Of Shadows and Starlight | Elrond
"I fancy many things. I fancy things that are beautiful and things that are strong, I fancy things that are dangerous and exciting. Would you happen to be offended if I said I fancied you?"
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Set in the world of Middle-earth, during the time of The Rings of Power, Melisane, the youngest sister of Finrod and Galadriel, unlike her sister's mind-reading abilities, possesses the divine gift of prophetic dreams, able to glimpse the future, past, and unseen realms. As a child, she was captivated by tales of dragons-creatures of wind, sky, and fire-and often dreamed of them, their power and grace haunting her thoughts.
In the aftermath of the Elves' flight to Middle-earth, the loss of her brother Finrod, and Galadriel's departure to hunt Sauron, Melisane is left battling grief and feelings of abandonment. Despite her skill as a deadly commander and warrior, she struggles to find purpose, withdrawing from those who care for her as her dreams grow stronger.
One fateful day, she stumbles upon a newly hatched, abandoned dragon-just as her dreams had foretold. Believing this moment signals a change in her destiny, Melisane takes the creature under her care. Concerned by her reclusive nature, Elrond, the Half-elven, and an old family friend, seeks her out and is shocked to find her raising the dragon. Agreeing to help her, he assumes she will eventually let it go, but their shared bond over the creature slowly rekindles their long-lost friendship-and something deeper.
As shadows loom once again over Middle-earth, Melisane and Elrond must navigate the growing darkness, all while facing the uncertain futures that their hearts and dreams reveal. Will their newfound connection withstand the threats closing in, or will the starlight of their bond be consumed by the shadows?
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"You sleep coiled; tightly wound. Hands made fists beneath the pillows, clenched above cotton sheets. You are at war, even in your dreams, cenedril af fae nín. Let me help you."
