Shadow of the West

[Nurumaiel]

Lady Hababa momentarily forgot Arshalous' words, and she sent immediately for Morashk. The pale servant entered, and as he looked spitefully from Arshalous to the King's messenger, the mother realised with a pang that it was not only her family that was torn apart, but the entire household. Her son hated his cousin and was disgusted by all besides himself, and the chief servant of the house, too, hated Lady Arshalous, as also he hated this friend of the family and servant of the King.

She dispatched Morashk to find her son, and, recalling how her conversation with her niece had ended, murmured quickly in the latter's ear: "Arshalous, I pray you: whatever you do, use no means of war to keep my son from the throne. I love him still, despite his many faults, and civil war would not resolve any problems, but only bring further pain, and extend our troubles to the people." And then she moved to follow Jarult from the room.

Morashk sulked as he saddled his horse, wondering what the King needed with their family, and why he had not been invited to go, as well. He felt some worry that his master would be at a loss for words without any assistance, and with his wicked cousin saying spiteful things towards him, which would more than likely confuse him. Morashk leapt astride his horse and gave him a rather sharp kick, as a way to release his anger.

He did not have to ride far to find his master, for the Lord Korak was returning from his ride, not wanting to leave his mother too long alone, though he would not have admitted it. She was apt to grow lonely without company. His Lordship's face darkened when he heard of the request for his presence. He said nothing, but merely turned his steed in the direction of the Palace, ordering Morashk to return to the house and prepare some good wine. Then he moved his horse onward to the Palace.

Morashk turned to obey his master's orders, and under his breath he cursed the Lady Arshalous and the King Faroz.

[alaklondewen]

"Tell me, Arlomë: what do you think? And your husband? Has he said anything of immortals, of his lord's knowledge of elves?"

Arlomë pulled her eyes from the peaceful courtyard and turned them to meet Zamara’s. The memories of the night before, the strange chill, the words about the darkness and the Elves of the Emissary’s land, all flooded her mind, yet she did not speak at once. The High Priestess could see the tightness in the Elf’s eyes and the trouble that lay behind them.

“You hesitate to tell me your thoughts,” Zamara observed. “What is troubling you, Arlomë?”

“To be honest, Zamara, I am not sure.” Arlomë paused and looked at her hands. “I do not trust this Emissary.” The Elf quickly surveyed the garden, and then looked back to the High Priestess. Zamara met her gaze with furrowed brows, and silently nodded for Arlomë to continue. “I cannot say why, but when I met him...this strange...uneasiness came over me.” A look of surprise flickered in Zamara’s eyes, but she said nothing. “Maybe I am making too much of this.” Arlomë shook her head as though dismissing her confession. “In fact, I should not have said anything.”

Zamara opened her mouth to speak, but the young Tayfar entered at this moment. The young girl nervously lowered her head and presented the Elf and High Priestess with a small round tray made of a glossy clay. A fine, intricate design was carved into its center. It appeared chaotic at first, but then it became noticeable that the lines had the same source, and they grew into the earth like the great roots of a tree. Arlomë wondered at how the tray so delicately portrayed how Rhais fed all life. Zamara’s hand passed over the tray as she reached for her cup, and Arlomë was brought from her thoughts. As she looked up, the young Tayfar’s steps could be heard walking along the stone path toward the temple, and the Elf took her own cup and sipped the warm tea, smiling over the edge at the High Priestess, hoping Zamara had forgotten the confession she had made before the girl’s arrival.

[Imladris]

Arshalous felt her insides grow numb as she rode beside her aunt. What did the King want with her? As one of the most reclusive of the nobility, she had rarely been summoned. Why now?

She remembered Lady Hababa's words concerning civil war...the thought was disconcerting and certainly had not crossed her mind. Though civil war was not desirable in the least, Arshalous wondered if it would really actually happen. Korak was a fool...and she deemed him a coward in some respects and he probably would shy away from a war as an untrained horse shys away from the clash of swords against shields.

But deeming that he was pig headed enough to go to war over it...wouldn't it be better to have the war over quickly than having Korak's folly sow seeds of quarrles that would bloom forth in civil war, or even war with a foreign country? She scratched her head and put away such thoughts. The present was yet pleasant and there was no need to trouble about thoughts of war until such time as was necessary.

However, she could not stop thinking about Korak. His mother remembered with fondness when he was a loving lad. Arshalous herself wondered what had happened to that lad -- he had probably shrivelled up and died. She remembered vaguely when he had pulled her hair and had broken her favourite ring when she was young...it had been the day his father had died. She remembered that day very vaguely. She remembered that he had been sad...and that she had been trying to cheer her up...she wondered if teasing counted as cheering up. It wasn't her fault that Korak was fun to tease, she thought resentfully...And then his anger had exploded like new wine in an old skin...and he had hurt her. It was only later that she had found out about her uncle's death...had she apologized? She didn't remember.