Page 5
As Haldir guided Kalin through the forest, she told him her dream of someday beholding Lothlorien. "Then allow me to describe it to you as we pass," he said. As he spoke to her of the sunlit shafts they passed through under golden canopies, of the sparkling fish-filled streams with clear, cold water that they crossed, Haldir's voice soon lost its authoritative edge. Kalin could hear just how deeply his reverence for his home and his people really ran, and she quickly grew to respect him. Whenever he paused for a time, Kalin asked him questions just to hear again the sweet tones of his clear tenor voice. She doubted that even the call of the sea that Tirendil said all elves eventually heeded could tear him away from this place that he so loved.
Eventually they stopped to sit and rest upon a knoll. "Evening draws near, and Calas Galadhon lies before you on a great hill across the dale," he said. Then he sang her an elven song of beautiful sunsets reflecting their colors across the fosse onto its white walls, and turning the majestic mellyrn leaves trembling in the breeze from gold to orange and red as Anar the sun sank between the trees and faded; of the twinkling lights of the lanterns appearing one by one in the dusk. Presently they sat in silence and she heard distant singing. Kalin nearly wept with the beauty of it. Haldir tore his gaze away from the city as Kalin whispered "Thank you," and studied her face thoughtfully.
"Come now," he said, standing at last. "We will go into the city. Word has gone ahead of our coming, and Lord Celeborn awaits you."
Haldir found Kalin a long, stout stick that would serve her well as a cane. He then led her through the city and up the stairs that spiraled skyward around the majestic mallorn in which a great hall had been built. "Always keep to the side of the stairs near the tree, and let your hand on its bark guide you should ever you find yourself upon them alone," he warned. "They are not wide. Here, feel where the edge lies. Neither the stairs nor the talan that branch off of them are protected on the outer sides, and we are far from the ground below." He smiled as Kalin's grip on his arm tightened.
Kalin heard many voices in low conversation as they neared the great hall. The voices died down immediately when they entered. Haldir led Kalin in and stood with her. She steadied herself with her cane and removed her hand from his arm, holding it out to him for the bow and quiver. She would present herself to Celeborn with assistance from no one. Haldir glanced at Celeborn, who nodded slightly. Haldir placed the quiver on Kalin's shoulder and the bow in her hand, and stepped back a few paces. Kalin heard the slightest rustle of rich fabrics approach her, like the whisper of the mildest breeze on green leaves in the summer. A slight glow seemed to enter her mind, and she knew she was in the presence of the Lord of the Golden Wood.
"Welcome, Kalin of Enedwaith. I am Celeborn. Never before has one from your shores journeyed to this land. Perhaps a friendship may be forged between our people. But first as to friends, your journey has met with tragedy. Tell me of this."
Kalin related the details of the attack on herself and Malach. "I think it has been four days by my slow pace, in the rocky plains this side of a green river. When I awoke from my fall I tried to go back, but I couldn't find him. He saved my life. He could still be alive; hurt, or captured. I left him. I couldn't find him, " she repeated in shame. "I promised that I would send help."
"Do not place blame on yourself, Kalin, for you showed courage and true friendship in searching for him with your injury, more than many would have done in your place. We will assist you now . We know the wild land of which you speak. It is not far from our southern fences, and this is troubling to me. Searchers will be sent at once," Celeborn reassured her as Haldir motioned to a standing elf, who swiftly left the hall. "If he is there still, we will find him, and deal with the horsemen as well."
"It is time now to speak of the other promise that brings you to us, for regarding this I am greatly concerned. But sit with us first, and show me these burdens you have safeguarded over such a great distance." Celeborn guided Kalin to a chair, placing his hand on the seat. Kalin followed his arm to the chair and gratefully sat down, setting her cane nearby.
"Lord Celeborn, as you may also recognize, these are the treasured bow and quiver of my beloved friend, who was like a second father to me, Tirendil of Lothlorien."
At this a gasp went up from the elves seated in the hall, and some rose to their feet. "Peace," ordered Celeborn calmly. "Kalin, the name of Tirendil elf-traitor has not been spoken in this land since he was banished from us long ago by my decree."
"You have no further need of banishment, for Tirendil is dead. And my fervent wish and my oath to him, given freely on his deathbed, is that by my message and your leave his name might henceforth be spoken here with fond remembrance and respect."
"You have set before yourself a difficult task, Kalin. And how a disgraced elf from Lorien became acquainted with a woman of Enedwaith should be a tale indeed. But continue. For the present you may speak his name, and when you have said your peace we will judge what to do."
