In An Age Before

by Phantom Bard

Part 298 posted, in which Helluin and the Riders of Norðr-vestandóttir Bý aid the Third Marshal Haleth in Rohan's defeat of the Easterling invaders. Brutal weather, disease, and failing morale play a part. Aldburg is no sooner freed of the eastern threat when tidings come of the Dunlending's invasion from the west. OCs galore as usual.

113. In An Age Before Chapter 113

In An Age Before – Part 113

Chapter Seventy-eight

Nimrodel's Tea Pot, Lórinand – The Third Age of the Sun

Now it came to pass that in the year T.A. 1431, Helluin and Beinvír were for a time the guests of King Amroth, for they had come east o'er Caradhras to Lórinand, intending to tarry for a time 'neath the mellyrn trees. Having seen to the restoration of Cardolan, they felt the time now ripe to travel once again. King Amroth was a friend of old whom they had not seen in 'nigh on 430 years, and other friends too, such as Haldir and his brothers, Rúmil and Orophin, they desired to visit. So 'twas that the soulmates arrived in the early autumn, in time to see the mellyrn leaves change to gold, so to bathe the forest in golden light, reflected all through the months of winter.

'Twas pleasure for them to travel at their leisure rather than upon errantry, and they took their time, camping for a day or a week as the notion took them. 'Nigh on a fortnight they spent passing down the Dimrill Stair, which the Elves call Nanduhirion and the Naugrim call Azanulbizar. The many falls at the headwaters upon the mountain's side blessed their nights with the music of rushing water, in which they could hear the rumor of the whispers of the Lord Ulmo. Coming from the misty glen 'nigh the great East Gate of Khazad-dûm, they stopped to trade tidings with the guardians posted thither, but having declared themselves, declined to visit the mansions and halls of Durin's folk at that time.

By coincidence upon that day, formed up along the road stood a company of traders bound for the lowlands. These carried goods of Khazad-Dûm up and down the banks of Anduin along the length of Greenwood, which many in Rhovanion were now calling Mirkwood, to barter with the settlers ere making their way through the forest upon the Men i-Naugrim¹. This entered south of Rhosgoble and traversed the forest east-west to the south of the Emyn Duir², which had been renamed the Emyn-nu-Fuin³. Goods of Dwarf make came thus to the realm of King Thranduil. To the east, the road exited the forest with the River Celduin, and the traders would range up and down it, north to Esgaroth and even Dale, east to the lands of the North Men, and south-east even so far as Dorwinion. ¹(Men i-Naugrim, Way of the Dwarves Sindarin; called the Old Forest Road in the Common Tongue) ²(Emyn Duir, Dark Mountains Sindarin; the old name for the Mountains of Greenwood) ³(Emyn-nu-Fuin, Mountains of Mirkwood; new name given following the arrival of the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur in T.A. 1000)

In time of peace throughout the Second and Third Ages, and perhaps during the First Age as well, the traders of Khazad-Dûm had brought wares of fine workmanship throughout Wilderland. Just as importantly, they spread tidings and carried messages, knitting together this wide and diverse land, and gaining the goodwill and friendship of many folk in many places. Some of the traders now hailed the two ellith, offering goods they knew the travelers could not carry, and jesting with them in good humor. The Elves replied in kind, offering 'aught that both sides knew they could not deliver, and so they parted in friendship and honor.

Leaving the Azanulbizar Gate by the wide Dwarf Road, Helluin and Beinvír paid a brief stop at Durin's Stone, to look into Kheled-Zâram, the Mirrormere, but that vision had always made the Green Elf uneasy and so they soon resumed their way.

Now the Dwarf Road began as an imposing way, graded and paved, with curb and drain channels, which ran downhill along the western bank of Celebrant. O'er its course it narrowed and became simpler, finding a width of a single paved lane by the time it crossed the Nimrodel. Thereafter it continued a ways ere it faded to a dirt track in the grassland south of Lórinand.

Shortly after leaving the Mirrormere, Helluin and Beinvír passed the deep upwelling pool from which Celebrant arises, clear and shocking cold, its downhill verge set with a lip of stone to control erosion, and as Anor was already westering, they set a camp and spent the night. Thither the land was still high and their eye point stood above the trees downstream, offering a wide vista of the night sky, alight with a billion stars.

