Of Barahun and Merwen

In the time after Dagor Bragollach the people of the house of Beor who lived in Dorthonion were heavily pressed by Morgoth who ever sought to harm men wherever he could. One by one they were all slain or taken until only few remained with their lord Barahir. Among this people there was one Barahun who was called Dinenron which means quiet man for he was thoughtful and spoke only when necessary. His father had been slain by orcs who ambushed his company and left his mother to great grief. She raised Dinenron alone under steady fear of the enemy and her days were shortened by sickness and care. Dinenron had just come to manhood when she died. He mourned long for his mother whom he had loved and from that day on he would show his true heart to none fearing to be slain by grief. Bur yet the years passed by and left bitterness in him.
He was no great warrior but when there was great need (and that would be often in these times) he was valiant though he did not intend it for he only fought for the people he loved.

When Dinenron was but a score of years old, he entered the service of his lord. He came then to the house of Barahir and there he first met Merwen the maiden of the lady Emeldir, the wife of Barahir, sitting beside her chair. Her hair was of a smooth brown colour as were her eyes; as deep as Belegaer the great and yet as clear as a well. Dinenron deemed her the most beautiful child of Ilúvatar he had ever seen and he stood there sunk into her eyes. But then he was suddenly aware of himself and hastily turned his eyes elsewhere. From this day on he loved her and thus his doom was appointed.
In the years that followed he hid his mind and became even more silent than he used to be. Men wondered at this and sought to learn the reason of this but he would open to no one, not even to those few who were closest. In the depth of his heart a fire he had not known flickered and would become a blazing fire when he came to the house of Barahir.

The following spring came late. The snow melted, the new leaves on the trees were rustling softly in the wind, white lilies were blooming but naught did Dinenron see for he was ever deeply sunk in thought and brooded, only interrupted by the service in his lord's house.
A day came when he sought for company and went to the house of Barahir but finding the courtyard deserted he went inside the hall to learn where all had gone. There sat Merwen on her chair musing over a book. Perceiving that someone had entered she glanced at him and looked in his eye. Suddenly the smouldering fire of his heart awoke again and he could not bear his love any more for it had waxened althoughmuch time had passed since he had first seen her.
Merwen looked upon him with pity and kindness but she loved him not and with a darkened mind she left him alone but no more than a shell he was. All his passion seemed burnt out of him and his face looked grey and old yet it was not so.
As time went on the situation in Dorthonion grew desperate and at last Barahir sent the women away for he would not suffer them to be slain. He knew the journey would be perilous so he sent Dinenron with them for though he did not possess the gift of foresight his heart told him to do so.
Now Dinenron was torn in two for he loved his kinsmen and lord dearly but his heart was ever drawn to Merwen. At last he chose to go but some say his fate would have been kinder if he had not done so.
Thus the women of Dorthonion escaped the evil that befell their men afterwards but long and hard was their way. Dinenron led the company for his skills as a scout were marvelled by many and it is said that he was the only reason why they were not caught by creatures of Morgoth. But this safety was dearly bought for the company of Merwen kindled again the fire in him and made him even more quiet and pondering than ever before. Such torment did it work upon him that throughout the whole journey he ate and slept little or not at all so in the end he would look thin and haggard.
In the long hours of sleepless nights he wrestled with himself in mind mingling love with desire, drinving him insane and a black fire consumed him.
When they at last came to Hithlum he had become weary and desperate but he said nothing for he thought it would avail nothing.
These survivors of the house of Beor joined the people of Hador in Dor-lómin and amid their grief for their men were glad to be safe at last.
Dinenron gazed upon the lands which were to be his new home and they were beautiful. He would often sit now at Lake Mithrim and look at the stars.
In these days his mind began to change and despair left his thoughts and it seemed to him that this new chapter in his book of his life might tell of better fortune than the last ones.
Thus it was that he was once more sitting at the shores of the clear waters of Mithrim when he first beheld the Valacirca, the sickle of the Valar, and suddenly his heart found courage and the last remnants of despair left him.
It is said that the Valar were responsible for this because of pity for one whose doom lay heavy on his bent shoulders and ever since has the Valacirca been a sign of hope and bravery to men until they forgot the knowledge of the stars and most became wild and dark.
At this moment Dinenron perceived his own heart clearer than he had ever done before and was aware that he would never be wholly free of the multitude of feelings he had for Merwen. Still he knew it would destroy what was left of his heart if he yielded to them.
Thus he chose to avoid her presence though he also knew this would cause much pain. He then entered the service of Fingon, high king of the Noldor. He defended Hithlum alongside Húrin Thalion and his brother Huor against the increasing attacks of Morgoth and learned much wisdom of the Eldar whom he had not known before.
Thus he grew in mind and body. He became a wise counsellor and when he was kindled he was a sturdy though not mighty man in battle but his true strength remained hidden.
During this time Merwen lived in her lady’s house and took care of Túrin and Lalaith, the children of Húrin and Morwen Eledhwen of the house of Beor for she loved children and they would often play together.
Dinenron did not often go to the house of Emeldir where she lived for he loved but feared the presence of Merwen because he knew she did not love him and a part of his heart had become cold and sore of grief. When he was alone he made many songs of her calling her Elmeren, the happy star, which he would often sing to himself. But Merwen did not willingly speak to him either for she still pitied him and feared to stir his grief and love again.
Time would have passed without happenings worth telling of but their fate took another course. Slowly without noticing it her feelings changed. At first it was like a faint sound that grows louder and when one notices it seems to have always been there. Out of pity grew admiration and liking but she did never know because of the subtlety of these events. Thus it was that she was unaware of her heart so when they were together they would remain silent and dared not speak though they both desired it and had she known that he always wore a cloak and hid his true self much would have been amended.

