It was late afternoon in the valley when Kennet advanced along the paths of Rivendell, flanked by colorful trees. The smell of dampness was palpable even though it had not rained all day, and a feeling of being in a paradisiacal wild forest flooded him, despite the fact that he was walking through the interior of the elven enclave. The human was engrossed in his thoughts and ignoring the different elven inhabitants of the place. He had come to learn how they related to each other, and understood that the closeness and banter that usually occurred among the inhabitants of Bree was not the style of the majestic elves of Rivendell. This allowed him to lose himself in their ideas without seeming rude or ill-tempered.
His old teacher Alice had told him in Three-Farrow that they were currently in the Third Age in the Years of the Sun. But that morning his elf master Idhrenwë had told him about all the Years of the Sun, of the Trees and of the Lamps. And Kennet had been fascinated by the antiquity of the world. The young man was walking along recalling each of the great events of each Age when he turned the bend that led to the elegant house in which he was staying. As he did so, he saw Meldanyel sitting on a large log near the dwelling. She was wearing one of the elvish robes she had been given upon her arrival, stitched with numerous high quality elvish embroideries. Kennet thought it odd to see her in such elegant attire, but he recognized to himself that the dress enhanced his friend's beauty.
-Hi, Mel! Waiting for the evening? -asked Kennet, cheerful and happy to run into her.
-Hello, Kennet -she replied in a more subdued tone. Did you finally finish your studies today?
-Yes! This afternoon I've been learning the way to pronounce some elf vowels… -he made a poor attempt to playfully reproduce the elvish phonemes, after which he added: It's not an easy language! Kennet laughed at his comment, and then asked: And you? How about your day?
-I... I've done almost nothing. Just wander a little and... just nothing -Meldanyel answered unwillingly. The woman stepped lightly down from the log, without the etiquette of ladies in elegant dresses.
However, Kennet did not perceive his friend's tone, and answered a little euphoric: Yes... this place is beautiful... just wandering is a pleasurable activity!
Meldanyel sighed and replied: No! Here I... I have nothing to do. I can't speak to most of the elves and they don't want to speak to me anyway...
These words were a punch in the face of Kennet, who didn't know how to reply. But his friend kept talking: And I can't cook, work or learn anything! I barely know how to read in the common language, I cannot read a single word in gibberish elvish.
Kennet was silent for a few seconds while Meldanyel sighed again resignedly, with a visibly sad face. Since they had arrived in Rivendell it was not the first time that his joy and enjoyment had clashed with her discouragement and discomfort.
-Well... I may ask them help you about that… -Kennet gave a spontaneous suggestion, which even he saw as insufficient and inappropriate. This was not Meldanyel's place, and no elven attempt to be more hospitable was going to change that. So he decided not to try to approach the situation from that side.
-Let's give a walk, Mel. You seem to be sad -he said in a much less cheerful but sincere tone, to which the woman nodded.
They both began to walk. He tried to keep the couple in good spirits, but she still looked discouraged and followed him. Despite his attempts to draw out conversation, she responded with few, sad words. Until, finally, Kennet had to give in to the impossibility of dodging a conversation that was floating in the air.
-Mel... What's in your mind? Why are you concerned? -asked Kennet, who thought he knew the answer to those questions.
The direct questions caused Meldanyel to pause on the bridge, with the sound of the rushing waters of the river accompanying their words. He noticed and stopped, turning and approaching his friend.
The woman took a few seconds to elaborate and say her answer to the questions: It 's just... I just want to return to Bree. Rivendell is nice, I agree with that, but… I feel lost here. Meldanyel shrugged without looking directly at Kennet, knowing that her words meant trouble for her friend.
This time it was Kennet who let out a sad sigh: I... I know you're not going to be here forever... but I'd like you to stay a bit more. If you're near, it's like I'm at home… -he admitted in a sad tone.
