From the Archives of Idhreldir of Doriath,
of the Record on Unknown Edhil of Beleriand
The sixth subject of my research is an Avarin elleth who gives no name other than Elmothel. It is to be noted that this name is not, in fact, her own given-name, but rather the name another introduced her as to the court at large. (It is also to be noted that, upon hearing the name ‘Elmothel’ and seeing this elleth, our King Thingol did flinch).
She is tall, remarkably so, rivaling the height of even Luthien, though not her fairness. She is dark of hair, pale-skinned, her bare arms adorned with bands of beadwork and semiprecious stones.
(A personal note; she has not stopped smiling since we sat down. I find it terribly unsettling)
Now I will begin asking the questions, and transcribing them as heard for future safekeeping. It has been pressed upon me that I do not push too hard for answers, but rather write down her words precisely. This abnormality to the routine questioning is concerning, but I am not to question the wisdom of my superiors.
What is your name?
Elmothel
What is your mother or father name?
Gone.
What clan do you call your own?
The Hwenti.
That is an Avarin clan, correct?
incensed Not Avari. The Hwenti.
I apologize. What are you, to the Hwenti?
Mother. Sister. Many things.
Why have you sworn allegiance to King Thingol?
I have not.
Why have you not?
He can claim no rule over me.
You arrived in the company of Eöl, why is that?
He shares the forest. He should not walk alone.
Are you and he wed?
She looks at me with surprise, then, outrage No.
Are you wed?
She does not answer.
Why have you agreed to this interview?
To remind. For future memory. For a story.
For a story? Will you tell a story of your own?
You want my story.
Correct
No.
Have you done something terrible?
Yes.
What did you do?
I stayed.
After this question, further questioning went unanswered, and she had quickly left the room. I think I had preferred it when she smiled; her leaving felt as if I had made the gravest of trespass, and I had the overwhelming urge to ask her forgiveness. At the conclusion of this interview, I am left with far more questions than answers. Who is this Avar, that our King seems to know her face? Why does she keep the company of grim Eöl, in his forest without light? Why does she have no name other than the one given to her by another?
I do not know if I will ever get the chance to ask further questions; I have been told she comes but rarely, and any attempts to seek her out always end in failure. For now, I suppose, I must content myself with what little gleam of knowledge I was able to get before I erred.
This concludes the study of ‘Elmothel’ the Avar.
