Chapter Thirty-Seven
.
SUMMARY: Thranduil spends much of the day with his nose in books and scrolls, trying to find a way to help his friend. Bard comes for a short visit, and there is a wonderful surprise waiting for him.
.
.
The Woodland Realm; 10th of March, 2942, T.A.
Thranduil sat quietly, and pondered the situation for a long while.
He wanted very much to help Daeron, and he needed to understand what could be done. It seemed cruel: after spending his entire life serving his King and the Woodland Realm so well, the young Guard's reward might be an endless life of pain and loneliness!
As grateful as he was for the Valar's gift for him and Bard, he believed the reward for facing down a creature of Morgoth was more a matter of fate, than courage! Their fortitude was borne of necessity and urgency, not an extraordinary amount of bravery!
Daeron was every bit as courageous and every bit as willing to sacrifice himself for those he loved. Countless people in his Realm were equally brave. It didn't seem fair for him to be awarded such a precious gift, and his people still be constricted to the same rules as before.
He will always be grateful to have Bard, of course, but was it so wrong to want the same chances for the people they both care about so much?
And yet, even if he could find a way for his friend to marry Rhian, that didn't mean it would work out that way.
At this time, Rhian didn't feel anything for Daeron besides gratitude and friendship. There was a chance his love (and the Guard was very much in love) would never be returned, and he would endure a lifetime of pain, and for an Elf that is a serious problem.
Daeron could weaken physically, and lose his will to live. He could fade.
Once again, he came back to the night of the funeral services here, and his renewed conviction that that the blessing from Eärendil meant something important.
It was true he'd have wait until spring to contact Elrond, but perhaps he could find some answers here, in his own library. There might be a precedent somewhere hidden in the history books.
Bain and Sigrid's classes were scheduled in the Library today, so could go there and disrupt them, so he wrote a list for Galion, drummed his fingers on his desk and waited for them.
After Galion returned with stack of books and several scrolls under his arm, he spread them out on his big desk, and got to work.
Of course, the most famous "mixed marriage" was that of Beren and Luthien, and he knew all about it. He set that book aside, for now.
More hopeful was the story of Tuor and Idril, Eärendil's parents.
"Tuor (born F.A. 472) was a hero of the Edain from the House of Hador, and the father of Eärendil. In spite of being a Man, he was chosen by the Vala Ulmo to be the last hope of the Noldor in the face of annihilation by the forces of Morgoth.
He passed his youth a refugee and an outlaw, before being guided by the Vala Ulmo to the hidden city of Gondolin. There he rose high in the favour of the High King Turgon and wedded the elf-maiden Idril, the King's daughter. Escaping the fall of Gondolin, he and his family came to the Mouths of Sirion. After abiding there long enough to see Eärendil to manhood Tuor finally succumbed to his sea-longing and, with Idril, departed Middle-earth for the West. The tradition of the Noldor was that he became the only Man to be accepted as one of the elder kindred and will share with them an immortal life in Valinor as long as Arda will endure."
.
Bard's fate resembled Tuor's, in that he married an Elf, and will be permitted to sail. So, this was a very good start: a man and Elf fell in love, and they shared the same fate, and Tuor now lived in Valinor, although he did not agree that he was the only man there.
He remembered the story of Amandil, the father of Elendil, the first King of Gondor:
"Amandil was on the Council of Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, the last King of Númenor, who was seduced by Annatar (Sauron, in disguise) into thinking he could demand entrance to Aman.
It was this man who gathered those of the Númenoreans who still remained faithful to Eru and sent them with Elendil to Middle Earth, while he and three servants sailed West to try to warn those in Valinor of the coming attack. It is said that they were never seen or heard from again, but Thranduil refused to believe that Amandil was destroyed for wanting to help those in Valinor. Thranduil could understand the Valar wanting to give those living in Middle Earth the impression that they were killed for trying to enter. To do anything else would to encourage the race of Men to attempt the journey. He fully expected to see him, when he and Bard arrived on those White Shores."
.
Aha! Thranduil found the story he had been searching for in the third book, and here it was: the story of Andreth, a human woman, from the house of Bëor, and Aegnor, son of Finarfin, brother of King Finrod. He saw her reflection in a stream, and fell deeply in love with her, and she with him, but it was wartime, and he couldn't declare his intentions to her, because he had to leave.
