Note: For the story of how Aragorn and Athriel met see chapter 7
Athrana (Wandering Shadow)
Chapter 50- Friendships old and new
TA3019, March 6th
After dragging his protesting brothers away from the crowd Aragorn sighed. Now he had to explain, about Athriel and the day they had met. Now he had to let them know that he had known about their friend's survival longer than they had. Where was he supposed to start?
Athriel was having a similar problem. Left alone with Legolas and his very pregnant significant other she know had to explain to yet another one of her friends how she was standing there in front of them. Where was she supposed to start?
"Do you remember, six months ago when we rode out together towards Bree..." The twins stood side by side with their mouths open listening to the tale. It was a lot to take in. Not the fact that Estel had known for so long, they were coming to terms with being the last to know, it was how she had unintentionally announced her existence. "She heard me" Elrohir gasped. That song had not been meant for her ears. It had seemed so natural at the time. That's what happened amongst their people. She had died in battle to save others and was worthy of song. He hadn't expected her ever to hear it. Yes they had expected to see her again in the undying lands, but now she was here again with them. Riding out into battle like she had done before.
"Mi cambënya nyárë mi rín
Polnye hlarldë yello essenya
Polnye har cenldë alassë
Tenya lyë appa lauca
Anata tassë erressë quiloe si
Har i er melnya
Na si namáriëmma
Ni úsanwë sin ré tulsie rato
Vet úharya lume ana quetnamárië
Manaen polambar lelya or
Ni tenya sie vanwa irë le usisse asnya
Anata tassë erressë quiloe si
Har i er melnya
Na si namáriëmma
Si na úmma namárië"*
Elladan, although as always his thoughts mirrored his twins, was more concerned about Athriel's reply. He hadn't realised the reality of it all. All these years she had been watching over them. Everything they had done she had been right over their shoulder. That thought should worry him, but it didn't. It was sort of comforting.
"Ani apsenë an i nyérë
An oantë le mi caurë
An i olórie vet maurë quilole
Tana ilye te níra oi ná
Ni níra ná i er ana anga le
Nan le níra la ce tana t ná ani"**
Athriel shuffled slightly as she stood across from Legolas. Well there only was one way to start. He had guessed who she was but she should at least confirm it and get the dramatics out of the way. She closed her eyes and pulled the hood back. However there was no gasp this time. She opened one eye cautiously. "Hi Las." The prince was standing there with his arms crossed clearly unimpressed. "You've been supposedly dead for eight decades and all you have to say is 'Hi Las'" She shrugged. What else was she supposed to say? So far she had had screaming and shouting and crying. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to say now that none of that had happened. "What else would you like me to say." She slumped down onto a pile of rubble and suddenly became very interested in her finger nails. "An explanation would be nice."
Later Athriel watched as Nariel approached. After the prince had insisted that his intended rest, Athriel had explained as much as she could. It was getting to be an old tale. He in turn had told her all that she had missed while she had been away. It was a strange experience. SO far no one had mentioned the things she had missed, there had been much more important things to talk about. But it was comforting to sit here in the sun listening to her woodland friend talk about his changing life. Some of those changes were very obvious, so obvious in fact that no doubt once they finished grilling their brother the twins would have some questions for him. Legolas and Nariel were not only together now, but she was heavily pregnant. And the prince was determined that once they returned home he was going to marry the half Beorning half Istari woman. Athriel was happy for them. It was nice to see that even in the middle of a war with everything else going on, they were so determined to be happy. It reminded her a little of Arwen, sitting at home unwavering now in her belief that she and Estel would live happily as King and Queen of Gondor. This was what they were all fighting for, hope for the future.
"Lady Athriel, it is a pleasure to meet you" The woman said bowing slightly. Athriel bowed as well. "Please just Athriel. I never quite got the hang of being a lady." Nariel laughed. "Alright." Once they were sitting side by side the wizard sent Legolas to fetch her some water, an obvious distraction so that they could talk. Then turning to Athriel she smiled. "So tell me, do you have any embarresing stories about when Legolas was young" The elleth laughed. She was going to like this woman. She could tell.