[Estel the Descender]

‘So, Mariah, are you from around these parts?’ asked Galadel.

‘Yes I am from these parts. I've never left Rohan, in fact I've never been this far away from home and I don't believe I'll ever go back. My father disinherited my sister and I,’ answered Mariah as if what had happened was not very much a big deal.

I wish to know, as well, who you are, elf, and where you have come from. But I will leave that till later, when the girl is not around. And, then, you will drop the barriers that you have put up to stop me from seeing who you really are. For all such things are useless against me. I will find out who you are; nothing can stop me. For now, be hospitable and order a drink and meal for this poor girl, will you?

Dadrantor was very much taken aback. How did she know that I was resisting her? Silently angry with himself he thought, But of course! She IS the Lady Galadriel's daughter. It is indeed useless to hide from her who I truly am. Still, I should be grateful to her for now I know where we first met. . .

Seeing trays of food coming out of the kitchen, he gestured towards one of the servers and requested that he and his companions be given food and ‘that brew I have heard much about, this “coffee”.’

Since Galadel and Mariah were talking, Dadrantor screwed up enough courage to speak to the Dwarf he had so recently offended. Parin Stonemouth is actually comely, for a dwarf that is, and rather young. She wore her golden blond hair (dark in undertone) in two plaits and had wide, curious, brown eyes. When she wasn’t angry she would smile a shy dimpled smile. Her plump little figure was covered by a red woolen cloak (which is clasped by a silver brooch) which by now she has doffed, showing that she still wore layer upon layer of woolen articles of more muted tones and wore soft, yellow deerskin boots on her feet.

‘I am Descender,’ said the elf, introducing himself to the dwarf.

‘Parin Stonemouth,’ answered the dwarf, still a bit peeved that she was mistaken for a male.

Dadrantor saw Mariah take a sip of the coffee and make a face. Uh-oh, I don’t think she likes the taste. I think I’ll order wine later for her. . .

‘Have you ever tried coffee?’ asked Dadrantor uneasily, still shaken by Galadel’s mind search and the initial embarrassment with Parin.

‘Actually yes,’ said Parin, ‘My kinsman Dwarin Thunderhammer serves coffee at his own inn, The Green Dragon.’

‘But the The Green Dragon is in the Shire!’ exclaimed Dadrantor, ‘I thought that only halflings lived there. Did not King Elessar forbid any race save that of the halflings to set foot in that place.’

‘”Set foot without their leave,” said the King. Dwarin has leave to do business there.’

‘Oh,’ Dadrantor looked down for a while, and then facing Parin again he said, ‘I overheard a while ago that you had a quest. I know that I am asking you to repeat yourself, but,’ casting a look at Galadel (he was startled again when he saw her once again gazing intently at him, but as he looked at her she turned once again to Mariah), ‘I wasn’t paying much attention.’

‘The truth is, I had come here looking for support in a quest of vengeance, vengeance for my brother, although it is true that I do not even know if my brother IS dead,’ Parin replied softly, ‘But, talking with the two elves, (well, one of the elves said that she does not consider herself as one of the Elf kindred as of now, since her exile), I have come to rethink my motives for such a quest.’

‘One of them, Menelduliniel I think, said to me, "You wish to avenge you say? Well, be careful that you choose this revenge wisely. A similar situation put me in the circumstances you find me in. If it were not for Estelarion, I would probably be dead.”’

The timidity that Parin tried so hard to hide began to show. ‘I was just saying to the two elves a while ago that I might return to the Shire and work in the The Green Dragon once again with Dwarin.’

‘It is true, Parin, that vengeance is not always wise,’ answered Dadrantor, ‘Especially when done out of ignorance. Why not turn thy quest from one of vengeance to one that seeks knowledge. And then, if there is definite cause for vengeance,’ here Dadrantor tapped himself lightly on the chest, ‘I would be honoured to be of service.’

Dadrantor looked at Parin and said to himself, How like me when I was young! Except that my motives were not as noble as hers. . . With a start he looked at Galadel: she was looking at him again.

Forgive me for “eavesdropping” but you were thinking rather “loudly” –Galadel

Then I shall think more quietly, daughter of Galadriel. –Dadrantor- But tell me, just how many children had the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel? Last I heard, they only had two children, Amroth and Celebrían.

