Galadriel sat alone in her room, spinning Nenya on her finger. Her face
looked sunken and spent. She held a letter in her hand. It was written to
her from Celeborn in Mordor, sent back by his herald. The letter was
hurried and brief.
Meldielto-nin
Great resistance from the orcs. Heavy casualties. Vardilme fell this morning. Tell Volondowen I offer my
deepest apologies. Last words were 'Bid Volondowen farewell for me'.
Just one of the many grievous losses we have suffered. Am fine save a few minor cuts. Hope you are well
and Celebrian also. Give her my best.
Namarie, Celeborn
Galadriel let the letter slip from her hands. Celebrian walked into her mother's chamber.
"Mamil?"
Galadriel jumped. It had been a long time since her daughter had reffered to her as Mamil, which was Quenya for mother. She put the ring back on her finger and turned to Celebrian.
"Yes, Laurea-hina."
Celebrian smiled at the old nickname. Golden-daughter.
"Have you heard from Atar?"
"Yes." Galadriel handed Celebrian the letter. Celebrian's eyes darted side to side down the page. She lowered the letter and looked at her mother.
"Poor Volondowen. She'll be heartbroken. If only there was something I could have done."
Galadriel looked at her daughter fixedly. "Celebrian, don't say that. There is nothing you can do to save those who are destined to die, in war or other."
"It's not right. Vardilme was all Volondowen had."
"Celebrian Laurea-hina, listen to me. War is never nice, easy, or merciful. I have seen the ugliness of war. It's not always fair about who it picks. In fact it never is. But I have also learned two rules that apply to any war. Rule number one, good people die in wars. Rule number two, no one, I repeat no one, has the power to change rule number one. Celebrian, what happened to Vardilme was not of your making, nor could you have prevented it. He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the Halls of Mandos. The future holds days that will be darker than this. Your burden will someday be heavy indeed. Do not add to it by carrying faultless guilt."
Of this matter, Galadriel would say no more. She stood up and left, putting her hand on Celebrian's shoulder before she left. Celebrian stood there, reeling from all she had just heard. She had never heard her mother speak so harshly before. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her mother's words. 'Rule number one, good people die in wars. Rule number two, no one, I repeat no one, has the power to change rule number one.' Her mother was right of course, as usual, but it didn't stop the words from being painful. Nor did it relieve the pain of her friend's death. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she turned and faced the morning sun.
Meldielto-nin
Great resistance from the orcs. Heavy casualties. Vardilme fell this morning. Tell Volondowen I offer my
deepest apologies. Last words were 'Bid Volondowen farewell for me'.
Just one of the many grievous losses we have suffered. Am fine save a few minor cuts. Hope you are well
and Celebrian also. Give her my best.
Namarie, Celeborn
Galadriel let the letter slip from her hands. Celebrian walked into her mother's chamber.
"Mamil?"
Galadriel jumped. It had been a long time since her daughter had reffered to her as Mamil, which was Quenya for mother. She put the ring back on her finger and turned to Celebrian.
"Yes, Laurea-hina."
Celebrian smiled at the old nickname. Golden-daughter.
"Have you heard from Atar?"
"Yes." Galadriel handed Celebrian the letter. Celebrian's eyes darted side to side down the page. She lowered the letter and looked at her mother.
"Poor Volondowen. She'll be heartbroken. If only there was something I could have done."
Galadriel looked at her daughter fixedly. "Celebrian, don't say that. There is nothing you can do to save those who are destined to die, in war or other."
"It's not right. Vardilme was all Volondowen had."
"Celebrian Laurea-hina, listen to me. War is never nice, easy, or merciful. I have seen the ugliness of war. It's not always fair about who it picks. In fact it never is. But I have also learned two rules that apply to any war. Rule number one, good people die in wars. Rule number two, no one, I repeat no one, has the power to change rule number one. Celebrian, what happened to Vardilme was not of your making, nor could you have prevented it. He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the Halls of Mandos. The future holds days that will be darker than this. Your burden will someday be heavy indeed. Do not add to it by carrying faultless guilt."
Of this matter, Galadriel would say no more. She stood up and left, putting her hand on Celebrian's shoulder before she left. Celebrian stood there, reeling from all she had just heard. She had never heard her mother speak so harshly before. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her mother's words. 'Rule number one, good people die in wars. Rule number two, no one, I repeat no one, has the power to change rule number one.' Her mother was right of course, as usual, but it didn't stop the words from being painful. Nor did it relieve the pain of her friend's death. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she turned and faced the morning sun.
