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| 9. Estel va Atalante: Chapter I- The Voice Upon the Wind; Auruiron's Journey into Evendim and Forochel- The Confrontation with Yucalwe, and the Finding of Macalaure | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 28 2013, 03:25 PM (105 Views) | |
| Auruiron | Mar 28 2013, 03:25 PM Post #1 |
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(Words belonging to characters who are not my own are thus credited to the correct author.) Auruiron found a friend near Lindon. His name was Inheroth. They had spoken in Celondim regarding his mission. They traveled north together. They fought strange foes nigh the deserts of the Barandalf and the ruins of Barad Tharsir. Annuminas was under siege by even further foes. The two elves reached Tinnudir, and rested for the night. Shadows surrounded Auruiron as he dreamed. He appeared to be young in face, as he did so long ago, and he journeyed alone, a keep standing hauntingly tall in the distance. Auruiron entered into the dark air of the ruined Keep with a chill upon his face. Even now, he could hear the dark whispers of a certain prisoner. He entered into the mustering chamber where the Enemy was being kept. There, with gleaming eyes, and a scowl upon his face, stood Guldrambor in chains. Auruiron then approached: Auruiron: "Where is Makalaure?" *Guldrambor laughs. Auruiron slaps him across the face* Auruiron: "I said, where is Makalaure?" Guldrambor: "Thou knowest not what stands against thee. Thou fool! I told thee thy would meet thy Doom!" *Auruiron slaps Guldrambor yet again* Auruiron: "You still did not yet answer my question!" Guldrambor: "Thou fool! Knowest not that Makalaure came not North but South?" Auruiron: "Do not say that again!" Guldrambor: "Knowest not how he came to Umbar!" Auruiron: "You are a liar!" *Auruiron was then overcome by a Noldorin rage not seen since Feanor dared to charge the Gates of Angband with naught but his personal guard* Guldrambor: "Thou fool! Now meet the hour of thy Doom! Thou shalt drown in Nenuial when thou hearest this!" *Auruiron slapped Guldrambor for the third and hardest time* Guldrambor: "I am the executioner of Makalaure! He is dead! Dead! Dead!" *Guldrambor began laughing in an uncontrollable evil. Auruiron then began slapping his face uncontrollably. Auruiron then felt a slight sting to his side, and reached for it. There was blood on the hands of Auruiron, and he threw himself back against the wall shaking with rage within his eyes. *[/b] Auruiron then swiftly left the room, and darkness was in his eyes. He walked slowly down the dungeon stairs, and the Dunedain then sought to avoid his gaze. He fled from Tinnudir. He awoke from his sleep, but did not perceive it as such, for the vision ended when he reached the place where he and his hunter friend were resting. The hunter was still there, and Auruiron left a swift note behind. Auruiron then rode away, vanishing into the night. Auruiron rode North, past the ruins of Ost Forod, and then passed through the Pass of Forochel. The darkness lingered in his eyes, and the words of Guldrambor did not leave him. He came past frozen forests and lakes, and paid no heed to the local wildlife. A shadow lingered on his heart. He passed through glaciers and caves of ice. The terrain reminded him the the Helcaraxe he had crossed so long ago. He soon came upon huge plains of ice, and then he saw the Ice-Bay of Forochel in the distance. Yet then all became shrouded in fog, and he waited upon a snow bluff until nightfall. The Northern Lights were dancing in the night sky beneath the Stars of Elbereth, and Auruiron began speaking to himself: "I will find you, Makalaure. I will not give up so easily. Guldrambor's words will prove false. He dared to declare to me the death of Makalaure, and in my pride I tortured him. I made him bleed. The worst part of all, I enjoyed it. I am worse than Feanor! I will never forget his final words, before I left him rotting in a Dunedain prison, Yet I do not think he died. Guldrambor had spoken thus: "Know what stands against thee. Thou fool! I told thee thy would meet thy Doom!" I, now lost, among these frozen wastes, cannot hope to find peace. I told the hunter I would return, yet I told Laurefinde I would dare to leap into the Sea if I could not find Makalaure. Shall I now dare to leap? Shall I now die, my Affirmation then broken? The pain and malice of these days drags me down low, into Shadow. Nay! Nay! I shall not let the Shadow win!" Makalaure, if thou art here, then hear my Song and weep ere my voice draws you ever along these shores in my direction! As I sang long ago, I will find