One Flesh, One Soul. Part 2 by FellFireFan  

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The Promise

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Ladros
366 A.D

The large wooden door echoed with three gentle knocks and with a rattling creak, it slid open. Engrossed in the pages of a book, the young Andreth was completely oblivious to the sudden presence of her father leaning against the door way. The outside world seemed to fade away in her mind as she lay on her stomach on her bedroom floor, peacefully flicking the sheets of parchment in the comforting sound of the crackling of fire.

"So, it seems you have been returned to me safe and well, my daughter," Boromir's smiled warmly, his sudden voice drawing the small girls attention across her bedroom, "So," he continued, "you have met the fair Lord Aegnor I hear,"

Andreth's eyes sparkled with life and she raised her slender frame from the floor, her long hair falling around her like a blanket.

"Do you know him father?" she asked calmly, her rosy lips bending into a sweet smile .

"Do I know Aegnor?" Boromir chuckled gently as he came and settled down on the floor infront of his young daughter. "In fact, I am well acquainted with the elf lord. I was but a boy when I first met him, riding through the woods with my father on my first orc hunt. His fierce presence had a great effect on me and we been close friends since that day."

Her bright, innocent smile turned to a childish blush and her gaze fell shyly to the floor.

"He seemed like a dream, yet, it was real. Just like in the stories I read in my books. He truly was a wonderful creature," she sighed quietly, her gaze rose to meet Boromir's kind eyes, "Father... do you think he will come back one day?"

He sighed sadly and hesitated before answering.

"Be warned my daughter, that your heart does not yearn for such a day. Prince Aegnor... while kind and noble of spirit, does not allow his heart to be touched by anyone. He is a very guarded being, a closed shell no force can penetrate. Not even the sweet and innocent face of a child," he smiled, playfully pinching her round, soft cheek as she giggled.

"I am confident I shall see him again father. I know he will not forget me. I can not explain to you what happened... but I feel... like I had known him for a lifetime... in some place... far from the bounds of this world."

"You are yet so young child," Boromir replied, "your book is yet unwritten, you're story untold. You and only you can decide its pages,"

With tender, fatherly words still warm on his lips, Boromir bend forward and kissed his daughters brow. His black hair with threads of silver entwined shimmered in the firelight as he rose to his feet and quietly departed with a gentle close of the door. Andreth got up and waited till she could no longer hear the clunk of his footsteps outside and walked to the corner of her chambers. Kneeling upon the floor, she lifted one of the planks and reached her hand beneath. From her secret compartment, she pulled out a small silver box. She unclasped its lock and settled herself on the floor, her legs elegantly crossing beneath her small frame. Resting on a plush cushion revealed her most cherished possession. A broken fragment of the poisoned spear, the very piece that was lodged in Aegnor's shoulder from his confrontation with the troll. Its thin carved veins that once held the deadly poison, lines stained red with elven blood. Her gentle fingers traced its edges, her mind wondered to that fateful day.

Laying on his back upon the wet grass after surrendering his consciousness to the toxins. The cold rain drops peltering down upon them. His face embedded into her memory. His skin glistening as his wet hair clung to his face and lips. His eyes shut as though he was sleeping. So helpless he seemed to her in that moment. Helpless and breath-taking.

Lake Auluine

382 A.D

The lingering star of that enchanting night gradually faded, bidding farewell to its nocturnal reign, heralding the birth of a new day. With the final verse sung and the last drop of wine savoured, the night before had been a blessed one, filled with merriment and laughter, dances, and songs

As the dawn lifted beyond the horizon, Bregor emerged from his tent, accompanied by Variel. He instructed his beautiful wife to take a rest on a chair. He left her side and took a walk just as people were waking up. He came to a barrel filled with water and grabbing a spoon, took a drink. Just then it was in the corner of his eye that a small figure sitting alone on a withered stump. Mousey brown hair covered her face, posture marred with misery and gloom. Beryl sulked alone just outside the hustle and bustle and the camp. Indignant at her, he sighed in annoyance and made his way toward her on the outskirts of the camp.

"Beryl," he spoke with agitated calmness, "there is work to be done, the women could do with a helping hand,"

She ignored her brother, crossing her arms in firm defiance. Her her eyes flooding with angry tears.

"Go away Bregor!" She barked, "My heart is broken! Andreth has driven away the only man I have ever loved! Now I am destined to wither, an old maid without the solace of a single male companion, just like her! That vile sister of mine! Once again, she has shattered my happiness, and I shall never forgive her for as long as I draw breath!"