"The Lady Varda blesses us this night," Beinvír whispered as she looked up from her ground cloth of hyrax pelts, "and Manwë's airs art clear. I deem that no more could we see were we upon the high talan of a great ship of Númenor, running before the wind."

The words brought them both many sweet memories of nights long past, and one in particular, spent blazing with Light far above the deck of the Valacirca in 1601 of the Second Age. Helluin turned from the starry night sky and the movement of her head drew Beinvír's glance. And now they stared into each others' eyes not a hand's length apart, and captured thus and full-willing, their arms reached out to enfolded each other and their bodies met in an embrace that brought together not only their flesh, but their spirits as well in a way no mortal can attain. Soon armor and weapons and clothing lay abandoned upon the ground.

None stood 'nigh to hear their soft moans of pleasure, as long familiar hands offered intimate caresses, and warm lips met in kisses that affirmed a love long acknowledged and long returned. Thus their fëar entwined as ardently as their bodies; closer and closer their spirits came, even as their flesh could come no closer, and eventually the bliss that o'erwhelmed them with the climax of their hröar became eclipsed by the melding of their spirits. Then for a while they soared in the union of their love, upon planes both physical and spiritual, and the manifestation was the ríl of silver and gold that burned upon the lower slopes of the Dimrill Stair in the dark of that night.

Above them the guards at Azanulbizar Gate wondered what such illumination might portend, for though 'twas wholly unknown to them, they felt no threat, but rather both exhilaration and peace. But downhill upon the verges of Lórinand, border guards smiled and made ready to greet friends long sundered.

Now in the morn the ellith arose and continued their way south upon the Dwarf Road that ran alongside Celebrant. 'Nigh noon they rested beside a stream which ran down from the slopes to the southwest, and thither they shared a frugal meal ere crossing the stream and continuing upon their way.

So their march passed without event as Anor crossed the sky o'erhead, and the arms of the dale grew lower upon either side 'til, 'round mid-afternoon, they passed 'neath the outlying trunks of the westernmost mellyrn and came to the Nimrodel Bridge. This was a surprise to them, for so far as they knew, the shapely stone span had not stood upon their last visit in T.A. 1002. Yet now the road continued 'cross the bridge whilst the waters of Nimrodel tumbled and sang 'neath them ere joining Celebrant.

Somewhere off to the south, and at no great distance, lay the Falls of Nimrodel which Helluin and Beinvír did not intend to visit, for 'nigh to it was the talan of the high-strung Lady Nimrodel, whom they had met in 1002, and whom they considered bizarre. That the king so strongly favored her, indeed was beyond enamored with her to the point of craving to wed her, left them shaking their heads, for they considered Amroth to be in all other matters, a sane and just monarch.

"T'would seem the banks have grown themselves a bridge," Beinvír remarked with a smile as they stood upon the span and watched the waters pass 'neath them.

"Indeed," Helluin replied, regarding the masonry with a more critical eye, "and whither came the stones, I wonder? Little enough of blocks have the Galadrim in their wood, and little skill at their shaping. 'Tis more rightly the craft of the Dwarves, yet this span shows none of their preference for massive and imposing constructions. Huh."

"To the eye it reminds me more of such as span the streams in Imladris," the Green Elf observed, "yet the Hidden Valley is a long ways off. Had the Lord Elrond sent forth craftsmen for the building of a bridge upon the east side of the Hithaeglir, I wager we would have heard 'aught of it aforetime."

"T'would be a strange thing to me too if such had come to pass. Though they aided Arthedain during the last war, the Galadrim have e'er distrusted the Noldor, perhaps more so after the Last Alliance," Helluin said, "yet what Lórinand could have bartered with Khazad-dûm for their labor, I know not. Aforetime neither had 'aught that the other wanted, or so both sides thought."

"We shalt ask after it in Lórinand," Beinvír decided, "and I deem t'will be a tale worth hearing." She then turned to listen to the falls of Nimrodel off to their south. "Another tale I should like to hear is if Amroth has indeed wedded the Lady Nimrodel, for we have heard 'naught of Thranduil wedding Inthuiril."

