Thrill and Thrall {Narbeleth, Calon, Gilwen} [March 3010]
Dec 12, 2017 19:28:47 GMT -5
Post by Faeldor on Dec 12, 2017 19:28:47 GMT -5
“Welcome! Welcome home!” Ivren swept open the door as she heard the carriage pull up her eyes bright and her arms wide for the family that stood before her, and her five daughters crowding around behind her in the doorway. They had arrived a couple days ahead of schedule, though it was not entirely unexpected. If the high pass had been open it would have given them a bit of headway, and one never could predict exactly how long the journey from Minas Tirith would take.
“Ivren!” Meleth gleamed, pulling her sister-in-law into an embrace. Though they had differing personalities, the two women had always gotten on well, and Meleth could see straight away that things would be no different now, though Faelon was no longer with her. “It's been too long! Oh, look how your girls have grown!” she laughed. They had been so young when last had seen them, and now the daughter's of Linnon were fully grown women, all standing taller than their mother. Her eyes smiled upon each of them for a moment, looking for her black haired daughter within the mix, and faltering at no sight of her, though Ivren began to speak before she had a chance to ask for her.
“And your children!” Ivren looked past her to the people piling out of the carriage one by one. “And is that Faeldor? He looks just like his Father! But the...” She broke out into a laughter, touching her chin.
“The beard, I know. He could not be tempted to remove it,” Meleth laughed lightly. It had only been in the past years that he had allowed the hair to grow out and cover his chin. Though, he looked a bit scruffy today after their travels, he usually kept it well tended. “He is handsome as his Father though.”
“Well it looks fine on him,” Ivren answered honestly with a smile. “Though I cannot say his Grandfather will approve.”
Meleth's eyes nearly rolled, though she tempered herself. “Oh no, I am certain he shall comment on it.” Meleth and Ivren had one thing in common aside from plentiful children. They had both acquired the same Father-in-Law, and he was above all things, a traditionalist. Ivren had come from a fine family of noble blood herself, and though Meleth found her own family and upbringing just as fine, Calaeron had always thought otherwise.
As soon as he had helped Miriel from the carriage, and lifted Haliel down to the ground to steady her on the two crutches she was now using, Faeldor had taken to the doorway himself, pressing behind his mother urgently. “Do you have Gilwen?” he asked desperately before greeting anyone. The man could not hide his fear and worry longer if he had tried.
Linnon had now made it to the door, standing far above the six women present. “We have not seen her yet, Faeldor,” he answered apologetically. He could tell from the last letter he had received from his nephew, which had arrived about two weeks before, that the man was filled with concern. “I haven't stopped looking, though. We'll get out of here shortly, and I'll help you. I'm sure you can describe them better than I. No doubt will find the man soon… he must have been misdirected somehow in finding me… the job had to be filled weeks ago, though once we find him we'll have another lined up.”
Faeldor looked strained, at the words, and stood in thought. His Uncle obviously did not understand the urgency of the situation…
“Can we let a man past this blockade?” Linnon laughed toward his daughters. “I have nieces and nephews to see!” Young Faelon he had never met yet, nor Haliel, and Marileth had been only a babe in Meleth's arms last time she had come to Dol Amroth on visit. Faeldor had been young. Sixteen at most.
At the same moment, the girls pushed their Father out the door and pulled their Aunt Meleth inward. Meleth and Linnon caught each other quickly in a tight embrace in the doorway, and for a moment Meleth's grin faltered and she nearly sobbed against the man's chest, the sudden emotion of seeing her husband's brother again hitting her like a hammer to the chest.
“I'm sorry we never made it to Minas Tirith to see you,” Linnon stooped down to catch her cheek in his hand, and kissed the other.
“There's no need to apologize. You've always kept busier than Faelon did. And it was even hard to get him to take a day off,” Meleth responded, her voice was thick, though a smile was returning. “And we're all together again now. We'll make up for the years, I'm certain,” she smiled between Linnon and Ivren, looking then to the girls, and lastly to Miriel who had come upon the steps with sleeping Melian her arms.
“We'll certainly make up for them,” Linnon offered her a smile. “Now let me go meet your little ones before I miss another moment,” he laughed, taking off to the younger children who were admiring the blooming crocuses in the yard.
