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The Gift	By : mirasaui Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 9163 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The Gift
by Mirasaui

Part 2: Haldir's Tale - The Vale Where the Bright Waters Meet

-A bedchamber at the Last Homely House, Imladris:
"We were a group of five on our second day out from Minas Tirith. The weather was stormy and we could not find a good place to make camp that night. After much discussion, we reluctantly decided to search for lodging at a small human settlement that we knew lay a few miles ahead. Two of us, myself included, had experience dealing with Men but three of our party did not and they were much against the plan. However, the force of the gale soon swept aside all concern and it was a wet and bedraggled group of elves that finally made their way to the village gates.
"The gatekeeper granted us entry but to our disappointment informed us that the Inn was full. He directed us to a house that was known to occasionally take in guests. The house was set apart from its neighbours and surrounded by a low stone fence. It was not a large structure but on this rainy night it looked quite inviting. There was a carefully tended garden out front and a cheerful light shining from the windows. Flowers lined the path to the front door. I walked up the path and knocked for entrance while my companions waited at the gate huddled under their cloaks.
"When the door opened, a pair of bright blue eyes looked up at me from a round, red, cheerful face. 'And what brings an elf to my door this time of night?' The proprietor said with a chuckle.
"I quickly explained our needs and the man welcomed me inside, waving my companions to come forward. We walked into a room that was dominated by a large hearth with a roaring fire. Seated at a table in front of the hearth was a woman, whom I took to be the proprietor's wife, three strong lads, and a small boy. The table was piled high with dishes of various foods and a delectable aroma wafted through the air.
"While we dried ourselves as best we could, the woman directed the older boys to find us a seat at the table and then hurried to set out more trenchers. As we served ourselves, our host poured each of us a large glass of a potent red wine.
"Introductions were made. Althos, our host, was a short man with white hair and beard dominated by a pair of twinkling blue eyes. His cheeks were rosy red and so were his lips.
His wife, Marda, was a slender woman with auburn hair just touched with grey. She had beautiful green eyes, that like her husband's, seemed to sparkle and her complexion was pale, almost as pale as my own. Dusted across her cheeks were the light brown spots that humans call freckles. She would have been a beautiful woman if it were not for a scar that ran from her left temple midway down her cheek. We never found out how she came to receive it.
"The three older lads had brown hair and blue eyes like their father. All were tanned from outdoor work, their bodies lean and muscular. The tallest bore his Father's name, Althos, but was called Alt. He was the eldest and as was the custom of humans would inherit the house and land when his father passed away. He looked quite capable and anyone with eyes could see his ardour for that which he called home.
"Cay, the next to oldest son, was of thicker build and we soon learned was apprenticed to the local blacksmith. It was he who had taken our horses to the barn and assured us of their good care. Of the four boys, he looked most like his father.
"Fadon was next in line and according to Marda had just turned fifteen. He was lean like his mother and spent most of the meal staring at our bows with a wistful expression, at least when he was not pestering Rúmil with questions about archery and life as a guardian. His dream was to be a soldier but his lot was that of a simple villager's son.
"The youngest boy, Theren, was the surprise. Dark, auburn curls graced a pale face lightly dusted with freckles. His cheeks were fat and rosy and his small white teeth were framed by pouty red lips. He had enormous emerald green eyes that seemed to contain inner layers of golden sparkles and when he smiled, his whole face lit up with an inner joy. My companions and I were astonished at such beauty in a human child.
"The company was cheery and the meal pleasurable. After we had eaten our fill and Marda had cleared the table, another round of wine was poured and we all sat back to relax and digest the meal in comfort. I had expected the youngest boy to be sent to bed, but Althos explained that tonight was a special occasion for his family. Every year on this date they celebrated their affection for each other. It was a custom only to their family and had been started by his great, great grandfather. Althos asked if we would mind staying at the table to share in this event. I and my companions agreed and our host happily served us another round of wine.
"Althos explained that each year they placed their names in a bowl. Each family member then closed his eyes and withdrew one name. They had the rest of the year to come up with a gift for the person whose name they chose. It was a bit more involved than that, he said, but we would find out for ourselves soon enough. Then without further ado, Althos broke into song:
'"There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet..."'(1)

"The song was of Anórien, the land they loved so well, verdant and fertile vales nested between the crystal waters of the Mering stream and the Anduin river. Althos sang of the beauty of the land, of the pang he would feel if ever he had to leave home. And he sang of that which meant more to him than the land itself; his family, neighbors and friends, those who peopled the place so dear to his heart. For without the love of friend and family, the enchantment of the land would be lost and his life would be empty and forlorn.
"It was a beautiful song and the whole family joined with Althos in the singing. His deep baritone carried the melody while the tenor of his three older sons and the lilting high notes of Marda and Theren provided subtle harmony. We were delighted with the performance and it seemed to please our hosts immensely when we all joined in on the chorus.
