Light in a Ruined House by Himring

Light in a Ruined House

‘You can talk to me about them, you know,’ said Celebrian.

Elrond started slightly and then his face assumed, again, the noncommittal look he used to deflect uncomfortably probing questions.

‘I am the daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn,’ said Celebrian. ‘Of course, I have heard about the Sons of Feanor from them and from other Sindar. That does not mean you cannot talk to me about Maedhros and Maglor. I will listen.’

She squeezed his hand.

‘I will not tell you not to feel how you feel.’

It almost felt like betraying a confidence, but haltingly he began to speak.

‘One time, I woke up in the middle of the night in a ruined house’, he said. ‘It was one of many abandoned houses in Beleriand slowly falling to pieces. We sometimes stayed there.  The wind blew terribly through cracks in the walls; it howled with the voice of wolves. I sat up in my dark corner and looked toward the door and saw Maedhros’s intent face, lit by moonlight leaking between the roof planks. He was watching out for us, standing guard. Maglor stirred and came over. He wrapped me in an extra blanket to keep out the cold…’

Chapter End Notes

2 x 100 words according to MS Word.

The first drabble is from the "Never Shall I Ever" round at the Insta-drabbling session. My chosen character was Elrond and the prompt was "betray a confidence". I feel I cheated slightly, perhaps, but I hope I cheated creatively!

The second drabble is a response to a poem by Izumi Shikibu, in the translation by Jane Hirshfield: "Although the wind...' Although I have used the poem's description quite literally, my intention was also to invoke the situation as a metaphor, as I believe the poet was also doing.