Forest of Whispers

Chapter 2

Our party reach the ford, which marks the beginnings of Rivendell by early afternoon. Legolas slows us to an easy pace as he and I move ahead of the party to approach the shallow river crossing. We are both looking avidly for Haldir and our welcoming committee that should be here to meet us. There is an uncommon silence around us and it makes the horses edgy and fidgety a sure sign not all is well. I have only heard Rivendell so eerily silent once and that was during the great illness that claimed so many lives. Legolas gestures for me to stay close to the guards as he moves closer to the ford his keen eyes searching the tree lined opposite bank for any signs of the elves.

“Maybe we got here a little early father, why don’t we just cross the river and make our own way into Rivendell.” Kahual shifts restlessly on his horse boredom and frustration clearly masking the sense of unease he feels around him.

“Shhh, be still and hold your tongue.” I snap pointedly at my younger son as I circle our party my eyes continually scanning the forest around us for signs of friends or foe. The wind rustles momentarily through the trees and I hastily turn back to Legolas who almost in slow motion has notched and arrow in his bow ready to fire at the beings that appear on the far bank of the river. However it is unnecessary as a familiar figure approaches the ford from the opposite bank and greets Legolas in a soft elvish voice.

“Greenleaf, we apologise for our delay in greeting you. We were unprepared to see you and King Elessar here so early and so were put on our guard for a moment.” I sigh heavily at Haldir’s declaration and move forward into the centre of the ford where Legolas and Haldir are sharing a warrior’s handshake in greeting. Smiling warmly I too greet Haldir as a friend but note acutely his cool manner towards me. Since my bonding to Legolas, Haldir’s feelings towards me have cooled somewhat and while he is too proud to admit what I have done to offend him he still remains distant from me in my presence. Personally I have no ill feelings towards him and I have long since recovered from the jealousy I originally suffered from when I thought Legolas and he were wedded. I have no idea what I could have done to cause offence to Haldir and I can only put it down to Legolas having to spend extended periods of time away from Mirkwood and that leaves Haldir to run things on his own in the woodland realm. “Do you wish to rest your party for a while on the bank of the river before we continue to Imaldris, Elessar?” Haldir glances over my shoulder at my party making sure to smile at both Kahual and Aratula who acknowledge him with wide smiles of their own.

“No that won’t be necessary, my daughter is admittedly tired but I believe the eagerness of seeing Rivendell far out ways her need to rest.” Haldir huffs a small proud laugh and nods in understanding.

“Very well let us not tarry any longer. I have sent a messenger ahead to inform Lord Elrond of your early arrival.” Haldir turns his horse around and leads us from the ford onto the opposite bank. Obligingly the rest of the party follow behind us without question and before long we are moving swiftly beneath the canopy of trees towards the last homely house. Every so often I hear Aratula whispering her amazement and aw of the waterfalls and pools we pass along our path and I know that once she has rested I will see little of her during our stay in Imaldris, as she will insist on exploring every waterfall and pool in the whole of the realm. We are accompanied by Lord Elrond’s elven guard and Kahual is continually questioning any that will talk about their weaponry and positions in Imaldris, with unwavering enthusiasm. The woodland path becomes a stone-carved bridge over a waterfall before opening out into the stable yards of the Last homely house. My children find delight in everything they see and I find myself amused by their aw and youthful amazement as they dismount from their horses and stare all around them at the palace which is nestled comfortably among the trees and waterfalls. To the right of the open yard several familiar elves all stand on a set of entrance steps ready to greet us.

“Ahh welcome back to Imaldris my son.” I quickly ascend the stairs of my childhood home and embrace my foster father in a warm hug. I can hear the others around me chuckling but I ignore them and nestle into the familiar forest smell of my father that I have not seen in a year. While a year is but a blink to the eye for the elves for me it seems like a lifetime apart and I do not care what they think of me for behaving so childishly. “Legolas Greenleaf it is always a pleasure to have you in Imaldris.” I move away from Elrond as he addresses Legolas, to greet Glorfindel, Elladan and Arionetta who stand obediently by my fathers side. I note the absence of my youngest brother Elrohir but I do not pass comment as Legolas embraces Elrond like I did, before also moving along the line of welcomers. “Haldir, will you see to Aragon and his parties things? Then you may join us in the hall. Come in, all of you.” Elrond smiles as Haldir bows obediently before directing both the elven guard and my own in the removal of the horses and the carrying of our things. As we all move into the house I do not miss the warm knowing smile that Legolas throws back to Haldir. For a moment they remain locked in each others gazes before Legolas turns and moves inside with us, engaging whole heartedly with the enthusiastic conversation around him. I sigh heavily to myself but squash the small taint of jealousy that threatens to rise in me, as I watch Haldir go back to ordering the staff around in their various tasks.

