Chapter 16
Mithlhach stared at him very hard.
"Tomb?" she said hollowly, "You mean he has built himself a tomb for when he dies?"
"You said yourself, we have had a war. With war comes much loss."
He put his hand on her shoulder but it seemed more as though he did it to steady himself than to comfort her. His eyes were soft still and his gaze strained but hers was as hard and cold as ice.
"Himthol was very brave and close to the hearts of all who knew him," Amrothos continued.
"'Was'? 'Knew'? Why do you speak so?" she brushed his hand off her shoulder and her eyes flashed, "Curse you, I am in no mood for riddles."
"Your brother has passed from this world," said Amrothos.
"You must be mistaken," said Mithlhach, though her lips trembled.
"No, I fear I am not," he said and dropped his gaze so that his dark hair fell about his eyes, "He died at my hand."
He saw her hand go for the hilt of her sword and closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable. He had been waiting for this death for a long time. It seemed only just for it to be at her hand for she deserved the right to avenge the death of her brother. How could he take from her the one person she held close to her heart? Now she had no one, for her grandparents had passed long ago. Amrothos himself could hardly bear the loss of his dearest friend, how would Himthol's sister bear it?
He waited for the swish of the blade and the sweet release of death. The gentle breeze blew his hair about his face and he looked up. The maiden was no where to be seen. There was now only one path left open to Amrothos. He would have to take his own life.
"Where is she?"
Amrothos looked up and saw a puzzled Lindil standing over him. Seeing the look on Amrothos' face his confusion vanished.
"It is as I had feared," said Lindil, "Himthol is dead, is he not?"
Amrothos nodded.
"And his death is of my doing," he said.
"How has this come to pass?" asked Lindil, sitting across from him.
"It was my sword that killed him. We were in battle and though we fought hard, many of us were wounded and men fell about us. Through the clashing weapons I saw Himthol surrounded by orcs. He tried to fight them off but they were too much for him so I hurriedly made my way to him. I had almost reached him when a chilling cry was heard above us. The cry of death. I cowered at its call as did many others but soon I was slicing my way through those around Himthol. They had wounded him badly but still he fought them off. Together we slew the creatures but Himthol was all but spent. As he ran his sword through the last of them the cry was heard again and Himthol was struck. He fell to the ground and hardly moved. I bent over him and could scarce hear his breathing. 'My death will be slow and painful,' he said, 'spare me my friend.' What could I do but do as he asked. Though I wept at the thought of it and my hands were loth to do the deed I took the life of he who was as dear to me as a brother. The darkness had enfolded his heart and he could not endure it, nor could I bear to see him thus.
"But as soon as the deed was done I regretted my haste. For too late did word of the healing hands of the king reach me. Had I not taken his life he could have been saved."
"Did you tell all this to Mithlhach?"
"Mithlhach?"
"The maiden."
"I only told her that it was I who killed her brother."
"Where is she?"
"I know not for sure, but if I know her she will be at the closest peak though hidden. Somewhere she can see all but cannot be seen."
"She will not blame you once she has heard what you have told me," said Lindil.
So saying, the elf stood up and went in search of the highest peak. It was directly above and he climbed quickly but when he got there he saw no one. He surveyed the area around him and glimpsed a brief flicker to his left below. Leaning over a jutting rock he looked down and saw under it in an alcove of sorts, the person he sought. He had just begun to wonder how she had got there when she got up and climbed out. She did not seem surprised to see him there. She hardly seemed to think anything of it at all.
"He is dead, Lindil," she said, looking out towards Dol Amroth, "I should have been here. I should have fought by his side for my people, not with strangers."
"All people are your people, Mithlhach. Were we not all created by Eru?"
She did not answer and as she was turned away from him he could not see her face either.
"You must not blame yourself," said Lindil, "Nor should you blame Amrothos. He did not explain to you that your brother was in agony and begged for his friend to take his life. He did not kill him out of malice."
"When do you leave for the havens? You have accompanied me on my journey, now I shall travel with you on yours. At least as far as any mere mortal can."
"I shall ask Amrothos if I may take a ship to sail to the havens."
"Do so."
Mithlhach stood dangerously close to the edge. She shifted her booted foot and sent a few stones down the side of the mountain. She watched them fall with eerie interest and Lindil did not care to leave her there lest she decide to follow them.
"One from Gondor always keeps her word," she said, "I said I shall accompany you and I shall, if you so wish. You said you would be as a brother to me and you have. I shall see you safely to your destination. Do not fear, I shall not... leave before you do."
"Perhaps I had best not leave."
"But you must."
"I could stay for your lifetime."
"Then perhaps I might slip and end my lifetime at this very moment."
"Nay, Mithlhach. It is just that I do not wish for you to lose two brothers in one day."
"You have been a good friend to me but it is time you finally started on your journey home. Day by day I have seen your eyes grow weary of these lands. The time has truly come for you to leave."
"Come then, friend."
Mithlhach turned to take the hand stretched out to her yet so full of grief were her eyes that the elf put his arms about her in a brotherly embrace. To his dismay she began to cry.
"It is not right," she wept, "He should not have left this world so soon. If only I knew he was happy, wherever he is now."
