The Music in My Heart
folder
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
75
Views:
3,758
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
75
Views:
3,758
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 7 Dreams Pass Into Reality
Title: The Music in My Heart, Chapter 7
Author: Sorsha
Fandom/Pairing: Elrond/OFC, Glorfindel/Haldir, Elladan/OFC, Elrohir/Legolas, others implied
Rating: NC-17 for later 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 7 --- Dreams Pass Into Reality
“Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.”
Anais Nin
*****
“The fleet set sail this morning from the White Havens. They arrive in six weeks barring bad weather,” Seere announced as she leaned in to give her father a quick kiss on the cheek before going to fill her plate for breakfast.
Elrohir quickly snagged her hand before she could step away and asked anxiously, “My father’s ship among them?”
Smiling, Seere placed a loving hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Yes, Lord Elrond travels in the flag ship as befits the leader of the expedition. He and Lord Glorfindel stood at the bow watching as they cleared the harbor, their eyes turned to the east and a look of supreme satisfaction on their faces.” She smiled at the excited faces looking up at her in expectation. Sighing, she sat and waited for the next question.
Elladan, wanting to ask his own questions, took pity on her and jumped up to get her something to eat admonishing the rest, “No questions until I get back!”
Grabbing an empty platter from the buffet, he filled it with bread, fruit and jams and dropped it in the middle of the table. “There, now tell me was it a dream or a waking vision that you received? How did Ada look? Did he look healthy? Tired? How many came with him or could you tell? Were the ships large or smaller sloops? Could you tell the number in the fleet? Were you able to see other travelers and can you describe them to us? Was…”
“Elladan, enough! Take a breath and let her answer the questions you have already posed. I am sure she will answer all you have if you give her time.” Celeborn smiled. “Pen vuil?”
Grinning over the top of a piece of bread liberally spread with marmalade, Seere took a moment to enjoy the excitement her news had brought. The last nine months had been alive with activity, some directed at the returning elves, but most directed at making the best possible use of the information her dreams had provided. Once her father knew about her vision of Laurea, she stopped obsessing on it alone and her mind had begun to focus on the details of her dreams.
Each new dream gave yet more information that allowed them to begin to develop a strategy. Maps had been drawn, marking the locations seen in her dreams. The meaning of the second map, the mostly obscure sites, was still unknown, but was being investigated. As subsequent attacks confirmed the accuracy of her visions, limited military resources were being more effectively deployed.
Inhabitants of villages too small to be easily defended were encouraged to move to a fortified city; most had heeded the warning. Imladris’s population had doubled, then doubled again, within weeks as the displaced sought her sanctuary. Once again, the valley was the refuge for all peoples its founder had envisioned.
With each fact verified, her standing had risen. Her family treated her as a gifted seer (though most of the rest of the valley still watched her with nervous, guarded looks) and her Adar had officially made her his junior counsellor. She had proved herself a true daughter of Erestor with her considered, insightful observations. They had discovered she had a talent for diplomacy, a subtle ability to stroke egos and achieved consensus. That she had also displayed a skill at developing military strategy had surprised them all --- herself most of all.
*****
Legolas had been instrumental in gaining his father’s grudging involvement, while Gimli had successfully represented the Dwarfish enclaves. Queen Arinzil of Gondor maintained close ties to her great uncles and her great, great, grandfather, Celeborn. As a result, Gondor was actively assisting in their ‘elf hunt’ as were the spies of the current King of Rohan, Éomer III. The alliance between the two human realms had deepened since Eomer’s heir had married the only daughter of Prince Aranuir, Crown Prince of Gondor. Their twin sons were due to arrive in the fall to begin their elvish education as had all of the descendents of the Evenstar. They were the first of Rohan’s royal family to do so.
Seere had joined the twins, Celeborn, and her ada in working long hours to review the intelligence, keep the lines of communication open with their allies, and maintain the delicate balance between the various personalities involved. The first full scale Council of the free peoples of Middle-earth was set to convene after the expedition from Aman arrived.
