- Thilvagor Adavellon
The Welcoming
It was during the late afternoon of Coirë that friends and family gathered at I Randir Îdh to ascertain whether Thilvagor Adavellon was of true heart and would hold true to the cause of Reniolwaith.
Amongst those gathered were family: Aldalin, Amren, Fennas, Liwurien, Llerieth, Majno and Serathuil; friends of old: Celebhir, Galvathalion and Vallandur; and friends anew: Gilion, Lynsariel and Niosi.
In the beautiful gardens of I Randir Îdh everyone partook of the excellent feast prepared by the hands of Aldalin. Once all were acquainted with one another Aldalin raised her voice and calling for attention formally welcomed everyone and called for a toast to Reniolwaith’s new home. Her sincere words rang clear for all to hear, “May this be the first of many happy gatherings here. To all our kin and all our friends. May your days be long and happy.”
It was then that she announced that the welcome ceremony for Thilvagor Adavellon was about to begin and led everyone to the wooden bridge over the water. Once everyone had found their place, careful not to stand so close to the bridge edge as to fall into the water, Aldalin began the ceremony.
“Reniolwaith was founded some time ago by Lady Saeladriel of the Golden Dawn. It was originally a small band of travellers, some of whom are present this evening. Unfortunately Gildin, the leader of their company was sadly unable to attend this evening, as were a few others, but they have sent their best wishes.
The company was tasked with fighting the shadow which looms from the east and they have fought bravely. But as I am sure you all know, the shadow grows darker and stronger each day and could not be countered by this small band alone - and so Reniolwaith as it is today was formed.
A council of elves to help guide and protect travellers like Gildin and his honourable companions. We seek to ensure that the wisdom of the Eldar is not lost when we leave these lands.”
There were nods of approval from those present before all eyes fell to Thilvagor Adavellon who sought to join Reniolwaith and aid its cause. He stood tall beside Aldalin whose pale blue dress shimmered in the afternoon sun against the lake beyond. His face failing to betray any nervousness that he may have felt at the occasion. Aldalin then called forth they who intoduced Thilvagor to the wandering company and a woman wearing a bright red robe trimmed with gold stepped forward. Moving to stand beside Thilvagor she announced that it was she, Liwurien, faron uin Eryn Galen, who brought him forth. Aldalin acknowledged Liwurien with thanks then, turning to Thilvagor with solemn face, asked him to share with those gathered the reasons that he wished to join the Reniolwaith’s cause.
Taking a deep breath Thilvagor promised to keep his tale brief, though being an elf his tale could have been long indeed.
“I hail from Lindon, not far from here. Many years ago, my father sent me to live with and serve Lord Elrond of Rivendell. Those years were peaceful and quiet, my time spent mostly studying and apprenticing some crafts, until times grew darker and our help was needed in the north.
Lord Elrond sent me away to the Men of Arthedain so it was that I moved from Imladris to Esteldin, a homely place in its own way, though far removed from Lord Elrond's halls in more than one way.
I have spent a few years in those barren lands, befriending those people the Bree-folk call rangers, fighting the servants of our enemy. Lately, my task has been to watch the borders of the Shire. But as you may all know, our reason for being interested in that realm has passed east. Thus i have been released from the service of Arohir and his rangers, and Lord Elrond has seen fit to let me seek new purposes on my own.
Thus, by lucky chance, I met Liwurien who introduced me to most of you assembled here. I believe we have much to do before our last voyage west and Reniolwaith seems to me to be a perfect home for this wanderer. I offer my wits, my arms, and my dedication to passing on the wisdom of the Eldar to those who will remain after our departure.”
Having listened to his reasons, Aldalin acknolwedged that he had already done much work towards Reniolwaith’s goal and that his deeds did indeed speak for themselves. She stressed, however, that to be fully accepted into the house of Reniolwaith he would need to complete a task. Calling forth Serathuil, he stepped forward beside Liwurien to speak to Thilvagor.
“Thilvagor... You are an elf of my heart. A champion of battle. We go where we are needed the most, our skills are what keeps us alive, and more importantly our friends alive. It is a task few measure up to, but we do so, even when hope is lost. Yet, we must keep our heads cool, in face of overwhelming odds.”
Looking from Serathuil to Liwurien, Aldalin asked what task they would consider appropriate for Thilvagor. Liwurien spoke first.
“I understand that you have a soft spot in your heart for the little ones... hobbits, as well as for their pipeweed. There are troubles in many places encroaching upon the Shire. From the borders of the Old Forest.... to the Brandy Hills. I would suggest that you approach a Ranger of Esteldin to aid you in patrolling these borders and ensuring that no agents of darkness get through to those dear-hearted folk.”
Aldalin nodded and suggested that as Thilvagor had been released from his duties of watching the Shire borders then perhaps another task there would mark his transition. Serathuil found his voice and spoke in solemn tone,
“Alas, these dark times threaten to overwhelm even the shire. The rangers know much, and one such is in the north of the shire in the Greenfields. Halros of the Dunedain. There are goblins and other foul creatures who are trespassing there north. I suggest you head there, with all speed, and offer your skills to the hobbits and the rangers.”
Aldalin sought approval from Liwurien who, looking at her husband Serathuil, nodded her consent to which Aldalin declared:
“Then it is agreed. Thilvagor you should report to the ranger Halros in the greenfields and help him in his work to defeat the goblin threat which encroaches there. The task is too great for the hobbits who live in that area. Help them, guide them and see them safe. Return here in one week and bring us news. If you are successful in this task then we will welcome you with open arms into our house.”
A small smile played upon Thilvagor’s lips as he spoke, yet his face was set with determination.
