Tancal was in one of the most joyful moods. He felt playful and giddy, and
nothing could remove the smile that shone from his face. As he walked he
couldn't help but daydream of what he would encounter on journeys and
quests yet to come. When he was younger, he always thought a soldier was a
noble profession. And ever since the day his father did not return from a
regular routine patrol that turned into a fierce battle to protect
Rivendell, he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to honor his father's
name; he wanted to be as brave as him. However when his father died, Tancal
had no means of training or guidance. His mother was gone, and he had no
one to take care of him. But like a light in the dark, Nuinwath was there
for him. Now Tancal felt that he had two people to honor, two people he
considered his fathers.
He walked through various gardens, and then finally came to the main hall of the house of Elrond. His footsteps could be heard even though they were barely soundless. There was not one soul in the entire floor of the building. Tancal thought it strange that it was so silent. The main floor was using buzzing with activity, because most of the soldiers had to pass through it to get to their lodgings, for the main brigade of the army stayed close to the outermost part of the city, which was right behind Elrond's domicile. Tancal proceeded to wait for either Elrond or someone else to appear before advancing to his quarters.
** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** ***
Linteanna watched as her brother started to walk eastward past the tilila tree. She noticed that the tree had grown slightly bigger since the last time she had visited, and that was seventy-eight years ago. "It has been too long," she thought.
One of the servants ushered the horses over to a particular spot near a circle of trees. He told the horses to stay, and stay they would. They knew to keep in that vicinity, for a horse was an intelligent animal, and they had nothing to fear. No elf would bother another's horse. That was unheard of.
Linteanna thought of what to do next. She figured it would be best to inform Elrond that she and her brother had arrived, but another subject was clouding her mind. Seeing that familiar face triggered something. She wondered about him. She wondered if he wondered about her. This was a feeling that was well known to her whenever she thought about him. But all of a sudden she remembered the real reason of her journey to Rivendell, and temporarily put him out of her mind.
"Come, it is this way," she said as she pointed to the left of the split road, "Tis not far." They walked for about five minutes at a brisk pace, and then stopped.
"This place is exactly how I remember it," Linteanna thought to herself. She and the three servants were standing in front of the main building of the city, the dwelling of Master Elrond. The servants were amazed by the architecture of the edifice. Linteanna just smiled at them. "You three stay out here and admire. I will go and speak with him."
** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** ***
Tancal felt a bit of surprise when Linteanna walked through the doorway. She stopped in the middle of the room, and she slowly circled around to take a glance at everything. She saw a colossal gathering of purple roses on one of the tables, and she walked to it and smelled them. She tried to stay as calm as possible and thought of what to say so she could conceal her excitement from seeing him.
"Oh, these are my favorite. They are so beautiful." She set one of the roses behind her ear. "Everything is the same as it was before. The smells, the flowers, the birds…everything," she said.
"Do you find that surprising? You were not even gone for a hundred years. What do you expect?"
"Well…" She was flabbergasted by his answer. She thought that he would be overjoyed to see her. She was certainly happy to see him. But he had a different attitude towards her for some odd reason.
"Well? What are you doing here?" he said.
Her mouth slightly dropped, but she quickly retorted, "Is that any way to greet a friend who you have not seen in nearly eighty years?"
"What are you wearing?" he said, clearly avoiding the question.
"What is the meaning of such inquiries?" she said quietly.
"Can I not ask these things? I am only wondering…why such attire? You look like-"
"Well, what should I wear when traveling?" she interrupted. Tancal was silent. "That is what I thought. Plus I find it difficult to fight in a gown…"
"You a fighter? A warrior? Last time I saw you, you were only interested in counting stars and setting wee traps in the forests. Besides this bow is far too small for a true warrior." He pointed towards her weapon.
"I prefer this." She reached behind her back and pulled a dagger from her belt. "Meet Rinelen, a blade forged by the mightiest of men, the Númenóreans, in the deep of the Pillar of Heaven, Meneltarma – the Holy Mountain."
"Hmm..Rinelen is Elvish, is it not?" he questioned.
"Yes, it is. Rinelen is the Elvish name for what the Númenóreans call the 'fiery blade.'"
Tancal giggled. "That tiny blade? I bet it would not slice even a fish."
Linteanna stepped forward and pressed it against his throat. "I beg to differ," she said through her teeth. She was becoming irritated because she thought she wasn't being taken seriously. The blade was freakishly hot against Tancal's throat, and he was slightly alarmed. But he seemed to cover his emotions up well. He playfully pushed her arm away right before it actually began to burn him.
