CH VIII. Scattered dreams
Amaranth entered Havendell with Narond and there she met many Elves. Beauty surrounded her in the finely sculpted columns, the wonderful waterfalls and the delicate sounds of birds chirping. She had only dreamed of a scene this gorgeous and had read about it in books. The Elves were kind to her and hospitable. She had never been taken care of like this.
Later that evening, Narond and Amaranth sat on a marble bench and after sometime of simple discussion, he asked about her past.
'Where are you from, dear child?' he asked gently.
-'I am a lonely spirit. My mother died giving birth to me and my father was killed by Otarcs a few weeks ago.'
-'I had a feeling you hid a sad story and a shaken youth behind your smile although you almost have completely mastered keeping the secrets unnoticed'
She felt compelled to continue 'My half-brother and half-sister live in Hovanion with my grandmother. They were born after my mother died when my father united with another and then he left us at my grandmother's like a coward.'
-'You bear so much, my dear Amaranth..' Narond delicately placed a hand on her knee.
-'What I have told you, I've never spoken to anyone before.'
-'You can trust me and feel free to open up, I want only the best for you like all my people living here in Havendell. Might I add that you may have been a troubled infant in your youth but you are an honest person to my eyes? Legalos is very fortunate to have such a courageous woman by his side.'
-'I thank thee greatly, I'm immensely flattered by your words' Amaranth continued 'but there is still anger within that I keep against my half- brother. It was he, who came with the news of my father's death but I fear what he told is a lie and he avenged my father's leave.'
Narond frowned and said 'Be that as it may but don't turn your back on your brother. He will need you. Aldaron is a great man for my daughter; I have spoken with him and he's done good deeds to help my kin. I would never let my daughter marry someone who could pain her.'
Amaranth was a bit confused; she had never said that Aldaron was her half- brother. To her eager eyes looking at Narond for an explanation Narond continued 'I've known from the beginning when I saw the acquaintance of family between you and Aldaron. You must accept him, putting the past behind you.'
She felt her eyes fill with tears as his soothing voice spoke 'I am only of help, Amaranth. Do not fear to reach me when you are in deepest need of support. It is better to put away all the vases then to let them tremble fragilely on an unsteady shelf.'
-'Thank you, Lord Narond' Amaranth opened her arms only to loose herself in this father figure she missed so much.
As she embraced him, he brushed his hand on her back and up towards her neck. She parted and kissed him on the cheek before leaving quietly. Narond savoured the moment for a while and then, he gracefully walked away like a breeze on the bright grey tiles.
Early the next morning, Amaranth woke and crept down the steps towards the long hallway of Ancestors. The floor was cold beneath her bare feet. She walked towards the golden door and peeked through the half closed door. There she saw Narond resting a hand on his pillow in front of his peaceful face. He smiled in his sleep as she pushed the door and slowly walked in. He had, of course, felt her presence since she had reached his door but she didn't seem troubled. The thought of this appealed to her. He felt touched by her mysterious approach and yet wondered why she decided to reach for him at this time barely a few hours after dawn. She gently sat on the satin sheets watching for a response for the enchanting man sleeping next to her. She gazed at him; he was simply beautiful to her. He didn't move until she spoke.
'My lord' she whispered. He pulled his covers downward folding them to her and sat up next to her but slightly behind. Eyes closed, he asked what bothered her that much to make her disturb his sleep.
'I must apologize but a dream troubled my sleep.' she slowly spoke.
-'I am listening' said Narond opening his eyes and looking straight at her, interested.
-'I had a dream about Aldaron. He mustn't be trusted. He was disloyal.'
Narond interrupted 'Why should thou thinket that?'
Amaranth continued 'In my dream I saw him do an evil act to my father and then another against a man, a king.'
-'I am seriously debating whether or not to take this vision you had as a premonition but what king? 'Tis preposterous, there will be no king, hope has already begun to fade and my people will leave these shores when there is no other choice.'
-'Undowen must be warned, Amaranth said with determination.
-'My dear child, Aldaron has promised to take Undowen's hand.'
-'Aregnor is the man she loves.'
-'Once she realizes that Aregnor is not and will never be the man for her she will accept and they will leave Middle-Earth to the ever-green valley where their love can remain there forever.'
-'If she takes Aldaron's hand, something offal will happen and all will be lost.'
-'Very well, if you are certain of this I will keep an eye out for her but I will not discourage the marriage. Aldaron is worthy to be my son; perhaps you should speak to him when he arrives to put your soul to rest. Do not worry yourself with this sighting. I've always said that dreams are the answer to a question we have not yet figured out how to ask but eventually the question will arrive in the right time and place.'
Amaranth turned to leave and he guided her to the door. He put an arm around her shoulder and she turned and embraced him. He smelled wonderful and she missed the affection of a man.
The sky was spurred with white clouds and she walked under oblivious to its beauty. She crossed the grey bridge and found a raspberry tree behind roses. She lifted her dress to put the raspberries she picked in the fold. She noticed a dragonfly on a leaf and tried to reach for it only to scrape her arm on thorns. She placed a finger in front of the small insect and, instead of flying away, it crawled onto her fingers. The dragonfly was missing a back leg and she could feel its pain as she was also torn. Torn to be here without her family and Legalos. Narond had told her she had lost her baby in Nebula when she was wounded. She looked around at the Elves flowing by. They carried melancholy on their faces and yet they had children running around them in the gardens. Their children. She didn't know why she wanted badly to have a child. She considered her maternal instincts and figured women find peace and fulfillment in bringing a life from her own flesh. The long strands of clouds were brushing by as she placed the insect back onto the leaf. Danger had rose in the West. While she stayed silent thinking of Legalos, the fire of Mount Doom made the sky crack with lightning in the far away lands of Mirdor.
