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piosenniel · 09-30-2002, 02:17 AM

Lassiël took Bethberry by the hand, and led her to the center of the Glade. She shook the rain from her gown, and it shimmered like green leaves beneath a summer sun. In her face shown the clear light of Aman, and she bid the trees close in about them.

They came then, and watched her as from out the bag hung at her waist she took two saplings. 'These are yours to nurture and protect. They come from the garden of the Lady, herself, and are meant as a sign that we who dwell apart, still hold Arda dear. Light is in these trees, and hope is written on every leaf.' She knelt down with Bethberry and dug a hole for each sapling, one at each end of the glade. They placed each carefully within, and tamped the earth down gently round the roots. And now did the silver and gold of the young trees' leaves shine out with a great light, reaching even to the darkest shadow.

The old trees murmured in an ancient tongue and crooned a song of growing and of strength. Lassiël passed among them with Bethberry. And where she touched, the trees straightened and leaves and flowers thickened on the once bare branches. The air lightened in the Old Forest, and a certain sense of peace stirred in the Ancient Heartwood.

'I must go now.' she told Bethberry, having come to the edge of the forest. Eärendil hung low in the sky, a bright point of light marking his place. 'Fare well!' she called out to the Forest. 'And if it chance so, that my Lady should send me, I will come again another year to be with you.' From the nearest tree, a tendril of ivy reached out and briefly curled itself about her wrist and then withdrew.

She turned then, to Bethberry, and bade her fare well also. Then she stepped upon the Straight Way and the face of the world sank below her.

09-30-2002, 02:17 AM	#153
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Lassiël took Bethberry by the hand, and led her to the center of the Glade. She shook the rain from her gown, and it shimmered like green leaves beneath a summer sun. In her face shown the clear light of Aman, and she bid the trees close in about them. They came then, and watched her as from out the bag hung at her waist she took two saplings. 'These are yours to nurture and protect. They come from the garden of the Lady, herself, and are meant as a sign that we who dwell apart, still hold Arda dear. Light is in these trees, and hope is written on every leaf.' She knelt down with Bethberry and dug a hole for each sapling, one at each end of the glade. They placed each carefully within, and tamped the earth down gently round the roots. And now did the silver and gold of the young trees' leaves shine out with a great light, reaching even to the darkest shadow. The old trees murmured in an ancient tongue and crooned a song of growing and of strength. Lassiël passed among them with Bethberry. And where she touched, the trees straightened and leaves and flowers thickened on the once bare branches. The air lightened in the Old Forest, and a certain sense of peace stirred in the Ancient Heartwood. 'I must go now.' she told Bethberry, having come to the edge of the forest. Eärendil hung low in the sky, a bright point of light marking his place. 'Fare well!' she called out to the Forest. 'And if it chance so, that my Lady should send me, I will come again another year to be with you.' From the nearest tree, a tendril of ivy reached out and briefly curled itself about her wrist and then withdrew. She turned then, to Bethberry, and bade her fare well also. Then she stepped upon the Straight Way and the face of the world sank below her. __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.