For the rest of the week, Geliriel and her friends moved her belongings into the cottage. While she tried to help, she was mostly in charge of moving the jewelry box. Berior, and a few other men from the manor, moved the heavier items she wanted to take with her. She chose to take the full length mirror, one of the end tables, the vanity with the basin and pitcher. After a short discussion, she decided to take her bed and replace it with one from the cottage. Her last choice was to also bring the rug that was beneath the bed as well.
Geliriel, Glinneth, and Orainwen were moved in and settled in the cottage by week's end. Berior had decided it would be best if he kept his room in the manor, but he would spend most of his time at the cottage. He would lock up before he left for the night, and he would set up a watchman to guard them while he was gone.
"Lord Amrod's orders, ma'am," he told Geliriel when she protested. "Even though we're in a remote territory, he wants to keep you safe."
She thought it over, and finally agreed, much to Berior's relief. The lady's attitude was also changing, and he wasn't sure what to do about it. Glinneth and Orainwen both assured him it was normal. He still made sure he thought before he spoke, and did what he could to keep the lady happy. He felt it was better this way.
Two days later, the first of Amrod's brothers arrived with a large group of men with them. She recognised Celegorm, but not the other two that came with him. Amrod greeted them all, and took them inside quickly. News reached her, that evening, from Berior who had come to share dinner as he always did. He had been called to see to it that the large group of men that had come with Amrod's brothers were camped nearby.
"They are part of an army, so says Lord Celegorm." Berior said.
"An army? Why should they need an army?" Glinneth asked.
"I was told that they would be needed. The fellow that has the jewel hasn't given it back."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I honestly don't. The more I asked, the more folks got tight-lipped about the subject. I only know that Lord Amrod and his brothers will take the army and retrieve it"
They ate in silence for a long while, each thinking about the sudden enormity of the situation. Geliriel, especially, had thought back about what Amrod told her last week.
"My father would not rest until they were returned to him. He swore an oath so great and terrible, in the name of Iluvatar. It is an oath that none should break and if it wasn't kept, then Everlasting Dark will fall upon the oathtakers. My brothers and I also swore that oath..."
"Will there be more coming?" Orainwen asked quietly.
"This is the greatest of this army. Any more that come will be smaller in number."
Again, they fell into silence, but now none were eating. Geliriel had begun to push what was left of her dinner around the plate with her fork. She had been the one most silent, and the others kept a wary eye on her. She kept her face carefully schooled in mild interest, but had shown no other emotion. After a long, uneasy silence, Geliriel finally shook herself from her thoughts and looked at Berior.
"Who were the other two with Lord Celegorm?" she asked.
"They were the Lords Curufin and Caranthir, ma'am. They are Lord Amrod's older brothers."
"I see. Thank you." she made to get up from the table, and Berior rushed to help her. She waved away his help, but smiled to him in thanks, and picked up her plate to take to the kitchen.
"No, ma'am. I'll take care of this," Glinneth said as she took the plate from Geliriel. Once again, Geliriel smiled her thanks and then left them.
She made her way, slowly, up the stairs and then into her room. She quietly closed the door and leaned back on it. She then let the tears she had been holding back fall. Amrod had not mentioned an army, or that it would take one to regain this jewel. 'The Silmaril he called it,' she thought as she went to her bed. 'He told me that he must go to regain it, that he is bound to the oath. Will he return alive?' she asked herself as she pulled the covers over herself, found a comfortable position, and waited for sleep to come.
Amras was the next to arrive two days later. He came with only a few men. Amrod and Caranthir greeted them and Amras followed them inside. Berior was called upon again to see that those few men were camped with the others nearby. Geliriel kept watch by the window, hoping that Amrod would come to see her, but he did not come. She would watch day by day, knitting or doing some embroidery, but he still did not come. Worry began to gnaw at her heart, but she remained strong so that her worries did not spread to her friends or to her baby. By the second week's ending, Maglor and another man arrived, bringing with them a smaller group of men than what Celegorm had brought. Once again, Berior went to see the men settled at camp, and again Geliriel was found at the window, watching the manor for Amrod.
Dinner that evening was largely held in silence. Only a few questions were asked, and after that, they kept their peace. Geliriel was stoney-faced. No emotion played across her face. Even as she had tried to keep the others from worrying about her, they did. This was not the woman they knew. They had to find something that would cheer her up, but nothing came immediately to mind.
"Who came with Maglor?" Geliriel said, startling the others. She laughed at them then. "I'm fine, really. Please don't worry about me. There are a few things I need to work through, so I'm just a little preoccupied."
"If it's all the same, ma'am, we're going to worry about you anyway," Glinneth spoke up. She returned Geliriel's smile. Orainwen tried her best not to laugh, but her giggling was contagious. Soon everyone was laughing. It was the best they felt since moving to the cottage.
"The man who came with Lord Maglor was the eldest brother, Lord Maedhros, ma'am." Berior said.
"Maglor told me a little bit about him when he last visited."
"He was very nice when he arrived, ma'am, but he looked grim. Almost as if he didn't want to be here."
"I know this must be an important thing that must be done, but in my heart, I wish that none of them had come." Geliriel said. The small note of anger in her voice did not escape the others, and their worried glances did not go unnoticed by Geliriel.
"Come now. I'm fine." she reassured them again. She began to talk about little things, bringing them back into the conversation with her, and soon they were back to normal. Once dinner was finished, they all helped in cleaning up, and then went into the sitting room with the tea Orainwen made. They spent another hour or two in front of the fire, talking and laughing. By the time Berior went to leave, all said their goodnights and Glinneth helped Geliriel to her room. Orainwen saw Berior to the door. This did not escape Geliriel's notice and she inquired about it to Glinneth.
"Orainwen has been after Berior after her first week here, my lady! Surely you haven't just noticed?"
"I had wondered at her almost always being near him. Does he know?"
"Aye, ma'am. He's only waiting for her to make her first move."
Geliriel laughed. "Well, it seems that tonight she's making that move."
Glinneth nodded in the affirmative. She helped Geliriel get dressed for bed and saw that she was comfortable before leaving the room. Unlike the last few nights, Geliriel fell asleep smiling. Her last thoughts before she slept were of Berior and Orainwen.