the trouble with love

Chapter thirty two plotting elflords

“WATCH OUT!”

whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosssssssssssssss

The warning had come too late. Before he had realised it, Celeborn was sliding through the corridor, resembling a animal gliding over ice. Unfortunately fim, im, he did not get a gently end. He collided with first the parlour door and then three tables.

Vases were thrown in the air as the chairs and tables were knocked over. The tulips falling around Celeborn who had come to a spinning stop in the middle of the mess.

When he was all spinned out he looked at the door where a laughing Galadriel and Elrohir were seen. Elrohir had not gone to stables with Elladan and Elvil. He’d rather solve these amorous mysteries. And no had had come to his grandparents for information and maybe even help. “Ata’da, you destroyed the tulips!”

“I am fine, Elrohir. Thanks for asking.” Celeborn was clumsily getting to his feet. “If this is what overindulgence does to people I have just found the ideal alternative.” He looked at his wife in a pleading way. “Love, please stop everything from spinning. I got a headache.”

“Serves you right. You should be setting an example, not walking with your head in the air.”

“I didn’t, I would have hit my head on the ceiling.”

Galadriel glared at him. She hated these moods. He would take everything literally and make a joke about it. She sighed. “Well, did you manage to leave one table alive, so we can actually use it. I don’t know about you but I am curious what our grandson wants.”

“If he were human it would be an allowance.” A second after he had said it, Celeborn once more found himself on the floor. In her irritation Galadriel had pushed him over. His balance was off, so he had fallen again.

Galadriel signalled for Elrohir to sit down and threw him a worried look when she saw him biting his lower lip. “Elrohir? Is anything amiss?”

Elrohir took a deep breath. “Well, I can’t find ata and I need his help, or rather information, you see Daiz and I are trying to find out what happened between Val-something, you know, the guy from Mirkwood”

Celeborn, who had crawled back up and taken a seat next to his wife, exchanged a bemused look with Galadriel. Apparently they were in for a long and amusing tale. Elrohir’s flow of words didn’t slow.

“He came here with Thranduil and he is, or rather was, having something with Sealbeth. But he, Valthingy I mean, said that Sealbeth never wanted him, but that can’t be true. And he said something about Thranduil warning him. But for what? And I asked Daiz to help me find out. He was bored too. Oh, and we’re going to see if Erestor and Thrilmaldur already have a relationship or not. They love each other. I’ve heard and seen them laugh. They never laugh. But they did and…”

“Wow, slow down, Elrohir.” Celeborn stopped his grandson before they drowned in the word-flow. “We are pleased you are spending your time trying to create or solve relationships, but sometimes things can’t be stopped. I should focus on Erestor and Thrilmaldur, isn’t that so Love?”

“It is, they are very much in love with each other, Elrohir. I see it every day and if your grandfather didn’t sleep all the time, I wouldn’t have to keep pointing it out.” Celeborn snuffed. Just because he could care less, didn’t mean he didn’t see. Wives. Elrohir laughed; his grandparents always ensured amusement for him. “It’s a pity you guys have to leave so soon. Or will you stay after the celebration?”

Galadriel smiled adoringly when her grandson put on his most puppy-dog face. “We’ll see, alright? Now, darling, why don’t you go help Elrohir and Daiz out. It will give you something to do, my love.” And than Galadriel didn’t have to worry about keeping him occupied. Sometimes being married to Celeborn could be real tiresome to the mind.

Elrohir started bouncing in his seat, driving both Celeborn and Galadriel in laughing fits. “Now we know where Elnihir gets it from. But why don’t you go find Daiz and meet me in my room. We’ll discuss things there.” Celeborn could hardly wait until Elrohir and Daiz were there. He was already getting excited about hooking those elves together. He chuckled. This years celebrations were going along nicely.

Just now he heard Galadriel calling after him. He was so lost in thoughts he hadn’t heard her following him. He turned “Uh?”

