Growing up with eleven other children is never an easy thing to do,
especially when those children aren't your siblings. To Thendel they may as
well have been complete strangers and they snubbed her thus. From the age
of two she grew up with her mother's older sister, Mandolay, and her
husband.
Her own parents had died when she was younger of an illness that resulted from living in squalor. The sickness took very little time to take hold and it wasn't long before the tiny babe's cries were heard from passer-bys on the street. Resting in the crook of her dead mother's arms, her own body shaking from the illness, Thendel whimpered with pain. Her hand was held tightly in her mother's red, raw one and was being crushed.
Raising dark eyes to those who found her the babe stopped whimpering to raise her voice in one keening wail as she was taken from her parents. Hands once soft and smooth, now as red as her parents stretched out beseechingly before she whispered hoarsely, "Mama."
The marks on her hands had never faded as she grew older and she was taunted ceaselessly by her cousins. Only her dark eyes seemed unchanged by the illness though they burnt with a feverish light from then on. Her body, unable to recover fully, remained tiny and in almost all senses stunted. She barely reached the shoulder of her youngest cousin who was himself small for 15 years of age. Her hair that once showed the promise of sun- kissed blonde locks now darkened like her demeanour into a mass of brown curls.
When she reached the age of twenty one, a respectable age in the small village she lived, Thendel made the resolve to leave. Having no prospects of marriage nor wishing for them she saw little to keep her in the village that had been her birthplace and that which had taken her parents so cruelly from her. With no thought as to where she was headed the young woman slipped from her aunt's home carrying little else than a grey woollen blanket from the back closet and the staff one of her cousins had whittled away at into a spiralling vine up a branch. Food had yet to enter her naive mind.
Dusk fell and with it the white mist that embraced the night in its cloying, damp tendrils, drifting through the outlying forests and fields. Wisps of mist tugged at her clothes, dampening the mass of curls on her head and plastering them to her skin, irritating trickles ran down her back. Wet, miserable and now hungry but still determined to leave the young girl settled down amongst the bracken lining the path she took. Wrapping herself tightly in the blanket she settled down to sleep, aware already of the dangers she faced as the staff was clutched tightly in her small red hands.
The moon had reached its zenith when she awoke to a sound. Something she couldn't quite place. Her hold on the staff tightening she stood up and walked forward boldly. A vulnerable, small creature struck with the moonlight that glistened through the mists. But her eyes blazed brightly as she hit the bottom of the staff on the ground and her face glowed with anger.
"Come forth that I might see you, scum." She said firmly, though she shook at the tenacity of her words. Light, gay laughter reached her ears and from the shadows stepped two elves. One dark-haired and pale, the other blonde and fair. Amusement was writ on their features as they slowly circled her.
"What do you make of this cousin of mine?" The dark-haired one asked his voice like a purring whisper, like smoke drifting across the sky in a still morning. Starlight shone in his eyes and moonlight on his hair as he stopped before her and looked her in the eyes.
"I know not what to make of it cousin, though I do now a child such as this should be abed at this time of night." The blonde one crowed merrily. He was the day to his cousin's night, a fresh breeze on a balmy summer day. The sunlight reached his eyes and warmed the girl-woman up with his gaze. She blushed brightly but stood firm.
"I am no child; though I may appear so." Thendel's face grew proud as she continued, "I am all of one and twenty."
Laughter greeted her statement and the dark one brought his face closer to hers before whispered breathily, "In good sooth, you are still but a child, little one." Placing one hand over his breast his gaze intensified, "For here you are not yet grown."
"Nor in mind it may seem, for who would step out with a challenge when orcs and other fell beasts stalk these lands." The blonde one chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving his cousin. "Let alone two elvish brethren on search for such beasts."
Shrugging her shoulders defensively Thendel turned to leave, one restraining hand on her shoulder spun her back around. "Never turn your back on an enemy, Min Tithen" the dark one scolded gently. Shifting the cloak he wore slightly, the elf revealed a sword hanging at his side. Moonlight caught the blade causing it to shine with a deadly light. This was one elf used to his own way, and crossed at other's peril.
"So what would you have me do, master elf? Leave you to return to my rest backwards?" The blonde one laughed again, heartily and merrily. Full of mirth at the girl-woman's words. His eyes lit up with delight and he clapped his fingers together lightly.