thee, and if thou art perished, I shall avenge thee! For never did any suffer greater than that of Feanor and his sons! Noldor! I will not see you now fall into disgrace! Wait. What is this? Can it be? I hear the Wind-Singer..." And then Auruiron was drawn forth,to the northwest, and along the shores of the Sea, in the direction to which King Arvedui of Arnor had sailed so long ago ere his White Ship perished in the blizzard of the Witch King. He followed the voice closely, and it seemed to him at it was singing, and yet weeping at the same time.Then Auruiron took to fear, as he noted the Darkness that had befallen him, and then saw the words of Guldrambor realized. For now he at last understood what Doom had come upon him. His Affirmation was of pity, and Auruiron had given no thought to his foes, and hated Guldrambor with a passion. Auruiron sat upon the snow and ice, and he wept, and came to pity all. Finally, at last, he pitied Guldrambor, who was once Yucalwe, son of Yuale, of Lord Finwe's Guard. The Dark Lord Sauron was using him as his master Morgoth used Maeglin, distorting and confusing their minds, leading to their doom. And then the Darkness left him, and the Light of the Calaquendi beamed strong from his eyes yet again. The past was now behind him, for his Affirmation was not now unbroken, and then he came to a revelation: His repentance preserved his nearly-broken Affirmation from bearing ruinous consequences upon him. Estel then grew in his heart, for if he could come so close to losing everything, and yet find Estel, then so at last could Makalaure. Emboldened by this, Auruiron arose from his mound of snow and ice, and continued along the shores of the Sea. And then, once more, he heard the Wind-Singer. Auruiron came close to an iceberg, and began to hear the voice on the wind grow louder: "I hear a voice upon the wind. I hear it calling to me. I sing." *Makalaure hears a voice upon the wind; Auruiron hears 'Ani lasta Ani tira'* Auruiron: "Oh Makalaure, oh Makalaure, I will find you, thus I vowed! Guldrambor, thou hast failed! I am not defeated! The Voice grows stronger. The vibration! I can hear it! *Auruiron places his ear close to the iceberg* Auruiron: "I hear it, and even more than... Wait, can it be?" *Auruiron moves closely around the iceberg, and stares at the Sea* Auruiron: "I will not be defeated yet. The Voice grows stronger!" *Makalaure sees a pale figure in the distance* Auruiron: "Where? Where are thou?" *Auruiron turns to see a dark figure robed in black in the distance* Makalaure: '*Quenya.*' Makalaure: '*Quenya.*' Makalaure: '*Quenya.* "Auruiron, my old friend? Is that really you, or are you yet another vision to torture me to my Doom?" Auruiron: "I am no vision, mellon-nin. Nor have I come to torture you." Makalaure: "I bear darkness in my heart. I sense darkness in you as well." Auruiron: "I have journeyed long to find you." Makalaure: "I thought you would have left these shores long ago, and yet you continued?" *Auruiron nods* Makalaure: "You left me on the shore as I asked. I am thankful for this. '*Quenya.* Are you disturbed? You seem disturbed. Come, let us go to the fire." Auruiron: "Yes." *They both approach the fire. Makalaure throws more wood on the fire* Auruiron: "I can tell you that something happened to me on my journey. A Black Fleet landed on this very bay not long ago, and sent a force South." Makalaure: *Quenya.* "There is darkness in you." Auruiron: "It was led by one who serves he who was defeated by Beren and Luthien at that which was once Minas Tirith." Makalaure: "Beren and Luthien... those are names I have nearly forgotten." Auruiron: "And their foe? Sauron escaped the sundering of Beleriand. Long have I defended the remnants of your House." Makalaure: "House? I am dispossessed since I left the shores of Aman. I have no House. '*Quenya.* I have no hope." Auruiron: "Then tell me this, for Laurefinde warned me of this moment. Do you believe that the fall of your father, your brothers, and yourself, was preordained in the First Great Music of the Ainur?" Makalaure: "You know Laurefinde?" Auruiron: "Yes, but pray, answer the question." Makalaure: "I know it." Auruiron: "Then I have another question for you. Why are we here?" Makalaure: "I fear my fate may drag you down with me." Auruiron: "Nay, do not say this. Is not our meeting here not also preordained in the Great Music? The Third Theme is said to be the greatest of them all." Makalaure: "Fate has Doomed me." Auruiron: "Yet, the words 'For never again did he walk among the Elves' were written by an Elvish historian long ago in grief. Know ye that not? I am not Iluvatar. I have no foresight. I cannot