Farewell to Minas Tiirth {Calon}

[Narbeleth]

“You are sending me where!?”

The young woman’s voice rose up against the garden walls. Narbeleth had been dreaming around the gardens in a slight daze as she brushed the rose petals with her fingertips, and humming happily to herself, when Faeldor had approached her with the news.

“You are going to Belfalas to stay with Father’s brother and his family,” the Stable master repeated, his voice calm, yet his temper already pitch high.

“I shall not go! Mother needs help with the children… and there are two women I am seeing to that are going to be delivering this month! Grandmother needs my help. I cannot leave Miriel right now… And…” She stopped herself quickly. The young woman had been quite close to adding more. I do not wish to go without Cal! We have been having such a wonderful time together! Her heart seemed to scream within her chest.

It had been a lovely evening, until the end of the supper meal. Miriel had made an announcement to the family. The young woman had been building up to it; when to tell her family that she was expecting, and now that she far enough along for her pregnancy to show if she did not wear a loose skirt, it was quite time to mention; before her mother was forced to guess and make the accusation. She blurted the news as they were beginning to clear the table.

Meleth and Tinuves had taken the news with a stern quietness. Neither of them had said much regarding the situation. Melanir had spoken to say that he was glad she had not hid the news from them longer. But Faeldor… well, he had not taken the news in a calm manner. The Stablemaster had yelled at Miriel, and called her whorish. Though it was nearly the truth; in Narbeleth’s mind, it was hardly a way to handle your own sister. Miriel had fled the house in tears.

Narbeleth had not been at all impressed with the manner in which her brother had handled the situation; though he was older and Head of the Household. She had to respect him, at least in front of the others.

---

“Why must I take punishment for Miriel’s wrongdoing?” Narbeleth questioned sharply, her brow furrowed and her face creased.

“Because Miriel has already made her mistake, and we cannot take back what happened. But I shall prevent you from going down the same path.”

“Faeldor! I am a midwife! I know better than to do such a thing; and in any case, how can you convict me of that? I would not!” she argued.

“You are fearfully close. You have always been impulsive, Narbeleth. How am I to trust you running off with Calon? I will not have two whorish sisters!” The man said the words in such disgust.

“Calon is a good man.” The young woman gritted her teeth, her eyes growing wet. “He has not so much as touched me. And don’t you dare to call me whorish! After all you and Gilwen have gone through. All those false accusations, and now you are turning the same on me!

Faeldor frowned, disgusted with his own behavior in introducing the two of them. “That is all the more reason why this is regrettable. And if you should lie to me now, you only further prove your point that the two of you cannot be trusted together. I have very well seen you touching him! I agree, he is a good man, and he has worked honest and hard since the day I hired him; but you, my sister, are far too impulsive for your own good. ”

Narbelth’s face was blank. She knew very well herself that Calon had not touched her. He had not even tried; and she had not let him. Well, not yet at any rate. He had been close to kissing her one night; so very close that Beleth had felt his breath upon her lips. And she would have allowed it, had Faeldor not interrupted. She had held his hand. Was that what her confounded brother was speaking of? “Are you condemning me for holding his hand in your presence? Was that so disgraceful to you?”

“I am not condemning you. I am simply sending you away,” Faeldor said nonchalantly, his decision made. “I will not have two unwed and pregnant sisters,” he repeated himself.

The young woman’s temper burned, and she took a step toward her brother and raised her hand to slap him for what he had said. To say that she would do such a thing that her other sister had done was completely uncalled for. Faeldor caught her wrist before she completed the action though.

“I am the head of this household, Narbeleth, and you will heed my authority,” Faeldor said, trying to hold his temper in check, and letting his sister’s wrist down at her side. “You will stay in the house tonight, and pack your bags to leave in the morning. You will go without a fuss or a tantrum, and you will stay in Belfalas until I write and tell you when I deem you mature enough to come home. Now go pack your bags.” With that, the man turned to head back up the garden stair into the house.

“I will not go!” Narbeleth shouted after her brother, stomping her foot upon the ground, and crossing her arms in defiance. “I am a grown woman, and I can look after myself.”

The announcement was ignored, and Faeldor only added, “If you do not pack them, I will do it for you; and I will surely forget something important. Oh, and you will take Thissel. I was going to give her to you as a birthday gift, but you may have her now.” He slammed the door as he entered the house. Perhaps giving her the horse would calm her down; she had always wanted a horse. The Stablemaster felt slightly bitter that he had upset his sister so; but those things had needed to be said! If he had spoken gently to her, she would not have listened.

Beleth stood in her place for a moment, her anger welling up within her, and her blood boiling! Faeldor, it seemed, had made up his mind. When her brother did such a thing, she knew he would not relent. But that did not make her accept his decision! She frowned, tears blurring her eyes, and she kicked the grass, then threw herself down on the ground bitterly.

Tomorrow Calon was supposed to ready his horse and at sunrise they would set out for the Firien Wood; they were to go on their first hunting trip together. Beleth slumped in the grass. She did not even have a flicker of excitement within her to visit her relatives, or see the cliffs and the sea, nor even over the fact that Faeldor had just given her a horse. It was the context of the whole situation. The reason she was being sent away; for lack of trust. How could Faeldor distrust her, after all she had done for him, and deny her happiness in such a way?