"Ah, the mysterious one has humour has she not cousin?" Nodding his head in assent the dark-haired elf released Thendel from his grip and dropped his arms to his side. Cool and calm again his face shared none of his brethren's pleasure. Stiff and silent he retreated into the shadows, leaving Thendel with the blonde elf.
"My cousin, R?nfuin, will take first watch this night, sleep Min Tithen for you have much too learn in the morning." The blonde elf whispered soothingly as he led the girl-woman back too where she had slept so deeply before. His voice drifted into a crooning murmur as he sang softly, lying down to join her in the heather. The broken heather smelt nice as she curled herself tightly up into a ball. Behind her the blonde elf sighed deeply in the moonlit night before falling asleep himself. ----
Thendel awoke to the brisk smell of dawn, though the mist was still heavy over the land it had lifted somewhat during the early hours of the morning. Breathing deeply she relished its smell, the smell of freedom. This, strangely, was mixed with the smell of tart apples and bread. Shaking her head in confusion she sat up to see the dark elf, R?nfuin, sitting opposite her. The food was spread out on the ground between them both and R?nfuin was eating sedately one of the apples.
"You may have some if you like Min Tithen, they are good. The apples are not yet ripe but their bitterness is a good way to shake off one's remaining fatigue." A slight smile tugged at the corner's of his mouth as he said this. He knew that, to most, he was considered as acerbic as the apple he ate.
Reaching for one, Thendel returned the smile thankfully. She had never felt hunger like this before and her stomach ached for food. There came a brief shout from the shrubbery surrounding them and the blonde elf leapt out, his bow drawn and aimed straight for R?nfuin's breast. Startled, Thendel reached for her staff and stood rapidly. Her instincts on high alert she backed away from the two cousins.
"You are trying to poison her cousin!" The blonde elf said accusingly, his body trembling with rage. Holding his hands out in appeasement the dark elf stood up with all the grace of a stretching feline. "If any wanted to kill Min Tithen, dear Collach it would have been you. I had noticed your bow was trained on her all night."
Shocked beyond belief Thendel froze, her instincts now screamed at her to leave, to do something, to move at least. But she had turned numb, her mind had shut down and she could only shake her head over and over again. The apple in her hand slipped to the ground and before she realised what was happening an arrow was aimed straight for her, the bow taught and waiting to sing.
Then, not knowing what she was doing she flicked the bottom of her staff out at the blonde elf's bow. The connection caused the arrowhead to snap clean off and she dropped the staff like a hot cake.
"If you disarm yourself during battle Min Tithen there is no point in fighting. Is there?" Collach asked calmly, picking up and pocketing the arrowhead. Patting it carefully he turned his attention to R?nfuin. "We know she can handle herself, unless she becomes sorry for hurting her opponent again, but she failed our little test."
The dark elf was shaking his head sadly, as though disappointed in the human girl. Picking up the bread he thrust it into her arms before retrieving his weapons. Then without a word, he turned his back and made his way to the path. He melted into the shadows until only a flicker of light from the tip of his sword could be seen.
Retrieving her own weapon, for that was what it was to her now, Thendel held the bread close to her chest and moved swiftly after the silent, dark elf. He proved elusive however and she had almost given up hope of finding him again before she caught sight of something. It was akin to starlight in the soft gloom of the forest and with a beating heart she hurried over.
R?nfuin was sitting on a moss covered log, his knees raised up and his arms crossed in front of them. He had his chin rested in his leather-clad knees and his face was one of pensive defeat. The look seemed so out of place on him that she immediately dropped before him, heedless of the dampness slowly seeping through her own pants. Soft curls fell over her face as she held one red hand up to the elf above her. Her body raked with sobs as she knelt there for so long that the sun was almost fading once more.
R?nfuin's smooth, white hand covered her own rough one and smoothed the palms with his fingertips. Raising dark eyes, burning and glowing like a thunder-storm Thendel managed to whisper,
"May I call you father?"
R?nfuin uttered not a word, although he continued to stroke the girl- woman's hands with his own. Unsure of herself she managed to stutter,
"O, only y, y, you remind me so, so much of him. A, and I th, thought."
"You remember so long ago Min Tithen?" R?nfuin asked softly, his soft purring voice like warm velvet to her ears.
"It is not so easy to forget the one's you live R?nfuin, I remember so much about him."
"Tell me then, tell me what you remember."
