Chapter 30 - The Ritual
"Fair warning," Vez casually said to Legolas as they walked closer to the prisons, "Remi enjoys the sound of his own voice."
"You mean he is overly conversant?" Legolas verified.
"You could say that," Vez did not know whether she should be concerned about Legolas interacting with Remi. She suspected in their prior delicate conversation, the one where Legolas boldly asked what her past relationship with Remi entailed, that he held mild contempt for the man. It made her curious whether he desired attending this outing because he distrusted her with him or whether he just distrusted him. Vezely would not expect Legolas to be jealous, or find a need to be protective, so she was unsure of his angle. Yet she also worried that Remi, being an incessant talker, would mention something damning about her past that Legolas didn't already know. Yet she wondered why she worried, for Legolas had already been given enough of the horrific deeds of her past surely anything else wouldn't come as a surprise.
Faramir shifted his proud stance slightly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable when he saw the two Elves approaching. The Steward knew he had done wrong by convicting Vezely of the crime in the Dim Quarters, jumping to conclusions due to his own bias against her culture and growing grudge with her due to several contentious arguments. He never would have assumed she was selfishly protecting a young Gondorian woman of punishment. He had slipped and it made Aragorn concerned about how convictions were being handled in Minas Tirith. The Steward had spent the prior days in council with the soon-to-be king verifying laws and creating measures to ensure such instances didn't get handled similarly under his rule. While Aragorn never openly rebuked Faramir for his mishap, the young Steward felt irresponsible. He had never been a man who desired power; he more desired to prove himself in the eyes of his father as simply a capable man who was honorable and brave, even if he did not possess a warrior's heart like his older brother, Boromir. Being thrust into a stewardship role so quickly after the battle's end was unexpected, especially after living a life in his big brother's shadow. Perhaps he was too eager to show his capabilities. He did not know if he read Vez wrong, seeing how her company trusted her despite her barbarian tactics and roughness in character. Perhaps his bias against those from Rhun shined through, for all Gondorians held a deep mistrust along with their misunderstanding of Rhunic culture. Centuries of war will do that.
"Good morning," Faramir greeted them, though he seemed to be directing his pleasant greeting more to Legolas than to Vezely, adding, "I appreciate this being completed prior the arrival of more guests."
Remi, who stood nearby with a guard by his side, was eying down Vezely, curious as to how she got out of her previous predicament and to again be on neutral terms with the Steward. The Variag had been given a clean pair of trousers, a new shirt, and access to a razor to shave. He looked less like a prisoner, despite wearing iron cufflinks around his wrists.
Vez did not openly acknowledge the Variag's interest, replying to Faramir sarcastically, "Of course. Wouldn't want such heathen rituals to blacken the pristine reputation of your White City." Legolas held his tongue, knowing too well that Vezely did not get along with the Steward. He disliked her attitude but prohibited himself from getting involved in her quarrels. "And these will not be necessary," she said while pulling up on the chain connecting Remi's handcuffs before looking directly at the nearby guard, adding, "Neither is he."
Before Faramir could respond to contest, Legolas politely added, "I will accompany them to the fields. You will not need to worry."
Faramir relaxed his stance and un-narrowed his eyes, trusting the Elf-prince's word, "Very well," he replied curtly, motioning to the guard to remove Remi's cuffs. After he did, Remi remarked some choice words in Variag dialect before going to Vez's side.
Legolas exchanged a look of confidence with Faramir before following Remi and Vez as they departed on foot, with a long walk down to the first level and out the gates. Riding horses was out of the question for they could not trust that Remi wouldn't take off on his own accord.
Remi starred back at Legolas as he followed them, remarking in Easterling, "You have a body guard?"
"I do not," Vez replied bluntly in Westron, "And if you desire reply, speak Westron, otherwise expect silence," she was not about to allow Remi to make Legolas feel uncomfortable.
