Etyanárë Chapter 13
Several years after the visit of Cirdan to Rivendell found Silari, still travelling to Mithlond frequently to visit Cirdan. Every time she left the city to go to Rivendell or whatever she did on her own hurt Cirdan more than he would ever admit, especially to Silari. Every time he sensed it was not the time to ask her to marry him, maybe next time.
His friends, including a former apprentice of his named Galdor noticed his melancholy at her separations from him.
"Lord Cirdan, may I speak with you?" A wry smile spread across Cirdan's face. That Elf could never get over formality even though he had been told many times that it was no longer necessary.
"Yes, Galdor, what is it?"
"Well, we have all noticed your melancholy every time the Lady Silari leaves here again. If it pains you so much to see her leave, why do you not simply ask her to marry you?" Cirdan stared at the young Elf. He had always been quite direct but...
"She is not ready yet, Galdor, I sense she will always have trouble settling down, she was nomadic for too long. I cannot force her to stay still for fear of ruining our relationship should she say no when she would be unhappy in staying in one place for very long. She needs more time before I ask her." He sighed, it always hurt him to know that just now, she would not be happy settled down and married to him. He could never do anything to make her unhappy.
"She always reminds me of the traditional features of the line of Feanor, with that bright red hair flowing across her back." It was a throwaway comment, but it made Cirdan stare at the younger Elf for a second before collecting himself.
"But no records show a female descendant of Feanor, it is interesting to see those features on a lady. They suit her very well." The two sat back, both staring into the fire.
"I heard that the last night of her first stay was not such a loving one, my friend." It was easy to spot the fishing for information. He would one day have to teach the Elf how to do it subtly.
"I was probing for information that is very private to her, I was unaware at the time how sensitive the point was and got a shock when she made it abjectly clear that I should keep to myself to myself on the subject." That raised an eyebrow.
"Do you know whatever it was you were asking for now?" Definitely fishing.
"Yes. I found out before our relationship started." With that Cirdan dismissed the subject, not wanting to talk about his beloved with a subject to close to ones he knew she wanted kept secret.
XXX
Silari was visiting Arwen who was once again in Lorien. She was immensely amused when Aragorn turned up shortly after her and neither was able to keep their eyes off each other. Not too surprisingly Aragorn took the opportunity of time alone, with Elrond a long way away, to propose.
To the shock of many Elves, she agreed. Silari was one of the few to congratulate them immediately. She saw no point in arguing the toss. Shortly after that she escorted that pair to Rivendell so they could tell Elrond.
Elrond however, was not amused or even happy for that matter. Actually, that is an understatement. Barely suppressed rage and better hidden grief, would be closer. After careful consideration and a few moments to compose himself, he declared that they would not be given permission to marry until Aragorn had attained the throne of Gondor and Arnor. Only then would he have attained a status suitable to marry such an illustrious princess.
Silari wasn't sure whether that ultimatum was because Elrond was using the opportunity to goad the human into working to earn the throne he had shown no desire to get or to prevent the two getting married. Whatever his reasoning, it put the kibosh on their plans for a fair while.
XXX
To escape the tenseness round the Last Homely House, Silari decided to take a trip to Rohan and possibly get something as a gift for Cirdan then go visit him in Mithlond. She smiled into her thoughts, she missed her beau when she was away, but it was hard to settle down and she never felt secure there, well not entirely. She knew Cirdan would protect her, but old insecurities die hard.
Rohan was as wonderful as she remembered: the people free and easy and not bothered by any long gone history. Everyone there was welcoming, though they were in mourning over the recent death of Thengel.
The new King was a young man named Théoden. He was a decisive and effective king, slightly too proud but most men, well males in general, were too proud. Silari didn't see too many problems in his reign if he kept up to form. He most likely would be able to deal with the war that anyone would be able see coming. If nothing changed, that is.
While in Edoras, she looked around to find something for Cirdan.
Eventually she found a little metalwork shop. The blacksmith spent most of his time making weapons and practical things like that, but occasionally made metal figurines. He was delighted to actually receive a commission for what was a hobby.
