Thank you to all the new followers and people who faved my odd story. Big thanks to Marie, Bookl0ver1998, and Trikova for taking the time to review. It really means a lot to me and helps keep me motivated.
I own nothing!
Chapter 11
Nemir awoke the first morning of the Yaviere Harvest Festival, a childlike excitement energizing her as she freed herself from the bed. She dressed in her usual wide legged outfit, braided her hair into a loose bun placed at the base of her neck, and retrieved her cloak before exiting her room. The common room was packed full of visitors breaking their fast before enjoying the day's activities. She decided to bypass food for the moment and buy something from one of the vendors out on the street. Walking through the city, she gazed up at the vibrant banners hung from walls and multicolored streamers suspended between buildings. People bustled about traveling between vendors, entertainment, and shops. The collaboration of noises and smells merged together to create a chaotic song that affected all the senses.
The most anticipated event of the day was a combat tournament hosted in a temporary stadium built around the Swan Knights' training grounds. Nemir was excited to observe the famous fighting skills of Gondorian soldiers, and she rushed toward the grounds hoping to find a decent spot. The competition didn't start for another hour, but people were already filling the long wooden benches, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder. She wasn't thrilled about being so enclosed, but decided she could endure for a few hours. She watched people continuously flow into the structure cramming into every available space. The loud murmurings of the crowd were interrupted when loud trumpeting preceded the arrival of Prince Imrahil followed by his teenage son, Elphir, as they walked onto a raised platform. .
"Citizen's of Gondor and visitors from foreign lands," the Prince greeted, his voice commanding and deep, "I welcome you to Yaviere! Today you will witness the strength and skill the men of this great land posses as they compete for the title of Grand Champion." Cheers and applause erupted from the audience and after a moment the prince raised a hand and the citizens quieted. "This year we are honored by the presence of Lord Boromir and Lord Faramir, honorable sons of our Steward in Minas Tirith and my nephews who will be participating in today's festivities."
At the mention of Boromir, Nemir jolted to attention. Surely they couldn't be one in the same? It didn't seem possible...but her investment in the competition intensified. The Swan Knights were famous for their cavalry so the first activities consisted of jousting, agility courses, and mounted combat. She was impressed by men and animals working in tandem, and mystified by the way subtle commands directed such large creatures. She, however, didn't feel truly invested until the mêlée fighting began. The knights dominated most of the competition, except for two men in armor embellished with a white tree. She had been following them closely hoping to catch a glimpse of their faces, but the helmets casted a shadow. The warriors, whom she assumed were the Steward's sons, were extremely skilled and defeated each increasingly difficult opponent. Climbing up the ranks till only four competitors remained, leaving each brother facing a high ranking Swan Knight officer. One succeeded but the other was eventually defeated after a long and grueling battle. He fought with grace and strength, but the older Knight's experience allowed him to out maneuver the young Lord.
Finally black and silver faced against blue and white, Nemir leaned forward, focusing on each sword swing. It was an intense battle as the pair seemed to be equally matched, but the Knight's blocks and attacks began to slow ever so slightly allowing for the younger man to take advantage. A sword flew into the dirt and the opponent yielded. Spectators rushed to their feet as applause filled the stadium, and cheers erupted around her. The victor removed his helmet to reveal the handsome face of Lord Boromir; he lifted his sword in a salute to his Uncle then turned to acknowledge the audience. Cheers intensified as flowers rained around him, tokens of appreciation from his many admirers. Nemir couldn't help but smile and add her voice to the others, glad that her soldier had been victorious.
Feeling energized after witnessing such a marvelous display, Nemir traveled down to Harper's Court to browse through the market. She focused on the wonderful smells of roasted meat and baking bread, rushing to purchase food to satisfy her rumbly stomach. She munched on a chicken leg as she walked, but stopped suddenly when she spotted a bakery displaying tarts in several flavors. Feeling especially indulgent, she bought 3, placing two in her bag for later. Hunger satisfied, she returned to the fountain that had become a refuge the past few days to earn back some of the coin she had spent. The area was packed with a motley assortment of entertainments, and Nemir knew it would be difficult to find a space of her own where she could cut through the clammer. She understood why Finna and Walden had decided to restrict their performances to private establishments for the duration of the festival, but wasn't sure how to go about offering her services to the owners. She made a mental note to talk to them later that day about doing just that.
Her search unsuccessful, she decided to find a less saturated area to offer her song. She wandered around for about an hour, but every area of the city seemed to be utilized by one group or another. Eventually she stumbled upon a quite area marked by a multilayered, white stone building. Wide marble steps led to intricately carved vines traveling up a large set of double doors, flanked by stone swans. Above the door lettering was engraved into the stone spelling out Library in Sindarin. Instantly intrigued, she slowly approached the door, and paused before reaching for the handle expecting someone to stop her at any moment. The solid wood took some effort to move and the hinges released a loud creaking sound, but she quickly scurried into the narrow opening and pushed the door shut behind her. The smell of musty parchment and old leather wafted into her nose and she inhaled deeply savoring the smell. Before her stood 3 open levels containing rows upon rows of shelves packed full of scrolls and leather bound books. The towering domed ceiling was painted with a scene of the sky following the paths of the sun and moon. She stood in awe feeling slightly unsettled in the face of such beauty and history and couldn't help but wonder why such a wonderful place was empty during the city's largest holiday.
