It was mid-morning and the company of musicians known as Laurië Lassi was engaged, as they frequently are, in an informal performance within Caras Galadhon. A guard joined the small crowd of listeners, waiting patiently for the ensemble of five to conclude the piece they were playing. When the tune ended the guard presented himself to Thibinoriel, the leader of the company.
'Lady Eregiel has a visitor,' the guard said.
Thibinoriel turned to her sister and said, 'Please go to your visitor, nésa. We can play with four.'
'Pardon me, everyone,' Eregiel stated politely before she departed.
When Eregiel had gone Thalinras, the harpist, turned to Thibinoriel and said, 'It is not necessary to play with only four, hiril. My brother Tompobor is a very accomplished musician.'
'Is he?' Thibinoriel replied. 'I thought he was only skilled with the drum. I find drums very--'
'Loud?' Thalinras guessed.
'I am afraid so,' Thiboriel admitted, 'and, moreover, often very war-like. I want our music to stir hearts and minds, but not for the purpose of battle.'
'While it is true that my brother is most fond of the drum,' Thalinras answered, 'he is skilled with all instruments, particularly those that are plucked and strummed.'
'Harp, for instance?' Thibinoriel asked teasingly.
'He is a capable harpist, I suppose' Thalinras demurred, 'but is far more accomplished with lute and theorbo.'
Thibinoriel laughed. 'Never fear, nandaro, you are and shall always be our principal harpist.'
'Thank you, hiril, you are most kind,' he replied with great relief.
'You may summon him now if you like,' Thibinoriel informed the harpist.
'Thank you, hiril,' Thalinris said. 'He is not far. I shall return shortly.'
With the harpist and one of the violinists having departed, the size of the ensemble was now reduced to three.
'Shall we play trios?' Thibinoriel asked the remaining members. They laughed lightly before returning to play.
Elsewhere within the city...
Thalinras raced to find Tompobor, whom he found reading quietly in his room.
'Hanno, have you heard the good news?' Thalinras asked his brother teasingly.
'No, hanno, I have not. Perhaps you are embarking on another journey? Where is it this time, Mithlond?" replied Tompobor sarcastically and, perhaps, with a tinge of jealousy.
'Oh, no!' Thalinras laughed. 'Not anything as exciting as that!'
'What then, pray tell?' Tompobor asked impatiently.
'Laurië Lassi is going to audition a potential new player to its company,' replied Thalinras.
'Oh, is that all,' said a disappointed Tompobor. 'Whomever it is, they must be a first-rate musician.'
'He is indeed,' answered Thalinras, 'and, hanno, it is you!'
'Your jests are cruel!' Tompobor replied angrily.
'It is no jest, Tompobor!' Thalinris said earnestly, 'Thibinoriel wants you to play with us this very day!'
'This is great news indeed! I shall gather my instruments and join you immediately!' Tombpor said, seeming more excited than he had been for a very long time.
'Bring your lute and theorbo, but leave your drum at home!' laughed Thalinras.
At the southern border of Lothlórien...
The guard led Eregiel to the southern border of the Golden Wood where a watcher was waiting. With him was a magnificent white horse that Eregiel immediatley recognized.
'What are you doing here, Vanima?' Eregiel rhetorically asked the horse. Vanima may have descended from the mearh Felaróf, the highly intelligent and long-lived horse of Eorl, patriarch of the Rohirrim, but was not able to speak in the tongues of Elves or Men. 'You and the others were supposed to remain at the Horse-lord camp in Parth Celebrant.'
The watcher interrupted her. 'Lady, there are others.'
Eregiel asked, 'Other horses?"
'Yes, lady, four more,' answered the watcher.
Eregiel again addressed the horse. 'I suppose we shall have to find stabling for you five until we can determine what to do. What naughty horses you are!' She laughed gleefully. It is unclear whether Thibinoriel, or indeed Lady Galadriel, would be as glad about the equine visitors.
Returning to the players...
'All five?' asked a disconcerted Thibinoriel when informed of the horses.
'I warned you against naming them!' laughed Calentauriel.
'You will not send them away, will you?" Eregiel desperately asked.
'The fate of the roccor is not in my hands, nésa, but in the hands of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel,' answered Thibinoriel. 'We cannot possibly keep this news from them, nor should we.'
'Nésa, must you always be so responsible?' Calentauriel asked Thibinoriel. Before Thibinoriel could answer Eregiel and Calentauriel answered for her, looking at each other and blurting out in unison 'Yes!'
Luckily for Eregiel and Calentauriel, Thalinras and his brother Tompobor arrived just then. Both brothers were beaming with delight but that joy was quickly muted by the tension they felt among the sisters.
'We shall discuss this later, nésa,' said Thibinoriel to her horse-loving sister before turning her attention to Thalinras and his brother.
'Tompobor, your brother tells me that you are able to play instruments other than the drum,' said Thibinoriel. 'Yes, hiril,' Tompobor answered humbly. 'Does that include theorbo, lute and, on occasion, clarinet?' she asked him. He replied, 'I can skillfully play any instrument set in front of me. Would you like to hear me play?'
'I would, but as a sixth member of this ensemble,' Tibinoriel answered.
'Hiril, I am afraid that I do not understand,' Tompobor replied.
'I would like you to demonstrate that you can play in balance and harmony with the other members of Laurië Lassi. That is far more useful a skill than your ability as a solo player,' Tibinoriel explained.
'I understand now,' said Tompobor. 'Thank you!'
'Do not thank me, yet,' Thibinoriel told him. 'You can thank me when and if we decide whether you have been accepted as a member of this group.'
'Do not fear,' Thalinras encouragingly said to his brother, 'I know you can do this!'
'Thank you for your confidence in me, hanno, and for your encouragement,' replied Tompbobor. He began to tune his theorbo.
'Let us play some sextets,' Thibinoriel informed the players.
The End