"I remember his eyes, they were so like mine. Dark and stormy yet holding so much love and warmth that sometimes looking into them it was like falling only there were strong hands guiding you down. His hair was dark as well, like the tumble of a waterfall on a night without moonlight. Black liquid, so soft and caressing. I used to twist my little hands in his hair as he carried me about on his shoulders. He was so tall too; he always had to duck to walk through doorways. We were so poor we couldn't afford somewhere better you see. He was so wise too, so young yet he seemed so wise. He wasn't learned, oh no not learned but he knew things that even the most learned professor couldn't fathom. And his voice." Here Thendel paused before taking a shaky breath.
"A purr, soft, resonating and so, so deep. It was like being wrapped amongst the softest blankets in the world yet not suffocating. Velvet soft, warm and comforting. I used to love just listening to him talk."
"Oh Min Tithen." R?nfuin whispered softly, reaching down to stroke a thumb over her cheek. She began to sob again and grasped his soft hand in her rough one, squeezing it tight as her tears made her body shudder.
"You may call me father, adar."
Collach joined the pair then, resting one hand on the girl's head benevolently and grasping his cousin by the shoulder with the other.
"You have grown child, in mind."
"And in heart" R?nfuin finished quietly.
"And yet you have so far to go, so much too learn in such a short time." They said together before lifting Thendel to her feet. Collach held out the staff, it's leaves and vines now as though they were alive and growing, so green were they in look. Grasping it tight she felt energy flow through her veins and she nodded.
"I must go; there is a place I must seek out. My destiny lies there not with you. To Minas Tirith."
"To Minas Tirith." R?nfuin repeated gently. On an impulse he reached for the sword at his side and drew it. It was beautiful in its simplicity, straight lines and soft curves marked its hilt and turning the pommel in Thendel's direction he thrust it into her hands.
"Take this, a gift from father to daughter. Use it wisely and well, but know this. It is with your staff that your true skill lies and not with a sword whose blade shines brighter almost than the stars. Receiving it gratefully Thendel shoved it into her belt, R?nfuin used no sheath and so would his daughter.
"I go now, to Minas Tirith. Farewell Collach, farewell Adar; father mine."
"Farewell Min Tithen, may the stars shine upon your journey and may, beneath a moonlit sky, we meet again." Collach said gaily.
"Fare thee well daughter mine."
Her own parents had died when she was younger of an illness that resulted from living in squalor. The sickness took very little time to take hold and it wasn't long before the tiny babe's cries were heard from passer-bys on the street. Resting in the crook of her dead mother's arms, her own body shaking from the illness, Thendel whimpered with pain. Her hand was held tightly in her mother's red, raw one and was being crushed.
Raising dark eyes to those who found her the babe stopped whimpering to raise her voice in one keening wail as she was taken from her parents. Hands once soft and smooth, now as red as her parents stretched out beseechingly before she whispered hoarsely, "Mama."
The marks on her hands had never faded as she grew older and she was taunted ceaselessly by her cousins. Only her dark eyes seemed unchanged by the illness though they burnt with a feverish light from then on. Her body, unable to recover fully, remained tiny and in almost all senses stunted. She barely reached the shoulder of her youngest cousin who was himself small for 15 years of age. Her hair that once showed the promise of sun- kissed blonde locks now darkened like her demeanour into a mass of brown curls.
When she reached the age of twenty one, a respectable age in the small village she lived, Thendel made the resolve to leave. Having no prospects of marriage nor wishing for them she saw little to keep her in the village that had been her birthplace and that which had taken her parents so cruelly from her. With no thought as to where she was headed the young woman slipped from her aunt's home carrying little else than a grey woollen blanket from the back closet and the staff one of her cousins had whittled away at into a spiralling vine up a branch. Food had yet to enter her naive mind.
Dusk fell and with it the white mist that embraced the night in its cloying, damp tendrils, drifting through the outlying forests and fields. Wisps of mist tugged at her clothes, dampening the mass of curls on her head and plastering them to her skin, irritating trickles ran down her back. Wet, miserable and now hungry but still determined to leave the young girl settled down amongst the bracken lining the path she took. Wrapping herself tightly in the blanket she settled down to sleep, aware already of the dangers she faced as the staff was clutched tightly in her small red hands.