She sighed as well before replying: Yes, but my life is in Bree! All my crops are abandoned, my food is being wasted... Kennet nodded sadly, for they both tilled the soil and knew that an unworked garden is a dead garden. Meldanyel continued: I wanted to help you, but... but you're going to stay here a long time... Unless...
That last word captured Kennet's attention and hope. His friend was clever and resourceful, and on many occasions she was able to come up with a solution that he himself had not thought of. Unless what? -he asked instantly.
-What if you come home with me? You've already learned a lot, don't you? You could borrow some books and return with me! -her plea was said with poorly feigned enthusiasm and she was trying to convince her friend to go back to the old days, to what her life was a little more than a month ago.
-Oh, Mel… -the look on Kennet's face and the tone of his reply showed that this was not the kind of solution he was expecting. I have just started my studies. Three weeks are nothing to learn all the things I want to know.
Meldanyel sighed as she listened to him, and added in a sad voice again: Then I'm afraid I've lost you forever. You'll become one of those weird scholars that are human, but act and try to look like elves...
Those words annoyed Kennet, who instantly replied: No! That's not true, Mel. I won't be like an elf. They don't even have their own pipe-weed here, nor wide plains on which to sow! The man stepped forward a little closer to the woman and continued talking, this time trying to allay his friend's fears. But I'm going to be the same as always. I'll do my best to come back soon to Bree. And we'll be soon drinking in The Prancing Pony and laughing about other patrons...
-I wish that was true… -she said with some disbelief. But I feel that you are going to be away for a long time... You don't really like the life in Bree, you have this weird need of travel and adventure. Her last words showed a growing anger and rage, accompanied by the accusing finger she always used when the woman was very upset about something.
Kennet tried to keep his friend from getting upset, but he was starting to get angry himself. Hey, I like Bree. But... yes, I like traveling and having adventures. You can't blame me for that! -he said, raising his voice.
Her face began to turn red with rage, letting out an unfriendly snort. And, without a word, Meldanyel ran down the road. Kennet called out to her in surprise, but his friend ignored him and lost herself in the vegetation south of the market of Rivendell.
Kennet sighed in annoyance, not knowing what to do. But after a few seconds he realized that, here and there, discreetly, some of the nearby elves were watching the scene. At that moment he felt embarrassed, and he started to run the same way she had left, following her.
The scholar was not an expert at following trails, but there was not much of a place to go. The only place Meldanyel could have gone was through the vegetation growing in a narrow passage between the market buildings and a steep embankment that led to the bank of a tributary of the river. Kennet advanced with some care through that area, wondering whether Meldanyel would have gone toward Elrond's Stables or toward the Forges of Rivendell.
Then he heard his friend's voice, calling for help in the distance. Kennet froze, and after a few seconds figured out where the words came from. He peered over the embankment and, down there on the riverbank, saw his friend sitting there clutching her leg. Without missing a beat he answered her and looked for a safe way down to that spot. Concerned that his friend had hurt herself, Kennet didn't waste a second and in no time was reaching the bank and approaching Meldanyel to check her condition.
-Hey! Are you ok? -asked Kennet as he arrived, visibly worried and kneeling down in front of her.
-No! -said the woman with some tears in her eyes. My leg hurts very bad!
-Wait a moment! Let me see your leg -he ordered, lifting up the dirt-stained dress to look at her leg.
At first glance there were no open, bleeding wounds. So he carefully touched the different parts of her leg with his hands to find out if there was any internal damage. Fortunately, it appeared that there was no breakage or injury to the leg. Kennet took a quick look up the embankment, which was high and steep. But Meldanyel was a nimble and strong woman, she had already proven that all the way to Rivendell. It had to have been a bad fall or bad gesture for that slip to have caused her such damage as to make her cry without having injured her.
-Why have you run? -asked Kennet worriedly. That path is dangerous. You could be seriously injured!
Meldanyel looked away towards the river as she began to say: Because... because... -until she looked straight at Kennet and still with tears in her eyes replied: Because I didn't want you to see me cry, that's why!
