Vána, Linfëa and Nienna

< Previous by InyaRay Oktomica Evil Flowers The Nightmare tears have been found growing in Orome's precious garden, where the Vala Vana has found them.  The beauty of the garden seems to be blighted by this poisonous flowers.  How can such evil invade the Undying Lands?  And can they be repelled before the Garden is destroyed? Vana, younger sister of Yavanna and wife of Orome, walked the forest of her husband.  Flowers sprung under her feet as she walked, and birds burst into song. Yet Vana the Ever-Young was troubled in heart and mind, for she sensed a difference in Orome's forests, a wrongness, something out of place.  As she puzzled this feeling, a wind swept over her, the smell of sea salt on the breeze.  "What is this?" she asked.  In answer, she heard the soft voice of Linfea, Wind of the seas.  "Greetings." "Ah, the winds," said Vana.  "There is the tiny sea."  She looked around the forest. "Do you feel the ocean wind?" "Oh, my," answered Manwe's wind."  I am called Linfea Nensule."  Vana smiled with delight.  "It is my honor, Linfea.  Welcome, Sister!" "Not at all, it is my honor to be here.  I was at the last Council, and saw the tree you brought." It was then that Nienna, Lady of Mercy and tutor of Olorin joined them.  The Vala of Mercy and Compassion greeted them with a heartfelt, "Cousins!"  She came up to them, catching Linfea's words.  "Yes, Vana, such a terrible sight." Linfea and Nienna exchanged pleasantries until Vana spoke again. Vana nodded and gestured to her flower."  As you can see the garden grows but....there is something...so terrible..." "Terrible?" asked Nienna.  "It is beyond a bad dream, I fear."  She looked from one to the other.  "Come, I will show you."  As she guided them through the forest, Linfea spoke.  "We are concerned about this blight of plants."  "Ever has my garden bloomed, as if eternal Spring...but now...."  She quickened her pace.  "Come."  "Of course your garden should bloom," said Nienna. Both Linfea and Nienna followed Vana until she suddenly stopped.  Both gasped sharply at the sight before them.  "More trees withered?" asked Nienna.  "How can this be?" added Linfea.  Suddenly Vana seemed to wilt and fell to the ground senseless. "Vana?" called Nienna.  "Vana, are you alright?"  Linfea cried out, "Nienna, do you see?? Vana has fallen!  How can this be?" "But what could have happened here?" Nienna cried.  Linea continued to speak, in shock. "She was fine and then fell, as if dead." Nienna bent down beside the fallen Vala.  "Vana, can you hear us?"  She looked around.  "But...how is this even possible?  Surely her spirit can hear us." Linfea looked around, at the withered trees.  "Look how dark it is here."  She turned to l ook at the fallen Queen of Spring. "She is a spirit.  What can this mean?" "Nothing good," answered Nienna.  Linfea blew a cooling breeze over the prone Vana, who gives a small moan before her eyes flickcered open.  In a small voice she said, "We must move from this place."  Nienna and Linfea helped her to her feet. "Vana, what happened?" she asked as all three move away from the blighted area. "Thus Orome found me," said Vana. She pointed with her head over her shoulder.  There, among the withered trees were flowers of a vibrant hue, at odds with the dead and dying plants around them. "It is the flowers.  They harm even me." "In your own garden?" asked Nienna. "If I had not Spring with me, I would be truly gone." "Your own flowers hurt you?  How could they?" "They are not flowers," answered Vana.  "Vile imitations!  Weeds!  I shall call them thus ever more!" Linfea stared at the thriving flowers.   "The blossoms that look like the reddest of roses?" she asked.   Nienna looked at the flowers as well. "How can they grow in your own garden?" she asked.  "Such as this, " Vana answered, "do not grow." "These where we are now standing?" asked Nienna, alarmed.  "These, yes, " replied Vana, "but on the other side, the purple ring...never.  Yet even this close, the shadow is darker than it was.  And soon this garden, too, may host that ring." "It is growing?" asked Linfea.  "If they do not grow, their influence does.  This is a new shadow."  "There are two shadows?" asked Linfea, stricken.  "This rose garden," answered Vana, "was all light." "There are very few who are powerful enough to disturb a Vala," mused Nienna, "very few indeed." "This garden has never known a weed or a withered tree," said Vana.  "I do not recall seeing anything like this in all my travels," offered Linfea. "This isn't 'in your travels'.....this is Vana's own Garden, " answered Nienna.  "In the Gardens of Vana, there is only one who could do such as this," said Vana, "once.  "Unfortunately, true," Nienna agreed. "And that one should be locked away where he can do no harm." "And that's the last place one would think to find such as this!" Linfea eyed the offensive plants. Nienna's words made her turn to Nienna.  "Is he not?" "At least we thought he was locked away," answered Nienna.  "Have you checked your lands?" asked Vana.  "He is playing, showing that he is here."  Nienna said, quietly, "No one else could be responsible." "So far it is only this place," said Vana,"but if he is free...there is more lurking."  "I haven't seen anything else amiss...but would we see it?  