A/N: Short chapter. Wow! No songs!! I'm so proud of myself, I suppose.
Reviews! Please tell me if you like all the songs, or you would rather have
less! Tolkien owns everyone but Isilmë, who is a poor victim of my twisted
mind. Araniel belongs to my most faithful reviewer, and I hope she doesn't
mind me borrowing the name. I was thinking of a name for the character, and
I couldn't, so I was like, "hmm. Maybe I could use hers!" Hope you don't
mind! If you do, just let me know and I'll change it immediately. Thanks
reviewers! Keep at it!
Chapter 9: The Sea!
The white sand felt smooth beneath her feet, the wind rustling through her dark hair, which swirled around her like a robe. Her eyes, which gazed far beyond the horizon, matched the grey waves of the Sea, with just the white foam washing over her feet, in which she was looking.
She was lost, lost in the white foam breaking at her feet. Lost in the cry of the white gulls that flocked around her, threatening to shatter her heart with their calls. Though the Sea gave her heart comfort she had not felt in months, it filled her with longing and made her feel so small, so unimportant, against its vast expanse.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a soft voice stated beside her. She was drawn out of her reverie by this sudden voice.
"I'm sorry. I did not mean to frighten you," the young woman apologized.
"It's alright Araniel," Elentari said. This young woman from Amroth had taken a liking to Elentari since she came to their city and they had become fast friends. Elentari liked the girl, a year her junior, for she was full of an energy for living that Elentari lacked and longed for. She had never seen such enthusiasm at every and any task performed. She was full of constant chatter, which many of her own kin found extremely irritating, but Elentari didn't mind. She wanted, needed something to fill the cold, silent halls of Minas Tirith she had left in body, but not in spirit. Elentari filled Araniel with a wonder. She admired the older girl for her gift in song and lore and for her loyalty and love for her city and her family. The sorrow she often fleetingly glanced in Elentari's eyes intrigued yet mystified her. She did not understand what could cause such melancholy, but did not want to ask; for fear that Elentari would turn away from her. Elentari did, however, do a good job of concealing her sorrow, yet it was not all an act. Amroth and the Sea had filled her heart with bliss. She still missed Faramir and longed to see him, but her sea longing pushed that feeling down. Her eyes gazed back out into the vast expanse of grey-green. So vast, so beautiful, so mystifying, so luring. She longed to see what was at the end of it, or just to be in it, feeling the cool waves wash over her until she knew no more, all grief gone. "It's almost lunchtime," Araniel said, "We should go." Elentari forced herself to pull her eyes away from the luring Sea and mounted her horse to ride back to Amroth. Upon return, Imrahil was awaiting her luncheon. "Ah, my dear cousin," he greeted, "You actually returned. I was afraid we would lose you to the Sea." These words washed over Elentari with a wave of foreboding, for it was exactly her fear, though her heart ached to see it through. As they ate, Imrahil inquired about Boromir and Faramir and told her his memories of Finduilas and Ariethel, though he was but a child when they were still in the City. Araniel sat nearby, her eyes upon Imrahil admiringly. "What do you plan for the afternoon?" Imrahil inquired. "What does your fair city have to offer?" "Anything you wish, my Lady." "I wondered if I could go riding, since I have not since Faramir left," she hesitated a bit when she said his name, not wanting to feel the searing pain through her heart again, "Unless you have other suggestions." "No. That's a brilliant idea. I haven't been riding for ages. I can go with you, if you care for it," Imrahil said whole-heartedly. "That would be delightful." After they finished their meal, Imrahil, Elentari, and by Elentari's insistence, Araniel went to the stables. Talcalina stood waiting for Elentari, thrusting