By Gen Eveningstar
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or the Unfinished Tales. sobs I wish though… But they are the wonderful creation from the brilliant mind of GREAT TOLKIEN!
Author's notes: Thank you reviewers for your reviews, they really kept me going on! Hope that you will enjoy another chappie and pls R/R! Thankew!
Chapter Four: A Shadow over the Land of Aman
A lazy, drooping, ochre eye sank slowly into the western horizon, bathing Menegroth with warm and vivid shades of orange, red and gold. The air began to cool and the breeze blew light, gentle kisses upon the earth. King Thingol had chosen the waning moments of the day for a stroll in the garden with his Royal Kinsman, Celeborn, and distinguished guest, Finrod. It had been a most exhausting day. The King and Finrod had spent most of it in the private library of Thingol, discussing and debating over the architectural structure and techniques of building Menegroth. Finrod was filled with wonder at the strength and majesty of Thingol's kingdom: its treasuries, armouries and many-pillared halls of stone. It came into his heart that he desired to build wide halls behind ever-guarded gates in some deep and secret place beneath the hills. Friendship and trust had been forged between the two elves that shared the same passions and loves, and Finrod openly told Thingol of his dreams. Thingol told him of the deep gorge of the River Narog, and the caves under the High Faroth on its western shore. Finrod's heart was stirred with fires beyond measure upon receiving this knowledge.
Celeborn walked silently behind the conversing figures of King Thingol and Finrod, too deep in thought to heed the heated conversation of the two elves. It had been twenty odd days since he had last spoken to Lady Artanis on that star-lit night in the garden. She had haunted his dreams ever since. Those tear glazed eyes that had softened his heart, the crystal clear laughter that still rang in his ears, and the silky feeling of her shimmering golden hair still lingered on his hands.
What audacity he had committed on that night! He cursed himself for speaking those impulsive and impudent words. Lady Artanis was a Noldor royal, the direct descendant of Finwë, and he was merely a kinsman of a king. How could he have spoken to a princess with such words? How could he have dared to address her by her name? How could he have reached out to touch her hair without even seeking her consent? He had spoken and acted like a frivolous young elf courting an elf-maiden! He knew he truthfully meant every single word he had said, but had Lady Artanis mistaken his words and intentions? He sighed at his foolishness.
Against his wishes his heart had desired to see her, to speak to her. Every now and then he would see her, strolling in the garden, walking through the hallways, conversing with other elf-maidens in the courtyard, or napping by the lakeside. He would long to go forth and talk to her, yet it seemed that Eru did not favour him so. His body would betray him by not moving, or Queen Melian and Princess Lúthien would be by her side, or many other admirers who wished to delight her by whatever means they had would be surrounding her. He could not bring himself to speak to her and could only watch silently from afar.
Celeborn wondered at his fervent desire to seek her out and speak to her. What could be propelling him to do so? His pity for a tormented soul? His duty to protect her as the Chief Commander of Menegroth? He knew not. He sighed deeply at the heavy load upon his heart.
"Celeborn! What is weighing in your mind?"
Celeborn drew out of his thoughts and realised that King Thingol and Finrod were way ahead of him and had halted to wait for him. The two elves laughed when they saw Celeborn redden in embarrassment and quicken his footsteps to catch up with them.
"My apologies, My Lords."
King Thingol waved a hand and smiled, "Forgiven, forgiven my lad. Now pray, tell me, what is weighing upon your mind?"
Celeborn swallowed, "Nothing."
"Indeed?" King Thingol raised an eyebrow. "You do seem to be troubled, but if you say so…" He clapped a hand upon Celeborn's shoulder, "I believed that you had heard none of what Finrod and I had been speaking of?"
"Well, the cave under the High Faroth?"
King Thingol laughed, "Well well, my dear kinsman! It seems that you drifted away from our conversation long ago! Now, this will be good news to lift your spirits!"
"What news will that be?"
"Hunting." Finrod answered. "I have proposed a hunting trip in the forests of Doriath."
"Finrod wishes to see the outskirts of my kingdom, and he knows that his sister's blood is boiling for some excitement after days of staying in her suite." King Thingol said. "I believe that this news shall delight you, my One-Shot hunter?"
Celeborn smiled at the news of his favourite sport. "Yes, more than you can imagine, My Lord."