At the mention of both names, Helluin groaned. Nimrodel had proven the adage of life as theater, whilst Inthuiril had endangered both her own life and Helluin's at Dol Guldur. Perhaps we should just pass Lórinand by, she thought, and make our way straight to Mordor.

Yet even as she thought it, they were hailed from the forest. Thither came Haldir and a dozen other of the Galadrim with words of greeting and smiles of mirth.

"Helluin…Beinvír, most luminous of friends, 'tis good to see ye safe, for last night came such flashes and lights from the uphill road as to make some fear the onslaught of a dragon," the border guard offered with a straight face o'er the snickers of his troops. "I trust ye have found your trek…exciting?"

"Indeed so, mellon nín. 'Twas highly arousing, going down yonder cleft after scaling peaked and rigid heights," Helluin began, whilst gesturing vaguely uphill, "abundant moisture seeping from the depths o'er a wet lip…ummmph!"

Already blushing scarlet, the Green Elf had kicked her in the shin, though her greave turned any hurt.

"'Twas very pleasant," Beinvír said hastily, "save that we have found both a bridge and a troll to go with it whither 'naught had stood aforetime. Pray tell, was this span a gift of troth from Amroth to Lady Nimrodel?"

Struggling to maintain his composure, Haldir shook his head 'nay'.

"'Twas the work of the Naugrim for to ease the passage of their traders down the road," he told her. "But being 'nigh our lands, they built it after a fashion some tales recalled of Ost-In-Edhil. 'Twas a gesture of goodwill.

Of the king and the lady, 'tis much longing upon the one hand and many excuses upon the other, though in truth 'tis plain that Nimrodel has deep feelings for our lord. So all wait for them to reach an agreement. In the meantime, our king has decreed that yonder stream and falls shalt bear his beloved's name."

To this the two ellith nodded, though the Green Elf subtly rolled her eyes and the Noldo grimaced. The south tributary of Celebrant would e'er after bear the name Nimrodel.

"And have any tidings come from Calenglad i'Dhaer of Thranduil and Inthuiril?" Beinvír asked next.

"Nay, none we have heard."

The Green Elf sighed and shook her head. 'Twas so with Elrond and Celebrían as well…courtship as a way of life, the nuptials long delayed. Why so amongst royals?

For her part, Helluin stifled a sigh of relief. Amroth's infatuation with the vacuous Nimrodel she could fathom not. Thranduil at least had given his heart to one showing promise. Inthuiril had seemed far more sane once she'd ceased her incessant questioning and reflected a moment upon her life.

"So, all stands well and little changed in Lórinand?" she asked.

"Save for those lost in the war with Angmar, most see it so," Haldir answered. Then, thinking back on the war, he gave the Green Elf a close look. "Upon our way to Fornost, the Lord Elrond hinted somewhat at thy folk, Beinvír, yet I saw them not."

"Thou saw their handiwork, I wager," Beinvír answered. "Yrch and evil Men slain by arrows none were seen to have shot? Foes fallen in battle with only a shaft in their eye or heart? The lack of any invaders coming from Cardolan?"

Haldir and several others in his company nodded agreement.

"Such things we have seen, yet in the confusion of battle 'twas little pondered o'er at the time," he said. "In truth, more surprised were we to be sent thither at all, for sorrow still haunts King Amroth from the days of the Last Alliance."

Helluin and Beinvír bowed their heads in acknowledgement of the many fallen. The War of the Last Alliance had been bitter for the Galadrim. In the land of Mordor they had lost Amroth's father Amdír, who had long been their king, and o'er half their warriors ere Sauron was thrown down. The only other Nandor force, their cousins in Calenglad i'Dhaer, had fared even worse.

"'Twas a measure of thy lord's nobility that he again sent forth aid to the Noldor and their Dúnedain allies," Helluin said. "We remember that thy lord came from Lórinand to Eregion in time of war long ago, when Celebrimbor was slain and Ost-in-Edhil laid waste."

"'Twas to the relief of the Lord Celeborn and those of our folk he led first to battle in Eriador that Amroth took troops o'er the Hithaeglir then," Haldir said, "and 'twas with counsel of the Lord Celeborn that King Amroth agreed to send troops in 1409. Long have they been friends. Indeed Celeborn had known Amdír from Doriath…and King Oropher too."

