Long Lost Leaves - Part III

[Earniel]

This is a continuation from the RPG Long Lost Leaves. Previous parts are found here and here. The discussion thread is here.

[Varnafindë]

Tabril thinks I've accomplished much, and that I'm more qualified than most to be on this quest? Barufiniel thought. That's possibly the closest I've got to getting praise from her. Although it doesn't come without some reservations, perhaps ...

"You wonder why I went on a strenuous journey in the snow all those years ago to help a people that was not my own," she said, slowly. "And you cannot understand why I would be on this quest, helping Radagast and the Ents to find the Entwives. I should ponder my reasons, maybe. Perhaps some of the reason is simply that I like helping people?
Speaking of which," she smiled, "I promised Branwyn that I would help him perform tomorrow. He's going to recite a long works of poetry, and I'm going to accompany him on my lyre. Instead I won't do as much singing as usual. So in order to be ready and well rested for tomorrow, I think I should take my leave now."

[Aikanáro]

Tabrîl nodded. 'It is well that you should rest,' she said. 'You may go.' She was not entirely sure that Barufiniel had been asking her permission. The courtesies of other elves were unfamiliar to her. It did no harm to give it, she reasoned, just in case it was what Barufiniel expected of her.

After Barufiniel had left her, Tabrîl reflected on what she had said. There was much that she did not say, she thought. Or would not. One did not undertake dangerous quests simply to help people, not if those people were absolute strangers. No, there had to be more to it than that, although if Barufiniel did not wish to tell her, Tabrîl would not raise the topic again. It seemed a private matter, and privacy had to be respected.

It was late, and Tabrîl needed to rest for a while herself, if she was able to. Her injured arm still ached, and she knew she could only rest for a few hours at a time before she would have to patrol the outskirts of the camp. She dared not leave it longer. Safety had to come before Tabrîl's own desire for a night of unbroken sleep, and she did not trust these others. Her own efforts were still inadequate, she knew, but she did as much as she was able to.

[Earniel]

Another day, another performance. Once more the Ultai gathered on the Celebration field, curious as to what they'd be shown today. They recognised the female bard that had sung before, she was sitting down with her lyre in her hands. But today she was joined by a young man who stood a little before her.

Branwyn waited until a hush of anticipation had fallen before adressing the audience. "Tonight", he told them with a steady voice," I will tell you of the most beautiful tales of the Old Western World. A story that has survived through centuries, and that can still make people laugh and cry, and inspire them to hope as well as to dream. A tale of unparallelled beauty that speaks of battle, courage, betrayal, devotion, and above all of: love. Tonight, you will hear the Lay of Leithan."

He bowed at the short, encouraging applause and shouts from the audience that his introduction induced. It was obvious from his vibrant voice and shining eyes that Branwyn was enjoying himself and could not resist being drawn into the story himself.

"Let us now set the stage before us," he went on, brimming with infectuous enthusiams. "We are now in ancient lands, far in the West That Was. The sun itself was younger and the lands lay under the shadow of an unending war. We turn our attention to one nation where peace yet ruled for its borders were well-guarded. This land was called Beleriand. A king there was in days of old..."

And so Branwyn's performance began, cleverly weaving narrative with ancient poetry and conjuring up enthralling scenes from long ago.

[Amael]

A'mael got nearer to Ingwionis very temporarily, just to joke on the matter of the west. She told him with a whisper, "yes, then there was the West that continued to fall into the sea by each passing day, at least the world seems smaller than it did 700 years ago, although we are out here in the East now!" Ingwionis "sshh"'d her as A'mael had the habit of never having the same tone of voice, from word to word, and her voice was carrying to just more than Ingwionis, but not too far. A'mael silenced herself and and continued to listen to the performance.

[Varnafindë]

Any worries that Barufiniel had had that a mortal might not be able to do the Lay of Leithan full justice, were soon dispelled. Here was a man who knew his subject matter and loved sharing it with others. His enthusiasm quickly spread to his audience, who were listening, spell-bound.

