~
Title: Not So Long
Summary: Elrohir leaves his brother and his friends to go out and experience the world on his own. What will his new friendships and trials do for him?
Rating: "PG-13" for adult themes, moderate language, moderate sexuality, moderate violence.
Warnings: None so far.
Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or any of the places mentioned in the story but any unrecognized characters are mine and the plot is my idea. Any similarity to other stories is purely coincidental.
Suggestion: This is part of the "Song For None" series I have and if you haven't read, Song For None, Song For Nought, and Ballad For All then this part of the series will not mean as much as it should coming off the readings of the other three but is not completely necessary.
~
Elrohir raced his mount as far away from Lothlorien as the horse would carry him. He slowed after an hour, not wanting to tire his horse. He left Lothlorien going south he rode late into the night and through the next week. He was lucky that he had packed many food provisions into his pack and did not have to stop and hunt.
Finally after many days of riding a looming forest came into view in the distance. Elrohir strained his eyes to see which forest he might be coming up upon. It was Fangorn Forest. He didn't venture into the forest but kept riding. He knew that he would not find what he was looking for in the forest. He needed to find humans. He was going to live among them and as they did. He would acknowledge his father's half-elven roots and the roots in himself. He rode along the River Entwash until it broke into different streams and decided that'd he cross the river and continue southwards.
He crossed the river and came into the land Anorien. He followed the mountains east until he came upon the Druadan Forest. His food had long since vanished and he rested in the forest for a short time to let his horse recuperate and to gather food for himself. He was not sure whether he wanted to ride on anymore. He had not talked to anyone or even seen people for the longest time. He began to miss his brother more than anything in the world. Not to mention the nice warm bed back in his comfortable room.
He made up his mind and decided to continue on, he didn't want to give up yet.
It was late into a raining and stormy evening when passed within reach of Minas Tirith but didn't even know he had passed it until late into the next day when he came upon the River Erui. Elrohir wanted to turn back but something in him kept him going until he reached the River Sirith. He crossed the river and traveled for another day until he came to a relatively small town late into the evening.
Elrohir stopped his horse and took the packs of him. He gave thanks to the horse for carrying him for so long and told him he could return home. The horse whickered his thanks and galloped off. Elrohir headed towards the town on foot. When he neared the first of the buildings that made up the small town his nervously flattened his hair in front of his ears. He saw only a few people out of the streets. The town looked very well off for being so small. The buildings were strongly made and nothing seemed to be badly in need of repair. There were only two inns in the whole of the town and neither were full. Elrohir had not brought money with him, in his hurry that was the one thing forgotten.
Elrohir wandered through the town trying to determine his next move when a kindly old woman came to him.
"You look lost dear boy, do you need help?" The woman said with a warm and friendly smile.
"I have just arrived and am in need of a place to stay, though I have no money. I am willing to work though." Elrohir told the woman.
"I know just the place. The Lord of the this town would be more than happy to receive you into his staff I'm betting." The woman took Elrohir's arm and lead him through the streets.
"What is this lords name?" Elrohir asked.
"He is Lord Cyril. He just watched over these parts, he's not the real Lord of the lands. That'd the Stewart of Gondor." The woman rambled on.
"This is Gondor?" Elrohir had seen maps of Middle Earth but have never completely studied them.
"Yes, dear boy. Gondor is a very large land indeed. The Stewart can't be everywhere at once. That's why lower Lords watch over different parts. Lord Cyril is the Lord of the land between the Rivers Sirith and the River Serni. A fair piece of land but with only two towns. This town on the Sirith river and a town, smaller than this, on Serni." The woman explained.
"Oh." Elrohir wasn't quite sure he understood but nodded anyways.
"How old did you say you were?" The woman looked at Elrohir.
"I'm-" Elrohir stopped for a moment, he hadn't though of that. The woman had not guessed him for an elf and he didn't feel like telling her, though he thought his hair should have been a give away, "twenty-one."
"You look so much younger, I would have guessed eighteen." The woman gave him a scrutinizing look.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I am eighteen." Elrohir smiled at her.
"That's what I though. No need to lie about your age in this town, it's safe here." The two finally came upon a large Castle built in a beautiful river stone. "This is Lord Cyril's home. I will call Giolla and she will know if you are needed or not." The woman let the knocker fall heavily against the door and head rushed footsteps from the inside.
"Lord Cyril welcomes you." A rather large and busty woman opened the door and gave a bright smile.
"Hello, Giolla, I've found Lord Cyril a knew addition to the family." The woman with Elrohir greeted the one in the door.
"What's your name, boy?" Giolla asked.
"Elrohir." Elrohir smiled pleasantly at the woman.
"Interesting. Well, thank you, I believe Lord Cyril will be pleased. Thank you. Come inside boy, I haven't all day." Giolla grabbed Elrohir into the house and made him wait in off to the side will she cleared some things up with the woman.
"Where did you find him?" Giolla asked as she stepped outside the door and closed it.