It was to be preceded by a Convocation of the elven kingdoms so that the new arrivals could find their place in a Middle-earth that had changed significantly since the last sailing of the eldar had departed her shores. Assuming there would be elves from all kingdoms in the roster of returnees, efforts were underway in each realm to provide accommodations for those returning. All that remained to set the plans in motion for these big events was a date, the date the ships sailed giving them a date when they could look for their kindred to come home.
/There will be much to do now that we can estimate a date of arrival. We will need to write to our allies today with this information. With Imladris hosting the two gatherings, we will need to increase security and check our provisions to be sure we are adequately supplied. That means food, medical supplies, weapons.../
Seere was pulled from her mental inventory by a gentle, “Pen vuil??” Looking up at the table full of either exasperated or amused elves, she blushed and asked, “Could you repeat your questions, Elladan?” Noticing that most of the rest of the valley residents present in the dining hall had joined their table to hear the news, she reached for an apple as she began to answer the flood of questions.
Smiling, she mused, /this will take a while./
*****
Imladris was a mass of activity within minutes of the ending of the impromptu breakfast meeting. The twins had been detailed to arrange for guards to accompany the messengers along the perilous paths of Middle-earth and to begin a review of current security measures with Ermehtar, the Captain of the Guard. Seere had been assigned the task of overseeing a series of detailed inventories of all supplies so that orders for additional items could be made immediately. Celeborn and Erestor began working on the necessary letters and reports to alert their allies of this new information.
Setting to work in Erestor’s study, the two elf lords began by drafting the letters of invitation. This proved to be an arduous task as each had to be written in a code known only to the missive’s recipient. The study was quite for a time save for the scratch of quills on parchment or the faint grumbling from the two as they worked to compose, then translate to code the necessary individual letters.
Completing his second letter and setting it aside to dry, Erestor looked over at his friend. Seeing him complete the draft before him, Erestor broke the silence to ask, “Do you think the Valar have sent them to us as they did with the army that defeated Morgoth? That Elrond brings the specific knowledge we need to end this threat?”
“I know not, but I have been wondering the same thing. Seere does not seem to have an indication of this. It would be nice to know as it could allow us to better plan for their arrival.”
“Aye, it would.” Erestor paused as if hesitant to ask his next question. Seeing Celeborn’s curious look, he asked, “Have you noticed a particular focus to my daughter’s dreams, her visions?”
“I would have to say yes. I am assuming you mean how often they seem to involve, if not focus solely, on Elrond.” Seeing his friend nod, he continued, “Forgive me if this is out of line, but it is almost unnerving how she speaks of him… as if he is someone she has known for a long time, a close friend, I would say. She often forgets to call him Lord Elrond and simply addresses him by his name. Tis odd given he sailed several years before your marriage, thus many years before she was born.”
“It is likely only a reflection of the time she has spent reading his manuscripts and correspondence, hearing our stories, and growing up around the twins. I would imagine having dreams such as she does would make you feel you know someone on a personal level. I doubt there is any reason to worry,” Celeborn offered.
/If Galadriel is correct and she is having other dreams she is not telling about, then… I need to talk to my lady and seek her advice as to whether it is time to confront Seere on these other dreams. They call to mind dreams Elrond had of an elleth… Yes, I need to talk to my wife about this./
Erestor, after taking time to organize his thoughts began. “My daughter has lived a very sheltered life in many respects. She is of an age where most have married and started a family. Here she meets few eligible elves and none have caught her fancy. I had hoped she might favor Ermehtar or one of the twins, but … the twins are too much her ‘big brothers’ and Ermehtar… she has little in common with him and has grown away from him in recent years, though he would like it otherwise.”
“While I completely trust Elrond not to take advantage of an impressionable young elleth, he will cut quite a figure to her eyes. He is one of the legends of our people in this land and has always had admirers drawn to his exotic appearance… nay, beauty. I would hate for her to be hurt if Elrond took exception to her casual mode of address or if she was to misread a friendly gesture as something more. I worry she will be hurt if she develops an infatuation or worse… falls in love with him. She has so little experience in these matters … and I worry,” Erestor confessed. “Besides, he is a married elf many millennia her senior. There is no appropriate place for her in his life.”
