"I heard some of those who dwell on the shore yelling at your brothers after they had asked for their forgiveness. They blamed them more than you for your actions against them and their kin. One whom you slew said he saw rage in your eyes, but no shame like that in the gazes of the first wave of attackers. He also said he was gripping the arm of Tarman, when you stabbed him. Having not seen you among those who first approached their beloved ships, he realized you were angry at him for the sake of your close kin, and likely didn't know more than your family was in danger. He said pity for your ignorance likely caused his death. He hesitated to harm you while you did not. He was one of the first of those killed that day to return from Mandos' Halls. He was also one of the swiftest to forgive your brothers and others who fought and killed his kin that day, when they too returned. He said he might not have had as easy or short a time in the halls had he been killed by those intent of stealing his kin's ships rather than one intent on protecting his kin. He had not so much spite in his spirit as others slain that day, and I think it made difference for him. One of the keenest desires of his heart now is to speak with you and share his forgiveness to your face. It has been especially so after he spoke to your brothers about you."

Narkal's mouth hung wider open than before. His eyes saw nothing around him but glazed as he tried to picture this. Manwe upon listening to the silence from the one he spoke to for a time continued softly, musically as Valar usually do. "There will be work to do among those who have not so easily forgiven you or others of your kin for what they did that day. I do not deny that is true. But I think it can be done well and perhaps more swiftly by you than many others. You are ready to return. I see this in you now."

"I …" Narkal opened and closed his mouth silently. More tears came.

Manwe continued. "Your back and shoulders will become straight again in Valinor. You will look much as you did before beautiful and well-formed as Iluvatar made you to be in body and spirit. Your healing will finish well there."

Narkal fell to his knees. His head bowed nearly to the earth as he wept. Lathwinn, Thranduil, and others, even the other Valar also began to weep. Truly, most of the Valar had felt badly about this Noldo's fate. While Mandos had said he'd been free to and made his own decisions even Orome and Tulkus thought it a shame one not taken in by Feonor's lies should have yet shared the fate of his followers out of pity for his brothers. Not even Mandos thought it just he should have been so abused and scared in the very fortress they had just overthrown, when so many more willing followers of Feonor had escaped that. Mandos had not liked the words Narkal later spoke against Manwe, but of all the Valar Manwe had been least angered by them. Indeed, he'd found some truth in them. He allowed his brother to do harm to this ellon and others by freeing him. But he would not make that mistake again. He saw more clearly now, the differences between deceit and true repentance.

Narkal finally raised his head and tear-glistening eyes to the light of Manwe. "But what of Sarnin, and Lathwinn, their kin, the Green elves of Ossiriand, and the Noldo cast aside by their people whom the Green elves now count as their own, and whom I now also call my close kin? Will they come with me since most of their land is sinking into the sea? They have shone their own hearts to be purer than mine surely? If I am welcome on the western shore now, must they not also be?"

Manwe shook his head his smile falling away. "Even though much of the land they know and love now sinks into the sea, the wild lands to the east have more strong a hold on their hearts than does Valinor. They will not wish to come back with us this day, or for many millennia, and I will not force them return with us."

Sarnhael bowed his head and looked down at the ground again. "I see …"

"What is your decision Narkal?"

The Noldo frowned darkly and remained silent while continuing to stare at the ground then asked. "What … can you tell me of what will become of them if I go?"

Manwe shook his head. "I am not Iluvatar to know all past, present, and future. But I can say they will face dangers, and experience grief, some I think will die before they come to the pleasant shores I offer you safe passage to now."

Narkal now stared into the Valar's bright face again. He swallowed before asking. "Then … will my absence lessen those dangers, or increase them, help them bear those griefs or make them keener?"

Manwe's eyes grew grave even as a sad smile curved up his lips. "Ah, there will be some of both I fear no matter what you do. You will find inner as well as outer healing harder to do on these shores. I can see sometimes your tongue will still be sharp as well as your shoulders stooped, but your arms and heart will be strong. You have learned much or and shared mercy, but rage continues in you too at times. There will be days and painful moments you will curse a choice you made to stay, or days, as you hear of happenings in the east from others just released from the halls, you will stare across the sea wishing you'd been there with the people you left. You will regret the decision you made some days and bless it others no matter which path you now choose."

