The Family Line Part 38 – Eleswith of Dale

Part 38 – Eleswith of Dale

It seemed very early in the morning. The birds had not yet begun their morning choruses. The mist surrounded Theomin as he wandered mounds upon mounds of barrows. There was a whole field of them. Dead were the trees surrounding the barrows and the earth was cracked. In the distance, there was a howl. It was no howel of wolves but something larger and fiercer. Theomin paused. The mists that surrounded the barrow gave way to shapes. Shapes of men haunting the field. They were forming out of nowhere, surrounding the barrows where Theomin stood. He stood back, in fear.

He knew not where to run. He took his staff and held it close, ready to do something with it, but knew not what. He was filled with dread as he did not know how to escape or break free of the dreadful place. The shades just floated there, doing nothing but looking at Theomin. He looked around saw nothing but surrounding shades. As he turned he saw Eleswith. The sudden sight of her frightened him.

He awoke. He was back in the bed in Ost Guruth. He looked around. There were no shades or mist to be seen in the small room in which he was. He sat up in his bed. Eleswith was still in the room too, laying down but he did not know if she was asleep. He rose up and stretched. Aches was still sleeping next to the bed. It seemed his lynx friend did not much but sleep. So to not wake up Aches, he quietly walked out of the room.

The courtyard was clear, save a few guards wandering the parimeter of the ruins. It was foredawn in the Lone Lands. Theomin walked around to the eastern edge of the ruins, still realing from the strange dream he had. He had never been to such a place, save the path leading out of Dunland. And Eleswith was there. “Why was she there?” he continued to ask himself.

Light was coming up from the east as Theomin sat at the edge of the ruins, looking out over the fields of the Lone Lands as the dark blue sky was turning bright orange while the sun was making its first show of the day. The shadows of the few trees of the land were becoming long and a dry wind blew in from the east. No animals crept nearby save a few crows cawing in the trees some distance away.

From behind there was a crackle of the dry Lone Land grass. Thinking it was a guard, Theomin turned while asking, “Is it usually this calm?” It was not the guard but Eleswith instead. A sudden fear coursed through Theomin’s body when he saw the girl coming closer. The fear forced Theomin to involuntarily stand and face her.

She signed for Theomin to stay calm and sit. “I saw you come out here and decided I would join you.”

Theomin, still shaken and not sure what else to do, sat down facing the sunrise. Nerves made him quiver slightly as he was very uncomfortable. He said nothing but kept Eleswith in his peripheral for the moment. His heart was pumping faster and in turn he noticed the rate of his breathing had quickened.

“Morning is always the most peaceful time for me,” she said, sighing in a calmly. “I can always gather my thoughts quietly and feel at peace.” Theomin had nothing important to offer. He had no idea how to address her claims of peace when he bore witness to the lust she had for killing, which took Theomin by surprise the day before. They sat there in silence; Eleswith watched the sunrise and Theomin kept half an eye on the woman. “You must think me mad,” she finally said, shattering the silence. He wanted to agree but every fiber of his being shouted at him to say nothing. “These past ten days have not been the best for me,” she admitted. “I have been short with people because I…” she paused. She then continued after gathering herself, “I lost someone very special to me.” Theomin stayed silent. “We were very close, but Helesdir didn’t know of it. We kept it secret from him as long as we could. It happened in Agumaur. That wizard, Radagast, said it was safe to venture there. So we went, hearing reports of orcs gathering there. There were no orcs but fell creatures there. That wizard was wrong and I hated him for it.” She looked at Theomin. “And I turned that hatred toward you.”

Theomin looked at Eleswith, dumbfounded, “Why are you telling me this?”

She looked down, still a little confused, “I don’t know. My heart still feels him closeby but I know he is not here.” She tried to gather her thoughts but it took a while. “Maybe it’s because I…” she paused, trying desperately to think, “because you are not apart of my group and I need desperately to speak with someone.”

“Why not speak with any of the others here?” Theomin asked, fear now melting away, being replaced with concern.

“The Eglain? They care not for the troubles I possess. They care only for settling in this place, making it their home and searching for riches of old. Besides, they are too close to the leader and to Magla. I need not have questions from him or his ilk.”

“Ilk?” Theomin said, confused at her word to describe her group. “Why do you describe them in that way?”

“I am not like them and they are not like me. Don’t forget, I am not from here. I am from Dale.”

“Right,” Theomin remembered. “You were to pay homage to the dwarves.” She looked down in such a manner as if she was hiding something. “You are from Dale, right?”

“Oh, aye, I am from Dale,” she said, uncomfortably squirming. “Helesdir told you that, but it is not the reason I am here.”

“You mean he did not tell me the truth.”

“He did. He told you the truth I told him. He knows not the real reason I’m here.” She admitted, almost looking releaved she told someone but still tightly wound.

Theomin looked away, not understanding why she was telling him all this, but he was intrigued. “So why are you here?”

“You said, when I first saw you, that you were looking for your family.” At that, Theomin nodded. “I left mine. A dream I had. The sun was as red as red flame and the land the same. A flooding sea of black came up from the south, devouring everything in its wake. I stood at the summit of Erebor watching helplessly as the flood enveloped everthing I held most dear. I tried to warn all of Dale of the coming flood but the people of Dale, my people, have become too fat and complacent and cared not for dreams of proficies. They know not the dangers that lie out here in the real world. They surround themselves with high walls, becoming comforted with depending on armies to protect them. Armies of dwarves in Erebor and elves in Mirkwood. I know better and some day they may not come to our aid and I don’t want to see it.” She looked into Theomin’s eyes, “Do not tell the leader. One lie grew into many. Now, I know not how to tell him the truth.”