Celeborn tilted his head in thought before offering, “I do not believe he and Celebrian are still married. When Galadriel and I ‘speak’, she prefers to avoid the topic... but she once referred to the ‘Valar’s decision’ in regard to their marriage. I do not think they ever bonded and we both know how strained the marriage was by the time she was attacked, then sailed.”
Meeting his friend’s eyes, he went on. “Did Elrond ever tell you I counseled them against the marriage? I see in your eyes that he did. We both know he long had visions of an elleth that would be his soul mate, but he desired Celebrian and seemed to forget those visions. He wanted, needed heirs for he had seen that too. So they married despite my reservations. I feared they lacked any true depth in their connection that would foster a bond and help to keep the marriage vital for millennia. Sadly, I saw I had been right several centuries into their marriage as they started to drift apart.”
“Seere has not mentioned my daughter accompanying him nor anyone regularly in his company save Glorfindel and Lindir.” /Odd that she should recognize Glorfindel and Lindir. She has read of the Balrog Slayer in many histories, so that would explain how she identified him, but how, by name, should she know Lindir?/ “It would appear he is alone, that my daughter does not share his life or home in Aman.”
“My reason for telling you this is to ask a question, if I may?” Receiving a nod, he continued, “Is it you concern that she may be hurt by unrequited affection or that Elrond might find your beautiful, gifted daughter desirable?”
Seeing Erestor flinch as his question struck a nerve, he reminded his friend, “You know he would not act inappropriately with her, do you not?”
Seeing the confused look on his friend’s face, he could not resist adding, “I wonder if this was how Gandalf felt when an elf I love like my brother took an interest in his beautiful young daughter?”
Celeborn returned to his work, a tiny smile betraying his amusement at the look of shock on the normally placid face of Imladris’s Chief Counsellor.
Unknown to either elf, the “beautiful, gifted” elleth in question stood just outside the door listening to their conversation, a surprised look on her face. /He is no longer married. How did I already know this? And what is this of his visions of an elleth that would be his soul mate? I wonder…./
*****
A/N --- Arinzil means royal (ar) flower (inzil) in a combination of Sindarin and Nứmenórean.
Author: Sorsha
Fandom/Pairing: Elrond/OFC, Glorfindel/Haldir, Elladan/OFC, Elrohir/Legolas, others implied
Rating: NC-17 for later 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 7 --- Dreams Pass Into Reality
“Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.”
Anais Nin
*****
“The fleet set sail this morning from the White Havens. They arrive in six weeks barring bad weather,” Seere announced as she leaned in to give her father a quick kiss on the cheek before going to fill her plate for breakfast.
Elrohir quickly snagged her hand before she could step away and asked anxiously, “My father’s ship among them?”
Smiling, Seere placed a loving hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Yes, Lord Elrond travels in the flag ship as befits the leader of the expedition. He and Lord Glorfindel stood at the bow watching as they cleared the harbor, their eyes turned to the east and a look of supreme satisfaction on their faces.” She smiled at the excited faces looking up at her in expectation. Sighing, she sat and waited for the next question.
Elladan, wanting to ask his own questions, took pity on her and jumped up to get her something to eat admonishing the rest, “No questions until I get back!”
Grabbing an empty platter from the buffet, he filled it with bread, fruit and jams and dropped it in the middle of the table. “There, now tell me was it a dream or a waking vision that you received? How did Ada look? Did he look healthy? Tired? How many came with him or could you tell? Were the ships large or smaller sloops? Could you tell the number in the fleet? Were you able to see other travelers and can you describe them to us? Was…”
“Elladan, enough! Take a breath and let her answer the questions you have already posed. I am sure she will answer all you have if you give her time.” Celeborn smiled. “Pen vuil?”
Grinning over the top of a piece of bread liberally spread with marmalade, Seere took a moment to enjoy the excitement her news had brought. The last nine months had been alive with activity, some directed at the returning elves, but most directed at making the best possible use of the information her dreams had provided. Once her father knew about her vision of Laurea, she stopped obsessing on it alone and her mind had begun to focus on the details of her dreams.
