Culumalda streached and yawned, showing his teeth. Anyone who did not
know him would have thought he was preparing to attack with those visious
jagged teeth, but his mother and father, who stepped out the door to join
him a moment later, did not even seem to notice his dangerous appearance.
"How are you, Mother?" Culumalda kissed his mother gently on the cheek. She smiled brightly and kissed him back.
"Very well, son. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. How about you, Father?" Culumalda turned to Annun, his stepfather of seven years.
"Very well, Culu." Fauwne went to prepare breakfast, and Annun and Culu walked away from the house. They had kept the same routine from the time that Culu had started his training. The only difference, now, was that in the evening reading time, sometimes Culu or Fauwne would read instead of Annun. Both had become fluent and ravious readers, a large step from the illiterate hill-girl and a half-orc misfit that they had once been.
Culu was fifteen now, and as large as a full grown man. Fauwne wondered occasionally about telling him of his true orgins, but since Annun had joined their little family, Culu had seemed to have forgotten all about his father and the stories he once thrived on. Annun's precence took away the boy's need for a father-- and Fauwne was content to let it stay that way.
Annun treated Culu like his own son, even to the point of refering to him as his heir to Lindor-- not that that was much of an inheritance anymore. The land was still firtle and beautiful, but the buildings stood in ruin and abandoned disrepair. It was obvious that except for the small family, there had been no people in this land for a long, long time.
Sometimes, Culu would wonder about the world outside their little domain. Were there really places out there like he read about in the books? Places where thousands of people lived together, places where there where great ships and wonderful inventions, kings and sorcerors, happy children and beautiful women, strange creatures and huge monsters? Often, he would sit and dream about what was really out there. He found it hard to picture the places he read about, the vision aways came back to open, rolling plains and forested hills surrounding an ancient city where three people lived. Home. As small and set apart as it was, it was home, and for that, Culu loved it.
Bright and early the next morning, Culu rose from his bed, stumbled into the great hall, and streached his arms above his head. He was very tired, and his mouth widened into a huge yawn. As his mucsles relaxed, he turned to the window and glanced out, expecting to see the same thing he saw every day. He didn't.
Culu gasped. There was a rider coming! His sharp eyes easily picked up the sutle differences that told him the rider was an Elf. Behind him, he could hear his mother and father approaching, but he did not turn around. He kept his eyes glued to the rider.
Annun came up beside him to see what had captured his attention, and let out a gasp of his own. The rider was much nearer now. Annun ran out the door towards the rider, leaving Fauwne and Culu to wander what was going on.
Fauwne was tempted to tell Culu to hide, but he was to old to be told to hide with no explaination. They stood uncertainly in the doorway.
"Eardil!" Annun yelled. The rider dismounted and ran to meet his friend.
"Annun! It must have been three hundred years since I have seen you." He embraced Annun happily. "You usually wonder by every decade or so, so I thought I would come see what was keeping you."
"Ah, much has changed, my friend, but you, you look just the same as the tiny lad of five hundred when I last saw you."
"So, tell me, why have you not come by?"
"Of late, I grew busy trying to find a reason to stay in Middle Earth. I felt a strong call to take to the sea." Annun said hesitantly. "Then more recently, I have found all the reason I would ever need to stay here forever." Annun glanced over his sholder, drawing Eardil's attention to the two figures in the doorway. "You have not yet met my wife and son, Eardil."
Eardil looked shocked. "You had a son, and did not bother to tell me? Why, he looks to be at least as old as I am. How could this be?"
"He is a mortal, as is his mother," Annun said, "and as am I."
This time, Eardil was shocked speechless.
That day, Culu, and Fauwne grew aquainted with Eardil. He was a young man, by Elvish standards, only eight hundred years old. Culu and he seemed destained to become good friends. The family spoke of many different things with Eardil, minus two very important things-- Culu's real father, and why Annun avoided metioning the sea, coast, or sailing vessels at all cost. The next day, however, both of these where destained to come out.
Culu shared his room with Eardil, for they had not bothered to rebuiled any of the other rooms of the palace over the years. As was his custom, Culu rose early and breathed deeply of the fresh air, and went into the other, higher room to streach out his sore muscles.
