Rivendell. When walking the imposing halls of the Lord Elrond, when listening fragments of small talk of the beautiful Eldar of the Valley, when loosing the turmoil of my thoughts and fears in that of the waterfall, when its drops merge tears making them cold as snowflakes on my face instead of burning fire I can almost forget. For a whole second at least..
I was in the Hall of Fire making excuses for yet another unprovoked insult of Daegond to Lord Galvathalion of Calarind when Veryacano entered the hall; I had not seen him since our return to the Valey. I blushed in shame and prepared myself to explain and prey understanding and advice. When his eyes stopped upon me he seemed so surprised and glad to see me and such concern and kindness in his voice I learned to hear and treasure! “Yes, I am all right, Mylord, and I expected a lot worse welcoming, but I knew you will understand me”. He laughed “Worse is to come worry not”. I bowed deeply. “And I will welcome it from you”. I suddenly missed all the others I used to feel like this in the presence of and who were gone or spread with the wind..
As before, in front of Veryacano I could not remember any prepared speech and long thought about arguments. He took me aside and listened to the whole story. He was probably away for some time, most likely in the Moors hammer in hand, for he heard nothing of what happened since I took the sword. He interrupted me countless times, with little patience to hear all the details. He sighed and narrowed his eyes each time he understood there is still more to it, his face impossible to read to me as ever. When I finished the story he made his decision instantly as he seems to do always, no hesitation or taking time to think about it for long. I would not have expected any different from him and could only prey this time it was no mistake his rush was leading us to. But good or not it was the way of the Lord of the Order of Hammer and law. The sword would be melted down. I still insisted again on the danger of breaking the cage that holds whatever that thing is. And on how it worried me we might close with no return the last gate to the peace of a soul who only lived and died for his kin. He was loosing patience. I felt he was not listening anymore and understood me little. Or I was not understanding him.
“It’s just dreams Turuviel. Once we get rid of the sword, the dreams will stop, I assure you.”
“I do not care about my dreams! I would bare them forever. I care if they are true!” I felt the taste of my tears.
He was thinking aloud, nodding to himself as he was planning “I will have a mighty chest of metal forged for me. I will take the sword and lock it in there. Untill such a time that we will take it to the forge. Have Reiven deliver the sword to me will you.. Its time we end this.”
I swallowed my tears and bowed deeply before him. To him I kneeled to say my oaths long time ago and –as if there was need- he won my trust and loyalty when he went himself to find a way for Daelith when he believed there was one. If now he saw no way there was probably none, at least not one I could find by myself and I had no one else to turn to with hope.
“If that is your decision I will trust your wisdom. At least he would be at peace with any decision coming from you..”
He frowned annoyed as little as his stone face would ever let see. “Well find her!”
Before me stood the commander of armies and his words were an order. When you put your life in the service of others like that you win the right to be obeyed without word and to not listen to little girls agreeing or not with your decisions. I realized my words were out of place before him.
I bowed, turn on my heels and rushed to fulfill the order. I hurried to Reiven’s room. My prayers were listened to for she was not there. I left her a note about Veryacano’s orders and hurried out of the Vale telling myself I will return even before she finds the note. After all she could be there too.. I needed an excuse before my conscience. And I needed to say goodbye..
