Telpenaro had grown to his full stature, being confident with his young eagerness still present. His father knocked his door. ”Come in, ada”, Telpenaro said and Erendo smiled as he opened the door. ”Son, you have advanced tremendously, and you have reason to be proud of yourself”, he said. Telpenaro answered: ”Thank you, ada. Do you have something else to say to me, though?”
”That I do”, Erendo said solemnly. ”I have used my contacts with the court of the King. You are strong, but they do not take inexperienced Elves to King's guard yet. However, I may have found a place that will grant you a passage to it later”, he continued. Telpenaro's eyes widened with attention. ”Go on!”, he said. ”You may get to Lord Aegnor's outer guard in Dorthonion. The work there is more trivial and they work in more shifts so you don't have to be guarding there all the time. If you show that you are promising, you may get among those Elves who are trained by the Lord himself. And that is a great aid in being recommended to the King.”
Telpenaro shined with happiness and embraced his father, and his father gave a pat in his back. ”One more thing, son. Your mother awaits you. She wants to have a word with you before you depart”, Erendo said and Telpenaro looked in him in the face. ”Very well, I will do that in the morning. When do I depart north?”, he asked. ”I will tell you when I know better”, Erendo answered. ”I'll see you soon”.
When the morning arrived, he went to see Gillaswen as he promised. ”Son, come closer”, she said. ”Follow me”. She led Telpenaro higher up the road in the caverns and they finally arrived to her garden. The cavern had a small dome of glass that let the morning sunlight in, making all the her plants shine like green jewels. She extended her arm to show a specific flower with large white blooms, which seemed to be slightly transparent and glittered especially brilliant while they were facing sunlight or moonlight.
”It is beautiful, ammë”, he said. She answered: ”I planted this flower to remind myself of you while you are gone out there, and it is yours and it waits for you here. The flower is rare, and I went to look for it for a long time at the lake Ivrin. But even if this flower is rare, you are invaluable. I know that you are exposed to danger in the road you have chosen, so I do not claim that you should stay safe, but I want you to stay alive. I will miss you.”
Telpenaro looked at his mother, finding no words while he was feeling his mother's care and affection. She continued: ”Also, remember that I have taught you about the lore of Laiquendi. If you find no friends around, Yavanna will be that. She is most generous to anyone who wishes to learn her creations.” Telpenaro nodded, though he did not think that he would need the skill just yet, but he always kept it in his heart. ”Yet I will need to know some of the skills of Aulë as well”, he answered, ”as long as my work lasts. Blades need sharpening, and sometimes reforging, even”.
Gillaswen sighed and nodded with a bittersweet smile. She took a strand of her son's silvery hair and put it behind his ear. ”You better start tying your hair as well, son. Who knows what will happen if it's all over your eyes like that”, she said, and Telpenaro smiled and embraced her.
From that point on, he saw his parents very little for a long time. His place in Dorthonion was soon arranged, and he started packing.
