F.A 520
As time went on, Manyamë and Orneth's friendship continued to deepen and strengthen. Orneth was eager to learn as much as she could from Manyamë's family, including their language, customs, and traditions. Despite the fact that their families were from different lands and had a long-standing rivalry, Orneth remained oblivious to the animosity between their kin.
Tragedy struck when Lord Mannamo was gravely wounded while defending the gates of Gondolin from the enemy siege. He fought valiantly alongside 300 archers, but they were eventually overrun. Many of his companions perished, but he was lucky enough to be carried to safety during the great escape beneath the mountain. His injuries were severe, and he had lost a great deal of blood, leaving him in a precarious state.
During their long and arduous journey towards the Havens of Sirion, Lady Lanyarë cared for her husband with unwavering devotion. She tended to his wounds diligently, ensuring that they were clean and his bandages were changed regularly. With her tireless efforts, Lord Mannamo slowly began to regain his strength, despite the many hardships they faced on their journey.
Lord Mannamo was a high-elf who carried a great burden of anger and grief as one of the few survivors of Gondolin's fall. Despite his stoicism, his imposing presence and air of authority left those who encountered him intrigued by his enigmatic nature. He rarely spoke of his own pain and anguish, recognizing the fortunate fact that his family had managed to escape.
When Manyamë introduced her friend, Orneth, to Lord Mannamo, he initially paid little attention to her. However, he did find it impressive that she had mastered Quenya and directed his praise towards his daughter, whom he regarded as an excellent teacher. Lord Mannamo spent much of his time among his own kind as an archer but also held a great appreciation for the hunting skills of the Sindar, eagerly seeking to learn more about their culture.
Mantaro and Marilo, Lord Mannamo's sons, shared their father's passion for archery and woodworking, with Mantaro being the tallest ellon in the family and Marilo inheriting his mother's gentle nature and love for the sea. Manyamë, their younger sister, had inherited her father's fierce temperament and independent streak, befriending both Orneth and Naerchanar.
When the enigmatic Lady Feawing arrived in Sirion, Orneth was still a young elf. Feawing was Lord Mannamo's brother's wife, and her wisdom and prophetic insights left Orneth uneasy, tormented by dreams of a looming war. Feawing suggested that they leave the Havens of Sirion, and despite Mannamo's reservations, he respected her warnings and decided to leave with her, heading east towards Ered Luin where they would meet Lord Elarion.
Orneth's mother felt compelled to stay in Sirion with Orneth, but recent events had begun to shake her resolve, and the growing threat of war in the North had convinced her to speak with Lady Feawing. Ultimately, Feawing agreed to take Orneth with them, and Orneth's mother realized that there was no future for her daughter in Sirion anymore. As they journeyed towards Ered Luin, the distant sound of drums grew louder and closer, validating Feawing's predictions. Orneth's mother bid her farewell and disappeared into the woods without any further words. Orneth wept as she watched her mother vanish into the trees, and even Mannamo, who was usually composed, was surprised that Orneth's mother had chosen to stay behind.
Naerchanar plucked a delicate daisy from the field and gently wiped away Orneth's tears. He assured her that their separation was temporary as her mother was searching for her father, and they would soon be reunited. However, Orneth had a plea in her eyes and asked Naerchanar why he wouldn't come with them. Naerchanar took her hand and explained that he was no longer bound by anyone's decisions, as he was nobody's son anymore. He had decided to stay back and protect his home. Orneth silently shook her head and followed the caravan of Eldar and horses as they moved towards the east, with Marilo urging her to stay close. Before leaving, Orneth turned to Naerchanar and begged him to come with them. But he only waved goodbye and walked away with a resolute expression. Orneth watched him disappear into the distance, feeling her heart ache with longing.
All pictures are AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
