Training of a Swordmaiden

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Carleen Luckstone, Shawn Daysleeper, and AelKennyr Rhiano

Olwe whirls around after deftly blocking her last thrust and with the grace of the Eldar, leaps back. Wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, he smiles approvingly.  She has come far in her swordscraft. He spares a glance over at Nole, seeing the sailor's expression as he looks on. Overhead, the Arien's vessel has made half its journey across the sky.  Birdsong breaks the stillness of the pause as the Lord of the Teleri pauses to run his tongue over parches lips.  He extends his hand, palm up and with his fingers, he beckons Elenwe. "Again," he says.

Seeing her Lord skilfully avoid her attack, Elenwe pauses to catch her breath. She is out of practice in her sword skills, and Olwe appears to enjoy making her strive hard in this practice. She hears him say "Again." as he motions her to attack. Trying not to gasp, she exclaims, "Please, my Lord, I need but a moment. May I fetch some water for you?"

Ever more cautious than his lord, Nole watched his king and Elenwe train by the waterfall.  His face wears a concerned look, and he hopes his lord did not notice it when he glanced at him. He would always defend his friends, but he tended to stay out of the training exercises. He watches his the pair.

Olwe studies her face a moment, and he gives a short nod of agreement  to the brief pause. "I am fine," He answers, ignoring the thirst. "But yes, we may take a moment."

Elenwe sheaths her sword and turns to Nole. "My friend, I am happy you chose to join us. It is good to be practicing the way of the sword again with our king." Glancing over her shoulder at Olwe, she tries to discern any hint of fatigue, but cannot. She smiles, thinking how much he has improved in a short time. "So much has happened recently, it seems ages since.... it happened." She thinks. Elenwe still found it hard to think of those dark moments of King Olwe's time of despair.

Nole smiles. "Your skills are remarkable! You have come a long way in your training." He claps. His thoughts then shift back to the dark time his friend refered to. It was an emotional time for them all. He shoves those thoughts away. "We have learned a lot since then, dear friend." He offers a cup to Elenwe to get a drink of water.

Elenwe accepts the cup with a smile at her dearest friend. "Thank you, Nole."  She climbs down the rocks to the water, reaching into the cool water to fill the cup. As she sips, she watches the water over the rim of the cup. Water always seems to bring her such a calming, peaceful feeling.  Straightening, she continues to stare into the rippling water. She then turns to watch her two companions. They have come to mean so much to her in the short time she has been in Alqualonde. Gratefully, she remembers the kindesses each has shown her as she grew accustomed to the Swanhaven. "They accepted me, as if I had always been part of Alqualonde," Elenwe thinks to herself. So different from anything she had ever known. "No one has ever accepted me so easily. They always..." Elenwe shakes her head. "No!" she says aloud, then realizes Olwe and Nole probably heard her exclamation. She repeats, "No!" to herself. She will not dwell on those in her past who showed her not kindness and love, but only cruelty and disdain. She turns and scrambles back up to stand with Nole and Olwe.

Olwe turns his head to watch her climb back up from the pool of water at the base of the waterfall, eyes widening a little at the emphatic "No!" which spills from her.  He watches her join them, curious but silent.

Nole looks up at his friend's words. He wonders what could be running through her mind. He notices his king's silence and nods. He then gets a drink of water himself. The sun was quite warm this day.

Olwe watches Nole, wondering at the sailor's silence. He had anticipated Nole asking Elenwe about her outburst, and frowns a little as he puzzles over the meaning. Reaching up, he dabs at the bead of sweat on his upper lip and turns blue eyes to rest upon Elenwe. "You have much improved, " he says quietly to her.  "And I have needed the exercise since..." he pauses and then continues on, making his voice as level as possible. " Since the incident."

The silence deepens and seems to encircle Elenwe, relentlessly drawing her into memories she has tried to banish from her mind. She can still remember the shrill voice of the woman she last lived with in the seaport. And the hand which struck out at her for trifling errors. The lonely nights spent in the cold darkness of the corner appointed to her for sleeping quarters. But, just when she despaired of ever feeling anything other than worthless, the beautiful swanship sailed into the port where she lived. Elenwe looks at Nole, remembering the disbelief on his face as he beheld her for the first time. She smiles. "Kind Nole," she says, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "Have I thanked you enough for brining me to this beautiful place, where I have the fellowship of Teleri like myself?" Elenwe glances nervously at the pair, hoping they did not hear, or won't comment on, her outburst.

