Chapter VIII: The Rise of the Fall (Pt. I)The day began as usual—the court of Menegroth went a

Chapter VIII: The Rise of the Fall (Pt. I)The day began as usual—the court of Menegroth went about its routine catering to the whims of King Thingol and Queen Melian. On this day, in spite of the endless blue skies and nature rendered to the height of its beauty, the loss of Lúthien weighed heavy on our hearts. Then, he came—an elf of unknown origins approached the gates of Menegroth.I was standing inside the vestibule the the gates were opened as he approached.“What business have you in Doriath,” one of the guards asked the elf with hair as dark as night.“I have come to see Her Majesty, Queen Melian,” the elf said softly—his crystal grey eyes startling the guard as he glanced at him. “I am Eöl of Nan Elmoth.”Iarûr appeared from the Throne Room in that moment.“What business do you have with Queen Melian,” the guard demanded.“Eöl,” Iarûr said to the elf. “I did not expect you to come into Doriath. The glory of Menegroth offends you as much as the Girdle of Melian repels you from seeking the company of your kin.”“Yet, I stand before you, do I not,” Eöl answered smiling. Even in darkness, his elven beauty was undeniable.“Let him pass,” Iarûr commanded. “Their Majesties are expecting him.”Reluctantly, the guards stood down and Eöl entered and followed Iarûr was as Finëar approached.“Eöl has come into Menegroth,” he asked me, surprised.“I do not know of him,” I answered. “He is kin to the King,” he began. “He was lost to us for some time; since long before the rising of the Daystar.”“He requested to see the Queen,” I said.“Yes, of course he would,” he answered. “She has known where he resides since the creation of Menegroth. He may live beyond these borders but he owns his life to her protection whether he admits to it or not. His time spent in the company of the naugrim has made him a master smith—if not a bit reclusive.”He went on his way and I too my leave to find Êlengolas. I found him in the armory with Súlwë. They were overseeing the inventory of its contents at the request of Elmo.“What brings you to the pits of darkness, Orothôn,” Êlengolas asked as he wrote on a scroll held by two young elven boys as Súlwë counted swords.“What is there to do,” I asked sitting on a bench. “Iarûr is attending to the King just now.”“So, you have met Eöl,” he answered.“You know of him,” I asked.“Of course,” he answered. “He likes the short ones.”“The naugrim,” one of the young boys quipped.“Yes,” Êlengolas said sweetly. “What have I said about speaking while I am working?”“You said not to do so,” the other elf piped up.“Êlengolas,” I said.“What,” he asked. “My duties require complete concentration.”“Three hundred and thirty-three swords,” Súlwë said.“Thank you,” Êlengolas answered, writing.“What do you know of this Eöl,” I asked.“What I know I learned from Eäros,” he answered. “Before we came into Doriath.”“Before,” I nearly yelled. They all stopped working and looked at me.“Súlwë,” would you be so kind to take the boys to have a bite to eat?”“It is about time,” one of the boys said helping the other roll the scroll.“Come,” Súlwë said to them. “I will tell you more about Valinor.”The boys cheered as they ran out fo the room ahead of Súlwë.“You certainly know how to clear a room, Orothôn,” Êlengolas said.“You know how long it has been,” I asked. “Oropher was a child then.”“Yes,” he started. “And now he is not.”“What did Eäros say of Eöl?”“Nothing of great importance,” Êlengolas began. “He was with them then he was no more. Poor thing wandered off from their group before they came upon us.”“He looks feral,” I said.“I suppose you would as well if you only had naugrim to keep you company.”“They are not feral, Êlengolas,” I said.“They are wild,” he answered.“They are stone masters and smiths.”“So, they have a pastime,” he answered.“You should have said something,” I said.“What should I have said that the Queen did not already know,” he asked. “Obviously, he did not wish to be found.”“How would anyone know what is in someone’s heart?“I do not know what is in his heart but from what I have been told, the awakening of Angband he blames on the King.”“N one but Morgoth woke up Angband,” I answered.“Do not be so quick to think so,” he said. “What would have been had he remained on the path? Would we be here? Would not Valdôr still be with us?”“No one knows the answer to that,” I said. “It is not ours to question.”“I forgot how obedient you are to the plight of destiny,” Êlengolas said angrily. “You question nothing. You think all things happen for a reason.”“Do they not,” I growled.“Why do they,” he asked. “Why do they happen if we do not let them happen? Are we slaves to time and circumstance or do we not have the ability to think for ourselves?”“We are here because we chose to be here,” I said. “We chose to remain with our kin.”“Then, allow that same courtesy to Eöl,” Êlengolas said, calming down. “Time and circumstance gave to him the choice to become the elf he is. Nothing I could have said then would have changed what is now.”Êlengolas was right. In his way, he had become wiser in his fear and doubt.–TKWRT Book I: The Epic of Eryn Galen by Jaynaé Marie Miller. 11-9-2019Images: ©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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