The Music in My Heart

Title: The Music in My Heart, Chapter 67
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; Slash and het.
Feedback: This is my first fanfic, so constructive feedback appreciated.
Archive: AFF; FF
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Alex Cat for her help in betaing this.
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.

A/N --- It seems begging for feedback doesn't work either! sigh!

Chapter 67 --- There Should Be a Law!

"Wives are people who think it's against the law not to answer the phone when it rings."
Rita Rudner

*****

Elrond quickly decided that, in all his long life, this experience had to rate as one of the most unpleasant he had ever had. Oh, it did not rank up there with the truly horrible events he had seen or endured. It was, for example, not as bad as waking up day after day, month after month, year after year in the camp at the base of Orodruin or the day he watched his friend and king die. It was more along the lines of an evening spent trying to make pleasant conversation with Saruman… or treating that reoccurring case of athlete’s foot which Bilbo Baggins had routinely suffered.

/I can still see those big, hairy Hobbit feet when I close my eyes… which I will not be doing for a why, thank you very much!/

Still feeling violated and defiled, Elrond reviewed what had just transpired. /There should be some law that prevents your former mother-in-law from being able to farspeak to you when you are making love with your new wife! The only thing that would have made it worse would have been to look up and find Galadriel and Celeborn sitting nearby, preparing a critique of my performance!/

Sighing deeply, he considered, /Well, at least my ardor is now under control. No chance of being aroused after that! I just hope I have not scarred Seere by my reaction. By the Valar, please let me not have shrieked like an elfling when I realized who was speaking to me! Hopefully, it had a more masculine quality than I am now recalling./

/As for my dear, traumatized mate, does she have to keep giggling every time she looks my way? Nay, controlling my ardor will not be a problem after all!/

*****

Taking a deep breath, Elrond let his mind stretch out to receive Galadriel’s call. The familiar brush of the powerful aura of the Lady of the Golden Wood settled over him.

Determined to give nothing away in the face of her endless curiosity, he steeled his mind to begin the conversation. *Galadriel? Why do you seek me? Is there news from Aman I must know? I trust you and Celebrian are well.*

/There, suitable tone, friendly… no embarrassment./

*Elrond? Are you well? What caused you to shriek so? You sounded like a frightened elfling!*

Gritting his teeth against the teasing tone, he answered. *You but startled me when you spoke in my mind, but it was hardly a shriek. The distance between us must have distorted my voice.*

*Funny, your voice is not distorted now. Humm? But no matter. How are you? Are you and Seere safe? Please, by grace of the Valar, let her be with you!*

*How do you know… Celeborn! You have been in contact with him and he asked you to try contacting me; am I right?*

*Oh, course, ion nîn. We who love you are worried. So, you are both well?* (my son)

A smile settled on his face at the endearment. *Seere was injured, but is recovering. I am fine. We have sheltered in the safest place I could find, having but few options. We should be able to move soon and will seek to rejoin our family. I assume you will pass this news along, so they are comforted?*

*I will talk to my husband as soon as we finish. What happened to Seere, as you know he will ask?*

*She has a gash on her shoulder that I had to stitch and her right knee was re-injured, this time dislocating the joint and tearing some of the supporting tissue. Tell Celeborn to reassure Erestor. She is recovering quickly and fought well even after she was wounded. He should be very proud of her!*

*As you are, ion? Nay, do not answer. I hear the depth of your love in your voice… or is that distortion too?* (son)

Laughing silently knowing she would hear it, he responded, *Nay, you heard that part correctly.*

*There is something… something of great importance that you are not telling me. What has happened, Elrond? Do not waste our time denying this for I know you too well to be dissuaded.*

At a loss as to how to appease her short of a full confession, he sighed. *Eru, the Valar have given us a great gift… great, but quite unexpected at this time.*

A delighted tone lightened her voice, *A soul-bond, Elrond? The blessings of Eru and the Valar be upon you both! This is truly a gift of unequaled value. I know as I share one with my beloved. You will always be as a son to Celeborn and me. We celebrate this news with you!*

Shaking his head, he smirked, *I should have known you would know! You never miss anything. And you and your husband are dear to me as well! I ask that you urge Celeborn not to tell anyone yet. Erestor and Elrohir deserve to hear this from us, I think.*

*I agree. He will understand and keep your secret until you can rejoin them. I must say a soul-bond must have been… more than simply unexpected at this point,* she mused. Uncomfortable with intruding into so personal a matter, she hesitated. *As Erestor has managed to keep you two from… well, it must have been a shock and now presents an additional… challenge, given your circumstances. Are you two alright? I do not mean to pry into so intimate a topic, but I remember the… demands that comes with such a gift.*

*“Demands”… “challenge”? Humm? I guess that is a good a description as any… at least one that is polite enough for mixed company!* he replied, a rueful, yet strained edge to his tone.

