Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 19- A day at the lake
Eruanna awoke to the singing of the birds. She looked out the window. It was a glorious day! She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly knowing that her companion could arrive at any minute. Eruanna emerged from her room to find Erestor already midway through breakfast.
"Eruanna," the ellon smiled brightly up at her, "You seem to be in good spirits this morning."
"It is a beautiful day." She took her seat across from Erestor, quickly filling her plate with an assortment of fruits and pastries, eating quickly.
"Calm yourself, child," Erestor laughed lightly, "the food will not vanish from your plate."
Eruanna blushed at Erestor's chiding. Her behavior might be a bit unladylike but she was in a hurry. "Marilla will be here any time now. She's going to take me to a lake with a waterfall."
"You've seen waterfalls before. Rivendell is home to many." Erestor replied matter-of-factly.
"I know, but this is a Lórien waterfall!" Eruanna exclaimed, as if her mentor had failed to see the obvious.
"How silly of me," he replied.
Erestor moved to clear his plate and the leftovers from the table. He returned to the table just as Eruanna finished the last bite of her breakfast. He'd missed spending these quiet moments with Eruanna; Lord Celeborn and his counselors had demanded much of his time since his arrival. "Will you be home by dinnertime? I thought we could spend the evening together in Lórien's library."
"Oh!" Eruanna could not contain her surprise. It seemed like ages since she and Erestor had spent a quiet evening together. He'd been so busy, they'd not yet had the chance to explore Lórien's library together. "Yes…if you like."
That was not precisely the response Erestor was expecting. Normally, Eruanna's eyes lit up like stars at the thought of learning. Her response lacked the enthusiasm he was accustomed to. He had only himself to blame. "If you have other plans…." Erestor could not keep his disappointment from showing.
Eruanna immediately realized she'd hurt Erestor with her lackluster response. She was quick to reassure him. "Of course I wish to, I only thought that you would be busy," she replied, a small frown graced her lovely face.
"I'm sorry," Erestor pulled the young elleth into a warm embrace. The counselor knew that he and Arwen had been less than attentive these past few weeks, but it could not be helped. They were not as free as Eruanna; their stations required certain obligations, duties not easily put aside. "I know Arwen and I have been swept up in our duties these last few weeks," he gave her a gentle squeeze, "but soon we will both be free of these official obligations and we will have more time together."
"I understand." Eruanna smiled up at her teacher. She knew that Arwen and Erestor were not ordinary elves and had responsibilities greater than hers. It had been more difficult to accept before she'd had Marilla to keep her company. "Marilla has been a good friend. I enjoy her company."
"I am glad." It was strange… Marilla was not exactly the type of elleth Erestor would have chosen as a companion for his student, and yet, the effect she had on Eruanna was nothing less than remarkable. Marilla's lightheartedness was infectious and Erestor marked the change she had on Eruanna. It made him wonder if perhaps Eruanna had spent too much time with old warriors and scholars and not enough time with elves her own age.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"That's her!" Eruanna moved swiftly to the door and flung it open revealing a tall blond elleth with smiling eyes. Marilla entered the talan and bowed her head in Erestor's direction.
"Good morning, Lord Erestor." She gave Eruanna's guardian a warm smile.
"Marilla," Erestor accepted her greeting with a nod and offered up one of his own, "good day to you."
The elleth turned back to Eruanna. "Eruanna, come on!" she exclaimed, excitement clear in her voice and carriage. "If we don't hurry the fruit venders will be out of wild berries before we get there!"
Eruanna shook her head at her friend's needless fussing. It wasn't as if there weren't plenty of berries in the forest. "We can pick our own on the way."
"There's no time!" Marilla began dragging Eruanna towards the door. "Goodbye Lord Erestor!" She shouted over her shoulder before closing the door behind them.
"Have a pleasant day!" Erestor called after them as they disappeared from sight.
Eruanna plopped down on the ground beside the falls and pulled out her journal. The vista was absolutely beautiful and she began drawing. Marilla shook her head, frustrated by her companion's ability to spend hours on end reading books and drawing pictures of trees.
