64: Meeting the Locals

Arafinwë, with Haldir and Pelendur in tow, met his son and the others about the same time as Olwë and the ellith reached them. Everyone exclaimed over the boar and asked for details. Finrod raised a hand, calling for silence.

"Let me first introduce our guests," he said mildly and some of the elves blushed and stammered apologies, casting interested and curious eyes upon the six ellyn who were standing about looking somewhat uncertain in the presence of all the Amaneldi.

"Atar, Anatar, may I present Bronweg," Finrod said, bringing the ellon closer to him, "and his brother, Handir. The others are Balamir, Damrod, Amlaith and Egalmoth. They all hail from Tavrobel or its vicinity." He then turned to the Tol Eressëans, speaking Sindarin. "This is my adar, Arafinwë, whom you would know better as Finarfin, and this is my daeradar, Olwë of Alqualondë."

"Hîr Finarfin," Bronweg said in Sindarin, as he gave Arafinwë a bow, his expression one of awe. "My adar has often spoken of you and the War of Wrath."

"I hope he has said only good things about me," Arafinwë answered in halting Sindarin, giving the ellyn a smile.

The Tol Eressëans gave him considering looks. "You speak Sindarin," Amlaith said unnecessarily, then blushed as he realized he’d stated the obvious.

"Very badly, I’m afraid," Arafinwë replied with a laugh, "but my sons say I am doing well."

"Sons?" Bronweg asked, looking confused.

"Didn’t I say Sador and I were adopted?" Glorfindel interjected with a wicked grin.

The Tol Eressëans all evinced surprise and dawning realization of what Glorfindel had meant as they cast considering glances between him, Sador, Finrod and Arafinwë. Then, other introductions were made with the Tol Eressëans switching to Quenya, though none of them spoke it very easily, except Balamir. Sador volunteered to act as a translator and the ellyn gave him grateful smiles while Arafinwë nodded his approval.

"I fear that will be something we will have to deal with while here," he said as he motioned for them all to gather around the campfire that had been set aside for the use of the kings and their entourage and take their ease. The boar was wisked away by the cooks with a promise that it would be the main attraction at that evening’s dinner.

"Not everyone has bothered to learn Quenya," Bronweg stated, "not even those of us who can claim Noldorin descent. Balamir probably speaks it better than any of us, but that’s because his naneth insisted he learn."

"And what of your parents?" Arafinwë asked. "I can tell that you and your brother are fully Noldorin."

The two brothers shrugged and it was Handir who answered. "My brother and I and our sister were all born in Lindon though our parents brought us here while we were still elflings. Quenya wasn’t spoken among the populace, only Sindarin. Our parents did begin teaching us Quenya once we came here, but Bronweg and I don’t really speak it well. Nimbrethil, our sister, is a better linguist and speaks it quite fluently."

"And the Quenya spoken among the Tol Eressëans is somewhat different from that spoken by the Noldor in Tirion," Finrod pointed out.

"Yes," Arafinwë said with a nod. "I remembered when you first returned to us that your Quenya sounded a bit slurred. Sometimes I wasn’t sure what you were saying." He gave Finrod a fond smile and Finrod smiled back.

"Well, as interesting as this may be," Olwë now interjected, "I’m more interested in learning the views these fine ellyn have about what they wish for their people. It is, after all, why we are here."

"Bronweg and Handir were telling us about their lives when they first arrived on the island as elflings while we were making our way back here," Finrod said. "They had a very interesting experience. Perhaps they will be willing to share it with all of you."

The Amaneldi gave the brothers interested looks and Bronweg nodded. "Yes, well, it happened shortly after our arrival. I wasn’t much older than about twenty-five or so at the time. Handir and I went out exploring with our sister one day. All this," he spread his arms to include the surroundings, "was untouched wilderness. Tavrobel wasn’t even a proper port city, just a few small houses clustered around the cove."

People nodded and Bronweg continued. "So, anyway, we went exploring. I was feeling upset because I had overheard our parents speaking about some... some Amaneldi coming and speaking to the adults in the community, telling us we were only there on sufferance."

