Against all odds

Chapter thirteen A new beginning.

A little red robin had flown towards the main house. It had wanted to thank his saviour.

Years ago he had accidentally been shot and left for dead. After long, painful moments a familiar elf had come by and picked him up. The dark-haired elf had tended to him and fed him during his recovery. And today was the day. Every year he had flown back to thank him again. One year he had been a day late because he had been too busy seeking his wife.

Elrond had worried when the bird had not come to thank him. He had feared the bird had passed away. So when the red robin showed up he had been ecstatic and had followed the bird to it’s nest. He wanted to make sure the female bird was alright. Just another reason for the red robin to pay his annual visits.

He landed on the balustrade that graced the south end of the patio. But Elrond wasn’t there. Now it was the bird’s turn to grow worried. Elrond had always been at this spot. Had something happened? But they always said elves did not get sick. But wait, Elrond was Half-Elven. Thoughts were reeling inside that little head.

He flew up and checked every window of every room. And yes, one room proved fruitful. He saw his saviour laying on the bed. Next to him was another dark-haired elf. He had often seen that one in Elrond’s presence. The two Elrond called his children were asleep on a couch and the blond slept on a chair.

Glorfindel wasn’t know by his name here. All the trees and animals referred to Glorfindel as the blond one. They hardly used names, but remembered elves by their characteristics. Elrond was usually referred to as the high elf or the one that heals. And Glorfindel was the only elf in Imladris with golden hair, so he had swiftly been marked as the blond.

The red robin wondered what was wrong for all thelveelves to be sleeping in the middle of the day. He did not want to leave, he wanted to do something. But he was just a little bird, what could he do. He thought he might bring some sound into the room. He knew some songs. So he flew inside, sat down on the bedpost and started singing.

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Slowly Elrond’s eyes opeand and filled with awareness. He drew in a big breath, the delightful odour of freshly trimmed grass hang in the room. He smiled when he heard a soft, gently song; a bird’s song. Locating it’s origin he cocked his head and his smile broadened when he saw the little red robin. “Mae govannen, Aiwë. Enloa ná vanwa?”

The bird stopped singing to hop a bit, showing he was pleased to hear his saviour’s voice. The bead-eyes focused upon the still unconscious Erestor.

“He nearly died. Will you sing for him?” Elrond hoped the bird could reach Erestor where they couldn’t. The bird moved to the nightstand next to Erestor and started singing again.

Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel woke up simultaneously, wondering what had awoken them. One look at the bed told them enough. They saw the bird singing to Erestor and they saw Elrond gently caressing the counsellor’s hair.

As on cue all three stood and moved to the bed. Even though their movements were sudden and unexpected the robin did not move or stop singing. He knew he was safe within Elrond’s rooms.

Elrond motioned for his sons to sit on his bed and he drew them into a tight embrace. He understood they had been gravely worried about him.

Elrohir looked at Glorfindel accusingly. “You lied to us.” The blond’s eyes widened. He had not, not to his knowledge. “You said we had to nurse them both back to health, but ata doesn’t need nursing.” Glorfindel shook his head. “Elrohir, don’t entice him to leave the bed premature. He is drained, even if he doesn’t show it now.”

Elrond looked at Glorfindel in thanks. He knew he had a lot to thank him for. If it hadn’t been for Glorfindel, things might have gone completely different. Not realising it himself he looked at Erestor dotingly when he addressed Glorfindel and his sons. “I am rather tired and exhausted, but I’m also worried about Erestor. Glorfindel, he doesn’t feel so cold anymore, does he? Or is it wishful thinking?” Elrond was so afraid he might be imagining it he needed reassurance and who better to ask than Glorfindel.

The blond sat down at the other side, making sure not too disturb the singing bird. He loved the song. Feeling Erestor’s skin he realised Elrond was right. “Aye, he does feel warmer. Mandos’ cold is gone.” He smiled relieved, he now was sure that both his friends would stay alive. He would not yet think about Erestor’s reaction to the bond.

The tension in the air was heavy and Glorfindel wanted to get rid of it. “Is it my imagination or have I seen this bird before?” Drawing the attention away would do the trick.

Elrond smiled fondly at the bird. “Yes, you have, Glorfindel. This is Aiwë. He comes to visit me this day every year. I think he woke us all up.” “Aye that he has” came the pleasant reply from all three at once. But Elrohir added. “Not all of us though.”

Glorfindel groaned. His scheme hadn’t worked. “Elrond, is there anything you need.”

