I am so sorry I have neglected these angels. I let myself get distracted with other stories but will try to do better in the future. The Tom Bombadil chapter was hard to write and I am reeeeeeaally glad it is over with. stupid stupid stupid idea. sorry so short. please read and review. thanks! - dilly
Aegnor stood dumbfounded as Carnistir stepped forward and swept into a graceful bow.
"My heart is full of joy to be blessed to see you once again, my Lady Goldberry."
Musical laughter rang out, causing the dark of the shadows to fall into a subtle retreat. "Caranthir Carnistir Morifinwë Fëanorian. Our heart sings to see you once more." The Lady moved forward and enveloped Carnistir in a warm embrace and then pulled back and smoothed his hair as one would a wayward child. "Always happy are we to find your company for what was once one has now become two." Bright blue eyes, deeper than any pool in Tirion, gazed at Aegnor.
"Yes my lady, I would introduce to you my blood kin, Aegnor Ambaráto Aikanáro."
The Lady smiled and Aegnor could not help but catch his breath. "Son of Arafinwë Ingoldo, yes we know your family well. My husband and Lord once walked with your father along the hill of Túna, such beauty to be seen."
"It pales in comparison to yours my lady," Aegnor spoke the words without thinking, feeling clumsy and foolish. But the Lady simply smiled.
"Sweet words, like all your kin. But by the light in your eyes I see you are a child of the first age, for the fire of life burns hot within and your heart can only beat fierce and true although the ring in your voice tell me you are young yet again," her voice flowed serene to his ears as her eyes sparkled like the morning sun on the water. All Aegnor could do was stand there as one struck dumb. "Come. You will come with me and we will wait. My lord will not be long. He heard your song but another voice pulled him with urgency. You will be guests of our house and wait in comfort."
Carnistir bowed once more. "We are in your debt my lady."
They followed the lady Goldberrry as she seemingly glided before them, leaving a path of lilies in her wake. The forest around them seem to grow even darker, the shadows of the trees lurked, watching them. White mists began to rise from the water and curled around the edges of the path, but did not cross.
Aegnor could not say just how long they walked. It could have minutes or it could have been hours, he was not sure. Time seemed to have no meaning here, almost as if it would have been some sort of sin to track the hour, so peaceful her presence was.
Eventually they came upon a small cottage that backed up to a bubbling stream. Cobblestones spotted with primrose and lilies lined the walk way as wisteria and morning glories vines their way along the home. It seemed as if it had become suddenly brighter and Aegnor wondered if dawn had broke. Had they walked that long? The Lady opened the cottage door and gestured for them to follow.
"Enter please and be welcome first children of the land and descendants of Finwë Ñoldóran."
The cabin was simple and unpretentious, while simultaneously warm and inviting. Bright beams of light shone through the window, illuminating the room. Two large upholstered chairs sat in front of a large stone fireplace where a small teapot hung over the fire. A second set of much plainer chairs sat next to a table in an opposite corner of the room where cabinets lined the walls. Large wooden beams draped with vines with small delicate flowers ran along the ceiling, along with various herbs and plants that seemed to be hung up to dry. It gave the cabin an earthy floral scent that only seemed to emphasize the dream like atmosphere. Aegnor watched the lady Goldberry as she hummed softly to herself while rummaging through the cabinets.
"Who ... what is she," he asked softly.
"She ..." Carnistir paused as if to think about the question, "is the River-woman's daughter."
"She is not just some simple river-woman's daughter. She could be ... for a moment I had thought she was one of the Eldar."
"I never said she was simple," Carnistir sniffed dismissively, "she is anything but simple. Neither of them are. They have had many names. Men who have crossed them would call them fays or fairyfolk, spirits of mythology. While the lady in the past went by the Jenny Greenteeth or Peg in the old country. Although the stories told are menacing, that has never been her way." Aegnor's confusion must have been plain on her face for Carrnistir gave a short sigh of annoyance before speaking once more. "You have seen her, heard her voice, yes? For the eldar it is a soothing, joyous feeling, but for Men it is nothing short of hypnotic. They would follow the sound anywhere, even to their death."
Aegnor stamped his own annoyance at his cousin down as he thought about Carnistir's words. It made sense. He was not sure if he could not follow her himself if she were to ask. "And her husband?"
"Tom ..." Carnistir began with small thoughtful smile, "is a little more complicated. I believe he was called Larwain Ben-adar by the Moriquendi and Forn by the dwarves. Men once called him Orald but that was some time ago. They also called him the Greenman or Jack in the Green or Nym in the old country of Men. They worshiped him as a god at one time, although he never desired it. He is master of wood, water and hill. The first time I ever met him, well, stumbled across him actually, it was an accident. He found me in truth."