There were many frowns from the group listening and Bronweg paused, unsure of the import. Arafinwë waved a hand in dismissal. "Do not concern yourself. This is something about which we have learned only recently. Olwë and I were unaware that any of our people had come here and said such things to you. We regret that it ever happened. One of our hopes in coming here is to show the Tol Eressëans that they are welcome here and that the kings of Eldamar wish you well."

"Adar said something similar when I asked him about it," Bronweg said. "He reminded me that the Valar had invited us to come and he suspected that the Amaneldi were just jealous. Even so, I think he and naneth have remained somewhat bitter toward the Amaneldi ever since."

There was an uncomfortable pause and then Arafinwë spoke. "Pray continue with your tale."

"Yes, well, as we were out exploring, a beautiful white fawn came to us and from its actions it was clear that it wished for us to follow it. Remember, this was all wilderness so it took us some time but eventually the fawn led us to the glade where the waterfall is."

"Ah, the lovers’ trysting place," Olwë said with a knowing smile once Sador had finished translating Bronweg’s words.

"Now it is," Handir said with a disgusted look on his face which set several elves laughing, "but at the time it was our secret hide-away."

"Interesting that a fawn would approach you in that manner and lead you to the glade," Ingwion said, giving them a considering look.

"If it were an ordinary fawn," Bronweg replied with a smile, "but as it turned out, it wasn’t. When we reached the glade the fawn had disappeared, but suddenly we were confronted with three Maiar."

There were gasps of surprise from the listeners. "What did you do? Were you not frightened?" Alassiel asked in excitement.

The two brothers nodded and Handir took up the narrative. "When we first saw them, we were ready to run, but they told us not to be afraid, saying that we were welcome now and always. Then they invited us to dance and we did. Later, we figured they must have overheard us talking about what the Amaneldi had said to our parents because Nimbrethil became very upset at the thought that we might have to leave the island. She was so happy that there were no orcs here."

"So, who were the Maiar, do you know?" Finrod asked.

Bronweg answered him. "Two of them named themselves People of Glurim... ah... Ingil and... um...."

"Lisselindë," Handir supplied when his brother’s memory seemed to fail him, "and the other said he was of the People of Manweg. His name was Olórin."

There were looks of surprise among the Amaneldi and excited murmurs, which stilled when Arafinwë raised a hand for silence. "A most interesting tale," he said. "Some of us are well acquainted with the Maiar you mentioned."

"Yes, most interesting," Olwë said. "I’m sure the Maiar’s message was of much relief to your parents when you told them."

Now the two brothers looked somewhat sheepish. Bronweg cleared his throat. "Actually, we never did tell them." He shrugged at the inquisitive expressions on the older elves’ faces. "I think at the time we decided it was just our secret and besides, we didn’t want to tell them about the glade in case they forbade us from going there again."

There were knowing smiles all around at that.

"Understandable," Arafinwë said with a nod, "though a pity as I think telling your parents would have proven beneficial to them. They may not have continued in their bitterness."

"Well, we heard stories from others, and these were adults, who claimed to have had strange encounters with Maiar about the same time as we did, but no one really believed them," Handir said with a shrug. "Another reason to keep quiet." Bronweg nodded.

"Is that why you never told us the story?" Amlaith asked, giving his friends a curious look.

Bronweg nodded. "More or less. Don’t forget, you and Damrod were not even born yet and Egalmoth and Balamir were yet babes."

"So not all of you were born in Ennorath?" Arafinwë asked.

"Handir and I and our sister all were," Bronweg said, "but Amlaith, Damrod and Egalmoth were born here."

"I was actually born in Lindon," Balamir said, "but my family sailed when I was not yet two. Tol Eressëa is the only home I remember."

"The kings are concerned about the lack of leadership among us," Gilvagor said, addressing the six hunters. "That is why they are here."

"To tell us what to do?" Damrod demanded.

