At the sandbar, Falas

Scene: Maraser the ecdir of Mithrim has just met the Adan boy  Tithenion,foster son of Ramadin of Nargothrond.

(previous part of log lost)

"First time you've seen the sea? I've seen it before lotsa times!" the boy says, perhaps proud that he has seen Belegaer in his six or seven years of life, while this centuries-old Noldo has not. "I've learnt to swim and everythin'! And papa used too..." Tithenion's voice becomes sad again, the tears continuing amidst the falling raindrops. "My new papa, Ramadin, doesn't like the sea, though, except the underground waters in Nargothrond."

"Have ye? Indeed a lucky young lad you are! I have learnt to swim also, maybe we can have a friendly race...." Maraser laughs heartily. Then the laughter suddenly ceases, for a small wonder has sprouted in his mind" Nargothornd you said not, my friend?"

"Oh, I'm not very good. Uncle Edrandir and auntie Glinlith just taught me the other day... And you'd probably have to stop me from drownin'," Tithenion admits, almost embarrassed, but he does crawl a little closer to Maraser, coming to sit right next to the Elf, and peering up at him curiously. "Yeah, I live in Nargothrond with my new mama and papa... Ramadin and Mirandriel."

" Ah, I see..."a hint of awkardness is in the elf's tone, for he dares not to seek the story behind it directly." I have been to Nargothrond, you know. Indeed a wonderful place to be." He eyes the boy questionably." Why doesn't your papa like the sea?"

"I... I don't know. Bad memories, or somethin'. It upset him. I don't understand you moody Noldor," the boy responds, and then prods Maraser once in the side with one of his small hands. "I like Nargothrond, but I like here too... It rains an awful lot, though. I'm not used to the rain, since we don't get it in the caves." The boy shivers slightly, then, for reasons unspoken... Or perhaps it is just the cold.

A brotherly pat on the boy's shoulder Maraser delivers "Moody Noldor? Mayhaps there is some truth to it... but I suppose your papa has his reason" he speaks softly, followed by another grin." My own father was rather strict also. But he does not act without a reason....". Observing the shiver of the boy, Maraser moves closer to him.

The sun rises over the horizon in the distance, illuminating Arda once again.

Having decided that Maraser is a friendly and trustworthy Elf, and seeing him moving closer, Tithenion decides it's safe for him to crawl into the lap of the much-larger Elf, which he does so exactly, resting his head against Maraser's chest lazily, as if the Noldo were a pillow. "Yeah... At least you still have your papa, I guess." Another sniffle.

A little reluctant the elf seems at first, but soon he overcomes." Yes, I do so..."Another pat he puts on Tithenion's back, full of assurance. " Come, you big boy, be brave..."How he wishes his birthbrother is here, Sandaser is always jesty and quick to laugh. He enjoys the company of the boy so far, but just he does not expect the adan to put trust upon him like this. " But I barely see him, my friend."

Tithenion has become very trusting, at least where Elves are involved - grumpy Noldor aside, they've never done anything bad to him. "Why do you barely see your papa?" he asks, still settled in Maraser's lap. Ahh, this is the life. Not only is the Elf quite comfy and warm, but he's shielding the little boy from much of the rain.

Maraser wipes the rain drops from his face ere answering." He is too devoted in his work, I believe. " A slight sigh he lets out at the end. " As my birthbrother and I become fully-grown in stature, he has barely been in our sight. For Sandaser and I have been involved in our army training, So is my papa and his weapon smithery."

The boy nods his head in understanding, and then asks. "Do you miss him? And why did you join the army if it makes you not see him anymore?"

Maraser nods also. " Certainly, my friend, but there are times I wish not to see him often.... I carry the weapon he forges, he should be proud, but...."His voice trails off slightly.".... It was not his wish for me to join the army. My heart was set out to be a great smith, just like him, and he had always hoped for it...."

"And why'd you change your mind?" Tithenion asks, his interest genuine and innocent, oblivious to any unpleasant feelings that may be aroused.

