Version 1.0
So cry to the trees,
They are better listeners
Than concrete buildings.
— Breeze
"Don't go far off, not even for a day, because — because — I don't know how to say it: a day is long and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep." - Pablo Neruda
Chapter Three
Tarakano
She is in my thoughts. Kheri Karanisuri. It seems strange to finally meet her in real life. To see her in life and not in the mirror pools feels like a true blessing. I keep thinking back to her meeting and her eyes. Oh Stars! Her eyes! Yet what I remember most is that beautiful hair of hers. It is red and glorious bound in hunter's braids. Karanisuri, Red Wind, what a glorious name for a nes.
Yet now I am plagued with fear. Did the ner I see her with mean anything to her? Is she entangled with another? She is not married and that is a relief. Stars! I am such a fool. I have teased my brothers and friends for acting foolish about nesi. Here I am acting a fool and the only claim to our meeting was me running into her. What a terrible impression I have made upon her and we have not even properly exchanged names!
These thoughts plague me as I sit in one of the trees that grow along the river banks. The thoughts spiral out of control. I am left paralyzed and incapable of action. I want to pursue this future and at the same time fear grips me close. My fingers grasp the tree tightly, my fëa seeks the tree. It is not quite the trees around Minmbar. They are more awake. This tree is young, just a sapling. It's spirit is strong but sleepy. It does not speak as the Quendi but gives me the strong impression of drinking water to grow.
"I know, I know. I must move forward," I mutter to the tree. I pat the tree branch I am sitting on the jump down. It is not far to jump to the ground so I do not have to tuck and roll. I still have to give my knees a little. I stand up to my full height and come face to face with a ner crowned with red hair.
"You are Tarakano, yes?" His voice is deep.
"Yes I am."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Kandatuo. I have heard that you are someone stout of heart among the Forest Watchers."
"I would not consider myself stout of heart."
"Yet you are fearless. I have heard good stories about you." This causes me to scoff. Fearless? Me? Reckless is more like it. I have not thought much of myself or my actions. I do what is necessary without regard for my life.
"I hope they are true stories and not embellished."
"Did you not stand between wolves and a child?"
"I did."
"Then perhaps the tales I have heard are of truth and not dressed up."
"Perhaps. What is it you wish of me?"
"I have heard of your search for the missing elves."
"Aye, I have. I have been part of several searches through the forest and the mountains."
"I am organizing a small party to search for them again. I need people who are courageous but also experiences within the various terrains. Will you join with me?"
"Would you let me dwell upon this? This is a grand task you are taking upon yourself."
"Dwell upon it my friend. I will be dwelling within Minmbar for a few turn of the seasons. I have turned over my Plains Riders to my younger sister Karanisuri. There are many questions I have that need answering before I and others set out." I find myself intrigued and my heart is racing. Karanisuri is this man's younger sister? I see the resemblance, the combination of features that mark him as a child of the Minyar and Nelyar. It is a beautiful combination of gentle and noble features.
"You will be questioning others?" I find myself asking. Why hasn't he questioned me?
"Of course. My grandfather Imin already seeks answers to this quagmire. I wish to seek it within my own means." Kandatuo leans in close. "My sister is up further if you wish to talk to her."
"What?" Kandatuo gives me a strange smile. I cannot interpret it.
"My nature may be of the Nelyar but my strongest gifts lie within the Minyar. You will stand with her one day among the trees that you see with your hand linked in hers. Seek her now," Kandatuo bids me. He strides away, a proud figure. I take his advice and scurry along the banks. I find her standing alone, skipping rocks. There is a small pile of flat circular rocks gathered by her side. She pauses and turns to me.
"It is you." I find myself a loss for words. Karanisuri offers a rock. I grasp the smooth rock in my hand, turning it over. Smooth rocks seem so strange to me, where do they come from? There always seem to be some fact of this life, this land, that I can marvel out. Even in simple moments like this I am left in awe.
