Middle Earth Gamer

A Father's Wrath

The morning was still young when Taranis and Liriel departed, the sun barely beginning to crest over the horizon. Their packs were light, their steps heavy with the weight of what they were leaving behind. Taranis couldn't bring himself to look back at the house by the shore, the home where he had spent the last five years in peace. It had been a home filled with laughter, wisdom, and love. But now, that home was a memory, something he could never return to.

Liriel walked beside him, her hand in his, her eyes focused on the path ahead. Her expression was one of quiet resolve, but Taranis could see the flicker of sadness behind her gaze. He could feel it too—this was not just a journey of choice; it was one of consequence. They were leaving behind everything they had known, and though they had each other, there was no certainty in the future.

They didn't speak much as they walked, the air between them heavy with unspoken words. It wasn't until they had traveled far enough to feel the sting of their departure that Taranis finally broke the silence.

"Liriel," he said softly, squeezing her hand, "Are you sure about this? About coming with me?"

Liriel stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. Her face was a picture of determination, her eyes unwavering. "I am," she said firmly. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Taranis. I'm not leaving you."

Taranis smiled at her, his heart swelling with love and gratitude. He had feared this day, feared the moment when their paths would diverge because of Maglor's decision, but here they were, standing together.

Just then, a gust of wind whipped through the trees, rustling the leaves. And then, like a storm unleashed, the ground seemed to shake beneath their feet. Taranis froze. He felt it before he heard it—the heavy, deliberate steps of someone approaching. He turned, his hand instinctively going to his sword, but he was met with the figure of Maglor, his silhouette framed by the trees in the distance.

Maglor's tall form stood there, his eyes locked on Taranis and Liriel. There was no mistaking the fury in his gaze. His face was twisted with a mixture of anger, betrayal, and something deeper—something that felt almost like pain.

Taranis's heart sank. He had known this moment would come, but he had hoped, even as the last of their home had receded into the distance, that Maglor would let them go. He had hoped that a father's love would outweigh the pain of losing his daughter. But as Maglor strode forward, the tension in the air thickened, and Taranis felt a heavy weight settle on his chest.

Maglor's voice rang out, harsh and unforgiving. "You cannot leave, Taranis. Not like this."

Taranis stood still, his posture relaxed but resolute. He had always respected Maglor, had considered him a father figure in many ways. But now, he had no choice but to stand against the anger in Maglor's eyes. He couldn't fight against Maglor—not because he was weak, but because he loved him. The last thing he wanted was to harm the man who had given him shelter and guidance.

"I'm not going back, Maglor," Taranis said, his voice calm but firm. "I love her, and I won't leave her. Not for you, not for anyone."

Maglor's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. He took another step toward Taranis, his hand going to the sword at his hip. "You think you know what's best for her, human?" he spat. "You think you know what's best for both of you? You will leave her heartbroken and alone, and when you die, she will be left behind. Don't you see what you are asking of her?"

Taranis shook his head, his eyes locked on Maglor. "You don't understand, Maglor. It's not about the time we have together. It's about the time we do have. I won't take that from her, and neither will you. She chooses this."

Maglor's expression twisted, and he drew his sword in one smooth motion. Taranis didn't flinch. He didn't even reach for his own blade. He knew that this wasn't a fight. It was something deeper—something that ran through the blood of fathers and sons, of loss and love.

"Then you leave me no choice," Maglor growled, his voice dark with resolve. "If you won't leave her, then I will make sure you do."

Taranis's breath caught in his throat, but he stood his ground. He wouldn't fight Maglor. Not like this. He couldn't. Instead, he stepped forward, his voice low but firm.

"Maglor, please. This isn't the way," Taranis pleaded, his heart heavy. "If you care for her—truly care for her—then you will let her live her life. You will let her choose who she wants to be with."

Maglor's eyes flashed with rage. He raised his sword, and for a moment, it seemed as though he would strike. But before he could bring the blade down, Liriel stepped between them, her body trembling but her voice unwavering.

"No, Father," she said, her voice clear and full of conviction. "No more. I will not let you do this."

Maglor froze, his sword still raised, but his gaze now locked on his daughter. For a long moment, there was only silence—broken only by the soft rustling of the trees in the wind.

Liriel's eyes were filled with tears, but her voice was strong. "If you truly love me, Father, then you will let me be with Taranis. I've made my choice. I love him, and I will not live in the shadow of your decisions anymore."

Maglor's grip on his sword tightened, and for a long, agonizing moment, it seemed as though he might not relent. But then, something in his expression shifted. The anger in his eyes dulled, replaced by a deep, painful sadness. He lowered his sword, but his words were cold and final.

"If this is what you choose," he said, his voice strained, "then I will not stop you. But know this: you are no longer my daughter. You are no longer part of this family. You are banished from my realm. Do not come to me again. Do not ever contact me. You have made your choice, and I will honor it in my own way."

Liriel's face crumpled, but she held herself steady. "I'm sorry, Father," she whispered, her voice breaking. "But I will not change my heart."

Maglor didn't speak again. He turned, his cloak swirling behind him, and walked away. His footsteps echoed in the stillness, each one sounding like the final toll of a bell. Taranis watched him go, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he had just lost the closest thing to a father he had ever had.

As the distance between them grew, Taranis turned to Liriel, who was now crying silently. He took her in his arms, holding her close, and whispered words of comfort into her ear.

"He'll come around," Taranis said, though he wasn't sure if he truly believed it. "He will. I know he will."

But Liriel shook her head against his chest. "No. He won't. He's made up his mind. And so have I."

For a long time, neither of them spoke. They simply stood there, in the quiet of the forest, the remnants of Maglor's anger still hanging in the air. But as the sun began to rise higher in the sky, Taranis knew that whatever came next, they would face it together. The pain of losing Maglor would never fade, but it wouldn't break them. They had each other now, and that was all that mattered.

The days that followed were filled with uncertainty and grief. Liriel was distant at times, lost in thought, and Taranis could feel the weight of her sorrow pressing down on her. But even in the darkest moments, they held each other. They shared quiet moments of solace, and they knew that though the world might be against them, their love was a force they could rely on.

Maglor had been the only family Liriel had known, and the hurt of his rejection was something she would have to carry for the rest of her life. But Taranis was there for her, as he had promised. And together, they would find a new path—a new family.

For now, they would move forward. One step at a time. Together.