Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 05-11-2004, 08:23 PM

Weak. Weak, foolish, and useless. She buried her face in her hands, mortified by the Ranger's sympathy, and her body went rigid.

She was used to rebuke, and it would have strengthened her at least for the moment, at least until she could have found some time alone with her Mellondu. He always understood...

The magnitude of her loss struck her hard, and Ravion stood by as Mellonin stifled and strangled her sobs.

Raefindan appeared with another cup of hot tea. Mellonin laughed amid her tears and accepted it, wiping her face and fighting for composure. He carried another, and offered it to Ravion who shook his head. "They're colder than I am."

She caught her breath, and looked up over her hands at the boy who had just narrowly escaped drowning, or having his arm pulled off, or worse, and thought of her brother. Were they so different? Yes-- and no. And that arrogant wretch cared more for his horse. Indignation fought with embarassment. "Is Aeron all right?" she asked Ravion.

"He will be sore for many days, " Ravion said grimly.

"Poor Aeron, " she replied. Her voice still shook and she wanted to run off and be alone. But that was no longer a choice.

It would be some time now before she would let the others out of her sight.

alaklondewen · 05-11-2004, 09:10 PM

Erebemlin gently laid his hand upon the brow of his king’s mortal body. As flesh met flesh, a series of images flooded his mind…

Darkness, everything was around him was filled with an immense, impenetrable darkness. His master’s voice rang in the thick, chalky air. The elf recoiled, wishing to detach himself and run for the light, but then he saw a lone figure, covered in a consuming ash. As Erebemlin grew closer he saw his lord’s face, but Amroth had changed…there was no light, no hope or joy that had once emitted from his spirit. Amroth gasped…he could not breathe.

“Lord, reach for me.” Erebemlin knelt, but the closer he came to reaching Amroth, the farther Amroth fell away from him. Panic filled Erebemlin for one moment before he regained control, and then the elf stood over the sinking king and called to him in a voice that cut the ash and darkness like a knife. Light flowed through and from the warrior as he continued to call Amroth’s name.

Slowly, Amroth found his breath and began to climb from the depth of the ash. With every word Erebemlin spoke, the king found strength to continue and soon he was standing enveloped in light.

Amroth awoke. His body clothes were soaked with perspiration and his heart still pounded in his chest.

Erebemlin fell backward, out of breath. Leaning on his hands, the elf looked with wide eyes from Amroth to Taitheneb.

Imladris · 05-11-2004, 09:47 PM

"Poor Aeron," Mellonin said.

Aeron heard her and turning to her, dragging his sister to her feet, said, "Poor no one. You did as well as you could and the merchant is gone after all." He glowered after the cloud of dust, rubbed his arm and spat. Sighing he said, "There is naught to be distraught over."

He crouched down in front of Mellonin and grinned. "You should not be crying," he said. "All is said and done now and there was no exchange and no one was harmed." He wondered why she still wept and wondered if it could be her brother. He wondered if Gwyllion would be so upset if she lost him, and whether if he would weep at her loss. He could not imagine his sister dead, or missing. It would not happen...He pushed the thought away and said, "Ravion will find your brother, and I am sure he has made some friends." Hopefully good friends...

He scratched his nose, and said softly, "You did me kind service, Mellonin and Ravion. I would thank you." Leaning over, he pecked Mellonin on her brow and bowed to the ranger. Why had the ranger tried to save him? Aeron was like a flea that would not go away, while the ranger was a load of brickish lectures about Aeron's neck. The boy shook his head and shrugged once again. He had been saved, his sister was still with him, and the fellowship remained in tact. "Of course, I do not seriously think that the merchant would have drowned me for a mere trinket," Aeron said with a cough. But what if would have? Struggling in the water, lungs screaming for breath...he shuddered.

"That was not a mere trinket," Ravion said.

Aeron shrugged. "To me it was. And it was foolish to be upset at the loss of it."

mark12_30 · 05-12-2004, 02:05 PM

Amroth leaned on one elbow, and looked up at the three anxious faces that studied him. He sat up.

"Erebemlin, thanks. Taitheneb, thank you." He reached a hand to Nethwador's shoulder, and the boy smiled in return. Then Amroth drew the back of his hand across his own brow, and then studied his drenched hand with distaste. "I seek her awake or asleep. Where my search leads me I cannot foretell."

Orual · 05-12-2004, 08:53 PM

Ravion quickly realized that a hug was not what Mellonin had needed, and she was no more comfortable with it than he was. Flustered and tired, he stepped aside, wondering what it was he was supposed to have done. Well, more than that, actually, he wondered why he had fallen in with this enormously bizarre crew in the first place. Women and thieves! Would that he were still dousing his worries with whiskey at the Seventh Star.

