In that hour was made a Darkness that seemed not lack but a thing made of its own: for it was indeed made by malice out of Light, and it had power to pierce eye, and to enter heart and mind, and strangle the very will.

~ The Silmarillion, Of the Darkening of Valinor ~

***

A great crash of thunder roared through the turbulent heavens overhead. Vantaro's bright eyes filled with tears as his sister gathered him to her where they huddled in their mother's study. Luimëníssë had dragged three chairs by the brightly burning hearth and draped a silken sheet over it to create a small tent. With a small lamp on the stone floor between them and the glow of the fire, she had hoped to make a haven for the child as their mother pored through her books and parchments, trying to make sense of what was happening in Aman.

"Do not fear," Luimëníssë chided calmly, though her heart beat wildly at sound of the fiery crashes overhead. "It is only Oromë riding bright, shining Nahar with a grand host, searching for enemies of Valinor."

"Oromë?" Vantaro spoke for the first time since the Darkness from Valmar had spread heavily throughout the land.

"Of course. You know the tales of Oromë. One of the Valar who was last to leave the lands to the east, who found grandfather and the other Eldar of the first Waking at the shores of the Starlit Lake and led them to Aman."

Vantaro's little brow furrowed. "Lands to the east? You mean there is more to the world?"

"Yes, but do not ask me because I do not know much of it," she laughed lightly. 

"I wish to see those places," he said wistfully, resting into her side.

Luimëníssë bit back a rush of tears and kissed the top of his fair head. "Perhaps someday."

Vantaro fell into a restless sleep in a mound of furs, his hand curled around the metal frame of the lamp. The Darkness even permeated to the inner reaches of their home, filling the inhabitants with horrific, unnamed dread. A faint wailing was carried on the wild wind off the rocking sea. Cries of the Teleri carried across the land, mourning the loss of Light and the fearing the end of all things.

"Anything?" Luimëníssë asked coming alongside her mother and pulling a shawl tighter around her trembling shoulders.

Nanwë shook her dark head, her ankle length hair draping loose around her shoulders where she stood by her study table, her eyes scanning a book. She snapped it shut with an aggravated groan and rubbed a hand over her forehead. "I wish they would cease that confounded weeping. It serves no purpose. Not when we must discover what has happened and if anything can be done for it."

In times of stress, Nanwë was unapologetically Noldor. Luimëníssë approached her mother from behind and tugged her arms around her shoulders, resting her head on the back of her neck. "Atar and Náretarnon will send word soon from the City. Don't fret, mother. All will be well."

Nanwë turned towards her and braced her hands on the sides of her face. She pressed a kiss to her forehead. "My shining daughter. May you always bear the Light within you, even in times such as this. If only for your troublesome mother's sake."

"You aren't troublesome."

Nanwë scoffed and her grey eyes brimmed with tears. "I have held you back from your joy too many times because of my own fears. I hate to think that things may end now and you will not have lived your existence as fully as you could have because of me."

"Amilye, we do not know what lies ahead. You have the strongest mind of any Eldar I have ever known and I am proud to be your child. Don't let this Darkness defeat you."

Nanwë heaved a deep breath. "Perhaps someday when you have your own children, you may find a little sympathy for me. Though I pray you have not inherited the Sight from me, it is a grievous thing to bear."

"Amilye, please," Luimëníssë begged. "You mustn't dwell on such things, especially now."

"Only... can you forgive me, daughter?" Her mother curled her silver hair back around the pointed shells of her ears. "I am so very sorry for how I have tried to control you."

"Of course, amilye." Luimëníssë wrapped her arms around her mother, her eyes trailing to the window that exposed the deep shroud of eternal night without a star to pierce it.

Then like a fresh breeze, the shreds of Darkness rolled away across the sea. The waters still roared but the Darkness was departing. Mother had dozed off in her chair with a book open in her lap while Luimëníssë sat by the fire with Vantaro cuddled close, singing hymns of Ulmo if only to comfort herself in the impenetrable silence. The cries of the servants and the Teleri in the city beyond had ceased.

Horse hooves shuddered the night. A rider was approaching their home. Mother sat up, alert grey eyes on the doors. 

"Stay with your brother," she commanded, her sable hair trailing behind her like a cloud as she sailed out into the shadowy corridor. 

Vantaro sat up with a yawn. "Is it atar?"

"I don't know, little one," she replied, hugging him close.

Footsteps hurried down the corridor, the light of a taper held high in her mother's hand glowing against the walls. Mother's red eyed handmaids followed close behind as they burst into the room.

"All is well in the city, but your father feels it is best if we retire to the home of Lord Olwë until we receive further word. He feels now that the Darkness is leaving, it is safe for us to leave and probably wise considering how wild the ocean has become." She grabbed the most precious of her volumes and tucked them into a leather bag. "Gather what you can carry."

"I shall bring my bow and arrows that Náretarnon gave me," Vantaro burst with a lively jump to his feet, thrilled at the prospect of adventure. He skidded out of the room, one of the handmaids calling for him to wait for her. 

"Do you need assistance gathering your things, my lady?" The other handmaid asked Luimëníssë.

"We are leaving as soon as I finish this," Nanwë spoke, tossing her silken robe aside and hurrying to dress herself. "Your father isn't sure how long the break in the Darkness will last, if this is the last we'll see of it."

"I do not need much, only a cloak and a change of clothes. Stay here and help my mother."  Luimëníssë strode from the room.

