The Music in My Heart
folder
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
75
Views:
3,825
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
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Category:
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
75
Views:
3,825
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 73 Facing Destiny
Title: The Music in My Heart, Chapter 73
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 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 73 --- Facing Destiny
"And when man faces destiny, destiny ends and man comes into his own."
Andre Malraux
*****
In the quiet that settled over the room after the ethereal voice whispered in their hearts pronouncing him High King of the Elves in Middle-earth, most observed the look of shock and dismay that came to the face of the new king. It was noted that he looked as though he had received a sentence of death rather than confirmation that he was indeed destined to be king by edict of the Valar. And not just High King of the Noldor… the Valar had proclaimed his kingship over all elves on Middle-earth, obviously calling for unity among the Eldar.
In the wake of his marriage and soul-bonding, Elrond felt as if all the expectations he had held for his life had been stripped cleanly away and he had been left without any sense of control over his own destiny, without free will. Moving as if in a daze, he returned to his seat his gaze fixed on the floor.
Judging from his look that no further meaningful discussion would take place for the time being, Celeborn suggested they adjourn for the mid-day meal and reconvene in three hours. Relieved nods met his proposal from all save Elrond. Trading a look with Seere, Celeborn and Erestor rose and ushered the others out, leaving Seere alone with her husband.
*****
Silence filled the room for long minutes before the quiet penetrated Elrond’s awareness. Looking up from his contemplation of the chamber’s floor, he noted that his wife had moved to stand by the window overlooking the main courtyard of the garrison of Henneth Annûn and was watching the warriors below gather for their meal. Feeling his gaze, she looked back and met his eyes.
“Are you angry with me?” she asked.
“I do not know to be honest. I feel too dazed to know. I never wanted this, then or now. I saw too clearly the loss of self Ereinion suffered… the invasion of his personal life and the high cost the burdens of office exacted from him,” he began before moving to join her. “I never wanted kingship; that was the dream of Elros. I denied this duty once already, in part because I truly had no desire for the claim and partly because I had no wish to take his place. Ereinion was my king, the High King and I could not hope to replace him.”
Sighing, he went on after a lengthy pause. “It seems my desire and wishes are not relevant.”
“You have free-will, melme. You do not have to accept the crown… or you could relinquish it once this task is completed. You must choose.” Moving to his side, she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. (love)
Leaning her head against his left side, she continued, “Regardless of what you choose, I love you and will support your decision, as will your sons and the rest of our family.”
They stood for a long time looking across the walls of the fortress at the nearby falls, though neither was truly aware of the view before them. When his right hand rose to clasp her nestled hand, she lifted her chin and studied his face, but still nothing was said.
The door to the room eased open and her father stepped into the chamber. He paused just inside and studied the silent couple for a moment, before walking over to join them. “Elrond, the time grows short and the others will be returning in less than an hour. Are you prepared to continue our talks or do you wish to put further meetings off until the morrow?”
A slight smile tweaking his lips, Elrond let his eyes shift to those of his friend. “Who has been waiting with you all this time, mellon nin? Have you had your meal as yet?” (my friend)
Erestor gave a matching half smile in response and answered, “As you already know the answer to both questions, I will not bother with an answer. Suffice it to say, you will not have to face this alone, any more than our old friend did. And, unlike him, you would have the love and comfort of a life partner to help carry your burdens.”
Seeing the unasked question in Elrond’s eyes, he added, “And yes, I knew he loved you. We all saw it… including you, but you did not know how to respond… were unsure of your feelings, so you left it unacknowledged. He could not risk losing you, so he kept quiet. The rest of us tried to be as supportive as we could while you both tried to resolve your feelings for each other. Had you had more time… but, tis pointless to speculate for he did not.”
Looking at his daughter, Erestor made a mental note of the subtle changes to her demeanor, to her features. “I confess to being confused… and unsettled by your role in this, my daughter. Is it too much for me to expect an explanation?”
“Nay, Ada. Tis the very least you can expect.” Sighing deeply, she moved to embrace him. “I did not plan to say or do any of what transpired here this morning. I was up and speaking before I fully realised I was going to do so. I do not understand much of what is happening in my own head… my own heart lately… save for my love for Elrond.”
Looking up into his probing gaze, she mused, “We have not had much time to talk since we left Minas Tirith. May we do that this evening? I miss our talks, Ada. I miss you.”
Caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “As have I, pen vuil. Until this evening, then.” (dear one)
Looking back to Elrond, he asked “What say you? Meeting or no?”
“Elrond, they can wait until morning…” Seere began.
