Chapter Nine: Back To My Tower
We came to the Havens as the sun was rising two days later. As we neared the mighty gates of Mithlond, we were approached by a tall Elf dressed in the silver and blue that marked him in the service of the city. As we approached him, Enhith flew down and landed on my wrist, eyeing the new elf cautiously.
"Hail, Lady Lhunrothien!" He said, rising from his post and coming to meet us, "Long has it been since you trod on our shores. But who is this stranger you have brought with you?"
"This is the Lord Glorfindel of Rivendell," I said, "He has been my friend and protector for many dark years on the road. And has thus stayed with me at the request of Lord Elrond Peredhil."
"Very well." The Elf replied, "Will you be returning to you tower in the south?"
"Yes, I think that is best for the time." I said thoughtfully, "Please inform the lord Círdan of my arrival."
"Yes, my Lady." He bowed and allowed us entry to the city.
***
I led Glorfindel through the streets of the city until we came to the narrow stair cut from the mountainside. The guards who had stood at the bottom had long since been removed and grasses had begun to cover the hewn stone steps. Slowly, I started up the steps; Glorfindel close behind, eventually we came to the wide ledge, on which was built what was once a grand tower. Now, it had fallen into disrepair and the sea's storms had played havoc upon it. It was in that hour that Glorfindel beheld that which had kept me sheltered in the years before we had met.
Enhith left my wrist and flew to the topmost window of the tower. 'Fine' I thought, 'That shall be her room'
I showed Glorfindel to an extra room at the base of the tower, which would serve as his until we could move out of the tower and down to the city. Then, with heavy heart, I climbed the steps of the tower and came to my old room. It was wide, with a terrace facing the sea. My clothes remained untouched in the wardrobe and the bed still remained perfectly made. It looked as though I had never left it, and hundreds of years had not passed.
I crossed the room to the Terrace and stood there with my hands on the rail, feeling the gentle breeze from Númenor and Aman. I was so absorbed in the churning waves that I didn't notice the two Elves come up behind me.
"Lhunrothien?" One of them said and I turned, "You have a visitor."
Standing at the head of the stairs was Glorfindel, and Círdan, my foster father.
"I have returned, my Lord." I said smiling and moving away from the window, "As I promised all those years ago."
"So you have Child." The shipwright took several steps forward and sat on the edge of the bed.
"There is fear in your heart Lord." I said slowly, sitting on the elegant bench across from him. I looked into his eyes, but he gave no answer.
"Something is amiss abroad. Lord Elrond sent us news, you have no need to protect me from that which you fear." I pressed.
"Númenor has captured Sauron." Círdan said, "I have seen the blackness which shall result and I have seen your part."
I nodded, fingering the gem around my neck, my mind taken away from the seriousness of the moment, after a long while I spoke again. "I have learned control." I whispered, "I do not wish to remain locked up any longer."
Now it was Círdan's turn to nod. He stood and made his way back to the stairs where Glorfindel stood watch. "I will see that arrangements be made." He said, "Please, join me for dinner tonight?"
"I will." I replied and returned my gaze to the sea.
***
The meal with Círdan had been cautious and worried as the lords of his house all knew of the impending danger.
Círdan was unable to find me arrangements for the night, so on my first night of my return I would remain in the tower with Glorfindel.
"Goodnight fair Lady." He said as I went off to bed.
"Goodnight Lord." Was my quick response before I turned to climb the stairs. He turned into his room and didn't see me staring after him.
Having reached my room I looked at the knives, quiver, bow and arrow that were sitting on the low table beside my bed. I carried my two daggers under the loss fitting gown I had worn and a short throwing knife that Glorfindel had given me was by my side, but I took all three of them off for the night. I changed from my long turquoise evening gown to my nightwear and climbed into bed. This bed was strange to me, and I did not like it. Finally after a good many minutes I fell into a fitful sleep.
We came to the Havens as the sun was rising two days later. As we neared the mighty gates of Mithlond, we were approached by a tall Elf dressed in the silver and blue that marked him in the service of the city. As we approached him, Enhith flew down and landed on my wrist, eyeing the new elf cautiously.
"Hail, Lady Lhunrothien!" He said, rising from his post and coming to meet us, "Long has it been since you trod on our shores. But who is this stranger you have brought with you?"
"This is the Lord Glorfindel of Rivendell," I said, "He has been my friend and protector for many dark years on the road. And has thus stayed with me at the request of Lord Elrond Peredhil."
"Very well." The Elf replied, "Will you be returning to you tower in the south?"
"Yes, I think that is best for the time." I said thoughtfully, "Please inform the lord Círdan of my arrival."
"Yes, my Lady." He bowed and allowed us entry to the city.
***
I led Glorfindel through the streets of the city until we came to the narrow stair cut from the mountainside. The guards who had stood at the bottom had long since been removed and grasses had begun to cover the hewn stone steps. Slowly, I started up the steps; Glorfindel close behind, eventually we came to the wide ledge, on which was built what was once a grand tower. Now, it had fallen into disrepair and the sea's storms had played havoc upon it. It was in that hour that Glorfindel beheld that which had kept me sheltered in the years before we had met.
Enhith left my wrist and flew to the topmost window of the tower. 'Fine' I thought, 'That shall be her room'
I showed Glorfindel to an extra room at the base of the tower, which would serve as his until we could move out of the tower and down to the city. Then, with heavy heart, I climbed the steps of the tower and came to my old room. It was wide, with a terrace facing the sea. My clothes remained untouched in the wardrobe and the bed still remained perfectly made. It looked as though I had never left it, and hundreds of years had not passed.
I crossed the room to the Terrace and stood there with my hands on the rail, feeling the gentle breeze from Númenor and Aman. I was so absorbed in the churning waves that I didn't notice the two Elves come up behind me.
"Lhunrothien?" One of them said and I turned, "You have a visitor."
Standing at the head of the stairs was Glorfindel, and Círdan, my foster father.
"I have returned, my Lord." I said smiling and moving away from the window, "As I promised all those years ago."
"So you have Child." The shipwright took several steps forward and sat on the edge of the bed.
"There is fear in your heart Lord." I said slowly, sitting on the elegant bench across from him. I looked into his eyes, but he gave no answer.
"Something is amiss abroad. Lord Elrond sent us news, you have no need to protect me from that which you fear." I pressed.
"Númenor has captured Sauron." Círdan said, "I have seen the blackness which shall result and I have seen your part."
I nodded, fingering the gem around my neck, my mind taken away from the seriousness of the moment, after a long while I spoke again. "I have learned control." I whispered, "I do not wish to remain locked up any longer."
Now it was Círdan's turn to nod. He stood and made his way back to the stairs where Glorfindel stood watch. "I will see that arrangements be made." He said, "Please, join me for dinner tonight?"
"I will." I replied and returned my gaze to the sea.
***
The meal with Círdan had been cautious and worried as the lords of his house all knew of the impending danger.
Círdan was unable to find me arrangements for the night, so on my first night of my return I would remain in the tower with Glorfindel.
"Goodnight fair Lady." He said as I went off to bed.
"Goodnight Lord." Was my quick response before I turned to climb the stairs. He turned into his room and didn't see me staring after him.
Having reached my room I looked at the knives, quiver, bow and arrow that were sitting on the low table beside my bed. I carried my two daggers under the loss fitting gown I had worn and a short throwing knife that Glorfindel had given me was by my side, but I took all three of them off for the night. I changed from my long turquoise evening gown to my nightwear and climbed into bed. This bed was strange to me, and I did not like it. Finally after a good many minutes I fell into a fitful sleep.