A City of Stone - [Open]

[Imayne]

She had heard tales of the great White City, its towering walls and prevalent stone. She had heard of its noise, of its might, of its coldness; Imayne had heard of its beauty. And there, perched upon the city walls, the lady felt a strange sensation of longing. The great fields of the Pelennor stretched out before her, wide spaces of a world she had not known before a few weeks ago. Gondor, proud city of man. Each day she woke, marveled at the sheer vastness of the city around her.

It was nothing like her small village on the Snowbourn. This great city held more people than she had ever seen in the Eastfold.

She was perched rather stoically atop the gate, guards and captains and leaders of men stationed about her. They eyed her, she knew; she could feel their gazes and their interest. Imayne ignored them, though could not quite bring herself to blame them. With her fiery hair and imposing height, she was certain that no guard of Gondor had ever seen a lady of the horselords. Not a true one at least. She had her people’s spirit, and was in many ways like a wild mare in her stubbornness and strength—people here could see her spirit.

Her blue-green eyes were cast out over the farmers in their fields, watching as pools of people left the city’s gate behind and fanned like a tide over the land. Faintly she wondered what they were doing, where they were going, wondering what purpose guided their steps. However, Imayne was more concerned and keen on spying anyone heading toward the great entry—just like she had been every day since her arrival.

“Go! Imayne, make to the White City, through the wood. I will find you there.”

Involuntarily the words came back to her, accompanied by a steady and chilling dread.

Her right hand slowly balled into a fist, as if the lady still grasped the sword she had held that day. She had fought the same as any man; she had burned with the same fire her brother and his friends of the cavalry had, and she had slain many orcs. Imayne was a shield maiden, proud and strong willed and dangerous with a blade.

She did not know what sorcery her brother had worked on her, but somehow he and his friends convinced her to leave. She had found her dear Freca, she had leapt nimbly into the saddle, and she had left her home behind.

Three weeks she had been behind the walls of stone, safe from orcs, safe from raids and pillages. Near a month she awaited the coming of her brother. Her heart worried he had fallen, but she dared not think long on it. If she did, what had happened would be real. If it was real, Imayne would be forced to face the fact she would never again smile with her father, or sing and work alongside her mother—and shield maiden or not, Imayne was sure she was not strong enough to handle that.

[Lúthien Elanessë]

Shortly, Luthien had been found in the middle of Cair Andros, almost left to death by a battle she had had with Orcs. She had fought many, and she was a strong woman that’s for sure, however, luck didn’t strike on her side at that time, leaving her there with a dead companion while she was scouting around Mordor to actually go find Gollum and prevent the fall of the country all together. Those things were the only things she remembered. She had troubles with her memory ever since she had been hit during that one fight. She could barely remind of her name, where she came from, that she was and elf and the name of the man who saved her. Wait…what was it again? She didn’t know why but she felt horrible for not remembering anything.

She had been in Minas Tirith, which was quite an imposing town, full of people for short days lately. What was she doing there? She had no ideas but it was better than staying outside while there were Orcs coming over and over again and wanting to destroy everything and everyone that would cross their paths.

Luthien had grown to become quite a nervous person around others though, when she didn’t expect coming, she would take them down or turn around and looked like a scared animal. She clearly noticed that these people weren’t like her. She had pointy ears; they didn’t. It was maybe a little detail but it hit her. What would they do to people like her?

Wandering around the town, the gates and the surroundings, Luthien ended up wandering at the top of it. Guards grew used to her company and would even initiate other guards with her as they found out about her fighting skills without her being aware at all. She blinked as she stopped and looked at the view of the city. Then at the lands, trying to figure out where was her real home. She knew that this wasn’t hers even though she was respecting the people who had brought her here. What was his name again? She sighed as she let the wind blow through her long, brown and wavy hair. Why couldn’t she remember anything…and why was she at the top of the gate? It was the best view she could get from the lands.

[Imayne]

If it had not been for the sudden sweep of whispers and murmurs, Imayne would not have known anyone had come up the stairs beside her. She glanced, absently marking the woman ascending the stairs. She paused, though, and let her gaze linger on her for a time before turning back to the landscape stretched out before the walls.

It had been a moment she had stared, but Imayne thought the woman’s face was well burned to her memory. She was fair, with long features that did not seem quite as hardy as the rest of the Gondorians she had met. It was as if there was something delicate about her, something uncanny and beautiful. Something ancient.

It was not the Luthien looked old; quite contrary—the woman appeared young and spry. It was, perhaps, the gleam in her eyes that bade Imayne to think her a woman of high maturity. It seemed as if they had beheld many things.

And her footsteps.

She was completely silent against the stone of the parapet. Though, perhaps Imayne was simply imagining such a thing. She had been rather distracted in her own thoughts to hear the woman come up.

Imayne did not take her eyes from the golden plains and farmland and she did not let the shadow of the forest’s edge slip from her sight. Nonetheless, the woman turned her words to Luthien, trying to warm the sadness from her tone and keep her words gently soft.

“Do you wait for someone?” Imayne near whispered. It was only then that she dared turn her eyes back to the beautiful lady beside her, and only then so she was certain the shield maiden addressed her.

