To Kill An Elf
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-Multi-Age › General
Rating:
Adult +
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7
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
-Multi-Age › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
3,137
Reviews:
22
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 4
Title: To Kill an Elf
Author: Lynsey
Website: http://www.livejournal.com/users/lynsey_schadegg/
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Beta: Spell-check
Chapter: 4/?
Pairings: None yet; Characters include Erestor, Glorfindel, and Elrond
Rating: This chapter R
Warnings: Character death, violence
Summery: No evil deed goes unpunished.
Disclaimer: Don't sue. All I got are college loans, and this isn't
helping to pay them off.
Glorfindel burst through the door of the healing room. Upon his arrival, he had ignored all who tried to delay him, only stopping in order to demand Elrond’s location from a passing servant. Elladan and Elrohir busied themselves with the prisoners, taking them to a secured holding cell deep within the Last Homely House.
Upon entering Glorfindel spotted the dark haired Lord sitting on one of the cots that lined the walls, leaning over one of his patients.
“Elrond! We have narrowed the perpetrator down to two, but we need your insight to find the actual elf behind Erestor’s death. Neither will admit to anything, and nothing we have done so far has gotten them to talk.” Glorfindel strode over to Elrond and stood in front of him. “Well? Are you coming?” Finally taking a moment to actually *look* at his Lord, the Seneschal saw tears making tracks down his cheeks.
Glorfindel kneeled in front of Elrond, taking the pale face in his hands. “What has happened, my friend? Has more sorrow found this House while we were away?”
Elrond smiled shakily, “No, my friend. No sorrow. Only joy. If you would take but a moment to look around, you would see the source of my tears of happiness.”
Puzzled, Glorfindel looked to the patient lying on the bed for help…and then realized exactly who that patient was.
“ERESTOR!! Oh…Oh Valar be praised…Erestor…” Glorfindel grabbed the raven-haired elf up in a crushing embrace, shaking with the force of his emotions. Releasing the trembling form of the councilor, Glorfindel pulled back to once again look upon the face of one of his dearest friends.
Erestor looked lost, confused. He looked to Elrond pleadingly, as if hoping the Lord could suddenly make everything right again. “I…” the councilor tried to gather his thoughts. “I…is my name Erestor?”
Glorfindel looked from Erestor to Elrond, trying to discover what had happened. “What has happened Elrond?”
“Erestor has been returned to us,” The half-elf stated.
“That I can see,” said Glorfindel irritatedly.
“And apparently, he has no idea who he is.”
“What?” Glorfindel gaped. “When I returned I knew exactly who I was. How could this be?”
“I am so confused…Who are you?” Erestor sounded like a child lost.
“I am sorry, my friend. It is rude of us to talk so in front of you when you should be resting.” The healer guided Erestor into a reclining position and pulled a blanket over him. “Rest now, and we will sort all of this out later.”
“But…” Erestor began.
“No, you don’t,” Elrond interrupted. “Rest now, talk later. Come Glorfindel.”
Elrond grabbed the still slack-jawed warrior, and exited the healing chamber.
Realizing where he was, Glorfindel dug his heels in to stop his forward momentum. He grabbed the half-elf and spun him around by the shoulders. “Tell me what happened. Everything.”
Elrond gestured towards a set of chairs in the anteroom that was usually a waiting room for family members. Both elves seated themselves, and Elrond related all that had happened since Glorfindel had left. After he had finished, he demanded a similar story from Glorfindel about his hunt for Erestor’s violator. When he was finished, both elves sat in silent contemplation of what each had learned.
The fire popped loudly, startling both elves from their meditation.
“I was wondering what it would take to get your attention. I have been standing here for quite some time without a single acknowledgment from either of you.”
The elves spun around to face the owner of the voice, and both of them could not have been more astonished at the visage that greeted them.
Glorfindel bowed immediately. “My Lord Námo. I had not thought to see you again for quite some time.”
“I had thought the same, Glorfindel of the Golden Flower. However, some things have come to pass that I had never foreseen.”
Elrond, recovering from his shock, finally bowed before the Vala. “What has come to pass, My Lord?”
Námo made his way to a chair and sat himself comfortably, and then gestured for the two elves to copy his actions. When all were seated, the Vala began, “Do you remember what your guard said as he pulled Erestor from the ashes of his pyre?”
