The Family of my Mother - Awakening of N'im Tallimbi
A stiff wind came up from the south, bending the grasses upon the hills, the reeds upon the river-banks, and causing the trees to moan and their leaves to hiss as they clung defiantly to their branches. Onward it flew, twisting the fog upon the lake into furious swirls and scattering the birds that drifted through the darkened sky. High above the stars remain untouched, for Varda it was who placed them, and no wind upon the Earth would shake them from the heavens. Down below, upon the ground, the Elves cowered and covered their flowing hair, for this was the first wind they had felt. Many hearts were stirred; whence came it? Was it a challenge that must be risen to? Their minds awoken with questions, they began to see the world and ask what it was. But one among them, with hair of red and gold, and eyes deep-set and hard, stood and faced the wind and would not be moved.
It was not long after, when the thirty-six were still wondering at the sky and wandering about the fields and trees, there came upon them a larger host of nearly twice their size. The new Elves soon fell to discussion, speaking words that the newly-awoken were delighted to hear, for it was the first music to reach their ears. They soon saw a debate arise among the Three leading the host; two offering, but one refusing, and they soon came to realize that they were the ones being offered. Many were sad to be denied, for the one was tall and fair, and the woman at his arm was of equal quality, and the ones who were his companions as well. But the fiery one who denied the wind grew fierce, and she slammed her fist into her chest and stood, and declared that she would not be bartered. The others who awoke with her tried to sooth her, telling her that they were older and wiser, that they had made music, and that they were the first to awaken. Their words were wind to her face, and she would not be moved.
"Thou are the first men," she declared to the Three, and especially to the Refuser, "but I am the first woman!"
"This is the first woman!" the Refuser objected, issuing toward the fair one at his side.
"That is the first wife, the first to be chosen, the first to be placed under you! I am the first woman that is under none! I am N'im!"
Shortly thereafter the second group of Elves accepted the fourth into their ranks, and the third accepted the fifth, and their number were complete; no other Elves would be found, but in time, many would be born. The one who called herself N'im would not leave those with whom she had awoken, but she would not take any as her lord, and so she was akin, but apart.
While the others explored, some searching for more Elves while others sat spoke, and sang, and twisted reeds and grass until they were spun and woven, and made words for the stars and trees and waters, N'im sought only the wind that she felt upon her awakening, and she would run upon the fields with the grasses bowing to her in reverence as she passed. The Elves would call her Sulisraba, Wind-Wild, and Tallimbi, the Foot-Swift, and soon there were none who walked upon two feet that were her match. Once, an Elf-man, who was also fleet of foot, asked her to be his bride, and she spoke firmly but fairly unto him, "If thee wouldst chase my heart, thou must prove thy speed!" Off she ran along the shores of the water of Cuiviénen until she had encircled it completely and returned, and the man was not there; it would be many beats of her heart before he came into view, and he wept for his failure, and she found him unworthy.
None thereafter would challenge her to a race, but she had a thirst for it, for she had found that the wind she had sought was within her. Oft she went into the Wild, searching for beasts light of hoof that would run with her. Laughter, sweet and rich as golden honey, fell from her lips as she ran, her autumn hair flying long behind her, and many beasts grew lithe and strong in their efforts to stay by her side, and would pass on their talents to their children, who still run through the grasses upon the plains.
There was no Sun or Moon to count the days, and the stars would not move in the sky over the unrounded earth, so time passed one hour into the next as it had ever done, yet it was not twenty of what would come to be called 'years' that N'im Tallimbi found the sand beneath her heels flying about as she ran along the shores of the Lake, when she heard a terrific splash. This was not the jumping of fish, or if it was, it was a mighty fish indeed! Curiously she slowed, and watched, as an Elf-man broke the calm surface and flew into the air, the droplets following him as if the stars in the sky chased him the way the animals of the plains did her. Bright and loud and freely she laughed to see this display, but her clamour did not give the man pause; he swam as if he heeded her not. Soon she grew to desire the feel of water rushing across her face as she did the wind, and so she entered the lake and began to swim. At first her strong legs allowed her to keep pace with the man, but when he saw her in chase, he unclasped his skill and sped off across the lake. Sitting upon the far shores, it was many beats of his heart before he saw the ripples approach, and she emerged, her eyes falling expectantly upon him, though she was weary with the effort. "Wouldst thou sit whilst I chase? Go, thou; back into the water, that I may see my failings and grow stronger in pursuit." He smiled upon her, which was only the second smile his lips had found since he had awoken, and he named himself Ramyanen.
Ever after they would be found together; running upon the grass or swimming within the lake, one always leading the other and never passing, for they were apart, but akin.
And it was soon, with her back on the soft grass and her feet in the water, that she gave birth to her first child, who was very beautiful, and would be named Nitumbu.
