[Nurumaiel]

Nuru's post

When the Dol Amroth ladies had let, Adrama took Addruran by the sleeve and drew him away from her mother and father, into the garden, where she leaned against a tree and sighed softly, looking at the blossoming flowers of many different colors with a dreamy yet perplexed expression. Addruran stood where he was, surveying her fondly, but he was also concerned. Something was greatly troubling her.

"Addruran, I must talk to you," she said at last, turning her brown eyes to him. "I'm so very confused, and I wish you would help me see the truth."

"What is it that troubles you?" Addruran asked her.

"Finduilas... and Denethor. Addruran, I don't hate Finduilas any longer, and I don't... I don't love Denethor." Her voice broke, and her head sunk so her face could not be seen. There was a silence, then Addruran heard the sound of muffled sobs. He leapt forward and took both her hands and held them without saying a word. A few minutes passed, then her sobs ceased and she looked up at the sky, her face still and peaceful.

"That should not trouble you, Adrama," said Addruran, still holding her hands. "Not your hate of Finduilas being gone. But... it must be hard to realize that your love for a man you always had loved is gone." He spoke those words more stiffly, for the one he loved he still loved, and he was not able to understand her feelings. He did, however, perceive that it must be hard.

Her tear-filled eyes turned from the sky to his face and a soft smile came to her lips. "Oh, Addruran, I don't know what I would do without you. Sometimes I was tired of living, but I kept hope, because I kept thinking of you. You've been my best friend since childhood, and..." She stopped, and looked away. "I suppose," she said, taking her hands from his and stepping back a few steps, "that friendships of that sort can't last forever."

Addruran made no answer, but if the girl could have seen his heart, she would have wished she had never spoken. So then, Sador was not right. Not only was it that she did not love him, but she did not even want him as a friend. And if he could have seen her heart, he would not have given up hope. For she was certain that he would not forgive him for the cruel way she had been treating him the past few months, and she felt lost, and without a care in the world, for she felt all her love was in vain.

"Do you need me anymore?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm and friendly. But if he hadn't the control over his emotions, he would have wept then.

"I suppose if you'd like to go, you might," Adrama said, her eyes still averted from his. He turned to go, but suddenly she gave a cry and ran after him, catching his sleeve. He turned, staring at her in confusion, and she burst into tears. However this time he did not try to comfort her. His confusion was too great. Why did she weep?

"Addruran, you want to go," she sobbed, "but how am I ever going to let you?" Then she could speak no further and simply sobbed, still clinging to his sleeve.

Addruran threw away all doubts. He didn't care what she said. He had long wished to say it to her, and he would now, no matter what her answer may be. "Adrama," he said firmly, so firmly that, startled, she checked her sobs with a little gasp. "Adrama, I must go to Ecthelion now, but I will ask you something before I go... will you, someday, even if it is years and years from now, wed me?"

There was a silence, and she stared at him. "But after what I... you.... I don't..." Then she stopped, blushed, and, laughing softly, ducked her head, murmuring, "Yes."

"How soon?"

"As soon as you wish."

He took her hand and kissed it, and as he did so, Pelien came out into the garden. She started when she saw it, but then calmed herself a little, thinking it was very natural for a man to kiss a lady's hand in greeting or parting. Addruran then turned and left, nodding at Pelien as he passed. Adrama stepped up to her mother, with more fear than Addruran had shown. Had her mother heard the words between them?

"Adrama, a letter for you has just arrived," Pelien said, gazing at her daughter curiously. She handed a small, thin letter over. Adrama took it and opened it, reading it quickly. Her eyebrows raised, and she put it in her pocket with a perplexed frown. "What is it?" Pelien asked. "You look concerned, daughter."

"It is a letter from Alethea," Adrama replied. "She says she would like to meet with me again. And from her letter, she sounds very worried about... something." Pelien did not notice the hesitation before the last word Adrama spoke. In truth, Adrama suspected what it was that Alethea was concerned about. "I will go to meet her at once, if you don't mind, Mother."

"No, you may go," said Pelien vaguely, but as Adrama turned to go in, she paused her daughter. "Adrama, I cannot help but ask. What was it that Addruran said to you?"

Adrama paled and hesitated, then, her eyes fiery, she straightened up and said, "He asked me to marry him, Mother, and... and I told him I would."

Alak's post

"He asked me to marry him, Mother, and... and I told him I would.” Adrama stood before her mother with solid determination knowing well that Pelien would not approve of this marriage engagement.

Pelien caught her breath and tried to remain as calm as she could while concealing her shock. How had this happened? Surely, Adrama was not seriously going to marry Addruran. There had been strong chemistry that was visible between the young man and Adrama, but after all of these years of hoping her daughter would marry the future Steward, Pelien didn’t know if she could accept another man as her son-in-law.

“You told him you would marry him without even asking for my consent or at least a hint that this was coming?” Pelien’s voice was full of accusation as she stared into her daughter’s eyes. Adrama should have asked for her mother’s permission in this matter, and anger was rising in Pelien’s chest as she thought about being left out of this delicate process.

