Chapter 7: Return!
Hopeful and Glycin sat at the table, the almost-unnecessary notebook in the middle. Glycin had taught her to read words as they were formed on his lips. Tales of wonder from his own country he told her, and she watched intently. That afternoon Glycin told her about a king who fought his enemies single-handedly until the winter cold froze him to death.
Smiling knowingly, Cadoresa pieced together a shirt for Galad. Shouts outside startled her and eagerly she raced to the door.
Glycin stopped and Hopeful turned to see what drew their attention.
Dírhael and Erumeldir burst through the door.
"Mother!" Dírhael shouted, picking her up and spinning her round.
"Dírhael, you put me down!" Cadoresa squeaked. "Give your mother a proper hug."
Hopeful glanced at Glycin, who had guessed that the two young men were family. He nodded and she rose nervously. She crossed the room and took both her brother's hands.
"What is it, Hopeful?" Dírhael asked, almost forgetting to sign with his free hand.
"I….lovve…you….brothers." The sound was grating and harsh, but it was unmistakable.
Erumeldir stood with his mouth open a second, then recovered and enveloped his sister in a hug. Tears formed in his eyes as he heard her first words to him. Some people might think it sounded dreadful, but to him her words were spoken by the most beautiful voice in the world next to Astiwen's. "Hopeful, sweet one! How did this happen?"
Dírhael laughed and clasped his sister in an embrace after his brother.
Cadoresa stepped in and gave her younger son a hug. "We will tell you all about it over supper tonight! You have Glycin here to thank for everything." She motioned to the young man, who stood awkwardly to the side as he watched this intimate interaction. He crossed the room and extended his hand to the twins. Their mother introduced them. "Glycin, these are my sons, Dírhael and Erumeldir. Boys, this is our new friend Glycin of Rohan!"
"Pleasure to meet you!" they exchanged pleasantries. Erumeldir instantly liked the young man, if not for his pleasant face then for how his beloved little sister now glowed with happiness.
Smiling, Hopeful watched her brothers as they were introduced to her friend. Dírhael nodded at the young man who stood before him. "Now I cannot wait for dinner," he smiled, shaking Glycin's hand.
"Really," Glycin protested, "your sister did all the hard work. I just helped her along."
Cadoresa had slipped out to summon Galad from the fields and returned, clutching his arm. "Alright, if you all will clean up and sit down I shall get the food on the table!" Laughing as the twins punched each other's arms playfully, she quickly set out all the food and soon everyone gathered. They spent a good while talking, then when the stories of the past week had been exchanged, Erumeldir caught Hopeful's eye and winked. He slipped out the door and practically ran to Astiwen's house, only stopping for a few minutes to pick a small bouquet of assorted flowers for her. Finally, his knock was answered by her father. "Erumeldir! Do come in!" he welcomed as the young man stepped inside.
"Sir..." he started, extremely nervous now, "I would like your permission to court Astiwen. I love your daughter and wish to marry her one day, if that will please you."
Her father clapped him on the back and grinned. "I could not ask for a better man! Of course you may court her, with my blessing!"
"And mine as well," his wife stepped up beside him, also smiling.
"She will be happy to learn this," her father went on. "She has looked for your return."
"Tell him, sweetheart," his wife worried.
"Well…now?"
"Yes," she prompted.
"Well, Erumeldir, there is something else you should know," Astiwen's father sighed. "While Astiwen refuses to be courted by anyone but you, she has a suitor. Tarcil, the Chieftain's younger son, has been wooing her as well. I gave him permission to court her only because I knew not of your feelings. But when you were gone for the past week, I saw that there was something between you."
"What? No!" Erumeldir's eyes widened as he tried to process this drastic turn of events. The flowers dropped to the floor as his hands shook. Astiwen would not be stolen away from him. "I need to see her at once."
"She is not lost yet," her father exclaimed. He clapped him on the back, trying to assure him everything would work out fine. "Go win her love. You have my permission."
At that moment, Astiwen came in, her hair bound in a piece of fabric. "Erumeldir!" she exclaimed, running to hug him.
"Astiwen, sweetheart! I missed you so much. I thought you loved me and would wait until my return. Why have you not rejected Tarcil, told him that you already promised yourself to me?" He encircled his arms around her, the thought of losing her more than he could bear. His deep blue eyes looked into hers with a depth of hurt and sadness, yet also hoping the love he felt for her was conveyed and wishing desperately to see the same affection looking back at him.
"I do! I have tried but he is so persistent. Maybe your arrival will finally shake him off," Astiwen shot out.
His face darkened and he held her closer. "He will not take you from me. Your father has granted me his permission and blessing to court you. I wish to start immediately!" He looked down and smiled at her, then noticed the flowers strewn on the floor. Picking them up, he presented them to her. "I picked these for you...I dropped them. I am sorry they look so horrible now..." he trailed off and peered sadly into her eyes, grateful he noticed a faint glimmer there.
"They look wonderful," she smiled.
Her parents nodded to each other and retreated to the other side of the room. Astiwen fingered one flower in particular. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, sweetheart. Could we sit on your porch together? I have some news to tell you about Hopeful!" He slipped her arm into his and led her out the door, settling down on the steps. Unable to resist, he pulled her close and laid his arm across her shoulders, wishing to protect her from whatever evil man was trying to steal her heart from him.
She snuggled against him. "What about Hopeful?" Astiwen listened enraptured as Erumeldir relayed the story. Finally, she retired and Erumeldir began the journey home.
A/N: I love romance! :D Isn't this adorable?! And my wonderful co-author did a great job with Astiwen; she tends to prefer writing men rather than women. And she is so good you should go to Ranger's Scop and read all her stories!