Chapter 56
Weather the Storm
For many a day and night, the elves took turns on watching and dressing Erynlith's wound. Every morning, Aerchon and his wife would serve breakfast for Amroth and his companions. After breakfast, Orgilion would travel back towards the White Mountains in search for Nimrodel and Mithrellas. At sundown, he would return empty-handed. Orgilion knew King Amroth was getting impatient; at some days, the two of them would scout the rivers and caves, finding not a single trace of the lost maidens. And Erynlith slept for days; the wound on her shoulder slowly healing.
Aerchon and the rest of the Sindarin elves were pressing their deadline. Summer was passing and autumn would be there soon. They could no longer wait for Nimrodel; they thought it was impossible for a single maiden to remain alive after all these months.
"Please, just please wait for another more days," Amroth pleaded to Aerchon, almost falling onto his knees and beg, a gesture unfit for an Elvenking of Lórinand. "Please listen. Nimrodel is out there somewhere, and she is travelling to get here. Please reconsider your deadline. The coming of autumn is not a bad thing, is it?"
"But we have been waiting for weeks," Aerchon said in his defence. "My companions and I have built this ship for us. We cannot wait any longer."
"I love Nimrodel," Amroth pleaded again, tears threatened to fall from his glistening grey eyes. "Please, please… I cannot live this world without her, but I cannot stay here in Middle-earth as well. You see, I promised her a land of peace, and that is where I will take her. She promised to marry me when that happens, so please, please, bear with me."
Aerchon gave his companions an apologetic look and sighed. "Fine, Lord Amroth. I am giving you another few weeks. You know we cannot abandon this departure just for one lost maiden. You will have to work harder on finding her."
Almost every night, that was the conversation that fell between the pressured Sindarin elves. Amroth would return in the cottage, disheartened and lonely. He would sit himself on the corner of the room, bury his face in his palm, and cry himself to sleep. Orgilion watched the King of Lórinand succumbed to his grief every single night while he watched over the sleeping Erynlith. Her wounds healed faster in Orgilion's care. And this particular night, she woke up to find her cousin and only family member alive, miserable with grief.
"No signs of Nimrodel?" Erynlith whispered over to Orgilion. She sat up from her bed and glanced at her cousin.
The warden shook his head in dismay. "Not one, not even a trace of Mithrellas as well. It has been months, Erfaron. Summer will be over soon and I am afraid Aerchon will set sail once autumn arrives."
She frowned. "How could there be no signs of them at all? You are a warden, Orgilion! Surely you can trace two lost maidens."
"I cannot do everything, Erfaron," he snapped at her, a rare occasion for him to lose his composure. He sighed and looked at her apologetically. "Look, I am trying my best. I have scoured each of the seven rivers, checked every cave and crevice imaginable to stay in; Nimrodel is lost, I know, but she is still out there somewhere."
"Then we find her in the morning," Erynlith concluded.
"No, you will have to stay here." His voice was commanding. He gently pushed her back towards the bed and tucked the grey blanket under her chin, acting like a father. "I will return to the White Mountains tomorrow, see if I can find something different. How do you feel?"
"Terrible for Amroth."
He shook his head. "No, I meant yourself. How do you feel?"
She shrugged. "I feel fine."
"Your right arm..." He hesitated, his face contorted into one of worry. "I saw the wound... I did not mean to..."
"It's all right." She pulled the sleeve over her right wrist, hoping that it would cover the wound she had acquired two thousand years ago. It never healed, that poisoned wound that came from an orc-arrow, which had pierced her flesh and left her writhing and unconscious in Greenwood. Beneath her sleeve the skin was grey and dry, the flesh hard and hurting. She smiled in reassurance. "Compared to Amroth's pain this is nothing."
In the morning that followed, Orgilion left the Havens again to continue on his search. This time, the remaining Silvan marchwardens accompanied him, leaving Amroth and Erynlith behind. The King sighed heavily and leaned on the stone railway that overlooked the Sea. He watched as the waves moved to and fro, delivering some leaves and weeds onto the shores. Not far from where he stood was the grey Elven-ship made by Aerchon and his companions, ready to set sail anytime. Erynlith leaned against the railway as well, her grey cloak draped all over her. The winds were howling strongly for these past few days, and the skies were dim. She silently watched as Aerchon loaded the ship with his and his wife's belongings; the beds and chairs from the cottage were being carried off.
"Are you going to sail with us?" Amroth finally broke the silence, eyes still focused on the Sea up ahead.
Erynlith shook her head. "No, I am not. I still have Erestor waiting for me back in Rivendell." She smiled at the thought of seeing him again. For all she knew, he could be so worried about her. "I cannot leave these shores without him," she continued.
