It had been months since she had been home. Delicate hands were now calloused and strong, her thin arms taut and muscled as never before. Long brown hair, once worn flowing around her shoulders, was now tied back in a tight bun and covered in a glimmering grey hood that shifted with the light.
She tapped softly on the door of the little home on a high flet.
Soft purple light spilled out from the crystalline lights inside as Melleth opened the door into the early morning. She covered her mouth with a soft gasp. “Lothien!”
“Naneth!” Her hood fell back as she embraced her mother and spun her around. “Your daughter is officially a Marchwarden of the Galadhrim!”
Her mother loosed her embrace and held her at arms length to look at her. “You look happy and well. And stronger than ever.” She beamed with motherly pride, though her smile was slightly bittersweet. “Come in and sit down, I want to hear about all of it!”
Lothuialwen allowed her mother to pull her inside. She set her bow and quiver inside the doorway and took a seat at their little table as her mother prepared a steaming pot of tea.
“I have missed you, Naneth.”
“I have missed you, too, my little flower.” Melleth handed her a steaming cup and sat. “And do you leave again?”
She sipped the tea, savoring the flowery flavor quietly for a moment before replying. “I have been assigned to the border flets along the Nimrodel for a season, but I have some weeks to rest at home before I leave. I will visit every time my duties bring me back to Caras Galadhon, I promise.”
Her mother nodded, her eyes filled with pride and sadness. “I will miss you. But I am glad you are doing what brings you joy and gives you purpose.” She blinked away a tear then smiled at her daughter. “But tell me of your training! Have you made any new friends? What have you learned?”
Loth laughed and told her of the weeks of training, of learning to use a longbow and how well she could shoot now, of silent movement and training with sword and dagger. They spoke and sipped tea until the sun was high in the sky, and still until it had set again and the sky outside sparkled with stars and the lights of the treetop city.
She stayed several weeks at home, practicing her skills daily, spending quiet evenings weaving and singing with her mother, walking in the trees of the city and among the gardens.
The day it was time to leave, her mother gave her a long hug and pressed a bundle wrapped in silvery cloth into her hands.
Opening the package revealed a leaf-wrapped bundle of lembas and a folded garment. She gently unfolded it and gasped.
It was a golden tunic, the color of mallorn blossoms in spring, with intricate designs throughout the cloth showing trees in bloom and leaves in elegant patterns.
“This should keep you warm no matter how cold the winds get on the flets.”
“Gi mellin, Naneth! This is lovely and I will wear it with pride.” She hugged her mother again before slipping down the long ladder to join the other Wardens, standing tall with pride and a light step.
