“Had you much chance to gaze upon these falls in peace as of late?” Mylher asks, approaching the elder elleth as she watches the falls of Imladris crash down in dazzling disarray. Mallossel turns her head for a moment to look at Mylher before her eyes return to the water.
“No… no, not for a very long time. Not for over an Age,” came Mallossel’s reply. Mylher frowns, standing next to her and looking at the water as well. She poses another question.
“But you are at peace now, then, Autarch?”
Mallossel hesitates in her answer. “...No, I do not think I am. There is no peace in the waters.”
“I… I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” said the minstrel, her lips twitching further into a bemused frown. Mallossel didn’t hesitate now as she continued the statement.
“Do the waters ever cease their tumbling and falling? Do they ever get respite from the endless flow of time? No… no, they do not, and neither shall I,” Mallossel says, heaving a heavy sigh and bracing her hands against the railing of the gazebo. Mylher looks to the Autarch, as though confused as to why she was speaking with such a dire tone.
“But you are safe here, Autarch. Imladris is a place of healing. You are not within the grasp of the Shadow any longer.”
“But Amathlan is.”
Mylher’s mouth parts slightly as she realizes the intention of Mallossel. She is quick to protest the notion. “You should not go. It is too dangerous, and you need to rest!”
The Autarch’s stormy gaze is quick to fall upon Mylher as she says, “I cannot rest until everyone is recovered! I will not rest until my brother is safe. There is no rest for me until my oaths are fulfilled.”
“...I swore an oath to Cardanith, as well. You do not have to burn out your light like this, Mallossel,” The minstrel warns her in a low tone, holding her gaze. A shadow falls over Mallossel’s expression, and like the unrelenting waters, so her reply was unrelenting in rebuke.
“I do not mean any offense to you, Mylher of the First Company, but you do not know Cardanith like I. Nor are you of a high enough rank to tell me what is best. If I say I am well enough to ride, then I am well enough to ride.”
The sharpness of Mallossel’s tone was enough to send Mylher taking a subconscious step back. She had not prepared for the Autarch to so quickly thrust herself back into a position of authority, in the rank she held of The Host.
“I… I…”
“Am I understood?” Mallossel demands harshly, taking a step towards her.
“...Yes, Autarch. Understood,” Mylher says in a quiet voice.
“Good,” Mallossel sighs, her posture relaxing as she does so. “Let us go fetch me a new steed.”
