Chapter IV: Darkness and Light (Pt. II)Later, while I was alone in my chambers working on my heirloo

Chapter IV: Darkness and Light (Pt. II)Later, while I was alone in my chambers working on my heirloom, Mîrwen entered with a smile on her face.“You spoke to Oropher,” she said as she threw her arms around my shoulders.“Yes,” I said. “This pleases you?”“I think Nimeithel is a wonderful match for him. So does Valdúmîr.”  “I do not think it is up to us,” I said. “The heart does what it will.”“True,” she answered releasing me. “But it can use a little help now and then.”“Whatever it is,” I began. “Do not tell me. I would rather leave some things to my imagination.”“Very well,” Mîrwen answered. “But I had nothing to do with it.”“I find that hard to believe, Mîrwen. The ladies of the court live for such intrigue.”“We do not.”I looked up from my work at my beloved. She had longed for this moment since Oropher could speak.“He has yet to ask us for our blessing,” I added. “Try to contain your joy, if you will.”“Do you know something,” she asked.“No more than you.”“You do know something,” she said sitting beside me. “What do you know, Orothôn?”“I know he is waiting for the right moment. Let him come when it is time. He will do what is honorable.”Mîrwen nodded.“If I must,” she said softly. “He is a good son.”“That he is,” I agreed. “I could not be more proud.”“Shall we go to dinner,” she asked. “It is time.”I put my work down and rose with her. We left our chambers and made our way to the great hall. When we arrived, we noticed more elves than usual. Across the room, I noticed Denethor with Arethuil. Beside them was a handsome young elf with a maiden of enchanting beauty. Denethor saw me and led the two elves toward me.“Orothôn, these are my children. Gildúr and Annariel.”They bowed to me.“It is an honor to meet you,” I said.“The honor is ours,” Gildúr said. “To meet the father of such a great warrior as Oropher is humbling.”“I beg your pardon,” Mîrwen said.“I have seen him myself,” Annariel whispered. “When I can, Your Highness. You must be proud.”“I am,” Mîrwen said. I could hear the anger growing beneath royal protocol. “Quite proud.”Before she could say another word, the call to dinner came. We all took our places—including Oropher beside his mother. We waited in uncomfortable silence until King Thingol and Queen Melian entered with their daughter Lúthien.Once they were seated, everyone took their seats. I hoped for Mîrwen’s silence to continue through the end of our evening. Sitting across from us was Galathil and Celeborn—nearly himself unrecognizable as he was growing into manhood. Beside them sat their parents Galadhon and Celebriel. I could tell Galadhon has his eye on his sister.“Mîrwen,” he whispered. “What bothers you?”“Not a thing,” she whispered. “I am the proud mother of a great warrior.”Oropher lowered his head. He looked at me and I shook my head. The silence between us continued until the end. When we rose, the silence was broken.“If I may,” Oropher began. “I would like to call upon Nimeithel.”As I nodded, Mîrwen spoke.“You may not,” she answered.“Mîrwen, let him go,” I said quietly. “You can speak with him upon his return.”“I will speak with him now,” she said loudly.The entire room fell silent. Elmo and Orowen looked toward us concerned.“Mîrwen,” Galadhon whispered. “Not now I beg you.”“If not now, when,” she asked. “When my son is a lifeless corpse on the field of battle?”I wanted to hide. I could see Oropher was thinking the same.“Mother,” he began. He was begging—something he had never done before. “Please do not do this.”“Daughter,” Elmo began. “Is there something you wish to say?”I could see his son Galathil take a deep breath as his son Amdir looked on.“My son is a great warrior,” Mîrwen started. “So I have heard. Why have I learned of this now, Father?”“Do not be angry with anyone but me, Mother,” Oropher said. “It was at my request.”“You are a child,” Mîrwen said. “You have no power to request anything.”“I am no longer a child,” he said sternly. “If I can love, then I can fight. It is my duty to defend this land as my father and grandfather. I do not need your blessing for that nor do I expect it. But as your son, I would do anything to keep your heart from breaking. That is why I dared not say a word.”I heard the sound of sobbing—several maidens had begun to cry. I looked at Mîrwen; somehow my son had made quite the impression. I could feel the room return to a sense of calm.“Your son has a way with words,” Galadhon said.“Yes,” I answered. “I am grateful for it.”“May I call upon Nimeithel,” Oropher asked once more.Mîrwen and I nodded together. He kissed his mother’s cheek and left us quickly.“He is a good son,” I said to her. “You have raised him well.”“We have raised him well,” she said taking my hand.I kissed her. I knew she had accepted things to come. We returned to our chambers with some peace of mind.**** **** **** ****It began with the Marchwardens—King Thingol had ordered more to cover the borders of Doriath. Though things remained quiet, there was little doubt we were preparing for war.In the days before the first battle, the naugrim were seen more often traveling the road between Nogrod and Doriath as well as within Menegroth. The cache of weapons seemed to swell over time.There was never a time I was not on guard—every noise would turn my head as my heart would beat a little harder. Mîrwen tried her best to calm me but she was just as frightened.Once I had finished my heirloom, I marveled at the thought of it being passed on generation to generation. I went to find Oropher. He was inside a keep looking over the land. “I knew I would find you here,” I said to him as I approached.“I was thinking to myself,” he said. “How beautiful Doriath is. I wonder what will become of it?”“It will stand for as long as it should,” I answered.He looked at me and smiled.“I suppose,” he said. “Why were you looking for me?”“I wished to give you something,” I began. “Perhaps make up for lost time with my only child.”He gave me a curious look.“I have spent my entire life with you, Ada. Whatever time was lost in your absence was sacrosanct to the service of the King.”“I wish it had never been,” I said. “You should have been raised in Eldamar—far from this land we live in.”“I know no other place as home,” he said. “I was born here as many others. Eldamar to me is nothing more than lore.”“It does exist,” I said, even though I doubted it myself now. “One day we will see it.”Oropher nodded. I knew he was doing it for me to change the course of conversation.“I wanted to give you this,” I said, showing him the medallion I had made. “I have been working on it since the very moment I learned of your conception.”He took it from me and marveled at it for awhile. “Thank you, Ada,” he finally said. “I will cherish it always.”He embraced me tightly. When he let go, I could see tears in his eyes.“Why are you sad, Oropher,” I asked.“Will I return from battle,” he asked.“I have little doubt that you will return.”“I have asked Nimeithel for her hand,” he said softly. “I do not want her to become a widow before she becomes a bride.”I was as happy as I was breathless.“Are you asking for my blessing?”“I am,” he answered.“You do realize your mother will be absolutely delighted.”“I know,” he said, laughing. “Grandmother said as much. It would seem Mother has been planning for this day since I was born.”“You are too generous,” I said. “She has been planning this much longer than that.”We laughed together. I realized how long I had lived. My son had come of age and was about to start a household of his own.“I suppose it will be up to me to speak with Êlengolas,” I began. “That is far easier than asking the King.”Oropher nodded. We stood looking out at Doriath. It was a beautiful land. Its future perils were yet unknown to us as we enjoyed the moment together.–TKWRT Book I: The Epic of Eryn Galen by Jaynaé Marie Miller. 2-23-2019Images: ©2012, 2013, 2014. Warner Brothers Pictures. The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. All Rights Reserved -- source link

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