Cinnamon Raymaker
A clatter of a cooking pot echoes around the caves and gruff whispers reach her ears.
"Hush! Ye'll wake the princess!" whispers one of the dwarf women.
Yawning and stretching, Elwing is relaxed and warm in this cozy stronghold dug into the side of Mount Dolmed. She muses on the happenings of the previous day and is happy that she has been able to reassure Aztryd's gammy that Aztryd and Nizl are safe with her uncle in Alqualonde. The question remains as to whether Nole, the Teleri mariner, will be able to navigate a vessel through the waters to the shores of the land surrounding the stronghold of Gamilfûn, knowing that he has not the guidance of the morning star to aid him in his work.
Shaking her head to remove the thoughts crowding in on her, Elwing stretches again and rises from the comfortable cocoon of cushions to make her way outside the cave and look upon the new day. As she passes through the tunnels, she smiles and nods to the clan sisters who are busy at their work, preparing food and going about their daily tasks required to maintain the stronghold in its current state. As she nears the cave entrance, she spies Azagak and smiles cheerily.
"Good morning, princess. I trust ye slept well?"
"Aye, indeed, I did! Thanks to your hot meal and warm, cosy parlor, I slept like the babe Nizl! I hope you have a message for me to take back to your granddaughter? I really should grab a break my fast and return before they all start to worry about me!" explains Elwing.
"Aye, rest assured, princess, I have worked on the message while ye slept. I hope my Aztryd is convinced we will welcome her home, even though that marriage of hers was a failure. Tis the groom we blame, not my granddaughter! Loathsome beast! You did not tell me that he beat her! When I read that in her letter I almost forgot myself and ran off to give him yet another piece of my mind!"
Elwing chuckles at the thought of the unfortunate dwarf warrior being chased around the compound and back down the mountainside from whence he came by this ferocious dwarf grandmother.
"He is indeed fortunate, Azagak!" she replies.
"Come, princess. Let us find you food to fill you and a hot drink to warm you on your way!"
Azagak leads Elwing to a nearby cooking fire where she ladles steaming herbal tea into a wooden tankard. Handing it to Elwing she remarks, "This should give you stamina as well as warming you up inside, princess."
"Thank you Azagak!" replies Elwing, carefully taking the tankard and breathing in the steamy concoction. "Mmmm! Smells delicious!" she adds before taking a sip of the hot liquid. "And tastes just as good!"
As she nurses the tankard and sips intermittently, she watches Azagak bustles around, tidying the workspace and checking on the cooking pots. Eventually she announces that the bread is ready and removes it from the pan. Pulling off a warm chunk, she places it on a plate and allows it to cool slightly before handing it to Elwing. "There you are, princess! Enjoy!"
"Thank you, Azagak. I am sure I will!" replies Elwing, taking the plate and heading for a nearby stool, tearing into the fresh bread and sipping her herbal tea.
Aztryd smiles watching the princess, thinking how lucky her granddaughter was to find such a one as a friend. Just think how far this elven lady had flown and all to help a dwarf! Elwing smiles back, enjoying the taste of the fresh bread along with the herbal tea, and marvelling at how such a simple repast could taste so good! She finishes chewing the last piece of bread, washing it down with the last of the herbal tea and sighs in satisfaction.
"That was very tasty, Azagak. Thank you for your hospitality! Now I should really attempt to return to Aztryd and my uncle. Please give me your message, and I will secure it before I must change my form."
Azagak hands Elwing the message for her granddaughter. "Thank you so much, princess, for your kindness! Please remind Aztryd we love her dearly and want her home as soon as possible. Kiss Nizl for me. Most of all have a safe journey and may you find your own happiness again soon, princess."
Elwing nods to Azagak and smiles wistfully. "Aye, Azagak. If it pleases the Valar, one day I will regain my happiness. For now, I am happy just to be of help to a friend and her dear child. Farewell and thank you, Azagak!"
