Mid Summer's Eve had finally arrived, and as was usual for such a day, it
was clear and warm with a slight breeze filled with the scent of flowers.
Enedeth hopped out of bed with a shout. The festival was today! Putting on her best dress in record time, even having to get it over her broken arm, she rushed downstairs to find Mallinfar humming as she pulled out a special loaf of Spring Bread laced with strawberries and cherries with honey drizzled on top.
With shining eyes, Enedeth anxiously awaited the first slice and when Mallinfar grinning handed it to her, Enedeth did not wait for the butter but gobbled it down quickly.
"Enedeth! You are more of a bear than a bee today!"
"Ifth tho goodth Granmamman!" she said around the soft bread.
"Slow down. You have the whole day before you!" Mallinfar handed her a cool mug of milk, which the little girl drank quickly, finishing it and grinning up at her grandmother with a white ring around her mouth. Laughing, Mallinfar got a napkin and wiped off her face.
"All right sweet pea! Off you go. Try to keep out of the Lord and Lady's way today as they will be very busy. I shall be joining you as soon as I get everything settled here."
"All right Grandmamma." And Enedeth dashed off through the kitchen door, rubbed Carach's head and ran down the path to the road leading to the High House.
Panting as she passed the guards, one of whom wore a garland of ivy in his dark hair, Enedeth ran up the stairs and then paused a moment to catch her breath. The heavy front doors were open and draped with flowers and Enedeth walked in more slowly remembering the request for no running.
She went down the corridor and realized Arwen could be anywhere today, but decided her bedroom was the most likely place. Stopping only a moment to taste some candied flowers on a silver tray, Enedeth took a few for Arwen.
Knocking on her door, both girls squealed when the door opened and they saw each other. Jumping up and down, Enedeth handed Arwen the sticky flowers, which she promptly ate. Licking their fingers the two girls settled on Arwen's bed.
"Are you ready to sing today Enedeth?"
"I feel as if I have been ready all my life Arwen!"
"Oh my family will be so surprised when they hear how good we are."
"Oh yes, Grandmamma is going to be surprised too!"
Arwen hopped off her bed and swirled in her fine dress. It was dark blue with sparkling clear beads picking out swags of flowers. She also wore an intricately made silver circlet woven into her dark tresses.
Enedeth smiled at her friend and sighed. "You look just like a princess Arwen!" Enedeth looked at her dark green dress with the thin gold embroidery on the sleeves and hem. Well, it was not quite as fine as Arwen's but at least the two colors looked nice together.
"Come, let us go see what is happening on the big lawn!"
Grabbing Enedeth by her good arm, Arwen was just about to rush out of the room, when her father and mother came in.
The girls stopped and Arwen threw herself into her mothers arms as Elrond who was carrying some cloth, lay it carefully on the foot of the bed,
"Mama! Enedeth is here and we are going to go out to the big lawn and see if any dancing has begun!"
Elrond, his dark hair crowned by an intricate silver circlet and dressed in pale gold with green and red flowers and vines woven about the hems and in a cascade down the front of his robe, put a hand on his daughter's head.
"Well, your mother and I thought since this is such a special day for both of you, that we would give Enedeth something to remember the her first Mid Summer's Eve here in Rivendell."
Enedeth smiled up at the elf lord and clutched Arwen's hand. What could he mean?
Celebrian also crowned in silver and dressed in pale gold, her dress a light cloud of soft wafting silk, patterned similarly to her husbands, bent and indicated the material on the bed. "We thought perhaps you would like a dress like Arwen's."
Enedeth's eyes shone as she put a hand on the dark blue material and felt the clear beads. Nodding she looked at the two elder elves delighted. She and Arwen could be twins, just like her brothers!
"All right then, let us get you in the dress and see how it looks." As Elrond shook out the new dress, Celebrian helped Enedeth out of her clothes. Carefully moving her broken arm, the two elder elves dressed Enedeth and then stepped back. Arwen clapped her hands excitedly and took Enedeth over to the mirror on the bureau, Celebrian holding it in front of them so the two girls could see how they looked together.
Enedeth turned and silently hugged each of the adults and then picked up the soft material. "It is so beautiful! Thank you!!"
"You are welcome Enedeth, " Elrond folded up her other dress on the end of the bed and then, with a sweep of his arm, indicated the door, "Shall we all go outside and see what is happening?"
