Post by Mîrioniel on May 5, 2018 6:33:16 GMT -5
And as she hummed, she saw the faint glow of dawn creeping into the sky, everything becoming lighter with the crisp start of a new day. Their first night had slipped by with nothing untoward happening, but it was no guarantee that would continue, it was most likely that it would not.
However, she would not let the dark of the night, or her dreams affect her in this ethereal moment of a new day. She stopped humming when Haldir looked over to address her.
”The dawn meets us, brennil nîn. A small meal, to keep our pace. Then, we might away early. I have not passed the Fangorn in many years, so I cannot say how much the presence of the Onodrim might have dwindled there.”
There was a ghost of a smile upon her face, he was meticulous in all his planning and preparation, informing her of each step he planned to take as if he required some pre-authorisation from her. There were aspects of his behaviour that reminded her of her father, and yet Amroth was a king and so he delegated and gave commands.
Mîrioniel opened her pack and pulled out a carefully wrapped parcel, opening up the leaves and revealing some Lembas bread. She broke a small piece off for herself, then getting up she moved to Haldir’s side.
“Here, Captain.” She said, offering him some of what she had. The elleth thought of what he had said about the Onodrim but could not let that dampen her spirits. They had to find one of the tree shepherds, but not waste precious time in doing so. Should it be a case that many hours would be spent hunting, then she was certain it would be best to move on, there may be others on the road that knew something.
Having finished their brief repast, the Lembas was put carefully away, and the pack done back up. Mîrioniel slipped the daggers upon her back, and then slung the knapsack across her shoulders, performing a graceful little shimmy to get comfortable. Noticing that Haldir was also ready to go, they once more continued their journey to Fangorn. Most of the morning wore on before the trees loomed closer. Once they were spotted it was but a couple of hours until they were on the edges of the forest.
As they had approached on foot, Mîrioniel had plenty of time to take in the woodland. It was in direct contrast to Lothlórien, which was an area of supreme natural beauty, full of light and warm colours, graceful trees and birdsong. Fangorn was deep, and dark, it’s floor a messy knot of gnarled tree roots. No song penetrated here, and the atmosphere seemed hostile and forbidding. No light seemed to be able to find its way through the craggy mess of branches. If anything the boughs and branches seemed to have grown in a way to bar anyone from entering the woodland. Mîrioniel felt ill at ease here.
“This place is steeped in sorrow.” The elleth commented. Whilst she had no powers of prophecy, she had a keen sense of emotion, being sensitive. Whilst she did not feel a hostility from the woods, there was a palpable feeling of mourning that radiated from the trees. Trying to see through the trees, it appeared nothing was moving within, but so thick were the trees, it was impossible to see far. Somehow she doubted Nimrodel would’ve passed through this forest, and yet her parents had to have passed this way. If her mother had tried to return to Lorien after the loss of Amroth, then she could’ve gotten turned around or lost within this labyrinth of a woodland.
“We ought not to stray far from each other.” Mîrioniel said, resisting the urge to stand too close to Haldir, for whilst she was deeply concerned about entering this domain of the Onodrim, she did not want to be seen as afraid, or too timid to have embarked upon this venture. She had no doubts that a seasoned captain like Haldir already had his reservations about Mîrioniel being allowed to leave Lorien, entering upon such peril, and felt it necessary to prove her value. After all, it was King Amroth’s blood which ran through her veins.