“Really dear, are you forgetting your ears as well, nowadays?” She laughed. Whenever Celeborn could scheme he was happy. She kissed him on the cheek. “Enjoy yourselves dear. Andld yld you do me the tiniest favour?”

“Always, so don’t start batting your eyes.”

“Would you see what you can find out about Ecthelion.”

“Why? You’re the one that was sure he..”

“No, no that. Him and Glorfindel of course.” When Celeborn looked absolutely confused she shook her head. “Don’t tell me you never knew they had a serious relationship in Gondolin?”

“I didn’t. Are you saying they’re avoiding each other?”

“No, and yes.”

Celeborn snorted. He hated this riddle moods. “Galadriel.”

“Ecthelion doesn’t remember his past, no one knows if he ever will.” Now Celeborn understood. “So you want me, Elrohir and Daiz to find out if he’s in love with Glorfindel again?”

“Yes, and push that idiot oaf into his arms. He’s been living in the past for too long, I’d say.” “I agree.” Celeborn’s face was beaming with mirth now. “Sometimes I blame him for drinking half the bottles.”

Galadriel softly pushed her husband into the direction of their room. But now Celeborn was wondering what she would do. “And what, may I ask, are you going to do with yourself?” “Don’t know yet. I’m thinking of driving someone crazy.” “Best of luck, dear.” Another kiss and they were off. Both into different directions.

Galadriel noted it was slowly getting darker. Dinner would soon be ready. Once more she turned and yelled after her husband. “I’ll excuse you three from dinner and have food brought up.” A wave of his hand showed he had understood, or at least heard her voice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elladan watched his little charge as Elvil proudly led the horse outside.

He hadn’t shown it, but Elvil had been surprising him tremendously when they were saddling the horse. For some weird reason Elvil had known all the names and had asked Elladan for the items, which Elvil mechanically put in the right place in the right way.

But as soon as Elvil realised he was busy saddling a horse he stopped and looked like a haunted animal. When Elladan had asked what was wrong, Elvil merely stated he did not know how to saddle a horse.

Elladan wondered if this ‘system’ would continue outside as well. They now arrived at the paddock and Elladan kept silent as he watched Elvil expertly leading the horse in. Without him having to say anything Elvil mounted. The way in which he did it showed great expertise. There was no doubt about it. Elvil -had- ridden numerous times before.

Elladan did not know what to make of it. Maybe Elvil was a reborn? Elladan thought back of all the times that Glorfindel had told him about it. For some reason he had always found it more believing cominom Gom Glorfindel. After all, the blond had passed Mandos’ halls, so he could know. And Elvil was about the right age to start getting his memory back.

But then what about that medallion? That had nothing to do with being reborn and yet it was an important part of this riddle.

“Elladan?” Elvil’s cry shook him out of his misery. Elvil looked at him, tears welling in his eyes. It was obvious he was getting scared.

He sat there on the horse, not knowing how exactly he had gotten on and he had no idea what to do next.

“Softly kick your horse in the flanks” Elladan said and watched how expertly the kick was being applied. The first kick he had ever given to a horse resulted in a wild run around Imladris, before it had finally tired and stopped. But not today. No, Elvil applied just the right amount of force to put the horse in step.

For some hours this was how things went. Elvil doing things without even realising it and carrying out Elladan’s instructions the way a highly experienced rider would.

Finally Elladan had enough. He asked Elvil to stop and come closer. And he wasn’t surprised when Elvil first moved the horse to the middle and then stopped. It was what Elladan wanted, but not what he had voiced. He asked Elvil why he had done what he had just done.

“Because you told me to.”

“No, I said: ‘stop and come closer’”

Searching his memory Elvil found Elladan was right. “But…that’s impossible, you couldn’t have asked me to stop and then move closer. How can I move the horse when it isn’t moving?”

Elladan frowned. “This is all very weird. You show remarkable skills. You have definitely been on a horse before, but that’s impossible.”