Amaranth entered Havendell with Narond and there she met many Elves. Beauty surrounded her in the finely sculpted columns, the wonderful waterfalls and the delicate sounds of birds chirping. She had only dreamed of a scene this gorgeous and had read about it in books. The Elves were kind to her and hospitable. She had never been taken care of like this.
Later that evening, Narond and Amaranth sat on a marble bench and after sometime of simple discussion, he asked about her past.
'Where are you from, dear child?' he asked gently.
-'I am a lonely spirit. My mother died giving birth to me and my father was killed by Otarcs a few weeks ago.'
-'I had a feeling you hid a sad story and a shaken youth behind your smile although you almost have completely mastered keeping the secrets unnoticed'
She felt compelled to continue 'My half-brother and half-sister live in Hovanion with my grandmother. They were born after my mother died when my father united with another and then he left us at my grandmother's like a coward.'
-'You bear so much, my dear Amaranth..' Narond delicately placed a hand on her knee.
-'What I have told you, I've never spoken to anyone before.'
-'You can trust me and feel free to open up, I want only the best for you like all my people living here in Havendell. Might I add that you may have been a troubled infant in your youth but you are an honest person to my eyes? Legalos is very fortunate to have such a courageous woman by his side.'
-'I thank thee greatly, I'm immensely flattered by your words' Amaranth continued 'but there is still anger within that I keep against my half- brother. It was he, who came with the news of my father's death but I fear what he told is a lie and he avenged my father's leave.'
Narond frowned and said 'Be that as it may but don't turn your back on your brother. He will need you. Aldaron is a great man for my daughter; I have spoken with him and he's done good deeds to help my kin. I would never let my daughter marry someone who could pain her.'
Amaranth was a bit confused; she had never said that Aldaron was her half- brother. To her eager eyes looking at Narond for an explanation Narond continued 'I've known from the beginning when I saw the acquaintance of family between you and Aldaron. You must accept him, putting the past behind you.'
She felt her eyes fill with tears as his soothing voice spoke 'I am only of help, Amaranth. Do not fear to reach me when you are in deepest need of support. It is better to put away all the vases then to let them tremble fragilely on an unsteady shelf.'
-'Thank you, Lord Narond' Amaranth opened her arms only to loose herself in this father figure she missed so much.
As she embraced him, he brushed his hand on her back and up towards her neck. She parted and kissed him on the cheek before leaving quietly. Narond savoured the moment for a while and then, he gracefully walked away like a breeze on the bright grey tiles.
Early the next morning, Amaranth woke and crept down the steps towards the long hallway of Ancestors. The floor was cold beneath her bare feet. She walked towards the golden door and peeked through the half closed door. There she saw Narond resting a hand on his pillow in front of his peaceful face. He smiled in his sleep as she pushed the door and slowly walked in. He had, of course, felt her presence since she had reached his door but she didn't seem troubled. The thought of this appealed to her. He felt touched by her mysterious approach and yet wondered why she decided to reach for him at this time barely a few hours after dawn. She gently sat on the satin sheets watching for a response for the enchanting man sleeping next to her. She gazed at him; he was simply beautiful to her. He didn't move until she spoke.
'My lord' she whispered. He pulled his covers downward folding them to her and sat up next to her but slightly behind. Eyes closed, he asked what bothered her that much to make her disturb his sleep.
'I must apologize but a dream troubled my sleep.' she slowly spoke.
-'I am listening' said Narond opening his eyes and looking straight at her, interested.
-'I had a dream about Aldaron. He mustn't be trusted. He was disloyal.'
Narond interrupted 'Why should thou thinket that?'
Amaranth continued 'In my dream I saw him do an evil act to my father and then another against a man, a king.'
-'I am seriously debating whether or not to take this vision you had as a premonition but what king? 'Tis preposterous, there will be no king, hope has already begun to fade and my people will leave these shores when there is no other choice.'
-'Undowen must be warned, Amaranth said with determination.
-'My dear child, Aldaron has promised to take Undowen's hand.'
-'Aregnor is the man she loves.'
-'Once she realizes that Aregnor is not and will never be the man for her she will accept and they will leave Middle-Earth to the ever-green valley where their love can remain there forever.'
-'If she takes Aldaron's hand, something offal will happen and all will be lost.'
-'Very well, if you are certain of this I will keep an eye out for her but I will not discourage the marriage. Aldaron is worthy to be my son; perhaps you should speak to him when he arrives to put your soul to rest. Do not worry yourself with this sighting. I've always said that dreams are the answer to a question we have not yet figured out how to ask but eventually the question will arrive in the right time and place.'
Amaranth turned to leave and he guided her to the door. He put an arm around her shoulder and she turned and embraced him. He smelled wonderful and she missed the affection of a man.
The sky was spurred with white clouds and she walked under oblivious to its beauty. She crossed the grey bridge and found a raspberry tree behind roses. She lifted her dress to put the raspberries she picked in the fold. She noticed a dragonfly on a leaf and tried to reach for it only to scrape her arm on thorns. She placed a finger in front of the small insect and, instead of flying away, it crawled onto her fingers. The dragonfly was missing a back leg and she could feel its pain as she was also torn. Torn to be here without her family and Legalos. Narond had told her she had lost her baby in Nebula when she was wounded. She looked around at the Elves flowing by. They carried melancholy on their faces and yet they had children running around them in the gardens. Their children. She didn't know why she wanted badly to have a child. She considered her maternal instincts and figured women find peace and fulfillment in bringing a life from her own flesh. The long strands of clouds were brushing by as she placed the insect back onto the leaf. Danger had rose in the West. While she stayed silent thinking of Legalos, the fire of Mount Doom made the sky crack with lightning in the far away lands of Mirdor.