One: Man and Maiden
Year 3319 of the Second Age.
Númenor had fallen. Even in Rivendell the ground had trembled.
And Lady Imladviel was 26 years of age. She lived with her parents, Gladhír and Lindál, in the court of Thingol of Greenwood the Great. There was not a soul in the forest halls as did not love her, for she was both beautiful and noble. Her hair was fair, unlike the hair of the wood elves. Both her parents also had dark hair, but it was know that Lady Lindál had Noldor in her ancestry. Her husband had fallen in love and married her in Rivendell during the years he had stayed there. There also had Imlaviel been born to them, as everyone knew.
One winter day, a guest arrived to the court. He also had fair hair, and eyes from beyond the sea.
'My name, sire, is Dion. I was passing trough your woods in a place you know as Willowhall, when I met a maiden of your court. Imladviel she said her name, and long we talked. She said her longtime wish was to see Rivendell, where she is born, and she asked me to escort her there, for her father has refused to.'
The king called for Gladhír.
'Where is your daughter, cousin?' 'In Willowhall, visiting her aunt.' 'Do you know this young man?' 'No, but I can see he is of the Calaquendi.' 'That is true, my lord. I am Dion of the Noldor of Rivendell.' 'Tell me, Dion of Rivendell, has any woman in your family ever - lost a child?' 'Not in the hundred years I've lived, they have not. Why do you ask?' 'For a reason.' 'For a reason I am here too', said Dion, and repeated his story. As he had expected, Gladhír refused his request, and Thingol ordered him to leave the realm as soon as possible. He would be watched, to make sure he left alone.
When Dion of Rivendell stepped out into the open, thus leaving Greenwood the Great, he shouted to the wood elves he knew were watching: 'Never again shall Imladviel walk these forest floors, until she knows her mother's name and holds her father's sword!'
Then they understood they had been deceived and saw who Dion truly was, as if a glamour had been lifted from their eyes.
Lindál, hearing the news, grieved most because she knew her daughter had all the time known the truth about her origin, and yet not told her. Imladviel's words suggested she could see the past, even that which was hidden from others.
Year 3319 of the Second Age.
Númenor had fallen. Even in Rivendell the ground had trembled.
And Lady Imladviel was 26 years of age. She lived with her parents, Gladhír and Lindál, in the court of Thingol of Greenwood the Great. There was not a soul in the forest halls as did not love her, for she was both beautiful and noble. Her hair was fair, unlike the hair of the wood elves. Both her parents also had dark hair, but it was know that Lady Lindál had Noldor in her ancestry. Her husband had fallen in love and married her in Rivendell during the years he had stayed there. There also had Imlaviel been born to them, as everyone knew.
One winter day, a guest arrived to the court. He also had fair hair, and eyes from beyond the sea.
'My name, sire, is Dion. I was passing trough your woods in a place you know as Willowhall, when I met a maiden of your court. Imladviel she said her name, and long we talked. She said her longtime wish was to see Rivendell, where she is born, and she asked me to escort her there, for her father has refused to.'
The king called for Gladhír.
'Where is your daughter, cousin?' 'In Willowhall, visiting her aunt.' 'Do you know this young man?' 'No, but I can see he is of the Calaquendi.' 'That is true, my lord. I am Dion of the Noldor of Rivendell.' 'Tell me, Dion of Rivendell, has any woman in your family ever - lost a child?' 'Not in the hundred years I've lived, they have not. Why do you ask?' 'For a reason.' 'For a reason I am here too', said Dion, and repeated his story. As he had expected, Gladhír refused his request, and Thingol ordered him to leave the realm as soon as possible. He would be watched, to make sure he left alone.
When Dion of Rivendell stepped out into the open, thus leaving Greenwood the Great, he shouted to the wood elves he knew were watching: 'Never again shall Imladviel walk these forest floors, until she knows her mother's name and holds her father's sword!'
Then they understood they had been deceived and saw who Dion truly was, as if a glamour had been lifted from their eyes.
Lindál, hearing the news, grieved most because she knew her daughter had all the time known the truth about her origin, and yet not told her. Imladviel's words suggested she could see the past, even that which was hidden from others.