“Where is Beleth?” Faeldor asked, suddenly realizing her face was missing from the crowded doorway. While he had not been expecting the most enthusiastic of greetings from her, for the way they had parted, he had at least expected to see her shining face leaping out to hug his mother and his siblings.
The women in the household of Linnon paused and a few looked to each other in slight unease. None of them wished to be the ones to break the news. Ivren and Linnon had tried to convince the two, and they knew that Calon's parents had done the same. Daehel, being the eldest of them, had encouraged her cousin to write to her family on the manner of her new residence, yet, young Narbeleth seemed to be flighty in all things concerning the matter, and thought the news best delivered in person.
Daehel knew this would not go over well. Faeldor was not of the type to take to… startling surprises.
“Come, don't we get a greeting first, Fael?” Ullothel laughed, trying to distract him.
Faeldor frowned at his cousin, and Ullothel stilled her laughter. “She's...”
“She's at the blacksmith shop,” Daehel answered, sighing. “The Quarry. It's in White Town.”
The man nodded. He remembered Dol Amroth well enough and knew he could find it. “I need to see her right now, I'll take Lumiel,” he looked to his Mother.
“Faeldor, wait,” Limbes started. “Let us send for her. Just stay here, you've had a long journey already.” That had been their plan. When her family had arrived, they were supposed to send for Narbeleth, and she and Calon would meet them here and let all of them know at once what they had done. Of course, Faeldor had come a couple days earlier than expected… None of the cousins were certain she was going to be ready for this, as anxious as the man already seemed.
Faeldor shook his head. “No time to wait, and I'll need to be in the city either way. I'll be back later. Hopefully with Gilwen,” he stated.
The man was off to Lumiel before anyone was able to stop him, and within the minute he was atop the horse and starting toward Dol Amroth. Within two minutes he had vanished beyond the trees. The family was still, watching him go.
“He's had a rough time of it… he's been going on for days about how he's sure Beleth has gotten some information… What is she doing at the blacksmith shop?” Meleth asked, breaking the silence. It was not exactly the idea that her daughter had ventured to the blacksmith that confused the mother, for of course there were many reasons to need to do such a thing. Yet, it was the expressions on the faces of all six women in front of her that had caused her to question.
“I expect keeping time with the blacksmith,” Sulwen drawled.
“Tending the forge,” Limbes hummed.
“Tending the blacksmith morelike,” Ullothel laughed.
“The hot iron...” Arrasel giggled.
“Girls!” Ivren chided, and then sighed, looking back to Meleth. “Ah… she's a flighty one, your girl. She went ahead and...”
“She eloped,” Daehel offered, ending the fanciful words of the rest of them.
“She's eloped?” Meleth gasped, her face in shock. “What? She never mentioned… when?”
“Month's ago,” Sulwen answered. “October.”
Meleth's hand was over her mouth as she stood silent for some moments, thinking. “So… the baby is due in the spring? Or summer?” She asked, her stomach flopped in her abdomen as she thought about what her Mother was going to say to her. “Her mother's daughter...” her parents had always said.
“Baby?” Ivren asked, confusedly.
“She's with child?” Meleth clarified. “Oh, my Mother is going to be so… oh...” She drew her hand to her forehead, and Miriel bit her lip.
“Oh, she's not with child,” Daehel assured.
“She lost the baby?” Meleth asked quickly, feeling even worse than before and glancing toward Miriel. “I should not have let Fael send her away… I...”
“There was no baby. She wasn't with child at all,” Ivren tried to comfort her.
“She just wanted the man,” Arrasel stated assuredly.
“Calon I suspect?” Meleth asked through her hands.
“Yes. Cal she calls him,” Ullothel answered.
“Aside, they got married the day after he got here. She had no time to know she was carrying a child by him,” Sulwen stated.
“That's right, she was never with him until that night he got here,” Ivren stated. “And Calon assured me they had done nothing but sleep. I trust the boy. And Remlas too. It's a well thought of family.”
“Remlas?” Meleth asked.
“Calon's brother,” Ivren offered. “They live just down the road from us here. A good friend of Beleth's I'm sure. She spent a lot of time with him when she first got here.”
