Realisation
The next day and the days followed turned out to be a whirlwind of joyous exclamations and apologies. Anwel had tears in her eyes when she heard this and gathered Erenien in a warm embrace. Findir, too, was present, though their interaction was less warm despite his best efforts. Eiliandil presented her with a bow, carved by his own hands, as an offer of reconciliation. To take things a step further, he even offered to personally train her in combat.
Thus, her evenings were spent training with Eiliandil, slashing and dodging each other's blows, until the last rays of the day turned his dark brown hair to a coppery shade. Anwel too joined them on several evenings, either getting into the fight or quietly watching, with her head in her hands and lips curling into a smile. On those days when she chose to stay behind, she always brought refreshments, eyes lighting up the sight of them.
With a content sigh, Erenien sipped the berry juice and plopped on the bench beside Anwel. Both fighters were immensely grateful for the dark red, frothy liquid which immediately refreshed them.
"Ah! This is so good. I am forever indebted to you." Erenien proclaimed, raising her cup to Anwel.
Eiliandil similarly raised his own. "I agree. I offer my thanks to you, Anwel." This elicited a warm smile from Anwel. He finished his drink in one go and placed the empty cup back on the tray. "I am needed elsewhere, I am afraid. Duty calls. A good evening to you two." He smiled and offered a curt nod to Anwel before clasping Erenien's arms in a warriors' greeting and leaving. Erenien finished hers soon and both women left the training field.
"You should write to Laero," Anwel said abruptly, on their way back to the palace.
Erenien's face darkened. "Why should I do that?" Eyes carefully trained faraway, her reply was impassive.
Anwel observed her carefully and talked in careful words. "He doesn't know the truth. Aren't you going to tell him?"
"I have many things to speak about with him. A letter won't be enough." Erenien stated, desperate to end the conversation as it took an unwanted direction.
"I thought that you might want to go to him," Anwel mumbled carefully, weighing the impact her words might make. As it turned out, the thing she hoped to avoid came to happen.
Erenien paused in her tracks, hands curling on each side while her gaze speared through Anwel. "Why should I? It is he who left me, isn't it?" Anwel eyed her with caution, nudging her elbow to continue forwards. Some of the passersby shot a glance at the pair, feeling the flaring anger, but thankfully nobody bothered to meddle. For a while there was silence between them. At the end of it, Anwel shook her head and chuckled. Erenien turned sharply to look at her, at the sudden change of her friend's demeanor.
"It's just that I remembered something. I took care of a young peredhil two decades ago." Her gaze became wistful. "You were just like that. Stubborn. You have no idea of how I had to chase you around the palace to get some food inside you."
Erenien offered a chagrined smile at the glimpses of her childhood offered by her memory. Anwel had always been her best friend and the caretaker of her childhood.
"I might not be the wisest out there. But believe me, Laero has the right to know. Love is not something that comes easily to us. Nor is it to be taken lightly because we don't know what tomorrow might bring. Do not squander it until it is too late. Promise me that you will write to him."
Erenien nodded, albeit reluctantly. "I cannot promise anything. But I will think about it. Speaking of which"- she added- "How are things going between you and Eiliandil?" A sudden blush crept up Anwel's cheeks.
"H... how do you?"
"Dear, is that even a question? I saw the way you looked at him." Erenien smirked, which caused the blush to deepen further. Anwel tucked a lock of auburn hair back and smiled bashfully, which made her look all the more beautiful, Erenien mused.
"Wait, you haven't told him yet?" She asked incredulously.
"It's just... I am not sure whether he feels the same." Anwel sighed and looked at her, with eyes turning to ponds of honey in the light of the evening sun.
"Well, there is only one way to find it."
"I know, but when I see him, words just fly away. I tried. Believe me, I have tried several times. Ae! I am so stupid."
Erenien placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "No dear. You are many things but stupid. Maybe I can arrange a small meeting." Erenien winked at the mortified expression of her friend.
"I should remind myself that you are not an elfling anymore." Anwel shook her head, smiling.
"You better," Erenien smirked. The first stars rose as they continued down the forest path.
(***)
Winter gave way to spring. No flowers bloomed, heralding the end of snow. No birds sang to welcome the season of colours. Mirkwood plunged further into darkness.
Erenien plopped on the ground, panting, wiping off the beads of sweat gathered on her brow, as Eilindil picked up his sword, where it lay on a far corner, being kicked away from his grasp.
