Heart of Flame: A Tale Of Sauron

Pearl Diving at Dawn

The muted roar of waves dulled to a quiet hum as she dove under the surface. Stroking against the tumbling current, her silver hair billowing around her like smoke, Luimëníssë scanned the sea floor.

It didn't take long to discover her prize.

A crevice in the glimmering reef showed a cache of unopened mollusk shells. Gathering them in the netted bag slung over her shoulder, her lungs aching for air, she pushed against the sand and rose to the surface.

She emerged into the bright morning air with a gasp, pushing her hair from her eyes. She had swum out far from the relative safety of her family's cove, but what her mother didn't know wouldn't hurt her. That was usually how she approached her adventures. Securing her discovery, she made for the glistening shore.

The sandy beach beyond was strewn with emeralds and opals. Pink crystals gathered in the tidal pools. She had helped scatter them as a child with her mother after they received chests bursting with jewels from her Noldor cousins in Tirion upon Túna. Her mother used to dwell in the city upon the green hill before marrying her Teleri father.

Wringing her long hair out over her shoulder, she climbed the stone steps to her family's home. The mansion of her father Calarmo stood daringly at the edge of a cliff and set apart from the others of Alqualondë. The youngest son of the Lord Olwë, the ruler of the Teleri, Calarmo was known for his charisma and audacious nature. His daughter had inherited his personality. There was almost nothing of her grave Noldo mother in her, except for her silver-grey eyes that nearly matched her hair.

Sneaking up through the tangled rose garden at the eastern wing of the home, Luimëníssë swung a white robe over her freckled shoulders and tied it at the waist to cover her drenched tunic and hose. Tip toeing up the marble steps, she slipped through the hidden door used by servants during feasts held in the gardens or at the shoreline.

In the cool of the palace, the airy domed ceilings glimmered faintly in the first light. Encrusted into the alabaster were shards of jewels and pearls. When Laurelin was in full bloom, the golden glow of day made their home iridescent.

Voices whispered as footsteps departed the cavernous feasting hall around the corner. Luimëníssë ducked into an alcove as her mother's two handmaids whispered past her. They would certainly tell their mistress if they spied her. The dark haired ellith* were Noldor third cousins and too prideful to play Luimëníssë's games of hide and seek.

Skidding down the hall into her bed chamber, Luimëníssë shut the door and pressed her back against it with a bright laugh. She slid to the floor and opened her stash. Rifling through the shells, she found a few large ones that appeared promising.

The elleth hopped to her feet and stripped off her soaked clothes, leaving them in a pile by her ivory vanity. Tugging on a periwinkle gown, she brought the shells onto a balcony overlooking the gleaming Bay of Elvenhome.

With a rough dagger pilfered from the kitchens, she cracked open the mollusks. Most held nothing but their fleshy inmates. Heartlessly, she tossed the hapless creatures over the balcony into the sea. Others of her hard-won horde held a smattering of pearls, varying in quality and size.

Some were icy blue, others blush, some the size of pebbles and others only seeds. But none were impressive enough. Not for the coming Feast of Pearls when the most beautiful pearl found by one of the Teleri would be judged the winner. This would be the last time she'd be able to dive for them before the feast.

There were two shells left. With a deep breath, she opened the largest one. Sitting on the pink tongue of an oyster was a pearl no bigger than the eye of a needle. With an exasperated groan, she tossed it aside.