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Chapter Twenty: Tuile Coive

Turgon kept his guests to himself the rest of the afternoon and night on the first day of their visit, entertaining them in one of his favorite chambers with a private suppertime meal. Idril and Elrilya busied themselves by visiting some of the shops and market looking to see what new items and arts their fellow citizens had designed. They then spent some time at a local friend's home until late in the night.

Elrilya, being an early riser the next morning, sought out Ecthelion for her study session the next morning but found him busy with an unforeseen injury on one of the patrols and he had to reorganize some of the soldiers before dispatching replacements. She did not mind practicing alone but preferred a combatant from time to time.

The spring day was already growing warm as Elrilya glanced up at the blue sky with a few wispy clouds. Placing her different weapons to the side, she attached her sheath to her belt. On her own on the practice field, Elrilya silently moved placing jabs, slashes, and blocks to an invisible opponent. She paid attention to the flow of her movements trying to be keenly aware of her steps and hand positions as to become as utterly familiar with them as she could so they would eventually come naturally without a concentrated thought.

Unidentified footsteps caught her attention and she spun around to face her visitor. The majority of the time Elrilya could name the owner of a footstep but these were different and she did not usually practice when someone she was not familiar with was in her presence. She stopped hesitantly when she saw it was Cirdan's kinsman, Taurnil. He was dressed in leggings and a tunic for weapons training with a sword in a sheath at his side, a quiver of arrows on his back, and a bow in one hand.

"Do not halt," he said, his voice smooth and calm. "I did not mean to interrupt. I was simply coming to practice as well and was not expecting to find anyone else here."

"Hardly anyone comes this early," she answered. "I am the only one usually."

"Rarely have I seen an elleth wield a sword," he said, walking closer to her with his hands clasped behind his back. "In Doriath I have seen only a few dozen."

"I have known no others who have an interest," Elrilya said as she sheathed her sword and eyed him warily while remaining polite. "They may remain silent about it."

"I expect that of the Sindar but of the Noldor ellyth I thought more would have a... tendency toward these arts," he said, stopping at her bow to inspect the craftsmanship.

"Why would you say that?" she questioned.

He looked up at her from her bow; the same strange look on his face as from the day before when they first met. She watched him curiously but was slightly taken aback from his strange forwardness.

"I have not met many Noldor but I think you can understand that my being from Doriath I am unlikely to meet many save for King Thingol's kin who journeyed to these lands," he explained. "However, from the rumors and information I have heard, the Noldor are very involved in the arts of war and are strong at heart in such matters. I had expected both ellyn and ellyth to have such traits."

"It is not always true, though," she commented as she watched him approach her again. "To think all of the Noldor in one way is not fair to those you may meet. Especially when you have known or met few Noldor."

"Indeed," he commented, his eyes sparkling in the sunlight. "I have not expressed my thoughts well but nonetheless you understand what I mean."

"Yes," she nodded then went to collect her gear. "I will leave you to your practicing."

"Please, do not go," he said stepping in front of her. "As I said before, I did not wish to disturb you. However, I see we both are in need of sparring partners. Perhaps we can both accomplish what we came here to do with help from each other."

Elrilya contemplated what he was offering her. She realized she did need to practice and she did not get the chance to fight a new opponent often enough. To spar with Taurnil would greatly help her enhance her abilities with a different partner and not someone she was used to anticipating attacks from.

"As you wish," she agreed and walked over to the fighting circle.

Taurnil placed his bow and quiver to the side near Elrilya's items then walked over to where she stood. He drew his sword, a curved blade similar to hers but longer and wider and the hilt thicker. She held her own ready as they both prepared in a fighting stance.

He rushed her, his blade held aloft but she met him with a block from her own sword. Metal clashing and ringing echoed across the field behind the city as they tested each other's knowledge and strength. She realized after a few minutes that Taurnil was not holding back on the amount of energy he was using and she felt the strain not much later. Glorfindel and Ecthelion had taken time before using more force against her. To use too much strength in the beginning may have been detrimental to her working up along the way.

Elrilya began to control her breathing into slow but long breaths, concentrating on completely honing in on her assailant while ignoring her screaming muscles. Her blade became an extension of her own body as she dodged his blows and forced her own attacks on vulnerable areas. In the dance of their battle they both defended as well as brought a harsh offensive move to drive the other back momentarily.

After what seemed like forever, Taurnil caught Elrilya off-guard, forcing a blow that caused her to drop her sword. She almost refused to let go but did after a small struggle and Taurnil kicked it to the side. Elrilya was quick as she lunged for the sword but Taurnil also dove for it. She beat him to the blade but he caught her as she twisted to face him. He managed to pin her on her back to the ground, his hand holding her left hand with his blade above her head.

"I have you," he said, looking down at her triumphantly though a little out of breath.

"But I would not die without having killed you as well," she said.

Looking down, he found her sword just below his neck.

"You would not kill me," he said slyly.

"If you were an orc I would," she said. "As a fellow Eldar, I would not harm you."

"That is good to know," he said, looking over her flushed face.

Without any observable notice that he would relinquish his hold on her, Elrilya tried to shift out from under him to give him notice that she wished to be free. She glanced at him questioningly as to why he refused to move.

"Let me stand," she ordered him, squirming a little under his hold.

Instead, Taurnil leaned in closer toward her. She felt his breath upon her neck as his face came near to hers.

"Seldom has an elleth held her own in battle against me," he drawled. "When such a thing happens, I cannot help but feel enticed by the presence of a strong elleth like yourself."

