Two years would pass since our time trapped within the Cave at Nan Tornaeth... Two years our relationship blossomed into something no one expected... and little approved...
It did not take long for word to spread amongst the Elves of Imladris, that feelings where shared between Lirita and I. We were inseparable. Spending every waking hour in each other’s company. Whether in the Library of the Last Homely Home learning from Lirita, or in the wilderness teaching her in the ways of combat. It would have taken a fool not to notice the love we shared for one and other. For one to take one step into the Hall of Fire, all eyes would be upon them. Whispers would be shared in not so low a tone, as if deliberate. Lirita came to me one morning. I had been in the wilderness of the Trollshaws, preparing for the next lesson. She came to me, teary eyed.
“Lord Elrond wishes to speak with you...”
I went directly to his chambers. Lord Elrond spoke of what had been said of me and Lirita, that it was against the belief of the Elves and I was no longer welcome amongst their kind. Lord Elrond pleaded my case as much as he could to the others, but it was of no use he said. I was to go onward, leave Imladris and never return. It was in that moment, Lirita burst through the doorway. She wept as she screamed that this was unfair, that if I were to leave she would instantly follow. A faint smile would appear on Lord Elrond’s face, as he hugged Lirita.
“It would seem rather impossible to separate the duo of Nan Tornaeth...”
Lord Elrond spoke many kind words of how I had trained Lirita, almost as well as my parents had taught me in the ways of combat, stealth and scouting. Though she was no Ranger as I was no Scholar. But even the blindest being could see that the two who emerged that day from the cave had a connection. He went on to ask if we loved each other. We looked deep within each other’s eyes, remaining silent a moment. I will always remember the image of her gleaming, blue eyes. Though full of tears that sparkled, a smile would cross her face. It was in that moment that I knew... that we knew that we loved each other so much, nothing would tear us apart. Lord Elrond would laugh a little, a rarity in my time amongst the Elves of Imladris.
“There is nothing more meaningful, than the love between a pair. My sons had spoken of such themselves to me, believing this was so... Though many would frown upon it, I will grant Lirita passage alongside you Valindal... the Grey Wardens.”
It mattered not to who disapproved. Knowing that we had the blessing of Lord Elrond was enough for Lirita and I. May it have been Arwen’s love for that of my kin, Aragorn which allowed Lord Elrond to be lenient towards us? I will never know, but for that moment nothing would stop us. Lirita was full of excitement, filling satchel after satchel with books and her clothing. I did not want to, though I had to stop her and remind her that we would be in the wild for some time. She paused a moment, before grabbing a pile of old study notes. Lirita threw them into the air, twirling beneath them as she did not care for them any longer. As long as she was by my side, none of this mattered.
It was soon midnight. The stars shined brightly, as I once again put on my greaves. The Grey Warden... Yet I believed I was not worthy of the name. There was a knock at the door. Lady Arwen had come to see me off, notifying me that Lirita and her Father awaited me at the gates of Imladris. As I approached the gates, there was not an Elf in sight to bid me farewell. Though I would not blame them. Lord Elrond and his sons Elladan and Elrohir stood beneath the gates. Where was Lirita? Again, Lord Elrond would laugh and Elladan and Elrohir would part. Revealing a figure, armoured and hooded almost identical to me. Lowering their hood, it would be Lirita.
“I did say... Grey Wardens...”
We would hold each other’s hands, gazing at one and other. It was then, a band of silk would bind our hands.
“This is not the way of our people, but allow it to be a symbol of your companionship.”
Lord Elrond would continue to wrap our hands, fingers entwined. All we could do is smile, Lirita shedding more tears of joy. We repeated the words Lord Elrond asked us to, binding us to one and other. Though forced to leave that which we had called home, we could not have been happier. Lord Elrond would look to us both with a smile, before calling on Arwen to come forth. She would bring with her twp grey horses, presenting one to each of us. Aermhar and Illith where their names. We would mount the horses before Lord Elrond spoke of others of my kin. To the North, to Evendim. No words I could say, would ever give justice to how grateful I was to Lord Elrond and his family. Though when I looked back at them from a far, I think they knew...
“We should make a fire.”
We agreed, pulling on the reigns of Aermhar and Illith we stopped to make camp for the night. Little had we realised that we where only a short distance from that very same cave, our feelings began to blossom in. It would not matter to us, as many exciting adventures surely awaited us beyond the borders of the Trollshaws. I would start a fire, as Lirita hitched the horses to a nearby tree. I could tell already, that Lirita had taken a great fondness to Illith already. Aermhar was a little too strong for Lirita to handle. I laughed as she fought with him, but she won in the end.
We sat by the camp fire, holding one and other within our arms. The furs I had brought, wrapped around us for warmth. As I sat and watched the flickering flames dance beneath the starlit sky, Lirita would ask me if I knew of her culture and the meaning of being ‘Betrothed’. I shook my head not knowing, which is when she pushed me onto my back. I would gaze up at her, the moonlight reflecting off of her auburn hair. Lirita would giggle, before taking one of the loose furs and throwing it over the fire. As the last embers burned, we were truly together beneath the starlit sky...
