If he knew what awaited for him in the Middle Earth, he would have returned sooner.
Halbrand is a man with a dark past, but where will his choices lead him?
He starts to crave for light in his life when he finds the peace in the eyes of a mysterious...
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Dying leaves were falling around her. Luthien steps slowly on the carpet of the woods. The sorrow was still heavy on her heart and she felt like a leaf wandering in that evening breeze before lying down for the eternal rest. "All the responsibilities of this family rest on your shoulders now" her father had told her. The war had stolen both her brothers. Being her father's heir was the last thing she expected. As she didn't expect that war to grow so bitter. The Shadow was expanding and swallowing lands, coming closer to her home. She just wished to vanish in the mist, instead of facing other losses and the end of her people. Her father summoned her to meet the new King of Numenor. He insisted that the only hope was to reunite their city to its original founders. She would be Queen. When she wanted to remain only Luthien. No titles, no crowns. She held her emotions at bay as she stiffly attended the meeting, just to run away as soon as she was dismissed. The wind wiped the tears from her face, until she bumped in a tall shadow in the garden. "Luthien" a voice said and she gasped with relief mixed with anguish. "Halbrand" she said and broke into sobs. She wrapped her arms around him, imagining how that destiny was going to hurt him too. She had to marry another man, a real King, to give a chance to her people. His arms welcomed her and she just wished to stay in there forever. "We have to follow our duties" he murmured. Duties that would separate them forever. She looked at him and his hands cupped her face, wiping her tears. "Oh Halbrand..." she had so many things she needed to tell him, but her voice failed her, so she leaned towards him and let her lips speak directly on his. He replied to her kiss with the same hunger and desperation. They didn't let go until they were both out of their breath. She didn't know that someone had witnessed it, until the King of Numenor talked privately to her. She had to watch Halbrand getting ready to leave with the last army towards the front and she felt empty. "I know that you've been pushed to accept something you haven't chosen" the King said with sadness "But I don't want to be the cause of your unhappiness. Your people will have my support, even without our marriage. You have a powerful name. It's unwise to force you into something you don't want. Just follow your heart, Luthien. Forget about duties and politics. All I want is for us to be allies". She welcomed his words as a ray of sun after the darkest storm. She felt a deeper respect and endless gratitude for him, then she ran to tell Halbrand about it, about the future they could still have together. But as she crossed the city, she realized the army had already left. She was too late.
Luthien woke up feeling that anguish still sticking to her heart. Her healing ribs still tormenting her as she breathed deeply. There was no King of Numenor, no marriage deal. Her brothers were alive. And Halbrand was in the land of elves. It was just a nonsense nightmare. But the clear memory of her desperation and of that rough kiss made her feverish for the rest of the day.
She visited the library, letting the master entertain her with his recent translations. She was tempted to ask him about the line of the King of the Southlands, but the sorrow that topic raised in her made her desist. A land of ashes. Luthien still felt the heat of the fires and the smell of smoke in the air. Days passed since the mountain exploded. It was still burning in her mind and her soul.
