Should i
Sitting on the flat of the rock, overlooking the grasslands, he saw them approaching. Dark clouds, but
not like the ones in the east, these came from the sea, filled with water for a thirsty earth.
He turned and looked at her, curled up to his cloak, her bow beside her, and that beautiful smile on
her face.
“Should I ask…” It was some five years now, in the count of man, since they first laid eyes upon each
other, and from that day on she kept filling his heart with joy. Every meeting, journey or thought
about her warmed him with happiness.
He quickly got up and started looking for fully leafed branches, to make a shelter, protecting her for
the oncoming rain, not to disturb her resting.
While making the shelter, taking care not to wake her, the question came back to him “Should i…”.
To many things still troubled her, he knew that, just being there, with her, would be enough, to
comfort her and give peace to her restless mind.
It started as a short, early evening hunt, just to enjoy each other’s company. While climbing up to the
Gates, to reach the High Moors, they stopped several times, first to look over the valley, admiring the
sight of it. But as the skies darkened, and when the stars started to embrace Ithil, they slowed down
even more, discussing the constellations.
While putting the last branch on her shelter he smiled, thinking back “it seems even the horses start
to like each other, although Vanya is, and will be the most noble of the two, and acts accordingly,
poor Ladhros”.
At the time they reached the fields beneath Amon Nendir it was night, the only light they had was
from Ithil and the stars. But he enjoyed it, seeing her hunt. The way she moved through the long grass, as if she was a deer amongst deer. Aiming at the animal, not just to put it down, but to kill it in one shot, causing it as less pain as possible. The way she looked proud, up to her middle in the grass, holding her prize high up, and that smile on her face, it made his heart thump.
When they reached the rockery, climbed it and found a nice flat surface, she started
looking for wood. He understood, they were not going back to Imladris, not that night.
They talked for a long time, he listening mostly, she even telling about her childhood, her family, and
her inner flame. He felt closer to her then anytime before.
He sat down in front of her shelter, looking at her, admiring her beauty and peace. “ Should I…” He
felt the first raindrops on his face, he looked up at the eastern skies, moving his eyes southward,
seeing dark clouds gather “not now, not this day”.
