After the festivities, Amarie has a talk with Finrod. Finrod confides his fears to his new bride and promises never to abandon her ever.

21. Together at Last

Amarie giggled as Finrod swept her up into his arms. They had left the festivities behind them and bade a goodnight to their trailing troop of well-wishers in the corridor. Elemmire shouted one last jest before being dragged off by a cousin. There was one last step to the marriage rites – mercifully to be held in their privacy of the nuptial chamber. For a moment, Finrod thought of his brothers in Mandos and Galadriel in Beleriand. In the manner of most Noldor weddings, the groom's kinsmen would be shouting teasing encouragement, sprinkling the couple with rose water as they retreated to their chamber to consummate their union. Elemmire and his friends had stood in for Finrod's absent brothers, calling down blessings for a fruitful and loving union.

Finrod kicked the door shut behind them, set Amarie down on her feet, and kissed his bride by the soft glow of the candles. The kisses were coy and almost chaste at first, growing bolder with the shedding of their garments. When they were both wearing only their shifts, Finrod took Amarie by the hand and led her to the waiting bed. Their union was both tender and loving. Finrod was considerate and gentle with his new wife, as was his nature.

I want a child, Amarie gasped incoherently with the joy of the consummation of their love. Finrod froze for a heartbeat.

Not yet, my love… Not yet until it is safe…

What do you mean? Amarie frowned in confusion.

Forgive me for alarming you… I feel that there is a time of trial coming. Morgoth still holds the Hither Shores in his thrall with the aid of his minions. Finrod held Amarie close in the afterglow of their union to reassure her.

We are safe in Valinor, aren't we? Amarie asked.

Her husband nuzzled her pale neck, kissing the tip of her ear, and eliciting a shiver from her. Yes, we are safe here but I am not ready yet, for children…

We will wait. Amarie smiled and hid her disappointment. Will you share your fears with your wife, my husband? He must have been seeking out guidance from Lord Irmo in his dreams. She could understand his concerns about his sister, even if he had acted against the teachings Amarie had been raised with by seeking out visions of his own accord. Finrod hesitated. He did not wish to alarm Amarie. Neither did he wish to keep secrets from her. Finally he decided.

I had a vision of war approaching. This time it will not only be the Noldor who will sail across the Sundering Sea.

How will it end? I will go with you if you sail…

I know not. But I promise I will not leave you, for my place now is by your side… Finrod did rise from the bed to investigate a faint scraping at the chamber door. With a laugh, he admitted Snowdrop. The wolfhound flopped down at the foot of the bed.

The newly-weds rode from Tirion a week after the ceremony with King Olwe and Prince Earlindo. The honeymoon was to be in Alqualonde. Snowdrop loped alongside their horses. They expected to remain in the Teleri's city for a month or two, much to Lady Indis' dismay. The Dowager Queen had been hoping to host her grandson and his bride in the palace of Tirion for the duration of the honeymoon. Mornel was there to see them off. Ingwion and Arafinwe had requested her presence in Tirion while they discussed Finrod's and Mornel's visions. Ingwion had apologized for his father's continued snubbing of Mornel, despite the ban on her entering Valmar being lifted due to protests by the Valar. The high king was notoriously stubborn when he set his mind to it. He also apologized for the behaviour of some overly pompous members of his entourage. Those offending elves were ordered to man the Vanyar counsel in Tirion, which was conveniently set in the midst of the Artisan Quarter. Apprentices and smiths had little patience with such pomposity and a few weeks in their company would cure any elf of such thoughts, or send them packing to the House of Healing.

Prince Findarato's foresight was known to be stronger than most, even in the halcyon days of his youth. Together with his sister, he had spoken to his elders then of hidden realms in deep caves or nestled among faraway crags – cities which the Exiles eventually built in Beleriand. Back then, their elders treated their tales as the fruit of their overactive imaginations. His visions of war were now taken seriously by his father and the Vanyar crown prince. Mornel was bothered by her vision of a white bird, a white ship, and a shining gem. Master Olorin had joined the discussion, slipping into the chamber where the meeting was held unnoticed by all until he asked Ingwion to pass him a goblet of wine.