While slightly annoyed by the request, Remi acquiesced. He was not one to hold in his thoughts, going ahead and asking casually in Westron, "How did you do it?"
"Do what?" She raised one eyebrow.
"Go without punching that yavonka in the face?" he said sardonically referring to Faramir.
Vez laughed slightly, turning her head to peer back at Faramir from the corner of her eye, saying amused, "I surprise myself sometimes."
"What did he say?" Legolas asked suspiciously, wondering the meaning of the foreign word but not desiring to speak directly to the man.
Remi piped in, stating to the Elf directly, "It is not translatable into Westron."
"Yavonka," Vez explained, "It is a term for men whose rank is based on blood heritage alone."
"You refer to Faramir?" Legolas replied with slight admonishment.
Remi chuckled slightly, before Vez explained still amused, "That's right and not as a term of endearment." Legolas looked at her with slight disappointment, leading her to reply to him in Elvish, "I do not have to like everyone."
Legolas shook his head but let it go, before Vezely realized she had not introduced the two to each other. "Legolas, you know Remi, and Remi, this is Legolas of the Woodland Realm. He is not my body guard, but he preferably takes the place of one of Faramir's guards who would've reported back everything we say or do to the Steward." She wanted to let Remi know he was there on her own account.
Remi nodded briefly in greeting, Legolas doing the same, both coldly so, as if each were silently displaying their animosity towards each other.
Being curious, Remi asked boldly, "How did an Elf find himself on this edge of the war? Should you not be in the north with the others?" Disdain dripped from his intonation of others.
Legolas picked up on his contempt, causing him to be uninterested in answering.
Vezely realized this and intervened quickly, "A small band of travelers from distant lands journeyed to Minas Tirith for a specific purpose. Legolas represented his people in this task." Remi picked up on some admiration in Vez's description. Deciding to change the topic to the current task, Vez spoke of the ritual, "I was able to find sadar oil, and birch wood has been piled for our use outside the gates." She pulled the small vile from her bag and handed it to him.
"Good," Remi said curtly, taking the vile and inspecting its quality, which surprised Vez. Realizing this he asked, "You probably do not expect me to take my role seriously?"
"Ha," Vez scoffed, "What makes you think that?"
He smirked, "You know well I never desired to continue my family's trade," he said speaking of some familiarity with each other. "Divinators are a rare breed," he began explaining for the interest of the other Elf, "You can only be one if you are born one, but to be one means giving up a chance to be a high ranking warrior."
Vez added starkly, "Even though it is often a commander's divinator who runs the show."
"Only if you are respected enough, most commanders hold less weight in reading omens these days," Remi verified.
She explained for Legolas who was listening confused, "In Khand, divinators are few in number and high ranked officials will patron one for spiritual purposes. For commanders, divinators are ceremonially consulted when planning battles, calling upon them to decipher omens and read the entrails of the night's kill to see what the next day's incursion might bring. If the omen is bad, plans change."
"You believe you can see the future?" Legolas asked skeptically.
Remi smirked, "I can read signs as all divinators are taught."
"And this is why the resistance sent you back to Khand?" Legolas inquired.
Remi nodded, "I was to be the divinator of a high ranked official. To acquire information to help that hopeless cause, but I unexpectedly crossed paths with Öldür," the mention of her former second in command peaked Vez's interest. "He was looking for an answer to his problem. So I read the stars and told him that his answer had no desirable scent and no recognizable taste, but was clear and certain as once before."
"That is not saying anything," Legolas stated bluntly, not thinking highly of the man's trade.
"What answer was he looking for?" Vez asked suspiciously.
"How to defeat you in battle?" he replied, knowing it would intrigue her. "He had just heard more rumors that you were alive and possibly with the resistance. It made him nervous and he was looking for divinators to read signs that would lead him to perfect strategy. I was brought before him and he liked what he heard. Afterwards, he made me his top divinator."
