Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams

[Nurumaiel]

Liornung gazed about him in awe, fearing to blink lest the sight vanished from his eyes. Sweet raptures went through him and he shuddered out of pure delight, vaguely concious of the argument between Amroth and the other Elves. He dared not move, though he longed to touch the golden leaves, to run his hands over the smooth bark of the trees. He did not dare. He clasped his hands tightly together, forcing himself to remain still.

And then he saw Argeleafa sitting off by herself, her knees pulled up to her chin and her face buried in her skirts. He had only glanced at her, but something odd compelled him to look again. He studied her in silence for a moment, wondering what it was that was different, and then he realized that her shoulders were shaking. Surprised, he crawled towards her and sat by her, listening carefully. She was sobbing. Very softly and quietly, so no one would hear, but sobbing all the same.

"Argeleafa, why do you weep?" he questioned, putting a hand on her head.

She looked up and he saw her tear-stained face before she dropped her head again. She spoke, choking on sobs and pausing occassionally to draw breath. "It's just that it is so beautiful here and I am so terribly lonely."

"But why would you weep because of beauty? And why are you lonely? We have been at your side constantly."

"Yes, I know," she murmured. "But you all know each other so well, and you do not know me. You are kind to me, it is true, but you hardly speak to me so I might speak to you. And Bellyn is so kind to me but she is so beautiful and wise while I fail in both things. I admire her so much but I want to be her friend, and I cannot because I cannot speak to her as a friend, only as an admirer. And then here it is so beautiful and it makes me think of home. It was always that way whenever the wayfarers came to somewhere beautiful... it made me think of home. I miss my dear little home so much..." She seemed as though she would continue for a moment, but then she looked about her and fresh tears began to flow.

Liornung remained silent, unsure of what to say as he ran his fingers through her hair. Guilt plagued him... he had been so much in wonder over the surroundings that he had not even looked at Argeleafa... and she was homesick. She was still a little girl yet.

[Imladris]

Was that what Gwyllion thought a male walk was? Aeron lifted his brow and grimaced. It was humiliating...she was swaggering down the road, chin in the air, arms swinging by her sides. Dreadful. "Do you call that a man's walk?" he asked.

"Yes." She tossed her head.

"It's more like a woman's strut in my mind," Aeron said, coughing.

"Well, why do you not teach me to walk like a man," Gwyllion suggested.

"Fine. First of all, men do not swing their arms about normally. They walk with a firm tread, with level chins -- ideally of course. And you should want to imitate the ideal man."

"Accept that there is no such thing as an ideal man to imitate," said Gwyllion with a giggle.

"Then, when all else fails, dear sister, you shall imitate me." He grinned at her.

[littlemanpoet]

Ædegard's brow furrowed. This Erebemlin held Mellon, or Amroth; either one for that matter, in too high regard. This Amroth was proving to be a fool, caring not for his own health to chase a dream. Nimrodel, they had named her, Amroth's long lost love. Who could say for sure whether she was even alive to be found? And Amroth was proving to be far too stubborn. Ædegard was ready to open his mouth and say a thing or two to bring Amroth up short in all his stubborn foolish king's pride, when Bellyn spoke in her soft way. Her words were quiet, and Amroth's final answer spoke not to her words, but to what he made of them instead. He cared not for his own body's health, but would forego his own will for the sake of others' weakness. So there was another side to being a good king, and at least he had wisdome enough for that, it seemed. It was a thing to be remembered; maybe it could be put to good use later, some other time when Amroth was as a rock with no ears to listen to sense.

Ædegard noticed Liornung move to Argeleafa's side. He could not hear the words that passed between them, but saw, for a moment, her face, stained with many tears! His heart melted, and he wondered what could be wrong. But he did not think that it would be seemly to ask from the opposite end of the talan. He held his peace, glad that they would sleep the night. He did not relish sleeping hundreds of feet above ground, but the Elves assured them that they would be safe. So be it, he said to himself.

[Orual]

Ravion glanced at the siblings, deep in contemplation about how to "walk like a man", with some amusement as he prepared Gond for the day's journey. He had earlier tried to erase the signs of their stay as much as possibly, fearing that they were being followed still. Their encounter with the merchant had left him even more paranoid than he normally was, and he was taking no risks. However, he had eventually deemed the effort fruitless. Wild mumakil make less of a mess than my companions, he thought ruefully as he glanced over their campsite. With a sigh, he looked back to the siblings.

"If everyone is ready, we need to start off," he called. Mellonin stirred from where she had been resting, and the others looked over at him. None of them seemed particularly inclined to leave. "We are wasting daylight," he said, eyebrows raised. Still no one moved. "I am asking politely!"

Aeron snorted at Ravion's half-desperate, half-frustrated tone. "And where do you have to go that merits such speed?" he asked languidly. Ravion stared at him for a moment, then took several deep breaths, counting to ten. He would not get angry. It was counter-productive and only slowed them down. He would reason with the boy, and then they would all leave and they could go on their way. By the time he got to "seven" he could tell that it was not going to be an easy fight, his battle with his temper. But every journey began with a single step...

"Nowhere but wherever our search for Mellonin's brother will lead us," he said in what he hoped approximated an even tone. Out of his peripheral vision he saw Raefindan make a strange face. It almost seemed like he was trying not to laugh. Odd.

"But surely another hour will not hinder us too much," Aeron persisted. Gwyllion elbowed him in the side, and he grunted, but did not take back his comment.

"An hour is more than we can spare, yes," Ravion said, his hand clenched tightly around the middle of his sword's scabbard. He would not make a fist. He would not show signs of anger.

"But an hour? Really," Aeron said. Ravion suddenly realized that this whole conversation was staged to aggravate the Ranger. He was all the more determined to not let the boy get his ire up.

"An hour is an hour, and more time than you think, while we are on a search," he said smoothly. Raefindan and Mellonin exchanged glances. Ravion did not bother to try to decipher what they meant. He had a feeling he did not want to know.

"How far could Mellonin's brother get in an hour?" Aeron asked.

"An hour's travle farther from us," Ravion said, his voice now tight. His fingers ached from gripping the scabbard. He hoped his face was not red.

"But surely a Ranger could travel faster than--"

"Not a Ranger burdened with the likes of you!" Ravion snapped, then bit his tongue. That had done no good.

"I can travel fast, when I am disposed." Aeron leaned back a little, glancing at Ravion with a twinkling eye full of mischief.

And that was all it took. Ravion tackled Aeron, being reluctantly careful to avoid what was surely the boy's still-sore shoulder, and pinned him down.

"Get. Packed. Now," he said. "We are leaving as soon as everyone is packed, which should be in less than ten minutes."

Aeron looked up at him, then surprised Ravion by thrusting his head up and slamming it into Ravion's chest. Ravion gave a grunt of pain, and the two of them started wrestling for true.

"Oh, that will do!" Mellonin cried, half laughing and half concerned. Ravion and Aeron stopped, both panting, and both grinning. Ravion wiped the grin off quickly and stood up, dusting himself off.

"Shall we go?" he asked in a dignified voice. Aeron stepped up and pulled a blade of grass out of the Ranger's hair, and Ravion swatted his hand away. He turned an innocent face to Mellonin and Raefindan. "We are wasting daylight."