Vaniel, My Heart
folder
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
37
Views:
5,913
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
37
Views:
5,913
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 4 - Vaniel Disappears
Disclaimer: All familiar characters are owned by JRR Tolkien and are used without permission. No monies are being made from this work. Original characters are part of the story and owned by the author.
Vaniel, My Heart
by Sienna Dawn
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 4 - Vaniel Disappears
A year later....Imladris, Third Age, October 23rd, Year 3018...
Elrond sighed and looked out at the gardens outside his chamber window.
Finally, the War of the One Ring was begun, Sauron's power challenged. The halfling Frodo Baggins, who carried the One Ring, lay still in sleep after a near-fatal attack by the Nazgul at the Ford of Bruinen. He brought his hand up to the light of day and studied the ring that quietly sat on his finger. Elrond sighed and looked at the gardens again. He could feel the power of the ring diminishing, draining, and he knew that with its end would come the end of his beloved Imladris, so long a refuge to his people and all who fled Shadow.
Elrond knew that no matter what came, the time of the elves on Middle Earth was swiftly coming to an end. Evenstar was determined to remain and wed Estel and had made her choice, no matter how his heart cried at the pain of their eventual separation. Estel had become both her love and her doom, her hope and her destruction. Elrond prayed that his daughter would one day be saved the torment of life without love, as he had known it for such long ages. But of his own tragedy he would not now dwell.
He lowered his gaze and saw the steady line of elves as they left Imladris behind and headed for the Grey Havens.
Turning away from the window, Elrond acknowledged the presence of an old friend. His kind eyes smiled and he held out a hand in a gesture of friendship.
"Bilbo Baggins! What takes you away from the comfort of your pipe and the hearth's fire?" Elrond's voice was laced with affection.
The old Halfling seemed indeed perturbed, noticed the elven lord. Bright black eyes gleamed with alarm, "My Lord, 'tis the Lady Eryniel! I am afraid that with all of her weeping her heart is breaking and she will fade!"
Elrond frowned. Eryniel weeping? What folly was this? Yet suddenly an icy knowledge gripped his heart and he whispered, "Vaniel!" Turning abruptly, he strode out of the chamber, the old Hobbit following as fast as he could.
Elrond did not have to search long for Eryniel as the whispered words of comfort from the Evenstar guided him to their secluded spot.
At his approach, Eryniel raised her tear-stained face, now dry, and a look of quiet desperation filled her eyes.
"My Lord, she has disappeared! Vaniel! She has left Imladris for none can find her these two days past." Eryniel's voice was laden with dread and despair.
Elrond took her hands as the Evenstar stepped aside. "Why have you waited for two days to come to me, Eryniel?" His eyes searched her face.
Eryniel shook her head, "Vaniel often travels to the foot of the Ford and there camps. She delights in the sounds of the water and the birds that gather there. But she has not returned and no trace nor tracks have been found."
Elrond looked quietly at the Evenstar who nodded. " 'Tis true, Father. I have found no tracks. Where she has gone I know not." Her low voice was a sad whisper. She loved Vaniel and did not wish to think she may be in desperate trouble and unable to send word to them.
Elrond turned his eyes back to Eryniel, "Know you not where she might have gone?" Silently, he began to worry in earnest for he knew, what Eryniel did not, that the Nazgul had dared to cross the River Bruinen during their pursuit of the Halfling. How the young elleth had come to be in the same vicinity was incomprehensible to him and he felt a deep responsibility for her safe return.
Eryniel shook her head and said, "Nay, I do not. But it was in her heart and mind to travel to the cities of Men."
Elrond sighed and placed a comforting hand on Eryniel's shoulder. "That might be a more than a passing fancy for long did Vaniel yearn to visit their lands. Yet now, Sauron has attacked both Gondor and Mirkwood, and war rages, and are the lands treacherous to even the most skilled warrior. Still, I will send word and so shall we search for her whereabouts, but," and here Elrond's voice lowered and his face grew somber, "know Eryniel that I cannot guarantee we will find her."