Each new dream gave yet more information that allowed them to begin to develop a strategy. Maps had been drawn, marking the locations seen in her dreams. The meaning of the second map, the mostly obscure sites, was still unknown, but was being investigated. As subsequent attacks confirmed the accuracy of her visions, limited military resources were being more effectively deployed.
Inhabitants of villages too small to be easily defended were encouraged to move to a fortified city; most had heeded the warning. Imladris’s population had doubled, then doubled again, within weeks as the displaced sought her sanctuary. Once again, the valley was the refuge for all peoples its founder had envisioned.
With each fact verified, her standing had risen. Her family treated her as a gifted seer (though most of the rest of the valley still watched her with nervous, guarded looks) and her Adar had officially made her his junior counsellor. She had proved herself a true daughter of Erestor with her considered, insightful observations. They had discovered she had a talent for diplomacy, a subtle ability to stroke egos and achieved consensus. That she had also displayed a skill at developing military strategy had surprised them all --- herself most of all.
*****
Legolas had been instrumental in gaining his father’s grudging involvement, while Gimli had successfully represented the Dwarfish enclaves. Queen Arinzil of Gondor maintained close ties to her great uncles and her great, great, grandfather, Celeborn. As a result, Gondor was actively assisting in their ‘elf hunt’ as were the spies of the current King of Rohan, Éomer III. The alliance between the two human realms had deepened since Eomer’s heir had married the only daughter of Prince Aranuir, Crown Prince of Gondor. Their twin sons were due to arrive in the fall to begin their elvish education as had all of the descendents of the Evenstar. They were the first of Rohan’s royal family to do so.
Seere had joined the twins, Celeborn, and her ada in working long hours to review the intelligence, keep the lines of communication open with their allies, and maintain the delicate balance between the various personalities involved. The first full scale Council of the free peoples of Middle-earth was set to convene after the expedition from Aman arrived.
It was to be preceded by a Convocation of the elven kingdoms so that the new arrivals could find their place in a Middle-earth that had changed significantly since the last sailing of the eldar had departed her shores. Assuming there would be elves from all kingdoms in the roster of returnees, efforts were underway in each realm to provide accommodations for those returning. All that remained to set the plans in motion for these big events was a date, the date the ships sailed giving them a date when they could look for their kindred to come home.
/There will be much to do now that we can estimate a date of arrival. We will need to write to our allies today with this information. With Imladris hosting the two gatherings, we will need to increase security and check our provisions to be sure we are adequately supplied. That means food, medical supplies, weapons.../
Seere was pulled from her mental inventory by a gentle, “Pen vuil??” Looking up at the table full of either exasperated or amused elves, she blushed and asked, “Could you repeat your questions, Elladan?” Noticing that most of the rest of the valley residents present in the dining hall had joined their table to hear the news, she reached for an apple as she began to answer the flood of questions.
Smiling, she mused, /this will take a while./
*****
Imladris was a mass of activity within minutes of the ending of the impromptu breakfast meeting. The twins had been detailed to arrange for guards to accompany the messengers along the perilous paths of Middle-earth and to begin a review of current security measures with Ermehtar, the Captain of the Guard. Seere had been assigned the task of overseeing a series of detailed inventories of all supplies so that orders for additional items could be made immediately. Celeborn and Erestor began working on the necessary letters and reports to alert their allies of this new information.
Setting to work in Erestor’s study, the two elf lords began by drafting the letters of invitation. This proved to be an arduous task as each had to be written in a code known only to the missive’s recipient. The study was quite for a time save for the scratch of quills on parchment or the faint grumbling from the two as they worked to compose, then translate to code the necessary individual letters.
Completing his second letter and setting it aside to dry, Erestor looked over at his friend. Seeing him complete the draft before him, Erestor broke the silence to ask, “Do you think the Valar have sent them to us as they did with the army that defeated Morgoth? That Elrond brings the specific knowledge we need to end this threat?”
“I know not, but I have been wondering the same thing. Seere does not seem to have an indication of this. It would be nice to know as it could allow us to better plan for their arrival.”
