When least expected

Chapter six denial

By the time Orophin and Rielle had made it to Celeborn’s room, Haldir had already stopped singing. Haldir looked at them angry. He didn’t want that girl here, or anyone else, and he had felt like it had taken his brother forever to get back.

Taking in the furry sight that was now the floor, Orophin chuckled. He graciously sunk down on the them, handing his cargo over to Rielle. She swiftly went to Haldir and poured out some miruvar. “I am sorry we did not get here sooner, but water takes time to heat. Here, let’s make him drink this first.” Together they managed to pour some liquid down. Celeborn swallowed instinctively.

Looking around Rielle saw she needed to take control of the situation. Haldir was not available for much help, being a living heater for Celeborn, Rumil just sat on the furs, happily taking in the scene, and Orophin had just fallen asleep. Rielle chuckled, Haldir would most certainly use his brother for target practise when all this was over. Walking over to the teapot she nudged Rumil. “Go open the drapes, they block Arien’s rays.” Rumil did as he was bid and when he opened the drapes heat attacked him.

Arien was standing high above and there were no clouds to block her rays. The wind did not blow today, not in the fair woods of Lorien, and the warmth Arien had been providing this day was incinerating.

When Rumil had shook himself out of shock another force hit him. The forest was dead silent. He could not hear a sound. No animal made a noise. He could not hear squirrels fighting, no birds that sang, no nothing. Even the trees did not speak or rustle their leafs. It was as if the entire forest was waiting for what happened. And that was precisely what was going on.

When the drapes had closed the ash had become worried again. The birds could not look inside either. And when the drapes stayed close, day in day out, blocking the view, the tree had begged all others to search for the warrior elf. The one that had helped before. But the news that was carried to the city trees was that three elves were already on their way back at high pace. The ash concluded they already knew they were needed. Just like all other creatures in the wood he had stayed silent and gone to await the outcome.

When the drapes finally opened every living creature froze. Life stood still, even the flowing river, miles away, made no noise. All strained to hear the ash, the only tree with a view. But the elf standing in the opening wasn’t the one he expected to see. Where was their lord?

Finally the elf moved away and the ash could look inside. He saw another elf sleeping, also not the one he was worried about. He saw a female elf walking about and taking care of yet another elf in a chair, one that was held by a fourth elf. The one that had helped before.

He told what he saw. But it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t showing their lord was alright or would be. Every living creature remained silent and listened to the ash.

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Haldir and Rielle were patiently pouring cups of herbal tea into Celeborn. Suddenly Rielle stopped. “I don’t think he needs to drink more. We shall have to wait. It seems your brothers are already comfortable. Would you like me to change places with you?” Rielle had asked out of kindness. Haldir had held Celeborn for hours now and he must be getting stiff.

But Haldir looked at her as if she asked him to put a knife in his own heart. He glared at her.

She didn’t understand, she would never understand Haldir. She sighed and made herself comfortable on an empty chair. “I suggest we both try to sleep. We all need our strength to pull him through this.”

His look mellowed now that he realised she had asked out of friendship. She hadn’t offered because she was in love with Celeborn. He always feared losing him to another. But that didn’t seem the worst anymore. Losing him to Mandos was far worse. “Im hiraetha, Rielle” he apologized for his earlier behaviour.

“It’s alright. I am worried too.”

“I just don’t think I can sleep, not now.” He really wouldn’t sleep. He needed to know Celeborn was still breathing.

“Shall I sing you a song?”

Haldir laughed. Rielle only ever sang one song. And that was not really happy at a time like this. “No thanks, I have heard your song too much I’m afraid.”

“How about a poem then?”

That he could not refuse. He didn’t think anybody had ever d hed her recite a poem. Nor did he think it would be harmful. “Alright.”

With a singing voice she started:
“O môr, henion I dhû
Ely siriar, êl sila
Ai! Aníron, ngalad
Tiro! El ena e môr
I ‘lîr en êl luitha ‘úren
Ai ! Aníron…..”

Haldir became lost on Rielle’s lyrical voice. And for some reason the poem she had chosen comforted him. He hoped it would reach Celeborn as well.

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Rielle never finished her poem. Because she had almost sang it, her voice had lulled Haldir asleep. She now sat and watched the four sleeping elves.

The note slipped from Haldir’s hand. Carefully Rielle stood and picked it up. After she read it, she leaned in closer and whispered into Celeborn’s ears. “Haldir isn’t the only one who wants you to remain. We all do. Sleep and awake anew.” Sighing deeply she rearranged the blankets that covered the two sleeping elves.

The light was dimming. The candles were almost finished and the fire needed new wood as well.

She gently nudged Rumil awake, who complained at first. But when he realised where he was and why Rumil got up and went to get new candles. A goofy smile adorned his face. He had seen how Celeborn was resting in Haldir’s arms. When he returned he suggested they should move them to the bed.

