Anarawen XV

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This is a fan fiction. If you would like to read the whole story, you could
download it here. 
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Chapter 17: The Proposal

    A few days had passed since Anarawen had attended the winter feast of the medicine gatherers. Mirkwood had cured her of ailness and sorrow and she had just begun to sense a growing longing to stay where she was forever. After all, home is where your heart is. Suddenly, she realized that someone was watching her intently. She turned around to find Aldermond watching her from his chambers above. She smiled at him, not knowing if he could see her smile. It seemed as if he could, as he was no longer at the windows after a short moment. 

    Anarawen decided to fix her chambers into a beautiful nature-inclined environment. She decided to adorn the bed posts and furnitures with twirls of vines that had flowers in blossom. After all, what good use would command of nature be, if she couldn't make her own dwelling better. 

   As expected, it only took a few moments for Aldermond to reach her chambers. As he entered the chambers, he said,
    "Would cin dab- nin na taeth- cín hands na sab- an uir, nin híril?" (Would you allow me to tie your hands to mine for eternity, my lady?)
   Anarawen was startled by such swift and sudden request of the elf and she had no other thing to say but, 
   "Yes, my lord, of course."  
  Aldermond smiled and lifted a twirl of her auburn locks from her forehead gently and said,  
"Forgive me for my ignorance, my lady." 
   And so... their fate of companionship was sealed.
 Chapter 18: The Betrothal

     As Aldermond and Anarawen stepped out into the field filled with audience, kind elvin kin who were adorned with ceremonial embellishments, Anarawen was mesmerized by the sheer massive force of beauty and light of every being surrounding them. She had only started to realize that this was not Helcaraxë. She was able to spot the wizards from where she was standing. They seemed to be enjoying the joyful occassion.  

    An elder elf, who was also both a great wizard and a warrior in his old days, in a white rope, stood in front of them. There was only a small marble stand between them and him. He silently pointed out to the silver bowl on the stand. There was water in it, that glistened with a white light. When Anarawen stole a glance into the bowl, it seemed as if she was able to see her past, present and future all in her mind. The silver light was pure ancient Elven magic. 

    The elder elf gestured at them to put their hands in the bowl and as they did so, a twirl of silver vines grew towards their wrists, from the water, binding their hands tight in thick silver vines of twirls and knots. They were now betrothed. A cold white light then covered their hands as far as the twirls could reach. Their hands were immersed in the cold water in the bowl, and Anarawen had felt as if she was able to see Aldermond's past, present and future in that moment. Sealed is their fate now, Anarawen thought.
     As the silver vines dispersed into the thin air as silver fumes, Anarawen wondered what was next. The most joyous feast for the occasion had been planned, as it turned out. They feasted and danced until dusk. When the dusk arrived, they lighted the fires in the field and feasted a great feast filled with thunderous laughter and un-stoppable dances. Aldermond and Anarawen joined in on their kin folks' dances a few times, until they excused themselves politely to rest in their chambers. The kin folks and the King of Mirkwood politely allowed them to be dismissed for the night, even though the night went on with laughter and dance in the big halls and around the bonfires in the field.
    Aldermond and Anarawen spent a beautiful peaceful evening watching the stars and the full-moon from their chamber, bigger than both of theirs. They spent the night in complete peace and joy...
Chapter 19: House of Helcaraxë

    A week later, to Anarawen's surprise, the House of Helcaraxë, her father and mother, had arrived to see their daughter off. She felt a little guilty not letting them know or letting them in on her betrothal. It seemed as if they had forgiven her for not including them. They seemed relieved and bid her farewell on their way home. They did not intend to stay long, they said, on arrival and as they said so, they were only in Mirkwood for a few days. As they hastened their departure, they were silent even though they were obviously happy for their daughter. Anarawen was not sure whether to be perplexed or worried. As they had important matters to discuss with a few beings on their route back to Helcaraxë, they intended to not stay longer than expected, they said. Anarawen could always visit them in Helcaraxë in the future and now she just needed to soak in the joyous state. 

    As Anarawen bid her farewells to the House of Helcaraxë leaving Mirkwood, she decided to travel to Helcaraxë sooner or later, when the time was right, with Aldermond accompanying her. As she did so, a tear silently dropped down her cheeks as if it couldn't be stopped. 

 Chapter 20: Cuil

    As time passed by, Anarawen went on practicing her spells and her command of nature. She was given a seat along with the wizards of Mirkwood. She was to protect and nurture Mirkwood with her abilities, and she did well in her tasks, what was asked of her. 

   Aldermond, became a general of the elven troops, and he was particularly effective at ambush. Thus, he commanded a small yet compact force that guards the throne and the halls of the House of Mirkwood. 

   Anarawen, for her own protection as she enjoyed accompanying Aldermond on his diplomatic and combatant journeys, started practicing combat skills, in addition to her wizardry and medicinal potion making. She became very well acquainted with the elders as they had unfathomable knowledge and was able to guide her through learning new spells and potions, intended to cure both elf and human kind. 

   So, they spent their lives peacefully and quietly in the Kingdom of Mirkwood, sheltered, admired and celebrated, as if Anarawen was of elvish kin. They knew not what was to come after. The dark age was looming around the horizon with the eye constantly watching over Middle Earth to wreck havoc, and yet they were unaware that such imminent and great danger was lurking around and was close.