AN: The last thing Katie read was that Andreth and Finrod's brother, Aegnor (called Aikanár or Sharp-flame), were in love but never married, and that's why Andreth was bitter. As for what revelation Katie had because of this… I'm afraid I'll have to leave you to figure out what it was! —dodges rotten tomatoes—
Katie went to bed that night with her mind whirling. When she got up in the morning, she resolutely left her book where she had laid it the night before. She dressed and prayed-spending longer on the latter activity than usual. Without even allowing herself to look over at the Athrabeth, she went down to breakfast.
It was only when she had returned to her room after this excursion that she allowed herself to pick up the book again and read some more.
"Andreth, I tell thee, Aikanar the Sharp-flame loved thee. For thy sake now he will never take the hand of any bride of his own kindred, but live alone to the end, remembering the morning in the hills of Dorthonion. But too soon in the North-wind his flame will go out! Foresight is given to the Eldar in many things not far off, though seldom of joy, and I say to thee thou shalt live long in the order of your kind, and he will go forth before thee and he will not wish to return."
Then Andreth stood up and stretched her hands to the fire. "Then why did he turn away? Why leave me while I had still a few good years to spend?"
"Alas!" said Finrod. "I fear the truth will not satisfy thee. This is time of war, Andreth, and in such days the Elves do not wed or bear child; but prepare for death—or for flight. If Aegnor's heart ruled, he would have wished to take thee and flee far away, east or south, forsaking his kin, and thine. Love and loyalty hold him to his. What of thee to thine?"
"For one year, one day, of the flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: woman of Men I am," said Andreth.
"That he knew," said Finrod, "and he withdrew and did not grasp what lay to his hand: Elf he is. For such barters are paid for in anguish that cannot be guessed, until it comes, and in ignorance rather than in courage the Elves judge that they are made."
"Nay, Andreth, if any marriage can be between our kindred and thine, then it shall be for some high purpose of Doom. Brief it will be and hard at the end. Yea, the least cruel fate that could befall would be that death should soon end it."
"But the end is always cruel—for Men," said Andreth. "I would not have troubled him, when my short youth was spent. I would not have hobbled as a hag after his bright feet, when I could no longer run beside him!"
"Maybe not," said Finrod. "So you feel now. But do you think of him? He would not have run before thee. He would have stayed at thy side to uphold thee. Then pity thou wouldst have had in every hour, pity inescapable. He would no have thee so shamed.
"Andreth, dear woman, the life and love of the Eldar dwells much in memory; and we (if not ye) would rather have a memory that is fair but unfinished than one that goes on to a grievous end. Now he will ever remember thee in the sun of morning, and that last evening by the water of Aeluin in which he saw thy face mirrored with a star caught in thy hair—ever, until the North-wind brings the night of his flame. Yea, and after that, sitting in the House of Mandos in the Halls of Awaiting until the end of Arda."
"And what shall I remember?" said she. "And when I go to what halls shall I come? To a darkness in which even the memory of the sharp flame shall be quenched? Even the memory of rejection. That at least."
Finrod sighed and stood up. "The Elves have no healing words for such thoughts, Andreth," he said. "But would you with that Elves and Men had never met? Is the light of the flame, which otherwise you would never have seen, of no worth even now? You believe yourself scorned? Put away at least that thought, which comes out of the Darkness, and then our speech together will not have been wholly in vain."
Here there was a break in the text, and Katie put the book down. She had read the passage quite slowly, savoring every word and every nuance of the conversation. The only thing that had kept these two people apart was their races—that, and the war. Had the situation only been a little other than it was… But the barriers between them had become insuperable, even though they loved each other so much.
There was only a short passage left, so she read it—slowly, carefully. She felt she was in the room with the two beings, watching the firelight dance on their faces in the darkness—her face yet young, but lined with despair, and grey streaks beginning to run in her hair; his face eternally youthful and beautiful, but with that elven-sorrow she herself knew so well.
Darkness fell in the room. He took her hand in the light of the fire. "Whither go you?" she said.
