Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams

[Nurumaiel]

Leafa looked here and there, and seeing that no one else was very close by to them, turned her face back to Ædegard with a rather puzzled frown. She did not answer immediately, but continued to look up into his face, and after a moment her frown changed to a little smile and she dropped her eyes. How blissful it was to have his arm about her, and his eyes gazing down at her so fondly! Perhaps she had merely dreamed that he had said he could not marry her. It seemed so distant and vague now.

"I do not know," she said, straightening her face and recalling her mind to the matter at hand. "I am not one who loves wandering, such as Liornung, and while I am very fond of the company, I feel uncertain at times. Not of their loyalty, but... I feel uncertain especially when I am near the Elves. I fear I am nothing but a burden to them. I feel that they disapprove of all my clumsy ways."

She paused and blushed, glancing in the direction of the Elves, and hoping they had not heard what she said, though she had said nothing unkind. She had never felt very strongly that they disapproved of her before, but after she had fled from the camp and caused the men to ride out to find her, she had cringed whenever she noticed the Elves looking at her. No doubt they wouldn't have done what she did, even if their hearts had been broken. She had caused so much trouble, and...

"You found me amidst the wayfarer people," she continued. "Liornung was very good to me and took me away from them so eventually I could return to a life in a home, rather than wander about. My father loves to wander, and he also has a great love for the winds, the grass, and the trees. The wilderness, he says, always calls to him. He tells me the first song he really heard and thrilled to was the song of the winds playing against the harp boughs of the trees, and the gentle rustlings of the leafs. That, he says, is one of the reasons he named me for leafs.

"My mother and I are of a different sort. She followed him when he left with the wayfarers because she loved him; I because he was my father and I too loved him, and because I had nowhere else to go. I know no one back at my home, and certainly no one at Edoras."

She raised her eyes to his face. "The matter stands here," she said. "I feel I cannot marry you without my father's permission, which means we should have to wait some time until he decided it was best for his family to return home. And so if we returned to Edoras, or wherever it is you live, we would have to wait some time to be wed. Meanwhile I should have nowhere to stay, for I know no one. The only one I know who can take care of me until I enter your home as your wife is Liornung, and I do not think he will be returning until this quest is over.

"I do not say," she added earnestly, "that I cannot return now. I merely say that there are some obstacles to hinder us. But I will do what you deem advisable."

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

She knew that the Elves scorned them for leaving the camp. It had been written in their eyes when she and Argeleafa returned. Bellyn could read it in their faces - their distaste and annoyance. What had Bellyn done but followed her heart to help find Argeleafa? What had Argeleafa done but acted on her feelings? Did not the Elves feel sorrow, or loss, or anger? Bellyn fumed inwardly at the hypocrisy of the Elves. Their loyalty to Amroth went deep...Bellyn knew it well. Was it not the same thing to be loyal to a king as to be held loyal to a friend? Bellyn knew the Elves would have done the same if Amroth had left the company.

Her anger was calmed as she sat by the fire.

They held hands.

Bellyn wondered at how quickly things had changed. Had not it only been weeks since the group had found Nethwador as a savage, beastly creature? Now he sat calmly, and closer to Bellyn than she had ever been to anyone, except her mother many long years earlier. She had never felt more comfortable with anyone. Bellyn felt nothing but kindness and security from Nethwador. She liked being near him, but it was an unexplainable feeling. Her hands were cold, though she felt warm and content, under her blanket and next to Nethwador.

"And what shall we do, dear Mellon, when this journey is over?" She said to him in a whisper, looking at all the members of their rag-tag company. What a mission, to bring forth so many people of different backgrounds. Bellyn had not thought too often on where she would go when the journey ended. Now she wondered, for the evil Elf had made it clear that the journey could be halted at any moment. How long could they travel, hoping against hope to find Amroth's lost lover? "Where shall we go?"

Still, Bellyn remaind calm. Their hands remained interlaced.

Soon the company would need to continue. Bellyn had no doubt that they would find Nimrodel...eventually.

[littlemanpoet]

Leafa raised her eyes to his face. "The matter stands here. I feel I cannot marry you without my father's permission, which means we should have to wait some time until he decided it was best for his family to return home. And so if we returned to Edoras, or wherever it is you live, we would have to wait some time to be wed. Meanwhile I should have nowhere to stay, for I know no one. The only one I know who can take care of me until I enter your home as your wife is Liornung, and I do not think he will be returning until this quest is over. I do not say that I cannot return now. I merely say that there are some obstacles to hinder us. But I will do what you deem advisable."

Ædegard marveled at her good sense, for she had thought of things that he had not even begun to consider. "You amaze me."

She blushed deeply, but did not look away, and smiled. "I do not know what you mean."

"Everything you have said to me rings with wisdom and rightness. Of course I will ask your father for your hand-" he paused, frowning. "-in marriage. If he will have me."

Ædegard looked wistfully into the distance, biting his lip, his brow suddenly furrowed.

