Cinnamon Raymaker and Lihan Taifun
In the knowledge that she is safely returned to her uncle's palace at Alqualonde, Elwing smiles in her sleep. Sinking down into peaceful oblivion with a feeling of satisfaction from the delicious food brought to her by Aztryd, Elwing returns to the dreams offered to her by Lord Irmo .... colourful flashes of her childhood and happier times .... which allow her to rest and begin to regain her strength. The happy thoughts continue through to the days with her beloved Eärendil and their twin boys, Elros and Elrond. So many happy times, yet so long ago. Long, long before the waters of the world arose and covered the places she once roamed.
Aztryd smiles as she finishes reading the letter from home. Clamboring out of her chair, she scoops up little Nizl. "Come, magpie. Listen to what Gammy wrote to us."
Elwing smiles again as her dreams return her to the places she has recently visited and the experiences through which she has survived and rejoiced, thanks to blessed Iluvatar and the watchful eyes of Lord Ulmo, as well as those wonderful new friends she has met - Princess Fur, the Teleri elves and now Aztryd. The reunion with her now fully-recovered uncle at Alqualonde had been most pleasing to Elwing. She really had missed this sanctuary, which the Swanhaven had offered to both her and her beloved long, long ago. To be able to return here and repay her uncle in any small way holds great importance for her.
Glancing over at the sleeping Elwing, Aztryd assures herself that she is asleep, and they will not be overheard. She now continues speaking to little Nizl in the ancestral language of the dwarves, the language in which the letter is written. "My dearest granddaughter, it is so good to hear from you, even if your situation is not the best …."
All at once Elwing feels an iciness in her stomach. She whimpers softly as those niggling thoughts and uncertainties about the fate of her beloved and of Vingilot begin to gnaw away at her mind, sending her off on the pathway through the dark and disturbing events which had led her to Alqualonde in the first place. The knowledge that her uncle had been in danger had spurred her into action. The images flow through her mind. Images filled with the darkness, the lightning from storms, the harrassing craggy outcrop on Vana, the deep blood red aura and darkness of its ancient temple, the eerie milkiness of that egg which had spiralled its way into her consciousness, the feeling of losing control over her flight....
Nizl gnaws contentedly on her tiny stockings -- stockings knit by the women of their former home. "Hey there, don't put me to mending those again!" Aztryd chides gently. Nizl looks up guilelessly at her mother, comprehending only the tone of voice, that all is well with the world.
Elwing mumbles incoherently as she begins to stir and thrash around on the soft, welcoming bed as though she is fighting to regain control of her dreams. She once again begins to perspire with an unknown heat arising from the terrifying thoughts within her mind. She recalls yet again the horror and devastation she witnessed while crossing the realms near Vana - the smoke, the charred black earth, the huge swath of destruction - all coupled with a feeling of impending doom which hit her in the stomach as if it was an actual physical force.
"Uncle! Uncle!" she calls out feverishly.
"Fire ..... in the sky!" she calls out again.
"Must ........."
Aztryd looks in alarm up from reading. "Elwing, sister," she says with concern, "are you alright?"
Elwing continues to thrash around as the memories from her recent flight form vivid pictures ... pictures of that terrifying creature heading closer and closer.
Then, just as swiftly, Elwing falls silent as if she has fallen into a deep, deep sleep - the beckoning restfulness of her earlier pleasant thoughts has reappeared.
Aztryd smiles as she finishes reading the letter from home. Clamboring out of her chair, she scoops up little Nizl. "Come, magpie. Listen to what Gammy wrote to us."Elwing smiles again as her dreams return her to the places she has recently visited and the experiences through which she has survived and rejoiced, thanks to blessed Iluvatar and the watchful eyes of Lord Ulmo, as well as those wonderful new friends she has met - Princess Fur, the Teleri elves and now Aztryd. The reunion with her now fully-recovered uncle at Alqualonde had been most pleasing to Elwing. She really had missed this sanctuary, which the Swanhaven had offered to both her and her beloved long, long ago. To be able to return here and repay her uncle in any small way holds great importance for her.
Glancing over at the sleeping Elwing, Aztryd assures herself that she is asleep, and they will not be overheard. She now continues speaking to little Nizl in the ancestral language of the dwarves, the language in which the letter is written. "My dearest granddaughter, it is so good to hear from you, even if your situation is not the best …."
All at once Elwing feels an iciness in her stomach. She whimpers softly as those niggling thoughts and uncertainties about the fate of her beloved and of Vingilot begin to gnaw away at her mind, sending her off on the pathway through the dark and disturbing events which had led her to Alqualonde in the first place. The knowledge that her uncle had been in danger had spurred her into action. The images flow through her mind. Images filled with the darkness, the lightning from storms, the harrassing craggy outcrop on Vana, the deep blood red aura and darkness of its ancient temple, the eerie milkiness of that egg which had spiralled its way into her consciousness, the feeling of losing control over her flight....
Nizl gnaws contentedly on her tiny stockings -- stockings knit by the women of their former home. "Hey there, don't put me to mending those again!" Aztryd chides gently. Nizl looks up guilelessly at her mother, comprehending only the tone of voice, that all is well with the world.
Elwing mumbles incoherently as she begins to stir and thrash around on the soft, welcoming bed as though she is fighting to regain control of her dreams. She once again begins to perspire with an unknown heat arising from the terrifying thoughts within her mind. She recalls yet again the horror and devastation she witnessed while crossing the realms near Vana - the smoke, the charred black earth, the huge swath of destruction - all coupled with a feeling of impending doom which hit her in the stomach as if it was an actual physical force.
"Uncle! Uncle!" she calls out feverishly.
"Fire ..... in the sky!" she calls out again.
"Must ........."
Aztryd looks in alarm up from reading. "Elwing, sister," she says with concern, "are you alright?"
Elwing continues to thrash around as the memories from her recent flight form vivid pictures ... pictures of that terrifying creature heading closer and closer.
Then, just as swiftly, Elwing falls silent as if she has fallen into a deep, deep sleep - the beckoning restfulness of her earlier pleasant thoughts has reappeared.