Eardil followed after him, and watched as he reached his hands almost to the ceiling with an unnatural flexibility in his huge body. His mouth fell open as Culu turned and he saw two rows of evil, warg-like teeth.
Culu smiled at him. "Good morning, Eardil. I hope you slept well?"
Eardil could not find words for a proper responce. Instead, he just blurted out, "Culu! You have the teeth of a warg!" as if Culu did not know the shape of his own teeth.
Culu's smile faded. He had never seen a warg, so he did not know what one's teeth looked like, but he had read much of the evil creatures. He did not like Eardil's insinuation in the least. He was about to make his retort when he heard Annun behind him.
"Eardil! How dare you speak to my son that way! You are a guest in this house." Eardil wilted under his anger like a small child.
"I am sorry, Annun, I was just, um, startled." he answered repentively.
The matter was dropped, but it stayed in Culu's mind as the day wore on. When the evening reading time came, Culu requested that he be able to read.
Annun nodded, and Culu retrived a book and started to read. Fauwne's eyes widened as she realised he had chosen a beastery, a book of all the creatures of Middle Earth.
Culu read first about Elves. Next, a chapter on men, and finally, he turned to a chapter on the evil creatures of Middle Earth.
"I believe it is time for bed," Annun anounced, but Culu would have none of it. He started to read down the list of various monsters, from dragons, to ravens, to the ghost men, and the wargs-- and reached a section on a creature called an 'orc'.
"Orcs are a torcored form of Elf," he read, "who where created by Melkor and forced to do his evil bidding. They where created in the first age of the stars. Their only plesure is the pain of others. They are hidious creatures, broad and bowlegged, short and dark-colored. They have great jagged fangs, and narrow eyes. Their arms are long and strong, and they are known as the feircest of warriors." Culu read on, and Fauwne breathed a sigh of releif. The discription sounded nothing like Culu. Her fear returned as he reached the next creature, though.
"Uruk-hai are a new form of orc created by Sauron in the Third age. They where dark-colored, taller and stronger than the orcs, and unafraid of light. They where breed for their leadership capabilities." Annun desperately tried to see the cover of the book, hoping that it was written in the third age. His hopes where dashed as he glimpsed a bit of the cover. This was one of the new books he had procured in reacent years. In fact, at the same time he had gotten a copy of "The Red Book of Westmarch" and "There and Back Again". He had hidden these books away, so Fauwne could read the accounts of her friend Bilbo Baggins without Culu happening upon them. However, it seemed he had happened upon one of the books.
Culu continued, "The most fearsome orc of all was created in the fourth age. This was called an 'half-orc' and was a hibred of the Uruk-hia and men. It is said that the Dunlendings made an evil pact with the wizard Sauman that resulted in the breeding of Uruk and Women. These creatures where considered exterminated less than twelve years after their creation."
"Please, son,"Fauwne had tears in her eyes. "Please stop reading." Culu put the book down and turned toface his mother.
"My father was not an Elf, was he." It was a statement, not a question.
Eardil sat listening quietly, doing the smart thing for once in his life. Tears ran freely down Fauwne's face. "You were not like the others," she said softly. "There was good in you. I just knew it."
Culu's sholders sunk in defeat. It was what he had expected to hear, but that made it no easier. "I am a monster," He whispered to himself.
"No, you are not a monster!" Fauwne's tears gave way to anger. "Saruman was a monster. Your father was a monster. But you are not a monster!"
"Son," Annun said softly, "A monster is not the way you look, or how you where born. A monster is what you choose to do with the spirit Eru has given you. If I so chose, I could be a monster." He told him. "But I am not. And you are not. You chose right, my son. You are no monster. You have your mother's spirit-- and your father's looks."
Culu sat dumbly for a moment, taking it all in. "Why do I have pale skin and red hair?" He asked Fauwne.
"Your father was not like the other Uruk-hia. He was-- a mistake." Fauwne hated telling Culu this. Bad enough he was a half-orc, but he was half of a misformed orc!
Culu seemed to take it all in stride. "That is why we are here," he suddenly realized, "You did not want me to know, and you knew any one who had seen an orc would recognize me."
