Chapter 2 Travelling.
I was ready to leave just before sunrise. I was examining my mount when Fianth appeared, mounted on a stocky dun gelding and leading a pack pony. She was again dressed as a man, which was sensible for travelling. A bow was strapped to her saddle, and she wore a sword slung across her back.
Curtly, I indicated she should ride abreast of me, and we left just as the sun fully rose. At mid morning we halted, and rested the horses, Fianth giving me some bread and dried meat the pony carried as a breakfast of sorts. She did not speak, and nor did I, and soon we were on our way again. We stopped once more during the day, and after that rode steadily until the lowering of the sun indicated the day was nearing it's end, when we made camp in a small clearing not from a stream.
'Should I picket the horses, Lord?' asked Fianth after we unsaddled.
'No, for my stallion will not let the others stray,' I answered.
We busied ourselves for a short while, she fetching water from the nearby stream, I collecting firewood and lighting a small camp fire. I was just starting to wonder where my mortal guide was, and thinking it would be just like a female to have stumbled across danger of some sort and to need rescuing when she strode back into the clearing, water bags slung over one shoulder, and a pair of young rabbits ready for cooking over the other.
Wordlessly, she placed the water bags carefully on the ground, and sat down, 'how do you like your rabbits cooked, Lord.'
By now, I was getting angry at her refusal to use my name. 'My name is Curufin,' I growled, 'and I will cook the rabbits. Mortals have no idea how to even boil water!'
At that, she handed me the rabbits, and set about collecting firewood, and laying out our blankets. I watched as she filled a small pot with water, and set it carefully at the edge of the fire to boil.
'I hope you will allow me to make some hot tea, Curufin?' she asked.
'Yes,' I said, for I could hardly stop her. She then busied herself going through her saddlebags searching for something. I guessed that it was whatever she'd put in one of the saddlebags wrapped in a cloth during our afternoon break. She soon found and placed to the side the small bundle, and simply gave an amused look to my questioning glance. That really annoyed me, for she had been looking at me all day as if I was simply there to amuse her.
The rabbits were soon ready, and we ate them quickly, sopping up the juices with bread. Fianth surprised me, for she ate as much as I did, but then we had ridden quite hard all day, and I had certainly been hungry, and so had she. The second thing that surprised me that evening was that the tea Fianth made was nice, quite pleasant in fact. She opened her small bundle when she gave me the cup of tea and revealed blackberries!! One of my favourite fruits. By the time our simple meal was finished, and we had shared the last of the tea, I was feeling almost charitably disposed to my guide.
We set no watch that night, or for the next few as I knew my stallion was all the watch we needed this close to Himring. Typical of mortals, Fianth needed more rest than I, and she fell asleep early. I sat watching the stars for some time, before tending the fire one last time and lying down. Sleep came to me quickly, but I woke before dawn. My guide had not stirred, and all I could see of her was her hair poking out the top of her blankets.
Strangely enough, I still felt pleased with her from the hot tea and berries the night before, and acting quite uncharacteristically for me, I made some tea before waking her. Unlike many mortals, she woke completely the instant my hand touched her shoulder, sitting up straightaway.
She thanked me when I gave her the cup, and smiled as she realised I'd made the same tea as she had the previous night.
Soon we rode on, and we kept much the same schedule as of yesterday, and again for the next few days. In that time I found Maedhros was right, Fianth had not slowed the rate of travel I could manage as an elf. I also found that once I began behaving reasonably towards her, she became a pleasant travelling companion, and we told each other stories and chatted quietly as we rode.
Four days from Himring, I suggested we stop overnight at a place I knew well, a small cave system that would shelter us from the storm my elven senses had warned me was coming. Fianth did not argue, whether through some mortal knowledge of the arrival of the storm, or simple weariness, I did not know, and did not ask. I kept to myself the other reason for stopping at these caves, to surprise my guide. It had been a long time since I had enjoyed a lady's company and I felt a foolish desire to please this lady.
