< Prev Alqualondë < Prev Lanell
AelKennyr Rhiano
Night lies like a blanket upon the haven of the Teleri elves. Soft as velvet, the stars like diamonds, Naeya, Diplomat of Lannell turns to the sea merchant who brought her safely to Alqualonde's shores.
Dame Naeya turned to Lord Nole. "Such a wonderous place to come to, and I have heard so much of the King of the Teleri." Nole smiles at the mention of his king.
Upon his throne, the King of the Teleri sits, his thoughts heavy upon his heart, contemplating what must come next...dreading the darkness ahead that will admit no stars. Footsteps upon the gem studded floor of the throne room causes Olwe to raise his head. He peers down the long hall and sees that Nole, wisest of sailors, approaches with another....a female...He smiles a little, and beckons the two to approach.
"My king, I, Nole, have returned. I bring with me Dame Naeya of Lannell, Knight of the Voice." Nole bows before his king.
Olwe's smile broadens at the sound of Nole's voice and his gaze shifts from the Wise and much-trusted sailor-turned-Ambassador the female elf before him. His gaze is kind but measuring, and his voice, when he speaks is gentle. "Hail, my friend Nole. Mae Govannen. Hail to thee, Naeya of Lannell, Knight of the Voice."
"Hantanyel tulesselyanen muinë tár Olwë Teleri (I thank you for seeing me King Olwë of the Teleri)," said Dame Naeya.
Olwe bows his head, his smile shy and warm at the same time. "I thank you, Dame Naeya, for braving the seas to travel here." Naeya looks in awe at the King and incredible beauty of the room.
"Lord Nole took great care of me, I was in very safe hands - but thank you, King Olwe." Nole nods at the mention of his name smiling towards Naeya.
Olwe rises, gracefull, from the throne, and looks back at Nole, giving a bob of his head. "You could be in no better hands than his, my Lady. Among all the sailors, he knows the seas best. "
Naeya smiles at Lord Nole and King Olwe. "I come on behalf of the leader of my order, Dame Ellyanna, to bring greetings and a small gift of friendship" She hands a box to Lord Nole and bows to King Olwe. Nole takes the box from Lady Naeya and ascends to his king. He hands the box to Olwe.
Slowly, Olwe descends, his eyes taking in the manner and dress of the Ambassador. He rest his gaze longest upon her features and at the last step, extends a hand. "We are most glad to welcome you upon the behalf of Dame Ellyanna and do inquire as to her health."
Olwe bows his head and smiles as he takes the box. He holds it in both hands and gives a shy smile. "Please relay my gratitude for this gift."
"Some silver goblets crafted by artisans near Lannell - a small token alas compared to the beauty that surrounds me." She smiles.
Olwe blushes and opens the box...He draws in a breath and slowly raises one of the goblets out of the box. "Such craftsmanship!" He looks the Ambassador in the eyes and replaces the goblet delicately. "My deepest thanks."
Naeya lowers her face and blushes, but raises her eyes and smiles "I shall pass your very kind words and wishs to Dame Ellyanna, King Olwe."
Slowly Olwe opens the satchel at his belt and extracts a circlet with three large pearls. Solemnly he holds the circlet out with both hands to the Ambassador. "Please aceept this upon Dame Elleyann's behalf. This circlet is very precious in the history of the Teleri elves..."he waits for her to take it. Naeya takes the precious gift with both hands outstretched - amazed at the beauty of the gift
"When first the Teleri came to the Undying Lands, Ulmo himself, the Lord of the Sea plucked those pearls from the ocean bed and Lord Aule fashioned the crown. It was the gift of the Valar to the Teleri..." he blushes, looks down a little shyly,"to me. There is not its like in all the world."
"Such an incredible and precious gift King Olwe, to hold a gift created by a Valar... I shall guard it with my life until it reaches Dame Ellyanna"
"Let it represent a pledge between thy people and Alqualonde, as a permament token of friendship and alliance."