"That is a powerful position. I am not surprised you betrayed the resistance," Vez stated considering; not that she condoned what transpired but she couldn't deny if she was in similar path she wouldn't have done the same. She added, "And I know the answer he came to," knowing what the cryptic words formed in Öldür's mind.
"Ah, so you deciphered the riddle as he did. Great minds think alike," Remi said admiringly.
"It was Castis, the poison I had devised using as a fear tactic when he was my second in command. Of course he would associate your words with it," she stated, shaking her head annoyed.
"You knew of this poison?" Legolas asked the man boldly, thinking he was responsible for almost killing Vezely on the fields they walked to.
"I am only a messenger," Remi was not deterred by his condemnation, "I had not heard of this specific poison beforehand, but the signs I read formed such words in my head and Öldür deciphered them as such."
"Typical story of divinators. They wash their hands of all blame but pull strings when it serves them," Vez stated bluntly.
Remi smirked, "That is not always the case especially in regards to commanders, where we simply have a ceremonial role."
"Except for Öldür," Vezely remembered, "He was unusually superstitious, desiring to consult a divinator before every move we made. He had a personal divinator by the name of Yorük," she said his name with spite, "Irrational prick interfered on enough occasions that I actually poisoned him. It was the first time I tried Castis. It has a different effect when ingested. It appeared he had eaten and died from spoilt food. Öldür never did find out what killed him," Vez seemed unfazed by this deed.
Remi mused, "Poor fuck. He was obviously not smart enough to know when to lay low. A good divinator does not overstep in delicate affairs."
Vez's eyes shifted to Legolas, who looked at her with consternation, as he asked confused, "I did not know this poison was once your own device."
Remi spoke proudly, "I heard you used in the Sera region, calling a truce in order to send enemies home only to die days later from mere scratches. They feared you as one would a demon."
Vez piped in an explanation, saying steadily, "Psychological warfare. Easterlings perfect it. I sought the region's submission and that is what I received through fear," she knew Legolas did not appreciate such tales.
But Remi continued his tales of misplaced admiration, "Regardless of your parting, Öldür spoke highly of your war intellect and skill in combat. Is it true you brought down the Three Brothers of the Ash Lands in a fight to the death?" he asked, as they rounded the corner into the former marketplace.
"Two, the third laid down his sword desiring to be spared," Vez said nonchalantly, trying to play down any praise.
"Ah, but you still had his head," Remi remarked knowingly.
"I had all their heads," she said forthrightly with a slight smirk, a feat she was not ashamed to still be amused by. She was surprised Öldür still divulged these stories after all that transpired between them.
Remi started laughing, "I would have paid to bear witness."
Legolas was less than amused at their amusement.
"It was not a feat worth attendance," Vezely added a second later hoping to tell the truth of the tale, crossing her arms as they walked. "The three had gotten soft from the spoils of their victories and their egos had grown along with their bellies. In order to avoid the toil of gathering their troops, they simply assumed they could defeat me in hand-to-hand combat. I accepted, of course. One of them, the smarter of the three, undoubtedly planned all along to let his brothers fall before him," she added thinking it over, "He only proved himself unworthy of being spared." Relaying some context to Legolas, "The Three Brothers of the Ash Lands acquired their tri-empire in Far Rhun only after many years in stalemate. Neither could defeat the other on the field so they forged an alliance and conquered the outlying lands together, using their captives as slaves to build their castles and tend their crops. It may have been the one time when Sauron's army was responsible for securing the freedom of many. And I was seen as liberator," Vez remembered fondly.
"Öldür put it as you being worshipped as such," Remi said amused.
"Ah, he was amused by that. I was annoyed," Vez replied, her arms still crossed.
Legolas, although appalled wondered, "One could argue they were not better off, and you could have left them as slaves."
"A slave would rather fall on ones sword than fight for another with it. But give them freedom, and suddenly, they have a reason to fight," she said cunningly, "They were useless as slaves, but as willing recruits to their new liberator, they held purpose."