At the mention of Thranduil's father, Helluin grew grim. In 3410 of the Second Age she had convinced the late King of Calenglad i'Dhaer to join the Last Alliance and go to war, and still she felt responsible for his death in Mordor. Facing Amroth after his father had fallen had been uncomfortable too, but she had not offered and labored to train the warriors of Lórinand as she had the warriors of Greenwood. Knowing Helluin's train of thought, the Green Elf too fell silent, feeling the sadness and guilt that held her beloved estranged from a noble friend and all the folk of his realm.

After an o'erly long and increasingly awkward silence following the death of the conversation, Haldir reverted to duty and changed the topic.

Being a border guard, he asked, "so, whither art thou bound," something which the Laiquendi would ne'er do.

"We have no mission for now," Beinvír told him, "and so we travel at our leisure. To enjoy thy wood we have come, and thereafter some other destination we shalt decide."

At this, a broad smile graced the border guard's face.

"Then glad for your company we shalt be, and t'would be our pleasure to accompany ye to the city."

"And we shalt be happy to have thy company, old friend," Helluin replied.

"Shalt we be on our way then?" Haldir asked.

The two ellith nodded 'yea' and the company prepared to make their way east, but one of the guards reminded his captain, "we have a duty to discharge 'nigh the border."

Upon hearing his words, Haldir stifled a groan, but informed his guests, "my friends, a short detour we must take ere we return to Caras Galadon."

At the questioning look from Helluin he said 'naught, but shook his head and started into the woods heading south. With a sense of foreboding, the Noldo realized they were heading for the Falls of Nimrodel.

Now the company made their way through a pleasant wood with the song of running water e'er upon their right. In truth the walk was short, barely one-half of an hour, yet to Helluin, who was expecting the worst, it seemed both too short and too long. All too soon they came to the falls, and the Noldo sought upon the bank for the flet of Nimrodel. She quickly espied the garden of wildflowers and what appeared to be the very same wrought iron table and chairs amidst it at which she had once served a lady's tea. The path of river stones leading to it seemed unchanged as well. Yet when she sought for the two upright logs and the talan set a fathom high upon them at the verge of the falls, she saw 'naught. The whole construction was absent.

It seemed the Green Elf was similarly perplexed.

"Haldir, what has become of the lady's abode, pray tell?" Beinvír asked. "The grounds appear as aforetime, yet I mark not her flet."

Perhaps by her tantrums she hath forced the foundation to give way and into the waters it hath tumbled, Helluin thought.

She noted that Haldir and the other guards had chosen to stand behind trees. He eyed her balefully, but ere he could voice either warning or apology they were hailed.

"Who comes hither? Declare yeselves at once!" A voice demanded from above, high pitched with agitation and speaking antique Silvan. "Very well, I shalt suffer not thy menace unremarked!"

Ere any reply could be made, the words were followed by an arrow passing o'erhead, weakly shot into a trunk standing 'nigh. Thither it wavered a moment ere falling to the ground.

"Take that for thy knavery, thrall of Sauron. I shalt have thy head this time!"

A second arrow, aimed either with greater skill or greater luck, (but not with greater force), bounced harmlessly off Helluin's mailed midriff, prompting a gasp from Beinvír and snickering from the border guards.

"O for crying aloud," Helluin muttered to herself, then asked Haldir, "'tis e'er thus, thy coming hither?"

"Indeed so," he replied, "now, pray take cover 'til we art recognized."

"Bah," the Noldo huffed, ere she tromped off towards the tree from which the arrows had come. Her irritation was evident in every stride. "Lady Nimrodel," she called out, "'tis Helluin with Beinvír and Haldir, now come down, I pray thee."

Come down ere I haul thee down and fling thee into the river, she thought to herself.

"Dost thou think me a fool? I have met Helluin once aforetime and she was much taller," came the reply from the branches above. The voice was now well 'nigh hysterical. "Thy wiles art for 'naught, for I can see thee clearly, scoundrel!"

Having reached the trunk, the Noldo was perfectly placed to be struck by a falling tea pot, cast down to shatter upon her head and drench her with tea. From the woods came the sharp bark of Haldir's laughter.

