Fillegedhiel of Dol Amroth slipped the stable hand a few extra copper to see to her mount as the twilight swiftly faded into darkness. It seemed like she had ridden more the last few days then she had in years, and if she was feeling the strain, then so was her horse.
Walking up the broken cobblestones towards the inn she flexed and stretched, knowing that if she were too late she would be back in the saddle before dawn, trying to catch her friends. She stopped for a moment...letting those words run through her mind again. Her friends. All those months ago when she turned her back on Bree she had assumed that was the end of friendship for her. The few precious ties she had made since leaving Gondor would fade no matter what promises had been made, and she certainly had no intention of making friends amongst Thorin's folk. She had accepted the fact that that had been the last spiteful gift from her father...that she was doomed to be alone (see The Nest and the Viper).
However, now here she was...pushing open the door of the Forsaken Inn and shouldering in out of the cold. The name now seemed filled with sad irony, after she had felt forsaken for so long. The main room was crowded as it usually was, with a harder, colder crowd than the Prancing Pony. As the last such outpost before the long road through the Trollshaws, this Inn got mainly young Adventurers bracing for the outward bound, and the brigands and bastards who prayed on them. The last time she was here, she was with Xanderian and Cyndwin, having just finished battling the half orcs of Naerost. Both she and Cyndwin had been overwhelmed with the addictive energy battle can bring, guzzling bad ale and jabbering a mile a minute as Xanderian just smiled at them as if she knew a secret they didn't yet (See Xanderian's Journal - Entry 15). In her darker moments, trying to sleep surrounded by snoring dwarves, Fille wondered if that secret was that the sweet moment was doomed to fade into loneliness and fear, that one day the elf would betray and abandon "her" Fillegedhiel as everyone else did.
How strange it took just a handful of faded notes in a flowing, flowery hand to wash all that sorrow away and bring her back here brimming with new hope. How very strange indeed.
Stepping towards the bar, Fille wore a heavy backpack and a dwarven hood, her attire cleaner than usual with a heavy sword across her back. In the fire, the metal glimmered playfully with the blade's dwarven details but she didn't merit a second look from most of the tavern-goers. She looked around the dimly lit hall hoping to see someone she knew, hoping she was not too late and they had not already ridden on without her, but knowing deep inside that she was indeed late and they were gone...again.
As her eyes adjusted to the half light and she breathed in the stench of pipeweed and ale, she noticed a figure near the great hearthfire. A woman was half dozing there by the flames, an open book forgotten on her lap. Her long legs were stretched out along the hearth, the firelight gleaming off her blue and silver armor. A tall greatsword that Fille was amazed to recognize was propped beside her, and her long golden hair was loose like a fan down her back, shining, only half dried and combed arrow straight.
For a moment, Fillegedhiel felt a pain so real and deep she thought she would weep right there, remembering that hair. She and Cyndwin and Xanderian in the river by Bree, bathing as Xan carefully combed out Fille's hair as if she were a little girl, as she had just finished doing for Cyndwin. She remembered envying the way the long, blonde hair of her friend shone wetly in the moonlight, just as it was now in the gleam of the fire.
Her heart was pounding as she slid through the weary patrons to the fire. "Cyn?" she whispered and gently touched the woman's shoulder. She must be wrong..she was sure she was wrong...but her heart knew she was right.
The woman stirred and blinked one eye open and beamed sleepily "Hmmmm? Ohhhh..Hello Fille..." then blinked again and sat bolt upright, the book nearly falling into the fire. "FILLE!" She shouted coming up to her feet and seizing the dark haired woman in a tight embrace, spinning her around and knocking several other patrons to the side.
Fille couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably in that moment and squeezed Cyndwin as tightly as possible despite the bigger woman's armor. Soon, her laughter turned to hysterical panting, then sobbing. She tried to stifle the tears but emotion poured through her like a gushing waterfall. "Cyn!, Lord...it really is you!".
The Shieldmaiden laughed...and found herself crying too, hugging Fille hard then pushing her out at arms length, looking her over and hugging her again! "Yes it is, it is, and its YOU too...how have you been!!! Are you thirsty, hungry? Stars its SO good to see you!"
