The Green Dragon Inn - Part 3

[Nerindel]

Léspheria listened intently to Silvanis's recount of the lore of his fathers. He had paused and she perceived a sadness in his eyes, born of loss and hardship, she had seen that look on so many of the Dúnedain she had encountered in her long years. For their hardship was indeed long and wrought with much loss. Silvanis brushed his long greying locks from his face as he apologised for his moment of thought.

'Pardon my lapse m'lady, for I have not been around people in may a month. Do tell me of yourself if you wish it.'

She pondered his words wondering were to begin,After much thought she began " I was born into this world at the beginning of the third age. I was brought up in Rivendell by my parents, I knew nothing of the lands outside of Rivendell until I came of age. My mother taught me Embroidery, Dress making, Cookery .... et cetera, all the things a lady should know." This last line she spoke with an exasperated tone in her voice. " I learned Horse riding, herb lore, hunting and archery skills from my father" she smiled happily recounting the memories of her and her brother hunting in the woods around Rivendell with their father.

"In the year of my Coming of age I learned the history of my people, shortly after that a great sadness came over me for what reason I still know not. At that same time I started to have dreams... visions.... call them what you will." At these words Léspheria's soft features contorted into an image of deep pain.

Silvanis placed a comforting hand on her arm, urging her not to continue if the pain was to great. Her features softened at the look of concern on his handsome face and she shook her head saying "It's ok I'm fine, It is time that this tale is told"

Taking a deep breath she continued, "In the visions I saw myself bent over two wounded Elves, I could not see their faces or tell how bad their injuries. But I could see myself working relentlessly trying to heal them. At first I thought nothing of them, as at the time I was training to be a healer. But the dreams became more vivid and it soon became aparent that I was in the midst of some battle there were Men and Elves fighting side by side against Orcs, Hill-men and other unspeakable creatures and always the dream ended with a dark shadow looming over me and a sharp pain in my shoulder. At the time I still had no idea what it meant, but after about a year the dreams ended and I dwelt on them no longer.

Léspheria paused stopping a passing hobbit she recognised as being an employee of the inn, " may I please have a large mug of warmed cider and what ever my friend is having" she smiled pleasantly, the the rosy cheeked hobbit returned the smile nodding and telling her the cost of their drinks. Léspheria opened a small leather pouch that hung from her waist and handed the appropriate amount of coins to the halflings eagerly waiting hand, she closed her pouch and turned back to Silvanis to continue her tale.

"Now were was I, oh yes the dreams. As I said they stopped and I thought on them no more. But in the year 1975 of the Third Age As my brother and father were preparing to follow Glorfindel to war against the Witch-king of Angmar, the dreams returned and more frequently and more vividly than before. This time I could see the faces of the two elves I was trying to save it was the faces of my own father and brother. I had tried pleading with my father and brother not to go but they would not listen until I told them of my dream, but they did not see it as a portent of their own doom but of mine, so they forebade me to leave with them when I begged to go. I sat in my room alone pondering this vision, I stayed their for three day trying to figure out it's meaning. I was being given a choice, I figured in the end, yes, to choose to remain in Rivendell and sail to Valinor at a time of my choosing, but at the cost off my father and brothers lives or to disobey my father and go to Arnor and save their lives and forfit my own? I choose the latter I could not forfit their lives I loved them too dearly to even consider staying and letting them die.

I stole a horse and my mothers sword, packed all the healing herbs i could find and set of at once. Once I reached the battle I thought I would never find them. But the vision had showed me exactly were they would be, there were many dead and dying, mostly the enemy. But I managed to find them. Ignoring the battle around me I set to work. They were both unconscious and at first I feared that I was to late, but looking closer I could see that they were still breathing. I could not recognise my father at first as his face was covered in his own still warm blood, that was coming from a wound to his head and face. He also had an arrow sticking out of his left shoulder, As I pulled it out I realised it was Poisoned and I feared the worst, I worked quickly finding the herbs that would counter the poison. I made bandages by ripping the material of my skirts. I cleaned the wounds and dressed them as best I could then turned my attention to my brother his wounds were minor, gashes to his arms and chest and whelting to his right cheek were he must have been hit hard by something or someone?
I cleaned him up and was applying the makeshift bandages when a shadow fell across me, thinking my death was apon me I defaintly turned to meet it, my mothers sword in my hands. There towering over me was a hideously ugly orc bearing down on me with his sword, I lifted my mothers sword to block the on coming blow but having never used a sword before in my life the creature easily disarmed me. I stood there thinking this was the end when suddenly from out of nowhere two arrows hit the orc dead in the heart, it let out a horrible howl as it fell to the ground. I looked around and I saw a Tall dark haired man walking towards me, then I felt a sharp pain from my left shoulder, I looked to my shoulder and saw a black arrow sticking out of it and then I fell to the ground." Léspheria rubbed her left shoulder remembering the pain and the scar she still bore, a few tears rolled down her soft cheeks but she continued.

"When I awoke I was back in Rivendell and both my father and brother were well and sat at my side, there also was the man who had saved my life, His name was Dalwain and he was a Captain of the Dúnedain. After I was well again I tried to continue my life as it had been before the battle of fornost, but I grew restless and travelled more and more with my brother and the Rangers. Dalwain taught me their ways and how to use my mothers Short Sword, that she let me keep."

She Looked to Silvanis, again wearing a soft warm smile she said " that is a part of my story that made me the person that I am today, I still ride with my Brother and the Rangers of the north, when I'm not acting on behalf of my Lords."

Just then the Hobbit returned with their drinks, they both thanked her and Léspheria took a long draught, she felt the warm liquid coating her now tight and hoarse throat. She put down her mug and wondered if Silvanis had any other tales to tell.

"you look to have had many an adventure yourself, you must have a story you can share" she smiled hopefully.

[ May 14, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]