The Music in My Heart
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Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
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Category:
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
75
Views:
3,770
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings book series and movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 18 Yes, Piglet?
Title: The Music in My Heart, Chapter 18
Author: Sorsha
Fandom/Pairing: Elrond/OFC, Glorfindel/Haldir, Elladan/OFC, Elrohir/Legolas, others implied
Rating: NC-17 for future chapters
Warning: AU --- Story set 770 years after ROTK; Some slash but, mostly het
Feedback: This is my first fanfic, so constructive feedback appreciated.
Archive:
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Alex Cat for her help in betaing this fic.
Disclaimer: Any of the residents of Middle-earth and Aman that you recognize belong to Prof. Tolkien’s estate. The same is true about Middle-earth and Aman. I’m only visiting and admiring the “views”.
Summary: Sauron may be gone, but his legacy of evil still lingers. As Middle-earth faces the threat of another dark lord, a party of elves departs Aman on a mission for the Valar, a mission of mercy long delayed.
Chapter 18 --- Yes, Piglet?
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."
A.A. Milne
*****
“You do not paint a very happy picture for us this morning, ion nin. I commend you for your initiate in secreting yourself and your men in places close enough to overhear their conversation. It was a risky undertaking, but such opportunities must be taken when they present themselves. Your success speaks for itself,” Elrond observed.
“With this new information, it would seem we can wait no longer before moving against our three …now five it seems, spies. If they have found ways to undermine our defenses, we must interrogate them immediately for this information. I agree with your comment that we need to take them individually to avoid having a struggle get out of hand, but how do you propose to do this and not alert the others before they can be taken?” he asked.
Looking around the assembled, Elrohir offered, “I propose we slip a draught, perhaps a sleeping potion, into their ale or their food so that it would appear they have taken ill. We have several refugees go to the healers each day, so five seemingly unrelated men becoming sick would not seem suspicions to the others. It would also prevent the possibility of an arrest turning violent in the close quarters of the refugee housing or of one of them escaping in the resulting confusion.”
“Yes, I like the idea, but we must be sure that it is carefully administered to the right ones. If one or two were to not be dosed, that would result in the same possibility of their escaping.” Celeborn said. “How can we be sure we get our targets and no others? We must be sure that we are in complete control of the situation and that they are taken without a struggle. We must draw as little attention to our actions as possible. We also need to be sure they are taken alive, for the information we might obtain from them could prove invaluable.”
“We must also be sure that we have all involved as we do not want to run the risk of our enemies moving their plans forward more rapidly if they learn their spies have been taken. Are we sure it is only the five?” Glorfindel cautioned.
Elrohir expression grew pensive. “We have been watching the first three since their arrival four months ago. The other two have been here for several weeks. The five have been seen meeting as a group on two occasions and in smaller pairings regularly. We have not seen any other person that appears to meet any of the five on any regular basis other than those they encounter in a casual manner each day and those we have watched as well, but we can find nothing to suggest these casual encounters are anything but innocent. None are married or have any family with them.”
“This does not rule out the possibility that there are others present that are waiting for orders or with whom they are communicating in a less obvious manner.” He paused to consider carefully his next words. “You raise a just concern, Glorfindel, for I cannot offer absolute assurance we have not missed others doing a better job hiding from us. I do know these five give every appearance of being a threat and, even with the lack of certainty that there are no others, I still recommend we proceed. Perhaps we also need a second plan to monitor for subsequent suspicious activity if someone notices the five are missing.”
Elladan looked over at Ermehtar and suggested, “We need to watch our borders for several days looking for anyone trying to leave Imladris. Our attention is focused on someone trying to enter our valley without authorization, but we do not pay equal attention to those leaving. Ada, we may need to consider closing the border to anyone leaving without your approval to prevent news of our new security measures and the Convocation from being passed along to unfriendly ears.”
“A valid proposal, ion nin. We will need a set of protocols devised immediately. I know you have much on you at present, but we will need to implement this change immediately if it is to benefit us in this matter. Can you outline a process by mid afternoon? I would like to change the border protocols by the time the guards change the watch at nightfall. It can be announced at their daily briefing. I will be available when needed to approve the final plan. Each member of the council and the captains of the watch must also be informed so we have no miscommunication,” instructed the elf lord.
“Of course, Ada. This should not be too difficult a task to complete by afternoon,” the elder twin responded.
Turning to his Captain of the Guard, he ordered, “We will also need to make sure our internal security is on heightened alert to watch for suspicious behavior from any we may have missed. Ermehtar, will you see to this? We do not want to tip our hand nor do we want to alarm the rest of our population.”
“I will see to it, my lord. I assume you wish my report when you receive Elladan’s?” Receiving a nod of agreement form Elrond, Ermehtar jotted notes to himself on his assignment.
