Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Chapter Five
Unanswered Questions
In the two years since she had met Elrelad, Lothiniel's situation had changed very little. She still did not get along with her father, as he still would not tell her what she wanted to know. Plus, she had still heard a few rumors of another evil, but no location was ever included in those rumors.
Finally, one morning, while her father was out taking care of something that he would not tell her about, she packed a bag with what she felt she would need for a journey, and slipped out, heading towards the Road. She planned to go to Minas Tirith, thinking that would be a good place to gain information.
Isarak walked to his small quarters in the fifth circle of the city, instead of returning to the library. He needed a break maybe from his counsels, he would go on a little vacation. He searched through his many stacks of books -which hardly looked any different than the city library-for an old longtime favorite, "The Palantiri." It would make for a good travel book. Grabbing up a few things he would need for the journey; a walking stick, and a fairly good sized leather pouch for his books, as well as his curious blue stone, which he had neglected to put on this day.
He then promptly headed out the door.
Several days later he was within sight of the Forest of Fangorn. Here many of history's great men, Isarak's predecessors, had walked in these very woods. Gandalf the Wise, Sauruman the White -who had later been discovered as a traitor- Isarak and Sauruman were very similar in ways, only Isarak was smarter than the Former great counselor. Isarak had not betrayed the world to Sauron. There was Elrond, ah yes, and Treebeard. These were the great men -good and evil- of the past.
Coming now into the woods, a sense of eerie watchfulness crept over the old man. He shrugged it off and continued walking. He knew these woods well enough to not be frightened by them.
The next day as Isarak had continued his walking on through the night and into the daytime again. He saw a young Elven girl walking at a leisurely pace, though she seemed somewhat heavy of heart. Isarak stopped and waited.
Lothiniel had been traveling for several days before reaching Fangorn. For the first few days she had rejoiced a being out in the world on her own. She was actually seeing things that her father would never have told her about. After several years, she was free.
Of course, she was also lonely. She occasionally saw other travelers on the road, but did not talk to any of them for very long. Part of her had hoped to see Elrelad, as he was the only person she had ever really talked to, but she didn't think that would happen. After all, what where the chances that he would leave Mirkwood at the same time she had. Plus, he had probably forgotten all about her in the two years since they had met.
So it was that she reached Fangorn, and encountered a strange old man. She looked at this man curiously, never having seen anyone like him. The man had long, white hair, that did seem well taken care of. He was stooped over, like one who had spent much time in study, and his pale skin indicated that. Of course, she did not know the reason for any of those things about his appearance, they were only her impressions.
He was watching her, so she approached him. "Hello, sir," she said, shyly, then paused, unsure of what to say next.
Isarak looked at the girl for a long while after she had spoken, there was something different about this one. She was innocent, unlearned. "Come child, speak with me, your voice is so fair upon my ear." he crooned softly in the Sindarin tongue, guessing that she was indeed one of the Sindarin Elves from Mirkwood. "I see from your eyes you are troubled. Come, come, do not be afraid. This old bag of bones won't bite you!" Isarak chuckled, I am only a withered old man of the city, long years I have spent in study, and have counseled the Great King of Middle Earth these past few years. Yes, come and I will impart my knowledge upon you, and you knowing these great things will be relieved, and shall find what you so seek." Isarak outstretched his hand from his side smiling and turned to show the fair maiden a large smooth stone, much like a bench, though it did not seem like it had been there before.
Lothiniel tried to hide her surprise at the sudden appearance of the stone, but her eyes still showed a small hint. "I thank you for the kind words, sir," she said, "but I doubt you could give me the knowledge I most strongly desire."
"Ah child, do no not doubt a man's wealth of knowledge before you have seen it's power! Come, sit down, ask me anything you like." Isarak spoke to Lothiniel cheerily, by his manner it could be assumed that he would bubble over with laughter at any given moment.
Lothiniel sat down, but did not speak immediately. She seemed to be thinking. After a few minutes, she said, "The knowledge I most desire is about my mother. She has been kept a secret from me for as long as I remember. My father told me she died when I was little, but he won't say how."
