The Passing of Dhodrimme

Silently Dhodrimme stood with her features turned towards the breeze streaming across the surface of the lake, though mountains beyond held her gaze.  Her attire was that of a grey silk tunic, soft brown doe-skin breeches, and a cloak of blue silk with silver threading along the edge.  It was simple, yet all she needed on this journey.

Out of the light mist that cloaked the clearing, Eomira appeared walking over to the silent maiden with a soft murmur, though her words were straight to the point.

“You're really leaving them?”

“And without word?”  Aedail added as he made his appearance as well.  The man limped heavily and leaned upon a staff for support.

Dhodrimme drew in a slow breath yet did not turn to face Eomira or Aedail as she paused, allowing a silent moment to pass before answering.

“My heart no longer dwells here, Eomira, it would be cruel of me to remain, when I cannot give my devotion to those I still hold dear...”  She spoke again as she turned the glance of her grey eyes towards them finally with a gentle smile.  “Would you have me give word to all and risk being hindered on my final journey, Aedail?”

Eomira turned, smiling brightly at Aedail's presence.

“Finally turned up did you?”  She murmured and touched the man’s shoulder gently before turning back to her friend. “I know old friend. The heart can't stay where it feels it can't belong”

“No,” Aedail responded with first a snort then a soft sigh, “but I expected you to at least tell those closest to you... I, for one, will not hinder your departure.”

Revontulet silently walked over to the others and stopped at Aedail's side.

“Neither will I” She spoke with a solemn expression, the feelings in her dark eyes deeper than usually.

Eomira glanced at Revontulet, smiled slightly, then looked back at Dhodrimme.

“You'll be sorely missed my friend...”

Dhodrimme nodded her head slowly, her glance lowering for a moment as she spoke. “As will I miss those of you here... each one of you, and those who are not now present... Even from beyond this world, after life is departed, I will miss you...”

Nodding for a moment, Eomira bit her lip to fight back tears before taking Dhod's hand and pressing something into it, saying, “To remember me by...”

Her Stewardess Ring lay in the other woman’s palm.

With a lowered glance to the ring in her hand before raising her eyes, Dhodrimme shook her head.

“I cannot take this to where I am going, my dear friend, you would not have it back... Would you still have me take it to the highest peak of the Grey Mountains and there let the snows be its home?”

“It has no value in this world any longer, save only as a keepsake of a different time.”  Came the reply as Eomira closed Dhodrimme's hand around the ring. “Take it.”

Frowning at Dhodrimme's words, Revontulet murmured, “So you're not going-...”  Leaving the sentence unfinished, she lowered her gaze in realization, and tears filled her eyes.

“Then I thank you, Eomira, for the thoughts shall be with me then...”  Her voice then softened as she turned her glance upon Revontulet.  “Nay, I am not leaving these shores in body, only in spirit...”

Shaking her head and wiping her eyes fiercely, she began to protest, “But... but...” Letting out a sigh Revontulet looked at her friend again, accepting her choice. “The White City... You must, don't you?”  She still murmured with a saddened smile.

“Nay, the White City holds nothing for me and I have nothing for her... my eyes shall see it from only a distance perhaps yet nothing more can I do in this battle... My task is completed, and my time was well spent...” Dhodrimme replied.

“That it was Dhod, and don't ever allow yourself to think differently”  Eomira responded with a determined nod.

Nodding, Revontulet spoke.  “I know. And for some the battle is already over. And for some it was a new beginning.”

Revontulet turned her head as she heard a cry from the forest and a young man walked over and placed a newborn baby onto her arms.  She thanked the man then turned to Dhodrimme.

“Here's someone I want you to meet before you go.”

Wonder crossed Dhodrimme expression and she offered a slow, yet cheered smile.

“A new life, a new beginning, and with this I set my heart at peace, for as one life ends, a new must begin.  May it be that of your child, my dear Revontulet.”

With that, she drew first Eomira into a warm embrace then Revontulet with her left arm, her right arm still remaining immobile.

“I have smiled, I have laughed, I have cried, I have felt both pain and joy... I have lived and I have lived to know you, to know the others... I would change nothing, I regret nothing...” she spoke again.

