Laurelindo was enjoying a slow morning at home. The weather outside was fair, however the elf was inside, an open book on his lap, writing supply on the nearby table.
"The day yesterday was... fantastic.
Well, fantastically boring, with the exception of two meetings.
First, when I went for a walk I met an elf at the spire of meeting. He looked familiar though I couldn't replace where I saw him before. Now I know.
His name is Raolor. He went to the hall of healing earlier in search of someone.
I've learnt from him that he came to Imladris in search of us. That he promised someone to find us, and that he started his long journey with his sworn brother.
Raolor wishes to join our house. Well, I counseled him to speak to one of the cauns about it. And speaking of the cauns, lord Parnard arrived.
I was quite glad to see him. We are of the same House, live both in the valley... and yet, we seem to not meet very often. Mostly my fault I suppose. Being involved in the Hall of healings is not so good for mingling, and I am usually busy in the evenings so share little activities with the people of my House."
Laurelindo seemed deep in thoughs a moment and read his writing again and sighed as he noticed how he got sidetracked. His activities were not the point of the account and he was not going to change it anytime soon, so there was no point analyzing how it was impairing his relation to others.
Laurelindo got more ink on his pen and back again to his book :
"Parnard had been busy with paperwork. Well, this was a necessary evil for a leader, even one in a council.
We asked more to Raolor, wanting to know him as he seemed to know our house. We were joined by lady Brasseniel during our conversation.
Conversation that somehow ended up to the importance of healers and how these same healers would end up without warriors around in time of war. Charming conversation...
But one that passed quickly, for which I'm grateful.
It seems that lady Brasseniel is quick to judge someone without really knowing them, or understanding them. We also don't share an opinion on the importance of promises and the place of personal matter when a promise has been given.
As she said to Raolor : "And why would Vanimar take you, if you would abandon your own brother for the sake of... some promise?"
She is not one of the cauns of Vanimar, how can she judge the right of someone to join Vanimar ? This is the right of the cauns and tur and of them alone ! She doesn't even know him. She met him that same evening.
"On the other hand, how could you trust an oath breaker if he was unable to fulfil his promises before his personal interest. There is always two different opinion on a single situation, please, don't try and judge, lady." Was my answer. Of course, it was badly received.
But I, for one, prefer to place trust in someone for which a promise is worth something that someone driven by his or her own desire. Yes, some things are important, like family but what help would it have been if he hadn't alerted the guards of the valley of his brother disappearance, and instead gone in search of him and gotten killed.
All it'd have done is get two elves killed... and no one aware of it. At least now the other has a chance to be found and taken back to Rivendell, alive.
Bravery is nothing but suicidal if followed by feelings alone and no thoughts at all.
"You Noldor, placing more weight in oaths and duty and *nobility* than the bonds of family! I will never understand." Was lady Brasseniel's answer.
I feel the need to point out that Raolor did say he would go in search of his brother, and he alerted the valley's guards of his disappearance.
As I will never understand a warrior driven by the will to kill and just DO something instead of trying to be rational. What does it serve to get killed stupidly ? Yes, someone's life is their own. But is it a reason to throw it away without a though ? Without giving the chance of the one for which they do that to survive even if they fail to help ?
And to say it is merely a noldorin trait ? Well, sorry, I have known more than a few Sindar with a good head on their shoulder and a sense of priority that would allow them to do their duty before going and get everyone stupidly killed !
Even if 'everyone' in this instance in Raolor and his brother.
And besides, as she said, she will 'never understand', then why on Arda does she take the right to judge ? If you don't understand something and make no effort to do so then don't judge either.
Well, it seems that lord Parnard will let lord Anglachelm take the decision to allow, or not, Raolor to join our rank. Thank goodness. Someone will take the decision without a little bird on their shoulder to whisper judgment and accusations.
Anyway, after this all I went back to work. My research on the Mirkood spider's poison is going slowly. I need to be careful with it but it seems it is an important research and more so now considering that we, if Vanimar, may go back to Mirkwood sometimes soon.
Valar, that's one place I didn't miss at all. Mirkwood... It's full of spiders !
Seriously these nests are... are... The worst plague ever known. And NO I don't think so merely because I fell in one. There could be some... Some warning when we come close to one !
No matter now anyway.
I went back to the Hall of Fire during the evening. I was enjoying a glass of wine, and speaking a little with Sogadan. This elf is ever full of interesting stories.
I let Sogadan some space to work as an elf came back. Can't just prevent him to work when I don't tolerate distraction when I work myself.
The newcomer was going to Sogadan but for some reason turned back to me :
'I... Know you ?'
ugh... That was a good question. I looked at him. And... Oh yes, he knew me. Very well before the fall of Eregion even.
"Depend. Does a river in Eregion rings any bell ?"
Could I have been more cryptic in my answer ?
"Not so much as the leap into it." Yes, it was Tyulusse and he did remember.
That still makes me want to laugh when I think of it. Thousands of years and he still is.... equal to himself.
I am so glad to see him here. I thought him dead ! And to say I used to mourn him. ah !