"North away," he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence—that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes."
"Will he be there, bright and tall, and the wind in his hair? Tell him. Tell him not to be reckless. Not to seek danger beyond need!"
"I will tell him," said Finrod. "But I might as well tell thee not to weep. He is a warrior, Andreth, and a spirit of wrath. In every stroke that he deals he sees the Enemy who long ago did thee this hurt.
"But you are not for Arda. Whither you go may you find light. Await us there, my brother—and me."
Katie shut the book, laid her head down upon her arms, and wept.
000
Lithorniel found Katie on one of the terraces and greeted her warmly. "Would you like to go to Imlothurin?" she asked her, offering her a flower basket and a pair of gardening shears.
Katie tipped her head in consideration for a moment. "Sure," she said, accepting the basket. They left the terrace and headed down toward the river.
Lithorniel surreptitiously observed her friend as they walked down the well-known hill. It had been a more than a month since the rangers had left, and it was now late March. In that time, Katie had obviously missed the twins. Lithorniel wasn't surprised. The twins, Legolas, and Aragorn had been the four that Katie had been closest to since she had come to Rivendell the first time, the twins in particular. For a few weeks after their departure, Katie had seemed dull and listless. Then she had mostly disappeared into her room for a day, emerging rather different, like a moth from a cocoon. She took an interest in the things around her again, and became more active than she had been since before she became sick. She had started to smile again, but her smile was of a different kind. It was more quiet, more thoughtful, less spontaneous and childish. She had matured, somehow. Lithorniel only hoped that she would one day regain that childlike joy she had displayed before. The elleth was reminded forcefully of the change in Arwen when she had returned from Lothlórien forty years before, soon after she had met Aragorn in Caras Galadhon.
It was not long before they were in Imlothurin, clipping late winter flowers for the House of Elrond. Katie seemed to take as much simple pleasure out of the task as Lithorniel did, an elven smile on her face. Satisfied that her young friend was occupied with her work, Lithornielturned her attention back to her task.
"Lithorniel?" Katie said suddenly.
"Hm?"
"How did you know when Glawar was in love with you?"
Lithorniel straightened up and looked at her closely. Katie's demeanor was entirely calm, just curious.
"How did I know," Lithorniel mused, then laughed as an answer came to her. "You know how, in the famous love stories, there is one perfect and beautiful moment when two people just know they are in love? The moonlight shines down just so, and lady is entirely beautiful and the gentleman so noble-looking…" Katie nodded. "Well," Lithorniel said, bending over to pluck a flower, "that did not exactly happen to Glawar and me."
Katie chuckled. "Go on!"
"Glawar and I became friends after he started working as a guard for the House of Elrond. When he was not on patrol, he often ran messages from one place to another—from the workshops to the house, from the farm to the community… One day, Glawar had a message from one of the craftsmen for the head cook—about a new oven, I believe—and he came down to the kitchens. The cook was somewhere else for awhile, so Glawar waited for him. I was the only other one in the kitchen. I was baking bread, and he started to help me. Well, I suppose I must say that I goaded him into helping me—teased him, you know. And he was working with the dough, and he was getting flour just everywhere! And a huge smear of it ended up on his forehead and his nose, and I was laughing and telling him what a ridiculous sight he looked, and I wiped it off his face with my handkerchief..." Lithorniel paused, and a lovely faraway look appeared in her eyes, and a tender smile on her face. "And he looked down at me, just so, and… And I knew he was the one." She stood still, lost in recollection for a moment, then looked over at Katie and smiled. "And that is all, really."
Katie was smiling widely. "Well, that might not be a famous love story," she said, "but it's not any less beautiful!"
000
The two of them took their midmorning meal under the large tree.
"I'm glad spring comes earlier here than it does at home," Katie commented. "We generally don't get weather this mild until at least mid-April."
"It is pleasant today," Lithorniel agreed, biting into a piece of bread.