"BERYL!" yelled Bregor, his sudden bellow cracked the air, jolting her, "I have had enough of you and your sulking! Go and assist the servants now! You pursue men like a mindless sport, shamelessly proclaiming your love for each one, Only to move on to the next one as if it were nothing! This wheel of misery of yours ends now! This one will serve as a warning to all who do not evert their gaze from my sisters breasts!" He roared.

She stood up her face twisted with fear and rage, "How dare you!" She screamed, "I shall have any man I wish! The day I turn sixteen I am leaving this stifling house and getting married and I will never come back! Never!!"

"Beryl..." Bregor sighed softly

"BERYL!" he cried as she whirled around and took to flight.

He called out to her but when it was clear she had no intended of stopping and was fleeing into the forest alone, he gave chase. Variel watched her husband chase Beryl into the woods and slowly rose from her chair, cradling her belly. Not knowing what to do, she waddled toward the woodland, following the frantic siblings.

Deep into the trees, Bregor pursued Beryl, her nimble body being just that little bit quicker. He stumbled on a fallen branch and crashed into the ground, his hands stopping his fall. Panting heavily he cried out to Beryl ordering her to stop.

"Leave me alone! I HATE YOU!!" Her screech echoed in reply deeper into the forest. He sighed deeply and agitatedly and got up again to continue the chase. Eventually, she reached a vast split in the earth before her with no path forward. A ditch several feet deep revealed sharp jagged rocks at below. As Bregor gained on her, she desperately looked for a path to the other side, her eyes clocked a large fallen tree that formed a bridge to the other side and she climbed onto its trunk. Her arms splayed for balance, she slowly walked across but she reached the midpoint, Bregor finally emerged.

"Beryl, please! Get away from there! Come back!" he begged her, but she ignored him, her feet etching further along the tree to the other side.

"You were always harsh on me Bregor! You do not love me, not like Andreth! I see that now! I will not come back

"Why would you say such a thing!? You are just as important to me as Andreth!"

"Liar! You both hate me! You accept non of my friends or my boyfriends!"

"Beryl..I,"

As he was yet talking, the hem of her dress caught on the splintered wood, and yanked her off balance and she tumbled over the side. A blood-curdling cry shattered the trees. She desperately clung to the flimsy branch of the tree that pointed downward to the rocky abyss below. Their sharp, jagged surface ready to claim her life in a perilous instant.

"BERYL! HOLD ON!" Bregor screamed. Just was climbing onto the tree, another distant blood curdling shriek sliced his ears, emanating from the depths of the woods behind him. He recognized the petrified voice of Variel. Bregor, his head spinning furiously between the two cries, stood confronted with an agonizing, and utterly terrifying reality.

As hope seemed to slip, and he began to consider whose life he should save, another sound came in the form of galloping of hooves against the soil, approaching them from the other side of the chasm. Bregor lifted his wide eyes to see the figures of Angrod and Aegnor emerge from the dense foliage on return from their patrol. With a grace that defied mortal bounds, the two brothers sprang over the large split from one side to the other, their horses leaping furiously over the gaping mouth and landing on either side of Bregor with a solid thump.

Angrod saw the unfolding tragedy. In a voice that was deep and calm, he turned to Bragor. "How may we lend aid?"

"Variel!" Bregor's voice trembled with desperation. "Her cries of distress reached my ears from the nearby woodland! Please, lords, go save her!"

The elves exchanged a glance and without hesitation, Aegnor darted into the forest. Sorna's powerful legs propelling him on. Variel, her heavy load a burden on her strength, frantically attempted to escape the relentless beast hot on her heels. With each desperate stride, her hopes of outrunning her pursuer dwindled. Finally, she halted, gasping for breath, her tear-streaked face contorted with raw terror. Summoning her last ounce of bravery, she turned to confront her predator, emitting a bone-chilling scream that pierced the air.

Her eyes locked onto the nightmarish sight that awaited her—a snarling orc, its grotesque flesh hanging from its body as if defying death itself. Its lipless mouth revealed a ghastly row of yellow, jagged teeth, while its malevolent white eyes fixated unwaveringly on its prey. Oily hair obscured its vision, accentuating the creature's monstrous nature against its cracked skin. The orc's sinewy muscles rippled as it roared, savouring Variel's fear. Slowly, it closed in, its jaws salivating. As Variel sank to the ground in utter helpless fear, her hand trembled as she extended towards the orc, clutching her belly. Desperate to protect the life of her unborn child

Aegnor moved through the trees like a furious spirit, drawing his blade as he closed in on their location. It sliced the wind with a piercing whistle as he spun it wildly through the wind with a wave of his wrist, the sharp edge glinted in the rays of sunlight. He charged to Variel's defence. He leapt upon the orc. He thrust his blade into its back before it could turn to defend itself. It screamed and cried as Aegnor viciously butchered it before Variels own eyes, black blood sprayed all over the plants and upon Aegnor. The screeching died and the orcs body stilled beneath the elf. An eerie silence followed. A quiet not even the birds in the trees wanted to break. Finally, Aegnor turned to the petrified Variel. He quickly tried wiping away the blood from his face, clothes and hair, as if suddenly conscious of the fear in her eyes. She saw a vulnerability in him she never knew before, she saw shame. Slowly she stood up, awkwardly clutching her abdomen.