Then Aeron did something that surprised him greatly. He stood up and said, in a soft voice, "You did me kind service, Mellonin and Ravion. I would thank you." He kissed Mellonin and bowed to the stunned Ranger. There was a brief pause, after which he continued: "Of course, I do not seriously think that the merchant would have drowned me for a mere trinket."

"That was not a mere trinket," Ravion replied quickly, both out of confusion and a little bit of irritation. A trinket? So Aeron thought all that trouble was over a trinket?

"To me it was," the boy said with a shrug. "And it was foolish to be upset at the loss of it."

"If it was such a trinket," Ravion said slowly, from between gritted teeth, "then perhaps you should not have taken it in the first place."

"I take what I can get," Aeron retorted with a slight grin.

"I shall show you what you can take," Ravion exclaimed, taking a step forward. He was not really sure what he was going to do, but it would involve at the very least some harsh words. A trinket, indeed!

"Enough!" Raefindan shouted. Ravion froze mid-step, and Aeron looked quickly from the Ranger to the red-haired man. "Ravion, you're always talking about how we don't have time to waste. Why are you wasting time fighting?"

Ravion did not understand a couple of the things that Raefindan said, but got the gist, and had to concede that he was right. "Your comment was ill-timed, Aeron," he said carefully, trying to control his temper. "After the danger that we have all been through, after the sacrifices that you saw we were all willing to make, saying that it was all for a trinket that you did not truly value was in poor taste." He took a deep, deep breath. "That is all I have to say." He turned sharply and went to Gond. Perhaps now was a good time to stay away from Aeron, lest their tempers flare again.

mark12_30 · 05-12-2004, 09:11 PM

Raefindan and Mellonin exchanged glances, and reached for their packs. Mellonin spoke to Gwyllion. "Come, Gwyllion, walk with me."

"With pleasure, Lord Fingon, " Gwyllion said.

"Oh..." Mellonin blushed. "May I be just Fingon? Leave the Lord, shall we? And it might be wiser for you to dress as a man, too. The servant of the merchant had his eye on you; I liked it not one whit."

"Shall I change now?" Gwyllion said, wide-eyed.

Ravion, Raefindan and Aeron were busy preparing for the afternoon's march. Mellonin nodded. "Yes. You know how to put a man's clothes on under your dress, do you not? Do that now."

It was not long before Gwyllion was dressed in the breeches and shirt her brother had brought for her. While Gwyllion changed, Mellonin studied the movements of the men as they packed. Each man had his own stride and way of moving.

She was determined to be accepted as a man by the next person they met.

They walked til the sun went down and the moon was high.

alaklondewen · 05-13-2004, 11:12 AM

Before this moment, Erebemlin had not grasped the intensity of Amroth’s passion for finding the lady Nimrodel, but now he saw first hand the hopelessness and darkness his king suffered without her. Shuddering he considered what might have happened if he had not ventured into Amroth’s dream.

“I am truly sorry, my lord.” Erebemlin lowered his eyes to the flet’s floor.

“Good and faithful, Erebemlin. You have no reason for apology.” Amroth leaned forward and placed his hand on Erebemlin’s shoulder. "If you had not..." The king's voice trailed off.

“Aye, I do. I thought you were mad, my lord, but you…” The Sinda closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “You must find her.” His eyes opened slightly and looked up into Amroth’s young mortal face. “I cannot bear the thought of your pain, my lord. I will aid you in your search; even if I am unsure of the journey’s end…I will be by your side.”

Taitheneb stood back and listened. The forest would be greatly grieved if Erebemlin departed from its eaves. Lowering his head, Taitheneb studied the floor beneath his feet, then as a new thought struck him he spoke, “Lord Amroth, you cannot leave for another journey…not this soon. Your body needs rest, my lord, or your sickness with increase.”

“Taitheneb is correct. You will need more rest before setting out from here.” Erebemlin stood and leaned over Amroth, who was shaking his head negatively. “Hush, my lord,” the Sinda’s words were like a lullaby. “I will watch over your dreams, so you shall come to no harm.” Amroth’s volition seemed to melt, and Erebemlin placed his hand under his king’s head and lowered him the rest of the way to the floor.

The next few hours Erebemlin never left his king’s side. Occasionally he would place his hand over Amroth’s brow and speak a few inaudible words. His hand often stroked the young mortal’s hair affectionately as he considered his blessing of finding his king after so many years.