Smiling ruefully at his beloved, he interrupted her comment. “There is no time to delay. As you rightly pointed out, we need to get to the business that brought us all here… making our peoples safe from this threat. It is time we got on with it.”
“But, you need time to decide if you accept...” she began again only to be interrupted one again.
“Seere, relax.” Pulling her back to his side, he gave her a quick hug. “We both know I gave my agreement when I freely chose to listen to the will of the One in this. In truth, the Valar gave me my choice back in Aman. By my own free will, I choose to accept this duty without knowing what it would be; by my pledge to serve the Valar and Eru, I accepted this fate. It is done, my love, and I will endeavor to carry out this duty as best I can.”
Looking between his two companions, he smiled. “I am fortunate to have both of you to aid me in this task, as well as, those that wait beyond that door. And, in answer to your earlier question, Seere, I am not mad at you for any of this. I am just feeling a little overwhelmed, for much has changed in our lives in a very short time.”
“Humph, if all it takes to rattle you is a simple soul-bonding, leading to an immediate marriage with slightly hostile family members wanting to interfere, and a small matter of being named High King of the Eldar of Middle-earth… both in a matter of a few days time… whilst leading a campaign to defeat the latest threat to our safety, you are easily rattled. Just wait until the time comes for the two of you to start blessing me with grandchildren and then we can discuss ‘overwhelmed’, my dear friend.” Erestor teased before moving across the room to open the door.
Pausing to look back at his friend before turning the handle, he asked, “I wonder how a certain dashing young herald and spy I was once privileged to serve would have reacted to these last few days? It took quite a lot to rattle him!” Grinning at the snort of amusement his comment produced, he let the others back into the room.
*****
Aranuir wasted no time in starting the afternoon’s meeting. “Prince Háma, Lord Grór, and I spoke at length during our recess. Many valid points were raised this morning in regards to your serving as the leader of this alliance. You are the sire of my great-great-grandmother, Queen Arwen and have long held the respect of the people of Gondor.”
“You are likewise esteemed by the people of Rohan. It has not been forgotten that the elves did not forsake Rohan at its darkest time*, but keep faith with our people by sending warriors to help defend Helm’s Deep.” Pausing, Prince Háma inclined his head respectfully to the two elven warriors that had fought in that battle. “My Lord Haldir, Prince Legolas… the tales of your valour and sacrifice during those dark days are held in great honour by the people of Rohan.”
Turning back to Elrond, he continued. “We know that you and the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood were the ones to rally those troops to our cause. With the marriage of your descendent to my brother, the blood of the house of Elrond… and of Celeborn and Galadriel, have joined the blood of Rohan and Gondor, making us kin. Rohan’s warriors will fight in the new alliance with the Elven High King Elrond at the head of our combined armies.”
“My grandfather has long held you in the highest respect and feels himself honoured to call you friend,” Grór observed. Looking at his mentor and friend, he saw the approval in Legolas’s eyes. “Your family has been his family for many centuries. I guess that makes us kin, as well. You have my pledge of alliance. As the representative of the dwarves, I accept your leadership of this expedition.”
“As will the warriors of Gondor, Adar’ra. The morale of our men is much improved at hearing rumors of our decision.” Having made their acceptance of his leadership known, the two princes of men and the heir of Gimli inclined their heads in his direction before taking their seats.
Aranuir continued, “I do seem to recall that you and your queen have news to share, my lord king. May I suggest that this would be a productive place to resume our discussions?”
*****
Elrond stood with Seere at his side before the assembled warriors of their combined army, as well as, the residents of the compound at Henneth Annûn. The Princes of Rohan and Gondor stood to his left and their dwarven and elven counterparts stood to his right. The unobtrusive touch of a small hand to his lower back offered support and comfort. A beloved voice whispered in his mind, “You are not alone in this, melme. Your family… your extended family, is with you.” (love)
Grounded by this reminder, he stepped forward to address the crowd. /The will of Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar be done./
*****
Camp of the Last Alliance, Mordor, Second Age, 3441
The High King had been unusually quiet for most of the day. His thoughts were clearly consumed by worries and doubts. The final assault by the Alliance forces on Sauron’s position had been set for the following day and the endless details of their plans played over and over in his mind.
Elendil and Gil-Galad knew the extent to which the long, bloody siege had exacted a heavy toll on their forces. The stalemate had to end. The fate of Middle-earth now hung in the balance awaiting the outcome of their final gamble.
