Title: Of Love and Loss
Author: Leaonna
Disclaimer: Once again, I thank J.R.R Tolkien for his Muse-like inspiration.
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Chapter 3: Whispers in the Night
"Oh, how lovely you look, dearest," Lady Luinil sighed deeply. Lasbelin returned the wide smile to her mother's reflection in the mirror they both stood before. Earlier that afternoon she had sent for her daughter to her chambers. There she presented Lasbelin with an exquisite gown of light gray, a perfect match for her eyes.
"I wore this when I wed your father," Luinil had told her. "I would like very much for you to wear it for your wedding."
"Oh, it is beautiful," Lasbelin gasped, taking the gown carefully from her mother's hands. It was made from the softest material and laced with such intricate bead work as only an Elven seamstress could accomplish. "It would gladden my heart to wear such a garment. I have not the words to thank you."
Luinil smiled, embracing her daughter and giving a light kiss to her brow. "I will be well thanked when you are blissfully wed to Voronwë, my child."
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It took the Elven Guard a day to clean and prepare the bodies, and four days to carry the biers of the five that were slain back to Nuorn. When they were spotted coming that afternoon from the tower of the city, bells were rung and Lasbelin who was in the garden of her house came to the green where her father, mother, and many other Elves in the city were gathered in curiosity, for it was not time for the company to return.
The sight that met her was the solemnity of her brother and Eldamir as they carried the bier of Voronwë past and set him down among the flowers. Tears stung at the back of her eyes, for she could not blink and take them from her beloved's face. Once it was so full of life, now it was pale and ashen. She wished more than anything to run to Voronwë, but she could not move from the spot where she now stood. Her mother, with tear filled eyes, raised her hand to her mouth in despair. A scream had formed in Lasbelin's throat but all she could manage to get out were heart retching sobs.
"No…" she whispered. Lasbelin's knees gave out and she fell to the ground, the world around her growing bleak and meaningless. Kneeling, she placed her hand on her heart for fear it would break. She expected to find there the cool, reassuring touch of the necklace Voronwë had given to her, but she found nothing and closed her eyes, letting the tears trickle down. The sobs from the families of the others that were slain could be heard, and a rustle nearby her captured Lasbelin's attention. Glancing at the ground ahead of her, she found a pair of green boots. She looked up with tear-filled eyes, and discovered it was her brother looking on her with a sad and forlorn expression. She shook her head in disbelief, and to Arion his sister looked helpless and lost, and his heart grieved; for her and for Voronwë. He held his hand out to help her up and she took it, rising slowly from the ground, weak and threatening to fall again. From his travel pouch he took her necklace and placed it in her hand.
"He wished for me to return this to you," he said. At this, Lasbelin's lip quivered and the stone was blinded by her tears as she went into the arms of her brother and wept freely.
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Evening was approaching, and three messengers of Aetheoran, the elected Lord of Esgaroth by the King of Dale, walked through the peaceful yet mysterious forest of Mirkwood on errand to the city of Nuorn. They looked in wonder at the wood, for though it was heavily cumbered with trees, their leafed boughs did not shroud the fading light. Aldamir was of the three most enchanted with the silent tension the forest held. He was dark of hair as the others, but fairer of face and with striking pale blue eyes like his mother's. She was an Elf-friend akin and named Aldamir in the fashion of the Elves.
Yet Arveleg, who was not comfortable with the silence, spoke up to his captain in a hushed tone as though in such a wood as this, one needed to speak that way.
"Are you certain we have come by the right way, my lord? Did not your father tell us to be wary in the forest of Mirkwood?" Aldamir gazed about the Elfinesse of the forest, and a little ways off his keen ears could hear voices as clear and beautiful and angelic as silver bells uplifted in song. He looked on Arveleg and Onodher and smiled.
"We have come by the right way, lest my ears are deceived."
And Aldamir led them on and it was not long before they came upon the Elves, walking and singing among the trees. Their song was eerie to the ears of the men, and it sounded sad and lamentable. The three passed through, their feelings changing suddenly to that of the sadness of the Elves, for they felt the grief that emanated from the music. The elder of the Elves looked on Aldamir and his company in dismay, piercing their mortal gazes with their bright Elvish eyes until the others could no longer stand the light that shone so deeply within them, and looked away.
