I do not know how long we stood watching this new light that outshined the stars rise higher and higher. It was hard to step away but I longed to tell Mîrwen our son had returned. I turned around and nearly knocked her over.
“Mîrwen,” I said, startled. She kissed me tenderly then smiled.
“Our son is home,” she began.
“I was on my way to tell you,” I said as I looked around. Oropher was nowhere to be seen.
“He has gone in search of Nimeithel,” Mîrwen said. “She will be most pleased.”
“Of course. As will Valdúril. Have you come to see what has risen?”
“I have come for you, Orothôn,” she began. “Though this new marvel beckons to us all. It is comforting.”
“It is,” I said, taking her hand. “But you are more so to me.”
I kissed her like the first time. Everything seemed as it was before we had come into Doriath. We made our way into Menegroth toward our chambers for what would be known as the first night
As we lay together not long thereafter, our moment was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Shall we let them enter,” I asked Mîrwen.
“What would you say,” she asked. “Would you send them away? It could be a matter of grave importance.”
“It also could be nothing at all,” I answered.
The knocking continued. Mîrwen rose quickly and put on her robe. She looked at me. I sighed and got up and did the same.
“Enter,” I said.
When the doors opened, Iarûr entered with Finëar.
“You must come to the court quickly,” Finëar said. “It is a matter of grave importance.”
Mîrwen laughed at me as two ladies entered and took her behind our dressing screen.
“How grave,” I asked.
“It is nothing,” Iarûr began.
“Then why are you here,” I asked, glaring at Finëar.
“Why are you not dressed for court,” Finëar asked.
“Because it is most inconvenient to go to bed fully clothed.”
Two elven courtiers entered and began to dress me.
“Has King Things called an audience,” I asked.
“He is with Queen Melian,” Iarûr began as Mîrwen emerged impeccably dressed.
“Is Mother and Father with them,” she asked.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Finëar said, bowing. “Your brothers as well.”
“They are in the Great Hall,” she asked.
“No,” Iarûr answered. “They are outside. Your son Oropher and his wife are already there.”
The sound of my son’s name piqued my curiosity.
“Oropher,” I asked as my dressers finished and left with the ladies.
“Shall we,” Iarûr said as he motioned to the door. Mîrwen took my hand and we followed Finëar and Iarûr out of our room and toward the front gates. I noticed how silent things were, save for the echo of our footsteps. I started to fear something was amiss.
“Something must be wrong,” I whispered to Mîrwen. She said nothing as we continued on our way. Once we reached the gates, the guards opened them. A flood of bright light rolled into the hall. I was afraid to go further.
“It is alright,” Finëar said. “It is only the light of the Daystar.”
Slowly we walked into the world that once existed under the light of many stars. It was now a world filled with vivid color. Above us, the sky was a light blue as the light of the Daystar blinded anyone that tried to look upon it. I looked around—I should see other elves anew—their features distinct and even more beautiful. There were elflings playing in the crisp green grass beneath the canopy of tall trees; their branches covered in all forms of leaves of many colors.
“Nana,” I heard Oropher say as he embraced Mîrwen. Beside him was Nimeithel—breathtaking as ever in her new role.
“How is my son,” Mîrwen asked.
“I could not be happier,” he said.
“What about you, Nimeithel,” I asked.
“I feel the same as my husband,” she answered.
“How is Eldôr,” I inquired. In the joy of the moment, I found myself thinking of Valdôr.
“As to be expected,” Oropher said solemnly. “He learned of his father’s passing before the rising of the Daystar. I cannot imagine what he or Lothluin must be feeling.”
We fell quiet for a time—our own vigil to our beloved friend. He died beneath starlight—his life given so others could see this day.
It was the first day and it was received with bittersweet reflection of our existence in a world we were never meant to live. I thought of the stories of Eldamar. I wondered if it existed—did this light steal from it eternal life? Every one of us remained in the light of day until it made its descent beneath the horizon. It was then the familiarity of our first life returned as the stars began to peek out of the coming of night. The moon began another journey across the sky as we made our way int the palace.
A grand banquet was held in celebration of the coming of time. Now we would know the journey of our lives by the passing of day into night.
**** **** **** ****
It was not long before we became accustomed to the day. The warmth of the Daystar we now called ’the Sun’ was a welcoming comfort from the coolness of the night. We learned to tell time with the passing of days. With the Sun and the Moon came seasons and weather.
One day, I was outside walking with Oropher—speaking of things in the early afternoon.
“Have you given any thought to starting a family,” I asked.
“I have,” he said smiling. “But I am hesitant of it.”
“May I ask why?”
“If you admit that Nana put you up to asking such a question.”
I laughed.
“Do you think I would have acted on my own volition?”
“No,” he answered.
“Then tell me, what keeps you from starting a family?”
Oropher sighed. I could see something weighed heavily on his mind.
“I had a vision,” he began. “I saw many things I do not comprehend.”
“What things,” I asked. I wondered if he had inherited his mother’s gift of foresight.
“I saw war,” he began. “Far worse than we have ever seen. There was death everywhere with the coming of another creature.”
“Creature,” I asked. I thought of the Orcs that I fought Ossiriand. “Such as the evil horde that came out of the North?”
“They looked like us but they did not live as long. Then I saw a wood far from here in the East. It was cursed.”
“A cursed wood,” I asked perplexed. “These visions are frightening but why would that keep you from starting a family?”
“That is what Nimeithel asked,” Oropher said.
“And what was your answer?”
Oropher looked at me—his face stoic.
“I told her I was told to wait.”
“Told by whom,” I asked.
“That is what I do not know,” he started. “All I know is they were adamant about and unwavering in their request.”
“It was just a vision, Oropher,” I said. “Do not let it determine how you will live your life.”
“Who is Taurëa,” he asked.
I stopped abruptly as a child rant through me. I had not heard her name for so long.
“Where did you hear her name,” I asked.
“In my visions,” he said. “Who was she? Did you not know of her?”
“I knew here,” I said. “She was the mother of Denethor.”
Oropher’s face lit up with curiosity.
“She was close to Grandmother, was she not?”
“Yes, she was,” I said. “What did she say to you?”
“She said only that great things will come of me. Then she walked into the wood.”
“The cursed wood,” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “You know of what I speak?”
I nodded. I did not wish to tell him no more. I could see he wanted to know more but my rescue came in the form of Amdir and Eldôr.
“We were looking everywhere for you,” Amdir said as they approached.
“Yes,” I asked, relieved. “What is it?”
“We have guests in the court,” Eldôr said. “They have come a great distance.”
“From where have they come,” Oropher asked.
“From Eldamar,” Amdir said.
We stood there in shock for a time. We followed them back to Menegroth to greet the Eldar that had seen the home we never knew.
© 2015. “The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy—Book I: The Epic of Eryn Galen” by Jaynaé Marie Miller. All Rights Reserved.
The Kingdom of The Woodland Realm Trilogy 