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Scenes from the Past - "Avari...?"



The Little child with flowing black hair smiled at the storybook she was holding, sitting on the fresh grass and looking at the bright, colourful pictures. Candeth Bamorien smiled as her daughter, Daerundros, flicked to another page, her eyes moving from side to side as she read the book.
Daerundros was 25. It was a sunny, enjoyable day in Eregion, and she was outside in the open, looking at her storybook and reading, when suddenly, she exclaimed in a high-pitched voice:
"Nana!" She giggled, as Candeth approached, "What does this mean? 'Avari'..." Her daughter trailed off, staring blankly at the page.
Suddenly, Candeth swiped the book from the girl's hands, alarmed. Written in the corner of the page, small but still visible, were the words, "Avari".
Candeth examined the book, suspicious and frightened. Surely Turon could not have brought something mentioning anything about the Unwilling?
However, the child, still curious, took the book from her mother's hands, and started to say, "Nana! Tell me! What is "Avari"?"
Candeth was hesitant at first, not really open about the subject, but deciding that her daughter should at least know and be wary, she took a place by the nearby chair, and picked up her daughter, set a flower in her hair, put her on her lap, and began telling her,
"Daerundros, do you remember what I told you about when the Elves first woke up in Cuivienen?"
Daerundros nodded, excitedly perusing more of her story book, "Yes! They woke up and saw a pretty lake!"
"And how Orome found them, and asked them to journey to Valinor?"
"Of course!"
"Some Elves did not heed the summons of Orome, instead, they stayed at Cuivienen until it was gone, and slowly migrated west."
Daerundros looked at her mother curiously, "They did not want to see pretty Valinor?"
"No," Candeth said quietly, "They stayed in Middle-earth."
Daerundros took the flower out of her hair, slowly playing with it and gazing at it, "Why did they refuse to go to Valinor?"
"I do not know, dearest," Candeth looked at her daughter, "They are bad, bad Elves."
Daerundros suddenly looked up, gazing at her mother in fear, "Why are they bad?"
"Because they did not come with us."
"But... surely it was their decision?" Daerundros looked at the sky ahead, pondering.
"My child, you would be wise to stay away from Harad. They are said to live there, killing any who intrude upon their territory."
Daerundros stayed silent, "Then I must keep away from them?"
"Yes, my dear child, they shall get you if you don't!" Candeth tickled her precious daughter, and Daerundros laughed, but stood up meekly.
"I shan't befriend any Avari! I won't!" She said stubbornly.
Candeth chuckled, a merry sound among the voices of the birds, "Come now, Daerundros, it is time for bed."

"I won't won't won't won't..." Daerundros began, chanting and singing.
Candeth sighed as the little girl with long black hair headed towards the house, still singing, "won't won't won't...!" and gazed towards town which stood at the foot of the hills where they were dwelling in. She watched as the cheerful child hugged her father at the entrance, and opened the door, smiling as she pranced towards her bedroom.

The door closed, and all was still.