It was then that several warrior guards appeared out of the trees; Elvish swords, spears, and bows made ready, and pointed at Aldamir and his men, blocking their way. One of them, dark of hair and of eye spoke, but did not relent his weapon.
"Not often do we suffer those of your kind to pass our borders," he charged.
"Calm yourself, Henduil," said a voice from behind the others. Arion stepped out from behind the dark elf with his hand raised to silence him. He approached Aldamir, looking upon him with keen gray eyes that would penetrate his very soul.
"What is your errand, mortal, in the woods of Mirkwood?" he asked, his face set grim.
Aldamir paused for a moment, looking about his surroundings, and noticed with a frown that the elves singing before had disappeared. At length, Aldamir replied. "I am Aldamir son of Aetheoran, sent by his lordship for beg of aid when your host did not arrive within a fortnight."
Realization dawned on the face of he-Elf before him, and he narrowed his eyes. "And it is because of your need of aid that five of our kin lay dead. Great they were, and not least of all Voronwë the Steadfast," The guard lashed out wrathfully, and the fire in his eyes struck fear in Aldamir's heart. "Had the company set out earlier, you would not have needed to have traveled here, for they would have reached you in time. I wish that were so. But we were taken unaware by Haradrim and Easterlings, your foes, and their lives were forfeit needlessly." Arion paused here, searching Aldamir's eyes and found pity mingled with grief. Unwilling, Arion relented his sword, as did the others with their weapons. "Your search would have been in vain. Without our aid, you would not have found the city; its path is well hidden among the trees. But...I will lead you thither, and we shall see how Lord Valandil and Lady Luinil receive you."
And thus with a wary eye on Aldamir, Arveleg, and Onodher, Arion turned with his men clad in deep green behind, and led them in and out of the woven trees. They went on for some time, until it was completely dark and the only light present was the faint lucidness of the Elven guards. The dark was most unsettling to Aldamir, and as he heard the soft whispers not of the wind through the tree tops and unusual sounds in the wild of the forest, he grasped the hilt of his sword if needed. Though in this wood, it was not needed, for it was protected by the power of the Elves from all lurking evil. It was then that blue lamps began lighting the way and before the company were tall oak and beech trees, their uppermost branches formed into an arch over a path that twisted and branched off into different directions quite a ways down. The light from the lamps were faint, but Aldamir could barely see steps were carved into the solidity of the ground. In amazement, he stepped down onto the first step, following Arion around the base of a rather unusually large tree. He was speaking in Elvish to Eldamir, a fellow guard beside him who was silver of hair and eye. Their backward glances made Aldamir, Arveleg, and Onodher quite uncomfortable.
At long last they came to the end of the earthen staircase and came to a branched path. After taking so many ways that Aldamir had lost count, they finally came to a wall that seemed to stretch on for leagues, but of course this was in the dark. It glimmered in the lamp light. In the center of the wall that they now faced was the entryway to the city. There was an open chapel canopy above it, and there walking slowly were Elves, glistening in the night. A tower tall and fair could be seen from the outskirts of the city from where they stood, and from it soft bells rang solemnly. And within the city voices could be heard singing in lament.
It seemed as though the entered a central green, where on the sides fair Elven houses were built at the bases of the trees but did not hinder them. Aldamir could see opening in the roofs where the tree trunks grew out. And with those houses were others not in trees, and such a home was the great hall, which housed the Lord and Lady of the city. Candles flickered in the windows amid the dim blue of the Elvish lamps, and also in the green where it seemed many people of the city were gathered. And Aldamir soon saw why. For amid the beauty and finesse of the sight, there lay five biers of Elven men lying peacefully among an array of sweet smelling flowers cascading from their resting place. They were raised high and the biers were set upon stone. Aldamir looked back on Arveleg and Onodher to see that they too were looking at the fallen.
