The Book of Willow- Princess of the West

25.

"Morgoth..." Maia echoed. The name sounded so familiar. All the hair on the back of Maia's neck stood erect. She felt her power push against the binds her mother placed. 

"Yes," Amber answered with barely a whisper. Her eyes glowed a serene white as she shared her memory with the three of them. 

"He was the greatest of his kind but like the fallen angel, Lucifer of Earth, he fell to darkness as well. His destructive nature poisoned the seeds of creation. He hoped to become the supreme ruler and God of Arda himself. "

Chance scratched at his disheveled hair, "Where the hell is Arda? Pardon my French, Mrs. Erinti." 

Amber smiled softly, "It's alright Chance. Arda is a parallel universe. It is in many ways, very similar to this one but different in many others."

"I still don't understand how some demon a universe away has anything to do with us," Miles stated offering a direct gaze to Amber. He was stronger than she'd given him credit for, given what he'd been through. He would be the shield Maia needed after all. 

"This demon fought many wars in his aim to control Arda." She continued, "He was determined that if he couldn't create, he would destroy everything and be king of the corpses. He fought a brutal war in the first age of Arda for control over three powerful gems of immense light and beauty called the Silmarils."

"At the heart of these gems burned the light of Valinor or your equivalent of Heaven. But the demigods, we call the Valar, hallowed the stones. Making it so that no evil hands could touch them without being burned and withered. Somehow, he managed to steal the jewels adding to his already immense power but not before permanently losing the use of his hands. They have become burnt, gnarled things that he enchants to strengthen."

Visions of a creature as colossal as a mountain, wading through an ocean with its head above the clouds, filled their sight. His appearance was both splendorous and terrible. The shadow of his massive shield was as a stormcloud. 

His thirst and untamed desire for power above all else was palpable. His gaze withered with heat but pierced like deadly cold. Maia could feel his deep hatred. Hatred of the mere existence of life. 

"The Silmarils were lost shortly after their recovery. One to the sky, one to the earth, and one to the sea. Your mother, Arien, was a servant of the demigods. You can think of her like an archangel. She was much sought after by the Dark Lord for her beauty and her power. In an act of self-defense, your mother joined with the jewel and bestowed its power to you, Maia." 

Understand lit in Maia's eyes, "But I still don't get what all of this has to do with me or Chance and Miles." 

Brom put his hand on Amber's shoulder, "This is where the story becomes a bit convoluted. Your mother was charged by the creator of our world to be the keeper of the sun. And as its keeper, her home was among the stars. When Morgoth attacked her, she crossed into your world, disappearing for millennia. Her return was foretold as the beginning of the end."

Maia's face fell.

"Her return would bring about the birth of Morgoth's destruction." Amber glanced at Brom before looking at Maia. "Her return meant we would have you. Your destiny is to bring about the end of the Dark Lord and all his followers. This will usher in a new age of eternal peace in Arda." 

"You, Maia, are Túrin Turambar reborn. You were an Adan of the House of Hador. A house cursed to be killed or enslaved, by the Dark Lord. In the final battle against Morgoth, the prophecy states that you, Túrin Turambar reincarnated, would emerge and plunge the sword Gurthang into Morgoth's heart. Defeating him once and for all. Exterminating evil forever, and avenging the Children of Húrin." Amber stated passionately.

"Miles and Chance are your Fains." She pointed at each as she spoke their names, "Chance's latent ability increases your power and strength in battle. And Miles acts as your shield against all that might harm you. They are both necessary for your victory in the days to come." 

Maia jumped to her feet, at a complete loss for words. Processing the enormity of what she'd just heard, she mumbled to herself, "This is just too much."

 Chance and Miles stood on either side of her, placing their bodies between her and the unseen threat. 

She stopped in front of Amber. Started to speak then stuttered to a stop. 

"I know this is a lot, Maia. I never thought for a moment that when I bound your power, after your little episode with Chance, that the servants of Morgoth would be able to find you. I thought you'd be safe. I thought we'd have more time." Amber's green eyes grew glassy. "If I had but allowed you the full measure of your power you wouldn't have nearly been killed by that wraith." 

"It was not just any wraith. It was the Witch King of Angmar. The most dangerous and powerful of them all," Glorfindel offered.

"We are truly grateful that you have come Elf-Lord." Brom placed a hand to his chest and bowed.

It suddenly made sense why he couldn't hear Maia's thoughts. Chance turned a perceptive eye to Amber. "I thought something was different. I couldn't hear Maia's thoughts or sense her feelings." 

Miles' face paled, "You can hear her thoughts and feelings?"

"Kind of. It's like my brain just started picking up a new FM radio station or something, that only plays Maia's greatest hits twenty-four-seven. The closer we are the louder it gets." 

Miles' uneasy gaze darted to Amber and Brom, "Will I be able to do that too?"

"You're a shield, Miles. You've been innately protecting yourself from outside influence of any sort. It will take more time and effort on your part, but, yes your bond with Maia will also evolve to this level." 

"This is all well and good, but we must address the pressing issues of now," Glorfindel demanded stepping to the center of the room. "Morgoth's servant has found Maia. She is no longer safe in this world. They will keep coming till they kill her." 

Maia bit her lip as a silent tear escaped and glided the length of her cheek. Her fucked up destiny would kill the only other two people she cared about most. "What about Miles and Chance? Will they be safe if I go with you to Arda?"

A dark look clouded Glorfindel's bright face, "They will kill and dismember them both. And you will never defeat Morgoth. Both Arda and this world will fall into an eternal cycle of death and darkness. If you are to survive-if this world or Arda is to survive, then I must take you back. All of you."

Chance, Maia, and Miles all glanced at one another apprehensively.

 "You must all accept what is to come. Maia, you most of all must accept your fate," Glorfindel continued, "And take your place as, Princess of the West."