Elrilya froze, unsure of his words and what he was doing. She found herself in a place she had felt only on a few occasions before where a thrill ran through her. The few times she remembered a similar sensation was when she anticipated the closeness of an ellon and his interest in courting her; though most had been hesitant and shy while Taurnil was incredibly forward about his regard for her. Unaccustomed on how to react, Elrilya remained unmoving and thus became ensnared further in his allure. Both of them jolted up as the noises came closer. Elrilya recognized some of the soldiers' voices and quickly gathered up her gear.

"I really must go now, I should not be out here when the soldiers train," she quickly uttered though was feeling a little more embarrassed than careful as to not be seen by the soldiers doing unladylike things.

"I will see you again," Taurnil called after her, a sly grin on his face.

*
Elrilya did not run into Taurnil the rest of the day after she returned from her time in the training yards. Aredhel had plenty planned for her and Idril that day along with other chores they were to take care of while also attending to their duties of learning under the healers of the city. Turgon was busy with his advisors and his visitors still that evening with their conciliation and proposals, locked away in one of the halls.

Idril had decided to go to bed early, which left Elrilya to her own devices. Usually when Elrilya went about on her own in the twilight hours she would go to the gardens, which were alive with spring's revival and the nearing summer blossoms. This night she decided to do so again but also to think to herself for a time over her interesting events with Taurnil.

Elrilya had met few ellyn who were as incredibly determined as Taurnil or any who had approached her in such away to gain her interest. The thought of his nearness had lingered on her mind most of the day, distracting her at times from her tasks. Not many Sindar had advanced on her before but she had found herself not thoroughly attracted to them. Taurnil on the other hand had a uniqueness about him that differed from other Sindar. The silvery hair of the Sindar had never caught Elrilya's eye, she mostly gravitated toward the dark-haired Noldor or a few of the Noldor-Vanyar mixed ellyn with golden to light brown hair but once more Taurnil had a certain quality about him that separated him from others of his race whom she had met.

Meandering through the trees and flowers on a spongy grass path, Elrilya found she was quite alone this night. She usually was not the only one to go through the trails at that time of night but it appeared so this time. Little light filtered in through the foliage since she had traveled deeper into the forest like atmosphere of the garden where the trees, flowers, bushes and thick vines meshed so close together that it hardly felt like a city garden but a true wilderness. Elrilya was about to turn around to return back to the halls when she noticed a lone figure leaning against one of the trees who turned his gaze upon her.

"My lady," Taurnil greeted her as he left the shadows to join her. "How do you fare this eve?"

"I am well," she answered shakily but smiled pleasantly nonetheless. "Were you not part of the discussions tonight?"

He sighed, reaching up a hand to lightly hold a low branch. He stepped into a swatch of moonlight from Isil, his silver hair reflecting its gleam brightly before he passed through it into the shadows once more.

"I was invited to be with them and it had been pleasant the night before," he explained as he came closer. "Tonight they are conversing about trades which I do not care for much."

"I understand," she said, a small curve on her lips. "And you decided to come to the gardens to escape it?"

"Why not?" he said, a glimmer of his blue irises flashing with excitement. "It is what reminds me of home."

"Do you prefer this to wide open plains and sprawling towns?" she queried.

"Much so," he said, his smile broadening as he took her hand suddenly. "Come, join me high in the branches. It is a great pleasure to climb the heights of the trees and look upon the land below."

"I do not climb trees," she said hesitantly as he led her toward the nearest tree.

He took her hands in his, "I will not let you fall for we Sindar are as akin to climbing the trees like the creatures of the wild as the Noldor are to their weapons and arts."

She pursed her lips a moment considering his words before finally nodding her acceptance to follow. Taurnil hopped onto the lowest branch above them and then reached down to help pull her up. The first few minutes of the climb were difficult since Elrilya was in a dress but they managed easily after more time. They had reached midway up the tree where they were completely enveloped in the branches and leaves of the great tree where several branches were stronger and thicker in circumference. Taurnil led her out onto the sturdy length and held her steady as she looked about. Beyond some of the canopy she could discern the outer wall of the city that the gardens were up against and below the paths looked small and faraway but beautiful as always. Above, the sky glimmered like diamonds set above them peeking through some of the gaps between the leaves.

"Sit here, it will be more comfortable than standing," Taurnil told her as he helped them both settle against the trunk of the tree while sitting on the branch.

Elrilya carefully balanced herself on the limb so that she could face him. He sat back straight with his back on the trunk looking back at her with a content smile.

"Do you enjoy the view?" he asked her.

"Very much," she replied.

He leaned forward, removing some twigs and leaves that had become trapped in the strands of her hair. Taurnil did not go back to where he was sitting but instead let his hand drift down Elrilya's bare neck. His fingers dabbled underneath her jaw line and chin, drawing her face a little closer to him.

"You are an unlike the other ellyth I know, Elrilya," he said quietly, not letting her break the unblinking stare they had between the two of them. "Tell me, have you ever courted a Sindar?"

"Nay, I have not," she whispered, unable to break away or say much else.

"That is not good," he said, his hand still tracing her jaw line. "Perhaps we could learn together what each of our peoples possess."

Taurnil swiftly moved closer to her, barely making the bough shake beneath his shifting. Without another word, he pressed his lips upon her own as his hand caressed her cheek. Hesitant at first, Elrilya did not move but as Taurnil's scent and touch became more potent she felt herself relaxing into his presence.

Glossary
Tuile Coive: April awakening