"Yey!" Both girls, so excited forgot the admonition about running and swept before the two adults like the excited children they were and went out the front doors like a wind off the mountains.
Once out in the sunshine they stopped and looked at the many elves passing before them wearing light colors and wreaths of flowers or circlets. As the girls entered the courtyard, the elves therein paused and bowed low. Enedeth startled looked at Arwen and then turned to look over her shoulder and saw what had stopped all movement.
Arwen's parents stood at the top of the stairs and the light catching the pale gold of their robes made the two glow like the sun, their regal bearing and smiling faces warming the courtyard.
Enedeth and Arwen bowed like the others, and then as Elrond and Celebrian came down the stairs, the two girls rushed off to the lawn.
The morning had been filled with dancing, archery tournaments, spear throwing, fencing and wonderful displays of weaving, jewelry making, tapestry work, wood work and other artistic endeavors.
Enedeth, her mouth pink from drinking a delicious juice made from deep red flowers, was just licking the honey off her fingers from another sticky bun and then looked for Arwen who had been trailing behind her, eating another handful of candied flowers.
The afternoon sun westering through the swaying boughs of a nearby willow, crossed the little she-elf's face and she was not happy.
Enedeth stopped in surprise and looked at her friend in concern.
"Arwen, what's wrong? Did you not like Master Vallin's harp playing?"
"I-I do not feel good. My tummy hurts."
Enedeth was confused. How could Arwen's tummy hurt when all they had eaten today was wonderful things like candied flowers and sticky buns and strawberries and cream and Spring Bread and-"
Before she could think of any more delicious things, Arwen ran over to a lilac bush and got nosily sick, all over her new slippers.
Putting a hand to her mouth in horror, Enedeth looked around and quickly found Arwen's mother who was standing with another group of elves watching some dancing.
Picking up her dress, Enedeth ran to Celebrian and pulled on the edge of her sleeve.
"Why hello Enedeth, what---"
"My lady, Arwen got sick all over her new shoes. Over there by the pink lilac bush!"
Celebrian, frowning slightly at this tale, followed the little girl to where Arwen was now on her knees, retching into the grass.
"Oh sweetheart, what is the matter!"
"Mama!!" Arwen started to cry which did nothing for her retching and for several minutes Arwen was miserable until there was nothing left to expel.
Enedeth watching this then went to find Lord Elrond, who was a bit further away, talking to a group of archers.
"Lord Elrond, Lord Elrond," Enedeth cried and the tall elf turned with a look and Enedeth said breathlessly, "Arwen got sick by the lilac bush!"
The elf lord left the archers and followed Enedeth back to his wife and child. Eyeing the mess critically, he took the pale unhappy Arwen from Celebrian and swiftly bore her to the house and his study. Sitting on the couch under the window, he unfolded his daughter from her tight curl and lay a hand on her stomach sending healing energy to still the upset.
Gasping Arwen relaxed against his shoulder. Celebrian had already gone into his cabinet behind his desk and pulled out the necessary ingredients to settle an upset stomach and got water going on the always available brazier nearby. In the meantime, she brought a glass of water over to her daughter who drank it slowly. Celebrian took the glass and hurriedly got a large bowl from the cabinet in case even the water would not stay down.
But it did.
"I am sorry Ada, Mama. I did not mean to be sick,"
"Shh sweetheart. If it is any consolation, both your brothers did the same thing on an Eve of Yule by getting into the morning's baking and eating a tray of honey cakes between them." Elrond slowly sat his daughter up and rubbed her face softly and then slipped her soiled slippers off her feet. Then he smiled at the anxious Enedeth. "And your tummy?"
She bit her lip. Her tummy was fine, but seeing Arwen get sick and the smell did not make her feel too good. "I-I am fine my lord."
Elrond smiled at Enedeth's bowed head and looked up at his wife, who smiling, added a few more herbs and water to the concoction already heating up.
Soon both girls had drank the stomach settling tea and the two adults cleaned up and each led one of the girls out by hand. Enedeth, to be like Arwen, had hastily slipped her slippers off.
Elrond said to his daughter, "No more sweets until after supper, all right? And only a few."
"Yes Ada."
The group went outside into the long evening light and Elrond glancing at the sun said to the two girls, "When do you sing?"