"That was it at first," Annun put in, "but this is our home. I would have never have met you and your mother if you had not been here."
Culu stood to his feet. "I think I want to go to bed now," he said, aready walking off.
Annun and Fauwne looked at each other, then silently left the room as well.
Eardil glanced around the empty room, then went outside to make a pallet by his horse. He felt like he had just opened up a huge can of worms that would start to stink by morning.
When morning came, Eardil dreaded to face Culu. But Culu greeted him as if nothing was wrong. "Hello, Eardil," he said cheerily. "I hope you slept well. I noticed you stayed with your horse."
"Yes,"Eardil did not want to admit that he had been afraid to face Culu, so he made up another reason to be outside. "I plan to leave soon, and I always like to spend quality bonding time with my horse before I make a long trip." It sounded rediculous to his own ears, but he stuck with it. "He is so sencitive, you know."
Culu tried not to laugh, but failed miserably. His parents entered to see him roaring with laughter and Eardil standing with a peculiar look on his face.
Annun recoginised the look on Eardil's face. "So, you managed to fit that oversized foot in your mouth yet again," he commented. "you are still the same young man you were when I last saw you." Even without knowing the reason, Annun joined Culu in laughing. He knew Eardil too well not to know that Eardil had spoken without thinking again.
It turned out to be a perfect ice braker, and an opening for Culu's next startaling announcement. "I'm glad that you are ready to travel on," he said seriously, "for I had hoped to go with you."
Fauwne covered her mouth with her hands, and Annun calmly placed his hands on her shoulders. "We knew this day would come," he reminded her gently.
"But not so soon." Fauwne could only stare at her son-- so soon a man.
Two days later, Eardil and Culu left a tearful Fauwne and a somber Annun behind them as they set off for far lands and adventures. Eardil took it with the same cocky recklessness he took everything with, but to Culu, this was an adventure that would open his eyes to the world-- not a trip to be taken lightly.
Culu was well educated, having learned much at the knee of his stepfather, but he knew he lacked much experiance. Eardil's tales of cities full of people made Culu realize that he had only seen three people in his whole life-- that he remembered. He supposed there must have been others.
As the weary miles passed, Culu asked Eardil many questions about what they would soon see. How should he act? What should he do? What was dangerous, and what was safe? Eardil gladly answered all of his new friend's questions, often with grand embellishments. Finally, Culu's questions turned more personal.
"Eardil," He said quietly one day. "It means 'devotion to the sea' doesn't it?"
"Yes." Eardil's voice was slightly chopped, but Culu didn't notice.
"Why that name? Did you live near the sea?" Culu asked.
"No." Eardil said sharply. Culu still didn't get the picture.
"Well, then, why that name? It is not a very common one, I do not think. I never read it in a book. Was it the name of your father?"
"NO!" This time, it was impossible for Culu to miss the hint. He rode silently beside Eardil for a moment, then timidly asked, "Eardil?"
Eardil sighed.
"I'm sorry." Culu said repentively.
Eardil's anger fell away, and Culu was surprised to see saddness there. Culu did not press the matter, but in a moment Eardil began to talk.
"Culumalda. What a name. 'golden-red' after the most loved tree of Gondor. Did you ever notice that parents name their children after what they love? Or name them something that shows how much they love the child? Your mother must have loved those trees-- and you. She gave up the trees for you." he paused for a moment, then continued. "My mother loved the sea-- but not me. She could not be saddled with a baby on the long voyage, and rather than wait until I had grown, she left me. I was only a little more than a decade when she and my father left. I learned quickly to fend for myself on the city streets, but I never learned to control my mouth. I said the wrong thing to the wrong person, and found myself taken to a home for the abandoned. I stayed there for a hundred years-- a long, long one hundred years. Death would have brought freedom in those days. I longed for adventure-- like my parents. I ran away and determined to hide in the woods, become as a green elf-- forsake the light. But then I met Annun. He gave me a start, a place to stay. He would come by every few years and see that I was well, but he told me that he did not want the responcibilty of a son. That is why he never offically would call me son. Just 'Eardil', the name my mother gave me in her longing and love for the sea." He stoped for a moment. "Your mother must be a very special person-- to give up every thing for you, and to convince Annun to give up immortality for her. Would that Eru had granted me a mother like your's. Thankfully, he did grant me a stepfather like your's."
