'Éowyn!' Eregiel cried out, bolting upright from her sleep to a sitting position.
Awakened by her sister's cry, Calentauriel asked, 'What is it, nésa? You called out the name Éowyn in your sleep.'
'If my dream be true, Éowyn is dead.' Eregiel answered sadly.
'How tragic! Do you know how she died?' wondered Calentauriel.
'I do not know, nésa,' replied Eregiel, tears that rolling down her cheeks. 'I only saw her laying motionless on a battlefield. Her shattered sword and shield lay nearby'
~The First Vision~
'Battlefield?' puzzled Calentauriel. 'Théoden charged her with governing the Rohirrim in his stead. He forbade her from riding to war,' she reasoned. 'How did she come to this battlefield?'
'I know not, nésa,' Eregiel answered, wiping away her tears. 'I only know what I saw in my dream'
Later that morning Eregiel shared her vision with Lothíriel. 'What does this mean, Eregiel?" Imrahil's daughter asked. 'Did this woman of Rohan ride to war with the king, or did battle come to her people in the king's absence?'
Lothíriel thought for a moment then asked, 'Did you see anyone else in this dream?' Lothíriel often thought of her own father and the peril he faced.
'No, lady, that is all that I saw,' Eregiel softly answered.
'Please inform me if you remember anymore,' Lothíriel requested.
'I will, lady, you may be certain of that,' Eregiel replied.
Lothíriel gave the sisters leave to visit the city. She was very proud of her father and the city that he commanded, and hoped the sisters would both enjoy its beauty and be awed by its might.
~The Library of Saphadzîr~
'This is the Library of Saphadzîr, or so I'm told,' Calentauriel told her sister. 'To think that it requires this great building! There must be many books and tomes within. Shall we enter?'
Eregiel silently nodded her assent. Once inside, the sisters found that the contents of the building were even more magnificent than its facade.
'What a splendid library this is, nésa, and so great in size!' remarked Calentauriel to Eregiel, who was only half-listened to her sister's prattle. Eregiel's thoughts were still consumed by her dream.
'It is very large indeed, nésa,' agreed Eregiel.
'Would not Thibinoriel love to visit it?' continued Calentaurel. 'She could spend weeks, perhaps even years, pouring over the old tomes. The only occasion upon which she would emerge would be to gather the Leaves for a performance.' (1)
Eregiel laughed, although it was muted by her sadness. Her heart was obviously not in their sightseeing. 'You are very likely correct, nésa,' she said.
~The Harpers' Court~
'This is where Thibinoriel would have us play. It seems rather breezy, though, being so near to the Bay,' remarked Calentauriel in her ongoing soliloquy. 'Although the view is stunning, I cannot imagine that the quality of the sound produced here would please her.'
'It is very windy here, nésa,' agreed Eregiel. After a pause she asked, 'Would you mind terribly if we return to our quarters? I fear I am a bit--'
'Distracted?' Calentauriel asked perceptively.
'Yes, I am sorry that I have not been the best of company,' Eregiel apologised. 'The city is very great, but I fear that my thoughts lie elsewhere.'
'Understandable, dear nésa,' replied Calentauriel. 'We shall return at once.'
~The End of Part One~
(1) Laurië Lassi, meaning Golden Leaves, is the name given to the group of musicians lead by Thibinoriel. 'Leaves' is a nickname the members occasionally use to refer to the ensemble.