Now half a mind I have to set fire to this tree and smoke thee out like a raccoon, Helluin fumed.

'Twas then that the Green Elf stood forth, hoping to forestall, if possible, any further shooting, or the venting of her beloved's temper.

"Lady Nimrodel, 'tis Beinvír of the Laiquendi of Eriador. Thou recall me, surely? Hither we shared a lovely tea at our last meeting, and grave tidings concerning thy sister as well, ere King Amroth joined us for the full tale."

For a time 'twas only silence, and then the lady spoke again, sounding less agitated now.

"Beinvír? Beinvír Laiquende? I recall such a one indeed, and few know 'aught of what passed that day. I admit, thou art much like her, or at least, thou appear no shorter."

"Say not that I am shorter, but rather that thou art higher, and so the closer one comes 'neath thee, the shorter they appear," Beinvír said reasonably. "'Tis but a trick of the eye and all very natural, I assure thee. 'Tis certainly no black sorcery, I promise."

Some further words were exchanged to build Nimrodel's confidence and trust, and finally the lady came down. At the bottom of the tree she passed Helluin, still wet with tea, and looked askance at her ere admitting that, "more believable art thou when seen face to face with thy proper height restored, Mórgolodh."

'Twas only when she walked out to the table in the garden and took a seat that Haldir and the other border guards deemed it safe to appear. Nimrodel studiously ignored them and beckoned for Beinvír to join her at the table.

"'Tis so confusing sometimes," she intimated to the Green Elf, "to be up so high. I could have sworn 'twas a company of meddlesome Dwarves a-peddling their bric-a-brac, or perhaps a company of squat Yrch at their mischief this fine eve. It seems they pass by more frequently of late, and all look so short from my window these days. Indeed of thy companion I saw 'naught but hair, shoulders, and the tops of feet…oh, and breasts," Nimrodel confessed, giggling.

'Tis due to the building of that bridge, no doubt, Beinvír thought.

"I understand," the Green Elf offered in muted and conspiratorially tones, "and pray tell, how long hath it been since thy dwelling was raised?"

Lady Nimrodel took a moment for thought ere answering, during which time the Guards took station at the verge of the garden whither Helluin joined them.

"'Twas shortly after thy last visit, if I remember it plain," Nimrodel said, "for 'twas done in response to thy tale of a dark fog rolling forth from the Greenwood and driving hence the Onodrim. The very rumor of such an enchantment left me unable to rest, and 'twas worst by night. The appearance of a simple vapor from the river set me to climbing as high as I dared, and at length I could endure it no more. I was beside myself, but my Lord Amroth proved e'er gracious and had my flet raised by 5 fathoms, so now, even should some deadly fume appear, t'will not stain my carpets or drapes." Here she smiled with relief.

Beinvír could only nod in astonishment, which Nimrodel took as a nod of agreement.

"I knew thou would understand, as most do not," she said, ending a bit louder whilst casting an accusatory glance at the border guards, "for though we have no Tree Shepherds in Lórinand to be driven hence, 'tis no telling what may come to pass in such dark times as these. Alas that now all who come hither resemble Dwarves, or those horrid little hairy-footed creatures of yore."

"Thou mean the Periannath, m'lady? Hast thou seen any hither of late?"

After taking some moments to recollect, Nimrodel said, "nay, thank the Valar I have not, though rumor of some living 'nigh Gladden has been heard o'er the last ennin."

The claim left Beinvír cause for thought. The terror of the Sorcerer of Dol Guldur had driven all the Periannath west o'er the Hithaeglir some 400 years aforetime. Had some remained? Or had they returned from Eriador when confronted with the war against Angmar? She was recalled to the present by Nimrodel speaking.

"...am truly mortified, for alas, I fear I shan't be able to offer thee proper refreshment as my tea pot has been broken of late," she said, adding, "please forgive the breach of etiquette, I pray thee."

"Trouble thyself not upon my behalf, m'lady. I hold thee faultless, of course. Such unfortunate circumstances arise from time to time despite all precautions taken to preclude them," Beinvír replied as graciously as she could.

Lady Nimrodel relaxed and smiled at her, and in doing so, her considerable beauty was revealed in full.