her proud white mane back as her owner approached, her hoofs pounding the dirt, restless. As Elentari fastened her saddle and bridle, the horse neighed and pushed her head near her master's. "I know you're restless girl. As am I. We have not gone out for too long. Too long have we sat in the shadows of Minas Tirith. Today, we shall be free," she said, stroking the white mane. They mounted and as the guard opened the stable door for them, there was no stopping Elentari and Talcalina. The horse bound out, as if from chains, and would not stop running as quick as her name, light foot. Elentari had no objection and it seemed to everyone watching that they ran as if they were fleeing from some dark shadow threatening to engulf them, and in fact, they were. Imrahil and Araniel trotted along to follow them at some distance, leaving them to have their long-desired freedom. They flew through the woods, racing the very wind as they soared through. They leapt over babbling brooks, through the fragrant flowers, past the towering trees. When they finally stopped, Elentari realized where Talcalina had brought her, the Sea. The horse would have bounded right into the waves if Elentari had not finally reined her back. She dismounted, kicked off her boots, and took Talcalina's reins, and they slowly walked towards the water. When the first waves crashed gently upon her feet, Elentari felt a tingle go up her spine. It was hard to describe what the feeling was. It was satisfaction mixed with elation, with a tinge of longing. They walked into the waves, until Talcalina was around knee-high and did not want to go any farther, and Elentari was up in her waist, her long white gown soaked. She undid her dark hair and let the wind blow it freely and dipped it in to the green water. When she resurfaced, she caught a glimpse of Araniel and Imrahil standing upon the shore, watching her closely. She dipped her head back into the water and opened her eyes to the mysterious underwater world. As she was about to resurface for air, she heard a distant voice that seemed to call her name. She looked about wildly, not knowing where the voice came from, but knowing it was below her, a whisper, a thought. "Elentari," the voice whispered her name, "Come to us. Stay here with us. The Sea calls you, calls you home. You belong here." "Who are you?" she thought, as she could not speak underwater. "Lady of the Sea, Airëtari. When the time comes, you will join us." And with that, Elentari resurfaced, gasping for breath. She swam back to shore, a bit reluctantly, for she had never felt so at peace, so serene and satisfied, than those brief moments. Imrahil looked at her soaked from head to toe and clucked his teeth disapprovingly. "I'd never be able to go down there like that," Araniel said admiringly. "Let's hope you never do," Imrahil said. "The Lady," Elentari gasped, still in shock, "The Lady. Lady Uinen." "What?" "She spoke to me," Elentari whispered. "What? What are you talking about? I think you've been in the water too long," Imrahil said. "No. I heard her clearly. She told me that I would one day join her in the Sea," she murmured, afraid of what these words foretold. "Let's get you back to Amroth," Imrahil said a bit skeptical of her story. They mounted their horses and returned to the City.
Chapter 9: The Sea!
The white sand felt smooth beneath her feet, the wind rustling through her dark hair, which swirled around her like a robe. Her eyes, which gazed far beyond the horizon, matched the grey waves of the Sea, with just the white foam washing over her feet, in which she was looking.
She was lost, lost in the white foam breaking at her feet. Lost in the cry of the white gulls that flocked around her, threatening to shatter her heart with their calls. Though the Sea gave her heart comfort she had not felt in months, it filled her with longing and made her feel so small, so unimportant, against its vast expanse.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a soft voice stated beside her. She was drawn out of her reverie by this sudden voice.
"I'm sorry. I did not mean to frighten you," the young woman apologized.
