| Primary Characters: | Original characters |
| Rating: | M |
| Spoilers: | Not really |
| Warning: | |
| Description: | Mireiswen and her friends run away from Minas Tirith and the archives looking for adventures. |
That night at the inn, after the King’s wedding, Elendawen and Mireiswen argued and had a falling out unlike any other in their years together. Towards morning, Elendawen had come to the conclusion that she and her daughter should part ways for the time being. It was time Mireiswen learned to stand on her own two feet. Elendawen decided that she would travel south and seek out the new lands down there to rid the world of the scattered allies of evil. For Mireiswen, she chose another path – but getting the headstrong girl to agree was another matter. When she made the sugguestion, her daughter exploded into anger just as she had expected.
”What? You have to be insane. I want to go with you to the south. I’m not a child and I can hold my own against any creature of evil -”
”I know that, Mireiswen, that’s why I want you to learn something new.”
”But the archives – you are just punishing me. Why? You are the one who kept that important secret from me. Before now, we might even have made contact with – my father – and I could have had the chance to know him, if only a little. Now – How could you, mother?”
”I’m not punishing you and – perhaps you’re right. We might have met – him at some time in the past, but our paths never crossed again. I could not help but think that – it was meant to be that way. We shouldn’t have been lovers and -”
”That’s wonderful. Are you saying I shouldn’t have been born either?”
”I’m fortunate to have a daughter like you, Mireiswen, and you know it. We were just – unwise – to allow ourselves to be – drawn to each other. Any other Ranger -”
”Too late for that now, mother. Please reconsider. Let me come with you or – let me go anywhere I choose. What would I do in the archives?”
”You will learn new skills. It won’t be forever, Mireiswen. Just a few months, maybe a year at the most. Other young people learn reading and writing – and now that we are no longer at war and many peaceful trades are opening up – I would like you to know more than just fighting and scouting.”
Mireiswen knew her mother and when she had made a decision, she kept to it. It was a trait she herself had inherited, she knew that. She was wondering if she had inherited anything from her father, but knew that there was nothing to be gained by dwelling on him. It was as if her mother’s story still held true. As far as she was concerned, Strider, her father, was dead to her and her mother. They would never meet again.
”Very well. I will go to the archives since you insist.”
But I will not stay for very long, she thought to herself. No one can keep me there against my will. What would she do with all those old, bearded men and their dusty old scrolls? They would tire of her and throw her out and then she would be free to go wherever she pleased.
In the morning, her mother took her to the archives and found that far from being the realm only of old, bearded men, plenty of young men and a few women were already there. A clerk spoke at length about the new era that had dawned and that by order of the King, women would be free to take up any profession previously only, or mostly held by men. No longer would warrior be the only profession open to men or women.
Mireiswen smothered a yawn. At least it would be as boring as she had expected. Her mother had taught her rudimentary reading and she could sign her name, but book learning had not been dear to Mireiswen, or – she suspected – to her mother either. Instead of listening to that boring man, who didn’t have a beard, but was just as boring as any older man, she looked around to see if there were any other young people she might befriend. She hardly noticed that her mother said her goodbyes and went away. There were at least a dozen young men and one or two other young women.
The boring man whose name she promptly forgot, told her to come along and meet a scribe who would show her her duties and instruct her in any skills she might need. To her surprise, the scribe was about her own age, two years older at the most and didn’t look at all boring or dusty. He was quite good looking and had a friendly, welcoming smile.
”This is Carinyc. He will show you around and teach you anything you need to know – ?”
”Mireiswen. My name is Mireiswen.”
”Very well. I shall leave you to it.”
They were alone in the room, filled with scrolls and other tomes. Only one other person was there, a young woman who sat hunched over a writing desk, copying out some text. As Mireiswen’s eyes wandered back to the good looking young man, the girl in the corner sneezed. Of course, with all this dust lying around, anyone would be sneezing.
The girl looked up and smiled.
”Sorry. Dust got in my nose. I’m Cerrarien.”
”Mireiswen. How long have you been here?”
”Not long. We returned only three days ago.”
”Returned?”
”Yes, women and children were taken away to a safer place during the final battle. Most of the scribes too.”
Carinyc nodded.
”Yes, I have only been back for three days too. They only left a few old men to keep watch over the archives. I thought we should take the scrolls and move them for safekeeping – but I think they did. There are vaults underneath the archives and – But we’re not supposed to talk about that. How is your handwriting, Mireiswen?”
He had to ask her that.
”Where are you from, Cerrarien?”
She was hoping Carinyc would forget his question while she talked to Cerrarien. It was obvious that Carinyc was a man of Gondor, but Cerrarien had a different look to her.
