The characters will be using using some Sindarin words/phrase in their daily life. According to my research, the area of Dol Amroth was first settled by Elves so the people of the area still use this form of elvish on a daily basis.
I own nothing!
Chapter 2
"Nemir!" called a deep voice from below, "time to wake up. Most of the morning has already passed."
Nemir, disturbed from a deep sleep, slowly stretched and groaned at her father's call. She looked down from the loft where her bed was kept to see the smiling face of her father looking back at her. His Gondorian heritage was obvious in his dark, shoulder length hair, gray eyes, and strong face. His shoulders were broad and his body muscled by years of rowing boats and pulling in heavy nets full of fish.
"Happy Birthday my Limelle (little fish)," he greeted happily, "If you hurry up and come down, I have a present for you."
Nemir grunted and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes. "I'll be down momentarily Ada," she said her voice still rough with sleep.
"Try not to dawdle much longer daughter, your Naneth has a special day planned," Reavor chuckled shaking his head slightly. He was all too familiar with his daughter's losing battle with mornings and knew this one would be no different.
Nemir slumped back against her pallet, regretting the long hours she spent on the beach the night before instead of sleeping in her bed. She always found it difficult to sleep at night, especially if the moon was bright like it was last night. Begrudgingly, she accepted her fate and climbed down the ladder and into the small living area that served as the kitchen and dining area. She traversed to her parents' room where all the clothing was kept and exchanged her sleeping attire for a simple, blue gown.
Once changed, she used her mother's shell shaped comb to brush out her wild, wavy hair. The bay wind and sleep had released it from the large braids she had created the evening before, its long length caused it to tangled more easily. She had always wished for long hair like her mother's, but perhaps that was a mistake if it meant she had to dedicate such attention to it. After the tangles had been removed, she tamed the thick mass into a quick braid down her back and then reached for the small mirror glass to appraise her efforts.
Naneth always referred to her hair as Midnight Sea, because it reminded her of the ocean under a full moon. It wasn't black, but a deep, rich blue. Her hair was dark enough that it could pass for black in dim lighting or under a hood, but would receive odd stares from strangers when left uncovered in daylight. The braid she made was acceptable, except that it didn't successfully cover her abnormal ears and she had to pull and pin a couple piece to provide better coverage. If one was unfamiliar with elf ears, they might accuse her of being one, but there were subtle differences.
Oaritsi ears are slightly longer than the Eledhrims' (elves') and have a more dramatic point. The edge of the ears were uncurved and thinner almost like a fin, dusted with tiny iridescent scales at the edge and tip. Due to her mixed heritage, her ears were not as dramatic as her mother's but still marked her. She didn't typically put effort into covering them, but she knew Naneth was planning on taking her to the market in the village today to obtain supplies for the birthday meal that evening. The villagers knew the two ladies were different, but seemed to ignore them if an effort was made to appear normal. Luckily the house was outside town, so they only had to really make an effort on special occasions. Finally she locked eyes with herself. The storm grey staring back at her seemed no different now that she was 15, the age considered the beginning of womanhood.
"Nemir! Are you presentable yet?" her father's voice released her from her thoughts, "I have to return to the boats soon and I want to give you your present before I do."
"Coming Ada!" she replied as she quickly returned the comb and mirror and exited the room.
"There is my lovely girl," her father pulled her into a comforting hug. Though she was tall for her age, her father still made her feel small and protected in his firm arms. "Come quickly," he motioned her to the family table, "and close your eyes".
Nemir excitedly made her way to the table and sat down, looking around the small room for anything that could be her Birthday present.
"Have I missed the surprise?" her mother asked as she appeared in the doorway still damp from her morning swim. Her deep, ocean blue hair hung in large braids down her back, a simple robe wrapped around her toned form.
"You have impeccable timing my heart," responded Reavor and gave his wife a quick kiss. "No peeking Nemir" he reminded.
Nemir shut her eyes again as the anticipation boiled within her. She heard something solid be placed upon the table and the swish of fabric being removed. "Now?" she asked hopefully.
"Now," replied her parents in unison.
Before her on the table sat a intricately carved harp, about 30 inches tall, made of bleached driftwood. The head was crafted to look like crashing waves, and the body was inlaid with mother of pearl. This smaller style was was similar to a kind used by bards and minstrels because of its portability. Nemir gently reached out and caressed the wood, "It's beyond lovely".
