Second Age; 1716, a week after the encounter…
Undómion had a sense of paranoia about leaving his Talan, and remained on the platform within the Mallorn. He felt humiliated. How could he be bested by this one maid?
“You have the looks of a love-struck elf.”
‘No, I do not! So much happened too fast…the forest is enchanted!’ “Perhaps.”
The forest was special in its own way…even the inhabitants. Still, he should have at least kept composure when saying his name.
“Keep vigil…keep vigil…”
“Are you always so oblivious?”
Undómion’s head turned sharply at the voice, and lo, Díllothwen was at the top of the ladder, arms resting on the platform, and her head on her hands.
“You have no sense of other’s privacy, do you?” Undómion said with no sound of tolerance for this intrusion.
Díllothwen blinked, “It’s not like the Telain are that greatly concealed…at least by those who know where to look for them. For me, they are in plain sight.”
“I do not care if they are hidden or not.”
“Yes you do.” Díllothwen pulled herself to her feet.
Undómion scowled at her literalness, “Only in circumstances like this.” The Silvan maid made no comment, and she wandered along the edges of the Talan. The Noldo watched her carefully, gaining control of his irritation by a small amount, “Is there a reason you are here?”
“I said you intrigue me.”
“There are other ways to meet curiosity.” Undómion stated in a matter of fact tone.
Díllothwen was by the roosting branches, watching the hawks standing on the thick branches and in their nests, “For your people.”
Undómion fell quiet, taking some steps closer to where the elleth stood, “I am sure the same applies to yours as well-we are all elves…”
“It’s all the same, really; only expressing it differently.”
Again Undómion felt a tad annoyed, “Indeed.”
Díllothwen turned to face the taller elf, “Have I caught you at a bad time?”
“I was fine before you came.”
The elleth did not appear overly phased, and she smiled softly, “I caught you at a bad time.”
Undómion opened his mouth to deny that, but was left again having to agree with her, and it made him even more irritated, “…Yes…much is on my mind at the moment.”
“Such as?”
The Noldo put both hands behind his back, holding his left by the wrist as he made a fist, “I will repeat again; nothing that concerns you.”
Díllothwen appeared to be looking at Undómion all over, “If you want it to be that way…then I will leave you be.” Disappointment crossed her features, and she walked over to the ladder.
This time guilt somehow managed to weigh on Undómion. He was not trying to feel guilty…or was aiming to, “I never told you to leave…”
“Oh, your attitude says enough.”
“My-” Undómion gritted his teeth, “I do not take kindly having my home…platform, invaded, which is the source of my bad attitude, Díllothwen.”
Díllothwen turned back around to face the Noldo, now with decent space between them, “This is not your home?”
Undómion’s anger and irritation fell. This piece of wood in a tree could never be considered home, not in a sense like Nargothrond, or Valinor…With a softer voice he answered, “It is an outpost for my travels.” He turned.
Díllothwen’s curiosity was in her eyes again, and she came closer, “Where is this home of yours, then?”
“Do not prod me, or I will make request for you to leave.”
The maiden blinked and stopped in her path, “Very well.” She let silence linger in the air, while her attention drifted over to a coffer, “Are your kin always so reclusive?”
Undómion was not sure how to feel about these questions. He wanted to blame the elleth but he found no reason to; she knew nothing of the western lands or of its tidings, “It depends on the individual.” He looked down to the forest floor, “Some are not secretive…Others, they hide because of guilt.”
“Are you either?”
“I am probably in between…” Undómion looked behind, and his eyes lit up in anger, “Ai!”
Díllothwen had her hands in the coffer, and she held the manuscript sent by Aridhor, looking at the strange markings in confusion. She looked away and her eyes widened at seeing an enraged Noldo, yet she remained in her spot.
Undómion snatched the parchment away, “What do you think you are doing?”
“I am not stealing anything!”
“Then stop sneaking around!”
They had a staring contest again, but the intense glare the Noldo had Díllothwen could not withstand for long, and she shrunk away from the coffer and the ellon entirely.
Undómion continued glaring at the Silvan maid, “Do you have any sense of others’ privacy?” he repeated his earlier question.
Díllothwen remained quiet. Undómion eventually looked away, and that was when Díllothwen spoke again, “What are those markings?”
“Tengwar*.” Undómion placed the parchment back in the coffer, and locked it.
Díllothwen tilted her head, “And what is Tenwar?” as she could not pronounce the word correctly.
“Written language. Those markings are written down words that we would speak. It is a message…”
“Message? Why did you not say so!”
Undómion groaned, “So I will save myself from explaining it to you later.”
“What is this message?”
Undómion would not have shared, considering twice he had said that it does not involve Díllothwen, but if it would get her to be quiet, “My brother wanting me to go over the mountains…”
“There are more of you?”
“No, I am the only one left.” Undómion answered sarcastically, “Yes, there are more of my people…Perhaps in your tales and legends there is mention of all the elves wakening by a sacred lake; some following a great Huntsman, some that followed but did not complete the journey, and some that did not follow at all.”
Thought enveloped the elleth, “Yes…actually…”
Undómion knew there would be a mass of things to share eventually, “Beside the point…I cannot simply leave with my ‘outpost’ being left unattended, and my birds.”
Díllothwen bit her lip, “Do you know anyone else here?”
“I do, however, I do not trust them with my treasures.”
“I could…Well…”
Undómion’s eyes flashed, and again he turned to look at the elf-maid, “No.”
Díllothwen looked solemn, “Even if you were to stay, I would come by every now and then just to investigate you.”
Undómion hissed, but lowered his head as he contemplated the offer. Going through this made him want to go to Imladris; he had enough Silvan elf encounters to last him for a while…but the barrier of trust was still present, “And how would I know you will not rob me blind while I am away, and everything left in a mess?”
The elleth smiled, “You can’t; you would simply have to let me handle things the way my people handle with affairs.”
Undómion watched her for a few moments, “Fair enough…But.” He frowned, “I do not want to come back seeing everything out of order.”
“How would I know what is considered ‘in order’ for you?”
Undómion walked right up to Díllothwen, towering over her as he looked at her, “How you see it now.”
Díllothwen recoiled, and she nodded quickly, “O-of course.” Undómion gave an affirming nod before he walked away. Díllothwen folded her arms after she got her composure again, “Well, since you started a bargain, I want a demand too.”
Undómion blinked and was confused, “Bargain?”
“To make it fair; in pay for my time tending to your nest, I want something from these…settlements over the mountains.”
“Done.” Undómion said quickly.
“I am not done yet!” Díllothwen stared with surprise.
“It is too late now. Besides…there is plenty I can find that will be enough to satisfy you.”
“And how will I know you will do what I asked?”
Undómion paused, feeling like a sword just hit him, “I keep my promises, or I would sulk like the rest of my kin; and I intend to avoid that.” He began to rummage for things he would need, “I leave on the morrow…I do not expect to be back in a few months; or a year at the least.”
“Why so long?”
“I have not been among my own in over half a decade…”
Díllothwen could not find the words to answer, and she simply nodded, “I will go wander about the forest for a little bit…I will be here before you leave.”
Undómion said nothing in response, and listened as the elleth descended down to the forest floor. He sighed heavily, finally having peace. He was not sure what to think of this…other than he had the ability to go to Imladris. This Silvan maiden was not afraid of him, a proud Noldo, which surprised him. She did not even care of what ill that may come out of her curiosity. Unsure if he appreciated her presence or not, he went about his business gathering things needed for his journey.
((* I don't think the Silvan would know written language (assumingly) so close to when the Sindar/Noldor began exploring.))