“As for the other matter, we will need to identify a means to administer the draught to our five. Glorfindel, you have been training the recruits from among the humans. Are there one or two that might be good candidates for helping with this task?” Elrond asked. Looking at his chief counsellor, he continued, “I know you have regular meetings with their leaders, Erestor. I ask the same question of you.”
“Not to interrupt, Ada, but you are you suggesting we recruit someone to give the draught to our five from among the humans?” Elrohir inquired, wanting this point clarified. Seeing his father’s confirming nod, he offered, “Might not a maiden have more luck than a male in enticing them to join them for a drink… without raising their suspicion? It seems to me that most human males tend to underestimate their females and would trust a woman far more readily than another male.”
“A valid observation, Elrohir,” mused Seere. “If, my lord, you would seek a female for this task, I can think of several that might be able to help. They are clever and have lost family to the Hordes. Further, they still have family here in Imladris to protect, so would be willing to help eliminate a possible threat to their safety.”
Meeting Elrohir’s gaze, she asked with a smirk, “Not to be crude, but are you thinking a comely lass to beguile them with false smiles or a motherly figure to disarm them with a maternal air?”
Grinning, Elrohir observed, “Based on our reports, at least two of our five would more likely find Elladan or me more comely than a maiden!”
Laughing, Elladan eyed his brother with a mischievous expression on his face. “If that be the case, I suggest we leave the matter in my twin’s capable hands for they would surely find him as comely as me! After all, this is a matter of internal security and that is Elrohir’s area.”
“I could not hope to compete with you in the art of seduction, gwanur-nîn. Your reputation precedes you!” retorted Elrohir. “Besides, you were the one that enjoyed frequenting human taverns in our earlier days riding with the Dúnedain. I am sure you learned a great deal about being both enticing and beguiling in such situations that would aid you greatly in this endeavor.” (my brother)
Used to the twins’ teasing, Elrond broke in before they could gain momentum. “Let us stick to the issue at hand, if you please. I am sure you can find time later to compare notes on your ‘skills’, but please do so out of my hearing. There are some things a father does not want to know!”
Shaking his head at the smirks on his sons’ faces, he turned to Seere. “I agree a female would raise fewer suspicions and may, for three at least, prove a distraction. Would your candidates be able to do this … give our targets the tainted food without giving themselves away? Not all can do this sort of task without nerves getting the better of them.”
“Aye, I think the two I have in mind should be quite capable of this. One ran a tavern with her husband and is used to serving drinks to all sorts with a smile on her face. She lost her mate along with her eldest son in the raid on their village, but has three surviving children to protect.” Sending a grin toward the twins, she offered, “The other is young and very pretty. She is the niece of the first and worked for her aunt and uncle in the tavern. She lost all of her family, as well as, her intended.”
Her smile turned sad as she concluded, “They have both told me they wish they had the skills of a warrior so they could join the army and fight those that killed their loved ones. I think they would relish having a chance to do this.”
Sharing the sad look, Elrond asked, “That being the case, can we trust them to do no more than feed the treated food or drink to our five?”
“I fear that would be a concern with any we select from among the refugees. The anger and fear in the Quarters is potent,” she replied, with a troubled sigh. “If word of possible Horde spies becomes known, we could have a mob on our hands seeking retribution. Tis a possibility we must be prepared to handle.”
Seere lifted her eyes to meet the intense gaze of the elf lord. “These are people that have lost all --- family, friends, homes, most if not all of their possessions; they feel violated and powerless. Most are grieving a loss. It was a blow to the pride of many to have to seek sanctuary here in Imladris, but they forced themselves to do it to protect their families. Many of the men feel like they are hiding behind the elves. Lacking an active vocation to occupy their mind and give them a source of pride, they are becoming restless and irritable. It would not take much to ignite their anger and frustrations.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Elrond acknowledged her concerns. “Another issue we need to be prepared to handle. This is a problem we must address sooner rather than later in any case. This may well help answer some of our problems with labor and supplies if they would like to work at their trades for a fair wage. But the issue of our five must be resolved first.”
Leaning back in his chair, Elrond studied his council. “How do we approach these two without our quarry noticing or it giving rise to unwanted speculation in the quarters?”
“That should not be a problem as I will be in the quarters for several hours this morning settling the new arrivals. I had planned to combine this with my weekly meeting with their leaders. Seere can attend me while I see to this and point them out to me. We should be able to arrange to talk with them during that time, thought I would prefer it if it was not a rushed conversation and that you have an opportunity to talk with them as well,” Erestor commented.
Celeborn, who had been deep in thought for the last few minute,s offered, “Perhaps we need to make much of your meeting with the leaders and draw as much attention to it as possible. Perhaps expand the agenda to discuss … no, better yet, ask for input on housing, security, interim work for their people… you get the point.”
