S.A 2057
Orneth's feet felt heavy and each step required an immense amount of energy, causing great pain to her tired body. She felt tense and anxious, completely unprepared to see him at this moment. Despite struggling to explain Falchiel's existence to him through letters sent ages ago, she had never received a response. Orneth was uncertain whether he knew or not that Falchiel was his daughter. With bated breath, she slowly pushed open the door and peered inside.
Standing before her was Falchon, tall and prominent, with tightly braided hair that was striking against his stoic countenance. As he turned to face her, his piercing eyes held a strange, melancholic expression that made Orneth's heart skip a beat. She tried to restrain herself, wanting nothing more than to run towards him and embrace him, but instead, she silently walked towards him while holding his gaze. Falchon looked at her warmly, and then Orneth could no longer control herself. She embraced him tightly, pulling him close to her, sliding her lips over his cheek and intertwining her fingers through his hair. He gasped in surprise, but then held her closely, smelling her hair and stroking her back in affection. Orneth looked at him in disbelief, still unable to believe he was really here. "Falchon, I have missed you so much," she said, her voice choked with emotion. He smiled in response, "And I have missed you too, my Princess of Doriath."
Taking a deep breath, Orneth tried to collect herself. Falchon pulled her away slightly, examining her with a warm and affectionate gaze that made her blush and feel somewhat exposed. She knew she needed to talk to him and summoning her courage, she began to speak, "Falchon. There have been many significant events of late," Orneth said with a warm smile. Falchon returned the smile and took a seat in a chair next to the oven. His expression turned more serious as he asked, "Is she mine?" Orneth looked at him and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Yes." Falchon's gaze fixed on the oven, where a few flames flickered. "I thought so. She has my eyes. Her name bears a resemblance to mine as well," he said with a faint laugh. Orneth smiled, relieved that he didn't seem disappointed or annoyed.
"I did try to contact you weeks after she was born. I felt it was the right thing to do to inform you. But I assume you never received the message," Orneth explained. Falchon nodded in agreement. "Correct. I never received any letters from you. I did write, though." Orneth smiled and stroked his braided hair. "I understand it's not an ideal situation for you. You made an oath to the army, and it's impossible for you to take on the role of a father. I won't ask that of you. But please know that she is loved by many, and you need not worry." Falchon turned his head towards her and pulled her towards him. "We weren't careful enough. But I don't regret any of it," he said, looking at Orneth with a hint of sadness. "You're right about a few things. I won't be able to be there for you as you both deserve." Orneth smiled, understanding. "It's okay. You made an oath to Gil-Galad, and you're risking your life every day to create a brighter future for us all, including Falchiel and me. I'm proud of you, Falchon." Touched by her words, Falchon looked at her with deep affection. "I now know why I came back to you, Lady Orneth. You are everything. You never ask for anything, and you're always there for others."
Orneth's smile radiated warmth as she spoke softly, "Falchon, I love you deeply. Truly, I do. Your dedication to your duties doesn't trouble me. The army has somehow been a savior, preserving your life. My only wish is for your presence whenever possible. Would you also consider embracing Falchiel as your daughter?" Falchon's smile widened as he tenderly pulled her onto his lap, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Yes, I will acknowledge her as my daughter. I already do. Through her, I see a reflection of myself. There's something special about her eyes… I gave her a gift meant for you, Orneth. I hope you don't mind." Orneth smiled, her heart filled with contentment. "Of course not. She was delighted by the gift from the person she called 'strange'," she chuckled. Falchon joined in, "Yes, perhaps I am strange. She's not wrong about that." His gentle caress and lingering kisses on her neck evoked a blissful sigh from Orneth as she closed her eyes, feeling their bond deepen. In that moment, it was evident that Falchon already shared a connection with Falchiel, and his acceptance as her father only heightened its value to him.
"I have noticed that Falchiel and Demdor share an unbreakable bond," Falchon spoke with a gentle smile. "It brings me immense joy to see how much he cherishes and loves her. I have no doubt in my mind that he would make an exceptional godfather." Orneth's heart swelled with pride as she listened to Falchon's words. She recalled the day when Demdor had stood by their side during Falchiel's birth, and she had known then that he was destined to be her godfather. "Their connection has only grown stronger with time," she added, her voice filled with warmth. As Falchon's gaze remained fixed on her, Orneth sensed a newfound tension between them, a spark of desire that felt so familiar. His voice was low and earnest as he leaned in closer, "Please, tell me more about him, about Falchiel," he said as he gently stroked her hair.
Orneth nodded and began to speak, feeling Falchon's gentle touch on her back. As she spoke about the havens and their mission to bid farewell to his mother and Lord Mannamo, she felt a stirring in her heart, a desire that she could not ignore. Suddenly, Falchon pulled her close and stroked her back slowly, his voice weak with emotion. "I want to know everything," he murmured, his eyes filled with intense longing.
All pictures are AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