Calon had grown so dear to her, and now she was being sent away from him. It was entirely unfair. The young woman thought for some moments again about the hunt they would have had. To think that they could have sat so carefree and near atop his horse, and wandered the wood together. The thoughts brought her back to tears, as she knew now that it would not happen, and she would not even have a chance to see the man before she left. She began to cry, though in a great attempt to pull herself together together, she needed to change her thoughts.

She would go; it had to be done. Should she stay, it would create an even greater rift in their household, it was certain, and young Narbeleth had always been one to wish to keep the family in the best of spirits. Father would have wished them content; though she was certain he would not have sent her away, nor been so perturbed by the fact that a honorable and hardworking young man showed an interest in her, and she in him. Finally, she stood and made her way toward her own quarters, to ready her belongings.

---

The next day came with embraces and smiles for her family. She would not have the children perturbed for the reason of her departure, nor upset by it. Her mother, though, was rather tense; and Miriel could not hide her tears. Beleth spent a long time speaking to her sister before bidding the rest of her family farewells, and plastering a smile upon her face once more for her traveling party. She certainly hoped that Faeldor had not told the older man and woman who she was going with that they were traveling with a whorish sister of his.

However, young Narbeleth would not give her brother the pleasure of any smile or embrace his way. In fact, she did not even look in his direction or acknowledge his presence as her family waved her goodbye. She knew in her heart that she would neither write to him, nor any of her family until someone had spoken sense into her brother, and he had sent her word to return home.

If anyone could make him to think sensibly, it would have been Gilwen, she knew, and the woman wished she knew where she lived now, that she might request to stop and see her before they removed themselves from the city. It was too late though, for they were already passing the white, stone walls of the first tier, and soon enough, they were beyond the great gates. Beleth shivered in her traveling cloak, though she was not cold, just upset, and turned once more to look behind her; a sob caught in her throat was her last farewell to the city, and she steeled her dry eyes ahead of her in the dim, pre-dawn light, refusing to look back again. Surely, Calon was now readying his horse, and would be to her mother's home to greet her there soon. She certainly hoped that Faeldor was not the one to greet him at the door.

[Calon]

Calon had never awoken in the morning so eager for a hunt in his life. The Firien wood was awaiting him this day; while this fact was no different than the other times he had taken leave from working to go hunting, the fact that the lovely sister of the stable master was coming with him certainly gave him reason to such a joyous morning mood.

For the first time in his life, he was packing his things and humming aloud. It took him aback a slight—it was a melody his Nightingale had sung for him the last night they had gotten to see each other. Nonetheless, the carefree nature that Calon possessed did not make him feel the slightest uncomfortable with it. After all, he was in the confines of his own room. There was no fear within that someone would see what he deemed was a rather feminine display. His face even looked peaceful, it was simply inside where he wondered at it.

“Are you humming, Calon?” His grandmother’s voice lofted through his doorway, and the young man looked up immediately and grinned boyishly.

“I suppose I am,” he said, folding a blanket and stuffing it in his bag. “It is a nice day for a trip. I guess I cannot contain myself.”

His grandmother’s sapphire eyes narrowed a slight, though she was smiling knowingly. “Of course. Trips have always made you to sing,” she prodded humorously. She knew very well what was causing her grandson to change. It was no hunting trip.

“I, Grandmother, am not singing,” Calon said with an easy smile as he closed his bag and tossed it over his shoulder. “Merely humming.” He walked to his doorway where his grandmother stood and stooped to kiss her cheek. “I shall be back in two days,” he said happily.

“Do be careful, dear.” His grandmother’s eyes were slightly worried. “Orcs have been sighted out there.” Calon had heard so himself, but he did not give the threat any heed. The steward had the borders well patrolled, and surely there was no harm. Aside, he was not going to throw his own life away just because of a few mindless brutes. That would be letting them win.

“I shall be, Grandmother. I have my bow and quiver, and have even packed my sword to be safe. Do not worry for me.”

They began to move down the hallway together and a silence had fallen between them. Calon’s grandmother was normally as lighthearted as he, and something about her silence was unsettling. “Is there something else that troubles you?”

“Just…mind yourself with this Beleth you keep prattling on about. I trust you, Calon.” Her words were stern, though loving. “But I feel need to tell you to be careful.”

Calon laughed heartily and kissed his grandmother again as he reached the doorway. “Grandmother, I assure you that nothing should happen. Mother raised me quite well, and even If I was not, her brother holds my job in the palm of his hand. And I would certainly both lose that and my hands,” his words were light and laughing. “I promise, I would be nothing but careful.”

His grandmother smiled and laughed herself. “Well, then. Do have fun. Do try and catch something large. Maybe then we can finally meet her, and have her over for supper.”

“I will do my best,” Calon said.

“Leaving?” His grandfather’s voice joined the others standing in the doorway of the house.

“Yes, I shall be back in a few days.”