Fille finally managed to contain herself and let go, a little embarrassed. She was no longer used to this level of emotion. Her cheeks blazed red as she wiped away the tears, but her voice kept breaking as she spoke. "I have missed you Cyn, there were nights I had thought we would never meet again - but look at us now!" She smiled, wild and bright, then her tone turned more serious. "How have you been?" She was searching for some sign of what Xan had told her briefly, not long ago, of the trials the blonde Cyndwin had gone through.
Cyndwin grinned "Ah, I have been...well I am so much better NOW! Come come let's get you fed and watered and find a place to chat!" She threw a look around at some of the other patrons who were regarding the two girls curiously and they rapidly became very interested in their own drinks.
Fille nodded in agreement and although clearly dissatisfied with Cyn's answer, she didn't press her yet. She grabbed Cyn by the hand and moved her to a corner away from the fire and prying eyes. "Listen to you...fed and watered? Such a Rohan girl. Just something to drink please, I will save the oats for later" she told Cyn, laughing, and moved the heavy bag from her back onto the floor with a grunt.
Already blushing at Fille's comments, Cyn chuckled at the thump the bag made. "Good lord, Forge-girl, did you bring your anvil with you?"
Fille laughed wildly, her emotions a storm, "Yes and a couple of dwarves to help us on the way!" she winked at Cyndwin as already all the old bantering sisterhood was rushing back. Their eyes met as they both shared one thought...it felt as if they had never been parted.
Breaking the moment before she began to cry again, Cyndwin beckoned for a drink, for two in fact, because she couldn't leave Fille to drink alone, the honor of the Riddermark wouldn't allow it. She looked back to note the dark haired woman watching her, concern clear in her eyes. "And I've been well, truly, to give you a real answer, a bit strange though - has Rian told you anything?"
Before answering, Fille leaned close in the dim light studying Cyn's face closely. Her features were still as beautiful and vibrant as she remembered, despite the long separation. She lowered her voice slightly, unsure who might be listening. "Xan told me you...told me that you had left her, Cyn...?", her tone filled with disbelief.
The blonde woman's face clouded over and she shook her head quickly, her golden locks flying."Oh no..no not EVER! I was...trapped? I suppose is the word, though I don't remember it, caught away in a place out of time...." she paused for a drink "Well let's not start the song in the middle! Remember when Rian and I went to Moria? (See Moria Descent)"
Fille frowned in confusion, "Yes, some Longbeards had mentioned meeting you there...but what does Moria have to do with..." she left the sentence open, willing Cyn to continue.
Nodding, Cyndwin swallowed hard and continued. "Well, while we there I found a trove - a broken chest, and in it a crystal, beautiful but unworked, this lovely blue color!" Pausing she pointed to crystal shards set in the cross hilt of her sword - the sword Fille had forged for her.
Fillegedhiel had to reach out a hand to examine the sword a moment, her face lighting up in disbelief. She thought shew had recognized it, but hadn't thought it possible. "I-I can't believe you still have this" she grinned. "...but more importantly, what of the crystal? Was it poisoned?" she cocked her head to the side.
The Shieldmaiden considered, then shook her head. "No, well.. I don't think so...and this blade has served me VERY well, love - each time I go to war I think of you!"
Fille bit her lip, trying to hold back a tear again. She placed a hand on Cyn's lap and squeezed her knee, "I too thought of you dear Cyn, I am glad it still serves you well"
Cyndwin smiled. "But to continue..I carried the crystal with me, a pretty thing, I thought, though not of much worth... and when we, Rian and me, were in Angmar, something...something happened."
Fille's voice went hollow just speaking the word "Angmar? What were you doing there? What happened?" She sounded more than concerned now.
Noting her friend's reaction, Cyndwin was struck by all she had seen and done since Fille had left them to go into hiding from her dead father's supporters, how much stronger she had become. "You know Rian...we were doing a favor for someone she had met, seeking a lost girl (see Balances). There was this witch who tried to trade Rian to a set of scales that can steal men's souls, and a horrible man called Donark, and all manner of dangers and mystery, but so much strange beauty and majesty too..like everything my beloved does."
Through all the strange and confusing details, Fille noted the words "my beloved"...she had gathered from Xan that the relationship between the elf and the Rohan girl had grown closer, and that just confirmed it. She smiled at how unconsciously and directly Cyndwin had said it...Beloved...when she had seen her last she had seemed so much younger. Now she seemed so...womanly. "But what happened???"
