The elfmaiden Feanwen smiled to herself as she watched the elflord practice his archery. He was good.

“Suilad,” she said finally, after a while.

“I was wondering when you’d come out,” he teased.

“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.

“Well, I have to get going now,” he replied, and turned to leave.

“Halt!” she cried.

He spun around.

“Tolo si,” she said, beckoning him come closer.

He smiled wryly. “Gerich faer vara!”

“What did you think my name meant, then? Alae!” Feanwen said boldly. “Tiro!”

“I don’t see anything!”

“Estelio nin. Trust me,” said she, and moved towards a grove.

“Elanor!” he exclaimed, recognizing some blossoms, his favorite. “But I though-”

“You thought!” she laughed.

“Manen anann?”

“Just for friendship, nothing special.”

“But that is special! Hannon le, Feanwen!”

“I guess it is pretty special, isn’t it, hir nin?” Feanwen said. She swept him an elegant curtsy.

“No,don’t call me that,” he said, a hand outstretched to help her up. “Call me Gaerluin.”

It was late afternoon now. Feanwen paced about impatiently. Gaerluin had been invited to a private meeting with the elvenking and she had not.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” she reminded herself. “I should be happy for him.”

“Suddenly, Gaerluin came out. He smiled gleefully at her. “Oh, well met, my friend!”

“Don’t tell me that! What did you do?”

“You mean, what King Thranduil did!” he laughed.

“Tancave, she said impatiently, switching to Quenya.

“He decided I would-”

“You would what?”

“Let me finish! Do not speak!”

Feanwen pouted as he regained his composure.

“So, as I was saying, before I was so rudely-”

“Just get on with it!”

“Fine,” sighed Gaerluin. “I will escort the younger prince of Mirkwood, Legolas, to Imladris, along with my brother.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask me that,” he teased. “It’s the king’s edict.”

“But the road is deadly!”

“I can brave the dangers of the road, my lady.”

“Gaerluin, your safety is of my concern,” she sighed.

“My safety is not the main concern now,” he answered softly. “I’m worried for your safety, and my main duty is to protect, not to be protected, my love.”

“I guess the time has come for us to part. Farewell! You have my love.”

“You also have my love,” said he. “Farewell, and may we meet again, if I come back.”

Then they parted.

“Anything you wanted to say?” asked Gaerlas, Gaerluin’s twin brother.

Gaeluin and Gaerlas were packing their things for the long journey to Rivendell.

Gaerluin sighed as he slung his bow over his shoulder. “It is a hard decision for me to make.”

“It is not your decision, my brother, but Thranduil’s.”

“I know, Gaerlas. It is his will. But I don’t understand.”

“About his sending his son? Am I correct?” Gaerlas inquired.

“Yes! I wonder! After that incident with the prisoner Gollum, I thought-”

“You thought!” Gaerlas laughed.

“You are just like Feanwen!” mused Gaerluin.

“So what were you going to say? About your decision, I mean.”

Gaerluin sighed and turned his pale grey eyes eastward.
“It’s a long journey. I won’t see her for a while. In fact, I might not even be able to come back.”

“Gaerluin, trust me! I will make sure you are safe! I promise!”

“Perhaps I should trust you more. I’m sorry, forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive, Gaerluin. You will always be in my heart and I will always forgive. Come now, we are late!”

The brothers embraced each other and walked out the door.

Feanwen smiled as she packed her things. What would Gaerluin say if he found her following them? She shrugged absentmindedly as she strapped on her bow and quiver.

“Where are you going?” asked her sister Tinarien.

“I’m following the guys.”

“Who says you can have all the fun? I must go too!”

Feanwen sighed as she looked at her persistent younger sister. “I can’t let you go,” she said firmly. “You might get hurt!”

“How about you? I don’t understand!” Tinarien’s eyes were now filling up with tears of concern.

“I don’t understand either, little sister,” Feanwen said softly. “No one does.”

Tinarien sighed, then slowly spoke. “When are you leaving, Feanwen?”

“I’m leaving at dawn, Tinarien, to follow Gaerluin, Gaerlas, and Legolas. I’ll be careful to cover my tracks. I’ll just wait ’til we reach Imladris, then turn back, if that is your wish.”

“How foolish that would be!” Tinarien snarled. “You should ask Lord Elrond for a room and confess your following! Instead of going back only to be ambushed by orcs!”

“You’re an orc!” Feanwen muttered under her breath.

“I guess it is farewell, then,” Tinarien said sadly.

She left and closed the door behind her, not even looking back.

Feanwen watched her sister leave, then grabbed her things and ran outside.

Hidden in the underbrush, she crouched low, waiting for the other elves, like a lion for its prey.

Time would not wait for her now. They were already approaching.

Tolo si: come here
Gerich faer vara: you have a fiery spirit
Alae: behold
Tiro: look
Manen anann: For what
Hannon le: Thank you
Hir nin: My Lord