I looked at the noticeboard, banging my fists on the wall in anger, as I read what words it contained:
"Veryacano!
I warn thee to set bounds for Daerundros or to forbid her comming with me! I acknowledge not thy law, nor thy lordship over the Noldor. Thou may hast right for claim of Daerundros for she is of thy kin, yet so have I the right for I call her dear and friend. Let any remain in this Vale, let them go back into the cage, where they soon will sicken as they have ever sickend before. But not so Daerundros. A friend of mine thou shalt not withold from me. I will not abide thy decision and if I must take the maiden with me by force. Thou shalt not hold what is mine!
Minyelaírë of the Kinn-Lai, 5th clan of the Avari"
Sighing, I put my head on the noticeboard, still furious. I banged my fists on the wall for the second time, and some Elves shot me odd looks. I cared not, now lifting my head and stared at the notice again. Did Minyelaire care about me so much that she had to resort to kidnapping me? I laughed in a harsh, lifeless way, knowing that something (or someone) would soon come to me and ask me not to go with Minyelaire.
I shook my head, feeling foolish about mentioning our journey to Harad. I remembered last night's argument, where Lady Silaen and Minyelaire had a heated discussion until I and Galodin were forced to step in and stop it from escalating into a fight. I sighed, thinking of the sketch I drew for Minyelaire, thinking about her astonished expression. Meekly I walked over to a quiet corner, bowing my head down and sitting against the wall, my hand covering my face.
After my depature... what had happened then? Did Veryacano confront Minyelaire over my mention of the journey to Harad? Would Lord Veryacano attempt to convince me to stay in Imladris? Would Minyelaire retaliate? I snarled, knowing that I would promptly decline Veryacano's statements about the Avari, perhaps even angrily snap back and storm away from the Valley.
I laughed again, thinking about everything. Slowly I got up, set out from the valley, and wandered around with my sword unsheated. The Trollshaws were so peaceful, to troubled minds. It left me in wonder, and I patted my pack, now containing everything for the journey. I came to the spot where I treated Minyelaire's injuries, remembering how she collapsed before me, and how I rushed to make sure she was alright. I climbed upon some stray boulders, looking up at the sky and to the wide forests of the Trollshaws. In the distance I saw some dark clouds rolling by, and I wished that I was home in Eregion, in Ered Luin even.
Slowly I made my way through Hollin. The familiar holly trees and bushes swayed to a breeze, and I headed to an old Elvish ruin - my home.
It had been years since I last visited the place. It looked almost the same, exact that it was more withered than before. I went to the door, attempting to open it, but I had to resort to kicking it down with my foot. I grimaced as the door hit the ground. The wreath of roses that were pinned to it fell down.
Slowly I looked at the ruins. Some belongings were missing, and I looked around. Most of the items seem to have cracked, withered, or gone by. I chewed my lip, and carefully navigated myself through the rubble, scattered from thousands of years of abandonment.
A peculiar sight caught my eye. Moving towards some debris, I saw the spine of a book covered in the debris. I hastily dug it out, and examined it, opening it and flicking across the brittle pages.
Colourful pictures, now faded with time, smiled up at me. I realized that this was an old storybook that I used to peruse as a child. Flicking the pages some more, I eventually came across the scrawled word. "Avari"....
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"?"
I sighed as the memory washed over me, and I took the book for myself.
So strange, one moment, I was denying to ever be friendly to an Avari, yet now... One of my dearest friends was an Avari.
I angrily threw the book at a crumbled wall now. How could I have said such words? Why didn't I react with suspicion to Minyelaire as the other elves did? I grimaced as I realization came over me.
I would stay an immortal being, while Minyelaire would die, doomed to stay bound in Middle-earth. I slowly wept as I realized how close I held Minyelaire to me. I had grown so close to her that I would despair at the thought of not getting to see her anymore after I had sailed west.
I made up my mind. I would stay. Death will take me, but I shall see all my friends, for I knew that the end was not truly the end. I was amazed at my own willingness to sacrifice my immortality for a friend. But then, what am I to do for the rest of eternity if I were to sail west?
((OOC: Yes I know, Daer makes decisions so easily! xD But hey, at least she won't abandon her friend alone! ;)))
The end is not truly the end. The beginning of an end is the end of a beginnning.
