[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Inzillomì looked sadly about her stable yard, taking in the sight of her companions in the mid-morning light... and of all of their sizable load of personal items. She smiled at the thought of mischief to come. Her brothers remembered fondly her childhood tricks... Inzillomì had never lost her spirit.

She rode a placid gelding today, his finely kept tack gleaming in the morning sun. His sable coat shone as brightly as his mistress's flowing locks. She looked to her companions, meeting Ziraphel's eyes with an inconspicuous nod.

"No!" she called, riding over to the stable hands that were loading the last of her heavy trunks into one of the wagons. "Put that beside the other, not on top, you fool. If my belongings are damaged before this trip even begins you will not have a happy day, m'boy." Despite her words, her voice was pleasant and her eyes kind. A man with a small boy on his shoulders came over.

"M'lady, my family is gathered. What would you have us do?" His eyes held a small amount of fear, kept severely at bay. He would not frighten his son, Inzillomì saw. She looked at a small cluster of well-dressed but plainly frightened people. Of all, only the old woman looked completely unperturbed. Inzillomì dismounted, handing the reins to the man.

"Will you excuse me for a moment?" she asked with a bow before walking toward the group. "Grandmother," she addressed the woman with a deep curtsy. "I welcome you. Could you spare a moment?" The women of the group greeted the lady with curtsies as deep as her own, eyes wide.

"Of course." she cackled. "Where would you have my old bones take me, child of Elendil?"

"Not far, I assure you." she smiled. "Just this way?" They walked together, Inzillomì's arm around the old woman. "Grandmother, your message has reached me only this morning. You say you have special needs?"

"Special needs indeed." she winked openly. "These old bones of mine can't travel for naught but a few hours each day, and these few and far between. Would they have me in pain?" she laughed with the lilt of one quite used to getting her own way. Inzillomì smiled. What fun! she thought.

"Grandmother, the King's Men arrive soon. We should be prepared to leave ere they come." She led her companion back to the stables beckoning to the erring stable boy. "Young man, Grandmother Nîlozâira will require a comfortable position in the front of one of our wagons. I trust in your abilities."

She returned to the man, winking at him. "All shall be well, friend. I have but one request of you. Some of our younger companions are not yet used to their mounts. Could you watch over them on our travels?" He nodded, glad to be put to use, and walked away with his boy tousling his hair.

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When the King's Men rounded the final bend to the home of Abârpânarú Karíbzîr and his kin, their eyes met a large group of impatient travellers. Three heavily laden wagons with a respected grandmother enthroned upon their faces glared at the guards. Inzillomì held her mount steady and waited for the captain of the guard to find her. He rode forward, stopping a respectful distance and half bowing in his saddle.

"Mistress Inzillomì, I must object to the size of this party. My orders are to escort yourself and your family with as few necessary items as possible." He looked around in awe at his childhood friend's audacity.

"Captain," she spoke with polite disdain. "These people are my family. Do you see? This man," she gestured to he who tended the young ones, "is my husband's cousin. My sister Ziraphel rides beside me. Do you see these children? They are my relatives by marriage. Would you have me move to the further shore and leave behind those I have become so utterly close to?"

He looked at her, lost for words. "I... well... m'lady... as they are family, I am sure there will be no problem, but I may have to summon more escorts, and surely this entire load is unneeded?"

"You question me?" she asked with a sidelong glance. "There are a score travellers, which requires sleeping arrangements for each. Would you have a grandmother sleep on the ground with the dogs? I thought not. In my party are children. Would you have them leave behind all fond memories of their youth? Of our ladies, would you request that they leave their romantic letters of their courtship? The young men requested simply their hunting items. Shall I deny their only request? Also, we carry meals for ourselves, unless your men had planned to provide for us? Not to mention clothing and cloaks. Shall I have my people unload our carts and saddlebags? I was under the impression, Captain, that we were in a hurry, and you, m'lad, are keeping the King's orders waiting."

He nearly laughed at her unexpected argument. "My lady, it is unnecessary, but I am under orders to..." he paused, not wanting to continue. "I... must check your... bags." he finished lamely.

Inzillomì glared at him. "If you must know, my bags contain my womanly necessaries. Can a woman have no privacy?"

As he turned away flush-faced, she smiled mischievously. "My people!" she cried. "Our journey begins." With a final look at her home, Inzillomì rode, at the beginning of a long and slow moving line, into the bright sun, with the wind in her hair and the past at her back.