The Other Child: The Eilenäer
Rebecca continued to learn the lore and legends of Middle Earth in the House under the Hill. It seemed at times a week had passed, and then months which turned to years. Radagast went abroad and Rebecca still stayed with Tom and Goldberry. They often made trips into the Old Forest. The trees there were more peaceful, for Old Man Willow's song was much quieter now. Rebecca learned to talk to them and asked them about the Entwives, but none had ever encountered any, to her disappointment.
Rebecca also spent a great deal of time talking to the birds and small creatures that lived by the Withywindle. She learned to heed the sounds of the seasons and to sing songs of healing and flowering to the Olvar, practicing on Goldberry's garden.
Once Tom made a trip with her into the Shire, as he had promised. There she met Samwise Gamgee and helped him with his gardens and the healing of the lands scarred by Saruman. From Sam she learned of the demise of Saruman and of Frodo sailing with Gandalf into the West. Rebecca dearly loved the hobbits and found them as Gandalf had described - full of surprises.
It was after a long day of laboring to restore hedgerows and perennials in Westfarthing that Sam invited Tom and Rebecca for supper at Bag End. They were surprised by Merry and Pippin who, upon hearing of Tom's visit decided to join the party. Rose bustled about with the meal - her culinary skills surpassed even those of Thranduil's chefs.
After supper they removed themselves to the library, where they brought out their pipes. Longbottom leaf was the choice that evening. As they blew smoke rings through the open windows they talked of their adventures. Rebecca was especially interested in their discussion of Treebeard and Isengard.
"We were terribly frightened of him at first," recalled Merry. "For we had never seen his like. But there was something kind about him, and then he shared his Ent-draughts with us."
"Yes," laughed Tom. "It is clear that he did, indeed! If you grow any more we will take you for Elves!"
Pippin shook his head. "I would sooner be called a Wizard or a Dwarf! But I can't complain - being big and strong has come in handy on our travels."
They talked of the Ent-moot and of the destruction of Isengard. They spoke of the war, and of great battles. Meriadoc paled as he tried to describe the Battle of Pelennor Fields. The memory was too horrific for him, so Pippin took over and told of Faramir and the bravery of Beregond.
Sam smiled. "I remember Prince Faramir well. Thought Master Frodo and I were hoodlums, that he did. But he turned out to be good-hearted and wise in the end."
"He rules Ithilien now," explained Pippin. "He has even more work to do than Treebeard at Isengard, for it is a land ravaged by war."
"And you never saw the Entwives in all your travels?" asked Rebecca.
"No, and we promised Treebeard faithfully that we would send word if ever we did," said Merry.
"Treebeard fears that they may have fallen asleep like old Finglas Leaflock, who by all accounts has become quite 'tree-ish'," said Pippin.
"'Tree-ish'?"
Tom sighed. "When an Ent loses heart and remains sedentary for too long, it becomes less like an Ent and more like a tree. It falls into a deep sleep and moves very little, if at all."
"And you think the Entwives have lost heart and fallen asleep?" asked Rebecca. "Why?"
"Long ago they lived in the Brown Lands, great open plains to the west of Fangorn Forest and north of Ithilien. There they tended their gardens, preferring fruit trees and flowers to the forests. But there were great battles waged upon their lands and their beautiful gardens were destroyed. Perhaps they became depressed at their loss and hence 'tree-ish'," said Tom.
"It's a sad story," sighed Sam. "Perhaps I should include it in the Red Book?"
"Do that," agreed Tom. "For it is a tale worth telling. Long ago Yavanna foretold that Middle Earth would be renewed with the birth of Entings after the Great Wars. Now is the time, but without the Entwives…"
"There will be no Entings," said Rebecca sadly. "That's terrible!"
"We shall see, for the Fourth Age is new. Great things may yet happen," replied Tom.
Later that winter, on a snowy day Tom and Rebecca sat beside the fire. Tom was speaking of the seasons and of change. "There is a rhythm to all of life. Day becomes night. Spring's growth ends with winter's rest. There are tides - deep eternal conversations between the Land and the Sea. Our histories and our futures are part of this rhythm. The Valar brought the Children of Iluvatar into a beautiful World, which was flawed by Morgoth and Sauron in turn. Eärendil sought aid for the Twin Kindreds. In your birthright you reunite his house and bring hope to Middle Earth. It is all part of the ebb and flow of Ilúvatar's pattern, to be woven by Vairë into her tapestries of history in the halls of Mandos. But know this for certain: the forces of good always foil the best-laid plans of those who would do evil; their paths always lead into the great Void of darkness to be played out empty and alone until the end of days. And you have an important part in the mending of history, for you are the Eilenäer."
"I don't understand, Tom. What is the Eilenäer?"
"You are the Eilenäer, Rebecca. The name is Sindarin and means 'second beacon'. Long ago, when Aulë caught the last teardrop of Telperion in your jewel, it was foretold that there would come one who would reunite the Two Kindreds of Ilúvatar. You are that one, Rebecca."
"I don't understand."
