Chapter I: A Love Beyond Time (Pt. I)
“Legolas was gone—the son Êlúriel had given me and I tried desperately to protect from the world was now in that world vowing to save it from the shadow that had returned. I spent the days after his departure tortured with thoughts of losing him in many ways. It was not until Tarthôn and Aruilos returned from Rivendell safely did I find peace.
As I stood with Ëariâth waiting for Tarthôn with their daughter, Aradúlin, I began to notice how time had passed—Aradúlin had become a strikingly beautiful elven maiden with long deep golden red hair and grey eyes. She had been wed to Elendôr not long after his brother Êlenuil had wed Súlelenth and was the mother of a son named Aranduil—named for me and his great-grandfather Elranduil.
My household had grown but none would come from me. Legolas had left Mîráre behind and she became so distraught, her sister Ninyáre could not console her. In sadness, she left Mirkwood with her mother, Tárwen for Mithlond. As I was my father’s only heir, Legolas was mine but I knew he would never sit on the throne.
“Have you seen Súlelenth,” Aradúlin asked. “I have not seen her for two days, nor have I seen Êlenuil. What do I tell Nenduîl and Tárimë?”
“They went to see her family in Dale,” Ëariâth answered. “They should return before too long. They have Aranduil to keep them company.”
I said nothing—for Êlenuil and Súlelenth had gotten my blessing to leave. Ardôr wanted them to stay, but kept his objections to himself. I knew Elranduil had spoken to him as he had grown fond of Súlelenth as she reminded both of us of Êlúriel.
When we saw Tarthôn and Aruilos riding toward us with Elenadar and Elenatar, the mood brightened. As stable hands came for the horses, his wife and daughter met Tarthôn. Aruilos approached me and bowed.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “All is well. Elrond sends his gratitude.”
“How was it there,” I asked. “Was it as beautiful as they say?”
“Very much so,” he said. “We were fortunate to have met Elrohir and Elladan. You can imagine the trouble with having Elenadar and Elenadar present. I would think having two sets of twins did not sit well with Erestor or Lindir.”
“Well, then,” I said smiling. “It was best they left their sons with us. Four pairs would have driven them mad. Nimlos waits for you in the study.”
He smiled and bowed as he made his way into the palace with his sister and mother. Tarthôn came to me quietly and stood before me, looking down.
“What is the matter, Tarthôn,” I asked. “Do you miss Legolas already?”
“I do,” he said. “But I worry how you will do without him here, Ada.”
“I will do as well as I can,” I said. “But you are still here and we will both greet him together when he returns.”
He looked up and smiled. Even now, so many years after he was left in my care, he felt I did not love him as much as Legolas. Unlike Orísil, he never quite felt a part of the family.
“Tarthôn,” I began. “Did you by chance see Elrond’s daughter while you were there?”
“Yes,” he answered. “As beautiful as it has been said. She is very much taken with Aragorn. I did not see him until the day we were to leave. There had come another man and one they call Gandalf and one of the dwarves that had come here before.”
We started into the palace through the gates. I was curious about the dwarves—I remembered the ones I had met after the battle of Dale and had wondered about them.
“Tell me more,” I said. “I am intrigued.”
“I believe his name was Glóin,” he said. “I recall he was there with his son Gimli. But there was a rather old creature there. He was there when we had arrived. He seemed rather fond of looking at Legolas from a distance as to have known him.”
When we entered my study, the entire council was in attendance.
“Aruilos, what was the name of that creature,” Tarthôn asked. “I seemed to have forgotten.”
“You mean the Hobbit,” he answered. “His name was Bilbo Baggins from the Shire.”
I stopped and found myself smiling—thinking about my little friend. To know he was still alive made me happy, though I wondered why he was so far from his home.
“As long as Legolas made it safely to Rivendell,” Fëaluin said. “That is what matters.”
“Yes, it is,” Ardôr said sternly. “I am happy for my dear cousin, Fëaluin. But it has been two days and I have not heard from my son. Perhaps we should have sent with him some protection. He is, after all, a Prince of the Realm.”
“You could have gone with him,” Eldôr said. “Or sent Elendôr along with him. The distance is not far.”
“But he is among Men,” Ardôr growled. “I am sure they would do a great deal more to my son than would the Elves in Rivendell.”
“We have never had issue with Dale or Esgaroth,” Elranduil said. “You are making far too much of this.”
“He is my son, Ada,” he said. “I have every right to make anything of this that I please. Had you not let that girl marry my son, he would be here.”
“How do you know this,” I asked. “You cannot keep him from loving whom he will. As it is, she is not entirely of Men. What little of her that is elven I would think even you would approve.”
“It is very little,” he said. “Do not think I do not remember my Queen. I was young, but I remember her. What little elven my son’s wife has inherited from our Queen and your wife is far too little for me to approve.”
