Gypsy's Way

-Mirkwood, Royal Palace...-






Tinnuldur watched as a dark blonde haired elf fill three goblets. The spirits of the Eldar were many but the archer preferred the less dry taste of the White wines. Two of the glass cups were filled with a dark crimson liquid, one with clear.

Mithisil picked his goblet up, tipping it towards his friend in thanks and swiveling it expertly, he sipped. His younger brother Thrandohir copied the motion instinctively. The two Sindarin princes preferring the stronger taste of red wines, something acquired from their father no doubt.

They sipped in silence, the liquid flowing down and warming their insides. Tinnuldur removed his cloak and draped it over a nearby chair, moving towards the open balcony. It was a quiet warm night in Mirkwood and his thoughts were still quite full and busy.

"Well, I shall bid goodnight to you Brother, Tinnuldur. It shall be an early morn and Id like to see to Avenway before our departure in the morning. Besides I've promised to see Malwe and his scouting party before their departure." He smiled as he always did and finished his drink, then disappeared in search of there younger brother.


"You are troubled" Mithisil asked almost instantly after he was sure his brother was far from hearing range.

Leave it to Mithisil to notice such a thing, Tinnuldur thought. He sighed and knew any attempt to skip round the truth would be futile with his closest friend.
He did need turn to look at the Sindarin elf to know he was watching him.
"I am undecided about what I should do" was all he said staring into the thick woods beyond the palace grounds.

"Ahh, the Gypsy" Mithisil said, a slight of disapproval in his voice.
Tinnuldur turned finally and looked at his friend.



"She has a name", he could not help but feel slightly indignant. He knew that the Mirkwood elves were wary of all but their own kind, even in a certain degree to the Lothlorien elves.
Mithisil though open of mind, was not so different.

"Yes, this I know. It is Akilah, and a lovely name it is. I mean no offense by my comment, Tinnuldur." Mithisil's sky blue eyes met his friends stormy ones.
"it is just..." he stood, placing down his goblet and staring at it. His one hand tracing the outside of the smooth glass, finally he looked back at Tinnuldur.
"You must know you walk into peril my friend." he stated, a note of worry in his voice.

"Please, not you also. I do not with to hear this argument. I have heard it from my mother and father and kin. I do not need to hear it from you as well." Tinnuldur waved him off, sighing warily.

"Obviously you have not heard it enough." Mithisil stepped closer, his hand moving away from the goblet and table all together. His strong sky-blue eyes took in his friend critically for a long moment, his brows furrowing as he came to a conclusion. "You love her" he asked, almost as in awe.

Tinnuldur slowly met his friends gaze, his eyes darkened to a color found in deep sea water. Mithisil's brows raised as he realized the answer.


"You do...you love her. You will ask her hand?" All this was incredible to Mithisil. Could his friend not see what danger he would bring upon himself loving a mortal.
Did he not learn from the tales of Beren and Luthien, and those of their sort.
"You will" he said, it was not a question.
Mithisil shook his head, his white-blonde hair spilling on his tunic with the motion. "You must know it is folly Tinnuldur"

"nin nauth lothron goro isto ned sen, nin ind innas u lasto!" Tinnuldur defended, slipping into Elvish. He did not wish to have this argument with Mithisil. His situation was complicated as it was.

The power of his outburst took Mithisil aback. Tinnuldur often took after his mothers quietness, though he was strong willed like his father.


Sometimes he forgot this was very much an elf with Noldorin blood of the olden days. His fire, though well hidden and tamed by his Sindar blood, was very well still alive.
Mithisil looked at his dearest of friends closely. He was tormented by his indecision.
The crown prince knew that only a great and strong love would torture his friend so.

"Sidh, mellyn" Mithisil soothed, standing before the Galadhrim archer.


"She must be quite a woman, if she has captured your love" he said with a soft smile.

Tinnuldur nodded, the troubled expression darkening his fair features. "She is".

"All I ask is you be wary. It would pain me much to see you hurt, for mortals lives are short...I just do not wish you to feel such pain." In that moment even Mithisil could not help but shudder and think how very much he sounded like his own Father.
The King was exceptionally protective of his sons.

"You not only look the part, but you now sound like your father" Tinnuldur said fighting a smile.

"Do not remind me. But I am serious, if you do nothing else. I would bid you to follow the Elvish traditions, and wait the appointed time before you two are wed. That will give you time to think" He offered becoming serious again.

"The gypsy's travels will take them away from Lothlorien for three years Mithisil." the brunette elf turned away again, moving to the fireplace mantle. He rested his hand upon the wood, running his hand along its corner.


