After Finrod's setback on the road to recovery, he finds himself and Mornel joined as allies by their shared vision of things to come. Mother and daughter speak of Kano and his wife.
16. The Bonfire Festival
Finrod finally awoke on the third day of his collapse. It would be another two days before he could sit up and feed himself without aid. It would be another week before he could leave his bed. During this time, his parents and Amarie hovered constantly by his bedside. It was impossible for Mornel to speak with him in private as Olorin had urged. Instead, she aided his recovery where she could – singing soothing songs of healing, assisting the healers in brewing the medicines, and bringing back amusing tales and trinkets from the docks to lighten the patient's heart.
The Teleri adored the eldest grandson of their king. Many gifts and wishes for his speedy recovery were sent. Surialdo sent a wind chime crafted from tiny shells which sparkled in the sunlight as they twinkled like little bells. Prayers were offered to the Valar daily at all household shrines for the prince's good health and happiness. There were no great banquets to welcome the Noldoran. None had the heart to feast and dance. Still, the Noldoran and his queen attended to their royal duties – officiating at the opening of a small school on Tol Eressea, attending council meetings on trade between their cities, and visiting the new-built mariner's hospital with Queen Falmiril.
When news spread that Finrod had awoken, there was spontaneous dancing and singing in the streets, until Queen Falmiril requested that they tone down the festivities a little as her grandson's head was still quite sore. When the kitchen heard he was able to eat something other than broth, they sent up his favourite peach tart and cream dessert which Finrod regrettably declined. His tastes had changed since Beleriand and he no longer had as bad a sweet tooth as he had as a child. Moreover, his stomach was not up to digesting such rich fare. Instead, Amarie baked him a delicate sponge cake with fresh fruits.
"Mornel, we need to speak…" Finrod whispered one afternoon. Mornel nodded and stilled her fingers. Wearied by long hours at her son's bedside, Earwen slept deeply.
"Cousin, is this about the vision?" Mornel asked softly as she took the empty seat beside the bed. Finrod nodded. Mornel haltingly related the images of her dream.
"It's a dark vision indeed," Finrod agreed. In return he related what he had seen in the scrying bowl. "War is coming, Mornel. And we must prepare…"
"To Aman? Surely the Valar…"
"Nay, not Aman. I sense our people will be forced to take up arms against Morgoth, perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps in a hundred years… We cannot be caught unawares… Do the palace guards still train?"
Mornel related what she knew of the guards' training in Tirion. There was a time when the Eldar wanted none to do with weapons or the arts of war. However, Lord Tulkas insisted that wrestling, sword-play, and other warrior arts continued to be practised, even if it was just for sport. Combat was a highly ritualized sport in Vanyar and Noldor society, a far cry from the brawls which sometimes broke out at Formenos or among the Nandor and Avari tribes. There was an instance where Mornel had to step in to broker peace between two rival Avari clans over a disputed stream. The combatants took to slinging stones at each other. They still quarrelled over the same stream on occasion, but now they threw over-ripe tomatoes instead of sticks and stones and it was more in the name of a summer festival.
"The Valar would not allow elves who have passed through Mandos to set foot on the Hither Shores… If the call should come, my adar will lead but I cannot follow…"
"If we should go forth, will we have the strength to meet Morgoth's forces? Will the Exiles be able to aid us?"
"Even among the elves, there is much bad blood… Yet I feel your brothers to be the most skilled in the arts of war and would prove invaluable if the Oath did not weigh so heavy upon them."
"What is this talk of returning to Beleriand, my son?" Earwen started. She had woken unnoticed by the cousins. "What is this mad talk?"
"Tis nothing, amme…" Finrod coaxed but Earwen broke into tears.
"Nay, my son… I cannot bear the thought of losing you all over again!"
"You will not lose me, amme. I promise… Never would I set foot on the Hither Shores," Finrod promised. He would have to discuss his visions of the war to come with his father in private. It would be precarious ground, but the Eldar could not go into battle as unprepared as they were when they first crossed the Ice. Somehow the training of the guards must be more stringent and practical rather than ceremonial. Proper arms must be readied. The changes must be made carefully to avoid alarming the populace or antagonizing the Vanyar and Teleri. He had to help his father in this aspect. Warfare was still an alien and alarming concept to the elves in Aman.