"And … what else have I to look forward to here, if I stay? I know of all beings besides Iluvatar you have farthest sight, save perhaps for Mandos'."

Manwe grinned though sadness still emanated from his gaze. "I can see kin not yet born to you waiting on either branch of the path you choose. But their lives will be very different and start at different times depending on your choice."

Narkal, or Celuant, or both frowned and bowed his head his eyes flitting to and froe at the ground in thought. "And those already born?"

"Will argue with you, and embrace you, thank you for your presence and walk away from you to avoid it on different days and at different hours, and they will do the same with the kin you give them. They would do so less if they only met you again on the western shore but would grieve for your absence on this one far more if you choose to leave them now. They will not know the future kin you will give them at all until coming to you there if coming with me today is what you choose."

Narkal closed his eyes and took a breath. "Then I have made my decision. I cannot abandon those to danger and death who so steadfastly refused to abandon me in the same, even if I do indeed enrage and annoy them on some days as they have and will likely do to me. I want to give good things only to my future kin. But how can I abandon their relatives whom they must also love some day?"

Manwe nodded. Narkal, however, gazed up at him with searching eyes. "Do you … disagree with my decision?"

"It was a difficult one. And I understand your reasoning, seeking the brightening and healing of your spirit and others is good, loving and protecting those in need of comfort and companionship in dark days is also good. I do not curse you for your choice today. Though ... I do grieve with you for all the future losses and pains that will come from it. But I also rejoice for the great acts you will do here."

He then knelt down and held out a closed hand. He opened only after he brought it lower than Narkal's face. Then the Noldo's, or perhaps Silvan's, mouth fell open. The Valar spoke softly again. "Your family across the sea also suspected this might be your decision. They sent these with me. Tarman found and purchased the metals. Then he and your father melted it into these shapes. The twins drew out the design for the molds and then carved the letters into them after Rombar wrote the words in flowing script. The names being added at all were Ascarant and your mother's idea."

The once and future-Noldo's face brightened. Then he laughed. Lathwinn jumped and clapped her hands. Her face had brightened with joy and tears. She made no other sounds though, for her throat closed up with emotion. Thranduil behind her grinned and enfolded her into his arms though she was joyful rather than sad. He squeezed his own wife wishing the ellon before him would soon experience a joy like his now.

. . .

Sarnin walked silently, but grey and black dust rose around her feet. She was walking awkwardly for an elf. Her eyes were blinded with tears though she chided herself in her thoughts. Your heart should rejoice. He shall be fully healed there. He will be with his kin there. He will be happy there far more happy than he could be here. And it will not be forever.

Yet even then a shudder shook her. Her mouth opened to emit a high, wavering keen. She stopped swaying and covered her mouth. Her wet eyes stared unseeing.

Confusion rippled through her mind as she thought she heard laughter coming from her two oldest nephews. She had known they were following her. Now she felt them wandering farther away. How could they be so cruel? She knew they had never approved, but this?

Then another presence she knew and had not expected to feel again for a long while came up behind her. The feeling of it now though was different. It felt warmer, steadier, and more at peace than she had ever known it to be. She spun in shock open-mouthed to see him behind her. He remained bent-backed, stoop-shouldered, and scar-faced but looking happier and more beautiful than almost anything else she had ever seen. Still, she stifled the rising joy in her heart as she stared at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here to offer you these, or at least half of them."

He then opened a closed hand he held out between them. She gulped and looked down. Four rings lay in his palm, two silver, two gold. The gold ones in the light breaking through the clouds she saw had names engraved into them, hers, his: "Celuant" and her kins' "Lathwinn," "Lastannan," "Ranthalion," "Melarbeth," and "Manpalan" in script so small and evenly spaced all the names could fit. On the inside, where they would not be seen once encircling a finger, yet always remain pressed against the wearers' flesh were engraved more names: his brothers': "Tarman," "Rombar," "Thalacam," "Palanhen," "Ascarant," and two other names she did not recognize.