"You fought well," he told her, coming back, sword held in one hand and offering her the other.
"Really? Do you mean it or are you saying this to just console me?" Erenien asked once back on her feet.
"You took my weapon out of my grasp. What am I supposed to say then?"
"I lost mine along with it." She sighed and took her sword from the ground.
"That is where you are going to improve. You had enough for this evening. Let us continue tomorrow." He sheathed his sword back. "Where is Anwel? She should be here by now." His eyes searched the winding forest path, finding nothing. Erenien looked at him, mildly amused at the eagerness in his eyes.
"She must have got other errands." She moved to sit on the bench laid at the edge of the training field, followed by him. Erenien broke the silence that ensued. "Will I be ready, Eiliandil, to meet those merciless filths? I know I haven't talked about it to anyone. But they still haunt my dreams. I wonder whether I will ever be able to fight them without passing out." She stared out into the trees, looming dark and treacherous on all four sides.
Eiliandil's hand was suddenly in hers and there was pity in his eyes as he squeezed her hand in reassuringly. "No one is ready when they first enter a battlefield. I grew up wanting to be a guard, just like my parents. My first battle ended with Ada bidding farewell in my arms. Nana followed him in another battle, a few decades later."
Erenien's eyes widened and she let out a soft sigh. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"No. Don't apologize." He cut in. "None of the battles are easy, no matter how effortless it may look like. We too carry our own burdens of old grief. After some time, you will get used to it. Then what drives you will be the smiles and the shouts you get when you come back victorious- the love for your homeland and the desire to protect it."
She felt a lot of ease at heart and offered a warm smile to him, which he reciprocated. "But you let me win today, didn't you?"
An exasperated sigh left his lips as he fully turned towards her. "Tell me why would I do that and then tell you that you improved?"
"So I disarmed you, for real?"
"Take his compliment and be done with it, Ery. Eru knows how hard it is to get some out of his mouth." Feren piped up as he strolled towards them carrying the refreshments.
"Where is Anwel? Is she alright?" Eiliandil asked upon finding that his brother was alone.
"She is all well. Tauriel asked her for something, that is," Feren replied, pouring two goblets of juice for them.
"You make me jealous, Ery"- he said, handing her the goblet. "It took a few good years for me to get appreciated by him."
"I would have if you had earned it," Eiliandil shot from behind the rim of his goblet.
"Ae! You wound me brother," Feren said in a mock sadness and yelped when Eiliandil swatted at him. As the brotherly banter continued, it became all the more difficult for Erenien not to laugh. She let go at some point and sat on the ground, clutching her belly tight as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. For a while, there was only laughter in the clearing as a stark contrast to the grimness of their surroundings. Feren laid himself down on his back and smiled wildly while Eiliandil chose to remain seated on the bench, with shoulders shaking silently.
There were hoof beats from far away. Eiliandil waved a hand which silenced his companions. The trio rushed out of the clearing and into the forest path, to meet up with the horse and the rider. She groaned when she was helped down by Eiliandil. Fresh blood was seeping through the wound at her side, where an orc shaft pierced her armour. "Need... help. South is under attack," she managed these out before passing out. Erenien and Feren took her to the healers as Eiliandil rushed to alert the king.
While watching the healers tend to the injured, the thought of someone fighting alone came to Erenien's mind.
He needs help.
It is the Southern border patrol that needs help. Not him.
He is out there, fighting alone.
He is not alone! For Eru's sake, why do you even care? He left you, remember?
But I still love him...
That was all the answer she needed. Hallways passed swiftly behind, her feet barely touching the cobblestones, not heeding the shouts of Feren. A horn was sounded faraway, commanding every soldier to assemble. In the confusion that ensued, she slipped into the armoury before the rush and took two long knives, a bow and a set of arrows. She took a dagger upon impulse and slipped it into her right boot, just in case something went wrong. Her trembling hands managed to put on chainmail and plate armour. Having taken everything needed, she quietly slipped off through the side door.
As if he sensed her need, her friend was waiting for her beyond the gates. "Take me there, mellon (friend)." She said as she hopped onto the back of the stag.
"Wait!" Feren came running behind, the clasps of his armour half loose, raven hair not yet braided back, a sword belt barely hanging on his waist and his horse trotting right beside him.
The wind assaulted their hair and the hoof beats drummed in unison as trees and twisting vines were left behind.