"After you and Mama."
"All right then. I see the twins are headed to the bower, we best go over and listen."
And the four moved gracefully through the colorful crowd to the seats prepared for them.
As Enedeth sat at Arwen's feet listening to the music, she began to feel a little bit scared that she and Arwen would not be able to compare to such singing.
The twins had sung something stirring and the crowd had responded wonderfully with ululation and flowers and garlands had been thrown at their feet. Arwen with shining eyes looked at Enedeth. "Wasn't that wonderful? That was even better than last year when they sang about Turin Turumbar!"
Enedeth could only nod and swallowed nervously. But their song was so simple and did not contain any famous people or heroes.
When Elrond and Celebrian rose from their seats and entered the bower to sing, the crowd went quiet and Arwen's hand snuck down to Enedeth who clutched it tightly.
The two elves sang a heart-wrenching duet of Beren and Luthien. As the song went on, Enedeth dropped her head and stared at the grass around her feet listening. She did not know the tale of which the Lord and Lady of Imladris sang, but the flow of sadness under even the soaring strains of hope enraptured Enedeth, as well as the rest of the audience.
When they finished, the listeners were silent and Enedeth looked out into the crowd. The faces were a mixture of happy and sad, and then suddenly they erupted into a joyful sound and Elrond and Celebrian were inundated with flowers. It looked as if the heavens had opened up and showered petals instead if rain.
Enedeth held her broken arm and rubbed her bare feet in the grass. Arwen hopped out of her seat and ran up to her parents and hugged each of them, eyes shining.
Elrond picked up his daughter and before she knew what was happening, Celebrian came over smiling and picked up Enedeth.
"Thank you for your kind response my friends, " Elrond said. "We now have a special treat from my Arwen Unodmiel and Enedeth daughter of Tallas who will sing for us "The Moon Sailed Over the Sea."
Arwen, listening to her father speak, then turned to her friend and began to sing. And Enedeth, catching the warm smile of her Grandmamma amongst the elves, grinned back at her. Slipping her harmony under her friends, as they had practiced so many times, Enedeth's heart swelled with happiness.
Theirs was not a grand song or ancient, but it was indeed, a friendly duet.
Enedeth hopped out of bed with a shout. The festival was today! Putting on her best dress in record time, even having to get it over her broken arm, she rushed downstairs to find Mallinfar humming as she pulled out a special loaf of Spring Bread laced with strawberries and cherries with honey drizzled on top.
With shining eyes, Enedeth anxiously awaited the first slice and when Mallinfar grinning handed it to her, Enedeth did not wait for the butter but gobbled it down quickly.
"Enedeth! You are more of a bear than a bee today!"
"Ifth tho goodth Granmamman!" she said around the soft bread.
"Slow down. You have the whole day before you!" Mallinfar handed her a cool mug of milk, which the little girl drank quickly, finishing it and grinning up at her grandmother with a white ring around her mouth. Laughing, Mallinfar got a napkin and wiped off her face.
"All right sweet pea! Off you go. Try to keep out of the Lord and Lady's way today as they will be very busy. I shall be joining you as soon as I get everything settled here."
"All right Grandmamma." And Enedeth dashed off through the kitchen door, rubbed Carach's head and ran down the path to the road leading to the High House.
Panting as she passed the guards, one of whom wore a garland of ivy in his dark hair, Enedeth ran up the stairs and then paused a moment to catch her breath. The heavy front doors were open and draped with flowers and Enedeth walked in more slowly remembering the request for no running.
She went down the corridor and realized Arwen could be anywhere today, but decided her bedroom was the most likely place. Stopping only a moment to taste some candied flowers on a silver tray, Enedeth took a few for Arwen.
Knocking on her door, both girls squealed when the door opened and they saw each other. Jumping up and down, Enedeth handed Arwen the sticky flowers, which she promptly ate. Licking their fingers the two girls settled on Arwen's bed.
"Are you ready to sing today Enedeth?"
"I feel as if I have been ready all my life Arwen!"
"Oh my family will be so surprised when they hear how good we are."
"Oh yes, Grandmamma is going to be surprised too!"
Arwen hopped off her bed and swirled in her fine dress. It was dark blue with sparkling clear beads picking out swags of flowers. She also wore an intricately made silver circlet woven into her dark tresses.