"Smart and deadly," Remi mused, "A rare combination in women these days."
"Don't be so sure," Vezely replied dryly.
Legolas was surprised by their banter; discussing topics of murder, decapitation, and warfare with amusement while to the ears of an Elf they would cause disquiet and despair. Vezely's casualness around the man also displeased him. When at first the two re-met at the prison, she had desired to kill him for his betrayal of the resistance, and now she seemed perfectly comfortable and almost friendly around him. He also disliked how Remi spoke admiringly of her past foul deeds, and that such talk easily captured Vez's candid replies. She didn't seem to hold back any information that she may have when speaking to him about such topics. Not that he hadn't witnessed this side of her character prior. He knew her manners were Easterling, but a full display of this attitude towards such subjects unsettled him.
They had left the city's gates, which had remained open since war's end to welcome all guests who would be arriving for the coronation. It was the first time Vezely had walked back upon the fields she fought and fell on. They each picked up some bundles of birch wood, which Vez had piled off on the side wall earlier in preparation, before walking further out on the field.
"You and Öldür were close then?" Vezely asked Remi as they walked.
"He counseled with me often and drank with me even more so," Remi replied.
"He always did enjoy his drink," Vez thought back to the man's intake of Dorwinion wine and Khand dark ale.
"He was not in a good place, mentally, when he heard that you might be working for the resistance," Remi added thinking back, "He would talk freely about you when he got drunk thus I now know quite a lot about the Destroyer of Nations." Vez shot him an annoyed glare. "The man once cared for you quite deeply, actually. He perhaps even felt mild remorse for his misdeeds, taking your legions and all," then clarifying, "But only when he was drunk, of course."
Vez was not fazed by hearing this, and she shifted her gaze farther afield, "I killed Öldür over there. It was not a quick death or a respectful one," she added steadily, "For he held his bowels in his hands as I slit his throat. I am glad to know I also haunted his dreams for sometime before that."
"Vezely," Legolas said wide-eyed, completely off-put by her evil words and thoughts.
Her eyes went to his, realizing they held surprise and disappointment. Vez swallowed what spit was in her mouth uncomfortably, noting she had let the conversation stray slightly into what appeared as her boasting about her past violence. She had not thought it wrong to banter on about such subjects in casual conversation, for warriors often bragged about kills, but perhaps an Elf would not do so for they held a deep respect for life. She knew this, but somehow it didn't sink into her way of acting, especially when interacting with someone from her adopted culture. Such words flowed from her tongue without thought to whose ears they would enter and possibly upset.
"The man got what was coming to him," Remi added gauging the field with his eyes, somewhat curious by the Elf's outburst and Vez's reaction to it, "I read his death in the ashes of his campfire the morning before the battle." Remi knelt down, grabbing a fist of soil in his hand and allowing it to filter slowly from it back to the ground.
Vez did not respond to Legolas or Remi, and instead moved her eyes back to the field. Upon realizing where they stood, Legolas stated solemnly, "A mass grave," his eyes also scanning the far section of the field as Vezely's was. One could easily tell the soil had been uplifted not long ago and undoubtedly the bodies of thousands of dead Southrons and Variags lay below it. The Gondorians had burned the bodies of the orcs, as was customary, while burying the men, even though most Rhunic cultures practiced cremation.
Vez's heart sank, finding the immensity of the field staggering and relaying the numbers in her head of not only the Variags and Haradrim which lay there, but the Easterlings in the northeast who fought to the death at the foot of the Lonely Mountain. Sauron promised the people of Rhun the lands to the West, but instead those lands became their eternal resting place, and she had a hand in coercing Rhun's people to accept this promise.