As the evening meal began, Ereinion began to move between the campfires, offering encouragement, comfort, or praise. It had long been his custom to make these rounds and this, in itself, was not remarkable. What was remarkable was the intensity of his words and the genuine affection evident in his eyes. He and his human partner well understood the sacrifice their decision would demand of their troops and neither took this burden lightly.
It was nearly midnight before he completed his rounds, having spoken to every group, be they elf, human, or dwarf. This effort left him exhausted. The High King had completed his final official obligation for the day. It was now time to face the lonely hours before the orders must be given that would send many to their deaths.
He had long foreseen his own fate and knew this night was to be his last in this life. He had no delusions that he would not soon reside in the Halls of Waiting, having died a brutal death. Moreover, this rare vision had ended at his death and he had not been graced… or cursed, with the knowledge of whether their desperate bid would succeed.
Thoughts of regret and uncertainty crowded his mind --- would they succeed, at what cost, what had they failed to address… the worries were endless. /I can accept my own death, but what of my people? What of my friends? What of Elrond?/
/I now know the right moment will never come to tell him of the love I have for him. I will die never knowing if there was hope for us… that he may have loved me in return had I given him the opportunity. The looks we share have long left me confused --- hopeful, yet uncertain… at times even apprehensive. I let my fears rob me of the courage and never took the risk. Yes or no, I would have KNOWN! And, I might have had the comfort of his arms to see me through this night… but I will sleep alone this one last time. How appropriate!/
Weary beyond words, he lifted his hand to grasp the flap of his tent nearly frantic to escape the eyes that followed him across the camp. Ereinion needed the protection of the enclosure to allow him the freedom to drop his facade of unswerving confidence and prepare himself for his end… for his loss.
A hand settled on his left shoulder, its grip firm, yet gentle. Irritated that his escape had been interrupted, the High King whipped his eyes around to face the intruder… a cutting rebuff tingling on the tip of his tongue. A pair of liquid silver eyes met his furious gaze and melted his anger as quickly as it had come.
“Ereinion, would you like to talk? Would my company be welcome? You are not alone in this, mellon nin.” (my friend)
“Elrond, my dear Elrond!” whispered from his lips.
*****
A/N --- * I’m still very much aware that this is the movie script, not canon. It works for my story, so I stand by my decision.
A/N --- Thanks Phairesse! I’ve have always loved a mystery and I wanted Music to be full of twists and turns. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s my first story, so I really appreciate the support!
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 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 73 --- Facing Destiny
"And when man faces destiny, destiny ends and man comes into his own."
Andre Malraux
*****
In the quiet that settled over the room after the ethereal voice whispered in their hearts pronouncing him High King of the Elves in Middle-earth, most observed the look of shock and dismay that came to the face of the new king. It was noted that he looked as though he had received a sentence of death rather than confirmation that he was indeed destined to be king by edict of the Valar. And not just High King of the Noldor… the Valar had proclaimed his kingship over all elves on Middle-earth, obviously calling for unity among the Eldar.
In the wake of his marriage and soul-bonding, Elrond felt as if all the expectations he had held for his life had been stripped cleanly away and he had been left without any sense of control over his own destiny, without free will. Moving as if in a daze, he returned to his seat his gaze fixed on the floor.
Judging from his look that no further meaningful discussion would take place for the time being, Celeborn suggested they adjourn for the mid-day meal and reconvene in three hours. Relieved nods met his proposal from all save Elrond. Trading a look with Seere, Celeborn and Erestor rose and ushered the others out, leaving Seere alone with her husband.
*****
Silence filled the room for long minutes before the quiet penetrated Elrond’s awareness. Looking up from his contemplation of the chamber’s floor, he noted that his wife had moved to stand by the window overlooking the main courtyard of the garrison of Henneth Annûn and was watching the warriors below gather for their meal. Feeling his gaze, she looked back and met his eyes.
“Are you angry with me?” she asked.
“I do not know to be honest. I feel too dazed to know. I never wanted this, then or now. I saw too clearly the loss of self Ereinion suffered… the invasion of his personal life and the high cost the burdens of office exacted from him,” he began before moving to join her. “I never wanted kingship; that was the dream of Elros. I denied this duty once already, in part because I truly had no desire for the claim and partly because I had no wish to take his place. Ereinion was my king, the High King and I could not hope to replace him.”
Sighing, he went on after a lengthy pause. “It seems my desire and wishes are not relevant.”
“You have free-will, melme. You do not have to accept the crown… or you could relinquish it once this task is completed. You must choose.” Moving to his side, she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. (love)
Leaning her head against his left side, she continued, “Regardless of what you choose, I love you and will support your decision, as will your sons and the rest of our family.”