"The Knights of Vallen are truely honoured and shall always remember the respect you have given dear King Olwe." She bows deeply.
Olwe bows his head back. "Please, Dear Lady, there is a room here to the side...Come, let us take our ease there as you give me news of your homeland. Fine Chilled Alqualonde wine awaits." He gestures with a sweep of his left hand.
"Lady Ellyanna also wishes me to tell, that should it please you King Olwë, the Knights of Vallen offer our support should you request it."
Naeya smiles. "Thank you. You are very kind. It has been a long journey." Olwe nods as he walks beside her to the audience room off the side of the throne room. "Please, Dame Naeya, have a seat?"
"Thank you, dear King Olwe. Please, after you." She blushes. Olwe replied with a sweep of his hand, blushing in return. "Beauty before age..." he smiles and guides her to a seat.
Naeya: smiles. "If it be the beauty of words then it should surely be yourself."
Olwe blushes and takes the chair not far from her, waiting as Nole, too, joins them. "You are most gracious, my Lady." Nole joins Lady Naeya and King Olwe in the conference room, taking a seat across from his king.
"Forgive my frank stare when you first came into the throne room. I see in your face traces of my elve kin who are still in the Undying lands."
Naeya replies, "Yes, I have kin in the undying lands and through my mother."
"Vanyar?"
"Some Vanyar and some Noldor - my mothers mother did not leave the lands when the Noldor left the undying lands." Naeya lowers her eyes in sorrow.
Olwe leans forward, his eyes mirroring a concern etched on his face. Forehead wrinkling, he asks gently, "How came you to Lannell?"
"My mother nurtured a wish for knowledge, King Olwe. I wished to explore, and the impact that humans were having was something that I wished to know about."
Olwe nodded, sitting back., thoughtful. "It must be the Noldor heritage." His comment is both a little teasing and yet sad at the same time. "They were never content to be still." Nole nods to King Olwe. The sadness melts from his tone, and he smiles in return. "The Atani flourish, as they were to."
Naeya continues. "Humans are many, and elves are few in those lands and yes I am a traveller." She smiles. "When I arrived in Lannell I felt called by a presence and as I was invited to eat and drink by the Knights, the presence grew stronger - I had to settle and follow its calling."
"A presence?"
"A presence which drew me to stop in that land. I felt I needed to offer myself to the aid of that place. As my thoughts became clearer so I identified her as the Goddess Vallen. A presence of healing and to do good in the world"
Olwe nods, listening intently. "That is a noble calling."
"I am sure that the Goddess is interpreted differently in other places, names and concepts change in the human tongue."
Olwe smiles softly. "I do not think Illuvatar is particular regarding by what form or how his love is known." Olwe leans forward. "Please, I do not mean that in a condescending manner."
"Not condescending at all King Olwe - you just speak the truth." Naeya: smiles sadly at the King, "I wish my visit was purely of pleasure, also Lady Ellyanna was very concerned of Lord Nole telling of fell creatures in these lands - as well as in our own lands"
Olwe smiles back for a moment, but the smile fades at her words. He Leans forward and his hand tightens on one arm of the chair. " Fell beasts?"
Naeya looks seriously at the King. "A creature of fire needed to be controlled in Lannel, but perhaps Lord Nole can better describe what he has seen." She turns to Lord Nole.
Olwe turns to Nole...."Balrog?"
Nole nods fearfully. "During one of our port of calls, we found Lady Feamahtar, and she claimed to see a burned region of forest near her outpost, where all the Teleri in that land vanished." Nole clears his throat and then says, "I also had a dream, my king..." Nole is heasatant to continue.
Olwe nods absently, gazing at the floor, eyes unfocused. "If there are Balrog again, walking the earth." He looks up, sharply at Nole, his eyes intent. "What did you dream?" Naeya turns to Nole and listens.
