Creature in the Night

“I am not afraid of the dark.”

“Oh, really? Why else would you deign to visit me so late at night?”

“You have been gone for three months! I am disappointed that you were not expecting me to come see you.”

“It is after midnight. Why were you awake to notice my return?”

“I...have not been feeling very well.”

“What?”

It was very late in the valley of Rivendell. The only light that illuminated the bedchamber of the vampire Faye was a single candle flickering merrily on a bedside table. She had only just settled herself into bed when her beloved Arwen had arrived. The young she-Elf was sitting cross-legged at her feet, and Faye was casting her a look of concern. In the dim light, it seemed to take a moment for Arwen to recognize the expression.

“Do not worry, Faye,” she said quickly. She rested a hand against her belly. “Just a bad month.”

Faye relaxed a little, nodding her understanding.

“Did Lord Elrond mix a tincture for you?”

“Not yet.” Arwen winced slightly. “It just started this evening.”

Faye smiled, moving over a little in the bed. With a grateful sigh, Arwen crawled over and curled up next to her. Running her fingers through the young she-Elf’s beautiful raven hair, Faye chuckled softly.

“What?” Arwen asked.

“Is my presence helping you to feel better?”

“A little.” Arwen snuggled closer. “Oh, Faye, how did you deal with the monthly pains?”

“Never really had to, my love,” Faye replied, biting back a full laugh. “My womb died when I was turned, and before that I was almost always pregnant. But the village healer did have a remedy for the pains.”

Faye paused, prompting Arwen to nudge her side.

“What was it, and where can I get a dose?”

Faye abruptly burst out laughing, turning her face into the pillow to muffle the mirth-filled sound. Arwen raised herself onto her elbows, glaring.

“My child, what your father has taught you and what my people believed are completely different,” Faye explained once she had regained her composure. “Remember when you asked me to finish the story of Naret-Aluan before I left?” Arwen nodded. “My people believed that because the serpent was partially responsible for the cycle of birth and death, it carried within it the relief a suffering woman needed. So we would be given a drink stewed from the blood and raw flesh of the puklu-onkolne.”

Arwen furrowed her brow, seemingly thinking. Faye waited patiently. She had told Arwen of the puklu-onkolne before.

“The…river shadow?” she asked finally. “That giant snake that could eat small children?” Faye nodded. A moment later, the she-Elf’s face broke into a look of immense disgust. “Your people used to drink snake blood to cure monthly pains?” She abruptly winced again. “Does it work?”

“Arwen, if you desire to try the ancient remedy, all you need to do is to go out into the valley and catch me a snake.” Faye gently cupped Arwen’s chin in her hand, noticing the slight glance she made towards the darkness outside the balcony. “I did watch the healer prepare it once. It is not too difficult.”

At that moment, the candle on the bedside table extinguished. The bedchamber was cast into near total darkness. There was no moonlight tonight, for thick clouds obscured the midnight sky. Faye felt Arwen tense, then lay back down beside her once more.

“No,” she said. “I can wait for Ada’s help tomorrow.”

Faye did not say anything in response, and after several minutes she felt Arwen relax into sleep. She would not press the young she-Elf any further, nor would she hint at what she already knew…at least, not until the next morning. Her return had not gone completely unnoticed.
Glorfindel had met her at the front doors with a warm welcome and the news that Arwen, Elladan, and Elrohir had just spent the evening telling scary stories to one another. Or rather, that the twins had teamed up to get Arwen’s nerves and imagination so overworked that she had lit several more candles than normal while preparing for bed.

And Faye had smelled the remnants of the candle she had used to light the way to her, and had blown out before entering the room.

* * * * * *

Any plans set for the next afternoon were ultimately washed out in a deluge of rain. So instead of going quail hunting along the southern border of the territory, Faye sat in Elrond’s study, chewing on her lower lip in mild frustration as she tried to puzzle out how she had managed to sew one end of the embroidery she had been working on into her skirt. Celebrian, who had paused in her own work to watch Faye struggle with the embroidery, met her gaze when she looked up.

“May I make a suggestion?” she asked playfully.

“No, thank you,” Faye replied with a scowl. “I just need to undo these stitches.”

“You do not undo embroidery stitches, Faye,” Celebrian said with a smile, reaching into her sewing basket and pulling out a pair of small thread sheers. “You cut them and try again.”

Faye sighed and took the sheers, freeing the embroidery from her skirt. But when she tried starting the row of stitching again, she pricked her finger with the needle.

