A Lonely Love

Chapter 5



Weeks passed and winter fell. With winter came a handful of new recruits dealing with the protecting of everything Imladris held dear. They were not only protecting the occupants within its borders, they were protecting a way of life that was highly prized by all in this fair elven realm.

Among those now in training was a comely, sandy-haired elf called by the name of Sirlith. Sirlith quickly became friends with his fellow warriors, especially growing fond of a certain redheaded elf with emerald green eyes.

Sirlith was what all would call a natural born warrior. He was quick on his feet, his reflexes sharp, and his mastery of most weapons was exceptional. He thusly caught Carandhol’s eye. They began to flirt openly with each other whenever they met, be it on the training grounds, or in the main house. Their mutual admiration became its most obvious whenever the two were together in the Hall of Fire with the drink flowing freely.

Glorfindel kept his eye on everything, disturbed by the open disregard for Erestor and Carandhol’s marriage. He hoped that none of this reached the quiet counselor’s ears.

Outside the snow fell, and all of Imladris sought refuge and warmth in either their rooms or the Hall of Fire each night after dinner. Elrond and Celebrian had taken the twins this night to the hall for music and games around the constant burning fires. On their way they made a stop to drag Erestor with them to the twins utter delight. They knew this meant story telling and the cook’s hot-spiced tea.

Glorfindel smiled warmly as the door burst open and two bouncing elflings emerged followed by the accompanying adults. “Glorfdall!” yelled Elladan as he threw himself into the seated warrior’s lap. Glorfindel laughed as the breath was knocked out of him. “ Well, hello there Elladan,” he grinned into those sparkling gray eyes. “Ro and I are going to sing, and drink hot-spiced tea, and play games, and, and hear stories!!” He bounced on Glorfindel’s lap as he patted the warrior’s face excitedly.

“Elladan, please remove yourself from poor Fin’s lap and come and get your tea,” smiled Celebrian into Glorfindel’s eyes.

“Tis quite all right m’lady,” smiled Glorfindel as he lifted Elladan easily while he stood and took the excited elfling over to get his tea.

“Silly, Nana,” giggled Elladan, “Glorfdall likes me!” He told his mother peaking over Glorfindel’s shoulder.

Celebrian giggled as Elrond took her hand leading her to a perfect spot near the fire. Kissing his wife on the cheek he teased her, “I see where they get that giggling from.” “You weren’t complaining about my giggling last night, my love,” she whispered into his ear smiling. “Indeed,” he blushed and looked at his hands, “tea’s good, hmn?” Celebrian giggled once more and kissed his cheek.

Glorfindel sat with Erestor and the twins while they drank their tea as Lindir and a few other minstrels played happy melodies and sang. The whole time the twins told them elaborate stories about their day’s events as they kicked and swung their happy little feet under the table.

“Then guess what Restor,” spoke Elrohir vividly, “Dan and I wrote a big letter to Nana on Ada’s desk and, and we even used Ada’s ink,” he took a quick breath and continued with his story, “then Ada came in and he shook his head and did this,” here Elladan and Elrohir pinched the bridge of their nose with their thumb and forefinger, and it was all Erestor and Glorfindel could do to keep from laughing, “and, and he said next time we need to use a quill and not our fingers, see?” They proceeded to show their ink-stained hands to their captive audience.

Celebrian put her head on Elrond’s shoulder as she sighed looking at her ever-energetic sons. “Do you think we should go rescue Erestor and Glorfindel?”

“Not yet, love, let us enjoy this moment whilst we can.” Sighed Elrond as he rubbed Celebrian’s back idly. She did not protest.

In the far and dark corner of the hall, laughter rang out and Erestor’s eyes went to the familiar sound. Carandhol sat huddled with Sirlith, sharing some private joke.

Glorfindel inwardly cringed as he followed Erestor’s eyes to the source of the sound. He then looked back at Erestor only to see hurt and sadness emanating from the dark eyes. Glorfindel found himself wanting to take the hurt away.

“Come, Erestor, will you not tell the elflings and I a story?” urged Glorfindel.

“Yeah!! Story, Story!” bounced the twins.

Erestor gave Glorfindel a stern look though his eyes were smiling.

“Very well, come on, over to your parents, get settled, and I will tell you a tale.” He offered to the twins.

They immediately did as told and lay in front of their parents on the many strewn pillows with Glorfindel and Erestor joining them.

“Erestor is going to tell us a story,” whispered Elrohir as he lay next to his brother wrapping an arm around him as Elladan began to suck his thumb already growing sleepy.

Celebrian and Elrond snuggled closer to await the story as well.

Erestor began, “Once upon a time, there was a handsome elven warrior. Now, this warrior was not only strong of body, but strong of mind.” “He fought in many wars and helped defeat evil in this land of ours.”

“This elven warrior grew tired of fighting and decided to found a haven for all to find peace in. This place would be unlike any other elven realm, for the warrior was fair and wise and many peoples came to live in this new realm; or to trade with the elves that lived there.” Here Erestor paused for effect.

Elrond and Celebrian were now holding each other and Glorfindel was enraptured by the elf in front of him. For here, Erestor came alive, as he did in council. The words flowed out of him and into all listening.

“This warrior elf, though very busy and surrounded with many friends, felt something was missing in his life; then one fine spring day, a beautiful elven maiden with long silver hair and magical blue eyes, came with her parent’s into this valley of his.”

Elrond tightened his hold on Celebrian as she had tears shimmering in her eyes.

“This warrior elf, took one look into the maiden’s eyes and fell madly in love with her, for she was as beautiful inside as she was to gaze upon.”

“Did they get married?” whispered Elladan.

“Yes, they did Elladan,” added Erestor, “though it took one hundred years from their first meeting before they wed.” “You see, though the warrior’s heart was taken, he still had much to do for his land before he could fully give his heart to the one he loved above all others.”

“Finally, one fine spring day, much like the day they first met, the warrior and the maiden wed and bound themselves in their love before their family and all of the valley.”

Celebrian had silent tears of happiness streaming down her face, as did Elrond.

“Do you know who they were?” whispered Erestor into the twins sleepy eyes.

They shook their heads no in synchronicity.

“The brave warrior’s name was Elrond,” smiled Erestor as the twins gasped. “Can you guess who the beautiful maiden was?” he asked again into their sleepy eyes.

“Nana!!” they exclaimed happily as they moved to hug their parents.
“Yes, sweet ones, it was your Naneth.” Elrond told them.

“We’re sleepy,” they said in unison.

“Come, let us to bed,” smiled Celebrian as they began to take their sons to their rooms.

Celebrian moved over to Erestor, “Thank you meldir, that was beautiful,” she smiled and kissed a startled Erestor on his cheek.

Blushing furiously, Erestor muttered, “You are most welcome.”

Elrond just smiled and nodded at his friend and advisor, who nodded back.

Glorfindel stared at Erestor in wonder. “Is this truth?”

“Aye, it is.” Erestor replied shyly.

“That was beautiful, they indeed have a wondrous love.” Stated Glorfindel into Erestor’s chocolate eyes.

“They are lucky indeed,” smiled Erestor back into Glorfindel’s sky-
blue eyes.

“How about that game of chess, meldir?” asked Glorfindel hoping.

“I, I would like that,” stuttered a nervous Erestor.

Neither noticed the two now absent from the dark corner of the Hall of Fire.


TBC…


Sirlith- flowing sand
Meldir-male friend
Ada-Dad
Nana-Mom
Naneth-Mother