Eryniel understood the implicit warning in Elrond's words eyes and in her heart she beseeched the Valar to protect and guide her child.
Key:
Evenstar = Arwen
Estel = Aragorn
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Vaniel, My Heart
by Sienna Dawn
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 4 - Vaniel Disappears
A year later....Imladris, Third Age, October 23rd, Year 3018...
Elrond sighed and looked out at the gardens outside his chamber window.
Finally, the War of the One Ring was begun, Sauron's power challenged. The halfling Frodo Baggins, who carried the One Ring, lay still in sleep after a near-fatal attack by the Nazgul at the Ford of Bruinen. He brought his hand up to the light of day and studied the ring that quietly sat on his finger. Elrond sighed and looked at the gardens again. He could feel the power of the ring diminishing, draining, and he knew that with its end would come the end of his beloved Imladris, so long a refuge to his people and all who fled Shadow.
Elrond knew that no matter what came, the time of the elves on Middle Earth was swiftly coming to an end. Evenstar was determined to remain and wed Estel and had made her choice, no matter how his heart cried at the pain of their eventual separation. Estel had become both her love and her doom, her hope and her destruction. Elrond prayed that his daughter would one day be saved the torment of life without love, as he had known it for such long ages. But of his own tragedy he would not now dwell.
He lowered his gaze and saw the steady line of elves as they left Imladris behind and headed for the Grey Havens.
Turning away from the window, Elrond acknowledged the presence of an old friend. His kind eyes smiled and he held out a hand in a gesture of friendship.
"Bilbo Baggins! What takes you away from the comfort of your pipe and the hearth's fire?" Elrond's voice was laced with affection.
The old Halfling seemed indeed perturbed, noticed the elven lord. Bright black eyes gleamed with alarm, "My Lord, 'tis the Lady Eryniel! I am afraid that with all of her weeping her heart is breaking and she will fade!"
Elrond frowned. Eryniel weeping? What folly was this? Yet suddenly an icy knowledge gripped his heart and he whispered, "Vaniel!" Turning abruptly, he strode out of the chamber, the old Hobbit following as fast as he could.
Elrond did not have to search long for Eryniel as the whispered words of comfort from the Evenstar guided him to their secluded spot.
At his approach, Eryniel raised her tear-stained face, now dry, and a look of quiet desperation filled her eyes.
"My Lord, she has disappeared! Vaniel! She has left Imladris for none can find her these two days past." Eryniel's voice was laden with dread and despair.
Elrond took her hands as the Evenstar stepped aside. "Why have you waited for two days to come to me, Eryniel?" His eyes searched her face.
Eryniel shook her head, "Vaniel often travels to the foot of the Ford and there camps. She delights in the sounds of the water and the birds that gather there. But she has not returned and no trace nor tracks have been found."
Elrond looked quietly at the Evenstar who nodded. " 'Tis true, Father. I have found no tracks. Where she has gone I know not." Her low voice was a sad whisper. She loved Vaniel and did not wish to think she may be in desperate trouble and unable to send word to them.
Elrond turned his eyes back to Eryniel, "Know you not where she might have gone?" Silently, he began to worry in earnest for he knew, what Eryniel did not, that the Nazgul had dared to cross the River Bruinen during their pursuit of the Halfling. How the young elleth had come to be in the same vicinity was incomprehensible to him and he felt a deep responsibility for her safe return.
Eryniel shook her head and said, "Nay, I do not. But it was in her heart and mind to travel to the cities of Men."
Elrond sighed and placed a comforting hand on Eryniel's shoulder. "That might be a more than a passing fancy for long did Vaniel yearn to visit their lands. Yet now, Sauron has attacked both Gondor and Mirkwood, and war rages, and are the lands treacherous to even the most skilled warrior. Still, I will send word and so shall we search for her whereabouts, but," and here Elrond's voice lowered and his face grew somber, "know Eryniel that I cannot guarantee we will find her."
Eryniel understood the implicit warning in Elrond's words eyes and in her heart she beseeched the Valar to protect and guide her child.
Key:
Evenstar = Arwen
Estel = Aragorn
~*~*~*~*~*~*~