Looking at Ermehtar, Celeborn proposed, “Two elleths from the guard should also attend Erestor in plain dress. Once our two have been pulled aside, the elleths could trade places with them and then stay out of sight until the women return. Again, we will need to make a show of your meeting, enticing the rest of the refugees to focus on it, even try to ‘overhear’ or contribute to the discussions. I would think this would engage the attention of our five. If we bait the hook properly, no one will be paying any attention to the comings and goings of two ‘attendants’. As it is raining, no one will find it odd if cloak hoods are drawn up to cover their heads and faces.”
“That would give you time to interview the pair and, if suitable, brief them on their task before anyone notices their absence. We could have supplies such as additional blankets at hand for them to carry back to Erestor to cover their return.” Settling back into his chair, Celeborn smiled at the assembled. “It might also relieve some of the frustrations of our guests for us to ask for their input and give them a voice in addressing some of these issues. As you said Elrond, this is an issue we must address sooner rather than later.”
Erestor and Elrond traded smiles before the latter mused, “It has been a while since I have seen that devious mind of yours plotting a mission, Hodoer. You recall to my mind the meetings we had in this very room planning strategy for the Last Alliance when you often did likewise.” (wise one)
Smiling, Elrond returned to the matter at hand. “Ermehtar, see that two female warriors are detailed to assist Erestor for the day. Talk with Seere and try to find two of comparable height, build, and hair color to the two she will bring to meet me. Tell them nothing beyond where to report and leave it to Erestor to tell them what they need to know. Have them carry weapons, but make sure they are hidden from casual sight.”
“Erestor, is it possible for you to prepare an agenda for such a meeting on such short notice? Perhaps take one of your assistants with you and assign the task of preparing a report of the meeting for you. Celeborn is right; we may well accomplish two objectives with one action.” Elrond paused for a moment, then added, “Make sure there are other guardians nearby to keep order. As Seere has rightly observed, we have an angry, unsettled situation in the Quarters and I will not take a chance on it getting out of hand and someone getting hurt… especially you and yours, mellon nin.”
Receiving a nod of agreement from his counselor, Elrond returned to the original question. “There are still a few pieces of this puzzle we still need to address. How do our ladies slip them the drugged … is it to be food or drink? We will also need to devise a potion, but the type will depend on the how we plan to administer it. I would prefer to cause as little commotion as possible, so a sleeping draught may not work.”
“I would suggest drink, Elrond,” Erestor offered. “Seere says both ladies have worked in a tavern, so should be comfortable circulating the dining hall with pitchers to refill empty glasses. They could each carry two, one tainted and the other not. This has the advantage of not singling out our five for special treatment. Maybe we could offer our helpers jobs working in the kitchens if they do well. We could use the help,” he mused.
“I am assuming the drink would have to be something heavy like ale rather than water to mask the taste of the potion. That would lessen the likelihood of someone getting the dose that was not supposed to, as none of the children and few of the women drink stout ale. All of the five drink ale do they not, Elrohir?” Elladan asked.
“Aye. A straight-forward plan with little risk to the two ladies and one likely to arouse little unwanted attention. What type of draught do you think would work best for this, Ada? Depending on their reaction to the brew, we will need to be ready to collect them once drugged. That too must be done with care so as not to alert anyone of our actions,” Elrohir offered.
Elrond paused to consider the question for a moment before answering. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms across his chest and began to mentally sift through potions and their properties. “A sleeping potion would, as I said earlier, not be my first choice because five men suddenly falling into an unnatural sleep in front of a dining hall full of people are not likely to go unnoticed.”
“While there are several draughts that would immediately make them quite sick, I would rather not use them as five men being taken suddenly sick during a meal might cause a panic. I can think of several potions that would intensify the effects of the ale and make them very drunk, very quickly. That could make them difficult to handle and cause a scene we would prefer to avoid,” the healer mused.
Turning to look at Seere, Elrond asked, “What suggestions do you have? You are the most familiar with what is available in the apothecary. We do not have time to brew something time consuming or which requires unusual ingredients.”
“Would any of the potions that you were considering that would make them quickly drunk be adversely affected if we added a mild sleeping draught to the mix?” the maiden asked. “Their being groggy and drowsy would make them easier to handle and would not look noticeably different from someone who has had too much drink. It is not unusual for a few to over imbibe at the evening meal.”
“Tis a good idea. I will need to review the manuscripts on those potions to be sure we do not create an unintended effect.” Sharing a grin with his fellow herbalist, Elrond observed, “I have never had cause to use any of them to get someone drunk much less drunk and sleepy! I will see what I can find in the library, but we may have to make an educated guess with what we know of the various ingredients. I will do the research this morning while you are assisting your ada. After I have met the two women, we can go to the apothecary to review supplies and consider our best options.”
Looking around the room, Elrond ran through the elements of their plan in his mind and then restated them for everyone to hear. “Have we forgotten anything? This matter is far too important to let fail.”