Later, in the year 409, F. A., Andreth had a long debate with Fingon over the nature of Elves and Men, and their different final fates. It was Finrod's assertion that any intermarriage between the two races end in heartbreak and tragedy. Sometime later, both Elves were killed in battle, and Andreth remained alone for the rest of her days.
But there was something interesting at the end of the debate:
.
"Before he left, he took her hand, and she asked him where he was going. He explained that he had to return to the Siege; she asked him to tell Aegnor to be careful. He said he would tell him, but he may as well tell her not to weep. For Aegnor was a warrior, with a spirit of wrath, and with every stroke he dealt in battle, he saw the Enemy that hurt Andreth's people long ago. His last words to her were that she was not for Arda, and wherever she goes, beyond the world, may she find light and "'await us there, my brother - and me.'"
.
That wasn't entirely helpful, since the couple may be reunited, but only after Arda meets its end which will be eons in the future. He needed something for Daeron now.
Aegnor and Finrod were the Lady Galadriel's brothers, so she could provide more information. The problem was, she was still recovering from her confrontation with Sauron at Dol Goldur. Still, he could send a letter to her husband and his cousin, Lord Celeborn, to see if he has anything to add. Lothlórien is close enough to the Woodland Realm for him to observe Eärendil's blessing, just as he did!
In doing further research, he found an unexpected reference to yet another Elven-Human Marriage. Imrazôr and Mithrellas were the first Lord and Lady of Dol Amroth - who also happened to be Bard's ancient ancestors! These events occurred in the Third Age, which was even more helpful:
"Mithrellas was a Silvan Elf who, according the tradition of the House of Angelimir, accompanied Nimrodel from Lothlórien on her journey to the southern havens. Mithrellas, it is said, became lost in the woods of Dor-en-Ernil, where she was found by Imrazôr the Númenórean, who married her. So Elvish blood entered the line of the Princes of Dol Amroth, it was claimed, and her son Galador became the first of the long line of Princes. Mithrellas also bore Imrazôr a daughter, Gilmith. After the birth, she ran away at night and was never seen again..."
After reading the brief summary in one scroll, he looked for references in the other books, and found this:
.
"Galador, first Lord of Dol Amroth (c. Third Age 2004-2129) was the son of Imrazór, the Númenorean , who dwelt in Belfalas, with his wife, the Elven-lady Mithrellas. She had been a servant or companion to Nimrodel, who fled to the coast about the year 1980 T.A. along with many others, when evil arose in Moria. Nimrodel and her maidens were lost, but there is a persistent story that one Silvan Elf, named Mithrellas, was found and harbored by the man Imrazó r, and he later married her. But when she had borne him a son, Galador, and a daughter, Gilmith, she slipped away by night and he saw her no more. But though Mithrellas was of the lesser Silvan race (and not of the High Elves or the Grey) it was ever held that the house and kin of the Lords of Dol Amroth was noble by blood, as they were fair in face and mind."
So, Mithrellas was Silvan, as was Daeron! There had to be something to that… Silvans were considered "crude and rustic" to many others, but Thranduil, Celeborn and Elrond knew better. They were more attuned to the land and forests than any other type of Elf, and it was unlikely that Silvans would ever hear the call of the sea.
It stood to reason that they could find love with other races, such as Tauriel with Kili. No one can know what would have happened, had Kili lived, but it was entirely possible that they would join in marriage and be happy, for as long as Kili lived.
The story of Mithrellas' fate, as well as Nimrodel and her companions, left too many unanswered questions. Thranduil was irritated that the text in the book implied that Mithrellas left her husband and children voluntarily; Silvan Elves loved their mates every bit as passionately as Sindarin and Noldor Elves did! Unless IMrazór was cruel and abusive, she would be with him, and if that were true, no Elf would abandon her children to such a father.
If Mithrellas had not joined with Imrazór willingly, she would have faded right away from grief - there simply had to be a better explanation! He also noted that Nimrodel and all her companions were lost without a trace, so it seemed likely that they were kidnapped and killed by Orcs, as no trace of them were found.
No. Mithrellas would never leave her husband or her children, and a Silvan Elf living in a city such as Dol Amroth would have to spend a great deal of time walking in the forest to rejuvenate herself. She had to have been killed or taken somehow…
Pushing the stack of books aside, Thranduil began to write three long letters: one to Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien, one to Mithrandir, who was currently wintering at Beorn's house, and the last to Prince Angelimir of Dol Amroth.
After sending them off, he did as much work ahead as he could, because he was going to take a couple of days off.