The ellon raises his hand, his finger pointing at his forehead. "You might not see it, little friend, but I was injured by my brother while we were both young...I was made to read upon the scrolls as a punishment.. there I have learnt much of the history, and the present dark time.."he hesitates a little, and pauses. "Also for me and Sandaser are birthbrothers, I wish to be his company. His heart has been set on becoming an army member all the time..."

"You've give up your dream just to be with your brother? Wow, lucky him!" Tithenion grins, laughing slightly. "I spose you have each other to look after. And I have Ramadin, who takes care of me. He's big and strong, like you, and keeps me out of trouble!"

" I don’t know about that....I have never met your papa before..."smiles the elf. "And .. I did not give up my dream JUST for my brother. Rather a feeling of duty to fulfil, you might call that!"

"Why do you say that?" Tithenion responds to Maraser's first comment, and then thinks carefully about his second. "Well, you have a duty to yourself as much as anyone," he decrees, "Besides, weaponsmiths are important, too! You make weapons for soldiers."

The elf lifts his head, his gaze is fixed on somewhere far, somewhere over the sea. " That I know of, my little friend...but ah,...You see, being a soldier allows you to travel pretty often..."Maraser blushes slightly at his lame excuse, his eyes look away, and rest on the sand below them. For it is difficult to explain to a young boy, especially a one without the burden of being a Noldor....

"Oh. Well, I spose that is a good reason," Tithenion admits, clearly convinced by the Elf's logic. "I like travelin'. It's fun. Don't you think?"

"Certainly" The smile on the elf is now more a relieved one. "And you get to meet new friends, too...It is always nice to talk to them, like what I am doing now."

"Oh, I agree!" Tithenion grins, for all the world in total agreement, sitting comfortably as he is on Maraser's lap and shielded from the rain and cold. "I've met lots of the Falathrim. You said you were from Mithrim? I even met your Prince, Ereinion Gil-galad! He was very nice... Let me sit on his lap, too."

Maraser's eyes are widen in wonder. " You have! " He now pulls the boy out of his embrace, standing up, supporting with his arm before swing the adan round and round. " An honour that would be, my little friend. And yes, I am more than glad to serve him." Maraser says proudly. He recurls back to the sitting position, open on his cloak and shelter the boy from the rain. "Sadly I have not meet much of the Falathrim through..."

Tithenion blinks in surprise, and then laughs in delight as he is spun about, before collapsing somewhat dizzily on Maraser once more, when the Elf is seated again. "Wow... That was fun!" he admits, though looking like he is not quite ready for another spin. "Yeah, he was awful nice, though very princely too. The Falathrim are very friendly too... Much more jolly than you Noldor."

"Wait until you have met my brother, Sandaser!" the elf responses." He looks just like me, but much much more jolly and merry, playful and jesty...."Follows a mischievous blink, Maraser continues, "..In fact, you can tell if this is me you are talking to, or Sandaser right here right now..."

"A... A twin? Wow! I can't imagine that." The boy then swivels his small head, doing his best to peer up at Maraser's face. "Hmm... Well, I've never seen him either, so I spose I can't tell."

" We are twins, Sandaser and I ...my name is Maraser by the way. " the smile on the face of the elf is still full of warmth. "What is yours, son of Ramadin?"

Tithenion blinks in surprise, realising that he hasn't yet introduced himself. "Oh!" he says with some embarrassments, "I'm Tithenion. And Ramadin isn't really my papa... Well, I guess he is now. So yeah, I guess I am his son," he adds with a small note of pride.

A soft chuckle Maraser lets out. " If he is the one saving your from trouble, and telling you off from time to time, he is your papa!! So is he here in Falas as well? I don't suppose a little wee thing like you travel alone"

"Yeah, he is grumpy, and I always annoy him. But he's not as bad as he used to be! We had big arguments, y'see, 'cause when we first met we didn't get on well, so I threw his boots into the lava flow." Tithenion grins at the memory, and shrugs. "Nah, he wouldn't let me go alone, anyway. Yeah, he and my mama Mirandriel are here now. Though I don't see them much except at dinner... I usually go off to play by myself or with others, like my uncle Edrandir."

