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Once upon a time…
There was an elf maiden called Aredhel Ar-Fieniel, the Red Lady of the Noldor, who lived in the great, hidden city of Gondolin. She lived there with her brother, Turgon, the founder and ruler of the fair city, and was very loved by him and by all who dwelled there. After many years inside those walls, Aredhel became restless and asked for leave to visit their brother Fingon. He ruled in Hithlum, succeeding his father as king. Her brother had fallen ill and now rested in a secret house in the forest close to Gondolin. She wanted to visit him, as she wished to show him the beauty of the city, aiming to bring him the finest crafts he had ever seen. Turgon was hesitant to grant her leave, but after a long time, he finally agreed to let her go.
She travelled alone by foot, in a red velvet cape which she always wore, through the dark woods of Nan Elmoth. Turgon had told her specifically to avoid this path, but it was a shortcut to go to her brother Fingon’s house… He will not suffer from what he does not know, she whispered to herself. Just as she did so, she heard a crunching sound behind her.
Flustered, she turned around, but she saw nothing. Only the branches of the lonely trees. These woods were dark and cruel, and she wished to get out of here in haste. She was left with the feeling that she was not alone.
“Reveal thyself!”, she commanded. First, there was silence, but after mere seconds an elf in a dark cloak appeared in front of her. She was startled by his grim face, yet his hair shone beautifully in the darkness. He was tall and had fierce, burning eyes.
“Good day, my lady”, he greeted her.
“Thank you kindly, good day, my lord… Will you tell me your name?”
“My name does not matter. Whither away so early, my lady?”
“I’m to visit my brother, who has fallen ill. I have some gifts to bring him, you see.”
“Where does your brother live, my fair lady?”
“Hithlum, surely you know of it. But he rests now in a cabin, a couple of miles farther on in the woods. The house stands under the three large oak trees, and the nut trees are just below. You surely must know it.”
The dark elf Eöl, who was the master of these woods, thought to himself… What a beautiful lady, fairer than anyone I have seen before. So sweet and tender. What a lovely bride she would be to me, and what a beautiful heir she would grant me. I must act craftily, so as to catch both her and her brother. I must first get rid of him, so I can have her all to myself.
So he walked for a short time by the side of the red-cloaked lady, and once they came across the bank of niphredil flowers, he made a proposal that would fit his plans neatly.
“See, my lady, how pretty the white flowers are about here. Why do you not look around? I believe, too, that you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing. You walk all too hastily to appreciate the wonders around you that this forest can offer you.
Aredhel had not considered the beauty that surrounded them, because frankly, the presence of this dark elf made her uneasy.
***
Meanwhile, Eöl ran straight to the cabin where her brother Fingon rested and knocked at the door.
"Who is there?" he asked with a weak voice.
"Your sister", lied Eöl without any hesitation, his voice shrill. "I am bringing gifts. Open the door, please, brother!"
"Lift the latch," called out Fingon, "I am too weak and cannot get up."
Eöl lifted the latch, the door sprang open, and without saying a word, he went straight to Fingon's bed and slew him with his sword Anlachel. Fingon gasped as Eöl pierced the blade into his abdomen, and within seconds, the air from his lungs seemed to have gone out. Eöl did not know how long the lady would take, so he simply put Fingon’s body beneath the bed.
He then lay in bed and drew the curtains.
Aredhel, however, had been running about picking the snowlike flowers, so delicate in her hands. When she had gathered so many that she could carry no more, she remembered her brother and set out on the way to him.
She was surprised to find the cottage door standing open, and when she went into the room, she had such a strange feeling that she thought to herself… How uneasy I feel today, me who at other times loves being in the presence of my dear brother so much.
"Good morning, brother!" she called out. But she received no answer. So she went to the bed and drew back the curtains. There lay her brother with his cap pulled far over his face, and looking very strange.
“Oh, brother, you look unwell!” Aredhel gasped, “What large ears you have!”, she observed, because her brother’s ears were always hidden behind his long, lush hair, barely noticeable.
"The better to hear you with, sister", was the reply.
She noticed his big, rough hands so neatly resting over the covers. They were dirty, like he had just come from a day’s work in a forge.
"But, brother, what large hands you have!"
"The better to hold you with."
"Oh, but, brother, what a terrible big mouth you have!", she declared once she noticed the dry, plump lips of the elf who lay before her.
"The better to kiss you with!", a malicious voice answered.
Aredhel’s eyes widened, filled with distraught. Panic filled her eyes as she realised this could not be her brother. Scarcely had the dark elf said this, when with one bound he cast himself on the poor lady, and pinned her down on the mattress. “You look even more beautiful up close”, he said, before tasting her skin as she screamed. He bit her neck, his teeth grasping her flesh.
When Eöl had appeased his appetite for the moment, he lay down again in the bed next to the terrified Aredhel. Her skin had been as soft as he imagined.
Fingon’s guard, Inglor, who had regrettably been absent as Eöl made his way inside the cabin, heard the scream coming from inside the house and rushed inside the room as he noticed the open door upon his return. He had only been away for a short while to pick some nuts by the trees.
I must see if he is in need! How unfortunate of me to leave at the moment I did!
So he went into the room, and when he came to the bed, he saw that the dark elf was lying in it beside the elf maiden. "Do I find you here, you old sinner!" said he. "I have long sought you."
Inglor was aware of Eöl and his foul ways, and was always in search to slay him. Then, just as he was going to aim his arrow at him, it occurred to him that he might hit the elf maiden who cried loudly, but Aredhel pledged to him to save his life as Eöl cleverly shielded himself, using her body.
“Do not slay him, I beg you!” she cried out.
But he did not listen and made a fast ending of it. Inglor approached them and he finally found a good aim at Eöl’s heart and shot him. Aredhel screamed as the dark elf’s head fell into her lap, for she was dismayed although surely relieved.
"Ah, how frightened I have been. How dark my world became in the presence of the dark elf! Oh, my poor brother, what has he done to you!"
Then, they suddenly heard a sound coming from under the bed, and Inglor hurried to look under it, where they found a panting Fingon, but he was scarcely able to breathe. Alas, he was still alive. Then all three were delighted.
Inglor left with the body of Eöl to bury him beneath the nut-tree, for even if he had committed great sins, he needed to be properly buried.
Fingon opened his gifts from his sister and all was well again. Aredhel thought to herself… As long as I live, I will never, by myself, leave the path to run into the woods when my brother has forbidden me to do so.
After giving Fingon the care he needed, Aredhel went joyously home to Gondolin, and no one ever did anything to harm her again.
The End.