Only the Beginning

This ficlet was inspired by the picture 'Tristan and Isolde' by Blair Leighton which you can find here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Vilwarin/Blair_Leighton_Tristan_and_Isolde.jpg


We meet in the gardens of the houses of healing as often as we can, my beloved and I, even though neither of us has need of treatment now. Here it all began but a few weeks ago and both of us treasure the memories, and so we come here.

When he is with me, my heart feels light even in the face of my sorrow and pain. This time, he has brought his harp with him. It is made of the dark lebethron wood that grows here in Gondor and ornamented with golden stars, obviously well used and treasured. My beloved is a poet as well as a musician and I wonder how the White Lady of Rohan came to love such a gentle person as Faramir of Gondor.

And so we sit in the houses of healing and I listen as his long fingers pluck the strings and his voice sings in a language not known to me. The Elvish lay is beautiful and though I do not understand the words, my heart knows their meaning. His voice is fair and I am glad.

Then his hands still and he leans over. 'I will tell you the meaning of the lay, if you will hear it.' I nod and think he will translate it for me, but he does not. He takes me into his lean but nonetheless strong arms and launches out into a tale. He speaks to me of a forbidden love, a journey into dangers unimaginable, of death, love lost and love enduring beyond death.

He is a good storyteller also, and when his voice finally falls silent, dusk has fallen over the White City. But neither of us has the desire to move just yet and we remain seated on the stone bench. I feel so secure when he is with me. I know that he loves me dearly, and I love him as well.

Then I think back and see how foolish I have been. But now my way is even and I see it clearly before mine eyes. My steps will be secure and again I feel how glad I am.
No queen will I be, but I desire it no longer. I am the Queen of his heart, and it is more than enough. 'We will make a garden' he says. It will be in Ithilien where my beloved is now prince. And it will be a beautiful one, many things will grow and flourish there. Who then, has need of a city of stone? I will have my horses and he his beloved land.

But many things are yet to be done before our dream can come true. There is no house yet, and it will take time until we can go there. He will prepare it.
And I have other things to prepare. Tomorrow I will leave with my brother and our people to make ready a place of rest for our beloved king and uncle.

I stir then, for I need to be abed now. He removes his arms so I can stand. I feel the cool night-air and already I miss him. There will be many other nights, I tell myself.
I turn around to face him, and he brings his face down to mine. Our lips meet in a gentle kiss and I know it has only just begun.