Three long weeks she had been in this city, feeling rather stranded and adrift in the stone city. It was the kindness of the strangers here that made the woman feel at ease enough to be hopeful, and Imayne mused that perhaps that was the best solace she could offer Luthien in her troubles. For, it did appear she was indeed haunted by something. Her beautiful eyes did not appear clear and bright, but rather clouded in shades of sorrow. She did not expect the woman to bear to her all of her troubles, for surely women of this city were as proud as those of her home, but perhaps Imayne desired for her to know she was not the only one in this city with a restless, lonely heart.

[Lúthien Elanessë]

Luthien continued gazing at the plains, expecting to see something that she would know or remember, family? Friends? Her own people? She didn’t know what she would expect but there ought to be something out there for her…she just didn’t remember where it stood exactly. During her days here, she noticed that she could hear and see better than the ones she was living with and having these skills, she hoped she would find answers to her questions.

The lost elf kept her ears alert however, hearing whispers about her and what not. She was feeling terribly insecure into this land she knew nothing of and this, even if people made her feel as welcomed as they could. She couldn’t help it; she knew she was different from all of them. She did notice the other woman too, who seemed different as well, which made her feel better, slightly but she would still remain on her guard, just in case. Who knows what these people could do to her?

She heard the woman talk, at first she didn’t think it was to her but when she looked at her, she knew who it was directed to. She paused, thinking about it. Was she waiting for someone? She had no ideas. She frowned slightly; her memory wasn’t one of the best in town and despite the fact she tried very hard to remember things, she was still failing at major ones- such as…what was his name again? She sighed softly as she placed a lock of her wavy brown hair behind her ear.

“I have…no idea.” She admitted. Maybe her instinct was, but her brain didn’t believe she knew where she was going. What was the name of the city? Oh yeah, Minas Tirith…at least, she was able to remember that. She looked back at the red head wondering about if she had had seen her before but considering her memory, she might as well have and forgot about it.

[Imayne]

“I have…no idea.”

Imayne marked her with heavy contemplation behind her eyes, wondering if she should inquire further. Perhaps, she decided, the woman was no more than a refugee herself. Perhaps she had the same shadows lurking behind a mask of reserve that Imayne had. “Sometimes, perhaps, it is better not to.” She paused.

The lady wondered if she should attempt to continue the conversation, offer some information about Alric and the reason she was drawn to the parapets herself. Perhaps she could remark about the lovely golden shine of the sun as it fell across the Pelennor. Nonetheless, she did not speak. Everything felt as if it would be offensive to the silence, or intrusive to Luthien.

“My name is Imayne,” she offered as she looked back toward the woman, though paused and nearly gasped. “An elf,” she murmured under her breath. She had not noticed, because of the woman’s wonderful thick hair, that her ears marked her as something other than a mortal. Perhaps it should not have been such a surprise; Imayne could recall the fabled way the Elfkind could move in soundlessness, the way their beauty was supposed to be unmatched. Perhaps the strangeness of the stranger beside her had been perfect hints. Still, Imayne had never met any being of such blood, and the thought that one of such perfection could wander amongst mortals took her off guard.

“Forgive me, my lady,” Imayne stammered finally. “I do not mean to stare. It is not often that Rohan gets such visitors as your kind.” She forcibly turned her eyes away, casting them down over the fields once again.

No; it was rare to hear from Gondor, save for a fair few merchants that journeyed from this city to her home. To think that the people of the forest would come to them…well, Imayne was not foolish. Rohan was a stout-hearted country, but it was not one that would interest such fair folk as elves.

[Lúthien Elanessë]

Luthien observed Imayne as well; the woman was strong, obviously and Luthien liked that. She had been raised to become a fighter, or so she presumed considering the clothes she had had before and the way she could easily use a sword and bows and arrows. It was as if she had been doing that for years. She could fight with her hands too but that was rarer. They had tested her with the guards the other day, to see what she was made off and she apparently surprised a great bunch of men.

She wondered about what was the meaning of Imayne’s words. Was she waiting for someone? It looked like it but she didn’t think it was the best moment to ask that to someone, at least, not to someone she barely knew of. Sure, it was a female and she was less cautious around them but you could never trust anyone, not in this new world she knew nothing about- they weren’t like her after all and she knew it.

The woman presented herself as Imayne. “Imayne...” she repeated to herself. She would try to remember of her name. It would be easy considering she had such flamboyant hair. She nodded and remembered to look at her chain with her name on it to remember of hers. “I’m...” she began grabbing it and turning around to read her name. “Luthien.” She blinked at the woman’s surprise to see she was an elf. Was there something wrong about being one? She had no ideas, she didn’t even know what she was doing into this town...at least the people were nice.

Luthien shook her head as Imayne apologised. There weren’t a lot of people like her going there? She thought it was still nice even if they weren’t like her, the place. Despite the stress she was having for not remembering a thing, it wasn’t too bad to walk around there. “I don’t even know how I got there.” She admitted with another frown.

[Imayne]

“Luthien,” Imayne repeated, as if testing the name upon her tongue. “It is a lovely name,” she offered. Perhaps the lady was reserved; Imayne could respect such a trait, for it was not highly that a woman of Rohan herself was as transparent as a bare window—Imayne was no exception.