“Aye, it would.” Erestor paused as if hesitant to ask his next question. Seeing Celeborn’s curious look, he asked, “Have you noticed a particular focus to my daughter’s dreams, her visions?”
“I would have to say yes. I am assuming you mean how often they seem to involve, if not focus solely, on Elrond.” Seeing his friend nod, he continued, “Forgive me if this is out of line, but it is almost unnerving how she speaks of him… as if he is someone she has known for a long time, a close friend, I would say. She often forgets to call him Lord Elrond and simply addresses him by his name. Tis odd given he sailed several years before your marriage, thus many years before she was born.”
“It is likely only a reflection of the time she has spent reading his manuscripts and correspondence, hearing our stories, and growing up around the twins. I would imagine having dreams such as she does would make you feel you know someone on a personal level. I doubt there is any reason to worry,” Celeborn offered.
/If Galadriel is correct and she is having other dreams she is not telling about, then… I need to talk to my lady and seek her advice as to whether it is time to confront Seere on these other dreams. They call to mind dreams Elrond had of an elleth… Yes, I need to talk to my wife about this./
Erestor, after taking time to organize his thoughts began. “My daughter has lived a very sheltered life in many respects. She is of an age where most have married and started a family. Here she meets few eligible elves and none have caught her fancy. I had hoped she might favor Ermehtar or one of the twins, but … the twins are too much her ‘big brothers’ and Ermehtar… she has little in common with him and has grown away from him in recent years, though he would like it otherwise.”
“While I completely trust Elrond not to take advantage of an impressionable young elleth, he will cut quite a figure to her eyes. He is one of the legends of our people in this land and has always had admirers drawn to his exotic appearance… nay, beauty. I would hate for her to be hurt if Elrond took exception to her casual mode of address or if she was to misread a friendly gesture as something more. I worry she will be hurt if she develops an infatuation or worse… falls in love with him. She has so little experience in these matters … and I worry,” Erestor confessed. “Besides, he is a married elf many millennia her senior. There is no appropriate place for her in his life.”
Celeborn tilted his head in thought before offering, “I do not believe he and Celebrian are still married. When Galadriel and I ‘speak’, she prefers to avoid the topic... but she once referred to the ‘Valar’s decision’ in regard to their marriage. I do not think they ever bonded and we both know how strained the marriage was by the time she was attacked, then sailed.”
Meeting his friend’s eyes, he went on. “Did Elrond ever tell you I counseled them against the marriage? I see in your eyes that he did. We both know he long had visions of an elleth that would be his soul mate, but he desired Celebrian and seemed to forget those visions. He wanted, needed heirs for he had seen that too. So they married despite my reservations. I feared they lacked any true depth in their connection that would foster a bond and help to keep the marriage vital for millennia. Sadly, I saw I had been right several centuries into their marriage as they started to drift apart.”
“Seere has not mentioned my daughter accompanying him nor anyone regularly in his company save Glorfindel and Lindir.” /Odd that she should recognize Glorfindel and Lindir. She has read of the Balrog Slayer in many histories, so that would explain how she identified him, but how, by name, should she know Lindir?/ “It would appear he is alone, that my daughter does not share his life or home in Aman.”
“My reason for telling you this is to ask a question, if I may?” Receiving a nod, he continued, “Is it you concern that she may be hurt by unrequited affection or that Elrond might find your beautiful, gifted daughter desirable?”
Seeing Erestor flinch as his question struck a nerve, he reminded his friend, “You know he would not act inappropriately with her, do you not?”
Seeing the confused look on his friend’s face, he could not resist adding, “I wonder if this was how Gandalf felt when an elf I love like my brother took an interest in his beautiful young daughter?”
Celeborn returned to his work, a tiny smile betraying his amusement at the look of shock on the normally placid face of Imladris’s Chief Counsellor.
Unknown to either elf, the “beautiful, gifted” elleth in question stood just outside the door listening to their conversation, a surprised look on her face. /He is no longer married. How did I already know this? And what is this of his visions of an elleth that would be his soul mate? I wonder…./
*****
A/N --- Arinzil means royal (ar) flower (inzil) in a combination of Sindarin and Nứmenórean.