Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams

[alaklondewen]

The elves lay outstretched on their backs, both looking to the stars in their own thoughts of dreams, Amroth and his lady, and what it all meant. Taitheneb rose to his elbows and watched the king saunter off on his own beyond the fire light. “You should go to him, Silmaethor.”

“Nay, mellon. He is feeling a great emptiness that I cannot fill.” Erebemlin was deeply concerned about Amroth, and he still couldn’t shake the feeling that his dreams this night were not real. If the elf’s instincts were true, many questions would need to be raised. What, or who, would cause Amroth to dream this way? Was this dream weaver linked to the fleeting mind they crossed the night before? Could another elf be involved? Erebemlin knew naught of misguided elves living in the region. Only a being with a certain degree of power would be able to create and fill the king’s head with such powerful dreams to cause delight and then pain. Erebemlin kept these thoughts to himself…he would speak with Amroth about his suspicion once they were on the road.

Taitheneb trusted Erebemlin and knew the Silmaethor would do what was best, and so the younger elf let his mind wonder until it hovered over the humans, still resting in the wee morning hours. He smiled as he thought of the promise made between young Ædegard and Argeleafa. It is wonderful the way love has found its way within our camp. Taitheneb opened his mind to Erebemlin who still gazed at the bright stars.

If you are speaking of the betrothed, I see only another example of Man’s poor judgment and hurried actions. Taitheneb began to object, but Erebemlin continued. Those two have only known of one another for a matter of days. They know nothing of each other, and I believe, nothing of love. It will not last.

Taitheneb was grieved to hear Erebemlin’s cold words. He agreed their decision came surprisingly quick, but that did not mean it would not last.

You disagree with me, I see. Mellon, you pay too much heed to the humans. They will not be here long enough for us to spend energy thinking about their every move.

Taitheneb’s eyes flashed. You’re words are harsh, Silmaethor. These people are our companions, and I believe they are here for a purpose as you and I are. What the younger elf would have liked to have said was if Erebemlin had every loved another being beyond his duty, he would understand how wonderful the actions of the young couple were. Taitheneb kept this to himself, and rightly so, that kind of remark would only breed hard feelings and turmoil between the elves. They were comrades, and Taitheneb cared very deeply for Erebemlin, but he did wish for more for the elder.

I am sorry my words are difficult to hear, Taitheneb. Come let us put this aside and begin preparations for the day’s journey.

[littlemanpoet]

Amroth believed the dream, but the other Elf doubted it. Tharonwe would have to be careful. They were closer now than ever, and that could be no coincidence. The humans were of course much easier to manipulate. Even the ranger, who did not know he dreamed, for he was forgetful of them, had been nudged toward a weakening of the little hunting party. But another ranger had come. So many people in or near his swamp, all at a sudden. How odd. If Amroth searched in dream again, it would be necessary to block his way with an illusory dream, or he would win through to Nimrodel. That must not happen! But Tharonwe knew that his game was more dangerous than ever. He would need to avoid capture.

He stopped in his thought, sitting in his cave, watching his oven make swamp lembas. It was of course not nearly as good as that which could be had in Lothlorien the Fair, but Tharonwe made do as he had to.

He had stopped in his thought because he could think of no reason to avoid capture. Much use could be made of it, were it to occur. Not that he would look for it. If they passed him, he would have to track them and splay their dreams. And that would lead inevitably to their awareness of him, unless he killed them first. It was an option he had not considered before. Kill or be captured. He stared into his oven.

[Orual]

The stars were above Ravion as he lay on his back, staring up at the cascading waves of sky, the wisps of clouds, and the faces of his friends.

The silence seemed more profound for want of Aeron's babbling. The fire seemed to warm him less in the absence of the heat of his companions' bodies. The stars seemed all the dimmer without the light of Mellonin's eyes...

He tore himself from that line of thought. No use thinking about that. He drew long, even breaths and forced himself to clear his mind of such ideas. How could he concentrate on the next leg of his journey while his mind was still with his abandoned company, with Mellonin?

