Kerowyn's 5,000 birthday is drawing nigh, it is filled with many suprises, both good and bad. Can her family take the news that she and Lindir will be telling them of the plans for the eve of her birthday?

 

 

HER LAST BIRTHDAY

 

Kerowyn stared wistfully out the window. Her children were outside playing lazily in the warm June sun. Dailya and Lailya. now in their late two thousands were each married with their own set of twins now. Ileana, in her early two thousands was on her way to be married, and Lindinrin, in his late one thousands was a lady killer. One smile from her only son could melt a woman's heart in an instant. Luna, of course one year behind her son was dating one of the elves in Mirkwood. She knew that the long distance relationship wouldn't work for some but so far it had worked for her youngest, Luna.

 

Her daughter who was playing with Lailya's and Dailya's twins reminded her so much of her departed friend. Her heart pained at the thought of Luna. She felt a peace when she saw her youngest, but yet her heart still greived over the loss.

 

A strong hand rested on her shoulder and she looked up at her husband. "Watching them again melleth nin?" he asked.

 

"Yes, I'm savoring the days I have left..." she murmered.

 

"We don't have to leave Ker. We don't." he whispered to her. She smiled at him. Lindir, in his early five thousands didn't look a day over three thousand. Neither did she, for her heritage of the Sea elves kept her young forever. The other day a woman had asked her and Lindir if their children were their sisters and brothers.

 

"I can't bare to stay here longer, but a part of me wishes to linger here longer than I should." she whispered. She dreaded the day of her five thousandth birthday, the day her family and friends look forward to celebrating... the day she and her husband would bare the sad news of their departure....

 

Dailya laughed as she watched her lively blonde bop over to her aunt Ileana, she demanded attention by the high-pitched squeal that emitted from her tiny throat. "Doesn't she remind you of Dailya?" Kerowyn questioned her husband.

 

She felt his nod against her shoulder where his head lazily rested, "You reap what you sow." he laughed. Lindir gazed at his sweet children, it seemed as if only yesterday they took their first steps, and he was holding them for the first time. "Time has flown to quickly."

 

"One would think over two-thousand years with your children you would be ready to let go, but I don't think I can do it." Kerowyn felt a tear well in her eyes. She let it slide down her face as she watched them merrily play.

 

Lindir kissed her cheek, "Oh melleth-nin..." he whispered. He tried to remain strong for no one's sake but Kerowyn's. It was hard to loose his children like this. The family had made it through many trials, but it seemed none were stronger than the Linderion-Seaniarm family. "Do you think we should join them downstairs?"

 

"Yes." Kerowyn stood and Lindir escorted her down to the gardens. She quickly heard a high pitched squeel and a flash of color showed before her eyes. Gazing down she saw two sets of twins at her heels. "Hello my darlings." she said soothing as she bent down to give them all hugs.

 

"Nanneth." Lailya stood and crossed the distance to her mother quickly. She kissed her cheek and embraced her.

 

Kerowyn smiled, but her heart was breaking inside. She gazed at Lindir who nodded his head. "Your Ada and I have an announcement we would like to share with you all."

 

The gardens immeadiately hushed and Kerowyn raised an eyebrow. She gazed at her husband who squeezed her hand encouragingly. "Lindir and I, we have looked over our lives in Imladris and decided that we have long over stayed our welcome. And we..."

 

"What are you saying Nanneth?" Lindinrin stood and gazed at his mother curiously.

 

Kerowyn felt the tears well up inside her. She sqeezed Lindir's hand tightly trying to gain comfort and strength from him. "Meaning, that your father and I plan on sailing on the next White Ship to Valinor."

 

Lindinrin's face fell. "Nanneth, the ship leaves the day after your begitting day."

 

"Nanneth, you surely aren't being serious." Dailya spoke as she too stood, followed by her twin.

 

Lindir put his arm around Kerowyn's shoulders. "We have thought this through Dailya, and it is what your mother and I have decided to do."

