When we set out on this journey I was delighted terribly. My Father, Lord Caranion who was one of Rivendell’s esteemed warriors, had never taken me along him at his journeys. I knew that the reason which he always was away from home or I could not go with him that He could not take a little girl off the raids or war rooms. Nonetheless when he said that we would go to Celondim and visit my aunt who I have never seen my mother’s sister, I astonished but I was happy. For the first time I would spend time with my father by any means.
I was just 14 years old and it was the first time I was away from my home, Rivendell. Everything was totally new and exciting for me during the journey. Also I had Menathradir, henchman of my father, who amused this little girl with terrifying, dramatic and tragic tales about the places we saw. I understand newly that this my excitement and Menathradir’s concern had obstructed me to realize insouciance of my father to me.
When we arrived to Celondim, although my aunt, Lady Estôriel met me gladly, they talked just a few cold words with my father as a matter of courtesy. I could feel a nip in the air which blew in my aunt’s sitting room. I realized then that my father, who was my hero, spoke of my mother how rare and he did not mention even my aunt’s name.
After my aunt asked about me and my father like a good host, a deep silent covered the room. My father found prolonging more as necessary and stood up by saying that he supposed to meet someone. Before he stepped out of the room he faced my aunt as if he remembered something new.
“If you don’t want Halethîriel to act up, hand her to read something.”
I had always hated my other name, Halethîriel which my father always called me but this time it did not matter. I riveted my gaze on my hands by blushing over against he introduced my aunt who saw me first time as naughty.
“Don’t worry about her, I can handle.”
While the sound of his steps faded away I kept looking at my hands.
“Here, to read something for you.” My aunt had put some parchments on my hands.
Of course, she would believe his words. Before parchments fell down from my lap I caught them. My glance directed her by smiling. I was preparing to thank but she made me stand up and dragged me towards the door.
“And… you must read them at the shore. It is a perfect place to read something.” She said by pointing at papers. It was as if she wanted to get rid of me quickly.
“I don’t know how to…”
She cut in my words. “Araeldë will take you there”
Her maid took me to the shore and left me all alone. She had made me walk in a haste that I was sure I would not remember the way back to my aunt’s home. I had nothing else to do but to sit here until they returned to pick me up.
When I glanced briefly over the parchments I found out that they were about precious stones. For the first time I was reading something like this. There were books which were only about combat tactics or weapons in my father’s library. He never liked hearing something about out of them. I was reading with hunger as if I was drinking things inside the parchments although I could not understand some parts. I was not interested in around me. I wasn’t aware of neither the fresh breeze of the sea nor the gentle sound of the waves… There were only papers until some of them got free from my hands and flew towards the sea with a strong breeze. While I was trying to catch them others scattered around as well.
What would I do now? What would I say to my aunt? I felt ashamed if this was going to prove my father’s words to her. But Still I couldn’t dare to walk towards the sea. I was only being able to move and run with the waves.
At that point I heard someone’s cheerful laughter. An elf girl, who was standing in the sea to her kneels, was laughing at me. I was caught by surprise that I did not realize her presence until that moment. We were contemporary. Short black hairs were flitting around her face rebelliously and she seemed did not mind getting wet.
“Don’t worry you don’t melt in the water.” She caught one of my papers by splashing around. “Come on! You’re not worried about your dress, are you?”
“Yes I am worried.” I said angrily.
“Alright! Your dress?” she flourished wet paper. “…or your papers?” Actually she seemed to know my answer.
While I was walking towards the sea courageously she shouted me again.
“Take off your shoes!” and she added. “…if you don’t want to wait them to dry as well.”
I was feeling that cool sands made a cluck my feet while they were moving with waves. I walked towards first parchment with a pleasure I could not describe. While the waves were drawing it away I reached swiftly to catch but I stumbled and I fell down into my knees and hands. When second jolly laughter reached my ears I was laughing loudly my own circumstance too.
The elf girl came near me. While she was reaching her hand out me to stand up we both were still laughing. Just then I was taking hold of her shoulder to poise myself I realized that my father was watching us with an unexpressive face in the shore. However I could guess what he thought of: I was in a circumstance which was not suit for a lady.
My smile had frozen in my lips. While my father was moving away with his friend I went towards parchments by trying to hide from my new friend.
When my aunt’s maid found us, we were sitting on the shore that we had rescued all parchments and turned our face the sun with a hero expression. I had learned that her name was Reiven and talking with her was very easy. She was, rather me, succeeding to brighten the simplest things she told. This elf girl, who I had learned later she was abandoned, was protected by my aunt for years.
I had spent happiest summer of my life with these lively ladies. Is there something as painful as eating crust day after day, after tasted a delicious food? Although she had known her real family she had grown up together my aunt fondly and I was listing up things which I could sacrifice to able to be in her shoes. But I knew that falling to my share was just the crust.
I found out from Menathradir that my father had brought me at Celondim to leave me with my aunt. My sea adventure was proof such my discipline rotted since day one. My aunt, who adopted a girl who was not clear her kin, was not suited to grown up a young lady as well. It seemed that he had decided first day he would bring me back to Rivendell.
I returned to my home Rivendell, my old habits and lessons with a great coldly but relationship which was between me and my father started breaking off in silence with every passing day. After I met my aunt that summer I could realize any more that his interest, which he showed in me and my lesson, was duty bound to do.
Although we corresponded with my aunt occasionally and with Reiven frequently our way did not cross long time.