"You said she was young, and that their tradition states a year of courtship and a year of betrothal before marriage. That be two years already. Just think of it as adding the year usually required by our traditions. Three years is not so long as it sounds. If your love for each other is thus as strong, she will return to you and both parties will be pleased" He finished with abated breath. He did not wish to see the terrible outcome he knew came with such unions.

"We shall see" Tinnuldur muttered, looking again outside in an attempt to catch the stars with his eyes. What he thought beyond that, Mithisil knew not.










----------------------------------------------------------------







-Lothlorien,Two nights later...-



Akilah looked upon herself in the Elf-crafted mirror upon the wall. The glass reflected her back as she completed another plait, fastening it with a small leather fascia. Wall mirrors were not common in Lothlorien, and Akilah had secretly thought this was because Elves were so beautiful. Why would beings who looked so lovely at all times need one?
She finished the last plait, musing.
It had taken her longer than usual to finish, partially because she did not want to finish, partially because of the decision she had yet to make.

Tinnuldur's reflection slid behind her own, his strong arms wrapped tightly about her. She grinned, as much enjoying the protective gesture. She had not heard him return, as was the usual with elves, as they were very light footed by nature. She leaned into his embrace, relishing his touch and the quite moment away from her thoughts.

Knowing how very much an independent sprit Akilah was, Tinnuldur thought himself lucky indeed to be considered worthy of her affections.

He could not help himself, still a young and boisterous Elven male, he mischievous tugged her closer and placed a kiss just behind her ear.
"I have missed you" he mummer into her hair, the strong scent of Vanilla he always associated with her, reached his senses.

"I have missed you more" she watch him through the mirror, and was rewarded by the feel of him smiling into her neck.
He pulled away after a moment, the smile sliding from his face.

Neither knew what to say, as both had been contemplating the same thing.
Their ultimate future together.

"You will go" he asked without pleasantries. He need not hide nor skim the issue with Akilah, she knew him far to well for that.

"I do not know" she said honestly, also avoiding side stepping the issue.
It was then that she noticed he hold one hand behind his back.

"What's that" she asked, curiosity taking over.
A glint of something crossed his eyes, but she missed it before she could identify its meaning. "This? This is for you." He said taking a step closer, revealing an intricately carved wooden box. Flat and made of the light woods that seemed to dominate the Lothlorien landscape, it was now between them only so it was what separated the distance.

"For me?" she asked confused, now wondering why he would give her a box. Though it was very beautiful, as all Elvish things were.

He nodded and slowly opened it, and Akilah's breath caught in her throat. Lying inside was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she had ever seen in her whole life.
Wrought of Mithril, it was a sort of Elvish pattern. Three triangular shapes, one large in the center and two smaller hanging from the sides, were intricately weaved and attached. At the center of each triangular star were three oval green stones.
It was stunning.

She shook her head, her mouth moving to speak but she could not find the words.
"It is an heirloom of my family. I wish you to have it" She shook her head again and looked up at him helplessly.

"I am not worthy of such a gift Tinnuldur" she whispered eyeing the necklace again and then him stunned. "It is the most beautiful necklace I've ever seen. How can I accept a precious heirloom of this sort, will you not miss it"
She had never been gifted something of the sort and was widely taken aback.

"I will miss you more" he said, the slight humorous glint on his face not completely faded.
She took the gist of what he had just said and looked at him again.
"You want me to go?" the beautiful creation forgotten for a moment of dread.

"No, of course not. But both you and I know well...you are not ready to leave behind your family" She said nothing, because he was absolutely right.


"I propose that we follow our peoples traditions." He swallowed hard and pushed his feeling of sadness down, continuing. "The two years your people expect you to wait before you wed, and the one my peoples traditions state. That is three years. In three years time you will return to Lothlorien, and to me."
He stepped forward, closing the box and holding it one hand he slid the free hand, cupping her face.

"You will return to me, and I will be waiting" The look he bestowed upon her sent a shiver up her spine. Those storm blue eyes were those which had looked upon whole parties of Uruk-hai before they were utterly destroyed, now looked upon her with the same determination.

He then slid his hand down to hers and taking the smaller, slid it over the top of the wooden box.
"To thee I plight my Troth Akilah Aldenion, take this gift as a symbol of my love for you. As a promise that I should never love another as I love you."

She didn't speak her plight to him. She did not need to.
The tears that fell from her eyes heavily on her cheeks was enough he would ever need, and he wiped one away, kissing her lips.
Kissing her as if it would be the last time he did so.

Her hands reach up clumsily, unclasping the silver Elven broach that kept his cape firmly in place. The Silvery grey material pooled upon the floor around his feet.

Tinnuldur gave no other thought to the discarded cape, it meant nothing. All that mattered at the moment was his arms encircling her waist, and the feel of her pounding heart through her tunic.
He pulled away for but a moment, his stormy blue eyes catching her amber ones.