Haldir woke when he felt Celeborn slipping from his hold. “Relax, Haldir. It’s only me.” Rumil said. “Rielle and I think the bed would be more comfortable.” “For both of you.” the girl added. Haldir agreed, he had to: Rumil was already carrying Celeborn to the bed. So all he could do was follow.

The movements had registered with the weak elflord and he slowly opened his eyes. He needed to know what was happening. He saw his ceiling and then felt himself being lowered onto something soft. He realised he had just been put to bed. But by whom, and what day was it. It had seemed years ago that he had send Haldir, Orophin and Rumil to the southern road. Years he had spend quarrelling with Mandos.

He had seen the gates, where Mandos was waiting for him. And this time it had come closer instead of further away, like last time.

When Celeborn stood in front of the Vala he had given his name and demanded entrance. But Mandos had refused. “No, Telperion, I am sorry, but your future lies in Lorien, not within my halls.”

Celeborn had nearly shoved the Vala aside. He had wanted to die and now he was dead and on Mandos’ threshold. He would nor be denied.

But the Vala did not move. “Many elves would welcome the change you are given.” Celeborn snorted at Mandos’ words. He snorted and laughed. “Change? What change? To live forever in agony, pain and loneliness. No thanks, I’ll pass. Now let me in.”

Mandos shook his head at the elf’s words. What a fighter this one was. Too bad it wasted on this. He had to voice his next sentence very carefully. He could not give anything away. That would be intervening with destiny. If he did that he would be in a lot of trouble. He had already done it too much. “You speak of agony, pain and loneliness when you should speak of happiness, friendship and love.”

But Celeborn had lost his faith in the Valar a long time ago. “Really? Well, I don’t. I can hardly speak of things that aren’t there.” “You say happiness and love don’t exist?” Mandos countered. He would knock some sense into this elf, even if it would take forever to do so. Celeborn nodded and once more tried to pass Mandos by and once more he failed.

Mandos now grabbed Celeborn by the arms. “Telperion, you should open your eyes. Happiness and love and all that is good does exist.” Again the snort came and a bitter laugh erupted from Celeborn. “They exist. Just not for me.” “They exist for everyone, no matter race, age or species. Even for you.” When Celeborn showed no signs of belief Mandos continued. “Look, you are not getting in now and you can’t possibly sit on my doorstep, because that will not change our mind.” He deliberately used -our-, indicating to Celeborn it was the decision of all of the Valar, not just him. “You will go back and continue living. It’s up to you whether you do that in seclusion and pain. Open your eyes and recognize the beauty that surrounds you.”

Now Celeborn sank down. He realised he could not enter, but he also did not wish to return. He did not want to live and see his beloved Galadriel betray him.

Mandos sensed a little of the thoughts and frowned. He did not know about any possible betrayal. He let his mind wander, had they missed something? But no, they hadn’t, he was sure. Suddenly his thoughts cleared. He now understood. He and the other Valar knew the future, but Celeborn did not. And he had once had the mirror. He nodded slowly, he understood now, but he could not assure Celeborn on this. “One day you will understand the true meaning of the images you once saw.”

Before Celeborn could ask what that meant he felt himself fall back. When he once more sensed his body he realised another holding him, singing to him. He did not hear the words, just the melody, but it sounded lovely and, enchanted, he fall asleep.

But now he was awake. Awake, weak, hungry and angry. Angry at the Valar because they made him suffer, they had ensured his continued torture.

Looking around his gaze met that of Rumil, who was more than relieved to see the eyes open and aware. He politely greeted his lord and Celeborn resigned himself to them nurturing him back to health. The second Rumil had spoken an explosion of sound erupted outside. All that lived and dwelled within Lothlorien had their answer and now continued with their daily lives.

End Chapter six
TBC

Note:
To Mandos’ words: ‘no matter what race, age or species.’
I phrase it like this because the elves are divided into different races themselves. And species can be seen as the distinction between elves, humans, animals or whatever.

Translations:

Im hiraetha, Rielle means I am sorry Rielle. For the meaning of her name see translations chapter 05.

‘O môr, henion i dhû: From darkness I understand the night:
Ely siriar, êl sila. dreams flow, a star shines
Ai! Aníron, ngalad. Ah! I desire (the) light.
Tiro! Êl ena e môr Look! A star shines out of the darkness.
I ‘lîr en êl luitha ‘úren The song of the star enchants my heart,
Ai! Aníron… Ah! I desire...
Note: alas, not mine. But ain’t it a beauty?

Vala is the single form of Valar. So only one of them.
Telperion = Celeborn ; someone mentioned it isn't really his name, but the name of a tree in Valinor. True, but Celeborn means silver tree, and the Tolkien Lexicon states he might be named after that tree, they're not sure though. I must also add I've seen this way of writing his high elven name like this many times and I've never seen the one suggested. (Teleporon or something; I'm sorry: it's late) So I really couldn't tell which is the correct way, but as I already am going with Telperion I am not changing it into anything else, whether that be right or wrong. It would lead to confusion.
But thanks for allerting me anyway
Peniel