"I'm so glad you love it. I know you've desired one of your own for some time," said her mother.
" I never dreamed of owning an instrument made with such impeccable craftsmanship. Thank you both. I will treasure it forever," Nemir said as she pulled the harp close to her chest.
"Tonight we shall finally be able to play together after dinner," planned her father excitedly.
" I can't wait Ada," replied Nemir with a huge smile.
"You will have a little time to familiar yourself with your present while I prepare to go to market. We shall be leaving soon as those tarts take time to prepare," reminded her mother.
"Alas, I must leave as well," stated her father sadly, " I'll be lucky if those boys haven't sunk every boat at the dock during my absence."
Nemir reached up to give her father a hug, "Thank you again for my wonder harp Ada. Our duet tonight shall be epic".
With a kiss to his wife and daughter, Reavor swiftly exited out the door to return to his vessel. Nemir plucked at her harp absorbing the sound of each individual string, familiarizing herself with the new instrument. Her mother soon exited the bedroom, her hair braided into a bun and a head scarf tied around it to hide the uncommon color. Her dress was unchanged and was sure to cause a scandal in the village, but it wasn't anything they hadn't experienced before. Her mother refused to wear the multilayered, heavy, and restrictive styles expected of mortal women. She prefered light, flowing fabric and almost never wore sleeves unless the weather demanded it. Garments were always made for easy application and removal so that her mother could enter and exit the sea with ease. One particularly nasty, old lady once yelled at her for walking around in her undergarments..
Nemir always believed that the women were always jealous of her mother's beauty and that is why they enjoyed gossiping so. She tried not to let their words affect her, but it pained her every time a mother pulled their children closer as she walked by. She loved her parents, but her childhood had been a lonely with no one her age to play with.
"Shall we?" asked Aeriel extending an arm to her daughter. Nemir took her mother's arm with a smile and they began their journey into Town.
Using the word "town" to describe the loose collection of simple, wooden homes, a tavern, smithy, and market was a bit of an exaggeration. Most survived off of the fish that were caught each day and occasionally traders or visitors would pass through on their way to Belfalas or Dol Amroth. It didn't even have an official name, but locals referred to it as Fish Farm because not much else would grow there. Given the small size of the market, it didn't take long for Aeriel to gather the ingredients needed for tarts later that evening. The selection was limited but they were lucky enough to find a few strawberries, honey, and some butter. Most of the people ignored them, but Nemir still noticed some of the looks cast their way. She received a little enjoyment out of the fact that their visit was probably the most interesting thing to happen in weeks.
With their supplies gathered, the couple made their way back home guarding the goodies stored in their baskets. The rest of the day would be spent preparing the dinner as the tart making process was time consuming and required dedicated attention. The mother and daughter sang as they cooked in the kitchen, their voices harmonizing so perfectly.
Evening arrived and Reavor entered the door whistling a cheerful sailor tune. "Greetings my lovely ladies! I bring bounty from the sea," he presented bundle of hearty sized fish.
Aeriel smiled and retrieved the fish from her husband's hands. "My knight in fish scale armor!" she exclaimed as she rewarded him with a kiss, "You wash up while I place these on the fire. Won't take long for them to cook and the sides are already prepared".
The family enjoyed a very pleasant dinner of roasted fish, baked potatoes, and strawberry tarts. Nemir savored each bite of her tart knowing her chances of having another before her next birthday were slim. After dinner, the family sat around the hearth and her father retrieved his well used harp, the wood worn smooth after years of hands gliding over the surface. Nemir excitedly grabbed her new harp as well, "What song shall we sing Ada?".
"Mmmm…" he pondered a moment before a thought sparked in his eyes, "follow my lead," he instructed as he began to play a soft and lofting tune. Nemir watched mesmerized as his rough hands danced gracefully along the strings.
Between the here, between the now
Between the north, between the south
Aeriel and Nemir recognized the song and joined their voices with his. Nemir tried to copy his hand movements as she plucked her harp.
Between the west, between the east
Between the time, between the place
From the shell
A song of the sea
Neither quiet nor calm
Searching for love again
Between the winds, between the waves
Between the sands, between the shore
From the shell
A song of the sea
Neither quiet nor calm
Searching for love again
Between the stones, between the storm
Between belief, between the sea (2)
The song concluded and Reavor applauded enthusiastically, "I am blessed for there is no Lord, Noble, or King who has the privilege to witness such a lovely performance."