Nole smiles. "You defend the few of us that have found their way home. Alqualonde feels joy to have another return here and bring light to us in these uncertain times. You have filled some of the lonliness in my heart: that is thanks for me."

 Elenwe smiles again at Nole's words. "Dear friend, my lonely heart was greatly cheered when you took me aboard your ship and brought me here. You are the family I always dreamed of." Turning to include Olwe in her broad smile, she continues, "My Lord, you are both my family." She hesitates, and then blurts out, "Please, forgive my outburst a moment ago. Some horrible memories were crowding into my mind, and I did not want them to linger. I did not realize I had spoken out loud until it was too late." Her words trail off into embarassed silence.

Gentle is the gaze the Lord of the Teleri turns upon Elenwe, and he gives a soft nod. Casting a quick glance over at the Teleri merchant, he turns his gaze back to the swordmaiden, for so she is becoming, and speaks as he reaches up and releases his hair from the bit of string which held it off his neck and out of his eyes. As the silver strands came tumbling free, he answers her softly, "There is nothing to forgive, Elenwe." He pauses and then continues, swallowing past a hard lump in his throat. "I know well how memories we would prefer forgotten can swim up from their murky depths in our mind and claim hold of our emotions."

Elenwe hangs her head. "Oh, aye, my Lord," she replies, "and I do not want them to darken the beauty I see here in the Swanhaven. " She turns to the waterfall, and then the sea, indicating the lush landscape with a wave of her gloved hand. "Everything is so beautiful here. And those who live here are beautiful, as well. Although," she says with a laugh, thinking of some of the newer arrivals, "they are not what I would expect for residents of Alqualonde."

Nole nods at Olwe's words. "I feel those memories upwell at times also." He blushes at Elenwe's description. "It is indeed beautiful. I have seen many lands on my travels abroad. They are interesting and remarkable in their beauty and culture, but I am always happiest here."

Olwe watches her as she gestures and slowly unbuckles his sheath strapped to his back. Walking over toward the fountain, he bends down and lays the blad reverently upon the ground, tracing the etchings upon the handle lovingly, caught for a moment in a memory of his own, cherishing again the moment the sword in its sheath was pressed in his hands.  He blinks away the image of the Maia Tilion, his eyes shining, his lips framing the words, "For you, Heart of  my Heart." Turning back to the others, he sits down upon the soft grass and waves his companins over. "Come, sit, please," He beckons.

Elenwe watches the movements of her King and follows his request to sit. She settles onto the grass. Eyes the color of the sea regard both his companions, then turn their gaze upon the training swordmaiden. "Elenwe," he calls her name gently.  "The utterance sounds like it came from a place of deep pain within you." He is sill and calm as he watches her face for her reaction.

Elenwe bites her bottom lip, trying not to betray her emotions. "Yes, my Lord," she says quietly, "very painful." She can see the calm in his gaze. There is none of the harsh judgment she endured in the other land. Does he want her to reveal? "There were not many who were kind to me in the other lands. So different from how you both show great kindness to me," she begins.

The wind began to blow a warm breeze, and in the distance, the raucous caw of seagulls could be heard.  Olwe nods at her words, urging her to continue.

  Elenwe sees Olwe's encouraging nod, and words now tumble from her lips. If she speaks quickly enough, perhaps the memories chasing her will have to leave quickly. "I was the only Teleri, as you know, in the areas I was for years. Because I looked unlike the others, and was not human, I was taunted, hated, and beaten by many. I was made to do the menial, dirty tasks others turned their noses up at." Tears fill her eyes. "The last one I lived with seemed to delight in setting impossible tasks for me and then beating me when I failed, as she knew I would." She closes her eyes, hot tears stiniging her cheeks.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the falling water beside them, as her tears fell.  Olwe sat forward and started to speak but stopped himself, watching the pain flit across her delicate features. Silently he willed her to continue, hoped she would at last unburden herself.

