The Halls of Mandos seem quiet and endless. The
spirits glide softly among them, remembering Aman,
remebering Arda. Some don't want to leave, and
some can't, and so they move in their eternal
dance. Are they lonely? Do they miss the world
outside?
* * * * *
"I told you so!"
"Do you know how many times you said that?"
"However many, it's still not enough, you great
oaf! I told you to leave those stones alone, and
you didn't listen!"
"O Elbereth, pity that my brother's still
wandering somewhere. Maybe he could make a song
for you - without music 'I told you so' is
beginning to be a little repetitive."
"Well, what else can I say? I still can't imagine
how such a seemingly sane elf could rise to such
heights of stupidity! Must I always look after
you? The moment I'm gone..."
"Well, not really *a moment*, a bit longer than
that, and yes, you must. What did you think you
were doing back then in 473?"
"Well, in case it escaped your attention, we were
having a battle!"
"*That* I did notice, thank you very much. Seeing
you dead really caught my attention!"
"Sorry... But it's not like I was planning to
die!"
"Weren't you? Why else did you rush after that
idiot Gwindor? Finrod always said his
hotheadedness will get someone killed!"
"You? Quoting Finrod on me? What's the world
coming to?"
"Well, even Finrod had his sensible moments..."
(Chuckle) "I wish Turgon was here to hear you now".
"And *I* don't! I heard all his tales already, and
hidden cities are not really my thing, thank you
very much... And you did not answer my question."
(Sigh) "What question?"
"About 473. Why did you rush out like crazy?"
"Well, I couldn't leave Gwindor out there, could
I?"
"Like your help did him any good. If you stayed
where you were put, he'd probably avoid a lot of
troubles. It's not like he didn't end here
anyway!"
"Well, I didn't know that back then!"
"No, but you knew the plan! And look how it all
ended! Elves aren't really meant to battle with
Balrogs. You could ask that Glorfindel fellow,
he'd tell you the same."
"He left already, don't you remember?"
"Oh right, now that you say it... He was muttering
something about Turgon's great-grandson, wasn't
he? I mean, I know Turgon's your brother, but I
wonder whether that great-grandson of his also
keeps a safe city... Obsessed people!"
"Oh really, don't grumble so much. Ereinion says
he's a fine boy..."
"Much does Ereinion know! I bet it wasn't this
fellow's good sense he was interested in!"
"Come on, you are not exactly known for
appreciating good sense only! Besides, he's
family."
"Oh right, *now* you speak about family. And you
still wouldn't go visit my grandmother!"
"Damn right I don't want to visit your
grandmother! If she didn't make such a big deal
out of having a baby, the whole mess wouldn't have
happened!"
(Softly) "And you wouldn't be born..."
(Sigh) "Oh all right, all right, we'll go see her
tomorrow..."
* * * * *
Do the spirits want to leave, to be free and
wander again? Maybe those who can not leave found
something they did not have outside? The spirits
dance, and one of them always moves beside
another...
spirits glide softly among them, remembering Aman,
remebering Arda. Some don't want to leave, and
some can't, and so they move in their eternal
dance. Are they lonely? Do they miss the world
outside?
* * * * *
"I told you so!"
"Do you know how many times you said that?"
"However many, it's still not enough, you great
oaf! I told you to leave those stones alone, and
you didn't listen!"
"O Elbereth, pity that my brother's still
wandering somewhere. Maybe he could make a song
for you - without music 'I told you so' is
beginning to be a little repetitive."
"Well, what else can I say? I still can't imagine
how such a seemingly sane elf could rise to such
heights of stupidity! Must I always look after
you? The moment I'm gone..."
"Well, not really *a moment*, a bit longer than
that, and yes, you must. What did you think you
were doing back then in 473?"
"Well, in case it escaped your attention, we were
having a battle!"
"*That* I did notice, thank you very much. Seeing
you dead really caught my attention!"
"Sorry... But it's not like I was planning to
die!"
"Weren't you? Why else did you rush after that
idiot Gwindor? Finrod always said his
hotheadedness will get someone killed!"
"You? Quoting Finrod on me? What's the world
coming to?"
"Well, even Finrod had his sensible moments..."
(Chuckle) "I wish Turgon was here to hear you now".
"And *I* don't! I heard all his tales already, and
hidden cities are not really my thing, thank you
very much... And you did not answer my question."
(Sigh) "What question?"
"About 473. Why did you rush out like crazy?"
"Well, I couldn't leave Gwindor out there, could
I?"
"Like your help did him any good. If you stayed
where you were put, he'd probably avoid a lot of
troubles. It's not like he didn't end here
anyway!"
"Well, I didn't know that back then!"
"No, but you knew the plan! And look how it all
ended! Elves aren't really meant to battle with
Balrogs. You could ask that Glorfindel fellow,
he'd tell you the same."
"He left already, don't you remember?"
"Oh right, now that you say it... He was muttering
something about Turgon's great-grandson, wasn't
he? I mean, I know Turgon's your brother, but I
wonder whether that great-grandson of his also
keeps a safe city... Obsessed people!"
"Oh really, don't grumble so much. Ereinion says
he's a fine boy..."
"Much does Ereinion know! I bet it wasn't this
fellow's good sense he was interested in!"
"Come on, you are not exactly known for
appreciating good sense only! Besides, he's
family."
"Oh right, *now* you speak about family. And you
still wouldn't go visit my grandmother!"
"Damn right I don't want to visit your
grandmother! If she didn't make such a big deal
out of having a baby, the whole mess wouldn't have
happened!"
(Softly) "And you wouldn't be born..."
(Sigh) "Oh all right, all right, we'll go see her
tomorrow..."
* * * * *
Do the spirits want to leave, to be free and
wander again? Maybe those who can not leave found
something they did not have outside? The spirits
dance, and one of them always moves beside
another...