Chapter Text
Year 384 of the First Age:
Joyful feminine laughter mixed with the deeper voice of a male would have hinted to where Aegnor and Andreth were sitting on a hill not far from the village, if anyone was looking for them. But if anyone saw the young couple, they would have noticed that the male was not someone of the Race of Men like the young maiden at his side. His face was far fairer than a mortal, and the rich golden hair hinted to him being a relative to another Elf who first had met this people 74 years ago.
“I know that your growing knowledge about the history and lore of your people will draw the attention of Orodreth, at least. For it is true that my brother is a scholar who focuses on various uses of medicinal herbs, he would love to learn how your people might use them in a different way.”
Andreth smiled at what her lover just had spoken.
“I am glad to hear about the possible chance to exchange knowledge with your brother, then, even if it is in different areas.”
About two years had now passed since their first meeting, and Andreth knew that she was truly in love with Aegnor now when they had spent so many months almost constantly in the company of each other. Time to learn to know the other, and for their feelings to grow. Yes, he was as fair as all Elves, but it felt like he held an inner flame inside his very soul that drew her to him. As a mortal that would age and eventually die, Andreth would never hold the eternal beauty of the Elf-maidens, but Aegnor insisted on that it was not merely her appearance that he had fallen for.
“It was something in your eyes that enchanted me, beloved. ”
It was perhaps silly sounding for a Elf in love to say, but Aegnor really did not know any other way to explain. After all, he had met with a few Elf-maids in faraway Tirion, for he was still a sought-after possible husband in high society despite being the youngest son of King Finwë's third son Finarfin, though it had never come to anything serious.
But his first meeting with Andreth was so different that he could not find the right words for what had happened. He really was lost for words about their first meeting, apart from that it had felt as if the world had suddenly been sparking with colour instead of being different colours of grey. Not the short-lived beauty of mortal women before the bodily changes of motherhood and age started to claim them, but from how different she was in her soul.
“Would you like me to bring you something next time I come here? Flowers are easily found here in the meadows, but maybe a nice fabric for a dress or some jewelry?”
Andreth had to think about his offer for a bit. She preferred the clothing of her own people, though a dress made of elven-woven fabric sounded very tempting as a gift from him. If they were to marry as the first couple consisting of a mortal human and an immortal elf, and following the tradition of a bride moving into the home of her husband after the wedding, then she would need to start getting used to his culture. Aegnor would never force her to change herself, no, but trying to fit in, if just a little by wearing the same clothing, would perhaps make it easier for her to be accepted.
“I think...some simple jewelry in the form of a butterfly. Yes, a butterfly-shaped brooch of silver would look nice against my skin colour, and it can be matched with my other clothing too.”
The race of Men had awoken in the East, and among them who had arrived to Beleriand the House of Bëor had a light brown skin, dark eyes and dark brown or black curly hair inherited from those ancestors who had first awoken. Aegnor could see with his own imagination how a brooch of silver would be lovely on her.
“Then I shall give you that at our next meeting, beloved.”
They kissed each other on the back of a hand, a rather chaste kiss by most standards but that had its origins in that they were not married and both their people had some rather strict rules about courtship.
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As he started to ride back to the fortress where he and Angrod ruled Dorthonion as vassals of Finrod, a surprise awaited Aegnor half a day out of Ladros:
“Brother!”
It was none other than Orodreth, bringing his Sindarin wife Calen and their daughter Finduilas along on a trip to meet his three brothers now that their youngest family member was old enough to manage the journey without needing to rest very often.
“We thought it was high time to have Finduilas take part of her heritage of travels,” Orodreth greeted his youngest brother.
Of course, Minas Tirith was held in the hands of a trusted steward, because it was nothing uncommon for Orodreth to be away sometimes searching for new flora. In a way, the Exile to Middle-earth had turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Orodreth, who was able to eventually find a wife that did not find his chosen scholarship a strange choice for a prince of royal blood.
“A good choice, then, to travel in the blissful warmth of summer when the worst foes to face are bad weather and stinging insects like mosquitoes.”
Mosquitoes, gnats and similar insects were a torment not only familiar to mortal people, the Elves also hated them for the itching bites that remained on the skin and the only reason to why Orodreth's family were currently free from them was thanks to the insect repelling herbs that his brother had formed into thick braids for a stronger effect and fastened in their hair and saddles.
“Uncle, can you help me find some nice lavender flowers around here? I want to help atto and nana find herbs to make useful things for when we return home, like a lavender-scented soap for aunt Galadriel,” Finduilas asked, and her youngest uncle smiled at his niece:
“Of course, dear niece. It is true that your aunt can not leave Doriath often because she lives there with her husband, so I think she would be happy to get something you have helped to make. A soap with a flowery scent would be nice for her. Lavender is one of our mother Eärwen's favorites, too.”
The joyful smile from Finduilas was enough reward for him, since she loved to learn more about the relatives that had not joined the Exile.
~X~X~X~X~X~X
When Aegnor returned to Ladros in later summer, he gave Andreth the promised brooch of silver, shaped like a butterfly as she had wished it to be And just as she had said, it looked lovely on her clothing to bring out her colours.
“I made this for you. Our people might not be rich in valuable materials because it is some generations since our ancestors met the Dwarves of the East and made some brief trade with them before moving onwards on their journey from Hildórien, but given what you have said about the Grinding Ice further north…”
A knitted long scarf in bright colours. The sort of clothing that people never had used in Valinor because of its mild climate even during winters.
“This is the best gift I can have in this cold season of the year, because warmth was one of the best ways to keep us alive on the Grinding Ice.”
Her smile could have rivaled the sun, joyful as it was over his words. The scarf of wool was not only wonderful warm when he spun it around his neck, the bright colours seemed like a promise of the rich colours found during summer.