Dreams of Power [ Lord of the Rings x Silmarillion ]

History Lessons

That night, a meeting was held. It was dark out, and the inside of the Citadel wasn't much brighter. Inside a single room, four women sat with a few candles as light sources. Four of the suitors had something to discuss.

"This may be more difficult than we anticipated," murmured Alodia, twirling her blonde hair in thought.

Nemir agreed with her. "I can see already he has no interest in marriage yet."

Malwen sighed. "Yet we cannot fail."

"I will not give Halion the satisfaction of conquering the Reunited Kingdom." Cwen spat out angrily. "If he has managed the ritual."

The women were well acquainted. Each powerful members of their own societies, as children they had been brought up with the promise of even more power if they listened to their benefactor. They were members of an organization called simply The Council. At present, the Council's aim was not to topple the Reunited Kingdom's regime, but to steer it towards their own agendas.

Halion Carnimendo had once been called a Council member. Then he had failed in his mission to overtake the north, and secure a Fëanorian. With the death of his lover Tinneth, Elrohir's fourth child, the Fëanorians slipped through their grasp. He fled after being expelled from the Council.

Their Benefactor sent in the four most beautiful of the women in the Council. Alodia of Rohan, maiden fair. Cwen of Dunland, warrior fierce. Malwen of Annuminas, skilled tactician. Nemir of Dol Amroth, seductress of the highest order. What they hadn't counted on was Adira of Harad.

She slept soundly in the comfortable bed of the Citadel. Adira had gone to bed early, eager to get a good night's sleep. Her belly was full of warm food and her body exhausted from the multi-month journey she had taken.

"Psst."

Adira opened her eyes.

"Psst!"

She rolled over and found herself looking at Malika in the doorway. With an eyeroll, she rolled away from her baby sister and back towards the wall.

"Oh come on Adira!" Malika growled. "You should see this place at night."

Adira sighed and sat up. She looked around her room and saw a match beside her. She lit the candle on her bedside table. Turning the her sister she finally spoke. "Come here."

Malika bounced over to her and clambered up onto the bed. "Seriously. This place is massive! You've got to see it."

"Malika," Adira sighed. "I am here to win the Prince's hand. I cannot be caught running around the citadel. And neither can you."

Malika folded her arms. "Come off it. Sídhil said it would be fine."

"Malika! We've not even been here a day yet," Adira whispered in exasperation. "If you want to explore, fine. But I am stayinghere."

With a pout, Malika got off the bed. "Fine. I should've known you'd turn boring as soon as we arrived." She shut the door behind her, leaving her sister to go back to sleep.

Sídhil was waiting outside the door. "Didn't go well?"

Malika shook her head. "No. That's okay. She can be boring if she wants."