The Book of Willow

Chapter Forty-Six

Brom left the following afternoon, after a long and awkward day. Maia was perhaps the only person who wasn't feeling the disquieting tension between her mother and Brom. The uneasiness reached a boil when Maia innocently said her first word. She held Brom's face between her little hands and spontaneously said 'Dada'. Brom was shocked, then pleased, congratulating her on a well-done job but Willow was panic-stricken. She snatched the child from Brom's arms and scurried out of the kitchen once again leaving him baffled.

Amber witnessed the interaction that afternoon. She was determined that something had to be done. She felt desperately sorry for Willow. She could see her heart was becoming more confused and wayward. Torn between her love Tilion and her blossoming feelings for Brom. Willow was more uncertain than ever. The pity was Willow or Arien, as she knew her, had no idea that part of this story had already played out eons ago.

In her younger years in Valinor the undying lands, where the Valar, Godlike creatures reside. Arien was made to choose between two suitors fiercely seeking her hand. She teetered in indecision before finally choosing Tilion, to Eönwë's eternal dismay. Nonetheless, Eönwë, the fool, remained just as besotted with Arien as he had been at the beginning. He watched Arien and Tilion become inseparable thereafter. His lonely heart slowly breaking. Eönwë devoted himself thenceforth to his duties and his craft. Whilst he may not have been the strongest of the Maiar, he became the most skilled creature in all of Arda with a weapon in his hand. Be it sword, ax or spear, it mattered not, for he mastered them all. It was he who overthrew Morgoth and helped lead the Valar into glorious battle and victory. He was then made chief of the Maiar and given the honor of being the banner bearer of Manwe, King of the Valar.

Ilmarë groaned inwardly, she still had a long way to go in keeping up the pretense of being Amber and Eönwë was a hair's breadth from screwing it in the Goddamn blow hole. She would need to find a way to quell his incessant desires for Arien. As chief of the Maiar, both she and Eönwë were tasked with the protection of Arien and her progeny. They were to remain in this world until the child came into her power. She could kill him for following his own agenda. This entire operation was much more important than the cock between his legs.

She went to his workplace and found him loitering outside with a uniform cop. She was thankful she did not have to go hunt him down. He must have sensed her approach.

She stood with her hip jutted out, her lips screwed up in irritation and her arms folded over her chest. "We need to talk now," she said turning to walk down a narrow alleyway behind the station. Her black leather Dansko's clicking as she walked. Reaching far enough. She shoved her hands in her blue scrub pockets and turned to glare at him. Her auburn hair flowing in the wind against the fair skin of her face. With one hand she shoved it behind her ear as she eyed Eönwë. He looked at her and thought, she was a beauty, but she never triggered the emotions in him that Arien did. He gave her the same austere, distant admiration a person would give a painting like the Mona Lisa.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Eönwë?" Her emerald eyes narrowed on him, fixing him with a glare.

"Ilmarë, I have no idea what you're talking about. Now if there isn't anything else," He started to turn and walk away when she was suddenly was in front of him.

He sighed and raked his fingers through his dark hair.

"Leave Arien alone," She demanded. "You are confusing her with your bullshit! Stay on mission." She pointed an accusatory finger in his direction.

"That's why you took time out of your precious day to see me?" He guffawed. "Listen, Ilmarë, I happen to love that woman and I have loved her most of my eternal life. So, excuse me if I finally have an opportunity to be with her and you're trying to take that away."

"She chose Tilion a lifetime ago. Get the fuck over it already and stay on mission! Stop letting your dick get in the way!" She railed.

"Have you ever thought that this was more than about my pride or my dick! I love her, Ilmarë. I died the day she disappeared beyond the Door of Night! I can't and I won't lose her again. Do what you must but I will not stop until she's mine." He stepped around her and stormed off, kicking a garbage bin along his way causing it to careen into a nearby wall cracking its brick face.

She reminded herself to chide him later about using his powers on this plane. If he did Arien would sense them that much sooner and their cover would be blown. She'd have to work on Willow's end to keep them apart.