Chapter 11
Time flowed in Gondolin like mead, slow and sweet. Life in the gardens of Lóriendir settled into a tranquil rhythm: tending the vibrant vegetation, conversing with visiting elves, learning from the tomes brought by Glorfindel, and continuing to use his gentle power to soothe the remaining weariness within Aridil. Though Turgon's house arrest remained in place, his expanded range of activities and increasing socializing had made Meereen almost forget the walls beyond the gardens.
With Meereen's careful care and her own powerful healing abilities, Arethel finally shook off the heavy fatigue that had always lingered with her, and regained the radiance of a white princess of the Noldor. Her first act upon recovery was to write a letter to Finrod, enclosing a Gondolin-style messenger feather shimmering with moonlight. She then dispatched a trusted cavalryman across the mists and mountains to deliver it to distant Nargothrond.
In the letter, she described in detail how Meereen had miraculously saved her life from Eol's poisoned arrow, and how she had been accepted by Turgon into the Hidden City. She emphasized Meereen's longing for Finrod: "He often read the tome you gave him by moonlight, and the longing in his eyes was like the longing of the stars for the sea." Finally, she warmly invited Finrod to come to Gondolin to attend a banquet specially prepared for him, and confidently promised: "When the time comes, my dear brother Turgon will allow Meereen to be with us!"
When the messenger from Nargothrond presented Finrod with the letter, which carried the fresh scent of Gondolin, the golden-haired prince's reaction brightened the entire hall. He first read over and over again in disbelief the part about Meereen in Aridil's letter, and then a pure joy, like the sun breaking through the clouds, illuminated his handsome face. He put down the letter, his blue eyes shining with excitement and relief.
"Meereen is still alive, in Gondolin." Finrod's voice was filled with uncontrollable joy. Although the letter was vague about how Meereen had entered the legendary hidden city, the news that his beloved friend was safe was enough to dispel the long-standing worries and concerns in his heart. He immediately replied to Ariel, gladly accepted the invitation, and began to carefully prepare for the journey to Gondolin.
On the night of the feast, Turgon held a grand banquet in an open-air garden surrounded by the King's Tower, which was larger and more magnificent than the small courtyard where the King of Meereen lived, to welcome his noble cousin Finrod and celebrate the complete recovery of his sister Aretil.
Clear streams were strategically channeled, winding across the smooth obsidian floor, creating shimmering silver veins. Vast white stone pillars, entwined with softly fluorescent vines, resembled living star arches. Countless lamps carved from pure crystal hung in mid-air. These lamps, illuminated not by flames but by elven magic, shimmered with soft, shifting spheres of light, like swarms of fireflies, illuminating the entire site with a dreamlike quality. The air was filled with the fragrance of tuberose, white roses, and a special elven brew as clear as snowwater. The melodious sounds of harps and flutes flowed like the moonlight itself. Elves, clad in the finest silks and mithril ornaments, danced gracefully in the moonlight, their flowing garments like a flowing river of stars.
Turgon sat at the head of the table, dignified and solemn. Beside him sat Aredil, her silver gown radiant, her azure eyes filled with the joy of reunion. Glorfindel, an important lord and "guardian" of Meereen, was also present. With Turgon's special permission, Meereen, wearing a well-tailored dark blue elven casual attire given by Aredil, sat beside Finrod.
When Meereen saw Finrod's familiar figure bathed in the moonlight of Gondolin, and saw his gaze, filled with warmth and joy, a surge of emotion washed over him, nearly choking him. He stood up, raised the crystal goblet filled with star-like wine, and his voice trembled with emotion: "Finrod! I am so glad to see you again! My heart shines brighter than this pearl fountain in the moonlight!"
Finrod also stood up immediately, his golden hair flowing with moonlight. He responded gracefully, his smile like the revival of the glory of the Two Trees of Valinor: "My joy is as deep as yours! Knowing that you are safe and have found a place in this beautiful city is the best news I have received recently! The springs of Nargothrond also flow clearer because of my longing." He gently touched the wine glass of Meereen, and the crisp sound seemed to open the music of reunion.