“Some herbal tea for both of us, something to eat and sleep.” Before he was finished sleep had clamed him again.

“And some water for Aiwë” Glorfindel added. He figured the bird would like a refreshment. He took of to the kitchen to get everything while the twins made themselves comfortable on the couch again, letting themselves be lulled to sleep by Elrond’s feathered friend.

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He groaned as the darkness slowly made way for light. He was feeling extremely tired and hurt. Wanting to open his eyes to find out where he was, was hard. His eyelids weravy avy but he forced them open. But he had to close them again. The light was too bright. Was this Mandos’ halls? Had he really made it? He had to see; had to find out.

So Erestor forced his eyes to open and adjust to the light. He had to blink several times, but gradually he could make out forms and shapes. He waited until his sight was good enough to identify them. Everything was beginning to become clearer. He saw a chair, a desk, a wardrobe, a couch and a window. A bedroom, in Mandos’ halls? Erestor did not know if that was possible or not. ‘I should have asked Glorfindel what it looks like.’ he thought.

He realised there were people sitting on the couch, and the chair too. But they appeared to be slumped, asleep even. He decided to focus upon the closest shadow, the one on the chair. He groaned when he recognized it was Glorfindel.

All that had not taken more than a few seconds and now Aiwë’s singing registered in his brain. He cocked his head and saw the bird. It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He wondered if the Valar had send it? But then he noticed just which bird it was. He had seen it before, many times. Once a year it came to visit Elrond.

Erestor smiled at the bird. He suddenly did not care about anything or anybody. He was content to listen to the bird. He turned onto his side to give it his undivided attention. The bird, realising Erestor wanted to hear more, increased the melody and tunes.

The movement Erestor made woke Elrond up. He was still laying besides the counsellor and had put his hand on Erestor’s abdomen. When Erestor turned the hand fell away and Elrond awoke. At first he wondered why he had woken up, all he saw were dark strands of hair. But then he realised his hand was no longer resting on Erestor, the counsellor had moved. Elrond did not know if the movement had been made consciously or in sleep, but any movement was welcome.

He watched Erestor for a moment and realised that no matter what happened his heart would always belong to Erestor. He had been foolish to hide it for so long. It had led to so many dark days. But he refused to give in to those troubled thoughts. If he had learned anything the last days it was that it didn’t do anyone any good. And from now Erestor always had to come first.
A smile graced his face and Elrond could barely refrain from kissing the beautiful hair in front of him. He didn’t think Erestor would appreciate a stolen kiss. He turned to his side as well and put his arm around Erestwhomwhom he believed still asleep.

Erestor startled when a sudden arm embraced him. Shocked he bolted upright. Elrond’s arm was thrown away with such force it nearly catapulted the lord of Imladris out of his bed. The bird that had been singing a happy song emitted a shriek of panic which woke the others up. Their first glance was towards the bed and they were pleased to see Erestor sitting.

Glorfindel jumped towards the bed and unexpectedly hugged his friend tight. He had been so worried he could no longer contain himself. “Erestor, meldir, you’re back. Don’t leave again. You fool, you oaf. Don’t ever do something so stupid again.”

Erestor, unaware of what exactly had saved him, lashed out at the blond. “Don’t tell me what to do! And don’t save me, I don’t want it.” He would have loved to hit Glorfindel but he just didn’t have the strength. “Why do you think I sliced both my arms completely open?”

Elladan and Elrohir, who had approached the bed wanting to embrace Erestor as well now stood nailed to the floor. The words made them tremble in fear. Tears were slowly coming down their faces because of the scene.

Elrond, knowing this could escalate and quickly get out of control, spoke before Glorfindel had a change of replying. He could feel Erestor’s distress and pain through the bond. He made sure to keep his voice soft, steady and gentle. Erestor always had been alert to those sort of things. “Erestor, calm down, please, we almost lost you. You may not believe it, but we love you too much to let that happen. It would break our hearts.”

Erestod ind indeed noticed the honesty in Elrond’s voice. But he did not understand it. “Why?”

Elladan realised Erestor might not know about the binding yet. Otherwise he would not have asked that question. Or maybe he did not know what binging meant. Elladan himself had not. He decided to address this. The sr thr the better, he figured. “Erestor, do you know what kept you here?”

Elrond shot his eldest a death glare. Now was not the time for this discussion. Erestor had to heal first before they could discuss the future. But Erestor’s words made him realise his other half did not even know. “Glorfindel found me. In time you would say.” The words did not hold any emotion. Elrond locked his eyes with Glorfindel and the twins.