They had two children by birth. –answered Galadel in thought- But Amroth became my brother by, well, “adoption”. He was not my blood brother but was a brother in many ways.

Just then, Bethberry introduced a newcomer to the group, ‘This is Marco and he is a swordsmith. Maybe there are some among you who would find his services useful.’ Bethberry continued, asking the group, ‘Well? Any good stories that can lead to adventures?’

A swordsmith! thought Dadrantor, Elbereth smiles at me. I will ask this Marco later if he has a sword he can sell or make me. (Unknown to Dadrantor, Varda was at that moment smiling at him). Then looking back at Mariah, But I must have enough left to get this poor girl some new shoes at least. Tough luck on being disinherited. Then Dadrantor frowned, But why was she disinherited?

Bethberry then seated Marco nearby. He looked definitely hungry and positively tired, but Dadrantor noted the fire in his eyes all the same. This is no mere smith. His hands are the hands of a swordsman.

Galadel then stood and addressed everyone in the meadhall, ‘The innkeeper said that there are few stories being told here, especially those that would lead to adventure. I had a sort of adventure myself just lately and I shall tell a story that may be in some way related to it. If it would lead to a quest or no, my foresight fails to tell me. But come! Come and listen to my tale of Remembrance.’

Seeing that she had the attention of most of the people she began her tale.

‘Once upon a time, there was a mortal man who was nine and forty years old, who returned from the land of Mordor where he braved many perils. He was on his way to Rivendell for he was weary and he desired rest. But he also bore with him one who was once a thrall of the slave-gangs of Mordor, one who was an elf. He had hoped that the Lord Elrond could provide healing for such a one.’

At that, Galadel looked at Dadrantor, who looked quite pale and startled for the nth time that day. Good, she thought and she continued.

‘He was on his way to the high pass of Caradhras when he came to the borders of Lothlórien and was allowed to enter the hidden land by the Lady Galadriel. Then said the Lady unto the son of man, “Leave thou this erstwhile thrall into our care. For behold, he is one of our kindred. Here he shall find healing. But come! Cast away thy wayworn garment and take on fresh raiment: there is someone I desire thee to see.”’

‘Then, turning to her daughter who was beside her, Galadriel said, “I leave this elf unto thy care.”’

‘For a season, Galadriel’s daughter tended to the stricken elf, feeding him coimas steeped in miruvor so that he may gain his strength. But the elf rarely woke, and his waking moments marked by delirium. Often he would babble incoherently—’

—saying “Meldariel” over and over again— –Galadel to Dadrantor silently with a wink. Dadrantor shifted uneasily in his seat.

‘Then, one Midsummer’s Eve the lady Galadriel summoned her daughter before her. Galadriel was troubled and she spake unto her daughter, saying—‘

“Once, in the Elder Days, I and my brother Finrod were walking in a wood near the outskirts of the Girdle of Melian. For we were on our way to Doriath as guests of our kinsman Elu Thingol and his wife Melian. I begged leave from my brother to wander the woods for a while and he gave me leave, seeing no harm in it. Now, as I walked further, I came across an elf with black hair and dressed all in black.”

At that some of those present glanced at Dadrantor, but his attention was drawn Marco, to whom he had faced and asked if he could see the contents of the long bundle. Hesitantly, but with just pride, Marco unwrapped the double-edged blade and showed it to the elf. Looks like Dwarf-work, and yet there is no magic in it. Still, it is a worthy blade. Seeing Galadel’s stare, he responded, I’m still listening.

Galadel continued her tale, ‘Galadriel said that she thought that this was very strange, for Elves rarely ever wear black, so she asked him his name. He told her that his name was Morel and that he was a Dark Elf.’

‘Suddenly, Galadriel was alarmed, for she had heard whispered tales about Eöl the Dark Elf and how he hated the Noldor, blaming them for the return of Morgoth. Galadriel asked him if he knew Eöl and he said, “Yea, I know him, for we are kindred.” Then Galadriel was shocked to find evil malice in the eyes of Morel as he smiled unpleasantly at her, for she had thought that though elves may be tainted by pride they were still basically good. To find such an elf with evil in his heart was troubling unto her.’