“Until they got married,” Ullothel stated.
“There are two men? Are you saying the child could be Remlas'? And Calon is claiming it for him? Or the child is Calon's and she eloped with Remlas? Ivren, this is too much, I need to sit down. I've always known she was impulsive, but I didn't realize I'd taught her so poorly… and she's a midwife, she knows how they're made.”
“Of… of course,” Ivren said, drawing her into the house to the sitting room for a seat, though still not getting in a word edgewise.
Meleth had figured in her head as she walked. “So if she were pregnant when she left in July, the baby should be due this month? Oh dear Eru, we have to tell my mother… both my daughters...” Meleth's eyes suddenly shot to Miriel who was following behind them, looking rather uneasy.
“Please tell me Gilwen isn't pregnant too, I'm not sure I could handle it,” she asked.
“Mother, no… I don't think… she was too sick for Fael to...” Miriel started uncomfortably, patting Melian on the back.
“Gilwen's pregnant?” Haliel asked, as her Uncle Linnon carried her up the steps and into the house and she caught the last piece of the conversation. “She's not married yet though.”
Linnon paused, as if he were walking in on something he ought not to be. “Let's go to the kitchen for a snack,” he mumbled, looking confusedly at the women, and ushering Faelon behind him.
“He sure kisses her an awful lot, Hali. That's how you get babies, you know,” Faelon muttered as they walked off.
–
A wooden sign hung above near the end of the street proclaiming he had finally reached The Quarry. What his sister would be doing at the blacksmith shop, he had no true idea, though Faeldor needed to seek her immediately. If she knew… if she had any idea where Gilwen was, he could set out at once for her and find her yet today. Bring her under his roof to safety. Take her home with him. They would get to an officiant immediately and make it legal and binding, and they would never need be separated so long again. The thought that she could be so near, yet he did not know where, sent a shudder through him, and his arms ached to hold her. It had been over two months now.
The sight of Thissel beside the building urged him onward, for he knew he was at the right place and had not missed her. Perhaps the horse had needed new shoes… surely she would go to the farrier and not straight to the blacksmith, but perhaps this smith specialized. Narbeleth had always been fine with horses and he knew she would take good care of the mare. He had not seen the horse in months, and she looked fine and content, drinking from the trough of water placed there.
Faeldor dismounted Lumiel, and started ahead down the crowded street. He could already hear the blacksmith's hammer pounding.
“Ivren!” Meleth gleamed, pulling her sister-in-law into an embrace. Though they had differing personalities, the two women had always gotten on well, and Meleth could see straight away that things would be no different now, though Faelon was no longer with her. “It's been too long! Oh, look how your girls have grown!” she laughed. They had been so young when last had seen them, and now the daughter's of Linnon were fully grown women, all standing taller than their mother. Her eyes smiled upon each of them for a moment, looking for her black haired daughter within the mix, and faltering at no sight of her, though Ivren began to speak before she had a chance to ask for her.
“And your children!” Ivren looked past her to the people piling out of the carriage one by one. “And is that Faeldor? He looks just like his Father! But the...” She broke out into a laughter, touching her chin.
“The beard, I know. He could not be tempted to remove it,” Meleth laughed lightly. It had only been in the past years that he had allowed the hair to grow out and cover his chin. Though, he looked a bit scruffy today after their travels, he usually kept it well tended. “He is handsome as his Father though.”
“Well it looks fine on him,” Ivren answered honestly with a smile. “Though I cannot say his Grandfather will approve.”
Meleth's eyes nearly rolled, though she tempered herself. “Oh no, I am certain he shall comment on it.” Meleth and Ivren had one thing in common aside from plentiful children. They had both acquired the same Father-in-Law, and he was above all things, a traditionalist. Ivren had come from a fine family of noble blood herself, and though Meleth found her own family and upbringing just as fine, Calaeron had always thought otherwise.
As soon as he had helped Miriel from the carriage, and lifted Haliel down to the ground to steady her on the two crutches she was now using, Faeldor had taken to the doorway himself, pressing behind his mother urgently. “Do you have Gilwen?” he asked desperately before greeting anyone. The man could not hide his fear and worry longer if he had tried.
