39. Scene IV.xvi
The Lay of Leithian Dramatic Script Project
BELOVED FOOL! BEYOND THE WESTERN SEA
SCENE IV.xvi
[Elsewhere: the Council chamber. Everyone looks tired and serious and frustrated, in a let's-buckle-down-and-solve-this-now sort of way -- even Luthien has largely given up being sarcastic.]
Luthien: [shortly]
Why do you think that having "fewer distractions" will help any? Nothing is going to change. You want me to give up Beren, I won't. There's no middle ground for us to reach.
Namo:
What do you think should be done? So far you've only stated negatives.
Luthien:
Not true -- I want him to stay with me.
Namo:
But you have no concrete suggestions for how that could be accomplished. Staying here as discorporate spirits is not a workable solution -- for either of you, willing or not. It isn't right, and it will end with him hating you, and vice versa.
[pause]
Luthien:
All right, here's a concrete suggestion: consult your Queen and King for their advice. See what they say.
Orome: [incredulous, leaning forward in his chair]
You want us to ask Manwe and Varda for their opinion?
[pause]
Do you have any idea how long it would take to explain it all to them?
Luthien:
Oh, I don't think it would be very long at all. Don't they watch and listen to what happens everywhere in the world? I expect any parts they missed, Thorondor and his family would have told them about already.
Vaire: [amused & appalled]
Dear me, you really do think the heavens turn about you, child!
Luthien:
But you were all watching, mostly. Weren't you?
Aule:
Do you really -- without any reservation -- think this is of the same magnitude as the crisis following upon the Treeslaying
Irmo:
Crises.
[at the other Lord's frown]
There were multiple separate situations.
Luthien: [simply]
It is to us.
Aule: [to Irmo]
It's all part of the same mess.
Irmo:
But there are distinct and several causes, though they are connected causally as well as chronologically.
Aule's Apprentice:
I fear I must agree with my Master, that it's a mistake to isolate and focus on selected incidents, without considering them as belonging to a centrality of causation -- namely, the sad case of Feanor.
Irmo:
But there's no making sense of the disaster if you merely lump it all together and blame it on the Eldar.
Orome: [in his most matter-of-fact, annoying tone]
Look, it's very simple. It all started when we let him out. Therefore -- we should never have let him out. I don't care what your sister says, she's just wrong.
[this sets off a chaos of fellow deities all speaking, or shouting, at once]
Vaire: [raising her voice over the fray]
No, that's not true, Tav, Miriel's tragedy predated it--
[Luthien sighs, and leans her chin on her hand, not looking hopeful of any quick end to this. Accidentally she catches Namo's eye as he lurks behind his teacup, shaking his head at it all, and as he quirks his brow at her she snaps her head away, not wanting to admit to a commonality of any sort. After a moment, as if struck by a sudden thought, she scrambles forward and dipping a handful out of the light basin, proceeds to start finger-spinning it as if it were a ball of carded roving with the same intent, pensive look as someone doodling on a clipboard during an interminable board-meeting...]
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