*Joking aside, ion nin… neither of you will be able to bear being separated from the other by more than mere inches until this ‘challenge’ is resolved. I am worried this will put you at greater risk.* (my son)

Sighing, he glanced at Seere. *We will manage; we have no choice. You have only confirmed what we had already begun to suspect, but time, place, safety… not to mention Seere’s injures must be improved before this matter can be addressed. And, there is the matter of the vow we made to Erestor. I confess… were she not injured, we would be hard pressed…. urgh… Still, a promise was made. We will need to move soon and seek our family.*

Struggling not to laugh at his unintended double entendre, she decided to focus on getting help to them. *Can I tell them where you are? Or where they can meet you?*

*They will not be able to get to us, so we will have to get to them. I would feel better, however, knowing help was coming to assist me in getting Seere to safety. Do you know where they are at present, so that we may plan to rendezvous with them?*

*They are at the stronghold at Henneth Annûn in Ithilien. What worries you so about Seere’s safety? There is more than normal concern I sense in you tone.*

Hesitating for just a moment before answering, he responded, *Again, you are right. I have begun to fear they are after Seere for some reason. It is the only logical conclusion given the specifics of the abduction attempt and the number the enemy sent after us. It also explains the prior attacks. Tell them we will be traveling south toward Ithilien across the Dagorlad Plain east of Emyn Muil.*

Worry colored Galadriel’s voice. *I see. I will contact you shortly with a meeting place. And, pen vuil, I will try to give you a nudge before I start to speak. I would hate to interrupt at an inopportune time again. Your shriek was most unsettling, especially in light of your celebrated stature here in Aman.* Galadriel teased. (dear one)

*Simply distortion I assure you… though a nudge would not be unwelcome. What is this of Aman?*

*The news that the fëar from the Dead Marshes have finally arrived at Mandos has been a cause for great joy for us all. The expedition and its leaders are much lauded. Our lost have come home to us at long last!*

*I am glad to hear they have finally found the peace of Mandos after their long years of suffering and trust it will give comfort to those long grieved. I assume you know some who were but injured have decided to join us on our mission, Oropher among them.*

*Celeborn told me as he complained of his latest torment. Do you think there is merit to his assertion that Ereinion’s fëa was reborn in Seere?*

*We… do not know. That is something we need to… consider. But, we will have time for this discussion later. Oropher still stirs up trouble wherever he goes, but there may be a basis for his claims.*

*Intriguing. And it seems he is little changed from his time in the Marsh. In any case, rest easy, for the news of those that ride with you is known here too.* Pausing for a moment, she added, *Tell Seere she is welcome to talk to me if it would help her understand her own heart… as are you. Is there more I can tell you or report to our family?*

*I will tell her. I thank you. She… we may well do that. She is understandably distressed by his claim, but… She may well need your counsel, for another elleth may give her perspective I cannot. How fair the other members of our family and those that ride with us after the attack?*

*We lost four in the attack, three men and a dwarf, the latter one of Grór’s kin. There were several injured, but they are healing. Anything else I can tell you, ion nin?* (my son)

*Nay, but thank you. Tell them we will be back with them soon, if the grace of the Valar is with us.*

*Well said. Take care and I will contact you soon.*

*You as well, pen vuil.* (dear one)

Sighing as he relaxed from the strain of their long conversation, he turned to look at Seere. Needing greater physical contact, he pulled her closer to his side. “Galadriel sends her love and will tell our family we are safe. Hopefully, they can meet us as we ride from here.”

Lifting her head from his shoulder, she met his gaze. “Distorted by the distance? That was the best you could offer, melme?” she giggled. (love)

Sighing, he dropped his head onto his raised knees. /Nay, I will have no trouble controlling my ardor with her giggling at me like that. Wait!/ “How did you hear…”

***

Celeborn took a sip of the tea he had been offered, but found no comfort in the soothing brew. The frantic, lost look in his dear friend’s eyes tore at his already heavy heart. It had been four days since they had watched in helpless horror as Seere had been abducted from their camp, Elrond in pursuit. Since then, they had been unable to find any sign of the pair.

