Kizár Elená Durin · @SilmarilNaro
17th Nov 2015 from TwitLonger
Stone-verse: On the Way West.
After http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1snidtg
A bit of talk between Anvari and Elennárë about her family.
@Gyrfalconsheart @SilmarilNaro
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Anvari
It was good to be traveling again, Anvari thought, though it was still strange to see Elennárë without Boromir or Kíli, or Baranor somewhere close. Maitimo's presence was easier than he had thought, and Fion he had known long enough to being used to him, and his occasional bouts of strangeness.
All in all Anvari enjoyed their journey, it took his mind off of the great changes his people underwent, and it gave him a chance to spent much time with Elennárë, they often talked, while they marched, and Anvari enjoyed telling her about the land they were crossing. To him this was home, it might hold harsh memories but not the dark shadows that Kíli carried.
Eventually Bree was passed and they camped out in the wilder regions of the North Farthing, none of them being keen on walking right across the Shire too openly. The Summer was growing heavy with harvest and soon autumn would be coming. "We should go North tomorrow, cross the Blue Mountains and then go towards Northern Lindon," Anvari said, when they had camped down for the night. "That way we evade too many questions by the folk down in Lhûn."
Elennárë
The journey westward had been something that felt new and freeing when Elennárë thought about how it felt being away from Gondor, reclaiming something old and almost lost in having Maitimo back, though she did miss Boromir and Kíli as well. The best part was being able to listen to Anvari's tales of these lands, for while Elennárë had memories of them from another life, Anvari had a way of telling that was rooted in this life, with the problems and harshness it entailed.
One of the first things that reminded her this life was not the same as Elenaria's was when they had checked the troll cave. While she had told herself not to get her hopes up, a small spark had stayed, with her dreaming of finding Elenlanta there. The cave had been empty though, any remnants of the troll hoard was gone and the only evidence of it that remained were fragments of broken wood that looked to be from weapon handles and bow shafts, and the remains of a few old bones. Too many years had passed and there was little likelihood of ever knowing who had cleared it out.
"Yes... I am not sure anyone in the Grey Havens would look too well on Maitimo. Gil-Galad was from a branch of the family that was not very close to the sons of Fëanor and the current lord there is a Falathrim who held allegiance to Thingol..." her hand absently moved to the pouch where the Star Crystal was.
Anvari
"I think they have been living with the knowledge, that he comes and goes to Rivendell," Anvari replied, having met Maitimo there himself for the first time. "Though I am not sure how well they like it, or how much they are angered by it. We - my people that is - did certainly not try to get involved in elven troubles."
He noticed the way she touched the pouch, she longed for her family, and as far as any dead dwarf could understand the longing for his clan and home, Anvari did understand why she missed her family so much. "Should I take Fion for some scouting?" he asked, offering her and Maitimo some privacy to speak to their sister. Skar never intruded, the blind skald was most of the time like he was not there at all.
Elennárë
"What?" Elennárë reacted surprised by the question, then looked down to her hand. "No, I was merely thinking that if any of those in the Grey Havens knew that I could easily call Losá here, they might take some offence, feeling they have more say on who has a right to speak to her... or something equally foolish. Thingol was the one who kept her from Maitimo and Macalaurë, and his subjects kept doing so, even against any wishes Lúthien had."
Anvari
"Then any attempt of them to have a say, will be as short as their lives.", Anvari's voice gained an edge as he spoke. He would not allow anyone, be he elf, dwarf, man or orc to deprive Elennárë of what little was left of her family. "I cannot judge what happened in the past - some of my people played no good role in that as well - but I cannot help but wonder... knowing your true nature now, it seems to me that the intent of those who tried to gain you, and keep you from your family, was less than... honest." He was not sure how to word it, but someone who went about capturing a beautiful lady and keeping her prisoner usually had some very malevolent intent, and they might still be set on such ideas.
Elennárë
"Beren and Lúthien came seeking a means to an end, but left Angband with intentions to see Losá return to our brothers once their marriage was approved. Lúthien's father however?" Elennárë gave a bit of a shrug. "I believe you are are right. He just wanted the right to say he owned a silmaril and even when faced with the truth of my sister did not care about her wishes, instead seeking to alter them to get his way."
