Against all odds

Chapter seventeen Legolas’ arrival

On the hilltop that led visitors into the valley, showing it from it’s best side, a lone rider sat on his horse. He slowly and lovingly took in the sight. Imladris was truly beautiful. He had fought his father long and hard not to come here, but now he was glad his father had made him go. The whole ride he had done nothing more than curse his father and the entire valley of Imladris but now he blessed them both. He wondered why he had never seen it’s beauty before. Twice he had been here, but never had he seen what he saw now.

He shook his head to clear it and kicked his horse in motion. Trotting slowly the horse made a way down the hillside and followed the road.

Suddenly two arrowheads made contact with his skin. ‘What? When?’ He had not heard anyone in the vicinity and these were town-elves, not wood-elves, so how could they have sneaked up on him?

“You are trespassing. State your name and business that forces you to cross our borders.”

Glorfindel and Elrohir had kept a close eye on the approaching rider, but had not recognized him. As the stranger came closer and closer they had nudged their arrows and now held them close to the other’s face.

“Who am I? You have some nerve. Lower your weapons and don’t bother me.” Giving an answer that was politically correct was far from his mind now. He was annoyed and mad by the way he had been received. He kicked his horse in motion again, but Glorfindel jumped before him and stopped the horse. “That isn’t a wise decision, stranger. Now answer me.”

“No! Let me pass. Your lord will hear of this.”

The threat was wasted on Glorfindel. He raised his sword but before he could point it at the other’s throat, Elrohir had jumped next to him, holding his hand. He looked at the Peredhel in wonder.

“Peace, Glorfindel, ata will not appreciate it when you kill visitors from befriended realms. Look he wears the Mirkwood colours under his cloak.” Elrohir had whispered everything in a low voice, close to Glorfindel’s ear.

Glorfindel looked at the strange elf. He didn’t like it. “And what would a Mirkwood elf be doing here. We have never seen one here?”

Now he was really angry with Glorfindel. How could that blasted elf talk like he had never been in Imladris before. “I am from Mirkwood yes and I carry a message from my king. As I have twice before. If you had possessed something like a memory, you would have known me. Now let me through.”

But Glorfindel shook his head. “Not without a name.”

Elrohir immensely enjoyed the whole show. It was quite obvious Glorfindel and the Mirkwood elf did not like each other.

“Prince Legolas Thranduilion of Mirkwood. And you are?” Legolas made sure to let his voice dripping with disdain.

Before Glorfindel could react Elrohir had already jumped towards the prince. “Legolas? Man, why did you not say so. You’ve changed too much, I did not recognize you, my friend. Mae govannen. Elen sila lúmenn’ omentielvo.”

Legolas looked puzzled. Apparently this elf knew him and if the greeting was anything to go by he should have known the other as well, but he didn’t. But he didn’t let it show. “Mae govannen. Nae saian luume’”

Elrohir whistled for the horses and he signalled for Glorfindel to mount as well. But Glorfindel shook his head. “No, the borders need to be checked. I don’t want orcs crossing them.” ‘again’ he added in his mind.

Elrohir nodded and then guided his old friend to the manor. He was unaware that Legolas had not recognized him. After handing the horses over to the stable boys he signalled for Legolas to follow him, but they did not get far.

About to enter the house a deer jumped in front of him and blocked his path. Elrohir released a yelp. He had not expected a wild animal this close to the house. Legolas immediately nudged an arrow and he would shoot if the animal would endanger Elrohir. But shouts, coming from the right, stopped him.

“No, no, do not shoot him. He belongs to master Elrond.” The stable boys closed in on the scene and approached the deer.

“What, pray tell is a deer doing here?” Elrohir did not know about his father coming back on a deer.

“Don’t know. All we know is that lord Elrond requested we give him the best of care. They seem to be friends or something. It carried the lord back a couple of a days ago, you know, when…”

“Yes, yes, it’s alright.” Elrohir quickly interrupted the stable groom, before the boy spit out the whole story. “Take it back to the stables then. I will make sure he visits you, my hoofed friend, but first I have to show our guest to his room.” Legolas put the arrow back in his quiver and followed Elrohir to his rooms.

After making sure Legolas had everything he needed Elrohir hurried to Erestor’s room.

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Elrond had given Erestor another check up and had ruefully decided Erestor no longer ‘needed’ his presence. He had silently left, leaving his heart behind as he had so often. It would have been easier to bear had he known Erestor would be coming back, but Erestor had made it crystal clear he did not wish Elrond’s presence what so ever.

Erestor had seen what his decision had done to Elrond but he had not come back on it. No matter how much he pitied Elrond now, he was determined to make him suffer. He felt angry with Elrond for the pain and loneliness he had suffered over the last months and now he would make the Half-Elf feel what he had felt. He put his own miserable feelings to the link they now shared.

When Elrohir was knocking on his door, Erestor thought Elrond had come back, to try and change his mind yet again. Annoyed he opened the door, his face set grim. Seeing Elrohir did not mellow him down. He merely stood in the door opening, nearly scaring Elrohir away.

The young Peredhel swallowed and addressed the counsellor. “I am sorry to disturb, Erestor, but I need to talk to ata.”

Erestor narrowed his eyes and then turned and closed the door. “Not here.”, was all he said to Elrohir, who had trouble believing his own ears. “But… but… you… he… Where is he?” But no further commend came from behind the now closed door. “Well, if you see him, tell him his deer wants to see him.”, he shouted through the door, before walking away.

Elrohir was getting more and more worried and, speeding up his pace, he hurried to check his father’s rooms. His soft knocks were answered with even softer words. Elrohir peeked inside, scared of what he might see.

