Stranger in the Forest by chrissystriped

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Chapter Three

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Turukáno smiled when he saw that Rog hadn’t come alone this time.

“This is Nalie”, Rog pointed at the nisse, “and Ravo.” He had white hair, not silver like many Teleri but white as snow. “I told the others about your offer”, Rog continued. “And they chose Nalie and Ravo to meet you, too.”

“I’m Turukáno. Turgon in the language of the Sindar”, Turukáno said slowly. Rog and he understood each other pretty well, if they both made an effort, and he hoped they would, too.” “I’m glad that you think about joining me.”

“We aren’t used to anyone wanting us close by”, Nalie answered in Sindarin. “And many of us have injuries that make it impossible for us to fight. What are you going to expect from us in return for your protection?”

Turukáno remembered that Rog had asked him what he wanted in return for the food he'd offered, when they’d met the first time. He shuddered to think what prices they’d paid in Angband.

“First, I want to make certain that you know you can leave any time, if the life I offer you shouldn’t be what you want”, he said carefully. He wanted to hit the right tone with them. “No one will force you to stay. No one will force you to do a work you do not want to do.” He felt it was important to say that. “Yes, we are here to fight the Moringotto, but we won’t turn away anyone because they can’t fight. We aren’t all warriors. We are building a city and there’s enough to do that is not linked to war.” T

he three elves shared silent looks among each other, Turukáno waited.

“And you don’t mind that we came through Angband?”, Ravo asked. “That you don’t know anything about us.”

“I hope to get to know all of you better, but I won’t interrogate you on your time there.”

“And all your people see it like that?”, Nalie asked.

“I told my father, the king, about my conversation with Rog. He is open to my offer to accept you among my people. You won’t be treated with hostility, but people will be curious.”

“And we can reconsider at any time?”

Turukáno nodded. “Of course. No one is going to force you to live with us. Have a look, get to know us and then decide.”

“As your camp is still under construction, we wondered if we won’t be just in the way”, Rog said. “We wouldn't want to inconvenience you.”

“It is true that living space is scarce at the moment”, Turukáno admitted, feeling awkward. “Although we are working hard to change that. We should have enough tents for a start, if you wouldn’t mind sleeping in the open for now.”

They exchanged amused glances.

“We only build huts in the winter”, Rog explained with a laugh. “And we, who lived in Darkness, delight in seeing the stars again. We don’t mind sleeping in tents if we know there’s a wall between us and the creatures of the Dark Hunter.”

It embarrassed Turukáno that he couldn’t offer better living spaces to elves who would be under his protection, the fact that they seemed to view houses as unnecessary luxuries changed little about that.

“It would be easier for me to plan for your arrival, if I knew how many you are”, he dared to say. He’d noticed that Rog got nervous every time he asked more specific questions about his people and he didn’t want to frighten them off.

The three elves shared a look and seemed to come to an agreement.

Rog said: “We are about thirty elves, but I can’t tell you how many will decided to move to your camp. It’s a huge change, you changed on the other side of the sea, and we’ve had bad experiences with other elves.”

“I won’t force you to rush into a decision. Take all the time you need”, Turukáno answered.

 

“You looked worried, the other day”, Rog said to Turukáno.

They were alone. Ravo and Nalie were already on their way back to the village but night had fallen and he’d thought it better to accompany Turukáno back to his camp. He’d noticed the elf’s vision was worse under star-light than theirs.

“My daughter noticed that I was gone and panicked. Since her...” Turukáno’s voice broke. "Since her mother died on the Ice, she’s afraid to lose me too. She gets scared when she’s left alone. My sister is good at keeping her occupied when I have things to do, but sometimes it’s not enough.”

Rog could see that Turukáno was crying silently and touched his shoulder gently. He would offer comfort, if it was wanted. Turukáno looked at him with tear-bright eyes.

“It hurts so much. I loved Elenwe so much and now she is gone! If Itarille didn’t need me... I don’t know how to live without her.”

Rog laid his arms around him when he leaned against his shoulder.

“It is hard to lose loved ones", he said. "Many of us lost someone in Angband. Spouses, parents, children, friends who were like family. If you want... I don’t know how your people grieve, but we come together sometimes and talk about our deaths, remember them as they were. Would that help you?”

“Maybe.” Turukáno sniffled quietly. “Findekáno was able to rescue his best friend from hell, but there’s no freeing someone from Mandos against Lord Námo’s will. I’ll never see her again. We... we aren’t used to elves dying. I don’t know how to cope with it. I feel so alone.”

“You aren’t alone”, Rog answered, rubbing his back. “I’ll be there for you, if you want me to be.” He did not know what Mandos was, but he'd help him in any way he could.

Death – and things worse than death – had been a part of his life for so long that he couldn’t imagine living without the knowledge that every day could be the last one. How would it have been to live in paradise, only to be thrown into the real world and realise that death was reality – and not to know how to cope with it?

“I’d like to see how you grieve”, Turukáno said finally and wiped his eyes. “If you don’t mind.”

“You are giving us hope for a better life”, Rog answered. “The least we can do is help you with this. I’ll let you know when we are ready.”

They walked on silently until the camp came in sight.

“Good night, Turukáno”, Rog said and squeezed his shoulder in sympathy. Turukáno smiled back gratefully.

“Save walk home, Rog. Be careful.”

Rog shrugged, feeling awkward that someone was worried for him.

“I’ll be fine. See you soon.”

With that he vanished in the darkness between the trees, but he kept his eyes on Turukáno until he’d walked into the safety of his camp.