"But what is he," Aegnor mumbled soft to himself.
"He is," a soft voice answered from behind him.
Aegnor and Carnistir spun around to see Goldberry smiling behind them, a cup in each hand. Aegnor's face went warm from embarrassment and he stumbled out an apology as he took a cup from her hand. If she were bothered at all by their discussion of who or what she and her husband were, she did not show it. The Lady simple smiled and placed a gentle reassuring hand against Aegnor's cheek. Aegnor suddenly thought of his mother.
"Come," she soothed, "and we shall sit by the fire. He will be along soon now."
Aegnor blinked with surprise to find that he was already sitting in a large comfortable chair along with Carnistir next to him, sipping from his cup as if they had not just been standing a moment ago. Goldberry glided around them and took a seat in one of the other upholstered chairs in front of the fire, humming softly. Aegnor's brows came together slightly. He had thought there had only been two chairs earlier, not four.
I myself believe they are one of the Ainur or perhaps a Maia gone rogue."
"That's impossible," Aegnor replied.
"Is it," quipped Carnistir. "I mean, it is not as if it would be the first time that has happened. Why not? I do not know much about him. What I do know is he is not of this world or our world or any other world there is out there, and yet he is somehow tied to them all."
"It still does not answer the question of who or what he is," said Aegnor.
"Why Tom's a merrry fellow!" A voice boomed from the doorway, startling Aegnor as he tried not to spill his drink in his lap. "His jacket blue and his boots yellow," the voice booming voice continued with a laugh. "Ah, I've never liked that song but it seems to sum it up nicely."
Aegnor struggled to focus on the figure that now made his way across the room. He was indeed wearing a bright blue coat and high yellow boots and holding a large tray of lilies, but that seemed to be the only thing that Aegnor could be certain of. As Tom made his way across the room, he tossed the old worn hat he had been wearing to he side as he bowed reverently over Goldberry's hand, kissing it tenderly and presenting the lilies to her. But when he stood up straight, he was now wearing a crown of laurels across his brow. When had he put that on? And it had seemed to Aegnor that he was rather short in stature as he greeted his wife, but now that he was pulling Carnistir into a friendly embrace, he seemed taller. Aegnor squeezed his eyes shut for the briefest of moments to focus, only to open them up and find this enigma of a man now in front of him.
He had a welcoming smile and ruddy cheeks beneath his dark brown beard. His hair was thick and wavy and tied back with a loose piece of string. But it was his eyes that stunned Aegnor to stillness. They were a bright blue but it was not the color that was remarkable. It was the light within them. The light of Aman. This man, this being before him, had seen the light of the two trees.
"And this fellow? Another child of the One," Tom laughed, "once lost, now found. Warms ol' Tom's heart to see you, warms his heart it does."
Aegnor stood up and realized that he was much taller than Tom. It was his presence that somehow made him bigger. He place his hand to his heart and bowed low. "It is an honor sir, to make your acquaintance and step beneath your roof. I am Aegnor Aikanaro Ambarato. Son of Finarfin."
Aegnor did not know he had introduced himself so formally. It somehow seemed appropriate, at least at the time. But as he straightened back up he saw Carnistir had a little smirk and that Tom's eyes had widened in surprise. Aegnor could feel his face go red.
"Ahoo, well, well! Such manners for one so young! Sit, Sit."
Aegnor blinked and found he was sitting again, cup once more full in hand. He took a slow breath to fight the disorientation that followed. Carnistir leaned over to him.
"You get used to it," his cousin whispered. Aegnor's embarrassment was replace with relief to know that he was not losing his mind. Carnistir must be experiencing the same feelings as well.
"Son of Finarfin, I be knowing your father," Tom said from where he now sat. Aegnor did not remember how he got there and did not try. "Once walked the dark shores of Ekkaia with and spoke of troubles. But those times are far and away, unless you bring troubles of your own." Tom turned to Carnistir and gave him a curious look. "Was it you who brought this once more into the world?"
Aegnor looked down and gave a startled little gasp in spite of himself. On the floor between them was the sword out of its wrappings and the blade exposed. Aegnor began to move to cover it before it could speak, such dark words would be a sacrilege in this place and sinful before the Lady Goldberry, but the voices never came. He looked at the sword and waited. Surely it would begin its cries any moment now, hissing and cursing at fate and begging for blood. But there was nothing. The black blade still gleamed with a pale fire, but it was dim, as if it slept. Aegnor looked at Carnistir who could not hide his surprise either.
