Chapter 4: A Special Dance and Final Farewells
Tamuril, Legolas, and Darsali entered the Great Hall together. She saw everyone: her friend Linwe was flirting with a young Elven novice named Morsul, Larien was in the kitchen flirting with the cook, Kilmay. Miranu was sitting at a table with two of his friends Amras and Nolofinwe. Her mother was visiting with King Elessar and Arwen. Her father was visiting with his brother Telrunyal. She saw Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took sitting at a table with their plates overflowing with food. She saw Rumil and Orophin, the twin brothers of her cousin Haldir who had sadly died at the Battle of Helm's Deep. She saw countless Elves that she knew from around Mirkwood; Teachers, friends, acquaintances, storekeepers, and many faces that she just knew. But there were many faces that she did not recognize: Elves of Rivendell, Lothlorien, Ithilien, and many other places.
"I guess my father is a pretty popular elf, wouldn't you say so?" asked Tamuril as Darsali pulled out a chair for her.
"You have no idea." said Legolas teasingly as he let go of her hand.
She sat silently and stared at the scenes around her for a little while. Then a hand waved in front of her face. " Yoo-hoo, Tam Tam, Legolas is talking to you and would appreciate it if you would respond." said Legolas as a smile crossed his face.
Tamuril snapped to attention. "I'm sorry, I was distracted." she said.
"It's okay. I thought you were sleeping for a minute though."
Darsali spoke up. " Does anyone want me to go and get them anything."
Tamuril answered, " a glass of ale would be nice." Darsali turned to Legolas.
Legolas shook his head. "I'll share with her." Darsali nodded, turned over his shoulder, and headed to the line for the drinks.
"So, what tricks have you played this night. No, wait. Don't tell me. You put salt in the snail bites?" She nodded sheepishly.
"Don't I always?" she asked.
Legolas laughed and nodded. For a moment or two there was an awkward silence. Legolas broke it. "So, do you dance?"
She looked at him in a mock-shock. "No, I fear I know not how." she said jokingly.
Legolas was surprised and amused. "Well, now is the perfect time to learn. What do you know?"
She thought for a moment. "I know the Moon Trot and the Sylvan waltz."
A mischievous smile crossed his face. " Let's go!!" he said as he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into the middle of the dance floor.
"Legolas!" she whispered loudly. "You are stuck now, there is no escape from this trap." he said mischievously.
"Oh fine." she said as he whipped her around three times leading into a Moon Trot.
"Oh I know you aren't…!" she said.
"Oh, but I just did!" he said with a sly grin on his face.
He whipped her until she was standing pressed against him. "Here we go." he said.
He lead into the hip swivels forward and back. The dance was a continuous motion of swiveling hips, Tamuril being whipped around, shaking of the hips, and the two partners exchanging insults and teasing each other. As the music picked up, the dance floors cleared a hole in the center and everyone turns to watch the verbally sparring, yet still dancing professionally, couple in the center.
"You smell like a human" said Legolas in a teasing voice.
"Yes? Well you are only a king in your imagination!" she said while being whipped back into a hip swivel.
"Go kiss an orc!" He taunted back as he flipped her out and returned her to the dip position.
This time she retorted with, "Much wind pours from your mouth. I would gladly kiss an Orc over this," only to be swept up by Legolas with one hand under her knees and the other under her neck to a position over his head.
He spun around twice, tossed her into the air and caught her in a cradled position, spinning around three times and sliding her back onto her feet, only to whip her back out and pull her back in with enough force to give a normal human whiplash. He swiveled their hips once more. She looked up into his eyes to see them filled with mischief and to see half of his mouth cock up into a smile. His eyes were so dark that it was hard to tell that they were even blue. They were almost black.
His face was all of two inches from hers. She could feel the heat of his breath on her chin. She looked down enough to see that he had his Elven straight blades stuffed into his boots. "Would there be the opportunity for the Grand Finale'?"
He gave her that knowing nod that meant yes. Suddenly, whipped her out to where her face was almost on the ground, eliciting a gasp from the bystanders, as she grabbed one of her fan daggers and he leaned to grabbed one of his straight blades. Just as the music ended they suddenly clapped their right hands to each other's, coming within inches of the other's face, and clashed their daggers together violently over their heads.
As quickly as they had begun, they had ended the dance. They were both breathing hard, and were sweating profusely. They held the pose long enough to hear the deafening applause that exploded as they finished. As the applause died down a little, Tamuril thrust her dagger downward and caused it to open up into a giant, deadly fan of sharp blades, eliciting another gasp from the crowd. In unison, they turned to the audience, still holding hands, and bowed.
As they walked out of the circle, an isle was created for them to pass. Tamuril immediately flipped her fan dagger back into a single blade and sheathed it in unison with Legolas for effect. Just as their argument had heated up, they soon found themselves complimenting each other. "You looked very good," said Tamuril to Legolas.
He smiled warmly and replied, "Your beauty shines brightly."
They dropped hands and Legolas immediately put his arm around her waist. Darsali pulled out her chair for her again and handed the elf her mug of ale. "Thank you," she replied, taking it from him and taking a huge swig of it.