His friend had the unpredictable ability to dismantle Kennet's rational and orderly mind, who only managed to ask: But... why are you crying?
-Because I don't want to leave you here! -she replied angrily. But you look so happy in Rivendell, learning stupid languages from those stupid books.
Silence fell between them, with only the sound of the water falling into the nearby waterfall. Meldanyel wiped away a few tears with her dress, while Kennet sat down in grief beside her. For a few minutes neither spoke, their eyes fixed on the flowing water.
Finally, it was Kennet who spoke again, trying to appear close and calm. Hey... Everything is gonna be alright, Mel. Now I'll be some time in Rivendell, but soon I will come back to Bree. I promise -said Kennet, trying to be as sincere as possible. It's just... I want to do some things here. It's important for me to be here, it's an opportunity! You know... only a few ones in Bree can make what I'm doing.
Now without tears in her eyes and less agitated, Meldanyel answered: I know... I know... but how soon will you come back?
-Well.... I don't know how soon. But soon! -he said with conviction, looking at his friend in the eyes. We're just two days away. I can come back to Bree in a while!
She looked at him too and said: It's just that... I'm going to miss you. You are my only real friend in Bree, so I know that... I will feel lonely without you there. The woman sighed before continuing: But I cannot stay here either... My life is in Bree.
Kennet could not help but smile at her friend's words. And you're my best friend, Mel. I'm sure, and I'm going to miss you. Only thinking about your leaving makes me sad and missing you -his words were animated as if he was telling a joke, trying to take the heat off the situation, but they both knew they were sincere words.
They were both a little more silent reflecting on the situation, until Kennet asked again: How is your leg? Do you need help to walk?
-Better… -she replied and stood up without help and said: Let's do something. Kennet imitated her and stood up, attentive to her words. I will leave this week, with a merchant caravan. But the last few days I stay here... I want to enjoy them in your company! I'm tired of wandering in Rivendell alone while you study. I'm sure your teachers will understand.
Kennet listened to the suggestion and, although his friend's departure was still a bit sad, her attitude of wanting to make the most of the last days together gave him joy: Ok, I like the idea! In fact... I've heard about an elven meeting in some days... something like a party. Do you want us to join together for that meeting?
Meldanyel agreed and said: Yes, we can.
Those words pleased Kennet greatly. Not so much because of the elvish meeting, but because he and Meldanyel were going together. At least, that would leave them a nice memory until they met again, or so he thought. They both smiled slightly at each other after the bad time they had had.
Meldanyel then asked: But now… how do we get out of here?
They both looked around and saw that it was impossible for them to climb the steep embankment back up. So the only way out was to cross the river in order to get back to the roads of Rivendell.
-Oh my… -exclaimed Meldanyel remembering the cold waters they crossed when they traveled to Rivendell.
Thinking she meant because of his sore leg, Kennet commented: Hey, I'll help you. We'll grab each other and cross the river carefully. Is it ok for you?
She nodded, and they both slowly made their way into the cold, swift waters of the river. Without much difficulty they swam downstream and reached the other side, emerging with soaked elven clothes.
-See? It wasn't difficult -said Kennet as he wrung out his cloak, heavier from the water.
Meldanyel was always colder than Kennet, and she began to shiver within seconds. He approached to hug her and give her some warmth. It didn't do much good, but she appreciated the gesture.
-Back there are Elrond's Stables. Do you want to go home? We can take a warm bath there and change our clothes -Kennet suggested.
Meldanyel agreed and said: Yes... and later we can drink some wine at the hall of fire. At least the elves have good wine!
Yes! I approve that! -exclaimed Kennet cheerfully.
The man held out his hand to the woman to take the way back together. She hesitated a little, somewhat confused and fearful. Finally, though, she held out his hand without Kennet noticing these subtle gestures.
Thus, with their hands lovingly clasped, they began to walk together towards the dwelling where they were staying.