"It's name is Anguirel and comes from a dark heart," Tom said as he frowned slightly at the sword between them. "Has a mate called Anglachel, but it's fate is elsewhere. I could hear it calling in the wood from afar. Don't you know the trees themselves cried for me to save them. How'd you come by such an angry thing," Tom asked Carnistir.
"He had it," Carnistir replied with a flick of his hand towards Aegnor. Aegnor glared at his cousin as Tom turned his gaze towards him.
Aegnor cleared his throat. "I ... it was given to me, for safe keeping. Those who found it could not hear it but knew that there was a malice to it. I took it to keep those who would be tempted from using it, not knowing what it was capable of."
Tom considered his words. "Wise that was. Men are easily tempted. But no fear, ol' Tom knows you are pure of heart and devoted to good. It will be sensitive to the will of the wielder and serve you." Tom turned to Carnistir with a sigh. "I'm supposing you want to use it against a dark servant?"
"Will it work? Against her, will it work," Carnistir asked cryptically.
"A blade brings death to anything when it strikes correctly. But enough talk of dark things. How long its been since I've seen you children walking the land. Makes my heart long for younger days. Come, let's speak of a time before war and strife and sing songs of love and life."
This response was not the one that Carnistir had wanted but he seemed to resign himself to humor their host so quickly that Aegnor believed his cousin must have expected this to happen. Aegnor did not mind as much. He enjoyed speaking of when then first came to Arda and the wildness of the lands. He was not surprised to find that Carnistir's father had come across Tom in the past. His uncle had a penchant for discovering the unexpected and keeping it secret. Aegnor had been surprised to find that he knew his father though, having walked the far western shores of Arda with him. Aegnor wondered what would possess his father to journey so far?
At times their host would break into song. He had a deep resonate voice that Aegnor found soothing and quite pleasant to listen too. He would sing of rolling hills and the river woman's daughter. He sang of small folk who lived in the ground and white trees. Sometimes though, the songs would take on a mournful tone and Tom would speak of the changing world and land. Lamenting that it was becoming so there was no place for nature in the world and feared what would come to Men in the end. He spoke of the old shepherds who used to look after the forests and how now those that were left could be counted on one hand and rarely moved anymore. Not even to disperse the wights that would plague their land.
Carnistir had listened quietly as the conversation would shift to song and then back to story. But upon mention of the wights he leaned in once more.
"They are becoming brave to show themselves with frequency," he said, "or perhaps they are being prompted."
"I be knowing of who you speak," Tom answered with a smile, "and perhaps you're right. She is troublesome."
"She is a blight Tom, and must be stopped."
"Who is she," Aegnor blurted out, exasperated by the side speak.
Tom look at him in surprise. "Why she is nefarious, solitary and loveless. Berruthiel is her name and she is the queen of cats."
Aegnor looked at Carnistir. "Beruthiel. Have you any memory of this name?"
"None," Carnistir replied. "It must have been after ... well, you know. Anyway, she sounds charming."
"Ahaha! Charming," Tom bellowed with laughter. "Why, even old man willow would hike up his skirts a-running! But now my fellows, we eat. Come, come around the table. Goldberry is waiting!"
Aegnor turned to see that the small table in the corner of the room was now laden with food and four chairs around it. Where had the other two chairs come from?
The food brought long lost memories of Aegnor's childhood to the fore. Honeycomb, fresh bread with butter, cream and pudding, treats he had not seen since he was a child. Tom laughed and sang as they ate and Aegnor found himself smiling right along with him. It reminded of a time he and his brothers spent in the company of several Maia of Oromë in their youth. Aegnor had even spent some time with Carnistir's brothers, Tyelkormo and Curufinwe, hunting the fields of Oromë for game. They had been close at one time. At least, they had been as close as one from that family would allow. The memory caused Aegnor to suddenly realize that he had no memory of Carnistir joining them on such outings. Large family gatherings certainly, but not the social calls that many of his brothers would partake in. Maitimo and Fingon had been close and occasionally Makalaure with them. And even Irisse and Angarato would join in on the hunts. But as far as Aegnor could remember, Carnistir had never shown any interest.
The cousin sat across from him at the table now, was an entirely different beast. He listened patiently to the nonsensical ramblings of their host, even interjecting a few songs of his own. When he caught Aegnor looking at him with open surprise, he simply rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue dismissively at Aegnor.