“Aye,” said Elrond quietly. Glorfindel looked at Elrond questioningly. “He said that a phoenix had arisen from the ashes.”
“Your guard had more insight into the situation than he knew,” the Lord of the Halls of Waiting said mildly. “I came to gather Erestor’s soul and take him to my halls. However, I was not permitted this action. Which, understandably, surprised me greatly.” The Vala stared moodily into the fire, and the two elven lords simply waited for him to continue.
“As I gathered Erestor’s soul,” he started again, “a force that I have never felt before blocked my path. It took me quite some time to realize that Iluvatar was interfering. He took Erestor’s soul and cleansed it. Of everything. The only thing remaining within Erestor is the gift of language. All else is gone. He was re-birthed in every sense of the word. He has a new body, a clean soul, and he has no pre-existing notions about any person or subject. He is as a child, and he will need to learn everything all over again.”
Elrond looked up from his hands clasped in his lap, “Why would the Creator do such a thing? This is highly unprecedented.”
Namo laughed softly. “I was just as stunned as you are, I assure you. Then, to my everlasting surprise, Iluvatar actually took the time to explain himself to one so lowly as the Keeper of the Halls.” He paused, remembering the event. “Erestor is not an elf.”
Glorfindel looked at Namo dubiously. “I have no reason to doubt your words, but this seems a little extreme. I have known Erestor for centuries, surely I would have noticed something…”
“Not if Erestor did not know himself,” the Lord clarified.
“So…what…exactly…” Elrond struggled, perplexed.
“Erestor, as your guard so aptly identified for us, is a phoenix.” Namo filled in. “However, he has no idea what he is, and has not for any of his past lives.”
“Now *I* feel as confused as Erestor….” Glorfindel muttered.
Namo smiled consolingly. “A phoenix must have another of its own kind to teach it after it has been reborn, for they are, as I said before, a blank slate upon rebirth. The creature simply adapts to whatever situation it finds itself in as a survival instinct. The last time Erestor was reborn, he found himself around elves, and thus made himself into an elf. An elfling to be exact, and he was taken in and raised as an elf. He was so good at being an elf that he even had me convinced.” Namo shook his head at his own gullibility.
“I always thought Erestor’s parents had died, leaving him an orphan. We grew up together, he, my brother, and I. Erestor had always loved his adoptive parents, and it crushed him when they died at the Last Alliance,” Elrond reminisced.
“So the Erestor we knew is gone?” Glorfindel asked sadly.
“I’m afraid so. The same characteristics will be there, he will still be kind and loyal. However, there is no memories left of his past life.”
“If all…this is as you say it is,” began Glorfindel, “then why did he fade? I thought only elves faded.”
“Elves and phoenix were created with some of the same characteristics. Fading from a broken heart and from violation are two of those.”
“Why is he not an elfling this time?” questioned Elrond.
“I am assuming it is because he has a better chance of surviving if he looks like he does now. You would do anything for Erestor would you not?” Both elves nodded. “Than is it not advantageous for him to look like the former Erestor? That way he would have the best chance of surviving. His new form was probably shaped by Elrond’s thoughts as he sat by the pyre.”
All three stayed quiet for some time, contemplating their own thoughts.
“So…what happens now?” queried Glorfindel.
“Now…now I do not know what happens. The future is usually so clear before me, but in this case it is shadowed, and I know not what to make of that. The best thing to do would be to take care of him. Teach him. I do not know if there are any phoenix left on Arda that know who and what they are. Iluvatar has told me that, over time, the creatures drifted apart. Thus fewer and fewer have known their true origins upon rebirth. I know not if there are any left of the original stock that still retain the knowledge of their kind.”
“Should we tell him? Should he know what he is?” Elrond mused aloud.
“Mayhap someday,” Namo replied. “It may be too soon now to tell him. He would not understand at any rate.” The Lord stood, and Elrond and Glorfindel followed suit. “I must be on my way. The best of luck to both of you.”
“Thank you for everything, my Lord Namo. You have been most enlightening.” Elrond thanked.
The Vala left suddenly, disappearing as quietly as he had come. The elven lords looked towards the door that lead into the healing room. Inside that room lay the body of their best friend. A body that no longer housed their friend.