claim to see the fates of us all, not even of my own kindred. I have also known pain." Makalaure: "I sense your darkness." Auruiron: "For I served the son of your brother Curufin." Makalaure: "You knew Celebrimbor?" Auruiron: "Indeed yes, I did, and I stood for his land, Eregion. It was to be a 'New Valinor.' Then an 'Emissary of the Valar' came, claiming to be Annatar." Makalaure: "Lord Elrond told me some of the tales, but kept silent on the details." *Auruiron does not yet seem to realize that Makalaure has not been wandering the shores of the Sea for three thousand years quite yet* Auruiron: "In Truth, Annatar was Sauron, our Enemy. I remember the flames of the Mirdain and Ost-en-Edhil, and in memory, I have not felt this way since I saw the flames of Alqualonde from afar. Here now is the source of my darkness." *Makalaure nods and listens* Auruiron: "Those in my cohort and I fled from the mountains, and so came to Barad Morlas, and joined with Lord Elrond's forces. We stood long upon the walls, and then the Enemy advanced. There in the forefront was Annatar, and then his true face was revealed: Sauron, our ancient Enemy. In his iron gauntlet he held a spike, and hanging from it was the still-bleeding corpse of Celebrimbor himself, and thunder and lightning." *Auruiron yells "Thunder and lightning!" At the top of his lungs, and shivering, plays a dark tune in succession of notes on his harp. Then he plays lighter notes, and calms down* *Makalaure bows his head down sadly upon hearing of his nephew's death* Makalaure: "Fate will lead me to my Doom." Auruiron: "Do you not think I have not also had such thoughts?" Makalaure: "I can see it in your eyes." Auruiron: "When Celebrimbor perished, I long thought of leaping into the Sea. But instead, long I fought in vengeance for my fallen lord, upon the River Lune. I also thought of this not long ago. I heard a prophesy not far from here. If you remember our little debacle before the Third Kinslaying, you would remember he whom I named, he once known as Yucalwe, thence known after as Guldrambor. He returned, and I was struck with a vision of him, which spoke, "Thou fool! Thou knowest not thy fate! Thou shalt meet thy Doom in Nenuial. There I shall wait for thee, and thou wilt suffer!' And I went to Nenuial, and I captured Guldrambor, and I locked him in a dark dungeon, and I confronted him alone. I pressed him, I pressed him, and I pressed him. I asked him repeatedly 'Where is Makalaure!' And he mocked me. He mocked me. And I slapped him, and he laughed. The more I hit him, the more he would laugh, out of sheer mockery. Then I grew angry with wrath and rage. He made me believe, despite what Laurefinde had told me, that not only had you traveled along the shores of the Sea to the South, but that the Enemy had captured you, tortured you, and that he had murdered you. My rage was unchecked, and I fell backward to the wall with his blood on my hands. He still lived when I departed, and all fled from me. Darkness I held in my eyes ere I came to the North. I feared the thought of breaking my Affirmation. I thought of throwing myself off cliffs not far from here. Then I recognized the Enemy, and so repented, and pitied even he whom I had tortured. And yet, I believe that I am forgiven. Then I heard your voice upon the wind." Makalaure: "I understand." Auruiron: "I think there may yet be hope for the both of us." Makalaure: "I cannot see it." Auruiron: "There are two who perhaps could aid us. One is named Mithrandir, and there is more to him than meets the eye. The other is Alatariel, also known as Artanis, who is now called Galadriel. She possesses the power in her land to see things that were, things that are, and some things, that have not yet come to pass." Makalaure: "I am fated to wander and repent. I fear my fate may be worse than the Everlasting Dark. I long to pass into the Void and let all things end." Auruiron: "Do not say such things! For you do not know all things. I...I did something I never told you. I affirmed myself against your father's Oath." Makalaure: "This was unknown to me." Auruiron: "Tell me, if Nienna could persuade the Ring of Doom to forgive one whom Mandos knew was false and crooked, then why should it not be that she could persuade them to forgive one who is sincere in his repentance?" Makalaure: "We were all fools." Auruiron: "Nay. Maedhros was the one who was foolish. But you were wise. It was wise to say the Oath was void." Makalaure: "Nay! Say it not. We were all fools. Wise we would have been had we listened to cooler heads in Tirion." Auruiron: "For the Valar, Morgoth aside, always obey and project the Will of Iluvatar." Makalaure: "They have doomed me." Auruiron: "I do not believe so. Iluvatar never dooms any of his creatures. It is by our actions that we come to doom, or redeem, ourselves. Only ere we falter in the end, with no hope of repentance, do we falter the most. Consider Sauron. He was offered pardon and repentance, he initially accepted it, and then he broke it, by his own will, fearing the judgment of the Valar. Oh would that he did not fear the Valar! My wife, my lord, all could have lived, were it not for his fear! We are standing here, meeting together, right now. You are the last living remnant of the House of Finwe in Arda! If your fate was that of the Everlasting Dark, would you have not thrown yourself into the Sea after you tossed the Silmaril! You have survived, into the Third Age of this World, for a reason! I think Mithrandir could help us. We are living in an important Age. Hadhodrond is calling me. It was near to its gates that I dared to tread, longing to fulfill my duty to your nephew, to find it too dark and unwholesome to pass through alone. It was there I met Laurefinde. And he knew my name. He called me 'Auruiron, friend of Makalaure'. And declared, 'I heard a voice upon the wind.'" Makalaure: "He often goes there, I had thought to gaze upon the doors." Auruiron: "I have a thought. What fate shall be, fate will be. We cannot see it. We can only, embrace it. If we were to embark upon this Quest, to seek our fates together, more good shall we perform than if we remained here in remorse.And it would be more likely, I suspect, that fate may be kinder to us than it has been." Makalaure: "Would you consider such a thing, friend or not, would you travel alongside me. You will be considered a Feanorian just as I. Such a thing troubles me." Auruiron: "Why should it trouble you? I do not fear fate or death as you do. I sense something greater than what has been will become of us. And know this thereof. It is not I who will follow you this time. It shalt be the other way around. Feanorian I shalt not be. For I am now the Master of the Ainon Cundan. We guard our kindred and hold none as King." Makalaure: "I do not fear death, I have tried often enough to help it on its way. I fear dragging you with me." Auruiron: "Yet here you stand. In the final Age of the Elves." Makalaure: "To a fate much worse." Auruiron: "Did I swear an Oath to perish in the Everlasting Dark if I should fail? Nay. I have naught to fear." Makalaure: "That was unwise. We all were such fools. But... if there is a way." Auruiron: "Ten thousand years in Mandos, weeping alongside Nienna the Vala, will be my fate if I should falter." Makalaure: "Then we shall falter or stand strong together." Auruiron: "Yet I believe, there is a way. Morgoth is the lord of darkness, doubt, and despair. I sense him. Permeating the air, even though he was cast into the Void But Iluvatar... He is the exact opposite of Morgoth." For His is the way of Estel." Makalaure: "Morgoth would not dare to consider himself on the throne of one so exaulted." Auruiron: "Nay, not now." Makalaure:"Lord Elrond knows more than any might imagine." Auruiron: "We must seek Mithrandir and Alatariel. Only then shall we learn Fate." Makalaure: "He has hidden me from all who may know one of the dispossessed lives among them. I am there but little, and travel much." Auruiron: "I am relieved to know you have not spent the last three thousand years among these frozen wastes! I see what you are in need of." Makalaure: "This day has brought me such wonders." *Auruiron laughs* Makalaure: "Nay, I am here in search of the.... the..." *Auruiron's face conveys a look of awe* Makalaure: "...hiding place of that which cannot be hidden." *Auruiron embraces Makalaure* *Makalaure smiles shyly and returns the embrace* Makalaure: "Long have you been missing from my heart." Auruiron: "We will find Estel. It shall be born within our hearts. Come, let us despair no longer." Makalaure: "Fate this day has been kind. I shall have hope. And you shall be my guide." Auruiron: "Dawn approaches, a sign of hope." *Auruiron and Makalaure walk towards the shores of the Sea. Auruiron draws forth his harp and plays a Lay of the Valar* *Makalaure sighs in what little contentment he can gain from what has happened and enjoys his friend's harping.