Seregrian gasped as she clutched her middle, her hand instinctively attempting to soothe the baby’s movements. “A moment is all I need”, she managed through deep breaths and a nervous smile.
“Take my arm?”, Aifiolossë offered, to which the expectant mother gratefully nodded as Luminere followed close to attend them both navigating the spiral stairs down from the Sanctum.
As they neared the lower floor, Seregrian panted, “We shall go just to the guest hall... that is where... Cutch and I decided...”. She paused to catch her breath.
“Decided what?”, Luminere asked.
“We decided that... it is easier on me... to rest here, without the stairs”.
Before moving to the bed, Seregrian uttered the words that closed the bookcases hiding the stairs. “Fennas Seregrían! Hollo i tabo!”
Luminere and Aifiolossë helped their pained and exhausted hostess down onto the bed where she released a blessedly relieved sigh and then whispered, “See, it passes... she is calmer now...”
“It must be those wretched stones, somehow”, Luminere growled, worry on her face.
Seregrían turned to Aifiolossë first, requesting, “Wine, I think... Aifiolossë, please... a small glass of Celondim Red, nothing potent...”. As Aifiolossë moved away nodding, Seregrían then turned to Luminere. “Lum - Luminere... I do not fault you for being... thorough in your research, how could I be?”.
The long moment filled with Luminere’s search for an answer was broken by Aifiolossë returning with their wine. Suddenly, rapid footsteps and Cutch’s calling voice rushed to the room. “SEREGRÍAN!?"
Reaching one hand up from the bed Seregrían weakly smiled and whispered, “Melethel...
“Melon nin!!”, he cried out and knelt beside her, clasping her hand in both of his. “The Captain! I passed him on the way in...”
Luminere stood back, a mixture of wonder and apprehension lining her face, for this was the first time she saw her grandnephew.
“I have had an... episode with your daughter”, Seregrian offered in a voice intended to sooth her husband. “... it appears that she doesn't like much wine...”
“Wine, is it!?”, he asked, sternness leaking into his concerned tone. “I think there is more to this, mell bereth...?"'
Aifiolossë shook her head. “It wasn't the wine, Cutch”, to which Seregrían threw a sour glance at Aifiolossë, who in return lifted a reproachful brow.
Seregrían said, “I am alright, dear one... truly... but I think I shall sleep here in the guest chamber tonight... the stairs may be a little much.”
Cutch nodded vigorously. “Of course, and I will attend you - without - regard to any argument.”
Sitting up, Seregrían continued, “… and Bainiel is being a little fractious tonight, is all... “. She sipped her wine, then downed the whole glass, unmindful of her husband ‘tsk-ing’ at her. He looked up and scanned the room, finally taking the moment to see who was visiting, nodding to Aifiolossë, who he knew before his gaze fell onto Luminere.
Seregrían announced, “Ah, manners... Cutch, here is Mistress Luminere, a visitor from... forgive me, from whence you hail again?”
Luminere politely nodded, “Well, these days I am quartering in Bree, searching for answers to my sister’s death.”
“Luminere... my husband, Cutch...”.
Cutch looked at her curiously. “'Odd, you do see familiar, somehow. We have met?”, to which Luminere replied, “No, we have never met before” and then cast a questioning glance at Seregrían, who bit her lip, indecisively.
Luminere said, “Perhaps you should sit with your wife.”
Cutch looked searchingly between Luminere and his wife, and then quietly sat.
“Dear one...”, Seregrian began, letting the empty wine glass fall to the bed and reaching for both his hands. “Cutch... beloved... trust me on this, if never you have...”. Solemnly but without hesitation he nodded.
“L-Luminere... Luminere is your aunt... she is Gilmorwen's sister. She is here at my invitation; she means you and us no ill”.
Cutch momentarily froze, and his eye locking onto the bag at Luminere's hip. He slowly rose to face her with a resolve seldom seen in him, growling a command, “Don't. Not. Here.”
Seregrían spoke firmly, but quietly, “She means no ill!”
Aifiolossë took a step back, her posture like a coiled spring.
Cutch stepped very close to Luminere fists closing. “Then what does she mean?”
Seregrían 's eyes darted back and forth, watching the confrontation.
Luminere looked down submissively, avoiding his stare and holding her hands up and away from the bag.