Remi chanted some verses before standing up, taking the birch wood aside him and forming a small pyre. Vezely did the same with hers, spacing it several meters out from the other, forming several more pyres along the field where the men were buried underneath. Legolas observed their labor, noting Vezely's solemn emotions and the rhythms she went through, suspecting she had done this ritual before. Remi would then go and sprinkle dots of sadar oil onto the wood, saying a few verses in his dialect as he did before lighting the one pyre on fire using flint that had been brought. The wind was lightly blowing, making the fire dance and crack through the wood and oil, the latter producing a blue tint to the flames. Both he and Vezely would light the rest of the pyres using wood lit by the flames of the first one.
Remi chanted more verses as Vezely stood aside him gazing out on the field, and unexpectedly to Legolas, she began to sing. He had never heard her sing before and while her voice held Elvish qualities, she did not sing as an Elf did nor did the words she formed sound as pleasing as Elvish verses. There was a unique undulation to the way she sung the foreign words. They seemed to catch the wind and float away with it; the sound was haunting to him.
Vezely sang a common warrior's burial song in Rhun, one which had some variation throughout the land's cultures but stemmed from a single source - a song which spoke not of enemies or victors, but of the great equalizer Death and of the honor to have met him in battle. It was a song of respect and remembrance.
She had song it before, at battle's end when many men were lost. As a former general, she always regretted needlessly losing men. It was her utmost responsibility to keep her numbers consistent, so she was methodical about maneuvers and tactics. It was a numbers game, as Legolas damningly called her war statistics, but for her it was about keeping from needing to burn massive pyres of bodies or dig large graves, at least for her own men. Long ago she helped lead her adopted people, the Balchoth, to their death on the fields on Rohan. She never wanted to make that mistake again and it drove her responsibility as a general of Sauron's legions. Her men were important to her even if she was cruel to her enemies. Thus, when gazing out upon these death fields, it stirred past emotions of regret and failure. She finished her song; her voice intrepid against the winds which had picked up force causing the flames to lick higher. She closed her eyes, not expecting a small tear to fall from one, only to have the wind dry it as if fell down her cheek.
She removed the dagger from her bag and handed it to Remi, who took it carefully from her. Legolas did not expect Vezely to freely arm the man and he grew weary and kept his eyes locked on his every move. Remi spoke words to the weapon, touched the blade to his forehead, and then turned and spoke to Vezely in more words Legolas could not understand.
"It should be you who does the honor," he said to Vez offering her the dagger, "As standing general, it is custom."
She hesitated slightly, not knowing if it was entirely proper, but agreed. She took the 'blessed' dagger from his hand and held the blade to her other palm, slicing it, not flinching as it separated her flesh. She squeezed her fist and let the blood drip from it onto the soil.
"Blood to honor blood," she spoke proudly in Easterling, "To live as a warrior is to have honor. To die in battle is to have earned respect as one. May your ancestors embrace you and may those who live envy you. Blood to honor blood."
"Blood to honor blood," Remi repeated, bowing his head after.
She had not spoken these words in a long time; they were a transcultural eulogy a general spoke at war's end over all the bodies that were lost, comrade or foe. It would be done in front of the surviving victors, to give them strength to persevere. That was why it was important; not for the dead, but for the living, to hold them in solidarity as warriors bound to contract to keep fighting. Despite the absence of troops there now, it still felt important and right to say. It was as if she was back in those boots, doing her duty as commander, showing respect for the dead, holding regret for having lost men, but having strength to continue her path with those still of this world. It made her feel honorable again, as a leader should feel; even if before her honor could easily be put into question.
"It is heavy burden to gaze at war's end and weigh bitter cost of it," she spoke in Westron after a prolonged moment of silence.
Remi placed a hand on her shoulder, replying steadily, "Rhun will persevere."
She looked at him curiously, somewhat surprised to find the same hope in his eyes as she had. Perhaps the man had a sliver of care for his homeland. "It will," she replied with a small nod.
Legolas did not know what to make of this odd ritual, for it was far removed from Elvish customs. Burials were quiet affairs. They did not burn fires or spill blood but sing soft hymns while others kept silent in remembrance. Dared he think what he just witnessed was slightly barbaric.