“I hope you did not intend to get this kerchief back, Celebrian,” she said as she sucked on her smarting digit. “I think I just ruined it.”

At that moment, Elrond and Glorfindel entered the room.

“So, Lady Faye,” Glorfindel said, smiling at her. Elrond had approached Celebrian and given her a kiss in greeting. “Will I soon be able to come to you when I need my trousers patched?”

Trying to redo yet another stitch and glare at Glorfindel at the same time, Faye pricked her finger again. Growling in defeat, she dropped the embroidery back into the sewing basket.

“We will try something more simple another day,” Celebrian assured. “But Glorfindel does have a point. You are quiet adept at mending and patching.”

“Then I shall do the mending, and leave the fine embroidery to you and Arwen,” Faye replied. She turned to Elrond. “Did she come to you for a tincture yet, my Lord?”

“This morning,” Elrond replied, nodding. “Was she with you last night?”

“Yes,” Faye said. “She claimed it was for comfort from the pains, but I think it had more to do with whatever stories the twins told her last night.”

Celebrian smiled and set her own embroidery aside.

“She is at that age when admitting fear makes her feel ashamed,” she said conversationally. “I know I was always more disconcerted when I felt embarrassed about admitting my fears.”

“You are the daughter of the Lady of Light!” Glorfindel said, laughing. “What did you have to be afraid of?”

“And Arwen is my daughter, my friend,” Elrond interjected before Celebrian could reply, a humored smile on his face. “She does not have anything to be afraid of, either.”

“Oh, I think she could make a good argument to be afraid of her brothers,” Faye commented, to which everyone laughed.

“And what of you, Faye?” Elrond asked when everyone had calmed. “How did you deal with your childhood fears?”

Faye took several moments to consider the question. The others waited patiently, however, and she soon turned her attention back to them.

“The mindset of the Elves and my people are vastly different,” she began. “You must consider that in my village, the life expectancy for the average man was in the mid-thirties, and a woman was married and giving birth as soon as she was physically able. My greatest childhood fear was not getting a good, strong husband. Everything else was just a part of life. The creatures of the jungle were threats we just accepted.”

“And did you find a good husband?” Glorfindel asked.

Faye frowned. The conversation was bringing back memories she did not really care to recall anymore, relatively happy though the years of her mortal life had been.

“I was very lucky,” she finally said. “My husband was a strong and devoted man, and a wonderful father.” She paused. “There was, however, one creature I never had much belief in, and did not learn to respect until I was much older.”

“What creature was that?” Celebrian asked.

Faye smiled grimly.

“Muhke,” she replied simply.

For several moments, everyone gave her confused, expectant looks. Then, Elrond raised his eyebrows, and gave a nod of comprehension.

“You never believed in vampires,” he said.

Celebrian’s expression turned to one of surprise, and Glorfindel shook his head.

“I guess you were proven wrong,” he commented.

“Glorfindel,” Celebrian reprimanded.

“It is alright,” Faye said quietly. “Nobody in my village took much heed to that old legend…at least, not until I came along.” She stood. “I think I
shall go take a closer look at the rain.”

“I will join you,” Celebrian said, also standing.

Saying their farewells to the Elf-lords, Faye and Celebrian left the study and headed down the dimly lit corridor. Out here, the sound of the rain was a constant low hum upon the roof. Faye linked arms with Celebrian, but remained quiet and solemn. After a moment, Celebrian frowned.

“Faye, I apologize if our questions upset you,” she said.

“I do not mind, my friend,” Faye replied. “My past is not something I freely speak of, but I cannot justly deny the answer to any question you or Lord Elrond have for me. I owe you too much to keep secrets.” She smiled slightly. “You are free to ask me anything you wish to.”

Celebrian seemed about ready to say more, but at that moment a shriek of fright echoed. Immediately, both women broke into a run, searching for the source of the sound.

Faye was the first to spot the problem. The cry had echoed from the corridor where the forlorn Watcher of Narsil stood. Arwen was sprawled at the statue’s feet, and a black-cloaked figure towered over her. Faye snarled and started to lunge forward, but at the last possible second Celebrian seized her outstretched arm and restrained her.

“Elladan!” she snapped loudly, and it was only then that Faye realized the figure was doubled over in laughter. “Take that cloak off at once, or I am going to let Faye do it for you!”

“Let her go, Naneth!” Arwen snarled, sitting up. “I want her to tear his arms off!!”

