Note: Part 2 is out!!!!!
Part II: A Court of Gold and Swords
Chapter XV
The tale of Eruanna and Aranion is one not told very often as it was not like the tales of Beren and Lúthien or Aragorn and Arwen. Yet, that makes it a tale worth knowing.
Aranion was the great-great-great-grandson of Ingwë and Ilwen, the High King and Queen of the Vanyar and of all Elves, the most noble of them all. Aranion lived his whole life in Valinor as none of his family had ever forsaken the blessed realm. The Vanyar elves were devoted to the Valar. In the Kingdom of Ingwë, the residents were mostly Vanyar, however overtime, Noldorin and Sindarin elves came to live there and it was the largest, grandest Kingdom in Aman, built into the mountain, Talenquelti.
Aranion was not fully Vanyar. His mother was the eldest great-great-grandchild of Ingwë and Ilwen, the Princess Rianiel. His father was a noble Noldorin elf, Iston. Iston had lived in the kingdom of Ingwë and his ancestors never forsook the Blessed Realm nor participated in the Rebellion of the Noldor.
There was trouble in the line of succession as Ingwë feared both his descendants would fight over the throne. Aranion had several cousins, including Prince Arpen. Arpen was the eldest descendant of Ingwë, but since he was born to a younger cousin of Rianiel, most didn't consider him to be first in line to succeed the throne. Unfortunately for Arpen, Aranion was the joy of the realm and more favored by his people. Thus, Ingwë named Aranion heir and the Prince was called "Ingwhil" meaning "heir of Ingwë". Despite being recognized as heir, some of his cousins were disconented with Ingwë's decision and Arpen was chief among them.
Aranion was tall and fair, the spitting image of Ingwë. He was among the most noble of the Elven Princes and the sons of Lords. He could be a diplomatic Prince when it was required of him but when he was not being a Prince, he was like a hound, unleashing his wild spirit, which Iston often jested that it was due to his Noldorin heritage. Aranion and his friends were a wild bunch when they wanted to be. The Vanyar weren't normally wild but the younger generations were known for it. This was rumored to cause Arpen to dislike his cousin even more.
When he wasn't tending to his position as Prince, Aranion delighted in the hunt. He was an expert hunter and was even a pupil of the vala, Oromë the Huntsman. Aranion was also a pupil of Tulkas, the most wild and war-like of the Valar.
Eruanna had become a favored pupil of Varda, Yavanna and Nienna. It was through Yavanna's younger sister Vána, wife of Oromë that Aranion first heard of Eruanna.
"Many wish me to marry soon", Aranion told her with a roll of his eyes. "The maidens flock to me with their sickly, sweet flattery. I cannot take it! They want me for the power they can gain through me. But Arpen is married and has a son. Some people are using my marital status against me as if my supposed impotence makes me unfit to be heir.
Vána smiled, kindness beaming in her beautiful eyes. "You are a noble Prince, Ingwhil. Is there another reason why you don't wish to wed?"
"Ingwë is preparing to step down", Aranion informed her "In the next few centuries, I could become King. He wishes me to be married by then. Yet, there is an elleth in my dreams whom I cannot escape. Her hair is long and black like the night, yet in her deep blue eyes I find the light of the stars. She is beautiful beyond words. If only she were real. Mother says I should not be loyal to a dream."
Vána laughed.
"Irmo, Lord of Dreams, does not grant visions for no reason. He wouldn't be giving you visions of an elf if she isn't real", she said.
The Vanyar stayed loyal to the Valar even as the Kinslaying wracked their lands thousands of years ago. The older generations especially were most pious, worshiping Manwë, King of the Valar and Lord of the Winds. They had never seen Middle Earth and the younger generations were full of curiosity for the land beyond the sea.
Many tales had been told of the heroes there. The great elven civilizations, Aranion had memorized them all. There was Gondolin with its high towers and several noble houses. There was Doriath, with its magnificent cavernous Kingdom built into Menegroth, protected by the Girdle of Melian the Maia, their first Queen. Nargothrond, built into the banks of the river Nagrod. The elves who came from Middle Earth, who married Vanyarin elves and dwelt in Taniquetilalways had stories to tell.
Aranion noticed that the Vala he was speaking to had fallen silent. She was thinking to herself.
"Vána?", Aranion asked when he noticed her thoughtful expression.
"I believe the one you seek is the Dragon Princess Eruanna Úlumiel", Vána said. "She is a pupil of Varda, Nienna and my older sister, Yavanna. Yavanna speaks so fondly of her and I have met her on a few occasions."
Aranion's ears perked up in interest. "Is she a Vanya?", he asked.
Vána smiled and shook her head. "Not entirely, but she has a mixed, royal lineage and a descendant of Melian, whom both Yavanna and I are akin to. Unlike any maiden I have ever seen. Beautiful, fiery, vivacious, kind." Aranion's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Where does she dwell?", he asked.
Vána thought to herself for a moment.
"I know not where she dwells. Only that she lives in a forest with her paternal family which Yavanna herself grew", Vána said. But the vala could foresee that fate itself would lead Aranion to Eruanna.
Aranion rode on his mighty horse, a gift from Oromë himself. It was a solo hunting trip and Aranion loved the feeling of the fresh air whipping his face as he rode along, hearing the hooves of his horse thunder on the green grass.
When night fell, Aranion and his horse came to a stop. Aranion came to rest under a great tree, his horse falling asleep a few feet away from them. Aranion slipped into a dream.