Marilla danced around the glade, amusing herself by singing a song while her companion focused on capturing the scene.
Eruanna closed her eyes momentarily. Marilla was singing one of her favorite songs, on that she and her grandmother sang together long ago.
Marilla halted her singing abruptly upon catching sight of her friend. Eruanna had stopped drawing and her expression looked troubled. "Eruanna, are you alright?"
Eruanna opened her eyes and looked up at her friend. "Oh, yes, I'm fine," she lied quickly.
"No you're not fine. What's wrong?" Marilla plopped down at Eruanna's side.
Eruanna shrugged lightly, keeping her eyes on her work. "It's just, my grandmother… we sang that song together when I was young."
Eruanna had spoken of her grandparents before with Marilla and the elleth was well aware that the couple had sailed west. Marilla understand how her song could bring back old memories of her grandmother. An idea sprung suddenly to her mind, that perhaps Eruanna would like to sing the song with another once more. "Why don't you sing it with me? Perchance it will echo across the sea and she will know you think of her still."
"No," Eruanna shook her head vehemently, "I don't like to sing anymore."
Marilla studied her friend carefully before responding. Eruanna hadn't met her eyes since they'd begun this conversation and the elleth had divined some time ago what that meant. "You're lying."
"What?" Eruanna's head shot up at her friend's surprisingly accurate accusation. "How do you…"
"You look down when you're uncomfortable. I've seen you do it before," Marilla explained. She gave Eruanna an apologetic smile; she had no desire to upset her friend any further.
"Oh," Eruanna flushed with embarrassment. She hated being weak. The only thing she hated more than her own weakness was when others were witness to it.
Marilla took her friend's hand in hers. "You can tell me about it if you want, or not, it's your decision."
Eruanna looked up into Marilla's kind eyes. She really was a good friend and a good listener and Eruanna hated lying, especially to her friends. "Someone once told me my voice was terrible…he laughed at me." She looked away towards the falls remembering that day long ago.
Marilla huffed, her expression indignant. "Well, no one is perfect. You shouldn't allow the opinions of insignificant ellyn to trouble you. Besides, we are near to the foot of the falls. If we move closer, the roar of the water will mask any imperfection in your voice."
Eruanna laughed at her friend's ridiculous suggestion. "I'm not getting any closer. The sound will deafen me!"
"Then you won't have to worry about what your voice sounds like. You can sing as loudly as you want." Marilla winked playfully at her companion.
"You're mad." Eruanna found herself laughing heartily.
"So I've been told. Ah, well." Marilla took in their beautiful surroundings, searching for something other than singing to occupy her time. "What can I do while you finish your drawing?"
"I don't know." Eruanna's eyebrow rose mischievously, "What about reciting the names of all the most beautiful ellyn in the realm?"
"It wouldn't take but a minute. There aren't that many." Marilla let out an exasperated sigh and lay down on the soft grass, staring up at the sky. She wiled away the time studying the figures the clouds made but a short while later the quiet peace of the glade was broken, "Oh!" Marilla sat up quickly.
Eruanna jumped at Marilla's sudden and unexpected exclamation. "What's wrong?"
"I'll collect flowers to decorate your hair!" Marilla jumped to her feet and scanned the riverbank and surrounding wood.
"My hair?" Eruanna was less than enthusiastic at her friend's newest idea.
"It will be lovely!" Marilla ignored Eruanna's less than exuberant response. She picked up her basket and headed off along the shoreline looking for wildflowers. "I'll be back," she called over her shoulder as she went.
Eruanna watched her companion disappear from sight. She wasn't looking forward to having her head turned into a flower garden but if it made Marilla happy then she would suffer through it somehow. Eruanna's attention was drawn once more to the scene before her and her hand moved to capture the sight forever with charcoal and paper. The view was so entrancing that she failed to notice she was no longer alone in the small glade. It was the shadow that fell across her face that announced the stranger's arrival. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun's glare. It hid the newcomer's face from view but the voice that greeted her had not been forgotten.
"Mae govannen, lovely one."