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Lord Fingolfin laid down his pen with a sigh.
…
Six o’clock
Master Amdír, chief craftsman-builder of Eryn Carantaur,
his assistant, Master Mablung, and his two young apprentices had
already been travelling for almost three hours when—as the
sun rose above the mountains of Mordor—they approached the
ancient cedar grove of Eryn Laeg, twenty miles east of the city.
Amdír scanned the woods around him. The forest was unusually
sparse here—many trees had died in Sauron’s time—and
the undergrowth was dense and tangled. “This is the place,”
he called, raising a hand and bringing the others to a halt.
One of the apprentices immediately began to dismount, but Master
Mablung turned in his saddle and stopped the younger elf with
a warning look.
Amdír placed a hand over his heart, bowed his head, and
recited a short prayer of thanks to Aulë and Yavanna. Then,
after a moment’s respectful silence, he dropped lightly from
his mount, took a bundle of markers—small, brightly coloured
flags sewn onto slender wooden stakes—from his travelling
pack, and handed them out to his companions. “We need five,”
he said, “at least three feet broad, straight and true, and
well-seasoned.”
Leaving their horses to graze along the trail, the four elves
entered the woods and, using stout wooden staffs to part the undergrowth,
cleared themselves a temporary path.
…
Eowyn smiled.
A very affectionate—and pleasantly well-endowed—elf
had snuggled up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, and
was nuzzling her ear, and rubbing her buttocks with an eager erection.
Gods… Eowyn closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
One of the elf’s hands wandered upwards and cupped her breast,
gently lifting and kneading it.
Dear gods. Eowyn’s smile broadened, but she kept her eyes
closed, and her body still.
Now the elf’s soft mouth was biting her neck, and his other
hand was kneading her belly, and his penis…
Oh, gods! Somehow, his penis had slipped between her legs
and was firmly pressing against her most sensitive flesh.
Eowyn’s body responded with a pool of moisture. I could
happily die like this…
Then the hand on her belly reached down between her thighs, and
the elf’s body shifted, and the head of his penis found exactly
the right spot, and… “Ai,” he whispered, “ai—ai—”
and, suddenly, “cuinon…” And Eowyn felt his penis—almost
inside her—jerk, and a warm wetness spread between her legs,
and she turned her head, and smiled at the sight of her elf’s
beautiful face, his eyes tightly closed, his mouth open in a silent
cry of release.
My love… She reached over her shoulder and pulled him closer.
And the elf, pressing his cheek to hers, immediately slid both
hands to her waist and, still erect (despite his climax), entered
her body.
Dear, dear gods. Eowyn lay still—trapped between the wild
wood elf above her and the rocking bed beneath—and let him
do what he would with her… And, very soon, she, too, was
coming—helplessly coming—again and again, her multiple
crises merging into one relentless orgasm that—though she
feared she might die of it—she prayed would never stop—
…
“I think I have one,” called Elemmakil—the older
and more competent of Amdír’s two apprentices—“over
here.” He used the end of his staff to clear away the tangle
of brambles and showed his master the trunk of a fallen cedar,
tall and straight, and a good five feet in diameter at the root.
“Yes,” said Amdír. “It looks very suitable.”
He examined the trunk for signs of rot. “No—it is perfect.
Mark it red.”
Elemmakil selected a flag, drove the slender stake into the ground,
and unfurled the piece of fabric. The red marker hung, plainly
visible, about two feet above the highest patches of undergrowth.
“Now find me another,” said Amdír, with a smile.
He turned towards his other apprentice. “Annael?”
The younger elf was standing, some hundred feet ahead, one hand
resting on the trunk of a living cedar, staring down at the ground
beneath the tree.
“Annael! I shall not tell you again!” Using his staff
to push back the brambles, Master Amdír hurried to his
wayward apprentice’s side. “I have warned you about
going off into reverie when you should be—by the Valar!”
“There are more,” said Annael. “At least two more.
Over there.”
…
Nine o’clock
Eowyn turned off the main walkway, crossed the broad market-flet,
and slowly climbed one of the many staircases that spiralled up
to the dwellings above. The house she was seeking was on the highest
flet—small, but pretty, with pots of fragrant flowers clustered
beneath its windows. She paused before its pale green door. Should
I be doing this? Do I have the right? she wondered. Probably
not. She knocked.
