Once again, sorry it took some time to post. The next (and final) one will be up some time next week (though not monday as i will still be coming back from Strasbourg that day).
Pardon the slight harry potter last line BTW, it was too good to pass up.
Anyway, Enjoy!
Wrath's Recompense 9
Eönwë woke and knew instantly that something was wrong. As he reached for his sword he sent his mind out to sense his surroundings and knew instantly what was different. He could no longer sense the Silmarils which he had been guarding.
He didn't know what was more worrying, that the two stones that were the centre of the unrest that had marked the entire Age had been stolen or that someone had got into his tent and been so close to him without his knowing.
When he'd got out of his tent, he saw that he wasn't the only one who had noticed something wrong. Finarfin was also in the fire clearing sword drawn, as was Riona. Slightly to his surprise, she still had Daffyd perched on her left hip, the sword in her right hand.
Absently, he realised that it was a remarkably good way of protecting the child, since the posture she used made him a minimal target (as long as the enemy was coming from the front) and it only hindered her weapons use minimally.
"Put the sword away, they're gone already and have what they want, for all the good it will do them." Finarfin sheathed his blade and taking the cue, so did Riona. She'd obviously worked out the gist of what he'd said. Both she and Finarfin moved to the banked fire and looked at him curiously. After a second, he explained.
"Maedros and Maglor have stolen the last two Silmarils. They should be regretting it any time now." The Noldor King's eyes went flat the moment the names of his half-brother's last surviving sons were mentioned and he didn't seem vastly amused by this latest development. Riona had, obviously, not understood a word and simply walked over to Eönwë and lent her head against his shoulder; taking the hint, he wrapped his arm round her waist. To the Maia's vast amusement he realised that Daffyd was utterly asleep and probably hadn't realised anything had happened.
"Shall I send men after them, my Lord?" Finarfin asked icily.
"No, their actions are already bringing them punishment, for the stones will not accept their ownership any more than they did Morgoth's. Leave them be, neither will trouble anyone anymore." Finarfin didn't seem too pleased with that order, but nodded sharply anyway.
XXX
Riona was once again curled against Eönwë with Daffyd perched on her hip and humming what sounded like a sea-shanty as they watched the makeshift jetties that Cirdan's folk had set up for all the Elves who wished to sail to Valinor. Most of Beleriand had been sunk in the aftermath of the War of Wrath and Cirdan had had to set up makeshift docks for the mass exodus of the majority of the elven race back to Valinor.
Nearby, Finarfin was also watching his people embark the ships, scowling in a most unelven-like way. Eönwë wasn't sure if the scowl was because of the news they had received of Maedros and Maglor or whether it was because when he had asked his daughter when she was going to sail, she had said that she wasn't.
Finarfin had not taken Artanis', or Galadriel as she was now known, refusing to return to the Undying Lands very well, though he had at least tried to hide it while she was around, especially after she had explained that her husband (an Elf of Doriath called Celeborn) was too closely bound to Arda to sail yet. Even Finarfin realised it was unfair to separate he from her husband because of what he wanted. It didn't stop him from muttering rude comments about Doriathin Elves once he was away from her hearing, though.
Riona had been present for that conversation and apparently it had needed little translation. While the Elf-king was present, she was commiseratory; when he wasn't, she evidently found his behaviour very funny. Eönwë had to admit there was something funny about the great King of the Noldor sulking.
Soon their own ship was ready to leave and they boarded the large white vessel, which held many of the higher ranking Elves that had survived the War. Most of them were not entirely comfortable sailing, but apparently the two humans seemed totally at home on the high seas. When one of the Elves commented that she was obviously mad (caused by seeing her standing at the bow of the boat), Eönwë reminded him that she had told them she was an islander and had obviously become accustomed to ships, since her brother had lived on another island.
Most of the passengers still thought she was insane for her apparently ready enjoyment in sailing. Eönwë preferred to enjoy the pleasant view of her standing proud with the wind whipping her hair back dramatically. It was an almost painting worthy image, he thought, especially when Daffyd stood with her.
Eventually, the fair shore of Valinor was sighted and then suddenly, many Elves wanted to stand near the bow, watching the shoreline. Riona could obviously tell how important this place was to him and seemed to share in his joy. As usual, he didn't understand the song she was singing, but somehow it seemed to convey his feelings very well.
XXX
As soon as they arrived, he escorted Riona and Daffyd to Valmar and the Palace of Manwë and Varda. The Valar had obviously been expecting them, for they were all assembled in their joint throne room that they kept for when all fourteen had to deal with something together. Eönwë was vaguely surprised to see Ulmö present as well, for he rarely joined the discussions of the Valar. Either he considered Riona and Daffyd's presence particularly significant or he was just curious about the humans that his fellow Valar would call to the land they had agreed no Mortal should enter. Eönwë hoped it was the latter, but suspected it was the former.
When they were inside the semicircle of thrones and facing Manwë and Varda, Eönwë stopped and bowed deeply to the assembling in general. Following his lead, Riona curtseyed low and Daffyd made a rather cute attempt at a bow.
When he had risen, Eönwë looked around the faces of the Valar, suddenly slightly worried as possibilities he had carefully not been thinking about crossed his mind. Mandos and Ulmö looked as stoic as ever, neither stern face giving anything away, whilst Irmo, Estë, Vairë, and a few other of the Valar looked amused. He suddenly blushed as he realised that he had been holding Riona's waist right up until the point they had bowed and that the amused-looking Valar must know of the relationship there.
Eönwë stiffened his posture and introduced Riona and Daffyd as formally as he could, trying to gather the scraps of his dignity, as well as ignore the fact that about half the Valar seemed to be laughing at him. The noticeable tightness in his jaw seemed to provide even more amusement and even Manwë's voice was highly amused as he dismissed Eönwë.
XXX
His housekeeper had been delighted at the safe return of her Lord, as had the entire staff of his household, and all fussed him immensely when he returned. The tall Maia had tried to be as civil and as happy as they were, but he had spent the entire journey from Manwë's hall going through 'what if's' in his head, working himself up with worry as it occurred to him that he might never see Riona again.
Fairly quickly, his staff had realised that there was something worrying their Lord, who, instead of going and freshening up or anything like that, had gone to the library to pace. After about half-an-hour of pacing back and forth, his housekeeper had given up on him.
What if they returned them to their home? Would he be given chance to say goodbye or would he just be informed they were gone. Did Riona even want to stay here, what if she wanted to leave him? Thoughts like that ran through his brain and he virtually wore a hole in the carpet.
Suddenly, he heard the library door open and his head snapped up. When he saw his housekeeper enter, his jaw tightened. Was she going to try and make him relax again? He was about to snap at her, when someone else followed her in.
Riona stood there smiling at him.
He didn't even notice Daffyd as her smile widened into a grin and she opened her mouth to speak.
"You know, I have to absolutely love the Valar's method of teaching languages," she said, before she was simply swept into Eönwë's arms.
"You're staying?" he asked desperately, having spent every moment since he'd last seen her worrying about that.
"With you? Always." Neither of them noticed his housekeeper grin at them and take Daffyd out because they were far too busy kissing.