Elf Bird.

“How is nest, Elf bird? How is territory?” the white and grey gull tapped the ground with her bill, and asked me politely.

I had been sitting in a favoured place of mine, next the stream that flowed through Thamas Lorn into the Lhun. Deep in thought was I as the bird alighted on the sward close by.

She coughed, and bobbed her head at me. “You speak not with Kroahaah these days?”

I shook myself swiftly. So absorbed in my own thoughts had I been that I had not truly noticed the arrival of my old friend. 

“Ah, my nest is dry, Kroahaah.” I nodded up towards the Hawk Tower,” and my territory safe! And you? Is the colony thriving?”

She flew up onto the edge of the small bridge that led to the Halls. “Aye, is thriving…but rush winds are at coast that Kroahaah and sisters come up-river awhile to feed. We wait for mates to arrive…”

I could not help but smile, despite my sorrow, as the gull coughed again. ‘Slow...they are so slow’ she exclaimed!

Then she fixed a dark eye on me. “But Elf bird has more to mind than slow flying mate! What is wrong?”

So different in speech from my ravens, from Aiwe and Falwing were gulls. It came, I had been told, from the large colonies in which most dwelt, that they were quick of thought and voice and sometimes ‘words’ were implied, rather than used. But it was gulls to whom I owed my skills in the language of any bird!

As a child, my favoured tale had been the one of Earendil and Elwing. I had loved those times when my mother sat my sister and I on the harbour wall and, looking into the west, had told us how Earendil had built the Vingilot. (At which my father nodded thoughtfully, were he with us, and added that our Lord Cirdan had been some help in the matter!) She would tell us of the adventures of Earendil (at which my father would make his usual murmurings concerning mariners leaving their wives at home, until she bade him stop!), and she would explain, as best she could to younglings, of the most terrible slaughter at Sirion. We had all been silent for some moments after that part of the tale. Then would my mother speak of Elwing casting herself into the sea, and being taken up by Ulmo in the form of a great white bird, that she may fly to rejoin her beloved. Later in the tale it was told how Elwing sailed not with Earendil on his new voyages, but dwelt in a white tower where the birds of the sea gathered, and she learned their tongue, and they taught her the craft of flight.

Ah…those were the words that sung in my spirit that I would listen to, and try speaking with all birds I encountered thereafter! My mother had smiled at my attempts, reminding me gently that only a few of our folk had the true gift of speaking with animals, while most understood them from long and patient observation.

I paid her little heed in the matter, for determined was I to be as Elwing. To blackbirds I spoke, and to wrens…to thrushes and to sparrows. Once did I try to address the raven of a Pethroval near the Bar-en-Istedhellen…but to no avail. Mayhap my desire was in vain! Then, one morn, as the light first touched the sill of my bedroom window, a gull perched on the ledge opposite.

“Good morrow, master gull! How is your nest; how are your chicks?” I asked, absent mindedly.

He looked at me a moment, wailed and squawked, then said “All are safe, all are well, Elf bird.”

And did not that converse seal my doom as a Pethroval! While the tale of Earendil inspired my sister to take early ship into the west, the tale of Elwing inspired me to talk with birds!

But on that matter, Kroahaah was bobbing her head and stamping her webbed feet.

“You have lost chicks?” she asked in a concerned manner. “You have lost mate?”

“Nay my friend!” Again were my thoughts in the present, and I would enjoy the pleasure of her unexpected company, while Tiri and Cugu doubtlessly caused some grief for Gaerdir. But there was something else to consider. She had mentioned the ‘rush winds’ at the coast.  Though gulls flew not far out to sea, they did fly some leagues from their territories along coast and river. Could it be she would give me news of import?

“I am parted for a while from dearest companions, while those of another colony have been attacked and two of their chicks taken,” said I. “Have you, or your sisters heard aught of this? Have you seen any Elf-ships bearing to the southern cape?”

She looked momentarily sad. “I not see stolen chicks, or elf-ships other than those near grey-walls. This only can I say; that rush wind is by coastlands, and any elf ships this side of gulf will fly faster than Rooargh!”

While not truly news, at least I knew from her visit that Curugirion and Aearandir likely had those swift winds in their sails, and were making the best use any mariner could of them.

Kroahaah chortled a moment, then with a serious tone added, “I sorry no help with taken ones.”

She looked me in the eye again, and then spreading her wings, flew back down-river, before I could say more.

“May you and your chicks never hunger...” I called out the polite farewell, as she became a small figure against the hills of Duilond.

~ ~ ~

Now Kroahaah had noticed correctly that I was somewhat occupied with sadness. Much of my sorrow over the recent days had stemmed from my sense of inability to be of help when needed. I realised that I was not the only one aghast at the slaver ships crews and their acts of slaughter - their capture of innocents for profit or pleasure. I was not the only one concerned over the manner in which corsairs had distracted part of the fleet from their patrol of the gulf. But it seemed to me I was the only one over-troubled and restless. Others of the herth continued with their duties…a touch subdued it must be said, but continued nonetheless. I did but my duties, and with a mind as still as a sea-storm.

“Both Curugirion and Aearandir are skilled mariners,” Durthand had stated, when I broached the matter with her yestereve. (And she working her way through a pile of administrative letters that seemed to grow, rather than diminish.) “They, indeed all the fleet, will do all they can.”

“But the corsairs have over a days’ start on them…. and they are fierce and dangerous Men who have enough skill to get past our watchers, as they have already shown!”

Durthand had fixed me with a knowing look. “We trust to our knowledge of the waves and winds; to the strength and swiftness of the white ships. You, a shipwright’s daughter, must know we can make haste with but the smallest breeze in a manner no mortal built vessel can. And here…” she held up a letter from near the top of the pile. “I have a report that the vessels of the western stations stand alert, while three ships from Forlond are to join with those of South Watch in their pursuit of the corsairs.”

I nodded slowly at her words, and at the reassuring news.  My feelings were not so easily kept to myself, however. “No sightings of the Gwingriel or the Lagorlas though?” I asked in a whisper.

Durthand put down the paper she was holding, and sighed. “I know, Aearlinn,” she had said after a moments pause. “I miss them too!”

~ ~ ~

I miss them, that is most certainly true – the swift and unexpected means of their departure but making my sorrow the deeper. But the ‘concern’ I experienced was not as much for the safety of my dearly loved kin-brothers, as for the children taken captive – and for myself.

No mariner I, nor even one of sound counsel and strength of demeanour to speak openly with Curugirion and Aearandir when given chance. Though trained in the study of lore by Cirthel herself, I had not been the help I should have been on several occasions, because I valued not my skills and could not still the tumult within! Even had I thought for some moments that I should never have trained as a Mistress-of-Lore at all, rather that I should have continued working alongside my mother and her family in the sailmaker’s lofts. My wish was to be of support to those who must bear the brunt of these troubled times. Mayhap I could have done better ensuring the supply of sailcloth did not falter?

As the eve of this day drew nigh, all duties done, I walked again to the place I had encountered Kroahaah. My mind, however, was on times spent there with Aearandir, discussing a multitude of matters as we were want to do. Few had I known with his ability to speak reason to me...most particularly when I was being ‘unreasonable’, that it was to him I turned for most matters of advice. Aye, I missed him, but I knew well what he would say….

“Do not give way to fear, Aearlinn. Trust yourself, even as do your cauns and Hirgonui!”

As I fought to still my mind, I could hear him speak the words again, almost as if he sat beside me….

My introspection was broken by a series of staccato chirps…a harsh squawking call…and a stirring, longer cry that made me start. There was the sound of more than one pair of wings.

Kroahaah landed a touch inelegantly on the ground, next my swiftly dissipating vision of Aearandir.

“I bring help, Elf bird,” said she, turning to watch as a slower, more controlled gull came in to land .”Is Rooargh...he has seen ships.”

Rooargh seemed a little out of breath, as one who had flown overlong, but he tapped the ground with his bill politely, before addressing me.

“Kroahaah says you have lost chicks and elf ships! Chicks I have not seen, but day before day did I see two white ships flying fast across waves past headlands…turning south…like sea eagle closing on prey.”

The gull eyed me curiously that I wondered what else Kroahaah had told him. Yet did my heart sing at such news…..

Again the series of chirps and the sound of wings…of large wings, as something white, with eyes of gold, swooped down to land atop the apothecary roof. Both gulls seemed to bow their heads momentarily.

“But the sea-eagle has seen your young ones!” said a voice full of nobility and pain (for eagle in truth was he.) “Two other ships there are, with many of the race of Men aboard, and strangely, two elf-children tied fast. This I will say, O Daughter of the Sea, those ships are motionless in a well concealed cove, to repair their tattered wings…may your folk find them; come upon them swiftly and bring their doom.”

It struck me in that moment that, far from being useless, this Elf bird now knew things that would aid her herth’s mission. May it be that our ships had already discovered the corsair’s hideaway and rescued the children, but if they had not – and if word could be sent them…..