Erestor, oblivious to the silent conversation that was going on, spoke up. He did not want to talk about this and had to get their attention to something else. “Why is your bird here?” Although the voice had been soft, the burst out had strained him and his vocal cords, Elrond heard him. “Because it’s the anniversary...”

“No, ata,” Elladan interrupted, “that was yesterday.” He had always had a great sense of time.

“In that case, I thank you for staying Aiwë. What about your wife, though, she must be worried.” But the bird cocked his head, fixing one bead-eye upon Erestor, showing Elrond why he was still here.

Glorfindel’s laughter filled the room. “That’s right Elrond, you asked him to sing for Erestor. That’s why it’s still here.” Elrond now laughed as well. “You are right. And I thank you once more, Aiwë. I appreciate you didn’t leave and deprived my friend of your beautiful voice.”

This was too much for Erestor. He already had a hard time believing he was still here and that they actually wanted him here, but learning Elrond had asked the bird to sing just for him was too much. It made him realise that Elrond had meant what he had said the other day. A realisation that made him cry.

As his tears slowly made it to the blankets, the laughter in the room stopped. Elladan and Elrohir practically jumped on the bed, ready to reassure their friend of anything or to get anything he needed. But Glorfindel held them back. This was Elrond’s time. He signalled for Elrond to move. And that’s what the dark-haired lord did.

Elrond put one arm around Erestor’s shoulders and applied little force to draw the body closer. Pulling Erestor against his chest he encircled the back with his other arm, completing the embrace. He did not speak or wanted Erestor to speak, he merely held the other, rubbing soothing circles. Erestor didn’t really cry, but the emotions that created a turmoil storm inside of him were obvious to Elrond, partly due to the bond.

His first instinct was to move away from Elrond, but it felt to good. Erestor closed his eyes and took his comfort, trying to sort out his conflicting feelings.

When Elrond felt no more tears he pulled back, but did not release his embrace nor did he stop rubbing the soothing circles.

Erestor lowered his eyes to the bed. He appreciated it that the others gave him the time he needed, but he knew he had to address this sooner or later. But he rather didn’t. “I’m sorry” was all he could say. He immediately was embraced at all sides.

Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel had flung themselves on the bed, pulling Erestor in a tight hug. Even though Erestor had said these words so many times the last months, it had sounded completely different now. It was that difference that made them this glad.

When the hug was ended Elladan and Elrohir clumsily looked at their father and Erestor. They wondered how, when and if they should inform Erestor on this bond. And what Erestor’s reaction would be.

Elrond addressed them all. “Well, I don’t know about Erestor but I am in need of warm liquid and food. And rest, which means you three have to leave.”

Erestor held out his arm in Glorfindel’s direction. If Elrond wanted his rest, he should leave too. But Elrond laid his hand on his arm. “You do not have to leave, Erestor.”

Erestor thought Elrond was merely making up for his past behaviour. “I’d rather go to my own rooms. I’m more comfortable there.”

“But why?” Glorfindel could not stop the words form leaving.

“Im enhlara ulu akašâ.” Erestor’s words did little to clarify things, especially because they couldn’t understand him.

Elrond squinted his eyes. He had been the only one to recognize and understand the strange words. “Erestor? Why did you just speak Valarin?” Erestor looked at him as if Elrond had asked something impossible. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t speak Valarin. Now can Glorfindel please take me to my room?” Absentmindedly Elrond nodded. This was confusing him.

End chapter thirteen
TBC

Translations:

Mae govannen, Aiwë, enloa ná vanwa? Means Welcome, Aiwë, has it been a year already?
Mae govannen means well met/ be welcome
Aiwë means little bird.
Enloa ná vanwa literally means another year is gone;
en- again/another
loa year
vanwa means gone, lost, dead, over, missing, to no longer have.
ná means is ;
~ië is an old form of is, but it is hardly used, because of confusions. In this case vanwië meaning the past.


Im enhlara ulu akašâ means I can hear the water speaking there, because:
Im means I
En- means there.
Hlar- is the verb for to hear. The a is the single use.
Ulu is Valarin for water
Akašâ is Valarin for speaking.

Note:

I have a reason for Erestor suddenly uttering strange ancient words. That’s the beauty of Erestor. There’s so little known about him, we can do anything we want as long as hves ves in Imladris and works for Elrond.