Just as she downed it all, her father came up to her and said, "That was amazing. I have never seen two elves dance like that. How did you find the time to practice for it?"
She smiled and motioned for Legolas to answer for her. "We didn't practice it. We remembered it from the times we used to dance when we were younger. That was a form of dance that we danced at taverns in our younger years; the taverns in Laketown and Edoras. It is a human style dance. That is why you do not see it much here, though I am sure King Elessar has seen it before, haven't you?" he nodded to Aragorn. "Yes, it is an advanced form of an edain-style trot mixed with a little bit of an Elven Hype." Aragorn answered, eliciting a laugh from the people around him.
Suddenly, another voice covered all of the others, "Tamuril has the body of a human, but inside she has the grace of a Nolder elf and the spirit of a Sylvan elf. She will go far in her quest for answers. You know what I mean by that, don't you, my lady?"
Tamuril turned and faced the familiar voice. Her eyes grew wide and shock covered her face. "Mithrandir?" she asked in disbelief.
Sure enough, it was Gandalf the White. He nodded. "But, y-you passed over the sea a few years ago. How can you be standing here now?"
He looked at her and smiled tenderly. "Many things have come to pass that were not foreseen to come to pass, but they have come to pass nonetheless." he answered cryptically.
She was a little confused by his answer but she pressed no further. She figured that with time all things would be revealed. "Well, by all means, continue with your festivities everyone!" he shouted.
As the sound of the festivities continued, Gandalf said softly, only to Tamuril's ears, "Tamuril, you and I must speak in private tomorrow morning. I will let you acquire a night of sweet rest, and then you must learn something. Is that alright with you?" he asked.
She nodded. Little did Gandalf know that Legolas had heard what he had just said...?
()()()()()()()()()()()()
The morning following the ball was a disaster. Tamuril had slept until 9:00! The party ended at 2:00AM. She has slept for 7 hours. She usually only slept until 6:00AM! She was in a frenzy as she wiggled into her tunic and hopped around the room to put on her leggings. She had no time to worry about her hair. She dove for her fan daggers, quickly sheathing them in her boots. She wrapped her sword belt around her bedpost and buckled it tightly. She reached for her Elven blade named "Damia," meaning "Fierce Spirit."
As soon as she had it sheathed she ran to the bathroom where she had left her Morningstar pendant. She picked it up by the mithril chain and placed it around her neck. The three-mithril and gold triquetras created a triangle around a single, round opal in the center. The pendant resembled an arrowhead. The pendant looked heavy, when really it was light as a feather. It was cool on her hot, sweaty skin as she raced down the hall.
She was late for her meeting with Gandalf. She had over slept and she hated it. She had wanted nothing more than to speak with the old wizard. She wondered what he had to say. She had always enjoyed speaking with him. She enjoyed having someone besides Legolas speak with her on the same intellectual level as her.
As she rounded the corner, she wasn't watching where she was going and ran directly into her father. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
She tried to cover the guilty look on her face as he helped her up off of her butt. "Um, nowhere. Just to speak with Gandalf," she said as she bowed and took of again.
Her father just shook his head and smiled.
She made it to Gandalf's study just as the bell sounded for the end of breakfast. She scurried into the room and immediately turned to see Gandalf smoking his pipe and laughing. "May I ask of you to please put out that pipe. I am sensitive to smoke. And what may I ask is so funny?"
He immediately put out his pipe and answered. "You," and said nothing more.
"I may be rude cutting out all greetings but I really wish to know what you wanted to speak with me about."
Gandalf laughed and said, "I knew that you would be wondering the moment you walked into this room. You are very predictable, my dear."
She giggled and said, "That is because I have a one-track mind. Everyone knows that I am mischievous but no one really knows what I am capable of."
Gandalf stood and walked to the balcony. He motioned for Tamuril to follow suit. She walked to where he stood. "What do you see in this kingdom, Pure one?" he asked as he looked to her eyes.
"Gandalf, you of all people should know that I am not pure. I have done many wrongs in my life and made a few, well, mistakes." she answered him.
Gandalf cupped her chin with his hand and said, "What you did was not a mistake. You were given a gift, but it was a gift that you were not meant to receive at the time. One day, you will see. The gift will return to you. You will be ready this time."
She cast her eyes downward, not wanting to meet his gaze, "No Gandalf, it won't return to me. I lost it entirely when I went into battle with it. I lost it permanently I fear."
Gandalf looked at her with confusion. " How can you be so blind, Tamuril? Your heart is that of the lion and you are a mighty warrior."
She looked up to him and asked, "Where did that come from?"
Gandalf looked at her with an almost confused look on his face. "I fear I do not understand."
She looked at him with fear in her eyes. "Where does my heart originate? Why will no one tell me the truth? Why do I feel like I am so much more than I really am? Why are you here?" she barraged him with questions.
He looked at her with pride, "You know, don't you? You have always wondered. You are Half-Elven; of course you are different from everybody else. Take Legolas for example. He seeks solitude, while you seek merriment. He is tall and lithe while you are petite. He knows. You do not. Do not trouble yourself with the fact that you are different from everyone else. Instead, concentrate on finding out who you really are."