I could see Nimlos growing angry.
“Nimlos,” Fëaluin said, touching his arm. “Not here.”
Eldôr and Elranduil were embarrassed and felt ashamed. I knew they thought I would do something reprehensible.
“That was cruel of you to say, Brother,” Orísil whispered.
I walked slowly toward Ardôr. When I was before him, he seemed defiant though I knew he was frightened.
“Do not ever speak of my wife or her family in that manner in my presence ever again,” I said calmly. “What remains of your Queen and my wife is in this room and part of this family. Your words dishonor her and this kingdom. Do not think I will not hesitate to free you from this world and dispatch you quickly to the Halls of Mandos and think of you no more.”
I walked out of the room as I felt my own anger rising. In the hall is where I saw Êlenuil and Súlelenth approaching. She smiled at me but I could see she was not well.
“Súlelenth, you do not look well,” I said.
“He is right,” Êlenuil said, touching her face. “You are rather warm.”
“I am fine, Êlenuil,” she said. “I want to see my children.”
Those were the last words she would say outside of her chambers. She collapsed into Êlenuil’s arms.
“Súlelenth,” he cried loudly, bringing everyone out of the study.
“Send for Nenloth and Nimlúin,” Fëaluin said. “Nimlos, help Êlenuil take her to her room. Elranduil, find Linurial. She is with Ardúin.”
I could not move—I felt all the pain I had for Êlúriel return to me as I watched Súlelenth taken away.
“Do not worry, Thranduil,” Elranduil said. “Perhaps she is just be exhausted from traveling.”
“Send for her family,” Eldôr told Elendôr. “Take your brother with you.”
“And Elenadar and Elenatar,” Fëaluin added. “Night is falling and you will need to return before sunrise.”
“I will see to Nenduîl and Tárimë,” Orísil said. He turned to Ardôr. “You should do as much, Brother. Should something happen to their mother, your words will not be forgotten by those that heard them.”
Ardôr looked at me then slowly followed Orísil and Tarthôn away. I left for my chambers—I feared what I might learn of Súlelenth’s condition. I could not bear to think of losing any more of Êlúriel than I had. Legolas was gone and now his cousin—his mortal cousin he had grown to love—would be taken from us. Perhaps this time my grief would be heard and I would be taken with her.
I lay on my bed looking at the ceiling above. What seemed to me a lifetime was no more than a few hours when my chamber doors opened and Nenduîl and Tárimë stood beside me. They were in their night clothes—still in their youth but slightly taller than before.
“We came to see you,” Tárimë said. “Nana said you were not well.”
“Your mother is well,” I asked, sitting. “She is not ill?”
“She is ill,” Nenduîl said climbing into bed and sitting on one side of me as his sister sat on the other. “She told us to come see you. She said you were sad.”
“I am worried about your mother,” I said.
“Do you have a mother,” Tárimë said, curling up next to me.
“Yes, I do,” I said. “She is far away right now.”
“Do you miss her,” Nenduîl asked. “I will miss my Nana.”
“Yes, I miss my mother,” I said thinking about her. “She was the Queen of Eryn Galen. She was the most beautiful Queen in all of Arda.”
“Nana says so,” Tárimë said yawning. “She says her mother saw her once with her favorite cousin.”
“Longest hair as white as snow,” Nenduîl said, laying his head down on my lap. “Almost to the ground.”
“Yes, it was,” I said. “Your mother told you this?”
“Yes,” Tárimë said sleepily. “Her mother told her when she was a child.”
“She told her all about the Queen,” Nenduîl said, yawning.
“Queen Nimeithel,” I said softly. “My mother.”
“Queen Êlúriel,” Tárimë said. “Queen Êlúriel, too.”
“You were named for her, Tárimë,” Nenduîl said. “I was named for you.”
“I do not understand,” I said as tears had begun to fall.
“I am Tárimë Silme,” Tárimë said falling asleep. “He is Nenduîl Nárisil.”
“Starlight and Fire Moon,” Nenduîl said and drifted off to sleep with his sister.
Once I knew they were sleeping soundly, I pulled away from them gently and tucked them in. I knew that Êlúriel had come back to me.”–Excerpt from TKWR:BIII To Eryn Lasgalen by J.M.Miller 7-17-16
Chapter I: A Love Beyond Time. Book III of The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy. Thranduil is happy Legolas made it to Rivendell safely. He confronts Ardôr, son of Elranduil over words he said about Súlelenth. She falls ill and her children, Nenduîl and Tárimë comfort him with a shocking revelation. They were named after him and Êlúriel--the girl is Tárimë Silme (Starlight) and the boy is Nenduîl Nárisil (Fire Moon).