Ealendil is overjoyed, the journey that she had wanted, dreamed of, needed, to undertake to Lothlórien is no longer just that, a dream. All the talks and plans she and Evlealin had had and made through the days of last autumn, and which had had to be laid to rest, are finally no longer just that, talks and plans.
Now, Ealendil frets in her house, running around gathering notes, clothing, and equipment that she is taking with her to Lothlórien. She has gathered too many things already and feels frustrated. All of the sudden she misses Maedthrathin’s company, he would have helped her, of that she was sure. But, he had traveled a week ago west in the company of the herth of Loth-i-Lonnath, west to Duillond, and would continue further to his cousin in Harlond, so she would have to do this by herself. Not that she actually needed to bring any clothing with her, the flet in Caras Galadhon where her mother had lived, still had some clothing stored away, and those would do. And her aunts would see to that she didn’t miss anything, but still… Ealendil sighs, she had not had time to send any raven message to them, and she would indeed surprise them this time.
Ealendil, pauses in her tracks to rest a little, she had been bringing down to the small Harp house all that which she would take with her, running back and forth. Thinking back on the last week, she cannot but smile at how busy it had been. It all began when Lord Tindir of the Hammer, in the Hall of Fire, suddenly had announced that she had been granted her wish to travel across the Hithaeglir to Lothlórien, and not alone, but in company with the Fountain. It had come as a total surprise, as she had not long ago taken part in an expedition south that had led them to the Red Horn Vale, and there they had been made aware of how dire the threat of the orcs were, and it looked like a crossing would be out of the question. Yet, now they were going, and going in force. She did not fool herself in believing that the armed forces of Vanimar didn't have an ulterior goal, an agenda beyond providing escort to those needing to traverse the mountains, and she worried about what that would mean. However, what mattered to her was the safety of her friends and kin.
Immediately upon hearing these wonderful news, some of her sister kindred had gathered with her in the small Harp house to help her pack and to talk about the coming trip, Lady Gilinnen, Elvealin’s mother, Manadhlaer, and Norliriel had shown up, and their company and help was wonderful. During that gathering, Manadhaler had told her about the gem that had been found during their last campaign north, a campaign that had taken them to the very halls of Carn Dûm, and later to Eryn Galen. Ealendil had listened intently to the story. At the time she had arrived to Rivendell that expedition had just left, and all that she had heard since were rumors. The full story of the campaign and what had led up to it, was not told that night, only what concerned that cursed stone, which had brought so much harm.
Upon learning about the stone, Ealendil was reminded of stories she had heard from her mother about music, distant aspects of the song of creation, that could be imbued into artifacts, that could affect the very essence and quality of living beings that in contact with them. She had become very interested, and wanted to study it for traces of that primordial harmony. The study of such music had been her mother’s passion, and through her contacts with minstrels of Nargothrond of old, much had been learnt from what they had brought with them as they had come from Valinor. Ealendil nodded to herself, she strongly suspected that the gem the others had found was imbued at some level. And she knew from her mother’s notes that the same music could be used to unbind the quality that could affect the fëa. Now she longed to consult with some of her kin. Elvealin’s mother was a boon to have close, but she needed to consult with others of her kin in Lothlórien too on the matter.
Before parting ways that night, Manadhlaer had also asked her to bring as much honey with her upon her return as she could possibly manage. The house of healing was in constant need of supplies of many things, and that honey with such extraordinary properties was in no small demand.
The following day, Ealendil had met with Elvealin, at the wooden deck overlooking the small water stream behind Telpenario’s bistro. There, they had relaxed in the sun, and talked about the coming trip, finding comfort in each other’s company and sharing the joy and excitement for the upcoming journey.
Later that week, hîr Glinthir had bid member’s from the previous campaign to come to his house and recount what had transpired. Lord Tindir had charged hîr Glinthir, the Hammer Lord’s newly appointed Alyahae, with following up on matters that still remained a puzzle, such as the whereabouts of both the dwarf Jarpr and hîr Celiphindir. In pursuing these matters hîr Glinthir would come along on the journey too.
Eleandil had come, full of excitement, finally was she going to hear the full story of what had transpired. Many members took turn in recounting these events, and many things were revealed that night that finally filled the gaps in Ealendil’s understanding. They had touched upon the stone they had found, and upon inquiring about its whereabouts, no one seemed to know or be certain. This had disappointed Ealendil a little, she had hoped she would have been able to study it, comparing her mother’s notes.
The recounting touched upon the mysterious dwarf Jarpr, and the song he had sung, a song whose lyrics touched upon the quality of different wood. And much debating among the gathered had gone into whether the song, seemingly having nothing to do with the errand that had brought about the meeting with him, held any hidden meaning. Ealendil had taken notes. It was curious what these mentions of wood could mean. Tree of different sort were affected in different ways by music, but was that it? Those not mentioned or those mentioned would they spell a harmony? Her father’s kin had once held strongly to such believes before they settled in Doriath after the death of Denethor. Filegris, an elleth of the Arrow, who had been on the campaign remembered the rhythm of the song, and Ealendil had bade her to sing it to her. The notes taken that night had been carefully packed when Ealendil returned home. She would take these with her when she left.
Shaking free from the memories of last week, Ealendil looks around the room, furrowing the brows, and picks up yet another parcel that would have to be packed too. Lord Tindir had said that she had been granted leave to visit her kin in Lothlórien, but the social visit was only one part of her desire to travel. As she had escorted her mother, Cellinnil, to the Havens so long ago, her mother had charged her with the duty to work for the preservation of elven culture, art and music, a heritage of the past and present. It was same duty that had belonged to Cellinnil in Doriath of old. As her mother had sailed away, Ealendil had stood there on the docks of Mithlond bewildered, alone, feeling utterly confused, holding in one hand her old warden's spear, gifted to her by her father so long ago, and in the other, the harp she had received from her mother as a parting gift. In the end, the spear had been hung on the wall of her old family house in Lindon, and she had taken with her the harp to Rivendell.
So, no, the social visit was only part of the reason to travel. When she traveled she would do so as a representative of the Order of the Harp, she would continue the work, her mother’s legacy, she had brought with her upon entering the order when she came under the protection of the house of Vanimar. In this work, Ealendil had need of consulting with minstrels and artists living in Lothlórien, and she would bring with her many notes toward that end.