Bard was coming to visit tomorrow!
.
.
The Woodland Realm, 11th of March, 2942 T.A.
"Is he here yet?" Tilda asked Galion anxiously, when she came from her room. Meriel smiled down at her, from behind her wheelchair.
"Not as yet, hênig. Soon. Your Ada is finishing up his work for the morning, and the other children should be finished with their classes any time now.
As if on cue, the door opened, and Rhys and Bain came in through the door, followed by Sigrid and Daeron.
"Are they here yet?" the blonde boy asked eagerly.
"Not yet," Tilda replied.
"Rhys, the rooms are set up with you and your father during his stay, so please go and gather your things to stay down the Hall."
"Oh, I did that last night; it's all ready to go. Besides, if I need something else, I can just stop in here."
"That sounds agreeable." To all the children, he said, "Please put your morning books away, and wash your hands," Galion ordered them. "Lunch will be served in fifteen minutes."
"Okay, Galion." Sigrid went over and kissed the Aide's cheek. "By the way, I did well on my history test. Thanks for the help with Doriath."
"You are most welcome. I am glad to be of help."
"He should be helpful, Iellig, he is almost 1700 years older than me!" Thranduil had just entered his chambers. "Are Bard and Alun here, yet?" He asked Galion.
Tilda giggled, as Bain said. "Nope. But the weather is sunny today, so it shouldn't be long. How long will he be staying?"
"He will be here for two days." Galion told the children. "His letter said he planned on leaving on Tuesday, after lunch.
"Goodie!" Tilda said. "I can't wait!"
Thranduil went over and kissed the top of her head. "Daeron tells me you are did very well in the pool yesterday."
"She enjoys it very much, My Lord." Meriel confirmed. "This afternoon, we will do your lessons, after her nap."
"Do I have to? Da's coming!"
"I am afraid, so, My Lady. We must not let you get too tired. I am sure your Da will insist upon it, too."
Daeron bent down and did a quick check of Tilda's heart and lungs, then politely excused himself, after confirming with the children they had their riding lesson this afternoon. "Soon, Lady Tilda, I think you will be ready to ride. It will be good for you; your back and arms are getting much stronger; if your progress continues, I see no reason why you cannot begin in a week."
"Really?" The little girl squealed.
"Hello all!" Hilda came in. "Is he here yet?"
"Not yet." Thranduil answered, as the children came out from their chambers.
"Our hands are nice and clean," Bain assured the Elves, "and we're starved!"
There was a knock on the door, and Daeron went to open it, to allow the servants to bring the trays of food. There was chicken vegetable soup, with rolls and butter, along with blueberry turnovers for dessert and a pitcher of cow's milk, for the children, and tea for the adults.
"It smells really good," Bain said, as they all sat down to eat.
They were all working on their dessert, when the door opened and, at last, Bard walked in the room. He looked wind-blown, and his clothes looked a bit wrinkled, but otherwise eager to see his family.
Alun looked equally rumpled, as he followed Bard into the room.
"Da!" Sigrid jumped out of her chair and went to hug him, closely followed by Bain.
"DA!" Rhys quickly swallowed down his dessert, and went his father's waiting arms.
"Hello, kids!" The King of Dale kissed and hugged both of them. "Let me look at you… Bain, I swear you've gotten taller!"
"What about me, Da?" Tilda asked, from her chair at the table.
Bard let go of the older children and went around to give her a hug. "You look rosier and more filled out, Little Bean!"
"Shall we show them, My Lady?" Meriel asked her, as she smiled down at her.
"Aye!" The little girl grinned. "Da and Ada, you stand right there, because we've got a big surprise!"
As everyone looked on, Thranduil came over and urge Bard to stand about six feet away from Tilda's chair. Then Meriel got up and helped Tilda get out of her chair to stand. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Uh huh," Tilda nodded, as Meriel let go.
And she stood up.
All by herself.
.
.
.
NOTES:
**The debate between Andreth and Finrod can be found in the History of Middle Earth, Vol. 10 Morgoth's Ring, Part IV: Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth. You can also find info on this webpage: /wiki/Athrabeth_Finrod_ah_Andreth#Conclusion
**The Story of Tuor and Idril can be found The Silmarillion: The Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin." You can also find info on this webpage: /wiki/Tuor
**The story of Imrazôr and Mithrellas, is found in Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle Earth, page 248: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," and "Amroth and Nimrodel." More info can be found here: /wiki/Mithrellas