His grandfather smiled. “Have fun, Calon. When you come back, I have some work for you to do.”

Calon laughed and nodded. “I will savor my time away,” he jested. “Now, I must be off to fetch Beleth at her home. I will see you both soon.” And with that, he was out the door. A day had never felt so perfect.

--

He was standing in front of her house now, and with an easy confidence he reached upward to knock on the door. Surely she was ready to go. Narbeleth was certainly a bottle of energy, though Calon knew that women always took longer to ready themselves. It seemed a strange thing to the stablehand. Was it worth all the time to make oneself look fashionable?

Being natural was a true gift, and while perhaps he would never mention such things aloud Calon certainly preferred the girls who did nothing with their outer appearances. He liked to get dirty and be a little wild; what good was freshly made hair if it was only going to get ruined?

Finally he knocked. Now all that was left to do was await her, and they would be off after a trip to the fourth tier stable to fetch his horse. It was sure to be a day to remember.

[Miriel]

Miriel knew who was calling at this hour; it could only be Calon.

Beleth had been in upheaval about the matter the night previous, and for the first time in years, the older sister had been the one to comfort the younger, until the late hours of the night had caused both teary women to fall asleep in the younger sister’s bed.

This is all my fault. Miriel thought morosely, as she made her way to the door. It was only fair that she answer, and tell him the news. Thank the heavens that Faeldor had already left to fetch Gilwen for work. It was perhaps the first time that Miriel had been thankful for such a thing. The raised voices in the garden the night previous had not been unheard by Miriel; nor any of her household in fact. Even the young children had not avoided the sounds of their siblings argument. As if being pregnant were not enough to shame Miriel, the fact that her little sister was now being punished on behalf of her own actions was.

“Good morning, Calon,” Miriel said quietly as she opened the door. The morning light was still quite dim, but the Household of Faelon were all risen, and the lanterns were burning in the entryway. The young woman paused, not sure of what she should say next. Should she invite him in? Was there any need for that? He would certainly turn and leave as soon as she told him the news.

She took a hesitant breath; her hand fluttering over her stomach nervously; a habit she had picked up when she spoke to nearly anyone these days. As if she could hide her condition. “Beleth is not here,” she tried to say lightly. Surely those words would crush him; he always looked so bright and cheerful every time he came to meet her here, and was told, “Just a moment. I shall go fetch her for you.”

They were always so cheerful together; from Miriel’s observation at least. And if Miriel had though her younger sister high spirited before, well to just look at her when she would come back from outings with this man. Miriel had, for the past some years, never approved of Narbeleth’s somewhat wild and rambunctious behaviors; yet if she had found a man who did not mind them and who would be happy with her; well, it seemed to Beleth’s benefit. Not that the older sibling was not a bit jealous over the fact that her little sister was so joyous. For she was. But Beleth was the one sibling who had always been there for her, even to confide in during these past months.

“She left near two hours past,” she added bitterly. Meleth entered the doorway of the room as Miriel spoke, though it seemed to her that Miriel had fine control of the situation, and she did not speak yet. “Our brother deemed she needed a holiday to Belfalas, and arranged for her to leave this morning, to stay with some of our family there.”

“You see, he is trying to protect her from her behavior, which he deems indecent and out of line,” Miriel said; the words were mocking her brother.

“That is enough, Miriel. I doubt that Calon wishes to hear all the details and drama of our family situations,” Meleth interrupted, hoping that Miriel’s reasoning would not make the young man nervous.

“I do not see entirely why he thinks it best to cure her impulsivity by sending her off to Belfalas. She has much more leeway to be unladylike and wild there than here. And if he thinks that to send her to the sea will save her from pregnancy. It is a bit more simplistic than that. Though perhaps I am a horrible influence on her. ” Miriel touched her stomach, caressing it slightly. If the growing swell of it, which was now nearly four months along, had not been noticeable to the man before, it certainly was now.

“I would know that,” Meleth answered, a light smile on her face, glancing to Calon to judge his reaction. She had born six children after all. Oh, Miriel, she willed. Please stop before you have yourself worked up again.

“Not that Beleth would ever give heed to doing such a thing,” Miriel assured Calon. Gracious, her mouth was getting away from her, and she was certain to be making the man uncomfortable. “Oh, heavens mother, he made it seem that she would be gone for months. I can hardly bear it,” Miriel’s felt her emotions well up within her, and without another look to Calon, she felt that she would break into tears, and so she left the room in a haste.

“I’m terribly sorry, Calon,” Meleth added from her place in the doorway, looking on her daughter as she left. “I did not wish her to go, but Faeldor was adamant. And it was so late when he decided, and so early when she left; I daresay I should have guessed that she would not have time to send word to you. She was incredibly disappointed about the hunt. Faeldor is a bit overprotective and he is certainly good with the younger children, but at times like this, I know he is overbearing with my elder daughters.”

“You are so good for my girl,” Meleth added, assuredly to the man.

[Calon]

Calon could hardly contain himself. Today, he mused, Faeldor would be the one to open the door. He would not dare allow him to leave with his dear Beleth without first having a word with him. And the word would probably be plentiful and threatening. Nonetheless, he was sure that he would be able to whisk Beleth away quickly.