"Whatever magic you have cast upon that dagger will do you no good. You do not want to threaten me dear Linteanna. You know not what you are getting yourself into."
"Do you forget to whom you speak?" she asked in a loud voice.
"No, I certainly remember. But I remember a young elf who cared nothing for battle and one who always hid behind the servants of her father. But if you think that you know a bit about fighting with your trusty little dagger, then show me," he dared.
Anger was slowly building up inside her. "Why is he acting this way towards me? What have I done?" she thought. She tried to calm herself because she knew that he had no idea of how much she had indeed changed since the last time he saw her. She decided to accept his challenge.
"Prepare yourself, Tancal. For I have been trained by my brother. He has taught me well. Un-guard!"
Suddenly Nuinwath cleared his throat by making the loudest noise he possibly could. He was on the last step of the stairwell that was to the left of where Linteanna and Tancal were standing. "Ah, Lady Linteanna. You need not show your skills to a mere solider. Lord Elrond wishes to speak with you. I am positive that it is more important than this." He stepped down and then bowed to her. She bowed back to him in respect, and headed towards the stairs. But before she ascended, she gave Tancal a look that said, "We will finish this later."
Both Tancal and his guardian watched Linteanna until she disappeared above. Nuinwath waited until he could hear faint voices talking, and then he turned a cold glance to Tancal.
"I have a question for you, young sir. Why do you act in such a way towards her?"
"In what way is that, Nuinwath?"
"You seem to…pick at her. Why?"
Tancal looked as if he had been caught doing something wrong. He was uncomfortable in telling Nuinwath how he truly felt. "I – because…I like…to see how she reacts…"
Nuinwath smirked and said suddenly, "I see. Your feelings have changed since the last time you have seen her. You thought she was just an elf before, but she has changed." Tancal's face looked like he had fresh sunburn now. Nuinwath couldn't help but poke at him. "Oh, you are growing up too soon," he laughed. "Tis a normal thing my friend, but take my counsel. If you fancy her, then I advise you to be nice. Compliment, not torment. I thought you were being quite imprudent for talking to a Silvan princess. I suggest you work on that before you say anything to her when you are in the presence of her brother. He is quite the protective type, I hear. You would not want to have to face him, that is for sure. Go and rest now." Nuinwath patted him on the back and then left the room. There he was, alone again.
Tancal rewound everything that just had happened. He walked to the table with the flowers and picked one up and put it to his nose. "Compliment, not torment…I am going to need a lot of help," he said to himself.
He walked through various gardens, and then finally came to the main hall of the house of Elrond. His footsteps could be heard even though they were barely soundless. There was not one soul in the entire floor of the building. Tancal thought it strange that it was so silent. The main floor was using buzzing with activity, because most of the soldiers had to pass through it to get to their lodgings, for the main brigade of the army stayed close to the outermost part of the city, which was right behind Elrond's domicile. Tancal proceeded to wait for either Elrond or someone else to appear before advancing to his quarters.
** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** ***
Linteanna watched as her brother started to walk eastward past the tilila tree. She noticed that the tree had grown slightly bigger since the last time she had visited, and that was seventy-eight years ago. "It has been too long," she thought.
One of the servants ushered the horses over to a particular spot near a circle of trees. He told the horses to stay, and stay they would. They knew to keep in that vicinity, for a horse was an intelligent animal, and they had nothing to fear. No elf would bother another's horse. That was unheard of.
Linteanna thought of what to do next. She figured it would be best to inform Elrond that she and her brother had arrived, but another subject was clouding her mind. Seeing that familiar face triggered something. She wondered about him. She wondered if he wondered about her. This was a feeling that was well known to her whenever she thought about him. But all of a sudden she remembered the real reason of her journey to Rivendell, and temporarily put him out of her mind.
"Come, it is this way," she said as she pointed to the left of the split road, "Tis not far." They walked for about five minutes at a brisk pace, and then stopped.
"This place is exactly how I remember it," Linteanna thought to herself. She and the three servants were standing in front of the main building of the city, the dwelling of Master Elrond. The servants were amazed by the architecture of the edifice. Linteanna just smiled at them. "You three stay out here and admire. I will go and speak with him."
** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** *** ** ***
Tancal felt a bit of surprise when Linteanna walked through the doorway. She stopped in the middle of the room, and she slowly circled around to take a glance at everything. She saw a colossal gathering of purple roses on one of the tables, and she walked to it and smelled them. She tried to stay as calm as possible and thought of what to say so she could conceal her excitement from seeing him.