Isarak's smile changed with a curving of the mouth that would give the impression of adisappointed frown.
"Ah yes, I see. And why would your father hide these things from you child?"
"I do not know. I have asked him about her before, but he will not tell me anything. And a friend of mine also thought that it was strange. That he doesn't tell me, I mean. I don't even know my mother's name."
"Where are you from child, for I alone of thousands of people, have taken the time to study the records of birth, and of lineage. Books are what I desire most, knowledge, is the key to my life. I thirst for wisdom, I may very well have that which you desire; the knowledge of your mother." Israk's face straightened somewhat, though there seemed to be something now troubling his mind.
Lothiniel hesitated briefly. "I'm from Mirkwood, I guess. It's the only place I can remember living. My father's name is Nithrar."
"Nithrar? Hmm... yes Nithrar of Mirkwood... I know your parents child, or should I say, I knew them. Your mother was a dear friend of mine."
"She was?" Lothiniel asked, surprised. "can you tell me about her?" She could not believe that after so long, she was finally being offered knowledge ofher mother.
Isarak's face again brightened. "Though I have not seen either of your parents for many a year. Yes I will tell you all that I know"
"What was her name?" Lothiniel asked, after a few moments, desiring to know at last what her mother's name was. Even that information had been kept from her all her life.
Isarak thought for a moment, recalling those early days. "Yes, she was my dear friend until she was cursed, then she ran away. What a pity!" he thought to himself. "Renia Alcar, Glorious Light." He smiled as he recollected the meaning of the name, it was not the full meaning, but he thought it best not to disclose more than he had.
"Renia." At last she had a name for her mother. But she still didn't know anything else about her. "What was she like?" she asked. And why did I never know her? she thought to herself.
"Your mother was a dear woman, this world does not deserve one of such beauty, both of the soul and the physical appearance. She was kind, and she was fair. Only the dark lord and his minions would be turned away from her door. Perhaps that is how I came to know here, as I was traveling throught Mirkwood years ago, -before I had gained such knowledge as I have now- I strayed from the path, and was attacked by the evil black spiders, and had it not been for the grace and valor of your parents, I would not be her speaking with you today." Isarak smiled again.
Lothiniel returned Isarak's smiled. "So she was nice. I wish I could have known her. Maybe she would have cared for me more than my father seems to sometimes."
"Yes, she might have, though your father is a great man in his own right."
"I have a hard time agreeing with that. He doesn't care about me. He thinks I can't take care of myself, and I can. I'm not a child anymore."
"Maybe your father is not the man I once knew, maybe his heart has hardened. Who is to say? Certainly not I"
"What was he like when you knew him?"
"He was kind, loving of his family, but careful for their protection. He saved my life in the risking of his own. For that I admire him." Isarak's face grew serious, and stern. "But something seemed to trouble him, though I know not now what it was"
"His family. I guess you mean my older brother and sister, right?"
"And your mother, I believe you were yet several months from birth at the time I last saw your parents."
"Oh. My mother died soon after that I guess. Do you know how she died?"
Isarak was aghast "Oh no child, I did not think your mother had died, indeed, I thought she was still with your father until I spoke with you."
"Oh. Well, my father told me that she had died." Lothiniel was silent for a while. "Was she from Mirkwood, as well, like my father seems to have been?"
"No, your mother was from a far richer place, Lorien, though it is not far from the Mirkwood. Before Lorien I do not know, she very well could have come from the Blessed Realm of Aman itself!"
"She was from Lorien?" Lothiniel whispered, an idea coming to her, to go to Lorien, and see the land her mother had come from, just to see what it looked like. Maybe, that would make her feel closer to the mother she had never known.
"Perhaps you would like to come with me to Minas Tirith, where I reside as a counselor to the king. I have acess to the great library there, and you could search through those great books to learn more of the things you desire to know.
"I can see your thirst for knowledge, but also your will to fight. You may not become bent over from study as I have, but you will become powerful with wisdom. You will succeed in whatever you do." Isarak thought for a moment before continuing. "Then maybe you shall like to go to the land of your heritage?"
