Italics: Elvish
"Double inverts": Spoken words
'Single inverts': Thoughts
Rivendell, September 1, 3018 T.A
"Lindir!" Elladan's voice rang out in the otherwise silent courtyard. Hurried footsteps chased the Homely House's caretaker round the bend, only to come to a sudden halt in front of the awaiting elf. "Lindir."
"M'lord?" the housekeeper enquired with a confused look on his face. "Is something the matter?"
"Yes!" cried the younger elf. "Have you seen the little terror?"
"You mean Prince Aurloth," Lindir stated, amusement shining in his eyes. It was night-time and that usually meant the young prince would run away in hopes of escaping his bed. And so the task of finding the mischievous grandson of both the Elvenking and Lord Elrond would fall on his very exasperated uncles.
"Did you find him, Elladan?" another voice asked, its owner not far as Elrohir came to stand beside his twin.
"No," replied a defeated Elladan. "I swear he takes after Legolas! Always running off to make trouble."
A tinkling laugh was heard in response and all three elves looked up to find Arwen watching them with a smile from the balcony. "It's not my husband he takes after, dear brother," the Evenstar said. "None is to be blamed for Aurloth's antics but you two."
"What are you talking about, sister?" Elrohir answered, sharing a look with his brother. "We were the picture of innocence in our childhood." Lindir's disbelieving laugh was enough to discredit that statement, so Arwen chose not to point out their many jests throughout their younger days.
The elleth shook her head fondly, "Go and find my son, will you? Before I have to tell his Ada that we lost him just two days into our visit."
"As my lady commands." The twins gave a mocking bow and turned away to search for their beloved nephew.
Aurloth was the only son and youngest child of Prince Legolas and Princess Arwen, after his two older twin sisters: Rhîwen and Rilliel. He was born quite late into their marriage, a dozen centuries late, an unusual occurrence for elves; but the lady wished for another child to brighten the dark times ahead and the woodland heir could never refuse her. It was as his mother had hoped - the little 'morning-blossom' lightened the halls of even the dark Mirkwood and with the laughter of a child ringing around, one could forget about the brewing evil for a moment. But for all his sweet innocence, the elfling was just as much a troublemaker as his famed uncles and was often difficult to keep track of; which brings us back to the current predicament of the twin lords.
Elladan and Elrohir made their way to the upper gardens, which was the favourite place of the young Prince in all of Imladris. True to his wood-elf heritage, Aurloth found peace among the trees while watching the stars. And today too, the twins found him gazing up at the night sky in awe from his place on the low-hanging branches of the Mulberry.
"There you are!" Elrohir sighed in relief. "We have been looking all over for you, you little demon!"
"Uncle look!" cried Aurloth, as he pointed up at something with absolute delight on his chubby face. "Look! A new star!"
"What are you talking about little one?" Elladan hoisted up the elfling in his arms and exchanged an amused glance with his brother as if saying – 'the wood elves and their love of the starlight.'
"There!" The squirming child pointed again. Both elves looked up to see what had the boy so excited and actually staggered in surprise.
"It cannot be!" Elladan stared open mouthed at the bright star shining at the exact centre of the sky.
"Oh, but it is brother." Elrohir pointedly averted his gaze from overhead to somewhere northeast and though Elladan was confused for a moment, he quickly got on. Thinking about his nieces who were still in Mirkwood then, he opened his eyes to indeed find the star gone from the centre and as he looked towards the general direction of the woodland realm, he found the same star shining brightly there.
"The Tulyacálë," he breathed, awestruck.
Elrohir had a similar expression of reverence and shock on his face, and with a startled laugh he shouted, "She has returned! The Entulessél is here!" And off he went, exclaiming the same loudly – over and over again. Elladan made to follow his brother, but the curiosity of the boy in his arms was yet to be satisfied.
"Uncle Dan!" the prince demanded. "Who is Enu- Entu," the child stumbled over the new name.
"The Entu-less-él" Elladan repeated more clearly.
"Yes. Her." Aurloth nodded with all the seriousness of an elfling 18 summers old – 6 in human years.
"You see that star you showed us?" Elladan pointed and on the boy's nod, started telling the story of Elvëa, alternating between Sindarin and Westeron, for the child needed to be versed in both. All the way back to Aurloth's chambers, Elladan recounted the tale and at last put him to bed, fast asleep.
