Sorry this has once again taken a while and that i haven't replied to review, despite effort on my part to make time to do so, life is getting ever more hectic as i try to mix christmas with essays deadlines etc. On a good note - the philosophy essay i was asking for help on i got 68% - thats 2% off a first (highest uni grade possible)! *Does pleased little dance*

Wrath's Recompense 8

Eönwë stood and watched as his Lord and the Valar generally took care of the task that was Morgoth once and for all.

Aulë bound the fallen Vala with the chain the Valar of crafting had made to bind him, Angainor, and then they went to work finding a prison that could permanently confine him as none yet had. Eventually, they thrust him through the doors of night, beyond the walls of the world and into the timeless void*, where he would remain until the ultimate last battle and the day of doom, when he would finally be destroyed.

Once Morgoth was dealt with, Eönwë went into the depth of the Angband and retrieved the two remaining Silmarils and took them away, where he would guard them to prevent any more from becoming corrupted by the stones, which held the last lights of the two trees of Valinor, Laurelin and Telperion.

XXX

Much later, Eönwë walked wearily into the empty camp. Much of it would stay deserted, though thankfully few more would die now. The end of a war brought such relief and such grief. As he finally made it to the area reserved for the generals, he saw one loan figure sitting by the campfire, one that she'd obviously been tending.

He could tell when Riona had heard them coming, for she rose from the log on which she sat and promptly surprised them. As she turned round she drew a long sword (where in Arda had she got a long sword?) and held the blade professionally. Her entire posture spoke of a person who knew what she was doing. As he walked closer to her, slowly since she was obviously scared and defensive, he observed he posture. Knees bent and feet turned outwards lowering her centre of gravity and giving her a more stable standing position that lowered the target area. Her sword arm was tight to her body, other arm safely out the way. The blade was held low but point high, in a position she could easily defending with limited movement of her own. There was not the slightest hint of shaking as she held the blade. In other words, the position of one well accustomed to using a light sword.

He wondered where she could have learnt that, but realised that there was no way that she'd picked up her skill from watching men train around the camp, at some point someone had taught her.

When he was about a blade's length away from the tip of her sword he stopped and raised his helmet. To her credit, she did not lower the blade. Only a fool lowered their blade when an armed soldier lifted their helmet. Next to him, Finarfin also removed helmet and brushed away the dirty, sweat streaked hair.

The only movement from Riona was the flicker of her eyes between the two of them before she finally relaxed and sheathed her sword, once again like a professional. Then she stepped forward, for the first time looking hesitant. Her eyes continued swinging between them and it seemed that she couldn't decide which one to go to first. Eönwë wasn't sure what his reaction would be if she chose Finarfin.

After a second or so more hesitation, she touched his cheek softly with the tips of her fingers and ran them down his face. Then without warning, Eönwë had arms full of a sobbing woman, who apparently didn't care that she was getting her dress dirty from all the gore on his armour. With a quick movement, he ripped off his gauntlets and held her close. Over Riona's shoulder, he saw Finarfin grinning at him before the King went off to remove his armour and clean up.

When Riona had finally finished hugging him senseless, she pulled him into the tent and helped him out of the armour and then silently tended his wounds like she had after that first battle he'd taken part in after she'd joined them. It was the first time since he'd pushed her away that she'd acted anything close to normal.

Once she'd finished with his many injuries, she just sat there staring at the ground, like she didn't know what to do next. Eönwë realised that it was his move, that right now he could lose her forever or be able to get her back. According to Finarfin, who knew a lot more about the emotions of females than he did, she still loved him and hoped he'd love her back, but was scared of being hurt again and so had been guarding herself from pain by avoiding him.

Very slowly, he lifted a hand up and as gently as he could in his exhausted state, he drew her face round so she looked up into his eyes; he saw a glimmer of hope in the bright green eyes. As hesitantly as she'd been earlier, he leant in to kiss her. She leant forward almost imperceptibly, but he felt it. She wanted him!

The kiss was short and sweet but oh! Suddenly he understood what the fuss was about. He drew the beautiful girl in front of him into his arms and held her there. Finarfin was right. He was a complete idiot; why hadn't he taken this when it was offered?

XXX

The next morning he woke with his arms full of Riona – and Daffyd. He wasn't exactly sure when the little boy had joined them, but all the same, Daffyd was curled up contentedly between them, one hand clinging to Riona's dress.

They hadn't actually done anything more than kiss, but neither had been inclined to sleep away from the other and so they had curled up on his bedroll to sleep. Apparently, Daffyd had missed his favourite cuddly toy. When he looked back down at them, he saw Riona awake and smiling. She kissed him gently and manoeuvred the small body into a better position and curled into the two males in her life. Eönwë's arms tightened round them. Instant family, just add love he thought; though, he was not entirely sure where the thought came from.

With another smile at the two beautiful people curled up to and relying on him he determined to – how had that human put it – live for today and think about tomorrow, tomorrow. The happy little sound from Riona sealed the resolve and he went back to sleep, enjoying the dual warmth next to him.

XXX

Sometime later, Eönwë was once again woken, this time by an extra presence which radiated amusement. That presence also radiated a sort of hostility.

Drowsy eyes opened and looked towards the presence to see Finarfin standing at the food of their bedroll, arms crossed and a chiding expression on his face. When the King saw that he was noticed by the Maia, he spoke in a deceptively quiet voice, which dripped warning venom.

"May I enquire as to exactly what you are doing with the Lady Riona in your arms and bed?" Eönwë was not going to be fazed by the Noldor and simply raised an eyebrow.

"Keeping her and Daffyd warm right now." He pulled the covers back slightly to reveal the third person there. He grinned slightly as he saw that even Finarfin couldn't help smiling at the incredibly cute image of the little boy curled up between them.

"How long has he been there?"

"All night." Well, nearly, but no need to tell Finarfin that. The King shook his head.

"As I said, don't hurt them or else Morgoth's punishment will look light in comparison compared with what I will wreak on you." Before Eönwë could answer, Finarfin left them there, curled up as one happy unit.

Note:

*Direct silmarillion quote. Yes Tolkien really did write that description.