In her chamber overlooking the ocean, the billowing curtains around the balcony doors whipped in the violent wind. Though the storm raged on, it was eerily quiet. Nothing like the tempests they had experienced in the past. This storm was unnatural. The sea raged up over the edge of the cliff, covering the stone steps leading down to the cove and even licking at the end of white stone path that curled around the garden. Tightening the stays on a simple, silver gown and tying on her white cloak, she left her room without a second look.

She made it down to the courtyard as her mother and brother were getting into the back of a fine litter led by two of their fastest horses. Lanterns swung from the ends of the carriage. The sky overhead was clearing and the stars winked back into existence. 

"The house needs to be closed up," mother called from the carriage to her handmaids.

The two ellith cast wary glances to each other, one bouncing on the balls of her feet, clearly unwilling to remain behind. Luimëníssë stepped forward. "I will stay behind with them to make sure things are handled correctly, amilye. You go ahead."

With a reluctant nod, Nanwë motioned for the driver to go forward. Vantaro hung out the window of the carriage, waving his child's bow and arrows. "Don't worry, nésaya! I'll protect amilye!"

It didn't take long to close the windows on the first floor and secure the doors in case the water rose any higher. As they walked down to the three horses waiting for them in the abandoned courtyard, Luimëníssë's hand went to her throat.

"I forgot something."

Her black pearl ring that Rembano had gifted her. She'd left it in her chamber. The handmaids glared back at her with impatience written across their fair faces.

Luimëníssë motioned to the horses as she took up her skirts in her hand. "You go ahead, I'll be right along. It's only in my chamber."

The maids didn't need anymore coaxing. The galloping tread of their steeds sounded behind her as she entered the vacant house. Traversing the familiar halls, deeply shadowed and echoing with the roar of the sea, she realized it was the first time in her life she'd ever been completely alone in her home. Oddly, she felt a rush of exhilaration that made her laugh as she entered her room, the bizarre blend of terror and giddiness bubbling up from inside her.

She dug through the secret drawer in her dressing table. With a cry of relief, she retrieved the black pearl and held it close to her heart. A violent streak of lightening filled the sky beyond her open balcony, followed by another thunder strike.

Luimëníssë swung around, pressing her backside to the table. Gripping the edge of the mirror with one hand, another ragged streak filled the black sky. It illuminated a hooded figure on the balcony. She shrieked in terror.

The silhouette removed it's hood and stepped forward. "Don't be afraid, Luimëníssë."

"Rembano?" Her jaw slackened at the sight of his broad smile, golden eyes damp with tears. "What- how?"

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a tight embrace, the edges of his midnight cloak sweeping around their bodies. "Oh my love."

Luimëníssë pulled him closer, burying her face in his chest as a barrage of tears swept over her. "I feared you would never return to me..." she choked.

Sinking his fingers into the heavy strands of her silver hair, he pressed his lips to her shining cheeks. "I told you that nothing can keep me from you. You must believe it, love, whatever may happen."

His lips reached hers and she was swept up in his arms. She didn't want it to stop, only wished him closer still. He carried her to the bed and laid her upon it, murmuring sentiments of how he had so longed for her. The years were swept away with the receding tide as the storm calmed in the sea beyond. 

"Will you be mine? I will swear myself to you," he whispered, tracing kisses over the bare curve of her shoulder as he tugged down her sleeve. "I will swear myself to you alone."

"Yes," she breathed, only wanting more of whatever Rembano had awoken in her. "Yes, I only want you. I long for you alone, my love."

As he made love to her, the stars sliced through the remaining Darkness till there was only the soft light of the constellations illuminating their tangled bodies on her bed. Rembano lay with his head over her heart, his ear pressed to it's steady thrum as they caught their breath. 

"Where were you?" she asked after a quiet moment, her fingers combing through the dark strands of his hair. "I waited so long."

"Forgive me. What has happened is the result of many long years of waiting."

His tone was strange, as though he had expected it. 

"Did you know what would happen to the Trees?"

"The Trees? No. But there is much unrest in Tirion."

"I heard of Fëanor's threat against his brother and his exile by the Valar."

"Much more has occurred now. The Noldor, the vicious ones of their breed at least, they have rebelled against the Valar and are preparing to travel across the sea to the east."

Luimëníssë's sat up and peered down at him in shock as Rembano propped up on his elbow. "To the lands of our origin? Endor?"

"Yes."

"But- but why?"

"Why does it matter? Fëanor and his ilk are nothing but a scourge on this realm. It is best that they flee." He brushed aside a curl drifting over her shoulder and pressed his lips to her neck. Nestling his mouth against the flesh there, he heaved a contented sigh. "I returned at this hour to take you away to where you will be safe. My master has a place where the erratic dangers of this world, of tyrants like Fëanor and his lunatic sons will not harm you." 

"But what of my family? Will they know of our betrothal?"

"Of course, after a time-"

"But Rembano." She slid up further in the bed. "I cannot leave my family without a word. It would drive them to madness, especially my mother."

Rembano sat up, golden eyes narrowing in thought. "This would displease you."

"Yes. Very much so."

He turned towards the balcony and peered out into the night. "I suppose we can wait, but not for long. My master is impatient. I must return to him for a couple days but then I will be back for you. We can speak with your mother and father at that time." 

He gathered her hand in his and twisted the black pearl adorning her finger. He kissed it as she had done numerous times in his absence, the sight making her heart ache for him. She wished they could remain there for hours so she could memorize the planes of his body, absorb his smoky scent and dream away hours in his arms. 

The echo of a door slamming beneath them brought her back to reality. 

"Luimëníssë!" 

It was Náretarnon, no doubt having been sent to search for her.