For a moments she looked across the camp towards the direction of Russandol. "I do not think all of my own family were innocent of such sentiments at times. I know to a degree the sort of things Turco and Curvo did when Findaráto set to help Beren. I am not sure I would have regretted burning them if they had been the ones who eventually did claim us." She frowned even as she spoke. The knowledge of what two of her brothers had done, even the divide between the branches of the Finwion family did not excuse engendering their cousin's death.
Anvari
Anvari knew most of those stories only from Ballads his fathers had shared with him, the way the dwarves remembered the history. The dwarven view on these events was different, but dwarves tended to be radical when it came to a treasured sister. "I am not sure if you do not judge them too harshly." he said, after a moment. "had it been me, and my sister in there, and some man trying to get her as a price for his marriage to be granted - I'd have slain him on the spot. But then... I guess I am shaped by the way my people tell the story..." He shrugged. "What is important now, that we make sure no one can harm you or your sisters again. No claims, no owning and other nonsense. We cannot help Losá to gain a body... but we can make sure she can be as close to you as possible." He was not quite sure about the body yet. Legend said Durin II had done something of that kind for Franwi, the wife of his best friend. Anvari wondered if the elves had kept any records of the old days, that might be helpful.
Elennárë
"Anything was better than Angband, but you are right, all of that is in the past. Losá has friends and family in Valinor, and now she can be here as well, when time allows." Elennárë offered him a reassuring smile. "It is nice knowing she can relay to Ammë what we are doing here. She told me Ammë was very glad to know Maitimo is here, alive, and that we know Cáno is as well. I like knowing that she now knows where her eldest sons are, as she never knew for sure, and Telvo could not say anything about Mandos either."
Anvari
Anvari did say nothing to the line about anything is better... he would believe the same, but he knew from the dark, empty eyes of some of his people that their belief that anything was better than the horrors of the deep, had been shattered during their years on the surface. He wished there had been someone to help the sisters back then, but no one had ever come close to succeeding, and he would not venture into the subject of Beren again. He smiled when she spoke of her youngest brother and their mother back in the blessed lands. So much of her family was lost... lost even beyond death, for no one could say where their souls may dwell now. He pushed aside all strange thoughts on the matter. "Maybe, when we find your sister, and her people, Losá can tell your mother, that some more of her family are alive."
Elennárë
"I do hope so. If not our own family then may a few of the families of the other ladies who stayed in Valinor, or even those who decided to return at the end of the First Age." Elennárë agreed. The thought however reminded her of the empty city on their journey north. She had known that Telperinquar was not there and Losá had said there was no sign of him in the Undying Lands either. Almárë was another mother who had lost a son to Middle Earth and did not know where he was.
Anvari
Anvari could guess what she was thinking as her gaze strayed back east. He squatted down beside her, taking her hands between his. "Do not give up on the Great Smith just yet," he said. "my father says that he had students, several of them, from my people. He knew at least one prior to... to being taken. There may have been others. One of them might have found a way to free him - he might be alive and well in some dwarven fortress." Even on Erebor, but for all that mattered Erebor was better than captivity, and if he was freed by a true dwarf a smith of such skill would receive the utmost respect from any given dwarven community. Prejudiced as Anvari might be towards Erebor, he knew they'd never treat a great one of the arts badly. "We may have to ask the King of the White Mountains for help to find out, as no one will answer the questions of the Dead Dwarves... but do not give up on him. He was alive a century ago... he may yet linger."
Elennárë
Elennárë looked up from her hands with a smile. "You are coming to know my thoughts so well." She gripped Anvari's hands tightly. "You keep me from worrying too much, for that I am thankful you're here."
With that she gave his hand a tug, pulling him closer so she could give him a hug.
Anvari
Anvari followed the nudge to move closer and embraced her. "There is this look in your eyes, when you think of your family," he whispered in her ear. He knew he could not help her getting all of them back, but he could try to help finding those who might still be there. Right now a hug would have to do.