Meanwhile, Rivendell came alive. Hearing Elrohir's enthusiastic proclamations, several elves came out to see what the urgency was at this time of the night. But Elrohir only merrily shouted away, making his way to his father's study.
"Adar!" Elrohir burst inside with a hysterical look in his eyes.
Lord Elrond tensed up at the sudden intrusion and for a moment dreaded ill-news, but one look at the sheer glee on his son's face was enough to calm him down somewhat. Or stress him even more. That look in either twin's eye never boded well for the long-suffering father.
"What is the matter, Elrohir?"
Despite the note of rebuke in his father's voice, the younger lord was not deterred. "You have to come see for yourself."
Giving a cursory glance at his papers, the Lord of Rivendell acquiesced, "Very well." But whatever mischief he was expecting from his sons – or perhaps his grandson now – it was not the sight of his people gathered on their balconies and out in the gardens, looking joyfully towards the sky. 'Elbereth be kind!' the lord thought.
"Look father! The Tulyacálë!" And no matter how many he may have shouted the name, it still took his breath away to say it.
There had been many times in his long life when the Lord of Imladris was taken aback, but this would certainly be the one time he was truly shocked. "Oh, Elbereth!" With that exhale, Lord Elrond finally caught up with the moment. "The Entulessél has returned! The lost star is lost no more!" Their Lord's confirmation was all the people of Imladris needed, for suddenly there were cries of joys everywhere and some even started singing praises of the Leading Star and their beloved Varda.
Arwen came running up to them, a brilliant smile on her face, "It is true father! She has returned! Our Leading Light! There is hope yet!"
"There is always hope." He returned the cheery embrace of his daughter and couldn't help but smile back. It was indeed joyous news. But another voice interrupted his thoughts.
'The world is changed.' Lady Galadriel whispered in his mind. 'I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air.'
'It is a necessary change,' he replied.
'But her coming means the rise of evil.'
'Before it is forever destroyed.' That was what the prophecy told and he couldn't just look at the carnage that would precede it. 'The Valar have foretold the victory of light. There is peace to be had in the future.'
'Yes,' she said breathily. 'But not without death first. Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it. And the power of the Tulyacálë is in unsuspecting hands.'
'She will learn in time. It is her destiny.'
'But do we have time?'
With those troubling words, the Lady of Light took leave of his mind and left him to ponder over the coming times. Now the star's return didn't look so joyous. But for good or bad, their most revered star was among them again, and it was reason enough to celebrate. And that was what the elves of Imladris did and for the next few days to come there was a festive spirit lighting up the valley. But they weren't the only ones to do so.
All over Arda, the elvenfolk rejoiced the return of the Tulyacálë, with celebrations taking place in every corner of their lands. Be it Lórien, Mirkwood, or even the Grey Havens, every elf on Arda was commemorating this happy day with songs, dance, and laughter, which continued for days. And whoever of the race of men knew the legend of the Leading Star, they too took to thanking the Valar for the gift. Later in time, people will know of this day as the 'Day of Hope', for their hope was rekindled again on the day the Leading Star shone bright again in the sky.
Isengard
But the good weren't the only ones to take note of this. Saruman in his tower of Orthanc also knew of the Tulyacálë. So he formed a plan to capture the Entulessél before she could become a threat to his lord Sauron.
"My Lord," greeted the nasal voice of the leader of the orcs. "You called?"
"Yes," Saruman replied. "I want you to send words to our raiding parties out there. Tell them to look for a she-elf. A being of extraordinary light she would be."
"And where would we find her, My Lord?"
"That is easy." The White Wizard, or rather a Wizard of Many Colours, went out to look at the sky. He then asked to find the bearer of the Tulyacálë and when he searched, he found the Leading Star twinkling in the Northwest. "Go northwest. Search the wild. Search as far as you can. She is not yet in our enemies' hands." Saruman was taking a gamble on the last one. For all he knew, the elves might have already found her; or maybe she returned amidst them only.
"Aye, M'lord," the orc bowed.
"Spread the word. And hurry," he bellowed at the retreating disfigured form. He also would have to inform the ever watchful Eye of this development, but as always, the Dark Lord would be aware already. "So for now, we wait."
Author's Note: Hello. I'm trying to rewrite this story with a fresh perspective. While the premise is the same, I want to try some new angles for Eirlyn's story. Her characterization will also be changed, simply because I don't recall what exactly I envisioned for her. I'll try to put up new chapters soon but can't really promise anything as of yet. Thank you for your interest!