05-11-2004, 08:23 PM	#1
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Weak. Weak, foolish, and useless. She buried her face in her hands, mortified by the Ranger's sympathy, and her body went rigid. She was used to rebuke, and it would have strengthened her at least for the moment, at least until she could have found some time alone with her Mellondu. He always understood... The magnitude of her loss struck her hard, and Ravion stood by as Mellonin stifled and strangled her sobs. Raefindan appeared with another cup of hot tea. Mellonin laughed amid her tears and accepted it, wiping her face and fighting for composure. He carried another, and offered it to Ravion who shook his head. "They're colder than I am." She caught her breath, and looked up over her hands at the boy who had just narrowly escaped drowning, or having his arm pulled off, or worse, and thought of her brother. Were they so different? Yes-- and no. And that arrogant wretch cared more for his horse. Indignation fought with embarassment. "Is Aeron all right?" she asked Ravion. "He will be sore for many days, " Ravion said grimly. "Poor Aeron, " she replied. Her voice still shook and she wanted to run off and be alone. But that was no longer a choice. It would be some time now before she would let the others out of her sight. Last edited by mark12_30; 05-11-2004 at 08:56 PM.

05-11-2004, 09:10 PM	#2
alaklondewen Song of Seregon Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Following the road less traveled Posts: 1,193	Lorien: Erebemlin Erebemlin gently laid his hand upon the brow of his king’s mortal body. As flesh met flesh, a series of images flooded his mind… Darkness, everything was around him was filled with an immense, impenetrable darkness. His master’s voice rang in the thick, chalky air. The elf recoiled, wishing to detach himself and run for the light, but then he saw a lone figure, covered in a consuming ash. As Erebemlin grew closer he saw his lord’s face, but Amroth had changed…there was no light, no hope or joy that had once emitted from his spirit. Amroth gasped…he could not breathe. “Lord, reach for me.” Erebemlin knelt, but the closer he came to reaching Amroth, the farther Amroth fell away from him. Panic filled Erebemlin for one moment before he regained control, and then the elf stood over the sinking king and called to him in a voice that cut the ash and darkness like a knife. Light flowed through and from the warrior as he continued to call Amroth’s name. Slowly, Amroth found his breath and began to climb from the depth of the ash. With every word Erebemlin spoke, the king found strength to continue and soon he was standing enveloped in light. Amroth awoke. His body clothes were soaked with perspiration and his heart still pounded in his chest. Erebemlin fell backward, out of breath. Leaning on his hands, the elf looked with wide eyes from Amroth to Taitheneb.

05-12-2004, 02:05 PM	#4
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	The Flet: Dec 16 Amroth leaned on one elbow, and looked up at the three anxious faces that studied him. He sat up. "Erebemlin, thanks. Taitheneb, thank you." He reached a hand to Nethwador's shoulder, and the boy smiled in return. Then Amroth drew the back of his hand across his own brow, and then studied his drenched hand with distaste. "I seek her awake or asleep. Where my search leads me I cannot foretell." Last edited by mark12_30; 05-13-2004 at 09:45 AM.

05-12-2004, 08:53 PM	#5
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	Anorien: Ravion Ravion quickly realized that a hug was not what Mellonin had needed, and she was no more comfortable with it than he was. Flustered and tired, he stepped aside, wondering what it was he was supposed to have done. Well, more than that, actually, he wondered why he had fallen in with this enormously bizarre crew in the first place. Women and thieves! Would that he were still dousing his worries with whiskey at the Seventh Star. Then Aeron did something that surprised him greatly. He stood up and said, in a soft voice, "You did me kind service, Mellonin and Ravion. I would thank you." He kissed Mellonin and bowed to the stunned Ranger. There was a brief pause, after which he continued: "Of course, I do not seriously think that the merchant would have drowned me for a mere trinket." "That was not a mere trinket," Ravion replied quickly, both out of confusion and a little bit of irritation. A trinket? So Aeron thought all that trouble was over a trinket? "To me it was," the boy said with a shrug. "And it was foolish to be upset at the loss of it." "If it was such a trinket," Ravion said slowly, from between gritted teeth, "then perhaps you should not have taken it in the first place." "I take what I can get," Aeron retorted with a slight grin. "I shall show you what you can take," Ravion exclaimed, taking a step forward. He was not really sure what he was going to do, but it would involve at the very least some harsh words. A trinket, indeed! "Enough!" Raefindan shouted. Ravion froze mid-step, and Aeron looked quickly from the Ranger to the red-haired man. "Ravion, you're always talking about how we don't have time to waste. Why are you wasting time fighting?" Ravion did not understand a couple of the things that Raefindan said, but got the gist, and had to concede that he was right. "Your comment was ill-timed, Aeron," he said carefully, trying to control his temper. "After the danger that we have all been through, after the sacrifices that you saw we were all willing to make, saying that it was all for a trinket that you did not truly value was in poor taste." He took a deep, deep breath. "That is all I have to say." He turned sharply and went to Gond. Perhaps now was a good time to stay away from Aeron, lest their tempers flare again.

