I
The valley was silent. She was sitting by a pond, the distant song of the waterfalls were mingling with the harmonious rythm of the forges. It was a summer day's evening, the sky turning pink in the West, leaving a luminious blue hue in the East. Her sorrow was lurking inside her as she was waiting for the stars to appear.
A soft voice called to her, it was Furinmir who she had met a day before at the library. She loved his voice. Furinmir slowly walked to her, bowing in the manner of Tham Mirdain and Lindeledhriel smiled but faintly.
"Come son, sit beside me and hear of my sorrow, if you have a heart to."
Thus Furinmir sat beside her, neither heavier nor noisier then a feather falling from a sea gull.
"I have heard, lady, much of your longings, yet there is hope, there is hope in the hidden jewel!" He said and opened his soft palm revealing a golden leaf pendant decorated with seven bright gems in the shape of the Nettled Stars. This pendant seemed to belong to an earlier age, perhaps a time before the world was changed. Looking down at the jewel in utter surprise and wonder, Lindeledhriel was still and silent for a long moment. Furinmir beheld her; the joy of finding that which is long lost was glittering in her eyes. The evening cast its purple light on the wandering clouds in the sky and the snowy mountain peaks afar.
Lindeledhriel took the jewel and held it dearly to her bosom and spoke: " Long lost was this token and hope grown dim. Now hope comes back to us like the rain to a barren land. Yet, where is the carrier of this jewel, for he would not part from it until the uttermost end ?" Thus saying, her voice faltered and trembled, yet, a stronger force of hope and joy holding her together. "He knowingly gave it to us, lady, yet showed himslef not." Lindeledhriel nodded, still joy lingering in her eyes.
And she sang as the stars began to appear in the clear night sky.
II
Lindeledhriel sat by the rolling Bruinen. Music was in the valley for the harps were playing with flutes and laughter. There she sat, under a summer night's fall; pondering.
A soft breeze touched her cheeks, it was Loriluin and her white, silk dress. Loriluin was a bright, fair maiden carrying a gist of the light of the days from Lindeledhriel's very early days. Perhaps, she thought, this is the light of the Elder Days still alit in Lothlorien; a light beautifully caught in the crystal soul of Loriluin.
Thus they hailed each other and Lindeledhriel wished her to remain longer, for her light was bright and hope was strong in her. Loriluin sat by her side and they started a fair talk in the ways of the elven maids; yet less in laughter, much in counsel.
They talked about Furinmir's gift which held a value greater than any other there may be. Lindeledhriel was holding in her pale palm, this very jewel, a family heritage long taught to be lost with its owner. It was the golden leaf pendant; a leaf decorated with gems in the shape of the constellation, Rammirath.
Loriluin was the one who found it: "I was with Furinmir and the wardens whence this pendant was retrieved. You ask how we found it..." Then she remained silent but extended her hand, which could easily be mistaken for a fair lilly, and they held hands.
A warmth spread across Lindeledhriel's hand to her body. Her eyes were wide open yet no longer seeing what is present but straying into a dream: Golden mallorns appeared before her and a thick wood and a shadowy figure in the twilit forest... She let out an echoing laughter as still in the dream; for the shadow was of a tall, long and dark haired elf who is her brother... Tet he fled and left the forest lonely again. Thus the vision faded and Lindeledhriel awoke, finding herself back on the riverbank. She looked at Loriluin with wonder in her eyes and smiled.
"This is how I saw him; or he let me see him. I did not call tot he wardens to follow but walked at him myself, yet, he was gone; leaving this pendant for you."
Now Lindeledhriel's eyes were damp and she looked up at the evening sky. For the night was fallen and stars were lit, she gazed at Rammirath and whispered in the olden tounge. Each star of the constellation sending its ray to the each gem on the pendant in her palm, the gems shimmered, seven tears rolled down her cheeks glimmering.
((With many many thanks to Elvealin to whom the two characters in this chronicle belong to. ))
