Whispered Paths of Arda

​Dawn dripped through the mellyrn like honeyed gold as they stepped beneath the first arch of Lothlórien. It should have been peaceful. Reverent. A spiritual experience carved in light and song.

Instead:
DP swaggered through the leaves like he was auditioning for Most Distracting Creature Ever Birthed.

Onorfin followed with the stiff restraint of someone desperately pretending he wasn’t staring at DP’s shoulders, arms, chest, and general existence.

Percy?
Percy had given up on dignity hours ago.

“Just so we’re clear,” Percy announced from DP’s shoulder, voice echoing through the sacred hush,
“this is holy ground. Not the set of whatever moonlit nonsense you two got up to last night.”

Onorfin inhaled wrong and almost died on air.
“We did not.. there was no... nothing happened!”

DP didn’t bother hiding his grin.
“Yet.”

Onorfin’s ears went red enough to light the forest.

They had been in Lothlórien for approximately forty-seven seconds.

A soft wind curled between silver leaves, carrying ancient songs… and DP’s dangerously low voice.

“You know,” he said, stepping closer,
“it’s said mortals wander these woods forever once enchanted.”
His breath brushed Onorfin’s ear.
“Imagine what would happen to a beautiful Elf with a jawline sharp enough to end conflicts and thighs sculpted by divine overengineering.”

Onorfin sputtered.
“My.. my thighs are perfectly normal!”

DP’s gaze dragged downward.
“No. They’re weapons.”

Onorfin made an undignified squeaking noise.

Percy sighed dramatically.
“You two are going to set a Lembas loaf on fire with your hormones.”

The forest shifted.

Not the normal way leaves rustle or light flickers. No, the whole world breathed inward, like a great unseen lung.

A hush fell.
Shadows twisted.
A melody woven from starlight slipped between the branches:

“Do not stray from the path, travellers…”

Onorfin froze.

DP’s hand drifted to his dagger without thought.

Percy muttered, “Fantastic. A whispering cosmic forest. Exactly what my anxiety needed.”

The air above the boughs rippled.

Light gathered.. gold, soft, ancient.

A figure stepped forward, glowing as though sculpted from dawn itself.

A Maia.

Onorfin instinctively bowed.

DP… did not.

He raised an eyebrow like the Maia was late for an appointment.

The Maia regarded them both, eyes warm, knowing, amused.

“Children of two worlds,” the spirit said, voice like wind chimes underwater. “Your arrival has stirred quiet things from their sleep.”

DP crossed his arms.
“So we’re causing trouble already?”

“Not trouble,” the Maia replied.
“Opportunity.”

Onorfin straightened, tension and grace in perfect balance.
“What opportunity do you speak of?”

“The kind,” said the Maia, “that would benefit from your blades”
they nodded to Onorfin,
“your wolfish instincts”
they nodded to DP,
“..and your… commentary.”
Percy blinked.

“Oh. I’m included? Bold of you.”

The Maia smiled gently.

“A shadow moves through the southern woods. A remnant of what once was. A fragment of what must never be again.”

DP’s smirk softened, serious now, focused.
“A threat?”

“A calling,” the Maia murmured.
“And one meant for you three.”

Onorfin’s breath caught.
“Us?”

The Maia stepped closer, resting a hand briefly on Onorfin’s shoulder, light as a blessing, deep as fate.
“Yes. For Arda has chosen you.”

DP glanced sideways at Onorfin, voice low, wickedly calm.
“Guess we’re not done having adventures, glitterleaf.”

Onorfin’s lips curved, despite himself.
“It seems not.”

Percy spread his wings.
“Oh fantastic. Cosmic quests with no sleep schedule. My favourite.”

The Maia lifted their hand.
Silver leaves rose on a wind that wasn’t wind.
“Follow the path of starlight,” they said.
“It will lead you where you are needed.”

The light flared…
And the Maia vanished like morning mist.

Silence.

Then DP leaned in, voice a velvet purr:
“Admit it. You’re excited.”

Onorfin sniffed, attempting dignity.
“This is a grave responsibility.”

“Sure,” DP murmured, stepping closer,
“but you’re still excited.”

“…Possibly.”

Percy fluttered down between them.
“Both of you shut up. We’re going to save the world and I swear if you try to kiss in front of a Maia next time I’m flying into someone’s face.”

DP smirked.
“No promises.”

Onorfin’s ears went scarlet again.

And together, hearts pounding, fates tangled, and Percy loudly complaining 
they followed the starlit path deeper into Arda.

Adventure had called.
And they answered as only they could:

With courage.
With chaos.
With heat.
And with their fingers brushing, just barely, as they walked into the golden light.