The easier now do I understand King Amroth's infatuation, Beinvír thought, and too, she hath royal breeding and knowledge of the ways and manners of court.

"A credit to thy people art thou, Lady Beinvír, for thou art kind and gracious, in excusing me this lapse, even after thy long journey all the way from Eriador to see me," Lady Nimrodel gushed. "All the greater is my regret, for t'would be only fitting to be a proper hostess to one who would appreciate such refinement. I promise thee upon thy next visit I shalt have tea and cakes and candied figs, and 'aught else thou woulds't desire, for I see in thee once again that good breeding indeed runs true."

Ackkk! She thinks we have come hither for to call upon her like city-folk going house to house to pay their respects to fellow courtiers, Beinvír thought. 'Twas all she could do to keep from rolling her eyes and bursting out laughing.

"None save the Valar and the One may know all the notes of the song," she said, having schooled her features and restrained her mirth, "and who art we upon this Middle Earth that shalt but live those notes as best we can? We art all the subjects of much beyond our own control, especially in these darker times."

Here she looked Nimrodel in the eyes and offered a warm smile, and it seemed to charm the lady, for her own eyes widened a fraction and a hitching came in her breath. As many before her of both sexes, she had been struck by the Green Elf's beauty. She licked her lips, inhaled deeply, and straightened her shoulders ere she spoke.

''Neath thy traveler's garb thou art truly a great beauty, and I see now how thou hast charmed yonder warrior to thy service," she said, and actually winked. "Many hearts must turn to thee when thou don gown and gloves and stockings for a gala or ball in thy homeland. I have no doubt that soon some fine lord shalt ask for thy hand, yet whilst thou art still young perhaps travel suits thee, and that is a thing I had thought improper for a lady aforetime."

"Indeed travel brings me joy, m'lady, and much knowledge of what passes in lands beyond my own," Beinvír said, tightly controlling the hilarity that threatened to convulse her. She was now 4,272 years of age, and close as she could guess, well o'er five times Nimrodel's age, and 'twas well known amongst her people whither her heart lay. Aside from this, the Laiquendi donned no gowns, nor held a courtly calendar of balls and galas.

"I pray thou shalt call upon me again soon, my dear," Nimrodel said.

"I shalt indeed," Beinvír promised, "and perhaps thou shalt share somewhat of how things go forth 'twixt thee and thy lord, for I have learnt that he hath honored thee by naming yonder beautiful waters of song for thee." Here she offered a conspiratorial wink of her own.

The prospect of 'girl talk' with one of close social standing left Nimrodel giddy and she giggled and promised, "indeed I shalt, for not since taking leave of Greenwood and my sister have I had anyone to speak of love with, yet for sooth, our hearts art turned toward one another, the Lord Amroth and I, and but one thing stands 'twixt us and matrimony…a safe land in which to dwell and raise a family."

"Then I wish thee joy and good fortune and the swift satisfaction of thy desire," Beinvír told her as she stood.

"And I shalt wish thee safety and joy in thy travels," Nimrodel replied as she rose from her chair.

The two walked back through the garden along the path of stones.

"A new tea pot I shalt have to order," Nimrodel mused. "What a bother."

"Fine tea pots and water kettles art made in Khazad-dûm," Beinvír told her, "and now their merchants oft travel the road not far from here. Oh, and Haldir had some errand to thee." Here she canted her head, indicating the detail of border guards. "When we met, it seemed both our ways led hither and so we chose to accompany each other. Perhaps even they would fill thy order if thou choose to buy from the Naugrim."

Having been gifted the solutions to several problems in so short a time left the lady elated and she caught up the Green Elf in a hug and actually kissed her cheek.

"Sooth, thy travels have made thee wise in the ways of the world, dear friend!"

'Round them the border guards were stricken silent in astonishment whilst Helluin raised an eyebrow in surprise.

I shalt tell thee all very shortly, meldanya, Beinvír told Helluin silently eye to eye.

"Lady Beinvír has informed me thou carry a message from our lord?" Nimrodel asked the still shocked Haldir with remarkable civility.

"In…indeed so, m'lady," Haldir stammered. "Our lord King Amroth asks if t'would be convenient for him to call upon thee and pay his respects on the day after the morrow?"

