Reaching Out

Played by:

Rhun Darkmoon
Shawn Daysleeper


Restlessly the ocean beat upon the rugged shore, its agitation contrasting starkly with the gentle light that bathes the cove.  'There should be wind, dark clouds and thunder,' thought the watcher as he stood at the edge of the forest.  His dark eyes are troubled as they watch the waves hurl themselves against the rocky shore.  Sighing deeply he lifts his eyes and lets them roam around the wild coastline.  It was hard to imagine that once a beautiful elven city had stood in this place, for now it seemed a place of wild things, untouched by a civlised hand. Yet, it was here at this very place that Alqualonde the Swanhaven, had stood though the Ages until the decision had been made to move the city to the mortal realm.

..once a beautiful elven city had stood in this place..

Standing there in the eternal twilight that clothes the Undying Lands, Aule Talka Marda lets his mind wander in memories of that fair city.  Wide leafy avenues paved with precious gems, elegant homes and beautiful gardens had lain spread before the graceful, towering palace of Olwe, King of the Teleri, Lord of Alqualonde and Tol Eressea.  The city had framed the famed harbour, home of the majestic Swanships of those sea-faring elves. Truly the harbour city had been a gleaming pearl adorning the shores of Aman. Yet its beauty had not prevented it being witness to great sorrow.  Many had died in the Kinslaying of long ago, and Olwe, too, had known the mysterious loss of his Queen.

"Is that why I've come to this shore?" He wonders.  How long has it been now that he has searched for his wife, his own Queen? Again time has become a blur for the Smith of Arda.  Not so long ago, ensnared by the dark magick of Melkor he had lost track of time and reason in the depths of Mandos, but now there is a different reason.  The very length and breadth of Aman he has traveled in his search for her, his Yavanna, Kementari, Queen of the Earth.  His heart constricts painfully in his chest as again he remembers those emerald eyes as he had seen them last, liquid with pain.

'Is that why I've come to this shore?'

Where are you? Again he asks the question that has driven him in his search for her.

"Where ARE you!"

He gives voice to his desperation, but his cry is swallowed by the wash of the waves upon the empty and silent shore. Did he cry out the same, Aule wonders.  Did that tall, elegant elven King stand here, too, in his fair city and cry out his grief and loss for his wife, just as he is doing? He had never found her, Aule knew.  Somehow, somehow he had lived on, without his Queen, guiding his people with a loving hand, always faithful and loyal to the Valar.  How did he do it? How did he carry on without her?

As he stands there, his legs tremble in protest at the long days of punishing searching. Letting himself rest a moment, he lowers his body to the ground. He leans his back against a bolder, folding his long muscular legs in front of him, and resting his forearms upon his knees. What do I do now?  What did you do, Olwe of Alqualonde? What did you do when your Queen could not be found?  His shoulders slump dejectedly as he stares out over the cove to the distant ocean beyond.  How did you carry on, without her, yet carry on you did.  In the end, you took your city and what was left of your people to the mortal realm, where even now you continue in your service to us in the fight against Darkness.  Even now you journey with one of us, our beloved Irmo, Lord of Dreams...

What did you do, Olwe of Alqudlonde?

His thoughts trail off and he sits, utterly still, hardly daring to breathe.  By Eru's Light, why had he not thought of this sooner?  Where do all the Valar go to heal but Lorien. Lorien that is anything and everything they need. Lorien, the place of healing, shifting to be whatever the seeker needs it to be.  Lorien, presided over by Irmo!  His heart thudding painfully, he takes a few deep breathes to calm himself.  Closing his eyes, breathing evenly as he relaxes his body to aid his focus, he reaches out his mind.  In his mind's eye there they all were, the light of every Valar, laid out like a beautiful celestial array in a velvet sky, the golden glow of Manwe Sulimo shining brightest of all.  Automatically he seeks the one he knows best, but as has been the case for so long now, she is not there.  Clamping down on the despair that threatens to well though him, instead he searches for Irmo.  There!  Yes, there, steady and constant is Irmo.

Taking another deep breath and letting it out slowly he composes his appeal.

Far away in the mortal world, Estelin stirs in his sleep. He hears the appeal of Aule calling to him. He wakes in the darkness and ponders the concern that Yavanna is missing. The urgency and desperation of Aule's plea reminds him of the grave situation before, when it was Aule and Nienna who were missing, sealed away by the Fallen One's magick. Sitting up in bed, he sends a simple mental reply to Aule. "Be at ease. I will search for her. But you must seek Manwe and tell him of this.  He needs to know. He may be able to help."

After sending his reply, he recalls the happenings within Melkor's chamber. His sister was there, enthralled by dark magick. He is anxious to make sure that something bad has not happened to Yavanna also. He is anxious to begin his own search of the multi-dimensional planes of Lorien. For his gardens shift and change to accommodate the healing needs of the perceiver, and Aule stands no chance of finding her there alone. In fact, he realizes his own search would take a very long time. He turns and sees Olwe and Nole. They are set to sail tomorrow on Miro's ship. While the boon of Manwe Sulimo is important, that he protect the champion Olwe, the prospect of a missing Valar worries him more. Forming a plan in his head, he rises and looks once more at the sleeping king.

Taking a spare bit of parchment, he pens Olwe a message. With difficulty, he holds the pen as he manifests his thoughts before him. "As a musician and bard, I have become quite intrigued by the story of the dwarves of Gamilfun. As I am not desiring another sea journey so soon, I have decided to journey to the Blue Mountains to see the ruins of the great dwarven city for myself in search of inspiration for an epic tale. Do not delay your return to Alqualonde to await news of me." Thinking a moment, he suspects Olwe will be the only one reading the message, and adds, "I will explain in more detail my need to leave when I am able, but for now, this will serve to cover my absence." He then slips the parchment gently under the king's pillow and gathers his few belongings, taking care to not handle the items noisily and clumsily.

With a final look at the peacefully sleeping king, he slips downstairs past the snoring dwarves and outside the Green Leaf Inn. The stars above blazed forth from the blackness beyond as he shadows through the sleeping city of Grey Havens and out the north gate. He follows this route a ways, trying to make sure that any witnesses would see that he did indeed go towards Gamilfun. A short ways out of town, and as the coming dawn begins to illuminate the sky, he turns from the path and assumes his ethereal form. Within moments, his view turns from the fir-clad slopes of Lindon to the majesty of Lorien. "Well now, lets get started," he says to himself as he gazes over the complex dimensions of Lorien.