“Tell him, kinswoman - tell him what you told me...”, Seregrian pled.
“I am here to find out ...well many things about my sister. And to meet the only family I have left on these shores.” As she spoke, Luminere made no gesture nor used any tone that would suggest threat.
Cutch gaze softened a bit, but his jaw was still set, and there was no fear in him. “And you have not your sister's - madness!?”. Luminere kept her eyes down and silently shook her head.
Seregrían quickly interjected, “Luminere and I spoke of many things this day - including that - can you not see the remorse? Together, we have learned one great truth: Gilmorwen's madness, and her power, died with her.”
Cutch glanced at Seregrían, “I can see… something…perhaps remorse. Just as I can still feel the torture at her sister’s hand! And, although we have yet to discuss all the gruesome details of her death, mell bereth, I witnessed it myself when she was interrupted while tormenting me.”
“Yes... quite the 'wizardry', was it not?” she replied with an eyebrow raised over a probing gaze.
Luminere said, “She is indeed gone, nephew. I have found and properly disposed of her remains. I am here only to learn all the circumstances of her death.”
“As am I...”, Seregrian respectfully demanded. “As painful as that was, did you not think you could confide this to me?”
Cutch looked between the two of them as they spoke, settling his gaze first on his wife. “Wizardry? Indeed, and Gilmorwen named him ‘Saruman’ before she died. And, as for telling you all the details of my torture and her death…. I wished to… and wished not to. You seemed satisfied just to have us reunited and not desiring to delve into it. Frankly, I was grateful for that, as it allowed me the opportunity to avoid reliving it. Until now, that is. Am I a fool again, for that?”
Aifiolossë quietly slipped in, “You must lay aside the pain of the past, friend Cutch – as Seregrían has.” Cutch nodded, understanding the reference to ages-old hurts Seregrian had to let go before consenting to be a Mortals wife. Seeing the conversation exploring deeply personal family terrain, Aifiolossë deemed it wise to leave quietly.
Seregrían cried, 'Satisfied? Say rather relieved beyond joy! Oh, my sweet fool, you still think to protect me - from what? Your tormentor is gone! All passing can have a measure of pain - just as your daughter shall cause me pain - but I shall endure it, for her sake and ours.”
Cutch confessed, “I wished to protect us from the pain of that whole damned episode! Our love, our life together is – all - that matters to me. Damn the past and damn my insane ancestors!”
Luminere silently listened.
Seregrían insisted, “One, and one only. Oh dear one, take your lesson from me - did I not myself blame all Mortals once? Have I not proven that is gone - even to you? When Bainiel came to be, did I not rejoice that I could give you a real family at last? And here is another of our own kin - yours, of your blood, not mine! Oh greet her, as I have - she is family now!'
Cutch’s resolve melted into the quiet comfort he often felt towards his wife’s wisdom, “You call her kinswoman, and that is all fine and well. But, this day forward is all I wish to have for us. Do you see, Luminere?”
Luminere drew and released a long sigh. “I do see, Cutch.” She opened her arms to him.
Cutch nodded. “So shall we begin.”
They embraced, reunited members of a family whose bloodline had threaded wandering through millennia. Seregrían smiled, a tight-lipped smile that betrayed tears. He offered, “Welcome, then, to our home, aunt”.
Seregrían winced - her hand went to her middle, but she also smiled up at the two.
“What is it, dear?”, Luminere asked.
Seregrían murmured, “She wiggled - I think she hears you. Melethel - you know what to do...”. He placed a hand over his daughter and drew Luminere's hand over his. He leaned close and began to sing gently to the unborn child. Seregrían smiled as she looked at them both and Luminere placed a loving hand on her nephew’s should and offered smiling eyes to his wife.
Through a soft chuckle, Seregrian said, “She knows - she hears you, melethel, and I think she's wanting to learn to dance”
Cutch smirked. “It seems she already knows the jig”, to which Luminere laughed softly.
Giving him an impish wink, Seregrían retorted, 'More like the halfling's Springle-ring...those kicks...'
Suddenly remembering the Captain and the duty he had accepted that day, Luminere rose, saying, “And now I think I shall assist Teahesto in deciding the final disposition of … things. We may be gone for a while, but rest assured, we will return … to friends and family.”
