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History/Origins
Unmatted locks of her chestnut curls breezed across her vision in the wake of an arrow that narrowly missed her. In the time it took her to realize what had happened, before she could cry out to her Ada, to warn him, the black arrow found its mark within his back, burrowing within a chink of his mail so deeply that the tip had emerged through his chest. For a moment that seemed to span an eternity, Ada swayed on his feet before he fell. Time stopped, Merenwen immobile as she watched him fall first to his knees, then upon his face. She turned and just in time, for another arrow had been loosened upon them, her motion causing this one to merely slice open her cheek rather than skewer her head. Tears threatened to rise up, to blind her, but she held them back as she raised her bow and drew taunt the string, loosening it upon a lone Orc who had risen from the ground, not nearly as dead as they had thought when they had passed him by. Her arrow struck true, felling him, yet she did not care nor watch. The bow slipped from her hand as she turned and raced towards her Ada's side, tripping over Elven and Orcish bodies alike in the process. By the time she came to his side, she could no longer see, for her tears had escaped unnoticed. Gingerly, hesitantly, she lifted him and turned him over, her fingers moving towards the arrow tip that raised the mail from his torso, her breath caught in the back of her throat as she scarcely dared to breathe. His hand found hers, startling her as he captured it before she could touch the tip, drawing Merenwen's gaze to his own pale hues. His other hand found her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her cheek, wiping at the tears that streaked through the grime and blood caked onto her face.
"Merenwen..."
Her name was gasped, painfully, chokingly. She was shaking her head, her own words trickling from her lips, without thought.
"Uuma, Ada. Esta."
Her voice broke as her head bowed forward, her gaze traveling to the peak under his mail. She knew he had suffered a mortal wound, that it was a miracle that he still drew breath now. Yet the child within her, the child that was her father's daughter, refused to accept that his demise was imminent. He was a mighty warrior, had survived countless battles, countless wars, impossible odds...he could not die now on the eve of lasting peace. It was unfair for him to not witness and partake in the fruits of his labors, of his sacrifices, to live in the future he had struggled towards his entire life.
"I will go find a healer, Ada, and the healer will fix you up, good as new..."
It was the voice of a child, pleading with the parent. Helpless, fearful, desperate... The look upon his face was one of sympathy and regret. He had already accepted his fate. His grasp upon her hand tightened as he drew her hand towards his lips where he laid a gentle bloody kiss upon the back of her hand.
"Merenwen-"
"Save your strength, Ada."
"Lasta, Merenwen."
A hiss of pain escaped through Fëanáro's lips, his hand tightening upon her own a moment. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready for action, yet she did nothing. There was nothing she could truly do, for the grim reality was before her, laying in her arms, pouring its warm crimson truth over her legs. No matter how desperate she was to save her father, she could hardly leave him to die alone. Nana had died alone. Ada would not.
"Amin hiraetha, Iellig. Twas not my wish for things to end. You still have so much life, so much light in you...do not let darkness take you. Live as though tomorrow may never come. Promise me...promise me you'll live, love and be happy."
His breathing became more shallow, more sporadic, and Merenwen's grasp reaffirmed itself as his threatened to slip from hers. Her own breath came faster, fear gripping her heart. She couldn't lose Ada. Not now, not after everything they had endured.
"Ada...please don't go. You promised you'd never leave... You promised..."
Emotion choked her, allowing the labored breaths of her father to fill her ears. Her forehead bowed towards his as she felt as though her heart were literally breaking apart within her chest. Her father's chest rose suddenly as he gasped for air, drew his last breath and with a whispered voice, managed to say...
"Amin mela lle, ai'anor."
"Amin mella lle, Ada."
Slowly, Merenwen's forehead lifted from her father's own, her stormy hues searching his own for any sign of life. She dared not to breathe, for her own ears strained to hear...silence. Gently she shook him.
"Ada?"
When there was no reply, she shook him again as a child might, and called him once more with an edge of desperation, fear, and panic cracking voice.
"Ada?"
But it was no use. Fëanáro had already gone, the light having faded from his stormy hues which stared unseeingly up at her. A blood stained hand rose to his raven locks, caressing them from crown to ends before rising to repeat the cycle once more. Quick half-breaths were drawn as she struggled to accept that her father had died in her arms, that there would be no more shared stories, laughter, smiles. No more jokes or pranks. No more father-daughter dances under the moonlight. No more new memories. None. She drew her father's limp form closer, curling about him as though she were naught more than a small child cuddling with her parent. She wanted to scream, to cry, to do something, anything, yet she was unable to do so.
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