Linnon had now made it to the door, standing far above the six women present. “We have not seen her yet, Faeldor,” he answered apologetically. He could tell from the last letter he had received from his nephew, which had arrived about two weeks before, that the man was filled with concern. “I haven't stopped looking, though. We'll get out of here shortly, and I'll help you. I'm sure you can describe them better than I. No doubt will find the man soon… he must have been misdirected somehow in finding me… the job had to be filled weeks ago, though once we find him we'll have another lined up.”
Faeldor looked strained, at the words, and stood in thought. His Uncle obviously did not understand the urgency of the situation…
“Can we let a man past this blockade?” Linnon laughed toward his daughters. “I have nieces and nephews to see!” Young Faelon he had never met yet, nor Haliel, and Marileth had been only a babe in Meleth's arms last time she had come to Dol Amroth on visit. Faeldor had been young. Sixteen at most.
At the same moment, the girls pushed their Father out the door and pulled their Aunt Meleth inward. Meleth and Linnon caught each other quickly in a tight embrace in the doorway, and for a moment Meleth's grin faltered and she nearly sobbed against the man's chest, the sudden emotion of seeing her husband's brother again hitting her like a hammer to the chest.
“I'm sorry we never made it to Minas Tirith to see you,” Linnon stooped down to catch her cheek in his hand, and kissed the other.
“There's no need to apologize. You've always kept busier than Faelon did. And it was even hard to get him to take a day off,” Meleth responded, her voice was thick, though a smile was returning. “And we're all together again now. We'll make up for the years, I'm certain,” she smiled between Linnon and Ivren, looking then to the girls, and lastly to Miriel who had come upon the steps with sleeping Melian her arms.
“We'll certainly make up for them,” Linnon offered her a smile. “Now let me go meet your little ones before I miss another moment,” he laughed, taking off to the younger children who were admiring the blooming crocuses in the yard.
“Where is Beleth?” Faeldor asked, suddenly realizing her face was missing from the crowded doorway. While he had not been expecting the most enthusiastic of greetings from her, for the way they had parted, he had at least expected to see her shining face leaping out to hug his mother and his siblings.
The women in the household of Linnon paused and a few looked to each other in slight unease. None of them wished to be the ones to break the news. Ivren and Linnon had tried to convince the two, and they knew that Calon's parents had done the same. Daehel, being the eldest of them, had encouraged her cousin to write to her family on the manner of her new residence, yet, young Narbeleth seemed to be flighty in all things concerning the matter, and thought the news best delivered in person.
Daehel knew this would not go over well. Faeldor was not of the type to take to… startling surprises.
“Come, don't we get a greeting first, Fael?” Ullothel laughed, trying to distract him.
Faeldor frowned at his cousin, and Ullothel stilled her laughter. “She's...”
“She's at the blacksmith shop,” Daehel answered, sighing. “The Quarry. It's in White Town.”
The man nodded. He remembered Dol Amroth well enough and knew he could find it. “I need to see her right now, I'll take Lumiel,” he looked to his Mother.
“Faeldor, wait,” Limbes started. “Let us send for her. Just stay here, you've had a long journey already.” That had been their plan. When her family had arrived, they were supposed to send for Narbeleth, and she and Calon would meet them here and let all of them know at once what they had done. Of course, Faeldor had come a couple days earlier than expected… None of the cousins were certain she was going to be ready for this, as anxious as the man already seemed.
Faeldor shook his head. “No time to wait, and I'll need to be in the city either way. I'll be back later. Hopefully with Gilwen,” he stated.
The man was off to Lumiel before anyone was able to stop him, and within the minute he was atop the horse and starting toward Dol Amroth. Within two minutes he had vanished beyond the trees. The family was still, watching him go.
“He's had a rough time of it… he's been going on for days about how he's sure Beleth has gotten some information… What is she doing at the blacksmith shop?” Meleth asked, breaking the silence. It was not exactly the idea that her daughter had ventured to the blacksmith that confused the mother, for of course there were many reasons to need to do such a thing. Yet, it was the expressions on the faces of all six women in front of her that had caused her to question.
“I expect keeping time with the blacksmith,” Sulwen drawled.
“Tending the forge,” Limbes hummed.