“This task suits my skills and my heart well. I am pleased to be given this chance to help the Shire-folk and show my worth to you in this way. With your leave, I shall depart at once. I shall rest once the task is performed, not earlier.”
With a final blessing that the light of Iluvatar guide his path the formal welcoming was over. At this point a voice, unfamiliar to all but Liwurien, spoke quietly requesting opportunity to speak. The voice belonged to Gilion, an elf whose appearance reminded some of one from times now past. In a soft voice he recited a poem of his heart, inspired by the moment:
“In ages past, many battles we have fought...
Friends we've lost in wars we haven't sought...
Yet we survived and persevered…
We've watched, we've learned, new friends we've gained...
Many of them are at this site...
May Elbereth grant them wisdom and might.”
Thanking Gilion for his poem, Aldalin formally brought the welcoming ceremony of Thilvagor Adavellon to a close and invited everyone to retire to the garden and enjoy the rest of the evening. A fine time was had by all.
The Confirmation
Here follows the account of Thilvagor Adavellon and how he performed the task given him by Aldalin as he sought membership in Reniolwaith. This tale was recounted – in a briefer version – by Thilvagor at the confirmation ceremony where he was made a kinsman, and is written here for the benefit of all.
On the very evening of the ceremony welcoming me as a recruit of Reniolwaith, I gathered my field-gear and set out for the Greenfields. As I headed east, the soft sounds of gathered friends receded and gave way to sounds of the still night as I entered the Shire through the aptly named village of Needlehole, where the naugrim and periannath dwell side by side. The chirps and rustles of animals moving in the shadows, the soft wind in the trees – I had to remind myself that although this particular part of the Shire seemed as peaceful as ever, evil creatures made their advances elsewhere. I made my first camp just past Needlehole, and as the sun rose next morning I proceeded through the soggy marshland of the Rushock Bogs and on to rural Brockenborings without complications.
Once in Brockenborings, I found the place bustling with activity. It turned out the periannath there hosted an annual festival celebrating the spring harvest. To that end, many persons had made their way to the small town which seemed almost bursting at the seams. I was supposed to liaise with the ranger Halros who is in charge of the northern border-patrols, and I assumed a man of his type would not be found in the middle of the bee-hive that was Brockenborings. Surely enough, he was encamped some distance to the north of the village, where I found him after a brief search.
We spoke for some time of common memories of Esteldin and assignments in the North Downs, but before long he turned my attention to more pressing matters. A hobbit scout had encountered bands of goblins when moving through the hills on the northern edges of the Greenfields. It would appear the goblins were led by a certain Lubach, who believed himself a descendant of the orc-chieftain Golfimbul – the very one who headed an invasion into the Northfarthing some 170 years ago and who was slain by that most illustrious hobbit Bandobras ‘Bullroarer’ Took.
As long as the goblins remained in their hillside camps they were little more than a nuisance, upsetting the wild animals and sporadically stealing a farm-animal or two from some outlying farms. However, with Lubach in command there existed a real threat of a goblin advance on Brockenborings and further south. After some deliberation between myself, the ranger Halros and the hobbit scout – whose name was Seradac of the Stoors – we decided to seek out Lubach and slay him, in the hopes that would stop the threat against the Northfarthing from growing beyond control.
With Seradac leading the way, we set out for Lubach’s encampment in the hills on the northwestern edge of the Greenfields. The goblin chieftain dwelled in the cave called Golfimbul’s Hole; local hobbit lore maintains that this is the very cave used in past times by Golfimbul himself and one can assume Lubach saw some symbolism in using the dwelling-hole of his alleged ancestor.
The cave was guarded by many layers of goblin sentinels and encamped goblin warriors. We would not be stopped in our enterprise by that however, and many were the goblins that fell on that day. We made our way into the cave and stopped briefly to catch our breath before facing down our main quarry. Seradac was quite skilled in finding shaded corners and dark passages in which to move undetected, and so it was that we sprung upon Lubach and his bodyguard in surprise. Nowhere near as powerful as his predecessor, the goblin leader soon fell under the combined arms of me and Seradac.
Once the deed was done, we made our way out of the foul-smelling cave and back to Halros’ camp. Apart from minor scratches and bruises, both I and Seradac had escaped relatively unmarked from the expedition. We told Halros of what had passed, after which Seradac bade us farewell and headed for more settled parts of the Shire. I spent the night in camp, resting and tending to my equipment which was in need of some repair after the battle with the goblin tribe. At day-break, I took leave of my ranger friend and returned west the same way I had come, through Brockenborings, Rushock Bogs and Needlehole before finally arriving at I Randir îdh. As fate would have it, I reached the house just in time for my confirmation ceremony; I did not even find the time to change out of my travel-gear before Aldalin gathered the assembled friends and kin by the fireplace inside the great hall.
I recounted my tale, much as has been written here, and the kinpeople of Reniolwaith found I had performed my induction task satisfactorily, showing my dedication and ability to help others. As I finished my tale, I was welcomed into the Reniolwaith in accordance with tradition. Each in turn, the present members of the kin – Aldalin, Liwurien, Serathuil, Fennas, Majno and Amren – greeted me personally. I could feel the outside warmth of the fireplace blend with the inner warmth of joy as I was finally proclaimed to be kin. I now knew I would always have companions on my wanderings and a safe haven to return to, no matter what the future holds.
As I put pen to parchment, several weeks have already passed since these events took place. I recently went by Brockenborings and spoke to Halros, who is still there. While the goblins show no signs of breaking camp, they also seem uninterested in advancing further south. As long as they remain in place, the threat they represent can be contained and kept at a tolerable level. If the tide ever turns in the greater scale of events, I hope I can return with a larger force and rout the goblins from the Northfarthing once and for all before making my final voyage west.