The door opened immediately.
Eowyn placed her hand on her heart and bowed her head in a formal
greeting. “Maer aur, Lessien Curufiniell.”
Eryn Carantaur’s Mistress of the Ceremony smiled. “Lady
Eowyn,” she replied, in the Common Tongue, “Please,
come in. I have been expecting you.” She stepped aside to
allow Eowyn to enter, then gestured towards two chairs standing
before the fireplace.
Eowyn took a seat; but her stiff back and her hands, clasped
upon her lap, betrayed her nervousness.
“Can I offer you a drink, my lady?” asked Lessien.
“No—no, thank you, I would just…”
“Like to ask some questions. I understand.” Lessien
took the chair opposite. “You have concerns about the Rite.”
Eowyn nodded.
“What is troubling you?”
The woman looked down at her hands. Then, flushing crimson, she
said, “Legolas does not know I have come here… And he
would probably wonder why I am not asking him. But I could
not bear to hear the answer from his lips. Not if…”
She sighed. “Is it possible—might the Valar give
him someone else this time, Lessien? And, if they do, will I have
to watch?”
When the elleth did not reply, Eowyn looked up in alarm. But
Lessien was smiling. “You are Lord Legolas’ betrothed,”
she said. “He is bound to you. He could not perform the Rite
with anyone else.”
“Does that mean…? Does it mean that the Valar will
choose me?”
Lessien thought carefully before replying. “No one knows
exactly how the Harvest Queen is selected, my lady, and no one
but the celebrant knows exactly how the Valar make the Lady known
to him. But it is my belief that, ultimately, the choice lies
with the celebrant himself. I believe that the vision—whatever
it may be—is expression of his own heart.”
“You are saying that every celebrant is given his heart’s
own choice,” said Eowyn.
“Even if he is unsure who that choice might be,” said
Lessien. “Which, of course, Lord Legolas is not.”
Tears sprang to Eowyn’s eyes. “Thank you,” she
said, softly, “thank you.”
“Would you like that drink now, my lady?”
Eowyn smiled. “Yes. Yes, please.”
Lessien rose and walked over to the sideboard. “Is there
anything else you would like to ask?” She selected a particularly
lovely goblet—glancing at Eowyn as she did so, as though
matching the beauty of the design to the beauty of her guest.
“Two things,” admitted Eowyn, “though one is just
curiosity.”
“Curiosity is gift of the Valar, my lady,” said Lessien.
She poured a measure of fruit cordial into the frosted glass,
added bubbling water, then handed the drink to Eowyn.
“Thank you. Well,” said Eowyn, “the serious question
is—will Legolas need to observe a period of celibacy before
the Rite?”
“He will. But, since this is not his first time, the period
is much reduced—to just three days.”
“I see.” Eowyn thought for a moment. “I can stay
with Hentmirë…” She took a sip of cordial.
“What is your more curious question, my lady?” asked
Lessien, returning to her seat.
“Suppose, for some reason, I had not attended the Rite last
year,” said Eowyn, “Legolas would have chosen another…
Would she now be his betrothed?”
“That is a good question, my lady. A very good question.”
Lessien thought for a moment. “Since the Lady is, in some
respects, chosen by the Valar, and the Valar chose you,
for you not to have attended the Rite last year, Middle
Earth would have to be a very different place. And, if it were
a different place—a very different place—then I suppose
that anything might happen in it… I am afraid I do
not know the answer your question, my lady.”
…
Ten o’clock
The four craftsman-builders galloped into the clearing beneath
the city. “Where is March Warden Haldir,” cried Amdír,
as he dismounted and ran towards guards at the bottom of the main
staircase, “where is he?”
“He should be with Lord Legolas and the Council,” replied
one of the guards. “In the Council Chamber—”
“Come, Annael!” The two elves sprinted up the spiralling
stairs, and along the walkway, to the Palace buildings. “We
have important news for Lord Legolas and March Warden Haldir!”
The guard opened the Council Chamber door, and Amdír and
his apprentice—without waiting for further permission—ran
inside.
…
The meeting of the Inner Council, consisting of Legolas and Eowyn,
Gimli, Lords Fingolfin, Caranthir, and Lenwë, March Warden
Haldir and Captain Golradir of the Palace Guard, had begun with
a discussion of the current building works.
