Meeting of Belegedhel and the disheveled elf

Paleran sits quietly by a tree near the Celebrant, his cloak covering his body.

From the dense foliage that hems the Naith on its eastern side comes an elf unexpectedly, a sickly-appearing hound leading the way. He stoops low to rud the dog affectionately for a moment, before seeing a fellow edhel. "Mae govannen!" comes the hail as he espies him seated by a tree.

Paleran lifts his head that was draped between his knees and turns it to view the origin of the hail. He clambours up to a standing position, using the tree for support with one weak hand. A few moments in the standing position allow him to move foward towards the arriving elf and his sidekick. He stops after just a few steps and weakly calls back, "And a fine morning to you, mellon." A cough barely escapes his lips after the weak greeting.

Belegedhel cocks his head on an angle and looks to the stranger as his barely audible greeting passes his lips. A frown appears upon the elf's fair face as he says "Mellon, it does not seem an o'er well morn for you. You appear not well. What has happened to you that makes you so sickly in appearance?" as he comes closer to the elf.

A slight shake of his head can be seen underneath the hood of the cloaked elf at the comment. He replies in a softer whisper as he sees you approach, "I wish I knew." He turns his body back to the waters of the Celebrant, and takes a few steps towards the icy waters in order to become entranced in its flowing current.

His face taking on an even more puzzled expression, Belegedhel queries "I am quite sorry mellon, but I fear that I do not understand... you do not know?" After his quest, the edhel shakes himself with a start, the curious look upon his face leaving in an instant. He says "I am afraid that I do not know your name. I am called Belegedhel, and I am glad to make your acquaintance, mayhap for your sake moreso than my own.... you are in the need of a healer's skill!"

Paleran turns his head to face the elf over his shoulder, a glimpse of his eyes can barely be seen under the grey hood, but they seem not to be looking at anything, but through everything. He replies softly, "My condition is beyond the skill of a healer. Were it so, I would not have found my way here." He turns to face the river again, letting a soft sigh escape his lips, "The name to which I was born has passed my memory. You may call me Silwen if you wish to attach an identity."

Belegedhel's lips move, but no sound passes over them. He mouths the name for a moment in silence, all the while staring back at the curious edhel in wonder. He says quietly, not to anyone specifically: " You have lost your father-name, mayhap this name that dances upon my tongue is your mother-name? Or is it the name that you have chosen for yourself Silwen?" Feeling altogether helpless, Belegedhel changes the subject quickly. "Have you any reason to be in the Wood? Is this where you were from, and were perhaps lost? Or is this where you ended up and are perhaps lost?"

Paleran shakes his head again, "Were I to know any of the things you say, I would gladly answer. The name of Silwen seems to fit. Perhaps you are correct in assuming that it is my mother-name. My father-name it is not, of that I am certain." His head slowly raises up to the almost fully risen sun. "The paths which we follow do not always make sense to us at first, but will resolve themself over time. I am not lost, but am looking for the proper path. If that is considered to be lost, then lost in mind I am." Paleran turns his head back towards you, "Do you know of the place which is called Hollin?"

Pondering over Silwen's words for a long while, Belegedhel says naught. After staring at the edhel for quite awhile, he says "You speak truly Silwen, and I hope that some day soon, you find your own path. I merely asked, as it is quite uncommon to find folk within our borders that do not belong here, be they edhil or no. But this is definitely not my matter,as I am merely the sedulous student." with a laugh and a twitching grin. In reply to his question, Belegedhel shakes his head quickly saying "No mellon, I fear I do not. Where is this place... Hollin.... that you speak of, and of what significance to the folk of the Golden Wood should it have?" 

Cul-aglar struts over to the ill elf and shoves his snout into his thigh. He looks up to him and whimpers quietly, hoping to be shown affection by him.