Hearing no further comments he made eye contact with each person present before continuing. “This matter is not to be discussed outside of this room. I think it best I tell our two ladies the five are wanted in Gondor for serious crimes committed there and are considered dangerous thus our desire to arrest them in a manner to prevent bystanders being hurt. Agreed? I suggest telling the two elleths from the guard nothing beyond their task. Once I have spoken to the two women, we are committed to carrying this forward for we cannot risk any hint of our plans alerting our prey. If any of your encounter a problem that impacts our plan, you will alert me immediately.”
Receiving a nod of understanding from all, the Lord of Imladris formally set the plan in motion. “I want this matter concluded today and the five taken tonight. We can risk their presence no longer and, if the Valar will it, we will discover much from them to aid our cause. We will meet here two hours before the evening meal to review final plans and make sure all is in order.”
Seeing nods from all agreeing to his instructions, Elrond turned to Erestor and asked, “Now, how goes our efforts to secure additional supplies….” and the meeting continued.
*****
Imladris, Second Age 3432
A soothing breeze drifted across the patio drawing a sigh of contentment from the elf slumped in the comfort of a large pile of cushions. Reaching up, he pulled the circlet of state from his brow and tossed it with little care on a nearby table. Ereinion lifted his glass of lemon water and took a deep, quenching drink before setting it aside. Snuggling deeper into his nest of pillows, he closed his eyes and pushed the worries of the day to the back of his mind.
/I could stay in this valley forever and never desire to leave. I find a peace here that I have not known in many years… though much of that may be from having Elrond close again. I have missed him these last years since he founded his own realm. If I could have done so, I would have ordered him to return to Lindon and attend me there, but it was not what was best for him./
A sad smile touched his features. /He hates Lindon. The rumors and intrigues of my court are not to his liking… as I can well understand. In truth, they are not to my liking either… especially since he left./
/Elrond inspires too much jealousy with his brilliant mind and quick wits. That he is beautiful in the bargain only makes him more a threat to those less… blessed. The addition of his gift of foresight unnerves so many. That so many whisper he achieved his commission as my herald by bending over my bed…/
Frowning, he forced his mind away from that painful topic. /No, he is far better off here in his valley with those that are so fiercely loyal to him. I love him too well to deny him a place of his own. Oh, that I could share it!/
The pleasant warmth of the sun, the caress of the cool breeze, and the hypnotic roar of the waterfalls began to lull him into sleep. On the edge of reverie, a though brought a pleased grin to his lips. /I did so enjoy the shock and outrage on their faces when I announced my intentions of formally naming Elrond my heir! He now carries Vilya at my request. Its power will only add to his strength. Those that mocked him will soon have to pay him court in this very realm that they took such pleasure in deriding. I only wish I could live to see their final comeuppance. I only wish I could live to share it with him… to serve him with the care and love he has given me. Oh, my love… if only./
*****
A silent figure watched his king’s face as it relaxed into sleep. Pleased that he seemed more at ease since his arrival, Elrond took a moment to enjoy the way the worries and strain that had marked his features seemed to drop away in sleep. The pleased smile on the king’s face drew a matching one to Elrond’s.
He had been shocked by how much Ereinion had aged in the years since last they had met. His worry over this change had been the principle reason he had accepted Vilya with so little argument. In his heart, he knew his absence from Lindon had been part of the reason. He had begun to suspect that Ereinion’s feelings for him had changed over the years and his decision to remain in Imladris after the War of Elves and Men had been, in part, a reaction to his own confusion over those feelings.
/Is he in love with me? I feel that he is. But, in truth, I do not know how I feel about that likelihood. He is dear to me… the most important person in my life. I find him beautiful and I have missed his lively mind. We share similar interests and he understands my sense of humor. But, do I desire him? I have never been interested in another ellon… and I am not sure I feel that way about him./
/Perhaps I do… but… my feelings for him are too tangled to know for sure. He has been the one enduring constant in my life since I was an elfling… longer even than Erestor and Glorfindel. He… along with Cirdan and Celeborn was my standard for what an elf should be… what a leader should be. His is my friend, my mentor, my king… but can he… is he more? He is not, quite obviously, the auburn haired elleth I have long seen as my soul mate./
/For that matter, neither is Celebrian. Celeborn knows this and opposes our match. He is right in counseling we wait until after the matter of Sauron is decided. In any case, I would hate to add to Ereinion’s grief by making such a match at this time. If I am right about his feelings for me, he would be devastated by such news./
Sinking down into a nearby chair, he blatantly studied the face and form of the sleeping elf. /Perhaps I should encourage his feelings for me… take this time for us to explore this possibility. I have foreseen his fate... we will likely lose him before we make an end to Sauron… unless I can think of a way to save him. I would gladly trade my life for his… if that is an option, I will./
An almost silent whisper slipped from his lips. “Oh, my king…do the Valar will that we should be more? Should I open my heart… and invite you to my bed?”
