#iarur

Chapter IX: The Reckoning (Pt. IV)

I was not in my chambers long before Mîrwen entered. She had a look of dread upon her face. I knew better than to inquire. She had spent much of her time with the Queen this day. With the departure of Thingol, I knew too well the fear in Melian’s heart. What she said to the court with her eyes, she spoke to her most trusted ladies.

“What is on your mind, Orothôn,” she asked as she walked by without a glance. “I could hear your thoughts in the hall.”

“I have nothing on my mind other than my concern for you.”

“As you well should,” she said. “But I would worry more for the fate of the Eldalië.”

“Why is that,” I began. “Do not speak to me in riddles, Mîrwen. Between you and Galadriel, on can hardly dismiss the look of puzzlement upon my face.”

“There is talk of war,” she said angrily. “Or do menfolk not speak of it anymore?”

“We speak of it,” I answered. “But why would ladies concern themselves with war?”

“We are far from immune by the affects of war,” she said. “We are wives and mothers of warriors.”

“Yes, you are,” I said. “And as such, it would be helpful if you would tell your warrior husband what you are trying to say.”

“Mother wishes to sail west.”

I looked at Mîrwen. From her expression, I could tell she knew I was stunned.

“What are you saying, Mîrwen?”

“Dark times are coming to us,” she began. “There will be death among us. Mother wishes for us to go where we should have gone a long time ago.”

I did not know what to say. Before I could think of something, there came a knock at the door.

“Enter,” I said without a backwards glance.

“Ada,” I heard Oropher say. I turned to see my son standing beside Amdir. 

“Yes, Oropher,” I asked.

“You are wanted,” he said. “By Elmo.”

I nodded.

“See to your mother,” I whispered.

“Yes, Ada,” he answered.

“Elmo is with Iarûr in the library,” Amdir added.

I nodded, and made my way down the hall. As I turned down the corridor leading to the library, I met Êlengolas and Finëar.

“Have you two been summoned,” I asked.

“If by summoned you mean intentionally eavesdropping, then yes,” Êlengolas said with a smile. Finëar sighed in annoyance.

“Yes, he was called upon,” he said. “Êlengolas is one of our best warriors, if not our most trying. Angband rumbles again for that creature brought with it more than eyes.”

As we entered the library, several elves busied themselves with putting scrolls into trunks. Iarûr and Elmo stood in the farthest corner speaking quietly as Súlwë sat nearby. When they saw us approaching, we were greeted warmly.

“Orothôn,” Iarûr said. “Good of you to come.”

“I was told Elmo wished to see me,” I answered.

“Yes,” Elmo said. “Have you spoken to Mîrwen?”

“I have only briefly.”

“So, she has told you of Orowen’s desire to sail west.”

“Yes,” I answered. “I am afraid I do not understand.”

“I believe you do, Orothôn,” Elmo said. “It was you, after all, that heard my promise to my wife many years ago on our way to Doriath.”

Everything became clear to me in that moment. My mind returned to the forest beneath the stars.

“You have called me here to tell me we are to leave Doriath?”

“No,” he said softly. “Not just yet, but it is on the minds of many.”

“I find it difficult to fathom King Thingol leaving this world,” I said. “And if my memory serves, you said you would leave if you failed to convince your brother.”

“You memory serves you well,” he answered.

“The King will not leave Doriath,” Êlengolas said. “So long as his daughter remains, he is tethered forever to this land.”

“His daughter has given her love to a mortal,” Finëar added. “Now Elven blood will one day flow together with Atani for many generations.”

“Yes,” Elmo said softly. “I made a promise to my beloved, but I owe my allegiance to my brother.”

“So you wish to stay,” I asked.

“No,” Elmo answered. “I want to leave with my family before more Elven blood is shed.”

“Well, do it quickly,” Iarûr said. “That time will be upon us soon. More than elven blood will flow through this land.”

“Are you planning to leave as well,” I asked Iarûr.

“No,” he said. “I must stay. My fate is tied to another. But I will make my way home when it is is my time to do so.”

“When are you leaving, Elmo,” I asked.

“As soon as my brother returns, I shall tell him my plans so that I may prepare for our journey. You will be coming with us, yes?”

Chapter IX: The Reckoning (Pt. I)

The court began buzzing with delight with news of Lúthien’s return. Iarûr was the only one among us whose demeanor remained solemn. When I had the opportunity later in the evening, I found him in his chambers alone at his writing table. I entered cautiously through is opened door.

“Pleas come in, Orothôn,” he said without looking up form his work.

“I am not interrupting your work,” I asked.

“No,” he said looking up. “There was no work to be done this hour. I was putting my thoughts down for my own remembrance of this day.”

“It is this day I wished to speak to you about,” I said.

“I know,” he sewered. “You are quite perceptive. If you thought the news of this day troubled me, then you were correct.”

“It is wonderful news,” I said. “The return of the king’s daughter will make this kingdom whole once more.”

“You are naive in your optimism,” Iarûr said sternly. “It will serve you well on the darkest night but in the light of day, you must acknowledge reality.”

“I do not understand.”

“N one returns from Angband as they entered,” he said softly. “I can only imagine the horrors of the Lady Lúthien must have seen. No one can witness such evil without losing part of themselves.”

“The king will be happy once more,” I said almost pleading with him.

“Yes, he will,” he agreed. “But it will be short-lived, Orothôn. I am afraid this world will never be the same again. It is changing, my friend. The elements of good and evil have intermingled creating seasons not so easily discernible.”

I could say nothing—I just stood there thinking about those words as they seared a hole in my heart. Now I feared what may come to us upon the return of Lúthien and Beren.--TKWRT Book I: The Epic of Eryn Galen by Jaynaé Marie Miller. 07-06-2020

Prologue: The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy by Iarûr

“I am Iarûr, I awoke beside the first of those that would one day rule what would be known as the Woodland Realm. I would become the chief chronicler for their household.

The Elder Children of Ilúvatar rose forth by the shores of Lake Cuiviénen. Orothôn awoke beneath the stars as all our kin. The glorious enchantment of the night would always hold a deep familiarity to the nature for generations. For Orothôn, it would grow within every elf born thereafter of his line. He did not fear the night, for he could see more in darkness than light for he felt there were two parts—the wondrous part here beauty of all things bore their souls and the darker more sinister part where beauty lost its soul to things he would some day see.

When he rose from the ground among his kin with the finest and longest golden hair with eyes of starlight with specks of blue. As he glanced about him, he saw the most beautiful of eldalië—with long hair of light gold with deep eyes of grey. She loved him as he loved her—in that moment. They began their journey home hand in hand until its end in a place they would come to know as Beleriand.”--Prologue of TKWR:BI The History of Eryn Galen by J.M.Miller 9-13-16