The loss of Gil-galad

2

It was on a night when the lights of Telperion and Laurelin mingled in perfect harmony, casting a golden-silver glow across the land, that Thariel was born. The heavens seemed to hold their breath, and a silence of awe spread over Valinor, as if the world itself awaited this moment.

In the garden of Lórien, under the watchful eyes of the Valar and the joy of the Elves, Melian brought forth her second daughter. As she held the child in her arms, a soft song filled the air, sung by unseen voices, the very melody of the stars and the earth entwined. Thingol looked upon his newborn daughter, and his heart swelled with a love that surpassed all words.

"Thariel," Melian whispered, naming her child. "Beloved star, you are the light of our hearts, born of Valinor's grace. May your life be a song of joy and wisdom, and may you carry the light of these trees within you always."

The trees themselves seemed to respond, their leaves rustling with a gentle murmur, as if echoing Melian's words. Thariel's eyes, bright as the morning sun, looked upon her mother and father, and a small, joyful smile graced her lips.

Thariel's childhood was one of unparalleled beauty and joy. She grew under the shade of the Two Trees, playing among the flowers that blossomed in Lórien's gardens, her laughter like the tinkling of silver bells. Her bond with nature was as deep as Melian's own, and it was said that the birds and beasts of Valinor would gather around her, drawn to her pure and gentle spirit.

From her father, Thingol, Thariel learned the art of wisdom and leadership, her mind sharp and her heart kind. From Melian, she inherited the knowledge of the natural world and the power of enchantment. The Valar themselves would often visit to watch her grow, for in her they saw a harmony of their own making, a blend of light, love, and the promise of the future.

Yet, even in the peace of Valinor, Melian's foresight could not be stilled. She knew that one day, Thariel would choose a path beyond the Blessed Realm, for her heart was bound to Middle-earth, where her parents would eventually go. And so, as Thariel grew, Melian whispered to her tales of the world beyond the sea, of the forests of Middle-earth, and the Elven kingdoms that would rise there.

"Remember, Thariel," Melian would say, "you are a child of Valinor, born under the light of the Two Trees. Wherever your path leads, never forget the light that is within you, a light that can never be extinguished."

And Thariel, with the innocence of youth and the wisdom beyond her years, would nod, her heart filled with the love and guidance of her parents.