Chapter Eight

Suspicions and Conversations

The next morning Itarildë was up early making breakfast and helping the littlest children to dress and bathe. The morning was bright and almost painfully beautiful as it was often after the advent of such a fierce storm. The children were all wiggling and laughing that morning because the shore would be littered with a wealth of new treasure that the children enjoyed collecting.

"Now hold still while I tie your sandal Táriel!" Itarildë said tickling the elleth a little.

"But Dothan said he was going to go off without me and everyone knows that he always find the most beautifulest things!" Táriel answered.

Itarildë finished tying the sandal and quickly grabbed and tied the girl's sash in a few daft movements, "You like Dothan don't you?"

"Yes, I do," Táriel answered seriously, "I am going to marry him when I grow up."

Shocked at the surety in the child's voice Itarildë looked at the little girl again. Táriel's large green eyes stared back and a tiny smile traced it way across her face.

"Are you going to marry too?" she whispered.

"How do you know Táriel? About you and Dothan?" Itarildë asked not thinking of how silly it may be to question a mere child such a question.

"When I first saw him I knew. You see everyone knows when they love someone the first time they see them, time only shows them that what they first thought was right. May I go a out and play now?"

"Yes, you may. Thank you Táriel." and Itarildë watched as the child ran out to the sunlight of the new day.

"Imagine that, she's a seer!" Itarildë suddenly laughed, "I wonder what Cirdan will say when I tell him!"

She gathered her skirt into her hands and slipped off her sandals and ran across the sandy path and court yard into the house. The door was wide open and she nearly slammed into Eglerion as he was leaving. He quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and a little against him smiling a good morning.

"Oh, Eglerion I'm sorry," she said, "How handsome you look this morning, is Cirdan around yet?"

The happiness that had first flew into Eglerion's eyes at her initial greeting faded at her last words and he said, "No, I haven't seen him."

"Well, he's probably still in his study or out on the shore seeing to the effects of the storm. But guess what Táriel said to me this morning?"

'Táriel? The little girl with frizzy braids?" Eglerion asked.

"No, she about so high and with large green eyes?" Itarildë put her hand in the high where Táriel's head would come, "I think she's a Seer! That is why I need to go to Cirdan so he can see about it."

Eglerion held up his hands "I have no idea where he is Itarildë please. Why don't we go and have breakfast and then you can harasses people about little girls that are Seers."

"Eglerion? This is very important, if she is a Seer she may be the first one in over five hundred years! That could mean that Arda is healing. Think of how much it would mean to Cirdan." Itarildë said glancing around the breakfast room for the Haven's lord.

"Yes, yes. I see. Then we'll go and tell him as soon as the morning meal is over." Eglerion sighed and slipped an arm around Itarildë's waist, "Tell me all about it."

So she did but all through the conversation her eyes moved to the door watching for the shipwright. When he failed to appear, Itarildë looked annoyed, but when Findecáno who was the next in authority to Cirdan stood to speak she began to worry.

With a little dry cough the scribe unfolded a small missive in his thin white fingers.

Itarildë sat in amazement as Findecáno, the Havens scribe, read the note that Cirdan had left. Her mouth was open a bit and her hands lay limply in her lap as she stared at the scribe. Findecáno, a stodgy elf of the finest degree, took a level of pleasure from the peoples' shocked expressions.

"I do not know how long I will be away, but while I am Lord Elladan will see to the completion of the Swan boat. The departure for Valinor will not be held back because of my absence." Findecáno folded the note and could barely repress a smile of grim satisfaction.

Elladan stood as the scribe took his seat and everyone turned to look at the Prince as if he would say the word and the Shipwright would be back.

"Good morning everyone," he said and then laughed a bit holding his hands up as if in supplication, "I must confess myself as shocked as the rest of you. But if the Shipwright saw fit to leave the Havens then I trust he has a very good reason for it. We will continue on as we have been doing, the work crews will go on as if nothing had happened. I will try and be as good to you as Cirdan is.

No one said anything for a moment and then Elladan dismissed them. Chatter grew as the men and women went about their usual duties, but Itarildë moved through them to where Elladan and Elrohir were speaking in low tones. Elladan was pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance while reading Cirdan's note over again.

Elrohir sat against the table his arms crossed and leaning to catch what his brother was saying, but as soon as he saw Itarildë he stood and said, "Good morrow, is there something I can do for you."

Itarildë nodded, "May I see the note?"

Elladan shrugged and handed the square of parchment to her. Itarildë licked her lips and looked away in embarrassment, "Thank you Prince Elladan, I will return to you this afternoon."

Elladan smiled kindly, "There's no rush Itarildë, take your time. As it is I will have more then enough to fill my time. I doubt I shall miss it."

Itarildë dropped a curtsy and left the room heading for the quiet herb garden just off the kitchen. A few elleths were there weeding and gossiping about the disappearance of the Shipwright but they greeted Itarildë pleasantly enough. She sat and taking a deep breath read the letter. It was short and to the point.

Findecáno,

At this time I feel called away to some business in the north and would ask you to see to the arrangement of my affairs while I am away. I am sorry that I was unable to do this myself but time is of the essence. I place Prince Elladan in my position while I am away. The construction of the vessel should go on without me as the few last minute details may be completed easily by the men.

Cirdan, Shipwright

"He is a very concise writer isn't he?" Eglerion slipped down beside Itarildë and pulled the note from her grasp quickly scanning the contents.

She nodded, "But I'm so confused! He's never been away all the time I've been here and I am afraid there something really wrong."

Eglerion wrapped an arm around Itarildë's shoulders and traced a finger along her face, "You're so sensitive to others feelings darling. Did anyone ever ask if you were an empath?"

