Everything was a blur to Rowan now. A troll had captured dwarves. The company had followed the troll into a cave. Rowan remembered a rock was hurled at Merenwen and Rowan had dragged her out of the cave. The troll had been killed with arrows and the earth had shaken with his fall, but no one looked at the troll, proud that they killed it. All eyes were turned to Merenwen’s body, lying lifeless and cold nearby. Tears blurred Rowan’s and many others eyes. They cried knowing they could do nothing for her, and were sad that she had met such a tragic end.
They had been told to go to bed but who could sleep after such a horrible thing had happened. Rowan couldn’t, at least for long, but finally his eyelids drooped down and he fell into a deep sleep. But it wasn’t night a silent sleep. Memories of the troll and Merenwen played in his head. He awoke with tears in his eyes in the morning.
The company had been told to gather rocks. They had and most joined in the building of Merenwen’s barrow. As the sun sank the company stopped and looked upon there work. The barrow sat, a small mound in the ground against the fading sun. Know anyone who ever passed this site would see a mound where a brave companion had fallen. Once more tea4rs filled the companies eyes. Rowan sighed and walked to the camp.
Dinner had been made. It would have been great but still a sad and mournful air hung about them. Heavy was they grey fog, just as heavy as their hearts. But once it had ended the company walked silently over to Merenwen’s grave and said their final goodbyes, and remembered her brave deeds. Quietly Rowan whispered, “Goodbye Merenwen” and silently and slowly he walked away from the barrow not to return again for many long years.
[ June 07, 2003: Message edited by: elven maiden Earwen ]
|