A/N – Last Temptation – thanks again! And I'm very sorry for the delay; there have been internet issues!

Chapter 14 – Elmarië

The morning dawned bright and fair, and the light of the rising sun flooded past the dark shapes of the trees. Tinuial looked to Thaliondil, who sat already awake. Either that or he had not rested at all, for he looked weary indeed, with shadows gathering in dark crescents beneath his eyes. Tinuial's gaze strayed to the maiden, Elmarië, who lay at rest a little apart from the others, her face shadowed by her dark hood. Carnil stirred, and yawned.

'Where is she from, I wonder?' Tinuial muttered, gazing at Elmarië with concern.

'What secrets does she keep?' Thaliondil asked sullenly. 'No word would she say of herself. Do not be too quick to trust this girl, and remember that aught she tells us may be false!'

'Her secrets are her own, to keep or share as she wishes! We have no reason to doubt her.' Tinuial sprang to the maiden's defence, glaring angrily at her brother.

'I for one do not think her likely to do us harm,' Carnil sighed wearily. 'I pity her indeed, yet Thailiondil is correct - folk who wander the wild are seldom what they appear to be, and in all cases trust must be earned.'

As though she understood that she was being discussed, Elmarië sat up with a start. Her mind was for a brief moment filled with confusion, as she beheld the faces of three strangers gazing silently at her, and then the events of the previous night dawned on her in a flash of memory. She threw back her hood.

Elmarië's hair was thick and dusky, tumbling across her moon-delicate face in sumptuous black coils. It seemed that her features were etched of star-polished ivory, like a vision half-glimpsed by moonlight, beautiful to dimensions entirely beyond the scope of mortal loveliness. Her huge eyes were of the deepest, most haunting shade of midnight blue, set like glistening diamonds amid her the unearthly glory of her face. The three companions gaped at her in astonished silence as she drew herself elegantly to her feet and fixed them with her alarming sapphire stare. Tinuial could not help but feel a distinct stab of envy as she gazed at the exquisite creature. It was immensely foolish, for this maiden's beauty was so much greater than her own that the two of them could not even be compared, yet that was scarcely a comforting fact. Tinuial had always known herself to be fair - by mortal standards, considerably so - yet in Nargothrond there had been countless Elven maids a great deal lovelier than herself, and Elmarië surpassed every one of them. It didn't help matters that Carnil and Thaliondil were both gaping like idiots at the beautiful girl. Tinuial frowned. Elmarie herself seemed untroubled by their scrutiny, (she was probably well accustomed to it, Tinuial concluded sullenly) in fact, the faintest curl of her rosebud lips suggested that she rather enjoyed it. Yet as Tinuial studied her closely, it seemed that the girl was not entirely at ease. There was a taut readiness in her stance, so subtle as to be hardly noticed. Her eyes were large and guileless, her beauty entirely disarming - her slender frame gave her a frail and helpless appearance, almost like a child, but Tinuial noted that her countenance was that of a hunted animal, cornered, and ready to strike. Yet surely she knew by now that these three strangers meant her no harm? Tinuial posed her no particular threat, and Thaliondil and Carnil seemed incapable of uttering so much as a word to her in their current state. At last, Tinuial coughed politely, and her two male companions averted there eyes from the maiden almost instantly.

'Tell us of yourself, girl.' Thaliondil demanded abruptly. All admiration had faded from his face, and he now eyed her distrustfully. Elmarië glanced at him, a little taken aback by the sharpness of his tone. There was a momentary flash of annoyance in her deep eyes.

'What do you wish to know?' She asked cooly, schooling her exquisite features back into order.

'Whence came you, Lady?' Carnil asked softly.

'I am from Doriath, the realm of King Thingol.' She replied, her voice rich yet courteous. She looked upon Carnil.

'Then you are far from home! Are you lost?' Tinuial said, puzzled.

'Alas, Doriath is my home no longer,' Elmarië exclaimed sadly. 'It is merely the land of my birth. I am not lost, for I have no destination. Though in truth I suppose that I am lost, for I have no notion of where I am.'

'Have you any companions?' Carnil asked with concern.

'I am alone.' She blinked away the tears that started in her eyes, her long black lashes fluttering gently. Tinuial watched the maiden shrewdly - Elmarië's ready stance had not altered in the slightest. Her eyes, though tear-misted and achingly sorrowful, were sharp, and aware of every move the three companions made. She was not so wholly overcome by grief, then, and most certainly kept her wits about her. Tinuial wondered fleetingly whether the maiden was duplicitous, or merely wary - or else, if her own involuntary envy was making her uncharitable.

'If you do not mind my asking, lady, for what reason did you depart from Doriath?' Carnil's voice was hushed and soothing, as though to pain Elmarië as little as possible.