He did not even know what the next leg of his journey was going to be. He could go back to Minas Tirith...he could go up north again, searching for orcs...he could try to find Mellonin's brother...

That thought startled him. Why had it even occurred to him? He had given up that mission. It was the first mission he had ever truly abandoned. He was done with it. He was finished. It was no longer his concern.

So why could he not stop thinking on it?

[Imladris]

Aeron shifted Gwyllion on his back and snorted. "Yes, you're right, Ranger," he said loudly. "There was something not right. His attitude for one." He glowered at Erundil. "He has this annoying habit of lying and, from his own mouth, stealing and that is hardly the way of rangers is it? But, worse than that for I myself have a few of those faults --" he bowed slightly, a grin on his face -- "is that he dared to put himself above me, if you know what I mean. He wasn't fair either," he added, remembering Mellonin and the fight.

Behind him he could hear Gwyllion begin to snore softly. She was getting extremely heavy to hold and he wished that the ranger would just leave and find his ruddy companion. Rangers were always holding people up, not caring whether they had something else to do.

[Orual]

"Lying and stealing," Erundil echoed thoughtfully. The boy nodded. "Lying and...you say he admitted his theft to you?"

"More than once," Aeron said.

"This is grave," the Ranger muttered. The young woman he had spoken to at the beginning watched him closely, her brow furrowed. "Perhaps I was wrong to take my eyes off of him."

"What do you mean?" the red-haired man asked, putting his hand on the young woman's shoulder.

"Ravion, since he lost his father, is prone to...violent shifts of temper. I am afraid that without the supervision I had been giving him, he has come back to the sort of lifestyle he often slips into. Perhaps you have seen him like this? Hunting down the remnants of the war in bitterness, because he feels he was slighted during the war; wearing out his body in fruitless chases and then with drink; wearing out his mind with futility. But if it has come to theft and lies, then it is time he came back to Gondor, and with me."

He stroked Gond's mane absent-mindedly. "Will you help me?"

[Imladris]

Aeron groaned. "You want us to help you find your ranger?" he asked, his eyebrows shoot upwards. "What is this? I thought that rangers were trackers...why do you need our help? We have lives too you know. We don't exist to come at your beck and call."

"It was a request," said the Ranger calmly. "Not an order."

Aeron fell silent. One could not argue with a request...but it still irked him. Why else would two children, a useless woman, and a strange red headed man be journeying through the wilderness unless they had a quest to complete. But no matter. Gwyllion and he didn't have to go along help this ranger. They'd stick together until day break and then they would go back to Gondor. Hopefully the blasted merchant wouldn't still be trailing them...

[mark12_30]

Raefindan held Mellonin's eyes, and thoughts raced through her mind.

Go crawling back to him? Stir all that madness back into the seething pot? I have just begun to ... to... I am free now. I have no desire to.... we don't need him. We don't.

Raefindan spoke. "You know we'll be luckless without him."

She snorted and gestured at Aeron. "Luck?"

Raefindan watched her evenly. "That's not what I mean. We can't track a two-week-old trail, and you know it. And we owe him this. He has saved each of us from death. If this ranger is concerned about Ravion, how can we discount our debt to him?"

"He released us from that debt. He released us from everything, " Mellonin retorted. I was glad to be freed. Do not push me into that snare again.

Raefindan stepped closer to her and dropped his voice to a whisper; the others looked away, save Aeron, but he did not hear Raefindan's words. "In your heart, were you glad of that release?"

Mellonin 's lips tightened. "My heart is fixed on seeking my brother, " she whispered back.

"For that we need a ranger, do we not?" Raefindan persisted. "And what other ranger would you choose?"

She stared at him for a long silence. This redheaded brother does not bend like my own younger brother. How I miss my Mellondu. How I wish he were here, and I would care not one whit for Ranger nor thief. Oh, Mellondu, where are you? Why have you not come home? If I must track you, then Raefindan speaks truly.

She turned to Erundil with a shrug. "As you wish. We will seek the departed ranger."