"Wandering the streets, beautiful isn't he?" The woman smiled proudly.
"Do you know anything about him?" Giolla asked while she dug in her pockets.
"Nothing, except he's new in town and doesn't know much about the land." The woman held out her hand to Giolla.
"Here's your money. If I need anything or he doesn't work I'll send for you and you can take him back." Giolla handed the woman a large amount of money and waved her off.
Giolla opened the door again and looked at Elrohir in his beauty waiting for her as he stared around at the open building.
"Come, we have to clean you up before we present you to Cyril." Giolla grabbed Elrohir and hauled him off down the hall to a washroom.
"You need to do something about your hair, it's to long, unfitting for a young boy." Giolla grabbed a knife and went towards Elrohir's hair.
"I'd prefer to do it myself." Elrohir shied away and reached for the knife.
"Fine then, when I come back in be done." Giolla commanded and left the room. Elrohir faced the mirror and looked at his long black locks. It made him think of his father, and his brother, and nearly everyone else in his Last Homely House back in Imladris. He was beginning to miss them all very much.
He held up the knife and slashed his hair until it was shoulder length. He gathered his hair from the floor and tied it into a knot.
Giolla opened the door without knocking.
"You done yet?" She looked on the floor to make sure there was no hair to be seen. "Alright, come on, you're going to need some new clothes if you expect to be working around this house." Giolla shoved clothes into Elrohir's hand and stood watching him.
"Do you mind if I changed alone please?" Elrohir asked politely.
"Fine, just give me any weapons you have, the Lord doesn't appreciate them in his house." Giolla held out her hand and waited until Elrohir handed her his bow, quiver, and all three of his elven knives. He didn't want to give them up but knew that'd he better obey. "Hurry, dinner is soon and I want you to be ready then." She said and she once again left the room. Elrohir quickly undressed and pulled on the very plain brown leggings and tunic. It was not the usual attire for him but it fit well enough. Though it was a very drab outfit on him. He looked in the mirror and barely recognized the elf staring back at him, it wasn't an elf he was looking at it wasn't a man either. Giolla pounded on the door signaling that he should hurry and be done. He opened the door and Giolla bustled in and grabbed his old garments, "I'll have these washed." She said as she led him down the hall towards the eating room. "Bow when Lord Cyril enters and say nothing." Giolla instructed. "You say anything and you could be thrown out or worse." Giolla warned.
Elrohir felt a sudden fear of this Lord and felt venerable without his weapons.
~
Title: Not So Long
Summary: Elrohir leaves his brother and his friends to go out and experience the world on his own. What will his new friendships and trials do for him?
Rating: "PG-13" for adult themes, moderate language, moderate sexuality, moderate violence.
Warnings: None so far.
Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or any of the places mentioned in the story but any unrecognized characters are mine and the plot is my idea. Any similarity to other stories is purely coincidental.
Suggestion: This is part of the "Song For None" series I have and if you haven't read, Song For None, Song For Nought, and Ballad For All then this part of the series will not mean as much as it should coming off the readings of the other three but is not completely necessary.
~
Elrohir raced his mount as far away from Lothlorien as the horse would carry him. He slowed after an hour, not wanting to tire his horse. He left Lothlorien going south he rode late into the night and through the next week. He was lucky that he had packed many food provisions into his pack and did not have to stop and hunt.
Finally after many days of riding a looming forest came into view in the distance. Elrohir strained his eyes to see which forest he might be coming up upon. It was Fangorn Forest. He didn't venture into the forest but kept riding. He knew that he would not find what he was looking for in the forest. He needed to find humans. He was going to live among them and as they did. He would acknowledge his father's half-elven roots and the roots in himself. He rode along the River Entwash until it broke into different streams and decided that'd he cross the river and continue southwards.
He crossed the river and came into the land Anorien. He followed the mountains east until he came upon the Druadan Forest. His food had long since vanished and he rested in the forest for a short time to let his horse recuperate and to gather food for himself. He was not sure whether he wanted to ride on anymore. He had not talked to anyone or even seen people for the longest time. He began to miss his brother more than anything in the world. Not to mention the nice warm bed back in his comfortable room.
He made up his mind and decided to continue on, he didn't want to give up yet.
It was late into a raining and stormy evening when passed within reach of Minas Tirith but didn't even know he had passed it until late into the next day when he came upon the River Erui. Elrohir wanted to turn back but something in him kept him going until he reached the River Sirith. He crossed the river and traveled for another day until he came to a relatively small town late into the evening.
Elrohir stopped his horse and took the packs of him. He gave thanks to the horse for carrying him for so long and told him he could return home. The horse whickered his thanks and galloped off. Elrohir headed towards the town on foot. When he neared the first of the buildings that made up the small town his nervously flattened his hair in front of his ears. He saw only a few people out of the streets. The town looked very well off for being so small. The buildings were strongly made and nothing seemed to be badly in need of repair. There were only two inns in the whole of the town and neither were full. Elrohir had not brought money with him, in his hurry that was the one thing forgotten.