'I do not expect you to comprehend my reasoning, for I myself do not. Long years I dwelt in Doriath, yet evil befell me there, and I could no longer bear to remain. Bitterly do I regret my foolishness! It was partly through fear, I think, that I fled. Yet I acted in haste, and could not have foreseen how hard my life would be in the wild. Gladly would I face that terror if in exchange I could simply behold Doriath once more.'

'What horror did you flee from, Lady?' Carnil questioned. 'What has befallen you?'

'I can tell you only that I was almost slain. One whom I had trusted, attempted to take my life. I can say no more, for upon my life I cannot betray this secret.' This exclamation was followed by a striken silence. All three companions wished to question her further on this matter, yet they all deemed it unwise.

'I gather from your words that you wish to return to Doriath,' Carnil said warily. 'Despite your misfortune.'

'I wish to return indeed!' Elmarië answered, 'Had I known more of the lands beyond Doriath ere I departed, I should never have left my home!'

'Surely you would rather face the wilds, than retrun to a situation where your death may result!' Carnil was quietly incredulous.

'Yet I caused the situation to arise. It is I who am truly to blame!' Elmarië exclaimed sadly. A frail tear coursed its way down her cheek, leaving a glimmering trail of glass. 'It can perhaps be righted, and I wish now more than aught else to return.'

'Carnil,' Tinuial said faintly. 'Know you the way to Doriath?'

'I know whither the Realm of Thingol lies,' Carnil replied slowly. 'As indeed I know all this land.'

'Then you would take me to my home?' Elmarië pleaded, gazing intently into his green eyes.

'I would not gladly pass the borders of Doriath,' Carnil said warily. 'For enchantment lies upon that Realm. I can, nonetheless, lead you to the eaves of the forest of Region.'

'You are kind!' Elmarië cried joyfully, a sparkling smile upon her face.

'It will be many days ere we reach the land of King Thingol,' Carnil remarked blankly. 'We must depart at once.'

'I thank you indeed!' Elmarië said, yet she found no more to say, and fell silent.

Within minutes the four of them were journeying slowly onwards. As they plodded on, the trees about them became scarce, and soon enough the land opened out before them. The hazy afternoon light bathed the world in its gentle glow, and a faint wind hauled shreds of cloud across the pale blue sky. Tinuial looked at her companions. Carnil seemed deep in thought, and Thaliondil was sullen. Elmarië's impossibly beautiful eyes mirrored the sky as she gazed heavenward. Tinuial could not dismiss the sudden wish that her own eyes were as wondrous and blue. She was taken aback at how relieved she was that her companions no longer appeared dazzled merely by Elmarië's loveliness, though Carnil seemed rather to take pains not to so much as glance in the maiden's direction, which Tinuial found slightly worrying in itself. She did not wish to distrust him, or doubt the love he had proclaimed for her, yet she could not utterly quell the memory of how he had gazed at Elmarië upon first beholding her. The thought that he might desert her in favour of the exquisite Elven maid was intolerable. No, she ought not even consider such things! Neither Carnil nor Elmarië herself had done aught to deserve her suspicion. She resolved there and then to consider the matter no more, for it was sheer idiocy. And whatever her feelings, she would not be churlish to the maiden, unlike Thaliondil. Without a word, the companions plunged silently into the unknown lands, and Tinuial shuddered in the Autumn chill, which seemed to loom ever behind the pale sunlight.

A deep blue twilight lingered sadly in the cold sky, like a wraith of the forsaken daylight. A hissing wind seethed upon the night air and surged past the naked branches of the trees, making them stir faintly with a dry creaking sound. Time drew on, and the night seemed heavy with it's own quiet lament, as it mourned for the light and warmth which was lost. Carnil opened his eyes, awoken suddenly by he knew not what. Tinuial lay beside him, the moonlight caressing her sleeping face with its cold touch, and making her pale hair glitter like the silver frost of stars. Carnil smiled as he looked upon her, and clasped her hand gently. A deep pang of regret smote his heart, and the smile died upon his lips, as he thought of the darkness of his own doom. Tinuial's fate was now entwined with his, and there could be no escape from the shadow which closed in about them. Would Tinuial ever tire of life in the wilderness? He sincerely hoped not, for when they were pursued by such ceaseless evil, they could make no lasting abode. He gazed into the misted heavens, wondering sadly if Tinuial would turn her heart from him, when she realised how little he had to offer her. They possessed only their love, yet it was foolish indeed to believe that love alone could suffice to keep them from destruction. He sighed deeply, gazing back down at Tinuial. And as he beheld her once more, his troubles seemed to melt away, like a grim night banished by the glimmer of dawn. He was burdened still by grief and care, yet when he looked upon her face, somehow it no longer mattered.