Mornel dared not voice her fears and concerns to her friends Serelinde and Amarie for fear of alarming them needlessly. The nissi had gone for a shopping trip along the docks in preparation for the Bonfire Festival. Noticing Mornel's distraction, her friends asked her if anything was the matter. Mornel told a white lie about feeling a little weary from the sun. Thus, the nissi took Mornel to her mother's workshop to rest. The gate to Nerdanel's workshop was always left open so that her many apprentices could drop by to work on their projects any time of the day or night. Nerdanel was not in but the apprentices brought a chair into the shade and a glass of cool water for Mornel. Mornel closed her eyes and declared she would be better after a short rest.
Lady Amarie and Serelinde went off to admire some of the apprentices' projects while their friend rested. Mornel was not too surprised when she opened her eyes to see Olorin standing beside her. She saw that the Maia was holding a bowl of water. The bowl was made of cut crystal with opalescent hues.
"Master Olorin, I swear you can read my mind at times. Do you really think I have the skill for scrying?"
"It's worth a try, isn't it?" Olorin shrugged. "I borrowed this bowl from your mother's house. It was a gift from your father to her during their courtship."
"It is nice to know she still treasures it…"
"It made a nice fruit bowl so she says... if not a solid paperweight."
Mornel laughed at Olorin's dry wit. She took the bowl from him and set it on her lap. It was too bright for a proper scrying, so she understood from her instruction under Tatie. However, Olorin whisked out a piece of black cloth embroidered with silvery stars. He lowered it over Mornel's head as she bent over the bowl. Mornel emptied her mind of all conscious thoughts. The heavy cloth draped over her muffled all sound. She felt as she was being cradled in a comforting night. Within the bowl, the water was inky black. Then before her eyes the images came. She saw fire and giant lizards with bat-like wings. She saw grim elven warriors riding under bright banners of war. She saw a white city burning and grand halls stained with blood.
Things yet to come or things already come to pass, or things which will never come… She did not know. She allowed the images to shift freely before her eyes. A brilliant white gem, a white bird, a white ship approaching Aman's shores… Mornel leaned forward in her eagerness to see more and spilled the water all over her skirts. The bowl fell onto the grass with a soft thud.
"What can all this mean, Master Olorin?" Mornel asked as Olorin lifted the black cloth from her head.
"You know, Mornel, you know far more than you think."
The Bonfire Festival was always a time of great celebration for the citizens of Alqualonde. The younger elves would dance and sing on the beach throughout the night in celebration of life. Declarations of eternal love were often exchanged at these gatherings and proposals made. The scribes, jewellers, and seamstresses often reported an upsurge in their business in the months after the festival as wedding invites, rings, and gowns were ordered. For their elders, there was the solemn observance of the Sending of the Lights. Small lanterns woven of leaves and brushwood would be set on the waves to drift out to sea in the vague hope that their prayers and wishes would reach their sundered kin. Some said it was King Olwe who had started the tradition by setting the first lanterns on the waves back in the Years of the Trees for his sundered brothers Elmo and Elwe. Many of the older Lindar still mourned the sundering of their kin left behind across the sea.
Nerdanel had returned to Alqualonde after installing the last of the statues for Prince Earlindo's villa on Tol Eressea. In a private ceremony some distance from the city, mother and daughter set a lantern on waves for any Feanorion still alive on the Hither Shores. The nissi watched in silence as the two lanterns bobbed up and down on the waves. Olwe and his queen would have set their lantern off the main quay with the rest of their court and citizens. Finrod was not well enough to leave the palace and beseeched his parents to set a lantern for his sister Artanis. A small flotilla of lights would depart from the harbour and Mornel wondered if her little lantern would join them somewhere in the open sea before Lord Osse took them into the depths of Lord Ulmo's realm.