The door opened, though, and it was Miriel. Instantly the man smiled brightly. He was just about to ask for Beleth—oh, it was so close! He could feel the freedom with her already—when Miriel began to speak, and instantly, the man’s smile turned to a small frown of confusion. “Beleth is not here.” Not there?

“I beg your pardon, she isn’t--?”

“She left near two hours past.”

Two hours ago. “Oh, then she should return shortly, yes? It makes no difference, I can wait.” Still, something about this seemed wrong; Miriel looked highly unwell. His face remained light, though. Perhaps that was all it was. Beleth was a midwife. Perhaps she was called away early, and she would be returning soon. A later start would make no difference. Today was not for the hunting. Today was for the adventure of getting there.

His thoughts and hopes were interrupted and destroyed as Miriel finished explaining. She was in Belfalas? In Eru’s name why?

The question did not even need to be spoken aloud. Miriel answered shortly: “You see, he is trying to protect her from her behavior, which he deems indecent and out of line.”

“Her behavior?” Calon was slowly coming to realize what had happened. Immediately the joyous glitter in his eye was vanquished and replaced with a deep-rooted fire of fury. Still, he kept his face quite still. Faeldor still did not trust him with her. After the hell he had put him through at work, calling him there hours earlier. After he had slaved and put forth a great effort to please Faeldor’s every order. After asking permission to take Narbeleth hunting, and having being accepted, she was sent all the way to Belfalas?

“And if he thinks that to send her to the sea will save her from pregnancy. It is a bit more simplistic than that. Though perhaps I am a horrible influence on her.”

Calon was fuming, though talk of pregnancy and the like made him a slight uncomfortable. Was this truly what had caused him to send her away? He had not missed the motion or the admittance of Miriel’s state, but he purposefully tried to not acknowledge it himself. Though, he was far too angry to truly care at that moment. He had sent Beleth away?

“Oh, heavens mother, he made it seem that she would be gone for months. I can hardly bear it.”

His fists balled tightly, and the man looked away for a moment, looking upward toward the road that led toward the stables. Calon was certainly in a state now. Miriel fled from the doorway, and Meleth came forward. She said she was sorry, though Calon knew it was none her fault. “I am sorry, too,” he grumbled through gritted teeth. No, it was all Faeldor. And Calon prayed desperately that by some stroke of luck he would be able to confront the man upon such a decision made without the risk of losing his job. Oh, but that would never happen.

“You are so good for my girl.”

Calon shifted his weight, and looked down at his feet a moment drawing in a breath to steady himself. Oh, he was boiling. “My lady,” he began, still working hard to curb his anger. “Is there a way that I could perhaps get the name of the family Master Faeldor has sent her to? I would much desire to write to her.” And perhaps take a few weeks off to visit. Though, he would never say those intentions aloud less they get back to Faeldor himself. He looked up at Meleth with a stern face, though sincere eyes. “I feel that I should let her know I am not cross with her over this, and to explain I shall take her hunting another time. I would not have her worry on it for months, if she is truly to be away that long.”

He left it there, for he was no longer sure he could control his anger from seeping into the words he shared with the woman before him. He was not angry at her, though. Merely her son. Her overprotective and irrational, untrusting son. Still, perhaps this could be remedied by a visit to Belfalas. He had been meaning to take a vacation to see his mother, father and brother again. Faeldor already knew the dates requested off and had had them approved. He feared his sister sneaking around behind his back? Well, he had made it easier.

[Faeldor]

“Of course, dear,” Meleth answered, wringing her hands on her apron slightly. She could hear the strain in the man’s voice. He was irate; it was certain. But how should he be otherwise? Meleth frowned, though the thought that Calon was so concerned and interested in Beleth’s well being was almost enough to cause the mother to smile. Of course, Meleth knew that Narbeleth loved Calon. Perhaps the young girl had not admitted it to herself yet, but a mother could tell. Now, she was quite certain that Calon felt the same for her daughter. The thought was charming.

“She is going to stay with her Father’s brother, Linnon the Shipwright of the Prince’s fleet, his wife, Ivren, and their five daughters. His name would not be mistaken, should you address it in Linnon’s care, and he will be certain that Beleth receives it.”

“You are from Belfalas,” Meleth added thoughtfully. “You might know their home, I daresay it is one of the loveliest in the countryside, just north of Dol Amroth, where the north-south road meets the Cobas Haven, and the Blackroot River meets the sea. The loveliest house I have ever set foot in.” Her voice had gone a bit dreamy for a moment, recalling the days of her youth. The home had belonged to Faelon’s father for a long time, and he still lived there, though now Linnon, the eldest son, was head of the household and was raising his children.

“I doubt she will be upset with you. Heavens, I hope she is not away for months. Though, it has been a long time since she has been relinquished of her duties here and had a holiday. As much as it is certain, she did not wish to go, but I hope she will enjoy her time there. It is good for that one to have the fresh air, and the forests and sea. You know her well enough to agree, I would think,” Meleth sighed.