"No," Olwë said firmly. "To offer suggestions. I will admit that I and my people have studiously ignored your presence, but as my son-in-law has reminded me, we are all elves and we are all living here. You of Tol Eressëa are as much a part of Eldamar as Alqualondë, even though we Teleri tend not to mingle with the other Amaneldi. It is to the benefit of all that there exist a stable government on Tol Eressëa, whatever its shape."

"We’ve been getting by all right so far," Amlaith said with a frown. "Here in Tavrobel we have a council made up of merchants, sea captains and guildmasters who meet on a regular basis to discuss any problems that might arise."

"Yet, you know that there has been some tension between Tavrobel and Kortirion of late," Haldir pointed out. "And it was recently discovered that some of our guildmasters deliberately set the cost of imported goods at a ridiculously high price, blaming it on the Amaneldi when in fact they had nothing to do with it. I think if any of our kings had been in charge, such would not have happened."

"Yet, which king?" Damrod asked. "All my life I’ve heard the older elves speak of the kings of old: Elu Thingol, Fingolfin, Fingon, Turgon and even you, my lord Finrod, and now the newer arrivals speak of this Gil-galad. They pine for what they can no longer have and cling to outdated ideas of what constitutes proper government." He scowled and shook his head. "I would fain have nothing to do with kings. They only cause trouble to my mind."

"Is this how you all feel?" Finrod asked quietly. Bronweg and Handir nodded, the others just shrugged.

Laurendil then spoke up, addressing Arafinwë and Olwë. "And their feelings are not unique," he said. "All through the island you hear similar complaints, especially from the younger elves who know only Tol Eressëa as their home and have no memory of either Beleriand and their High Kings or Aman before the Darkening. Their parents speak of the various kings with fondness. Some even speak of the Fëanárioni in the same vein. And while they were not kings, they did rule their own demesnes and were high in the councils of the Noldorin Exiles."

Finrod nodded. "Nelyafinwë and Macalaurë, especially," he said, then turned to Bronweg and the other hunters. "You would recognize them as Maedhros and Maglor." Light of understanding brightened their eyes and they all nodded. "And of course there’s Elu Thingol to consider as well," Finrod continued. "Those who once hailed from Doriath would be loath to accept any of the Noldor as their overlord."

"True," Sador said. "Even at the Havens of Sirion, while we of Doriath nominally accepted Lord Tuor and then his son Eärendil as our lords, it was always to Lady Elwing that many looked for guidance. I have since learned that only because there were so few Iathrim remaining after the War of Wrath that they either accepted Gil-galad as their king or sailed here to Tol Eressëa."

"It’s a melting pot of many conflicting histories, cultures and loyalties," Gilvagor said. "The center cannot hold for there is none."

"Which is why the embassy was sent in the first place," Laurendil said, "to hopefully find a solution to this problem, a problem we of Tol Eressëa seem unable or unwilling to resolve ourselves."

"When I was here before," Sador added, "I sensed that Tol Eressëa was an explosion waiting to happen." He cast a faint smile at Finrod and Glorfindel. "I kept wishing you two were with me. I was sure you would know what to do."

The two ellyn gave snorts of amusement. "Not likely," Glorfindel said. "If anything, we would probably have set off the explosion by our presence at the time."

"You may even yet," Gilvagor said with a grim smile. "You are both legends and heroes, as is Beleg."

"What was the mood of those Tol Eressëans who participated in the tournament once they returned here?" Ingwion asked.

Haldir smiled as did Gilvagor and even the younger Tol Eressëans seemed to brighten. It was Damrod who spoke first. "When they got back, all they could talk about was the tournament. I was soon regretting not attending even though I wouldn’t have participated as I’m not trained in the warrior arts."

The other five hunters nodded enthusiastically. "My brother and I were kicking ourselves for not going," Bronweg said. "Perhaps if there is ever another tournament held we will go. We are both craftsmen and would like to see our trade expanding."

"I’m sure Ingwë will hold another tournament," Arafinwë said with a smile. "In spite of some unfortunate incidents, most of them concerning either Finrod or Glorfindel," — the Amaneldi all laughed lightly at that while the two ellyn in question blushed — "I would say that overall the tournament was a success."