”I’m from Rohan. When I was young I was taught swordplay by lady Eowyn, my kinswoman, but my dream was to learn my letters and spend my life in an archive or library. So lady Eowyn helped me find a place here.”
”Oh. You have fought alongside lady Eowyn? You are so lucky.”
Carinyc watched the two young women, smiling.
”It seems I’m the only one not to have any fighting skills. My father took me here when I was a child, and I have been here since, except during the war.”
Mireiswen smiled at him. He really was pretty.
”Don’t worry, Carinyc, if any Orcs come, I will protect you. And so will Cerrarien.”
Cerrarien laughed.
”Yes. If I can find a sword. I left all that behind when I came here and I haven’t practiced for years.”
”I can help you with that. Where is the practice ground?”
”I don’t know, but I can find out.”
”Good. Let’s go there after our work here is finished and we’ll find you a sword – or I’ll lend you my second best one. We can’t have you forgetting all your skills.”
”Thank you, Mireiswen, I suppose it won’t do to let my skills go to waste, even if this – is all I ever dreamed of. Being a scholar.”
Really? How odd. Mireiswen hoped there would be other young people to cross her sword with if Cerrarien insisted on being boring. She also hoped that Carinyc wasn’t too attached to the girl from Rohan. If he was still free, she would make sure he didn’t look any further.
In the evening, both her new friends came with her to the practice ground. To her disappointment, it seemed empty and abandoned. Had everyone left their swords behind to pursue more peaceful occupations? That would be a shame. Mireiswen didn’t for a moment believe there would be complete peace forever more. There would be bandits and stray Orcs and other creatures of evil still lingering in dark places. Surely there was still need for her kind here? As she was thinking that, a young man stepped out from behind the corner of the stable. He looked strong, almost like a Ranger and he had a sturdy-looking sword at his side.
”Hello.”
He looked up and met her gaze, then let glanced over in the direction of Cerrarien. A smile spread on his face.
”Good evening, ladies. And – you.”
”I’m Mireiswen, this is Carinyc and Cerrarien. We came to practice – that is Cerrarien and I. Carinyc is just here to watch.”
”A shame. We won’t be evenly matched, but I’m sure I can help you both with your swordplay, ladies. Oh, my name is Ceodd.”
”Good evening, Ceodd and – we’ll see.”
Time to test his mettle. He seemed a little cocky to Mireiswen. Something told her he might have potential, but he still hadn’t seen much action. Despite his age that she determined to be a year or two older than she was – perhaps a year or two younger than Cerrarien – he was still inexperienced, she was willing to bet. She had killed her first Orc at the age of ten and had many years of fighting behind her. It would be interesting to see what Ceodd was made of.
She pulled out her sword and sprang at him. It took him a few seconds to collect himself and in that time she might have beheaded him or run him through quite easily. Of course her intention was not to kill but to test him. A few minutes later, she knew that her initial judgment had been true. He had much potential, but far less experience.
”How many battles do you have under your belt, Ceodd?”
”I fought the hordes of Mordor outside our gates here. Defended our city.”
”Impressive. How many kills?”
Ceodd’s face lost some of it’s bravado.
”None, but I injured several of the Uruk-Hai and Orcs. I got this scar.”
He pulled down his shirt and showed a vividly red line that crossed his left shoulder. Mireiswen sensed, rather than saw that Cerrarien was paying much attention. As well she should. Ceodd was a well-built young man. Still, Mireiswen liked Carynic better. He had such a sweetness to his personality and Mireiswen had missed that in all the long years of fighting and wandering the wastelands of the north. She had a feeling that it would be sweet to embrace that boy. Perhaps she would find out this very evening.
”Are there any practice swords here that Cerrarien might borrow?”
”I’m sure. We can ask the sword master. In there, in the armory.”
They spent an hour or so practicing, while Carinyc patiently waited, leaning on a fence, watching his friends. It seemed to Mireiswen that his eyes followed her more than the others, but that might be just wishful thinking. Afterwards, Ceodd stayed and talked to Carinyc while the girls went to clean themselves by the pump in one of the back yards. When they returned, Ceodd went to do the same. He invited them all along to a bar that he frequented and though Carinyc opened his mouth to suggest another, he kept quiet and followed the other three. Perhaps tomorrow they might seek out the inn that most scribes favored.
Ceodd’s chosen place of drinking wasn’t bad, even Carinyc had to admit that. The people who came there was a mix of townspeople, warriors and visitors. There was even food served and they all had a good time together. Mireiswen made sure to sit next to Carinyc and the way his gaze sought her out promised well for the future. His smile warmed her. She would enjoy her time here in the city. Perhaps her mother had been right. It was time to see something new.