The two men sat down again, and the atmosphere of the banquet became even more lively because of their reunion. Meereen lowered his voice excitedly and said to Finrod, "I haven't been idle in the days you were away. In addition to tending the garden, I also combined some of the plant properties I learned in Nan Elmoth to come up with several new ointments and potions." His eyes sparkled with the light of an explorer and a sharer. "One of them is particularly effective for deep muscle strains and the dull pain left by certain dark forces. Another seems to be able to slightly neutralize the persistent discomfort caused by low-level curses. Although the effect is not as good as the advanced magic you teach, it is better because the ingredients are easy to obtain and the preparation is simple. I will go get it and show it to you!" As he said this, he stood up, nodded apologetically to everyone at the table, and walked quickly towards his garden residence.
Milin's figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor covered with fluorescent vines. The moonlight was like water, pouring down on the remaining four people. The cheerful music and distant laughter seemed to be separated by an invisible barrier, and the air around the main seat suddenly became heavy.
The gentle smile on Finrod's face gradually faded, replaced by solemnity and inquiry. He turned to Aretil, his voice low and clear: "Aretil, my cousin, and Turgon, Glorfindel, please tell me the truth now, why did Meereen appear in Gondolin? What about the serious injury mentioned in your letter? Why did Turgon tell me that Meereen refused to reveal the murderer who hurt you?" His eyes were sharp, penetrating the gorgeous appearance of the banquet and going straight to the core.
The light on Aretil's face dimmed a little. She put down her wine glass and let out a long sigh. Turgon and Glorfindel also looked at her seriously.
"Finnrod," Aretil's voice was bitter, "My wounds were not caused by wild beasts or accidents." She began to recount how she had been injured when she strayed into a giant spider's nest while chasing a white deer, and how she had been found unconscious in the depths of Nan Elmoth Forest by Meereen, who rescued her and healed her in a hidden woodshed. Her tone was calm, but when she mentioned "Nan Elmoth Forest," Finrod's eyes suddenly hardened.
"...At that time, in order to protect me and not to anger the master of the forest, Meereen placed me deep away from Eol's palace. Until I was basically recovered, we decided to leave together and go to Nargothrond to find you." Ariel's voice tightened slightly, "Just as we were about to leave the edge of the forest, a poisoned arrow shot at me from the shadows." She subconsciously touched the area below her left shoulder blade, which was once covered by a terrible wound.
"Eol." Finrod's voice was cold, like the sound of cold iron. When he pronounced the name, it was with a deep disgust and confirmation, not doubt.
"It was him." Aretil nodded, a flicker of fear and anger in her eyes. "That poisoned arrow was incredibly vicious. If Meereen hadn't risked his life to save me, using his unique powers to slow the spread of the poison, and carrying me through the dangers to find the entrance to Gondolin, I would have long since returned to the halls of Mandos. It's not that Meereen is unwilling to reveal the murderer. I think he is..." She paused, searching for the right words, "but is finding it hard to accept, or... unwilling to believe."
"Did their constant companionship instill in Meereen a bond with Eol... something close to friendship?" Finrod speculated on her behalf, his tone filled with understanding and sorrow. "In his heart, elves are all good. Even an elf as solitary, gloomy, and eccentric as Eol must be, like my kin and those of Nargothrond, inherently kind and good. He probably never imagined that Eol would treat another elf so cruelly, attempting to kill you with the most vicious weapon. To him, this was nothing less than a betrayal and disillusionment from a friend." Finrod's voice deepened, filled with deep regret and sorrow. "How I regret not being there to offer him guidance and support during his pain and struggle."
"Hmph!" Turgon snorted with suppressed anger. His features shone like a sculpture of ice in the moonlight, and the knuckles of his fingers, gripping the wine glass, were white with the strain. "Eol! That serpent that lurks in the shadows of the forest! Not only has he sullied the honor of the Noldor with his foul words, he has dared to lay such a cruel hand on my own blood." His eyes gleamed with cold murderous intent.
"Brother!" Aretil quickly grasped Turgon's arm, her blue eyes soothing. "Anger can't undo anything. Eol's sins will be judged by fate. What's more important now is Meereen." She brought the subject back to the topic. "There's one more thing, Finrod and Glorfindel. You may not know this, but Meereen moved into Eol's gloomy stone castle because his carefully built tree nest in the forest was completely destroyed by the Orcs, leaving him homeless."