When there was time for the first theme of the suite, Barufiniel joined him on her lyre. The music didn't draw attention away from the words, it complemented them. Baru sent a silent thought of appreciation to whomever had composed the music. It fit the text perfectly.

[Varnafindë]

"No wonder they were attentive," Barufiniel answered, her eyes still wide with excitement. "You gave a marvellous performance. Even I noticed some new aspects of the story today. It was a privilege to work with you - I'm looking forward to tomorrow already."

[Acalewia]

Aelfwine listened in awe at the telling. She had never heard the lay told before. She was disappointed that they had to stop for the night. She could hardly wait until the next day to hear the rest of the story.

[Aikanáro]

They returned later than usual from the gathering of the Ultai, Tabrîl noted as the others finally drifted back to their camp. It was clear that the act Barufiniel and Branwyn had planned had been a success. Tabrîl had heard the applause even at this distance, and the adventurers themselves seemed to be in high spirits.

She had not attended. The tale likely contained a multitude of Mysteries and strange Noldorin lore, and even were that not so, someone had to remain behind and take care of things, or so she thought to herself. In truth, after her foraging expedition that morning, and between patrols, she had very little to do. If travelling was dull, remaining in one place could be even more so.

Tabrîl did not know if boredom was a fair justification for being concerned with the welfare of those who had taken her from her people. If it was not, there was always the notion that her vigilance would ensure her own safety as well as theirs. She did not want to die because of the folly of some mortal, or Noldo, or - whatever the rest of these people called themselves.

That day, however, she had begun something new. After discussing music with Barufiniel, it had occurred to her that even if a full-sized kithir would be an impractical thing to carry, there were other instruments she knew how to make. If she was to teach Abasi the songs of her people, it could not hurt to have a little accompaniment. Tabrîl had decided to make a small dayiret, and it was this she was working on that night, meticulously shaping the wooden frame.

She did not approach any of them, it was obvious to her that their day had gone well, and so there was no need to ask it. She was pleased, for Barufiniel's sake if nothing else, she knew how seriously the Noldorin elf seemed to take her role as entertainer.

[feawen]

Nami had listened to the tale from a distance and left as the applease ended. As the others returned to the camp Nami followed on from behind, slowly bringing up the rear. Humming one of the themes from the tale as she found a spot by the fire and listened to the excited talk of the others.
Looking around the group she watched in silence. She noted Tabil at work, she wondered what it was she was making but know better than at to ask. She signed a little to her self and watched at flames dance in front of her.

[Earniel]

Branwyn blushed, knowing Barufiniel had given him high praise. "The feeling is mutual," he said, "I too am privileged to be able to work with you."

The scholar sat down near the invitingly burning fire his companions had lit in their camp. He was tired, but the success of their performance made filled him with adrenaline and satisfaction that it would be impossible for him to sleep immediately. He decided to sit for a little longer. The fire was pleasant.

He turned when he heard Nami sigh. "Is everything alright, Nami?" He asked.

[Varnafindë]

Barufiniel was surprised at first to see what crowd had gathered to listen to the Lay. But why not? she thought. It's a great story - and Branwyn is telling it very well. And the themes of the suite complement the story perfectly. I shouldn't be surprised that these people can appreciate good art.

She smiled, amused, as Branwyn pretended not to know where to start. He really had a way of getting the crowd to join in. And when he started his recital in earnest, she was not surprised to find that there had fallen a hush over the audience. Her first theme tonight was supposed to be played very softly - and she could do so, with no fear that it wouldn't be heard. Everyone was listening intently.

[Earniel]

Branwyn was entirely satisfied with the recital. The audience was enthusiastic without becoming too loud or impatient for it to be a hinderance. Their interest was almost tangible in the silence that fell, as the soft notes of Barufiniel's lyre drifted up in the night-time air. He was very grateful for the presence of the Elf.

Branwyn imagined that for days to come the Ultai children would be playing Beren and Lúthien. Some of the hounds may find them suddenly in demand for rides just as Lúthien had ridden on Huan. And in their imagination the small tents may become the dark halls of the Thangorodrim, or the dense forests of Beleriand. Some would no doubt dislike having to play the role of Celegorm and Curufin.