Tom sighed and set down his pipe. "Do you recall your list, Rebecca? It has been a long time, but I shall now answer question Number Six. Your mother was Gilraen the Fair of the house of Isildur of Númenor, of the line of Elros, and your father was Elrond Half-elven. Thus do you reunite the House of Eärendil and bring new hope to the World, just as Eärendil lights the West with the Silmaril. You are the second beacon to those who dwell in Middle Earth."
Rebecca blinked. "Those were my parents?"
Tom sat back in his chair. "When Gilraen was a young widow she went with her son to live in Imladris. There she raised Aragorn, son of Arathorn, who became King Elessar. Your brother reunited the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, just as you reunite the House of Eärendil."
"But how do you know that Elrond was my father?"
"Ere I left Valinor - which was many thousands of years ago, little one, for I am a Maia - I was told of the Eilenäer. I bore the jewel of Aulë hither and here I have kept it. When Gilraen, your mother, sought shelter with us at the very hour of your birth, I knew. When I sent you with Radagast I gave to him the jewel, for it was to be presented to you at the fall of the Dark One, the beginning of the Great Healing. Had you not been the Eilenäer the jewel would have been unbearable to you."
"But it is light as air!"
"Just so, and there is the proof."
"But, Tom," she hesitated. "Elrond was married to Celebrian, Galadriel's daughter."
"That is true, Rebecca."
"Then he… that is I… well, I'm not of noble birth, am I?"
"There are none nobler than Gilraen and Elrond, Rebecca. You are young to the ways of the heart. Like Finwë, Elrond had been alone for many years. He had lived apart from Celebrian since she sailed to the Utmost West."
Rebecca was silent for many moments. At last she said, "My mother must have been very beautiful."
"Yes, she was."
"Gandalf knew about me, didn't he?"
"He did, yes."
"And he sailed with my… with Elrond into the West?"
"Yes."
"Will he… tell him about me?"
"I will not know that until I myself sail, and that won't be for many years, Rebecca."
She sniffed. "It probably wouldn't matter to him. He never bothered to seek me out."
"You must be fair, Rebecca. Gilraen left his house and bore you here in secrecy."
"Why? Is it because she did not wish to shame King Elessar?"
"Let us say, rather, that his time was to come before yours, little one."
Rebecca stood, arms folded. "Let us say, rather, that she was ashamed of me." She strode to the window but was too upset to see the birds pecking about in the snow.
Tom came and stood beside her. "You are not shamed, Rebecca. You are the Eilenäer."
"Why would Ilúvatar choose a bastard for his second beacon? It seems a paltry choice."
Tom laid his hand on her shoulder and said firmly, "You are not to use that word again." He softened and added, "Think of Radagast and Gandalf, Rebecca. They are great powers clothed in the bodies of old men. Who are we to judge the wisdom of Ilúvatar?"
A tear slid down Rebecca's cheek, but whether it was one of bitterness or confusion she could not tell. "Is the King to know that I am his sister?"
"That will be your decision, Rebecca. And the choice of the Peredhil - of Elros and Elrond - will be yours, whether to walk the mortal path or remain with the Eldar."
"I see. May we stop my lessons today, Tom? I would like to be… alone."
Tom kissed her brow as she grabbed her mantle and left to walk in the garden. She had begun their morning without knowledge of her lineage and blissful. He sighed and wished it had not been his lot to answer question Number Six.
In the days thereafter Rebecca continued to meet with Tom, to discuss her role as the Eilenäer. Attentive as ever she was, yet there was a new understanding in her manner and it was one of melancholy. Tom saw this and yet knew there was naught to be done. She was growing up.
In the autumn of her twenty-first year, Tom called her to him and they walked to the Withywindle together, for it was time for him to gather the last of the season's water lilies for Goldberry.
As they walked he spoke to her of her journey. "I fear you will be leaving us ere the first frosts of winter, little one."
She nodded. They had spoken of this yet, now that it was before her, she was reluctant to leave the House under the Hill. "Where am I to go then, Tom? Where do I begin?"
"It is best, I think, that you go to Rivendell - there you will find Radagast, for he awaits you."
"Am I to tell the Lords of Rivendell who I am?" she asked, knowing that Elrond's sons Elladan and Elrohir dwelt therein and continued minding the Last Homely House after their father's departure.
"They are close friends of Radagast," replied Tom. "They will welcome you."
"But do they know… who I am?"
"For the moment say nothing of that," said Tom. "It is enough for them to know that you are a ward of Radagast and Tom Bombadil."
The day of her departure arrived at last. Tom had given her a silver mare named Alfirin. Silver-grey and gentle was she; Rebecca loved her at first sight.
She embraced Tom and Goldberry in turn.
"Fare thee well, little one," said Tom as he helped her mount Alfirin.
"I would have liked to have known my father," she said as she took the reins.
"You may yet, Rebecca. Our roads are open to us, and you have the choice of the Peredhil before you."
"Nevertheless it seems unlikely, for I shall not sail into the West."
"Only time will tell. And now you shall join Radagast in Rivendell?"
"Yes, I will go to him."
"Remember what you have learned, little one. And do not forget to send word to me of your adventures!"
"I shall send all the starlings I can, Tom. Farewell, for now!"
As she rode across the downs, Goldberry took Tom's hand. "You know, dearest, she is not a 'little one' anymore."
Tom shook his head. "She will always be so to me, my love. Always."
Next: The Journey South