Enedeth smiled at her friend and sighed. "You look just like a princess Arwen!" Enedeth looked at her dark green dress with the thin gold embroidery on the sleeves and hem. Well, it was not quite as fine as Arwen's but at least the two colors looked nice together.
"Come, let us go see what is happening on the big lawn!"
Grabbing Enedeth by her good arm, Arwen was just about to rush out of the room, when her father and mother came in.
The girls stopped and Arwen threw herself into her mothers arms as Elrond who was carrying some cloth, lay it carefully on the foot of the bed,
"Mama! Enedeth is here and we are going to go out to the big lawn and see if any dancing has begun!"
Elrond, his dark hair crowned by an intricate silver circlet and dressed in pale gold with green and red flowers and vines woven about the hems and in a cascade down the front of his robe, put a hand on his daughter's head.
"Well, your mother and I thought since this is such a special day for both of you, that we would give Enedeth something to remember the her first Mid Summer's Eve here in Rivendell."
Enedeth smiled up at the elf lord and clutched Arwen's hand. What could he mean?
Celebrian also crowned in silver and dressed in pale gold, her dress a light cloud of soft wafting silk, patterned similarly to her husbands, bent and indicated the material on the bed. "We thought perhaps you would like a dress like Arwen's."
Enedeth's eyes shone as she put a hand on the dark blue material and felt the clear beads. Nodding she looked at the two elder elves delighted. She and Arwen could be twins, just like her brothers!
"All right then, let us get you in the dress and see how it looks." As Elrond shook out the new dress, Celebrian helped Enedeth out of her clothes. Carefully moving her broken arm, the two elder elves dressed Enedeth and then stepped back. Arwen clapped her hands excitedly and took Enedeth over to the mirror on the bureau, Celebrian holding it in front of them so the two girls could see how they looked together.
Enedeth turned and silently hugged each of the adults and then picked up the soft material. "It is so beautiful! Thank you!!"
"You are welcome Enedeth, " Elrond folded up her other dress on the end of the bed and then, with a sweep of his arm, indicated the door, "Shall we all go outside and see what is happening?"
"Yey!" Both girls, so excited forgot the admonition about running and swept before the two adults like the excited children they were and went out the front doors like a wind off the mountains.
Once out in the sunshine they stopped and looked at the many elves passing before them wearing light colors and wreaths of flowers or circlets. As the girls entered the courtyard, the elves therein paused and bowed low. Enedeth startled looked at Arwen and then turned to look over her shoulder and saw what had stopped all movement.
Arwen's parents stood at the top of the stairs and the light catching the pale gold of their robes made the two glow like the sun, their regal bearing and smiling faces warming the courtyard.
Enedeth and Arwen bowed like the others, and then as Elrond and Celebrian came down the stairs, the two girls rushed off to the lawn.
The morning had been filled with dancing, archery tournaments, spear throwing, fencing and wonderful displays of weaving, jewelry making, tapestry work, wood work and other artistic endeavors.
Enedeth, her mouth pink from drinking a delicious juice made from deep red flowers, was just licking the honey off her fingers from another sticky bun and then looked for Arwen who had been trailing behind her, eating another handful of candied flowers.
The afternoon sun westering through the swaying boughs of a nearby willow, crossed the little she-elf's face and she was not happy.
Enedeth stopped in surprise and looked at her friend in concern.
"Arwen, what's wrong? Did you not like Master Vallin's harp playing?"
"I-I do not feel good. My tummy hurts."
Enedeth was confused. How could Arwen's tummy hurt when all they had eaten today was wonderful things like candied flowers and sticky buns and strawberries and cream and Spring Bread and-"
Before she could think of any more delicious things, Arwen ran over to a lilac bush and got nosily sick, all over her new slippers.
Putting a hand to her mouth in horror, Enedeth looked around and quickly found Arwen's mother who was standing with another group of elves watching some dancing.
Picking up her dress, Enedeth ran to Celebrian and pulled on the edge of her sleeve.
"Why hello Enedeth, what---"
"My lady, Arwen got sick all over her new shoes. Over there by the pink lilac bush!"
Celebrian, frowning slightly at this tale, followed the little girl to where Arwen was now on her knees, retching into the grass.