She had been right in assuming that Carinyc would temporarily forget about her writing skills but the following morning, she had to admit to her lack of skills. To her surprise, no one laughed at her. About half of the newcomers were completely illiterate and most of the first weeks were devoted to studies. Carinyc helped Mireiswen as much as he could, and so did Cerrarien. Six weeks later, she felt confident in copying texts and taking dictation. She even grew used to reading dull old texts, where the letters were written so close together it was hard to make them out, even for a young woman with excellent eyesight and with the huge windows letting in the sun.
But Mireiswen was getting impatient and bored again. Squinting at cramped handwriting and meticulously copying out old texts did not hold her interest for very long. She was beginning to long for the open air. Even a skirmish or two would liven her up. That evening, she tried her idea out on Ceodd, not believing the other two as likely to agree.
”Don’t you get bored here in the city? Wouldn’t you like to ride out and seek out some adventure or other?”
Ceodd studied her with growing approval.
”I thought you’d never get to this. I was beginning to think you were as keen on those old scrolls as the other two. Yes, I would. I’ve been longing for that ever since the end of the war. I didn’t see enough fighting, not enough enemies. There has to be some left out there and much new and interesting to see. Shall we go tonight, this very evening?”
Mireiswen’s own smile widened. She should have known Ceodd would be up for any challenge. But she wasn’t going without Carinyc and she suspected Ceodd wouldn’t want to go without Cerrarien.
”Hold on. We must gather supplies, discuss where we’re going. Besides, I need to talk to Carinyc. See if I can persuade him to come along. I would have thought you would want to get Cerrarien to come too.”
”Of course. I will talk to her tonight. When will they be here?”
”Very soon. They just had some work to finish. I – left early. Couldn’t stand it any longer.”
And sure enough, a few minutes later, Carinyc and Cerrarien arrived. When neither Mireiswen or Ceodd showed any signs of wanting to start practicing, both looked surprised, but had no objections.
Mireiswen took Carinyc aside and enthusiastically began to describe her idea. Carinyc looked nowhere near as enthusiastic, but he didn’t interrupt and listened to her until she had finished.
”You want to leave your position in the archive?”
”Yes.”
”For good?”
”I don’t know.”
”I would like to return some day, so – couldn’t we tell the head scribe that we will be visiting distant kin or – something? So many of the new young scribes come and go but they will want to keep us, since we already have the skills needed.”
”Yes, that sounds like a good idea. You tell them that. My mother is somewhere out there, she’s not distant kin, but – what about your family?”
”I have none. My mother died when I was born and my father – died before the war.”
”I see. I’m sorry. I – have never met my father.”
It looked as if Ceodd was having the same luck with Cerrarien. When they had finished their discussion, the two joined the others.
”Do you want to leave your position as scribe for good?”
Cerrarien studied Carinyc, inquiringly.
”No. I thought we’d tell them we will be visiting distant kin or something. That way we’ll be welcome back later, if we want to.”
”Good idea. Then I will come along. I have no close kin, but – in Rohan I have some cousins and aunts and uncles.”
”We could visit Rohan on the way north. It is beautiful up there and – now – there should be far fewer Orcs and Trolls. You’ll see, it will be so much fun.”
They spent the rest of the evening packing and getting supplies, then set out the next morning, as soon as they had talked to the head scribe. He accepted their story without question, looking rather bored, then added:
”When will you be back?”
”We’re not sure. It depends on how many kinsfolk we make contact with.”
”Hmf. I thought so. Well, if you want your positions back, you will be back here before the end of the year.”
That was only a few months in the future, and Mireiswen was quite sure she wouldn’t want to return so soon. She was hoping to be able to persuade at least Carinyc to stay with her, but she didn’t want to deprive him of his beloved profession, so perhaps she might need to come back as well, no matter how boring it would be.
When they rode out Carinyc, no skilled rider, was seated behind Mireiswen, his arms around her waist, but Cerrarien had been able to find a horse for herself so she and Ceodd rode separately. Their first goal was Rohan. Since Eowyn was no longer there, Cerrarien didn’t wish to stay, but she showed her friends the sights. They met a group of guards the first day and Cerrarien introduced herself. The guards invited them back to the great hall and not wishing to be impolite, the four young people accepted, spending an evening filled with good cheer and good food, but already at first daylight, they rode out again, wanting to see more of the lands of Rohan.
Eventually, they left Rohan and came close to the edges of Fangorn and Lorien, but Mireiswen was eager to show her friends the north, so they continued on, without doing more than skirting the edges of the forests.
FIN
© Tonica