"Why will you not tell me?" she asked.
He gave her a warm smile and replied, "Because it is your task that I am appointing to you. You have to find out on your own. I can only open the door. You must walk through it. I will give you signs, but you have to follow them. I will send a message from Gondor in later days not that far in the future. You will know when it comes. In the meantime, do not burden yourself with thoughts of guilt and loss. The burden you will bear soon enough will be hard enough to handle. Do not carry the weight of the lost and leaving."
She hugged him tightly and said, "I trust you Gandalf, but I need to know something."
Gandalf whispered, "And what is that?"
She took a breath and said, "In the end, will it all be well? Will I have the life I wish to have? Will I be happy with my life?"
He hugged her tighter and answered, "You will see in time. Soon, all things shall be revealed. Oh, and hold on to this for me."
He pulled a ring from his pocket. It looked to be made of mithril. It bore a close resemblance to Galadriel's Ring of Adamant.
But, Gandalf, what is it? she asked in terrible confusion.
It is the Ring of Admonition. Celebrimbor in the Lonely Mountain forged it. It is made from mithril, but in it is a drop of blood from the dragon Smaug. With it, great knowledge and skill can be attained. I want you to keep it until your journey is over. Then, if you wish, I will take it back. But if you want, it is yours to keep, Valiant One."
He slipped it on to her right ring finger. It was cold as ice. She shivered. "You feel its power?" he asked.
She nodded, "Good, that means that you are meant to wear it. I was not wrong in my assumptions. Use it wisely."
Still very much confused, she broke away from him and said her goodbyes. "Thank you, Mithrandir. It was wonderful to speak with you again."
"You're welcome, Tamuril, sweet water and light laughter until next we meet, may the leaves of your life never turn brown."
She nodded and said, "May your paths be green and the breeze on thy back until next we meet."
Then she turned to leave. Where do I go from here? She asked herself silently.
()()()()()()()()()()()()
Well, this is it.thought Tamuril as she waited with the farewell party at the edge of the forest. Her parents were leaving the shores today. Her father walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. I love you, my daughter."
She looked at him and spoke, "Don't ever forget me, for I shall never forget you. You have taught me far too much. I learned so much from you: How to use a bow, how to use a sword, how to use blades, chobos, and staves, how to read and write. how to tame and ride a wild horse, how to whistle through my teeth."
He smiled, "It is good to know that I was useful for something."
They both laughed. He hugged her once more and said, "Take care, my daughter, the world is full of chaos. Do not let it break you. You know not how to fail, do not learn. I know that you are beginning a quest to find the answers to your questions. I just wanted to tell you that your father," he paused to blink back tears, "he was a good man."
She could see that as good as it sounded to here those words; it pained him so much that he wasn't her real father. That he didn't share that same blood that the number one elf in his life shared. He hugged her and walked away solemnly. She wished that she could cry with him. But she couldn't. She was unable to shed the tears that she wished she could shed. No one realized that there were down sides to not being able to cry. She could feel everything and had no way of venting it. When she was angry the only release was to practice with her sword or do something destructive. She couldn't cry to vent her sadness. She had to hold it in. It was torture, especially at times like these. Then, at that moment her mother walked up to her and took both of her hands in hers.
"I love you, my champion. I see great things in your future."
She looked at her mother. "You have the gift of foresight. What do you see in my future?"
Her mother's face lifted, "You will see many great things: the largest and the smallest of cities, the oldest of trees, and the greatest king to ever rule. You will see the tops of mountains and the bottoms of rivers, fight battles and win wars. You will see things of which many others shall never set eyes upon. You will feel things that you have never felt before. You will here a heart beat and be given the greatest gift imaginable. You will lose that gift for a time and one day, you will find it again and when you do, you will weep for joy. You where the ring, do you not?"
Tamuril glanced down at her hand at the glowing mithril ring, shining in the sunlight. She nodded. "You will see it's full power very soon. You will learn its ways and learn how to wield it. You are strong, my daughter. You will triumph over evil. You will not fail. The bones of your foes will gleam in the sunlight."
She looked down and touched Tamuril's chest over her heart. "You will see what it does to you. Soon enough, you will feel its effect. Make all of your decisions wisely from now on. Do not let yourself be led astray. Hold on to all of the hope that you have left. Be strong, my daughter, we will meet again." She said as she embraced her daughter.
"I'll be watching you," she said teasingly.
She walked away to join her handmaiden. Her father was saying his goodbyes to Legolas. They embraced and rocked back and forth for a few moments. She saw the tears present on her father's and Legolas' faces. It took a lot to make the Mirkwood elves cry, but this event was an exception for most. Legolas was the strongest elf that she knew. Very rarely had she seen him cry. Until these past few days, she had only seen him cry twice, and they were all of deaths in the family.
As her father and mother joined hands and rode their horses into the distance, she locked her eyes to Legolas' wet, blue ones. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He returned the gesture by putting his arm around her shoulders. Why must I watch the ones I love be in so much pain, when all I can do is stand here and watch them suffer? It doesn't make any sense to me…