 

"Nanneth, Ada... please don't do this." Lailya whispered as she gazed at her parents, tears fell from her eyes. 

 

Kerowyn couldn't contain her tears anymore, spilling from her eyes like rain from the heavens she reached for her children. 

 

Lailya rushed into her mother's arms, Lindinrin  hugging his mother, trying to be strong. Dailya rushed to Lindir who held her close. 

 

"Luna." Kerowyn whispered. "Come here darling." 

 

Luna shook her head. "No, do you not love us any more?" 

 

"How dare you even say that." Lindir countered as he looked at his youngest daughter. 

 

Kerowyn cried even harder. "We always will love you Luna. Don't you know that?"

 

"I'm not so certain any more. I hate you.. both of you." with those being her last words she fled towards the Imladris homely houses. 

 

Kerowyn didn't know it was possible for your heart to break more than once... but her's definately had.

 

~~~~~

 

"Come on Ker, I'm sure she didn't mean it." Elenwe held her friend's hand, softly rubbing soothing circles over her hand.

 

Kerowyn's frame racked with sobs as she gazed down at the floor. "I'm not certain El. The way she said it... it was... horrible."

 

Elenwe smiled softly at her friend. "She's a teenager Ker, she just found out her parents are leaving her, you know you reacted in the same way when you found out Elrond had lied to you about your parents."

 

"I know Elenwe... but it's just so hard to handle. I've never had my children that angry at me before." Kerowyn took a deep breath as she tried to compose herself.

 

Elenwe hugged her friend, wishing Luna was here, she always seemed to know the right words to say. "Come on, cheer up, your birthday party is in just a few days. We'll all celebrate and we'll be together and happy."

 

"I do hope so El.. I do hope." Kerowyn muttered as she gazed down at the stone floors. "I most certainly hope."

 

~~~~~

 

 

The house of Elrond had been preparing for Kerowyn's birthday  for many days. Streamers filled the grande ball room and colors of blue and silver adorned the the halls. A cheery music played from the ball room,... and Kerowyn was upstairs pacing.

 

"Ker, melleth nin, honestly you must quit pacing." Lindir insisted. He had watched her go about this for atleast thirty minutes and still she had yet to cease. 

 

Kerowyn shook her head, "No, I can't, I'm too busy to sit still." Her mind was reeling on the events that had taken place. The words of her youngest, like a broken record, never quit playing in her mind. She turned on her heel to pace again when she hit her husband's chest with her forehead. Gazing up at him as he wrapped his strong, masculine arms around her thin frame she couldn't hold back a smile. She felt his lips on her forehead, kissing down her face with every syllable he spoke, she couldn't contain a giggle.

 

"You... are... lovely... and... you... must.. stop.. pacing." Lindir finished his words as he found her lips, giving her a long, sweet kiss. Lindir felt his wife melt in his embrace, and he kissed down her neck slowly, savoring their passion, their moment's together as a couple. How they always would be. He heard her giggle as he sucked on the side of her ivory neck before she pulled away.

 

"Lindir!" she gave him an accusing stare as she put a hand on his chest, pulling away slightly. "I'm turning five thousand this morning, I honestly don't need a 'love bite' on my neck to show for it." although her words held a tone, her smile took all harshness out of the scolding words.

 

Lindir grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him, wrapping her in his embrace once more. He stared into her dark brown eyes and grinned. "It's not how old you are that makes a person, it's how you look and feel.. surely you don't feel five thousand?"

 

"No, no I don't." Kerowyn's voice fell flat as she stared into the green eyes of her husband. He was so handsome, it seemed like this was the first time she stared into his eyes. The love and passion had never left, through life and death, heartaches and failures... their love had never once deminished,... it had held stronger than anyone they ever knew. The words they spoke on that beloved day were true. There vow of love was never ending,... in life or death they had said, and they had meant their words.