‘Then Morel spoke once again to Galadriel and said, “Come no more unto Elu Greymantle! Live with me here in the Twilight. I see that thou art fair. Though I regard thy kindred with bitterness, I will make thee an exception.” Morel reached out to her but Galadriel ran from him and stopped not until she reached the Girdle of Melian. Unknown to her was that she had been in fact missing for quite some time. Finrod was wroth both at himself and at his sister because of her disappearance, but when he learned about the matter of Morel, he became gravely concerened.’

‘The matter was gradually forgotten, however as time passed, for Galadriel fell in love with Celeborn the Wise, kinsman to Elu Thingol. More time passed and the power of Melian was withdrawn from Doriath that it was destroyed afterward.’

‘Galadriel and her lord Celeborn survived the ruin of Doriath, but afterwards they heard news about the fall of Gondolin and the treachery of Maeglin, son of Eöl the Dark Elf. Galadriel then remembered the evil she perceived in the heart of Morel the kinsman of Eöl and feared his malice.’

‘The Lady Galadriel then said unto her daughter, “It is said by some that Morel swore death to mel and all my descendants because I would not wed with him. Ever since then the feud between the Elves of Light (that is what they call us, even the Galadhrim of Lothlórien) and the Dark Elves (that is what they call themselves) has been bitter.”

‘The Lady Galadriel then counseled her daughter to discontinue her efforts to heal the stricken elf whom the son of man brought to Lothlórien, for she saw in him a likeness to Morel the Dark Elf. She, however, did not detect any evil or malice in him, save that which he suffered as a thrall in the Black Land. Her daughter at first protested, but in the end she gave in to her mother’s pleas. For she too feared to tempt Doom. For by that Doom many of the Silvan elves who were influenced by the bitterness of Morel rejected the rule of the Eldar, even Nimrodel the beloved of Amroth. By that Doom both Amroth and Nimrodel have disappeared. And also by that Doom Celebrían was betrayed and ambushed by the pass at Caradhras.’

‘And that Doom seems to have caught up with Galadriel’s other daughter as well, for as she traveled she was ambushed by wolves and was wounded. Later, she was befriended by certain elves whom she thought to be harmless but afterwards they make an attempt on her life in front of a crowd of witnesses. Do you think then, my good people, that Doom has caught up with her?’

Galadel looked at the people crowding the meadhall: she had everyone’s attention, including the Barding who had just entered moments ago. She spoke again,

‘My tale does not end here. For though the daughter of Galadriel showed herself no more unto the stricken elf, she still kept near and would often play her harp a melody she had learned from Nariel, a Noldo who was given the name Eithne* by the Valar in a tongue unknown. The elf would hear Galadriel’s daughter play, and he composed some verses to accompany the melody. And this is what he sang.

Lórien! Ai, Lórellin!
A dor celeb a dor elei!
Tolo le na Lórellin:
Tolo le na Dol Lórellin!
A tolo le na dhor elei:
Tolo le na Dol Lórellin!

As Galadel sang, she looked at Dadrantor. “Lórellin! Oh, Lórellin! O land of silver and land of dreams! Come ye to Lórellin: come ye to the Isle of Lórellin. O come to the land of dreams: come to the Isle of Lórellin.” When she stopped singing, he continued the song,

Lórien! Ai, Lórien!
A eryn glaur a silivren!
Tolo le na Lórien,
Vi in eryn Lothlórien!
Oltho le elei Lórellin,
I main-elei Tol Lórellin!

“Lórien! Oh, Lórien! O wood of gold and glittering light! Come ye to Lórien, in the woods of Lothlórien! Dream ye dreams of Lórellin, the beautiful dreams of the Isle of Lórellin!”

Then both Galadel and Dadrantor sang,

Lórien! Ai, Lórien!
A dor celeb a dor elei!
Tolo dan na Lórien:
Oltho elei Lothlórien!
Tolo le dan na dhor elei:
Oltho elei Lothlórien!

Tolo le dan na dhor elei:
Oltho elei Lothlórien!
Tolo le dan na dhor elei:
Oltho elei Lothlórien!

“Lórien! Oh, Lórien! O land of silver and land of dreams! Come back to Lórien: dream the dreams of Lothlórien! Come back to the land of dreams: dream the dreams of Lothlórien!

“Come back to the land of dreams: dream the dreams of Lothlórien! Come back to the land of dreams: dream the dreams of Lothlórien!”

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*Enya. The tune is Lothlórien by Enya in her album Shepherd Moons.

[ December 16, 2002: Message edited by: Estel the Descender ]