"You performed with us as well Ada," challenged Nemir teasingly.
"Aye, but I hear my own voice constantly so the charm has dwindled a bit," he responded with a chuckle.
"It still has the power to charm me," said her mother with a wink placing a quick kiss on her husband's cheek.
"And Ulmo be praised for that!" exclaimed her father, "and I pray my luck continues for if not your mother may come to her senses one day and realized the mistake she made marrying a poor fisherman."
"Never," replied Aeriel while emphasising her decision with another kiss.
Night had fallen and the silver light of the full moon could be seen rising above the horizon. Spotting this Aeriel motioned to Nemir and drew her eyes to the sky, "It is time. We must make our way to the beach."
For the first time in her life, Nemir felt slightly reluctant to journey down to the shore. Her mother had kept most of tonight's events a secret only revealing that it related to learning about her heritage now that she was becoming a woman. Forcing the jitters in her stomach down, Nemir nodded and followed her mother down to the water. The moon provided ample light so they could maneuver clearly, and they soon reached the soft sand. Aeriel unwrapped her dress and carefully placed it upon a rock, motioning to Nemir to do the same. With their bodies bare to the cold light, Aeriel lead her daughter down to the surf and into the water. Once the water reached to their knees, her mother paused and began to sing in a language unknown to her.
My Sisters, my sisters
Daughters of the Sea
Please hear my voice
And come quickly to me
The Sea Song
The Sea Song
Join singing with me
My Sister, My sisters
Daughters of the Sea
She repeated the frame several times as her voice carried throughout the waves. Nemir noticed that her mother's voice had slightly changed upon singing this song. While always beautiful, it now possessed an additional mesmerizing quality, containing a power she had never experienced before. It spoke to her soul and demand that she join in her mother's song. She saw no need to deny it and her voice added to the magic melody. To her surprise, her voice had acquired the same enchanting quality and it was as if her eyes were open for the first time.
The light provided by the moon increased ten fold and she was able to see into the dark waves as if the sun were still in the sky. In them, she saw around 25 to 30 faces staring back at her.
As the Foam Maidens gracefully swarmed around the pair, Nemir had the opportunity to observe the forms of these unknown relatives. Unsurprisingly they shared many of the same traits with her Naneth: heart shaped face, angled cheekbones, large round eyes, and lean muscles with a sturdy frames. They wore little to no embellishment upon their bodies in terms of clothing. Many displayed jewelry such as bracelets and necklaces made from pearls, shells, coral, gems, and precious metals. A few even wore tops made of shells or scales to cover their bosoms. The largest divergence came from the variety of hair colors. Nemire spotted white like sea foam, green as seaweed, aqua of the shallows, and grey as a storm. They greeted Aeriel with hugs and phrases she did not quite understand. The language seemed to mimic the very sounds of waves the way it rolled and flowed. She was beginning to feel very overwhelmed and tried to step back but was stopped by more bodies behind her.
A multi-layered circle was beginning to form around the mother and daughter. The women danced joyfully around, kicking up foam and seawater while continuing to sing. Aeriel took her daughter in her arms and pulled her close so she was able to speak in her ear despite the surrounding song.
"I can not tell you the answer. I can't instruct you what to choose. Your spirit and blood will show you the way. No matter what, I love you my Nemir". With a sudden release, Aeriel had disappeared into the crowd leaving her daughter alone.
Nemir stood in shock for a moment watching the spectacle around her. What was she supposed to do? What if she did something wrong? Her mother's words repeated in her mind yet no new meaning was obtained. The singing grew louder and it soon overwhelmed her thoughts, a mysterious mist flowed from the ocean surrounding the group. Each flawless voice flowing into another singing a song that was strange and yet familiar to her. The language foreign, yet the feelings it evoked touched her very essence.
It reminded her of the freedom she felt when swimming along the shore. The lapping and rolling of the waves as they crashed against the sand. The joy she felt when she sang with her family. The need to smell the salt air and hear the calling of gulls. All of these elements joined together like strands woven into a tapestry to form a larger picture revealing the question.
"Do you hear the Sea Song?"
Nemir new that she did hear the Sea Song. She had always heard the Sea Song, but hadn't recognize it until that moment. Allowing her instincts to guide her, Nemir responded by singing, "The Sea Song is within me!"