She frowned slightly, a thoughtful expression on her face. "But then I carefully recalled Meereen's description, and combined it with my own experience searching for his dwelling in the forest, and something didn't seem right. Meereen's tree nest is extremely well hidden, cleverly utilizing the roots and vines of ancient trees. It's extremely difficult to find without careful searching. I also tracked the traces of his activities, and it took me a lot of effort to find the general area. Would a group of impatient and impatient Orcs really spend so much time and energy investigating and destroying such a hidden human dwelling?"
She paused, her voice holding a hint of chill: "I suspect that the so-called 'Orc attack' was most likely a play directed and acted by Eol himself. He deliberately destroyed Meereen's only refuge in the forest, creating the illusion of an Orc attack, and then appeared 'at the right time', using the sturdy palace and vast collection of books as bait to keep Meereen firmly under his own shadow. Because the existence of Meereen itself is an irresistible comfort to him." This inference made the three elves present feel a chill.
Glorfindel frowned, "Such deliberate planning... This is indeed consistent with the elf's sinister and paranoid character. In order to monopolize the 'light' that can soothe his dark soul, he did not hesitate to create chaos and may even use the Orcs as a cover." He recalled the deep loss hidden under the calm tone when Meereen first entered Gondolin, describing the destruction of the tree nest.
Finrod fell into a long silence, a heavy shadow cast over his handsome face. He raised his cup, but did not drink, his gaze fixed on the swaying moonlight in it. Eol's twisted possessiveness for Meereen, its depth and its despicable methods, far exceeded his previous imagination. The truth of the tree nest's destruction was like a huge rock dropped into the lake of his heart, stirring layers of doubt and cold anger. He needed time to process this chilling possibility.
Just as the heavy silence spread, light footsteps were heard from the corridor. Milin came back to the table quickly, carrying several small packages carefully tied with bark and vines, with a look of joy on his face, a sense of accomplishment and anticipation of sharing.
"Look, Finrod!" He ignored the delicate atmosphere at the table and excitedly placed the packages on the stone table. He carefully opened one of them, revealing a deep green ointment with a mixture of bitterness and a strange sweet fragrance. "This is it. It works very well for those old aches that reach deep into the bone marrow. I've tried it..." He enthusiastically began to explain his new discovery to Finrod, recounting his experience cultivating a special herb in the garden and the new botanical knowledge he had learned from the Elves of Gondolin. His voice was full of energy, as if the previous haze had never existed.
Finrod quickly shifted the gloom from his eyes, replacing it with a gentle, attentive expression. He listened carefully to Meereen's story, offering questions and praise where appropriate. Turgon and Glorfindel also adjusted their expressions, while Aretil offered Meereen an encouraging smile. The atmosphere of the banquet warmed to a new level of harmony, as if the whispers of betrayal and conspiracy had been but a fleeting illusion in the moonlight.
As the night deepened and the feast drew to a close, Turgon put down his cup and looked at Finrod. His majestic voice was filled with a rare intimacy: "Finrod, the gates of Gondolin are always open to you. Next month will be the celebration of the 'Gate of Summer'. The ceremony will begin at midnight, and the people will gather at the city walls, waiting in silence until dawn. When the first ray of sunlight pierces the darkness, ancient songs will resound through the clouds, welcoming the arrival of midsummer." His eyes swept across Meereen and finally returned to Finrod. "I sincerely invite you to stay and spend this festival with us. At that time, I will also invite my father and Fingon to Gondolin to celebrate with us."
A hint of surprise flashed in Finrod's eyes, and then he readily agreed: "It's an honor, Turgon! I have heard about the Summer Gate Festival in Gondolin for a long time. It is a gift from Ilúvatar that I can participate in person. I also want to take this opportunity to meet with Fingolfin and Fingon. At that time, I will send a message to Galadriel and invite her to come. I am sure she will also be happy to see the summer splendor of the Hidden City." He smiled, his golden hair flowing with a soft luster in the moonlight, but his heart had temporarily suppressed the shadows of Eol and the tree nest.
Moonlight flowed like water across the white walls of Gondolin and the gardens after the feast. Amidst the joy of reunion, Eol's long shadow lingered, lurking in Finrod's brooding, Turgon's coldness, and behind Meereen's smile, still filled with pure kindness toward the elves. And how much starlight and undercurrents will the upcoming Summer's Gate Festival bring together?
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