“I hope you might still enjoy your hunt…” the woman added. “Beleth certainly says you love the sport. I must say, she has talked about it more than I have ever imagined since the night of the Ball. She does adore you.” There was no way to lighten the mood for Calon, who looked entirely upset, though perhaps her last comment would give him enough spirit to write to her daughter soon. Certainly Narbeleth would need the encouragement.

---

Six tiers below, Faeldor waited not far from Gilwen’s house for the woman to come to the door. The walk had at least done him good; the fresh air was fine, for Faeldor had been fuming when he set out from his house; and still, even as he awaited Gilwen he could not calm himself.

Narbeleth had not as much as looked at him since the night before, and she had left without a single word. The Stablemaster frowned. Her behavior had been atrocious. Oh, for her to act in such a way toward him was admittance to the fact that she had behaved wrongly. He crossed his arms, fists balling within, and his face was set in a frown.

[Calon]

Not only had he gotten the names of the family, but a very nice description of the house. Not that it was needed; Calon knew the name himself. That house, in fact, was not too far from his own home. Merely a short walk. This would, eventually, make the man eager and happy. Soon, when he was on his leave to go visit his home, he would not have to go too far out of the way to see her. Though he would have gone to the ends Arda to see her.

“I know the name,” Calon said plainly. “I shall make sure that I write to her soon.”

“It is good for that one to have the fresh air, and the forests and sea. You know her well enough to agree, I would think.”

Calon almost smiled; his thoughts had certainly turned to Beleth, and he could see her free spirit frolicking amongst the waves, or through the forests that were so near to her now. “Yes,” he said slowly. “I may not have known her long, my lady, but I must say I do know your daughter is no woman of the city.” No, open air and open fields were what Beleth enjoyed. Which was why he was going to take her hunting. But that had been utterly destroyed today.

Another swell of anger rose within him, though the hot rise of the temper was slowed upon hearing these words from Meleth: “She does adore you.” Calon flashed his eyes to Meleth, and for a moment his face softened, though the dourness of his mood prevented his eyes from sparkling or indeed his handsome face from smiling. He wished he could say aloud that he adored her, too. Though here and now, the words would not sound quite right. Though surely Meleth already knew. “Thank you,” he said instead. “I will write to her as I can. I am sorry to disturb you,” he added.

The young man adjusted the pack upon his back, now sighing at the fact he was highly over packed. He would not waste time unpacking, though. No, he would go and set up for the hunt this evening. After this boiling start to a day, his muscles needed the relaxation and use of the bow; though he was reasonably sure seeing the second blanket would set him further at heat tonight when he went to ready his camp.

“I best be off,” Calon said reservedly. “Thank you again.”

He was glad for once that his horse was not boarded upon the sixth tier. If he saw Faeldor this day, Eru would need be with him.

--

Gilwen quietly slipped out her front door, her brown eyes searching the dim morning light for the sign of her beloved. He was there, slightly in the shadow of a building a few yards back. It was a safe distance, and truly a safe place. Should her father look out the window, the dark shadow cast from the tavern building masked the features of Faeldor’s face. She smiled slightly, and began to move toward him, though it only took two strides for her to begin to feel that something was wrong. Her smile faded, and the woman frowned lightly.

His arms were crossed, his face was sternly in a frown, and all of his muscles seemed tensed. Even his breathing was heavy; Gilwen had never seen her Faeldor in such a state. Immediately her heart began to race and she hurried the rest of her strides forward. She paused a step away from him and looked upon him with soft searching eyes, though could read nothing on his face or in his eyes past some sort of upset. Slowly, she reached a hand out to brush his cheek.

“Fael…what happened?” Her voice was soft, though full of care and concern. Such a dour expression! Had something happened to the family? Had one of the babies taken ill, or perhaps his grandparents! She frowned all the more. Or had he finally heard of Miriel? Her face blanched a tad and she stepped closer. “Fael?”

[Faeldor]

“You’re welcome, dear,” Meleth replied, wringing her hands once more as Calon left the doorstep and turned toward the lower tiers. Oh, the poor young man looked entirely broken at the loss of his companion, though Meleth mused that perhaps it would not be too difficult for them afterall. Her daughter would eventually return to the city, or Calon would visit his family, and they would see each other again. Narbeleth had grown to be a rather passionate woman in the things she cared for; her family, midwifery, horses, song and dance, and certainly Calon was at the top of the list. She would not forget him.

---

Gilwen’s hand was cool upon the man’s cheek, and it was not until she had touched him had he even noticed her presence. However, even when she asked what had happened, his thoughts could not form coherent sentences, and he only managed to mutter a few words referring to his sisters names. His face was blank.

“Beleth is gone now, thank the heavens, should she take the same path as Miriel, I will send her out completely. She knows better than to act in the way she has been.” This was finally spoken in a coherent phrase, after a long pause.

Faeldor’s hand came to his face and he almost moaned, “I cannot believe that my sisters have taken such whorish positions for themselves. They were raised better than that. Father would have sent them away earlier… I should have sent them out. Miriel’s condition… gracious, I could not send her out now. But Beleth will not return until she has gained some maturity in this whole matter.