A low rumble in the sky caused them both to look up. The clouds overhead seemed to darken everything below for a moment, and the shadows around them lost their crisp outlines. Katie and Lithorniel both shivered and drew closer together.
"That Shadow lies upon my heart," Katie whispered, and Lithorniel nodded silently. The Shadow had lain over all of their hearts for months, now. It lightened sometimes, and darkened others, but it was a constant presence in their lives. Now it was manifest across the sky over Rivendell.
There was a clap of thunder that made them both flinch, and Katie instinctively grabbed Lithorniel's arm. Something was happening.
Suddenly, they both felt a change in the air. The Shadow moved off, and the sunlight shone bright and clear upon the ground. Katie felt as she had when she was a little girl, and the rain that had threatened a proposed picnic had suddenly cleared off. She and Lithorniel both jumped to their feet, heedless of the food that fell off of their laps. They lifted their heads and took deep breaths. A shout could be heard far off at the House, and someone lifted their voice in a song of delight. Lithorniel lifted her chin and began to sing along. Katie threw her hands out wide, threw her head back, and laughed out loud, spinning about in ecstasy.
Lithorniel broke off her song in laughter as she observed her young friend. "It is over!" she exclaimed, running and catching Katie's hands in her own. "The war is over!"
000
They left their things in Imlothurin and raced right out of the dell and up to the House. Lithorniel would have run all the way, but Katie couldn't manage it. She was breathing hard and her legs were aching by the time they got up the hill, but she didn't care. Elves were swarming everywhere, talking excitedly, singing snatches of song at the top of their lungs, hugging one another and laughing with tears running down their faces.
Before she knew what was happening, Húnvel had caught her about the waist and swung her into a sort of crazy polka. Katie giggled like a little girl as he swung her around and around.
"Do you realize what this means?" he exclaimed as he stopped their mad career.
"The War's over?" Katie asked teasingly, stating the obvious.
Húnvel ignored her. "We are going to Gondor!"
Katie blinked. "What?"
"If the War is over, then the Sword that was Reforged must have gone to Minas Tirith—Aragorn must have commanded the men. He will be King! And he will wed Arwen! The entire household will escort her there."
"And me, too?" Katie asked.
"Yes, of course you too!" he laughed, letting go of her and stepping back. "What, did you think we would leave you here by yourself? And you will see Estel again, and Legolas—"
She closed the space between them, grabbing his arms. "And the twins?" she asked urgently.
"Yes, and the twins!"
Katie put both hands over her mouth, her eyes crinkling into a merry smile. "Yes!" she shouted, throwing her arms around Húnvel's neck. He started to laugh again.
When she had let her friend go, Katie looked around at the sea of smiling elven faces. Over by the house, a sight caught her eye which made the smile fade from her face. Alone by the porch, where the other elves had left them a little privacy, Lord Elrond and Arwen stood, hugging each other tightly, unmoving. Katie could not see their faces for their long, black hair, but their body language said it all. Katie tipped her head to the side, then straightened her shoulders. With the elves, it seemed joy would always be mixed with sorrow.
"Katie!" Húnvel grabbed her hand again. "Come! Everyone is going to the Hall of Fire!" he pulled her along behind him, and she smiled at his enthusiasm. She was going to see the twins again, as soon as possible! With a laugh, Katie caught up her skirts and ran after her friend.
TBCAN: I forgot to say in the last chapter, all the text Katie is reading comes directly from the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, copyright good ole' JRRT. I've changed a couple of words to make it a little more understandable, and dropped a few lines where they didn't directly apply to the story at hand, but the material is all Tolkien's. I forgot to say in the last chapter, all the text Katie is reading comes directly from the , copyright good ole' JRRT. I've changed a couple of words to make it a little more understandable, and dropped a few lines where they didn't directly apply to the story at hand, but the material is all Tolkien's.
Alateriel567: Yep, you were right! Yeah, watched LOST last night, but the channel went wonky, and Dana and I didn't realize until the end that there was another channel it showed on, so we missed about half the episode! We were so upset! Hopefully they'll show that one again.
