6. Two Meetings

Where vines enveloped, trellis-trailing,
She sat, eyes melting, memory-misted.
Then birdsong ceased. 'Hail, Nèhaléni!'
With wary eyes
- she turned, intent -
- In swift surprise -

Bent to bow, a stranger's smile:
Black eyes bright, skin tawny-tinted:
Strong as steel and leopard-lithe:
A hunter's silent pace:
- a stance assured -
- such feral, feline grace. -

'Your leave, my lord! I would know your name!'
He frowned. 'Morfindel, the king's near kin.'
'Mine are the hunters who haunt the hills above,'
'Stealing - stalking - slaying such men
'As by folly or greed
- 'dare enter our haven,' -
- 'the land of our need.' -

She stared, half-stood. He smiled, reassuring
Held out his hand. 'Such men need no mercy:'
'Mere vagabonds, vagrants, landless outlaws,'
'Slave-taking soldiers for cruel kings.'
'But enough now of men!'
- 'You have strolled in our gardens -
- 'Come see them again!' -

Then pacing the path soft footsteps fell.
The lady looked, her eyes alight:
In wordless welcome raised her hand.
Morfindel frowned, eyes glittering glanced
From side to side,
- falcon-fierce -
- with passion and pride. -

A second's silence: Morfindel's mirth
Released itself wryly in lilting laughter.
He strode from the scene: elegant, graceful,
Casual, cool, silent, strong.
'A business before me has grown quite pressing.'
- 'To Daeron I leave -
- 'the garden's blessing!' -

She shrugged and shifted her seat to one side.
Daeron sat beside her. 'I am glad of Gonnmar,'
'Of this Hidden Home,' she sighed. Soft
There shone a faint sheen, opal-pale
That filled her face:
- An air transcendant, bright -
- with glowing grace. -

The minstrel's mind was elsewhere, absorbed.
At length he stirred, looked up, then spoke:
'Soon I depart,'
- 'For dark waters woo me -
- 'and draw me apart.' -

She stood. 'So soon?' she stammered, then stopped.
He nodded. She sat. Her cheek's bright blushing
Faded slow.
- 'I'll miss you,' she said, -
- 'And regret you must go.' -

Abstracted, he stood. 'Come Nèhaléni,'
'At feast I'm invited
'To sing a song.'
- She nodded, then numbly -
- she followed along. -