"I would like to accompany you to Minas Tirith," Lothiniel said after a few moments. "And then I will go to Lorien, after I have learned more, if you will teach what you feel I should know."
Isarak smiled broadly. "Yes that would be wonderful, then I shall not be alone forever in my studies, with no one to share my knowledge with, yes I must have an apprentice for a time!"
"I think I'd like to be your apprentice," Lothiniel said. "My mother knew you, so maybe she would approve as well."
Isarak stood and smiled. "Come then Lothiniel, my vacation was to be much longer, but I can pass it up for teaching and studying."
"Thank you sir," Lothiniel said. Then, after a few moments, she asked, "If you're going to be my master, what should I call you?"
"You may call me Isarak, and I will be greatful!"
"Oh. Well, Isarak, I guess we should go, then?"
Isarak stood slowly, his back straightening, and each rib stacking upon the other.
Then grabbing up his walking stick he walked a few paces and turned. "Yes let us be on our way, the library is calling my name, as it does whenever I leave it's presence for more than a single passing of the sun."
Lothiniel laughed at the image of the library calling Isarak's name.
Isarak held out his arm and bent it at the elbow in a gesture for Lothiniel to slip her arm through and they would begin their journey to the great city.
Lothiniel took Isarak's arm, smiling as she did so. She couldn't remember feeling this at ease around anyone since she had met Elrelad.
As they strode, if Lothiniel had looked back, she would have noticed that the stones they had sat upon were missing.
"Where did the stones go?" she asked, surprised.
Isarak did not seem to notice her question, rather he turned her attention to sounds of two men speaking joyfully together in the common tongue. "It is not often that there are other people in these woods. These are strange times I think. The Ents have opened their borders it seems. Or perhaps this is just a coincidal day of mystery and joy."
Lothiniel also thought she heard people speaking, but did not comment. She knew nothing about Fangorn, so it did not surprise her that there were others there.
Author's note: If you're reading this, please review. I want to know what people think of the story.
Chapter Five
Unanswered Questions
In the two years since she had met Elrelad, Lothiniel's situation had changed very little. She still did not get along with her father, as he still would not tell her what she wanted to know. Plus, she had still heard a few rumors of another evil, but no location was ever included in those rumors.
Finally, one morning, while her father was out taking care of something that he would not tell her about, she packed a bag with what she felt she would need for a journey, and slipped out, heading towards the Road. She planned to go to Minas Tirith, thinking that would be a good place to gain information.
Isarak walked to his small quarters in the fifth circle of the city, instead of returning to the library. He needed a break maybe from his counsels, he would go on a little vacation. He searched through his many stacks of books -which hardly looked any different than the city library-for an old longtime favorite, "The Palantiri." It would make for a good travel book. Grabbing up a few things he would need for the journey; a walking stick, and a fairly good sized leather pouch for his books, as well as his curious blue stone, which he had neglected to put on this day.
He then promptly headed out the door.
Several days later he was within sight of the Forest of Fangorn. Here many of history's great men, Isarak's predecessors, had walked in these very woods. Gandalf the Wise, Sauruman the White -who had later been discovered as a traitor- Isarak and Sauruman were very similar in ways, only Isarak was smarter than the Former great counselor. Isarak had not betrayed the world to Sauron. There was Elrond, ah yes, and Treebeard. These were the great men -good and evil- of the past.
Coming now into the woods, a sense of eerie watchfulness crept over the old man. He shrugged it off and continued walking. He knew these woods well enough to not be frightened by them.
The next day as Isarak had continued his walking on through the night and into the daytime again. He saw a young Elven girl walking at a leisurely pace, though she seemed somewhat heavy of heart. Isarak stopped and waited.
Lothiniel had been traveling for several days before reaching Fangorn. For the first few days she had rejoiced a being out in the world on her own. She was actually seeing things that her father would never have told her about. After several years, she was free.