"We elves know not where men go when they leave this world," said Lindil, "Yet the so-called 'doom of man' was first known as the 'gift of man'. I do not doubt that he is happy, perhaps, in a place lovelier than Valinor itself. And there he waits for you when it is your time to meet him again. That time is not now and it is not for you to decide when it is.
"Be glad that your brother has escaped the grievances of this world and weep no more."
She let Lindil's wise words wash over her and her tears ceased to flow.
"You have indeed been as a brother to me," she said, wiping away her tears, "For that, I am truly grateful. And though I shall miss thee, I can take comfort that to this brother at least I can bid farewell."
Hand in hand they made their way back to the others. Amrothos had been watching them but now he looked away. Having heard the news, the dwarves took off their hoods in respect and expressed their sympathies.
"Do not worry," said Mithlhach, "I have been this long without Himthol. I must simply wait a little longer to be reunited with him."
She glanced at Amrothos as he stood giving orders to his knights and hearing from Melfalas all that had happened. She hesitated a moment before she went to speak to him but before she could say a word Melfalas spoke.
"When we return to Dol Amroth, You shall be tried as a murderer," he told Mithlhach.
"For Ohtar's death?" she asked.
"Nay," said Melfalas, "For that was in defence and had you not killed him he would have surely killed Lindil. It is for taking the life of Belegore that you must be judged."
"Belegore?" said Amrothos, "The same man of whom Nendur speaks with the greatest contempt? Belegore played the greatest part after Ohtar in taking me captive and threatening others into helping him. I am sure his death is justified and she is thus, pardoned."
"I am very grateful," said Mithlhach coolly, "And I would be further obliged if you would direct me to my brother's tomb."
"Certainly," he replied.
Mithlhach went to get Alda Into while Amrothos mounted his own house. As she led the pony to him, Lindil walked beside her, telling her what Amrothos had said about Himthol's death. She listened without comment.
While she rode behind Amrothos in silence, Lindil and the dwarves followed in their cart. Ahead of them the castle of Prince Imrahil looked gloomy and forbidding in the shadow of the clouds gathered above it. Yet the clouds seemed to be passing at great speed as though in a hurry to get away from whatever was coming from the sea.
The travellers entered the princedom and could not help but notice the apprehensive looks those around them had. A few looked suspiciously at Mithlhach and whispered among themselves. To them, Mithlhach gave her sweetest smile and they turned away. As they passed close by a crowd Lindil heard the mutterings between two old ladies.
"Back is she. I would never have thought it. And with the prince's son too," said one.
"She must have taken him in the first place," replied the other, "'Tis a good thing they caught the young wretch."
"How truly you speak, my dear. Though her presence here does not surprise me. Now that it is said to be coming."
"I heard it comes by ship. What did you hear?"
"Not much more, I'm afraid."
Soon, they were inside the castle walls and the horses were taken to stables. White pillars surrounded the courtyard and between each other pair was an arched doorway. Amrothos walked towards one and looked at Mithlhach.
"Shall I come down with you?" he asked.
"No, I prefer to see him alone."
"As you wish. The ring is on his hand."
He then turned to the others and bid them to follow the knights to a place for food and drink. But Mithlhach asked Lindil to wait for her in the courtyard so he took a seat before a fountain that stood in the centre of it. Just before Mithlhach began to take the steps down to the tomb, Amrothos stopped her.
"Forgive me, old friend," he said, "I would never had had such a thing happen. I would rather he was alive and I were dead."
Mithlhach only looked at him and then turned to go down the steps without a word. There was too much pain inside for any words to escape her lips. She stepped into the dark tomb and saw Himthol lying on a marble slab, covered by a pale veil. It was strange for him to be lying thus, in the open, for it was customary for the dead to be buried.
To her surprise he looked only as though he was sleeping, so fair and glowing was his face. His lip seemed to twitch into a smile and she quickly moved away the veil to look at him closer.
"You're alive," she cried, "Himthol!"
She took his hand as she spoke but it was as cold as ice and he did not reply to her calls. Her sudden brief hope was vanquished in a second. He was truly dead and nothing could bring him back. She stood for some time holding his hand and hoping against hope that his eyes would flutter open. But he was still and cold like the stone he lay upon. She closed her eyes and tears rolled gently down her cheeks. All her memories of him seemed to flood into her mind, overlapping like the waves of the sea. She could not help thinking of all that she had missed, memories of him she would never have. The moments she had with him that would never return and his stories and laughter, she would never again hear. His whole life stopped. No one would ever know what future he would have had, what he could have achieved.
Mithlhach realised suddenly that the hand she held was warm. But only because it had absorbed the heat from her own hand. If only she could bring him back to life. She looked at her own hands scornfully. What use was her ability if it could not save the ones she loved.
A great uproar could be heard above and Mithlhach could not ignore it.
"Do people no longer have respect for the dead," she muttered.
She gently took her ring from Himthol's finger and put it on. She kissed his forehead, folded his hands over his chest and covered him with the veil. The sounds above got louder and she made out the words "fire demon" among the shouts. Shaking her head she reluctantly turned her back on Himthol and made her way upstairs. Lindil was waiting for her but no one else could be seen.
"A strange ship is approaching," said Lindil, "Many have gathered to the harbour to see it come."
"Then let us too see who has attracted such an audience."
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope you liked this latest chapter. Do leave a review and let me know what you thought of it! )