Vezely walked back over to Legolas's side; he had a quizzical look on his face, still milling over what had transpired, "We can return now," she said to him softly, "These fires will burn the wood to piles of ash that will then scatter across these fields. It will be enough to appease the living that their fallen comrades were respected in death."
Legolas nodded before removing a clean handkerchief from his tunic's side pocket and taking Vezely's cut hand in his. She smirked slightly at the fact he had carried one, though she did appreciate his caring, gentle touch, for he had done this before when she cut her knuckles by hitting Yaban's face. He wrapped it around, wondering if she cut too deep and if it would be in need of stitches. She seemed less than concerned that it was still bleeding, however.
"Was this necessary?" he asked carefully in Elvish, not desiring for Remi to understand their personal conversation.
Vez smirked, noting now he had not expected the ritual to involve shedding blood and especially not her own. She repeated again the phrase she spoke, but translated into Elvish, "Blood to honor blood. We would also sacrifice animals and then feast and drink to their honor, but this will have to suffice."
Sacrifice, the word itself sounded uncivilized to him, he then let go of her hand and she smiled slightly in thanks for his wrapping.
"Let's go," she called to Remi, turning from them to return to the city gates. The man appeared to be looking back on the field, though he was contemplating the interaction between the two.
Remi would walk past Legolas and give him a stern glare, one the Elf returned in kind before each returned to the main thoroughfare that led into the city.
Vezely asked Remi, "Has there been any mistreatment of the men?" She was curious how the prisoners were being handled and wanted to take this opportunity to speak to one of them in private.
"No," Remi replied truthfully, "The guards continue their usual banter, but none of their actions require reprimand. Though," he paused considering how to phrase his words, "The men do grow restless with each other. You may have a mutinous bunch on your hands before we even leave the gates," he then added hopeful, "But the Captain has resolve to hold us together."
Vezely was afraid of this, and part of her wondered whether it would be wise to leave sooner than waiting for the coronation; even though several prisoners needed the extra weeks to heal, especially those with broken bones. Then she wondered whether certain prisoners were making plans, "Do you suspect splintering groups?"
"Hard to tell," Remi replied considering, "Much goes on in the dark corners of that prison."
"I ask you keep your eyes and ears attuned to such activity. If Rhun is to persevere, we all need to make it back there alive, and in solidarity," she said in hopeful confidence.
Remi nodded, intrigued to be given such a delicate request.
As Vezely was concerned, so too was Legolas, for she would be leaving with these troops and if they were unstable and were to revolt, she may never make it back to Rhun to complete her path of redemption.
Upon entering the prison grounds, they were again greeted by Faramir, "Lady Vez, if I can have a word," he inquired, leading her down the corridor away from Remi and Legolas. "I have received your request for supplies from Aragorn, it is very thorough." Vezely had devised a list of items that she suspected to need on the journey back to Rhun. They would not be able to make it safely across the borders if they had nothing but the clothes on their back.
"It is the minimal," Vez replied, "I seek to avoid my men taking what they need along the way." She knew Faramir was concerned her troops would rape and pillage in Ithilien before crossing the borders into Rhovanion.
"It is reasonable. I also noted you do not request weaponry," he said wondering.
"I thought that would be overstepping. Though for hunting purposes, I considered requesting a few bows and arrows," she replied politely.
He nodded, "I see that as reasonable, as are the other items."
Vezely was surprised the man was suddenly being agreeable to her demands, "It would be appreciated. And perhaps when I return, I will be able to repay the city for its hospitality."
Faramir queried, "Is it your plan to return?" Faramir did not know the full extent of her future path; though he overheard that she was barred from crossing the sea into the Utter West due to her past crimes.
"It is," she replied steadily, holding her head slightly higher, "I desire to leave these lands alongside my kin, when I am permitted to..."