Of course, she was also lonely. She occasionally saw other travelers on the road, but did not talk to any of them for very long. Part of her had hoped to see Elrelad, as he was the only person she had ever really talked to, but she didn't think that would happen. After all, what where the chances that he would leave Mirkwood at the same time she had. Plus, he had probably forgotten all about her in the two years since they had met.
So it was that she reached Fangorn, and encountered a strange old man. She looked at this man curiously, never having seen anyone like him. The man had long, white hair, that did seem well taken care of. He was stooped over, like one who had spent much time in study, and his pale skin indicated that. Of course, she did not know the reason for any of those things about his appearance, they were only her impressions.
He was watching her, so she approached him. "Hello, sir," she said, shyly, then paused, unsure of what to say next.
Isarak looked at the girl for a long while after she had spoken, there was something different about this one. She was innocent, unlearned. "Come child, speak with me, your voice is so fair upon my ear." he crooned softly in the Sindarin tongue, guessing that she was indeed one of the Sindarin Elves from Mirkwood. "I see from your eyes you are troubled. Come, come, do not be afraid. This old bag of bones won't bite you!" Isarak chuckled, I am only a withered old man of the city, long years I have spent in study, and have counseled the Great King of Middle Earth these past few years. Yes, come and I will impart my knowledge upon you, and you knowing these great things will be relieved, and shall find what you so seek." Isarak outstretched his hand from his side smiling and turned to show the fair maiden a large smooth stone, much like a bench, though it did not seem like it had been there before.
Lothiniel tried to hide her surprise at the sudden appearance of the stone, but her eyes still showed a small hint. "I thank you for the kind words, sir," she said, "but I doubt you could give me the knowledge I most strongly desire."
"Ah child, do no not doubt a man's wealth of knowledge before you have seen it's power! Come, sit down, ask me anything you like." Isarak spoke to Lothiniel cheerily, by his manner it could be assumed that he would bubble over with laughter at any given moment.
Lothiniel sat down, but did not speak immediately. She seemed to be thinking. After a few minutes, she said, "The knowledge I most desire is about my mother. She has been kept a secret from me for as long as I remember. My father told me she died when I was little, but he won't say how."
Isarak's smile changed with a curving of the mouth that would give the impression of adisappointed frown.
"Ah yes, I see. And why would your father hide these things from you child?"
"I do not know. I have asked him about her before, but he will not tell me anything. And a friend of mine also thought that it was strange. That he doesn't tell me, I mean. I don't even know my mother's name."
"Where are you from child, for I alone of thousands of people, have taken the time to study the records of birth, and of lineage. Books are what I desire most, knowledge, is the key to my life. I thirst for wisdom, I may very well have that which you desire; the knowledge of your mother." Israk's face straightened somewhat, though there seemed to be something now troubling his mind.
Lothiniel hesitated briefly. "I'm from Mirkwood, I guess. It's the only place I can remember living. My father's name is Nithrar."
"Nithrar? Hmm... yes Nithrar of Mirkwood... I know your parents child, or should I say, I knew them. Your mother was a dear friend of mine."
"She was?" Lothiniel asked, surprised. "can you tell me about her?" She could not believe that after so long, she was finally being offered knowledge ofher mother.
Isarak's face again brightened. "Though I have not seen either of your parents for many a year. Yes I will tell you all that I know"
"What was her name?" Lothiniel asked, after a few moments, desiring to know at last what her mother's name was. Even that information had been kept from her all her life.
Isarak thought for a moment, recalling those early days. "Yes, she was my dear friend until she was cursed, then she ran away. What a pity!" he thought to himself. "Renia Alcar, Glorious Light." He smiled as he recollected the meaning of the name, it was not the full meaning, but he thought it best not to disclose more than he had.
"Renia." At last she had a name for her mother. But she still didn't know anything else about her. "What was she like?" she asked. And why did I never know her? she thought to herself.
"Your mother was a dear woman, this world does not deserve one of such beauty, both of the soul and the physical appearance. She was kind, and she was fair. Only the dark lord and his minions would be turned away from her door. Perhaps that is how I came to know here, as I was traveling throught Mirkwood years ago, -before I had gained such knowledge as I have now- I strayed from the path, and was attacked by the evil black spiders, and had it not been for the grace and valor of your parents, I would not be her speaking with you today." Isarak smiled again.