"For the next hour, we were regaled with stories of their family and it was easy to see the regard they held for each other. We learned about Marda's love for flowers and growing things, Althos and Alt's love of the land, Cay's soft-hearted concern for the animals of the field and the creatures of the forest. Fadon, for all his preoccupation with soldiering, surprised us the most for he had taught himself to read and write and was much learned in the history of Middle-earth. Theren was too young to have developed much of an interest in anything other than that which young boys of any race find to amuse their days. But he was such a beautiful and happy child that he was not lacking in friends and according to his brothers was the darling of the village.
"Soon, we knew the grand moment of the evening was about to arrive, for Theren's eyes grew so large they almost seemed to pop from his head. He literally bounced in his seat as he asked his father over and over, 'Is it time Da, is it time?'
"Althos laughed at his youngest son and told him that yes, it was time, and he would have the honour of being the first to present his gift to the family. His curls bouncing with delight, the youngster ran to one of the cupboards along the wall and pulled from it a bundle of soft cloth. He brought it to the table and stood behind his chair, his young face suddenly very serious.
"'The name I drew,' Theren said as his green eyes sought those of Marda, 'is that of my dear mother. She is the one who soothes our hurts and dries our tears when we are sad. She feeds us, sews and mends our clothes, is our teacher, friend and companion.'
"He opened the cloth and displayed a lovely ceramic pot filled with a bunch of wild violets from the woods. The plant had been lovingly cared for and the perfume from the dark blue flowers was heady and strong."
'I made the pot myself and another one almost the same,' the youngster said as he beamed with pride. Reaching under the cloth again, he pulled out a small lidded jar.
'Inside you will find the sweetest honey this side of Anórien. It is worth the stings from the bees, for I have tasted it myself!'
"Marda accepted her gifts with a smile. 'Never have I seen such lovely flowers,' she said with a sigh. 'I will enjoy them for now. In time, I will separate the roots and plant them in the front garden. The violets will multiply and form a lovely border of rich green leaves. In the spring we will be blessed with beautiful scented lavender-blue blooms. Tomorrow, we will taste this fine honey, for I will bake scones that we can drench in its sweetness. Thank you, Theren, for such thoughtful gifts.
"Theren was beside himself when he saw how much his mother appreciated what he had given. He hoped that everyone would receive his heart's desire tonight and included a special wish for himself as there was something he had longed for the whole year. He had kept it a secret and hoped this night his wish would came true. This, he confided in my ear quite earnestly. Did he receive his wish, you wonder? Ah, that will come later in my story.
"It was now Marda's turn to state the name she had chosen. She stood and turned her eyes to her son Cay. 'I miss you each day when you leave at dawn, even though I know that I only have to walk down the road to find you. Your work with the smithy has seen you grow from a boy into a man and not just from the muscle and sinew you have gained, for you have also learned responsibility and trust. I hear nothing but praise for you from your employer and he has told Althos that as he has no son, he has chosen you as his successor when he can no longer work his fields. I am proud of you, my son.'
"'This year my gift to you comes with blessing from your father, for we have spoken with Mendan, and when she is old enough to be weaned, he has agreed that you shall have Anor's foal. We have all seen your wistful looks and it is time you had a horse of your own.'
"Cay did not know what to say. Anor was Mendan's best mare. She was a gorgeous animal whose sire was one of the famed horses of Rohan. He had been there the night Anor went into labor and he had helped bring her foal into the world. To be able to train Anor and call the foal his own was a dream he had never imagined could come true. He tried to thank his parents, but the words caught in his throat.
"'Be at ease, Cay,' said Marda, 'We know how much you wanted the foal and Mendan was only too happy to let you have her. He felt he owed you for rescuing his bull. It was a valuable animal and he would have been devastated at its loss. Take a sip of wine and tell us please whose name you drew.'
"Cay grinned. 'For the third year in a row I drew that of my elder brother. Alt, it is never easy to determine what you need. So, I decided to give you something you already have. Perhaps, you will think more of it as I made it myself.'
"Cay excused himself from the table and came back with a roll of soft leather that he handed to his brother. Inside was a set of matched knives. The handles were of ivory and the blades etched with a flowing pattern of lines and leaves. The craftsmanship was superb and as the knives were passed for us to view, I noticed a nod of appreciation from my companions. The young man did excellent work. We were not the only ones impressed, for Alt thanked Cay profusely and seemed deeply touched by the gift.
"'You have given me an heirloom, Cay, to pass down to my future sons. I will treasure the knives not only for their beauty but because they were created by your hand.'
"'Speaking of weapons...' Alt gave us a wink and stood resting his hands on the back of his chair. 'My gift is not as fine as those carried by our guests nor is it as large. In fact, the bow hanging on the wall over my bed is just about the right size for...' Alt paused and looked around the table, 'my baby brother!'
