Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tolkien. Translations of Elvish (Sindarin, unless otherwise stated) and additional notes follow the chapter. The url for Didier Willis' Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary (referenced below) can be found via my home page - ff net removes urls in stories.
Contact: erunyauve at lycos dot com (replace 'at' and 'dot' in the obvious places)
You sang me of some distant past
That made my heart beat strong and fast
Now I know I'm home at last
You offered me an eagle's wing
That to the sun I might soar and sing
And if I heard the owl's cry
Into the forest I would fly
And in its darkness find you by [2]
Were it not for the noble carriage and depth of wisdom in her eyes, I might have mistaken the King's daughter for a simple maid. A warming sun called to all of Gondolin in the wake of the Fell Winter, and by the Fountains of the South, musicians played harp and flute and tambourine while elves leapt and spun in the fountain's spray.
Yet I saw none but a maid wreathed in golden hair and laughter, her white skirts gathered in hand to reveal bare feet that hardly touched the ground as she danced.
What chance had I, a mortal Man, to woo a lady so fair and brave? What chance had I, a lord among men enslaved, before the daughter of Turgon taur edledhrim? [3]
I am far beneath her, I know, for though I have lived most of my life in the company of Elves, she shines even among the Calaquendi. She is fairer than any of her kin, more wise than a master of lore.
And yet she is kind, as sweet as the scent of roses, as gentle as a whisper of wind. No pains can withstand the touch of her hand; no shadow can darken her light.
A Idril! To sit in congress with her, neath the cherry trees in spring, her face aglow in the pink shade of their blossoms - to steal kisses under the canopy of trees as we stroll in the Market on a summer's afternoon - in such pleasures, I find all the happiness I should want.
The days darken, she says; she hearkens to Ulmo's warning, even if Turgon will not. In each other, we have placed our trust, plighted our troth with promises of love and devotion, whatever the morrow may bring. Hope, my father promised her father, hope in the union of our Houses.
In hope, then, we shall tread forth together, fearing neither curse nor shadow. May my love be her comfort, as her light is a guide to me.
Our fingers touch our hearts collide
I'll be a moonsbreath by your side
[1] 'Fair and Brave'
The title is paraphrased from Tolkien's description of Idril. (The Book of Lost Tales 2, 'The Fall of Gondolin' p 166 pub Ballantine/Del Rey)
[2] You sang me of some distant past…
Lyrics: 'Samain Night' by Loreena McKennitt
[3] taur edledhrim
[High] King of the Exiles. The spelling of the latter word takes a few twists. The Lost Road, 'Etymologies' has taur egledhriur (TÁ-,TA3, p 435 pub Ballantine/Del Rey). This was a misreading of Tolkien's handwriting. According to Vinyar Tengwar, 'Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies', the entry should read: taur egledhrim. (ed Carl F Hostetter and Patrick H Wynne, TÁ-,TA3, p 16 Issue No 46, July 2004) To further complicate matters, Tolkien seems to have decided that Common Eldarin ET- would become ed- in Sindarin, rather than eg- as seen in the Noldorin of the 'Etymologies', and I have spelt the word accordingly. (Didier Willis, Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary)