While keeping vigil together with fair Turuviel high upon the cliffs along the Bruinen, she moves closer and my arms folds automatically around her shoulders; like if it was ever meant to be this way. Together we watch for any sign of danger, on the orders of Tûr Anglachelm. Somewhere below us, another scout of Bar-en-Vanimar should be stationed, but we cannot see him; either he is really good in the art of hiding, or he has gone on patrol around the area. Either way, I do not care much. We have left Eregion behind, only to be stationed along the Bruinen. But we do have each other, even if the resources run thin. Two people can only live so long on naught but berries and herbs in the wilderness, and the nearest haven is still a fairly long path away.
With some reluctance, I offer to leave her there alone for tonight, to refill our supplies and make sure we can both stay vigilant for as long as the Tûr wants us to. As I mount up on my horse, the wind brings me a sweet fragrance of flowers from the vale below; I take a deep breath to fill my lungs with all their scent, knowing I will not be gone for long. A quick embrace and kiss we give to each other, and as I quietly stroll away on my horse, I smile to her with all the love my heart contains.
Soon, the night takes over the day, and Elbereth lights up her stars once again. I spend many hours gathering various herbs, edible berries and other wild things, before steering my horse northwards. To Thorenhad I plot my course, with bags full of various provisions that nature offers. Upon my arrival, I order bread, cheese, dried meat, fruits and other provisions from their supplier. I have always enjoyed the bread he makes, and he happily bakes them together with the berries I provided. A few very fine pieces of bread I get, and he gets silver in return – a fair price for a fair trade. When I leave, with bags filled with all kinds of supplies, it is already midday and I shudder at the thought of being away from her for so long. But today, fate decides to keep us apart for a while longer. Soon after my leaving of Thorenhad, a traveller approaches from behind. An older, ragged man clad in brown, apperantly very tired, rides up to me and speaks in a way most men do not. His voice is quite fair and his words well chosen, and he seeks to find fair Imladris. As I tell him it is still quite a long way to travel, he sighs and wipes some sweat from his forehead, and his heart is beating fast from all the recent excitement. I offer him to go to Thorenhad instead, to rest for the night and regain his strength, and shortly after I decide to take him there myself, as the roads are hard to find and hungry wolves and bears stalk the forest. I lead him there slowly, carefully pointing out the hidden paths for him, and as we arrive, he seems to be genuinely happy to have found such a safe haven. Along the way, we spoke of heritages and family, and for the first time in many years, I enjoyed a conversation with one of the race of men.
As we sit down around the fireplace inside Thorenhad, I offer him one of the breads I received earlier, along with a piece of cheese. He eats it with great enthusiasm, as if he hasn’t eaten for days. I give him a smile and a nod as he reaches for more with a questioning glint in his eye; but as the day grows darker, it is time for me to leave. We leave each other with a bow, and I prayed to Elbereth that she would watch over this man during his journey. As the starry sky unfolds above me when I ride along the great road towards the Bruinen, I hear the thunder of many hooves further down the road, towards the western parts of the Trollshaws. Ever vigilant, ever on watch, I turn my horse around and keep to the side of the road, not to get caught in the storm of hooves that comes closer and closer by each passing second. As I ascend a hill along the road, I can hear them being very close now, and then I see it: a large company of elves, all clad in white and blue garments that reflects the very moonlight itself, and weaponry worthy of an army. I catch a glimpse of their cloaks and clasps as they ride by and suddenly stop to greet me with melodious voices and outstretched hands. What I see stuns me for a brief second: they all wear the clasps adorned with a Uilos flower, a sign that I have not seen for many, many long years.
I realize that I have met the past as we introduce ourselves to each other; it is the very company of Loth-i-Lonnath that I have met tonight, a company I thought was long gone from all but the books of history. I remember well their banners splendor and their songs as they walked past my family and myself in the times of the Great War and the Last Alliance, many thousand years ago. A young recruit of High King Gil-Galad’s army I was back then, and I witnessed the Loth-i-Lonnath go to war along with us.
Tonight, several thousands of years later; beneath the starry sky, I remembered briefly a song of flowers; the flowers of the Havens, and I hummed it very quietly to myself as I offered to accompany them to the Bruinen, where they would set camp for tonight. Along the road we met a few overly eager trolls, but they were soon dispatched and our journey could go on without incident. While camped at the shore of Bruinen, I thoroughly enjoyed the company and the hospitality they offered – I felt as if I was home again, home in Lindon, and surrounded by the Falathrim host. We spoke of the great sea and ships; of longing and love, of duties and oaths, and I whole-heartedly enjoyed every single second of their presence. For the first time in many long years, I spoke with brothers and sisters from my own land of birth; and the connection I felt was as obvious to all as it was mutual. We drank of wine from the vineyards; the very places where I had played as a child, and we listened to the tunes of the harp, and we watched some of the company dancing blissfully without any sorrow in their hearts. I sang what little I remembered of their beautiful theme; smiling faces turned towards me and spoke: “You remember our song, Cirdamir!”
But like all other nights, the dawn came upon us at last; and I could not leave my beloved Turuviel alone any longer without supplies. Regretfully, we said our farewells and with a sad smile, I left the fine company behind; to find my love up on the hill where she had made her camp. Towards Imladris the company of Loth-i-Lonnath were headed, and I promised to make my way there as soon as possible so we could all meet again, to share tales and songs over a glass of wine, and just enjoy the presence of friends and kin.
Tonight, I met with the past; and the future has never been brighter.