*Beloved?*

The voice of his wife startled his exhausted senses, causing him to drop the mug in his hands, dousing his lap in the hot beverage. “Galadriel!” slipped from his lips as he let his mind open to receive his wife’s thoughts. Within seconds, he was flanked by Erestor and his grandson, each wanting to know if the Lady of Light had found their kin.

Catching Erestor’s arm in support, he asked, *Galadriel! What news do you have of Elrond and Seere?*

*They are safe for the moment. Seere was injured, but is recovering. Beloved, there are complications you need to know.*

*From her injuries? Are they grave? Wait! Let me tell the others you have found them!* Looking up to meet his friend’s eyes, he gave the arm under his hand a squeeze. “They are safe!”

“Is Seere alright? Elrond?” Erestor demanded.

“Calm down, mellon nin. Seere was apparently injured, but is recovering. I know no more than this, so let me ‘talk’ to Galadriel further,” Celeborn soothed. “Elrohir, help Erestor back to his chair. He has not slept since they have been missing and it is catching up to him.” (my friend)

Seeing the Noldor collapse into a nearby chair, his eyes fixed on Celeborn’s face, the elf lord again reached out. *Galadriel… please, tell me the rest, my love.*

*Seere has a gash on her shoulder that required stitching and her knee injury has been aggravated, but she is recovering. Elrond is fine, except for… Celeborn… they will need your counsel and support. They have been gifted a soul-bond, though the thought that they were trapped in the intensity of those first hours, perhaps days, unaware of the world around them, terrifies me. It explains why I have been unable to contact him, yet knew he still lived. Eru was watching over them, that they were not found in so vulnerable a condition.*

There was a long pause before her husband responded. *I have already told Erestor and Elrohir that they are safe, but… this last news I will not shared with them for now. A true soul-bond, beloved?*

*Aye. They have, for obvious reasons, not consummated their bond. We both remember from our own experience, the intense demands it will place upon them. I fear for their safety if they must travel. If they are forced to delay too long, they will likely suffer intense pain and be unable to focus on anything but that need. They will be helpless to defend themselves. You will be the only one that will understand what a soul bond does to the ones its visits. They will be confused, disoriented, and distressed… Erestor and Elrohir will not understand and…*

Sighing, she forced her thoughts back to the first matter that they must address. *Elrond has asked that you say nothing to them of what has transpired, for they feel they should be the ones to inform them. How do we get them to safety, for they may not be able to aid in their own defense? I have not yet told them how it will soon be for them. To make matters worse, Elrond believes the Hordes are targeting Seere, so she is in grave danger.*

Startled once again by what she was telling him, Celeborn asked, *Targeting Seere? Aye… now that I think of this, it makes sense of the abduction, as well as, the earlier attacks. This does indeed present many difficulties. We must get them here to the safety of the fortress as quickly as possible, and they must be left to consummate their marriage. I will deal with the objections from Erestor and Elrohir then. You are right to worry they will interfere and not understand that any reservations they may have about of their bond have been rendered moot by Eru Ilúvatar’ gift. The promise they made to wait until Erestor is resigned to their match is no longer something he can hold them to.*

*Agreed. I will need to talk to Elrond and be blunt as to what is going to happen to them. If Seere were not injured… if the Hordes were no searching for them, I would urge them to complete the bond now, but this is not possible.*

Hearing her hesitate, he asked, *Something else troubles you, beloved. Tell me.*

Across the many miles that separated them, he felt her unease. *Seere is still… innocent. I worry that… if Elrond is forced to control his desire to consummate the bond for too long, he may not be able to take the care she will need for her first time. He would be devastated if he hurt her unintentionally and Seere could be injured by his uncontrolled passion, especially with her past experience with Ermehtar. I have never known of another situation like this one, so we have no way of knowing how it will be for them, but I am greatly worried, my husband.*

Struggling to keep his own disquiet from his face, Celeborn pondered his wife’s comments. *Talk to him, melme. He must know these possibilities. I remember well the overwhelming desire I had for you. I was insatiable for weeks. We had been wed for many years, so we knew each other’s needs and… I had not the worry of causing such harm to you. You are right to be concerned, especially when we consider the fact that the strain of waiting has already taken its toll on them both. Add to this the fact that Elrond has been celibate for many years and has already shown his frustration… yes, you must talk to him in complete candor and ignore the normal proprieties governing such matters.* (love)

Sighing, Galadriel faced this duty without pleasure. *It would be easier for us both if you were the one to have this conversation with him… ellon to ellon, but I have no choice. I will be blunt and hope he understands the need for me to invade their privacy thus. Now, let us plan a way to get them to Henneth Annûn…*

*****