Laiqualassë Visits

I was in the practice yard working through a form dance one evening; I was alone for I had wished to have some time to myself. I had taken an early supper and now the majority of the residents of the havens were taking theirs. There had been much excitement that day for a small group of wanders had arrived as well as a ship from the Isle. I felt no real interest in either. It was a day where I felt entirely apathetic to my life. This feeling I recognized and it disgusted me.

I was concentrating hard on the forms as I wove my way around the court yard. I worked to keep my foot work light and quick and my blade work fluid and deadly. Somewhere in the back of my mind a few lines of poetry came to me.

Swift as the coursing river,

With all the force of a great typhoon,

With all the strength of a raging fire,

Mysterious as the dark side of the moon.

I do not remember to this day where I had heard it. It was something from my life before coming to Beleriand.

I had let the world fall away from me as I worked the forms. Falling deep into my own world where I fought the demon of apathetic depression I had been feeling throughout that entire day. I was so far from the true world around me that I did not notice anyone enter the court yard. This was a fault that I was sure the sword master taken me to task on had he been there. In my mind I slice my sword through the flesh of my own inner demon when my practice blade was blocked by another.

I was surprised but the years of training and practice had some used. I spun to release my blade and was about to launch into a counter attack. I looked up at my opponent and surprised for the second time dropped my practice sword.

"You should never drop your sword, little one," he said to me softly. I bit my lower lip sheepishly as I looked into the grey eyes of my first teacher. He smiled at me his eyes twinkling in amusement, his smile was infectious and I soon found one playing across my own lips.

"Laiqualasse," I said. "You have come to visit, at last." I wanted to hug him, but I was not sure how he would react to such a gesture. Once long ago when I had first come to Beleriand I would not have hesitated but I had grown since then. I was more wary of propriety then I had been on those long days marching from Gondolin. In the end I did not have to make a decision for it was Laiqualasse that put down the practice blade he was holding and wrapped his arms around me.

Ten years had passed since I had last seen him. In that embrace, however, all the feelings I thought that I had long since stopped feeling for this ellon surfaced stronger then ever. I felt tears prick at my eyes and I quickly schooled my features to calm working hard not to show what I was truly feeling. Absence did make the heart grow fonder I realised. It was going to be much harder for me to watch him sail way again.

Pulling back I knew I still had tears in my eyes. "I am happy to see you. I have missed you," I said smiling and whipping tears from my eyes at the same time.

"You have changed little, Eruanna," he said brow furrowed. "Less then I would have expected for one of the Atani," he added as he studied my face. With a shake of his head he dropped his arms to his sides. "Come let's put these blades away and join the others for supper. I have yet to speak with my sister. I saw little Lailitha and Lady Elwing right after I finished my business with Lady Idril and Lord Tuor. They told me that you would be here practicing so I came to find you. I have missed you too, little one."

I gave him a smile as a lump formed in my throat, the words that Mirwen had spoken to me many years before about the consequences of loving her brother surfaced in my mind. "Why have you come now?" I asked as we walked towards my chambers where I knew Mirwen, Lailitha and Elwing would be waiting.

As we entered the chamber we found Thranduil there as well. Mirwen stood next to their hands clasped. Mirwen came forward and hugged her brother quickly. He returned her embrace then she took my hand and pulled me unceremoniously into her room. It was only as she closed the door that I noticed a simple silver band on her hand.

"You have plighted your troth!" I exclaimed happy for my friend.

"Yes, we have but that is not all," she continued. "Thranduil wishes to go east, to try to find his father. We are sailing first to the Isle of Balar. I will not be wed without Laiqualasse at my side. We plan to use the Isle as a starting point in our search for his father, the Lord Oropher."

"You are leaving Arvernien?" I asked rhetorically in a near whisper. I tried to keep my utter despair from showing on my face.

"Lord Tuor and Lady Idril have given us leave. We plan on sailing at the new moon when Laiqualasse must return. Eruanna you could come with us to the Isle. Lady Idril agreed that should you wish it you too could go, as well as Lailitha," said Mirwen. Elwing who had not spoken understanding that this was between Mirwen and I looked up in shock when Mirwen mentioned the possibility that Lailitha may be leaving in a month's time as well.

"I…I don't know Mirwen," I said. I was sure that Lailitha would have no wish to leave Arvernien and I would not leave her. She had not yet come of age and when I had taken responsibility for her ten years before it had not been to toss it aside when I had a better option. "If Lailitha does not wish to go, I will not. I must think on this. Mirwen, I apologies I must get some air," with this I rose and left the chamber.

AN: The small snipet of poetry is from the movie Mulan. I have always loved it and decided to included it here. Two chapters today…best be satisfied because I have to write the next chapter from scratch where it has simply been a matter of piecing these two together. Hope everyone is having a great winter (summer in the southern hemisphere) holiday.

Elariel Erestorion