"With a whoop of joy, Theren was out of his chair and climbing onto the bed in his brother's room before Alt could say more. He emerged a few moments later, his mouth formed in a wide 'O'; a carved, wooden bow clutched in his tiny hand. 'May I try it out in the morning, Alt? Oh, please, Alt, will you teach me to shoot?'
"'Not so fast, Theren,' Alt said with a laugh. 'You cannot shoot a bow without arrows. If you look under my bed, you will find a quiver with twelve arrows that I made especially for you. Come to me tomorrow after you finish your tasks. You must promise to wait until then.'
"'I promise, Alt. Thank you, thank you, thank you!' Theren said, unable to contain his delight.
"Alt had given him that which he desired most of all! Racing from the room once again, he returned with a fine leather quiver filled with long, straight arrows. We learned later that his brother had to pry the bow from his hands before tucking him into bed.
"'I believe it is my turn now,' Fadon said, pushing his chair back from the table. 'It was Da's name I picked. I knew not what to give to the one who holds our family together, the one that I and my brothers look up to and admire so. You are our strength, Da, our rock, our root.'
"Fadon retrieved a rolled parchment from underneath the table, which he passed to his Da. It was tied with a bright red silk ribbon. Althos untied the bit of silk and unrolled the parchment. He let out a gasp of surprise then held the parchment up for all to see. It was a pen and ink drawing of the family seated around the dinner table. Fadon's talented fingers had wrought each person in the finest detail, down to the sparkle in young Theren's eyes.
'I have a frame for it, Da, 'Fadon said, 'I thought you could hang it over the mantle, so we can see it when we gather for our meal.'
"Althos cleared his throat to get his emotions under control. 'Your talent amazes me, Fadon,' he said gruffly. 'It grows with each drawing you make. Would that I could afford to send you to the city to study, for you are a fine artist. I thank you for my gift. There is nothing that could please me more than a picture of us all together. It is especially fitting on this night when we celebrate family.
"'You know that I hold the last name drawn. Fadon, as I said before, I cannot afford to send you to the city to study. But I was introduced to a young scholar when last I was in Minas Tirith and we became fast friends. I told him about your desires and he and I made a bargain. You are to reside in his home in Minas Tirith for a season. He will provide you with parchment and has obtained permission for you to copy some of the books from the great library. He will arrange for the parchment to be bound. These copies will be yours to keep and although he cannot allow you to sit in on his classes, he will teach you what he can in any time he has to spare. In return, you must draw a portrait of him and his family. If you do well, he will promote your work in hopes you may find a mentor. Marda and I cannot spare much but we have saved a few coins so you won't travel empty handed.'
"Fadon could not speak. Tears formed in his eyes and he tried hard to blink them away. His Da could not know how much this meant. To have access to hundreds of books at the library in Minas Tirith, to be able to talk with someone who had seen and studied the world. It was more than he ever hoped for. But to have books of his own, that was his most precious dream of all. Books were valuable, much too valuable for a simple villager's son.'
"'Oh, Da!' Fadon said, 'You have made me the happiest ever under Anor(2).'
"'I admit,' his father said, scratching his head, 'I was hard pressed to come up with a gift that would please you. It was pure luck that I became friends with Dinethain. He will be your guide and tutor. I have already written him a letter to seal the agreement. In two month's time you will be in Minas Tirith. I wish, son, I could do more.'
"Althos stood. 'In honour of this special night, we do not wish our guests to leave empty handed. I present to you a bottle of Anórien's finest wine. May you share it together in friendship and enjoy its fruits. We are happy to have your company on this stormy night. You are very gracious guests.'
"I accepted the wine on behalf of my comrades. 'Thank you, Althos. We are pleased to receive this gift from you and will be sure to think of you and your fine family when we taste of it. We travel light and do not have anything of value to give to you in return. If any of you chance by our Fair Woods, please tell the guardians you are a friend of Haldir o Lórien. That will grant you entrance and a reception with our lord and lady. They will welcome you with open arms as you have welcomed us on this night. It was our honour to be invited to partake in your celebration and we thank you for your kind hospitality. Now, we will leave you to your rest and will speak with you in the morning before we leave. No baid l n galen a glor (3).'
"With that we retired for the night. The next day, after a breakfast that included Marda's delicious scones and the honey that Theren had harvested, we said our good-byes and were back on the trail. But none of us ever forgot the family we met that night.
"About sixty years later, I and my brothers chanced to question a man who sought to enter the Golden Woods. He had the proud bearing of a warrior, one that had seen many battles but had entered the twilight of his life, for his face was aged and wrinkled, dark lines creased his brow and etched his features. His long auburn hair was flecked with grey. He did not flinch at my stare but in a proud voice asked to speak to Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lothlórien. 'I am a friend of his,' he said.