He had to know, for his sake as well as hers.

In a slight daze of emotion coursing through her all at once she gazed back, her breathing slightly faster than it had been before.
If one did not look close, one could not see that he was breathing at all.
His gaze unmoving, piercing into her very mind.

"I am sure..." She said and was instantly swept back into his arms. His mouth meeting hers again with passion suitable only to his Noldorin blood. Tinnuldur hooked one arm firmly round Akilah's waist...tugging her backwards and into his inner chamber.

Perhaps they fought the dawn, but at the moment they had tonight.










----------------------------------------------------------------











Tinnuldur, for one of the few times in his life, felt as if he would fall apart.

The farewell had been bitter sweet for all involved.


Even the Lady Galadriel and her Lord Celeborn were present to say their Goodbye.
All were silent when she stepped forward, eyeing the party of humans before her.

"It has been far to long since the second born graced Lothlorien with their presence. Though their may be strife long set between our two kindred's, you have proven yourselves worthy in our eyes." she smiled and glanced at each one with her eyes that seemed to be older and fairer than the sun and moon themselves.
If only they had known.

"Your journey is long and arduous" she stated, her gaze falling directly on Alden. It was as if she could bore into his soul, and for some reason a deep feeling of danger and premonition rose in his chest.

"With many dangers..." this time her gaze fell upon Akilah. Tinnuldur could not help but be the one to feel apprehensive. The lady never said anything without meaning.

"Yet men are more resilient than perhaps they are credited." Her eyes turned to the red headed Pendran.

"Go in peace, and may the Valar watch over you" she said, almost ominous in her message. She then smiled, lightening all that saw it.

The Caravans were off, several of the Gypsy's waving at their new friends. Thinking of the sad departure, but resolute to return in three years to the wise and fair creatures that though were beyond the measure of men...still loved them and understood.

As they crossed the darkened grassy and rocky plains that stood between Lothlorien and Fangorn, Akilah turned and looked back. Half of the party had stayed behind to guard their going while Haldir's company ride ahead.

She could make out Tinnuldur even in the darkness, lit only by the Caravans lamps and the light of the moon and stars.

He stood unmoving at the base of the wood, his long bow tucked under his arm. The night wind caught up his dark hair and it took all her might not to leap from the Caravan and run to meet him.
She watch until she could no longer see him, then sat back.
The remnants of last night in her mind.

The memory of the way his body felt against hers, his smell and how he would hold her. The look in those storm sea-blue eyes.
She wiped away one tear but did not bother with the others, and suddenly she felt very very sick to her stomach.









----------------------------------------------------------------








-Nine Months Later, The Plains of Rohan-




Akilah sat back in her sleeping cot, being rocked gently to the caravan as it crossed Rohan. They would soon enter the last few villages to make trade.
Business had been good, and she knew that it was partially because what they had learned from the Elves.

A Wave of incredible sadness swept over her and she placed her hand upon her stomach. Her fingers gliding across the cloth of her shirt, underneath she could feel the tight skin of her swollen abdomen.
It was quite hard to feel anything but the weight of sadness as you contemplate the fact that the sire of your child would know not of them until they were nearly three years of age.

Soon after they departed the eves of Fangorn did she become painfully aware that she was with child. She had not expected such a thing, but then again who would.

What would Tinnuldur say when he was presented with the news that he was a father. And a terrified thought came to mind once more.
Perhaps he would not want a child so soon, he would not know it. What If his love changed for her, what if he would not care for her any longer.
She drew a deep breath to calm her racing heart.

Akilah felt all emotions now with an intensity that was usually left to the magical beings of the world: Fear, insecurity, indecision, awe, love and excitement And all on a new heightened Level.
She wondered often if it was because of the fact that the babe within her had Elven blood. Perhaps she was feeling the effects of carrying such a rare and precious gift.

Though she was a rational mind, even she was susceptible to un-rational thoughts. Especially on the long lonely nights such as this. Winter had dwindled in early spring and with that many storms and down pours. It had also brought forward green grasses and a time of plenty, and right behind that, a lurking evil.

The swaying motion of the horses pulling the moving homes began to lull her to sleep.
During the first stages, the motion of the moving Caravans only had served in making her sick.

She was heavily pregnant now, nine months and four days. Remembering what Tinnuldur had said about Elvish women being with child for a whole year came to mind.
She wondered how it was with human women carrying Elvish children.
The thought of him made her take another shuddering breath, blinking back tears.

She was a week pass what both Ninaskah and Kwan-yin had deemed her berthing day.
Her baby slept within her womb with no sign of wishing to show itself. And despite all the encouragement that the child would come when it was ready, she wished it to be over now.
A slow darkness had crept over her mind, fueled by uncertainty and fear. She was not even sure she wanted this.

