Note: Senior year of HS has hit. Things are getting busy so sorry for the late updates, LOL! I have other stuff planned after the Duology so stay tuned!
Chapter XVII
"What is Adar's problem with Aranion?", Eruanna stormed.
Hiriel was struck by the question. She did not expect that to come out of Eruanna's mouth. She knew that Prince Legolas Thranduillion, her husband, did not despise Aranion. Why had her daughter uttered such a question?
"What do you mean?", Hiriel asked.
"What do I mean? Naneth, you saw! You saw him bring Aranion before Great-grandfather under the guise of a traitor!", Eruanna questioned. Hiriel smiled, finally understanding. She had taken note of how her husband acted around the Crown Prince of the Vanyar. It was… unlike him. ButHiriel had a hunch that she knew what was causing it.
"He feels threatened by Aranion, dear", Hiriel answered.
Princess Eruanna scoffed. "Threatened? He has faced the dreaded orcs of Middle Earth and thwarted a Nazgul's stead. Yet, he feels threatened by a Vanyarin Prince?", she asked incredulously.
Hiriel chuckled. "Letting you go scares him more than anything", Hiriel responded.
"Grandfather Elrond had to let you go so you could marry Adar", Eruanna put in.
"There is a difference, Eruanna", Hiriel spoke. "He had four children, of whom I was the firstborn. Your father and I, alas, we have only one", she took her daughter's fair hand in her own and kissed it.
Eruanna glanced down at her feet and considered the words of her mother, the wise elleth she looked up to since childhood. Hiriel wasn't wrong. She was their only child. The one thing that they made together and shared together.
Hiriel sighed. "Your father may not have been around much because he was fighting darkness in Eryn Lasgalen", she said. "But that does not mean he doesn't cherish you any less than I do. When the war with Sauron ended, he spoke excitedly to me all night about the things he would get to do with you. But then he started a colony in Ithilien and you declined to go with him, remaining behind with your Grandfather Thranduil in Eryn Lasgalen", Hiriel sighed. "Now we are all together in Valinor and you have fallen in love with another man."
Eruanna continued looking at the ground.
"I understand nana", she said softly. "And I do cherish father deeply as I know he does me", the Dragon Princess trailed off, unsure of how to continue.
She looked back at her mother.
"I love him", Eruanna spoke truthfully. "I love Aranion, naneth. Is that so wrong of me? We are elves fated to only love once. Is my Lord Father going to deny me my heart when he could not deny his?"
Hiriel smiled. "He cannot. And I highly doubt he has the intention to do so."
"You say he feels threatened by Aranion. How so? Aranion has never done anything to him!", Eruanna continued.
Hiriel looked into Eruanna's eyes. Her daughter loved the Prince, she could not deny it. Aranion also loved Eruanna, she saw it with his every gaze. "Eruanna, the man you love is a Prince of the Vanyar. Not just that, but he is heir to the greatest Kingdom the elves have ever known. And whilst your father was much renowned in Middle Earth, this is not Middle Earth. This is Valinor. And the Vanyar are especially close with the Maiar and Valar. Your Aranion, his splendor and power far surpasses our own", Hiriel explained.
Hiriel looked at her daughter. "How did this come to pass?", she questioned.
"Aranion had a dream", Eruanna explained. "A dream in which he saw our forest. He heard a song and it awoke something in him. He was hunting when he stumbled upon our forest and he saw me", Eruanna took a breath.
"I was singing and dancing and my song was the same as the one he heard in his dream. He found me, naneth, and we have been bound to one another ever since. He is the ellon from my dreams as well. We've been dreaming of each other for years."
Hiriel looked at her fair daughter in awe and listened as Eruanna continued speaking. "You told me once that visions and dreams which come true are granted to us by the Vala Lord Irmo. Aranion's dream came true. My mind… and my heart, tell me that something greater is at play", she confessed.
"It would seem so", Hiriel said forebodingly.
"I never thought I would say this naneth but… I think this was fate at play. I think we were fated for each other. Otherwise, his dream would not have come to pass", Eruanna said.
Hiriel smiled. Indeed, her usually radical daughter would never have said something like this. But Hiriel knew Eruanna meant it and her daughter continued speaking.
"When Aranion came to me and I first beheld him", Eruanna said, shakily. "Something told me that it wasn't over yet. Fate wasn't done with me. I wasn't meant to live in this forest forever. There was something else I was meant to do."
"Perhaps you are right", Hiriel admitted. "Perhaps fate is at play here. But regardless of that, your Lord Father needs some time. Give him time to warm up to Aranion. Then, he will not deny your heart."
Silence fell between them before Hiriel spoke up again. "I must warn you. There is a succession crisis in the House of Ingwë. That is another concern. The Vanyar may seem peaceful, but during this critical time, Ingwë's court is far from happy. There is turmoil."
"Then I shall stand by Aranion's side and bear it", was her daughter's response.