But Faye had relaxed, no longer straining against her grip, and Celebrian released her. She let the angry Elf-maiden walk past her.

“What is the meaning of this?” Celebrian demanded, rounding upon her guilty son.

“It was just for fun, Naneth!” Elladan said defensively, pulling the cloak off and holding it in his arms like a shield.

“Fun?!” Arwen jumped to her feet and showed Celebrian her left elbow, which was badly scraped and bloody. “You call this fun?!”

But the very next moment, Arwen, Elladan, and Celebrian seemed to realize what Arwen had just done. Faye’s senses had forewarned her, however, and she only caught the barest hint of it in the air before she reacted. Clapping her hands over her mouth and nose, Faye twisted around and bolted, forcing herself to do just as she had trained herself to do even as the darkness started clawing at the edge of her consciousness. But even as she ran, she still had some sense of the world around her. She had not smelled enough to lose all control. And so with each step she took she fought against the darkness, forcing herself to stay focused on the present.

Little thought was given to the direction in which she was headed. Those few who noticed her coming quickly moved out of her way and called forewarning. When she reached the main foyer, the front doors had already been opened for her. Faye ran outside and leapt down into the main courtyard, instantly becoming drenched in the pouring rain. The sound of it drummed in her ears, louder and softer with the ebb and rise of the predatory blackness.

Had the darkness taken over completely—as it normally did—Faye would have simply continued running. But the exposure had not been enough, and so she fought the instinct to run with a fierce desire to remain in the Valley. The world around her blurred as she twisted around, blinded by the rain. Desperate for a distraction, she flung herself to the cobblestones, starting to scream as she clawed at the smooth stone. She did not even register the pain as her fingernails broke and bled. The inhuman shrieks she uttered were toneless, neither angry nor sad, only the darkness translated into ear-splitting sound.

Faye had strained her vocal chords raw by the time she could no longer find will to scream. She rolled slowly onto her side, her mangled fingers oozing blood. Rain was still pouring down from the heavens, but she could no longer feel it. A strange sort of emptiness was starting to overpower her. She sank slowly into it, her eyes rolling back as all awareness of the world around her vanished in a hazy mental fog. She did not comprehend the many eyes staring warily at her, the armed guards watching nervously for any sign of movement. A feeling of unease had settled over the High House. Never before had Faye stopped so close, and nobody knew how long she would remain dangerous.

The hours passed. No sound could be heard save for the pounding of the rain. None of the watching eyes had relaxed, and many were hesitant even to blink. All were ready to wait out the night, and take action if needed. But none were looking forward to the prospect.

However, at long last, just after two in the morning, Faye stirred. Though she felt weak and tired, she slowly sat up. Her entire body shook with the strain, her arms constantly threatening to buckle and give way. Had she been sprawled out in the wilderness somewhere, she would have allowed herself to simply slip into unconsciousness. But her movement had attracted attention, and she could hear footsteps approaching her through the rain.

“Faye?” It was Glorfindel. “Faye…are you awake?”

His voice was tensed, wary. But Faye was too exhausted to speak. A moment later, her arms gave out, and she slumped back onto the cobblestones. She heard Glorfindel fade back a step, and soft exclamations of surprise from whoever was standing behind him.

“My Lord, is she safe?” someone asked softly.

“I do not know,” Glorfindel replied. Faye sensed him approaching again. A soft hiss of metal on leather told her he had unsheathed his sword. “Stay back.”

A strong hand settled on her shoulder. Faye moaned softly, and she felt herself being gently rolled onto her back. Dimly, she could see Glorfindel leaning over her, his sword gripped firmly in his other hand. Five or six others stood nearby, but she could not make out their faces. She blinked, and the grip on her shoulder tightened slightly.

“Faye, I need you to give us a sign,” Glorfindel said firmly. “Is it over?”

Faye blinked again, still unable to think clearly. However, she was starting to remember what had brought her out here.

“Arwen?”

The word was spoken breathily, barely any sound escaping through her mangled vocal chords. But Glorfindel smiled, seemingly able to understand her anyway. Within seconds, he had sheathed his sword and put his arms around her, lifting her gently into a sitting position. Her head rolled limply onto his shoulder.

“To Lord Elrond’s study,” she heard him say, feeling herself being lifted into the air. “Faye, I am counting on you to prove me right. If you suddenly start trying to bite everyone, it is going to make me look bad.”