Nerdanel had long recovered from the birth of her daughter and her grief at losing her husband and sons. However, many who knew her from before claimed her light was more subdued now. Mornel now saw the hint of sorrow in her mother's face at the sight of that tiny light winking out in the distance. Mornel knew that there would be no dancing around the bonfire for Finrod and Amarie. The royal family would then troop back to the palace to spend the festival with Finrod on the terrace overlooking the city.
"It is almost a pity – they never had a chance to know you," her amil finally broke the silence.
"What would Atto have thought of me?" Mornel asked quietly. She knew she was no craftswoman or smith like her parents and she was far from the perfect princess, as so many in Tirion said.
"I think he would be very proud of you, your brothers too…"
"Thanks, amme… I know I don't have much talent to be proud of…"
"I think you would have given Makalaure a bit of a challenge at the singing competitions!" Prince Earlindo called out with a laugh. He was holding a small lantern in one hand while the other was clasped about Serelinde's hand. Mornel's law sister blushed as if he had been caught doing something naughty. Her foot slipped on the slime-covered rocks and Earlindo's arm deftly wound about her waist to steady her. With a smile, Nerdanel greeted the pair.
"Did you not set a lantern at the quay, your highness?" Nerdanel enquired.
"This is not for my niece, but for my friend Makalaure…" Earlindo explained as he lit the small candle nestled in the heart of the craftily-woven leaves and twigs. Mornel saw that the leaves were interwoven with strands of silvery hair. Her amme had hacked off a lock of her red hair and woven it into the lantern for her sons. Were they Serelinde's or Earlindo's? She could not tell. Both elves had their silvery hair bound up in braids wound tightly about their heads – a practical precaution against any stray sparks from the bonfires which would be littering the shore. Those tasked with tending the fires could get careless once the wine really started flowing.
"We fear that our sundering will be long and pray that the Valar show him mercy…" Serelinde explained as she took the lantern from the prince. She walked the short distance to the water. Murmuring a prayer under her breath, she waded out until she was thigh-deep in the sea before setting down her lantern. The waves took hold of the offering and pulled it out towards open water. She returned to shore with skirts sodden.
"The All-Father willing, he will be returned to us…" Earlindo raised his hand to brush a stray strand of hair from Serelinde's face and tuck it behind her ear. It was a familiar action which spoke volumes of the affection between the pair.
"Lindo, please, we are not alone…" The colour rose in Serelinde's cheeks. Earlindo blushed. He had quite forgotten they were not alone on this lonely stretch of beach. Neither Nerdanel nor Mornel could fault the pair for the love they so clearly felt towards each other. Yet they also knew that the spectre of the absent Makalaure would prevent them from ever joining.
"We best be going… Atto will be wondering why we are taking so long…" Earlindo said. "Shall we walk back together?"
"Don't mind us. Amme has something in the workshop she wants to show me. We will join you at the palace later," Mornel replied. Nerdanel nodded although she had no project to show her daughter currently. She understood Mornel was giving the couple some privacy on their walk back.
"Those two should be dancing about a bonfire with the other courting couples, you know…" Nerdanel murmured softly as they watched the pair head off along the shore towards the palace. The walking path to Nerdanel's workshop hugged the top of the limestone cliffs and the pair would never know the nissi had not climbed it. "It's a pity… It was always the three of them, attending the festival and singing… before Kano asked her to be his wife. Yet they never had much of a life together thanks to your atto's exile…"
Twelve long years of exile, barely months after they were wed. Kano had followed his father to Formenos, leaving his bride behind in Alqualonde. Unlike his brother Moryo, Kano had not once undertaken the long journey from Formenos to visit his wife during this time despite the many love letters exchanged. Ever the dutiful son, Kano simply could not forsake his atar. Earlindo's company had been of great comfort to Serelinde during that time, visiting her to collaborate on their music, as they had done before her marriage. Perhaps the scandalous whispers had started even before Kano fell under the Doom.
Author's Notes:
Got some inspiration from the Thai Loy Kratong festival for the lanterns on the water. Preparations will be slowly made for the War and Mornel has glimpsed things to come. Thinking of ending this soon with the wedding of Finrod and Amarie. Indis will get her wish for a grand wedding for her grandson. Of course, being Vanya, she would insist they go through the entire gauntlet of Vanyarin wedding protocols and rituals.