Azagak follows Elwing out of the tunnels and into the stronghold of Gamilfûn. Elwing smiles her goodbyes as she carefully attaches the precious message inside her outfit. Then she climbs the steps to the battlements and looks down on the vista below, taking stock of her surroundings before she starts her journey. She has decided to head north to see more of the Blue Mountains before again heading west for the lands of Sylvhara, Vana and ultimately Alqualonde, the Swanhaven.
Waving goodbye one last time she takes a small run and purposefully jumps into the air, over the battlements, to the gasps of surprise from those below her. In a shimmering of stars, her form transmutes into the great seabird that arrived in Gamilfûn the day before. Taking one last circle around the stronghold, she dips her wings gracefully and soars up on the air currents taking her over Mount Dolmed and northwards.
Beating her wings strongly, Elwing rises up until she is a speck from the ground below. As she travels onward, she notices something rather odd to the east of her path. Charred ground. Few trees. A long black scar running through the land. Veering east to make sure her eyes are not deceiving her, she flies closer to the blackened patch. No signs of life.
It lies leagues away from the dwarf stronghold, but will that distance be enough to keep them safe or may they, in time, be in danger. Who knows what might occur in these dark times? Her mind racing, she wonders how this might have come to pass. Had there been a war waged here recently? Had someone accidentally set fire to the forest? Hmmm. This wasn't likely considering the depth of the burning and the scarring on the land itself.
Just then a terrifying thought struck her. Hadn't she seen a dragon heading in the direction of Alqualonde as she had left with the message for Azagak? What if that dragon had caused this devastation? Blessed Iluvatar! She must return to the Swanhaven with all haste and ensure her uncle and the others were safe.
With this thought in mind, Elwing circles east and beats her wings hard until she reaches a much higher altitude. It didn't matter that she could not see what was below: she was now much more able to gauge the time it would take her to fly west to her uncle's palace, having completed the journey just the previous day. With the safety of those in Alqualonde foremost in her mind, she hurries on her way.
> Next Elwing
"Hush! Ye'll wake the princess!" whispers one of the dwarf women.
Yawning and stretching, Elwing is relaxed and warm in this cozy stronghold dug into the side of Mount Dolmed. She muses on the happenings of the previous day and is happy that she has been able to reassure Aztryd's gammy that Aztryd and Nizl are safe with her uncle in Alqualonde. The question remains as to whether Nole, the Teleri mariner, will be able to navigate a vessel through the waters to the shores of the land surrounding the stronghold of Gamilfûn, knowing that he has not the guidance of the morning star to aid him in his work.
Shaking her head to remove the thoughts crowding in on her, Elwing stretches again and rises from the comfortable cocoon of cushions to make her way outside the cave and look upon the new day. As she passes through the tunnels, she smiles and nods to the clan sisters who are busy at their work, preparing food and going about their daily tasks required to maintain the stronghold in its current state. As she nears the cave entrance, she spies Azagak and smiles cheerily.
"Good morning, princess. I trust ye slept well?"
"Aye, indeed, I did! Thanks to your hot meal and warm, cosy parlor, I slept like the babe Nizl! I hope you have a message for me to take back to your granddaughter? I really should grab a break my fast and return before they all start to worry about me!" explains Elwing.
"Aye, rest assured, princess, I have worked on the message while ye slept. I hope my Aztryd is convinced we will welcome her home, even though that marriage of hers was a failure. Tis the groom we blame, not my granddaughter! Loathsome beast! You did not tell me that he beat her! When I read that in her letter I almost forgot myself and ran off to give him yet another piece of my mind!"
Elwing chuckles at the thought of the unfortunate dwarf warrior being chased around the compound and back down the mountainside from whence he came by this ferocious dwarf grandmother.
"He is indeed fortunate, Azagak!" she replies.
"Come, princess. Let us find you food to fill you and a hot drink to warm you on your way!"
