19: A Relationship Renewed

The reception of the announcement of Intarion and Lirulin’s betrothal at court the next morning was warm and approving. Many there had wondered if the ellon would ever betroth the fair elleth. Both Intarion and Lirulin were present at the court with Findaráto standing beside them carrying the copies of the contract. Lirulin’s parents were there as well, though Telemnar was not, having to attend to his duties as Ingwë’s chief lamastámo. If anyone wondered at the absence of Ingoldo and Tinwetariel, they kept their thoughts to themselves. After Ingwion read out the particulars of the betrothal there were cheers and congratulations for the couple.

Once court was done for the day, the couple disappeared and Nolondur and Yáviën made their own excuses, taking their copy of the betrothal contract with them, leaving Findaráto alone with Ingwion, Ingalaurë and Indil.

"Will you come with us tomorrow to see the Valar?" Ingwion asked Findaráto as the four made their way towards the family’s private wing. Ingwion had canceled the usual Privy Council meeting for that afternoon, and indeed, there was little that needed discussing, since the realm was running smoothly. They would convene again after Valanya.

"Of course," the Noldo replied, looking surprised. "It goes without saying. In fact, I am going to bring the betrothal contract with me. There is something I wish to ask Lord Manwë." What that was, he would not say and so the matter was dropped and the cousins, later joined by Tamurilon, spent the rest of the day in leisurely pursuits, enjoying each other’s company.

The next day, Indil excused herself from attending upon the Valar, wishing to meet with Lirulin and Amarië to begin discussing the upcoming wedding. Ingwion gave his sister a disbelieving look. "The wedding is half a year away. It’s not going to take you that long to...."

"It’s never too early to start planning," Indil interrupted, "especially when it comes to the bride’s gown and her marriage linens."

The ellyn all shuddered convincingly at that thought and Indil smirked as she left them. Thus, it was only Ingwion, Ingalaurë, Findaráto and Intarion (who joined them at the last minute) who made their way to Ilmarin where the Valar greeted them warmly.

"And what do you have there, Findaráto?" Manwë asked, nodding at the thin wooden case which the ellon was carrying.

Findaráto held it out and opened it, pulling out the thin parchment and handing it to the Elder King for his inspection. "Ah, the betrothal contract," Manwë said as he read it. "In half a year’s time, I see." He cast a sly grin at Intarion. "Almost as precipitous as Aulë and Yavanna."

There was laughter among the Valar as the Elves watched in bemusement as Lord Aulë and Lady Yavanna both started blushing. "We’re never going to live that down," they heard Aulë mutter and then the laughter grew louder.

"It’s just too funny, Brother," Tulkas boomed. "Everyone said my courtship with Nessa was fast, but we have nothing on you two." He smirked as Aulë glowered at him, but then the Worldsmith’s own good humor rose and he was chuckling along with the others, giving Yavanna a brief kiss that set her blushing even more, though now her expression was more pleased than embarrassed.

"At any rate," Manwë said to Intarion, giving him a warm welcoming smile, "may we extend our own congratulations for your betrothal." The other Valar all nodded and murmured soft congratulations.

Intarion bowed. "Thank you, my lords and ladies," he said, his pleasure evident in the smile he gave them.

"And was there a particular reason why you brought this contract with you?" Varda then asked, looking at Findaráto.

The ellon nodded, replacing the parchment in the case and closing it. "I would ask that you keep this in safekeeping, Lord Manwë," he said, handing the case to the Elder King. "I don’t trust...."

He stopped, remembering their earlier conversation and hoping he wasn’t being too froward. At the time that he thought of the idea, it seemed only prudent, given Ingoldo’s behavior at the dinner. Now, however....

"We will, of course, keep this safe with us," Manwë said gravely, "if that is your desire." He looked at Intarion and the ellon nodded.

"Nolondur has his copy," Ingwion said, "and I doubt if anything will happen to it, but I agree with my cousin. I don’t trust Ingoldo not to try something."

"He is being somewhat unreasonable, to be sure," Irmo said with a frown. "I was not aware that the Vanyar were also victims of the unrest we are seeing among the Noldor."

"Do you think it is related?" Námo asked his brother, raising an eyebrow at the thought.

The Lord of Lórien shrugged. "I don’t see how, yet, I have noticed a certain level of discontent among certain people in Vanyamar, a discontent which seems to center around Ingoldo and Tinwetariel. I’m not sure what it portends, though. Jealousy lies at the core of it, certainly, but beyond that...."

"Well, that is a discussion for another time," Manwë said mildly. "Let us not trouble ourselves with it today of all days." He turned to Ingalaurë with a smile. "Perhaps, child, you will grace us with one of your lovely poems and then Findaráto will give us a song. You may borrow one of our harps if you like," he said, addressing Findaráto, who smiled in delight at the thought of playing one of the Valar’s own musical instruments.

