SCENE III
Enter ANAIRË and LALWEN.
Anairë: Where is Aredhel, now? I asked you to -
Lalwen: - to bring her to you? Aye; I bade her come.
Where has she gone? Aredhel! Come here, girl!
Enter AREDHEL.
Aredhel: Yes, mother, here I am. What did you want?
Anairë: We need to talk. Lalwen, leave us alone...
No, maybe it is better that you stay.
You know my daughter is now fully grown.
Lalwen: Aye, that I know, and yet to me it seems
that but a week has passed since she was born.
And surely it was only yesterday
she learnt to walk, and fell upon her face -
and Fingon picked her up and said to her,
"What? Falling on your face? When you are grown,
you will make others fall for you instead,
will that not suit you better, sister dear?"
And then she stopped her crying and said, "Ay."
I swear, until the world comes to an end,
I'll not forget it - oh, it was a laugh!
I warrant that she had upon her brow
a bump big as a chicken's egg, at least;
and yet, when Fingon said, "When you are grown,
you shall make others fall, is that not so?",
she stilled her tears that moment and said, "Ay."
Aredhel: Enough about my childhood escapades.
Lalwen: Marry, I've done. Anairë, I expect
you had something you wanted to discuss?
Anairë: Marry, that "marry" is the very theme
I came to talk of. Tell me now, my child,
have you begun to think of marriage yet?
Aredhel: It is an honour that I dream not of.
Lalwen: An honour! If I had not known you well,
I'd say that you were wise beyond your years.
Anairë: Well, think of marriage now; younger than you,
here in our city, ladies of esteem,
are married now and mothers; why, indeed,
I was a mother when I was your age.
In brief then: Finrod seeks you for his love.
Lalwen: You'll find no better elf in all the world;
he's fair and noble, with a heart of gold.
Anairë: Valinor's summer has not such a flower.
Lalwen: He is a flower, aye, a very flower.
Anairë: What say you? Can you love this noble elf?
You'll meet him at our feast; look for yourself:
examine every line upon his face,
and see how each lends to the others grace;
look deep into his eyes, and you will find
that he's not only fair, but wise and kind;
and written on his brow, for all to see,
how bright the story of his life must be.
By taking part in his tale, should you choose,
you have a lot to win, and naught to lose;
for you shall share in all his happiness,
by having him, making yourself no less.
Lalwen: No less! Nay, bigger, surely.
Anairë: Speak briefly, can you like of Finrod's love?
Aredhel: I promise nothing; but I think I may,
if he's indeed as wondrous as you say.
Enter another elf.
Other elf: My lady, the guests are come, and all ask for you.
Anairë: We'll be there presently.
Exit other elf.
Anairë: Come, Aredhel.
Lalwen: Have fun, my girl. Try to behave, as well.
Exeunt.