The Stable master frowned once more, moving to grasp Gilwen’s hand. While the warmth he usually gifted her was not present, he was always careful to hold her gently, and close. At least through the first tier; as it was not long past the day she had been accosted on the street by that despicable man.

[Gilwen]

She was beyond worried, Faeldor looked surprised that her hand was upon her cheek. Had he not even seen her? It made her frown all the more. Still, he did not speak and that unsettled her more.

Finally it seemed as if all of his words came at once, and Gilwen immediately caught her breath. He had learned of Miriel, certainly. But what had Beleth to do with any of this? She kept quiet, for a moment as she searched his eyes, but he seemed far removed from her there, and dropped his face into his hand with what could have been considered a moan of frustration.

“I cannot believe that my sisters have taken such whorish positions for themselves. They were raised better than that. Father would have sent them away earlier… I should have sent them out. Miriel’s condition… gracious, I could not send her out now. But Beleth will not return until she has gained some maturity in this whole matter.”

Gilwen immediately frowned there, and as he took her hand she marked his own coldness toward her. As they began to move, she said quietly, though seriously, “Faeldor, do not speak so against your sisters.” Perhaps Miriel had made some mistakes, but she was far from being a sleeper. “What ever made you to send Beleth away?” She paused a moment and looked up to him and frowned all the more. “Did you make such a decision without any thought? As an impulse?” Gilwen kept her voice low, though her tone had changed.

“Fael, please listen to me. Papa thinks me a wayward and promiscuous daughter, and you know there is no truth in his assumptions. But I have been wounded, and it pains me to think my father does not trust me.” She took a slight breath as she felt a new wave of shame pass through her at the mention of her father, though soon continued just as quietly as before. “You have spoken against him in that manner yourself, yet you do this to Beleth? Fael…send for her to come back. Do not do to her what has been done to me.”

[Faeldor]

“Faeldor, do not speak so against your sisters.”

The Stable master looked a bit aghast. “Gilwen, you do not understand. Miriel is…” he lowered his voice slightly, that anyone listening might not overhear. “With child…. With Durion’s child. My little unwed sister is carrying the baby of a Devil.” Faeldor’s eyes zoned away for perhaps a moment, the fact that Durion was involved in this now sweeping into his blood.

“What ever made you to send Beleth away? Did you make such a decision without any thought? As an impulse?”

“Of course I thought it over,” Faeldor said quickly. In his state of mind, everything seemed quite sensible. Perhaps later he would reconsider what he had done, but not now. “You must understand, Gilwen. Look at us…” he said sensibly. “We are older, and much more mature. And I am certainly less impulsive than my sisters. And not that I would wish to take back any of the time we have spent together, but you do realize how fearfully close we have come to making those rumors of us the truth. Had we not restrained ourselves, well… what honor would we have left?”

He caught his breath for a moment as he went, and looked down to Gilwen as they walked. He held her hand tightly, for he would not have the woman be afraid on the streets, and he wished her in his grasp to protect her from any evil that the lower tiers would induce upon her, but he did not draw her into his side as his usual manner of walking. No, he had to keep quite the distance. They had come so close before. He had to be careful with his Gilwen.

“Miriel has already ruined herself in that manner,” he said, a bit angrily. Though, for all of his anger, it seemed to be directed more at the younger sister and less at the one who was actually at fault for the matter. In his mind, Durion’s deed had been greater than Miriel’s, and the man had corrupted her beyond all extremes. Yes, Faeldor knew that his sister had a foul spirit often, but she was impulsive, and Durion was manipulative, and had taken that to his advantage with her.

Narbeleth though; she had a cool head upon her, and very well knew what she was doing. “Beleth… well I am simply protecting her from herself. In fact, well, I trust Calon more than I trust her. She has never controlled her urges… not for the sake that she cannot control them, but because she gets such the thrill of doing dangerous and improbable things. She will be safe from herself with our family in Belfalas, and have a chance to cool herself down before she returns.”

“Fael, please listen to me. Papa thinks me a wayward and promiscuous daughter, and you know there is no truth in his assumptions. But I have been wounded, and it pains me to think my father does not trust me. You have spoken against him in that manner yourself, yet you do this to Beleth? Fael…send for her to come back. Do not do to her what has been done to me.”

“This is an entirely different matter than what you are going through with your father.” Faeldor had spoken quickly, as if he were trying to keep himself from reconsidering what she had said. “This is for Beleth’s own safety. I will not have two pregnant and unwed sisters. Do you understand me, Gilwen? Your father has heard the rumors of you, and that is what he believes… but the difference here… Miriel’s condition is no rumor. It is in fact, the truth. I will not have my younger sister put through the same shame. If I wait until she has actually become with child to convict her and send her to Belfalas, the I have done nothing to prevent it, and the shame will be double on my own head.”

It seemed that Faeldor had finally stilled his words. The thought pained him, for both his sisters. Dear Miriel was burdened with a child. If Gilwen would have been with child, the shame would have been on her, yes, but also on her father for allowing a thing like that to happen. But it seemed that Gilwen still did not understand him. With Faeldor’s father gone, he was the one responsible for his sisters, and he would do what he could to protect them. If even it meant protecting them from themselves.