“I am sure in time you will.” Theomin assured Eleswith.

There was a pause before Eleswith, again, broke it, “Tell me, Theomin,” she sought to change the subject, “How has your quest been? For a moment yesterday you looked haunted by something. What was it?”

“You are right. I have been haunted by many things that have happened on my journey here.” He was glad to hear she was interested as nobody asked about his journey thus far. Through the morning he spoke of his time in Helm’s Deep and Keymel’s sacrifice outside the orc camp. He told her about the haunted forest in Dunland and its northern pass and when he was on the brink of death had it not been for the people of Avardin. He told of the tale of the half-orcs in Eregion and the elves who saved him and the half-orcs who almost killed Aches, his lynx.

“Oh my, you have been busy. It sounds like quite the adventure,” she said, impressed by what she heard. “I only took you for a wandering vagabond when I first layed eyes on you up on that hill near the half-orc camp.” She took a long look at Theomin as an idea formed, “You have been through much, Theomin of the Wold. We could use a man like you by our side. I know that because I have come to accept that you saved me yesterday and had no intention of harming me.”

“I am no warrior,” Theomin shook his head, dismissing the woman, hoping it was not to his peril. “I am just a simple farmer who wanted to find his real family, nothing more.”

She looked at him with a knowing look, as if she knew more about him and his abilities than Theomin did. “No, you are not just a simple farmer. You are something greater than that I imagine. But, I am no recruiter nor will I ever be. If it is your will to continue on, that is your decision.” She gave a smile and patted him on the knee, at which Theomin winced. “If it is all the same to you, though, may I at least aid you on your way west to our hideout?”

“You may,” Theomin agreed, though still a little suspicious of the woman whome just one day earlier intended to harm him. He and Eleswith rose up. Theomin jogged over to Aches, who was already licking himself clean. “Come!” he said to Aches loud enough for him to hear but soft enough not to wake the others in the room.

The three left the ruins of Ost Guruth, ready to depart west. Quickly, Theomin retrieved Bragga with just a slight issue with the dwarf. After some prodding and a threat from Aches, Theomin was on his horse and ready to depart. Unfortunatly Eleswith had no horse and just walked beside Bragga as they continued west.

The great hill of the tower of Aman Sul rose up upon them. It was past midday when they reached the hideout. Helesdir, the leader, stood at the door at a large boulder. He looked gladly at Theomin, giving him a slight nod of acknowledgement. His demeanor changed, though, as he gazed upon Eleswith. A slight spark of worry crossed his face as she approached. “Eleswith,” he said with care. “We have much to speak of.”

“What is this about?” she asked, now equally worried.

“First, you are the best warrior I…”

“Just tell me,” she interrupted, “I care not for your pandering.”

The leader looked down, uncomfortably, wanting to stall for some reason. “Magla, Sergee, and I spoke.” He sighed deeply, “We feel you are too unpredictable to remain in our group.” Theomin’s eyes widened. That was the last thing he thought he would hear. Eleswith, though, stood there silent, stoic. “Our decision did not come lightly, it was…”

“Let us just cut it there. I need not hear your reasons.”

“But you must. You must hear it because you will only poison future groups against you,” the leader pleaded.

“Please,” she mocked, “I know about this group. It is broken. Lies are rampant in this group and they are not only on my side. I know Sergee’s secrets and I know yours too. Don’t look upon me as if I am the lone person here who is breaking this group,” she sniped. Her eyes blazed with anger, “This group was broken long before I arrived.”

The leader tried to calm her down, “Eleswith, please…”

“Nothing more do I have to say to you,” she said. She turned and left toward the road.

Theomin was shocked. He never saw such anger come out of anybody like that. The leader just watched her leave, “Please,” he said to Theomin, “look after her.”

“Me?” said Theomin, hoping he was only jesting, but clearly was not.

“Yes, she is a harm to all, including herself. Council her. Help her along. I know not what she speaks of regarding Sergee and I care not. I care for her.” With a last plead he said, “Please, keep her safe.” He then turned and entered the hideout.

Theomin sat on his horse, not sure what to make of the events. He had not witnessed such a heated argument between two people. Even at home with his family there have been disagreements but never to the extent had he just witnessed. He shook his head and turned. In the distance, with the backdrop of the Tower of Aman Sul, there she was, on the road. She sat facing away, noticeably weaping. Theomin approached the broken girl. He was not sure what to do. He was unsure what would make her feel better. He just sat there in silence, looking at her.

She stopped weeping and looked half way up to Theomin, “Aren’t you going to give me some words of advice? Something to pep me up? Make me feel better?” She mocked him but he had no words to give. He had no words of inspiration, no recommendations. Just silence as he sat there on his horse, still reeling from the argument. She stood, wiping tears from her eyes, “You’re right,” she murmured but he said nothing. “There are no words for my actions. They are mine and mine alone. I need to deal with them.”

Theomin then said something he felt he would regret for the rest of his days. “Would you like to join me?” As soon as he said it, he regretted it. “What are you saying?” he thought to himself, feeling like he made the biggest mistake of his life.

She looked up, with new purpose, “Are you sure?”

With no cover for what he just said, Theomin answered, “Sure,” though such an inflection of that word had never been uttered with less enthusiasm. It did, however, convince Eleswith.

A large grin grew on her face as she looked at Theomin with all the gratefulness she could muster. “Thank you,” was all she could possibly say. Theomin looked at her, half smiling but nervous. They then turned, and continued off west along the Great East Road.