PART TWO: Hidden Truths
A great intake of breath and the meeting of freshly inked pen to paper began Isoldis' letter, to be pinned to the sanctuary gate post, as was tradition with all notifications of departure. No tears would be lost in her farewell words, Isoldis hid her feelings well in times of pressure, she was cold in appearance under duress and calm of mind when darkness rose all about her. Too much of her Noldo father in her meant that few had seen Isoldis lose her composure to tears, and fewer still to laughter. Yet, much love had consumed her during her stay at the Laiquendi sanctuary, of which her heart and her dreams were overflowing. Fond memories would never leave her, nor a great and undying respect for the Order of Green Elves, and all its traditions.
Consumed by those traditions, and falling in love with the founder of that Order, Tynuilos had carved Isoldis' fate to linger long upon the shores of Middle-earth, especially when Tynuilos' heart was broken upon the back of unrequited love, that had her swearing never to travel westward, lest she face the truth of a love unreturned. In the mean time, Isoldis had grappled with her own feelings, when a declaration of love was thrust in her direction by Lord Mittanyaro, who likened her eyes to the Silmarils. Never had she seen those jewels that he spoke of, nor felt the emotions that he easily confessed, and unsure amid the great confusion in her heart and mind, she saw a method through which to harness Lord Mittanyaro's declaration of love for her own ends. Plotting to use Mittanyaro to humiliate Tynuilos in a spar, Isoldis hoped to force her sister to travel westward, finally achieving her own desires without breaking her oath to her parents that required she stay at Tynuilos' side.
Of course Lord Mittanyaro agreed anything to be near Isoldis and readily offered his services in her protection, escorting the conniving maiden through lands to the east where the scorched-earth terrain was home to naught but Orc camps and dread beasts, fine tuning his skills of battle until such a time that Isoldis was satisfied Mittanyaro was a worthy match for Tynuilos. By then, rumour was rife and Tynuilos took great offence to her sister's scheming, arguing her case at a gathering of the Order, and putting her complaints to the Tur, Lord Clill.
As is tradition, the wise Lord Clill went in search of the complaints book and while away, Lord Mittanyaro arrived at the gathering not only confirming the rumour and admitting his intent, but publically challenged Tynuilos, who could not refuse. A date and time was set and Lord Mittanyaro immediately left for the Misty Mountains upon the beat of a battle drum, whilst whispers surrounded Isoldis to mark her as a schemer among the members of the Order, Tynuilos receiving many vows of support and sympathy, much loved was she. And through it all, Lord Clill wove a melody that kept order, bowing to the spar as an ancient method in the settlement of arguments. (no blood would be spilt of course, only the besting of one or the other.)
And so the day of the spar was reached, with careful management of high emotions, and the two parties arrived, with members of the Order to bear witness to its result. Gilandros had offered to be Tynuilos' second, whilst Mittanyaro stood alone, as a proud Noldo in want of nothing. Swords were chosen to even the fight, and paces were taken until only the spoken word would begin the spar, then as Isoldis had wished, a fierce clash of metal ensued. Yet, the maiden, for all her crafting, could not watch its outcome and hid whilst her sister and her protector fought for their honour. But what is this? After some time, and before either opponent was damaged or fatigued, both stopped, saluted each other and laid down their weapons, ending the spar on a draw. Hearing the cheers from the crowd, Isoldis rushed to congratulate her protector, she assumed, yet was shocked and confused to discover the truth."Lord Mittanyaro has failed me, how can this be?"
Her question was met by Lord Clill, Tur of Laiquendi. "It was at my request that both Lord Mittanyaro and your sister Lady Tynuilos did not engage in combat, to the end."
"My Lord, why would you do such a thing? You do not understand the conditions attached to this spar, the time I have taken to encourage Lord Mittanyaro in his training, the efforts I have gone to, to work this...this..."
"Deception?" Lord Clill asked inquisitively.
"Yes...yes deception! A finely woven deceit of my making and it is dishonourable of you to bar its conclusion."
"I did not bar its conclusion Lady Isoldis, nor bar its happening. I merely added in some details to the opposing sides that they were previously unaware of. Would you have Lord Mittanyaro fight for the wrong cause? Would you have Lady Tynuilos engage in combat unfairly? Between them, they chose to leave this spar's ending unwoven."
"And what details did you mention in all your wisdom that I did fail to reveal? My sister is and always has been fully aware of my desperate desire to travel westward, and Lord Mittanyaro has not been kept under a veil of illusion either. Both agreed to spar upon the condition that if Tynuilos was defeated, she would finally travel westward in my company."
"And you have every faith in Lord Mittanyaro's defeat of Tynuilos?"
"Yes! He is strong and agile. Did I not see to his training myself in all manner of activities from refining his senses to honing his skills? I have taught him command of his strength and the taming of his passions! I have carved a fine and graceful shield-bearer from the First Age Noldo!"
"Indeed you have my Lady, and in your voice I hear much pride and affection for Lord Mittanyaro, your constant companion since first your scheme was invented."
"This is true, we have grown close during our endeavour, that I would trust non other with the besting of my sister, than Lord Mittanyaro. He is the match for my sister. the Odds are fair in this contest between them...I deceive none in my demands to go west."
"Oh but you do! Isoldis, Spinner of webs!" Lord Clill declared with passion. "Your plan is truly fair to those who contest, yet you miss out the most important result of this spar, should your plan achieve its desired ending. For whilst you are certain that Lord Mittanyaro shall be the victor, and you shall have your way to force Tynuilos westward...you fool me NOT!"
"What do you mean Hir Clill?"
"I see your scheme revealed in all its truth, beyond the false words you use, and beyond the illusion of a victory at your hands. Using your own words to describe yourself as selfish and uncaring, and plotting utter humiliation upon your sister, let us not forget what awaits both of you in the west...a full recovery for Lady Tynuilos indeed! For the blessed isle shall surely mend her heart, if her beloved Lord does not! Yet what say you of your own heart Isoldis? That which you freely give to Lord Mittanyaro in the time you have spent together. You are not the fool Isoldis. You know that he cannot travel westward with you, for he lives under that curse of the Noldor...and thus, I see the result of this trickery of yours is not your desire to travel west at the expense of your sister's feelings, but at your own! You sacrifice your own love for an eternity, in order to cure Tynuilos of her broken heart!"
"This is true. This is true..." Isoldis gasped. "I only meant to bring her happiness, for too long have I watched her suffer. For too long have I heard her weeping in the lonely dark; I did devise the plan to cure her broken heart, and wrapped it in malice so that she would not suspect my ploy. I would rather be the one to suffer an eternal heart ache than my sister, for she deserves not to suffer so. Please forgive me my scheming, for it was only done with the best intensions."
Of course Isoldis was forgiven and embraced by the Order, Lord Mittanyaro, and her sister Tynuilos, who declared that such selfless actions from Isoldis would serve her well in curing her broken heart, and would even bless the union between Isoldis and Lord Mittanyaro, if it came to be their desire.
Lord Clill's wisdom had prevailed, yet it was not long after that he brought news of his need to go west, and judging Isoldis to be of pure heart, he duly passed her the beryl studded belt that was the symbol of leadership within the Order. She took it with some surprise and with great respect, yet it never fitted her well. Around her tiny waist, the belt hung heavy and no matter how much she adjusted its position, time would not grant her a better fit. Isoldis was no leader, and no matter how much she wished it, for the love of the Order, there was in the end...only one decision to be made.
Walking along the sanctuary path for the last time as Tur, Isoldis hung her notice to the gate post and left quietly, wandering up the long path that lead to the town of Duillond where she would find a fresh horse to...somewhere else.