“Mother, I am an adult…I do not need your permission to marry Addruran, and for the record, I did not know myself that he was going to propose.” Adrama spoke slowly and softly seeing the resentment in her mother’s face. This was a moment she would remember for the rest of her life, and she didn’t desire to feel the brunt of Pelien’s fury. “I’ve realized I love him, and I intend on marrying him.”

“But Adrama, he’s not good enough for you. You…you’re fit to be the Steward’s wife, why…”

“But you forget, Mother, the Steward already has a wife. He has made his choice, and I have made mine.” Pelien was taken aback by Adrama’s interruption and the seriousness of her tone.

“I see…I still feel that you should reconsider your decision. What if you tell him you need more time to think? Then we can talk about this when emotions are not so…high.” Pelien reached out and touched Adrama’s arm gently. All she wanted was for her daughter to think this marriage through before she jumped into something she’d regret for the rest of her life. Maybe if the girl could be stalled, Pelien could change her mind…make her realize her mistake.


Nuru's post

The words had gone on long enough. Adrama knew her mother was weakening, that her mother was beginning to like the idea, but even so, she was not going to listen to these arguments anymore. "I will marry Addruran, Mother," she said firmly. "I will marry him, whether you give your consent or not." Glancing over her mother's shoulder, Adrama saw that her father, attracted by the loud words, and come to the garden door and was lingering in the background, listening to what was being said.

"Adrama..." Pelien began.

"Addruran is a brave man, as you yourself saw today," Adrama said, not caring that she was interrupting her mother. "He is loyal to his land and is not afraid of losing his life defending it."

Pelien made no answer, and gave Adrama the time she needed. The girl swept past her mother towards the door, yet paused when she came to Sador. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Bless you, my girl. I know you two will be happy together." Tears of gratitude filled Adrama's eyes, and she put her arms around Sador's neck, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, Father," she murmured, and then she departed.

As she walked through the streets, her heart was singing, but a shadow was also cast over it. Her joy would be perfect if her mother approved. Adrama knew deep down that her mother did approve of it, but if she could only have her word!

Adrama arrived at the garden and found Alethea standing by the gate, pacing back and forth in nervous anxiety. Adrama hurried forward to greet her. Alethea turned to her, her eyes filled with sorrow, and said, "Adrama, I must talk to you. Things are so horrible!" Her voice dropped lower. "There's something I must tell you."

Adrama took her hand and said in a reassuring voice, "I know what it is, Alethea."

"You know?" Relief and surprise were in Alethea's voice. "Oh, but how could you possibly know? Everything has been planned so carefully, and..."

"You don't need to worry about it," Adrama said crisply. "You're the spy, and that's that. We can't do anything about it now."

Alethea looked shocked. "Oh no, Adrama, that's not it at all!" she cried. Disbelief spread over Adrama's face.

Arien's Post

Alethea hesitated a few moments more, and then she began to speak as the two began to walk through the Gardens.

"I am not the spy, nay. But I did have some work in the treachery. You know about it?" Adrama nodded her head. So if she knew the others did as well. Alethea thought of Dryea snug in false security.

Oh, how she would relish the moment that her sister would fall from grace and her mother with her.

"I," Alethea voice faltered a little but she kept speaking, "I am the spy's sister." She looked across to Adrama. Her face held an expression of shock.

"Dryea, but..." she started.

"Yes it is she. Her poisons have entered your minds and numbed them. No one could ever guess that it was she. Her air of innocence and her sweetness is too good to be true." Alethea stopped and looked to Adrama. If her sister were false would she believe that their friendship was an act too? She looked towards Adrama again for reassurance but her eyes looked ahead.

"But..." started Alethea.

"Yes?"

"You must know that our friendship is not a fake!"

"I would never have thought such a thing; or at least I hope it was not."

"And even though they tried to make me use you, I never did. I could never do it."

Adrama smiled, "Thank you." She spoke softly. Alethea was relived that Adrama believed her. If her only friend would not then Alethea would have been distraught. "But tell me something, Alethea. Why never before have you told me or anyone in fact about your sister's deceitfulness?"

"It was not only Dryea, my mother as well. I loved them; they were my family. I could not do that to them. But with recent goings on I could not bare it anymore. They went even as far as to kill!" Alethea finished exasperatedly.

"To kill?" Asked Adrama shocked, "But who?"

"Rhir," Alethea replied solemnly.

"But Dryea... he?"

"I know, but I do not know which one of them did it."

They talked for a while more and Alethea revealed everything to Adrama about their false life in Gondor and their real heritage. About the plot to shame Finduilas and her arguments with Dryea. Adrama was so understanding and Alethea was shocked to come into contact with such a warm heart; after all the coldness she had received at home.

"But I know not what to do," Alethea finished finally.

Adrama paused, "You must go to someone. Eckthelion perhaps?"

"Yes I will," Alethea said firmly. She could not have faith in the fact that she was going to tell him. But what would happen to her? If Dryea was caught and her mother, surely she would be caught with them. She had been a part of these lies and deceit. And even if she had not controlled it she still had had the power to turn them in. And if she was not punished, then what? She no longer had a family, and could the people of Minas Tirith or even Gondor trust her again?

But she must tell him; it was certainly the right thing to do. After a quick farewell to Adrama she made her way back to the Estate to get ready for the ball.

[ October 02, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]

[ October 05, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]