Turuninde was well and strong now. The days passed and Turuviel was growing impatient. She knew recovery time was important and a day of peace in Imladris had for it the recovery worth of a week in the wilderness full of perils of the moors. She also had her own reason to wait: the daggers she waited for took the smith a lot longer than she expected it to. Turuviel considered it a sign and kept her impatience to herself. Walking the shaded paths of Imladris regaining strength turned into riding together as far as the Ford of the Bruinen and as far as the closest guard camp from the Misty Mountains. Many memories waited for Turuviel scattered along those roads, joyful or sad, and she did not feel like talking about it. She felt old and tired, like a few years added too much and too fast into her life. They also took so much, this last years. This memories made her sad and quiet but her bright eyed companion seemed to guess and respect such silent revelries and managed to show interest into the scenery or into the defenses of the valley, with competence and grace, not making the huntress feel guilty for not providing a more joyous company.
***
It was in a morning with cloudy skies promising heavy rain when Earnio finally visited her and presented her with a closed wooden box. He seemed proud of his work. Turuviel raised from her seat and came to take the box from his hands. She put it on the nearest table and opened it. They were beautiful, new, shining. She took out Areyello first and inspected it carefully, the cutting edge glittered in the light. Loriambe was the next to be inspected. They both seemed perfect for their job. More heavy, more sturdy, less intricately decorated than the old ones. She held them next to one another, hilts towards her and blades downwards, and inspected the moon and sun symbols. They were not reminding anything of their origin. They were new, simple, clean, polished but to her they will remain a reminder and warning. Never again! She narrowed her eyes and noded before turning towards Earnio.
“They are perfect, and you are a master of your art, my friend. I will cherish them and put them to good work. I thank you!”
***
They turned once more to look over the Valley at the northern gate. Turuviel waited for her companion to set the rhythm and she thought, surprised, that she already wanted to rest when she stopped her horse. The blonde girl was looking lovingly at the red leafs and crystal waters.
“I will return! I am grateful to the lord of the Valley, to the healers and to all who cared for a stranger with such love. My brother also never spent time in the Valley, he must see its beauty! Will you return with us, my protector and new-found friend?”
Turuviel seemed to frown slightly but perhaps it was only the dark hair strands that the wind kept messing with, hindering her sight, that bothered her. She answered politely but thoughtfully, without the joyous enthusiasm of her companion:
“Who is to say where our roads will lead us tomorrow? Even more so for later than this! Perhaps. Perhaps not..”
Then they turned and rushed their horses up the path, towards their chosen life, and soon not even the sound of hooves reminded their passing.