* Makalaure: "'# Tolo a toltho #' '# Vân charn hen am mbar. #' '# Hîr i thŷr a sûl! #' '# Tolo a togo #' '# Edhel o thrach maug. #' '# Ar îdh vronadui. #'" Makalaure: "You have kept up your skills." Auruiron: "I have not forgotten the days upon which we played in Tirion and Alqualonde so long ago. I think perhaps we should retrace our steps. Imladris would seem a fine start to a greater destiny." *Makalaure draws forth his harp, strums the chords, and begins to sing* Makalaure: '# I hear the real though far-off hymn #' '# That hails Arda's creations. #' '# Through this world's tumult and it's strife #' '# How can I keep from singing? #' '# While though the tempest loudly roars, #' '# I hear the truth, it liveth. #' '# And though the darkness 'round me close, #' '# Songs within my heart I giveth. #' '# No storm can shake my inmost calm, #' '# while to that rock I'm clinging. #' '# Since hope shines now upon us all #' '# How can I keep from singing? #' '# Now tyrants tremble in their fear #' '# And hear their death knell ringing, #' '# And friends rejoice both far and near #' '# How can I keep from singing? #' '# In prison cell and dungeon vile #' '# Our thoughts to them are winging, #' '# When friends refuse to be defiled #' '# How can I keep from singing? #' *Makalaure places away his harp* Makalaure: "To Lord Elrond's halls you say?" Auruiron: "Yes. There, at least for awhile, we may take our temporary rest, before our longer journey." Makalaure: "I am sure he would enjoy our company." Auruiron: "There shall we sing in the Hall of Fire, and replenish our souls. Before we confront the Shadow." Makalaure: "No one must find out who I am. I shall be condemned before hope has shown upon me." Auruiron: "Aurestelor I name thee. The rest shall not know your name." Makalaure: "I shall avoid their eyes and questions. And not sing..." Auruiron: "I also fear condemnation for my ancestry. Laurefinde is promised to secrecy. None know of my presence near to Alqualonde, or Doriath, or Sirion. It avoids false assumptions, for they could not fathom, that I slew none of my own kindred during such travesties. Makalaure: "Why is it those who are part Vanyarin are the most wise. Laurefinde is also of Noldo and Vanya." Auruiron: "Are we truly so, when for so long, I believed the lies of Annatar Sauron?" Makalaure: "Let us travel in daylight, you must be frozen in that light robe. A minion of Morgoth would never tell the truth if a lie would suffice." Auruiron: "I know it only too well. I promised Celebrimbor I would preserve the histories, and they now lie in the darkness of Moria." Makalaure: "Never fear, I will not mention that I know you." Auruiron: "Thus, two promises shall I have fulfilled, ere the journey to Lorinand is complete." *Makalaure nods and smiles* Auruiron: "I will say to the others that we are close friends, who knew each other in Lindon long ago. And see? I did not lie." *Auruiron laughs* *Makalaure smiles and remembers* *Auruiron pats Makalaure on the shoulder* Auruiron: "Come, let us now depart these darksome shores." *Makalaure throws a bucket of snow on the fire.* Auruiron: "We shall leave soon. Let me gaze at the Sea one more time." *Makalaure points to a light in the depths* Makalaure: "Osse is laughing." Auruiron: "Iluvatar on High, Here my Prayer, Grant his Oath fulfilled, Release him hence." *Makalaure shivers uncontrollably* Auruiron: "Let him live, Let him live, Deny this not, Thy Music Sing, The Third Theme now begun, Let us Be, Let us Be, For in sorrow we now kneel, Hear our plea, Hear our plea." *Makalaure kneels* Auruiron: "Let it be so, Let it be so." *Auruiron kneels* Auruiron: "Save us hence, Save us hence. Alimien." *Auruiron bows deeply* *Makalaure bows deeply* Auruiron: "In the name of Iluvatar, His Word, and the Flame Imperishable. Alimien." Makalaure:"Alimien!" *Auruiron motions his hand in a sign, upon his forehead, his shoulders, and finally, upon his heart* Auruiron: "Ah, much better. Now we have naught to fear. The chill is growing on my ears." Makalaure: "To Imladris where the Hall of Fire awaits!" Auruiron: "Yes. My horse perished, alas, thus I am forced on foot." Makalaure: "Take this and cover up that strange hair!" *Makalaure hands him a hood. It is silken, adorned in crimson and white, in manner of the Noldor* Auruiron: "I thank you. Oh of course! I will admit it. I would always chop my hair out of grief, but this day has restored Estel in my heart. It will grow now. Let us away!" Makalaure: "Please do not chop your hair for despair. Lord Elrond has a good person to care for hair. We go." Yet not all was well with their meeting. Icy winds came, and with it, a blizzard. The two Noldor decided to travel south along the shores of the Sea, for it was their only option, and Auruiron simply let his own hair grow along the way. And so it was that Guldrambor escaped, and Auruiron realized it not until the pair were halfway south along the shores of Lindon. Edited by Auruiron, Dec 6 2017, 05:49 PM.
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12:43 AM Jul 11