"Have you ever gazed into the mirror pools?" I find myself asking as I take aim and fling the rock. It skips five times and grimace in turn.
"Yes," she answers, her voice tight. It is my turn to angle myself to face her. Karanisuri's expression is schooled to impassiveness. I cannot read it. The wind stirs her red hair. It is like a red wave in its movement. Karanisuri places another rock in my palm. Her hands are rough, calloused as a hunter's often is. I cannot help but notice her skin tone is paler than mine. Her fingers are smaller too. She moves my fingers to cradle the rock in a different position.
"Throw it like this, it will be better," Karanisuri assures me. She gives me a tiny smile. I give a tentative swing before swinging back and letting go. It sailed at first before hitting the water. It skips along the water past my earlier five skips. I cannot help but grin as an elfling. Silence expands between us. Karanisuri begins to skip rocks again. One. Two. I am trying to grasp my courage.
"I saw your face in the mirror pools," I say in a rush. Karanisuri wheels about to face me. There is absolute disbelief upon her face before her expression filters into one of pain.
"No. You must be mistaken."
"I am not," my voice coming out severe. Karanisuri's eyes are deeply pained.
"This must be a blender or some strange oversight by the Stars! By the Stars! I have never seen anyone in the mirror pools. There is no chance," her voice started off in a rush but slowed down. Her last sentence sounded full of sorrow and tiredness. Karanisuri steps back from me. I reach out and grasp her hand.
"Why would I lie? I have no reason to Karanisuri. By the stars! Karanisuri, I saw you beneath the glowing trees. I never thought I would meet you. Yet here you are, here we are!"
"Truly you must be mistaken," Karanisuri denies once again. Desperate to make her realize the truth, I open my fëa to the world and to hers. I allow the memories to pass between her and I. It is strange to feel another's fëa so close to mine. I have only done this with family, yet her fëa is one I feel like I have known since...I do not know the words at this moment. I feel that I have known her since childhood and beyond. All the seasons I have seen and will seen are meant to be with Karanisuri.
"My fëa knows yours, see?" I see her lips tremble with emotion. There is a flickering of various emotions upon her face ranging from disbelief, to pain, to hope, and so much more. I have to speak up or I will face her rejection at this time. I do not know what fear or emotions plague her heart. Words are failing me now and it seems this moment is drifting away like grains of sand. I cannot bear the thought of losing her now. We barely know each other. That is it.
"Karanisuri, look. Perhaps the Stars have designed our fëar for each other even if we do not know each other. Will you get to know me? Will you give me a chance? I ask not for your hand in marriage but only for a chance to let love grow between us. I want what my parents have and not of an arrangement for mere children. I want a love to last for all Seasons to come." I address to her the words of my heart. They rush forth like the rivers after the Storm Season. I feel like an elfling out of control.
"I will not promise anything but I will try," Karanisuri says with a slight tremor in her voice. Her smile is tight.
"Then let us start anew. I am Tarakano, the youngest son of Alwë and Orawë. I live within the Wild Wood. My parents are of the last of the Unbegotten Nelyar to awaken."
"I am Karanisuri, daughter of Sirlindo and Lelyaldë. My grandparents are Imin and Iminyë."
"A prestigious lineage indeed." Karanisuri gives me another one of those tight smiles. I wonder if I will ever know the language of her face. Could I ever read what she thinks by seeing her face? I dare not reach out with my fëa again. I must know her with the boundary of several steps and skin.
"It is preposterous to assume that because those who are descendants of the first 144 elves are better than those Unbegotten who are found later," Karanisuri states seriously. Her eyes dart away from me.
"I know this."
"I am sorry, it is a sore contention for me. There are some who lord that they are from Minmbar, from the founding families and it disturbs me. We are all equal under the stars. We all are descendants of those who Awoke." We stare out at the water in silence. The world seems almost quiet despite the distant shouts, singing, banging of drums, and other noises of the distant camp.