Nole shudders as he hears her tale. He has not known what she went through while abroad, only that she was deparate to come with him.

Trying to compose herself, dashing away the tears, she says, "The day Nole sailed into port, I had decided I would leave what had been my home and never return. I knew not where I would go, nor if I would survive. I only knew I could not survive there any longer." Turning to Nole, she lays a hand on his sleeve. "So you see Nole, you saved my life. Had you not offered to bring me here, I might have... have.... died."

Olwe's mind recoils at her words. His hands involuntarily clench as she speaks. His eyes drop to the ground as he listens, and he forces his hands to relax and uncurl. "Where were your parents?" he asks softly. "What happened to them?"

Nole gives her a reassuring smile and takes her hand. "Here you will not have such a life. You are home with your family." He then waits for her response to his king's question.

Elenwe lifts her eyes to Olwe's. "I know not, my Lord. I do not remember them. I was always told they did not love me anymore. The humans said that if my parents loved me, they would not have left me behind." More tears slide down her face, as if they will flow forever now that they have been released by her friends' gentle kindess.

"That cannot be so!" Olwe answers, and the gentle Teleri lord rocks forward, onto his knees, stretches out a hand and gently brushes away a tear as it spills down her cheek. He looks down at his hand, blushing furiously and drops it, pushing backto sit down once more.  "I...I cannot believe such a thing," he said, face still flushed, voice soft. "Children are too precious to us."

"Near the village I last lived there was a waterfall." She turns to the water tumbling into the pool beside where they are sitting. "Much like this one. I used to escape to the waterfall and pretend that I was waiting for my parents to come for me. I never told anyone what I did." She turns back to the water. "I did not believe it when they told me my parent did not love me. I hoped there was some reason they were forced to leave me behind."

Olwe turns his head and looks over at the waterfall, picturing for a moment a young Teleri child, heartbroken, wondering why her parents were not there for her. Slowly he turns back to his friends, and looks at Nole, allowing the pain her words cause to show briefly on his face. "There must have been, " Olwe says quietly. "Know you anything about them, Elenwe? Their name, why they were in Middle Earth?"

Elenwe shakes her head. "No, nothing, my Lord. Nole found their names in the library. That is all I know."

Olwe turns his attention to Nole at her words. Nole returns his king's gaze. "We researched her family heritage in the books of records in the library. We did find out that she has teleri parents," he turns apologetically to his companion, "but I could not find any other information about them. It is a mystery, just like our missing people. They may be among the lost."

 Olwe nods absently, his face deep in thought. Above them, unaware of their conversation or the daily tasks of the Children, Arien's vessel continues its journey across the sky. In the moment of silence, a bird called out and was quiet. "You are here, now, Elenwe, and most loved, " he says finally. "That cannot change the past, I know, but in this moment, you are loved and cherished for who you are, and would never be turned away from your birthright of Alqualonde."

"Maybe they will make their way here someday, such as you and I have, and Apakenwe and Estelin as well. Our people are slowly returning," the sea merchant says optimistically.

A sob escapes her as she hears Olwe's words. "You are most kind, my Lord. Thank you. I have felt loved and accepted from the moment I went on board Nole's ship." She tries to muster a smile. "It is almost impossible to believe they might return one day. You and Nole, and Estelin and Apakinwe, are all my family now. "

Olwe drops his head once more, hiding the pain he feels at the absence of his people. Nole's tone is hopefully, but the silence of the Swanhaven offers a mute rebuttal to that hope.  Would they return? Olwe must wonder, not for the first or last time, and even if they did, would that reunite the Teleri maiden with her lost parents. At her words, he looks up, his eyes showing only affection for this Teleri maiden and for the merchant who has become stalwart friend. "If it is possible to solve the mystery of their disappearance, we shall do so," he promises her, his voice warm.  "We shall do so."

Elenwe smiles at the warmth in Olwe's voice.  "Thank you, my Lord," she whispers.

Olwe smiles back.  "Of course, " he answers.

