Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
April 18, 2020
Chapter 37 – Gwa-sadron
Legolas let out a soft groan as he was pulled from his light sleep. He had not even realized he had drifted off until the gentle swaying of the horse had come to a sudden stop. As his crystal blue eyes focused on his surroundings he quickly jerked upright from where he had been laying against Tamír. A very faint blush spread over his porcelain cheeks betraying his embarrassment. He could not believe that he had fallen asleep and the strange Silvan behind him had been supporting him all this time.
"It is alright penneth," a firm hand was placed on his shoulder, "We are stopping here for the night. We were able to make good time however there are certain ones among us who can find no rest on the backs of horses."
Legolas heard Estel protesting loudly as these words reached him,
"I could continue to ride all night if I wanted to."
The young elf looked over at the human who was dismounting from his tan steed. He could see the dark circles under the edan's eyes and could not help but smirk. This echil was too stubborn for his own good. It was obvious the man was exhausted.
As Tamír slipped off of the back of the horse, Legolas allowed himself to look around at where they had stopped. The sun had grown low in the sky as it sent out rays of gold and red across the great expanse of the sky. The young prince turned his face to the heavens unable to look away. He had seen many sunsets in his life, yet never had he seen one this beautiful. The arrays of colors that painted the sky seemed to travel across the entirety of the heavens. In the Greenwood this view was always cut off by the great trees that towered about everything.
All around them the grassy hills were beginning to dim, becoming shadowed in the slowly fading light of the sun. It would not be long before the stars would come out, gracing arda with their presence.
As Legolas brought his gaze down his eyes widened as he saw the large mountains that towered about the plains several leagues away to his right. Their sheer sides glinting gray and white in the sunset. Never in his life had the elfling seen such a mighty creation. He had read about in books and heard tell of these mountains in tales and songs, but he had never been able to truly imagine their magnitude.
The young Sinda at last was able to tear his gaze away and he twisted his body to look behind them. They seemed to have descended down from a pass of sorts, for the green hills behind sloped upward, long grasses waving in the crisp air a gentle reminder of the slow approach of fall. The great trees of The Greenwood were nowhere to be seen.
Legolas's knees trembled slightly as he slipped off of the horse and landed lightly on the ground. He had refused Tamír's help to get down from the mount for his pride was hurt enough as it was. He did not need the added humiliation of needing help to dismount. He was not still a child.
"Manen le?"
The young prince cast a brief glance over at the Silvan who seemed to hover over him like a mother bird. The elfling remained silent for a moment, contemplating his answer.
"Im penorven."
It was truthful. His body still felt fatigued even after having slept for the greater part of the afternoon, however, his mind felt alert and anxious. Sleep would be a long time coming tonight if it came at all.
This response seemed to satisfy the eldar who nodded his head and turned away to begin unloading the bags from the trusty white steed.
"Why do you think that he agreed to come with us?"
Elrond glanced over at his son as the two of them prepared the bedding for the night.
"Why do you ask? Did he express some kind of unhappiness to you, ion nín?"
"It is nothing that he had expressed in words ada, but more of the look in his eyes that I have noticed. He is anxious and is not happy with us, and do not act like you cannot see this, for I know that you also have noted it."
A soft smile touched the elf lord's lips. "You have grown observant, a valuable skill that exceeds that of many of your people. But yes, I have noticed this, though I must admit that I do not understand the true reason for it. We have expressed to him that we mean him no harm and that he is free to leave whenever he wishes."
Elrond paused to glance over at Maer, "There is almost a spirit of sorrow about him, deep regret. He continues to look behind and never ahead."
There was a moment of silence.
"Do you think there are others?" Estel patted down the edges of the blanket that would serve as his bed for the night, "Are there still elves left in Mirkwood?"
The two finished laying out the bedding on the soft grass before the Noldo responded,
"This is what I dread Estel," His words came out softly, "For I fear I have made a grave mistake."
Legolas stood next to the elegant white and silver steed that had carried him and Tamír. He tried to ignore the conversations and actions of the others as they prepared the camp for the night. He was formulating a plan, one that he would have to execute with perfect timing and precision for it to work. It was a way for him to get home.
It had not been a weak spirit that had led him to surrender himself to be brought so far this day. His body had needed the rest and had not been ready for another attempted escape. However, now his mind was alert and would not rest until he arrived back in the Greenwood.
"Glass nín le cened," the prince ran his hands lightly over the horse's soft coat whispering in soft Sindarin, "I shall call you Gwa-sadron for together you and I shall make our escape."
