Caran
"Who are you?" Carandoliel demanded as soon as Nevturar entered the room. He ignored her question and fairly ran across the room to where Írime stood. Nevturar looked into her white eyes and they both remained motionless for a moment. Then, all in a moment, Írime threw her arms about him and began crying as she would upon a father's shoulder. Nevturar wrapped his arms about her and tried to comfort her crying while Legolas and Carandoliel stood dumbstruck.
When her tears had subsided, Nevturar gently led her back to the velvet couch and sat her down, touching her as though she were a thin frame of glass, sensitive to any jarring. The presentation struck Legolas as somewhat amusing when he remembered the force with which she had latched onto his arm. When she was seated, Nevturar came back to where Legolas and Carandoliel stood, paying his respects to the princess as he bowed and introduced himself.
"What was that all about?" Legolas motioned towards Írime to which Nevturar sighed and gestured for them to sit down. Írime, seemingly worn out from crying, fell back into her deep sleep and curled into a tight ball. Legolas and Carandoliel took two chairs which had been set in the far corner of the room away from Írime, while Nevturar retrieved a stool and sat in front of them. He clasped his hands and sighed again, checking over his shoulder to be certain that Írime was sleeping. When he turned back to them, Legolas could see that his normally bright eyes were dark with worry and the long lines of his chin were lowly set.
"Írime…she is a mortal woman but not in the way we know mortals. She is not very old by our measure of time- but by Man's she should have been dead many, many years ago. She will eventually die of old age, but not for thousands of years to come." He paused, uncertain as to where to begin. "She was of the fourth generation of Men…her mother gave birth to four sons and four daughters, each with the gift of "seeing". Iluvitar gave these children to the race of Man, as Seers- seers of the colors of all things in Middle Earth." The question "why?" begged on Legolas' lips but he stayed it, allowing Nevturar to finish. As though in answer to his thoughts, Nevturar began again:
"The race of Men was graced with these gifts because Man held no power save that which he created. The Seers were something like the Seeing Stones of the elves. At all times they were in communication with each other through their minds- only one of their amazing powers. The eight Seers could also see into the thoughts of all creatures, by viewing their "colors" or "auras"." Legolas had been right, but the thought of Carandoliel's dark gray color still disturbed him.
"They were sent across the vast lands of the ancient world, to help and to aid those in need or trouble." Nevturar turned again towards where Írime lay sleeping and sighed heavily. "She is the only one of her brothers and sisters who remains." He turned back to Legolas and Carandoliel, the latter having clasped Legolas' hand tightly.
"When Morgoth learned of the Seers he commanded that they all be seized. The men, Menelo, Erucalo, Callo, and Ohtallo were killed upon their capture, for they were strong and fought without thought of surrender. The four daughters however, Arcalime, Melime, Calime, and Írime, were brought to the feet of Morgoth himself. As a gesture towards his high-ranking officers, he gave each of them one daughter...Sauron received Írime.
"The other three were killed when Belirand was sent asunder, leaving only Írime alive out of the ancient Seers. Sauron had no use for her and so sent her to work in the tunnels of Dol Guldur, leaving her there to die when he abandoned it for Mordor."
"How is it that you know so much when we are all stumbling about in the dark?" Legolas asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow. Nevturar shifted uncomfortably before speaking again, obviously desiring not to answer the question.
"I am a descendant of the house of Erucalo, second son of the Eight. As to how I knew of Írime and came to find her I would rather not speak of. Suffice to say she cannot be kept here any longer- I wish to take her away from this place." Legolas stood and Nevturar rose with him.
"I cannot allow that."
"But don't you see? Can't you see how horrible this place is for her? She has seen something," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "She has seen something terrible…her eyes- her only gifts, she has tried to claw them out- to blind herself. I do not know what she senses or what she sees…but it is terrible beyond our comprehension. Don't you see I must take her away from here? She is frightened to death!" Legolas' head was spinning. What was he to do? Trust this servant and his fantastical story? It had all made sense however, all but…
"She touched my eyes- gave me her vision." Nevturar's eyes shot up at Legolas as well as Carandoliel's. "I could see the colors…" Nevturar furrowed his brow and turned to look towards Írime.
"Her sight is a rare power- not to be used lightly. She meant for you to see something…something unusual. Did you?"
{The gray mists.} Legolas turned to look at Carandoliel and realized she was trembling all over. He wrapped his arm about her and she fell into her familiar hold in his shoulder. Why should he terrify her further?
"Nothing- save the brilliant colors surrounding everyone and everything." Nevturar twisted his mouth and deepened the creases above his eyes.
"She wanted you to see…something." Suddenly, a sharp rap on the antechamber door shocked all of them and even woke the sleeping Írime, who immediately ran to the side of Nevturar and clung to him. The knocking came again and her white eyes opened wide with fear. Instead of waiting for a response, the interloper burst through the door and into the room, causing Írime to scream and throw her hands frantically around Nevturar's neck.
"Araorë."