Legends of Belariath
Ehlanna
Ehlanna's Sojourn - Part Two
After passing from the forest I made my aimless way, in the general direction of ... away. Away from all things that would bring me pain. So far as I could ascertain that meant Sylvan Elves, the forest, laughter ... everything it seemed was there for the sole purpose of torturing me. I leant over Cloudwing's neck, "take me away girl." Cloudwing responded with a soft whinny and she broke into a flowing canter, heading sun-wards.
Days of travel passed me by, where I had been and what I had passed lost in the mists of regret, only remembering to eat and drink when Cloudwing let it be know she herself was hungry or thirsty. I slept where I lay after sliding from her back, unthinking and uncaring of what may happen. Each night Cloudwing stood in a silent and loyal vigil over her wayward and thankless mistress, and yet each morn she would uncomplainingly carry me further from my previous life.
Eventually the sounds of children's laughter penetrated my dark thoughts. Looking around me at my surroundings I was shocked to find myself at the centre of a human town - had I ridden through other such places and not noticed? All around me were the busy bustling of commerce, womenfolk pulling water from the well, all the sounds and sights of a thriving township. I seemed to be the centre of a lot of attention, children pointing in glee at the apparition before them, men and women alike casting me sideways glances. I shrugged as I nudged Cloudwing to the water trough, slipping off her back to stand on unsteady legs.
"Lady?" I turned to look up at the speaker, a large man wearing a burnt and scarred leather apron over his clothes. "What do you want here lady?" I frowned at the edge of hostility in his voice. "I ... I don't know ... where is this?" My voice caught in my dry throat as I replied to the man. He stared at me, frowning. I looked up at him with bemusement. "What ... do ... you ... want?" He spoke slowly and clearly, enunciating each word with a grimace of distaste. I swallowed dryly and responded equally slowly and clearly, "Where ... is ... this ... place?" We stared at each other in mutual confusion. His brows knitted, his meaty right hand clenched into a fist, and his face reddened from something other than standing by a forge.
The impasse was broken by the piping voice of a young girl, "ma, ma, is she speaking elven?" I blinked and looked for the child, a mere scrap of a girl, maybe 5 or 6 years old - perhaps younger; when did humans learn to speak? - I was not used to judging the ages of humans. I flashed her a brief smile which sent her scrabbling to bury her face in her mother's skirts. I returned my gaze to the smith, "my apologies, I spoke without ... thought." The phrases sounded harsh and strange on my tongue as I hurriedly recalled what I knew of the common language of Belariath. "Can you tell me where I may be? What town ... land is this?"
From between clenched teeth I received a vexing reply, "nay, I shall not name thee the town, lest you bespell us ... you are not welcome in the lands of Rylos, thou witch." I shook my head in concern, "no, I am no witch, just an Elf of the Forest of Light. Is there no welcome for me here? If not for me, then at least let Cloudwing eat and drink her fill." At mention of her name, Cloudwing pranced and whickered softly, tossing her head. I looked over at her, my fond smile draining as I saw the state she was in ... her coat was matted and filthy, and her ribs showed plainly. I uttered a low moan and hugged Cloudwing around her neck, "Oh girl, what have I done to you?" I buried my face against her and sobbed, aghast at what I had put her through. Cloudwing, oh faithful Cloudwing just rubbed her cheek against my back and whuffed happily, glad to see me back in a semblance of normality.
A large hand gripped my shoulder and I turned to face the smith once more. His eyes had softened since we had last exchanged bemused and hostile stares. "Aye, the horse may eat and drink ... and as for thee ... best thou bathe ere you eat." His nose wrinkled and a tentative smile showed beneath his greying moustache as he watched me blink and look down at myself. Ah, I see what he meant. I seemed a mirror to Cloudwing's state, grime and a miscellany of forest growth seemed to have taken root in my clothes. Raising a dirt laden hand to my lank hair, complete with what felt like several bird nests worth of twigs, I felt my lips twitch in a matching smile. "Is there somewhere that I may bathe?"
The smith, who finally, begrudgingly, admitted to being one Talen Weatherstone, smith and farrier to the town of Larnium, in the realm of Rylos, led me to a stream and pointed down stream. "Down there lady ... just beyond the rocks if you please." I nodded absently as I started walking down the bank of the stream, peeling off my clothes as I went, "oh, and please ... call me Ehlanna." A muffled set of coughs was my only reply and I looked back to watch the red-faced smith looking away from me, waving his hands in negation to someone I could not see. My ears perked up with interest as I caught muffled words, blown to me by the gentle breeze, " .... look ... no ... elf ... naked ..." I smiled as I padded naked into the cold stream and began washing the accumulated dirt form my body. As I did I realised that I was as gaunt as Cloudwing. I had never had a particularly generous figure, but I was down to naught but skin and bone. Thinking of Cloudwing caused a wave of guilt to flood over me, and I made a deep and solemn vow to myself that never, ever would I treat her ill again ... her life would be one of plumpness and the finest grain I could find. "Talen?" I called over my shoulder. Taking the renewed coughing fit as acknowledgement I continued, "would you please make sure Cloudwing is fed whilst I clean up?" The muffled coughs and outraged harrumphs faded so I assumed and hoped that this was being arranged.
After thoroughly cleaning myself, which involved no end of winces as I disentangled my hair I was ready to deal with my clothes. Ideally I should treat them just as I had done myself, a long soak in the water would do them good. Unfortunately, judging by Talen's reaction, I would need to wear them and I have never been fond of wet clothes. I climbed out of the stream, water trickling down my spare frame and plodded over to my discarded clothes. Now I was clean I could appreciate more the nose wrinkling Talen had given me. A few Clean spells later and they were fit for wearing again, not smelling daisy fresh, but at least just plain not smelling would suit me fine for now.
As I sat on the stream bank and let the sun slowly dry me off I heard some quiet whispering and rustling in the undergrowth behind me. Shifting position to present my back to the sun I nonchalantly let my gaze wander over the bushes set back from the stream. They thought themselves well hidden, but to my eyes the three youths stood out like a pack of Ogres at a High Elven wedding. I shrugged and continued basking in the warmth of the suns rays. It was not as if they were seeing much anyway, not that I cared one way or another, but I seemed to recall that humans had some strange moral codes about nudity. That had been reinforced by Talen's reaction to my undressing practically under his nose.
Once I was only slightly damp I dressed, pulling my trousers up my legs seemed to provoke some excited rustlings from behind me as I bent to ease the leather up my damp limbs. Slipping into the cotton blouse was easier and I left it hanging outside my breeches, not wanting to have it plastered against my skin. Picking up my leather tunic and boots I set back into the town, amused by the frantic attempts of the youths to get back ahead of me and be silent, all at the same time.
Back at the town centre I found Cloudwing surrounded by a flock of children, each eager to press an apple to her soft lips, seeming to bask in the adulation she was receiving. Talen stood nearby, arms folded. I wondered whether grumpiness was a human trait, or one common only to smiths, maybe just red haired smiths.
Cloudwing and I stayed in Larnium for a few hours. Long enough for both of us to eat our fill and slake our thirsts and to pay for some provisions to see us on our way – mainly grain for Cloudwing. I ate,darnk and bartered in a state of confusion. At first my arrival had seemed to be as welcome as a pack of rabid goblins. Then I was, well, if not greeted with open arms then, at least, accepted. Now it seemed that it was all the townsfolk could do was to stop themselves ushering me out of town. They were polite, but insistent that I leave. Gathering my things I mounted Cloudwing and left Larnium, passing rows of silent people. Nodding thanks at Talen I headed further east, now more alert to my surroundings, having been shocked to the core by my previous inattention.