"May I help you Miss?" an old, thin framed man, wearing brown robes shuffled toward her.
"Good afternoon sir, I was simply admiring your beautiful Library. I hope I'm not trespassing," she said.
"No, not at all. This main area of the Library is open to the public, though we do have more secure areas reserved for the city's scholars," his voice was quiet and slightly rough, like he was talking in a loud whisper.
"I never imagined there could be so many books in all of Middle Earth. Have you read them all?" asked Nemir.
"Oh, goodness no. You would need the lifespan of an elf to accomplish such a thing, and some are written in languages unknown to me. It is refreshing to find a young woman so interested in the written word. Literacy is not as revered as it should be, even within the Noble families,." he remarked.
"I'm afraid I don't have time to explore as long as I would like today, but I will come back soon Master..."
"Ioriston, please call me Ioriston, and you are?" he asked offering a small smile.
"Nemir, pleased to meet you," she replied with a small curtsy.
"You are welcome anytime my dear," said the old scholar before shuffling back to his shelves.
She wished she had more time to stay, but knew she needed to take advantage of the Festival to earn as much coin as possible. Reluctantly she left the peaceful refuge and returned to the bustling streets to renew her search. She stumbled upon a corner by a statue of a horse standing on his hind legs near the armory and stables. It wasn't as close to the main festivities as she would like, but there was a steady stream of soldier traveling back and forth who seemed to appreciate her songs. She stayed there until the sky turned orange and purple before deciding to gather her earnings and return to The Dark Crab for dinner. The sound of several horses' hooves clattering on the cobble stone street distracted her and she turned to see about 15 men in armor approaching the stables. They lacked the blue adornment of the Swan Knights, their cloaks carrying the dust and mud of travel, and their horses shined with sweat.
As she turned back to complete her task, the face of one of the soldiers caught her attention. Something about him seemed so familiar, but his hood was obscuring part of his face making it difficult for her to place him. Was he from the tournament? No, that not it. She sat on the base of the statue and studied the man as he maneuvered his horse, wishing he would remove his cloak. The hood finally slipped back slightly as he dismounted, and she jumped to her feet.
"Morfindir?" she called out as her heart banged against her chest, afraid that time had weakened his memory of her. The man turned, searching for the source of his name, and she removed her own hood before repeating his name with a wave.
"Nemir!" he exclaimed, dropping his reins and rushing toward her causing many of his fellow men to pause and observe the commotion. She let out a small yelp of surprise as he lifted her off the ground and spun her around in his muscular arms.
"I can't believe it's you," he marveled, gently returning her feet to the ground.
"You didn't think I would stay in Fish Farm forever did you?" she said with a smirk.
"I was beginning to have my doubts," he chuckled.
"Are you going to tell me how you managed to earn that uniform?" she asked motioning to his garb.
"All in good time. I promise. I have to finish up some things before I can talk. Can you meet me at the barracks in an hour?" he asked as he reclaimed his animal.
"If you give me directions I should be able to manage it," she said.
Morfindir instructed her which paths to take before taking his horse into the stables. Nemir rushed back to The Dark Crab to scarf down dinner and freshen up her appearance before making her way toward the barracks. They were simple single story, stone structures placed on the very edge of the city, some even touched the towering white walls. Most of the men had left to enjoy the evening's celebration by the time she arrived, but there were still a few hanging about in uniform either just returning from or about to go their station.
"I'm glad you didn't get lost," she turned toward the voice to find her friend approaching her. His shoulders seemed wider than she remembered, his face now sported a full, but neatly trimmed dark beard, and he walked with a new grace and confidence that comes with combat training. Though he no longer wore his leather jerkin, he still carried his sword strapped to his waist, and she thought that it suited him. "It took me a year before I finally learned to maneuver this maze of a city."
"I may have took a few wrong turns," she admitted reluctantly, "which is why I'm charging you with giving me an official tour."
"A task which I happily accept," he offered his arm to her and she gladly accepted. He lead her along some of the quieter back streets as he pointed out different buildings and statues, explaining their names and purpose. They continued till they reached a small door that was embedded inside the thick wall; he stopped and pulled a heavy metal key from one of his pockets.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"It's a surprise," he said with a sly smile and a twinkle in his eyes as he pushed the door open revealing a dark, narrow staircase. He reached in to claim an unlit torch from the wall and with a spark from a piece of flint and steel, it erupted to life. "Follow me, and watch your step" was all he said before ascending the steep stairs.