"We all took music lessons you know. Some of us just did not like the spot light as much as others."
Still, Aegnor could see there was some disappointment in Carnistir's reactions. He obviously wanted Tom to help them with their quest, but the little man was not having it.
"You know that's not a-happening," he chided Carnistir gently, "ol' Tom isn't one for that. He'll help you in need, yes he will, but not that. Tom has his own house to mind. You know to call if you find yourself in a spot again." Tom leapt to his feet and sang out in a clear and booming voice:
"Ho! Tom Baombadil, Tom Bombadillo!
By water, wood and hill, by reed and willow,
By fire, sun and moon, hearten now and hear us!
Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!"
Aegnor had a strange nagging feeling that he had already heard this before, realizing it was the song he had heard Carnistir singing by the lake earlier in the evening.
Carnistir stood up and opened his mouth to speak, only to be silenced by Tom's sudden stillness. Gone was the mirth and nonsensical songs of just moments ago. The air in the room seemed to take on a burden so heavy that even Aegnor could feel it press against his person. Tom turned to face them, his eyes still bright but solemn.
"You children must go on now, ol' Tom's been selfish and kept ya too long. Did my heart some good to see you again, but you must be a-going." Tom looked at Carnistir and then to Aegnor. "She's closer than your a-thinkin and she knows about you, the both of you. Up to no good that one. The sword will do, although not the way you think. But now you must go. They're worried about you. Yes, ol' Tom kept you too long."
A low slow creaking sound came from behind Aegnor and he turned to see the door to the cabin slowly opening, revealing what looked to be their campsite just outside except that it was covered with a thin layer of snow. Aegnor turned back to find the cabin dark, the fire gone out and Tom and Goldberry gone. Carnistir sighed.
"Come on," he muttered as he walked out the door.
"What just happened," Aegnor asked, following his cousin out the door. He walked out into the cold crisp morning air, his boots crunching in the snow. Aegnor looked around in amazement only to find that the cabin had now disappeared as well. "What the hell just happened?"
"He told us what he thought we needed to know," Carnistir grumbled as he gathered up their scattered items and began thrusting them into the packs.
"What we needed to know," Aegnor said as he began to gather up belongings as well. "And what was that? The song?"
"We know that the sword will kill her, she is closer than I thought and is aware that we are coming ... and we might be in trouble."
Aegnor stopped mid grab and looked at Carnistir. The first part he spoke in typical Carnistir style, condescending and dismissive. But the last bit had come out more or less muttered under his breath, as if talking to himself. Or he did not want Aegnor to hear.
"What do you mean-"
"I mean we don't have time to do this," Carnistir interrupted, "not now. We need to get back to the cabin. I can't get a fucking signal out here."
Aegnor resisted the urge to walk over and slam his cousin to the ground and resumed gathering his things from beneath the snow. When did it snow? Had a cold front blown through during the night? Aegnor could not remember hearing anything about one that was coming this way.
The morning sun was dim on the horizon by the time they left, hidden behind an overcast sky. A chill that would have been noticeable to anyone else was in the air, but it did not slow the two of them down. Aegnor was not fond of the cold, but this was nothing to cause any concern for him. In truth the cold barely touched them. It was the deeply buried memories that the glaring sheets of white before them would dredge up that Aegnor despised.
Carnistir set a quick pace back to the cabin which was fine with Aegnor. The snow began to melt away the closer they came to the main trail, giving away to the crack of dried out twigs and the last of the dead leaves that littered the path. The barren limbs of the trees reached their spindly fingers towards the grey morning sky. And yet something was not right, something that Aegnor could not quite put his finger on.
Upon reaching the cabin, Carnistir immediately set down his pack and began to rummage for what Aegnor assumed was his cellphone. He ignored his cousin and made his way into the inside only to go still when he opened the door. Nothing looked amiss. In fact everything was exactly as it was when they left. Except it was dark inside and Aegnor remembered leaving a light on for when they returned, and the air in the cabin was almost as chilled as the air outside. Which did not make sense since the heat would have kicked on with the onset of the cold front. Unless it was shut off. And Aegnor did not remember doing anything like that. Had someone come in their absence and shut the breaker off? It was possible since no one other than Andrea would know they were out here. Perhaps one of the caretakers had come by to check the cabin due to the sudden change in weather.
Something did not seem right.
Aegnor could hear Carnistir muttering outside but paid him no heed. This feeling that gnawed at him, made him feel as if he were missing something, unnerved him to no end. He decided to open himself to the bond. It would only be for a second, just to make sure Andrea was all right. He was not prepared.