Well, better that than the contrary. but back to the recounting of that meeting.
How could he deem our game of jumping into the river dangerous. There was just... A tiny bit of current and had I a child I would forbid him to approach such a place but it was pretty much harmless ! erm...
He has changed. As did I, I guess. But he is still a healer. More skilled now, he said. Well, less skilled would be a sad healer indeed.
He was surprised to learn I am a minstrel no more. And surprised maybe to learn I was now a healer as he is. As he said : "Delighted I am to hear it! Congratulations, my old friend; there is no more noble profession! Nor more frustrating."
Well, he got that right and particularly in Vanimar. I entirely and completely blame the Hammer for all the frustration of being a healer.
He joined Vanimar some times ago. And as I wasn't aware of it at all, I think I really need to get in touch more with the others.
He was at the gathering herb party that I missed. I regret not to have been here now. Sadly I was one of the healers on duty in Rivendell that day, I couldn't very well just up and leave for a day.
A visiting dwarf came up to us while we were speaking. Tyulusse said it reminded him of home.
Well, I am not sure, there is much differences. There is less forges at work here, and the dwarves aren't residents of the valley...
And Tyulusse didn't need more to remind me how I almost burnt a forge once... With friends like him... Life is never boring.
And then an interesting question came up : "Now tell me, whatever caused you to throw your lot in with these hot-headed Noldor? As I recall, it used to be your chiefest pleasure to drive them mad."
Well, mostly I enjoyed driving my father, his parents, and my teachers mad. Not just every noldo in sight. Besides, half noldo or not, Sindar still tend to label you noldo and to behave accordingly. A bit like the lady Brasseniel earlier.
Tyulusse had a similar experience in Lothlorien, so he explained. hm... the place is beautiful, but I would never have been able to enjoy living there on a permanent basis.
And neither could Tyulusse, as, according to him, he left after a while and joined Vanimar. He is much welcome here... And more so since the valley has so many waterfall following the river. He missed it I am sure.
I asked him if I should start wearing make up again and forgetting my shoes... And here he was saying that it was a good look on me. Misery, he really is as bad as I remember him to be.
It will be so fun to have him here and work at his side. Much, much more fun. And with probably much, much more alcohol involved on our free times. As long as we don't do a remake of those awful songs of ours...
I may have been an apprentice minstrel at the time but our songs were absolutely terrible.
Uilossiel quit her book and joined us instead, probably curious to see us together. She asked of our past. Were we both studying healing at the time ? Well... no. As I told her, one of us needed to bring fun while the other was studious.
Goodbye serious reputation, I liked you well.
Well, apparently all minstrels start their carriers with memory of awful songs made with friends or classmates that needs a first place in the category of the 'never-to-do-again'. I... Will lie and say I am relieved. It was fun and if it was completely unsuitable for a company of sober elves, it still is good memories.
As Tyulusse said, our songs were : "never out of hand...To be so, they must have first been *in* hand in the first place."
Truer words were never spoken I believe.
When the conversation turned toward healing lessons and herb gathering and such. Never such a subject was as fun to have. I swear Tyulusse would be able to make anything seem fun. And to pass for my teacher in healing apparently. That still makes me laugh.
Besides, he is not entirely wrong. I did learn a few things with him, though
maybe not anything that a teacher would have approved.
To have Tyulusse introduce himself as my teacher to Parnard or not... hm... I sure hope Parnard has the sense of humor I think he has.
We noticed it was raining outside when Lady Eliriael joined us.
This lonely evening of drinking with Sogadan turned in fact into quite the gathering and I am afraid I forgot the poor elf. I should send him my apologies for this. I hated it enough as a minstrel when people were doing that. Condemned to have people acknowledge him when they need it and forget him as soon as they have company...
Anyway, with lady Uilossiel, lady Eliriael and Tyulusse, the subject of my research came up. We all agreed it may be needed and that we will work together on the matter.
I explained how I came to be interested in the poison of the Mirkwood's spiders and the way to create a more potent antidote. It's not like an elf from Rivendell really has a need for it.
And with all this I still don't understand how we came upon the subject of the upcoming yule ball... Ellith are crafty in that way. You manage very well to avoid such a subject and before you suspect it... It happens.
Tyulusse suggested singing one of our old song if it was appropriate for a yule dance... None of our old songs is appropriate for anything as long as ONE elf is still sober enough to recall it the day after.
And of course with the matter of the yule ball came the matter of going there with someone. Who do I want to escort to the ball... Well... Truth be said, no one please !
I like company enough but I'm more used to play music than to dance, any poor girl I escort to the ball might very well wish for my death before the end. And for new shoes, while she is at it.
And all the while, dear Tyulusse was drinking. He hadn't changed much in all these years.
He even went to sleep under the stairs of the Hall of Fire when we left. Right. I think I managed to convince him to go to sleep in his rooms instead. Or so I hope."
Still amused and in a happy mood due to the meetings of the previous day, Laurelindo left his book to prepare to go back to work.
And if he came back to see his garden of healing herbs in a bad state, there WOULD be an elf thrown in the Bruinen, whether or not said elf planed it !