The first drops of rain were falling from dark grey skies as we found the entrance to the caves, and hurried within. There was plenty of room for the horses, and as I'd insisted on collecting some wood earlier in the day we soon had a cheerful blaze burning on the cave floor. A small spring fed pool provided clear water and we were quite comfortable.
Fianth was reclining on her bedding poking sticks into the fire when she looked up at me where I stood in the cave mouth, watching the lightning rend the night sky.
'There is only one thing missing!' she said brightly.
'And what would that be?' I asked.
'A hot bath on this chilly evening. It is unfortunate we are in the wilderness far from such luxuries!'
I laughed. 'Would you care for a surprise, Fianth?'
'A surprise?' She looked delighted as a child.
'Come,' I walked to where she sat, and held out my hand, 'follow me!'
Surprised, she nonetheless took my hand and rose to follow me. I carried a burning branch like a torch to light our way and we walked through a small opening in the back of the cave wall, and immediately turned right through another opening and there was what I wished to show my guide. An underground lake, but not just any underground lake. I'd been there before, in the company of some of my brothers and I knew this lake had a shallow, even depth and by some miracle of the One's it was warm. Well, quite hot, actually, but still pleasant for bathing.
'Touch the water', I said.
She knelt, and ran her hand over the water carefully, then smiled as she realised it was hot, and let her hand fully enter the water. 'We could bathe here!' she exclaimed happily.
'Indeed we can. It's quite safe, I have bathed here before.'
'I want to fetch some clean clothes,' she remarked.
'So do I! There is more than enough room for two, so why should one of us wait, we can share!' I said. Then I noticed her look of apprehension, 'I am an elf, Fianth; you need have no fear for your virtue. We are simply going to relax in this hot spring together, and maybe share the wineskin I stole from Maedhros.'
She relaxed then, apprehension gone from her as we went back to our camp, and fetched back our clean clothes, some more burning branches to serve as light, and even some candles Fianth had, in case, she said, that she should need them. I brought my wineskin; tea was nice but on a cold evening wine seemed to heat one up better. On a whim, I went back to get some food, for I knew I'd get hungry once the wineskin became lighter, and when I returned Fianth was already immersed in the water, much to my disappointment, I found. I know this was a little base of me, but I had been rather curious to see her naked. The only reason I could give even myself was curiosity to see just how closely Fianth might resemble an elven woman.
Quickly, I removed my clothes and slid into the water, completely immersing myself for an instant. I pushed my hair from my face, as I sat up in the water watching my guide who had turned away until she was sure I was in the water, busying herself with lighting some of the candles she had set by the pool's edge.
'The candlelight is pretty reflected in the water,' I said when she had finished.
'It is, isn't it?' she said, turning back to face me, and shaking wet hair from her face. Like I, she had completely submerged herself. I took a swig from the wineskin, and held it out to Fianth who took it after a slight hesitation. She drank deeply and gave it back, and I noticed to my amusement that she was completely unaware that I had just gained a very good peek at her breasts. Very nice, I thought, and then suddenly I was ashamed of myself. The lady was certainly not trying to display herself.
So, I resolved to behave myself, and we relaxed, enjoying the warmth and the wineskin. Fianth declined to share the food with me, laughing and saying it was as well for me that elves don't get fat or I would with all the eating I did.
I was in too good a humour to do anything but laugh at her, and I laughed very hard when she showed me her hand, with the skin on her fingers all wrinkled up.
'Doesn't this happen to elves?' she asked as I laughed. It occurred to me that I was drunker than I ought to be, and that perhaps the hot water might be responsible.
'Eventually, but I'd have to be in here all night!'
'Don't tempt me! I haven't been this comfortable and relaxed since, well, I don't remember when!'
'Not even in Himring?' I asked lazily.
'Well, no. I mean, Lord Maedhros has made sure all his warriors are well housed, but I have no private place I can truly relax in. Nowhere I can really say 'this space is mine!'
I knew what she meant; it was a common complaint amongst warriors. I suppose there are times in everyone's life when you just want to be alone where no one can bother you.
'Just how does a young mortal woman decide to become a warrior? You said your husband was killed by Orcs, but there has to more to the tale than that,' I asked her. This had been on my mind since we left Himring, and I felt the time had come to ask.