FallenTruth: I wanted to make her "realization" a little ambiguous—keep the suspense… um… suspended? Yep, some dry humor, great one-liners (I'm thinking of Blackadder there) and then all of a sudden, someone will toss in something completely silly that just cracks me up. Plus, the fact that our language is very slightly different makes some of it even funnier, I think, to Americans than it might be to Brits. You put in a word like "snogging", and I guarantee you, I will crack up. The raunchy humor is not that bad, just that the British society (European society in general, really) has a higher tolerance for that than most Americans, who, I will admit, are prudes. "Are You Being Served?" makes cracks that, while pretty mild in the sexuality department, are still raunchier than most American shows probably would have gotten by with at that time. I think in general, Americans rather like the British—like the Canadians, you have your little quirks, but you're quite loveable. :) And British accents are just sexy. I tell you what, I hear a guy speaking in an English, or a Scottish—or even an Irish—accent, and… —swoons— Thanks!
Princess Siara: Thanks! And I enjoyed hearing your theories. :)
Laer4572: Try it and see! Oh, and we have now passed February 16, when the Fellowship left Lothlórien. So Haldir is no longer in the story. He's all yours!
theycallmemary: Oops! Well, I've noticed that people who are into Harry Potter have picked up on the fact that Rowling puts little hints in places and nobody notices them, so they read into every little thing. The Athrabeth can be found in Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part 1; The History of Middle-earth, Volume 10. Basically, check your library card catalog under the title, Morgoth's Ring. This volume also includes "The Laws and Customs Among the Eldar", among other things. Nope, no vision, but thanks! I was trying for moving. :) As far as Figwit goes: On the Decipher cards, they do indeed call Figwit "Aegnor", but they often steal names from other characters in Tolkieniana for random people on those cards. We know that Aegnor was killed in battle, just as he foresaw; and as Elves always try to use unique names if they can, it's doubtful that an elf that was at the Council of Elrond would've been named Aegnor. The writers of figwitlives dot com have pointed out, however, that Aegnor was the only male Elf to ever fall in love with a female Human, and say this is just excellent fanservice. :) It's very interesting that in the mortal/immortal relationships Tolkien wrote about, it's always a mortal man who falls in love with an immortal woman—except for Andreth and Aegnor! And as we know, it doesn't work out. I think it has something to do with Tolkien's enjoyment of the ideal of chivalric love, but that's a discussion for another time. :) I love that!.: "The way to a girl's heart is through her knuckles." I shall probably quote that endlessly. :) Thanks! (Later: Wow, I just realized that I went into a big analysis of gender-roles… WOMEN'S COLLEGE HAS POISONED MY BRAAAAAAAIN!)
ElvenRyder: No need; my own plotbunnies will take care of that.
Madd Hatter: —enigmatic smile—
IwishChan: Yes indeed, the Athrabeth was the piece they were reading most of the way through A Mysterious Way, which led Katie to her first big epiphany.
Megara: Yay! Love seeing new faces! Wow, I'm glad I managed to hold your attention for that long! Aikanár was the elf dude Andreth was in love with, and because he didn't marry her, she's bitter. Thanks!
Kalen61589: Wow, I'm flattered! I've never really thought of Katie as "spitfire-but-vulnerable", but that's a good description of her. I don't mind constructive criticism in the least, and if I don't like it, I'll just ignore it!. :) And from the sophistication of the writing you demonstrated in your review, I bet it'd be good advice. Thanks so much!
Erasuithiel: Lindir? You mean the canon-based character in "Don't Panic"?
qwertyqwert the hiccup gal: lol What is this with Lindir all of a sudden? I'm glad you love soap. I love soap too. If I didn't, I don't think anybody would love me…
Thanks also to Tara, fk306, Darkened Dreams, Almenel and Contia Mirian! I'm thrilled by the number of reviews! Yay for you guys!
We're gettin' out of Rivendell soon, people! Please review while I help the characters pack! (Where's your suitcase, Húnvel? Erestor, did you remember your toothbrush?...)