"Your elder brother offered for me to join in the search for missing Quendi."
"My brother Kandatuo must think very well of you to offer you this," Karanisuri starts to speak. She looks thoughtful and every bit a leader. "He has discussed this with me as well but we are going to just gather information for now. Our fear is that we may lose our way of life that we may become divided by our clans, by our homes, by how we want to live. If more and more Quendi keep disappearing what will become of the Plains Riders? Of the small farmers?"
"It should be a concern for all Quendi but if this is such a big problem why has nothing been done?"
"Fear and worry sit upon those who know. What do we make of it? Is there possibly some hunter than can make us disappear? Or is it that these Quendi have traveled far and lost their way? Is it possible that they have gotten hurt and died? How can we make much of anything when we do not know?"
"Are you going to go with him?"
"I know I will and hopefully the stars will watch over us when we do. Do you participate in the Hunter's Drumming?"
"I have, why?"
"I need a Second to perform with me, do you think you can be up to it?" My breath almost hitches at her question. She is giving me this kind of invitation?
"Yes, yes I can. I would to in fact. Do you want to go and practice?"
"Let's go right now. My family has some drums!" Karanisuri's stiff expression melts into one of joy. She grabs my hand and pauses, "Well, come on! Let's go!"
Karanisuri lets go of my hand and laughs. We run all the way back, playing a game of tag and laughing. A gust of cool wind blows through us and she laughs and spins. Karanisuri's hair dances with the wind as a flame upon a fire. She takes off again and I am hard pressed to catch her as she runs like the wind. Nimble feet guide her through the encampment and the groups and at one point she jumps overs someone fire. I chose to run around the fire. She pauses every so often and makes sure I am following her before darting away. We arrive at a quiet camp on the outskirts of the main area. A nes steps out of a large tent with a small child on her hip. Her face lights up when she gazes upon Karanisuri.
"Karanisuri, my child, have you come to visit?"
"Yes, but I would like to borrow two drums. This is Tarakano and he is going to be my Second," Karanisuri states placing her hand on my shoulder. Karanisuri's mother looks surprised for a moment but her visage becomes one of pleasant interest.
"Excuse me while I go and get the drums. Wait here Tarakano," Karanisuri says. She disappears into a tent that surrounds this small space.
"It is very nice to meet you Tarakano. I am Lelyaldë."
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well." I bow before Lelyaldë.
"Where are you from?"
"I am from Irin Ailinmbar." I answer politely. Lelyaldë and Karanisuri hardly look at each other. The only hints are the gentle beautiful features that are found among the Minyar. Perhaps the height is the other common element that they share. The nessi of both the Nelyar and Tatyar are often of shorter nature.
"That is a beautiful place," Lelyaldë says. She shifts the child in her arms to resting on her hip. The little one looks like her with a mop of blonde hair and delicate features. Karanisuri's exits the tent with a drum in one hand and a drum in another. She places it down in front of me.
"We'll be back in a bit," Karanisuri tells her mother.
"Don't be gone far to long or dinner will be cold," Lelyaldë says. Karanisuri takes off with the drum without looking back. She moves with purpose making our way fast to the other side by the river. She leads me to a giant cluster of rocks and bushes. She ducks into the shrubbery where it looks like a small entrance. I follow her through the maze of the shrubbery and there was a small opening into the rocks where one could walk hunched over. We entered and found ourselves in a decently sized chamber with an opening in the top that allowed for light. There were rocks and logs staged around an area for a campfire.
"I am not sure who found this but my father showed it to me. The sound it gives off is amazing," Karanisuri confesses. She sits down in a log with the drum in front of her. She plays a simple beat. The sound filled the cave and almost seemed to reverberate. Karanisuri stops playing and the sounds of the drum slowly fades away.
"Well, my Second, come play the drums with me. But first a fire!" Karanisuri leaves her seat as I sit down. I sit across from where she sat and watched her set up the fire and light it. She gets it roaring hot and fast. I take a few deep breaths to settle my nerves as she downs.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready as ever."