Ingalaurë also looked pleased and soon the halls of Ilmarin were resounding with music and laughter as the Valar and the four ellyn took their ease.

****

On Elenya Findaráto found himself at loose ends while Ingwion and Ingalaurë were meeting with the Privy Council and Indil and Intarion were engaged in their own work. He wandered idly through the various gardens surrounding the palace, paying little heed to his path, so he was surprised to find Amarië sitting by a fountain, a piece of embroidery in her hands. She looked up at his approach and smiled, putting the hoop down and extending her hand for him to kiss.

"I wondered if I would see you," Amarië said.

"Why did you not come to the palace and ask for me?" Findaráto asked, taking a seat next to her.

"Now, what would have been the fun of that?" she answered with a laugh and he joined her. "Besides," she continued after a moment, "this is much more pleasant."

"Indeed it is," he replied and then they were both silent for a time. Amarië picked up her embroidery and began stitching — a flower that Findaráto thought would be a rose when finished. Neither of them spoke; Findaráto gazed at nothing in particular while marshaling his thoughts. Finally, he cleared his throat awkwardly. "I’ve missed you," he said, not looking at Amarië.

"And I you," she answered quietly, continuing to stitch.

"I should have written," he said.

"Yes," she replied, but there was no condemnation in her tone. "And I should have visited Tirion."

"Yes," he answered in the same neutral tone she had employed.

Silence reigned between them for a moment or two longer and then Amarië stopped her stitching with a sigh. "I guess we both should have done what we didn’t."

Findaráto couldn’t help giving her a grin. "We make a great pair, don’t we?"

She laughed and it was light and gay and unforced. "So everyone keeps insisting."

"Do you think we should be betrothed, as Lirulin and the others say?" he asked suddenly, and then grimaced, wondering when he had become so stupid. Was he not a loremaster in his own right? Surely he could do better than that!

"What do you think?" Amarië said, starting to stitch again, thereby avoiding looking at him.

"I... I would like to," he answered as honestly as he could, "but something tells me the time is not meet and I don’t mean because of Intarion and Lirulin." He shook his head. "I’m sorry. I know you want more...."

"What I want, Findaráto, is whatever you are willing to give me," Amarië said serenely. "I will not pressure you, just as I know you will not pressure me. If we are to be betrothed it will be when we are both ready and not before."

"And if we’re never ready?" he couldn’t help asking, though he did not believe it.

She looked up at him and the smile she gave him set his heart racing and he had to stop himself from reaching out and embracing her in an unseemly manner. "I do not believe it, and neither do you. I certainly don’t think we’ll be so foolish as to wait as long as Intarion and Lirulin," she added with a laugh.

"I hope not," Findaráto replied as he joined her in laughter.

They settled into a more comfortable silence after that while Amarië returned to her embroidery — yes, definitely a rose, Findaráto could now see, a lovely white rose in full bloom on a piece of dark blue silk — while he let his gaze wander over the garden. Finally, though, he turned back to her with a shy smile. "Would you care to take a walk?" he asked.

Amarië slipped her needle into the edge of the fabric and set the embroidery aside. "I would love to," she said.

Findaráto stood and held out a hand to her and then, arm in arm, they walked through the garden speaking of inconsequential matters, yet Findaráto thought that even so the bond between them was deepening towards something more than childhood friendship and he was glad.

****

Days passed and weeks followed. Ingoldo disappeared back to the royal lodge and refused to return to Vanyamar. From Tinwetariel there was no word as to when she might return from Eldamas. The cousins were just as happy that both were away. The tensions in Ingwë’s court that Findaráto had noticed as soon as he arrived in Vanyamar were easing and the members of the Privy Council (according to Ingwion) were being less fractious and more cooperative. Those who had been siding with Ingoldo earlier were now content to allow the twins ‘room to breathe’, as Ingalaurë said at one point and Ingwion nodded in agreement to his brother’s assessment.

A routine was established amongst the cousins in which the business of the realm was conducted during the morning hours, leaving the afternoons and evenings free, although both Ingwion and Ingalaurë took turns being ‘on watch’, as they put it, in the event that a situation arose and had to be dealt with. Findaráto spent his mornings at his studies, concentrating on crystallography for the moment. He was interested in the properties of gemstones, both in terms of personal use and for certain industries. He thought, based on the work his uncle Fëanáro had done on the Silmarils (he had only seen them twice since their creation), that certain gemstones, rubies especially, might be used to harness certain types of energies. He was not sure if his theories would be workable, but so far his research had been promising. He was hoping to present them to Lord Aulë sometime soon.

In the meantime, he and Amarië continued to meet whenever possible. It became almost a ritual for them to foregather beside the small fountain where Findaráto had chanced upon her. Often, they would just sit and talk about family and friends, hopes and dreams. Amarië would stitch and Findaráto would play softly on the lap harp that Lord Manwë had gifted him after his impromptu performance. It was now one of his greatest treasures, the beautiful cherry wood glowing softly in the ever-present Light of the Two Trees, the soundboard decorated with a knotwork pattern that had been burned into the wood and then painted in a rainbow of colors.

