Parades and Gardens
It was a windy autumn day in Nevrast. The streets were dotted with elves. The gates of the city were opened and waiting for prince Turgon's return.
The lords and noblemen of the city stand at the two sides of the gates to greet their prince.
The banner of the house of Fingolfin shone in the distance, and soon, riders could be seen clearly as they approached Nevrast.
Horns call and answer, the city grows quiet for a moment, before erupting into numerous clamours of greeting and salutation for the prince and his host.
As Turgon came through the gates, the lords saluted and bowed. The sound of trumpets rang through the city and the people waved and bowed before the prince.
Turgon greeted his people with a sober smile and a curt nod, but he rode his horse quickly through the street towards his home, followed by a hooded rider behind him.
A brown haired lord, Galdor, came with his host behind the prince. He was fair skinned and brown haired. Arrayed with green garments and copper armour. His countenance was usually pleasant and calm, but at the moment, he seemed troubled as if he hardly acknowledged the fact that he was back in Nevrast. He did not smile nor reply to the greetings that were sent his way. He galloped on his brown steed towards the house of Turgon without even glancing back.
After all the hosts had entered, the gates were closed and the prince's esquire called to himself all the lords of the city and bid them come to the house of the prince as soon as possible to discuss an urgent matter. Then, he too made a quick withdrawal towards Turgon's house.
Ecthelion had watched from a distance, as usual. He was happy that Turgon and Galdor were back, safe from their journey. But he had noticed his friend's stern features and their stiff posture as they rode to the prince's house. He had also noticed almost immediately the other rider that came with Turgon. Strangely, he could have sworn that the hooded figure was swaying in the saddle and maybe trembling.
The dark haired lord looked down, to see Hensilith trying to distract a weary A'numireth that was eyeing him suspiciously. The elfling's hands were firmly attached to her father's leg, and her body was nearly invisible beneath Ecthelion's blue cape.
"Come out Numi," Hensilith cooed smiling as he knelt on one leg, "there's hardly anyone around now, and no one is shouting anymore"
A'numireth firmly shook her head and braced her father's leg even tighter. Ecthelion smiled woefully. A'numireth had been startled by all the clamouring, horn calls and trumpets.
This was one of the first times she came out into the main city since Ecthelion found her. So when she had seen all the fuss and the people, she had skillfully wriggled herself out of Alinda's grasp and had sheltered herself under Ecthelion's robes.
"I'll give you a treat if you come out," Alinda offered hopeful.
A'numireth's eyes perked up at this, but she quickly changed her mind and hid herself almost completely behind her father's legs.
"No," she stated decisively.
Hensilith sighed in defeat and Alinda smiled a bit pitfully.
"Maybe this was a bad idea," the brown haired maid said biting her lower lip, "she's too shy and timid"
"Not to worry Alinda," Ecthelion said, turning around and removing A'numireth's cover, "she'll learn. In time she will be over her shyness"
The elf lord knelt to A'numireth's level and planted a kiss on her forehead.
He had decided that he would reveal the child to Turgon when he gave his report. He assumed that was why all the lords had been called to the prince's house.
"Pia wilin, we will go to the prince's house alright?" Ecthelion said as A'numireth climbed into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder, "There will be less people there, and you will behave nicely, you have nothing to fear from them alright?"
A'numireth nodded sleepily, not really catching the precise meaning of her father's words. But it was obvious that she trusted him and was now at ease.
"Lá Atar," she said, before snuggling up to him.
"Mára," Ecthelion said as he stroked A'numireth's hair and stood up.
When he turned, he found both Hensilith and Alinda staring at him expectantly.
"Hensilith, you will accompany me," Ecthelion instructed, "Alinda, you may go home if you wish, A'numireth must come with me,"
Both elves bowed and followed their lord's instructions. They returned with their three mounts and went their separate ways.
—- ✧ —-
In the house of Turgon, there was a lot of commotion. But no one spoke loudly. Elves were rushing to and fro, whispering to each other and glancing behind their shoulders.
When Ecthelion arrived at the courtyard, two young ellons took his and Hensilith's mounts to the stables.
A few eyes glanced towards A'numireth with curiosity and confusion, as she walked hand in hand with Ecthelion. But it seemed as if no one had the time to ask questions or stare with interest. So most elves just overlooked her.
"Well met indur," said a merry voice from behind them.
"Glorfindel," Ecthelion greeted, "well met. Do you know what this is about?"
The golden haired elf shook his head and suddenly looked a bit stern,
"No," he looked down at A'numireth and his face was merry again, "how is my favourite niece?"
A'numireth smiled brightly and immediately extended her arms to be picked up by the golden haired elf lord.
"Uncle Glor," she said blissfully as she played with Glorfindel's braids. Unaware of the worried glances that her father and his friend were giving to the gates that led into the main house.
"Has there been any news of why we were brought here in such short notice?" Ecthelion asked in a hushed tone.
Glorfindel shook his head and eyed the closed entrance to the house once more,
"I have heard gossip among the servants," he said in a whisper, "they say that Turgon has been tending to the stranger that rode in with him at the gates, but I know nothing more"
Ecthelion nodded and he, along with Hensilith, Glorfindel and A'numireth walked over to the group of elf lords that had gathered near the steps that led into the house. There was a lot of whispering among them. Their eyes always coming back to the entrance of the house.