“I don’t even know how I got there.”

Of all the things Imayne could have expected to come from the fair elf’s tongue, it was not that. For a moment, the woman was quiet and simply let her eyes fall steady upon Luthien’s face. Perhaps she was waiting to see if she had anything to add, perhaps she was trying to think of the proper words. Either way, Luthien offered nothing by way of words and instead only turned back out to the fields, eyeing them with something that to Imayne now looked like longing.

“I am sorry to hear that,” she murmured lowly.

Her blue-green eyes trailed after hers, marking the sun, the unfamiliar rise and fall of the land. A part of Imayne was sure that such a thing as lost memories would consume her very being, though, in that moment as she stood in wait for Alric another day, perhaps she wished she could forget. It seemed something intimate to bear for Luthien, something Imayne thought she should reciprocate.

“Not all lands are as well protected as this,” she offered lowly, barely above the sound of a whisper. “I…I have come to this city to await my brother’s coming,” she finished. She did not offer anything else by way of speech, but her shoulders were stiff and her expression dour. It was no secret ill winds had blown her here.

“Perhaps you have come to remember,” Imayne added a little less darkly.

[Lúthien Elanessë]

Luthien gave a small smile to Imayne as she complimented her name. People were kind in this place and she was thankful about it. Though, she still felt like being a burden to the people who were there, trying to help her while she felt endangered half of the time. Even if she knew that she shouldn’t feel that way, she couldn’t help it. When men were approaching her, she always was cautious, on her guard and almost attacked them if they startled her. It wasn’t her home but she had to try to think so if she was to need to remember. “Thank you, yours is just as lovely.” She commented with a nod.

She contemplated the view that Gondor gave her. Where was her family out there? Were they even still alive? Probably, or she hoped so at least she then wondered about her, the fiery haired girl; did she have family too? She seemed to be in thoughts, was she waiting for someone? The way she had asked her earlier it seemed so but she didn’t think that it would be a proper subject of discussion.

She looked back at the woman as she began explaining her situation, talking about her brother who is supposed to be coming. It was sad to hear that, to wait for someone you didn’t even know was alive or not. It was better to keep the faith though, to think that they were alive; it helped you to live through this deal of drama. She needed to try to do the same, to think positive and Imayne was right, perhaps, she had came to remember.

She nodded, agreeing with her on that, destiny was something you couldn’t change and if it wanted her to come to Gondor, then, it had to mean something. It wasn’t her time to die just yet. She went to the edge of the wall and rested herself against it. Her leg was still painful but she could deal with it.

“I’m sure there’s going to have a sign for when your brother will come.” She stated thinking words of encouragements would help the woman.

[Imayne]

“I’m sure there’s going to have a sign for when your brother will come.”

Imayne forced the corner of her mouth to curl upward in a half-smile. “Perhaps not,” she said lowly. “Though, he won’t look like anyone from Gondor. Should—when—he comes, I doubt I will have to ask too many people to find him.”

A lonely breeze snaked its way across the plains, and rippled through Imayne’s hair like playful fingers. No, Alric was a tall man, blonde as sunshine and with a fair face jeweled with blue eyes. Imayne doubted that many people of Rohan ventured to the great White City; it would not be difficult for them to find each other. However, he had to arrive first.

“I must have come here daily since I arrived,” Imayne mused aloud. She paused and dropped her voice lower, perhaps wondering if speaking in such a way was too frank. Still, Luthien seemed sweet enough to engage in conversation; it gave her enough confidence that she continued. “Have you had the pleasure of venturing to the city’s market?”

She had gone there a few times since she had come, and she had grown particularly fond of the carpenter’s stand. It smelled wild, and the carvings the man did were absolutely stunning. Not to mention how curious his daughter was.

Perhaps she found it less lonely when she walked amongst the throngs of people. Their pulsing sounds reminded Imayne that there were other people around her; and it left her feeling far more blessed than she realized she could feel.

"It is very lovely, and it appears to be open daily."

[Lúthien Elanessë]

Luthien listened to Imayne when she talked about her brother. She seemed to be very close to him. She did wish that the woman would be reunited with him again, just as she wished to be reunited with her own people once she’d find her memory back…some day. “Does he look a lot like you?” She asked. Sometimes siblings didn’t look alike that much but if Imayne looked different, surely her brother would look different but a bit like Imayne since they came from the same place.

Then she started wondering about where the woman came from. Surely not this town; it was obvious. “May I ask where you come from?” she asked politely. It seemed that Imayne was the only one talking into this chat; she decided to make efforts of her own too.

She looked back at the serene and nodded at the woman. “This place offers a good view, I may come here more often as well.” She said and if it was to have a nice conversation with another woman, she wouldn’t mind it at all.

She shook her head when she spoke about the market. In fact, she didn’t get out of the castle that much. Some times, in early mornings she would get a few walks but she never liked it when the place was crowded. It made her feel greatly insecure.

“I haven’t, I did not have the chance to discover the town and honestly, I do not like to do this on my own.” She admitted.