“As you can see,” said Caranthir, gesturing towards
the report he had prepared for Legolas, “with these changes,
the new wing could be completed four—or perhaps five—days
earlier than we had originally planned. But I would not recommend
it.”
“The time we would save is not sufficient in any case,”
agreed Fingolfin.
“Is there anything we could do to improve the existing accommodation,
my lord?” asked Eowyn. “We do have two weeks—”
She was interrupted by a commotion at the door.
Legolas looked up from Caranthir’s report. “Master
Amdír—come in and join us,” he said, beckoning
the craftsman to approach the Council Table. “I understood
that you had gone to Eryn Laeg to select more timber.”
Amdír bowed nervously. “I did, my lord, this very
morning. But we,”—he glanced at his companion—
“rather Annael, here, found something else, my lord, lying
amongst the trees. Dead bodies. Human bodies. Six of them.”
“Six?” Legolas glanced around the table. The other
members of his Inner Council were as shaken by the news as he
was. “How did they die, Master Amdír?”
“I—er—I did not look—”
“I looked, my lord.” His apprentice stepped forward
with a bow. “They had sword wounds—at least, the ones
I saw did.”
“Are there any orcs in that area, melmenya?” asked
Legolas.
“No. I do not think so…” Eowyn glanced at Lord
Caranthir, who been tracking the orcs’ movements in her stead,
whilst she had been in Far Harad.
The elf shook his head. “I have had no reports from that
part of the forest, my lady,” he confirmed.
“How long have the men been dead?” asked Legolas.
“I do not know, my lord,” said Annael. “But not
long. They have not yet begun to…” He gestured. Then
he added, in a low voice. “And at least one of them is a
woman.”
Several of the counsellors gasped.
“We must recover the bodies immediately,” said Legolas,
decisively, “identify these unfortunate people and inform
their families. And we must catch their killers…” He
turned to Haldir. “Which is the nearest guard post?”
“Baradorn.”
“Triple the garrison there and set up a continuous patrol
along the road.” Legolas sighed. “That is the main route
into the city…”
“And the way that your father will be coming in less than
two weeks’ time,” added Fingolfin.
“Yes…”
“I shall leave at once,” said the Haldir. “Master
Amdír—will you and your apprentice be willing to accompany
me?”
“Oh. Yes… Of course, sir.” Amdír bowed.
“Take a healer,” said Legolas. “Take Master Dínendal
with you.”
“You think there may be survivors, my lord?” asked
Fingolfin.
“It is possible,” said Legolas. “Humans are a
hardy people. Perhaps I should come with you, Hal—”
“No,” said Eowyn, firmly. “No, you have the Harvest
Rite and your father’s visit to prepare for. Haldir will
send word if he needs our assistance.”
…
Haldir went straight to the Guard House and selected his troops:
six guards to retrieve the bodies and search the cedar glade—his
brothers Rumil and Orophin, and four of the Mirkwood elves—and
ten more to add to the garrison at Baradorn.
“You have half an hour,” he said, “to take leave
of your loved ones.” Then, ignoring the smirks on his brothers’
faces, he hurried to his own flet to break the news to Cyllien.
…
Valandil had known that he would find Wilawen in the Healing
Room. Shortly after arriving in Eryn Carantaur, the woman had
persuaded Master Dínendal to let her assist him by preparing
medicines and tending to minor injuries. Today she was working
in the dispensary, carefully crushing dried herbs in a mortar.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked.
“It will depend how long it takes us to move the bodies,”
replied the elf. “But I should be back tomorrow.”
“I think I can keep busy until then.” She smiled. “Be
careful, Valandil.”
“I shall…”
“Is there something you are not telling me?”
“No, not exactly…” Valandil sighed. “We will
have to postpone our trip to Minas Tirith,” he said, lifting
her from her seat and taking her in his arms, “until Haldir
can spare me. I am sorry, Faer Vara.”
“Just one of the many disadvantages of being betrothed to
a elven warrior,” said Wilawen, grinning against his chest.
The door opened behind them.
“Wilawen—oh, I am sorry…” Master Dínendal
averted his eyes. “Lord Legolas has asked me to accompany
the March Warden to Eryn Laeg,” he said. “Valandil has
no doubt told you why—and I need an assistant.”