“Actually, Elladan, it isn’t” Hearing a strange voice Elladan turned and moved to where his sword was normally attached to his belt. Finding none he released a low growl but he lessened when he saw it was Thranduil who had spoken up.

The king was making his way into the paddock and walked over to Elladan and Elvil. “Hello there, Elrond told me what is going on here. Can I perhaps see your medallion, Elvil?”

“Rather not, it’s mine and I’m not to give it away.”

“I understand but it’s the key to everything that’s weird about you, I mean, you can ride, but you can’t, right. Just like you knew everybody but you didn’t when you had lost your memory.” Elvil nodded and Thranduil continued, smiled to himself as he noticed the protectiveness Elladan displayed’m n’m not asking you to remove it, just to show it to me, keep it around your neck, please.”

Elvil cocked his head in thought and then pulled out the medallion. Thranduil took it in his hands, making sure the necklace remained around Elvil’s neck. Seeing the inscriptions he nodded. He had been right. He quickly looked around before addressing Elladan. “Inside, the two of you. A groom can take care of the horse.”

He then looked up at the sky and whistled once. While he was still dragging the two bedazzled elves inside a hawk circled around him. He spoke to it in an unknown ancient language.

“I’ve just told the hawk to get us a wizard, preferably Mithrandir, but if he can’t find that one he will bring another. We need another wizard to catch the spell.”

Now Elladan pulled back, drawing Elvil into his arms. “Now wait just a minute…”

Thranduil laughed. “Isn’t that what one of those Hobbits used to say? It seems Elrond isn’t the only one uttering those Hobbit-sentences. Don’t worry Elladan, the spell we’re going to cast will ban the one Elvil is under. I can’t explain now, but once we have all will become clear.”

He stopped his walk to address some pages. He ordered them to find Galadriel, Celeborn and Elrond and to bring them to his room. He also drilled a list of the most unusual herbs and plants and a third elf was ordered to see if Melpomean would be able to join them later tod

Before they had taken one step though Ecthelion bumped into them.

“Lord Elladan. Bless the Valar.” He was panting, he had obviously been running, and he was extremely glad to see a familiar face. Thranduil wanted to brush him aside but Ecthelion refused to make way. “Lord Glorfindel send me to find you and Lord Elrond. He said it might take Lómiol too long to find you all.”

Thranduil, though irritated, read the underlying fear and one look told Ecthelion to hurry and say what he needed to say. “He wants you to come to Elrond’s study. There was a strange elf and….”

“What?! Come on.” Elladan strode off, pulling Ecthelion along.

Elvil stood indecisive for a moment. He wanted to know what Thranduil knew, but he was not planning on leaving Elladan for a single second. That’s where he felt safe. So he quickly ran after him, with Thranduil not far behind him.

Thranduil had decided not to let Elvil alone for one second. Not until Mithrandir was here and they had cast the spell.

End chapter 32
TBC

Note:
Valthingy
It’s already obvious that Elrohir just can’t remember Valthroman’s name. But that’s not what I wanted to say here. I wanted to explain thingy. It’s the word I myself always use when I don’t know an appropriate word. “I can’t find my thingy” is a well known phrase of mine.

Another note:
Hi there everybody,

Just letting you know I am still alive (yes lucky me) and back from holidays. Pfffffff.

I am getting back into the tale, but i am afraid it will be a little longer before I update.

AND:
I have a beta!!!!!!!!!! So somewhere between now and someday I will update it to a betaed version.

Last change to make request for the tale (hihihi)

I am almost at the day that the 'Lorien and Mirkwood elves leave, but it is not the end of the tale. I myself am reluctant to write THE END under that and chup up the tale into two tales. Just thought you might want to know. THERE'S MOOOOOOOORE to come.

Love you

Peniel

PS thanks for reviewing, and sorry I do not respond but I constantly forget that. (my head is full of holes)