The Maiden and the Star - Part Two

He returned, as he had promised, on the next day.
Arodiel had exchanged her usual daily lookout on the terrace for a place in the grass, enjoying the early flowers already blossoming here and there amongst the trees.
"You found a lovely place, my lady."
Arodiel turned around with a start. The man had crossed the grass with surprisingly little sound - she had not heard him.
"I suppose it is." She looked up. "You startled me. I was in thoughts."
"Excuse me." He swooped down beside her with surprising elegance for his bulk, facing the vale. He looked thoughtfully into the distance for a minute.
"Our friends the Elves have a taste for beautiful places. Or perhaps they make the places they dwell in beautiful by their presence. Which is it, you think?"
She looked at him surprisedly, searching for an answer. "I suppose they make it more beautiful by their presence - when looking upon such fine creatures, even the most grey of places seem light."
He smiled, stroking his tightly-cropped beard. "They are fine, are they not? And so is their tongue. Do you speak it?"
She shook her head. "No. It sounds like a song to me when they converse, and at times... at times it sounds familiar, but I do not remember learning it."
He nodded. "Perhaps it sounds so to all Men. As if we should understand it."
A silence descended as they looked into the vale again.
Finally he spoke again, his question pulling her from her daydreaming. "Have you had any more dreams, my lady?"
She eyed him guardedly, then nodded.
When no further question came, she added: "I cannot quite grasp it. Perhaps it is foolish again, but..."
He looked at her, urging her to go on.
"I was at a lake - a wide glittering lake. I saw a child, a child that had much similar features like mine - standing infront of a man much clad like yourself whilst he gave her a yew bow that appeared quite old."
He grinned at her, attempting to release the tension. "Like myself, eh? Must have been an ugly old git then."
She smiled briefly. "Mm. He spoke of... responsibilities, learning... what came with my 'choice'..."
"A choice, my lady? What was it?"
She shook her head. "I knew not. I awoke."
He was silent for a moment. "A curious dream, that. I wonder..."
"Yes, my lord?"
He waved dismissively. "Nothing. A meaningless thought."
She crossed her arms. "Tell me."
He chuckled. "I was wondering how good you would be with a bow, if I were to give you one."
"I know not. I cannot remember ever holding one."
He smiled his boyish grin again, disarming her stern gaze. "Maybe your hands might remember what your mind forgot... Nevermind. It was, as I said, an idle thought."
She sighed. "I suppose I shall never know who I am or what I was until I give my last breath in these lands..."
He grunted, the tip of his shoe drawing lines in the sand beneath the trees. "You... you wish to stay here, then?"
"Where else would I go? Unless the Elves send me back into Haudh Lin, of course."
"I doubt they would do that." He chuckled dryly. "No, I was wondering if you could remember the place you spoke of, in your dreams. It seems to me..."
"How does it seem, my lord?"
"I... I would not intrude. But I must leave shortly, and I have not yet been of much help. If you wished to travel elsewhere..."
"But where would I go? All I remember is the lake."
"I do not know. There are many lakes in Eriador, lady. How can you tell it is not the sea?"
She rubbed her forehead, trying to remember. "No. The sea would... smell different, I suppose. And there is a large city on the other side of the lake... far away. The lake glitters like diamonds and the city is of pearl, high stone towers rising into the sky... how could I imagine such a thing?"
He looked at her silently again, his hand clasped above his mouth as if he had stopped in mid-motion stroking his beard while listening to her. She waited, locking her grey eyes with his.
"I apologise. It is not much, I know."
"Hmm. Well." He shook his head. "I know a place or two that might match. But they are a while off."
"Far? How far?"
He coughed guardedly. "Far enough I would not take you without permission from your healers. But if they permit... I should perhaps go this way again, and take you a while."
"A while? But what if it is not the place?"
"My path leads further north, where I cannot take a woman, nor one who cannot take care of herself. I would bring you to the lake, but no further. You must decide yourself if you wish that or not."
The answer came quickly. "Would you not take up every chance to find out who you are, were you in my situation?"
He smiled ponderingly. "The Elves are wise. They may yet find a cure."
She shook her head.
"It is up to you, lady. I shall leave past the noon hour. If you still wish to follow, borrow a horse from your healers and find me at the docks."
She stood up resolutely. "Expect me then. I will be there."