“Tending the blacksmith morelike,” Ullothel laughed.
“The hot iron...” Arrasel giggled.
“Girls!” Ivren chided, and then sighed, looking back to Meleth. “Ah… she's a flighty one, your girl. She went ahead and...”
“She eloped,” Daehel offered, ending the fanciful words of the rest of them.
“She's eloped?” Meleth gasped, her face in shock. “What? She never mentioned… when?”
“Month's ago,” Sulwen answered. “October.”
Meleth's hand was over her mouth as she stood silent for some moments, thinking. “So… the baby is due in the spring? Or summer?” She asked, her stomach flopped in her abdomen as she thought about what her Mother was going to say to her. “Her mother's daughter...” her parents had always said.
“Baby?” Ivren asked, confusedly.
“She's with child?” Meleth clarified. “Oh, my Mother is going to be so… oh...” She drew her hand to her forehead, and Miriel bit her lip.
“Oh, she's not with child,” Daehel assured.
“She lost the baby?” Meleth asked quickly, feeling even worse than before and glancing toward Miriel. “I should not have let Fael send her away… I...”
“There was no baby. She wasn't with child at all,” Ivren tried to comfort her.
“She just wanted the man,” Arrasel stated assuredly.
“Calon I suspect?” Meleth asked through her hands.
“Yes. Cal she calls him,” Ullothel answered.
“Aside, they got married the day after he got here. She had no time to know she was carrying a child by him,” Sulwen stated.
“That's right, she was never with him until that night he got here,” Ivren stated. “And Calon assured me they had done nothing but sleep. I trust the boy. And Remlas too. It's a well thought of family.”
“Remlas?” Meleth asked.
“Calon's brother,” Ivren offered. “They live just down the road from us here. A good friend of Beleth's I'm sure. She spent a lot of time with him when she first got here.”
“Until they got married,” Ullothel stated.
“There are two men? Are you saying the child could be Remlas'? And Calon is claiming it for him? Or the child is Calon's and she eloped with Remlas? Ivren, this is too much, I need to sit down. I've always known she was impulsive, but I didn't realize I'd taught her so poorly… and she's a midwife, she knows how they're made.”
“Of… of course,” Ivren said, drawing her into the house to the sitting room for a seat, though still not getting in a word edgewise.
Meleth had figured in her head as she walked. “So if she were pregnant when she left in July, the baby should be due this month? Oh dear Eru, we have to tell my mother… both my daughters...” Meleth's eyes suddenly shot to Miriel who was following behind them, looking rather uneasy.
“Please tell me Gilwen isn't pregnant too, I'm not sure I could handle it,” she asked.
“Mother, no… I don't think… she was too sick for Fael to...” Miriel started uncomfortably, patting Melian on the back.
“Gilwen's pregnant?” Haliel asked, as her Uncle Linnon carried her up the steps and into the house and she caught the last piece of the conversation. “She's not married yet though.”
Linnon paused, as if he were walking in on something he ought not to be. “Let's go to the kitchen for a snack,” he mumbled, looking confusedly at the women, and ushering Faelon behind him.
“He sure kisses her an awful lot, Hali. That's how you get babies, you know,” Faelon muttered as they walked off.
–
A wooden sign hung above near the end of the street proclaiming he had finally reached The Quarry. What his sister would be doing at the blacksmith shop, he had no true idea, though Faeldor needed to seek her immediately. If she knew… if she had any idea where Gilwen was, he could set out at once for her and find her yet today. Bring her under his roof to safety. Take her home with him. They would get to an officiant immediately and make it legal and binding, and they would never need be separated so long again. The thought that she could be so near, yet he did not know where, sent a shudder through him, and his arms ached to hold her. It had been over two months now.
The sight of Thissel beside the building urged him onward, for he knew he was at the right place and had not missed her. Perhaps the horse had needed new shoes… surely she would go to the farrier and not straight to the blacksmith, but perhaps this smith specialized. Narbeleth had always been fine with horses and he knew she would take good care of the mare. He had not seen the horse in months, and she looked fine and content, drinking from the trough of water placed there.
Faeldor dismounted Lumiel, and started ahead down the crowded street. He could already hear the blacksmith's hammer pounding.