"'And what name am I to give to the Marchwarden when he asks of his friend?' I said, showing my amusement at the boastfulness of the man who stood before me. His features were not familiar and I felt sure I would have remembered making an acquaintance with a man of his striking looks. I could feel the puzzlement of Rúmil and Orophin as they too stared at the one who stated my name so boldly.
"The mortal gave no answer, simply stared at me with his gold flecked green eyes.
'There are twenty arrows in the trees pointed at your chest!' I said heatedly, 'Speak stranger or you will not live to see the setting of Anor.'
"To my surprise, the man bowed before us and spoke in a soft whisper. 'Rúmil, Orophin, Haldir, do you not remember Theren of Anórien? It was your invitation, Marchwarden, which has caused me to be here these many years since our meeting, a time that is long to me but to my thinking, just a short span in the lives of Elves.'
"And he was right, for it was then I remembered the head of dark, unruly curls, the vision of loveliness that we Firstborn had found so remarkable in a human child that stormy night.
I gave a whistle to the guardians in the telain above to let them know all was well and then grasped the man's arm in a warrior's grip. "I bid you welcome to the Golden Woods, Theren of Anórien. My apologies for not recognizing you immediately, although I must say, your appearance has undergone a startling change.
"At this he smiled.
"Come, I will introduce you to my Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, for I and my brothers have told them of your fine family and the hospitality you showed us. Tonight, I hope you will accept the same from my kin, as I offer to share with you our food and the use of our talan for the length of your stay.
"Theren did accept our offer and stayed with us for a while. We were sad to learn that he was the only one left of those with whom we had spent such a memorable night. Althos had died twenty-five years after our visit. Marda had followed him three years later. They had seen their sons grow into fine young men and were blessed to have been able to spend much time with the house full of grand children who had sprung from the seeds of their sons and their mates, children who still continue the annual celebration of family.
"Alt had inherited his father's property and had turned it into one of the finest inns outside of Minas Tirith. It was known for its friendly atmosphere, fine fare, and hospitality. It also served some of the finest wine in Anórien. Alt married a girl from the village who helped him run the inn and bore him three strong sons. His eldest runs the Inn now and has four children of his own.
"Cay took over from the smithy when he retired and was known far and wide for his quality iron and metal work. He never lost his love for horses and owned some of the fastest runners in the area, all descendants of the noble breeds of Rohan. He too married a local girl. His eldest son became the smithy when he died, while his three daughters married well and moved to the city.
"Fadon had done well in Minas Tirith and had indeed found a mentor. His search for knowledge had known no bounds and in time, he was offered a permanent position at the Great Library. His art graced the halls of the palace and so many requested his service in that craft, that his drawings became quite valuable. He never married, but there were many that spoke of the closeness he had to his friend Dinethain. Theren confirmed that they had been lovers, but it was their secret unto death. Theren told me that after his brother died, he discovered a portfolio of drawings that Fadon had done of himself and his friend. They were some of the most breathtaking works Theren had ever seen. He knew then how special the bond had been between his brother and Dinethain. Somehow, it eased the pain, knowing his brother had been happy, for Theren, although he loved all in his family dearly, had been closest to Fadon.
"Theren, through the influence of his brother, was able to join the guard at Minis Tirith. His skill as an archer and swordsman attributed to his rapid rise in rank, his current status equivalent to that of Haldir's as Marchwarden, although, Theren had retired some years past. He also had three strong sons, two followed in his footsteps. The third and youngest, and, according to Theren, the spiting image of himself as we remembered him, had surprisingly followed after Fadon and was a scholar at the Great Library. He was also a renowned artist in his own right.
"Rúmil, Orophin and I were glad to hear the history of the friends we had thought of so often. Our dealings with Men were rare and most not as pleasant as the time we spent with Althos and his family. I was the most fluent in Westron and through the grace of my Lord, was given time off from duty to show Theren the delights of the Golden Woods. In all my days, I have never met a man so gracious, kind and giving as was Theren during his short visit. We became fast friends -- a bittersweet experience, as we both knew this would most likely be the last we would ever meet.
"Theren made a lot of friends during his stay in our city. But all too soon it was time for him to leave. The drawing of names and the presenting of gifts still a tradition in the new generation of that loving family, which had made such an impression on us that night.
I never saw him again, and such time has passed that his bones must long lie under some grassy hill. But I will never forget him. And it is my hope that somewhere in another place, another time, Althos, Marda, Alt, Cay, Fadon, Theren, their past and future kin, meet again in celebration to profess their love for each other, to sing once again of the vale where the bright waters meet."

Notes:
1. From "The Meeting of the Waters", a traditional Irish tune. Lyrics by Thomas Moore.
2. Anor - sun
3. No baid l n galen a glor - May your ways be green and golden.
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The Gift