Old, worn leather.... lovingly stretched over the cover and spine and adorned with inscriptions. Eldar knowledge passed down through generations and time. A piece of brown cloth help shelter the old tome from harm when unused. Fingers chilled by the winds lightly touch a tear on the volume, following the rift. Wounds from a battle fought centuries earlier? The hand retreats to its hiding place within the cloak of its owner. How many times had she opened and read through the dusty pages? She knew the text by heart now, knew the tactics and the battle formations the book revealed to her. It was as if the author of the manual had spoken to her, given her knowledge through its descendant, from which she was given the book. Faerlir....
She remembered the day she and Faerlir had spent up at the haven of Orladion. The elf maiden had asked for someone to teach her the skills of the sword and Himwen had offered her knowledge to the lady. They danced that day, a dance with steel. Himwen grins, remembering the look on Faerlir's face as she had thrown rotten fruit at her to try and get her to attack. Perhaps not the wisest thing to do to a lady, but it had worked! From that moment, Himwen had to dodge and parry more often, shown a fierceness in the lady she had not guessed was there.
A sigh and a look up at the stars, the ever shining stars, Elbereth's jewels. Were they shining over Imladris too? Could the ones she left behind so long ago still see them?
A movement under the blankets beside her makes her avert her eyes from the sky. Something more precious to her than the stars she was just observing. Blasphemy, she says to herself, yet a smile adorns her face. She had made the right choice, following him. At least here, she could keep an eye on him, make sure he was safe.... She knew he was capable of that himself, yet her fear drew her to watch over him. Studying the silver-grey hair flowing over the face of the Eldar next to her, the hopes of returning to the valley of peace comes yet again. Would they and others with them return triumphantly? Would she be able to return the old tome to its previous owner?
Another thought struck her as she absentmindedly rubbed her ring finger, observing Tindir in his rest... she had grown weary of war. For once in her life, the thought of battle only seemed to worry her. She had never had much to lose before, nothing more than herself and the few belongings she travelled with. In a short period of time, she had been blessed with friends she cared for deeply. And love... Reaching out her hand, she gently moves a strand of silver hair from Tindir's face. Glancing at the tome again, she decides to uncover its secrets once more, as she has done every night since they arrived in Eregion. She would do her best to keep him safe.