If she had the strength to do so, Faye would have laughed along with the others. So like Elves to try and ease stressed nerves by joking. But without any strength to continue to show her docility, she allowed sleep to overcome her. The world faded once more as she slipped into darkness of a different kind.

When Faye awoke again, it was well into the next morning. Bright sunlight was shining in through open windows and a balcony doorway. Someone was sitting beside her, gently filing the fingernails of her left hand. She opened her eyes, and Celebrian’s gentle face swam into focus. The Elf-maiden seemed not to realize she was awake until Faye tried to curl her fingers.

“Please do not move, Faye,” she said gently. “Your fingernails grew back like claws. I am just smoothing them out.”

Faye obeyed, and once Celebrian was finished she helped her to sit up. She was in Elrond’s study, sitting on the low bed where the patients of the Elf-lord normally rested. Her hands were healed, her nails returned to their normal shape. The two of them were the only ones in the room. Faye focused upon Celebrian, who set the file aside and sighed deeply.

“Faye…what happened the courtyard…is that what always happens after you run away?”

“No,” Faye replied, her voice weak and raspy. “Normally, I just keep running until the darkness fades.” She paused, coughing slightly in an attempt to clear her throat. “But I was not in any pain, if that is what is worrying you, my friend.”

“You sure made us think you were,” Celebrian replied. She gripped Faye’s hands in hers. “After you stopped screaming, Elrond ordered that nobody approach you until you woke up again. That is why you were left out in the rain for so long.”

Faye shook her head. She did not mind having been left out in the rain. She would not have minded if Glorfindel had carried her up into the mountains and left her there. The Elves of Rivendell knew how dangerous she could be, and yet still welcomed her as family. It was her willingness to run that steadied rapid hearts and soothed the fears of her predatory fury. No doubt her pause and collapse in the courtyard had momentarily drawn every bow in the valley against her. And it had been relief, not concern, that had relaxed Glorfindel the previous night.

“How are you feeling?” Celebrian asked.

“Better,” Faye replied.

At that moment, the door to the corridor opened, and Arwen entered the room. Faye turned to her, and without a single word of greeting the young she-Elf approached and sat down beside her, wrapping her in a tight, possessive hug. Faye returned the embrace, patting Arwen gently on the back. Celebrian moved to sit on Arwen’s other side, her hands settling on her daughter’s shoulders.

“I am here, Arwen,” Faye said soothingly. “I am alright. I was not in any pain.”

“It was terrible,” came Arwen’s muffled voice. “I wanted to be with you, but Ada would not let me.” She sat up, her arms still around Faye, and
shrugged off her mother’s hands. “They just left you out there…”

Faye sighed and gently freed herself from Arwen’s arms.

“Arwen, what Lord Elrond commanded was the right thing to do,” she said, and Arwen’s frown deepened at the severe rasp in her voice. “I was not completely lost yesterday, but I was still a threat. If you had tried to approach me, I. . .” She gritted her teeth, unable to continue. She bowed her head. “Do not be angry at your parents on my account, my dear. Be angry at me. It was my fault for making you worry for me.”

Celebrian smiled, but Arwen’s face twisted in anger.

“No,” she said. “It was Elladan’s fault. And Elrohir! It was because of them I scraped my elbow.”

“I only saw Elladan yesterday,” Faye commented.

“Apparently, it was Elrohir’s idea,” Celebrian explained, now gripping one of Arwen’s hands. Almost unconsciously, Faye took hold of the other.

“And where are they now?”

“Checking for flood damage in the western part of the Valley,” Arwen replied grumpily. “Do not worry, Faye. I will get them back one of these days.”

Faye smiled, winking at Celebrian, who smiled again.

“Why wait?” she asked, and Arwen turned towards her. “Do they know I am awake?”

“They left at dawn,” Celebrian replied, shaking her head. “Elrond and Glorfindel are with them.”

“Can you get a message to Lord Elrond without alerting the twins? Let him know what to expect?”

Both Arwen and Celebrian seemed to know what Faye was thinking. Celebrian’s smile was both wicked and radiant, and Arwen seemed to be trying to suppress a fit of giggles.

“Should not be a problem,” she said. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

* * * * * *

It was early afternoon by the time it had been determined that the Valley had suffered no flood damage. Elrond had sent Elladan and Elrohir on ahead to deliver the message and make sure the other scouting parties checked in likewise. The twins rode quietly, neither too thrilled about the thick clouds that were once again building on the horizon.

“More rain?” Elrohir said, breaking the silence at last. “The Valley is going to be a lake soon.”