'Why do you ask? Just idle curiosity, or more?' she said.
'Curiosity about you, yes, idle curiosity no. I like to know the answers to riddles, and you are a riddle.'
'No less than you!' she remarked, ducking under the water to wash her face.
'What do you mean!' I said, surprised by my guide yet again.
'You pretend everything means nothing to you, that you are above things like feelings, or emotion. I have seen you before, on your last visit to Himring three years ago, and I thought then that your arrogant manner hid a man who actually feels things too deeply. This journey with you has done nothing to alter my views.'
'You may right, and I might tell you if you answer my question. Ladies first, remember.'
'What do you want to know Curufin?' she said almost aggressively.
So, she has a temper, I thought. 'Surely you have a family that needs you?'
'No, I have no siblings, my parents have been dead for more than ten years and my only child died of fever five years ago. So, I fight to avenge those I loved who are dead. What of you? Do you have a wife or children?'
I was surprised at the flare of pain her question caused, yet she had answered my questions so I supposed it was fair I answered hers.
'I have a wife, and a son,' I said quietly. Suddenly I wished to be out of the water, and back by the fire. 'I'm going back to the fire,' I said, and got out of the hot spring, grabbed my clothes and dripping wet strode back to the campfire.
A few minutes passed, in which I dressed myself, and then Fianth appeared, fully clothed, her wet hair hanging loosely down her back. She did not, as I thought she would have, seat herself opposite me, but next to me.
'Curufin, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. You have lost your family, too? Your wife and son are dead?' Her voice was gentle.
'No. They live. My wife didn't love me enough to follow me here from Aman, and my son has disowned me.' Horrified, I felt hot tears trickling down my face. I did not allow things to get to me like this. Angry with myself, I raised my hand to dash away the visible signs of my weakness, when Fianth's hand stopped mine.
'Don't Curufin; don't stop yourself from letting all your pain out. It's not good for you to keep it all locked up inside.' Her arm slipped around my shoulders and with a sob I leaned against her and cried my heart out.
I was ready to leave just before sunrise. I was examining my mount when Fianth appeared, mounted on a stocky dun gelding and leading a pack pony. She was again dressed as a man, which was sensible for travelling. A bow was strapped to her saddle, and she wore a sword slung across her back.
Curtly, I indicated she should ride abreast of me, and we left just as the sun fully rose. At mid morning we halted, and rested the horses, Fianth giving me some bread and dried meat the pony carried as a breakfast of sorts. She did not speak, and nor did I, and soon we were on our way again. We stopped once more during the day, and after that rode steadily until the lowering of the sun indicated the day was nearing it's end, when we made camp in a small clearing not from a stream.
'Should I picket the horses, Lord?' asked Fianth after we unsaddled.
'No, for my stallion will not let the others stray,' I answered.
We busied ourselves for a short while, she fetching water from the nearby stream, I collecting firewood and lighting a small camp fire. I was just starting to wonder where my mortal guide was, and thinking it would be just like a female to have stumbled across danger of some sort and to need rescuing when she strode back into the clearing, water bags slung over one shoulder, and a pair of young rabbits ready for cooking over the other.
Wordlessly, she placed the water bags carefully on the ground, and sat down, 'how do you like your rabbits cooked, Lord.'
By now, I was getting angry at her refusal to use my name. 'My name is Curufin,' I growled, 'and I will cook the rabbits. Mortals have no idea how to even boil water!'
At that, she handed me the rabbits, and set about collecting firewood, and laying out our blankets. I watched as she filled a small pot with water, and set it carefully at the edge of the fire to boil.
'I hope you will allow me to make some hot tea, Curufin?' she asked.
'Yes,' I said, for I could hardly stop her. She then busied herself going through her saddlebags searching for something. I guessed that it was whatever she'd put in one of the saddlebags wrapped in a cloth during our afternoon break. She soon found and placed to the side the small bundle, and simply gave an amused look to my questioning glance. That really annoyed me, for she had been looking at me all day as if I was simply there to amuse her.