Culu understood a little better now Eardil's responce to finding out about him and Fauwne. And his responce to any mention of the sea. In his mind, he wondered about the heartache that must come to Eardil every time he heard his own name. It was a constant reminder of what his mother had held dear-- and what she had not.
"I'm sorry, Eardil." Culu said softly, and the matter was dropped.
The next day, Culu rose early. It was still dusky outside, so he crept a little away from camp so he wouldn't wake Eardil. His mind was on the conversation of the day before. He sat in the woods for about thirty minutes, just considering different aspects of the problem. Finally, he made up his mind, and went back into the camp.
"Rise and shine!" He called out to Eardil. "It is time to move, Arheru."
Eardil looked up at him groggily. "What did you say?"
"I said, it's time to move, Arheru."
Eardil stared at him dumbly for a second. "My name isn't Arheru. Or have you forgotten?"
"I've been thinking." Culu planted one hand on his jaw in mock contimplation. "Eardil really does not fit you. So, I thought I would call you Arheru."
Eardil continued to stare at him, without comprehention. "Arheru?" in that moment, understanding hit, and laugter shook Eardil. "Arheru? 'High Lord'? That is quite a name, Culu!"
Culu smiled. "Glad you like it. You'll be hearing a lot of it."
"Why's that?"
"Because when we get around other people, I will be branded a monster. If I am calling someone master, though..."
Culu let Eardil catch his train of thought. "Right! As long as they think you are the slave of some 'high lord', they will leave you alone!"
"Now, saddle up Roch and Rokka and let's get moving!"
Eardil stared again. "You named the horses?"
"Well, if you care so much to sleep with your horse so his feelings are not hurt, the least you could do is name him." Culu answered with a chuckle.
"Yeah, right. Some names-- Horse and Horse. Same name, different languages. Culu, you need a new hobby."
The two young men laughed and went about preparing for the trip. They would reach their first town soon.
"How are you, Mother?" Culumalda kissed his mother gently on the cheek. She smiled brightly and kissed him back.
"Very well, son. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. How about you, Father?" Culumalda turned to Annun, his stepfather of seven years.
"Very well, Culu." Fauwne went to prepare breakfast, and Annun and Culu walked away from the house. They had kept the same routine from the time that Culu had started his training. The only difference, now, was that in the evening reading time, sometimes Culu or Fauwne would read instead of Annun. Both had become fluent and ravious readers, a large step from the illiterate hill-girl and a half-orc misfit that they had once been.
Culu was fifteen now, and as large as a full grown man. Fauwne wondered occasionally about telling him of his true orgins, but since Annun had joined their little family, Culu had seemed to have forgotten all about his father and the stories he once thrived on. Annun's precence took away the boy's need for a father-- and Fauwne was content to let it stay that way.
Annun treated Culu like his own son, even to the point of refering to him as his heir to Lindor-- not that that was much of an inheritance anymore. The land was still firtle and beautiful, but the buildings stood in ruin and abandoned disrepair. It was obvious that except for the small family, there had been no people in this land for a long, long time.
Sometimes, Culu would wonder about the world outside their little domain. Were there really places out there like he read about in the books? Places where thousands of people lived together, places where there where great ships and wonderful inventions, kings and sorcerors, happy children and beautiful women, strange creatures and huge monsters? Often, he would sit and dream about what was really out there. He found it hard to picture the places he read about, the vision aways came back to open, rolling plains and forested hills surrounding an ancient city where three people lived. Home. As small and set apart as it was, it was home, and for that, Culu loved it.
Bright and early the next morning, Culu rose from his bed, stumbled into the great hall, and streached his arms above his head. He was very tired, and his mouth widened into a huge yawn. As his mucsles relaxed, he turned to the window and glanced out, expecting to see the same thing he saw every day. He didn't.
