Chapter 25
In the Wide World the Wood-elves lingered in the twilight of our Sun and Moon but loved best the stars; and they wandered in the great forests that grew tall in lands that are now lost. They dwelt most often by the edges of the woods, from which they could escape at times to hunt, or to ride and run over the open lands by moonlight or starlight; and after the coming of Men they took ever more and more to the gloaming and the dusk. -JRR Tolkien
A burst of elvish song drifted to their ears from the road. Mae said "It is now Glithil, for several nights." She wore a wide smile. "We make merry during such a moon." she said. The singing grew louder. Elei saw a group of elves on horseback, waiting by the road. The moonlight glinted off of studs on their horses' harnesses. Elei could barely make out the elves in their cloaks. Thus, it was startling to see that they were riding double. She squinted, trying to make out who was riding with them, but her eyes seemed unwilling to focus.
"Is it safe for merrymaking?" quizzed Elei.
Mae tossed her head scornfully. "Aye, we have cleared this area, for leagues around. The orcs your cousins found were the last enemies nearby. Come!" She shook her reins and urged her horse on faster. Elei's head spun as they rode.
When they cantered into a clearing, Elei peered at the elves. She recognized the two with new lifemates first, and realized that their ladies were seated before them. The company seemed to be in high spirits. She looked at the other elves, and each had a young lady with him, as well. Mae rode past her to consult with them in Elvish. The words flew so rapidly, all Elei could make out were snatches of conversation, a word at a time: "Lintamel roimé"..."Glithil"..."Milgwaedh"..."-Ann"... "Lakh hiru"... The last was followed by laughter and giggles. Elei's ears perked up at "Lakh hiru". She recalled that "ann" meant 'gift'.
This was followed by "Milant...Luinur?" To Elei's surprise, Mae laughed in reply to this remark. "Guldurnen?" asked someone else. Elei saw a raised arm, and the moonlight glinting off of a flask. Mae reached out to take it.
"Angolvorduin?" asked another voice.
"Gulduin." replied Mae's voice, then "MiruvorEndymion." A titter of laughter erupted. Mae reached out to accept a second flask from another outstretched arm. She grinned wolvishly as she tucked the two flasks away.
A cheer arose from the elves and their ladies then. Mae joined in. They all raised one arm and chorused "Glithil!" together. There was some muttering about "durondol". Then, to Elei's surprise, they turned their horses northward toward the Weather Hills. They followed in single file, as the trail wound through hilly terrain. There were huge boulders tumbled about. As they rode on, some of these were clustered together. Elei peered at them as she followed at the end of the line with Mae bringing up the rear.
Though her head ached, Elei squinted in the moonlight, as they rode along a hillside without cover of trees. The stones took on the shapes of tumbled walls. "Ruins?" murmured Elei. Mae's sharp ears heard. Her voice carried up from behind.
"Yes, human, very good. These are ancient ruins. Fortunately for us, there are still some sheltering walls scattered about." Her voice sounded more amused than scornful. The riders turned off the path, and around a hill. They came out into a sheltered meadow that sat in front of a rocky cliff. Tumbled ruins sat back against it. There were low hills that continued off to either side. Elei noticed more ruins amongst them.
The elves were dismounting, chattering amongst themselves. Elei saw them lifting their ladies and most were held in close embrace. Some spun around, laughing, as they set them down. Others were locked together, kissing. Elei blushed, glad of the darkness.
Some of the elves were busily unpacking things from their horses. Elei realized they were setting up a feast. Glowing lanterns appeared, subtle globes of silver light that did not outshine the light of the rising moon. Mae pulled her horse up, next to Elei's. "Let us ride," she said. "unless you wish to join in the feast?" Her tone of voice was not encouraging.
"Caradorn?..." asked Elei.
"Is farther on." said Mae shortly. "He is camped by the hot spring. Shall we ride?"
Elei nodded and flicked Tathar's reins in answer. Mae led the way up a trail that wound into the hills. Elei thought they were heading east. Mae jogged her horse along. Elei sensed that the elf was impatient. 'Probably anxious to be rid of me!' she thought.
Elei clung to Tathar as they rode along. The motion made her head ache again. On a flat stretch, she gingerly felt her head with one hand. With the other hand, she held tightly onto the reins. There was a bump on the top left side of her head, near the back. It felt tender. Tathar jolted as she trotted over a rough spot in the road. Elei gasped and shot her hand down to steady herself. The sudden movements caused a shooting pain in her head, and she cried out. Mae turned her head to ask "Are you well, human?" and Elei stiffened, holding herself proudly upright. The derision in Mae's voice kept Elei from showing any weakness to her, even though her head was reeling.
"Fine," Elei called back, squeezing her eyes closed at the pain lancing through her head. She breathed deeply, focusing on thoughts of Caradorn. The pain ebbed to a dull throbbing again, and still they rode onward.
Mae followed a trail that passed over the height of the highest hill, and wound down the other side. The hours wore on, and Elei drifted in and out of awareness of her surroundings. She felt it must be nearing the end of the night. Finally, a soft glow arose on the horizon. She noted, with confusion, that it was to their right as they rode. 'That must mean we are heading north' she thought grogglily. Mae paused by a running stream to let the horses drink out of a pool. They were next to a thickly wooded hillside. Elei dismounted carefully, and stood. She gazed silently at the dawn glow from under the hood of her cloak.
Suddenly, Mae gave a muffled squeak. Elei turned and saw her stiffly upright, with her back arched, chin raised. A knife gleamed at her throat, where an attacker held it.
Elei gasped and looked up at the assailant's face, where he stood behind Mae. His finger was at his lips, making a hushing gesture, as she met the mocking blue gaze of Luinur. He winked at her. "Never stop next to cover, with your back unguarded." he growled. In a flash, he swung his blade away and stood well back from Mae, as she whirled in a fighting stance. She glared at the hooded figure. "You look beautiful, Mae." purred Luinur smoothly. He chuckled.
