The Anger that Develops
Treebeard led the Ents down to the little stream. The Entwives garden was already full of little sprouts and flowers. The Entwives were not at the stream however. Treebeard led the Ents across the stream. They came across a strange, makeshift hose. It was made of and trees. There appeared to be stones inside of the little home and a little Entmaiden was resting upon one of them. Treebeard walked up to the little house and cleared his throat. The home had no walls but he did not want to look into it out of politeness.
"Who is it?" asked the figure within.
"We are the Ents," answered Treebeard. "We have come to speak to our Entwives." The figure stood and walked out into the moonlight.
"Lightleaf!" cried Greyshroud. Lightleaf jumped. "I should have known. Did you lead all of this?
"We Entwives have all agreed on this," replied Lightleaf with a wavering voice.
"You have always been so opinionated, so… so… so stubborn!" anger was rising in Greyshroud's voice. "How could you make such a fool of your Ent? Hmph, I let you make a fool of me." Treebeard touched Greyshroud's arm. With a look of sorrow, Greyshroud moved back into the crowd of Ents.
"Where are the other Entwives?" asked Treebeard.
"All around here in these little houses," answered Lightleaf as she moved back into the shadows of her little hut. The Ents all separated, each looking for their Entwife. Sounds of exclamations were heard all around the area. There were cries as Entings were reunited with their fathers. A painful choice would be given them tonight: stay with their mother or leave with their father? In the end, all the lads went with their fathers and all of the maidens went with their mothers. Siblings were separated for the first time in their lives. It was a miserable occasion. This night would not be easily forgotten by them.
Treebeard was the last to find his Entwife. Wandlimb was in an even smaller house than Lightleaf. As Treebeard approached her house, Wandlimb came running out to him. She wrapped her arms around him and cried. He led her into the little house and they sat down on a stone. "I hate it!" she said as she wiped her cheeks.
"I do too," he said patting her leg. "We have decided to let you have your gardens. I will come and visit as often as I can."
"I know," she said. "I will still miss the time that we spent together. Is there any way you could stay here?" she asked already knowing the answer.
"No, I have to follow my heart as well as you do."
"I thought I was your heart."
"You will always be apart of my heart, but there are other parts as well," he said as he smoothed her hair. Wandlimb turned her head and her cheeks burned.
"The forest."
"Yes, the forest."
"I have often thought that you loved the forest more than me. You prefer the dances of the trees over your own Entwife." She said and stood.
"I love the trees in a different way. You know that."
"Do I?" she said defiantly.
"Still very stubborn… Hm." With that Treebeard left his Entwife to join the other Ents as they began to leave. Wandlimb turned and watched him leave. Leave? Her Treebeard had left her there. She started to run out after him but then she stopped herself. He said that she could stay. Why shouldn't she? Even as she thought this, tears welled up in her eyes. It will never be the same between the Entwives and the Ents ever again.
~ ~ ~
Treebeard looked back at his Entwife as he started to leave. At first he thought she was looking at him but then realized she was just thinking. She looked so beautiful. At that very moment the sun came up over the treetops. Treebeard hadn't even noticed what time it was. He looked at Wandlimb one more time and saw the sunlight glistening off of her tear covered face. That was the last time he saw her for almost a month.
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Next chapter explains the title…