Culu gasped. There was a rider coming! His sharp eyes easily picked up the sutle differences that told him the rider was an Elf. Behind him, he could hear his mother and father approaching, but he did not turn around. He kept his eyes glued to the rider.
Annun came up beside him to see what had captured his attention, and let out a gasp of his own. The rider was much nearer now. Annun ran out the door towards the rider, leaving Fauwne and Culu to wander what was going on.
Fauwne was tempted to tell Culu to hide, but he was to old to be told to hide with no explaination. They stood uncertainly in the doorway.
"Eardil!" Annun yelled. The rider dismounted and ran to meet his friend.
"Annun! It must have been three hundred years since I have seen you." He embraced Annun happily. "You usually wonder by every decade or so, so I thought I would come see what was keeping you."
"Ah, much has changed, my friend, but you, you look just the same as the tiny lad of five hundred when I last saw you."
"So, tell me, why have you not come by?"
"Of late, I grew busy trying to find a reason to stay in Middle Earth. I felt a strong call to take to the sea." Annun said hesitantly. "Then more recently, I have found all the reason I would ever need to stay here forever." Annun glanced over his sholder, drawing Eardil's attention to the two figures in the doorway. "You have not yet met my wife and son, Eardil."
Eardil looked shocked. "You had a son, and did not bother to tell me? Why, he looks to be at least as old as I am. How could this be?"
"He is a mortal, as is his mother," Annun said, "and as am I."
This time, Eardil was shocked speechless.
That day, Culu, and Fauwne grew aquainted with Eardil. He was a young man, by Elvish standards, only eight hundred years old. Culu and he seemed destained to become good friends. The family spoke of many different things with Eardil, minus two very important things-- Culu's real father, and why Annun avoided metioning the sea, coast, or sailing vessels at all cost. The next day, however, both of these where destained to come out.
Culu shared his room with Eardil, for they had not bothered to rebuiled any of the other rooms of the palace over the years. As was his custom, Culu rose early and breathed deeply of the fresh air, and went into the other, higher room to streach out his sore muscles.
Eardil followed after him, and watched as he reached his hands almost to the ceiling with an unnatural flexibility in his huge body. His mouth fell open as Culu turned and he saw two rows of evil, warg-like teeth.
Culu smiled at him. "Good morning, Eardil. I hope you slept well?"
Eardil could not find words for a proper responce. Instead, he just blurted out, "Culu! You have the teeth of a warg!" as if Culu did not know the shape of his own teeth.
Culu's smile faded. He had never seen a warg, so he did not know what one's teeth looked like, but he had read much of the evil creatures. He did not like Eardil's insinuation in the least. He was about to make his retort when he heard Annun behind him.
"Eardil! How dare you speak to my son that way! You are a guest in this house." Eardil wilted under his anger like a small child.
"I am sorry, Annun, I was just, um, startled." he answered repentively.
The matter was dropped, but it stayed in Culu's mind as the day wore on. When the evening reading time came, Culu requested that he be able to read.
Annun nodded, and Culu retrived a book and started to read. Fauwne's eyes widened as she realised he had chosen a beastery, a book of all the creatures of Middle Earth.
Culu read first about Elves. Next, a chapter on men, and finally, he turned to a chapter on the evil creatures of Middle Earth.
"I believe it is time for bed," Annun anounced, but Culu would have none of it. He started to read down the list of various monsters, from dragons, to ravens, to the ghost men, and the wargs-- and reached a section on a creature called an 'orc'.
"Orcs are a torcored form of Elf," he read, "who where created by Melkor and forced to do his evil bidding. They where created in the first age of the stars. Their only plesure is the pain of others. They are hidious creatures, broad and bowlegged, short and dark-colored. They have great jagged fangs, and narrow eyes. Their arms are long and strong, and they are known as the feircest of warriors." Culu read on, and Fauwne breathed a sigh of releif. The discription sounded nothing like Culu. Her fear returned as he reached the next creature, though.
