Aegnor.
It was she, it was Andreth, and I could feel both her eyes and Finrod's on me. Valar!! How hard it was to still my shaking hand when she served first her grandfather, then Finrod and I as guests. I know not what foods she gave me, all I could think was that she was close, and I could not, must not, say anything. Not here.
The lady's gaze had swept me, her eyes hard and mouth unsmiling although I sensed she was not displeased to see me. Automatically, I had checked her hand for rings; none she wore that I could see were betrothal or wedding bands. Was she yet unmarried? I had hoped that by staying away she would forget me, and wed one of her own people, but she had not. Because of me? I hoped not, but I found it hard to imagine that such a lovely maiden lacked for suitors.
She left, in a swirl of skirts, and I felt my brother's gentle mental touch, assuring himself that I was all right. A quick glance of understanding flashed between us, and Boron did not miss it, but I sensed good manners prevented him from mentioning anything. I had to draw the conclusion that Andreth might have confided in her grandfather, as I might have confided in mine if Finwe were available, that is.
So, we ate and Finrod checked Boron's injuries and performed some healing. I was a bit envious, I have virtually no healing ability, and it's something I wished I had. Finrod then excused us to Boron, and we left, I still trembling slightly from my emotions at seeing Andreth again.
I felt Finrod's mind brush mine lightly, and then draw away before he spoke, 'Are you all right, brother?' And as he spoke I realised he had been unable to read me, something that had never happened before, and that unsettled me more.
'A little unsettled, but no more. I was. unprepared to see Andreth, but I don't know, Finrod. I'm very confused right now, and I don't like it a bit!' I turned to face my brother, 'Am I right in thinking she's unwed still?'
Finrod's reply was measured and quiet, 'I think so.'
I let out a deep breath, 'I hope not because of me!'
'She is a lovely maiden for a mortal, there must be many who would wed her', replied Finrod in a maddeningly roundabout way.
'Am I crazy, Finrod? Have I lost my mind to love a mortal?'
'No, you're not crazy, little brother, just very much in love with a charming maid.'
Frustrated, I asked, 'what should I do? I'm not a thinker like you, I act first and think later!'
Finrod swung around to face me as we trod down a narrow staircase, 'Then for once do think, Aegnor. Use your head and not your heart and think. She is lovely, she is intelligent and charming but she is mortal.' His eyes bored into mine.
'You do not approve,' I said, disappointed.
'No, that is too strong, I don't disapprove, nor do I approve exactly. Make your own decision, and make it well, then stick to it is the best advise I can give you. I will support you no matter which decision you make,' he finished, and hugged me.
'Thank you, Finrod,' I said as hugged my brother back.
'No need for thanks,' he said quietly, 'that is what family is for, to help each other through difficult times.'
Somehow, after the worries of the evening, I managed a small smile, 'I am lucky, Finrod, to have you for my brother! No one could be kinder than you.'
Finrod, of course, denied this, he did not like praise, not of himself at least. He is like Mother is that respect.
We spoke no more of the matter of Andreth that evening, but in the guest chambers given us played chess, of course Finrod beat me. His mind is far more logical than mine; he has been proven a formidable commander of armies before. I am simply a warrior.
Three days we had spent in the company of the mortals when I found myself seeking solitude to think as Finrod had requested, but the weather prevented even an elf enjoying the outdoors now. It was a very wet and cold spring, with a bad late blizzard blowing outside, so I went into a little used part of the main Hall. Imagine my surprise when I saw Andreth, dressed in leggings and tunic, carrying a sword on her hip and a large pack in her hand, obviously trying to sneak out the little used side door. She gave the appearance of someone running away!
She had not heard my light elven footsteps, and I would have left her, but I had to know why she had a sword and a pack; the possibilities frightened me. So I spoke, my voice low to prevent startling her. 'Andreth, where are you going, alone in this weather?'
I don't know what reaction I expected from her, but the one she gave me was the last I expected, for she whirled and to my shock I faced the business end of her sword! She was swift for a mortal, and clearly had been well trained in the use of arms.
'Why are YOU here,' she snapped, her sword point wavering not a whit.
'To seek solitude, to think on my worries,' I replied carefully. When she neither spoke nor moved, I spoke again, 'what worries me is that you appear to be running away!'