"I'll give you hint, I'll start tapping my foot when I get ready to end," she informs me. Karanisuri takes a deep breath before she begins a slow pattern. She taps her foot and the pattern ends. I continue it building it up. I followed her hint and tapped my foot just before I ended. The drumming melted into each other, a song melded by two drummers that surrounded us. It was easy to get caught up in it. She stops the music all together and holds her hand up to pause the play. The song faded away and we sat in silence. Karanisuri kept her hand held up as she took deep breaths.
"Let's try a different beat." She broke into a fast drum using the same technique to hint at me that she was going to stop playing. We did this multiple times. We stopped at one point and she had me start to play for her. Karanisuri glances up at the stars at point and stops playing.
"We need to get back or we are going to miss dinner. Come on," Karanisuri. We take the drums with us leaving the small chamber and the dying embers behind. We rush back to where her family is camping out. They are just beginning to serve dinner.
"You two have made it! Go put those drums away and sit, sit!" Lelyaldë calls out to us. The whole family stares at us except for Kandatuo. They are a mix of blonde, red, silver, and dark colored hair. Karanisuri's family truly wore their mixed heritage. We place the drums just inside the tent. While we eat I watch the family banter and tease each other. They are loud and boisterous like I would imagine if I had aunts, uncles, and cousins. Their eyes keep darting to me and some of them silently observe me. It is unnerving like being in the gaze of a wolf except they mean no warm.
"So Karanisuri where are you planning on staying this year?"
"Minmbar this year. We are going to be dropping off some of the riders so we will be split up for the season. We plan on meeting at Irin Altanenwa at the sign of first clearing," Karanisuri said.
"Really? You are going to stay in Minmbar?" Kandatuo asks.
"Yes, we gathered last night and discussed the plans for the coming seasons. We shall keep those close to ourselves, right Kanatasulo?" I watch the two siblings who looked so much alike they could almost be mistaken for twins begin to banter and back forth.
"And you Tarakano, what are you plans?" A ner asked me.
"I will be returning with the Tir-e-Twaina," I answer back. "My brothers and I are helping to plan new patrols to make during the rainy season."
"The wolves have not been particularly bad have they?" A worried female voice asks.
"No they have not been. Preventative measures is what is best. It has worked so far has it not?" I smile for the benefit of the nes. There was truth to it but Kandatuo knew the narrative that was beginning to be seen. Time could only tell what may happen.
"Indeed it has," Kandatuo speaks up. "However let us change subject into song!"
"A song! A song!" The cries among the family went up. The nessi broke in song first as they gathered up the dishes to be cleaned. Then all the neri sang. I watched with fascination as the group sang and teased each other, sometimes singing along as a whole and at times singing duets. I joined in with the songs that I knew and listened to the ones that were clearly family songs. Karanisuri returned back to my side as the singing continued.
"They are going to be like this for a while, shall we meet after resting for more drumming?"
"Yes that would be nice. Do you want me to meet you here?" Karanisuri gives me a brilliant smile.
"Perfect!"
We met again and again until the night of the Hunter's Drumming. My parents helped me with the outfit. It was strange to be out of my worn clothes. My mother had carefully prepared my outfit without me knowing. I had not worn formal clothes in so long. It was all new leather dyed with expensive blue dye. The fur was red and the beads sewn it were white. It was a modified and formal looking version of my Forest Watchers outfit. My mother carefully braided my hair into place. Mother stood back looking at me.
"I could have done my own hair mother," I insisted.
"No son, I want perfection for you. You must look stunning by Kheri Karanisuri's side," Mother said nodding. "I am done with you!"
"Mom…"
"Hello? Tarakano?" Karanisuri calls out. I follow my mother and father out of the tent. I gape at Karanisuri's outfit a formal version of the Plains Riders clothing. It is white fur and red leather with white bone beads and feathers. It looks far more feminine than any of the male's outfits but it was not a dress. We were opposites of each other.