"Uruk-hai are a new form of orc created by Sauron in the Third age. They where dark-colored, taller and stronger than the orcs, and unafraid of light. They where breed for their leadership capabilities." Annun desperately tried to see the cover of the book, hoping that it was written in the third age. His hopes where dashed as he glimpsed a bit of the cover. This was one of the new books he had procured in reacent years. In fact, at the same time he had gotten a copy of "The Red Book of Westmarch" and "There and Back Again". He had hidden these books away, so Fauwne could read the accounts of her friend Bilbo Baggins without Culu happening upon them. However, it seemed he had happened upon one of the books.
Culu continued, "The most fearsome orc of all was created in the fourth age. This was called an 'half-orc' and was a hibred of the Uruk-hia and men. It is said that the Dunlendings made an evil pact with the wizard Sauman that resulted in the breeding of Uruk and Women. These creatures where considered exterminated less than twelve years after their creation."
"Please, son,"Fauwne had tears in her eyes. "Please stop reading." Culu put the book down and turned toface his mother.
"My father was not an Elf, was he." It was a statement, not a question.
Eardil sat listening quietly, doing the smart thing for once in his life. Tears ran freely down Fauwne's face. "You were not like the others," she said softly. "There was good in you. I just knew it."
Culu's sholders sunk in defeat. It was what he had expected to hear, but that made it no easier. "I am a monster," He whispered to himself.
"No, you are not a monster!" Fauwne's tears gave way to anger. "Saruman was a monster. Your father was a monster. But you are not a monster!"
"Son," Annun said softly, "A monster is not the way you look, or how you where born. A monster is what you choose to do with the spirit Eru has given you. If I so chose, I could be a monster." He told him. "But I am not. And you are not. You chose right, my son. You are no monster. You have your mother's spirit-- and your father's looks."
Culu sat dumbly for a moment, taking it all in. "Why do I have pale skin and red hair?" He asked Fauwne.
"Your father was not like the other Uruk-hia. He was-- a mistake." Fauwne hated telling Culu this. Bad enough he was a half-orc, but he was half of a misformed orc!
Culu seemed to take it all in stride. "That is why we are here," he suddenly realized, "You did not want me to know, and you knew any one who had seen an orc would recognize me."
"That was it at first," Annun put in, "but this is our home. I would have never have met you and your mother if you had not been here."
Culu stood to his feet. "I think I want to go to bed now," he said, aready walking off.
Annun and Fauwne looked at each other, then silently left the room as well.
Eardil glanced around the empty room, then went outside to make a pallet by his horse. He felt like he had just opened up a huge can of worms that would start to stink by morning.
When morning came, Eardil dreaded to face Culu. But Culu greeted him as if nothing was wrong. "Hello, Eardil," he said cheerily. "I hope you slept well. I noticed you stayed with your horse."
"Yes,"Eardil did not want to admit that he had been afraid to face Culu, so he made up another reason to be outside. "I plan to leave soon, and I always like to spend quality bonding time with my horse before I make a long trip." It sounded rediculous to his own ears, but he stuck with it. "He is so sencitive, you know."
Culu tried not to laugh, but failed miserably. His parents entered to see him roaring with laughter and Eardil standing with a peculiar look on his face.
Annun recoginised the look on Eardil's face. "So, you managed to fit that oversized foot in your mouth yet again," he commented. "you are still the same young man you were when I last saw you." Even without knowing the reason, Annun joined Culu in laughing. He knew Eardil too well not to know that Eardil had spoken without thinking again.
It turned out to be a perfect ice braker, and an opening for Culu's next startaling announcement. "I'm glad that you are ready to travel on," he said seriously, "for I had hoped to go with you."
Fauwne covered her mouth with her hands, and Annun calmly placed his hands on her shoulders. "We knew this day would come," he reminded her gently.
"But not so soon." Fauwne could only stare at her son-- so soon a man.
Two days later, Eardil and Culu left a tearful Fauwne and a somber Annun behind them as they set off for far lands and adventures. Eardil took it with the same cocky recklessness he took everything with, but to Culu, this was an adventure that would open his eyes to the world-- not a trip to be taken lightly.
Culu was well educated, having learned much at the knee of his stepfather, but he knew he lacked much experiance. Eardil's tales of cities full of people made Culu realize that he had only seen three people in his whole life-- that he remembered. He supposed there must have been others.