05-12-2004, 09:11 PM	#6
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Anorien: Mellonin. Dec 18. Raefindan and Mellonin exchanged glances, and reached for their packs. Mellonin spoke to Gwyllion. "Come, Gwyllion, walk with me." "With pleasure, Lord Fingon, " Gwyllion said. "Oh..." Mellonin blushed. "May I be just Fingon? Leave the Lord, shall we? And it might be wiser for you to dress as a man, too. The servant of the merchant had his eye on you; I liked it not one whit." "Shall I change now?" Gwyllion said, wide-eyed. Ravion, Raefindan and Aeron were busy preparing for the afternoon's march. Mellonin nodded. "Yes. You know how to put a man's clothes on under your dress, do you not? Do that now." It was not long before Gwyllion was dressed in the breeches and shirt her brother had brought for her. While Gwyllion changed, Mellonin studied the movements of the men as they packed. Each man had his own stride and way of moving. She was determined to be accepted as a man by the next person they met. They walked til the sun went down and the moon was high.

05-11-2004, 09:47 PM	#3
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	"Poor Aeron," Mellonin said. Aeron heard her and turning to her, dragging his sister to her feet, said, "Poor no one. You did as well as you could and the merchant is gone after all." He glowered after the cloud of dust, rubbed his arm and spat. Sighing he said, "There is naught to be distraught over." He crouched down in front of Mellonin and grinned. "You should not be crying," he said. "All is said and done now and there was no exchange and no one was harmed." He wondered why she still wept and wondered if it could be her brother. He wondered if Gwyllion would be so upset if she lost him, and whether if he would weep at her loss. He could not imagine his sister dead, or missing. It would not happen...He pushed the thought away and said, "Ravion will find your brother, and I am sure he has made some friends." Hopefully good friends... He scratched his nose, and said softly, "You did me kind service, Mellonin and Ravion. I would thank you." Leaning over, he pecked Mellonin on her brow and bowed to the ranger. Why had the ranger tried to save him? Aeron was like a flea that would not go away, while the ranger was a load of brickish lectures about Aeron's neck. The boy shook his head and shrugged once again. He had been saved, his sister was still with him, and the fellowship remained in tact. "Of course, I do not seriously think that the merchant would have drowned me for a mere trinket," Aeron said with a cough. But what if would have? Struggling in the water, lungs screaming for breath...he shuddered. "That was not a mere trinket," Ravion said. Aeron shrugged. "To me it was. And it was foolish to be upset at the loss of it."

05-13-2004, 11:12 AM	#7
alaklondewen Song of Seregon Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Following the road less traveled Posts: 1,193	The Flet: Erebemlin Before this moment, Erebemlin had not grasped the intensity of Amroth’s passion for finding the lady Nimrodel, but now he saw first hand the hopelessness and darkness his king suffered without her. Shuddering he considered what might have happened if he had not ventured into Amroth’s dream. “I am truly sorry, my lord.” Erebemlin lowered his eyes to the flet’s floor. “Good and faithful, Erebemlin. You have no reason for apology.” Amroth leaned forward and placed his hand on Erebemlin’s shoulder. "If you had not..." The king's voice trailed off. “Aye, I do. I thought you were mad, my lord, but you…” The Sinda closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “You must find her.” His eyes opened slightly and looked up into Amroth’s young mortal face. “I cannot bear the thought of your pain, my lord. I will aid you in your search; even if I am unsure of the journey’s end…I will be by your side.” Taitheneb stood back and listened. The forest would be greatly grieved if Erebemlin departed from its eaves. Lowering his head, Taitheneb studied the floor beneath his feet, then as a new thought struck him he spoke, “Lord Amroth, you cannot leave for another journey…not this soon. Your body needs rest, my lord, or your sickness with increase.” “Taitheneb is correct. You will need more rest before setting out from here.” Erebemlin stood and leaned over Amroth, who was shaking his head negatively. “Hush, my lord,” the Sinda’s words were like a lullaby. “I will watch over your dreams, so you shall come to no harm.” Amroth’s volition seemed to melt, and Erebemlin placed his hand under his king’s head and lowered him the rest of the way to the floor. The next few hours Erebemlin never left his king’s side. Occasionally he would place his hand over Amroth’s brow and speak a few inaudible words. His hand often stroked the young mortal’s hair affectionately as he considered his blessing of finding his king after so many years.