A land that was breathtakingly beautiful. Trees with smooth skin lined groves in quiet solitude. Lights danced in the leaves in the dusk and during the day one could hear the music of the Anur amongst the branches. Elves lived a tranquil existence and seemed to be happy in their isolated land.
But Erwyn was bored beyond words. Sitting on a small dune that overlooked the shoreline, she watched the setting sun her mind was swirling with thoughts. Playing with the sand she mulled what is now her life
Her mother, Teleperien, spent a good deal of time with the Istari as well as other high folk. Though she didn't age in years, Erwyn could see that her mother was gaining wisdom that she would not have had in Eldicor. Her mother never had an opportunity to observe and learn the ways of the high elf. Erwyn could see and sense a growth in her mother she didn't quite understand. She was still warm and loving as always but she now carried herself a little more regally, as if aware of who and what she really was. An elf of the highest order. Indeed a ruler. Erwyn watched this with a mix of curiosity and confusion. Her mother never spoke much of her race, she concerned herself with all the races in the small realm and not just with the elves. This new aspect changed her view of her mother and Erwyn didn't know how to respond to this change.
Had it not been for the hobbits and Gimli the dwarf she would have gone mad. Bilbo was her favorite. He was light-hearted, loved to laugh and told great stories. Erwyn could sit and listen and laugh with the hobbit all day. Frodo and Samwise were pleasant enough. Frodo was as serious as the elves and was in the company of Gandalf the White most of the time. Samwise was good natured and wise in his own way. He followed Frodo around and at times sat with her as she talked with Bilbo. Sam (he insisted on being called Sam) could startle everyone with his acute stabs of insight coming from a common hobbit.
Gimli reminded her of Borin, though Gimli has fewer grey hairs in his beard. A sad smile crossed Erwyn's face. Borin was like a grandfather to her. He would defend her before her mother and then inflict his own punishment, which by the way was not nearly as strict as it should be. Erwyn never took advantage of his good nature. She couldn't bear to.
This turned her mind to Philippe. He tried to be a father figure to her and she was glad to see him with her mother. Philippe was his mother's match. He was colorful and interesting. He told her and Amanda stories of his travels on the sea. His thick French accent made it sound even more exotic. However he never spoke of his three-year absence. Once Erwyn asked him about it and Philippe fell silent. It was not like the pirate to keep his exploits silent. He only replied; "Someday le petite, I will tell you."
Erwyn could sense that her mother missed Philippe. Her mother's habit of staring out of windows had not ceased. She would catch Tele peering out a window, her face sad as her long slender fingers played with a silver cross that she never took off. Her mother was not allowed to dwell long her thoughts, Alatar seemed to know when she was pining for Philippe and drew her into another activity.
Sighing, Erwyn drew her legs up, hugging her knees. More painful homesick pangs started. Xenograg. Master Xenograg was her teacher, mentor and really the closest thing a father she ever knew. Her mother trusted Xenograg with her own life as well as the life of her daughter. A high charge. There was something about him she sensed but could not be distinguished, part of the life of Master Xenograg that was suppressed and kept under careful wraps.
Amanda. Gods she missed Amanda. An uncharacteristic tear trickled down the princess's face. It had been nine long months since they fled Eldicor and not a day went by when Erwyn didn't think of Amanda.
A soft hand touched the crown of Erwyn's head. Without looking up, Erwyn knew it was her mother, and felt her settle down on the sand next to her.
Together they shared the view of the setting sun.
But Erwyn was bored beyond words. Sitting on a small dune that overlooked the shoreline, she watched the setting sun her mind was swirling with thoughts. Playing with the sand she mulled what is now her life
Her mother, Teleperien, spent a good deal of time with the Istari as well as other high folk. Though she didn't age in years, Erwyn could see that her mother was gaining wisdom that she would not have had in Eldicor. Her mother never had an opportunity to observe and learn the ways of the high elf. Erwyn could see and sense a growth in her mother she didn't quite understand. She was still warm and loving as always but she now carried herself a little more regally, as if aware of who and what she really was. An elf of the highest order. Indeed a ruler. Erwyn watched this with a mix of curiosity and confusion. Her mother never spoke much of her race, she concerned herself with all the races in the small realm and not just with the elves. This new aspect changed her view of her mother and Erwyn didn't know how to respond to this change.
Had it not been for the hobbits and Gimli the dwarf she would have gone mad. Bilbo was her favorite. He was light-hearted, loved to laugh and told great stories. Erwyn could sit and listen and laugh with the hobbit all day. Frodo and Samwise were pleasant enough. Frodo was as serious as the elves and was in the company of Gandalf the White most of the time. Samwise was good natured and wise in his own way. He followed Frodo around and at times sat with her as she talked with Bilbo. Sam (he insisted on being called Sam) could startle everyone with his acute stabs of insight coming from a common hobbit.
Gimli reminded her of Borin, though Gimli has fewer grey hairs in his beard. A sad smile crossed Erwyn's face. Borin was like a grandfather to her. He would defend her before her mother and then inflict his own punishment, which by the way was not nearly as strict as it should be. Erwyn never took advantage of his good nature. She couldn't bear to.
This turned her mind to Philippe. He tried to be a father figure to her and she was glad to see him with her mother. Philippe was his mother's match. He was colorful and interesting. He told her and Amanda stories of his travels on the sea. His thick French accent made it sound even more exotic. However he never spoke of his three-year absence. Once Erwyn asked him about it and Philippe fell silent. It was not like the pirate to keep his exploits silent. He only replied; "Someday le petite, I will tell you."
Erwyn could sense that her mother missed Philippe. Her mother's habit of staring out of windows had not ceased. She would catch Tele peering out a window, her face sad as her long slender fingers played with a silver cross that she never took off. Her mother was not allowed to dwell long her thoughts, Alatar seemed to know when she was pining for Philippe and drew her into another activity.
Sighing, Erwyn drew her legs up, hugging her knees. More painful homesick pangs started. Xenograg. Master Xenograg was her teacher, mentor and really the closest thing a father she ever knew. Her mother trusted Xenograg with her own life as well as the life of her daughter. A high charge. There was something about him she sensed but could not be distinguished, part of the life of Master Xenograg that was suppressed and kept under careful wraps.
Amanda. Gods she missed Amanda. An uncharacteristic tear trickled down the princess's face. It had been nine long months since they fled Eldicor and not a day went by when Erwyn didn't think of Amanda.
A soft hand touched the crown of Erwyn's head. Without looking up, Erwyn knew it was her mother, and felt her settle down on the sand next to her.
Together they shared the view of the setting sun.