Aegnor watched intently as she gently reached out and took his blood-stained palm in her own. With gentleness, she guided his hand to her abdomen. Aegnor's breath stilled, his entire body freezing, heavy with a profound anticipation. They waited in silence for a moment, then, he felt a lump slowly push back into his palm. Aegnor quivered, releasing a shuddering sigh, filled with awe. His smile gave way to tears flooding his glowing eyes. His demons sufaced in that unguarded moment, the feelings he had be running from for so long. Shame, emptiness... and deep regret.

"Do you feel her?" Variel asked calmly, her breath as gentle as rain, "she reaches for you, her champion."

Her eyes raised and her beaming smile died when the quiet sniffs and restrained sobs whispered from him. His lips trembled violently and he broke the connection, turning away from Variel. She watched quietly from behind as the elf lord stood just afew paces away from her. He then sank to his knees upon the grass, utterly undone

"I am sick of this... of all of this," his weak voice muttered, "I am so tired of fighting," he whispered

The pink petal fell from the blossom hanging above. It fluttered and danced gently down to the grassy plain below. With the lightest breeze, it landed in his bloodied palm. He gazed down at the delicate petal in his hand. In that moment, he remembered Marúel and Petaril. Their faces haunting his mind like a broken dream. All they suffered for love and a chance for freedom, and the price they paid for it. He would not let their fates be for nothing. He knew what he had to do. Slowly his fingers enclosed around the petal, he would accept his fate as its guardian. "Life... there is much beauty in it, yet... so much pain." He murmured grimly.

Variel stepped closer and offered him her hand. Aegnor accepted it and rose to his feet with her gentle pull.

"There is also love and joy in it. Moments of happiness that last for a lifetime. There is no greater feeling in the world... than being wrapped in the embrace of a loved one. These are the moments worth living for," she smiled 

His empty expression lit up once more. His eyes filling with a renewed strength and purpose.

"Thank you," he whispered

Back at camp, as Angrod emerged from the trees astride his noble steed and Bregor walking closely beside him, Beryl clutched securely in his arms. They drew the attention of many. Andreth, who had been looking for them, came flying toward them with haste. Her brow tense with worry and her eyes wide.

"Beryl!" Andreth cried out, her voice tinged with concern. Bregor swiftly explained the events. Andreth, with utmost tenderness, took hold of her sister's delicate hand. Beryl lay in a stupor, alert but unresponsive. The shock is still within her.

"I will take her back to her tent," Angrod announced, lifting her from Bregor's arms, "You will wait here for Variel, Aegnor should have dispatched the threat by now" With Beryl's slim frame in his arms, Angrod carefully waded toward the encampment.

"Andreth, has Variel returned with Aegnor?" Bregor hastily inquired, his words hurried and laden with" apprehension.

Andreth looked at him, bewildered. "No, has something happened?" Bregor spun around, his gaze fixated on the woodland.

"Ready my horse!" Bregor cried, "I am going to look for my wife!"

"My Lord!" His guard called out, pointing toward the woods, "look!"

Aegnor appeared, with Variel seated comfortably behind him in a side-sadle. He rode with unhurried steps, taking care not to upset the delicate burden nestled behind him. With fervour, Bregor raced towards them, followed at a distance by Andreth. He dismounted, extending his arms to Variel, Andreth's steps faltered as she beheld the state of him. Her gaze fixated on the spatters of orc blood that painted him. Aegnor returned Variel into the waiting embrace of her husband. Overwhelmed with joy, Bregor enveloped his beloved with tender devotion, bestowing upon her countenance a cascade of adoring kisses.

Aegnor observed the scene with a smile that radiated palpable contentment, Bregor whispered sweet nothings into Variel's ear before burying his head into her neck, and then he turned to Aegnor

"I would hate to see the condition of the one who attacked you, Aegnor," Bregor jested.

Aegnor grinned. His smile faded slightly as his gaze fell on Andreth as she hastened towards him.

"Aegnor, you are a frightful sight!" she gasped softly, her voice delicate with tenderness.