'What is to you if I am,' she said defiance in every line of her slender body. This was not going to get me anywhere, so I tried a different tactic, 'what is wrong, Andreth?' I held out my hand, careful not to move quickly, 'can I help you in any way?'
'You can't,' she whispered, the sword point wavering. She was close to tears, and her emotions were interfering with her control of her weapon. Soon I could take the sword from her, but I had to move closer, so carefully I edged closer, talking gently to her all the while. Once close enough, I moved as only an elf could, far too fast for a mortal to deal with and swept the sword from her hand. She stood amazed for a brief instant, then collapsed, I supposed from the force of her emotions. Even though I was trying to shield my mind from her confused thoughts, her emotions kept breaking through, and raging like a storm around me. I knew this was affecting me, and I also knew when I knelt beside her to comfort her that touching her was folly, but I could not help myself, she was so upset I did not dare not to help her.
I put the sword well away from where Andreth could reach it and sat down next to her. She lay on her side, her loose hair across her face, weeping. I longed to hold her, and comfort her, but I dared not. So I stroked her hair and waited to see if she would speak to me. Sure enough, she did, sitting up but refusing to face me.
'Go please, Aegnor, just go, and pretend you didn't see me today,' she begged.
'If you go out into the blizzard, you'll die, Andreth! Even an elf could not survive! What is it that drives you from your home in such fearful weather?' I asked in a gentler tone.
Her shoulders slumped as she answered, 'why should you care.'
'I do care, more than I have told you, possibly more than I ought to! Andreth, whatever it is, running away won't help; I know that. Please, let me help you!' I begged now in reply.
'I'm going to my aunt, and no one will stop me.'
'Would that not be foolish in this weather?' I started and looked up to see Finrod standing in the doorway, his expression unusually serious. 'Particularly as your grandfather has just been informed of your difficulty and has forbidden your mother to make you marry against your will. Come,' he held out his hand 'my brother and I shall escort you to Boron, he has requested your presence.'
Andreth accepted Finrod's assistance, and she stood, still shaking badly. Quietly Finrod requested that I follow, and we left, to seek Andreth's grandfather.
It was she, it was Andreth, and I could feel both her eyes and Finrod's on me. Valar!! How hard it was to still my shaking hand when she served first her grandfather, then Finrod and I as guests. I know not what foods she gave me, all I could think was that she was close, and I could not, must not, say anything. Not here.
The lady's gaze had swept me, her eyes hard and mouth unsmiling although I sensed she was not displeased to see me. Automatically, I had checked her hand for rings; none she wore that I could see were betrothal or wedding bands. Was she yet unmarried? I had hoped that by staying away she would forget me, and wed one of her own people, but she had not. Because of me? I hoped not, but I found it hard to imagine that such a lovely maiden lacked for suitors.
She left, in a swirl of skirts, and I felt my brother's gentle mental touch, assuring himself that I was all right. A quick glance of understanding flashed between us, and Boron did not miss it, but I sensed good manners prevented him from mentioning anything. I had to draw the conclusion that Andreth might have confided in her grandfather, as I might have confided in mine if Finwe were available, that is.
So, we ate and Finrod checked Boron's injuries and performed some healing. I was a bit envious, I have virtually no healing ability, and it's something I wished I had. Finrod then excused us to Boron, and we left, I still trembling slightly from my emotions at seeing Andreth again.
I felt Finrod's mind brush mine lightly, and then draw away before he spoke, 'Are you all right, brother?' And as he spoke I realised he had been unable to read me, something that had never happened before, and that unsettled me more.
'A little unsettled, but no more. I was. unprepared to see Andreth, but I don't know, Finrod. I'm very confused right now, and I don't like it a bit!' I turned to face my brother, 'Am I right in thinking she's unwed still?'
Finrod's reply was measured and quiet, 'I think so.'
I let out a deep breath, 'I hope not because of me!'
'She is a lovely maiden for a mortal, there must be many who would wed her', replied Finrod in a maddeningly roundabout way.
'Am I crazy, Finrod? Have I lost my mind to love a mortal?'
'No, you're not crazy, little brother, just very much in love with a charming maid.'
Frustrated, I asked, 'what should I do? I'm not a thinker like you, I act first and think later!'