"Could it be a silmaril I saw in my vision?" Mornel wondered aloud as she finished describing her vision for Ingwion's benefit.

"What might or might not come to pass, or what has already come to pass…" Olorin only shrugged as he answered Mornel.

"This will come to pass," Mornel replied confidently. "A white ship will come from the east." She closed her eyes. The image of the white ship was imprinted on her mind's eye. Or was it a white bird or a shining star of a gem? Perhaps it was all three, melding and blending into each other. Nothing made sense – yet.

Mornel took up some light arms training in Tulkas' hall despite Lady Indis' misgivings. Many felt it unbecoming for a noble nis to take up a sword. Grandfather Mahtan only laughed and had a fine sword and dagger forged for Mornel. Nerdanel insisted on crafting the shield herself, and presenting it to her daughter when she next visited Alqualonde. Arafinwe was quick to quench any rumours of possible rebellion, insisting it was he who commanded his niece pay homage to the Warrior Vala Tulkas through the practice of arms. Yet the gossip continued and Mornel decided to leave Tulkas' rather than bring further strife to her uncle's court.

After leaving Tulkas' hall, Mornel continued her training in Formenos under the tutelage of various warriors from the Avari clans who had encountered the foul creatures set loose by Morgoth's minions on the Hither Shores. Finrod had also spoken of the hazards of Beleriand – poisonous spiders, orcs, and flame-breathing lizards twice the size of a horse. However, none of her tutors had experienced an actual war with Morgoth's forces, having perished during the Time of the Long Night when the worst of the Dark Lord's minions were content to hide in their fortress whilst lesser creatures like spiders, orcs, and werewolves prowled the shadows. Her father had fallen to a Balrog – a fallen Maia of fire under Morgoth's banner. How could any elf hope to prevail against such a foe? Yet she could not help feeling a twinge of pride at the tale of battlefield courage despite her atto's rumoured madness then.

In the meanwhile, Finrod and Amarie prospered in their love. Finrod's strength and former good cheer returned although he still had episodes of melancholy when his thoughts turned to his absent kin. The seasons melted into each other as Finrod and Amarie embarked on their new life together. Their villa in the orange grove was completed, and they had left the palace for their new home. The couple were happy and content with each other, though many felt their union's continued childlessness was cause for concern. Some malicious gossipers even suggested that Finrod had been rendered sterile by the Valar despite being allowed to return to life due to his part in the Rebellion of the Noldor. Amarie would look on the elflings born to her kinsfolk with fondness at times. In such unguarded moments, Finrod would regret his decision to remain childless but Amarie was willing to wait until Finrod was ready to be a father.

Mornel visited her cousin at his villa when the orange trees were in fruit. It would be a lovely place to raise any elfling. The villa stood on the foothills of Tuna and offered a fine view of the sea. The air was sweet and balmy. Finrod had set aside an airy room for use as a nursery for any future elflings. It remained empty for now. Someday it would ring with the laughter of Finrod and Amarie's children.

She had her dreams of the white ship on occasion, alongside the dreams of bloodshed. One night she thought she saw Finrod and Amarie on the ship, before she realized they were too young to be them. Moreover, the nis had raven-black hair instead of Amarie's golden tresses. Behind the shining ship, she thought she caught a glimpse of two terrified young children held fast by a pair of wild-eyed neri she knew instinctively were her two eldest brothers. She dared not share that vision with anyone. Instead she left her bed and went to the window of her room. There she raised her eyes to Lady Varda's stars, bright in the northern skies of Valinor, and offered a silent prayer for the Exiles and those on the Hither Shores.

For now they could only wait to see what chord Eru Iluvatar's song would take.

Author's Notes:

Yes, this is the end of this story arc. Taking some time out for a bit to attend to some real-life matters before plunging into the War of Wrath.