Time passed on until the year of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad came and the Noldor princes formed an alliance to destroy the hosts of Morgoth. The men of Dor-lómin were busy in these days and many preparations were made and Dinenron too joined the host.
On the day before they were to set out he went to the house of Emeldir and sought to speak to Merwen.
That day he told her at last of his feelings which had remained throughout these many years and which she had deemed long gone and she beheld her own heart and suddenly she knew she had loved him for years and had not noticed and wept for she was overborne by grief and pity.
They spent what short time was left to them together and comforted each other.
When dawn came Dinenron said: “Now our time draws to an end and my heart is torn as it was so many years ago when we departed from the high lands of Dorthonion for I desire to be with thee but I have to defend this country and its people for they are dear to me. At last Elmeren my happy star I say farewell to thee and let us hope that the battle does not go ill.” And Merwen spoke: “Alas! My heart is filled with evil foreboding and I fear you shall not return to me but still you must go for your heart draws you. I will remain here and I shall wait for you.”
Their parting was bitter and seldom have any felt greater love and grief in the long ages of the world.
As Barahun walked into the mist that had come from the Ered Wethrin Merwen was suddenly filled with such longing that her heart seemed to burst and she cried out:”Barahun, fierce heart, come back to me!” He turned and gazed into her eyes for a long time and they stood still sunk into each other, reading each others mind, united and yet parted until the first glow of red appeared in the east. Then at last Barahun turned again and was swallowed by the mist and was not seen again. Now Merwen tasted the bitterness of love mingled with grief and hope and now she understood how he had felt from the very day on they had met.

Of the great battle in the desert of Anfauglith, how the men of the east betrayed Maedhros, how the high king of the Noldor fell and how the Edain and Eldar were utterly ruined is told elsewhere and last of all the men of Dor-lomin formed the rearguard of Turgon of Gondolin. It is told of Turgon’s escape and of the last stand of the men of the house of Hador. There Barahun stood next to Húrin and Huor, the mighty brethren and he fought for the people he loved and the land they all lived in. There are many songs that tell of this heroic fight and it is said that Barahun at last grew weary and his arms seemed leaden for he had been wielding his sword for many hours without rest. There he was hewn by an orc-axe from behind and feeling life leave his body he turned west and with his last breath called out the name of Elmeren so all heard it but none understood it. Thus passed Barahun the fierce hearted who found redemption at last.
The dead bodies of the fallen were afterwards piled up along with weapons and armours to a high hill in the Sindarin tongue called Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, the mound of tears.
When Merwen heard the news of the battle her heart was struck as if pierced by an arrow and she wept very long. At last she took leave of her lady and went to the pile of corpses that could be seen from afar. There she stood with a dead heart and cried: “Oh cruel fate that tore us apart! Ai! Aure ifírië, sí lóme túla!” Then she left the desert and wandered hither and thither without sense or purpose, an empty shell, dead inside until at last she fell into shadow and passed away and none know were her body lay.
Thus passed Merwen, the kind and just, called Elmeren and few have ever been moved so deeply by compassion.
The Valar were moved with pity as they seldom re and long sat silent but they were forbidden to interfere in the fate of men for Ilúvatar alone knows what happens to their spirits beyond the circles of the world and he has not told it.
It is said that Barahun and Merwen now dwell in the halls of Ilúvatar and wait for the day of doom and the Eldar marvelled once more at the strange gift of men and often wondered what might be its purpose but Ilúvatar has not spoken of it and even the Valar do not know.

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

that's really really good, eruhin - i love it. a really sweet story and very well written. it's very close to tolkien's style, and it reminded me a lot of the medieval literature i've been reading too - it made me realise how close tolkien was to medieval literature in style as well as content.

i'm especially impressed as english isn't even your first language (i am right in that aren't i? i'm sure i remember you saying you're german). i mean, i don't write that well and english is my mother tongue.

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<center>

**MY BOOK**

~ proud to be a shieldmaiden for christ ~</center>

wow that's nice. I actually tried to copy Tolkien's style. That's why it's so close to it. I read a lot of Tolkien books in English and just adapted a lot of sayings and all that. I wouldn't write a text in my English lesson that way because my teacher doesn't understand it...
In addition I love English but you're that I'm German.
It also took me a lot of time to find proper names for the two figures... but I'm glad you like it

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

That's very good, Eruhin. It's the closest I've seen a fanfiction come to emulating Tolkien's style. And with English being your second language, that makes it even better. Very well done.

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thanx too!
(I hope you don't mind I stole your banner... )

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

that was exactly my aim Elegost
Well I tried to write it as a Silmarillion story.

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><