While Vezely was preoccupied with Faramir, Remi used the respite as an opportunity to speak with the Elf, saying slyly, "She is the perfect woman is she not? Strong, ruthless, cunning, beautiful. I am very much looking forward to the journey home, to spend more time with her."
Legolas internally queried the man's objective in trying to spark conversation with him, narrowing his eyes on his he warned, "You would be wise to keep your distance."
He raised an eyebrow, "Now why would I want to do that?"
"She is spoken for," Legolas stated strongly, hoping to imply they were in a relationship.
"No one speaks for Vezely but Vezely," Remi added disdainfully, now realizing the two were involved. Then adding amused, "You think you know her, yet you know nothing of Rhunic culture. Nor do you have any respect for the general she is. When she leaves this land you will become nothing but a faded memory. A weakness she doesn't need," then laughing, he added, "And I will be the one to keep her bed warm."
Legolas grabbed him by the collar; a second more and he would not have hesitated throwing his fist in his face, but Faramir and Vezely were returning. Faramir asked from afar, "Is there a problem?"
"Is there?" Remi stated undeterred under the Elf's grip and glaring eyes, keeping his demeanor cool and collected.
Faramir commanded his guard to take Remi away, and before leaving them, he said to Vezely with confidence, "We will discuss this topic more later."
Vez looked at Legolas, whose anger had not subsided from the prior incident, asking curiously, "What did he say?"
Legolas did not reply as he tried to settle his emotions, not looking at her, instead watching the man fade down the corridor. Vez smirked. She was amused he could be riled at all and to act in a way that was more becoming of her. She grabbed his hand and interlinked her fingers with his, saying with some care, "You should not take anything he says seriously."
Her touch was enough to pull his eyes to hers, "I do not like his manner around you."
"Nor do I, but he is not a threat," she said carefully, squeezing his hand slightly, "To me or to us."
He breathed in deeply, trying to regain his composure.
"I need to talk briefly with the Captain," Vez said, smiling softly at him, "Then we can have the whole day to ourselves." Her words were enough to elicit a smile from him; he knew she was offering them as added comfort before leaving him in the same direction they took Remi.
The man's words honestly stung Legolas. It was true, he did not understand Rhunic culture or hold respect for the general she was, and he still misunderstood the general she sought to be. Reconciling their stark differences was trying, and to have this man point these issues out to him did not help the situation. He also realized Remi's ignoble objectives in regards to his partner. It was unlikely they would be married before her departure, and while he trusted their bond, he realized his paucity of knowledge on Rhunic relationships and what they cordoned off in regards to physical relations with others. He felt uncomfortable even thinking about such topics, but knew they needed to be discussed.
His father and kin would arrive in Minas Tirith in a few days time, along with other members of the Elven Delegation hailing from Rivendell and Lothlorien. The anticipation was both one of joy and discomfort. He was joyful to again see and be around those who were close to him, to share his own stories and hear their tales of victory in the war now over; but he would also be announcing his betrothal - and one unexpected if any announcements had been made or rumors had circulated regarding the alliance his father and Lord Celeborn sought to make by matching him with Lady Adele. It had become too late to send his father a return letter, in which he would have told him that he heard the call of the sea and desired to leave these shores with Vezely by his side, while making clear his disinterest in marrying Lady Adele. Now he would have to relay all this to him in person, as well as other information: that his bride-to-be was barred from passing into the Utter West anytime soon and the indecencies of her past called into question any official union they would seek to have. He feared disappointing his father, who would undoubtedly see such obstacles as heartbreaking and possibly damaging for his son. Legolas feared it may lead his father to harbor contempt for the one he loved. In a few days time, the situation in Minas Tirith would grow increasingly delicate, that he could only think he better enjoy the next few days where Vezely and him truly had time to themselves.
A/N: If you're interested - I have an audio sample of what I imagine Vez's burial song might sound like on the story's tumblr. Please check it out if you like audio to your silent reading [vezely . tumblr post/51300993637/natasha-atlas-la-printemps-click- to-listen].