Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: T

Couples: Canon Ones

Warnings: AU

Chapter: 21

Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me

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Melian had been deep in the caverns of Menegroth, the only place the waves of suffering from the North did not reach, when Daeron arrived at the door.

"Kin?" She echoed her court-minstrel, already rising from her seat to follow him to the throne-room.

"So he claims, yes." They slipped in through the backdoor of the cavernous chamber and Doriath's queen had to blink a few times.

"Your majesty." Eönwë inclined his head some, a strange accent in his speech. She suspected it came from having to fish translations from the minds around them.

"Eönwë." She sat down beside her husband, their daughter already standing at her father's side. "What brings you here?"

"If I may get right to the point; a warning." Manwë's Herald evenly declared, uncaring about the unrest that statement caused. "I presume you can sense what is happening in the North?"

"It is hard to miss." Estë's maia whispered.

"I am afraid that Melkor has fled custody, and Aman. It is he that is the source of this." One hand briefly flapped in the air. "On his flight he had the misfortune to encounter a void being who poisoned him with unlight."

"What." What in Eä had been happening in the West that void beings were a concern now!?

"The Lady Vairë's heartsister." The other Maia wove her concern off. "Not strictly relevant right now, I suspect."

Had she been a bit more in tune with her fana, she'd have bitten her lip to stop herself from demanding more information. "What is, then?"

"He cannot escape the poison, we have realized, and it is causing him agony." Once again the visiting Maia flapped his hand in the direction of the North. "It is clear to us in the West that he will require aid from someone of Estë, or a select group of the Valier, to deal with at least the symptoms."

A cold shiver ran down her back. "Me?" That was the only reason they would have send warning to her, because from what Maiar of Estë that had turned from her Melkor had, few still were capable of any kind of healing.

"You." He confirmed evenly. "We do intend to aid you, but the muster of our full forces will take time and the small advance-force will be... well, small."

"He's going to come for Doriath directly." Thingol murmured, eyes just a bit wider than normal.

"Yes." Eönwë inclined his head some. "I was send as a messenger to warn you, so that you have time to prepare... perhaps evacuate your civilians as well. His full focus will be on you."

"Well, at least he'll also have to muster... I hope." Melian was less than enthused about the information. "Is there any indication when this advance force will be arriving?"

The Herald of the Valar turned to the West, eyes unfocused. "They heading here as we speak. A few days, at most." She was about to open her mouth to ask why they bothered with travel rather than moving through the Song unhoused, when he answered it before she could. "The Lady Virilomë has to physically move between locations, and Lady Vairë and Lord Ulmo are keeping pace with her." He quirked a small grin. "The Lady Virilomë looks like a mix between a squid and spilled ink."

She suspected that 'Lady Virilomë' was Lady Vairë's heart-sister, on account of the similar names. "Very well." She half-wondered if she could get a headache herself. "If you do not mind then, brother, we have preparations that need to be made."

"Of course." He sketched a bow, before disappearing into the wind.

"Evacuation sounds good." Thingol muttered, arm tense on his armrest. "Certainly warn the others dwelling in Beleriand while we are at it."