"Did you plan this?"
"It would not surprise me," Karanisuri says with an easy smile. "It is probably more like my Mother has. It is just the way my Mother is. She probably even sent my own Aunts to help."
"I suppose so. Shall we?"
"Yes, let's go." We as the First and the Second Drummers were to always be first for the Hunter's Drumming. The other drummers, musicians, and dancers would wait. We made our way to the large circular clearing. The drums were spaced apart around a bonfire. Next to the drums were cups that would be filled with wine. Karanisuri and I took our places next to each other. She glanced up at the stars. On the horizon one star was about to dip below.
"It's almost time." She takes deep breaths as she stands there. Her expression is so calm and not the bundle of nerves that I feel. I watch the star drop below the horizon.
"It is time," I whisper to her. She nods and glances at me. She lets out a laugh and then begins to pound on the drum. My heart beats fasts as she plays a complicated song before slowing down and tapping her foot. We switch off quickly her last note ringing out as I begin to play. We did this rapidly, firing back and forth like we had practiced creating a song together as if we were making a sentence each saying one word at a time. The parts we played became longer before we started in the first traditional drumming song. Two drummers join us for this and then Karanisuri begins the second song, one that involves singing. Her voice rings out as she plays her drum and we neri answer her back in song and drum. Soon all drummers are playing and singing together. Boom. Boom. Ba-doom. The other musicians join in now. Even as each song ended Karanisuri leads the charge through the music making everyone follow her lead. Karanisuri follows the traditional songs as the dances come and join the circle. The pounding of the drums feel like a rhythm in my heart. I am barely conscious of the fact that beyond our circle there are people who are dancing and celebrating the Great Gathering. Time stretched into infinity with the music. Karanisuri hardly stopped except to drink the wine. I had to stop drinking mine as I was beginning to feel the effects.
I wasn't aware she had stopped when I felt her grab my hand and move into the dancers. We began to dance around the circle and one by one each of the drummers were replaced by the dancers. Karanisuri danced with sweat pouring down her face. Her face was flushed red with effort. She let out a wild laugh as we all spun to the music. My body felt like it weighed a large amount. I was getting so tired. Other dances came into the circle and we filtered out of the bonfire circle. She kept laughing as we trudged along to wear refreshments were. A breeze flew through the crowd and I shivered.
"That was great!" Karanisuri finally commented as we got into the line for refreshments.
"That was amazing drumming!"
"I was one of the first here and that was incredible how you two played!"
"Well done!" The compliments came on fast.
"Why thank you," Karanisuri says.
"Thank you," I reply back. We take our food and drink where we can eat all the while people are complimenting us. We find a spot and sit down together. I am beginning to not feel as hot anymore, not drumming, not dancing, and certainly not near the bonfire. Karanisuri yawns as she takes a bite to eat.
"You were great," I tell her.
"I know. I'm glad I got the chance but it's no wonder why people never want to be First ever again," she says with a laugh. She leans up against the rock looking towards the glow of the bonfire. We eat out food in quiet and then watch the revelry continue on. I recall the sounds of laughter and the basking glow of happiness.
I jolt up right at a clap thunder and then the rain suddenly poured. Lightning flashed in the distance just beyond the mountains. Karanisuri's cold hand startles me as she touches my cheek. There is another clap of thunder.
"Come on!" Karanisuri shouts and then grabs my hand She leads me around until there is another cluster of rocks. She darts underneath a wide ledge. It's view is that of the mountains.
"You know, I hate and love storms," she tells me. Her hands are shaking before her face. "They are beautiful but they can be damaging. I once talked to several neri who told me of a frightening story. They spoke of a cloud descending to the land like an arm. It swirls about in the shape of a horn with great winds and causing much destruction. It rips the earth and pulls all in. The neri said it was louder than the roar of a waterfall. It makes me question if maybe the stars are really spirits. I wonder if clouds have spirits as well if they descend to earth. The whole world speaks, I have heard the wind speak before."
