Chapter 5 – Part 3
Chapter 5 – Part 2 Chapter 5 – Part 1
Chapter 4 – Part 2 Chapter 4 – Part 1
Chapter 3 – Part 2 Chapter 3 – Part 1
Chapter 2 – Part 3 Chapter 2 – Part 2
Chapter 2 – Part 1 Chapter 1
by Silent Draco
Chapter 5, Part 4 – Visitations and Wonders
The fifth course began with a shellfish remove: oysters and clams, some of which the Halflings had sampled. Their hosts were amused, as the Haflings searched for and tried using the unusual Elvish tableware. To their shock, the second remove was a very large, succulent crab. The Halflings blanched and averted their eyes; Frodo grasped his neck in panic. Each explained (with difficulty) their encounters with land horrors akin to these. The king and queen apologized for the oversight, and had servitors whisk these away and replace them with fine biscuit. They cheered up at the final remove: a large, delicious cut of a great sea fish, served with a dill sauce and a tart white wine.
The Teleri lords stood and begged leave to permit their bards and singers to take the floor. “Your Majesty, our bards beg to present a new sea-chantey: the Lay of Samwise the Steadfast.”
A Halfling came to sail the wave,
The briny deeps he sought to brave,
To journey West was now his due,
For healing to be made anew!
And Hail to Samwise, small but brave!
Our ship and lives he fought to save;
For monstrous Watchers far below,
He mustered arms to strike a blow!
Aback was taken by the Sea
Of plunging deck and billows free;
Yet summoned strength of mind and eye,
The mortal danger did espy.
No stature to remain on deck,
Below was sent as creature wreck
Did strive to rend with mighty blow,
And drag to peril far below.
And Hail to Samwise …
A Watcher with a ghastly arm;
Nay three, nay four, did seek to harm
The Halfling; grasp and drag aside,
Devouring in the Sea so wide.
Then Samwise struck a mighty blow
With Elvish blade, to cause it woe!
Four severed arms did flail about;
We heard his prayer and mighty shout.
And Hail to Samwise …
So steadfast and to duty bound,
He summoned aid from all around;
We charged with blade and pow’red Sun,
With falt’ring step behind, limped one.
Undaunted by the beastly smite,
The steadfast one had swayed upright,
Up ladder to the pitching deck,
He came to halt a ghastly wreck.
And Hail to Samwise …
He passed up arms and stones of Sun,
Onagers hit with ev’ry one;
Two horrors of the deeps engaged,
And prayers answered by Great Ones’ rage.
The Evenstar on high did smite
A fury blast, so lambent bright;
Lord Ulmo’s mighty trident flare
Did stab to vanquish in the air.
And Hail to Samwise …
When loss or save is peril’s choice,
A doughty heart can find a voice.
To rally hand and troubled heart,
To flame and to the warrior’s art.
Though small of stature, heart of steel
Can rally others, though they reel
From terror, claw, and evil eye;
We praise the Halfling to the sky!
And Hail to Samwise …
Had he been able to lift some paving-stones and burrow, Sam would be long disappeared. Instead, he listened intently, but partway through he grasped his left arm in remembered pain. A moment or two passed, and he relaxed, thinking “The Great Lady, Lady Este, healed me oh bless her. But oh, I was so afeared! Did I really do that?” Eärwen picked up his barest murmur, and quietly reproved him. “Young One … the greatest of our warriors and Heroes are not without fear. They learned to master their fear and use this in judgement, to the consternation and fall of their foes. Later, you may hear the Lay of Fingon, who hammered on the very gates of the fortress, challenging the Great Enemy himself to single combat. He forced him to emerge from the pits of Thangorodrim or be scorned by all as craven. The blows he smote left the Great Enemy halt and lamed thereafter!”
The Teleri bards concluded the tale. The ship-master and Lord Olwe rose with their chalices, bowed to Sam, and feted him: “Hail, Samwise! A small warrior with the heart and spirit of a giant!” The King and the assembled notables rose, bowed, and drained their goblets in Sam’s honor. Sam, thoroughly abashed, stood slowly and blurted, “Me Lords and Ladies, Your Majesty … I … I … I thank ye fer this,” and sat with a thump. Under the sound of more cheers and joyous laughter, a stranger quietly approached from behind the Queen Eärwen’s board. He bowed, first to breast as a warrior will, and asked quietly, “Master Samwise, please do not stir; the Lay in your honor makes me quite curious. May I come to your apartments, so we may discuss some of the details in a quieter locale? Your feats and your blade interest me, but a great feast is not the place. May I ask for Trees-Day, at the third hour after dawn?” Sam nodded, then assented in confusion. “Thank you. Here is my sigil, that you may know me at our meeting.” The Elf handed Sam a small plaque of silver, worked with a white tree and fountain. The queen’s eyebrows shot up in wonder, but she quietly affirmed to Sam, “A quieter, more private meeting will raise less interest, even here among Eldar alone.” She deftly changed the subject to details of the Teleri demonstrating spear, trident, and casting lines.
The next courses became lighter, small fruits, cheese, and pasties with wondrous drinks. All began to move about, and dance or sing as the evening opened; with a great cheer and a repeat of Bilbo’s Lay, they watched as Earendil soared aloft to patrol the vaults of the sky. Soon the Halflings were overcome, though mighty was their desire to see all of the feast. The susurration of fine drinks, and the heady air of song, voice, and lore in the air were sweet as honey-drops, but subtler and stronger than the finest old brandy. Olorin made their excuses, and helped the servitors to place them in a small cart for the quiet trip back to their apartments.
To be continued…