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Envinyatar · 12-15-2005, 05:23 AM

‘Hope. You know, Men use that word in an interesting way. It is something like a “wish” for them. That somehow the something they wish for will be fulfilled . . . at a later time.’

‘The Eldar, hold hope in a different way, or so it seems to me. We have estel. Not a wish, but how our minds are tempered; that they should be steady, fixed in purpose, not easily dissuaded. Not likely to despair or to abandon intention. We have the assurance of hope already given. We have only to trust in it. Yes, and there’s the hard part, isn’t it . . . the trust.’

‘I think perhaps it would not be so hard to have hope were we all in Tirion.’

He caught the expression on her face as hope fled it. The pressure on his arm lightened as her hand withdrew. He caught it in his own.

‘I’m only thinking aloud, Losrian. It is a fault of mine. Bear with me, if you will. You’ve said some heartfelt things to me; I’m only trying to work them about in my own mind. Along with other thoughts that have occupied much of my waking hours these past weeks.’

‘You gave me your thanks, and I’m grateful for that. And spoke of honor. And of virtue. But it is hope that I wish to speak of now.’ He was quiet for a moment, her hand still held in his.

‘No . . . I do not hope to see my kin soon. I must admit I had thought on it when Gil-galad sent me out with Lord Elrond – that at the end of this campaign I would return to the Havens and sail West. But not now.’

‘Lord Elrond will have need of me. He has already asked that I stay on, even after we reach a place of safety. He brings a rare hope to these lands, I think. I wish to help him accomplish what tasks he has set for himself.’

He fell quiet again. The sounds of the camp as it settled in to rest took up the space his silence left. ‘Ah! I am no good at this!’ he muttered to himself, thinking how much easier it was to command a company of men than it was to speak to Losrian at this moment.

‘I have another hope, m’lady.’

Come, man! he chided himself. Speak! Or act!

He drew her near him, and placing his hands aside her head he raised her face to his. His lips brushed the center of her brow in a brief kiss. ‘Would you think to have me as your life’s companion, Losrian? Would you bind yourself to me?’

Gally stirred in his sleep. Some bad dream making him restless. ‘Ammë!’ he cried out, frightened . . .

12-15-2005, 05:23 AM	#249
Envinyatar Quill Revenant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through the Downs..... Posts: 849	‘Hope. You know, Men use that word in an interesting way. It is something like a “wish” for them. That somehow the something they wish for will be fulfilled . . . at a later time.’ ‘The Eldar, hold hope in a different way, or so it seems to me. We have estel. Not a wish, but how our minds are tempered; that they should be steady, fixed in purpose, not easily dissuaded. Not likely to despair or to abandon intention. We have the assurance of hope already given. We have only to trust in it. Yes, and there’s the hard part, isn’t it . . . the trust.’ ‘I think perhaps it would not be so hard to have hope were we all in Tirion.’ He caught the expression on her face as hope fled it. The pressure on his arm lightened as her hand withdrew. He caught it in his own. ‘I’m only thinking aloud, Losrian. It is a fault of mine. Bear with me, if you will. You’ve said some heartfelt things to me; I’m only trying to work them about in my own mind. Along with other thoughts that have occupied much of my waking hours these past weeks.’ ‘You gave me your thanks, and I’m grateful for that. And spoke of honor. And of virtue. But it is hope that I wish to speak of now.’ He was quiet for a moment, her hand still held in his. ‘No . . . I do not hope to see my kin soon. I must admit I had thought on it when Gil-galad sent me out with Lord Elrond – that at the end of this campaign I would return to the Havens and sail West. But not now.’ ‘Lord Elrond will have need of me. He has already asked that I stay on, even after we reach a place of safety. He brings a rare hope to these lands, I think. I wish to help him accomplish what tasks he has set for himself.’ He fell quiet again. The sounds of the camp as it settled in to rest took up the space his silence left. ‘Ah! I am no good at this!’ he muttered to himself, thinking how much easier it was to command a company of men than it was to speak to Losrian at this moment. ‘I have another hope, m’lady.’ Come, man! he chided himself. Speak! Or act! He drew her near him, and placing his hands aside her head he raised her face to his. His lips brushed the center of her brow in a brief kiss. ‘Would you think to have me as your life’s companion, Losrian? Would you bind yourself to me?’ Gally stirred in his sleep. Some bad dream making him restless. ‘Ammë!’ he cried out, frightened . . . Last edited by Envinyatar; 12-15-2005 at 12:38 PM.