Chapter Summary: A game of chess, where two queens battle for a king. Silmarien aquires allies and plans her battleground.
Author Notes: Since I know only a little Sindarin, I will make note when people speak it in italics. I promise it won't be confusing. And midterms are approaching, so this may be the last chapter for at least a couple of weeks.
Shout Outs:
Terreis – I changed my email signature. Now you can laugh at a new joke. Warning would be the best word, yes.
Roisin Dubh – Yes, the Raven will have not-so-secret agents to help her, as well. Then she will find something that will be of much use to her. Game's on, Alfirin!
Jousting Elf With A Sabre – I am lots of people's sister…Deb, Mercury Gray…. must be something I'm doing unconsciously. Not saying it's a bad thing, but I'm seeing a trend, and I don't know what I'm doing to make people want to adopt me!
Mercury Gray – Hollen I ven. The way is shut, Alfirin. She isn't getting ANY of Barahir, now that he has a very watchful guardian.
Dread Lady Freya - There won't be much left of Alfirin for her father to peice back together. And I'm glad you like Mari's romance!
Silmarien was greatly troubled. It had been several weeks since she had spoken to Alfirin in the garden, and yet the woman had not offered any attack, save that Barahir's regard of her was very high. Mari had spoken to her cousin on the matter and he refused to listen.
"Alfirin is a very beautiful spirit," he had said, "and she has been gracious to me. Cannot you make up your mind, Silmarien, that you try to bring her low in my eyes? Would you treat Lord Glorfindel as you have treated me?"
It was at that point that Silmarien realized that she could not speak sense to her cousin. Alfirin had affected him too greatly, as was her talent. It was well that he had left for Dol Amroth recently. Perhaps the ride or the sea air would bring him back to reason, but Mari doubted it. She sought out her brother Faramir for guidance.
"What am I to do, Faramir?" she mourned as they played a game of chess in his sitting room. "She will not cease and he will not listen."
"I am loth to say this of any woman, but I confess that Alfirin is a conniving wench," he replied, moving his knight. "She knows what she can use to her advantage, and what you may use also. Be wary, Silmarien, for this could turn into a nasty business."
"It became a nasty business when she showed me her intent," Silmarien retorted angrily, sending out a bishop. "Did I tell you what she said to me?"
"Yes, I remember it well," Faramir sighed, looking across the board. "It is unfortunate that she would perform a false sort of blackmail to win her way. Your move."
"But what am I to do in return, brother?" Mari again asked. "Shall I return attack in her manner, and so bring low my own esteem for myself?"
"I would not advise it. Rather find a way to take away any other options she would have left. Checkmate."
Silmarien suddenly looked at the chessboard as if she had just now realized they had been playing. An earnest and yet wicked smile spread across her lips. "That's it!" she whispered gleefully.
"What's it? What are you planning?" Faramir asked, knowing that Alfirin stood no chance if his sister's plan was as brilliant as she was making him believe.
"Checkmate! It is a game of chess we are playing, Alfirin and I," Silmarien said quickly, thoughts rushing like wild horses across a plain in Rohan. "She seeks to be underhanded, and go behind my back. I will do the same, and allow her a false sense of security."
"What mean you, Silmarien? Let me into your confidence, I pray."
"Alfirin is not one who would allow her misdeeds to be followed. Therefore I shall have to find some other means of bringing her low. Faramir, you studied the laws of Gondor when you were younger. Did you find any concerning marriages?"
"Yes, but they were old and lengthy. I remember only one, something about intervention."
Hastily standing, Silmarien kissed her brother's cheek. "I have work to do," she said. "May the Valar bless you, brother!"
When the records-keeper was told to find all texts of laws concerning marriage, he wondered greatly. The rumor was whispered around the court that Lady Silmarien sought to uncover any loopholes in the laws of her people so that she could marry the elven lord as quickly as possible. Alfirin smirked at this news, and rewarded the records-keeper with the gold coins she had promised him.
None saw Silmarien in the next days. She closed the door in the library, and let no one in until the queen herself demanded entrance. It was with great reluctance that she showed her monarch what she was up to. Even then, she was tight lipped and said little.
"Silmarien, remember that you have friends who would help you," Arwen admonished. "Even Elemmire has heard of this, and desires to aid you."
"Why?" Silmarien asked. "What could she gain from this?"
"I have learned much of her while you locked yourself away in this dusty prison," Undomiel smiled. "She has admitted to me at last that she admires your cousin Barahir, and wishes him all possible joy. She knows that Alfirin would only wound him, and has worried herself over any possible way she could help."
"Truly?" the daughter of Denethor smiled. "Gladly would I have her support."
And so Elemmire too locked herself away in the libraries with Silmarien while Arwen launched a counter rumor, which told the tale of Silmarien searching for laws on alliances, which she may present to her king an old standard that he might use in rebuilding his kingdom. The courtiersbegan to mistrust Silmarien, for if she desired to bring back the old ways of the kings, their role in the political system might lessen greatly. But it did not matter to her, for her only concern was that she kept Alfirin guessing, at which she was successful.
Late one night, Silmarien and Elemmire were walking back to their chambers together when Elemmire suddenly asked how she had come to the plot of searching through the libraries. Silmarien related to the lady of her game of chess with Lord Faramir, who suggested it unwittingly. Elemmire smiled.