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Before long we are all seated comfortable in the great hall, glasses of wine in hands and all talking continually of our time spent apart from one another. I alone sit back from the proceedings by the window that looks down over the waterfall we crossed on our arrival and merely listen to the variety of conversations behind me. Rivendell seems quieter than on previous visits and I like the trees feel the acute sadness of the approaching final season of the elves in Middle Earth. The forests sadness is but a further reminder of what I will have to say goodbye too when the winter is over. Legolas like his kin will sail west with the spring and I will watch him go with a heavy but content heart. I sigh heavily and light my pipe before leaning back against the stone carved windowsill observing the wildlife that thrums on the forest floor below, trying to distract myself from the such gloomy thoughts. Behind me I hear the arrival of Haldir from his duties and he is instantly absorbed into the conversation by Glorfindel who is avidly feeding Kahual’s inquisitive questions about Rivendell.

“Father?” I sense a presence approach me before a very familiar voice washes over me from behind. Smiling widely I turn to face my eldest son and am slightly taken back by how much older he looks. He has grown a small beared and save for the lack of points on the tips of his ears, looks all the world like he was brought up from birth among the elves of Rivendell. He is dressed in much the same grey robes as Eladdan and the other elves of his position are wearing. Breachtian has grown his hair as well and it is tied neatly in similar braids to those of Legolas’.

“Breachtian I did not recognise you for a moment.” I watch as my son blushes under my gaze before gently reaching out a hand shaking mine in a warrior’s handshake before he leans in and cuddles me tightly and quite unexpectedly.

”I have missed you father.” Sighing softly I pat my son’s back gently before he pulls away from me and looks sheepishly to the floor. While we are still as father and son after what happened three years earlier we have never been quite the same. In my heart I have tried to forgive Breachtian for what he did to Legolas but while understanding and time has made it a little easier I will never truly trust him again nor will I ever truly forgive him for what he did. My love for Legolas goes beyond the love and bond I share for hildhildren and while I regret it being so I would chose the blond elf over the needs of my children. “You must forgive Elrohir and I for not greeting you upon your arrival to Rivendell but we were in the Library sorting through the dwarven trade maps and no one sought to inform us of your arrival until just now.” I nod understandingly at my son’s polite excuse and although it is a plausible one it does not disguise the obvious avoidance of Legolas, Breachtian has made. I glance over Breachtian’s shoulder to where everyone is still chatting. My attention focuses on Elrohir who stands by Elrond’s side. He is staring at Breachtian and I with nervous curiosity upon his face, no doubt worried about my first meeting with my son since his binding ceremony to Elrohir. In an effort to put Elrohir at ease I smile at him easily and watch as relief floods his features as he smiles widely back. I turn my attention back to Breachtian and gesture over to Elrohir who is now relaxing down into a spare chair near his brother.

“Go and see your brother and sister, they have changed as much as you and will be more than pleased to see you.” Breachtian takes my mildly put hint and bows respectfully before moving away towards the rest of the group. I smile as I glance around the gathering. Kahual has found Filgree amongst the elvnd ind is avidly partaking in conversation with his old tutor and Glorfindel. Aratula is laughing and joking with Jastel and Arionetta who by the looks of her swollen stomach is not long off expecting Eladdan’s first child. Legolas is sitting with Lord Elrond and Haldir at the head of the table and while I believe they are listening to what Eladdan is saying are rather more involved with talking to one another. At present I do not feel much like interrupting any of the conversations I see and I decide quietly to move out of the hall and towards the chambers I know will have been made ready for me. My old room is no doubt as it always is well tended and ready for my arrival at anytime. Slipping from the hall unnoticed I move silently along the well-trodden halls of the lhomehomely house. Each turn I come to reminds me of a childhood spent learning them in an effort to escape my brothers and my tutors. I pass some servants on the way up the winding stairs and each of them bow respectfully as I pass by. In the dying light of the afternoon the candles around the palace are slowly being lit so that by the time the light of the day fades into blackness the house will be awash in a warm flickering glow. It is that glow that lonely travellers, elves and men alike are drawn to in the depths of their despair and I do not know what will happen when the house will no longer glow once the elves have left.
A soft woven tapestry marks the entrance to my old room and I push it gently aside and step into the room, which is bathed in orange warmth from the slowly descending sun outside the window. I stand in the entrance and look over the small tidily kept chamber. As I suspected my things have been placed at the bottom of the large bed I spent many nights in as a child. The fire has been stoked and is glowing with established warmth. Finding my feet again I wander slowly around the bottom of the bed in the centre of the room and drag my finger along all the surfaces it touches memorising each texture under my hand in case it should all disappear behind me. Moving over to the window I smile as I glance into the bathing room just off to the side and see a warm steaming bath filled and ready for use. I contemplate taking advantage of it now while no one has noticed my absence in the hall but I think better of it as the voices of elves begin to echo above the sound of forest below announcing the commencement of the evenings activities for the elves in the house.