Eomira embraced Dhod tightly with a nod.

“You've seen more than all of us put together, Dhod, and persevered through it all.”  Eomira said before pulling back, giving an encouraging smile. “I'm glad I got to be a small part of your journey”

“So am I.”  Revontulet reiterated as she embraced her friend warmly, minding the child in her arms, yet unable to hold back tears.

“Dhodrimme..it's been an honor..”  Aedail spoke finally as he limped forward, giving her a sideways embrace due to the staff in hand.

Touching her lips and forehead with her fingers and then placing her hand on her chest, Revontulet again spoke, “My friendship, love and loyalty... I would have died for you, my friend.”

“You were all a large part of my life... the part that brought me to truly live life as it should be lived... as though it was only one lifetime, for previously I lived in my immortality...”  Dhodrimme responded, nearly overwhelmed with the devotion they showed as she returned the embrace given by Aedail, nodding slowly before speaking again.  “Likewise it has been my honor, Aedail...And I thank you, Revon...The child there shall receive that devotion now...”

Taking in a deep breath she cast a glance towards the lake, her voice quiet.  “I will ride Shavain to her homeland hills, and there I shall release her... from there I shall travel on foot to the peaks of the Grey Mountains and look my last upon the lands I love best...”

Eomira brushed tears away and stepped aside slightly. “You'll always be immortal here Dhod...in story and memory”

“And in song. We will always remember the warrior maiden, the star among us...” Aedail declared.

“Remember those who made the warrior maiden who she is also, Aedail, for without them, the star would have had no light...” Dhodrimme insisted.

Eomira spoke with a nod, “But the light came from within...the radiance of her own kind heart”

Revontulet, having been momentarily silent, spoke again, “If it must be that way, I will give my devotion to this child. If she is part of my future, she shall know you, and among my people she shall be known as Silmarwen.”

Dhodrimme swallowed at the honor given by Revontulet, and her grey eyes glimmered with unshed tears.
“You hold me too high in honor, all of you, yet I thank you for that, for all this is what has kept me strong and given me reason to smile”

Standing behind a tree, Morrigan’s small brow creased as she regarded the others clearly making farewells.  The young girl took a deep breath, her green eyes widening.

Eomira glanced back seeing Morrigan and smiled gently while motioning to her.

“Come on little one. You have as much a right as any...”

The young girl pushed out of the trees and walked towards Dhod falteringly, stopping before the small group.

“I didn't know you was goin' away.”  She tried to keep her features under control as she spokes in a small voice.

“Ai, do not call her little, she is a growing girl now!”  Dhodrimme spoke first to Eomira, her features carring a wider smile as she offered a hand towards Morrigan.

“Come... You I shall miss dearly indeed, for all the devotion you have shown... Indeed I am leaving... but my spirit shall be with you, and the others, for all times... if you look to the stars, there among them shines the Ruaathiat, and it is by that star you may speak to me, at any time, from any place...”

Morrigan took Dhodrimme's hand, not saying a word as her face crumpled and she hugged the woman tightly.

Revontulet closed her eyes as streams of tears poured from them.

“We will always think of you fondly. It lightens my heart to know that you will be close to the sky.”  The Northerner murmured.

Eomira in turn lowered her eyes for a moment, then calmly raised them to look towards the vast sky before glancing at Dhodrimme.

”Aye, the world will be a little less bright without it's star...but the night will shine even more”

Having to depart, Aedail swiftly offered his farewell, “If I ever seem far away...”  He quickly unfastened a string from his harp, offering it to her as a token before taking his leave.

“And I thank you, Aedail...”  She murmured as she inclined her head, placing the string safely in her vest pocket.

Morrigan finally shook her head, the incomprehension of a child softening her features and furrowing her brow.

“Y'can' go away Dhoddy. Y'me mam.”  The young girl blurted.

Dhodrimme drew Morrigan close against her with her left arm and held her comfortingly, her heart paining to see the girl's turmoil.

“And I will watch you still, Mor... Yet my heart is not strong enough to keep me here... my spirit longs to be freed...”  Speaking these words, she raised her glance to Eomira and Revontulet, the tears finally slipping down her features.