"Lu?" she asked, startled. She stood upright, fists on her hips, and glared at him. "How dare you!" she stammered. He shrugged, and held both arms at his sides, palms up, weapon-free. "I would not have stopped so, if I had not been in your patrol range." she said, pouting.
Luinur puffed up his chest and looked mollified, but gave Elei another wink when Mae was not watching. "What brings you here?" he asked Mae, in a murmur, glancing over at Elei.
Mae stepped closer to him, raising her chin arrogantly. "Glithil." she replied. He looked at her incredulously. Mae folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.
He looked thoughtful. "You are avoiding the crowd?" he asked, a gentler tone in his voice. Mae nodded, blinking, and suddenly he was by her side, one arm around her shoulders. "The glithil has set, for today." he said.
"'Twill return tonight." said Mae in a choked voice. She looked up at him shyly.
"And company will make it pass more easily?" asked Luinur.
"Yours might." said Mae, in a small voice. He studied her face in the dawn twilight.
Elei watched them from where she stood, hearing only faint murmurs of their voices over the babbling of the stream. She was surprised to see the gleam of tears in Mae's eyes, and then Luinur had set his arm around her shoulders, as if lending comfort. Then Mae took two flasks out of her bag. "A gift, for the Lakh hiru." she said, passing them to Luinur. He stashed them in his pouch.
A ray of sun peeked over the horizon, causing Gormaethil's blond hair to glow. It spread to Luinur's fiery curls, as he looked intently at Mae. "Why avoid the feast, Mae? Only two of our younglings had the milgwaedh when we left." he murmured.
Mae hesitated, eyes cast down. Then she uttered "Lintamel roimé."
"What?!" shouted Luinur, releasing Mae abruptly. He stepped back, facing her. Elei listened, wide-eyed. Mae faced him, her chin raised defiantly. Now, Elei heard every word clearly. "You called lintamel roimé?" shouted Luinur. "Those can get out of hand, Mae! How could you be so rash?"
"It was fine." she insisted angrily. "None were unwilling." She shook her head. "Thranduil wants us to breed." she declared. "I heard him say so."
Luinur turned away from her, fists clenched, shaking his head. "That is a big step to take, without at least asking our eryngon!" he growled. As he turned, he saw Elei. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "and what brings you here, Eleirien?" He stepped toward her, glancing back at Mae with a dangerous glint in his eye and a threatening tone in his voice.
"Caradorn." said Elei. He raised his eyebrows, waiting. "I was told he needs me." said Elei.
Luinur studied her, his arms crossed. "And so he does, as you need him, but not now!" he said fiercely. Elei's face was shaded with the sun rising behind her.
"What?" said Elei, alarmed at his fierce expression. "Did he not summon me?"
Luinur flinched at her hurt expression. "He did not." he said more gently. He whirled around again, to face Mae. "What game are you playing, Mae?"he demanded. "Bringing her all the way out here?'
"She was at Amon Sul," said Mae placatingly, "halfway here!"
"Hmph." said Luinur. "Well, maybe you should escort her home, then!"
Mae looked at Elei with narrowed eyes. "I fear she is not up to the journey, now." she admitted.
"She is not weak!" snapped Luinur. "Just because she is human..." His voice trailed off as he looked at Elei, who was leaning on Tathar.
"Look at her!" snapped Mae. "She has not been acting as if she feels well." Luinur, alarmed, stepped over close to Elei. "She was ill, after she saw us battle orcs." said Mae.
"Well, then, " said Luinur tightly, "Leave, Mae."
"What?" gasped Gormaethil.
He clenched his jaw, fighting to control his anger. "Leave! I must take her to him quickly. I will meet you here, this night, at glithil, if I may?..." he said, his voice turning husky. Mae nodded mutely, her eyes wide, then she smiled in fierce joy, and leapt onto her horse.
As Mae rode away, Luinur turned Elei gently toward the dawn. She winced as the light sent a stabbing pain through her head. She wobbled, and he steadied her. Her head was down, eyes screwed shut. He was alarmed at her pallor. "Elei, look at me." he commanded gently, hands on her shoulders. Elei raised her head slowly and carefully. He tilted her chin up as she opened her eyes.
Elei blinked as Luinur's face swam in double before her eyes. The images came slowly together, and she focused on his bright blue eyes. "Hold still, and keep looking at me." he murmured. He held one hand over her left eye for a few seconds, then removed it. Then he repeated the procedure with her right eye. He let out a muffled curse, releasing her.
"Hmm?" asked Elei, as she angled her gaze away from the painful light.
"Elei, have you been injured?" he demanded.
"No..." she said faintly. "Well...just bumped on the head."
"With what?" he pressed her.
"An orc's sword, I think... the flat! No more. I just have a sore spot." she insisted weakly.
"And dizziness?"
"Well...yes."
"And Mae said you were sick."
"Yes...but I have not seen much killing."
"Did you sleep, since then?" he asked urgently.
"Yes, last night, before Mae came." said Elei weakly.
Luinur swore again. In a tone that brooked no argument, he said "Elei, you need healing! We must find Caradorn, he is closest. Can you ride?" He watched as she wobbled to Tathar. "I will lead your mare." he insisted, lifting her carefully into the saddle. She protested feebly, but he said "Your head is getting worse, it cannot wait!" Moaning, Elei struggled to sit upright as a wave of nausea and dizziness hit her. She gasped in deep breaths of fresh air, fighting to calm her stomach. "'Tis not far, now!" said Luinur. "Stay with me, Elei!" She felt herself slipping in and out of awareness as he led Tathar along.