“I see you have found your room, I thought maybe you would enjoy a room of your own during your stay.” A voice startles me out of my reverie and I spin around hastily clutching my chest as my heart races. Lord Elrond looks rather pleased he has discovered me and I relax instantly as I recognise his face in the doorway.

”Thank-you. I apologise for not announcing my leaving the hall but I sought a little solitude from the conversation.” Elrond nods understandingly as he moves over and sits down easily on the edge of the bed his robes falling neatly across the covers as he tucks a stray dark braid behind his ear and folds his arms over his chest.

“You need not apologise Estel, you are free to wander where you wish in Imaldris, it is your home as much as it is mine.” I sigh heavily and tap out my pipe from the window before moving over to sit down next to the elder elf on the bed. For a moment we sit in silence before finally Elrond raises a gentle hand and places it over mine on my legging clad knee. “I feel your pain Estel. I know what it is you have come here to do and while I admire your courage, I do not envy your task.” I lower my head to my chest as Elrond gently caresses my knee in a small show of comfort, knowing full well what I have come to Rivendell to do. I could no more hide my feelings from the Lord of Imaldris than I could to Arwen and while she chose not to acknowledge them her father always does.

“He must go with you and his people to the west or he will fade with upon my death. There is no other option. He gave his life for me, I will not deprive him of the path he was always destined to walk upon.” Elrond sighs softly as I rest my head down against his shoulder allowing the elder to embrace me gently into his arms.

“This is why you have not told him of your love, it is why you are still only great friends in his eyes. You are afraid he will not leave if you express your feelings.” I nod slowly in reply. Elrond is no fool and he has never had any difficulties understanding everything I have ever done in my life. I do not do things without a purpose and while my heart screams to be with Legolas I will not take him away from his destiny for my own selfish gain. “It is also why you have not questioned Haldir’s manner towards you, is it so?” Again Elrond has picked up on my intentions and I do not feel the need to conceal any of my plans from him.

“I will make stheythey are together when their boat leaves these shores. I cannot watch over him as I wish to and I know he will need support from one of his own kind on the journey. Haldir has shared his bed in the past and so I see no reason why the relationship cannot be encouraged into something more during this winter. It is clear Haldir cares for him more than he allows any of us to see, and he has proved these last years that he is more than willing to protect Legolas’ every attention. Legolas may be bound to me in life but he is not mine in love. Haldir will be good for him.” I feel the tears threaten to fall at my declaration. It has been many months now since I have begun to consider my future with Legolas and only now that I have confessed the entire plan out into the open do I truly feel the full weight of my decisions.

“You are a brave Estel but I warn you to take care. You know only what you wish to know and as yet do not understand what Legolas may be feeling. It would be unwise of you to force something before you have truly understood what Legolas is thinking. I think you should spend some time with Legolas this winter. Forget about your duties and your past and concentrate on finding out what you both truly want of each other, it will help when the decisions have to be made come spring.” I nod understandingly as Elrond rises from the bed and straightens his robes.

“When is the evening meal to be served?” I welcome the change in conversation as I question Lord Elrond who chuckles and shakes his head amused by the thoughts of food after such an emotional conversation previously.

“In a little while. The cook will ring the bell when we are to be seated in the hall. You have some time still to bathe and change from your travelling garb if you wish. I believe Aratula and Kahual are already doing so in their own chambers.” I yawn and stand from the bed in front of Elrond who moves obligingly towards the exit of my room as I move around to begin unpacking some clean robes from my baggage. “If you require assistance I shall send up Silwin.” I shake my head lightly at Elrond’s question as I drape one of the simple dark blue robes and leggings across the end of the bed.

“No I will be fine Elrond, I shal dow down at the hall as soon as possible.” Elrond nods understandingly before he disappears from the entranceway, the only sign of his being there is the light swinging of the tapestry that hangs in place of a door. Sighing heavily I pick up a handful of sweet smelling herbs from the basket on the table beside my bed and move into the bathing chamber. Dropping the herbs into the water I begin to remove my clothing allowing the aroma of the herbs to relax my body and my mind after such a long journey. It will be a long cold winter and while the future seems unclear there is a most definite assurance that hearts will be broken, more so mine in particular. Stepping down into the bath I sink into the depths of the warm sweet smelling water and close my eyes, attempting to relax before the long dinner ahead of me.


TBC…………………