Strange that he would want us to know he is about." Linfea shuddered.  "To have Vana fall as if dead...like the blighted plants...that is cause for alarm." "The weeds and the blighted plants would be cause enough for alarm," said Nienna.  "Yes, that is why I came to see for myself," said Linfea. "Yes, anything that can strike down a Vala....surely he wants us to be afraid." mused Nienna. "Too bad.  I won't play his game of fear," declared Vana. Vana turned to Linfea. "I was only faint last time, and Orome found me. This time....Linfea, have you noticed a change in the wind?" "Not yet," she answered, but I will be watchful, now." "Nothing?" asked Vana, "Yet  you came.  Perhaps it is faint....my own sadness at this may have hurt the roses.  I cannot bear to think of it.  A garden is made of joy." "I came," said Linfea, " because I wanted to see your garden and the trouble for myself.  If there are more areas I know now what to look for."  Vana nodded. "But what shall we do?" asked the Lady of Spring.  "We know what we have found here could come from only one.  It may be our only warning."  Linfea nodded Asked Nienna, "What can we do?" "How could such have escaped from a prison where there is no escape?  Knowing that he has could help."  "He couldn't work such a strong effect, striking down you, Vana, from a distance, could he?" "Such boldness, thought from hiding.  Perhaps he is not entirely free.  Maybe there is a chance to yet contain him.  Perhaps one of his creatures would know.  An interview with one..."  Nienna suddenly noticed Linfea was gone. "Linfea?"  "Gone with the wind," Vanna answered.  "Always flightly, said Nienna. "This is so," agreed Vana. " I think it just a whim, the winds, coming and going." Nienna returned to the subject at hand. "Do you think one of his creatures--even if he knew anything-- would tell you?"  "Perhaps if you were to help it," answered Vana.  The wind rose again, the scent of sea and salt, and Linfea was back among them.  "Linfea, you scared us, vanishing like that," Nienna said sharply.  "Yes," chimed in Vana, "This place...it may no longer be safe." Linfea blushed.  "Pardon me, there was a small matter that called me away."  Hurriedly, to change the subject she said, "Perhaps we should first determine just how is locked away."  Nienna gave a smile at the ways of the winds.  "Yes," answered Vana.  "Is there a balrog that might know?  Or perhaps a clue that has been left.  Have you noticed any odd items in your lands, Nienna?" "I suspect a case of 'bad seed,' minions from the darkness," offered Linfea.  "A 'bad seed', no doubt, " agreed Vana, "to grow such a vile thing." "I have not noticed anything, but I was not looking so closely," answered Nienna. Vana mused.  "It would be like him to lead a chase." "A bad seed," agreed Nienna, "and a very potent seed." "Potent as poison," responded Vana.  "And like a mold, if not taken care of, can spread quickly," added Linfea, " toxic."  "Indeed," agreed Nienna. "I cannot remove it, "confessed Vana," as you have seen.  Evil."  Nienna asked,"Have you talked to Yavanna about it?"  "I have not," replied Vana.  "It was my wish to show what there is to see.  It is our only clue yet." "She knows a lot more about plants than I do," responded Nienna.  "Have you tried salt water?" offered Linfea. "Yes, my sister could surely assist.  But it may return, or appear elsewhere.  The root of this we must deal with."  "Let us not panic yet," said Linfea.  "There is rumor of a balrog on the move again."  "Such weakness I felt, and amid my own flowers," said Vana.  Linfea patted Vana.  "Such a nightmre for you."  "We must stop this." said Vana. "We must," agreed Nienna."And we know the Ainur, together, are stronger than he is." "Let us try salt water on the 'bad plants,'" suggested Linfea.  "Salt is a purifying agent."  "Certainly," agreed Vana.  "Although," added Linfea, "Not good for the rest of the Garden."  "I would rather nothing could grow in that place," answered Vana, "than what is there now.  Perhaps we can try it?" "The best thing will be when that area thrives and new growth flourishes." "I'm sure Vana can manage the new growth,"offered Nienna. "Meanwhile, if this is deliberate," continued Linfea, "then we must not let it affect us in a negative manner." "Linfea," asked Vana.  "Can you place the salt water on it now?"  Linfea nodded.  "I cannot think while it is still here.  I dare go not closer."  Linfea called her power of wind and flew out to the seas surrounding the Undying Lands, pure and untouched by any evil, unknown to the mortal world since the separation of the Shining Lands from the mortal plane.  Using her wind, she gathered a quantity of that purest of sea water and hastened back.  Like rain, the sea water fell in the garden of Orome, on the deadened trees and deadly plants.  Vana stared hard, offering a prayer to Illuvatar, that this desperate plan work, that the salt of the sea water would retain the purity needed to restore her beloved forest.  It seemed as though the trees seemed to grow strength from the refreshing downpour.  "Yes," she whispered.  Nienna called up to Linfea, "Linfea!  Vana says it is starting to work!"  Looking around, the Vala of compassion murmured, 'I can't see anything in these weeds." Linfea, floating gently back over the poisoned area, lets another sprinkle of water loose over the affected area. Again she gathers up the cleansing sea water and spreads it across the flowers.  "Blessings," said Vana.  The plants seemed to dissipate before her eyes.  "Gone," she breathed. "Amazing," said Nienna.  "The trees will heal. I will take care of them."  Vana felt a healing breeze.  "Now I will able to rest and think.  It is all gone." "Linfea, that was wonderful," said Nienna. "Truly," added Vana. "I am most grateful."  Linfea clasped her sisters in joy.  "I am always at your service, and have learned a great thing today."  " Valar valuvar! (The will of the Valar be done!)" said Vana. "Yes," said Linfea.  "Together we are stronger than he," said Nienna. "Hope," said Vana, "is what you have brought this day.  Already my head clears of this poison." "We need not fear," said Linfea.  "Together we are as strong as a bundle of twigs is stronger than a single stick." "Now we know how to defeat these weeds, if any more appear," said Nienna.  "There is no choice but to fight," said Vana.  "We can hardly give up," agreed Nienna.  "Linfea added, "And we shall prevaill. Illuvatar will prevail." Nienna looked pensive for a moment.  "If he is causing us this much trouble, what must be happening to the Children?" "Oh, my," said Vana. "They may have no idea yet, " said Linfea,"There is danger to them if they allow rumor and fear to weaken them." "Yes," agreed Vana.  Nienna asked."Do they not speak of a strange new darkness?"  "New?" asked Vana.  Linfea nodded."Yes, I have heard them speak of it, but all rumors and tales."  Looking at where the plants once were, she continued.  "This was certainly darkness." "This is new," said Vana.  "Could it be something else?"  "But this was not fatal," said Linfea.  "Not to me," answered Vana.  Nienna said, "Not to a Vala."  "But it was placed here for a purpose. Whoever placed it wants us to stir."  Nienna nodded. "I think you are right.  It is a message." "Perhaps to move to the Children. But a predicted response we shall not give!"  "We could hardly move them, even if we wanted to," answered Nienna.  "Perhaps saltwater from our shores would work on these plants if they are among the Children," suggested Vana.  "I shall try, if needed," answer Linfea.  Vana smiled for the first time in days.  "It must have been a terrible shock for you.  You must renew yourself." Vana nodded."It is so."  "It is good Orome found you," said Nienna.  "His anger," said Vana," shook the sky." Nienna nodded.  "None of us should wander far alone.  "Even now, Orome is seeking this, across our lands."  "Good, " answered Nienna, "he is always good at finding things."  Vana looked at Nienna and Linfea.  "If you find a balrog, do  you think you could talk to it?"  Linfea turned to the Vala of Compassion. "Nienna?"  "Probably," said Nienna. "I don't know how talkative balrogs are, or even what they like."  "You are the patient one," urged Linfea,  Vana chimed in. "Perhaps your compassion could soften the heart of a balrog enough to tell us what we need to know."  "Yes," agreed Linfea," my thought also."  Vana continued, "If there is no other clue, it may be the only source of information." "Well,"replied Nienna.  "Just because some of the dragons escaped the darkness, there are still plenty of creatures under its influence." "I know these dragons, and they may be able to help, do you think?" asked Linfea.  "Yes, at the least, the dragons may have seen or heard something." "They may even have had a message planted, if unwittingly.  A riddle would please such as he.  A dark joke, this weed, a suggestion born of dread," said Vana. "Ahh.."Linfea nodded.  "A brillant suggestion, Vana. He is that type that likes to appear wise." "Watching us chase clues..to feel clever...yes." "Yes, bull behavior." "Perhaps your dragon friends will have a message for us. Do you see them often?  Can you summon one?" "I can put out a call.  Dragons and wind have an affinity. I can try." "Perhaps, again, you will of great help, Wind," Vana smiled and said.  "But for not, I must rest.  My deepest gratitude."  "You have had such a trying time," consoled Nienna. "This affects all of us," said Linfea.  "Usually I stay detached, but this time I felt compelled to come and if I can help. Well...I am here." Vana looked at where the poisonous flowers were.  The ground was now bare. "This poison...is gone now."  Nienna smiled at Linfea.  "You were such a help!" "Be well, "said Linfea, gathering the wind about her."  Refresh and renew."  "Thank you," answered Vana. "Yes, indeed, sister, rest now."  Vana waves at both. "Until next we meet," said Linfea, drifting away on her wind.  Nienna tiptoed away quietly.  Vana smiled as she went in search of her slumber couch. "So kind," she murmurs.  Linfea gently blew a healing breeze over Vana as she stretched upon her couch. Then she floated out to sea in search of a dragon. Upon the ground, where once the poisonous flowers had taken root, a tendril shot out of the ground, its movement serpentine.  It swayed back and forth, as thought directed, then stilled, the tip curling and uncurling.  Then rearing back, the tip flew down at the ground, like a snake striking a hapless victim, and the plant buried itself under the ground, the very dirt settling over it . > Second Ainur Council        > Next Nienna