*****
Author: Sorsha
Fandom/Pairing: Elrond/OFC, Glorfindel/Haldir, Elladan/OFC, Elrohir/Legolas, others implied
Rating: NC-17 for future chapters
Warning: AU --- Story set 770 years after ROTK; Some slash but, mostly het
Feedback: This is my first fanfic, so constructive feedback appreciated.
Archive:
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Alex Cat for her help in betaing this fic.
Disclaimer: Any of the residents of Middle-earth and Aman that you recognize belong to Prof. Tolkien’s estate. The same is true about Middle-earth and Aman. I’m only visiting and admiring the “views”.
Summary: Sauron may be gone, but his legacy of evil still lingers. As Middle-earth faces the threat of another dark lord, a party of elves departs Aman on a mission for the Valar, a mission of mercy long delayed.
Chapter 18 --- Yes, Piglet?
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."
A.A. Milne
*****
“You do not paint a very happy picture for us this morning, ion nin. I commend you for your initiate in secreting yourself and your men in places close enough to overhear their conversation. It was a risky undertaking, but such opportunities must be taken when they present themselves. Your success speaks for itself,” Elrond observed.
“With this new information, it would seem we can wait no longer before moving against our three …now five it seems, spies. If they have found ways to undermine our defenses, we must interrogate them immediately for this information. I agree with your comment that we need to take them individually to avoid having a struggle get out of hand, but how do you propose to do this and not alert the others before they can be taken?” he asked.
Looking around the assembled, Elrohir offered, “I propose we slip a draught, perhaps a sleeping potion, into their ale or their food so that it would appear they have taken ill. We have several refugees go to the healers each day, so five seemingly unrelated men becoming sick would not seem suspicions to the others. It would also prevent the possibility of an arrest turning violent in the close quarters of the refugee housing or of one of them escaping in the resulting confusion.”
“Yes, I like the idea, but we must be sure that it is carefully administered to the right ones. If one or two were to not be dosed, that would result in the same possibility of their escaping.” Celeborn said. “How can we be sure we get our targets and no others? We must be sure that we are in complete control of the situation and that they are taken without a struggle. We must draw as little attention to our actions as possible. We also need to be sure they are taken alive, for the information we might obtain from them could prove invaluable.”
“We must also be sure that we have all involved as we do not want to run the risk of our enemies moving their plans forward more rapidly if they learn their spies have been taken. Are we sure it is only the five?” Glorfindel cautioned.
Elrohir expression grew pensive. “We have been watching the first three since their arrival four months ago. The other two have been here for several weeks. The five have been seen meeting as a group on two occasions and in smaller pairings regularly. We have not seen any other person that appears to meet any of the five on any regular basis other than those they encounter in a casual manner each day and those we have watched as well, but we can find nothing to suggest these casual encounters are anything but innocent. None are married or have any family with them.”
“This does not rule out the possibility that there are others present that are waiting for orders or with whom they are communicating in a less obvious manner.” He paused to consider carefully his next words. “You raise a just concern, Glorfindel, for I cannot offer absolute assurance we have not missed others doing a better job hiding from us. I do know these five give every appearance of being a threat and, even with the lack of certainty that there are no others, I still recommend we proceed. Perhaps we also need a second plan to monitor for subsequent suspicious activity if someone notices the five are missing.”
Elladan looked over at Ermehtar and suggested, “We need to watch our borders for several days looking for anyone trying to leave Imladris. Our attention is focused on someone trying to enter our valley without authorization, but we do not pay equal attention to those leaving. Ada, we may need to consider closing the border to anyone leaving without your approval to prevent news of our new security measures and the Convocation from being passed along to unfriendly ears.”
“A valid proposal, ion nin. We will need a set of protocols devised immediately. I know you have much on you at present, but we will need to implement this change immediately if it is to benefit us in this matter. Can you outline a process by mid afternoon? I would like to change the border protocols by the time the guards change the watch at nightfall. It can be announced at their daily briefing. I will be available when needed to approve the final plan. Each member of the council and the captains of the watch must also be informed so we have no miscommunication,” instructed the elf lord.
“Of course, Ada. This should not be too difficult a task to complete by afternoon,” the elder twin responded.
Turning to his Captain of the Guard, he ordered, “We will also need to make sure our internal security is on heightened alert to watch for suspicious behavior from any we may have missed. Ermehtar, will you see to this? We do not want to tip our hand nor do we want to alarm the rest of our population.”
“I will see to it, my lord. I assume you wish my report when you receive Elladan’s?” Receiving a nod of agreement form Elrond, Ermehtar jotted notes to himself on his assignment.