This, Branwyn thought happily, is why I left Gondor: to inspire people with the stories of heroes. Even if they eventually didn't find any of the Ent-wives in the Iron Hills, at least here he had achieved something.

The recital ended in a thunderous applause and Barufiniel and Branwyn found themselves offered many a pint of mead and imported wine as they ventured to make their way back to the adventurers' camp.

With all entertainment successfully finished, the Ultai turned to feasting once again. This was the last night of the Celebration and for this, everything was 'a little more' than the previous nights. The very next day the tents would be torn down and all the tribes would return to their own tribe-lands for another year.

So tonight the drinks flowed freely, the campfires burned merrily, smells of roasted meat and spices wafted in the air and much laughter could be heard among the tents. The 'entertainers' were of course invited to feast along.

[Earniel]

The next day, just before dawn, the Ultai camp has finally calmed down. The fires had burned low, and most people were firmly asleep, which was not surprising, judging from the many barrels of alcohol that had been consumed the previous night.

In the 'entertainer camp', most adventurers were in a more sober state. And many - barring those that liked to sleep in- were already up when they received a visitor.

Teye, Khan Geruth's advisor and seer, had also risen early and she now announced her presence at the entrance of the adventurers' camp. Radagast welcomed her in.

She held up a small purse. "I have come to pay for your services during the Celebration," she said with a twinkle in her eye. Radagast invited her to a cup of tea, that was being freshly brewed, which Teye accepted gladly.

"You have handled your performance most excellently," Teye said to the gathered adventurers. "This will be a Celebration that will be talked about for years to come. But as the journey does not end for you here, Khan Geruth has charged me with providing some further help."

She handed Radagast a roll of parchment. "This is written by Khan Telmur, whose territory you will be crossing from here to the Iron Hills. This will allow you unhindered passage when questioned, but only one way. You will have to seek another path to leave the Iron Hills again than through the lands of the Ultai."

"I hope to find what we seek in the Iron Hills," Radagast said. "But thank you very much for your help, Teye."

Teye smiled. "I have not yet finished dispensing my help, master wizard. There are two - or rather three - matters on which I must speak with you before you leave. The first one being this: It surprises and troubles me, Radagast, that while you have mentioned expecting difficulty on your journey ahead, you have a pregnant woman among your company. Surely you do not intend to expose her and her child to whatever danger that lies ahead?"

Radagast looked aghast. "A pregnant woman? Surely not."

Teye raised one questioning eyebrow. "You are then not aware of it?"

"No," Radagast said apprehensively, "and apparently no one saw fit to inform me of it either."

"We assumed you knew," Haldis said by way of apology. "It has become rather hard to miss. A'mael's pregnancy has been obvious to everyone, except to you, it appears."

Teye laughed softly. "You have spent too much time with birds and beast, my friend, and far too little among Elves and Men if you fail to notice these things in the very company you lead!"

Radagast looked suitably embarrassed. "Well then, now that I am aware of it, I shall act on it."

He turned to the expecting couple who had been silent so far. "Ingwionis, A'mael, you realise of course I will not risk exposing an expectant mother, or an unborn child to the unknown dangers on our road. We do not know what to expect when we will arrive at the prison of the Entwives, nor what the nature is of their jailor. I cannot risk it. When we reach the Iron Hills, we will find an Eagle that may lead you safely to the Dwarven settlements there. From there you can travel on their commerce routes to Greenwood. The Dwarves have waggons, which will be far more comfortable to travel in than with us on horse-back. In Greenwood at least the climate will be more congenial for childbirth."

[Ingwe]

Ingwionis shook his head in agreement towards the wizard's statements. "Yes, I agree entirely, Master Wizard. Yet she...she takes offense whenever even I mention this. She has been pregnant for far longer than you might expect...five months needing a day."

Radagast seemed very annoyed, as would be expected. He had the look in his eyes that said "you knowingly allowed this, what kind of husband are you to this woman?"

