Part One-Luinefalathien sets off
"Father," Luinefalathien's brother, Athalion, said one day to her father Leanlothen; "I am going away. Great-grandfather Elrond is sending me as an envoy to Gondor."
Luinefalathien was startled, but eagerly jumped up, as her father was about to speak.
"Oh, father, may I go also?" She said, turning to her father eagerly. Athalion pushed her aside angrily.
"I was not speaking to you, Luinefalathien. You must work on your manners instead of your swordsmanship." He sneered. Luinefalathien burned with anger.
"It is not the place for brothers to speak against their sisters. Arkathie! (Shame!)"
Luinefalathien retorted, "I want to go to Gondor, father. I want to see Queen Arwen Evenstar, my Aunt, and King Elessar!"
"Oh, Luinefalathien, this is not for me to decide. Athalion is the journey- taker. I must not interfere." Her father said sadly, for he knew that Athalion would never consent to have his younger sister along.
"Athalion..." Luinefalathien began pleadingly.
"Never. A long journey is not the place for a woman. You must stay and learn what it is to be a woman." Athalion said. Luinefalathien crossed her arms.
"I will decide for myself whether I stay or go. I am a free elf, if only a woman. I am not weak like many are. I will decide for myself." Luinefalathien said.
"Then decide, whether to stay, with my blessing, or go," Athalion said angrily, "with my curse."
"Then I will stay" replied Luinefalathien, "because I do not wish to bring anger to my only brother."
~~~*~~~
A few days later, Luinefalathien got ready to leave. "If Athalion won't let me go with him, I will go alone." She thought to herself. She left her home, packed lightly with only water and the fair Lorien cakes, which were called lembas, similar to cram. Galadriel had taught her to make them. She headed off towards Gondor on a road that she had traveled once before. Soon she was lost among the trees. She had a vague idea of where she was; she couldn't have been far off from Gondor. She heard a calm singing in the branches above her.
1 I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:
Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.
Beyond the sun, beyond the moon, the foam was on the sea,
And by strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden tree…
1.1 She recognized the song, but of whom sang it, she did not know. She heard a laugh up above her.
"Getting a little lost are we?" she heard another giggle. By now Luinefalathien was just a little frightened. The steps above her were not quite elfin, but then again not quite human either.
"Show yourself I beg of you, for you have given me quite a scare." Luinefalathien cried.
"And who are you to beg such a favor from one such as me?" the voice above her said.
"I am Luinefalathien Lady of the red flame, grand-daughter of Galadriel of Lothlorien." She replied nervously, afraid that she might have given her name to the wrong sort of person. All she heard was laughter.
"Such a long name for someone who is so lost" Luinefalathien heard the person above start to climb down. "You could have climbed up after me you know." Said Braethowen, who was of course the voice from the trees.
"Braethowen, I am so glad it was you. I do happen to be a little lost" Luinefalathien was relieved. They greeted each other in the manner of the elves and then set off.
~~~*~~~
"Father," Luinefalathien's brother, Athalion, said one day to her father Leanlothen; "I am going away. Great-grandfather Elrond is sending me as an envoy to Gondor."
Luinefalathien was startled, but eagerly jumped up, as her father was about to speak.
"Oh, father, may I go also?" She said, turning to her father eagerly. Athalion pushed her aside angrily.
"I was not speaking to you, Luinefalathien. You must work on your manners instead of your swordsmanship." He sneered. Luinefalathien burned with anger.
"It is not the place for brothers to speak against their sisters. Arkathie! (Shame!)"
Luinefalathien retorted, "I want to go to Gondor, father. I want to see Queen Arwen Evenstar, my Aunt, and King Elessar!"
"Oh, Luinefalathien, this is not for me to decide. Athalion is the journey- taker. I must not interfere." Her father said sadly, for he knew that Athalion would never consent to have his younger sister along.
"Athalion..." Luinefalathien began pleadingly.
"Never. A long journey is not the place for a woman. You must stay and learn what it is to be a woman." Athalion said. Luinefalathien crossed her arms.
"I will decide for myself whether I stay or go. I am a free elf, if only a woman. I am not weak like many are. I will decide for myself." Luinefalathien said.
"Then decide, whether to stay, with my blessing, or go," Athalion said angrily, "with my curse."
"Then I will stay" replied Luinefalathien, "because I do not wish to bring anger to my only brother."
~~~*~~~
A few days later, Luinefalathien got ready to leave. "If Athalion won't let me go with him, I will go alone." She thought to herself. She left her home, packed lightly with only water and the fair Lorien cakes, which were called lembas, similar to cram. Galadriel had taught her to make them. She headed off towards Gondor on a road that she had traveled once before. Soon she was lost among the trees. She had a vague idea of where she was; she couldn't have been far off from Gondor. She heard a calm singing in the branches above her.
1 I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:
Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew.
Beyond the sun, beyond the moon, the foam was on the sea,
And by strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden tree…
1.1 She recognized the song, but of whom sang it, she did not know. She heard a laugh up above her.
"Getting a little lost are we?" she heard another giggle. By now Luinefalathien was just a little frightened. The steps above her were not quite elfin, but then again not quite human either.
"Show yourself I beg of you, for you have given me quite a scare." Luinefalathien cried.
"And who are you to beg such a favor from one such as me?" the voice above her said.
"I am Luinefalathien Lady of the red flame, grand-daughter of Galadriel of Lothlorien." She replied nervously, afraid that she might have given her name to the wrong sort of person. All she heard was laughter.
"Such a long name for someone who is so lost" Luinefalathien heard the person above start to climb down. "You could have climbed up after me you know." Said Braethowen, who was of course the voice from the trees.
"Braethowen, I am so glad it was you. I do happen to be a little lost" Luinefalathien was relieved. They greeted each other in the manner of the elves and then set off.
~~~*~~~