Elrohir wandered through the town trying to determine his next move when a kindly old woman came to him.
"You look lost dear boy, do you need help?" The woman said with a warm and friendly smile.
"I have just arrived and am in need of a place to stay, though I have no money. I am willing to work though." Elrohir told the woman.
"I know just the place. The Lord of the this town would be more than happy to receive you into his staff I'm betting." The woman took Elrohir's arm and lead him through the streets.
"What is this lords name?" Elrohir asked.
"He is Lord Cyril. He just watched over these parts, he's not the real Lord of the lands. That'd the Stewart of Gondor." The woman rambled on.
"This is Gondor?" Elrohir had seen maps of Middle Earth but have never completely studied them.
"Yes, dear boy. Gondor is a very large land indeed. The Stewart can't be everywhere at once. That's why lower Lords watch over different parts. Lord Cyril is the Lord of the land between the Rivers Sirith and the River Serni. A fair piece of land but with only two towns. This town on the Sirith river and a town, smaller than this, on Serni." The woman explained.
"Oh." Elrohir wasn't quite sure he understood but nodded anyways.
"How old did you say you were?" The woman looked at Elrohir.
"I'm-" Elrohir stopped for a moment, he hadn't though of that. The woman had not guessed him for an elf and he didn't feel like telling her, though he thought his hair should have been a give away, "twenty-one."
"You look so much younger, I would have guessed eighteen." The woman gave him a scrutinizing look.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I am eighteen." Elrohir smiled at her.
"That's what I though. No need to lie about your age in this town, it's safe here." The two finally came upon a large Castle built in a beautiful river stone. "This is Lord Cyril's home. I will call Giolla and she will know if you are needed or not." The woman let the knocker fall heavily against the door and head rushed footsteps from the inside.
"Lord Cyril welcomes you." A rather large and busty woman opened the door and gave a bright smile.
"Hello, Giolla, I've found Lord Cyril a knew addition to the family." The woman with Elrohir greeted the one in the door.
"What's your name, boy?" Giolla asked.
"Elrohir." Elrohir smiled pleasantly at the woman.
"Interesting. Well, thank you, I believe Lord Cyril will be pleased. Thank you. Come inside boy, I haven't all day." Giolla grabbed Elrohir into the house and made him wait in off to the side will she cleared some things up with the woman.
"Where did you find him?" Giolla asked as she stepped outside the door and closed it.
"Wandering the streets, beautiful isn't he?" The woman smiled proudly.
"Do you know anything about him?" Giolla asked while she dug in her pockets.
"Nothing, except he's new in town and doesn't know much about the land." The woman held out her hand to Giolla.
"Here's your money. If I need anything or he doesn't work I'll send for you and you can take him back." Giolla handed the woman a large amount of money and waved her off.
Giolla opened the door again and looked at Elrohir in his beauty waiting for her as he stared around at the open building.
"Come, we have to clean you up before we present you to Cyril." Giolla grabbed Elrohir and hauled him off down the hall to a washroom.
"You need to do something about your hair, it's to long, unfitting for a young boy." Giolla grabbed a knife and went towards Elrohir's hair.
"I'd prefer to do it myself." Elrohir shied away and reached for the knife.
"Fine then, when I come back in be done." Giolla commanded and left the room. Elrohir faced the mirror and looked at his long black locks. It made him think of his father, and his brother, and nearly everyone else in his Last Homely House back in Imladris. He was beginning to miss them all very much.
He held up the knife and slashed his hair until it was shoulder length. He gathered his hair from the floor and tied it into a knot.
Giolla opened the door without knocking.
"You done yet?" She looked on the floor to make sure there was no hair to be seen. "Alright, come on, you're going to need some new clothes if you expect to be working around this house." Giolla shoved clothes into Elrohir's hand and stood watching him.
"Do you mind if I changed alone please?" Elrohir asked politely.
"Fine, just give me any weapons you have, the Lord doesn't appreciate them in his house." Giolla held out her hand and waited until Elrohir handed her his bow, quiver, and all three of his elven knives. He didn't want to give them up but knew that'd he better obey. "Hurry, dinner is soon and I want you to be ready then." She said and she once again left the room. Elrohir quickly undressed and pulled on the very plain brown leggings and tunic. It was not the usual attire for him but it fit well enough. Though it was a very drab outfit on him. He looked in the mirror and barely recognized the elf staring back at him, it wasn't an elf he was looking at it wasn't a man either. Giolla pounded on the door signaling that he should hurry and be done. He opened the door and Giolla bustled in and grabbed his old garments, "I'll have these washed." She said as she led him down the hall towards the eating room. "Bow when Lord Cyril enters and say nothing." Giolla instructed. "You say anything and you could be thrown out or worse." Giolla warned.
Elrohir felt a sudden fear of this Lord and felt venerable without his weapons.
~