"Radagast, I argued and argued with her. It was hard to keep the journey a secret from her, since I'd obviously not be present, and so showed her the note you had sent. My delay here was due in part to making the decision to leave. I told her the journey may be long. She denied my offer for her to remain in safe places. I told her that the journey may be the end of her. She told me that we would both die together if that was the case. Why I went...I am somewhat on a selfish quest of knowledge, and I do not wish to leave Middle Earth in the condition that it is in. Sauron has passed, this is true; yet, I've always had an eye for the particularly good things...as well as the particularly evil. And I had to go, argument or not."

Radagast pointed out that Ingwionis should continue.

"That really is all, Master Wizard."

A'mael looked at Ingwionis, concerned. Ingwionis presented her with the offer to return again. "A'mael, my love, you know me. I would not have gone on this journey if I did not trust Radagast nor the fair company of the east. As you have seen, it isn't so bad of a place, especially that we are not so far east as to be of dreadful alarm. I will be alright. You need not be concerned any longer. And do not believe me to be jumping into this blindly. I, too, will be returning with you. Thus, you have no choice but to come, isn't that so? I was selfish to go on this journey either with or without you, yet the quest for knowledge drives me. Now, I can see that drive or not, I must look to you, and our child. I lost a wife to the darkness once before, in the way that she was lost, she could never be reclaimed."

"You are weaker now. You must be honest with yourself. You are in jeopardy. Even traveling this far in the condition you will be in is dangerous enough, lest we fall into more dangerous situations which I admit is likely. I am prepared for that and you are NOT!"

A'mael gave Ingwionis a rather dirty look, the look that says, "you informed someone of this, didn't you?"

Ingwionis continued on, knowing that he couldn't keep it from her. "You honestly didn't think I'd let this go on, did you? You cannot contend with a journey of this magnitude, and I would not allow you to. Radagast will stop you as will I. We make for Greenwood. It isn't home, but it's far removed from harm. We will remain there, at least, that is all that I can tell you now. If I must depart again from your side, you are to stay in safe company and never go away from it. I'm putting my fist down on this, A'mael. We are always together, though it is possible that I will have to be away from you for some time. We have gone through it before, remember? This is a much-better time than those times were. You will do as I say this time, as Radagast says you MUST do! I have no intention to leave this journey to chance without providing my services, but more so, I have no intention on leading you to harm. Despite your independence and bravery, don't do as I do, do as I say, if for this time. You always defended me, and I must always defend you. Look at it from my point of view, and trust me as you have always done. We will discuss this further when we return home."

A'mael, Radagast, and Ingwionis stood there looking at each other for a few moments, and then A'mael spoke up...

[Aikanáro]

Tabrîl had risen early that day, as she usually did. The merriment of the previous night she had observed with interest, although she had not taken part. It bore a striking resemblance to the last days of Latsaik. the feast of foundations, which her own people celebrated every twelfth-year. Complete, she noted in mild amusement, with a few so caught up in the revelries that they over-indulged, although she suspected this was far more common among mortals than the Kindi.

That morning, it was quiet, and Tabrîl had gone about her routine without interruption. Her arm was healing more quickly than she had expected, in no small part because of Haldis' insistence on looking at it, she thought. Although she still considered the woman's actions unnecessary - Tabrîl was resilient, and her injury had been minor - she had to admit that Haldis' stitching had been neater than her own. Tabrîl wondered if she was a healer of sorts. It would explain why her technique seemed better than Tabrîl's, which was largely the product of necessity on the battlefield.

That, and treating wounds was easier when you were not treating yourself and so had both hands to work with, she thought. It was likely only that.

It was still early when she rejoined the group, helping herself to a cup of the freshly-brewed tea before she noticed Teye's presence among them. It made her uncomfortable. If Teye needed to speak with Radagast, then surely they should not all be standing about and listening. It occurred to her that perhaps she at least should leave, and she was about to do so when A'mael's pregnancy - and Radagast's ignorance of it - were mentioned.