"Tirendil was no traitor. He was a hero. Long before the One Ring was destroyed, on one of his journeys outside of this place, Saruman made his acquaintance. They grew to know each other, and Tirendil eventually became suspicious of Saruman's loyalties by the questions he asked when their paths crossed. And so Tirendil began a dangerous game; pretending to be corrupted by Saruman's words and enlisted into his service as a messenger, while gaining knowledge of his plans of mischief to warn those to whom his eye was drawn. For so he became acquainted with my grandfather, when Saruman's evil thoughts now and again turned westward. They became fast friends. Tirendil passed news of Saruman first to my grandfather, then to my father, and lately myself, who then passed it through intermediaries to those it concerned. In this way warnings came even eastward to this and other lands, but from sources unknown. Knowing not of our heritage, Saruman did not suspect those in Enedwaith to be concerned with matters this side of the Misty Mountains.
Tragically, in order to gain and keep Saruman's trust, Tirendil had to outwardly turn his back on his own people. Your banishment, my Lord, gained him this end, but at terrible cost. For he was neither suffered to come home to Lothlorien, nor allowed passage to sail into the West.
It was the overwhelming grief of this that finally made him succumb to his wounds at the end. One day my father went to their meeting place to find Tirendil wounded and left for dead. He had been discovered; he had nowhere else to go. He died under our roof with my hand on his brow, and the last words that he spoke were of his dear Lorien. His last request was that I tell you the truth of his devotion, and ask your forgiveness for his deceit. He did all out of his great love for his people. But of this you have only my word. Lord Celeborn, will you believe me, and will Lorien accept his bow and quiver as a symbol of his true devotion, and turn away from his memory no more?"
The elves took counsel together, and at last Celeborn replied, "We find nothing to be gained by our remaining enemies in sending one here to deceive us with such words. More importantly, I see that your heart speaks the truth. We will accept with gladness these things, and keep them in a place of honor in this chamber for all to behold. My heart grieves for Tirendil, for he was once my dear friend also. Yet I am comforted that he was among such friends at his end."
"Now Kalin, what can we do to thank you for your loyalty to Tirendil and to Lorien that you have never beheld?"
"Lord Celeborn, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for what you have already done. Tirendil's love for Lorien had become my own before I departed Enedwaith, but now it is greater still. There are but two things I would ask. The first is to remain here for a time and learn more of your beautiful people and their home."
"We would gladly have you remain with us as long as you like. And what is the other, Kalin, Elf-friend?"
"The second I desire above all the mithril in Moria and the sweetest songs of the Elves: May I please have a bath?"
As Haldir guided Kalin through the forest, she told him her dream of someday beholding Lothlorien. "Then allow me to describe it to you as we pass," he said. As he spoke to her of the sunlit shafts they passed through under golden canopies, of the sparkling fish-filled streams with clear, cold water that they crossed, Haldir's voice soon lost its authoritative edge. Kalin could hear just how deeply his reverence for his home and his people really ran, and she quickly grew to respect him. Whenever he paused for a time, Kalin asked him questions just to hear again the sweet tones of his clear tenor voice. She doubted that even the call of the sea that Tirendil said all elves eventually heeded could tear him away from this place that he so loved.
Eventually they stopped to sit and rest upon a knoll. "Evening draws near, and Calas Galadhon lies before you on a great hill across the dale," he said. Then he sang her an elven song of beautiful sunsets reflecting their colors across the fosse onto its white walls, and turning the majestic mellyrn leaves trembling in the breeze from gold to orange and red as Anar the sun sank between the trees and faded; of the twinkling lights of the lanterns appearing one by one in the dusk. Presently they sat in silence and she heard distant singing. Kalin nearly wept with the beauty of it. Haldir tore his gaze away from the city as Kalin whispered "Thank you," and studied her face thoughtfully.
"Come now," he said, standing at last. "We will go into the city. Word has gone ahead of our coming, and Lord Celeborn awaits you."
Haldir found Kalin a long, stout stick that would serve her well as a cane. He then led her through the city and up the stairs that spiraled skyward around the majestic mallorn in which a great hall had been built. "Always keep to the side of the stairs near the tree, and let your hand on its bark guide you should ever you find yourself upon them alone," he warned. "They are not wide. Here, feel where the edge lies. Neither the stairs nor the talan that branch off of them are protected on the outer sides, and we are far from the ground below." He smiled as Kalin's grip on his arm tightened.
Kalin heard many voices in low conversation as they neared the great hall. The voices died down immediately when they entered. Haldir led Kalin in and stood with her. She steadied herself with her cane and removed her hand from his arm, holding it out to him for the bow and quiver. She would present herself to Celeborn with assistance from no one. Haldir glanced at Celeborn, who nodded slightly. Haldir placed the quiver on Kalin's shoulder and the bow in her hand, and stepped back a few paces. Kalin heard the slightest rustle of rich fabrics approach her, like the whisper of the mildest breeze on green leaves in the summer. A slight glow seemed to enter her mind, and she knew she was in the presence of the Lord of the Golden Wood.
