1. Grace
Frustration dogs my weary steps out of the King's Council. One more inconclusive, tension-filled session: contradicting counsels on strategy, bleak reports of devastation and grief outside the Hidden Kingdom. Shining fountains, sun-dappled emerald of Tumladen's sward do nothing to appease my anguish. Striding heedlessly down to the great gate, I am hailed by its warden.
"Glorfindel, friend, whither do you go?"
"Turgon sends me out scouting. To what purpose ultimately? We know what awaits this fair city and its citizens - ruin to all our designs, as Mandos foretold."
"Hope remains," Ecthelion's fair voice soothes. "Let me show you Idril's way."
~*~
A/N:
- Ecthelion was an excellent singer, with "the fairest voice [...] and the most skilled in musics of all the Gondothlim." (BoLT2, The Fall of Gondolin)
- "But Idril Celebrindal was wise and far-seeing, and her heart misgave her, and foreboding crept upon her spirit as a cloud. Therefore in that time she let prepare a secret way [...] she contrived it that the work was known but to few..." (Silm, Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin)
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