The moon had reached its zenith when she awoke to a sound. Something she couldn't quite place. Her hold on the staff tightening she stood up and walked forward boldly. A vulnerable, small creature struck with the moonlight that glistened through the mists. But her eyes blazed brightly as she hit the bottom of the staff on the ground and her face glowed with anger.
"Come forth that I might see you, scum." She said firmly, though she shook at the tenacity of her words. Light, gay laughter reached her ears and from the shadows stepped two elves. One dark-haired and pale, the other blonde and fair. Amusement was writ on their features as they slowly circled her.
"What do you make of this cousin of mine?" The dark-haired one asked his voice like a purring whisper, like smoke drifting across the sky in a still morning. Starlight shone in his eyes and moonlight on his hair as he stopped before her and looked her in the eyes.
"I know not what to make of it cousin, though I do now a child such as this should be abed at this time of night." The blonde one crowed merrily. He was the day to his cousin's night, a fresh breeze on a balmy summer day. The sunlight reached his eyes and warmed the girl-woman up with his gaze. She blushed brightly but stood firm.
"I am no child; though I may appear so." Thendel's face grew proud as she continued, "I am all of one and twenty."
Laughter greeted her statement and the dark one brought his face closer to hers before whispered breathily, "In good sooth, you are still but a child, little one." Placing one hand over his breast his gaze intensified, "For here you are not yet grown."
"Nor in mind it may seem, for who would step out with a challenge when orcs and other fell beasts stalk these lands." The blonde one chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving his cousin. "Let alone two elvish brethren on search for such beasts."
Shrugging her shoulders defensively Thendel turned to leave, one restraining hand on her shoulder spun her back around. "Never turn your back on an enemy, Min Tithen" the dark one scolded gently. Shifting the cloak he wore slightly, the elf revealed a sword hanging at his side. Moonlight caught the blade causing it to shine with a deadly light. This was one elf used to his own way, and crossed at other's peril.
"So what would you have me do, master elf? Leave you to return to my rest backwards?" The blonde one laughed again, heartily and merrily. Full of mirth at the girl-woman's words. His eyes lit up with delight and he clapped his fingers together lightly.
"Ah, the mysterious one has humour has she not cousin?" Nodding his head in assent the dark-haired elf released Thendel from his grip and dropped his arms to his side. Cool and calm again his face shared none of his brethren's pleasure. Stiff and silent he retreated into the shadows, leaving Thendel with the blonde elf.
"My cousin, R?nfuin, will take first watch this night, sleep Min Tithen for you have much too learn in the morning." The blonde elf whispered soothingly as he led the girl-woman back too where she had slept so deeply before. His voice drifted into a crooning murmur as he sang softly, lying down to join her in the heather. The broken heather smelt nice as she curled herself tightly up into a ball. Behind her the blonde elf sighed deeply in the moonlit night before falling asleep himself. ----
Thendel awoke to the brisk smell of dawn, though the mist was still heavy over the land it had lifted somewhat during the early hours of the morning. Breathing deeply she relished its smell, the smell of freedom. This, strangely, was mixed with the smell of tart apples and bread. Shaking her head in confusion she sat up to see the dark elf, R?nfuin, sitting opposite her. The food was spread out on the ground between them both and R?nfuin was eating sedately one of the apples.
"You may have some if you like Min Tithen, they are good. The apples are not yet ripe but their bitterness is a good way to shake off one's remaining fatigue." A slight smile tugged at the corner's of his mouth as he said this. He knew that, to most, he was considered as acerbic as the apple he ate.
Reaching for one, Thendel returned the smile thankfully. She had never felt hunger like this before and her stomach ached for food. There came a brief shout from the shrubbery surrounding them and the blonde elf leapt out, his bow drawn and aimed straight for R?nfuin's breast. Startled, Thendel reached for her staff and stood rapidly. Her instincts on high alert she backed away from the two cousins.
"You are trying to poison her cousin!" The blonde elf said accusingly, his body trembling with rage. Holding his hands out in appeasement the dark elf stood up with all the grace of a stretching feline. "If any wanted to kill Min Tithen, dear Collach it would have been you. I had noticed your bow was trained on her all night."
Shocked beyond belief Thendel froze, her instincts now screamed at her to leave, to do something, to move at least. But she had turned numb, her mind had shut down and she could only shake her head over and over again. The apple in her hand slipped to the ground and before she realised what was happening an arrow was aimed straight for her, the bow taught and waiting to sing.