"What is it, Ædegard? What is the matter?"

He turned to her. "Do you really think your father would let you marry a one handed man?"

[Nurumaiel]

Leafa looked at his worried face and flung back her head to laugh. He turned to her in some surprise, and she slid her hand through his arm, the arm that was missing a hand.

"If it were any other father, I should have to gaze up at you tearfully and say we could never be wed," she said. "But it is my father, and I haven't any fears. If he is the kind of man who will forget everything at home to tramp along with a few wayfarers for a few days, I have no doubt that he will also let his daughter marry a one-handed man, thinking it quite a novelty."

She laughed again, and then her eyes grew softer and her voice milder.

"Besides, he is like me... he does not care if a man has one hand or not... he loves the noble heart best of all."

She looked up at him with shining eyes for a few moments, and then straightened her face and spoke in a more serious tone.

"Now, what do you think would be best... should we return, or should we continue on? I will abide by your decision, for I trust you."

[littlemanpoet]

Ædegard was surprised by Leafa. He liked it. She had not been so free with him as she was this morning, and he liked what he was learning of her. It was not lost on him that the moment he had treated her like someone whose thought he valued, she had blossomed before him like a sun-drenched rose.

But she had asked him for his decision on the matter, and he was not at all sure what to choose.

Go to her father! The thought was strong and demanding. Yes, he wanted to take her and rush off to the eaves of Fangorn to track down her father and get his permission to marry her. Why not? The quest was complete, was it not? Or was there some other thing that had yet to be done? He did not know, could not think of what it might be.

Heed his words, Ædegard. More is afoot here than simple fever. There is a doom playing out in this. Bêthberry's words! He had forgotten them, and now they had come back so clearly. There was a reason why Mellondu had come to Edoras on that particular snowy winter day, a reason he had become sick at the White Horse, a reason the ghost of Amroth had found its way from the halls of the dead into Mellondu's body. What that reason was, Ædegard had no idea.

What doom other than a crazed ghost? Leave well enough alone. After all, what difference could a young one-handed Rohirrim make that these Elves could not do better? Besides, Mellondu seemed to be himself now. Perhaps the ghost of Amroth had strayed back to the halls of the dead. Maybe not.

Be his friend, Ædegard. He will need a sturdy friend where he is going. She had said that too, and he had promised to be his friend.

He faced Leafa, who had waited patiently, watching his face as he mulled.

"It depends upon Mellondu. I took up this quest for his sake. If he deems that it is done, then we can go. If not, then I owe it to him to see this through. Does that sound right to you?"

[alaklondewen]

Erebemlin peered over the smooth back of his tan mount as he packed his bags. Tharonwe sat on the other side of the fire breaking his fast with waybread. As he felt the other’s eyes upon him, he lowered the bread, looking up. Erebemlin’s gaze was as steel…sharp and penetrating. At first Tharonwe did not respond, instead he just stared back without affect, but then a mocking smile spread across his pale face. Surely, you do not think you can really finish this so-called quest of yours, do you?

You will not poison my thoughts as easily as the mortals, fool.

Oh, come now. I do not seek to poison…you know I speak the truth.

Erebemlin shut his mind to the swamp elf, refusing to heed his words. He finally pulled his eyes from Tharonwe’s and instinctively glanced toward Mellondu before tying the strap securely on the bag. Tharonwe did not miss the momentary look, and he took advantage of pressing the issue with the Lorien elf. “He will not return. It is foolish to hope.”

“Be silent, snake.” Erebemlin’s voice was sharp and reflected his growing annoyance.

Tharonwe continued…his voice was smooth and melodic. “Desist, young one. She has already rejected his affections.”

Erebemlin grimaced at being called ‘young one’, and he swallowed hard before responding. “Do you truly think she would turn from him to love someone as wretched as you?” The elf saw his words sting Tharonwe, and he continued. “You try too hard to end this quest…and that only confirms that you are crammed with doubt.” The Lorien elf turned his back on the swamp elf, without giving him time to reply, and called to the other travelers that it was time to depart. They would continue south…to Nimrodel.

[mark12_30]

Mellonin heard Erebemlin's firm command, and smiled as she turned to Mellondu. "What shall I do?"

"Ride with me. Echo will bear us both, " he replied.

She smiled. Her devoted little brother was back, and she felt safe again, as she had not felt since he had disappeared. She followed him to where Echo stood, and watched him put on the saddle and bridle. He mounted and she clambered up behind him, awkwardly shifting her pack.

Echo swung southward, and Mellondu knew that he responded to Erebemlin... or perhaps Taitheneb. Beside them the other lanky chestnut bore Nethwador and Bella.

"Perhaps, " said Mellondu hesitantly, "The Lady Bella could be moved to sing for us?"

Mellonin's eyebrows went up; she had always been Mellondu's favorite singer. But then she turned and gave Bella a sweet smile, and said, "Please do."