Elrond sighed. “We have a long road ahead of us, my friend.”
Author: Lynsey
Website: http://www.livejournal.com/users/lynsey_schadegg/
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Beta: Spell-check
Chapter: 4/?
Pairings: None yet; Characters include Erestor, Glorfindel, and Elrond
Rating: This chapter R
Warnings: Character death, violence
Summery: No evil deed goes unpunished.
Disclaimer: Don't sue. All I got are college loans, and this isn't
helping to pay them off.
Glorfindel burst through the door of the healing room. Upon his arrival, he had ignored all who tried to delay him, only stopping in order to demand Elrond’s location from a passing servant. Elladan and Elrohir busied themselves with the prisoners, taking them to a secured holding cell deep within the Last Homely House.
Upon entering Glorfindel spotted the dark haired Lord sitting on one of the cots that lined the walls, leaning over one of his patients.
“Elrond! We have narrowed the perpetrator down to two, but we need your insight to find the actual elf behind Erestor’s death. Neither will admit to anything, and nothing we have done so far has gotten them to talk.” Glorfindel strode over to Elrond and stood in front of him. “Well? Are you coming?” Finally taking a moment to actually *look* at his Lord, the Seneschal saw tears making tracks down his cheeks.
Glorfindel kneeled in front of Elrond, taking the pale face in his hands. “What has happened, my friend? Has more sorrow found this House while we were away?”
Elrond smiled shakily, “No, my friend. No sorrow. Only joy. If you would take but a moment to look around, you would see the source of my tears of happiness.”
Puzzled, Glorfindel looked to the patient lying on the bed for help…and then realized exactly who that patient was.
“ERESTOR!! Oh…Oh Valar be praised…Erestor…” Glorfindel grabbed the raven-haired elf up in a crushing embrace, shaking with the force of his emotions. Releasing the trembling form of the councilor, Glorfindel pulled back to once again look upon the face of one of his dearest friends.
Erestor looked lost, confused. He looked to Elrond pleadingly, as if hoping the Lord could suddenly make everything right again. “I…” the councilor tried to gather his thoughts. “I…is my name Erestor?”
Glorfindel looked from Erestor to Elrond, trying to discover what had happened. “What has happened Elrond?”
“Erestor has been returned to us,” The half-elf stated.
“That I can see,” said Glorfindel irritatedly.
“And apparently, he has no idea who he is.”
“What?” Glorfindel gaped. “When I returned I knew exactly who I was. How could this be?”
“I am so confused…Who are you?” Erestor sounded like a child lost.
“I am sorry, my friend. It is rude of us to talk so in front of you when you should be resting.” The healer guided Erestor into a reclining position and pulled a blanket over him. “Rest now, and we will sort all of this out later.”
“But…” Erestor began.
“No, you don’t,” Elrond interrupted. “Rest now, talk later. Come Glorfindel.”
Elrond grabbed the still slack-jawed warrior, and exited the healing chamber.
Realizing where he was, Glorfindel dug his heels in to stop his forward momentum. He grabbed the half-elf and spun him around by the shoulders. “Tell me what happened. Everything.”
Elrond gestured towards a set of chairs in the anteroom that was usually a waiting room for family members. Both elves seated themselves, and Elrond related all that had happened since Glorfindel had left. After he had finished, he demanded a similar story from Glorfindel about his hunt for Erestor’s violator. When he was finished, both elves sat in silent contemplation of what each had learned.
The fire popped loudly, startling both elves from their meditation.
“I was wondering what it would take to get your attention. I have been standing here for quite some time without a single acknowledgment from either of you.”
The elves spun around to face the owner of the voice, and both of them could not have been more astonished at the visage that greeted them.
Glorfindel bowed immediately. “My Lord Námo. I had not thought to see you again for quite some time.”
“I had thought the same, Glorfindel of the Golden Flower. However, some things have come to pass that I had never foreseen.”
Elrond, recovering from his shock, finally bowed before the Vala. “What has come to pass, My Lord?”
Námo made his way to a chair and sat himself comfortably, and then gestured for the two elves to copy his actions. When all were seated, the Vala began, “Do you remember what your guard said as he pulled Erestor from the ashes of his pyre?”
