"I fancy many things. I fancy things that are beautiful and things that are strong, I fancy things that are dangerous and exciting. Would you happen to be offended if I said I fancied you?"
_
Set in the world of Middle-earth, during the time of The Rings of Power, Melisane, the youngest sister of Finrod and Galadriel, unlike her sister's mind-reading abilities, possesses the divine gift of prophetic dreams, able to glimpse the future, past, and unseen realms. As a child, she was captivated by tales of dragons-creatures of wind, sky, and fire-and often dreamed of them, their power and grace haunting her thoughts.
In the aftermath of the Elves' flight to Middle-earth, the loss of her brother Finrod, and Galadriel's departure to hunt Sauron, Melisane is left battling grief and feelings of abandonment. Despite her skill as a deadly commander and warrior, she struggles to find purpose, withdrawing from those who care for her as her dreams grow stronger.
One fateful day, she stumbles upon a newly hatched, abandoned dragon-just as her dreams had foretold. Believing this moment signals a change in her destiny, Melisane takes the creature under her care. Concerned by her reclusive nature, Elrond, the Half-elven, and an old family friend, seeks her out and is shocked to find her raising the dragon. Agreeing to help her, he assumes she will eventually let it go, but their shared bond over the creature slowly rekindles their long-lost friendship-and something deeper.
As shadows loom once again over Middle-earth, Melisane and Elrond must navigate the growing darkness, all while facing the uncertain futures that their hearts and dreams reveal. Will their newfound connection withstand the threats closing in, or will the starlight of their bond be consumed by the shadows?
_
"You sleep coiled; tightly wound. Hands made fists beneath the pillows, clenched above cotton sheets. You are at war, even in your dreams, cenedril af fae nín. Let me help you."
--Completed--
"Why are you following me?"
"I am free to roam anywhere within Barracks, am I not?"
"Aldaire will be displeased if he sees us together."
He grins, leaning in close to whisper in my ear. "Will he? Last time I checked, you two are merely playing a part."
I place a finger on his lips, acutely aware of our proximity yet taken aback by it all. "Don't utter such things. They can hear you."
"So it is true. I wasn't present that day, but Himley made sure to fill me in."
There's no need to persist with the charade, but if I concede too readily, I'm not fulfilling my role adequately. This is going to be challenging, especially given his annoying demeanor.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Aldaire is a noble man."
"Then how do his lips taste?"
Hiccup! "That is none of your concern, sir."
"Why do you take offense? It was an innocent question."
"It was not! I am inebriated. Why are you pursuing me? And be honest this time. If you intend to kill me like the rest, I'll make things easier for you."
His silence prompts me to look up. His lips are drawn into a thin line as he glares at me. "Do you hold me in such low regard?"
"I don't know you," I retort.
"That is why I am here. We can acquaint ourselves with each other." His laughter reverberates in the empty space, prompting a grin from me. It makes me blush at the thought. Perhaps it's the alcohol causing me to hallucinate, but the idea of someone vying for my affections is amusing.
"I relish challenges, Lady Leizabeth. Give me some time, and you'll see."
"I don't understand why."
"Because you are a fascinating woman. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I had to get to know you."
**In the journey of life, we stumble upon love twice. The first shatters your heart into countless fragments; the second conjures up the power of the universe to piece it back together. **