Summoned to Council by Lindariel

Alatáriel sighed, refolding the letter and letting it fall to her lap. Teleporno leaned toward her. "What is it?" he asked.

"My uncle is calling a family council," she said. "Like Tirion, Mithrim is growing too small for the House of Míriel and the House of Indis to share."

"Sparks will fly," Teleporno laughed. "It is lucky we are so far from that forge."

"O no," Alatáriel replied, "my big brother will be in the thick of it, and he asks that I come also."

"Then I will go with you. It is time we saw more of this land."

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Later Teleporno read the letter. Ñolofinwë, now High King of the Noldor, was hosting some kind of a summit meeting. Ingoldo did not just want to see his sister; he wanted her to represent her own interests in whatever was about to occur. She was not heedless like Írissë, to be shut out while elders decided weighty matters.

Along with his letter Ingoldo had sent three guides to bring Alatáriel to Lake Mithrim. If she -- they -- set out quickly she would arrive well before the meeting, giving the Fëanorions time to come to terms with her uninvited presence.

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The three Grey-Elves sent by Ingoldo led them northeast across the rolling plains for many days. They crossed Narog at its juncture with Ginglith because, Lathrandis explained, all other crossings were unsafe for horses. Teleporno eyed the rushing waters and frowned.

Alatáriel watched, knowing what he was thinking. "Not every river is as suited as Nenning for the sailing of swan ships," she said.

"Then we must keep traveling," he said. "Surely some other body of water on this trip would welcome swan ships."

"Do you think of nothing else?" she laughed.

"Almost," he said, turning to meet her eyes.

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After the Crossings of Teiglin led into the forest of Brethil, Alatáriel began to breathe more deeply. The open canopy of fragrant silver birch trees sheltered many plants she had not seen before, and the nightingale song reminded her of the gardens of Lórien. One plant seemed to cover every little hillock in the forest with star-white blossoms. "We call that flower uilos," said Thoneth when Alatáriel asked.

Thoneth also collected herbs as they went, healing herbs as far as Alatáriel could tell. But when Alatáriel asked about the red mushroom with the white spots, Thoneth just shook her head.

Chapter End Notes

uilos (S) -- also called "everwhite" (Westron) and simbelmynë (Quenya)

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Beyond the Ered Wethrin stretched shadowless plains. As they turned to follow another river northward, Alatáriel took great interest in the stands of mixed alder and pine trees and the myriad flowering bushes dotting the sloping prairie land.

One grassy meadow where they stopped to eat was scattered with little flowers, each a corona of white ray petals around a yellow center. "We call that flower eirien," Thoneth volunteered. Alatáriel was delighted to see countless black and white short-tailed sheep busily biting the heads off those flowers. While she sketched the sheep, Teleporno twined her a crown of the flowers.

Chapter End Notes

eirien (S) -- daisy

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They forded a nameless tributary of Sirion, then turned northwest and followed it upstream into the vales of Ered Wethrin. Though it was nigh midsummer, the weather in the mountains was cool enough that Alatáriel was grateful every evening for her heavy hood and cloak. How the three guides stayed warm enough in only their light, silvery grey cloaks, she had no idea. But they seemed happier now, unexpectedly breaking into song day and night. Thavron grew more friendly, talking shop with Teleporno about the trees in this part of the world and what their wood was suited to become.

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