Breathe



The air was cool and soft. She could feel the breeze finding its way under the fine leather armour, but it was a comforting gust – the kind from a summer’s evening. Nelnardis sat under one of the many birch trees near Thorenhad, her eyes closed.

The night was still, to a man perhaps. Nelnardis knew differently. She could feel everything, the grass in the wind and the insects crawling in the soil. She could hear the leaves blowing, the river chasing at the Ford of Bruinen. And the wolves watched from their secret ways.

Breathe. It was almost as if she could hear him from the thousands of leagues away. Nelnardis’ lips twitched. Of course he wouldn’t have stopped fighting in hope she would listen, and it wasn’t as if she would be able to hear from such a distance. For now, he was only there in her memory.

Feel arda around you. Listen. That was so long ago. Running through the woods when they should have been studying. He had always wanted to be a warrior, even then. At last, he seemed to have gotten his wish. Though, every wish has a price.

Be still, Nelnardis. I will wait for you.

She opened her eyes. The grey eyes that had been watching her shrunk back into the bushes. The wolf skulked away.

Nelnardis stood. The meditation was meant to calm her enough to clear her thoughts, but she still felt the same as before. Maybe she wasn’t doing it right. Frowning, she began to unravel her blonde hair as she walked towards the Bruinen.

The starlight looked so beautiful reflected onto the shallow stream. As the water trickled from her hands, Nelnardis thought back to Elrohir’s words only a few hours ago.

“I tried to reach you before you departed Imladris. Unfortunately, I was too late.”

She had broken the piece of bread in half, leaving one piece to warm closer to the crackling flames. “Contact is difficult in Mirkwood. The scouts are always shooting down any ravens.”

Elrohir nodded as Nelnardis chewed and swallowed the piece of bread. She peered at him. “What was the reason you wished to speak with me?”

“Actually this is a recruitment meeting.”

It would be different - he had tried to explain to her. She was seeking a purpose. He knew she was. All she had to do was agree. But Nelnardis hadn’t agreed. She didn’t say anything. Instead she left her bread by the fire and disappeared into the bushes.