Nole shudders, fearful to delve in the memories of that night. "I dreamt of fire, a creature carrying weapons of living flame.Here in the woods of Alqualonde." tears come to his eyes. "I dreamt of the fall of my new friends, and your fall, my king, to this creature of fire."
Olwe lets his gaze fall from Noland's face..."Did you dream aught else?"
"Nothing, my king. For I awoke from the horror, then sought the solace of the sea that night." Olwe nods slowly.
Olwe's gaze takes in Dame Naeya. "The Balrogs are dangerous, Dame Naeya. They are the precursors to greater evils." Naeya looks concerned at Nole and frowns. "The creature that came to Lannell carried a whip of living flame." She turns her gaze from Nole to Olwe. "King Olwe, the creature was taller than a man or elf, it radiated heat and had short horns on its head"
"Based on Feamahtar's words, Naeya's report and my dream, I fear that it may be.. Balrog," said Nole. Olwe nods. "It sounds like a Balrog. They served a fallen Valar named Melkor. In Quenya, they are called Valarauko, but the Sindar called them Balrogs, and down through the centuries, that name has stuck."
The Ambassador of Laneel smiles half heartedly to the King. "I expect it is because Balrog is quicker to be spoken in warning."
Olwe smiles.."It is more likely because our Sindar settled in Middle Earth, and their tongue spread as they did." He drew in a deep breath and asked, "Dame Naeya, there has been only one sighted in Lannell?"
Naeya smiles. "Yes I believe so, King Olwe. It has been seen several times but has always been of very similar appearance - though seeing it through heat and smoke can make it difficult."
"There have been similar sightings in Comet's realm." Nole looks up at King Olwe. "There are more?" Olwe draws in a deep breath. "So it appears. " He folds his hands in his lap.."Your dreams...they are echoes of the same I have had...sent by Lord Irmo." Nole nods. "Is this a threat that we can hope to contain?"
Olwe turns to Dame Naeya, "I should like to visit Lannell, my Lady. I would know a balrog on sight." Olwe looks at Nole, his face pinched, his lips pressed together. The eyes he turns to him are troubled, serious. "If we do not, both Elves and Atani may vanish forever from this world." Naeya looks surprised and bows her head. "We would be very honoured to have you visit our lands, King Olwe."
Nole nods reassuredly, with a look on his face of determindedness.
"Nole, I should like to first visit my beloved cousin, Comet. I wish to speak with her about these things. We must reach out to our elven kin throughout the lands." Nole nods to his king, his look unwavering. "We can leave anytime." Olwe nods.
Naeya looks King Olwe in the eye. "The Knights of Lannell shall do all that they can to assist in ridding the lands of these evil creatures, King Olwe. Dame Ellyanna made this quite clear."
Olwe turns his gaze to Dame Naeya. "I would like to see Lannell, visit my elven kin, there. We must unite and be of one heart and mind against the evil that approaches."
"King Olwe, I shall travel as quickly as I can to bring word so that we can prepare for your visit, in case evil threatens at that time."
"Thank you, my Lady. Please relay that thanks to the knights."
Nole rose, bowing. "I will have my swanship ready for you my king, and my lady."
Naeya smiles appreciatively to King Olwe and Lord Nole. Olwe nods. "I shall send a swan to my cousin Comet and we shall set sail in three days." He turns to Dame Naeya.. "In the meantime, Alqualonde is a second home to you. Please take your ease and enjoy yourself. The trip home may be a hard one."
"Thank you very much King Olwe. I shall enjoy visiting your merchants before the journey."
Olwe stands and offers a hand to Dame Naeya. "We are blessed with your presence, sweet cousin. Rest well and may your Gentle Goddess continue to keep you."
Naeya smiles at the King. "Nai tielyar nauvar hwesta cana le (May you always have the breeze behind you in your travels)."
"Sére ar alasse (Peace and joy). ar saila, mâlon! (and wisdom, friend!)." Olwe inclines his head in respect to Ambassador.