“I will be content as long as it does not storm,” Elladan replied, stifling a sudden yawn. “I did not sleep well last night.”

Elrohir nodded, and silence fell between them once more. The hoofbeats of their horses echoed dully through the trees, a miniscule stream still flowing down the center of the path on which they traveled. Elladan’s horse straddled the stream as it walked, dipping its head every now and then to snatch at some of the green leaves the current occasionally carried past. Neither of the brothers were denying their mounts these small wavers, for they were distracted by their own thoughts. It was Elladan who broke the silence next.

“I think we should apologize to Faye,” he commented. “It was our fault that Arwen scraped herself.”

“Faye usually seems to get the worse end of it,” Elrohir replied. He paused. “Elladan, do you think she was in serious pain last night?”

“Would she have screamed like that otherwise?” Elladan asked, frowning. “I think that…”

A loud crack echoed from somewhere above. The horses balked and came to a halt as, about ten yards ahead of them, a thick branch came crashing down onto the path. Elrohir let out an exclamation of surprise, tightening his grip on the reins as his horse stumbled backward. Elladan quickly dismounted, unsheathing his sword, his eyes turned to the canopy above them. There was no reason why the branch should have fallen. The air was still, the sky directly above them still relatively clear. But the angle of the sun and the shadows above obscured his vision.

“Elladan, look out!” Elrohir cried out.

Elladan twisted around as a dark form dropped lightly to the ground between them. His horse gave a loud snort of terror and bolted, making him let out a curse of exasperation. His bow and arrow satchel were still tied to the saddle. Elrohir was struggling with his own horse, which was rearing and tossing its head wildly. Elladan, who had been focused on the figure between them, ready to fight, suddenly recognized the piercing yellow eyes now returning his gaze.

“Let Cassius go, Elrohir!” he said. “It is Faye!”

Elrohir leapt clumsily from the saddle as Faye slowly rose to her feet. Elladan lowered his sword slightly, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as he stared at her. She was dripping with mud, and leaves and twigs were tangled in her hair. Her eyes were narrowed, her stance stiff and tensed. As Elladan watched, she slowly turned from him to Elrohir, and unleashed a deep, thunderous growl. Elrohir’s horse, which had resisted the urge to run farther than a dozen yards away, stumbled and nearly fell to its knees. Scrambling back onto its feet, it tore off in the wake of Elladan’s horse.

Ice flowed through Elladan’s veins as he and Elrohir turned fully to Faye. She was still staring unblinkingly at Elrohir. Something darker than mud stained her mouth and chin, and Elladan raised his sword again when she bared her fangs, revealing bloodstains.

“Faye, where did you come from?” he demanded shakily, a myriad of possibilities over the source of the blood flooding his mind. “Glorfindel told us you recovered last night.”

Faye snarled again, the sound fierce and sharp. She turned from Elrohir to Elladan, taking a few threatening steps forward. Elladan swung his sword around, seeing Elrohir step to Faye’s other side, mirroring his movements with his own sword.

“Faye, snap out of it,” Elrohir warned, his voice slightly tremulous.

“Elladan! Elrohir! Get back!”

Elladan glanced around. Glorfindel was standing several yards behind them, his bow drawn and aiming an arrow right at Faye. Faye roared at the sight of him, causing Elladan to wince in pain as the sound rang in his ears. He and Elrohir obediently took a step back, but as they did Faye bolted forward, charging towards Glorfindel with murderous rage in her eyes. The twins saw the mighty Elf-lord frown grimly, and release his arrow.

“Glorfindel!!” both shouted in unison. His arrow missed Faye by inches, and the vampire was charging towards him too quickly for him to retrieve another.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the two broke into a run, both knowing it was too late even as they started to move. Glorfindel’s expression turned to one of shock as Faye collided with him, her arms wrapping around him as her face dipped down towards his neck. He seemed to be trying to struggle with her, and for one moment it appeared as though they were performing some form of morbid dance. Elladan was first to come within range. He raised his sword, ready to cleave Faye in two.

And then, with a bolt of shock, both Elladan and Elrohir realized that Faye and Glorfindel were laughing.

For Faye, the scenario had gone exactly as it had been planned. Celebrian had managed to communicate with Elrond, and he and Glorfindel had helped arrange for Elladan and Elrohir to be separated from them. Glorfindel himself had come up with the idea of getting attacked. Granted, Faye had struck him with more force than she had originally intended, but he seemed no more than a little winded when she released him. Elladan and Elrohir were staring at her with mixed expressions of shock and anger. She turned and offered them a warm smile.