“As for the other matter, we will need to identify a means to administer the draught to our five. Glorfindel, you have been training the recruits from among the humans. Are there one or two that might be good candidates for helping with this task?” Elrond asked. Looking at his chief counsellor, he continued, “I know you have regular meetings with their leaders, Erestor. I ask the same question of you.”
“Not to interrupt, Ada, but you are you suggesting we recruit someone to give the draught to our five from among the humans?” Elrohir inquired, wanting this point clarified. Seeing his father’s confirming nod, he offered, “Might not a maiden have more luck than a male in enticing them to join them for a drink… without raising their suspicion? It seems to me that most human males tend to underestimate their females and would trust a woman far more readily than another male.”
“A valid observation, Elrohir,” mused Seere. “If, my lord, you would seek a female for this task, I can think of several that might be able to help. They are clever and have lost family to the Hordes. Further, they still have family here in Imladris to protect, so would be willing to help eliminate a possible threat to their safety.”
Meeting Elrohir’s gaze, she asked with a smirk, “Not to be crude, but are you thinking a comely lass to beguile them with false smiles or a motherly figure to disarm them with a maternal air?”
Grinning, Elrohir observed, “Based on our reports, at least two of our five would more likely find Elladan or me more comely than a maiden!”
Laughing, Elladan eyed his brother with a mischievous expression on his face. “If that be the case, I suggest we leave the matter in my twin’s capable hands for they would surely find him as comely as me! After all, this is a matter of internal security and that is Elrohir’s area.”
“I could not hope to compete with you in the art of seduction, gwanur-nîn. Your reputation precedes you!” retorted Elrohir. “Besides, you were the one that enjoyed frequenting human taverns in our earlier days riding with the Dúnedain. I am sure you learned a great deal about being both enticing and beguiling in such situations that would aid you greatly in this endeavor.” (my brother)
Used to the twins’ teasing, Elrond broke in before they could gain momentum. “Let us stick to the issue at hand, if you please. I am sure you can find time later to compare notes on your ‘skills’, but please do so out of my hearing. There are some things a father does not want to know!”
Shaking his head at the smirks on his sons’ faces, he turned to Seere. “I agree a female would raise fewer suspicions and may, for three at least, prove a distraction. Would your candidates be able to do this … give our targets the tainted food without giving themselves away? Not all can do this sort of task without nerves getting the better of them.”
“Aye, I think the two I have in mind should be quite capable of this. One ran a tavern with her husband and is used to serving drinks to all sorts with a smile on her face. She lost her mate along with her eldest son in the raid on their village, but has three surviving children to protect.” Sending a grin toward the twins, she offered, “The other is young and very pretty. She is the niece of the first and worked for her aunt and uncle in the tavern. She lost all of her family, as well as, her intended.”
Her smile turned sad as she concluded, “They have both told me they wish they had the skills of a warrior so they could join the army and fight those that killed their loved ones. I think they would relish having a chance to do this.”
Sharing the sad look, Elrond asked, “That being the case, can we trust them to do no more than feed the treated food or drink to our five?”
“I fear that would be a concern with any we select from among the refugees. The anger and fear in the Quarters is potent,” she replied, with a troubled sigh. “If word of possible Horde spies becomes known, we could have a mob on our hands seeking retribution. Tis a possibility we must be prepared to handle.”
Seere lifted her eyes to meet the intense gaze of the elf lord. “These are people that have lost all --- family, friends, homes, most if not all of their possessions; they feel violated and powerless. Most are grieving a loss. It was a blow to the pride of many to have to seek sanctuary here in Imladris, but they forced themselves to do it to protect their families. Many of the men feel like they are hiding behind the elves. Lacking an active vocation to occupy their mind and give them a source of pride, they are becoming restless and irritable. It would not take much to ignite their anger and frustrations.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Elrond acknowledged her concerns. “Another issue we need to be prepared to handle. This is a problem we must address sooner rather than later in any case. This may well help answer some of our problems with labor and supplies if they would like to work at their trades for a fair wage. But the issue of our five must be resolved first.”
Leaning back in his chair, Elrond studied his council. “How do we approach these two without our quarry noticing or it giving rise to unwanted speculation in the quarters?”
“That should not be a problem as I will be in the quarters for several hours this morning settling the new arrivals. I had planned to combine this with my weekly meeting with their leaders. Seere can attend me while I see to this and point them out to me. We should be able to arrange to talk with them during that time, thought I would prefer it if it was not a rushed conversation and that you have an opportunity to talk with them as well,” Erestor commented.
Celeborn, who had been deep in thought for the last few minute,s offered, “Perhaps we need to make much of your meeting with the leaders and draw as much attention to it as possible. Perhaps expand the agenda to discuss … no, better yet, ask for input on housing, security, interim work for their people… you get the point.”