Tabrîl found it difficult to believe that Radagast, who was so wise, had not noticed something so obvious. She, like Haldis, had assumed that he already knew. Furthermore, she had assumed that it had been his decision to allow A'mael to continue travelling with them, and so she had not voiced her disapproval, but simply accepted that A'mael was important for some reason, and had to remain. Radagast, she had come to believe, was the kindest of his order, and would certainly not put a child at risk without cause.

It was a relief to her when he revealed his intention to send Ingwionis and A'mael to safety. What she did not expect, however, was the couple's reaction to this news. Ingwionis accused A'mael of being weak and unprepared, in full sight of them all. Even if it were true, Tabrîl thought it cruel of him to shame her so, particularly as he was her husband, was shirikabi to her. Such things, if they needed to be said, should be said in private.

And even if they were true, she thought then, they were not necessary. Whether or not A'mael was capable of continuing the journey was irrelevant. Radagast led it, and if he did not think it right that she was there, then she should not be.

Tabrîl looked to A'mael then, curious to see how she would react to Ingwionis' words.

[Midge]

Blossomshade stood at a distance as Teye gave an account of her visions. After everyone had left, she said out loud, "Well, I understand, Radagast. From all the way up here, I couldn't tell the elf-woman was with child!"
_______________________________________________

For Aerin and Magor, the time in the Ultai camp had passed uneventfully. Neither had been called upon to perform and to Aerin, that was just as well, because she felt she didn't have talents to be a captivating performance. She had a joke with Magor that if the Ultai needed a postman, Aerin would have outshone all the rest of the company.

Magor had no qualms about performing, but he spent the week helping Aerin. Ever since Quickleaf had fallen, she'd been acting strange. "Being an Elf," Magor often thought to himself, "she must not have the same need coming to terms with death as man does." She had told him of her time when she was lost in Dol Guldur, just before joining the company and of how the Valar had delivered her in time. "Quickleaf didn't receive that from them." Aerin had said. Magor could tell she was healing, but he refrained from performing because, as he often muttered to himself, "Counseling an Elf is not easy for a Man."

As the company readied themselves for travel once again, Aerin and Magor prepared. Magor could tell: Aerin was ready to move.

[Earniel]

"Ah. Oh. Eh, thank you, Blossomshade," Radagast replied somewhat embarrassed to the Entwife. He briefly wondered whether Gandalf had ever encountered the issue of pregnant travel-companions. Or maybe that explained why the last Fellowship Gandalf had joined had been an all-male one.

Perhaps I have been spending too much time with the birds and the animals indeed, Radagast mused. And wasn't that the same sentiment that had moved him to accept this quest from Gandalf? He vowed to himself to take more notice of his travel-companions in the future.

As he started gathering his things together, he couldn't help himself but dwelling on Teye's visions. He had an inkling they would be a lot on his mind the following days until they reached the Iron Hills. Overall, the visions had been rather ambiguous, but there was at least one concrete clue: the narrow canyon ending in a smooth cliff-face would be something to look for.

All around them the Ultai started to pack in earnest too. Once most of them had woken, with a head-ache or without, the tribes were very efficient in packing. Before an hour had passed, already several tribes had left for their own territories. By the time the adventurers were packed, only the resident tribe remained. These Ultai knew they did not have to hurry for they had less far to travel until their next camp, and they could take their time.

Radagast fastened the last of his bags to his horse's saddle and turned to survey his companions.

"Is everybody ready?"

[Acalewia]

"I am," Aelfwine said. Midnight tossed her head. She led her horse over to where a few of the others who were standing. Borin's Warg nudged her in greeting. She rubbed his muzzle.
"Hello there," she said with a smile. Having ridden him once had dispelled any fear she had of this Warg.

[Midge]

Glad to hear that they were finally moving again, Aerin piped up immediately at the same time as Aelfwine, "Absolutely!"

Magor looked at them both and chuckled, "Well, I've befriended some eager people here!" He flashed a grin at both of them and was happy to see Aerin blush and smile back instead of the usual brooding look she'd been sporting lately.