[Niluial]

The cabin of the ship swayed gently on the lolling ocean. The sheer curtains that framed the windows fluttered in the cool night breeze. Moonlight bathed the carved benches and splashed pinkly on the rose red cushions. Easing Andtuariel into a becushioned chair, Elwë wrapped a thick woolen blanket around Andtuariel and made sure her leg was firmly supported. “By the look of it you won’t be walking for a few days. Your leg isn’t looking too good.” He said desolately. Elwë looked at Andtuariel’s pale yet lovely face which shone in the candle light. He liked to catch her thus, her eyes bright even though she felt pain, her skin soft and pale and her lips slightly apart the way they always were when she was in deep thought. The candlelight shone richly in the deep browns and reds in her hair. Silence fell upon the room as they both sat and thought about their danger riddled day and how close they had come to death.

Andtuariel sighed deeply and Elwë lifted his head, “is it hurting badly?” he asked with a worried expression on his tired face.

“No not too much. You know me I am strong and I can endure a lot.”

“Yes, you never seize to amaze me. I do not know of many females who could cope with what you have today.” Elwë smiled slightly.

“Is Carandû safe?”

“Yes, Carandû is fine.”

“what about Annû?”

“Annû is fine too! Though we did lose a few crew members.”

Silence fell upon the room once again. “You need some sleep; you need that leg to heal fast. The palantiri is out there somewhere; you do not wish to lose out on the fun, now do you?” Elwë said with a slight trail of teasing in his voice.

“Before you go please won’t you close the curtain for me, the moon is bright this evening.”

Elwë did so but before he left he lent down and gave Andtuariel a soft, intimate kiss on the lips. Andtuariel fell silent, not even her breathing could be heard. “Good night” Elwë said.