When they were not sitting, they would walk arm in arm, taking in the lovely sights of the gardens. Once, they came to an old oak tree in one of the lower gardens and Findaráto smiled at it, his eyes clearly looking back upon a memory. Amarië noticed.

"What is it?" she asked.

Findaráto shook his head, then led her closer to the tree. He had to search for what he was looking for, bending over a bit. "Here," he said and pointed.

Amarië crouched down for a better look. There were scratches carved into the trunk of the tree that at first showed no pattern that Amarië could see but the longer she gazed at them the more they became decipherable and then she gasped, looking up at Findaráto, who gave her a rueful look.

"You did this?" she asked in amazement.

"I was very young and didn’t know better," he said in apology.

She gave him a wicked grin. "Evidently." Holding up her hand so he would help her to rise she cast a shrewd look at her beloved. "I assume you were punished for carving these names on the poor tree."

"Oh yes," Findaráto said with a laugh. "Duly punished." But he would not elaborate and she did not press for details.

Amarië glanced up at the tree, laying a hand on its trunk, then turned her gaze upon the ellon standing beside her. "It doesn’t seem to hold a grudge against you."

"I apologized to it long ago," he answered serenely and, holding out his arm for her, they continued their perambulation.

Their meetings did not go unnoted, though no one spoke of them in Findaráto’s presence. There was no talk of impropriety among the court gossipers, for the gardeners tending the various plants acted as unobtrusive chaperones. Unknown to Findaráto, Ingwion had told the others to leave the couple alone whenever they met unless they were specifically invited to join them, which wasn’t very often. His siblings and Intarion were more than happy to comply with his request and they quietly discussed the possibility that a betrothal announcement might be in the offing, though never in Findaráto’s hearing.

Thus, the days passed in an idyllic manner and the troubles that had occurred earlier were almost forgotten. Even Fëanáro and his exile were topics of the past and were no longer of interest to the good people of Vanyamar. On a particular Valanya, the cousins, now joined by Amarië, Lirulin and Tamurilon, were foregathered with the Valar as was their custom. Ingwion and Findaráto were entertaining them all with a harp and flute concerto. Ingalaurë and Indil had earlier sung a duet in praise of the Two Trees which had been well received by the Valar. The concerto was just coming to an end and there was much praising of the skill of the two ellyn when the doors of the chamber opened and Eönwë entered, giving them all a bow before stepping to Manwë’s side and whispering in his ear before stepping back.

Manwë’s expression never changed, but something in his eyes alerted the Elves and they sat there staring at the Elder King with some trepidation. Then, the Elder King smiled at them in a kindly manner, turning his attention to Ingwion. "News has come from Vanyamar. Your amillë has returned."

"Ammë!" the three children of Ingwë and Elindis exclaimed almost at the same time.

"What of Atar, though?" Indil asked. "Is he not with her?"

"Apparently not," Manwë answered.

"What can it mean then?" Ingalaurë demanded, his expression one of confusion, a confusion that was mirrored by his siblings.

"There is only one way to find out," Manwë said gently. "Go, my children. I regret that our time together must be foreshortened but you should return to the city and greet your amillë. I am sure she has all the answers to your questions."

With that the Elves took their leave of the Valar, speaking excitedly amongst themselves as they exited the chamber, wondering what the return of the High Queen might portend. When the Valar were alone, Manwë turned to Eönwë.

"What of Ingwë?" he asked.

His Herald gave an elegant shrug. "Two hours after Elindis left Tirion, he was seen heading down the Calacirya. By now he is at Alqualondë."

"Did anyone go with him?" Varda asked.

"Arafinwë and Eärwen accompanied him," Eönwë answered, "but none of their children."

"Hmm...." Manwë said, his brow furrowing in thought. "Then it isn’t a family visit."

"Why take Arafinwë, though?" Aulë asked.

"Ñolofinwë would not have left Tirion this soon after the trouble with Fëanáro," Tulkas replied, "that might prove dangerous, so whatever Ingwë is planning, he has decided to use Arafinwë instead."

"Are we so sure he is planning anything?" Námo asked with a thin smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

"He went to Olwë," Nienna pointed out, "not the other way around."

Námo gave his sister in the Thought of Atar a considering look and then bowed his head in acknowledgment of her insight. "This may prove interesting," he said, turning his attention to Manwë, who nodded.

"The question is: interesting for whom?" the Elder King retorted with a wry look and to that comment none of them had a ready answer.

****

Notes:

1. White rose in full bloom: According to the Language of Flowers, means ‘I am worthy of you’.

2. The ruby is considered to be the most powerful gem in the universe, so it is probably no accident that many of the early lasers in our own time were powered by this stone.