#leiheth

[swanmaids]

the butterfly effect

in which goldberry remembers her mortal love from long ago.

goldberry x lady of the blue brooch 

written for @tolkienocweek day 1 prompt “diversity”

500 words

The ways of Elves and Men say that one may take only one other for their beloved, but I am neither Elf nor Man and my heart is as wide and deep and ever-moving as the river that nurtured me. There is room enough for more than one within it. 

Once I loved a maid. In fact I have loved many maids in time, but this tale concerns one in particular, who I met on the banks of the Withywindle at the ending of an era. Leiheth, her people - for she was a much-beloved princess- called her, Sweet One. As a name, it fit. Comely she was, dark-skinned and dark-eyed with her hair twisted into braids that she wore piled atop her head, fine-boned and fair of face. Fair she was in spirit too, always smiling and with a pleasant laugh like a babbling brook, despite the bleakness of the time. She disliked to sing, but after so many centuries with my husband I was tired of singing, so this was fine. 

Leiheth was a princess, though in name only, of what Men then called Cardolan. In fact, she was the last princess Cardolan would ever have, and all knew it. Her brother vassal-ruled a fortress of a rapidly crumbling kingdom, clutching a fragile frontier from the Enemy. Gentle Leiheth did not fight in the way he did, but she tended the wounded in flesh and spirit, and was no less valuable for it. She had little in the way of fine jewels or clothing, it having mostly been traded for weaponry, save for a fragile blue-jeweled brooch that she was never without. And it was this tender and delicate woman that I loved. 

Whenever she could escape her duties we met in my waters, though each time was all too brief. In the summer, she would take off her shoes and wade waist-deep into the river, her dress clinging to her body and revealing the shape of her waist, her breasts. She would smell of rainfall and water lilies, and when I kissed her it felt like forever. In winter, the ice across the river would creak when she stepped onto it, and the silence in the frigid air told me that, no, we did not have forever. Still, I pressed my lips into the dip of her throat, and the solidity of her body reassured me that we still had some time, and must make the most of it. 

Time can be cruel in the way it erodes the memory like the river erodes the stone. Nowadays, Cardolan is little more than rubble, and the name of Princess Leiheth means very little to anybody. Nothing remains of her but that butterfly brooch. There is nobody to remember the scent of her perfume, nor her love of listening to the morning birdsong, nor the sight of her mouth and fingers stained red with the juice of the blackberries we picked together. Nobody, of course, save myself. And now you. 

[swanmaids]

self-indulgent oc moodboards 2/?

leiheth of cardolan, the “lady of the blue brooch”

beloved of goldberry 

younger sister to the last prince of cardolan, leiheth, meaning “sweet one”, was well named. she was much beloved among the people of cardolan for her kind heart, intelligence, and cheerful nature. 

leiheth was highly skilled in the healing arts. it was said that she knew the uses and dangers of almost any flower to be found in cardolan, as she was a highly curious woman and spent much of her spare time exploring the land in order to research and categorise plant life.  it was likely during one such excursion that she came upon the mythical “goldberry”, who she frequently met by the withywindle river. the two women are known to have had a romantic relationship, despite the latter’s long standing marriage to the equally mysterious “tom bombadil”. 

 during the war with angmar, she nursed and gave comfort to the injured and dying, becoming a symbol of hope among her people. however, she died tragically shortly before the destruction of amon sul, after contracting a fever present among many of the troops. she was interred in the barrow downs with her brother. she lived to be 45 years old. 

leiheth is associated with a blue brooch that she frequently wore on her shoulder. she was also often seen with flowers braided into her hair. she was considered very fair, and her easy smile and laughter was often remarked upon by those who knew her. 

[swanmaids]

hi, for the ask game could i have 4, 13, and 28 for darling leiheth? i love her 🥺💕

Of course you can!

4. Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them?

Caring for the injured and dying during the war with Angmar. Although she remained outwardly strong for the sake of her people, witnessing such suffering caused great mental stress and strain to her, potentially weakening her and making her more susceptible to the fever that would kill her.

13. Is your character bothered by the sight of blood?

Blood in itself- no. Blood + suffering- yes.

28. How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?

Very slow- Leiheth is a healer not a fighter. She carries a small dagger for self defence but fervently hopes to never have to use it.

[swanmaids]

can i have 6 and 7 for leiheth please?

YOU SURE CAN

6. Does this character have recurring themes in their dreams?

Plants/flowers/trees, Goldberry of course, Vana and Yavanna, swimming, water in general.

7. Does this character have recurring themes in their nightmares?

She has semi-prophetic dreams about Cardolan’s impending doom. She also has nightmares about drowning.

[swanmaids]

11,15,19 for an oc of your chosing :)

THANK YOU!!

11. This character’s favourite piece or pieces of clothing.

Limmeth (Thranduil’s wife) is most often seen in her simple hunting furs, being a passionate hunter and the one who taught Legolas how to use the bow.

15. What cologne or perfume they would use.

Signy gravitates towards simple and elegant scents I think. Something delicate and unobtrusive.

19. When they feel safest.

Leiheth (Lady of the Blue Brooch) feels safest by the Withywindle river with Goldberry. When you’re with your supernatural gf in her personal domain, you’re in pretty safe hands I think.