He made her a horse galloping out of the waves. The eyes of the statue were made of sapphires and glittered beautifully. The horse had been made of copper and the waves of steel. It was not the most precious combination of metals, but the artwork of the statuette was beautiful.
She carefully kept the figurine safe as she galloped North and across the mountains, stopping only briefly at Rivendell along her way where there was still high tension, though lessened by the fact Aragorn had gone off to join the Dunedain again. All the same, Silari left Rivendell fairly quickly.
It took her a little while reach the port city and she was allowed entry through the large gates that protect the city immediately. Everyone in the city knew of the relationship between their Lord and the red haired elleth that visited often. She even got an offer of an escort to the palace from the guards.
Before she got to the palace, she stopped at a market to get some nice cloth to wrap her gift in. She easily found some beautiful blue satin that was perfect she thought. It was not hard to wrap the statuette up nicely with some ribbon she had bought.
When she got to the palace, Cirdan was waiting for her on the steps eagerly. Despite propriety, she kissed him, flinging her arms round his neck and holding him close. He seemed rather pleased at the greeting.
She was then escorted to the baths for a wash, having spent a long time on the road and so was not the most savoury smelling person in the palace. She took the opportunity to make herself look better and to don a beautiful green gown she had recently had made and collected on her way to Mithlond.
It was forest-green taffeta with a low-cut, off-the-shoulder neckline and a tailored body that gave out to a flowing skirt. The embroidery was silver to match the silver circlet that Cirdan had given her and there were diamonds embedded in the embroidery in swirls and whorls similar to those on the circlet. She had it made purely for the purpose of this meeting. She hoped he appreciated the effort.
The maid was more than happy to help her get ready for her Lord. When she braided the circlet into her hair, she added beads and green ribbons. She also draped a silver and emerald necklace that Cirdan had also given her round her neck. When she looked in the mirror, Silari was amazed by how good she looked, she looked like one of the ladies of old she had seen as a small child before she had left to wander. She was beginning to think she would enjoy settling down with the ancient Elf-lord.
Quietly she entered Cirdan's sitting room and waited for him to turn round. He was leaning over the window, looking out to sea. When he sensed her there he turned round, stopped and gasped. He stood there staring at, mouth slightly agape, for quite a while before he recovered.
"Silari, you look amazing!" He got out before moving over to kiss her. When he pulled back he held her at arm's length to examine the look more closely. "Was all this specially for me?" She nodded.
"I have something for you that I got in Rohan as well." He looked at her with a slight grin.
"And your presence here was not enough?" She laughed and kissed him before handing him the satin wrapped figurine. He unwrapped it curiously and his eyes widened as he saw what it was. "This is beautiful, how on Arda did you get it? I did not know metal statue making was a rohirric art."
"It's not, you have no idea how long it took to find the blacksmith who made this for me. It took me a while to find anything I wanted to give you. I found this man who makes these for a hobby; he was delighted to make one for a commission." They spent a few seconds kissing each other again before pulling back and restarting the conversation.
"You didn't have to buy me a present," Cirdan stated mildly.
"I wanted to get you something; you always get me lovely things so I thought it would be nice to get you something as well for once. That seemed eminently appropriate considering where it came from and who it's for." He smiled and kissed her gently.
"The gift is well received, meleth nin." She smiled and curled into his chest and they sat down on one of the sofas for a tight hug which reminded Silari of how much she missed him. She sighed softly. "Why the sigh, meleth nin? Does something disturb your peace?" She shook her head against his chest.
"No, I was just realising how much I missed your presence this time I have been away from you. Travelling is losing its joy when the alternative is a love greater than I ever expected to be blessed with. I would much prefer to take you with me and we discover all these places together, but you cannot leave here often. I find I would much rather be round you than out there travelling. You are much better company than my horse, Órenya." Cirdan smiled, trying not to show how much that statement warmed his heart.
"I should hope so; I would not make good company if a horse could out do me."
They talked late into the night, revelling in each other's company and at least half the conversation not spoken but felt. Cirdan almost wished he had the ring he had made 28 years ago when he returned from Rivendell around. It seemed the perfect time to show it to Silari.