"It's alright Araniel," Elentari said. This young woman from Amroth had taken a liking to Elentari since she came to their city and they had become fast friends. Elentari liked the girl, a year her junior, for she was full of an energy for living that Elentari lacked and longed for. She had never seen such enthusiasm at every and any task performed. She was full of constant chatter, which many of her own kin found extremely irritating, but Elentari didn't mind. She wanted, needed something to fill the cold, silent halls of Minas Tirith she had left in body, but not in spirit. Elentari filled Araniel with a wonder. She admired the older girl for her gift in song and lore and for her loyalty and love for her city and her family. The sorrow she often fleetingly glanced in Elentari's eyes intrigued yet mystified her. She did not understand what could cause such melancholy, but did not want to ask; for fear that Elentari would turn away from her. Elentari did, however, do a good job of concealing her sorrow, yet it was not all an act. Amroth and the Sea had filled her heart with bliss. She still missed Faramir and longed to see him, but her sea longing pushed that feeling down. Her eyes gazed back out into the vast expanse of grey-green. So vast, so beautiful, so mystifying, so luring. She longed to see what was at the end of it, or just to be in it, feeling the cool waves wash over her until she knew no more, all grief gone. "It's almost lunchtime," Araniel said, "We should go." Elentari forced herself to pull her eyes away from the luring Sea and mounted her horse to ride back to Amroth. Upon return, Imrahil was awaiting her luncheon. "Ah, my dear cousin," he greeted, "You actually returned. I was afraid we would lose you to the Sea." These words washed over Elentari with a wave of foreboding, for it was exactly her fear, though her heart ached to see it through. As they ate, Imrahil inquired about Boromir and Faramir and told her his memories of Finduilas and Ariethel, though he was but a child when they were still in the City. Araniel sat nearby, her eyes upon Imrahil admiringly. "What do you plan for the afternoon?" Imrahil inquired. "What does your fair city have to offer?" "Anything you wish, my Lady." "I wondered if I could go riding, since I have not since Faramir left," she hesitated a bit when she said his name, not wanting to feel the searing pain through her heart again, "Unless you have other suggestions." "No. That's a brilliant idea. I haven't been riding for ages. I can go with you, if you care for it," Imrahil said whole-heartedly. "That would be delightful." After they finished their meal, Imrahil, Elentari, and by Elentari's insistence, Araniel went to the stables. Talcalina stood waiting for Elentari, thrusting her proud white mane back as her owner approached, her hoofs pounding the dirt, restless. As Elentari fastened her saddle and bridle, the horse neighed and pushed her head near her master's. "I know you're restless girl. As am I. We have not gone out for too long. Too long have we sat in the shadows of Minas Tirith. Today, we shall be free," she said, stroking the white mane. They mounted and as the guard opened the stable door for them, there was no stopping Elentari and Talcalina. The horse bound out, as if from chains, and would not stop running as quick as her name, light foot. Elentari had no objection and it seemed to everyone watching that they ran as if they were fleeing from some dark shadow threatening to engulf them, and in fact, they were. Imrahil and Araniel trotted along to follow them at some distance, leaving them to have their long-desired freedom. They flew through the woods, racing the very wind as they soared through. They leapt over babbling brooks, through the fragrant flowers, past the towering trees. When they finally stopped, Elentari realized where Talcalina had brought her, the Sea. The horse would have bounded right into the waves if Elentari had not finally reined her back. She dismounted, kicked off her boots, and took Talcalina's reins, and they slowly walked towards the water. When the first waves crashed gently upon her feet, Elentari felt a tingle go up her spine. It was hard to describe what the feeling was. It was satisfaction mixed with elation, with a tinge of longing. They walked into the waves, until Talcalina was around knee-high and did not want to go any farther, and Elentari was up in her waist, her long white gown soaked. She undid her dark hair and let the wind blow it freely and dipped it in to the green water. When she resurfaced, she caught a glimpse of Araniel and Imrahil standing upon the shore, watching her closely. She dipped her head back into the water and opened her eyes to the mysterious underwater world. As she was about to resurface for air, she heard a distant voice that seemed to call her name. She looked about wildly, not knowing where the voice came from, but knowing it was below her, a whisper, a thought. "Elentari," the voice whispered her name, "Come to us. Stay here with us. The Sea calls you, calls you home. You belong here." "Who are you?" she thought, as she could not speak underwater. "Lady of the Sea, Airëtari. When the time comes, you will join us." And with that, Elentari resurfaced, gasping for breath. She swam back to shore, a bit reluctantly, for she had never felt so at peace, so serene and satisfied, than those brief moments. Imrahil looked at her soaked from head to toe and clucked his teeth disapprovingly. "I'd never be able to go down there like that," Araniel said admiringly. "Let's hope you never do," Imrahil said. "The Lady," Elentari gasped, still in shock, "The Lady. Lady Uinen." "What?" "She spoke to me," Elentari whispered. "What? What are you talking about? I think you've been in the water too long," Imrahil said. "No. I heard her clearly. She told me that I would one day join her in the Sea," she murmured, afraid of what these words foretold. "Let's get you back to Amroth," Imrahil said a bit skeptical of her story. They mounted their horses and returned to the City.