"Welcome, Kalin of Enedwaith. I am Celeborn. Never before has one from your shores journeyed to this land. Perhaps a friendship may be forged between our people. But first as to friends, your journey has met with tragedy. Tell me of this."
Kalin related the details of the attack on herself and Malach. "I think it has been four days by my slow pace, in the rocky plains this side of a green river. When I awoke from my fall I tried to go back, but I couldn't find him. He saved my life. He could still be alive; hurt, or captured. I left him. I couldn't find him, " she repeated in shame. "I promised that I would send help."
"Do not place blame on yourself, Kalin, for you showed courage and true friendship in searching for him with your injury, more than many would have done in your place. We will assist you now . We know the wild land of which you speak. It is not far from our southern fences, and this is troubling to me. Searchers will be sent at once," Celeborn reassured her as Haldir motioned to a standing elf, who swiftly left the hall. "If he is there still, we will find him, and deal with the horsemen as well."
"It is time now to speak of the other promise that brings you to us, for regarding this I am greatly concerned. But sit with us first, and show me these burdens you have safeguarded over such a great distance." Celeborn guided Kalin to a chair, placing his hand on the seat. Kalin followed his arm to the chair and gratefully sat down, setting her cane nearby.
"Lord Celeborn, as you may also recognize, these are the treasured bow and quiver of my beloved friend, who was like a second father to me, Tirendil of Lothlorien."
At this a gasp went up from the elves seated in the hall, and some rose to their feet. "Peace," ordered Celeborn calmly. "Kalin, the name of Tirendil elf-traitor has not been spoken in this land since he was banished from us long ago by my decree."
"You have no further need of banishment, for Tirendil is dead. And my fervent wish and my oath to him, given freely on his deathbed, is that by my message and your leave his name might henceforth be spoken here with fond remembrance and respect."
"You have set before yourself a difficult task, Kalin. And how a disgraced elf from Lorien became acquainted with a woman of Enedwaith should be a tale indeed. But continue. For the present you may speak his name, and when you have said your peace we will judge what to do."
"Tirendil was no traitor. He was a hero. Long before the One Ring was destroyed, on one of his journeys outside of this place, Saruman made his acquaintance. They grew to know each other, and Tirendil eventually became suspicious of Saruman's loyalties by the questions he asked when their paths crossed. And so Tirendil began a dangerous game; pretending to be corrupted by Saruman's words and enlisted into his service as a messenger, while gaining knowledge of his plans of mischief to warn those to whom his eye was drawn. For so he became acquainted with my grandfather, when Saruman's evil thoughts now and again turned westward. They became fast friends. Tirendil passed news of Saruman first to my grandfather, then to my father, and lately myself, who then passed it through intermediaries to those it concerned. In this way warnings came even eastward to this and other lands, but from sources unknown. Knowing not of our heritage, Saruman did not suspect those in Enedwaith to be concerned with matters this side of the Misty Mountains.
Tragically, in order to gain and keep Saruman's trust, Tirendil had to outwardly turn his back on his own people. Your banishment, my Lord, gained him this end, but at terrible cost. For he was neither suffered to come home to Lothlorien, nor allowed passage to sail into the West.
It was the overwhelming grief of this that finally made him succumb to his wounds at the end. One day my father went to their meeting place to find Tirendil wounded and left for dead. He had been discovered; he had nowhere else to go. He died under our roof with my hand on his brow, and the last words that he spoke were of his dear Lorien. His last request was that I tell you the truth of his devotion, and ask your forgiveness for his deceit. He did all out of his great love for his people. But of this you have only my word. Lord Celeborn, will you believe me, and will Lorien accept his bow and quiver as a symbol of his true devotion, and turn away from his memory no more?"
The elves took counsel together, and at last Celeborn replied, "We find nothing to be gained by our remaining enemies in sending one here to deceive us with such words. More importantly, I see that your heart speaks the truth. We will accept with gladness these things, and keep them in a place of honor in this chamber for all to behold. My heart grieves for Tirendil, for he was once my dear friend also. Yet I am comforted that he was among such friends at his end."
"Now Kalin, what can we do to thank you for your loyalty to Tirendil and to Lorien that you have never beheld?"
"Lord Celeborn, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for what you have already done. Tirendil's love for Lorien had become my own before I departed Enedwaith, but now it is greater still. There are but two things I would ask. The first is to remain here for a time and learn more of your beautiful people and their home."
"We would gladly have you remain with us as long as you like. And what is the other, Kalin, Elf-friend?"
"The second I desire above all the mithril in Moria and the sweetest songs of the Elves: May I please have a bath?"