Chapter 7

" … and so the surviving citizens, the remaining defenders of Ost-in-Edhil led by Lord Celeborn, and the army sent from Lindon under the command of Elrond Half-elven, retreated. They came across an easily defensible valley through which river Bruinen ran and there they made their stand against Sauron's forces. After the enemy was defeated with help of both Gil-Galad's and Númenorean army, a permanent refuge was built and to our knowledge it still stands. This was the end of Eregion and the beginning of Imladris," finished one of Mírimë's friends their presentation on Eregion and it's fall.

Their classmates clapped and Master Calimórë smiled.

"Well done, ladies. You've had accurate information which was presented interestingly and confidently. I only have one question for you, I think Mírimë can answer it. Had Sauron tried to enchant any other ruler or noble in any other realm?"

"Yes, sir, he had. It happened at Númenor, where he influenced the king, his advisors and most of the other nobles."

"Correct. He caused the fall of Númenor. Since it is a topic assigned to the four gentlemen from the last row, I will ask them to come forward and the ladies can return to their seats."

Four young néri stood up and made their way to the front of the classroom. In the past they followed Finiorë wherever he went and whatever he did, and since the attack on lady Celebrían and their leader's capture they were unusually subdued.

Their performance was surprisingly good. Mírimë wondered, who or what made them take their task seriously. Was it just removal of Finiorë's influence, firmer control by their parents, or both?

Another interesting thing was how Master Calimórë gained admiration of his students. When the story about his help in catching Finiorë became known, the students started to pay more attention during his lessons and when they realized that the Great Journey from Cuiviénen, which he remembered, was definitely not a leisurely walk, but at times a very perilous undertaking, Master Calimórë became their hero.

Mírimë was disturbed from her musings by the end of the presentation on Númenor and the beginning of another one. Two other topics were discussed and the day's lesson ended. When the students were collecting their things, one of them looked at the street outside and exclaimed:

"There is a procession of king Olwë's elves and some others. Who has dark blue and silver as their colors?"

Master Calimórë went to the window, looked out and answered:

"Dark blue and silver were colors of Gil-Galad's herald, Elrond Half-elven. If my suppositions are correct, and I'm fairly sure they are, then the hurrying Telerin messenger I saw the other day bore a word about arrival of some very important people from Middle-Earth, coincidentally important people close to lady Celebrían, namely her husband and maybe her mother. Yes, I can see princess Artanis riding with Olwë's people and the tall, dark-haired elf wearing a silver circlet is probably Lord Elrond."

"Finiorë had then got into a far worse trouble than he was in," mumbled Mírimë. Calimórë heard her and remarked:

"I agree. In addition to lady Celebrían's furious uncle, there is now her probably enraged husband and also her angry mother."

When Mírimë got home, she found out that Avacauro arrived not quarter of an hour before her, ready to discuss the new important arrivals. She greeted all three adults and gave her parents a questioning look, asking if she could stay and listen. Her father allowed it and she took a seat. He also started the conversation.

"I have heard quite a lot of confusing things today. One poet insisted that princess Artanis has returned from Middle-Earth and the first thing she did was to threaten those three idiots who attacked her daughter with skinning and disemboweling, then a scribe said that king Olwë sent a company of Telerin elves to drag those three to Alqualondë so he could deal with them himself, another of my customers claimed that king Arafinwë had the same idea and still another said that some Noldo accused Horëamo of slander. Do you think any of it is close to the truth, Avacauro?"

"I'm not sure about the part concerning Olwë and Arafinwë. I think the attackers will be judged here in Valmar, as is planned. As to the rumor about princess Artanis, well, if she has indeed returned and got a word about what happened to her daughter, then I think it is possible she made such a threat. I have heard nothing about Horëamo being accused of slander, but the way he behaves, he is asking for it," answered the painter.

Aranon nodded and turned to his daughter.

"Mírimë, have you heard something about this matter today? You look eager to talk."

"After history class today one of my friends saw some Teleri and some strange elves, maybe Noldor, escorting a lady and an important-looking lord. Master Calimórë said that the lady was princess Artanis and the lord was probably Elrond Half-elven."

Avacauro then expressed a thought similar to the one she shared with Master Calimórë:

"Finiorë and his two friends are in a worse trouble than they thought. From what my friends who came from Middle Earth said, Elrond is very protective towards his family and friends, and quite frightening when angered. Those three néri attempted to hurt his wife. I think there is no need for me to say more."

There was a quiet moment, which was interrupted by Mírimë's mother, Failindië.

"By, the way, Miri, how did your presentation go?"

"It went well, Master Calimórë complimented it. In fact, the bigger part of his comments about all the presentations was positive."

"Even Finiorë's cronies got some praise?" asked Aranon, smiling.

"Yes, even them. In fact, they were quite good."

"Maybe they will turn out well after all," mused Aranon. "By the way, rumor has it that Master Calimórë is your classmates' new hero. Is it true?"

"It is. It started when he and his friend named Erdanon-"

"The person likely to bring an accusation of slander against Horëamo!" interrupted Avacauro and gave an embarassed smile. "Sorry, Mírimë"

"It's alright," the girl smiled.

This was the end of the day's serious conversations. Avacauro returned to his studio and his paintings and Mírimë did some work for school. The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent quietly, without any excitement. Mírimë was ready to end this day as any other, but it was not meant to be and the reason for it were her dreams.

She stood in the school library, next to a librarian who was shelving some books. Raised voices were heard from the hallway outside. Curious, she neared the library's entrance and looked who was arguing with whom. The two persons fighting were Master Calimórë and the head librarian.

"Can you give me one good reason to deny the students access to the best sources of information about history that could be found in this library?"

"Lord Horëamo-"

"Lord Horëamo has a right to specify how we should use his gifts of funds, but not to determine what we should teach or deal with matters which should be decided only by the headmaster. Unless he gave you some extra money to augment your pay?"

The librarian didn't answer. Calimórë turned on his heel and set off in direction of stairs. The librarian ground his teeth, glared at the teacher's back and watched as he neared the stairs. Then he broke out into a run. Mírimë wanted to scream a warning to her teacher, but no sound came from her throat, no matter how hard she tried. Calimórë reacted too late. His attacker pushed him and he fell down the stairs, hitting his head during the fall. He remained lying at the bottom of the stairs, unmoving. The head librarian started, as if he just awoke from trance and looked in disbelief and dismay at the unconscious teacher. Then he sank to his knees and put his head in his hands.

At that moment Mírimë's sight began to blur. She could vaguely see the other librarian run out of the door and down the stairs, calling Calimórë's name. After that, all sound muffled until it got completely quiet and instead of a school corridor she could see the ceiling of her room.