"Oh sweetheart, what is the matter!"
"Mama!!" Arwen started to cry which did nothing for her retching and for several minutes Arwen was miserable until there was nothing left to expel.
Enedeth watching this then went to find Lord Elrond, who was a bit further away, talking to a group of archers.
"Lord Elrond, Lord Elrond," Enedeth cried and the tall elf turned with a look and Enedeth said breathlessly, "Arwen got sick by the lilac bush!"
The elf lord left the archers and followed Enedeth back to his wife and child. Eyeing the mess critically, he took the pale unhappy Arwen from Celebrian and swiftly bore her to the house and his study. Sitting on the couch under the window, he unfolded his daughter from her tight curl and lay a hand on her stomach sending healing energy to still the upset.
Gasping Arwen relaxed against his shoulder. Celebrian had already gone into his cabinet behind his desk and pulled out the necessary ingredients to settle an upset stomach and got water going on the always available brazier nearby. In the meantime, she brought a glass of water over to her daughter who drank it slowly. Celebrian took the glass and hurriedly got a large bowl from the cabinet in case even the water would not stay down.
But it did.
"I am sorry Ada, Mama. I did not mean to be sick,"
"Shh sweetheart. If it is any consolation, both your brothers did the same thing on an Eve of Yule by getting into the morning's baking and eating a tray of honey cakes between them." Elrond slowly sat his daughter up and rubbed her face softly and then slipped her soiled slippers off her feet. Then he smiled at the anxious Enedeth. "And your tummy?"
She bit her lip. Her tummy was fine, but seeing Arwen get sick and the smell did not make her feel too good. "I-I am fine my lord."
Elrond smiled at Enedeth's bowed head and looked up at his wife, who smiling, added a few more herbs and water to the concoction already heating up.
Soon both girls had drank the stomach settling tea and the two adults cleaned up and each led one of the girls out by hand. Enedeth, to be like Arwen, had hastily slipped her slippers off.
Elrond said to his daughter, "No more sweets until after supper, all right? And only a few."
"Yes Ada."
The group went outside into the long evening light and Elrond glancing at the sun said to the two girls, "When do you sing?"
"After you and Mama."
"All right then. I see the twins are headed to the bower, we best go over and listen."
And the four moved gracefully through the colorful crowd to the seats prepared for them.
As Enedeth sat at Arwen's feet listening to the music, she began to feel a little bit scared that she and Arwen would not be able to compare to such singing.
The twins had sung something stirring and the crowd had responded wonderfully with ululation and flowers and garlands had been thrown at their feet. Arwen with shining eyes looked at Enedeth. "Wasn't that wonderful? That was even better than last year when they sang about Turin Turumbar!"
Enedeth could only nod and swallowed nervously. But their song was so simple and did not contain any famous people or heroes.
When Elrond and Celebrian rose from their seats and entered the bower to sing, the crowd went quiet and Arwen's hand snuck down to Enedeth who clutched it tightly.
The two elves sang a heart-wrenching duet of Beren and Luthien. As the song went on, Enedeth dropped her head and stared at the grass around her feet listening. She did not know the tale of which the Lord and Lady of Imladris sang, but the flow of sadness under even the soaring strains of hope enraptured Enedeth, as well as the rest of the audience.
When they finished, the listeners were silent and Enedeth looked out into the crowd. The faces were a mixture of happy and sad, and then suddenly they erupted into a joyful sound and Elrond and Celebrian were inundated with flowers. It looked as if the heavens had opened up and showered petals instead if rain.
Enedeth held her broken arm and rubbed her bare feet in the grass. Arwen hopped out of her seat and ran up to her parents and hugged each of them, eyes shining.
Elrond picked up his daughter and before she knew what was happening, Celebrian came over smiling and picked up Enedeth.
"Thank you for your kind response my friends, " Elrond said. "We now have a special treat from my Arwen Unodmiel and Enedeth daughter of Tallas who will sing for us "The Moon Sailed Over the Sea."
Arwen, listening to her father speak, then turned to her friend and began to sing. And Enedeth, catching the warm smile of her Grandmamma amongst the elves, grinned back at her. Slipping her harmony under her friends, as they had practiced so many times, Enedeth's heart swelled with happiness.
Theirs was not a grand song or ancient, but it was indeed, a friendly duet.