Lady Nimrodel blanched and fell silent with indecision. In truth nothing more did she desire than to see Amroth as soon as might be, yet once again she'd be forced to breach the etiquette of a proper hostess. 'Twas one thing with a traveling friend, but with a prospective husband who was also her king, 'twas quite another. In panic she looked to her new friend. Understanding her confusion, Beinvír caught her eye.

Ask them, m'lady, for already they must travel hence to the road, and a favorable reply they no doubt desire to bring to their king. I believe they shalt be glad to help.

Nimrodel nodded and took a deep breath, readying herself to ask 'aught of those she'd e'er considered 'neath her station and, if not outright knaves, at least suspect of knavery.

"I find that I am at a most foul pass, Haldir. With joy would I honor our lord's visit, for his happiness is quite important to me, yet I am bereft of a tea pot and cannot entertain him fittingly. Lady Beinvír has told me such can now be had from Naugrim traders upon the road, yet I know not these traders and have ne'er dealt with their kind. If thou believe 'tis possible, I shalt appoint thee temporary bursar for to make the purchase. I cannot ask such of our guests, and we both serve our lord Amroth."

Having made her request, the lady regarded Haldir closely. For his part, astonishment held the border captain thrall and the lady's scrutiny pinioned his tongue. Loath was he to become the cause of the tantrum he felt sure would follow any refusal, and the subsequent disappointment of his king would surely be laid at his feet. In mute horror at the prospect of stymieing the royal romance, he could only nod 'yea'.

At his acceptance of the errand, the Lady Nimrodel fairly glowed.

"My eternal thanks to thee, my dear, dear Haldir. Thou art a prince!"

And whilst Haldir blushed and cringed and Helluin stifled a cackle, the lady strode to a spot on the path and kicked away the stones. Then, taking a delicately embroidered handkerchief which she seemed to conjure from nothing, she daintily lifted a vessel from its hiding place 'neath the soil and opened it, revealing a small cache of gold coins. Several of these she handed to Haldir, whose eyes had started from his head. Thereafter she seemed anxious to hasten them all upon their way, the sooner to accomplish her errand. The border guards were only too happy to be away, and the two ellith joined them since their way back to the road was the same.

Now when the company had passed out of sight and hearing, all ground to a halt and in a flurry of agitated words, shared their impressions and reactions and conjectures of the proceeding incident. This took some time, and 'twas full dark ere they finished, yet one final question Helluin asked of Haldir, that being to have a glance at the coinage of Lady Nimrodel. Easily obliging, Haldir produced the coins and all gathered 'round to see them.

Immediately, the dark Noldo began shaking her head. Presenting such to the Naugrim traders would ne'er do.

"Haldir, such shalt inflame the Dwarves and thy errand shalt surely fail, for though 'tis fine gold, 'twas minted long, long ago in the realm of Doriath," she informed him. And how in Udûn had Nimrodel come into such a hoard? Perhaps from her family? Some at least of them must be Sindar and come from Doriath with Celeborn, Oropher, and Amdír to Eriador at the opening of the Second Age, she said to Beinvír eye to eye. Huh.

The Green Elf thought back and found the words she'd once heard from Thranduil in Calenglad i'Dhaer. I wager thou art correct, beloved, for of Thranduil came this account of Inthuiril, and such should stand too for Nimrodel. 'Her adar is Nandor, her naneth Sindar, and her maternal grandsire came with my household out of Eregion. Alas, he was lost in battle upon Gorgoroth in the company of my father.'

To this, Helluin nodded, then turned to regard the questioning look upon Haldir's face.

"I need not school thee fully in the history, save to say that of old was Doriath a realm of the Sindar in Beleriand. 'Twas sacked and ruined by the Dwarf host of Nogrod. Amongst the treasure taken was the Silmaril, later to become Eärendil's star. But the host of Nogrod was in turn slaughtered by Beren and the Laiquendi of Ossiriand, who recovered the jewel. Now Nogrod's sister realm was called Belegost, and at the end of the First Age, many of its folk came to Khazad-Dûm. To this day they trace thither their ancestry and recall its history. Ill favored indeed woulds't thou be to proffer coin of Doriath to Dwarvish traders as once King Thingol did to the craftsmen of Nogrod."