As they were led closer, the men could see that they were fair even in death. Aldamir felt eyes on him and his men passing through, and it seemed to them it took much longer to cross the central green under the sight of so many incessant gazes. But as Aldamir walked past one bier, he looked upon the sight and his heart was moved. The Elf that lay dead seemed to him as twenty summers young, no older than he in mortal years looked. He was fairer in the aspect of his youth to the others, of whom were elder; his skin pallid, but comely nonetheless. A garland of elanor and niphredil lay at his brow, and stray flower petals were strewn about his body. Looking up from the Elf's raiment as that of a fallen Elf-lord, Aldamir's gaze was set on a maiden looking over the body with her hand clasped to his, gazing lovingly into the face that Aldamir knew was once full of life. She sensed someone's stare upon her, and looked up slowly to meet Aldamir's eyes, which were full of pity. To him she seemed strong, yet also lost and scared as a child, with her face tear-streaked behind a veil. And in his mind Aldamir named her Níniel, tear-maiden, for her grief pierced his heart.
Arion and Eldamir turned and bowed their head to the maiden as they walked, pausing for a moment to rest their hands on the young elf's bier, then they continued to lead the three to the stairs of the great hall. They climbed them and were led into a vast room, whose birch walls were decorated with carvings of Elvish woodwork. At the ceiling there were lamps that shone through holes worked into the wooden holders, and they set a dreamlike light about the hall. Their footsteps echoed, and the men looked in wonder as they came upon the lord and lady of the city. They sat in high backed chairs on a set of steps, and looked down upon Aldamir, Arveleg, and Onodher regally. Lady Luinil was indeed very beautiful to behold, and the pale skin framed by her dark hair was luminous. Her husband at her side was equally beautiful, as all Elves were, and his silvery hair was accented by the silver hair circlet that glowed about him as a crown of light. They were both dressed in extravagant midnight blue clothing, and their robes flowed down the marble steps.
Rising when Arion and Eldamir presented the men, the lord and lady towered tall above them. It seemed as though they waited for the strangers to speak, and when Aldamir began, Lord Valandil raised a hand from being clasped with the other before him.
"I know why you have come here, for your mind has told all. Had your father given us more time, we would have sent more of the Guard to your aid," he said after lowering his hand. Gathering all his will to him, Aldamir spoke.
"The besetment of our city grows more often, and what little men in the garrison protecting it falter. The line of Hador's blood grows thin and they will risk no aid to us. The Elves of Mirkwood are the nearest ally we have, and if we do not act now, more grievous happenings will occur." He spoke greatly despite his young years, though his words awakened anger in the heart of Valandil, for was it not he and his people who lost five brave souls, one of whom was to be his daughter's husband? Before he could speak out in wrath, though, a voice interrupted him.
"Your words are proud, Aldamir son of Aetheoran, and allies to you we will remain," Lady Luinil said, filling the silent ringing of Aldamir's words with her melodious tone. "Yet we cannot convey more men to die so soon amid such grief. Our time of mourning has not yet passed. Do you not know what has befallen us?" Aldamir lowered his gaze, and Arion looked on him with still a wary eye. Pity and sorrow found its way to Luinil's kind eyes. There was a bittersweet sadness about her that the men found moving, and they held her in reverence. "Your mother was an Elf-friend long ago by your standards, and we loved her dearly. Therefore you and your company shall stay here by the grace of your mother, and we will talk no more of this dark business until the morning."
Lady Luinil stepped down amongst them, and went to Arion, whose face was grave, quietly giving to him instructions as to the housing of the guests. Aldamir's attention however, was averted when a soft, rushing feel as the wind whispers came to his ears. Turning to the sound that echoed ethereally through the hall, he saw the Elvish procession ascend the stairs, moving so gracefully it was as though they floated. It was again that Aldamir laid eyes on Lasbelin, and he saw her full beauty, for her face was now not veiled. She was garbed in a dark gown that moved with her every refined step. She held his gaze, bright and watery gray eyes matching his stare from a radiant face. Her grief filled his entire heart, and he felt the indelible loss she had and also the great love that died within her. As soon as she lowered her eyes, the emotions subsided, and Aldamir was left feeling empty.
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Author's Note:
The chapters just keep getting longer and longer (but that's a good thing)! I hope you all enjoyed the introduction of Aldamir into the story. We'll just have to see what's planned for everyone. Continue to R&R! It would make my day!