That night, Aranion Ingwhil followed Eruanna Úlumiel to a secluded part of the forest. The Dragoness gently tugged him along as the sounds of a waterfall reached his ears. Looking up, he gasped as he saw a beautiful waterfall, cascading down into a large, deep river that flowed throughout the forest Kingdom. The area was surrounded by a thick canopy of trees and the stars of Varda glittered above them, illuminating the night sky. Behind the waterfall was the start of a mountainous terrain.
Aranion cast a quick glance to the beautiful elleth beside him. The glow of the moon on her skin made her look almost divine and if it weren't for her blue eyes focusing on him, he would have mistaken her for Varda herself. She looked at him expectantly.
"This place is beautiful", he breathed, looking into her eyes. He felt like he was drowning in the irises of her eyes and he was quite happy to do so.
"I discovered this place when I first came here", she walked by the banks of the river as he followed her. "My great-grandsire, Oropher, showed me this place. My family had a picnic here. It's one of my favorite memories and I still come here often."
"Ingwë, when he wasn't being King, would take me and a few of my cousins to the gardens. He would tell us stories about the elder days and his eldest son, Ingwion, from whom I descend, would tell us about the brief time he spent in Middle-Earth during the War of Wrath. Back then, we only heard about the evil there, but we heard almost no stories about the glory and triumph of the elves who built lives there."
It was one of his favorite things about Eruanna. She told him joyful stories about Middle-Earth, from great feasts to sneaking out with her friends to stories around the campfire. Stories which kindled a warm fire in his heart and not dread.
"You have yet to tell me about the Quest for Erebor", he said. "I wonder what it would be like to spend time with so many dwarves."
"It is a story without a happy ending, I'm afraid", Eruanna responded. "It was… life-changing. But I can tell you about the argument my daeradar Thranduil had with Mithrandir right after."
Aranion laughed and tried to envision an angry Elf King berating an annoyed and slightly terrified Wizard. "I would give all the gold in Ingwë's coffers to see the look on his face when he found out that same Wizard had convinced your adar to join the Fellowship of the Ring."
Eruanna blessed him with her musical laughter.
They reached the top of the waterfall and the view took Aranion's breath away. "Eruanna this is… I cannot describe it", he said, grey eyes huge.
"High praise considering you lived in Taniquetil. I heard it's the most beautiful Kingdom to ever exist. Your people live right under Manwë and Varda."
"It is beautiful. My Kingdom is much like yours. It starts with a magnificent entrance but our halls are inside the mountain. It took my people forever to carve them out, and at that time they had given Tirion to the Noldorin elves. But the work speaks for itself", Aranion responded.
"When we start courting, you will come there. You are kin to the House of Ingwë and they'd be happy to have you. I'd be happy to see you everyday."
Eruanna grinned and Aranion returned it, albeit a bit nervously since he hadn't realized how close they were.
He was only a few inches away from her. Their lips were so. Close.
"If I kiss you, there's no going back", Aranion murmured.
"Of course there isn't", Eruanna responded with a grin. "Didn't you want to court me?"
"Yes… yes I did. But now I really, really want to."
"Oh? You are such a charmer."
Aranion pulled her in closer, staring into her eyes. After a few seconds, he let out a curse and dipped his head, claiming her lips with a ferocity only love and lust could bring. Eruanna moaned into the kiss, reaching up and threading her fingers through his long deep golden hair. Aranion's hands ran up and down her arms, bringing her even closer. His hands remained firmly on her hips. The Vanyarin Prince lifted her up and pressed her back against a nearby tree. Her legs wrapped around his waist and he moaned in pleasure.
When Aranion finally broke the kiss, he leaned her forehead against her's.
"I never thought I'd have my first kiss, much less fall in love", Eruanna murmured.
I was so busy serving my people and fighting one battle or another…"
"It's nice to have some peace?", Aranion suggested with a wide smile.
Eruanna smiled back.
"It's nice to have something for myself."
The next month, Eruanna left for Talenquelti. The carriage had come to bear her bags as Eruanna insisted she would be flying Ceveniel to Taniquetil. Oropher was last to bid his great-granddaughter goodbye.
"It is a privilege to be courted by the Crown Prince of the House of Ingwë", he said. "So few get such an opportunity to be in such a prestigious court. But that court is going through a succession crisis. Know your friends and foes."
Eruanna gave him a side eye.
"And…. have a great courting eperience?", Oropher gave her a nervous smile. He was always nervous when he uttered words she didn't like.
"Better", Eruanna responded.
They held hands and Oropher smiled at her.
"I hope you find the unwavering love in Aranion that you've always hoped for in a partner. One of the most important decisions you'll make in life is who to build your family with. There is no greater wealth than the power of love. Mereneth gave this to me and I hope Aranion gives it to you."
"Thank you", Eruanna said with a smile. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek before mounting Ceveniel.