S.A 1350
As the years passed, whispers of shadows lurking in the east began to spread throughout Middle-Earth. Despite the many years of peace that had brought happiness and contentment to the free people, most men and eldar were exhausted by war and not in the mindset for another.
Amidst this uncertainty, Lady Manyamë remained missing, and after countless searches, Mannamo and Lady Lanyarë made the difficult decision to move to the realms of Eregion. They knew that a large settlement of Noldor now existed there, ruled by Prince Celembrimbor. It was said that numerous Noldor had made the journey from Ered Luin to create this settlement, and since it was around the same time as Manyamë's disappearance, it was likely that she could be found there. Mantaro and Alcarinien chose to stay in Lindon, content with their life there, but their daughter Mistamë longed for adventure and the unknown, just like her adventurous aunt.
Orneth, on the other hand, faced a difficult decision. Should she join Mannamo, Lady Lanyarë, and Marilo on their journey East, or should she stay behind to look after her beloved giftshop and be close to her dear friends Mantaro, Alcarinien, and Mistamë? Although she loved her little "niece" dearly, the thought of leaving Mithlond did not seem too scary for Orneth. She had never truly felt at home there, and the longing to return to Doriath or search for her family tugged at her heartstrings every day.
However, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had played a role in Lady Manyamë's disappearance. She had not stopped her from leaving, but perhaps she had upset her by mentioning the mysterious figure with a hooded cloak. Despite this, the pull towards Marilo and Lady Lanyarë was too strong, and she knew that she could not bear to be away from them for too long.
As they prepared for their journey East, Orneth felt a mix of emotions. Excitement for the adventure that awaited them, sadness at leaving her home behind, and a sense of guilt for her role in Lady Manyamë's disappearance. Nonetheless, she steeled herself and prepared for the road ahead, knowing that whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with courage and determination.
Picture AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
As the little group began their journey east, many suns and moons passed them by. Two wagons accompanied them on their journey, one serving as the family's main wagon and the other filled with supplies and personal belongings. The group remained silent and concealed themselves under hooded cloaks as they traveled through lands unknown to them. Despite the uncertainties of their journey, Lady Lanyarë's eyes shone with a special light, perhaps fueled by hope or expectation. She longed to reunite with her youngest child and felt that she could never find true peace until she did so. However, Mannamor remained skeptical about the chances of finding Lady Manyamë in Eregion. Nevertheless, he was excited about what he had heard about the city and its ruler, Prince Celembrimbor. "He is said to be a great craftsman, and I am sure the city is quite spectacular," he remarked.
After countless days and weeks of traveling, the group finally reached Eregion. Although the journey had been peaceful, they needed to rest. They spent many evenings beneath the stars, during which Orneth and Marilo took their usual walks, conversing about the past, present, and future. Orneth found herself growing more and more fond of Marilo, yet she knew in her heart that her feelings for him would never be reciprocated. Despite this, she remained silent and became quite skilled at masking her emotions.
As the sun set, the little group settled down in their wagons for the night, their journey almost complete. In the distance, the city of Eregion glimmered with the light of several lamps, and Lady Lanyarë couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubble up inside her. Would they finally find her youngest child? Her heart swelled with hope and expectation. The city's white brick walls loomed tall, surrounded by intricate figures that were clearly meant to represent the Prince of Eregion. Mannamor, however, was more interested in the rumors he had heard about the Prince's craftsmanship. "I hear he's a great craftsman, and I can only imagine how spectacular the city must be," he remarked to the group.
As Orneth sorted through the food in the second wagon, she heard a rustling from the back. Curious, she climbed into the wagon to investigate. To her surprise, she found Mistamë curled up at the very back. "What are you doing here?" Orneth exclaimed, surprised to see the young elleth she thought had stayed behind. "I wanted to see the city, and I wanted to help in the search for my aunt," Mistamë replied, her voice trembling from weeks of silence. "Please, don't tell Lord Mannamo. If he finds out, he'll take me back home." Orneth sighed. "You can't just run off like this, Mistamë. Your parents will be worried sick. Have you even told Mantaro and Alcarinien?" Mistamë shook her head. "No, they would have stopped me." "You left them a note, at least?" Orneth asked, hoping for some reassurance. "I did, but please don't let anyone know," Mistamë pleaded. Orneth's expression hardened. "You can't expect me to keep you a secret from your own family. You need to talk to Lord Mannamo, and you need to do it now."
Mistamë's eyes widened in fear, and before Orneth could stop her, she slipped out of the wagon and disappeared into the trees. Orneth knew she needed to tell Mannamo about Mistamë's presence, but she also couldn't help but feel sympathy for the young elleth's desire to see the city and help in the search for her aunt. It was going to be a difficult conversation, but it needed to happen. "What's going on?" Lady Lanyarë asked, her brows furrowed with concern, as she heard the sound of someone running. Orneth let out a sigh before replying, "I think you should see for yourself." She gestured towards the nearby group of trees, where the sound had originated from. Without a word, Lord Mannamo and Lady Lanyarë strode purposefully towards the trees. Orneth could hear raised voices and muttered curses coming from the direction of the trees, and she couldn't help but wonder what could be going on.
After a few minutes, Lord Mannamo and Lady Lanyarë emerged from the trees, with Mistamë trailing behind them, looking ashamed and downtrodden. "What's happened?" Orneth asked, concern etched on her face. Lord Mannamo looked frustrated as he spoke, "It seems that Mistamë has snuck into one of our wagons without our knowledge. She says she wants to help find her aunt, but her presence here will only delay our search by many weeks." Mistamë hung her head, looking remorseful. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help," she said softly. Lord Mannamo let out a sigh before continuing, "We will be leaving early tomorrow. We cannot let you stay, Mistamë.
All pictures are AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