"My mothers and fathers …" Narkal … Celuant … her Celuant said.

Then he asked with a waver and choke at the end in his voice "Will you wear them? I know …"

His words her cut off as strong tightening arms encircled his waist. "But what about your healing?"

He grinned and managed to suck in some breath through her grip. "It will come, one way or another it will come in time, but I ..."

As he bent his head to look into her face as he replied, but then her lips covered his. He lost what breath he'd managed to take. He couldn't breath again till those lips left his and her arms relaxed their hold, yet he was deliriously happy. She backed up till he could look into her still tear-filled, but now also joy-filled gaze. Her own soft, wavering voice yet had a commanding edge to it. "Pick me up."

Smiling, he did so and then spun her. She threw back her head. And all there, in that cursed, now emptying scarred and broken land, who didn't yet now what was going on between these two, raised their heads in wonderment and confusion. All the once-slaves of Morgoth and free-persons there to fight them alike, froze as they heard wild laughter. It bounced off mountain sides and into trench hollows like a promise of joy to come even after such dark days …

. . .

Mellolaes stopped and sighed. Her own face gave a slightly twisted smile, and her eyes had a duller gaze than one might expect from a storyteller who'd just spoken such words. She glanced down into the face of her listener. It was still as deep waters. The eyes were closed and skin strangely grey. Erestor moved not a muscle nor said a word beneath her examination.

Her face fell further. She glanced out the window. Time had passed almost an entire day. Well, if "this" ending had moved him so little the addition of the wedding scene couldn't help. She rose from her seat, turned to the door, and took a step toward it.

Her foot did not even meet the floor before her lower arm was caught in a grip like stone. She was jerked back like a released bowstring, her body turning and falling over the bed, so sight was filled with a twisted face. The eyes in it were narrow but shining. The mouth moved uttering words that might have been shouted if they were not also hissed. "Does he yet live?"

She blinked at him. The pain in her arm finally burst through the blankness of her stunned mind. Finally, she could utter something like a reply. "What?"

The eyes snapped in impatience. His grip, though, did not tighten, nor did he shake her. He simply sat up straighter and got his face even closer to hers. Then she read pain in his … now welling eyes. "Celuant as you call him! Sarnhael as he was named by your people! Does he still live?"

Now the pain really was screaming from her wrenched arm. She'd felt worse, but it still demanded her attention. While her forearm felt as if it was caught in a vice, the elleth thought she now saw the way to free herself.

She nodded. "Yes. He lives in Green Wood the Great with the king and the queen, and Sarnin the queen's aunt, his wife, and their son and daughter, and grandchildren. He was healthy and strong last I saw him. I have heard and read of no change in his circumstances from my kin in the letters and messages sent to me from them since!"

Erestor's mouth and eyes opened further. Then he did release her. Indeed, his whole body went limp as he let go and fell back upon the bed. His head thumped into the soft pillow beneath it. He turned his head slightly on it as he stared up at the ceiling before uttering a soft "Thank you …"

He lay there still seeming calm and emotionless again as he had before his sudden capture and questioning of her. Melloaes backed away eyes wide reached back with her "not" smarting, stinging arm to grab the door handle and open it when he also opened his eyes and spoke again in a regretful tone. "I'm sorry Mellolaes, truly. Thank you for telling me this story. I'm sorry for startling and hurting you. I hope I have caused you no permanent damage."

Mellolaes, the healer turned her own attention to her own arm. She could already feel her elven bones, ligaments, and flesh settling into their rightful place and healing. "No. I'm fine. Rest now."

"Can you send in Lord Elrond, please? I ask this of you, elfling. I do not demand. But I'd like to know sooner rather than later today how my hip fares."

"Yes, yes, I can do that. Rest now. I am going."

She turned the nob, stepped out, and closed the door. Then the elleth turned and almost fled down the hall. She found Elrond in his sitting room sipping a cup of tea. He raised his head and widened his eyes at the size of hers in her pale face. They stared as big as an owl's into his. Her voice came out tight. "Elrond, I think I unleashed something in your steward."

What do you think?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes