S.A 2053
Was that all? Just a fleeting goodbye, with the possibility of never seeing each other again? As she pondered the recent turn of events, she came to the realization that there were things he had wanted to say to her. However, due to the pressing time constraints, he hadn't had the opportunity. Instead, he had torn out several pages from his journal. Orneth located a nearby rock and carefully unfolded the papers. What she beheld caused a lump to form in her stomach, and tears once again welled up in her eyes. He had referred to them as scribblings, but the drawings were nothing short of extraordinary, capturing her essence in every stroke. One depicted her in the dress she had worn at Marilo and Simawen's wedding, gracefully dancing in the meadow amidst a sea of wildflowers. Another portrayed her delicately holding the white rose he had given her. The third was a portrait of her adorned with a small circlet.
As Orneth swallowed hard, she recalled his endearing nickname for her: Princess. However, it was the fourth picture that captivated her the most, an intimate portrayal of her at rest, drawn surreptitiously. It became abundantly clear just how deeply he cared for her, as these drawings were a testament to his profound admiration for her beauty. She couldn't possibly be just a friend to him. The meticulous attention to detail and the palpable love evident in every pencil stroke led her to believe that he must hold her in the highest regard. Surely, he must love her too. After all, who would create such intimate and heartfelt artwork for a mere friend? The sheer depth of his emotions conveyed through these drawings moved her to tears once more. She cast her gaze towards the spot he had departed from just moments ago, realizing that she was on the brink of losing him once again. Her heart yearned for one more embrace, one more glance, just one more goodbye before he vanished from her life.
Instead of returning home to the lighthouse, she decided to try to catch up with him, following a narrow path through the forest. The village of Côf Lingwimo was nearby, but the bay stretched far north along the coastline. Various boats—fishing vessels, trading ships, and small sailboats—were moored along the dock. However, it was a glistening white ship in the distance that truly captured Orneth's attention. Though partially shrouded by fog and clouds, its radiant form was unmistakable. Other curious Eldar were also drawn to the magnificent vessel, likely bound for Forlond, Harlond, or Mithlond before anchoring at one of the Havens, where it would remain until the ships set sail once more for Valinor.
Orneth walked along the pier, scanning the trade boats for any ordinary ships, knowing Falchon was likely aboard one of them by now. Workers and traders bustled about, making it difficult for her to navigate through the crowd. Still, she was determined to catch one last glimpse of him, though she hesitated to call out his name. A lingering feeling told her that he was either on the verge of leaving or had already departed, and she longed for one final fleeting moment with him.
An hour had passed when Orneth came across Demdor, who was fully engrossed in untangling the fishing nets, zealously lending his assistance. Although thrilled to see him, Orneth couldn't shake off a sense of unease, fearing that she might have missed Falchon. Suddenly, Demdor's voice cut through her thoughts, "Lady Orneth! Have you come to witness the arrival of the white ships?" Unable to resist the allure of his deep, azure blue eyes, Orneth found herself stare at him She replied, "Greetings, Demdor. I had no knowledge of the ships' arrival today. Actually, I am in search of Falchon." Demdor momentarily paused his work, turned to face the vast expanse of the sea, and gestured towards a distant vessel. "I'm afraid you've missed him. His companions from Harlond spirited him away just moments ago. I recognized Manyamë's valiant brother, Marilo, wearing his armor on board. It appeared that his wife's sister was also among the passengers." Orneth nodded, her anxiety intensifying. Why was Siryawen aboard the ship? Falchon had mentioned her before.
Demdor fixed his gaze upon Orneth, his eyes piercing as he spoke, "Usually, it is curious onlookers who gather to bid farewell to soldiers," Demdor continued, "but today, all attention seems to be drawn to those white ships sailing into the distance." Orneth's stomach twisted and her vision blurred by tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, it seems I have missed him," she lamented. Demdor furrowed his brow, genuine concern etched on his face. "Lady Orneth, are you feeling well? You appear pale and look fatigued." It was then that Orneth realized the weight of her emotions had taken its toll. She gathered her strength, swallowing hard before responding, "Forgive me, Lord Demdor. Recent events have taken a toll on me. I appreciate your kindness. I bid you a good day." Orneth nodded, preparing to depart.
However, Demdor had other intentions. He took Orneth's hand and spoke, "Wait, Lady Orneth. I have my horse nearby. Allow me to accompany you home." Orneth hesitated, but Demdor was already making his way towards the pier to retrieve his horse. "Orneth, come this way! It's just a short diversion," he called out to her. Despite her exhaustion and weakness, Orneth followed Demdor to the pier. Once they reached the top, he enveloped her waist with his arms and lifted her onto the saddle of his horse. A sense of familiarity washed over Orneth as she recollected memories of Demdor guiding her through Eregion towards Caranoth. Demdor took hold of the reins, walking alongside the horse at a leisurely pace, while Orneth sat upon the saddle, her heart burdened with conflicting emotions. True to his nature, Demdor remained quiet, silently appreciating the surrounding scenery as they meandered through the forest. Every so often, he would softly hum or whistle, adding to the serene ambiance. Orneth closed her eyes, savoring the tranquility and finding solace in this respite from her troubles. Upon reaching the fields near the storagehouse and lighthouse, Giril hurriedly approached them with a worried expression etched on her face. Orneth smiled and dismounted from the horse. "I wasn't feeling well, but Demdor came to my aid and escorted me home." Giril gratefully smiled at Demdor, bowing her head in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Lord Demdor." He respectfully nodded at the two women before swiftly mounting the horse and departing with a brisk trot.
Giril turned to Orneth, concern etched on her face, and asked, "Is everything alright? Is it Falchon who’s troubling you?" Orneth nodded sadly. “Yes, it is.” Giril gently took Orneth’s hands and said softly, “Would you like to talk about it?” Orneth met Giril’s gaze and asked, “Have you ever loved someone so deeply that it causes you physical pain?” Giril’s eyes lowered as she replied quietly, “Yes, Orneth… though you still have hope of seeing him again. I don’t.” Orneth looked at Giril, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry, Giril…” Giril offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Orneth. You will see him again.”
All pictures are AI-generated from Microsoft Bing DALL·E
