After a few years, I came back that grave river where Alenith was buried. Once again I could not stop myself although I knew I would not find anything about him.
I camped a couple of days at the shore of the river where was near that place by waiting for something happened like miracle. I walked around by looking for something was left behind him. As usual nothing… An enormous nothing. No orcs, no him. I had decided that I would go back to Rivendell the following morning. I would accept that he had passed away. But I was still sad because I was thinking of that I had not done everything I could do that day, exactly like today.
It was about sunset time. I turned my camp place with these thoughts. When I arrived at, there was someone who was sitting on one of trunks and stirring the fire. To be honest, firstly I imagined he was Alenith. I could hear voice that my heart skipped a beat. When I came near I understood that I had been mistaken; it was not miracle I expected.
The old man had seen me too but he was not disappointed like me. There was a warm smile on his face. That night, I have never thought that he was thief. If he was, then he would be disappeared with my worthless stuffs. Maybe my horse could arouse his interest but it was tied point I have left it. While I have been standing up by pondering him, first he spoke:
“Come child and taste these fishes. This time of year, this place was on their migration areas. You can’t find this chance every time.”
At the time I noticed grilled fishes on the fire. Calling as ‘child’ by a man, despite he was very old, was strange as well. Nevertheless, silently I sat down his opposite side but I did not touch that fishes as If they were cursed. My attitude had not bothered the man. While he was taking and eating one of fishes, I preferred asking him a few things:
“Have you been living near here? I did not see any hut or person, except you, nearby places.”
“My poor hut is in south. Coming here takes your two days, with horse.” Old man, who was looking at may face, smiled warmly. He continued talking on my expression which was full of questions “I know child, here is too far for this old man as well.”
“Did not you come here for only fishes, right?” I smiled for the first time.
“I am interested in an herb which vegetates only here rather fishes. Since I am here, a few fishes don’t clean out the river, do they?” At that point, the old man was pointing at his saddlebag with his head. I was sure that bag was full of salted fishes.
The old man broke the silence in between us again. “I am Aravan. How about you, child?” His voice was sounding he wanted to learn why I was here rather my name.
“I am Laisi. I was just passing by.” I had answered him simply. “Why are you keeping call me as child. Maybe I am older than you. ? What do you know about how old I am?” I looked at him frowning.
“Maybe, you are. Maybe not. But give fair quarter this old man. I was born, grew, got married, had children and I saw they grew, got married and had children. I saw my wife and my son, they died and I stood before their tombs. It makes me feel a little bit older than anyone else, sorry, child.” His voice lowered more and more. I did not mention that salutation way.
Afterwards we talked barely. When he learned I would go to north, he asked for me to come with him to his poor hut. His son had had an important message for someone who was in Rivendell. They had waited for a traveler to carry it for months.
I accepted this fatherly old man’s request without knowing that his son was Alenith.