"So plenty of freedom for you, by the sound of it!" exclaims the ellon." My own papa uses to watch us wherever we went.. Of course from time to time he mixed us up...."Maraser thinks a little. "Throwing boots into the lava flow? that was surely a serious matter, my friend. But I can assure you me and Sandaser had up to even more mischievous matter before..."

"Ooh? What was it?" Tithenion enquires curiously, happy to know that even grumpy grown-up Noldor get up to mischief.

Over the beach walks another of the kin of the first-born that the boy has thought of just now. Erannon walks slowly, in a dreamlike state, over the beach, staring out at the sea as his feet travels him forward, seemingly not aware of the others even though he is closing in on them.

The hand of the elf is no busy brushing hair away from his face. Faint colour creeps on to his cheeks." ..that was partly an mischance...My papa was lodged with a request to forge a dagger.. he was given a sketch of the design on a parchment. Sandaser spilled fruit juice over it and we tried everything to remove the stain, include washing the sketches in water. Naturally the ink was lost, and I had to make up another one without him knowing. It went all well until the dagger was handed over after 3 season of forging...."Maraser smiles shyly.

Tithenion listens with rapt attention, giggling at Maraser's misfortune, before prompting the Elf onwards with a gentle nude. "Well, what happened?" Obviously not wanting to work it out for himself. The small boy also espies Erannon, to whom he waves and calls a cheerful, "Hello!"

At the exclamation of the boy, Erannon forgets for a moment to watch the ocean, and instead looks into the beach, and there he sees one of his own kin, no doubt a guest from somewhere afar, and the little boy Tithenion, which he has met a few times and grown afond of. Mayhaps could this be the boy's foster-father? "Mae Govannen, boy." he says with a warm smile. "How fare you in our land? I have not seen you for a day or two." To the Noldor, he offers a formal bow and a smile as well. "Mae Govannen." he says. "I do not believe I have had the privilege to make your acquaintance. I am Erannon, bastirdur and ngoldur (ooc - master baker and teacher) o Falas. I also serve as lord Cirdan's word-bringer from the crafters. I am at your service.

"Mae Govannen, Erannon." Maraser gives forth a low bow, ere letting his soft but firm voice rings against the air again," I am Maraser, son of Vandaser the smith, ecdir of Mithrim."

Displaced from Maraser's lap, but not entirely unhappy, Tithenion smiles between the two Noldo, one of Mithrim, one of the Falas. "He's just been tellin' me stories about when he was young."

Erannon nods. "A soldier, you say? I have not much experience in the art of the ecdir, I have merely had staff, dagger and roller-pin to defend me on my journeys." He turns then to the boy. "Must have been a while ago, no doubt." he says. "It is good to know from where one come to guide you to where you go." He smiles.

" Yes, and I do not claim any mastery over my weapons just yet, for I have just started training lately." Maraser grins towards the local Noldo. He then pats the boy on his head twice. " No more telling of my story, my little friend. " And he produces another wink.

 

Tithenion gives a theatrical sigh, and then nods. "Well, you'll have to tell me next time I see you! I want to know the ending," he insists with a smile for both Erannon and Maraser.

"One must learn to walk before one can learn to run." says the master baker. "But in the heat of battle, a strong spirit can make a difference. The first time I was attacked after arriving on the beaches of Falas, on a trip to Nargothrond no less, I had no weapons, but I still managed to apeace myself with the help of a rolling pin."

Maraser laughs. "Indeed so, indeed so!" This has amused the young ellon greatly. " My birthbrother Sandaser has similar experience... speak of Sandaser, I am due to seek him before dinner...That is, if my parting may be excused. " Maraser bows low again. "Namarie". And he disappears from the shore.