A wave of bitterness swept over him as soon as he opened himself up, causing him to unconsciously step back. She has been crying. Andrea has been crying a lot.
Aegnor ran immediately for his bag and retrieved his own cellphone only to find it dead. How did that happen? Yes, it had been left out in the elements but the case was weather proof and it had only been one night. He needed desperately to get to a phone. He had to call Andrea. Aegnor ran back outside, shouting for his cousin.
"Carnistir," he shouted as he made his way to the porch, "Carnistir! I need your phone! I have to call Andrea now. Carnistir!
Aegnor stepped outside to see his cousin sitting on the porch swing, slowly moving back and forth, with a strange expression as he chewed at his bottom lip. "You should probably check your messages," was all he said.
"I can't," Aegnor replied irritated, "my phone is dead from being left out all night."
"Yeah about that," Carnistir said with a slight grimace, "that's not why your phone is dead. I mean that might be part of it but not the main reason."
"What? Carnistir, I don't have time-"
"Yes! Exactly. You see, speaking of time, time doesn't really work the same with Tom -"
"- for this right now. Please -"
"What could seem like just a few hours with him -"
"- I'm begging you, just let me use -"
"- could be days in our world. Weeks even."
"- your phone, just this once -"
"Eight weeks to be precise."
"- to call Andrea ... what ..."
"We have been gone ... eight weeks."
Aegnor looked at Carnistir in stunned silence as he tried to grasp what his cousin just told him. They have been gone for eight weeks?
"That's impossible," Aegnor protested incredulously.
"Not really, you see Tom sort of exists on this entirely other plane. Time has no meaning for him. It's always spring. What could seem like an hour in his reality could be days or even -"
Carnistir was speaking but Aegnor could not really hear him. He knew what his cousin had said was true before the words ever left his mouth. It all made sense now. That nagging feeling that something was off. When they had first walked out from the cabin, they were at the peak of fall. The trees were dressed in reds, orange, and gold. The sun was still bright and warm. But now they sky was turning winter grey. The trees had long shed their fall foliage. They had been gone for eight weeks without a word to anyone. Andrea had not heard anything from him in all this time. Aegnor looked at his cousin who was still talking.
"- the first time I met Tom after my return, I was unknowingly with him for almost a year. Can you imagine? Why I -ack!"
Aegnor grabbed Carnistir by his collar and slammed him against the wall of the cabin, causing it to shake to the foundation and something to fall from the walls inside.
"Eight weeks!" He shouted.
"Now Aegnor -" Carnistir wheezed, finding it hard to speak with Aegnor's hands around his throat.
"Eight Weeks! We've been gone eight weeks! And you just now decide to inform me?! This was not something you thought you should mention earlier," Aegnor yelled.
Carnistir tried to speak between gasps for air. "I didn't ... I didn't think ..."
"I know you didn't think Carnistir! You never do! Not about anything other than yourself that is! Do you know the trouble you have caused? Do you have any idea what you have done?"
"I ... I ...had hoped ... we wouldn't ... Aegnor ... please ... I'm sorry ..."
Aegnor's hands tightened on his cousin's neck till Carnistir's eyes began to roll back. Carnistir could have resisted, he could have fought back, but instead he did nothing. Aegnor released his grip and Carnistir dropped to the floor, simultaneously gagging and sucking in breath. Aegnor could not remember the last time he had felt such anger. His temples throbbed as his blood rushed and his hands clenched into tight fists. Carnistir slowly began to rise.
"I ... am sorry Aegnor ... I truly am. I did not ... mean ... for that to happen. It is something ... I have no control over. I had to take the risk. Please, I am sorry. I ask, no, I beg for your forgiveness ... please."
Aegnor looked at the hand that Carnistir extended out to him in apology. Aegnor felt that his cousin was being sincere, but with Carnistir it could be hard to tell. Still, in all of his memories, Aegnor could not recall one where Carnistir apologized. But eight weeks ...
In a final burst of rage Aegnor swung and connected a balled fist with Carnistir's chin, sending him sprawling down the porch steps. Aegnor then took a deep breath and took control of his rage. He walked down the porch steps and extended his hand out.
Carnistir struggled for a moment to sit up as he rubbed his chin and spit out a mouthful of blood. He eyes Aegnor's hand suspiciously for a brief second before accepting the help. Aegnor hauled him to his feet.
"You should have informed me of this," he said.
"Fair enough," Carnistir replied, eyeing him warily. "Shall we go?"
"Immediately," answered Aegnor.