The creature blinked its dark brown eyes as the elfling and pushed its head into the eldar's hand. Legolas could not help but smile at that thought of having won over one of Lord Elrond's great steeds. It was true after all that the Sindar had a much stronger connection to animals and nature than the stiff Noldor who cared only for their books, music, and peaceful valley.
"You seem to have made a strong connection to Tamír's horse."
The young ellon started and swung around to find Elladan behind him. He cursed himself silently for not having heard the Noldo come up behind him.
"His is a noble steed. Iaron is his name because he has been with Tamír for many centuries. You would never find a better horse no matter how many times you would journey through arda."
The prince did not respond but continued to run his hand along the velvety nose of the animal. Iaron was no name for such a mighty creature.
"Now come, it is time now to prepare for our meal and then rest. My ada will no doubt wish to continue our journey as the sun rises."
Legolas whispered one last word to Gwa-sadron before turning away to follow the Noldo, all the while his mind continued to think over his plan of escape.
Estel watched Maer sit down stiffly beside the fire. The elfling's hair glinted in the last rays of the sun, casting a golden halo around his handsome face. The human quickly ducked his head, he did not want to be caught staring.
The fire flickered as a cool breeze blew down the Gap of Rohan towards them. They had made good time and no doubt tomorrow they would be able to make it the rest of the way over to the other side. Only when they were able to do this would he be able to feel more at ease.
Elrohir handed a leaf of tightly wrapped Lembas to Estel who eagerly accepted it. He was starving, having not eaten for most of the day. As he bit into the first piece, he heard his ada say,
"I pray that the journey was not too rough today Maer. We are eager to return to Imladris as soon as we can so you will forgive us if we seem in a bit of a hurry."
The edan looked over at the elfling in time to see a brief confused look flash over his face. The human smirked. The Sinda was still not used to the name he had been given.
"It was well though I grow weary still," Maer's soft voice carried a hint of formality and coldness that made the human frown.
There was a brief silence that fell over the small group, as the fire crackled loudly, burning the dry grass they had fed it, till at last Tamír spoke,
"Tell me Penneth, have you ever been to Rivendell? For I begin to wonder if I have seen you there before. Where do your parents live?"
Estel noted the dark look that crossed the young elf's face before the cold and emotionless gaze returned. The human took a large bite of the Lembas in his hand as he waited for the eldar to respond.
"Nay, I have never set foot in Imladris," the last word was forced out between clenched teeth as if in anger or loathing.
The edan glanced over at his brothers with a look of confusion at this. It almost sounded as if the elfling hated Imladris. But why? The peaceful valley was known and loved throughout many parts of arda. Had this changed suddenly?
"My adar," the Sinda continued, "Has been there many times yet now refuses to return after he was treated ill by the Noldor that reside there."
Elrond's dark brows rose in a look of concern. "Pray tell me of this cause, for it grieves my heart greatly to hear of this."
At this Maer pressed his lips together into a hard line and said no more but stared into the fire. Estel watched him closely, brushing away the loose crumbs that had fallen onto his tunic. He was dying to know what had happened to this elf's adar for he had never known any of the elves in Imladris to act out against one of their own people. The human pushed the last of the waybread into his mouth to keep him from speaking up; now was not the right time.
"Mellon, why do you still close yourself off from us?" Tamír moved to sit next to Maer, "Have we angered you in some way? It worries me that you can not find it in your heart to trust your own kin."
"My own kin," the Sinda's eyes seemed to erupt with anger, "You are not my kin. None of you are. All I see sitting around me are an incompetent human, several arrogant Noldor, and a Silvan traitor. Are you truly so blind that you cannot see why I do not trust you?"
The elfling's blue eyes were ablaze as they came to rest on each one of them in turn, resting the longest on Tamír. The Silvan elf sat with a stunned look on his face.
"I am a Sinda. Do you not remember or pause to think about what you have done to my peop…"
Maer's voice died away as he realized what he was saying. As he saw the stunned looks on each of their faces, he quickly rose to his feet,
"Forgive me. I believe I shall retire for the night for my body grows weary."
Without another word, the young Sinda walked quickly away from the flickering light of the fire.
Elvish Translations:
penneth – young one
echil – human
manen le – are you well
im penorven - i am tired
ion nín – my son
ada – dad
maer – golden
glass nín le cened – it is my joy to see you
gwa-sadron – forever the loyal one (another translation is: together with one who is loyal)
iaron – ancient one
adar – father
mellon – friend