"I'm not quite SURE what happened, really..." Cyndwin gathered her thoughts and continued. "...but I awoke, finding shards of the crystal falling away from me, like blue sparkling dust, all over, and I was alone, but with the echo of strange and lovely music ringing in my ears!
Fille shook her dark head, distraught, "Is this some Elvish sorcery? Or worse, dark wizardry?" She looked Cyn up and down again, trying to make sure she was actually real. "What happened next?"
Taking her hand and squeezing it, Cyndwin reassured her and held onto it as she continued. "Well, I felt fine...rested and refreshed even, but I was alone, as I said, and wasn;t sure what to do - to make the song short, I remember calling for Rian, and you know Rian..she HEARD me. When we finally found each other, she told me I had been gone more than a year...with no word! I felt..awful for her, and still do..." She trailed off, looking down at the scarred table.
Fille's face went from a frown, to concern, to disbelief and wonder all at once. Her hand went limp in Cyn's as it was taking a lot for her to believe the story, "Cyn, love...are you sure this is correct? Are you sure you didn't hit your head or just...fell ill? For a year?"
Grinning a little, Cyndwin tilted her head down, her hair obscuring her face. "Pretty sure..for one thing there's no scar...want to feel?" Throwing her hair back, she grew more serious. "For another Rian believes it, strange as it may seem! and the final thing is THIS..." She pointed to the crystal shard in the hilt of the blade..a shard that Fille had not forged there.
Fille felt shivers up her spine, unsure of how to approach this tale. She felt spooked, "Cyn, if this is true...tis all very strange. So strange in fact that I may need a stronger drink...So...what happens from here?" She looked dumbfounded.
"Well, Rian is awfully worried, and wants to know exactly what and why and how - and I can't blame her - but the strange thing is - I can't bring myself to worry too much? it just feels...like I was protected somehow!" Cyndwin struggled to make Fille understand..but finally just shrugged.
Cyn's calmness began to seep through Fille's pores. She had forgotten that the girl's direct, calm nature had that effect on her. She felt more relaxed, but still not happy. "I will want to get to the bottom of this too, Cyn...if anything, even if it was a protection of some sort...losing a year is just...absurd!" She squeezed her eyes and let out a long sigh. "We shall get to the bottom of this, I have faith."
Cyndwin sighed in gratitude. This had gone so much better then explaining it all to Xandilif (See Breeland Confrontations). She gave Fille an impulsive hug. "With friends like you, I'm sure we will!"
Fille felt relieved to see their drinks delivered finally. Before it reached their hands, Fille grabbed hers and began taking big gulps. She rubbed her face half way through and leaned back against the chair. "Cyn, please don't lose a year while I nap, but that ride took a lot out of me...and I was expecting you to have already ridden on. To find you here waiting is more then I could have asked...I don't want to part from you again dear sister." She held onto Cyn's hand just in case and closed her eyes reluctantly. As she drifted into sleep, somehow confident that Cyndwin would watch over her, she mumbled. "I am so glad you have not forsaken me, after all..."
Cyndwin leaned against her, smiling "You can rest RIGHT here", and was soon sleeping as well, the two pressed together like children as they had slept so often in the past.
As the two grew silent, a trio of the less savory types in the Inn noticed and began to creep towards the two...perhaps a purse, or something more pleasant to grab from the women foolish enough to sleep in such a place. The gleam of a knife flashed as it was drawn by the leader of the cutthroats...who froze as a single arrow impacted in the floorboards an inch from his foot.
The trio froze and looked to the back corner of the Inn, where sat a slim, dark haired Elleth cloaked in shadows, her bowstring still purring, a fresh arrow already nocked. The cutthroats met her eye...and feeling his blood run cold the leader bowed slightly and gathered his friends. They scurried out of the Inn, considering themselves lucky for having looked death in the eye that night and survived.
Gazing at the pair sleeping, Xanderian smiled to herself, feeling more complete then she had in many, many months. She had watched the entire conversation, unwilling to intrude upon their reunion. Whispering to herself, she sighed and looked up, imagining Elbereth watching over her. "I am so glad you have not forsaken me, after all..."