Aranion found himself standing before a mighty, green forest. Its beautiful trees welcomed him but still, he hesitated to go in. Just then, he felt a presence behind him and saw a beautiful elf maiden with fair skin and black hair rushing into the woods. He had not seen her face nor heard her voice but curiosity got the best of him.
He followed her but found no sign of her. He then heard a melancholy tune. Sad but beautiful. He had heard whenever he passed by the halls of Nienna. Everytime he had heard the song, it tugged at his heartstrings but now it pulled even harder. It was hypnotic, beautiful and so magnetic, drawing him to it. He followed it through the thick forest.
"Where are you?", he called. "I mean you no harm but where are you? To whom does this graceful voice belong?", his voice became softer. He listened to the singing for some more time.
"Úlumiel", he found himself murmuring. He looked around and…
Aranion woke up to see that the sun had come to greet him. His horse was already awake and grazing before his master. Aranion stood up, the tune flowed through his head. After about an hour, he mounted his stead and rode off. And on his noble steed, Aranion went, for the music had awoken a fire within him. He wandered aimlessly, listening to the music that had come to be in his heart, filling him with longing and desire. The rhythm tugged at his heart strings and the music felt as if it were a part of him.
By chance, Aranion came to a forest similar to the one in his dream. He led his horse inside the forest. The pair wandered around for days and Aranion longed to hear the song again. Alas, his spirits could only remain high for so long and thus, after a few days, he considered returning home.
Just then, he heard the song that had stirred his heart. With a heart now filled with hope, Aranion followed the voice. There, he came upon Eruanna Úlumiel, daughter of Legolas and Hiriel, as she danced and sang upon the green grass in a beautiful clearing, surrounded by trees and bushes.
Her raven hair was decorated with flowers and pearls. Her fair, luminous face glowed under the sunlight. White was her raiment, as the clouds in the heavens or perhaps the glorious mansion of Manwë and Varda. Her eyes were blue as the sea, reflecting the light of the stars as the sea did on clear, starry nights. Though she was a graceful dancer, she had the stature of a warrior, tall and lean. Aranion could feel her resilient spirit, as if it were reaching out his own.
Her entire being seemed to reflect a different light than the lands of Aman, yet it was no less worthy of worship. She was so captivating that Aranion almost mistook her for Varda or Lúthien. However, she possessed a different kind of beauty than the former ladies.
Aranion took out his flute and played along to her song, as an attempt to gain her attention. He didn't receive her attention but every day she came out and danced, he played the flute to her song until one day, Eruanna picked up the notes of the flute and walked in his direction. Her glance was powerful and mesmerizing. With every gaze, she told stories of love and ruin, of war and peace, of glory and defeat. Aranion felt that he would drown in the deep blue of her eyes.
It was her. The woman who'd been haunting his dreams for years. It. Was. Her.
Eruanna stood in awe of the handsome Prince before her. Aranion had thick golden hair framing his radiant porcelain face that glowed with wonder. His eyes were a piercing silver-grey as a cloudless night and he was but a few inches taller than the noble maiden. Aranion was slightly muscular and donned clothes of gold and blue. He was as strong as the Elvenkings of old yet fair as a child of the Maiar. Like the Valar, he was crowned with dignity and pride, though not arrogant as many others Eruanna had known. Yet he was young, and his eyes held a playful glint.
It was the elf from her dreams.
To each other, they didn't feel like strangers but like old friends. Aranion reached out and touched her hand, breaking the spell they'd cast over each other.
"Are you the forest maiden?", Aranion asked. "I've dreamed about someone like you for so long."
"I...I've been dreaming about someone like you for quite some time", Eruanna admitted.
"Lord Irmo has a way of bringing people together", she thought, before adorably cocking her head. "Who are you?"
"Aranion", the Vanyarin Prince simply stated.
The maiden noticed the circlet on his head.
"You are a Prince", she deduced.
"I am the Crown Prince of the Vanyar and of All Elves. Aranion, of the House of Ingwë", Aranion bowed his head. "You are?"
"Is my face so forgettable that you need my name?", Eruanna teased him.
"It is not. But I still need a name", Aranion teased her. "Unless you don't wish to tell me. Then I'll simply find out for myself."
"Princess Eruanna Úlumiel of the Houses of Oropher and Elrond", she responded with a smile as butterflies swarmed her stomach.
"It is an honor to meet you, my lady. I have heard much about you from Yavanna's sister. Your loyalty and deeds have become well known amongst the elves."
"That is high praise, but I have a feeling you may know more about my father than me", Eruanna responded "He was Legolas of the Fellowship."
"Indeed I have", Aranion said with a smile. "Everstar."
"My people call me the Everstar. Before me, they called my aunt the Evenstar like they called Lúthien Tinuviel", Eruanna's eyes were briefly filled with melancholy.
"I heard you are the only Dragoness", Aranion said, changing the topic to pull her out of her sorry mood.
Eruanna's eyes brightened and she looked up. Aranion looked to see five dragons flying overhead.
A large turquoise dragon leapt in between them. Her large head swiveled to the side and she stared Aranion down. The four other dragons kept a distance as the large beast in front of him
"This is Ceveniel", Eruanna said, going to Aranion's side. She took his hand in hers, pressing his palm to Ceveniel's scales. The dragons calmed down and nuzzled Aranion's hand briefly before flying off with her siblings.
The two of them glanced at each other, having both found one another after countless dreams.
They smiled.