Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. Except for Kendriun and Mikal.
*****
He arrived late one fall afternoon before the first frost, just before the weather turned. I should have taken that as a sign but I did not.
Mother was sitting in the great hall with several of the other court ladies. I was in the herbarium with Ghost number 5 preparing our stores for winter. Kendriun had taken to spending the afternoons sunning him self in the garden as he said it drove the threatening chill of winter from his old bones.
There was a great cry of trumpets and I went to the window to see the cause of the commotion. I had not heard rumor of any visitors and was curious to see who this was. Surely it had to be someone of great importance, judging from his retinue. There were six trumpeters followed by four standard bearers, their red and black flags snapping in the cool breeze. Then came Annatar himself, sitting proudly astride a gray horse and waving gaily to the gathering crowd. Four more standard bearers followed him and a wagon rounded out the troupe.
I ran quickly downstairs to the garden, Ghost at my side and my robe swirling behind us. Kendriun was dozing in the sun and I did not want to disturb the old man so I turned the corner of the tower and made my way into the great hall with only the cat. Certainly mother would know who this was. She always knew the latest gossip!
I found her and the other ladies clucking like a band of disturbed hens. Apparently, the visitor had announced himself to the chancellor and requested an audience with His Majesty. "This was unheard of! What sort of person just marched into town and demanded an audience with the king?" They clucked and wrung their hands in distress at the rudeness of it all.
As if sensing their distain, Annatar moved in to soothe the ruffled feathers. "Most beautiful ladies," he bowed low and removed his red velvet hat in a sweeping gesture. "Please forgive my rudeness. I have come bearing gifts from Numenor for you and your king," he smiled brilliantly.
The clucking stopped but he had not managed to convince them. "Why do you come unannounced, sir?" One of the ladies boldly questioned him.
"Good lady, a messenger announcing my visit should have reached you at least five days ago. Had I known that I was not expected, I certainly would not have intruded upon your hospitality," he bowed again. The ladies exchanged silent looks and must have reached an unspoken consensus because my own mother welcomed him to our realm. Annatar beckoned one of his gift-laden standard bearers join him. As Annatar was introduced to each lady (by my mother no less), he would place a pair of scented leather gloves across her palm. When he turned to me, I took a long look into his blue eyes to fathom his design but, alas, he was much stronger than I and I was fooled by his genteel exterior.
"This is my son, Mikal," my mother said proudly. "He is apprentice to Master Kendriun."
"Master Kendriun?" Annatar seemed surprised. "He is certainly the most renown of sorcerers. And you are his apprentice?" He asked eagerly.
I bowed and extended my hand in greeting. Annatar shook it warmly. "I do hope we can become friends," he smiled at me. His eyes gleamed and he whispered to the gift bearer. The young man produced a small pouch and handed it to his lord.
Annatar opened the pouch and turned it upside down in his palm. There, in the palm of his smooth hand lay the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. It must have been mithril for I have not seen any other metal gleam with such a fire. It was formed with two dragons claws coming together holding a large clear red stone between them. The ring was most cunningly wrought and I could make out every scale on each of the claws.
The ladies gasped in awe. He handed the ring to me. "A gift," he said. "For the future of our friendship."
What power stayed my hand that day, I cannot tell. Certainly, I wanted that ring. It was exquisite. Perhaps I refused because it was so exquisite that I could not bear to put it on and mar it's beauty by wearing it on my rough hands.
"Oh, no, my lord," I gasped. "I could not accept such a beautiful ring. It is too fine for the likes of me. I am yet an apprentice for such a fine piece of work."
My mother was scandalized.
Annatar merely smiled and nodded his understanding, exchanging the ring for an equally exquisite leather book cover that I gratefully accepted in its stead.
****
*****
He arrived late one fall afternoon before the first frost, just before the weather turned. I should have taken that as a sign but I did not.
Mother was sitting in the great hall with several of the other court ladies. I was in the herbarium with Ghost number 5 preparing our stores for winter. Kendriun had taken to spending the afternoons sunning him self in the garden as he said it drove the threatening chill of winter from his old bones.
There was a great cry of trumpets and I went to the window to see the cause of the commotion. I had not heard rumor of any visitors and was curious to see who this was. Surely it had to be someone of great importance, judging from his retinue. There were six trumpeters followed by four standard bearers, their red and black flags snapping in the cool breeze. Then came Annatar himself, sitting proudly astride a gray horse and waving gaily to the gathering crowd. Four more standard bearers followed him and a wagon rounded out the troupe.
I ran quickly downstairs to the garden, Ghost at my side and my robe swirling behind us. Kendriun was dozing in the sun and I did not want to disturb the old man so I turned the corner of the tower and made my way into the great hall with only the cat. Certainly mother would know who this was. She always knew the latest gossip!
I found her and the other ladies clucking like a band of disturbed hens. Apparently, the visitor had announced himself to the chancellor and requested an audience with His Majesty. "This was unheard of! What sort of person just marched into town and demanded an audience with the king?" They clucked and wrung their hands in distress at the rudeness of it all.
As if sensing their distain, Annatar moved in to soothe the ruffled feathers. "Most beautiful ladies," he bowed low and removed his red velvet hat in a sweeping gesture. "Please forgive my rudeness. I have come bearing gifts from Numenor for you and your king," he smiled brilliantly.
The clucking stopped but he had not managed to convince them. "Why do you come unannounced, sir?" One of the ladies boldly questioned him.
"Good lady, a messenger announcing my visit should have reached you at least five days ago. Had I known that I was not expected, I certainly would not have intruded upon your hospitality," he bowed again. The ladies exchanged silent looks and must have reached an unspoken consensus because my own mother welcomed him to our realm. Annatar beckoned one of his gift-laden standard bearers join him. As Annatar was introduced to each lady (by my mother no less), he would place a pair of scented leather gloves across her palm. When he turned to me, I took a long look into his blue eyes to fathom his design but, alas, he was much stronger than I and I was fooled by his genteel exterior.
"This is my son, Mikal," my mother said proudly. "He is apprentice to Master Kendriun."
"Master Kendriun?" Annatar seemed surprised. "He is certainly the most renown of sorcerers. And you are his apprentice?" He asked eagerly.
I bowed and extended my hand in greeting. Annatar shook it warmly. "I do hope we can become friends," he smiled at me. His eyes gleamed and he whispered to the gift bearer. The young man produced a small pouch and handed it to his lord.
Annatar opened the pouch and turned it upside down in his palm. There, in the palm of his smooth hand lay the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. It must have been mithril for I have not seen any other metal gleam with such a fire. It was formed with two dragons claws coming together holding a large clear red stone between them. The ring was most cunningly wrought and I could make out every scale on each of the claws.
The ladies gasped in awe. He handed the ring to me. "A gift," he said. "For the future of our friendship."
What power stayed my hand that day, I cannot tell. Certainly, I wanted that ring. It was exquisite. Perhaps I refused because it was so exquisite that I could not bear to put it on and mar it's beauty by wearing it on my rough hands.
"Oh, no, my lord," I gasped. "I could not accept such a beautiful ring. It is too fine for the likes of me. I am yet an apprentice for such a fine piece of work."
My mother was scandalized.
Annatar merely smiled and nodded his understanding, exchanging the ring for an equally exquisite leather book cover that I gratefully accepted in its stead.
****