Chapter 2 Learning
She spent the first dozen years trying to find a way into the valley, Searching Up along the rim and down by the sea. She tried everywhere she knew to find a way in, so that she could lay the dead to rest. In that space of time she learned much about herself and the totality of the preparedness of her people. Before she had wandered far she had discovered a hidden cave and inside there was an abundance of food and a warm dry place to rest. There was still danger there; she could feel every now and again the presence of the void. But she soon learned how to hide herself. That was the first lesson. To keep all that she was within her own person so that it could not find her. She had learned swiftly when soon after she came to herself she had let down her guard and it came to near. She had retreated into the cave and centered herself to a place where there was no memory of her existence. The only thoughts that passed her being were thoughts of Yavanna. And so the feeling passed. She realized that she should have run far from this spot, but her heart would not let her leave yet. She knew that there would come a time when her spirit would bid her go and she would have no choice but to follow.
There were times when she ran across the orcs that inhabited the mountains. And there she had a chance to hone her skills at fighting. And because of her skill little by little over the years the orcs had become fewer at least where she roamed. She had no time to be lonely for learning how to exist took all of her time. Though there were times that she would, remember and tears would fall. But after time the tears fell less and less readily. And so in time she found a little bit of peace within her self. But she never could forget that she also was hunted, and she looked foreword to the day when she would be the hunter. But not yet, she could not be afforded the luxury. Yavanna said there was much for her to learn and that was truth that she had laid before Finafyr.
She leaned to hunt not in the ways of her childhood but in earnest, and to tend to her own needs. There were no more nursemaids or kindred to look out for her, the youngest child. The hardest Thing for her to learn was to cook for herself; she spent 5 years burning every thing she touched. But that too passed and thought she would have referred anyone else's cooking she learned to make it at least edible. She had no heart to kill things for her food with out it causing pain. But she gave thanks to their spirit and took as little as she could. She had not the heart to leave the land of her birth even if she had been kept from entrance to the valley, Being near was almost enough.
Throughout the years she had wandered over every space of her home mountains. And in that same space evil came less and less to harry the lands around her valley, for though she could not slay the killer of her people, she would brook no evil in their resting place. And she became a hunter in earnest. Neither goblin or Orc or any other evil creature survived when she came upon them. For in her heart they were part of the whole. Evil was not to be endured.
The only companions that she had were those that lived in the woods and the mountains. The deer and the birds became her friends. And to them she would sing and talk. The animals in her little kingdom came to love her and she them. She did not know when circumstance would make her travel, and this was a thing that she knew she must do. But it was as if the Valar themselves gave her time to mourn, And to find peace.
She must have been alone for several hundred years before the longing to see others came upon her. So she found herself traveling further and further from her home. She kept telling herself that she was just guarding and protecting those that she loved but the truth was she was hoping inside that she would meet someone. Just to see another face, and to her mind the face did not even have to be elven. She became more complacent over time for the threat came less and less as the years flowed. So she began to think that it had lost the desire to hunt her, as to the truth of that only time would tell.
One day she had wandered far and she heard voices. She perked up her ears and followed the sound to its source. It did not take long for her to find the source of the sound. It was children. And they were laughing. There were four of them and they were playing a game. How they came to this place she knew not. But then she had traveled far from home and to her all that she had seen drew her like a child gazing at something new. There was such a joy to their play and it did her heart good to see it and to hear their laughter. She stayed in the shadow for along time watching. They were throwing a ball, each one of the four catching it in their turn, when suddenly the ball was over thrown and traveling far landed at her feet. She just stood there. One of the children a little girl came running up to fetch it "Garion you are a terrible thrower, What ever did you"…. she stopped in mid sentence for she had seen Finafyr standing there. Finafyr's hood had slipped from her shoulder and she was not aware that she was slightly glowing. The child looked up at her and her eyes grew wide." You're an elf! I know you are. My mother and grandmother have told me stories all my life about elves. You are an elf aren't Noble one." The child was red in the face she was so excited. Finafyr smiled at her and nodded her head yes. "Yes Dear one I am an elf. And what are you doing here in this place Are you far from home?" the child looked up at her and her eyes grew larger than saucers for unbeknownst to Finafyr she had begun to glow.
By this time Finafyr found herself surround by the other three and each in their turn was just as awe struck as the first. Finafyr just smiled "Where are you parents little ones, it is not safe to be far from your home." The first child pointed to the south and said "Our home … it is just over there around those trees, Oh won't you come …our parents would love to see you…. They thought all of the elves were gone… and it made them sad". Finafyr laughed, well as you see I am here, Yes I will come with you. No do not fight I come with you all equally." As they walked the first little girl chattered on "My name is Fara and that is my brother Garion and the other one is named Beren. And the little girl there is our baby sister and her name is Aria. Oh wait till Momma sees" All the while they were chattering they were drawing closer to the home of the children and soon Finafyr could see it. It was a small home but neat as an elven house. There did not seem to be one thing out of place. And there were flowers. And there was a decided Elvish feel to the place. But that was unusual for these were human children, Edain.
Fara had run ahead yelling, "Momma Momma look what we found. Oh momma come look" Finafyr could hear a voice from inside. "Fara what have I told you about bring stray animals home. We have not the means to take care… "And her speech stopped in mid stride as the woman caught sight of an elf at her home. ...her mouth formed an Ohh and then she wiped her hands and went down to one knee... "Noble one I am so honored that you are here…. Please come...… I have tea. Or maybe you would have wine" Finafyr held up her hand... "It is all right; truly I thank you for your courtesy." And Finafyr touched her hand to her chest and slightly bowed to the woman. 'My name is Finafyr" at this the woman became flustered "Oh I am sorry Noble one I forget myself… my name is Mina. And I am from the line of Barahir through long distant time." At that name Finafyr now understood. For from that line came many that the elven lord had called friend and that would explain the elvish quality to this home. There was a look of expectancy in Mina's eyes and Finafyr realized that she would be disappointed if Finafyr should say nay to her offer of hospitality and in truth Finafyr would love to have someone to listen to. "I would be honored to have something to drink and it has been a very long time since I have had wine."
Mina was a great host, the soul of courtesy and tried very hard to make Finafyr comfortable. And she had succeeded. She was amused when later her husband came home and he too was surprised to see her and he too had acted in the same way as his wife. "I am Beorn Fair one and you are most welcome and honor us with your presence. I was told that your people had all left, for no one has seen an elf for hundreds of years. There has been no news out of the Kingdom in the valley of the Mist For that long and more. How came you here." she looked at him and found that she had been startled to hear the name of the land of her people. It had been so long. "Alas Beorn I am the last of those people… They were destroyed long ago. There are no others."
Beorn was startled at that pronouncement but he did not wish to intrude. Even though he was curious he would not pry and maybe the High one would tell … when she was ready for he could see that a great sadness lay on her. But Finafyr was equally as curious as to how long they had been here, and what had brought them here. She could not wait for courtesy for she felt that it was far too dangerous here for them. "How came you here, Beorn if I may ask." He looked at her for a moment and thought. "Our family and the other families here came here to escape the Dark Lord. We had heard tell that it was safe that no evil dwelt in the shadow of these mountains, that there was protection some friendly spirit that would brook no evil to darken its lands. So our father brought us to this land over a hundred years ago."
At this Finafyr looked startled. By many things, first that they had been here that long and she had not sensed their presence. And Second that the very work that she had done to protect her home from evil had drawn them here. They dwelt here in safety for what seemed along time to them and they had no idea that there was danger here. How could she tell them to leave? Maybe they were right. That which had once hunted her was probably long gone. Finafyr had not felt it for such along time. So she said not a word. At their wish Finafyr spent many days with them and learned much of their lives and the lives of the others of this sheltered place. And she found contentment in her heart that had not been there in many ages. She delighted in showing the children more about woods lore, and even started teaching Fara about the use of the bow. But after awhile Finafyr started to feel restless, it had been too long since she had been in the company of so many people. So it was with regret that she took her leave. She promised Fara that she would return and would bring her a bow of her own and she smiled "No little one you cannot have mine, I will bring one that is right for your size"
She left one morning just as spring was breaking forth in the new awakened earth. She traveled even further for she would see these other men that lived her. Everywhere she saw great order and contentment. These people wanted no part of the Dark and would not hesitate to fight it if they had too. Finafyr was glad to know that there were just a few days journey from her Valley. Now she had some thing to look foreword to, teaching.
And when she had seen all that there was to see she started back to her home. She was traveling and she was just 2 days from her new friends. She had made a campfire and was resting in the warmth for there was still a chill in the air. All was peaceful so she drifted into what her people called sleep. It was almost at the dawning when she awoke. She had been Startled out of her reverie. There was something wrong. There was a quiet in the earth and a sense of foreboding. She stood and reached out her senses. There just on the edges of her senses, she felt it, the void was back. But far from her, she raised her head and willed herself to figure out where the feeling was coming from, South, it was coming from the south. It was coming from the direction of the children. They were in danger.
Finafyr ran she was very afraid, afraid for her friends. She ran till she had no breath left in her body for she had run full out. Not sparing herself. It was at the end of that day just as the evening drifted to a close. She looked out over the land and there was nothing, only silence and smoke. Finafyr took out her weapons and ran until she came round the bend where she first met the little ones. And then she saw something, it was Little Beren, and his little sister Aria. They were lying in the path like broken rag dolls shriveled as if the very life force had been sucked from their bodies, just as she had seen her family and friends. She reached down and gently touched them and pulled her hand away, they were gone. She stood up and she could feel the latent presence of the void but it was old and gone. But it had left a path of death in the wake of its passing. She continued long for she could not take the time to see the little ones buried. She came to the dwelling of the family, it was aflame. There she found the other little boy and the parents. They were all shriveled and lifeless. She looked everywhere, but she could not find Fara. She looked all around the dwelling and then started in the trees toward the next homestead and there in a clearing she found her. But this time the void had done worse to her it had left her barely alive. Finafyr knelt down by her side and touched her and as she did the child opened her eyes. There was so much pain there. Fara was shriveled but it was not total her face still remained her own. And she smiled. And then Fara's face got such a look of horror on it, hat it came near to breaking her heart. And then the little one spoke. "It came to us lady, it was looking for you, and I could not see a face. It asked my parents where you were, for it could feel you had been there, they would not tell. And then it touched them and they died. Then it came for me. It hurt so bad Lady." Finafyr took the child in her arms and held her so gently. "Shuuu shhuu little one, Shuuu" and then " Lady it said it would find you… that you would never run far enough form it.. That you belonged …" and then there was one last breath and Fara breathed her last and once again Finafyr was alone.
