《West of Arda》Losengriol

3、Chapter three

　　I did not receive any punishment or disapproving words for speaking to the King-sister like that. When the golden light of Laurelin took reign, I quickly washed and dressed to leave the house.

　　When I reached Rumil’s study, my mood did not improve. There were almost ten Noldorin princelings and a few children of the noblemen in the theatre. They chattered and quibbled and bickered. I wished I could cast a silencing spell to shut them up.

　　I was not in the mood for Tinfang’s music lesson. I enjoyed lore, smithing, governing tactics and animal rearing a lot more than linguistic, poetry and music. Normally I would feign interest and compliance to his instruction, but today was not the day, after what transpired yesterday.

　　Tinfang did not say anything. He was an ancient elf, some said that he was a Maiar in disguise. With star-white hair and a pale, almost porcelain complexion, he was exceedingly shy and elusive. He only agreed to give tutorials with the coaxing of Master Rumil, in exchange for the latter’s grey annuals in progress.

　　He merely took out his silver flute and raised it to his lips. A few silver keys flying out, like butterflies fluttering their wings upon the green knoll. The sweet music ended abruptly and when I looked up, he was already gone.

　　Maglor, who was the keenest on music and songs, sighed loudly in despair. Other boys looked as if their sweetest dreams were suddenly broken, glanced around in bewilderment and annoyance.

　　“Why do you have to annoy him again?” demanded Curufin. Next to him, Celegrom rolled his eyes. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to convince Tinfang Warble to tutor us?”

　　I glared at the brothers.

　　Finrod, who was mostly gentle and calm, decided to join in. I forgot that he also loved music. “Dear cousin, you should display more respect. For Tinfang’s music was said to first awaken Lady Varda’s stars and make some of them fall in excitement. It was rare for such a powerful being to give lessons on his craft.”

　　“So?” I snapped finally, “I do not care. I won’t be here tomorrow anyways.”

　　Caranthir smirked behind me. “So our dear uncle has finally realised that Rumil’s study was way over your intelligence and made you withdraw? Child of Ainur, he was wise indeed!”

　　This made me furious. “How dare you, I was not---”

　　“I think you are very intelligent.” My angry words were cut off by the beautiful smooth voice belonging to Ecthelion.

　　“Oh, for Manw?’s sake, why are you always defending her?” Celegrom rushed to aid his brother as well. “Of all our cousins, they chose the plainest one to sit among us! Surely, Ecthelion, son of Eldarion, you cannot say this with honest heart, that she was beautiful as well!”

　　Ecthelion’s face was perfectly calm. “I am more than happy to say so.”

　　The sons of Fe?nor erupted into chaos and cacophony. I was deeply peeved. It was my fault that Tinfang ran out the way he did, but I could always apologise to him later! It was wholly necessary to dish out the personal attacks. And I did hate to hear my father’s name mentioned.

　　Now, they would never say anything like this to Isfin. She was their favourite cousin. They were always glad to ride with her. They would also not dare to provoke Nerwen, who was much taller than her brothers and could make them cower with a single look.

　　I stormed off the study in fury. Now I started to feel glad to have accepted the request from the Hall of the Spirits. Once I learnt their craft, I’d become powerful in my own right. They would not dare to anger me again!

　　I was sitting on the cold marble stairs and thinking of all the different spells I could learn and use on the Fe?norian spawns. My musing was interrupted by the approaching familiar footsteps.

　　Ecthelion sat down next to me. He had a basket with him, which he opened to display an array of bread rolls, diced pears and grapes, as well as freshly caught silver beams and trouts.

　　“Well hidden.” He handed me a plate. “If I spent more time searching for you, the lunch would have been spoilt.”

　　I shot him a glare. “In Aman nothing would spoil.”

　　“I was joking.”

　　“And in another time it would have been very funny, and I would laugh.”

　　We ate in silence. After drinking some water, Ecthelion put down his glass carefully. “Please do not listen to the sons of Fe?nor. They are not telling the truth. Their words are hot, and their hearts are hotter. It all burns to nothing.”

　　I shrugged. “It did not matter. I was used to it.”

　　His fair face fell a little, but his voice was gentle: “Would you please tell me, how I could make you happy?”

　　“You brought me lunch. I am overjoyed!” I toasted him with a glass of deep burgundy coloured grape juice. He laughed and toasted me back.

　　After finishing lunch, I took out a parcel and handed it to him.

　　“I made this for your begetting day. “I urged him to open the package. A small, framed painting made from ground up metal and pine oil slipped out. He cradled it carefully and stared.

　　I spent a few weeks devising this painting, even going to the length of producing several rough sketching to find the best composition and shade contrast. The Bay of Eldamar blossomed in full glory. Wild vines, bushes and reeds with many field flowers sprawled over the foreground, with many shades of yellow, green and blue hues. The bay water took a mere part in the background, simmering in the mingled lights.

　　In truth, Eldamar bay was not this unruly. Since Telérin folks arrived just under a thousand tree years ago, their old friends, the Noldors, had helped them built the major harbour city Aqual?nde, as well as many smaller townships that studded along the coastlines. There were paved marble promenades along the harbour, jetties with curved pillars surrounded by hundreds of white sails and swan ships, as well as beautiful summer houses with delicate gardens and elegant balconies.

　　Perhaps I dreamt what Eldamar Bay was in its ancient days before the arrival of Eldars, or before the conquest of the Aratars. Or maybe it was how the Great Land still was, across the Outer Sea, where everything was young and wild.

　　Despite his quickness and sharp reflexes, Ecthelion loved arts the most. The first time I showed my secret collections of small paintings to him, he was delighted. Or maybe he was kind because he knew, inside the gilded silver cage of Tirion, I did not have much that truly belonged to me except for my creations. He asked for one for the day of getting his Amiless?.

　　I have grown, if I dared say, considerably more skilled in painting between then and now. This seemed to be the fitting gift for departure. In secret I had hoped that one day he would see how many skills I had and how smart my mind was, and then, maybe he would like me.

　　Ecthelion held the painting for long. Long, delicate fingers traced the frame made of unpolished birch wood. He did not touch the canvas itself, for the ground up colours were as delicate as star dust. If one looked at them wrong, they started to flutter.

　　But he did not seem to be happy. He gave the painting one last look, then carefully tucked it back to the parcel. Then, he turned towards me.

　　“What did you mean, when you said you won’t be here tomorrow anymore?”

　　Suddenly, I felt a lump in my throat.

　　“Yesterday, I was informed…that I had been chosen to go to the Hall of the Spirits. They said they would teach me secret crafts only known to the Aratars there.”

　　Ecthelion was quiet. A moment later, he asked:” How long will you be gone?”

　　Now this was the easy question. There was the luck that came with being the unwanted child. I had been taken from Mandos to Losengriol, from Losengriol to Tirion, from Tirion to Aqual?nde…like a piece of burning coal that nobody wanted to take to their hands. With this rate, I would be returned back to Tirion in no time, once the Lord and Lady of Mandos grew tired of me.

　　“I don’t think it would be long.” I said with great confidence and conviction. Ecthelion on the other hand still did not look convinced. His eyes were downcast and there was a sadness on his face. So I took his hands and consoled him.

　　“Worry not! When I come back I’d be the master of all their secret spells and crafts. I will show you and it will be so funny!”