In the distance the sound of thunder rumbled across the sky. It was well into February. Their trip took so long because of the many stops they made to trade and barter.

She began to fade into sleep, the quiet thunder lolling her into dreams and the promise of peace. The sounds of an oncoming storm going unheeded by her.
But not by the infant who slept in her womb.








----------------------------------------------------------------










It was not unusual for a storm to gather strongly in the plains of Rohan. Alden had been through many, but as they made camp the following eve the situation had worsened.

Beside the harsh wind and the pelting rain, trees being bent to the will of this storm, Akilah had gone into labor.

He lit another lamp and placed it down in the sleeping area of his daughters caravan. Ninaskah and Kwan were boding over her, Ninaskah sitting in a chair beside the bed petting the girls hand in her own.

Akilah had been in labor most of the evening and now it was in the wee hours of the morning, it seemed that her pains had come quicker and closer together, with a fury like the storm outside.

So far Akilah had been very brave and had taken the pain like the warrior she was. But as they became more intense, she began to tire, her body covered in sweat from her effort and her body trembling.

Another contraction seized her body and Alden found himself being pushed into the sitting area by Kwan, catching one last glimpse of Akilah as she sat up painfully...Ninaskah encouraging her on.





Alden sat with a huff, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. A fire was going in the small hearth, warming the whole caravan from the rain brought on chill.

A strong feeling of Deja vu crossed over Alden. This was exactly the same weather that Akilah was born in. How curious that fate should play this card, and he pondered if the child being born in the storm had anything to do with making her so fiery.

//Valar help us if we have another girl child like Akilah...I don't know if I could handle it// he thought, chuckling despite himself.

He was like a nervous father waiting for the birth of his own child, the strong urge to pace was buried deep down. Instead he ran his hand through his graying dirty-blonde hair, for the hundredth time.

The storm overhead worried him more as it pounded the sides of the caravans. Pelting rain became louder and he looked about, wondering if the horses were ok tethered to the sides of the caravans. The Randirroch were standing against the caravans for protection, hardy as they were, the storm was unusually dangerous tonight.

A crack of thunder again shook the air, and he could almost feel the electricity on his skin.
But nothing made him feel energy more than the piercing cry of an infant across the loud winds.

He stood, but held himself back from returning to the sleeping area. His hands clenched on the back of the chair, knuckles going white.

Kwan appeared and he smiled tiredly, nodding. "A girl, come and see"

He did what he was told, his mind still reeling. He was a grandfather, of sorts. He rush to Akilah's side, wiping his hand across her sweaty brow. She in turn looked up at him exhausted, and he began to worry when as she did not respond.
He wanted to pass it off as the effort of berthing a child, but her eyes were so very sad.

She was looking beyond him, at the bundle in Ninaskah's arms, and slowly turned her head away.
The child squirmed a little, her tiny features making a face that reminded him of Akilah in the strongest way.

He ran the back of his finger along her tiny new cheek, smiling at the softness. Babies were always the most wondrous thing to Alden, he suddenly knew why the elves were so prone to enjoying the humans company. The mortals had been like brand new babies to explore.

The babe gripped his finger in her own, her almond skin stark contrast to his fair colored hand. Her grip was very very strong and he was not at all surprised, she was of Elf blood, her teeny slightly pointed ears reminding him.

"She is beautiful tithen aras" He cradled the child closer and sat where Ninaskah had been. The two older Gypsy members stepping back and letting Alden have moments with his daughter. Alden rubbed the infants incredibly small hand with his fingers, his own still stuck in her grip. She opened cloudy blue eyes, and he wondered if they might stay that way.

Akilah's had been like that, but they changed to a beautiful amber brown. If he was not incorrect, most babies were born with eyes similar in that color. He secretly hoped that they would remain such a lovely hue.

He looked hopefully back at his daughter, hoping that her sadness had not become a dark depression that could take the life of new mothers. Hoping some how to encourage her to look upon her child.
Instead her eyes were already glued to her new child in his arms.

"She is...she has her fathers eyes" A sadness crossed her face again, but despite that she smiled proudly at what she had created.






----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------


Translations:

"nin nauth lothron goro isto ned sen, nin ind innas u lasto!"= my thought may have knowledge of this, my heart will not listen!

Randirroch= Wanderer/Pilgrim-horse. The steeds of the Gypsy's, bred by them. They were crosses between Haradrim desert horses and the horses of the people of Rohan. Bred to pull the large moving caravans of the Gypsy's, they were very strong. They also were bred for disposition, gait (which was one unique to them, a pacing/dancing movement that was very smooth), and were known for their bright and flashy colors.

"tithen aras" = Little Deer, the Nickname given to Akilah by Alden because of her love for Deer.


----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------