The rabbits were soon ready, and we ate them quickly, sopping up the juices with bread. Fianth surprised me, for she ate as much as I did, but then we had ridden quite hard all day, and I had certainly been hungry, and so had she. The second thing that surprised me that evening was that the tea Fianth made was nice, quite pleasant in fact. She opened her small bundle when she gave me the cup of tea and revealed blackberries!! One of my favourite fruits. By the time our simple meal was finished, and we had shared the last of the tea, I was feeling almost charitably disposed to my guide.
We set no watch that night, or for the next few as I knew my stallion was all the watch we needed this close to Himring. Typical of mortals, Fianth needed more rest than I, and she fell asleep early. I sat watching the stars for some time, before tending the fire one last time and lying down. Sleep came to me quickly, but I woke before dawn. My guide had not stirred, and all I could see of her was her hair poking out the top of her blankets.
Strangely enough, I still felt pleased with her from the hot tea and berries the night before, and acting quite uncharacteristically for me, I made some tea before waking her. Unlike many mortals, she woke completely the instant my hand touched her shoulder, sitting up straightaway.
She thanked me when I gave her the cup, and smiled as she realised I'd made the same tea as she had the previous night.
Soon we rode on, and we kept much the same schedule as of yesterday, and again for the next few days. In that time I found Maedhros was right, Fianth had not slowed the rate of travel I could manage as an elf. I also found that once I began behaving reasonably towards her, she became a pleasant travelling companion, and we told each other stories and chatted quietly as we rode.
Four days from Himring, I suggested we stop overnight at a place I knew well, a small cave system that would shelter us from the storm my elven senses had warned me was coming. Fianth did not argue, whether through some mortal knowledge of the arrival of the storm, or simple weariness, I did not know, and did not ask. I kept to myself the other reason for stopping at these caves, to surprise my guide. It had been a long time since I had enjoyed a lady's company and I felt a foolish desire to please this lady.
The first drops of rain were falling from dark grey skies as we found the entrance to the caves, and hurried within. There was plenty of room for the horses, and as I'd insisted on collecting some wood earlier in the day we soon had a cheerful blaze burning on the cave floor. A small spring fed pool provided clear water and we were quite comfortable.
Fianth was reclining on her bedding poking sticks into the fire when she looked up at me where I stood in the cave mouth, watching the lightning rend the night sky.
'There is only one thing missing!' she said brightly.
'And what would that be?' I asked.
'A hot bath on this chilly evening. It is unfortunate we are in the wilderness far from such luxuries!'
I laughed. 'Would you care for a surprise, Fianth?'
'A surprise?' She looked delighted as a child.
'Come,' I walked to where she sat, and held out my hand, 'follow me!'
Surprised, she nonetheless took my hand and rose to follow me. I carried a burning branch like a torch to light our way and we walked through a small opening in the back of the cave wall, and immediately turned right through another opening and there was what I wished to show my guide. An underground lake, but not just any underground lake. I'd been there before, in the company of some of my brothers and I knew this lake had a shallow, even depth and by some miracle of the One's it was warm. Well, quite hot, actually, but still pleasant for bathing.
'Touch the water', I said.
She knelt, and ran her hand over the water carefully, then smiled as she realised it was hot, and let her hand fully enter the water. 'We could bathe here!' she exclaimed happily.
'Indeed we can. It's quite safe, I have bathed here before.'
'I want to fetch some clean clothes,' she remarked.
'So do I! There is more than enough room for two, so why should one of us wait, we can share!' I said. Then I noticed her look of apprehension, 'I am an elf, Fianth; you need have no fear for your virtue. We are simply going to relax in this hot spring together, and maybe share the wineskin I stole from Maedhros.'
She relaxed then, apprehension gone from her as we went back to our camp, and fetched back our clean clothes, some more burning branches to serve as light, and even some candles Fianth had, in case, she said, that she should need them. I brought my wineskin; tea was nice but on a cold evening wine seemed to heat one up better. On a whim, I went back to get some food, for I knew I'd get hungry once the wineskin became lighter, and when I returned Fianth was already immersed in the water, much to my disappointment, I found. I know this was a little base of me, but I had been rather curious to see her naked. The only reason I could give even myself was curiosity to see just how closely Fianth might resemble an elven woman.
