Dawnstar and Friend

“Leggy and I were sailing the little ship my beloved husband had built us with our beloved little Dwarf friend.
I had my hand on my abdomen, wondering when to tell them.
I have never been in this situation before so I don’t really know how either. I hope they and everyone else will be happy.”

“It was leaving the now middle-aged Ginny, though it had been a fair while (in human standards) since Amrothos had died and her children were all married and whatever. She would only have the few elves and her descendants left and she would never come to Valinor as she was human.
Unless my little plan worked out of course...“

“We waited until the boat disappeared over the horizon.
Ginny sniffs again and a tear rolls down her cheek. She and Ellie have barely been apart ever since they arrived in Middle Earth and now the two friends have been parted forever.”

“When we get down from the boat, Elrond calms me a little by hugging me before introducing me to the very distinguished looking elf beside him.
“Eleanor, meet your father, Turgon. Turgon, this is your daughter Caladhiel Minuialêl or Eleanor as she prefers to be called.””

““I see you gave Rosetta your circlet,” I say brightly, indicating the space on her shelves where the carved box usually lies.
“Yes; to be a family heirloom. My sons were very pleased when I also gave them most of my collection of weapons as well as my Mithril shirt – it’s not like I’m going to be doing much more fighting.”

“There was something I have been meaning to mention, that I found out about a day ago, since everyone that matters is here and silent I shall tell you all now.” They are all looking at me expectantly now. “I am very pleased to announce that I am pregnant.”

They asked politely about Ginny and so we told them.
Legolas got the idea immediately and Varda was wearing just the right kind of soppy look on her face about how much we would miss my human friend and whatever.
Phase One complete.
Just before the subject changed, I made a mournful comment about how there was probably nothing that could be done about her humanity and whatever. Judging by the expression on Manwë’s face though, I was wrong on that stake.
Perfect.

To tell the truth, I’m only half listening to Ellie as she’s explaining the reasons for this contact – Ginny being able to come to Valinor with us!

“You selfish, selfish man!” I shout as I look Amrothos’ plaque, “Why did you have to fall in love with me? Why couldn’t you have married someone your own age, who would live to about the same age you did? Why, why, why did you have to pick me? ... If I hadn’t had met you, this decision would be easy...”
I sit down upon the grass, my head in my hands, sobbing as though my heart would break.
All the people I knew are either dead or have sailed; I’m the only one left – which fate do I choose?
I don’t know how long I sat there, but I eventually feel Murrlin’s head as she rubs it against my arm. I tickle her soft ears and look into her eyes... I realise that I’ve made my choice...

My son is called Valaráto (meaning god’s champion) and my daughter is called Valyaceulë (divine renewal). We are not the ones who chose those names, Irmo insisted on them.
Irmo is strange Vala and it is quite clear that the names ‘god’s champion’ and ‘divine renewal’ are significant names, as ‘hope’ was for Aragorn.

“Right, when do we set out for Valinor then?”
I smile warmly at her,
“As soon as we’re ready.”

We are meeting with both sets of in-laws, who are at least tolerant of each other now, when the messenger comes through to warn us a ship flying the colours of Rivendell and Mirkwood have been sighted on the horizon. There is also a third flag the sentry does not recognise. I soon ascertain it is the flag of Dol Amroth. I ascertain this out of the hearing of those who have any chance of working out what that could mean though.

When land eventually hoves into view upon the horizon, Elladan runs up three flags: Mirkwood, Rivendell, and Dol Amroth and then we all prepare ourselves for our landing the next day.

The gangplank is finally secured and an ancient human descends gracefully. I had never quite comprehended the time difference between Valinor and Middle Earth before but the rate at which she as aged tells me quite clearly that time is slower here.
I also finally grasp her aging. Before I was never far from her so never noticed it happening but now...

I hug Ellie senseless, tears falling.
They fall faster when Ada takes me in his arms for what I’m sure is the hardest hug on record.
It’s a wonder that I’ve any tears left by the time Naneth and Vanlanthiriel have joined in.

“You knew this was going to happen didn’t you? You knew they were sailing here, and with Ginny as well!” well someone had to work it out.
I decide that offense is the best defence and decide to not even bother pretending I didn’t know.
“Yup, since about a week after the monsters were born. Varda and Manwë decided to give it to me as a present, well half a present; the other bit is yet to come.” Elrond narrows his eyes at me.

I’m a little nervous to say the least; I mean I have no idea how I’m going to be transformed into an elf. Maybe the reason no one has told me anything yet is because the process is so frightening and complicated that they were afraid I wouldn’t come if I knew any of the details.
I stare dumbstruck at Manwë as he casually explains the process to me.
“Don’t worry, Ginny, the process is perfectly straight forward.”

“Guess who.”
I knew who, of course.
Me being me, I twisted and sent her crashing down onto the ground in front of me.
The transformation was really quite weird, I had never really thought about how all those little things that make her elfin would change how she looked.
Little things like the slight changes in her features shapes and the new iridescent quality to her hair.
She was also back to looking twenty, wearing a beautiful purple dress and her hair fell in sheets of satin down her back.

I make a significant nod towards Miriel, currently holding Valya – she looks rather dreamy.
As the comprehension begins to dawn on Elrond’s face, I say nonchalantly,
“I will be very surprised, Elrond, if you didn’t become a grandfather within the next 18 months.”

Considering the father it shouldn’t be too surprising that they were two twin boys called Mánasairon (blessed sorcerer) and Ainicánë (god valour). Once again they took names given to them by Irmo, who insisted on it.
I have a bad suspicion that there is some plan for our children with the unusual insistence of a vala on certain names and all of them hinting towards some sort of destiny.
It looks like sue-ness is hereditary too.
Oh joy.

“But, there’s no fighting in Valinor.”
“Doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” replied Manwë, he has the same look in his eyes that tells me he’s hiding something...

The fact that they simply created our cats implies that their kittens and who those kittens were assigned to was not a coincidence.
I keep getting stinks of something to come but whenever I try to bring it up with the vala I never get anywhere.

Another thing I notice is that all of those given new cats begin to acquire magic like ours.
The more that happens the more I think things are beginning to stink rather.
No matter how much I ask our esteemed resident deities they always evade answering me.
That in itself speaks louder than words.
The question is, what the hell are they up to?