“Oh! Pardon, milady, I did not realize I had company so early…” the stranger tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robe and made a short bow.
“It’s been a season since my introduction at the Midsummer banquet– my travels have made me scarce lately, and no doubt there are many who are wondering exactly who this odd Vanyar fellow mucking about in the forges is! I am a teacher here, by leave of Lord Tyelperinquar– with whom I am meant to be meeting today, in his forge, where we shall begin our lesson. Which is why you find me here, ah, unaccompanied… ” He laughed, warm and slightly sheepish.
“I promise you, I am no burglar. My name is Annatar, called Aulendil. I had to see with my own eyes the great university I’d heard tell of. I know of no other place on earth but Eregion where so much knowledge and talent can be shared between so many; elf, dwarrow, and man alike! Ah, you see, I am already quite in love with this kingdom, my words are agush, do forgive me. What might your name be, dear lady?”
Pale brows shot up in surprise. Surely she hadn’t been gone a season, but then she had never seen this stranger in front of her until now. It would seem that she was gone for far longer then she should have. “I suppose that would explain it.” She allowed after a moment. “It isn’t often Lord Tyelperinquar takes mentors, as I’m sure you know.” It wasn’t often her cousin let anyone he didn’t know well into his forge, but Celebrimbor was a grown man, and surely did not need his cousin looking out from him. However, being ten years his senior, it didn’t stop her from being concerned for her cousin even if he was full grown.
“Mormiriel is my name.” She offered carefully after a moment. It was a lie. Her name was Lothuialneth, but she rarely used that name anymore, and Tyelpe was the only one who knew otherwise that it wasn’t her name. “The kingdom can be rather enchanting, so I will not judge you for it. I find it refreshing, really.” The elleth offered him a small smile to try and reassure the other that his excitement hadn’t bothered her. To be truthful, she would have punched him it the mouth had he been a thief, and it was refreshing not to need to do so. Yet.
“Ah!” the smith cried, recognition dawning, “I ought have guessed! Your cousin has spoken of you with praise– and, if I may be so bold, some trepidation. You are, I take it, not a force to be trifled with.” He winked. “You are as lovely as your name! And a fine name it is… invoking a fine and noble ancestry. I myself may trace some far distant kinship to Lady Indis… though, I realize amongst present company that is a topic around which to tread lightly.”
Aulendil took a disparaging glance towards the door of the smithy. “…As my pupil seems to have more important errands to attend, or else has overslept most egregiously, wouldst care to accompany me on a tour of the grounds? I am still and slowly becoming acquainted with the city, and you seem a reputable guide. –If milady has the time and inclination, of course.” He cocked his head with an inquisitive smile that crinkled his eyes.
It would seem that, even though her cousin had mentioned her as family, the other had thought her from Fingolfin or Finarfin’s lines. Many had, but those that knew her father knew better then to come to that assumption given how much she resembled him. A few things could be attributed to her Maia mother, but it would seem that most would think otherwise. “I did not survive the last age by being dainty. A lady I may be, but I can still die by a sword even if I do not know how to use one.” She replied dryly. If anything her father had been sure that she knew how to protect herself here. It wasn’t Valinor. Her mother could not appear from thin air(almost literally sometimes), and save her. Lóthuialneth had learned quickly she was on her own.
“He probably overslept from staying in the forge too long. ” she replied with a wave of her hand. “It’s not uncommon for him to spend long days and nights in the forge working on a piece or something.” Lóthuialneth paused as he asked if she would take him on a tour. It was rare for her to indulge such a thing, however this once would not hurt. It was rather nice outside after all. “I would be glad to take you on a tour.”
The forgemaster drew back his venerable head, mouth shaped into a silent “o”.
“I see! A true daughter of the Noldor indeed! I don’t doubt you have a backbone of steel. But these are happily more peaceable times, and I hope very much that those of us–” he inclined his palm, deferring to her, “or rather, those of you, who took the brunt of the continental wars, can rest, and ease your minds from such desperate thoughts.” He smiled, crooked but kindly. “Noldor… Always so hot-headed and willing to leap towards extremes… Tyelpe is often the same way. It makes him bold and tireless and in many ways I find it admirable… but I confess, it is a frustrating tendency! Perhaps it is naive of me, but this place makes me believe we can build a future where youngsters like yourself will never again have to consider whether or not they would die by the sword.”
He held out an arm, muscles beneath the soft cream robe as hard and round as a tree trunk– a smith’s arm, to be sure– and gestured invitingly that the elleth might take it. “Lead the way, milady. If my tardy pupil arrives while we are away, he will just have to wait for our return.”
“As my mother would say, or I suppose quote, ‘There is always a calm before the storm’.” She replied evenly, if not coldy. The blonde did not comment further to his words, feeling that they had somehow struck a nerve. The Noldor….they were a passionate people, and the Vanya before her was perhaps not to fond of her family. However very few were fond of her family considering the crimes that her father and uncles had committed. Crimes that seemed to placed upon her and Tyelpë’s heads more often then not.
Lothuialneth took the smith’s arm, and led him away from the forge. “He’ll probably work on something while we’re away.” She murmured. “I doubt he will be bored. Now where have you been in the city? Or have you simply been about Tyelpë?”
Aulendil laughed abruptly. “I have indeed been dogging your outrageous cousin since I arrived! He is a whirlwind of kingly duties and maddening genius– I feel I’ve simply been dragged along in his wake. I dare say it has been an immensely demanding friendship, and rewarding beyond measure. But…” he rolled his shoulders in a shrug “…the only parts of the city I am deeply familiar with at this time are the roads from the palace to the university and from there to the forges.”
As they walked the smith took note of his companion’s brittle expression, and his smile became less merry and more sympathetic. “I fear I have offended you, my lady. It is an unfortunate truth about me: my sentiments are too Vanyarin for the Noldor, and too Noldorin for the Vanyar! I am an odd sort of fish out of water wherever I go, and my travels have been far and wide… But know that whatever my manners, I consider Tyelpe to be a friend, and his forefathers to be masters of their craft. I know the wars left great rifts between our peoples. I know too that there were no simple roads to justice nor to peace. Who knows if the means justified the ends on any side.” His eyes turned to the path ahead, harder than they had been. “There were no victors of the Wars of Wrath… No party without a valid motivation, and no innocents.”
Closing the door to the forges behind them, he sighed. “All the more reason to move forward, no? Look what we can create in a city where all the speaking peoples work together… behind us the past is dim with pain, but the future shines brighter than Aman.” He stepped briskly into the morning light with the elfin lady on his arm. “But enough pontificating! Tell me what occupies you here in the city– and how do you manage such precocious kin?”
MisbehavingMaiar: Tumblr Archive 