Clandestine

Author's note: This vignette is a scene expanded on from my drabble series "Valley of the Four Winds" which will be a series of short tales about Imladris. I originally wrote this scene with Elladan in mind, though it could easily be any other character.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The wind stirs up my memories, she passes through the hills. The things I remember, I cherish still, to bear away with me.

I remember still.

That day passed hidden deep, deep in the recesses of the winding caves. Behind the loud rushing of the sparkling white falls like heaven’s veil, we hid away in peaceful clandestine. The laughter of our childish voices echoing still within its hidden crevices, filling every nook and cranny.

A day so long ago.

But no cave can ever hide us away from the changing of the world. The changes that tore us far asunder – estranged us long ago, till only echoes were left of childish laughter that rang so bright and clear.

Until one day I told myself, you were but a fantasy, envisioned by a child’s mind, our childhood, but the fairest dream, scattered far by the restless wind.

No one can tread the same dream paths as those tread when the heart is young. And no more footsteps sounded anymore, in hidden clandestine.

And the years passed as wind on water.

Like a sigh the ages flew by, and I looked on with indifference.
Until one day, a summer’s night, the breeze on the water deterred me, strolling past those long forgotten caves.

Laughter carried on the breeze.

Where that same spot once stood a girl with a radiant smile, the years have left their mark. Now in her stead an elleth stood, white dress billowing in the wind. Her smile so gentle, her glance so tender, so near to my heart it passed…

And now it seemed as if all the years of the indifferent sun, which had long since hardened the heart of that carefree boy long ago, but with one glance by the warm spring wind, has thawed like a river in spring. And all the hidden emotions of all the years, has come gushing down the barren riverbed.

But the spring wind only laughed.

How can one chase the spring wind that runs laughing through the woods? How can you grasp it in your palm?

Yet the laughing spring wind as taken my heart dancing through the fields.

Oh cruel spring wind, how can a glance so warm, a smile so tender, cut so deeply in my heart?

But the spring wind only laughed.

Hopelessly I looked on, as lovely spring wove her way around me, danced life’s song around me. With me only looking on.

Wind will you but stay a while?

But none can stay the wind.

One day, a summer’s night long ago, the wind passed far away. Enticed away by worlds unknown, the spring wind did not stay. That summer night I last saw of her, beside white falls of old. She bade me farewell forevermore, one last and final time.

Farewell to spring and summer song, the autumn swiftly comes. And Winter then shall cover once more, over barren lands.

One day, a summer’s night long ago, the wind passed to utmost west. And forever shall she be sundered from me, far, far from my rest.

Until at last, I laid myself to sleep, hidden deep, deep in that last safe place. I had made my choice so long ago, and now demands my forfeit paid. I closed my eyes, one last and final time.

***

The caves of Imladris echo still the laughter of long forgotten children, sheltered safe behind white falls.
Their voices echoing eternally, forevermore, in peaceful

Clandestine.



* * *