"Maybe there is, for do not the animals speak? The wind speaks to you! The trees speak to me," I confide in her. My strange ability is one that seem to be common among my people.
"My brother, Kanatasulo has a very easy time speaking with animals. I am not as good. My brother Kandatuo, I am not sure. He takes most after my mother's people the Minyar," Karanisuri says. "They insist the stars are there for a reason. This is do not doubt."
"But the reason is debateable." Karanisuri gives me a grin.
"This is so." We sat there in silence for a bit watching the sky brighten with the flashes of light and roll with thunder. The light disappeared leaving the world in darkness and sound. Karanisuri darts into the rain with a laugh. She begins to dance around to no music but the sound of the storm. She stops and waves at me before spinning and laughing again. She jumps into a puddle that gathered in the dip of the ground and laughs. She kicks the water up. I dart out into the pouring rain. It is cool but not unpleasant. We jump around in the puddles like children and splash water upon each other. She grabs my hand and pauses.
"You are it!" She runs off laughing. I chase after her. My braids are flopping harshly against my back.
"All we are is water, all of sons and daughters, we were born of the water, the water taught us to be a talker. So hail to the beautiful water, for it is what matters!" Karanisuri sings out. We play a game of tag through the encampment until she stops before a tent.
"Let's dry up, shall we?" Karanisuri invites me in. Her tent is sparse and none of the luxuries that came along with families who came for the Great Gathering. She starts a fire quickly.
"There we go," Karanisuri whispers staring into the fire. She begins to slip off her clothing paying no attention to me. She rummages around in a bag before pulling out leggings.
"These should fit you. They are Kanatasulo's."
"Thank you." She pulls out an extra bed roll and tosses it in front of me. "Truly thank you."
"You are welcome. This has been a good Gathering." I take off my own clothes and place them away from the fire.
"It has been."
"What happened to your shoulder?" Karanisuri asks me.
"Ah, there was an overzealous new recruit who thought somehow I was a wolf."
"That must have hurt a lot," she whispers sympathy in her eyes when I face her.
"At the moment but no true harm was done and for that I am very grateful. Rest well Karanisuri."
"Rest well Tarakano." Karanisuri laid down and quickly slipped into sleep. I on the other hand was left with my own thoughts of what the future would hold.
I am crying now because these first memories of Karanisuri are so precious. They are deeply treasured in my heart. It was a simple time you see. It was simple because while we were afraid of what to come, evil had not touched our innocent lives. We were laughter, the wind, the rain, and the drums. We were not in love yet but the beginnings of a deep friendship began during that Great Gathering. It is painful to admit but we barely spent time together after this. Oh we met at Minmbar and other places due to my own job as a Forest Watcher.
Small Author's Note: I apologize if there are any mistakes within this chapter. I have picked it up again and again over the past months. I have been kind of stuck on where to go with it. I am finally pleased with it.
-Language Notes
By the Stars! - I am using this as an expletive.
Alwë and Orawë is meant as non-sense names, just kind of like how Imin and Iminyë as well as Olwë and Elwë end up kind of being. Which I don't get quite while they didn't have a true meaning that Tolkien listed. Perhaps there is some meaning to it in hidden notes somewhere. Regardless.
I have also tried to make sure not to use slang like 'yeah.' or 'hey' but I may slip up at random times.
-Chapter Notes
One of the things I wanted to note is early tensions. It is impossible I think to truly escape "I am better than you" mindset. Even when we use education to open minds, tension still remains. It is also an important building stage as well.
Please note that Karanisuri's fears will play a lot involving Tarakano. I almost didn't want to introduce him so soon but I have reason's for this as well.
Due to how long it's been, I have also forgotten at what time period I wanted to have the Great Gathering begin. I have an idea but I'll just let you decide for yourself from what hints I have dropped. It's obviously in the Dry Season.