Looking at Ermehtar, Celeborn proposed, “Two elleths from the guard should also attend Erestor in plain dress. Once our two have been pulled aside, the elleths could trade places with them and then stay out of sight until the women return. Again, we will need to make a show of your meeting, enticing the rest of the refugees to focus on it, even try to ‘overhear’ or contribute to the discussions. I would think this would engage the attention of our five. If we bait the hook properly, no one will be paying any attention to the comings and goings of two ‘attendants’. As it is raining, no one will find it odd if cloak hoods are drawn up to cover their heads and faces.”
“That would give you time to interview the pair and, if suitable, brief them on their task before anyone notices their absence. We could have supplies such as additional blankets at hand for them to carry back to Erestor to cover their return.” Settling back into his chair, Celeborn smiled at the assembled. “It might also relieve some of the frustrations of our guests for us to ask for their input and give them a voice in addressing some of these issues. As you said Elrond, this is an issue we must address sooner rather than later.”
Erestor and Elrond traded smiles before the latter mused, “It has been a while since I have seen that devious mind of yours plotting a mission, Hodoer. You recall to my mind the meetings we had in this very room planning strategy for the Last Alliance when you often did likewise.” (wise one)
Smiling, Elrond returned to the matter at hand. “Ermehtar, see that two female warriors are detailed to assist Erestor for the day. Talk with Seere and try to find two of comparable height, build, and hair color to the two she will bring to meet me. Tell them nothing beyond where to report and leave it to Erestor to tell them what they need to know. Have them carry weapons, but make sure they are hidden from casual sight.”
“Erestor, is it possible for you to prepare an agenda for such a meeting on such short notice? Perhaps take one of your assistants with you and assign the task of preparing a report of the meeting for you. Celeborn is right; we may well accomplish two objectives with one action.” Elrond paused for a moment, then added, “Make sure there are other guardians nearby to keep order. As Seere has rightly observed, we have an angry, unsettled situation in the Quarters and I will not take a chance on it getting out of hand and someone getting hurt… especially you and yours, mellon nin.”
Receiving a nod of agreement from his counselor, Elrond returned to the original question. “There are still a few pieces of this puzzle we still need to address. How do our ladies slip them the drugged … is it to be food or drink? We will also need to devise a potion, but the type will depend on the how we plan to administer it. I would prefer to cause as little commotion as possible, so a sleeping draught may not work.”
“I would suggest drink, Elrond,” Erestor offered. “Seere says both ladies have worked in a tavern, so should be comfortable circulating the dining hall with pitchers to refill empty glasses. They could each carry two, one tainted and the other not. This has the advantage of not singling out our five for special treatment. Maybe we could offer our helpers jobs working in the kitchens if they do well. We could use the help,” he mused.
“I am assuming the drink would have to be something heavy like ale rather than water to mask the taste of the potion. That would lessen the likelihood of someone getting the dose that was not supposed to, as none of the children and few of the women drink stout ale. All of the five drink ale do they not, Elrohir?” Elladan asked.
“Aye. A straight-forward plan with little risk to the two ladies and one likely to arouse little unwanted attention. What type of draught do you think would work best for this, Ada? Depending on their reaction to the brew, we will need to be ready to collect them once drugged. That too must be done with care so as not to alert anyone of our actions,” Elrohir offered.
Elrond paused to consider the question for a moment before answering. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms across his chest and began to mentally sift through potions and their properties. “A sleeping potion would, as I said earlier, not be my first choice because five men suddenly falling into an unnatural sleep in front of a dining hall full of people are not likely to go unnoticed.”
“While there are several draughts that would immediately make them quite sick, I would rather not use them as five men being taken suddenly sick during a meal might cause a panic. I can think of several potions that would intensify the effects of the ale and make them very drunk, very quickly. That could make them difficult to handle and cause a scene we would prefer to avoid,” the healer mused.
Turning to look at Seere, Elrond asked, “What suggestions do you have? You are the most familiar with what is available in the apothecary. We do not have time to brew something time consuming or which requires unusual ingredients.”
“Would any of the potions that you were considering that would make them quickly drunk be adversely affected if we added a mild sleeping draught to the mix?” the maiden asked. “Their being groggy and drowsy would make them easier to handle and would not look noticeably different from someone who has had too much drink. It is not unusual for a few to over imbibe at the evening meal.”
“Tis a good idea. I will need to review the manuscripts on those potions to be sure we do not create an unintended effect.” Sharing a grin with his fellow herbalist, Elrond observed, “I have never had cause to use any of them to get someone drunk much less drunk and sleepy! I will see what I can find in the library, but we may have to make an educated guess with what we know of the various ingredients. I will do the research this morning while you are assisting your ada. After I have met the two women, we can go to the apothecary to review supplies and consider our best options.”
Looking around the room, Elrond ran through the elements of their plan in his mind and then restated them for everyone to hear. “Have we forgotten anything? This matter is far too important to let fail.”