 

Lindir kissed her hand and smiled. "My lovely, darling, beautifal wife... may I escort you to your birthday party?"

 

Kerowyn smiled and accepted his arm and she walked down the stairs with her husband. The music grew louder with each step she took. Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she descended the stairs. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught an image slipping through the hall. Her eyes fell on Luna, her daughter.

 

The blonde stared at her mother, not taking her eyes off her for a full minute. Kerowyn felt Lindir's eyes on her and she saw his face worriedly gazing at her. "Lindir, can you give me one moment?"

 

Her husband nodded and his eyes trailed off to the form of their daughter, disappearing behind her door. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and smiled. "I'll be right here."

 

Kerowyn walked down the halls, her long blue sparkling dress draped the floor as she walked the halls to her daughter's room at her Ada's. She knocked and slowly opened the door. Her eyes instantly fell on a frame on the bed. Her body was shaking with exertion and she stared at the floor, back turned to the door and anyone who entered.

 

"Go away."

 

The voice was laced with hidden emotions, one's that broke Kerowyn's heart. No words had been spoken between mother and daughter within the past three days, and she hated to admit that their relationship seemed to be failing. The last few hours of her life in Rivendell seemed to be ruined,... and she could do nothing to stop the utter disaster. "No, Luna, I am not going away until you and I talk." 

 

"We have nothing to talk about."  

 

Her harsh words peirced Kerowyn's heart and she fought back the tears that tried to claim her. "We most certainly do, and you will listen to me young lady. I am your mother, and you will hear what I have to say, is that understood?"

 

"Your not my mother, if you were you wouldn't leave me!" the blonde stood and stared at her mother, her eyes were puffy and swollen from fighting back her own tears. Her emotions raged through her eyes and she stared at her mother in anger.

 

Kerowyn shook her head and looked at Luna. "You don't understand Luna. I have long since lived my time in Middle Earth. My days here grow few as the days go by. I can not stay here. I have overcome way to many heart aches, way to many deaths and pains that not even the best soldier has fought through. I've come through so many obstacles that it hurts to be here,... even though the pain of loosing you is great, the pain of staying is greater. For I always have the hope of seeing you again my darling."

 

Luna could not stand it no longer and she rushed into her mother's arms. She broke down, bitter and rage turning into sadness and hurt, the emotions she had been trying to hide all along. She let her tears fall on her mother's shoulder as she bitterly wept. "I don't want you to leave me Nanneth, I'm too young to be with out a mother, I feel like I'm so un able to live with out you.. I still need you."

 

"If I didn't think you were ready to be without me, there'd be no way I'd leave,... but I know you can do this. Your strong, and you've grown up so quickly. Your ready,... I know your ready." Kerowyn stroked her crying daughter's hair as she held her close. She rested her chin on her daughter's head and kissed it softly, comforting her.

 

Luna held onto her mother as her sobbing finally ceased. She gazed up at Kerowyn. "Nanneth, I'm so sorry for what I said... I don't hate you, I never have,... I was just so hurt..."

 

"Shhh,... it's alright, it's all alright now." Kerowyn hushed her daughter and looked at her. She wiped her tears away with her thumbs and kissed her forehead. "No need to cry my darling, your too beautifal for tears."

 

Luna smiled at her mother. "Now, we have a party to get off to." Luna smiled as she accepted her mother's hand. The two walking out into the hallway. Luna gave her mother and father a kiss on the cheek and a smile before rushing down the back stairs.

 

"I take it everything is well my love?" Lindir questioned as he tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind Kerowyn's pointed ear. He saw her smile and he kissed her cheek.

 

Kerowyn smiled. "Yes Lindir, everything is perfect." She felt his love from those simple, yet loving, actions.

 

"Then we have a party to get you too Mrs. Linderion." he kissed her nose and watched her wrinkle it in response. He smiled and took her hand in his own, feeling the love between them radiate through that simple gesture.