Itarildë snorted, "No indeed. But seriously Eglerion. Do you think there's anything wrong."

Eglerion sighed and rested his chin against her chin before saying, "My love you know he is a wise man. I am sure if he went it was because he knew he should. I wouldn't worry over it."

Itarildë bit her lip, "What if he doesn't return before we leave? He should he might not be back in time. I don't know if I could leave like that."

With a sound of frustration Eglerion released her and stood. He walked away to where the path lead down toward the dock, "Look down there Itarildë, what lies in the dock?"

"What are you talking about Eglerion?" Itarildë asked. She went to his side to put distance between herself and the elleths were by this time listening keenly to what the couple was saying to one another.

"I mean that down there is the full labor of Cirdan's love," Eglerion said heavily, "One of many vessels that he has crafted and made and I think at this point the should be allowed time away from it."

Itarildë was appalled, "How can you say that? The sea and his ships are all of Cirdan's life. For him to grow tired of it would be as if Illuvatar grew tired of the song of the Ainur. All his life Cirdan has built these ships and let given them into the hands of others. Unselfishly. Would he do that if he felt tired of it?"

"He did leave it, his great love. Look, All I am saying is that everyone grows weary from time to time, even of the things they love." Eglerion explained.

Itarildë's eyes burned, "Do you grow weary of me then?"

Without another word or look Itarildë ran back toward the house and her duties. Eglerion stood in shook at the brutally of her words.

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The day passed with agonizing slowness and all day Itarildë was uncommonly irritable. She went about her duties with Eglerion' words ringing in her ears and angry tears burned the backs of her eyes, but she repressed them savagely.

By evening her face was pale and dark rings were shadowing her eyes. She sat in her favorite chair on the porch and allowed the rush and sigh of the sea to calm her. But even as the sound was unchanged there was something missing to sooth her and Itarildë knew it was the Shipwright. Deep inside she knew that her words to Eglerion had been an outlet for her unhappiness.

A sound caused her to look up and see Prince Elladan standing in the purple shadows of the house watching her.

"You look tremulously unhappy," he said plainly.

Instead of feeling insulted, Itarildë nodded and wearily rested her head on her arms, "I feel it. I feel…old."

Elladan could not resist a hearty chuckle at this comment and the accompanying look he earned from the elleth.

"I am sorry Mistress, but you must understand that you are very young to have such feelings."

"I am nearly three thousand years old," Itarildë said.

Elladan's dark eyes snapped with amusement, "I am six thousand my dear lady or a little older. I must confess after a time I have stop keeping count."

"Oh please go away if all you want to do is brag," she said bluntly.

Elladan quickly sobered, "I assure you I meant nothing of the kind."

He moved to the chair by her side but only leaned on the back as he followed her gaze out to sea.

"I understand that you and Eglerion had words today."

"Gossip never sleeps," Itarildë muttered, "Forgive me Prince Elladan but I don't wish to speak of it."

"Very well," Elladan said and there was a shrug in his tone, "But you looked so very pensive and solemn out here that I thought I should come along and see if there was anything I could do to bring you. I am afraid that I don't tell funny stories very well. That's rather more Elrohir's lines. And jokes," he added quickly.

Itarildë smiled faintly at this, "So the youngest son of Elrond is a story teller?"

"Oh yes. We always had stories and music and poems at Imladris," Elladan explained, "We're quite a merry lot."

"Do you mind if I ask a frank question?"

"Go ahead, I won't promise to answer, but go ahead."

"Do you never miss Imladris even though you are here and ready to depart for Valinor?" Itarildë studied Elladan's handsome profile closely.

Elladan glanced at her and for a moment there was a hint of understanding in them, "Yes, of course I do."

"Before the sea called you did you ever grow tired of it?" she asked, "I mean, did you ever feel like getting away from it?"

"Will you believe me if I tell you the honest truth?" he asked.

"Of course," Itarildë answered, "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you have a marked purpose for asking and I know that my answer my not be exactly what you want."

She said nothing and he went on, "The truth is that I hated Imladris for years before I came to love it as I do now. All of my childhood I enjoyed my home and the people there. As the prince of the realm I wanted for nothing and I had a very loving family. But when Elrohir and I grew older we went out more and more often and not just to Lothlorien with our parents."

"Why would you come to hate it?" Itarildë asked quietly.

"Because it represented everything that I lost when my mother left." Elladan said softly, "When she left all the rooms and grounds and valleys of Imladris seemed haunted with her. You must understand that I was closer to my mother then my father. And when she was taken…"

Elladan let the words hang in the air and raised his hands in a helpless gesture.

"You blamed yourself." Itarildë filled in for him.

Elladan nodded and went on, "So, I kept away and lived among the Dúnedain. Elrohir came with me because we were never good for anything when we are apart. Good came of it because we found and brought back the child that grew to be Elessar, king of Gondor. But it was hundreds of years before I could see the happiness of my home. Sometimes the thing that cause you the most joy can cause the greatest pain. When I left I was leaving the pain as much as I could."

He smiled down at her, "Does that answer your question?"

"I think so. Painful and wonderful at the same time," Itarildë answered, "Love is that way isn't it?"

"Yes," Elladan agreed, "Love is like that."

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SongMaster: Chicken Wings and Cirdan? You are one odd duck. And Cirdan is not yours or mine because he is too hot to hold like that. I am glad that you see Cirdan as the…er…sea. I want him to get more action in this one. Boy, that sounded totally wrong.

Lady Anck-su-namun I always take a long time to up date because I want the story to be great, great, great! I loved writing the part with the elflings too.

Orchid's RainI love your name! Too cool. And thank you every much, I try.

DaeomaeI am glad I can keep you interested, I hope you enjoy this up date as well.