Lothiniel returned Isarak's smiled. "So she was nice. I wish I could have known her. Maybe she would have cared for me more than my father seems to sometimes."
"Yes, she might have, though your father is a great man in his own right."
"I have a hard time agreeing with that. He doesn't care about me. He thinks I can't take care of myself, and I can. I'm not a child anymore."
"Maybe your father is not the man I once knew, maybe his heart has hardened. Who is to say? Certainly not I"
"What was he like when you knew him?"
"He was kind, loving of his family, but careful for their protection. He saved my life in the risking of his own. For that I admire him." Isarak's face grew serious, and stern. "But something seemed to trouble him, though I know not now what it was"
"His family. I guess you mean my older brother and sister, right?"
"And your mother, I believe you were yet several months from birth at the time I last saw your parents."
"Oh. My mother died soon after that I guess. Do you know how she died?"
Isarak was aghast "Oh no child, I did not think your mother had died, indeed, I thought she was still with your father until I spoke with you."
"Oh. Well, my father told me that she had died." Lothiniel was silent for a while. "Was she from Mirkwood, as well, like my father seems to have been?"
"No, your mother was from a far richer place, Lorien, though it is not far from the Mirkwood. Before Lorien I do not know, she very well could have come from the Blessed Realm of Aman itself!"
"She was from Lorien?" Lothiniel whispered, an idea coming to her, to go to Lorien, and see the land her mother had come from, just to see what it looked like. Maybe, that would make her feel closer to the mother she had never known.
"Perhaps you would like to come with me to Minas Tirith, where I reside as a counselor to the king. I have acess to the great library there, and you could search through those great books to learn more of the things you desire to know.
"I can see your thirst for knowledge, but also your will to fight. You may not become bent over from study as I have, but you will become powerful with wisdom. You will succeed in whatever you do." Isarak thought for a moment before continuing. "Then maybe you shall like to go to the land of your heritage?"
"I would like to accompany you to Minas Tirith," Lothiniel said after a few moments. "And then I will go to Lorien, after I have learned more, if you will teach what you feel I should know."
Isarak smiled broadly. "Yes that would be wonderful, then I shall not be alone forever in my studies, with no one to share my knowledge with, yes I must have an apprentice for a time!"
"I think I'd like to be your apprentice," Lothiniel said. "My mother knew you, so maybe she would approve as well."
Isarak stood and smiled. "Come then Lothiniel, my vacation was to be much longer, but I can pass it up for teaching and studying."
"Thank you sir," Lothiniel said. Then, after a few moments, she asked, "If you're going to be my master, what should I call you?"
"You may call me Isarak, and I will be greatful!"
"Oh. Well, Isarak, I guess we should go, then?"
Isarak stood slowly, his back straightening, and each rib stacking upon the other.
Then grabbing up his walking stick he walked a few paces and turned. "Yes let us be on our way, the library is calling my name, as it does whenever I leave it's presence for more than a single passing of the sun."
Lothiniel laughed at the image of the library calling Isarak's name.
Isarak held out his arm and bent it at the elbow in a gesture for Lothiniel to slip her arm through and they would begin their journey to the great city.
Lothiniel took Isarak's arm, smiling as she did so. She couldn't remember feeling this at ease around anyone since she had met Elrelad.
As they strode, if Lothiniel had looked back, she would have noticed that the stones they had sat upon were missing.
"Where did the stones go?" she asked, surprised.
Isarak did not seem to notice her question, rather he turned her attention to sounds of two men speaking joyfully together in the common tongue. "It is not often that there are other people in these woods. These are strange times I think. The Ents have opened their borders it seems. Or perhaps this is just a coincidal day of mystery and joy."
Lothiniel also thought she heard people speaking, but did not comment. She knew nothing about Fangorn, so it did not surprise her that there were others there.
Author's note: If you're reading this, please review. I want to know what people think of the story.