The former King nodded. "I see. So after all these years, you will still choose the Chief Counsellor over your family member. This is just like the time when Father and I came to Rivendell to fetch you, but instead, you latched yourself to Erestor's trousers and never let go. Do you love him more than your cousin?"
There was great grief in his voice that Erynlith could not place.
"Of course not," came her answer. "I love everyone equally. This is just one of those times when you have to make a choice. You have chosen yours, Amroth: to sail and marry Nimrodel upon reaching the West. Mine is to continue living here and care for everyone. I really cannot leave Erestor behind."
"I am jealous," he admitted sadly. "You have gotten everyone looking after you. In turn, you also look after them." He turned and gave her a weak smile.
"I will stay with them for as long as I could." She placed her hand over his and smiled. "Nimrodel will come. I know she will. All you have to do is wait."
"I am trying. Every day when Orgilion returns without her, I feel a part of me dying inside." He held her hand tighter. "I am glad you are here to comfort me, Eryn. It should be a matter of time now until we are sundered."
She suddenly felt sombre. But she smiled and stayed strong for him. "I will get there, you'll see."
Once again, Orgilion returned that day without news of Nimrodel and Mithrellas. He felt remorseful for not bringing any better news. He isolated himself from all else whilst King Amroth went into his corner in the cottage and wept again. There was no stopping the Sindarin elves from leaving now. The cottage was completely empty. Aerchon and his wife had moved into the ship and waited for Amroth to board it. Summer had passed so quickly that Amroth felt numb from all his weeping.
At Erynlith's urging, he lifted his head and boarded the ship at last.
"Here," she told him quietly, holding out the green pennant.
Amroth took it and examined the small gift given to him. It was the same green pendant that King Amdír, his father, brought with him from the West. There was still the heraldic devise of their family, a tree circled by silver stars. The name Cúthalion was forever etched on the edge of the pennant, bearing the name of Erynlith's paternal forefather.
"To remember me by," Erynlith continued, smiling sadly at him. "I will miss you so much, Amroth."
He held back his tears. "I will miss everything about you."
Sparing one last embrace to each other, the two remaining family members parted for a while until chance came and Erynlith should pass into the West as well.
The Númenórean Prince and his caravan returned in the fast hold of Belfalas in the far south of the White Mountains. They had followed the course of the river to exit the mountains, and their Silvan companion stayed with them for weeks. Mithrellas knew not where they were going until she beheld the white towers of the Prince. Banners of blue and silver were ripped off by the strong surge of the winds, the thunder rolling at a distance. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion; she thought these men would take her to the Havens.
Sensing her discomfort, Prince Imrazór smiled softly and welcomed her to his home.
"Welcome to Belfalas, my dearest Mithrellas."
Orgilion prepared the cottage for the long night. The strength of the winds threatened to destroy the cottage in one go. He had closed the doors of the horses' stables and locked the door of the cottage. There on the floor, Erynlith sat cross-legged, feeling the weight of the upcoming storm. The warden crossed the room and sat beside her.
"Forgive me for the sudden change of mind," Orgilion began, "but I must stay with the King." His calloused hand brushed a stray lock of her umber hair. "Forgive me if I have to leave you behind, Erfaron."
"Do not worry about me." Erynlith smiled and rested her head against his chest. "Watch over Amroth for me. I would be very grateful."
"I promise." Orgilion kissed her forehead, out of respect for her. "Be careful on your journey back."
"I can find my way." With a heavy heart, she watched him leave the cottage.
At the dock, Aerchon and the other elves lifted the sails of their white ship. The waves were already too strong and the ship was uncontrollably rocking back and forth. Amroth clutched the wooden ledge of the ship, his feet unsteady like the waves. Thunder cracked in the heavens; terrified screams of his elf companions rang from within the ship. Fearless, he looked up at the grey skies, the rain descending from the heavens.
For long he was soaked underneath the heavy storm and looked at the White Mountains. Orgilion was mounting the ship and talking to the Sindarin mariners. Amroth gritted his teeth, cursing the fate that separated him from Nimrodel. As he was about to forsake the ship and head off back to shore, Aerchon grasped him by the shoulder.
"No!" Aerchon cried, pulling the former King inside the ship instead. "It is dangerous to leave now! Stay inside and wait for the storm to pass! In the morning, I will help you find your Lady."
Hope filled Amroth's face and he agreed to stay within. His marchwardens led him to a small cabin to rest into, a wooden room filled with nothing but a single bed. There, he lay himself and felt the waves rocking and lulling him to sleep, the green pennant of his cousin clutched tightly above his heart.
Back in the cottage, Erynlith was huddled on one corner, trying to survive the wickedness of the storm. The poor roof of the cottage was almost ripped off, including the walls and pillars of the place. She buried her face in her hands, afraid and alone. As the wind forced the windows opened, the rain drenched her but she dared not to move. The creaking of the White Ship outside was loud and terrible, the neighing of the horses sounded behind the cottage.