"And your beauty is boundless as always, my lady!" He chortled with a playful bow, "shall I fetch thee a pale of water, that you might gaze upon your reflexion while the stars wait upon your permission to align?"

Andreth laughed with matching wit.

"Nay, for I will take that pale and dump it over your head and rince you like a dish rag if you ever leave in such a fashion again and return like the wolves spat you back out!" She grinned. They laughed together, their eyes lingering. Variel turned to her husband

"Come Bregor, let's leave them alone for a while," She smiled, pulling Bregor away.

He went willingly without a thought, following her back to the camp. Andreth approached Aegnor closer. The tension between then was palpable. He reached behind him, and Andreth gasped as his hand emerged. From the folds in his clothing, Aegnor pulled a white bloom of supreme beauty. Its delicate petals crisp and unfurled, welcomed her sparkling gaze. She smiled as he placed it in her pale, soft hands. She brought it to her nose and sniffed. The sweet smell caressed her senses.

"Good morning," Aegnor whispered. His soft gaze caressing her gentle features.

"You left my side so suddenly last night, swift as a fleeting shadow. I had not even time to utter a goodbye,"

"Orcs had been spotted nearby, I had to...,"

"I know, Aegnor," she breathed, smiling delicately. "I must have every moment with you, and I know I am selfish," She smiled, her cheeks blushing shyly.

He stood serenely, gazing down upon her with soft eyes, his hair billowing across his face in the gentle air. Warm fingers slowly slipped into hers. She tensed, her hand closing around his. She gazed into his eyes, discerning a mischievous glint shining within their depths with an subtle, anticipating grin. She understood his unspoken desire.

She blushed, and a matching grin spread between her cheeks. She lead him back to the camp, it was barely occupied as many were out gathering provisions for the journey home. They slipped between the sheets of tents to minimise visibility from the few guards scattered around. Soon they made it to her tent and slipped inside the closed privacy sheets. They entered Andreth's tent, the air tasted sweet. Andreth turned and Aegnor closed in. They immediately embraced. She was enveloped in his scent. Like forest air after rainfall. Like fire on an autumn lake. It was a smell so distinctly his, she could never forget it. He held her face and kissed her. His perfect lips claiming hers with touch so gentle. She raised her hands and folded them around the nape of his neck. Welcoming him deeper into her and Aegnor readily accepted.

"Aegnor... " she smiled as she buried her face into his neck. He held her there, like a pillar of support as she melted into his arms, "we must say goodbye, yet again. I can not bare to let you go again."

Slowly, he released her gazing into her beautiful, sad eyes. "Do not fear the uncertainty that lies ahead. I will make the way for us." He whispered.

Doubt shrouded her. "I know you wish me to trust in you fully, yet I must have but a small, fleeting hope that there is a chance for us," she replied with a matching, hushed tone. Her hopeful eyes, pleading with his. "I have waited so long for you." She whispered. His intense gaze lingered on her, drinking in her beauty and fragility.

"Bregor is aware of the nature of my feelings for you," he replied softly. "It will not be long before it reaches your father's ears also. Upon my next return from my post in Angband, I intend to seek a private audience with him, and there, I will beseech him that I may have your hand in marriage."

Her face intensified at his words. "A marriage between the Eldar and the Edain? Could such a thing truly exist?" She quivered.

"I perceive no gulf that divides us indefinitely, or force that could drive me from your side. I will return to you Andreth." he spoke softly.

With a lingering glance and a timid, trembling sigh. She left her hopes in his hands.

"So be it then, Aegnor," she answered, "unto you, I entrust my heart and my dreams. At with every break of dawn, I shall turn my gaze toward the sunrise and await your return and all that you have promised me," She leaned into him then, her lips brushing his in a whisper of a kiss, her breath trembling with the weight of their secret love "Into your hand, I pledge my heart and my body to you alone. ,"

Andreth's eyes shone with a fierce devotion, her every burning ember yearning to be consumed by his passionate hunger. Not opening his eyes, Aegnor unravelled within her, securing her lips with a final sweet, lingering kiss.

He stepped away and quietly withdrew from her tent. Before stepping out of the billowing curtains, he stole a final lingering glance at her. She passed him a tense smile, and he silently slipped out. His shadow disappeared and then, he was gone.

Alone in her tent, without the presence of Aegnor, she felt a heavy weight upon her heart. How empty her world seemed without him. She ignored a lingering feeling of dread that snagged at her mind, choosing to place her trust in his word completely and that his term commanding Angband would not keep him from her side overlong.

"Goodbye Aegnor... please remember what you promised me," She whispered to the air.