Finrod swung around to face me as we trod down a narrow staircase, 'Then for once do think, Aegnor. Use your head and not your heart and think. She is lovely, she is intelligent and charming but she is mortal.' His eyes bored into mine.
'You do not approve,' I said, disappointed.
'No, that is too strong, I don't disapprove, nor do I approve exactly. Make your own decision, and make it well, then stick to it is the best advise I can give you. I will support you no matter which decision you make,' he finished, and hugged me.
'Thank you, Finrod,' I said as hugged my brother back.
'No need for thanks,' he said quietly, 'that is what family is for, to help each other through difficult times.'
Somehow, after the worries of the evening, I managed a small smile, 'I am lucky, Finrod, to have you for my brother! No one could be kinder than you.'
Finrod, of course, denied this, he did not like praise, not of himself at least. He is like Mother is that respect.
We spoke no more of the matter of Andreth that evening, but in the guest chambers given us played chess, of course Finrod beat me. His mind is far more logical than mine; he has been proven a formidable commander of armies before. I am simply a warrior.
Three days we had spent in the company of the mortals when I found myself seeking solitude to think as Finrod had requested, but the weather prevented even an elf enjoying the outdoors now. It was a very wet and cold spring, with a bad late blizzard blowing outside, so I went into a little used part of the main Hall. Imagine my surprise when I saw Andreth, dressed in leggings and tunic, carrying a sword on her hip and a large pack in her hand, obviously trying to sneak out the little used side door. She gave the appearance of someone running away!
She had not heard my light elven footsteps, and I would have left her, but I had to know why she had a sword and a pack; the possibilities frightened me. So I spoke, my voice low to prevent startling her. 'Andreth, where are you going, alone in this weather?'
I don't know what reaction I expected from her, but the one she gave me was the last I expected, for she whirled and to my shock I faced the business end of her sword! She was swift for a mortal, and clearly had been well trained in the use of arms.
'Why are YOU here,' she snapped, her sword point wavering not a whit.
'To seek solitude, to think on my worries,' I replied carefully. When she neither spoke nor moved, I spoke again, 'what worries me is that you appear to be running away!'
'What is to you if I am,' she said defiance in every line of her slender body. This was not going to get me anywhere, so I tried a different tactic, 'what is wrong, Andreth?' I held out my hand, careful not to move quickly, 'can I help you in any way?'
'You can't,' she whispered, the sword point wavering. She was close to tears, and her emotions were interfering with her control of her weapon. Soon I could take the sword from her, but I had to move closer, so carefully I edged closer, talking gently to her all the while. Once close enough, I moved as only an elf could, far too fast for a mortal to deal with and swept the sword from her hand. She stood amazed for a brief instant, then collapsed, I supposed from the force of her emotions. Even though I was trying to shield my mind from her confused thoughts, her emotions kept breaking through, and raging like a storm around me. I knew this was affecting me, and I also knew when I knelt beside her to comfort her that touching her was folly, but I could not help myself, she was so upset I did not dare not to help her.
I put the sword well away from where Andreth could reach it and sat down next to her. She lay on her side, her loose hair across her face, weeping. I longed to hold her, and comfort her, but I dared not. So I stroked her hair and waited to see if she would speak to me. Sure enough, she did, sitting up but refusing to face me.
'Go please, Aegnor, just go, and pretend you didn't see me today,' she begged.
'If you go out into the blizzard, you'll die, Andreth! Even an elf could not survive! What is it that drives you from your home in such fearful weather?' I asked in a gentler tone.
Her shoulders slumped as she answered, 'why should you care.'
'I do care, more than I have told you, possibly more than I ought to! Andreth, whatever it is, running away won't help; I know that. Please, let me help you!' I begged now in reply.
'I'm going to my aunt, and no one will stop me.'
'Would that not be foolish in this weather?' I started and looked up to see Finrod standing in the doorway, his expression unusually serious. 'Particularly as your grandfather has just been informed of your difficulty and has forbidden your mother to make you marry against your will. Come,' he held out his hand 'my brother and I shall escort you to Boron, he has requested your presence.'
Andreth accepted Finrod's assistance, and she stood, still shaking badly. Quietly Finrod requested that I follow, and we left, to seek Andreth's grandfather.