The SONGS of SPRING

A WALK IN MINAS TIRITH

Chapter 6

The tall open windows of the Great Hall kindled golden and bright in the night, merry voices and the sound of lyre and flute and minstrels filled the air. The night was young and cold and the moon was peeking from behind the shifting clouds, sending many shafts of light at the tall Tower of Ecthelion by the left side of the King's House. Inside the citadel's highest place, monoliths of black marble gleamed bright with coal-fire on looming braziers sitting at their knees, graven stones of beasts and leaves had the color of gold and silver.

Inside the Great Hall was a long marble table laden with food. There gathered many renowned personalities and dignitaries - King Aragorn sat on his high throne at the dais before the long table and to his left sat his Evenstar, Queen Arwen Undomiel ever beautiful on her blue and silver raiment. At the table was Eldarion, now a grown man, tall and proud and kingly as his father. Seated next to him was Elboron, son of Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn, a fair looking man of golden hair, and though he was younger by two years than Eldarion, Elboron seemed aged than his best friend.

There was Lord Gerion of Lossarnach and his first family, the a few noble Bardings and six wealthy Dwarf-merchants of Erebor, and many Elves of the South. The chatting was never ending and laughter broke everywhere. The Feast of Spring has just started and all were merry-making and drinking to give praise and thanks for the fruitful season.

But amidst the happy voices and the laughter in the air, a tall silhouette stood outside of the palace. In the great garden where the blossoming White Tree still stand lonely and cold, there stood Legolas alone under the long shadow of the Tower, overlooking the southward horizon with a goblet of wine, gazing at the stars that had settled near the horizon. His silver and white raiment seemed gleaming under the moon and his circlet kindled silver, a very prim and fair for an Elflord.

At length he stood stone-still drowning in his thoughts at the very point of the great keel, drawing deep breaths and long sighs when an old man came sauntering behind him - Faramir, on white and deep blue mantle.

'The stars of Varda are glinting merrily tonight,' Faramir said now standing beside him. He had grown weary of the burdens in the South but never did Faramir lost his grace and wisdom, and though time had turned his raven hair all white, age have not yet bent his back . 'It seemed to me that Elves do love feasting with the stars more than anything else, my good Lord, but I feel those eyes are not glad at all, for I know heavy is your heart by the sound of your breaths.'

'Feast of Starlight,' Legolas threw a sideway look. 'The desire to see the stars never fades in the heart of an Elf, for when the world is at its darkest and the Moon fails to shine the stars will always be there. It is where I see precious memories I do not wish to remember, and yet I cannot stop myself gazing upon them.' They were silent for a moment until Legolas spoke again but more like talking to himself. 'It is heavy, my friend, eleven years I have carried it.'

'You are thinking of her,' Faramir said in a solemn voice.

'I have been since the last day she bid farewell,' Legolas stirred and gave him a glance look before sipping his wine. 'That night she came into my room like a lost child ---- and I let her go,' he shrugged.

'You did the right thing.'

'And she died because I did not choose to be wrong.' He drained his wineglass and threw a sorrowful look at Faramir. 'She used to cursed at me, calling me many terrible names. The first day we met she called me "puny", and she shouts at me, nag at me, she even tried to push me off the window.'