[Gilwen]

Faeldor seemed positively livid, and for a moment Gilwen pondered the thought of not broaching the subject to him anymore, but the serving woman had a strength and perseverance in her that would not cause her falter, and she knew in her heart that Faeldor had been too quick to action. She was a soft beacon, but she still shone with strength when anyone cared to look. She worked hard for her family, and Beleth was as good as a sister. She would surely fight for her as well.

“My little unwed sister is carrying the baby of a Devil.”

Gilwen flinched slightly at those words and felt Faeldor’s muscles tense all the more. True, Durion was not a man that Faeldor would ever wish had a tie to his family in anyway. Gilwen did not blame him for that; the man was utterly foul. She felt a sudden lurch in her core of unease as she imagined Miriel’s distress. “Fael, please,” her voice was calm, though firm. “You must stay level, Miriel does not need such extra stress. Surely she has condemned herself multiple times over.”

“Of course I thought it over.”

Gilwen frowned deeply. “Not nearly as well as you should have. When did you learn of this? Last night, surely, for yesterday morning you were quite fine. A single night is not time enough to have sorted things properly, Faeldor.” She paused a moment and continued. “Your temper is hot even now, do not tell me you thought about this calmly.”

“Had we not restrained ourselves, well… what honor would we have left?”

That had wounded Gilwen deeply, and wave of pain and anger flashed through her dark eyes as she flashed her eyes upward to look at him. “You think, then, that I should warrant the same precautions taken? Should my father send me off as well? Eru knows as well as you and I that he does not trust either of us.” She noted how he had kept his distance, and how the warmth of their time together had seemed to have turned cold today. The little woman frowned all the more. Faeldor, in an indirect way, had insulted her own dignity, and she wrenched her hand free from his, not particularly caring that they were still climbing the third tier.

He was insinuating they had done too much together; that their relations had been taken too far. He thought that she was likely to fall down the same path as his sisters, though he had never said so directly. “You are every bit as impulsive as Beleth,” Gilwen said flatly. It was true; Beleth and Fael seemed to be one and the same. It was only in his work that Faeldor was collected at all times. “You do not trust yourself with me, Faeldor? She surely would handle things as you would.”

“This is for Beleth’s own safety. I will not have two pregnant and unwed sisters. Do you understand me, Gilwen? Your father has heard the rumors of you, and that is what he believes… but the difference here… Miriel’s condition is no rumor. It is in fact, the truth. I will not have my younger sister put through the same shame. If I wait until she has actually become with child to convict her and send her to Belfalas, the I have done nothing to prevent it, and the shame will be double on my own head.”

Gilwen just shook her head and looked away from him. After a few moments of walking in silence she sighed and looked back to him. “I know you have taken on a great weight and burden,” Gilwen finally reached back to brush his hand. “And you have done well in helping raise your family. This…situation…has nothing to do with you, Fael. If I…if we had…it would have been my own fault; not my father’s, not my mother’s.” For a moment her thoughts flicked to those times they had come dangerously close to doing something regrettable, and she looked away once more in a bit of shame. She could not imagine the burden of what Miriel was going through, though she knew that if she and Faeldor had fallen to their impulses and something ill had become of that, she would hardly wish for the added stress of what could feel like loathing from her family. And now she was left with a shadow of a feeling that Faeldor himself would have been furious with her.

“Please, do not judge Beleth wrongly,” she murmured once more. “She is a good girl; she is so much like you. She would never seek to dishonor herself. She minds herself, the same as you. Please call for her to come back. When you have thought this over thoroughly, you shall understand what I speak is no lie.”

[Faeldor]

“You are every bit as impulsive as Beleth.”

The words seemed to strike him, and he could not help but argue, “I am not as impulsive as she. She is merely eighteen years old. I maintain a job… and raise a family. I cannot afford to be as impulsive as she. That is not true.” The man knew his words were being completely irrational. In fact, his entire family shared the same genetics, which Meleth and Faelon had passed onto them. When they were in a good mood, they jested about it, and when in a foul, they denied it. They were each impulsive, and quick to temper and make rash and angry decisions.

“I thought about it as calmly as any would in my situation,” Faeldor retorted. “I know she is good. She has not gotten in too much trouble before, but I fear her getting out of hand now. She has always been wild, and I will not have a man take advantage of her because of that. Look at where it has taken Miriel. Beleth is my young sister, and she must be protected; she is not old enough to make the proper decisions by herself.”

These words were certainly irrational, as Narbeleth had been perhaps the fasted to mature in their household. The very day that her Father passed away, at the slight age of eleven, she had begun to care for her siblings in the same way that Faeldor did, and she had not relented. Even now, she could have fought her way into staying; refused to climb atop her horse and go. But for the sake of easing tensions in her family, she had obliged herself to Faeldor’s instruction.

“No, I will not call for her to come back. She will come back when she has done some growing up,” Faeldor concluded. His justifications were entirely unfair. Perhaps it would have been better to send Miriel away when she had started her rampage, and her decline with Durion. That would have been a feasible option; to take her away from the city for a time. Beleth had truly done no wrong, nor could Faeldor even prove that she had thought wrongly.