Then, not knowing what she was doing she flicked the bottom of her staff out at the blonde elf's bow. The connection caused the arrowhead to snap clean off and she dropped the staff like a hot cake.
"If you disarm yourself during battle Min Tithen there is no point in fighting. Is there?" Collach asked calmly, picking up and pocketing the arrowhead. Patting it carefully he turned his attention to R?nfuin. "We know she can handle herself, unless she becomes sorry for hurting her opponent again, but she failed our little test."
The dark elf was shaking his head sadly, as though disappointed in the human girl. Picking up the bread he thrust it into her arms before retrieving his weapons. Then without a word, he turned his back and made his way to the path. He melted into the shadows until only a flicker of light from the tip of his sword could be seen.
Retrieving her own weapon, for that was what it was to her now, Thendel held the bread close to her chest and moved swiftly after the silent, dark elf. He proved elusive however and she had almost given up hope of finding him again before she caught sight of something. It was akin to starlight in the soft gloom of the forest and with a beating heart she hurried over.
R?nfuin was sitting on a moss covered log, his knees raised up and his arms crossed in front of them. He had his chin rested in his leather-clad knees and his face was one of pensive defeat. The look seemed so out of place on him that she immediately dropped before him, heedless of the dampness slowly seeping through her own pants. Soft curls fell over her face as she held one red hand up to the elf above her. Her body raked with sobs as she knelt there for so long that the sun was almost fading once more.
R?nfuin's smooth, white hand covered her own rough one and smoothed the palms with his fingertips. Raising dark eyes, burning and glowing like a thunder-storm Thendel managed to whisper,
"May I call you father?"
R?nfuin uttered not a word, although he continued to stroke the girl- woman's hands with his own. Unsure of herself she managed to stutter,
"O, only y, y, you remind me so, so much of him. A, and I th, thought."
"You remember so long ago Min Tithen?" R?nfuin asked softly, his soft purring voice like warm velvet to her ears.
"It is not so easy to forget the one's you live R?nfuin, I remember so much about him."
"Tell me then, tell me what you remember."
"I remember his eyes, they were so like mine. Dark and stormy yet holding so much love and warmth that sometimes looking into them it was like falling only there were strong hands guiding you down. His hair was dark as well, like the tumble of a waterfall on a night without moonlight. Black liquid, so soft and caressing. I used to twist my little hands in his hair as he carried me about on his shoulders. He was so tall too; he always had to duck to walk through doorways. We were so poor we couldn't afford somewhere better you see. He was so wise too, so young yet he seemed so wise. He wasn't learned, oh no not learned but he knew things that even the most learned professor couldn't fathom. And his voice." Here Thendel paused before taking a shaky breath.
"A purr, soft, resonating and so, so deep. It was like being wrapped amongst the softest blankets in the world yet not suffocating. Velvet soft, warm and comforting. I used to love just listening to him talk."
"Oh Min Tithen." R?nfuin whispered softly, reaching down to stroke a thumb over her cheek. She began to sob again and grasped his soft hand in her rough one, squeezing it tight as her tears made her body shudder.
"You may call me father, adar."
Collach joined the pair then, resting one hand on the girl's head benevolently and grasping his cousin by the shoulder with the other.
"You have grown child, in mind."
"And in heart" R?nfuin finished quietly.
"And yet you have so far to go, so much too learn in such a short time." They said together before lifting Thendel to her feet. Collach held out the staff, it's leaves and vines now as though they were alive and growing, so green were they in look. Grasping it tight she felt energy flow through her veins and she nodded.
"I must go; there is a place I must seek out. My destiny lies there not with you. To Minas Tirith."
"To Minas Tirith." R?nfuin repeated gently. On an impulse he reached for the sword at his side and drew it. It was beautiful in its simplicity, straight lines and soft curves marked its hilt and turning the pommel in Thendel's direction he thrust it into her hands.
"Take this, a gift from father to daughter. Use it wisely and well, but know this. It is with your staff that your true skill lies and not with a sword whose blade shines brighter almost than the stars. Receiving it gratefully Thendel shoved it into her belt, R?nfuin used no sheath and so would his daughter.
"I go now, to Minas Tirith. Farewell Collach, farewell Adar; father mine."
"Farewell Min Tithen, may the stars shine upon your journey and may, beneath a moonlit sky, we meet again." Collach said gaily.
"Fare thee well daughter mine."