As the weary miles passed, Culu asked Eardil many questions about what they would soon see. How should he act? What should he do? What was dangerous, and what was safe? Eardil gladly answered all of his new friend's questions, often with grand embellishments. Finally, Culu's questions turned more personal.
"Eardil," He said quietly one day. "It means 'devotion to the sea' doesn't it?"
"Yes." Eardil's voice was slightly chopped, but Culu didn't notice.
"Why that name? Did you live near the sea?" Culu asked.
"No." Eardil said sharply. Culu still didn't get the picture.
"Well, then, why that name? It is not a very common one, I do not think. I never read it in a book. Was it the name of your father?"
"NO!" This time, it was impossible for Culu to miss the hint. He rode silently beside Eardil for a moment, then timidly asked, "Eardil?"
Eardil sighed.
"I'm sorry." Culu said repentively.
Eardil's anger fell away, and Culu was surprised to see saddness there. Culu did not press the matter, but in a moment Eardil began to talk.
"Culumalda. What a name. 'golden-red' after the most loved tree of Gondor. Did you ever notice that parents name their children after what they love? Or name them something that shows how much they love the child? Your mother must have loved those trees-- and you. She gave up the trees for you." he paused for a moment, then continued. "My mother loved the sea-- but not me. She could not be saddled with a baby on the long voyage, and rather than wait until I had grown, she left me. I was only a little more than a decade when she and my father left. I learned quickly to fend for myself on the city streets, but I never learned to control my mouth. I said the wrong thing to the wrong person, and found myself taken to a home for the abandoned. I stayed there for a hundred years-- a long, long one hundred years. Death would have brought freedom in those days. I longed for adventure-- like my parents. I ran away and determined to hide in the woods, become as a green elf-- forsake the light. But then I met Annun. He gave me a start, a place to stay. He would come by every few years and see that I was well, but he told me that he did not want the responcibilty of a son. That is why he never offically would call me son. Just 'Eardil', the name my mother gave me in her longing and love for the sea." He stoped for a moment. "Your mother must be a very special person-- to give up every thing for you, and to convince Annun to give up immortality for her. Would that Eru had granted me a mother like your's. Thankfully, he did grant me a stepfather like your's."
Culu understood a little better now Eardil's responce to finding out about him and Fauwne. And his responce to any mention of the sea. In his mind, he wondered about the heartache that must come to Eardil every time he heard his own name. It was a constant reminder of what his mother had held dear-- and what she had not.
"I'm sorry, Eardil." Culu said softly, and the matter was dropped.
The next day, Culu rose early. It was still dusky outside, so he crept a little away from camp so he wouldn't wake Eardil. His mind was on the conversation of the day before. He sat in the woods for about thirty minutes, just considering different aspects of the problem. Finally, he made up his mind, and went back into the camp.
"Rise and shine!" He called out to Eardil. "It is time to move, Arheru."
Eardil looked up at him groggily. "What did you say?"
"I said, it's time to move, Arheru."
Eardil stared at him dumbly for a second. "My name isn't Arheru. Or have you forgotten?"
"I've been thinking." Culu planted one hand on his jaw in mock contimplation. "Eardil really does not fit you. So, I thought I would call you Arheru."
Eardil continued to stare at him, without comprehention. "Arheru?" in that moment, understanding hit, and laugter shook Eardil. "Arheru? 'High Lord'? That is quite a name, Culu!"
Culu smiled. "Glad you like it. You'll be hearing a lot of it."
"Why's that?"
"Because when we get around other people, I will be branded a monster. If I am calling someone master, though..."
Culu let Eardil catch his train of thought. "Right! As long as they think you are the slave of some 'high lord', they will leave you alone!"
"Now, saddle up Roch and Rokka and let's get moving!"
Eardil stared again. "You named the horses?"
"Well, if you care so much to sleep with your horse so his feelings are not hurt, the least you could do is name him." Culu answered with a chuckle.
"Yeah, right. Some names-- Horse and Horse. Same name, different languages. Culu, you need a new hobby."
The two young men laughed and went about preparing for the trip. They would reach their first town soon.