Gilwen though, it seemed, would not understand his reasoning. Nobody in the family seemed to. Even an hour after his sister had departed, and he had left to call on Gilwen, Miriel had still been crying, and Meleth was not speaking to him. He pouted. Now Gilwen was upset as well. Well, eventually they would understand. He sighed. He would have to stick to his beliefs, and they would understand him. My, but he did dread seeing Calon at work today though.

[Gilwen]

“I am not as impulsive as she. She is merely eighteen years old. I maintain a job… and raise a family. I cannot afford to be as impulsive as she. That is not true.”

“Beleth takes care of your family, too. What do you plan on doing with all of the children now that she is no longer there to help care for them?” Gilwen was not raising her voice, though her temper was being tested and tried. She loved her Faeldor dearly, but his stubborn pride was quickly setting her to burn. “Do you think your family can handle all of the children without her?”

“I thought about it as calmly as any would in my situation.”

Gilwen sighed as he continued; she had never seen Faeldor so furious. More than this, he was not listening to her. His fiery nature was normally quenched by her own docility and gentleness. But today! Today no sea could have quelled him. His eyes were burning, and his mind was stubbornly set in his way. What use was there in trying to persuade him? He had not heeded his mother, or anyone of his own blood. He would certainly no sooner listen to her.

“Fael—“ She cut herself short before she truly lost control of her temper. A great part of her was simply distressed that she had not even gotten the chance to say farewell to her. There was nobody in the family that had accepted her more like a sister than Beleth, and in a mere night she had been taken away. Her voice dropped low, and her voice sounded sad and heavy. “If you had to send her, did you not even think I would have desired to see her off?” She had not explained to Faeldor how she had lost contact with Arien completely. That Dervorin had been stationed out at Osgiliath and was no longer around for her to speak with either. She needed Beleth around; she was the only one who wished to stay.

Beleth was the one she confided in and laughed with. She could sit with her and speak with excited whispers and girlish giggles about the things that had happened to them, whether it concerned Faeldor or Calon, a man whom Gilwen found quite fitting for Beleth, no matter what Faeldor would think. She had heard a few details about their time together and Gilwen judged quite happily that Beleth’s Huntsman was a noble man; and they were certainly in love. Whether they both were aware of it or not. Beleth had slipped a few times with details of things said, and Gilwen knew well what love looked like.

She had even found a man that had given her lovely nicknames, just like she had desired! Bel, he called her. Or his Nightingale. Gilwen enjoyed the sound of that one, and with the lovely way Beleth danced and sung she could only think of how fitting it was. Narbeleth had finally found her own happiness, and Faeldor had as good as taken it away from her. Momentarily she wondered if he had heard of what passed between them, though she doubted Beleth would have spoken to him on it.

If she had, Faeldor would have seen that Calon looked at his sister like he himself looked at her. He would not have jumped to such rash conclusions because he would have been able to understand. It would upset him greatly should she have been sent away by her own father, and likewise Gilwen would not have wished to go. Was he overbearing in his family at times! He was the head of house, a position that Faeldor had taken upon the passing of his father, a role he had assimilated to quite nicely. Gilwen had no doubt in her mind that he loved his siblings under his roof, and that he would do anything to protect them. Gilwen also knew that one day, he would make an excellent father. But his fervor and drive to excel and be perfect was surely a burden to his family at times.

And right now, it was also a burden to her. Her eyes stung slightly as it sunk in that Beleth was indeed gone, and she did not know for how long she was to be away. “I did not get to say goodbye,” she said softly. “How long shall you make her stay away?”

[Faeldor]

“Beleth takes care of your family, too. What do you plan on doing with all of the children now that she is no longer there to help care for them? Do you think your family can handle all of the children without her?”

Faeldor shot Gilwen a look that meant indeed, he did know what he was doing. “Well Miriel needs the practice, I presume,” he answered her. She would have her own child afterall; it would do her well to help her mother with the others. “They will manage just fine without her.”

They were both quiet for a time, though Gilwen eventually continued. It was true, only those who had been in the household had been given chance to see Beleth off.

“If we had waited for her to leave, she would have gone on that hunt with Calon, and only Eru knows what would have happened then. It could have been too late,” he seemed dazed. “I am sorry you did not say goodbye, but you can write to her if you wish. She will be quite fine and safe with our family there, and she will have many things to do on her time away.”

“I do not know how long she will need to be there. With the way things are going, perhaps I will let her return to Minas Tirith when she is five and forty. Then if she wishes to pursue her reckless behavior, she can do so because I will not care anymore.” With that, the Stablemaster quickened his pace with Gilwen. He was not in the mood for her to argue with him and scold him as everyone else had already done. By the time they reached the sixth tier, and he had taken her to the palace steps, he bid her farewell. A squeeze of the hand was all she received though; for the man could hardly bring himself to even think about embracing her as he usually did.

They could all get pregnant. He thought, worriedly once more, lost in his musings.