"I hope the solution to the mystery is not Estelin's cooking. That would drive all of the Teleri away!" The sea merchant laughs aloud.

Olwe bursts into laughter at Nole's words. "True, oh, true, friend Nole.  Although his choice of ingredients is quite," Olwe pauses and seems to search for the words while his face slowly blanches.

"It seems odd he can not cook, and Apakenwe's is not much better" he grins.

Elenwe watches her friends laughing, and can't help giggling herself. "It does seem like things that are easy prove difficult for them. It is very odd."

Olwe gives a inner start at Nole's words. He says quickly, "Well, not all have your ways in the kitchens, my friend."  The Teleri Lord looks over at Elenwe, a little sliver of apprehension in his heart. Yes, despite all attempts, the disguised Vala remain oddly clumsy at the daily tasks that his companions take for granted.

Elenwe furrows her brow. "We speak of Estelin and his cooking. What of Apakinwe? I have not seen her since the dragon came to Alqualonde. Is she still caring for the injured creature?"

Nole blushes at Olwe's words. "I do enjoy my work in the kitchens. But I have not seen Apakenwe either," he says, turning to Elenwe. "I helped tend to the dragon earlier this day, and I have not seen her all day."

Olwe forces his voice to be steady and nonchalant as he answers.  "Yes, the last time I saw her, the lady was, indeed, attending the dragon." He pauses, hearing Nole's words with a sinking feeling in his heart. They were right, of course. Where was Apakenwe?  Estelin has been visible, but of the disguised Nienna, Olwe has seen nothing in the past few days. "The dragon is a rather needful patient," Olwe says, to cover, and it was no less than the truth.  "Perhaps she has gone in search of healing herbs to speed his recovery." He pauses and adds, with feeling. "He eats alot, and Lord Ossy has become overloud in his complaints at being fisher to a 'large worm.'"

Elenwe laughs at the comparison of the dragon to a worm. Nodding, she says, "Oh, yes, I think she said something about that." She looks at Nole. "I have not helped with the dragon, but I would like to. Is it hard? Is the creature friendly? Can I help you?" Elenwe stops and blushes, realizing that, once again, her words are coming much too fast in her eagerness.

Nole nods slightly. "I do wonder what herbs she is searching for, and I am not too confident in her plant identification. Those 'noodles' were certainly not noodles," he says with a laugh.

Olwe is forced to nod in agreement. "I decided not to try to identify exactly what they were," adds the King of the Teleri.  Looking over at Elenwe, he answers her. "Dometis is a kind enough soul, but," he pauses and remembers how the dragon fell into the sea. "He is rather clumsy."

Elenwe's face brightens. "I adore creatures. Can we go see him?" She has forgotten the missing Teleri and the painful memories.

Nole looks up at his king, holding back his laughter before suddenly becoming more serious. "Do you think we should search for her? We should ask her brother."

Olwe masks  an inward lurch at Nole's words. No one else must know the truth of the brother and sister. Outwardly his face is calm as he answers his friend. "Estelin and his sister are still very much strangers to our ways here, it seems, though Teleri there is no doubt, by their appearance." That was, in its strictest sense, the truth. "If she does not return by tomorrow when Tilion's vessel mounts the sky, I will ask Estelin and see what he knows. Truly you are considerate to worry for her. And yes, being a musican, she is more familar with palaces than with woodlands: perhaps we should be a little concerned. But, remember they have travelled much in the world, and seemed to have taken good care of themselves."

Olwe smiles and nods. "Yes, of course, we can see Dometis. "He pauses in his answer to Elenwe, and seems to listen.  All that can be heard is birdsong, the babbling tumble of the water falling into the pool and the gentle swish of the breeze. "He must be awake, for I hear no snores."

Nole nods quickly. "Yes, my king. I  am just worried about her. Perhaps we should see to the dragon then?"

Olwe pushes himself up to his feet, bending down and retrieving his blade.  Turning to Elenwe and Nole, he gestures with the sheathed sword. "This way," he says, and leads them back towards the right directon.  But despite his light hearted tone, a small worry was niggling at him.  Where WAS Apakenwe?

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