"Lord Námo didn’t think so," Glorfindel couldn’t help saying, "at least not completely. He said that while the original purpose for the tournament was never fully realized, nevertheless, it wasn’t a complete failure because bonds of friendship and camaraderie were being forged between the various contestants and that was a good thing."

"I agree," Olwë said. "I saw how the warriors and archers, whatever their origins, treated one another with respect and admiration, at least for the most part. If Ingwë decides to hold another tournament I plan to encourage my own people to at least attend if not participate. I think they could only benefit from the experience. It’s time we put an end to our isolationistic point of view. It simply is no longer tenable."

"And that is what we are hoping to achieve here on Tol Eressëa with this Progress," Arafinwë said, "to start breaking down the barriers so that we stop thinking of ourselves as either Amaneldi or Tol Eressëans; as Noldor, Vanyar, Teleri, or Sindar; as Native, Immigrant, Returnee or even Reborn. We are all elves and once we were a single people. It’s time we were again."

"Well said."

All the elves scrambled to their feet in shock at the sight of Oromë standing in their midst along with Vána. As the elves gave them their obeisance (the six hunters were a little slow, standing there slack-jawed in amazement), the Valar smiled broadly. Oromë cast a fond look at Sador and Beleg and then turned his attention to Bronweg and Handir, both of whom gulped at being the center of the Vala’s attention.

"Well, now you can go and tell your parents and anyone else who will listen that you dined with two of the Valar, as well as with these worthy elves from Aman."

"Dine?" Olwë said with an amused look. "Odd. I don’t remember issuing an invitation."

"Must have gotten lost in the bay as we were making the crossing," Glorfindel quipped and suddenly they were all laughing, Oromë and Vána the loudest.

"The boar smells delicious," Vána said once everyone calmed down, "and we brought dessert."

"Wild berry pie," Oromë said, giving Sador and Beleg a knowing grin and a wink.

"I hope you made more than one, then," Beleg said to Vána with a sly smile, "else none of us will get any."

"Lord Oromë just loves wild berry pie," Sador piped in, giving everyone a knowing grin.

Both Oromë and Vána smirked. "Don’t worry. I made one pie just for him. The rest of you, however, will have to be content with a single slice."

"And that’s more than any of you deserve," Oromë said haughtily.

Beleg and Sador responded by both sticking out their tongues at the Vala and Oromë threw back his head and laughed, taking both ellyn into his embrace and hugging them.

"Then be welcome to our humble gathering, my lord and lady," Arafinwë said with a bow. "Will any of the other Valar be joining us?"

"If they are, they haven’t told us," Oromë said with a smile. "But don’t worry. If any of them do show up, they’re not getting any wild berry pie."

"That’s good," Finrod whispered with mock relief and the others chuckled.

Olwë then issued orders for trestles to be laid out under the nearby trees and when the cooks announced that dinner was ready, everyone sat where they pleased, for the Valar insisted on no ceremony and the two kings agreed. Thus, to Bronweg and Handir’s everlasting delight, they found themselves seated on either side of Lady Vána while their four friends were seated with the kings, Ingwion, Finrod and Glorfindel. Lord Oromë sat between Sador and Beleg at another table along with Amarië, Alassiel, Laurendil, Manwen and Eärnur. Gilvagor, Mithlas, and Haldir sat with the other guards, including Celepharn, Eregil and Edrahil. At the last moment, Pelendur chose to sit across from his son, which surprised Haldir, but he gave his atar a shy smile and the two were careful to speak in generalities, allowing those around them to choose the topics of conversation.

The meal was long and merry and in the end everyone got two pieces of wild berry pie, which made them very happy indeed.

****

Glurim: Sindarin form of Irmo.

Manweg: Sindarin form of Manwë.

Iathrim: Sindarin name for the people of Doriath, literally "Fence-people" in reference to Melian’s Girdle.

Note: The attentive reader will recognize Bronweg and Handir and their tale from my Tapestry story ‘WICKED: Maiar Games’.