A WALK BY LAKE EVENDIM
Dear Arwing,
The funniest thing happened today!
Boromir and I were walking together by the lake. We often have found amusement in this, for there is not much else to do. The hobbits are busy with their last minute harvest gathering, and here at Lake Evendim preparations are being made against the frost and perhaps a snowfall.
Anyway.
Boromir and I walked a long time in silence. We had been walking nearly an hour, when he stopped short and looked out over the water. A flock of geese flew overhead, honking and honking into the distance. Then, without looking at me, he spoke.
"You have become good friends with Huinlas?"
Totally unexpected.
"Uh.yes, I suppose so. You have also." I replied.
He waved his hand as if to shove away the last remark. Then he stared a while longer at the ripples on the surface of the dark blue water. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as if uncomfortable.
"Silwen."
"Yes?"
"Has.has Huinlas proposed to you?"
I stared at him. Blank unawareness was all over my face. I didn't have time too answer.
"I saw you, the other day, before he went away. By the lake. At night. You remember?"
I looked at him in disbelief. But he was serious. His face was overcome with the queer combination of Mother's determination and Father's loving questioning. He was worried! He was worried that I was engaged to Huinlas!
I couldn't help myself any longer. I feel silly to say this, Arwing, but I burst into laughter. I laughed long and hard. I had to double over and sit on the ground. Tears started to roll down my cheeks, I was laughing so hard.
Boromir didn't seem to find anything funny about it, and as I hadn't answered his question yet, he persisted in standing and looking troubled.
Finally I was able to calm down and recover myself.
"Well?" he asked, only slightly annoyed.
"Goodness, no!" I almost shouted.
It was obvious he thought I was making a fool of myself, and I was.
He knelt in front of me and took my hands.
"Truly?"
"Truly."
He helped me to my feet, but still held my left hand. We continued walking.
"Father was worried, you know," he said.
"You mean you were worried."
He flashed a slightly angry face at me, then looked ahead.
"Both."
"Why?"
"Huinlas is an elf," he began.
"Yes, I know that."
"He is a special elf," he said hesitantly.
"All elves are special."
"Perhaps."
Why did he have to revert to his gentlemanliness?
"What do you mean?" I prodded.
"Never mind. You will know someday."
"But I think it would be best for me to know now if such an engagement would be forbidden," I said.
"You will know soon."
"How is it that my own brother will not have confidence in his elder sister?"
He almost chuckled.
"What is it? What is wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing you need fret about now. As long as you have told the truth --you are not engaged-- all will be well."
"Do you doubt me?" I asked, appalled.
He sighed.
"No. But the world is a strange place and things unexpected, like a sister hiding something of great importance from her brother, have happened before and may happen again."
I spent so much time muddling over this statement that I forgot to ask him what it meant until we had arrived back at the house. I opened my mouth to ask him, but he put his hand lightly over my lips.
"Hush. Think not more of this. I will tell Father. All is well," he said.
Then he embraced me and walked into the house leaving me quite at a loss.
So here I am now, writing all my thoughts to you. I am completely without comprehension of the day, as usual.
Oh dear, Father is knocking at my door. I had better end this now and see him.
Until I may write again,
~Silwen
Dear Arwing,
The funniest thing happened today!
Boromir and I were walking together by the lake. We often have found amusement in this, for there is not much else to do. The hobbits are busy with their last minute harvest gathering, and here at Lake Evendim preparations are being made against the frost and perhaps a snowfall.
Anyway.
Boromir and I walked a long time in silence. We had been walking nearly an hour, when he stopped short and looked out over the water. A flock of geese flew overhead, honking and honking into the distance. Then, without looking at me, he spoke.
"You have become good friends with Huinlas?"
Totally unexpected.
"Uh.yes, I suppose so. You have also." I replied.
He waved his hand as if to shove away the last remark. Then he stared a while longer at the ripples on the surface of the dark blue water. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, as if uncomfortable.
"Silwen."
"Yes?"
"Has.has Huinlas proposed to you?"
I stared at him. Blank unawareness was all over my face. I didn't have time too answer.
"I saw you, the other day, before he went away. By the lake. At night. You remember?"
I looked at him in disbelief. But he was serious. His face was overcome with the queer combination of Mother's determination and Father's loving questioning. He was worried! He was worried that I was engaged to Huinlas!
I couldn't help myself any longer. I feel silly to say this, Arwing, but I burst into laughter. I laughed long and hard. I had to double over and sit on the ground. Tears started to roll down my cheeks, I was laughing so hard.
Boromir didn't seem to find anything funny about it, and as I hadn't answered his question yet, he persisted in standing and looking troubled.
Finally I was able to calm down and recover myself.
"Well?" he asked, only slightly annoyed.
"Goodness, no!" I almost shouted.
It was obvious he thought I was making a fool of myself, and I was.
He knelt in front of me and took my hands.
"Truly?"
"Truly."
He helped me to my feet, but still held my left hand. We continued walking.
"Father was worried, you know," he said.
"You mean you were worried."
He flashed a slightly angry face at me, then looked ahead.
"Both."
"Why?"
"Huinlas is an elf," he began.
"Yes, I know that."
"He is a special elf," he said hesitantly.
"All elves are special."
"Perhaps."
Why did he have to revert to his gentlemanliness?
"What do you mean?" I prodded.
"Never mind. You will know someday."
"But I think it would be best for me to know now if such an engagement would be forbidden," I said.
"You will know soon."
"How is it that my own brother will not have confidence in his elder sister?"
He almost chuckled.
"What is it? What is wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing you need fret about now. As long as you have told the truth --you are not engaged-- all will be well."
"Do you doubt me?" I asked, appalled.
He sighed.
"No. But the world is a strange place and things unexpected, like a sister hiding something of great importance from her brother, have happened before and may happen again."
I spent so much time muddling over this statement that I forgot to ask him what it meant until we had arrived back at the house. I opened my mouth to ask him, but he put his hand lightly over my lips.
"Hush. Think not more of this. I will tell Father. All is well," he said.
Then he embraced me and walked into the house leaving me quite at a loss.
So here I am now, writing all my thoughts to you. I am completely without comprehension of the day, as usual.
Oh dear, Father is knocking at my door. I had better end this now and see him.
Until I may write again,
~Silwen