Chapter XVIII
Eruanna quickly arrived at Taniquetil and there, she was allowed inside and led before High King Ingwë and his wife, High Queen Ilwen. She was dressed in light blue. With her, she had brought her five dragons.
Ingwë, the High King of the Vanyar and the High King of All Elves, was tall and fair. He had thick, golden hair that was slightly curly. His eyes were silver-grey and they held compassion and wisdom. His resemblance to Aranion was uncanny. His lips were curled into a small smile and he wore a majestic gold robe outfitted with diamonds. A grand golden crown sat on his head. On his hands, he wore rings of gold.
Ilwen stood next to him, only a few inches shorter than her husband. She was almost as fair as a Maia. Her eyes were light blue and her golden hair was long and straight, extending to her knees. Her gold dress was decorated with diamonds and sapphires. Atop her head was a golden crown of her own. She too wore golden rings on her finger and diamonds glittered on her neck and hair.
"Mae govannen Princess Eruanna Úlumiel of the House of Oropher and the House of Elrond", Ingwë greeted her with a smile.
Eruanna cutsied. "Hannon le Aran nin, Rian nin", she responded.
"There is no need for formalities with us", Ilwen said, kindly. "Rise child, for you are of our distant kin, through your mother."
The Mistress of Dragons rose and looked up at the kind couple, smiling softly. Ilwen approached her and the dragons. The dragons had shrunk their size to fit inside the palace.
"I have heard many tales of the dragons. It seems the legends are true", she smiled at the dragons who were mesmerized by her beauty. "Will they need any other accommodations? We have your chamber ready but I fear that we haven't accounted for the dragons", Ingwë spoke up.
Eruanna shook her head. "They'll stay with me. However, I have brought my good friends and ladies-in-waiting", she gestured to Caladhwen and Miluiel, who had come with her to Taniquetil. "I would like for them to have accommodations as well."
"We will have no problem there", Ilwen smiled at the two elf maidens who curtsied in respect. Just then, another noble Vanyarin maiden came onto the scene with a small crown on her head. Ilwen introduced her. "Eruanna, this is Princess Rianiel, Aranion's mother. She wished to greet you."
"Welcome, Princess", Rianiel bowed her head and smiled when Eruanna and her friends curtsied.
"Hannon le, Princess Rianiel. It is an honor to meet you", Eruanna responded.
Rianiel observed her for a bit before speaking again. "Come with me to my chambers. We'll chat for a while and I'll take you to the chambers we have prepared for you."
"You two will come with me", Ilwen smiled at Caladhwen and Miluiel. "I'll make sure you are settled in." The excited maidens looked to Eruanna who smiled and nodded. With that, Ilwen left with the two ladies.
"Right this way", Rianiel guided Eruanna and her dragons through the massive palace. Eruanna Úlumiel followed Rianiel to her room after the elder elf led her away from the throne of Ingwë. As they settled down in Rianiel's chambers, Eruanna took a good look at Aranion's mother. She looked very similar to her son, with long, thick locks of golden hair streaming down past her hips, framing a fair face. Her cheeks had a hint of rosiness to them and her eyes were light blue. Her hair was held back by a golden circlet and she dressed more elaboratly than Eruanna ever did. Rianiel's lips curved into a small smile.
"I'm glad that you're here. It's nice to meet you", she said. "It pleases me that my son found the elleth from his dreams, though I confess, I was skeptical of his dreams. He started dreaming about you a few nights after coming of age."
"I started dreaming of him around the same time", Eruanna realized. "I hardly told anyone about my dreams, but he was the brightest thing in my visions."
Rianiel nodded, thoughtfully. "Lord Irmo grants us visions for a reason. I believe he thinks you both are fated for each other. But that can be the only reason, can it not? Otherwise, you wouldn't be here and my son perhaps would have been with someone else."
Eruanna sat rigidly still and tried to look confident but the last words out of Rianiel's mouth stung her. Fortunately, the Vanyarin Princess realized the callousness of her words and apologized. "Goheno nin, but I'm sure you realize that this is a tumultuous time for the House of Ingwë. A succession crisis is taking place right now."
"May I ask what caused it?", Eruanna inquired.
"It is fitting for you to know and that is precisely why I wished to speak with you before I showed you to your chambers", said Rianiel. "Ingwë sired many children with Ilwen and the eldest of them is Ingwion, my great-grandfather. Ingwion's line is supposed to hold precedence over the line of his youngest siblings but when there are so many descendants, the laws come to be called into question."
Eruanna cocked her head.
"Aranion is not the oldest of his cousins though he is the last heir of the line of Ingwion. One of my younger cousins gave birth to a son, Arpen. Arpen is not a direct descendant of Ingwion but he is the oldest of the great-great-great-granchildren of Ingwë. This becomes a problem because now many are saying that Arpen is the oldest of Aranion and his cousins, thus he should be heir."
"That is folly", Eruanna pointed out. "Ingwë has already named Aranion his heir and Aranion is a direct descendant of Ingwë's eldest child, Ingwion, as you tell me."
"That is true", Rianiel said with a smile.
"But that doesn't mean that everyone accepts it. Winning over the common folk is one thing but winning over the nobility is another. And Ingwë is the High King of not just the Vanyar but all elves. Nodlorin, Vanyarin, Teleri, Sindarin. The way the nobility see it, Arpen's line is more secure. He has a wife, Araneth, and a son, Maladion."
"Isn't it a bit ridiculous to judge someone's ability to rule based on their marital status or child rearing?", Eruanna asked.
"It is preferred that an heir have at least a wife", Rianiel responded. "Or someone he has his eyes on. That's why your presence brings us fortune. Aranion is in love with you and he admires you greatly. I see it in his eyes. He actually hesitated to bring you here so he could court you properly because he didn't want you to be caught in the crossfires of a succession crisis but it was I who insisted."
"Was it because you wanted to get to know me or because my status as the Prince's lady will help him attain the loyalty of the nobility?", Eruanna asked. "After all, I have ties to the House of Ingwë through my great-grandmother, Galadriel who is the granddaughter of Ingwë's niece, Indis. On top of that, I am connected to several royal houses."
"Both actually", Rianiel responded. "I don't want you to feel offended, but we are in a dire situation, really. And in case you have any doubt, Aranion didn't fall for you because of the political benefit you bring him. He fell for your beauty and your personality. Ever since the day you both met in that forest, when he came back to Taniquetil, there was something different about him."
"How so?"
Rianiel smiled. "He took more hunting trips alone and would be gone for a few days at most. Every time, he raced out to see you. If he only saw you for the political benefit, he would have brought you to court and have you rush into marriage. But he wants to take things slow and spend more time knowing and loving you. I have never seen such pure love."
Her words brought great comfort to Eruanna and the Dragoness smiled. "I will always stand by Aranion's side, Princess Rianiel. I swear it."
Rianiel nodded, satisfied, as if Eruanna had just passed a test. "Sometimes, I think about how differently things would have gone had I taken the throne as originally planned", she mused.
"Why didn't you?", Eruanna asked.
"I had a dream concerning my son. After discussing it with Ingwë, we decided it would be better to heed the visions of Lord Irmo, so he continued to hold the throne for a time."
"If Ingwë ruled for thousands of years, why does he need a successor?"
Rianiel smiled. "He is weary and he has been for a long time. After the drowning of Númenor, he delegated more duties to his descendants and took more time off. He just can't be the present King that the elves need anymore and he knows it. That's why he wants an heir. A younger elf who can bear the responsibility."
Eruanna nodded. "That makes sense. He knows his limits."
Rianiel stood along with Eruanna. "Good. Now come, I'll show you to your chambers."
The two ladies walked into the royal wing. "Since you are a Princess by birth, you'll be staying with the main branch of the House of Ingwë. Your chamber will be next to my son's chamber. On top of that, a masquerade ball will be held in Tirion to celebrate the beginning of summer. That will be your first public appearance with Aranion."
