Virtuous Adolescence
They arrived at Balen Don when the sun reached its zenith. Diplomatic colours were hoisted since the border crossing, and riders had informed the new Lord that an army was approaching in peace. Except for the occasional Ent spotting, the travel had been uneventful. The old tree wardens had become mad, and were attacking villages and farms across Galadriel without remorse. It was a strange sight by a people who always had seen the Ents as their own kin, protecting the forest from evil. Not becoming it. Eylinn approached the gate with her sister and mentor in tow. The same guards as last time she was here stood in attention, ready to let them in.
“The great Lord and Master, Zephfan Huaindren, have agreed to see you, milady!” She gave a polite nod, and the gate was opened. The same air of uncertainty and discomfort that she had felt the last time she was here, hit her as they rode towards the town square. There was great sadness in this place, one that echoed from the back of Human and Dwarven slaves carrying the menial and heavy tasks of everyday labour under the whip. Her chest felt tight and it was somewhat difficult to breath.
“Evhana…” She looked at her sister. “I don’t want you to see this. But at the same time, I really can’t hide the world from you forever.” She stopped her horse. “If you want to go back to the carriage, I won’t stop you. It’s your choice from now on.” A luxury Eylinn had not been given. Evhana rolled her eyes.
“Wouldn’t I’ve just stayed in the carriage if I didn’t want to come? You’re so dumb, sister. You make it sound like you had a choice to bring me or not.” Surprised by her younger sister’s indifference to her concern, Eylinn still decided to feel relieved. She was independent enough, that’s for certain. But she had no idea if it was for her own sake, or if it was because it was expected of her.
“Fine, but don’t come crying to me if you start to take ill.” Evhana shrugged. Alvon said nothing. They left their horses at the stable, and proceeded up to the castle by foot. The doors opened and the three stepped in, Eylinn first.
“The Mistress of Green Chasm, Therain Eylinn Mindrilla!” She was presented by the steward, who had taken a central position in the room. Eylinn gave a small curtsey and then continued to walk up the aisle towards the throne. Upon it sat a boy, only sixteen, just like her. An aura of great sorrow radiated from the boy, and he clenched the armrests as she approached. Suspicious, Eylinn slowed down to a halt. “What is he so uneasy about? I didn’t bring any weapon...” She looked around, trying to locate his source of fear. With a discreet move with his left leg, he tried to rise from his chair, only to be stopped by his sister, Zephfa.
“Brother, be polite. She’s here to pay her respect.” The girl looked upon Eylinn with a stale smile. “Isn’t that so, Therain?”
“Yes… Yes of course. I wish to offer my sincerest condolences to you, Master Zhephan.” She straightened her back, correcting herself. “And to you as well, Lady Zephfa.” Eylinn was at loss. Why wasn’t the boy greeting her? Had she made such a grave mistake that it was in fact the sister she was supposed to address? Was she the new ruler? “But I am also here to ask for hel…”
“No.” The young Master spoke, barely a whisper. “We can’t help.” Eylinn’s heart skipped a beat. She was not prepared for such a swift decline. She wasn’t even given the chance to explain what required their assistance. The boy refused to look upon her more than through a few faint glances.
“Milord, let me just explain with what…”
“No.” She became frustrated, and started to walk closer. “Hold it!” She wouldn’t. “I said, hold it!” She stopped. The boy finally looked at her now.
“Milord, I beg of you! Listen to what I have to say!” The walls pulsated in the ensuing silence. A hall, far, far bigger than any room or house in Green Chasm. An impressive, intimidating structure, worthy of the tales surrounding it. Yet here was this boy, seemingly unready to even speak with her, so much unlike his father, or at least, what she knew about him. Zephfan adjusted himself on his throne, assuming a more regal position.
“Go on then.” Eylinn moved closer still, looking at the steward. Zephfan signalled for him to leave. When she was next to the throne, barely an arm’s length away, she started to speak again.
“A far greater concern is brewing in the south, bigger than that of Ents, Nords or slavers. Bigger than the war to liberate our forest from Men. I’ve been informed of a plot to install a new emperor. One that will hand down crowns to his loyal backers, one that aims to subdue all Elves and Dwarves.” Eylinn leaned forward, whispering. “With sword, fire, and intrigue they will attempt to invade the Golden City.” It was hard to read the boy’s reactions. He kept staring straight forward, past Eylinn, resting his chin on his arm and stroking himself over the lips. Deep in thought, or deep in worry? For her, it had been fear and a heavy heart. “I’m showing you a lot of trust, telling you this. But I need your help if we’re to stop this from happening.”
“Who told you of this?”
“I swore to not say. But we’re not alone, that’s all I can tell you.” The boy looked down.
“If men are united in this, how could we possibly stop them?”
“We can only try, milord.” She took his hand. The pale face under his purple hair turned red. He was cold to the touch. “Listen, I know how you feel. My father died not a year ago. You feel lost, alone, burdened to have been given this responsibility so soon. But your father wouldn’t have wished this for you, yet, you may still have to fight.” She squeezed his hand harder, as if to stable herself more than anything. “I promise you this. In Coal, Master Armas is gathering any intelligence on your father’s whereabouts. If they find out where the Darkness has taken him, I will join. I will do everything in my power to bring him back. And I know you want to as well.” Her heart was racing, hoping she was doing this right. “But now, the realm needs us. Only the Light or Dark knows what Men would do to us if they gained the crown again.” The boy looked down on her hand, her feet, her chest and finally her eyes, before turning his away.
“Alright, I will follow you to the South.” Eylinn gave a smile of relief. “We will ride out tomorrow, I insist.”
“Of course, milord.” She stepped back and offered another curtsey before turning around and left.
Eylinn was done with being passive, see the evil events unfold before her eyes and do nothing. She wanted to change the world, or at least, prevent it from changing into something she couldn't endure living in. Something within her control, or at least, something she could influence. A world where she could be at peace, or at least, peaceful enough for her sister to grow up in.
"Do I need to ride in the carriage again?" Evhana looked at her with a sullen face. The smile on Eylinn's face was unmistakable. With the help she needed, they would now travel to the other side of the world, and that is an awfully long journey to spend in a carriage.
"You can ride with me during daylight, but not a minute more." She acted out a grimace of fake rigor, very similar to Alvon's perpetual expression. "And no unnecessary excursions from the train, or I will smack your ears with the flatside of my blade." Evhana didn't seem to get the joke, and only raised her eyebrows, perplexed.
"War is making you evil, sister." Eylinn let out an insincere laughter.
"I certainly hope so. I would have felt terrible if it made me pleasant." She lowered her head. "Gratification from death, to whomever it were bestowed, should be their undoing." If she really meant it, she did not know.
She had felt serene in battle, but surely not happiness. Or did she? All she knew was that the next day, they wouldn't be heading out to fight the sick, the wicked, or the Dark one. But yet, to stop these from ever emerging, it was necessary to crash down on living Men. Surely, this must be so? That's what she had been told. Surely the Archmage and the Orc was right in this, were they not? The thoughts her sister had evoked made it hard to sleep that night, but the comfort from being surrounded by her loved ones, finally cradled her to sleep.
"
It was the right thing to do, wasn’t it?"