"How clever of you, Silmarien," she praised. "Truly it is a game of chess that you play. Two queens against each other for the king. But there are other pieces you have that perhaps she does not."
"What mean you, Elemmire?" Silmarien asked, curious. Elemmire followed Silmarien to her sitting room where she set up the chessboard, taking out the two queens and a king.
"Here you and Alfirin are, and here is Barahir," she said, pointing to the pieces. "But here am I also."
Elemmire took out a rook and set it on the board. The meaning of her demonstration struck Silmarien at last. "Elemmire, the rook is one who can only strike when other pieces are cloaking it. Then it strikes quickly. See, you have placed the rook where, if there were knights and perhaps a bishop, it could take the king."
Elemmire blushed, her purpose now known to her friend. Silmarien did not miss the rosiness of her cheek. "Poor Mire! For so long you have seen Lord Barahir and always he has been captured by another woman. At last I see the wound in your heart."
"Nay, it is not wounded. For when he was enamored of you, I knew he would be well cared for, if you felt it your duty to marry him. He would have been happy, and I would have been content. But now, I foresee his doom. Alfirin would make him miserable and he would age faster than he should. I fear for him, Silmarien. That is why I want to help you."
"If we ever find that law, I shall do what I can to turn his eye toward you. It is only fitting that you win his heart after endeavoring so long to see to his happiness."
"Do not, I beg," Elemmire said suddenly. "Perhaps he should not be happy with me, though I would be delighted. Should he cast his eye toward me, let it be through his own intent. Do not influence his choice, I pray."
The chessboard stood for many days, to remind Silmarien her purpose, and who her allies were. Those who knew of the great labor that she had taken upon herself knew immediately its significance upon seeing it and added pieces to the board, accordingly. Boromir did not offer his assistance, for he had other worries to tend to. Faramir became her other rook, and positioned himself so that he could strike at the opposing queen, but laid himself open to her attack.
"If I am lost, it will not matter much, for I will not remain in Minas Tirith," he smiled wryly. "Fight on, Mari, for I think that you shall win."
At last, when winter was whispering his approach, Silmarien found what she had been looking for. It was not exactly a law, but more of a right that could be exercised by a member of the family of either party. Excitedly, she took the parchment and hid it in her room, calling Elemmire and Faramir to her so that she could read it aloud to them.
"The right of intervention is bestowed upon the family of a man or woman who is being courted by another of the court," she read. Faramir smiled at his sister's exuberance and resisted the urge to wipe away the smudge of dust on her cheek as she continued.
"It shall be exercised should any member of the family finds the union objectionable for any reason. It must be declared before the couple announces betrothal. Objection must be brought to the king and must have valid reason and tangible proof, and shall not be misused."
Silmarien's shoulders slumped and she pounded the table on which the parchment lay. "Proof!" she cried. "Alfirin will not leave us that option, if we cannot use the proof of her reputation!"
"Take heart sister," Faramir comforted. "You have not lost. You have found the method of checkmate, but you must devise a plan to position her for the taking."
Elemmire had been looking out the window as she listened. She too had deflated upon hearing the constraints of the right. A servant entered and startled all three. "My lady, Lord Glorfindel wishes to speak with you," the servant said.
"Lord Glorfindel has returned? What luck! Send him in," Mari said. The Elf lord soon appeared and was surprised to see her already with company.
"Forgive me if I intrude," he bowed.
"No intrusion," Faramir smiled, knowing Glorfindel secretly desired to greet Silmarien in private. But he would have to wait.
"What merry gathering is this, may I ask," he replied.
"No merry gathering, but a council of quick wit," Elemmire said. Silmarien noticed with great approval that she seemed less embarrassed at what the woman once thought to be forward.
"Games of wit! May I join you, then?" Glorfindel asked, rubbing his hands.
Taking a knight and a bishop from the box of chess pieces, Silmarien held it out to him and spoke Sindarin. "Welcome, Lord Glorfindel. Choose your title!"
Faramir had to bite back a laugh upon seeing the stunned countenance of the Elf. He apparently had not heard that she had been tutored in his language. After he recovered, he did not reach for a piece.
"What game is this? If it be chess, you have placed your pieces all wrong."
"Call this a war council," Silmarien replied, giving him a brief tale of the events that had taken place during his absence. Upon her finishing it, Glorfindel nodded.
"I will join you," he said, taking not one piece, but both the bishop and the knight, positioning them and taking the other bishop from the box.
"Here am I," he said, pointing to the knight. "And here are the lords Elladan and Elrohir. I will tell them of their role later, for they are in audience with their sister."
"Why involve them? They have no reason to join in," Elemmire said, puzzled.
"When there is mischief to be worked, it is well to enlist those who know best how to inflict it," Glorfindel returned. "The very fact that mischief is needed is reason enough for them. Besides, whoever this rook is over here will need the shielding."
Silmarien smiled at Elemmire, for Glorfindel had pointed to her piece. The board was dominated by ivory, while the sable pieces counted only one - Alfirin's queen piece. If she wanted to win, she would need more allies. Glorfindel volunteered to spy out any courtiers she would enlist, for he would be least suspect. The battle was planned, and Silmarien sought to execute her first attack.
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