"I've already met the Houses of Finarfin and Fingolfin", Eruanna responded. "They are my kin."
Rianiel gave her a small smile. "I'd hate for our talks to be just politics. If you ever want someone to talk to, you can always come to me. We can have discussions over tea or juice. I will be assigning two more ladies-in-waiting to you. Young, Vanyarin maidens who will help you adjust to life at court."
"Thank you", Eruanna said with a smile.
The two ladies entered the luxurious chambers only to find an ellon standing there. He had golden hair and icy blue eyes. He looked at Eruanna with lustful eyes. "So this is the woman my cousin is enamored with", he grinned. He bowed his head. "Prince Arpen."
Eruanna immediately felt that something was deeply concerning about Prince Arpen but she showed respect and bowed her own head. "Princess Eruanna."
"Arpen, what are you doing here?", Rianiel demanded.
"Just greeting Aranion's love, dear aunt", Arpen smirked before leaving. Rianiel sighed and followed him out, briefly smiling at Eruanna before closing the door. Eruanna then heard commotion and went to press her ear against the door.
"You think I don't know why he's doing this!?!", Arpen snarled. "He brought in a powerful woman to court so that the moment the lords and ladies see her, they'll flock to his side!"
"You shouldn't even be pressing your claim as the throne isn't yours!", snarled Rianiel.
"What is going on here?", came the voice of an angry Aranion.
"You watch yourself, cousin!", growled Arpen. "I don't know what little agreement you and the Dragoness have, but I know what you intend to do"
"Steal the throne that isn't even yours?", scoffed Aranion "Stay away from Eruanna, Arpen."
"How do we know you aren't using her for your own political gain!?!", snarled Arpen.
"Oh please cousin, I'm not like you. You've been parading your wife and son around ever since you got married as if being a husband and father has made you a better person and a more suitable heir. Yet you still crave the day you sit on the throne of Ingwë as if that day will ever come."
"Oh it will, Aranion", growled Arpen. Eruanna felt fear strike her in the chest. "Whether by the sword or by the King's words, you will fall."
Eruanna could practically feel Aranion smirk.
"Watch yourself, cousin", Aranion said.
Eruanna heard receding footsteps and Aranion opened the doors to her chamber, walking inside.
"Things are tense between you and Arpen, I take it", Eruanna responded. Tense was an understatement.
"We've been rivals from the start", Aranion responded. "But I don't want to talk about him now. I want to talk about us."
Eruanna looked at Aranion. "Do you love me for who I am or for the political gain I bring you?"
Aranion looked like someone had possessed him.
"I want to hear it from your lips", Eruanna said, staring at him unflinchingly.
"My mother talked with you about politics, didn't she?", Aranion groaned.
"I want an answer, Aranion", Eruanna responded. "I can't ignore the political implications behind our relationship unless you tell me you didn't fall for my status as Princess."
Aranion held her face in his hands.
"I care nothing for your status. When I first saw you in that forest, you sealed my fate. I didn't fall for your status. I fell for your resilient spirit and unwavering loyalty to your people. I fell for your stories and your heart. That's what I love about you and that's why I'm courting you. I would've rather courted you in Oropher's Kingdom, away from this political turmoil, but it is what it is."
Eruanna smiled, finally pleased.
"Now come. I want to show you something", he said, leading her to the walk-in closet attached to her room. Aranion opened the door and Eruanna's eyes went wide.
Inside the closet were numerous dresses. The dresses displayed bright, vivid colors and were decorated with gold and diamonds. The dresses Eruanna had brought from Middle-Earth were nothing compared to the lavish, elaborate dresses the Vanyarin nobles wore.
"These are beautiful", Eruanna murmured. "Even in Gondor at its height, I've never seen such luxury."
"They're all yours", Aranion told her with a smile.
Eruanna turned around, ran and hugged Aranion tightly. "Aranion", Eruanna murmured against his hair.
Aranion pulled back and kissed her, leaving no space between them.