Queen Melian ran a comb through Artanis's hair, brushing it until it shone in the waning sunlight. Skilfully, she braided two side braids and drew them together into one, which she proceeded to weave white ribbons into. Artanis sat quietly, her eyes following Princess Lúthien, who was playing with the nightingales at the nearest water basin where the birds had came to enjoy an evening bath. A soothing and enchanting evensong rang across the gardens, her sweet and lucid voice in harmony with the singing of the nightingales, singing of a golden lady who came from the West.
"The song is for you Lady Artanis!" she cried out, smiling when the last lingering note in the air faded away.
"Amin harmuva onalle e' cormamin! (I shall treasure your gift in my heart!)" Artanis replied, smiling at the princess as she continued her evensongs with her little winged friends.
"You learn swiftly in the language of my people, yet the Sindar elves are ever slow at learning the Quenya." Queen Melian spoke as she wove the final strand of ribbon into the braid.
"Arwenamin (My Lady), the Quenya speech is tricky to the tongue, not so is the Sindarin speech. It is understandable that they will take a longer time to master it."
"It is more than that, Artanis." She shook her head sadly. "There is no denying that the Eldar of the West are of greater stature, both in the mind and the body, than those who refuse the call of the Valar. The elves in Menegroth could have departed for the Undying Lands and lived upon the shores of Alqualondë, instead of being the Dark Elves who have never seen the light of the Two Trees. I could not help but think that I am the cause of it, for I have stolen their king and they, out of their loyalty and faithfulness, stayed with their beloved leader."
"But they will go to the Undying Lands one day, will they not? Do they not hear the calling of the sea?"
"No, they do not, and I doubt that they ever will. A shadow is in my heart, that Thingol and Lúthien will forever linger in the lands of Middle-Earth and refuse the calling of the sea." Her eyes settled upon Lúthien, who was dancing bare-footed upon the carpet of grass, laughing as the nightingales fluttered around her, chirping and singing.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice thick with emotions. "As a mother, I wish for the best for my child; yet I see nothing but doom lying at the end of her path. And Thingol, he could have been great in Alqualondë; he could have been a greater king there. Yet, he settled for a king among the dark elves in Middle Earth. And for him too, I see darkness that lies ahead of him."
"You have seen their doom?" Artanis asked, placing an encouraging hand upon Queen Melian's.
"I can feel it." She answered, her voice quivering, her hands grasping Artanis's. "I know they are not leaving these lands! O Elbereth! How I wish that Thingol had never stayed in Middle-Earth! How I wish that Lúthien was born in the blessing of the Valar! How I wish that the elves of Menegroth were all living in Alqualondë, away from all of the harm and dangers that will lead them to the hall of Mandos!"
Artanis's heart sank. Away from harm and dangers? Away from the path that will lead to the hall of Mandos? "You are wrong, My Lady." Her voice diminished into a whisper, heavy and dark. "You have saved them." She shivered at the thought that it could have been Thingol or even Lúthien who had fallen to the darkness at the Kinslaying in Alqualondë. "The land of Aman is not perfectly safe, Alqualondë isn't. Darkness dwells there as it dwells here. Death claims lives as it claims the lives here. It is of much truth that Eldar are of greater stature, yet the greatness of the mind and body does not always measure up to the purity of the spirit." Her hands clenched into fists upon the thought of Fëanor, the greatest and most fell of all Noldor elves. "You may not know, but you may have given the gift of life to King Thingol and Princess Lúthien. And the choice is theirs, to choose doom or the calling as their final destination, you are of naught to blame."
Queen Melian marvelled at her words and, in Artanis, she perceived a woe and a darkness. She wondered upon the hidden and dark meaning of her words and at long last, she spoke, "There is some woe that lies upon you and your kin that I can see in you, but all else is hidden from me, for I have no power to perceive, in visions or dreams, anything that passed or passes in the West. I see a shadow over the land of Aman and it reaches far out over the sea. Pray tell me, what darkness has come to pass in Eldamar, what woe lies within you?"
"Mankoi lle irma sint? (Why do you want to know?)"
"Why will not tell me more?"
Artanis drew her hand away from Queen Melian's, "That woe is of the past; I wish to leave it there and take on the joy Middle-Earth has to bring, untroubled by my memories. Though there may be more woe to come, hope still prevails."
Unsatisfied, Queen Melian looked into Artanis's eyes. "Artanis, tell me, of what cause was the high people of the Noldor driven forth as exiles from Aman? What evil lies on the sons of Fëanor that they be so haughty and fell? Do I not strike near the truth?"
Knowing that she could not hide much from Queen Melian, Artanis answered, "Near. But we were not driven forth; we came of our own will, and against that of the Valar. For one sole purpose we came, to take vengeance on Morgoth and regain what is ours."
