Messengers (Elrond)
I was a child when the star appeared, in the wild days of rumour. Someone said to me: it is your father, young one; he left as the herald of the Slain, and he is returned as the herald of the Valar.
I knew it for truth. I spoke my hopes to Eärendil in the secret places of the night.
I knew it for falsehood, when my brother died. The star was a ball of fire, and my father at the bottom of the sea.
For no one who had seen those legends wrought had returned to tell the truth of them in Ennor.
Until now.
(Another birthday drabble, this one for paranoidangel and nutterzoi who both asked for Elrond.)
Willow-41z: Many thanks for reviewing. I appreciate your comment on 'every word' fitting, as that's obviously a big concern when trying to write a drabble. Re. the 'hanging': the image I had in mind was of the corpse of a spider being displayed in the trees as a warning to others, not of anyone being executed by hanging - is that what you thought? I hadn't realized before that it was ambiguous. Thanks - you've given me something to think about!