They stood for a long time looking across the walls of the fortress at the nearby falls, though neither was truly aware of the view before them. When his right hand rose to clasp her nestled hand, she lifted her chin and studied his face, but still nothing was said.
The door to the room eased open and her father stepped into the chamber. He paused just inside and studied the silent couple for a moment, before walking over to join them. “Elrond, the time grows short and the others will be returning in less than an hour. Are you prepared to continue our talks or do you wish to put further meetings off until the morrow?”
A slight smile tweaking his lips, Elrond let his eyes shift to those of his friend. “Who has been waiting with you all this time, mellon nin? Have you had your meal as yet?” (my friend)
Erestor gave a matching half smile in response and answered, “As you already know the answer to both questions, I will not bother with an answer. Suffice it to say, you will not have to face this alone, any more than our old friend did. And, unlike him, you would have the love and comfort of a life partner to help carry your burdens.”
Seeing the unasked question in Elrond’s eyes, he added, “And yes, I knew he loved you. We all saw it… including you, but you did not know how to respond… were unsure of your feelings, so you left it unacknowledged. He could not risk losing you, so he kept quiet. The rest of us tried to be as supportive as we could while you both tried to resolve your feelings for each other. Had you had more time… but, tis pointless to speculate for he did not.”
Looking at his daughter, Erestor made a mental note of the subtle changes to her demeanor, to her features. “I confess to being confused… and unsettled by your role in this, my daughter. Is it too much for me to expect an explanation?”
“Nay, Ada. Tis the very least you can expect.” Sighing deeply, she moved to embrace him. “I did not plan to say or do any of what transpired here this morning. I was up and speaking before I fully realised I was going to do so. I do not understand much of what is happening in my own head… my own heart lately… save for my love for Elrond.”
Looking up into his probing gaze, she mused, “We have not had much time to talk since we left Minas Tirith. May we do that this evening? I miss our talks, Ada. I miss you.”
Caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “As have I, pen vuil. Until this evening, then.” (dear one)
Looking back to Elrond, he asked “What say you? Meeting or no?”
“Elrond, they can wait until morning…” Seere began.
Smiling ruefully at his beloved, he interrupted her comment. “There is no time to delay. As you rightly pointed out, we need to get to the business that brought us all here… making our peoples safe from this threat. It is time we got on with it.”
“But, you need time to decide if you accept...” she began again only to be interrupted one again.
“Seere, relax.” Pulling her back to his side, he gave her a quick hug. “We both know I gave my agreement when I freely chose to listen to the will of the One in this. In truth, the Valar gave me my choice back in Aman. By my own free will, I choose to accept this duty without knowing what it would be; by my pledge to serve the Valar and Eru, I accepted this fate. It is done, my love, and I will endeavor to carry out this duty as best I can.”
Looking between his two companions, he smiled. “I am fortunate to have both of you to aid me in this task, as well as, those that wait beyond that door. And, in answer to your earlier question, Seere, I am not mad at you for any of this. I am just feeling a little overwhelmed, for much has changed in our lives in a very short time.”
“Humph, if all it takes to rattle you is a simple soul-bonding, leading to an immediate marriage with slightly hostile family members wanting to interfere, and a small matter of being named High King of the Eldar of Middle-earth… both in a matter of a few days time… whilst leading a campaign to defeat the latest threat to our safety, you are easily rattled. Just wait until the time comes for the two of you to start blessing me with grandchildren and then we can discuss ‘overwhelmed’, my dear friend.” Erestor teased before moving across the room to open the door.
Pausing to look back at his friend before turning the handle, he asked, “I wonder how a certain dashing young herald and spy I was once privileged to serve would have reacted to these last few days? It took quite a lot to rattle him!” Grinning at the snort of amusement his comment produced, he let the others back into the room.
*****
Aranuir wasted no time in starting the afternoon’s meeting. “Prince Háma, Lord Grór, and I spoke at length during our recess. Many valid points were raised this morning in regards to your serving as the leader of this alliance. You are the sire of my great-great-grandmother, Queen Arwen and have long held the respect of the people of Gondor.”
“You are likewise esteemed by the people of Rohan. It has not been forgotten that the elves did not forsake Rohan at its darkest time*, but keep faith with our people by sending warriors to help defend Helm’s Deep.” Pausing, Prince Háma inclined his head respectfully to the two elven warriors that had fought in that battle. “My Lord Haldir, Prince Legolas… the tales of your valour and sacrifice during those dark days are held in great honour by the people of Rohan.”