The front of the hood covering the elf's face lifts slightly, and you can almost feel his elation brimming. A renewed source of hope appears in his voice, and he finds the strength to speak louder and clearer, "The Golden Wood do you say?" He titters almost with glee, "So I have finally found it. Thank Yavanna!" A fit of coughing follows quickly, and he falls to one knee soon, "Thank you, mellon, for that wonderful news. Perhaps I soon will start my time of healing."

Caught at unawares by the strange elf's greatly contrasting moods, Belegedhel steps back at first, and grips his staff tightly. Then realizing that he was not advancing in a menacing manner, Belegedhel grins and breathes out a deep breath in relief. "Yae Silwen, you are in the Dwimordene. In only a few hours walk, you will be at the gates to the Lady and Lord's city, Caras Galadon. You seek the city?"

Paleran turns his attention to the direction of the city, hidden by the mallyrn. His hands lift to his face and are held against his cheeks. He speaks but in a barely audible whisper, "The Lady." He shakes his head, "I am not ready to seek her, but spending my days under these boughs will prepare me." He turns back to Belegedhel, "The city of Hollin I spoke of before is over the mountains of Moria, in a forgotten wasteland known as Eregion. It was there that my faintest memory began to appear." 

Fear shows in the large elf's kind, bright eyes. At the mention of the word "Moria" he made not a sound. The fear is replaced by a sudden, and quick anger as he finally speaks "You come from a land near to where the Unnamed dwells? Are you friend of foe? Or were you lieing in the lands of the Enemy in bondage?"

Paleran shakes his head slowly, "Nay, you know not which you speak of. I do understand your resilience to my presence after that of which I spoke, but tell me this: were I friend of foe or a spy, how would I have been able to stand here with a legion of archers about us? I would have been a pincushion long ago."

Relaxing his arms, and looking about himself to the tall mallyrn surrounding them, a grand smile is displayed upon his face. "Twice now have you spoken what seems fair to my ears, and wise beyond any tongue I have heard in my short time you seem. Indeed, there is little chance that you would have survived for long if you were not a friend." Belegedhel looks down to Cul-aglar and strokes his matted coat for a moment before speaking. "If you will not venture to the city, as you do not look fit to do, will you stay here, at the Naith mellon?"

Paleran inclines his head once in a nod, walking towards the tree he sat beneath when you come upon him. He says slowly, "For a time, yes. I must be sure that this is the path, for I have been wrong before. I wish not to wander from this, the safest of lands east of Valinor."

Belegedhel smiles kindly to the wandering edhel. A gleam in his eyes as he speaks, Belegedhel comes close to Silwen and stands touching his bent shoulder. "Silwen, I am nearly certain that you will find great happiness in the Woods named for the hallowed gardens in the Undying West. Indeed, long you may dwell here, and I feel that great things are ahead for you. I will not call you Silwen any longer however. I have thought of a name that is suitable for you mellon. Would you allow me the honour of naming you?"

Paleran cocks his head towards Belegedhel, an almost sound of laughter escaping his lips. He shakes his head twice or thrice quickly, a feeling of smile crossing his unseen lips passes quickly, "Though I cannot remember much, I am quite certain this is a first. I am unsure of why the name of Silwen appears in my mind, so if you have a better one, please speak it."

His smile ver-growing as he, Belegedhel says "I shall call you 'Randmen', if it pleases you "Wandering-way"." Backing slowly and quietly away from him now, Belegedhel is now near the spot where he had emerged from the dense foliage and met with him.

Cul-aglar and Belegedhel both stand staring at Randmen and he calls "Namarie mellon, I have much studying to complete before tomorrow, and you have much rest to get. I will see you in the City perhaps."

Paleran inclines his head, "Randmen. Perhaps not the correct name, but an appropriate one nonetheless. I thank you, and will make my way to the city when the time is right. Should I achieve my goal, I will have to speak with you more. You are a most welcome acquaintance. Namarie, then."

Waving quickly in Randmen's direction, Belegedhel and the hound depart through an unseen path, and they are unheard as they leave the Naith. Paleran slumps back into a crouched position as the two depart, resting his head between his legs once again.