Two Children Dream of Rivendell

When I was small I dreamed a world where grand adventures lay.
When sleep would creep across my eyes I would in this world play.
My boon companion Bean and I would mount our wingéd steeds
And off we'd fly from earth to sky to do heroic deeds.

One night a Seeress called us forth and send us on a quest.
"The Seeing Stones of Kerridwen are scattered east and west.
If lost they stay there comes a day the evil Foe shall reign.
But 'gainst a magic seeing stone his evil is in vain.

Bring only one and we shall win - But heed my warning well.
Touch only those of Kerridwen, for many crystals dwell
Throughout the many worlds of magic, mystery and dreams.
The Palantir of Middle-earth are perilous, I deem.
Go forth, my valiant Blade and Bean. Rescue the Rowan Stone.
They say King Arthur's Merlin hides it in a box of bone."

We both shout "Aye" and off we fly - straight ahead to morning.
Laughing 'neath the silver stars we missed our mentor's warning!
"These stars all look the same," said we. And this increased our mirth,
Till all but falling from our steeds, we fell to Middle-earth!

"Can this be Camelot?" said Bean. "Whence come the waterfalls?
The archéd doors, the carven floors, the airy windowed walls?"

Said I, "In dreams I’ve seen this place. From dreams I know it well.
‘Tis where the eldritch folk of Elrond linger – Rivendell.
We are astray, we must away, ere moonlight leaves the sky.
Or trapped we’ll be in Middle-earth, and moonset draweth nigh!

My magic will not work in starlight, only under moon.
So fetch that silver basin and some water. And a rune
I’ll make to catch the moonlight fast, within the silver bowl.
I’ll race you to the terrace, for the night is growing old."

We dashed across the Hall of Fire, making for the porch.
Silent shadows flitted in the light of fire and torch.
I clutched the silver basin. "Make haste, the light is dying!"
Bean stepped upon my trailing robe and sent the basin flying!
Up into the air it went, the water splashing higher.
The basin rang against the floor, the water quenched the fire.

"Now we’ve done it, Bean," said I. "We’ve woken every Elf."
"Indeed," a voice growled and there stood Lord Elrond himself.
"Now tell me how two Mortal children found my hidden hall
And doused my fire, broke my rest, and bent my silver bowl."

We swallowed hard and faced Elrond, while outside in the sky
The moon slipped underneath the hill. I bade my world good-bye.
"Speak!" Elrond ordered sternly, driving all thoughts from my head.
I wondered if the Elves would send us to an Elf-woodshed!

Two figures through a doorway came: Legolas and Arwen.
Their Elven grace was never matched by aught of Mortal Men.
The She-Elf smiled. "Why as a child, they named you boisterous.
Your father called you to his chamber often, Legolas!"

"As yours did, once upon a time," he answered with a grin.
We are alike, I thought, and found my powers once again.
I looked Lord Elrond in the eye. "When you were small, Milord,
Were you merry?" "Aye," he said, and laughed at my bold words.

"Start the fire again," said he, "Make sure the hearth is clean.
Then, Arwen, place these wanderers upon the Path of Dreams.
They must return to Mortal dreams, and we must seek our own."
He turned to go, then said, "I know you'll find the Rowan Stone."

Now I am grown and seek for stones less pleasing than the Rowan.
I still recall the look Lord Elrond wore as he passed Arwen.
His very heart was breaking like a wave against the shore.
But I made the old boy laugh, and that is worth a dream and more.

Notes

1. As always, I am borrowing the world of JRR Tolkien, whose work I love and respect, and I promise to return it unharmed.  – Chathol-linn
2. One night in late January, 2002, I had a dream or vision along the lines of the poem above, and within it were the structure and details of "The Early Adventures of Legolas,"  including “Bowmanship.” “Elflocks,” “Olórë Mallë” and other tales.

1.       One night in late January, 2002, I had a vision along the lines of the poem ‘Rescue of the Rowan.’

2.       The dream showed a multi-dimensional universe in which two children pursue a magical quest. Blade is a young girl and Bean is her boy companion.  They are both nicknames. “Blade” hides her identity. and “Bean” just describes the tall thin boy’s appearance (Beanpole). Bean acquires many nicknames on his adventures with Blade until settling on his permanent name when he come of age.

3.       Their mentor, a Seeress, wishes them to rescue the thirteen crystal moonstones that Loki stole and hid throughout the universe. They lie not only in distant lands, but distant times as well.

4.       Each moonstone has different powers and is named after one of the thirteen luminations in the lunar calendar.

5.       Each lumination (the passage of time from one dark moon to the next) corresponds to a tree-letter in the tree alphabet. One of these moonstones is therefore named The Rowan. Others are Ash, Willow, etc.

6.       The two children, Blade and Bean, are supposed to rescue the Rowan Stone, located in the world and time of King Arthur. But they make a mistake, or else the powerful Palantiri of Middle-earth deceive them, and they find themselves lost in Rivendell, where they may not go without Mortal danger. Their mischief angers Elrond until Blade boldly reminds him that he too was once a child. Then Elrond returns them to their proper world. Now they can continue to seek The Rowan and the other moonstones throughout all the lands of mystery, magic, and dreams.

 When Legolas and Arwen appeared in the vision, another corridor opened and showed the material for “The Early Adventures of Legolas” including “How Legolas Proved His Bowmanship,” Elflocks – How Legolas Cured His Sister of Teasing,” and other tales. It was quite a dream.