Quickly, I removed my clothes and slid into the water, completely immersing myself for an instant. I pushed my hair from my face, as I sat up in the water watching my guide who had turned away until she was sure I was in the water, busying herself with lighting some of the candles she had set by the pool's edge.
'The candlelight is pretty reflected in the water,' I said when she had finished.
'It is, isn't it?' she said, turning back to face me, and shaking wet hair from her face. Like I, she had completely submerged herself. I took a swig from the wineskin, and held it out to Fianth who took it after a slight hesitation. She drank deeply and gave it back, and I noticed to my amusement that she was completely unaware that I had just gained a very good peek at her breasts. Very nice, I thought, and then suddenly I was ashamed of myself. The lady was certainly not trying to display herself.
So, I resolved to behave myself, and we relaxed, enjoying the warmth and the wineskin. Fianth declined to share the food with me, laughing and saying it was as well for me that elves don't get fat or I would with all the eating I did.
I was in too good a humour to do anything but laugh at her, and I laughed very hard when she showed me her hand, with the skin on her fingers all wrinkled up.
'Doesn't this happen to elves?' she asked as I laughed. It occurred to me that I was drunker than I ought to be, and that perhaps the hot water might be responsible.
'Eventually, but I'd have to be in here all night!'
'Don't tempt me! I haven't been this comfortable and relaxed since, well, I don't remember when!'
'Not even in Himring?' I asked lazily.
'Well, no. I mean, Lord Maedhros has made sure all his warriors are well housed, but I have no private place I can truly relax in. Nowhere I can really say 'this space is mine!'
I knew what she meant; it was a common complaint amongst warriors. I suppose there are times in everyone's life when you just want to be alone where no one can bother you.
'Just how does a young mortal woman decide to become a warrior? You said your husband was killed by Orcs, but there has to more to the tale than that,' I asked her. This had been on my mind since we left Himring, and I felt the time had come to ask.
'Why do you ask? Just idle curiosity, or more?' she said.
'Curiosity about you, yes, idle curiosity no. I like to know the answers to riddles, and you are a riddle.'
'No less than you!' she remarked, ducking under the water to wash her face.
'What do you mean!' I said, surprised by my guide yet again.
'You pretend everything means nothing to you, that you are above things like feelings, or emotion. I have seen you before, on your last visit to Himring three years ago, and I thought then that your arrogant manner hid a man who actually feels things too deeply. This journey with you has done nothing to alter my views.'
'You may right, and I might tell you if you answer my question. Ladies first, remember.'
'What do you want to know Curufin?' she said almost aggressively.
So, she has a temper, I thought. 'Surely you have a family that needs you?'
'No, I have no siblings, my parents have been dead for more than ten years and my only child died of fever five years ago. So, I fight to avenge those I loved who are dead. What of you? Do you have a wife or children?'
I was surprised at the flare of pain her question caused, yet she had answered my questions so I supposed it was fair I answered hers.
'I have a wife, and a son,' I said quietly. Suddenly I wished to be out of the water, and back by the fire. 'I'm going back to the fire,' I said, and got out of the hot spring, grabbed my clothes and dripping wet strode back to the campfire.
A few minutes passed, in which I dressed myself, and then Fianth appeared, fully clothed, her wet hair hanging loosely down her back. She did not, as I thought she would have, seat herself opposite me, but next to me.
'Curufin, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. You have lost your family, too? Your wife and son are dead?' Her voice was gentle.
'No. They live. My wife didn't love me enough to follow me here from Aman, and my son has disowned me.' Horrified, I felt hot tears trickling down my face. I did not allow things to get to me like this. Angry with myself, I raised my hand to dash away the visible signs of my weakness, when Fianth's hand stopped mine.
'Don't Curufin; don't stop yourself from letting all your pain out. It's not good for you to keep it all locked up inside.' Her arm slipped around my shoulders and with a sob I leaned against her and cried my heart out.