The flames danced in the grate, reflecting in the blue eyes that gazed distantly into them. Fairlain did not hear the footsteps on the floor behind her. It was not until she heard his voice that she became aware of her surroundings and once again knew herself to be sitting in the drawing room of the manor house.
"I come to deliver packages once again, and this time I find YOU off your guard..."
Cynraede stood behind her in the doorway, a bundle of gold-fletched arrows in his arms. He was dressed in a dark blue tunic over a haubergeon of leather and chain mail. His hair was drawn back from his face and his eyes shone above a wide smile.
Fairlain quickly stood and faced him. She felt her face become warm beyond the heat of the fire beneath the hearth. Raising her head, she answered with dignity,
"They say it is one of the perils of memory; it is easy to lose oneself along its paths..."
Cynraede's smile deepened, "And what was it you were thinking of that led you so far away?"
Two rosy spots appeared on Fairlain's cheeks and her eyes darted away, but only for a moment. "Loved ones..." she answered.
Cynraede nodded his head. "I know Dwimmer has missed you. He looks much happier now that you've returned to us..." The words seemed to escape him for a moment, then he said again "I've brought your arrows back to you." And bending down he placed them by the doorway and took a step further into the room.
Fairlain looked at the bundle a moment the turned her gaze back to the hunter. "That was kind of you. " she took a breath, "I...I did not thank you properly for seeing me back to the Inn. Thank you. I am grateful." she made a small bow as they do in Rivendell. He bowed in return.
"It was my pleasure." His glance went to the bundle of arrows. " They seemed special to you..."
She felt a smirk tug at one corner of her mouth, but said calmly "Even the greatest of bows is not of much use without arrows. I would not be much of a hunter walking around with an empty quiver..."
"I saw a number of goblins that might disagree with that...if they still drew breath," he smirked in return.
Fairlain glanced at the floor and shifted her feet uneasily. Turning her attention to the doorway, she went and picked up the bundle of arrows, holding them in her arms in front of her. Cynraede said nothing but just watched her. After a moment he said,
"Your hair is different."
Fairlain looked at him, stepping back and clasping the arrows in front of her as if she might hide behind them.
"My hair?"
"It is different than when I last saw you..." His voice trailed away, and he just stood drinking in the sight of her with his grey-blue eyes.
For a moment the memory of a dark cave in Eregion and the stench of evil burst upon Fairlain's mind. "You remember that?"
Cynraede's eyes narrowed as if he too saw the memory that stood in her eyes. He smiled gently and answered,
"No. ..In Rivendell. I have not forgotten our journey there."
An annoyed wrinkle seemed to pass across Fairlain's brow.
"I remember feeling more of the Bruinen's waters than was necessary..."
Cynraede laughed.
"Your pardon! Your heart seemed heavy with troubles and it seemed one way of taking your mind from them..."
Fairlain gave a delicate snort and answered, "The heart may not always choose its burdens...but they're not usually to be washed away with river water!" She forgot her discomfort for a moment and looked at him crossly.
Cynraede grinned and bowed his head in a way that seemed to say 'I yield'. His face became serious and he continued,
" I have not forgotten that cave in Eregion, either, though truly I have no clear memory of it. All I saw was darkness and fear and death, yet there was one voice among the many that seemed familiar to my ears, then I woke to find this..." He reached into the neck of his tunic and drew out the faceted elfstone that hung about his neck. Her sapphire eyes glowed as she looked at the stone's twinkling facets.
She smiled, " Dwimmer fashioned that stone...'
Fairlain blushed and looked down, hugging the arrows to her tightly. She bit her lip and continued, "You were so far away from us...and no words we could say would bring you back. It is a healing stone. I thought it might help..."
"I was not myself, or I surely would've answered you. Forgive me..."
Fairlain could not find words, but looked at him her eyes shining with unbidden tears. Cynraede's fingers closed over the bright jewel.
"It has saved me...twice."
"Twice?"
"Once in that stinking cave, and again in Angmar. There was an evil there beyond any I have yet seen." His eyes closed with a pained expression. Taking a breath he looked at her and continued, "It held me to the light..it...it reminded me of you. Do you know why the Lady sent me into Angmar?"
Fairlain looked at him with wide eyes and shook her head.
"She sent me to end an evil once and for all...The one that hunted her, that hurt you...." His face darkened with anger.
"He claimed he owned you, he wished to take you back. I do not regret taking his life, nor will I ever."
Fairlain stood very still. She studied the face before her, its features hardened into grim lines as he recalled what had passed. Speaking softly, she said
"There is only One who could ever claim to own me...and he is beyond any man. The one you sought was a man filled with pride and he was cruel, but he was no more than that...." Her voice fell into silence.
Cynraede continued,
"A great, fearsome darkness came. I feared for a moment I could not even do so much as lift my blade. Then I felt the stone upon my neck, and it reminded me of something... I felt renewed, it gave me the courage and strength to stand before an evil I have never felt before." He paused and said. "You do not have to fear anymore, Lady Alkawen owns his head."
"I do not fear." Fairlain smiled sadly.
The sound of the fire crackled in the grate, and the light seemed to shift around the room.
Cynraede's face brightened a little and he said, "I have had word from a good friend of mine."
" Who is your friend?"
Cynraede tilted his head to the side and said," I could tell you, princess, but it is much more entertaining watching you wonder." He grinned.
The cross look was beginning to creep back into Fairlain's eyes. Cynraede lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"I'm only teasing you. His name is Adunabel."
"I have heard that name..."
"Yes, you have. You pulled him from the lair of a particularly nasty priestess of whom I was well acquainted."
" Ah...the Dúnadan? The White Lady feared for him."
Cynraede nodded and seemed about to say something, but only looked at her and smiled.
"He is well, then?" Fairlain asked.
"Yes, very well. He did not believe me when I spoke of you, it seems you left quite an impression on him."
" Oh? I wonder he remembers anything of that bad time..."
The hunter looked at her a moment, his eyes shining, " It's hard to forget such a light in the dark. " He closed his eyes a moment as though gathering his courage, whispering inaudible words under his breath. Looking at her once again, he spoke in his normal tones.
"I spoke to someone who gave me sound advice..." Taking a step towards her he sank humbly to his knees.
"I stayed for a time with the elves in Rivendell. Lord Elrond tried to teach me their language, but I only managed to learn a few words. Forgive me and bear with me, I beg you." He took a deep breath and looking into her eyes, he formed the words as carefully as he could.
"Gi melin, Faerlhain..."
Behind the sapphire eyes, it was as though the west wind had come once more to shake the tops of the mallorns. Fairlain bent down and placed the bundle of arrows on the ground, stepping to the spot where he remained kneeling. She sank to her knees beside Cynraede and twined her arms around him, resting her head upon his shoulder.
"I love you, too", she said softly.
Cynraede wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her close. "You're the light that guided me through the darkness. You're the voice I heard, calling me home."
Leaning back she cast herself adrift in his sea-coloured eyes. "Ar, sen Aear cân nen na mar."* she whispered softly, and placed a tender kiss upon his lips.
___________________________________________________________________
* And this sea calls me home.
