A week had gone by since Ealendil, in company with Earcalie, had left Duillond for Imladris, a journey that would take a couple of weeks. Maedhrathin hadn’t accompanied Ealendil to say farewell and wish them good luck, he loathed these farewells, and besides… what needed to be said had been said already.
Now he had ventured up to Duillond, visiting the Scholar’s Enclave in search of poetry from the early second age. Finding nothing of interest, he decided that he would travel down to Mithlond and visit the library there instead. But first, he needed to linger a few days longer awaiting the arrival of Ealendil’s niece.
A soon as he stepped out into the sunlit market square, he spotted her. Just as he remembered. Dark hair, some red in it, clad in a white, wearing a dusty traveling cloak, and resting by her feet a large brown travel bag.
Adopting his most charming smile, he approached cheerfully, greeting her, “Welcome Niemire, Maedhrathin at your service.” An awkwardly long period of silence ensued, where she stared at him blank-faced, and he felt like something the cat had dragged in. Minutes passed, and still smiling, although more stiffly by now, he grumbled inwardly, “Oh Eal… why? Why did you have to make me babysit your niece? This is not going to be fun at all, no not at all…”
Then, all of the sudden, Niemire breaks out in a smile, that so remind Maedhrathin of the way Ealendil smiles, a smile that can completely disarm you. “Oh Maedh you silly fool, of course I remember you.” She greets him in a singsong voice. Maedhrathin relaxes, visibly, tense shoulders letting go. By Eru, she had almost fooled him. Then he laughs too, joining her in the merriment.
“Your aunt asked me to meet you here, and help you home. Here.” Maedhrathin says, and holds out the keys, “You are now the caretaker of house Fanyamar.” Niemire takes the keys gently, almost reverently, holding them in her upturned hand, as if feeling their weight. Then she nods.
“Thank you.”
Maedhrathin smiles and just like that he doesn’t mind remaining yet a few more days. It will be fun helping Niemire getting settled, and there will be opportunities for him to show her around, and perhaps take her dancing at one of the gatherings in the area.
Suddenly Niemire grows all serious again, smile gone, looking at the bag, then at Maedhrathin. “Come, let’s not linger here. I am eager to get home and there is much work to be done”. She nods, not expecting any protests. “You can take the bag and follow, I still remember the road. Be quick about it”. And with those words, she turns around and starts to walk briskly out of Duillond in the direction of the house.
Maedhrathin blinks, once, twice, and… Baffled… but he soon comes to his senses. Quickly he picks up the large bag, and tries to run after her, grumbling as the heavy bag, seemingly full of books, makes catching up anything but easy. “By Eru Eal, why? I only wanted to get back to Harlindon, you knew that…you knew that…”