“Aye,” said Elrond quietly. Glorfindel looked at Elrond questioningly. “He said that a phoenix had arisen from the ashes.”
“Your guard had more insight into the situation than he knew,” the Lord of the Halls of Waiting said mildly. “I came to gather Erestor’s soul and take him to my halls. However, I was not permitted this action. Which, understandably, surprised me greatly.” The Vala stared moodily into the fire, and the two elven lords simply waited for him to continue.
“As I gathered Erestor’s soul,” he started again, “a force that I have never felt before blocked my path. It took me quite some time to realize that Iluvatar was interfering. He took Erestor’s soul and cleansed it. Of everything. The only thing remaining within Erestor is the gift of language. All else is gone. He was re-birthed in every sense of the word. He has a new body, a clean soul, and he has no pre-existing notions about any person or subject. He is as a child, and he will need to learn everything all over again.”
Elrond looked up from his hands clasped in his lap, “Why would the Creator do such a thing? This is highly unprecedented.”
Namo laughed softly. “I was just as stunned as you are, I assure you. Then, to my everlasting surprise, Iluvatar actually took the time to explain himself to one so lowly as the Keeper of the Halls.” He paused, remembering the event. “Erestor is not an elf.”
Glorfindel looked at Namo dubiously. “I have no reason to doubt your words, but this seems a little extreme. I have known Erestor for centuries, surely I would have noticed something…”
“Not if Erestor did not know himself,” the Lord clarified.
“So…what…exactly…” Elrond struggled, perplexed.
“Erestor, as your guard so aptly identified for us, is a phoenix.” Namo filled in. “However, he has no idea what he is, and has not for any of his past lives.”
“Now *I* feel as confused as Erestor….” Glorfindel muttered.
Namo smiled consolingly. “A phoenix must have another of its own kind to teach it after it has been reborn, for they are, as I said before, a blank slate upon rebirth. The creature simply adapts to whatever situation it finds itself in as a survival instinct. The last time Erestor was reborn, he found himself around elves, and thus made himself into an elf. An elfling to be exact, and he was taken in and raised as an elf. He was so good at being an elf that he even had me convinced.” Namo shook his head at his own gullibility.
“I always thought Erestor’s parents had died, leaving him an orphan. We grew up together, he, my brother, and I. Erestor had always loved his adoptive parents, and it crushed him when they died at the Last Alliance,” Elrond reminisced.
“So the Erestor we knew is gone?” Glorfindel asked sadly.
“I’m afraid so. The same characteristics will be there, he will still be kind and loyal. However, there is no memories left of his past life.”
“If all…this is as you say it is,” began Glorfindel, “then why did he fade? I thought only elves faded.”
“Elves and phoenix were created with some of the same characteristics. Fading from a broken heart and from violation are two of those.”
“Why is he not an elfling this time?” questioned Elrond.
“I am assuming it is because he has a better chance of surviving if he looks like he does now. You would do anything for Erestor would you not?” Both elves nodded. “Than is it not advantageous for him to look like the former Erestor? That way he would have the best chance of surviving. His new form was probably shaped by Elrond’s thoughts as he sat by the pyre.”
All three stayed quiet for some time, contemplating their own thoughts.
“So…what happens now?” queried Glorfindel.
“Now…now I do not know what happens. The future is usually so clear before me, but in this case it is shadowed, and I know not what to make of that. The best thing to do would be to take care of him. Teach him. I do not know if there are any phoenix left on Arda that know who and what they are. Iluvatar has told me that, over time, the creatures drifted apart. Thus fewer and fewer have known their true origins upon rebirth. I know not if there are any left of the original stock that still retain the knowledge of their kind.”
“Should we tell him? Should he know what he is?” Elrond mused aloud.
“Mayhap someday,” Namo replied. “It may be too soon now to tell him. He would not understand at any rate.” The Lord stood, and Elrond and Glorfindel followed suit. “I must be on my way. The best of luck to both of you.”
“Thank you for everything, my Lord Namo. You have been most enlightening.” Elrond thanked.
The Vala left suddenly, disappearing as quietly as he had come. The elven lords looked towards the door that lead into the healing room. Inside that room lay the body of their best friend. A body that no longer housed their friend.
Elrond sighed. “We have a long road ahead of us, my friend.”