Azagak leads Elwing to a nearby cooking fire where she ladles steaming herbal tea into a wooden tankard. Handing it to Elwing she remarks, "This should give you stamina as well as warming you up inside, princess."
"Thank you Azagak!" replies Elwing, carefully taking the tankard and breathing in the steamy concoction. "Mmmm! Smells delicious!" she adds before taking a sip of the hot liquid. "And tastes just as good!"
As she nurses the tankard and sips intermittently, she watches Azagak bustles around, tidying the workspace and checking on the cooking pots. Eventually she announces that the bread is ready and removes it from the pan. Pulling off a warm chunk, she places it on a plate and allows it to cool slightly before handing it to Elwing. "There you are, princess! Enjoy!"
"Thank you, Azagak. I am sure I will!" replies Elwing, taking the plate and heading for a nearby stool, tearing into the fresh bread and sipping her herbal tea.
Aztryd smiles watching the princess, thinking how lucky her granddaughter was to find such a one as a friend. Just think how far this elven lady had flown and all to help a dwarf! Elwing smiles back, enjoying the taste of the fresh bread along with the herbal tea, and marvelling at how such a simple repast could taste so good! She finishes chewing the last piece of bread, washing it down with the last of the herbal tea and sighs in satisfaction.
"That was very tasty, Azagak. Thank you for your hospitality! Now I should really attempt to return to Aztryd and my uncle. Please give me your message, and I will secure it before I must change my form."
Azagak hands Elwing the message for her granddaughter. "Thank you so much, princess, for your kindness! Please remind Aztryd we love her dearly and want her home as soon as possible. Kiss Nizl for me. Most of all have a safe journey and may you find your own happiness again soon, princess."
Elwing nods to Azagak and smiles wistfully. "Aye, Azagak. If it pleases the Valar, one day I will regain my happiness. For now, I am happy just to be of help to a friend and her dear child. Farewell and thank you, Azagak!"
Azagak follows Elwing out of the tunnels and into the stronghold of Gamilfûn. Elwing smiles her goodbyes as she carefully attaches the precious message inside her outfit. Then she climbs the steps to the battlements and looks down on the vista below, taking stock of her surroundings before she starts her journey. She has decided to head north to see more of the Blue Mountains before again heading west for the lands of Sylvhara, Vana and ultimately Alqualonde, the Swanhaven.
Waving goodbye one last time she takes a small run and purposefully jumps into the air, over the battlements, to the gasps of surprise from those below her. In a shimmering of stars, her form transmutes into the great seabird that arrived in Gamilfûn the day before. Taking one last circle around the stronghold, she dips her wings gracefully and soars up on the air currents taking her over Mount Dolmed and northwards.
Beating her wings strongly, Elwing rises up until she is a speck from the ground below. As she travels onward, she notices something rather odd to the east of her path. Charred ground. Few trees. A long black scar running through the land. Veering east to make sure her eyes are not deceiving her, she flies closer to the blackened patch. No signs of life.
It lies leagues away from the dwarf stronghold, but will that distance be enough to keep them safe or may they, in time, be in danger. Who knows what might occur in these dark times? Her mind racing, she wonders how this might have come to pass. Had there been a war waged here recently? Had someone accidentally set fire to the forest? Hmmm. This wasn't likely considering the depth of the burning and the scarring on the land itself.
Just then a terrifying thought struck her. Hadn't she seen a dragon heading in the direction of Alqualonde as she had left with the message for Azagak? What if that dragon had caused this devastation? Blessed Iluvatar! She must return to the Swanhaven with all haste and ensure her uncle and the others were safe.
With this thought in mind, Elwing circles east and beats her wings hard until she reaches a much higher altitude. It didn't matter that she could not see what was below: she was now much more able to gauge the time it would take her to fly west to her uncle's palace, having completed the journey just the previous day. With the safety of those in Alqualonde foremost in her mind, she hurries on her way.
> Next Elwing