Chapter Twenty-Six

Later that same night, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn sat out on the lookout ledge. They spoke quietly together, wondering at their strange and secretive companion.

As they spoke, the person of whom they spoke walked silently to the ledge and sat beside them, starting them. Legolas was first to react, placing his hand over his heart and saying whilst bowing his head, "Mae govannen."

Ilmare nodded in return before saying to the other two, "You've no reason for fright. I am here to tell you a tale."

"A tale, eh? We aren't children, Lassie," Gimli returned.

"You misunderstand me, Master Dwarf. I will tell you, if you wish it, the tale of my life," she returned calmly.

"We would be honoured," Haldir said from the doorway, walking over to sit beside her. Neither Aragorn nor Legolas was surprised to see the elf. Since Helm's Deep, he had stuck close to Ilmare rather like a brother or a bodyguard.

She nodded to him before saying, "During the First Age, I met Olorin, whom you know as Gandalf. We became very close." Ilmare waved a hand, letting each of her fingers curl delicately one by one. From each of her fingers, pinpoints of light flew up into the air. They coalesced into a half sphere of flickering lights.

Gimli's reaction was the strongest. He leapt to his feet, letting out a cry of surprise as he did. Aragorn looked curious, whilst Haldir and Legolas remained unaffected. "Sit down, Gimli. It shall not harm you," Legolas said calmly.

As Gimli sat again, the lights quickly formed images. It was a person in surprising detail, as though they were looking at a reflection, but it was not them. Ilmare stared back at them with bright eyes as she sat on a bench.

"Gentlemen, my story," she said, moving her hand to allow her memories to play across the surface of the light.

Ilmare walked through the garden to her favourite stone bench. There, she sat, laying back along the stone to look at the stars glisten and glitter.

Hours went by before she heard a sound: footsteps. Slowly, they approached along the path. She just waited for the person to either notice her or keep walking.

The footsteps approached her. Before she saw the person a male voice said, "Vanand i quenant, Hiril nin." (Pardon the intrusion, my Lady) The voice was rich. It sounded like an orator's voice.

The person entered her vision. Instantly, she knew him to be a maia, for she had met all of the Valar. This Maia had tanned, almost golden skin which contrasted heavily with her milky white skin. His eyes twinkled blue like the scintillation of the Great Sea. His hair was long and brown. He was very tall, and his hands were large.

"Lyesse?" (What is your name) she asked, sitting up to properly look at him.

"Olorin," he answered.

"Im na Ilmare." (I am Ilmare) she returned.

Instantly, he bowed and said, "Hiril nin." (My lady)

"Uesse lye quenant, ore," (None of that, please) she said firmly.

This was the beginning of their friendship.

"A few centuries into our friendship, he gave me a necklace. You may ask of the import of this matter. I assure you, this is vital."

"A thousand years, or so, went by before Tulkas and Nessa were wed. Olorin and I attended, as did a Maia by the name of Mairon."

Amidst the dancing and celebration of the wedding, Ilmare danced and sang. She was a shining star amongst other stars, though her light was brighter than many others. This did not matter to any of them, except one.

This person subtly approached her. When the song ended, he placed himself in front of her. He bowed and asked politely, "Excuse me, my Lady. Might I have the next dance?"

"Certainly," she responded with a smile as she took his hand.

From then on, he had attempted to approach her at every opportunity. She quickly grew tired of this and took to staying near Olorin or Eonwe. Whenever she was near one of them, her admirer kept his distance, though she could often feel his eyes upon her.

This same pattern of pursuance and avoidance became her life for the next year. At that point, everything came to a head.