"Oh, these are my favorite. They are so beautiful." She set one of the roses behind her ear. "Everything is the same as it was before. The smells, the flowers, the birds…everything," she said.
"Do you find that surprising? You were not even gone for a hundred years. What do you expect?"
"Well…" She was flabbergasted by his answer. She thought that he would be overjoyed to see her. She was certainly happy to see him. But he had a different attitude towards her for some odd reason.
"Well? What are you doing here?" he said.
Her mouth slightly dropped, but she quickly retorted, "Is that any way to greet a friend who you have not seen in nearly eighty years?"
"What are you wearing?" he said, clearly avoiding the question.
"What is the meaning of such inquiries?" she said quietly.
"Can I not ask these things? I am only wondering…why such attire? You look like-"
"Well, what should I wear when traveling?" she interrupted. Tancal was silent. "That is what I thought. Plus I find it difficult to fight in a gown…"
"You a fighter? A warrior? Last time I saw you, you were only interested in counting stars and setting wee traps in the forests. Besides this bow is far too small for a true warrior." He pointed towards her weapon.
"I prefer this." She reached behind her back and pulled a dagger from her belt. "Meet Rinelen, a blade forged by the mightiest of men, the Númenóreans, in the deep of the Pillar of Heaven, Meneltarma – the Holy Mountain."
"Hmm..Rinelen is Elvish, is it not?" he questioned.
"Yes, it is. Rinelen is the Elvish name for what the Númenóreans call the 'fiery blade.'"
Tancal giggled. "That tiny blade? I bet it would not slice even a fish."
Linteanna stepped forward and pressed it against his throat. "I beg to differ," she said through her teeth. She was becoming irritated because she thought she wasn't being taken seriously. The blade was freakishly hot against Tancal's throat, and he was slightly alarmed. But he seemed to cover his emotions up well. He playfully pushed her arm away right before it actually began to burn him.
"Whatever magic you have cast upon that dagger will do you no good. You do not want to threaten me dear Linteanna. You know not what you are getting yourself into."
"Do you forget to whom you speak?" she asked in a loud voice.
"No, I certainly remember. But I remember a young elf who cared nothing for battle and one who always hid behind the servants of her father. But if you think that you know a bit about fighting with your trusty little dagger, then show me," he dared.
Anger was slowly building up inside her. "Why is he acting this way towards me? What have I done?" she thought. She tried to calm herself because she knew that he had no idea of how much she had indeed changed since the last time he saw her. She decided to accept his challenge.
"Prepare yourself, Tancal. For I have been trained by my brother. He has taught me well. Un-guard!"
Suddenly Nuinwath cleared his throat by making the loudest noise he possibly could. He was on the last step of the stairwell that was to the left of where Linteanna and Tancal were standing. "Ah, Lady Linteanna. You need not show your skills to a mere solider. Lord Elrond wishes to speak with you. I am positive that it is more important than this." He stepped down and then bowed to her. She bowed back to him in respect, and headed towards the stairs. But before she ascended, she gave Tancal a look that said, "We will finish this later."
Both Tancal and his guardian watched Linteanna until she disappeared above. Nuinwath waited until he could hear faint voices talking, and then he turned a cold glance to Tancal.
"I have a question for you, young sir. Why do you act in such a way towards her?"
"In what way is that, Nuinwath?"
"You seem to…pick at her. Why?"
Tancal looked as if he had been caught doing something wrong. He was uncomfortable in telling Nuinwath how he truly felt. "I – because…I like…to see how she reacts…"
Nuinwath smirked and said suddenly, "I see. Your feelings have changed since the last time you have seen her. You thought she was just an elf before, but she has changed." Tancal's face looked like he had fresh sunburn now. Nuinwath couldn't help but poke at him. "Oh, you are growing up too soon," he laughed. "Tis a normal thing my friend, but take my counsel. If you fancy her, then I advise you to be nice. Compliment, not torment. I thought you were being quite imprudent for talking to a Silvan princess. I suggest you work on that before you say anything to her when you are in the presence of her brother. He is quite the protective type, I hear. You would not want to have to face him, that is for sure. Go and rest now." Nuinwath patted him on the back and then left the room. There he was, alone again.
Tancal rewound everything that just had happened. He walked to the table with the flowers and picked one up and put it to his nose. "Compliment, not torment…I am going to need a lot of help," he said to himself.