The flames cast erry shadows on the wall as they traveled only adding to the mysterious atmosphere. She stepped carefully with a hand placed against the damp wall for balance. The steps continued on for what seemed like ages till they suddenly stopped at a wooden door placed in the ceiling above them. Using his strong shoulders, he forced the door upward with a stubborn screech until it fell open with a loud crash against the stone. Nemir could see a glimmer of light peaking through the opening and excitedly followed him upward onto a narrow walkway that stretched along the length of the wall.
She rushed toward the small ledge and gazed out from the top of the city wall and onto the endless ocean glimmering with moonlight and it's twin the sky speckled with diamonds. "It's beautiful," she praised as she appreciated the beauty and the feel of the ocean breeze against her face.
"I knew the moment I came here, that I had to share it with you," Morfindir said has he joined her leaning against the stone. "These walls sometimes keep out the beautiful as well as the bad so I occasionally come here to get some fresh air."
"How did you find it?"
"The city used to have guards posted all along these walls in time of war, but they haven't been used for many years now. It's become a tradition to strand new recruits up here for the night without bedding or food to break them in a bit." he explained.
"So you were trapped up here?" she said taking her eye off the amazing view.
"I paid my dues, yes, but I wasn't one of these city boys who's never spent a night in the cold sea wind," he said with a chuckle.
"How did you manage to become a part of the city guard? During my search for you, I had just assumed you would be working on the wharf or on a ship." she said.
"I did for about a year," he explained, "but I eventually realized that I had traveled hundreds of miles to one of the largest cities in all of Middle Earth, only to continue the same trade. It didn't sit well with me so I turned my ambitions to the city guard. I was a young, strong man so they agreed to train me even though I had no experience with a real weapon. It's not a glorious life, but I've seen things I never would have otherwise, both good and bad. How about you? How are things back home?"
"Nothing has changed really, which I guess is to be expected. Your Aunt still hates me,. She never acted on her feelings, probably hoping that her son will eventually return to normal." she said as she gazed up at the almost full moon. "It was lonely after you left. I had my family, but the people in the village only tolerated me so making more friends wasn't an option.".
"That's why I wanted you to come with me away from that wretched place," he sighed.
"You know why I couldn't," she replied, "besides I'm here now, to take full advantage of your worldly experiences."
"It will be nice to be the teacher for a change," he teased,"
The two strolled together casually, appreciating the bird's eye view of the city and surrounding scenery, chatting and enjoying each other's company. They could see the large fire basins illuminating the square and watched the performers and people as they migrated from one tavern to another. Many were already have difficulties maneuvering through the crowded streets, stumbling along and talking loudly to any who would listen. They stayed until the fire reduced to a handful of glowing embers and Morfindir tried to fight back a yawn.
"One thing that certainly hasn't changed is your preference for late night activities," he said as he rubbed his eyes sleepily.
Nemire laughed softly, "Well it does suit my chosen profession."
"You should come perform at The Dented Shield. It's popular choice amongst the city guard and the owner, Mr. Amothor, doesn't tolerate troublemakers," he suggested as they walked back to the stairs.
"Could you introduce me ? It would help with my credibility if one of his customers made the suggestion." she added.
"Certainly. We have tomorrow off to enjoy the last day of Yaviere so I can take you over in the afternoon." he offered.
"That sounds fantastic. Thank you so much. I'll have to introduce you to Finna and Walden, as well. They are a very talented couple who helped me when I first arrived," she said.
They returned to the staircase and Morfindir closed the door behind them before assisting her down the slippery steps. The streets were quiet and the only sound was the clacking of their shoes upon the cobblestones. "Where are you staying?" he asked after they reached the soldier's housing.
"The Dark Crab," she replied, "It's only about a 20 minute walk from here."
"Good," he smiled, "That means I might get some sleep before the sun rises,"
"You're tired, and I can make it on my own," she insisted.
"If you think, I'm going to let you walk the streets alone at this hour, you don't know me at all," Nemir could tell by the tone in his voice that arguing wouldn't affect his decision.
"If you insist, but you of all people know I am more than capable of taking care of myself. I doubt any robber would last long facing Mithiel's techniques," Nemir stated confidently.
"I have no doubts about that, but sometimes it's best to avoid trouble when possible," he said.
"I was very good at avoiding trouble till I met you," she said with a smile as she jokingly poked his side.
"If memory serves me correctly, I wasn't kidnapped and almost drowned till after you appeared in my life," he said with a chuckle.
It seemed as if they traveled only a few moments before they were under the carved, crab sign. "Thank you for walking me home," Nemir said freeing her arm from his.
"No guard worth his salt would leave such a lovely maiden at the mercy of the dangerous creatures that stalk the night," he mockingly bowed. "Meet you here tomorrow around noon?"
"Hopefully I'll be awake by then, " she joked.
"I'm glad you're here," he said quietly as he reached up to lightly stroke her cheek.
"Me too," was all she could say as she froze under this touch unsure what to expect. He stepped closer and placed a gentle kiss upon her cheek, his warm lips barely grazed her skin before he turned and disappeared into the night. She stood at the door for several moments staring at the space where he once stood.
Well I just like complicated things for myself don't I? I hope you enjoyed and let me know what you think.