“Me?”
Dínendal looked uncomfortably at Valandil. “She is
the most able,” he said, “given what we may have to
do—especially since the bodies are human.”
“Do you mind?” asked Wilawen, lightly squeezing Valandil’s
arm.
Valandil smiled. “No, Faer Vara,” he said. “I
shall be there to protect you.”
…
Haldir’s flet lay under a dark cloud of misery. “What
am I supposed to do while you are away?” asked Cyllien, sulkily.
The elf sighed. “It is only one night, Tithen Dúlinn.
Two at the most. Perhaps you could spend some time with Eowyn…”
“I hate Eowyn. Mistress Perfect. Why can Legolas not go
instead of you?”
“Because this is my responsibility,” said Haldir, “as
March Warden.” He took her in his arms. “Just look forward
to the time we will have together when I return…”
Cyllien said nothing.
“I shall see you tomorrow.” He tucked his fingers under
her chin, and raised her face. But, as he went to kiss her mouth,
she turned her head, and his lips brushed her cheek instead. “Good
bye.”
The elleth watched him leave, hurrying down the main staircase.
“You will see me if I am still here,” she said, quietly.
…
A small crowd had assembled to watch the Border Guards move out.
Legolas, standing before his mounted troops, placed his hand
on his heart and bowed his head, “No galu govad gen,”
he said. “I expect you back tomorrow.”
Eowyn stepped forward. “Take this,” she said, reaching
up to hand Haldir a wax tablet. “I have made some notes on
it—questions…”
The March Warden smiled. “I shall make sure I answer them,
my lady.” Then he added, softly, “Can I ask you both
to take care of Cyllien for me?”
“Of course,” said Legolas.
“Thank you.” Haldir bid his Lord and Lady a formal
farewell, then signalled to his troops to move off. Slowly, the
warriors filed out of the clearing, forming themselves into pairs
as they entered the narrow forest trail.
…
As the Mirkwood elves passed the main staircase, with Wilawen
and Master Dínendal riding between them, a shrill voice
called out, in the Common Tongue, “Ori! Cami! Take care!
I’ll be waiting!”
Legolas glanced upwards to see Arinna, the woman from Far Harad,
leaning over the rail, waving a white handkerchief at her two
beloved elves.
He shook his head with a grin.
…
Midday
On a large flet, just above their private chambers, Legolas had
made his lady a pretty garden, with a table and chairs at the
centre, and pots of their favourite plants—brightly coloured
daisies, small, sweet-scented cabbage roses, lavender, rosemary,
and lemon sage—arranged all around. And today, like most
days, Eowyn had had lunch laid out on the table, and had invited
Gimli and Hentmirë to join them.
“Hello, gwendithen,” said Legolas, greeting his adopted
aunt with a kiss on the forehead. “Have you had a good morning?”
He pulled out a chair for her.
“No,” said Hentmirë.
Smiling, Legolas took his place beside Eowyn. “Why not?”
“I cannot hold the bow right,” she said, despondently.
“And my arrows go all over the place.” She waved her
plump little hand to illustrate the point.
“It just takes practice, gwendithen.”
“I am not very patient,” admitted Hentmirë.
Eowyn passed her a plate of roasted vegetables. “Perhaps
the bow is not your weapon,” she said. “Perhaps you
should try the sword. I could show you…”
“I do not know… I was no good with the axe,” said
Hentmirë—and Gimli, sitting beside her, blanched at
the memory. “I do not seem to be any good at anything.”
“You are good at everything,” corrected Gimli, firmly.
He offered her some roasted chicken. “But perhaps you should
try something less martial. Let me see… What about looking
after the children?” He glanced at Legolas.
“Of course!” said the elf. “I should have thought
of that before—you already spend a lot of time with Lord
Lenwë’s youngest sons. Why not help Maglor teach the
other elflings? You can tell them all about Far Harad, gwendithen—about
Carhilivren and Kuri; about the desert and the oases. They will
love it.”
“Do you think so?”
“I am sure of it. And Maglor will be glad to have someone
share the responsibility with him. Come to me after your Elvish
lesson, and we will go and talk to him.”
…
Two o’clock
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