Suddenly, the door opened, and out stepped Galdor, with Turgon's esquire.
The elf lord raised his hands, drawing his fellow lord's attention.
"Peace! Peace, my lords," Galdor said as the summoned elves turned to look at him and tried to ask several questions at the same time, "Turgon has sent me to lead you inside the house, there is much to be discussed. But I must ask you to stay calm and very quiet, your whispering can be heard outside the city walls!"
The elf lords had calmed and were now silently waiting to be allowed inside the house.
Galdor turned to Turgon's esquire and the dark haired soldier nodded and signalled for the lords to come in through the doors.
Ecthelion left A'numireth under the care of Hensilith and went inside the prince's house.
When they had gone, Hensilith, A'numireth, along with the other companions of the lords, were offered to enter into one of the few gardens in the house.
Hensilith groaned internally when he layed eyes on the garden where they would be waiting. The place itself was beautiful indeed, with tall Hydrangea bushes, white Rose beds and Gladiolus flowers, enhancing the scenery with harmonious colours.
But the fair haired elf's concern was due to the fact that the bushes and plants were abundant enough for a small elfling to get lost in them.
A'numireth was usually a calm, retracted, shy and overly quiet child. But there was one thing that made her difficult to babysit. And that was the fact that she loved to hide. She would make her father's household turn every room upside down looking for her after one of the maids unwisely told her to play in the gardens for a while or to stay put in the library for a few minutes.
In general she didn't want to hide, but she was so silent and so engrossed in her own little world. That she dismissed the passage of time when something intrigued or interested her.
But as every child should, A'numireth enjoyed causing a bit of chaos every once in a while, and so, she hid at least once a week from her caretakers, with the sole purpose of making the servants go mad trying to find her and failing to do so.
So now, Hensilith was faced with the challenge of not losing A'numireth among the flowers and plants of the garden.
"Ilith, the flowers!" A'numireth said in awe, keeping her voice low because of the people around and instead tugging at Hensilith's hand to get his attention.
"Yes Numi, there are many beautiful flowers," Hensilith smiled down to the child, "we can go see them if you want,"
A'numireth nodded eagerly, a smile spreading over her face. They both walked hand in hand among the flowers until A'numireth decided to settle near one of the blue Gladiolus flower beds. Her fingers hovered over the flowers, the petals tickled her hand and she giggled.
"Would you like a flower crown Numi?" Hensilith asked suddenly.
A'numireth turned around and cocked her head at him in mild confusion. She knew those words; flower crown. That sounded lovely, but she couldn't remember what they meant.
A flash of memory reached her mind. Something about a tall elleth, was it an elleth? She sat on a tree root, her face was lit with great light, and her head was crowned with flowers. A bright petal shone on her brow as a star, and her hand held a nightingale.
Hensilith thought A'numireth had turned a bit pale and he came closer in concern. But before he could say anything, the elfling smiled all of a sudden and nodded.
"Alright," Hensilith said a bit confused at the child's unexpected eagerness, "I'll show you how to make one,"
He picked some wild flowers from the grassy ground and sat with his legs crossed. He weaved the flowers with agile but uncertain fingers. It had been a long time since he had made a flower crown. The last time he could remember of ever doing one, was when he was in Valinor. He had weaved two in fact, one for his mother and one for his little sister.
A'numireth was watching him intently. Her eyes closely observed his hands. She seemed to want to absorb every part of the process, until Hensilith was finished.
When he stilled his hands, A'numireth blinked and looked up at him curiously, wanting to know what was next. Hensilith chuckled and signalled for her to come closer. Then he placed the crown on the elfling's head and rearranged a few things so it would fit properly.
"There," he said pleased with the result, "a flower crown for the flower princess,"
A'numireth touched the flowers on her head. A strange expression on her face. She wriggled with the petals for a moment before looking up at the ellon with silent excitement. She stood and walked over to the wildflower pads that bloomed abundantly in the garden.
The elfling picked up flower by flower, she filled her arms with the blooms and then returned to Hensilith's side. Going around him, A'numireth began putting each flower into the ellon's braids. Hensilith was confused, but laughed at the child's creativity and allowed her to do as she pleased.
The fair haired elf didn't notice when A'numireth began humming softly to herself. He didn't notice his ears picking the soft tune and his body relaxing. He didn't notice when his head tilted forward slightly or when the elfling's hands left his hair. He didn't hear A'numireth's light footsteps when she noticed a little bird that perked up from one of the rose bushes.
He had fallen into some sort of entranced sleep produced by the elfling's voice and so he slept while A'numireth trotted away among the garden flowers.
Translations:
Quenya,
Pia wilin - Little bird
Lá Atar - Yes Father
Mára - Good
Author's notes:
Ok! Another chapter…I think I'm putting them one by two weeks, and I think you'll notice that they are getting larger…hope you don't mind.
I would like some feedback if you could provide it for me :)
Also, I would completely consider any ideas for the story!