Turning back to Elrond, he continued. “We know that you and the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood were the ones to rally those troops to our cause. With the marriage of your descendent to my brother, the blood of the house of Elrond… and of Celeborn and Galadriel, have joined the blood of Rohan and Gondor, making us kin. Rohan’s warriors will fight in the new alliance with the Elven High King Elrond at the head of our combined armies.”
“My grandfather has long held you in the highest respect and feels himself honoured to call you friend,” Grór observed. Looking at his mentor and friend, he saw the approval in Legolas’s eyes. “Your family has been his family for many centuries. I guess that makes us kin, as well. You have my pledge of alliance. As the representative of the dwarves, I accept your leadership of this expedition.”
“As will the warriors of Gondor, Adar’ra. The morale of our men is much improved at hearing rumors of our decision.” Having made their acceptance of his leadership known, the two princes of men and the heir of Gimli inclined their heads in his direction before taking their seats.
Aranuir continued, “I do seem to recall that you and your queen have news to share, my lord king. May I suggest that this would be a productive place to resume our discussions?”
*****
Elrond stood with Seere at his side before the assembled warriors of their combined army, as well as, the residents of the compound at Henneth Annûn. The Princes of Rohan and Gondor stood to his left and their dwarven and elven counterparts stood to his right. The unobtrusive touch of a small hand to his lower back offered support and comfort. A beloved voice whispered in his mind, “You are not alone in this, melme. Your family… your extended family, is with you.” (love)
Grounded by this reminder, he stepped forward to address the crowd. /The will of Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar be done./
*****
Camp of the Last Alliance, Mordor, Second Age, 3441
The High King had been unusually quiet for most of the day. His thoughts were clearly consumed by worries and doubts. The final assault by the Alliance forces on Sauron’s position had been set for the following day and the endless details of their plans played over and over in his mind.
Elendil and Gil-Galad knew the extent to which the long, bloody siege had exacted a heavy toll on their forces. The stalemate had to end. The fate of Middle-earth now hung in the balance awaiting the outcome of their final gamble.
As the evening meal began, Ereinion began to move between the campfires, offering encouragement, comfort, or praise. It had long been his custom to make these rounds and this, in itself, was not remarkable. What was remarkable was the intensity of his words and the genuine affection evident in his eyes. He and his human partner well understood the sacrifice their decision would demand of their troops and neither took this burden lightly.
It was nearly midnight before he completed his rounds, having spoken to every group, be they elf, human, or dwarf. This effort left him exhausted. The High King had completed his final official obligation for the day. It was now time to face the lonely hours before the orders must be given that would send many to their deaths.
He had long foreseen his own fate and knew this night was to be his last in this life. He had no delusions that he would not soon reside in the Halls of Waiting, having died a brutal death. Moreover, this rare vision had ended at his death and he had not been graced… or cursed, with the knowledge of whether their desperate bid would succeed.
Thoughts of regret and uncertainty crowded his mind --- would they succeed, at what cost, what had they failed to address… the worries were endless. /I can accept my own death, but what of my people? What of my friends? What of Elrond?/
/I now know the right moment will never come to tell him of the love I have for him. I will die never knowing if there was hope for us… that he may have loved me in return had I given him the opportunity. The looks we share have long left me confused --- hopeful, yet uncertain… at times even apprehensive. I let my fears rob me of the courage and never took the risk. Yes or no, I would have KNOWN! And, I might have had the comfort of his arms to see me through this night… but I will sleep alone this one last time. How appropriate!/
Weary beyond words, he lifted his hand to grasp the flap of his tent nearly frantic to escape the eyes that followed him across the camp. Ereinion needed the protection of the enclosure to allow him the freedom to drop his facade of unswerving confidence and prepare himself for his end… for his loss.
A hand settled on his left shoulder, its grip firm, yet gentle. Irritated that his escape had been interrupted, the High King whipped his eyes around to face the intruder… a cutting rebuff tingling on the tip of his tongue. A pair of liquid silver eyes met his furious gaze and melted his anger as quickly as it had come.
“Ereinion, would you like to talk? Would my company be welcome? You are not alone in this, mellon nin.” (my friend)
“Elrond, my dear Elrond!” whispered from his lips.
*****
A/N --- * I’m still very much aware that this is the movie script, not canon. It works for my story, so I stand by my decision.
A/N --- Thanks Phairesse! I’ve have always loved a mystery and I wanted Music to be full of twists and turns. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s my first story, so I really appreciate the support!