Taking a shuddering breath the young girl fought to keep tears at bay as she murmured, “I ken. I ken.  I'll m-miss ye.”  She paused and forced her voice and accent into submission, repeating, “I will miss you.”

The woman leaned to press a kiss to the top of Morrigan's head softly with gentle words.  “I will also miss you, dear...”

Revontulet embraced Dhodrimme one more time before taking a step back in order to glance upon her face one last time.  The embrace was returned with a gentle smile.

”I love you, my friend. Thank- Thank you, for everything.  May you find peace.”  Revontulet spoke.

With those words, the Northerner turned around and walked into the forest, crying on her way.  In much the same manner Eomira departed, and Dhodrimme bid the woman of Rohirrim blood a fond farewell.

“May the Valar watch over you and keep you...”  She murmured as the two women departed.

“Don' fergit to wash behind y'ears ev'ry night, an' eat y'veggies. 'kay?”  Morrigan insisted with a forced smile, the last remaining individual in the star-maiden’s farewell.

“Indeed I shall be sure to do that, dear Mor... and you better do the same”  Dhodrimme promised with a slow grin working across her features, her hand moving to ruffle Morrigan’s hair gently.

“I'll wash me ears. I ain' eatin' nuthin' that came outta the dirt...”  The young girl wrinkled her nose.

“Then eat plenty of fruit... they come from trees...”  The woman smiled.

“Will ye e'er come back, Dhoddy?”  Morrigan question, bypassing the comment on the fruit.

“Nay... I will not return, dear Mor... “

“Oh.”

Morrigan’s voice sounded as though the wind had been knocked from her.

“...okay.”  She again spoke then swallowed with a frown to maintain stern control on her features.  “Righ' then.”

Stroking her hand slowly over the girl's head, the woman took in a slow breath offering a reassuring word.

“I will always be with you, though... just in a different way”

Eyes flickering, the girl had heard this sort of phrase once before.

“Dhod. Ye ain'... gonna... gonna die. Are ye?” she questioned in a quiet, level voice.

Lowering herself to her knees in order to draw the girl into a more level embrace, Dhodrimme spoke no word, her silence answering the question.  She had not the slightest notion of how she would tell this girl.  Failing to move and return the embrace in shock, for a while Morrigan tried to fathom the situation on her own before giving up.

“I don' understand. I can' understand,” the young girl spoke suddenly.

Attempting to explain, the woman murmured, her own understanding of her heart’s turmoil minimal, “I may have been immortal, dear one, yet I pledged my heart to a mortal and in doing so, bound my life to his... he is gone... and now my heart fades and will not hold for long.  Can you understand this, dear Mor...?”

Morrigan nodded slowly, though her eyes betrayed that not all of it was quite within her grasp of understanding.  She was a brave girl, however, brave beyond her years and she lifted her chin.

“...I...can. A bit.”  Saying this, she shook her head slowly, trying to retain her strength.

“Mor, promise me this...” Dhodrimme began, “Promise me that you will let yourself cry when you need to... after all... girls need to cry now and then “  Allowing a soft smile to cross her features, she set a hand upon the girl's shoulder before continuing.  “Then, after you've had a good cry... raise your chin and stand strong. You have a good life ahead of you...”

Nodding, Morrigan took a deep breath and agreed, “Yeah. Okay.”  She paused, and then added under her breath, “Not when nobody can see me, though, tha's f'sure.”

The woman released a quiet chuckle, unable to help but do so at the young girl’s courage.  While speaking, she pushed herself carefully to her feet.

“Alright dear.... Not when they can see you....”

Giving a weak smile and taking in a deep breath, the girl spoke with utmost sincerity.

“Keep an eye righ' 'ere, Dhoddy.  A candle'll be burnin' f'you.”

Embracing the woman one final time, Morrigan then turned to flee before she completely broke down.  After returning the affectionate embrace, Dhodrimme smiled in a bittersweet manner, her grey eyes watching the young girl leave.

“I shall watch.... closely...” she murmured in parting.

Swallowing, the maiden turned to face the shore of the lake, her features calm, though holding a vague sadness as she looked upon what she would see never again.