The growing horror on Haldir's face as he listened was well 'nigh comical.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, staring at the gold pieces as if they were scorpions upon his palm. "The lady shalt surely be my ruin. What am I to do?"

For a while none spoke, yet after a time an idea came to Helluin and Beinvír, for they had traveled much and knew the minds of the Naugrim as well as any save the Khazad themselves.

"Thou must offer in trade 'aught that has value," reasoned the Green Elf, "and not necessarily to the Naugrim directly, but something they can trade to others for profit."

Helluin nodded in agreement.

"Such should be unique to thy folk," the Noldo said whilst examining the border guards. "Ahhh, thou carry some thirty ells¹ of rope, dost thou not, Haldir?" ¹(ell, an archaic unit of measure, in England, equal to 45", hence each border guard had 112 ½ feet of rope)

"Indeed so, each of us does, though we require it the less of late, for we now have a bridge o'er Celebrant."

"Elvish rope is light and strong and no others weave any so fine in these lands," Beinvír told Haldir. "T'would be a thing of value in Rhovanion, far lighter and easier to carry than tea pots and fine crockery."

For the first time in what seemed like hours, the captain of the border guards smiled.

So it came to pass that following an introduction by the two ellith, Haldir and the border guards made acquaintance with the Dwarf traders, for though their folk had enjoyed some commerce aforetime, 'twas ne'er the part of the border guards to do such. Yet when all was arranged, two coils of Elvish rope bought a full tea set of pot, cups and saucers for Lady Nimrodel. Haldir was well 'nigh ecstatic, for the rope could be easily replaced in Caras Galadon. The Naugrim had been very happy as well, for such fine rope would fetch a good price in Esgaroth, whilst works of ceramics, (and glass, being allied in craft to the forge through their need of kilns, ovens of annealing, and the knowledge of minerals for coloring), were inherently heavy and fragile to transport. And though 'twas less affinity 'twixt their peoples in later days, for that time they parted in friendship.

Now ere taking their leave of the border guards, some further words of advice had Helluin for Haldir.

"Thou hast made good thy office as bursar to the lady, my friend, and the happiness of all hast thou arranged, yet a bit more thou coulds't do, and 'tis in the realm of politics. When thou bring the tea set to the lady, return to her two of the three pieces of gold, saying they far exceeded the price asked by the Naugrim. She shalt be impressed with thy service, and more, with thy lack of…knavery. When thou bring word of the lady's acceptance of his visit to thy king, give him the third piece of gold along with thy tale, and beseech him to say 'naught of it to Nimrodel. Greatly charmed by her concern shalt he be, and, I wager, the sight of such a coin shalt bring to him many fair memories despite Doriath's violent end."

"So then am I to have bought the lady a tea set?" Haldir asked with a chuckle.

"In view of thy rede, I wager King Amroth shalt reward thee handsomely for thy efforts and thy concern on behalf of the lady and his kingdom," Helluin told him. "Little would he wish the traders of his neighboring realm to have been insulted by the presentation of such coins, and I deem he shalt be both happy and impressed by thy tact in avoiding such a pitfall."

So it came to pass that the courtship of Nimrodel by King Amroth went forward, and being for his Highness a proper hostess gave the lady great ease and enjoyment of his company. So too did Haldir, already esteemed by his lord, gain an even greater measure of prestige. Indeed in such high regard was he held, that upon that future day when King Amroth would go forth to the Sea¹, he would name Haldir his Regent. This office Haldir held for only a short time ere the return of Celeborn and Galadriel, to whom he deferred with suitable relief. ¹(King Amroth abdicated the throne of Lórinand in T.A. 1981 to accompany Lady Nimrodel, with whom he had finally been troth plighted, to the Havens of Edhellond, (Belfalas), for to take ship into the West. This was in the same year in which the Naugrim were driven from Khazad-Dûm by the Valaraukar. 'Twas upon learning these things, and also of the impending depopulation of Lórinand, that Celeborn and Galadriel returned from Imladris to become its guardians against the evil of Dol Guldur. Thus Haldir's regency lasted but 5 months.)

To Be Continued

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