"Laurel..." His voice came out just over a whisper, but Laurel felt his pain and could not help but hear. "Milady..." he tried again with effort "I’m more practiced in using my sword than words and now I feel helpless. I didn’t mean to bring back painful memories for your burden is heavy already. But now I know why I had to join this quest."
"This is not the first time I hear your prayer. I heard your call a long time ago but didn’t understand what it meant. Still I had to follow it and now I’m glad that I did."
Laurel turned to face Annunfuin. His worn face was strained, and she could see the emotions he was trying to express. Tears still ran from her face, and she tried to suppress them. ‘What does this mean Annunfuin?’ she thought to herself. She too found that her words would not form, and she felt helplessness over her heart. Annunfuin stepped forward and drew in her hand. She looked down to see a beautiful silk kerchief, delicately emblazoned with leaves and the letter ‘L’. She raised her head to see his kind smile, and understanding eyes. She thought of telling him all her pains, removing the ghosts from burdening her. He whispered to her:
"My heart is now lightened and I thank thee for it. We have both lost those we loved, they are gone... But their words and faces, their love still live in your heart as in mine. And the tears you shed while you remember them are blessed." Laurel felt those ghosts lighten, and turn to loving arms around her. She heard her fathers’ voice coming through the mist, and felt her pain melt. He looked at her and said "I believe it’s time to retreat to rest or the sun will meet us in the same place whereit left us. May Lórien guard your dream" And with that he moved silently away.
Laurel stood there, alone in the moonlight. Her tears did not subside, but she clutched the kerchief, and smiled. ‘You are a good man Annunfuin’ she whispered into the night ‘And I now know my prayers were not in vain’
Laurel slept soundly that night, the Gondorian’s smile and kind words giving her the most pleasant sleep she had had in a long time.
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