Nirhen

The fairest gift of strength is clemency

If the weak offend;

So kindly do not punish me

For having the fault of a friend.

In the morning I rose, and went to the Hall of Fire to dine with Sogadan.

The words sounded strange issuing from my mouth, yet still I gave voice to them. I urged for restraint, for her to remember who and what we are. The honour that we have fought so hard to win, and to keep; that cannot be so easily discarded. Who remains upon this darkened shore that is mightier in deed or in battle than us? The count is few indeed. Yet this night we have fallen far from such lofty claims, from glory and honour
to something far darker, far less fitting for those of our illustrious history.

It begins like this.

Slow, measured strokes ease the blood from the blade. The flickering firelight illuminates a face as smooth and expressionless as a statue. Long ages ago, she had wept during this ritual – purging kindred blood, night after night, from a blade stained with terrible deeds, wondering whether anything could be worth the destruction they had caused. But it is many years since Nirhen has allowed herself to weep.

Night was falling over Echad Dagoras, muting the color of the land into shadows. A quiet began to descend on the encampment as the elves of Vanimar settled themselves for rest after the long day of traveling. They had set out from Imladris under the cover of night and had not stopped to rest since then. Eliriael remembered the veil of night lifting for the arrival of dawn just as her feet splashed across the Ford of Bruinen.

This place somehow feels old and new at the same time; a fact that both puzzles and delights me. The tall silver trees with their golden leaves are beautiful, never before have I seen their like upon this earth. As I lie upon the soft green grass threaded through with delicate purple flowers, the winter sun shines through the golden canopy above, bathing me in light and warmth. Sleep will take me again soon and perhaps this time I will find rest. I am reluctant to sleep, although I have never been this exhausted before.

Continued from A Word In Sogadan's Ear

Continued from Deep Thoughts