Hearing no further comments he made eye contact with each person present before continuing. “This matter is not to be discussed outside of this room. I think it best I tell our two ladies the five are wanted in Gondor for serious crimes committed there and are considered dangerous thus our desire to arrest them in a manner to prevent bystanders being hurt. Agreed? I suggest telling the two elleths from the guard nothing beyond their task. Once I have spoken to the two women, we are committed to carrying this forward for we cannot risk any hint of our plans alerting our prey. If any of your encounter a problem that impacts our plan, you will alert me immediately.”
Receiving a nod of understanding from all, the Lord of Imladris formally set the plan in motion. “I want this matter concluded today and the five taken tonight. We can risk their presence no longer and, if the Valar will it, we will discover much from them to aid our cause. We will meet here two hours before the evening meal to review final plans and make sure all is in order.”
Seeing nods from all agreeing to his instructions, Elrond turned to Erestor and asked, “Now, how goes our efforts to secure additional supplies….” and the meeting continued.
*****
Imladris, Second Age 3432
A soothing breeze drifted across the patio drawing a sigh of contentment from the elf slumped in the comfort of a large pile of cushions. Reaching up, he pulled the circlet of state from his brow and tossed it with little care on a nearby table. Ereinion lifted his glass of lemon water and took a deep, quenching drink before setting it aside. Snuggling deeper into his nest of pillows, he closed his eyes and pushed the worries of the day to the back of his mind.
/I could stay in this valley forever and never desire to leave. I find a peace here that I have not known in many years… though much of that may be from having Elrond close again. I have missed him these last years since he founded his own realm. If I could have done so, I would have ordered him to return to Lindon and attend me there, but it was not what was best for him./
A sad smile touched his features. /He hates Lindon. The rumors and intrigues of my court are not to his liking… as I can well understand. In truth, they are not to my liking either… especially since he left./
/Elrond inspires too much jealousy with his brilliant mind and quick wits. That he is beautiful in the bargain only makes him more a threat to those less… blessed. The addition of his gift of foresight unnerves so many. That so many whisper he achieved his commission as my herald by bending over my bed…/
Frowning, he forced his mind away from that painful topic. /No, he is far better off here in his valley with those that are so fiercely loyal to him. I love him too well to deny him a place of his own. Oh, that I could share it!/
The pleasant warmth of the sun, the caress of the cool breeze, and the hypnotic roar of the waterfalls began to lull him into sleep. On the edge of reverie, a though brought a pleased grin to his lips. /I did so enjoy the shock and outrage on their faces when I announced my intentions of formally naming Elrond my heir! He now carries Vilya at my request. Its power will only add to his strength. Those that mocked him will soon have to pay him court in this very realm that they took such pleasure in deriding. I only wish I could live to see their final comeuppance. I only wish I could live to share it with him… to serve him with the care and love he has given me. Oh, my love… if only./
*****
A silent figure watched his king’s face as it relaxed into sleep. Pleased that he seemed more at ease since his arrival, Elrond took a moment to enjoy the way the worries and strain that had marked his features seemed to drop away in sleep. The pleased smile on the king’s face drew a matching one to Elrond’s.
He had been shocked by how much Ereinion had aged in the years since last they had met. His worry over this change had been the principle reason he had accepted Vilya with so little argument. In his heart, he knew his absence from Lindon had been part of the reason. He had begun to suspect that Ereinion’s feelings for him had changed over the years and his decision to remain in Imladris after the War of Elves and Men had been, in part, a reaction to his own confusion over those feelings.
/Is he in love with me? I feel that he is. But, in truth, I do not know how I feel about that likelihood. He is dear to me… the most important person in my life. I find him beautiful and I have missed his lively mind. We share similar interests and he understands my sense of humor. But, do I desire him? I have never been interested in another ellon… and I am not sure I feel that way about him./
/Perhaps I do… but… my feelings for him are too tangled to know for sure. He has been the one enduring constant in my life since I was an elfling… longer even than Erestor and Glorfindel. He… along with Cirdan and Celeborn was my standard for what an elf should be… what a leader should be. His is my friend, my mentor, my king… but can he… is he more? He is not, quite obviously, the auburn haired elleth I have long seen as my soul mate./
/For that matter, neither is Celebrian. Celeborn knows this and opposes our match. He is right in counseling we wait until after the matter of Sauron is decided. In any case, I would hate to add to Ereinion’s grief by making such a match at this time. If I am right about his feelings for me, he would be devastated by such news./
Sinking down into a nearby chair, he blatantly studied the face and form of the sleeping elf. /Perhaps I should encourage his feelings for me… take this time for us to explore this possibility. I have foreseen his fate... we will likely lose him before we make an end to Sauron… unless I can think of a way to save him. I would gladly trade my life for his… if that is an option, I will./
An almost silent whisper slipped from his lips. “Oh, my king…do the Valar will that we should be more? Should I open my heart… and invite you to my bed?”
*****