Elrond was sitting behind his desk, the picture of utter failure and misery. Elrohir quickly entered and jumped on the desk. “Ata? What happened? Why aren’t you with Erestor?”

If Elrond had any more tears left, they would flow again, but the didn’t. He was all cried out. He looked at his son, eyes almost empty. “I destroyed everything. Erestor rejected me.”
Elrohir didn’t know what to do or say. He just sat there, eyes wide and mouth agape. Elrond smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. “Why did you come?”

“Well, the grooms say your deer is getting troublesome. You should go see him ata. Oh, and Legolas is here.”

Elrond’s smile widened at the words and he stood. “Ayia, I have totally forgot about Linyenwaer. You’re right, I should go see him. He has much knowledge to share with us, Elrohir.”

He walked out his rooms and headed for the stables, Elrohir falling into step besides him. “I didn’t know you had a deer.”

“I don’t owe him like we do the horses, Elrohir, he’s a friend. He carried me here when Erestor…..”, he faltered, seeing Erestor again as he had laid there on the floor of the Room of Fire, blood all over.

Elrohir put his hand on his father’s arm. “Maybe your deer will know what to do, ata.”

“I hope. And maybe Aiwë can sing for Erestor again. Would you go by later today. I cannot stray to far from the house. It will give Erestor a set back.”

“I will, ata, but I should go play host to Legolas now.”

“Elladan or Glorfindel can do that.”

“No, I’d rather not disturb Elladan today, ata, and Glorfindel is checking the borders again, though I had the feeling he was fleeing for Legolas.”

Elrond chuckled. “Let me guess. Legolas’ arrival was not expected and Glorfindel and he ended up insulting each other?” Elrond saw the speculative look on Elrohir’s face. “Aye, it’s happened before. For some weird reason they just don’t get along.”

Elrond pushed Elrohir into the direction of the guest quarters while he continued his way to the stables.

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They had been walking quite a while and now they were on the gardens’ edge. There where the gardens joined the rest of Imladris. Elladan had plunged down, pulling Lindir down as well, and now they were silently enjoying the view.

Lindir could sense the gloom that still was within Elladan. He looked up and saw a way to bring some hope back. “Elladan look.”

Elladan looked to where Lindir was pointing but all he saw was a large dark cloud hovering before Arien. indiindir sighed, he had to explain. “Don’t you see how it resembles the situation here? The happiness and colours are clouded by a dark shadow. And see how even behind that dark and large threat the rays still come through, how they still shine?”

Elladan now understood was Lindir was trying to say. How he was trying to cheer him up. He smiled sadly at Lindir. “I know, Lindir. I’m just afraid the cloud’s too big this tim

Lindir sighed. He understood, but there was nothing he could say to make Elladan feel better. Nothing sensible anyway. So he pulled the Peredhel into an embrace instead.

Elladan was grateful for the comfort Lindir offered and he leaned in, almost instantly sitting back up again. He was rubbing his abdomen. “What is that?” Elladan pointed to Lindir’s pocket in which he obviously carried a small item around which had collided with his abdomen.

Lindir un-pocketed the item and showed it to Elladan. “Oh, I am so sorry. I forgot I was carrying it there.”

“What it is”, Elladan asked again. He had never seen something like this and wondered what Lindir used it for.

Lindir, seeing the genuine wonder in Elladan’s eyes, arranged his clothes so the item would not fall from his lap and started showing Elladan what it was. Various tunes came to life as Lindir’s fingers expertly touched the small snares and switches.

Elladan’s face became one of surprise. He had not expected it to be an instrument. He watched Lindir closely, trying to figure out how it worked. It sounded lovely. “Can it accompany a voice?”

“Aye, Elladan, it can, but not like this. You see these knobs here? They are pushed in now, ensuring a soft sound. It’s too soft to accompany a voice. You wouldn’t hear the music anymore if you sang now. But if you pull them out, the tones become louder. And the instrument I have to use is in my room.”

Elladan nodded, but still ld fud funny. Lindir laughed and happily showed Elladan how to play. He gave it over, so Elladan could hold it. Following Lindir’s instructions Elladan now played himself. He enjoyed it more than he had ever imagined. Elladan had always stayed far away from instruments. As a child he had used to say they would come alive and haunt him. The imagination had gone away as Elladan grew older but the instinctual dislike of instruments had stayed.

He looked at Lindir, mirth in his eyes. “I enjoy this. It’s so different, but it sounds so lovely.”

“I know, I had it made for me. It took twenty years to make it. I always wanted a harp to carry around, but that was impossible. But not anymore. Those switches create and change the depth of the tone you play. Thanks to them one snare can be deep, warm, cold or hollow, depending on what you want.”

“You should play it in public.”

“Nay, the harps and flutes provide enough music to accompany the voices.”

Elladan narrowed his eyes. A well known sign. It meant he wasn’t going to pursue it, but sooner or later he would corner the other when there was no way out, getting his way after all. “What’s the name?”

“It doesn’t really have a name, like the flute or the harp. But I’ve named it Lindóma”

End chapter seventeen
TBC

Translations:

Mae govannen. Elen sila lúmenn’ omentielvo means Be welcome. A star shines upon the hour of our meeting.

Mae govannen also means well met

Nae saian luume’ means It has been too long

Lindóma means singing voice. It’s compounded from lindië and óma. Lindië comes from the verb Linda- to sing.

Note:
I grow tired of constantly adding complete glossaries. Rest assured that I do my utter best to make proper Quenya. But if you still wish to know how I made the sentences, mail me.