“Sweet Eru!” Elladan cursed, rolling his eyes. “Faye, I almost killed you!”

A chorus of laughter met his words. Faye did not have to turn to know that Elrond, Celebrian, and Arwen had appeared. Faye turned her gaze from Elladan to Elrohir, who had sheathed his sword but had yet to regain color in his face.

“You two are not the only ones in the Valley capable of playing tricks,” Faye said lightly.

Arwen approached and nonchalantly pulled a small twig from Faye’s hair.

“Remember this the next time you think about messing around with me,” she said, flicking the twig away. “The one on my side has fangs.”

Another chorus of laughter echoed. The twins appeared properly admonished, for after the laughter died they both bowed solemnly.

“We did not intend what happened to you, Faye,” Elladan said sincerely.

“It was an accident,” Faye replied.

“Perhaps now you have realized that decisions have consequences,” Celebrian said. “Most of the time, it is the people you did not intend that end up paying for wrong choices.”

Elladan and Elrohir nodded. Lord Elrond seemed about to add something more, but before he could speak a loud roll of thunder echoed. As one, all eyes looked to the heavens, where dark clouds were rapidly overtaking the sun.

“Not again,” Arwen moaned.

“We had better get back home,” Celebrian said.

“But our horses,” Elrohir protested. “Elladan and I have to go find them.”

“We have them,” Arwen replied quickly. “Ada and Glorfindel caught them while we were waiting around the bend.”

“Go on ahead, Faye,” Elrond said.

Faye nodded. She knew it was not advisable for her to be around the horses at the moment, especially after purposefully spooking two of them. She was not worried for them, for the storm was still a little ways away, and the High House was not far. So she started off, but the last bits of conversation she managed to hear before they were out of earshot made her burst out laughing.

“Elrohir, we should have known that they were playing a trick on us.”

“Why is that, Elladan?”

“Because Glorfindel never misses!”

* * * * * *

The family returned to the High House about twenty minutes after Faye, and safely ahead of the coming storm. Faye had retreated to her bedchamber after venturing to one of the Valley’s waterfalls to wash the bulk of the mud off, and when Arwen came to find her, she was trying fruitlessly to comb debris out of her hair. As the first waves of rain started to fall outside, Arwen took the comb away with a laugh.

“Bathing room, Faye,” she said with a playful push. “You can bathe while I work on your hair.”

Though the rain was not falling as hard as it had done the day before, the thunder was more persistent. The two listened quietly, and it was a long while before the silence was broken.

“I have a confession to make,” Arwen said softly.

“What?” Faye asked, distracted from scrubbing her upper arm.

“I am a little afraid of the dark.”

Faye chuckled warmly.

“Oh really?”

Feigning annoyance, Arwen lightly tapped the top of Faye’s head with the comb.

“I know it is foolish, but late at night I cannot help it,” she said. “That night…I could not sleep at all. I just kept…”

Faye reached up and gripped Arwen’s hand, and the young she-Elf’s voice trailed away.

“I wonder, my dear, if it is the night itself you are afraid of,” Faye began, “or the creatures in the night.”

Arwen was silent for a moment. She released Faye’s hand and returned to combing out her hair.

“Only the creatures that bear the names Elladan and Elrohir,” she said at last.

“I expected as much!” Faye replied, laughing merrily. Her smile widened as she heard Arwen join her a few moments later.

“But I am comforted when you are with me,” she added. “Always.”

Now it was Faye’s turn to be silent, but she continued to smile nevertheless.

“You know, my child…many would consider me to be the worst creature in the night that exists,” she commented.

“But that is a good thing,” Arwen replied brightly. “You scare off the rest of them.”

Faye’s responding laugh was drowned in a roll of thunder, but both were ignoring the storm now. Peace had been restored to the High House of Rivendell, and to Faye’s heart. The events of the past few days had made her realize just how much she had to be thankful for. She was one of the worst and most legendary of the monsters whose stories could frighten children to nightmares. The inhabitants of Rivendell were fully aware of just how dangerous she could be, but none despised her for it. Those she should have seemed terrifying to welcomed her with open arms. And nothing was more evident of that than the young she-Elf who sat with her now, gently and happily combing her hair.

She was a creature in the night. A beloved, infinitely lucky creature in the night.

And Faye would not have it any other way.

The End.