Canopies covering the roads of Caras Galadhon rustled gently against the rolling winds. The twilight skies brought a mystical glow throughout the city as it always had and the citizens roamed about at their own interests, passing back and forth from the swan fountain where Faorie often played.
Faorie sat at the edge of the pond that encircled the fountain, playing with golden leaves over the small waves. She would often brush away the hair that always seemed to blow across her face, but she did not mind so much at this age.
When the sentinels of Caras Galadhon would pass her by she would stand respectfully and watch them in awe as they began their nightly duties. Their armour glistened against the millions of lights that covered the city, and their aura of direction had delighted young Faorie.
The warriors all had a strong duty to their home - a journey ahead of them that would surely be met with the greatest pleasures.
Such a rewarding life, Faorie envisioned. To live such a life was to live with purpose.
Faorie stood just outside the entrance into Rivendell. Twilight had begun to cloak the hills in darkness and it was her time to begin the patrol through the Trollshaws, as her duties entailed; but she had yet to move ahead.
Her thoughts had been overtaken by the image of Thendryt's return. He had not perished in the snow rich lands of the Misty Mountains as she had seen, but instead had survived with the apparent aid from an old acquaintance named Odak. There was no recorded amount of time known for how long she had stood in the center of the road leading down onto High Moor before Thendryt rushed past her on Bovad.
Thendryt halted Bovad suddenly and turned them both back towards Faorie who continued to stand in silence, though her attention had immediately turned to him and his steed.
“Thendryt?” Faorie called in mild surprise. “What are you doing here? It's not yet your turn to go out into the Trollshaws.”
Bovad's hooves stomped the dirt path as he struggled to adjust his stance. Thendryt blinked once and grinned his usual casual grin. “I do not have duties for a few days. Thought I'd give Bovad a run.” He patted Bovad's neck.
Faorie looked at Bovad for a moment and physically relaxed at the sight of the friendly horse. “I see,” she uttered quietly. “Very well.” Intending to turn back towards Rivendell, Faorie turned to her side and froze. There was a long silence.
Thendryt raised a brow slightly, uncertain if anything was about to be said or if he was free to move along with Bovad.
“Thendryt,” Faorie said sharply.
Lowering his brow and raising his chin, Thendryt looked upon Faorie with listening ears.
A gentle breeze blew across the ground past Bovad and Faorie's legs. “You have returned to us,” she began, “And everything is as it was before you had gone away to the Misty Mountains.” Faorie's eyes were fixed on a nearby cliff. “The others accept your return, but I question whether or not I do too.” She took a few steps forward, still fixing her eyes ahead, then whispered, “Follow me.” The winds picked up a bit over the small valley. “And leave Bovad behind.”
With a confused expression, Thendryt dismounted Bovad. He placed his palm lightly over Bovad's neck, whispering a few words to him and shortly sent him on his way back. As he walked off, Thendryt turned back to Faorie and moved himself beside her.
Faorie's gaze gradually lowered as she whispered, as if speaking to herself, “A warrior in thought is left in his own silence. But with two...” The wind stopped. “Come with me,” she said simply as she and Thendryt immediately made their way to the high stone wall bordering the hidden vale.
It was there that Faorie opened a hidden passageway known to the Elves of Rivendell and led them both into a small-scale cave housing long abandoned tables and parchment.
Here, at last, the two were able to speak with the much needed privacy of all the struggles and actions taken in the passed several months.
End of Part 1 of 3