The rocking of the ship that had lulled him to sleep last night woke him up.
Amroth jerked up from the bed, grey eyes darting unsteadily in the unfamiliar room. Still gripping the green pennant in his right fist, he broke into a run from the cabin towards the deck of the ship. Sun was rising when he lifted his chin and looked around. Aerchon and the other elves were hauling the ropes and working on the oars. Amroth quickly ran back to the stern and gasped. The shore of Belfalas was looming away from him, little by little. At the distance, he could see the figure of Erynlith emerging from the destroyed cottage and watching the White Ship leave.
Panic rose within Amroth. The accursed ship was leaving Middle-earth without Nimrodel at his side! He glanced back at Aerchon and his marchwardens, his mind already set on one thing. The blue eyes of Aerchon widened as though reading the Elvenking's mind.
"Amroth, no!"
Orgilion dashed forward the grab him.
But it was too late.
Amroth had leapt from the stern and plunged himself into the cold waters of the Sea. He gasped and stretched out his arms, a last desperate attempt to return to shore. He beheld Erynlith not so far away, who called out name again and again. He choked on the seawaters, losing his balance in the waves. His curled right fist was raised, holding aloft the green pennant that was there. He heard his name cried out again; Erynlith was rushing towards the shore to save him.
But with half-closed eyes, Amroth could see her struggling to get to him. She cried out to her him, hot tears brimming from her eyes. But Amroth still had strength within him. He dove forward again, arms flailing wildly. The Sea roared again and washed him further, not nearer, from the shores. He felt the air leaving his system, and his eyes were ever locked on Erynlith's.
"Erynlith!" Amroth cried to his best, his tears mingling with the seawaters. "Erynlith! Nimrodel! Find Nimrodel!" Here, the waves washed over his face and he gasped his breath one last time, his fair voice crying, "Nimrodel!"
Then, the golden head of the King was swallowed by the Sea.
The White Ship of Aerchon and his companions was long gone when Amroth drowned to his death. No more cries of the Elvenking were heard from either shore, Aman or in Arda. The marchwardens of the Lórinand King bowed their heads low; this was news King Amdír would not want to hear in Aman.
Orgilion loosened his grip on the ledge and bowed his head. The Elvenking he had served for more almost two thousand years was gone now. He failed to protect him, like he promised last night; it grieved him to be the only one left to travel. He sighed and joined the wardens in the center of the ship, mourning for the loss of their King.
At the shore, Erynlith collapsed on her knees and desperately called out her cousin's name, her voice broken form her sobs. The waves lapped at her bare feet, buried underneath the soft sands. The roaring Sea was finally calm. The remaining elf in Edhellond knelt in silence at the southern shores. The tears on Erynlith's cheeks had finally dried. There was no longer a ship on the horizon, and certainly no Amroth anymore. She closed her eyes and let that fact sink in her being; the loss of the remaining family member was too much for her.
Opening her eyes, she looked down at the cloth caught between her feet. She picked up and opened the crumpled cloth. It was the same green pennant she had given Amroth. The grey rope was still fastened on two ends. She held it close to her heart, sobbing once again.
At least Cúthalion was still there with her.
Next Chapter: The gathering of the clouds (a.k.a the important key-players of the story)
Author's Notes: A sad ending for our beloved King Amroth in such a happy time of the year. You will be missed, Amroth, no matter how blinded you are for your love for Nimrodel. Your love and devotion for her meant sacrificing Lórinand, your cousin and eventually your life. Sad, very sad. Professor Tolkien made your story a heartbreaking one.
Still, I want to greet everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is having good time with their family and friends, with lots of food and gifts, too!
*Lord Illyren - Oops! Sorry if I wasn't clear last chapter. Nimrodel remains stuck in the river which she found, while Mithrellas was found by the Men and as in this chapter, she is taken by the Prince to Belfalas, at the southernmost part of Gondor.
*xSiriuslyPadfoot - Yes, I love the Númenóreans, too! In fact, I am interested in the Haradrim and Easterlings as well but Tolkien gave us little glimpses about them. Though I am not very familiar with Hobbits, I freaking love the Elves! Amroth and Nimrodel, no matter how much of a spoiled child Nimrodel is, their story is quite tragic. I blame Tolkien for giving me feels about his elves!
*Janssen - Mithrellas being found by Men would be a better deal than getting lost into the mountains even more. LOL. She has more chances of survival than in the wild.
*Gremalor - Yes, I think Amroth is like that: he worries so much about Nimrodel that he forgets about his cousin. It's supposed to be "Cousins before girlfriends", but I guess that doesn't apply to him at all.
*Omorfi Enas - I'll make a mental note to have Celairis have a disappearing act! XD