"What had Morgoth stolen from you?"
"Our beloved King," She replied through clenched teeth, "and the Silmarils."
Artanis then revealed to Queen Melian the slaying of King Finwë at Formenos and the rape of the jewels; yet, she spoke naught of the Oath, the Kinslaying, nor the betrayal of Fëanor's household.
"Much you have told me, yet much more is hidden. Darkness, you have cast over the passing that happened along the long road from Tirion and I see great evil there."
Artanis shook her head, "Nothing more shall you hear from me."
"And I shall I ask no further." Queen Melian smiled kindly upon her. "But this is of grave matter and I will speak of it to Thingol. We shall speak naught of this matter from now on."
"Diola lle. (Thank you.)" Artanis sighed in great relief and gratitude.
"Seasamin. (My pleasure.)"
"Nana! Lady Artanis!" Lúthien ran to their sides and pointed down to the road leading to the palace of Menegroth. "Look! Ada, Celeborn, and Lord Finrod are coming this way!"
"Vendui (Greetings), my ladies." King Thingol greeted, leaning forward to plant affectionate kisses upon the cheeks of his queen and daughter.
Artanis took a slight curtsy. "Greetings, My Lord." She shifted her glance to her brother and nodded her acknowledgement. Her eyes landed on Celeborn who was shifting uneasily and she smiled warmly. To her confusion, he turned away.
"Ah Lady Artanis, I pray that you are well?" King Thingol's voice drew her eyes back onto the king.
"Yes, I am. Thank you."
"Not at all dull in the company of Melian and Lúthien? I heard many tales of your deeds from Finrod. Days of palace life must be dull in your eyes." King Thingol said in jest. A chuckle could be heard from Finrod, who was desperately trying to avoid the icy gaze of Artanis.
"Indeed, My Lord?" Artanis smiled but her gaze was fatal as they sought Finrod's. "I enjoy Queen Melian's and Princess Lothian's company as much as my brother is enjoying yours. But if there is ever a time, I would love to be in your company and tell the deeds of my brother. I'd very much love to."
Finrod emitted a loud cough, causing the others to burst into laughter. "Well, My Lord," Finrod interrupted, eager to steer the topic away in order to escape his sister's wrath. "Shall we not speak to them of the hunting trip?"
"Hunting?" Artanis brightened upon hearing the word.
"Yes Lady Artanis. Finrod thought that you might wish to ride your horse and hunt after days of staying indoors. He said your blood cries for excitement. Will you not go?" King Thingol replied.
Artanis blushed and replied, "I would love to." Her brother knew her too well. He knew that his sister could not have been satisfied with days of being indoors, embroidering, conversing, reading and napping. His sister was as fiery and active as a man; courtroom life bored her. She loved the outdoors, she loved the sun, the trees, the wide prairies and she loved nothing more than galloping freely.
"Lovely! We'll have some wild boar on the dining table tomorrow night than!" Finrod ginned at his sister and turned to the ladies standing near Artanis. "Queen Melian? Princess Lúthien? Would you like to join us?"
"Mellonamin (My friend)," King Thingol laughed. "You do not know my wife. She dislikes arrows, swords and blood. Like her beloved queens, she too is of a peaceful spirit."
"Than I'll come along if Nana is not to go!" Luthien tugged at the sleeve of her father, grinning.
King Thingol laughed, "You are too young, my child. You will fall off the horse!"
"I can ride with Celeborn!" The young princess protested amidst the laughter.
Her father raised an eyebrow in disapproval. "And burden him? I do not reckon so, my child."
Queen Melian smiled and gently chided her daughter, "Now now, do not be wilful Luthien. In years to come, you will have your own adventure." Turning to the Noldor siblings, she said, "My husband has said nothing but the truth. Thank you for your invitation, but we must decline."
"Very well then, we shall meet tomorrow at the break of dawn." King Thingol looked up upon the skies and realised the shutters of the brightest stars were opening as night threw wide open her windows. "Elbereth! It has gotten dark. Let us cease our conversation and go indoors to rest. There is yet a long day ahead for us tomorrow."
He turned to Finrod and Artanis who were going to return to their guest suites at the west wing of the palace, "Quel kaima, tenna' tul're. (Sleep well, until tomorrow.)"
"We will and a good night rest to you as well, My Lords and Ladies."
Celeborn watched in silence as the figure of Artanis diminished into the dark. Quel kaima, lirimaer. (Sleep well, lovely one.)