“Dear to me has this place been.... filled with memories...”

Slowly Dhodrimme turned from the view, murmuring her words as she left with silent step, meeting with her mare though pausing to glance behind before pulling herself into the saddle.  She raised her voice slightly, addressing her mare and daring to turn her glance in a Northwest direction, to the location of her fate.

“Here follows our last journey together, dear Sun Storm... our last adventure”

The maiden sung gently as she rode to the North, her voice softly and sweetly drifting through the forest in elven star-born grace for the last time:

“Round the corner there may wait
a new road or a secret gate,
and though I have passed them by
a day will come...
I will take the hidden paths that run
west of the moon and east of the sun...”

Dhodrimme’s voice faded with the distance that grew between her and the Place of Memories: the star-born maiden departed, never to glance upon the faces she loved best, never to walk again the earth she knew as home.



And so she came to pass through the hills and the valleys, beyond all that she knew, to the mountains she loved best.  At the foot hills of the Grey Mountains she paused for a week’s time, spending those moments beside the streams and pleasant meadows to watch her mare, Shavain, run free with the winds to which the faithful steed had been born.  The last day was bittersweet parting as the star-maiden spoke her final farewell, freeing the mare from all bond and devotion.

After this she began her ascent to the peaks of the foremost of the Ered Mithrin, pausing often, for weariness was in her body, yet her mind had begun to free.  Slowly, even though she had not yet reached the summit, her spirit was fading from her earth-bound being, yet with each step she saw before her eyes the memories which had been gathered in her many years, good and troublesome alike.  It was a long and difficult journey, lasting several risings of the sun, yet she would not stop and she would never return.

Upon the highest stone of the mountain she stood for the seemingly longest moments of her life, the land around her spread endlessly.  Her keen elven eyes of grey looked to the North and saw the Northern Waste, to the East and beheld the Iron Hills, to the West the remnants of Angmar, and to the South, oh the South!  She beheld for the last time the lands she loved most!  Oh how the memories stole through her thoughts and wrenched at her heart so relentlessly!  Far, far beyond the fading glory of Lothlorien, far beyond the grace of the Horse lands of Rohan, she dared to believe she saw, even beyond the expanse of Mirkwood, the gleam of the White City where she once walked with the one to whom her heart had been bound, Aemornion.

It was at this memory, as a smile graced pale features, she closed her grey eyes while the chilled winds of the high airs blew back the flaxen lengths of flowing hair, strewn with the silver that seemed of stars.  She thought to those who were dearest to her, to those who would find sorrow in her passing, and in a whispered pledge she promised her star to them for their safe keeping.  From her neck she removed the jewel bound there, holding it beyond the stone edge of the mountain’s peak and releasing it to the grounds below.  For a moment it seemed to float, the gem of palest blue caged by purest silver, before its light was shattered and lost on the rocky surface.

Until the sun set in colors so glorious and pure, she stood, silent as the wind blew, yet there were none to look upon her save for the faithful falcon which circled the dimming skies, come to bid her mistress farewell.  Stars lit the sky, while a distant moon began to rise, and it was in that moment that weariness stole over Dhodrimme and she lay upon the cold stone, yet no discomfort had she, for she was at peace, her heart was at peace, her mind at peace, and her soul set free.

When the sun rose again, the light fell upon her slender form, yet the figure held no life.  Features cold and fair, framed by waves as golden wheat, seemed to hold more beauty than it could ever have held in living, with an expression so calm and soft now spread across.  At her side was still the sword she cherished most, used in honor, in glory, and with pride.  Tahlathemar had served her well, and now it would rest with her, as well as the token of ring and harp string pressed still into her palm.  Snow began to fall, and slowly the peaks of the Ered Mithrin were covered, as was the body of the departed maiden.

So it was, the passing of the star-maiden had come to be, and Dhodrimme Rualanna, known to some as Silmarwen Idril, and to others as Lady Dinien “The Silent One”, would walk no more through the hills and valleys.  Yet as was her parting promise, her star, the Ruaathiat, gleamed bright in the memory of those she loved dearly, never to abandon them.