Reniolwaith

It was with heavy heart that Aldalin listened to her dear kin Liwurien and Serathuil as they made their request to Anglachelm and herself to be released from their oaths to Bar-en-Vanimar. It seemed so recently that they had both taken their oaths and entered the house. The occasion had been a joyous one and Vanimar had been stronger for their arrival. Now, however, the house was changing; changes which Aldalin herself did not agree with and found difficult to accept. As she watched them leave unable to express her grief, she worried for the future of the house.

Majno, another of the Vanimar elves, who had also entered the house recently, had witnessed these events. He was stunned and confused by them and since his lord would not explain the changes which were coming to the house, he went to speak with Liwurien and Serathuil as they exited the hall. When Majno returned to the hall moments later and requested himself to be released of his oath, Aldalin spoke to Anglachelm.

‘When those elves made their promises, we in turn made promises to them’ she said. ‘We offered them shelter, protection, love and loyalty. Now because of your decisions they no longer feel they can call this house their home’. She pleaded with him to change his mind. The changes were yet to be announced and if he would withdraw them, perhaps her kin would again feel themselves at home. At last she realised that nothing she could say would change his mind and she knew what must be done.

‘This house is divided’ she told him. ‘I cannot simply stand and watch as you drive away my kin. Those who choose to remain under your roof will remain under your protection and I wish them well, but I will not see the others without a home.’ She resolved then that she too would leave the house and form a new house for those who had been forced to leave.

A few days later Aldalin met with Majno and they travelled to Ost Guruth, where they had met so long ago. They spoke of all that had passed and of new beginnings and though they were heavy with the troubles of the last few days, they began to feel hope again. As they headed out to hunt they came across a small party of travellers and agreed to travel with them for a while. They were an unusual mix of characters: two elves, a hobbit and a man. Aldalin was intrigued as to what had brought the group together, since it was clear, from the way they interacted and fought, that they had travelled together for some time. The company called themselves Reniolwaith and told her a little of their mission. They claimed that they had been commissioned by Lady Saeladriel, who Aldalin knew to be a friend of Liwurien and Serathuil and who she had met briefly once before.

After meeting with Reniolwaith, Aldalin thought long about the threat that they faced. Though their hearts were brave and true, she knewof the rising tide of the enemy and feared for the small band of travellers.Her thoughts turned to the oath that the former elves of Vanimar had taken when they entered the house and one line in particular preyed on her mind. They had all promised to ensure that the wisdom of the Eldar would not be lost when their time came to sail to the west. In order to do this it was necessary to share that wisdom with those races that would care for Middle Earth after the last of them had gone. She remembered how the elves of Reniolwaith had spoken to each other in Sindarin. How could they share their wisdom with their human and halfling companions if they could not even share their conversation? In time a plan began to form in her mind and she wrote letters to Liwurien, Serathuil and Majno asking to meet with them.

Before long, Aldalin met with Majno and later with Liwurien and Serathuil. She spoke to her companions of the promise they had made to preserve the wisdom of the Eldar. She explained her belief that through this promise they might once again find their path. Explaining the encounter with Reniolwaith, they discussed the dangers the company faced and how they might help them. The former elves of Vanimar agreed that a meeting with Lady Saeladriel should be arranged and Serathuil wrote to her on their behalf.

It so happened that on the day the elves were due to meet with Saeladriel, Gildin, the leader of the wandering company had sought the counsel of the lady. He had heard grim tidings from his brother and with this news his hope was fading. Though he and his fellows had fought bravely, they lacked the proper experience to deal with the threat which they now faced. He petitioned Saeladriel for help to do what must be done.

As Saeladriel and Gildin spoke, Aldalin Liwurien, Serathuil and Majno arrived in Duillond. Their faces were solemn, but their hearts full of hope, as they met and prepared themselves for their coming audience. They greeted each other quickly and made their way towards the lower meeting area where Saeladriel awaited them.

Saeladriel had heard of the recent troubles in Bar-en-Vanimar and of the four’s decision to leave the house. Aldalin explained that she now sought to form a new house for the former elves of Vanimar and that she and her companions had given some thought to the nature of this house. She explained that a chance meeting with Gildin and his companions had given rise to their request for this meeting and that they believed they had formed a proposal which would be to the benefit of all.

Aldalin gathered her thoughts and smiled at her companions. She turned to Saeladriel and spoke their proposal: ‘The shadow which grows from the east is darker and stronger each day. It seems that this threat cannot be countered by Gildin’s fellowship alone. There are other bands of travellers who also seek to fight the shadow and they need guidance. So we propose that we four and others who may seek to join us form a council of elves to help guide travellers such as Gildin and his companions.’

Gildin stood speechless as Lady Saeladriel turned to him to say ‘And so the will of the Valar is revealed. Hope shall remain in your heart and for all the lands with the aid of such powerful kin as these’

Saeladriel agreed that she would accept the proposal, on the condition that Gildin was also in agreement. Gildin bowed low before Aldalin and her companions, saying that he could not fully express his gratitude.

And so, with all in agreement, Saeladriel and Aldalin stepped aside from the group to discuss the proposal further. Saeladriel spoke of Gildin’s knowledge of the races of men and hobbits. It was clear that if the Eldar sought to pass on what they had gained in their tenure over Middle Earth this would be achieved through elves such as him. Aldalin assured Saeladriel that the house would be built on a foundation of mutual respect and trust. Gildin’s council, or that of any who shared their vision and strove to fight the darkness which faced them all, would never be ignored.

And so on that day in Duillond, beneath the jewelled dome of the lower meeting place, where the company had first been formed, Reniolwaith was reborn.