Arwen rode through the gates of Imladris just as the sun dipped low over
the horizon, a twin riding easily on either side of her. Her brothers
always escorted her to and from the golden wood, ever since their mother's
fateful trip.
Her father and Glorfindel stood waiting in the courtyard. Elrond's face was stoic, but she knew he breathed more easily at her safe return. "Adar, mae govannon" she greeted, hurriedly dismounting and throwing her arms around his neck.
"It is good have you home, my Evenstar. How fares 'Lorien, and its lord and lady?" He asked, returning the embrace.
"All is well. Though there is rising shadow along their borders, the Galadrim keep the woods safe. We were not challenged once on our return journey." She reported, and Elrond turned to his sons who nodded. "We were fortunate enough to leave just after a rather extensive raid," explained Elladan, "We met no resistance."
"These are good tidings. Perhaps this darkness can be quelled yet." Glorfindel murmured, and all present agreed that this was a positive sign. "Still, great evil resides in Mirkwood." Elladan added, and this point was agreed upon as well.
"Perhaps the Evil could be conquered if Thranduil would accept any form of aid." Elrohir muttered, glad to have gotten a jab at the Elven king in.
"It is not his way." Elrond replied simply, brushing the conversation aside. "Now, I assume you wish to wash the road from your faces and change out of those riding clothes."
+++++++++++++++++++
The morning dawned clear and true as always in Imladris. Arwen awoke feeling much refreshed by the night's rest and hurried downstairs to attend the morning meal. Her father and brothers were not in attendance, but sometimes they forgot such things, and they showed up soon after her.
Following eating and catching up with friends and acquaintances, Arwen walked along the outer hallways, which were open air and smelt of the beauty of spring.
The morning had been prelude to a glorious day, and everywhere she turned, she was reminded of the magnificent beauty of her valley home.
Lothlorien lent its own allure, and its beauty was ethereal, but Imladris seemed more majestic, and its charms captured her heart no matter how many times she returned to them.
After she had been home a few days however, something about the place struck her as different than before. It was not that Rivendell itself had changed, per say; it was her family that acted different.
Elrond, ever a recluse since the death of his wife, seemed more buried in his work than usual. Elrohir and her father were now always absent from the evening meal. "Their work will be done soon," was all Glorfindel would ever say, and the thought of their work being 'done' seemed to sadden him.
When her father finally emerged from whatever it was he was doing, he seemed tried and cheerless. Arwen did not press the matter, but through word of mouth she learned that Elrond was spending his mornings treating a patient.
This was the extent of her knowledge on a rainy night in mid spring. This particular night was not unlike any other, and Arwen was standing on a balcony watching the tiny missiles of water pelt the ground when a noise caught her ear.
She recognized the figures of her father and brother standing in a gazebo at the edge of the garden. Exiting the cover and ignoring the showers that soaked her head, Arwen approached. "There is little hope for him," her father was whispering as she came into earshot.
"Little hope for who?" Arwen asked, and both males turned to look at her. When they saw who it was, they both became silent and Elrohir took her hand and pulled her under the cover.
"Has this not gone on long enough Adar?" she asked the peredhil lord, "I wish to know what burden so heavily weighs on my father and brother's countenances."
"Understand my Evenstar," Elrond replied painfully, "I cannot place this weight on your shoulders."
"Adar how can you say that! You barely eat and ever the worry is present in your eyes. This already weighs on my mind, and in my heart. I worry after you father!" Arwen cried, thoroughly frustrated by her father's reluctance.
Elrond looked at the ground before turning to Elrohir. "Tell your sister." he bade softly. Elrohir made no reply but looked to his sister. "Come Arwen. It is best that I show you." He pulled off his cloak and put it on her shoulders before leading her back out into the rain.
Elrond remained for some time, and even when the sun was fully gone and the candle soaked beyond usefulness he sat, long contemplating in the darkness.
"Arwen, do you remember long ago when the days were brighter and Elves still came from all across Middle Earth to celebrate the Starlight Festival?" he inquired. "It was not so long ago," she answered quietly.
"Of course not. But it has been a hundred years and more since the Elves of Mirkwood in particular have visited our borders." Her brother pointed out, and to this Arwen agreed but said nothing. She didn't see what it had to do with her father's preoccupation.
Elrohir continued, "Do you remember the last time they came? With them came a boy who I believe became your faithful companion during the days of the festival." Arwen stopped and turned to her brother, silently demanding further explanation as to why this particularly bittersweet memory had been awakened.
"While you were gone, a party from Mirkwood arrived in our gates, and among them was a certain warrior. It is he that is the source of father's unrest." Elrohir explained.
"Say now what you mean to say Elrohir, I'll have no more dancing around it." Arwen demanded, locking he eyes with his.
"Legolas of Mirkwood is the warrior of which I speak."
And I'm spent.that was the first chapter of the sequel to fighting for us! If you liked this, read the first one, and maybe you could.oh I dunno.review both? Hehe, wishful thinking I know. Anyway, thanks as always! -J.P.
Her father and Glorfindel stood waiting in the courtyard. Elrond's face was stoic, but she knew he breathed more easily at her safe return. "Adar, mae govannon" she greeted, hurriedly dismounting and throwing her arms around his neck.
"It is good have you home, my Evenstar. How fares 'Lorien, and its lord and lady?" He asked, returning the embrace.
"All is well. Though there is rising shadow along their borders, the Galadrim keep the woods safe. We were not challenged once on our return journey." She reported, and Elrond turned to his sons who nodded. "We were fortunate enough to leave just after a rather extensive raid," explained Elladan, "We met no resistance."
"These are good tidings. Perhaps this darkness can be quelled yet." Glorfindel murmured, and all present agreed that this was a positive sign. "Still, great evil resides in Mirkwood." Elladan added, and this point was agreed upon as well.
"Perhaps the Evil could be conquered if Thranduil would accept any form of aid." Elrohir muttered, glad to have gotten a jab at the Elven king in.
"It is not his way." Elrond replied simply, brushing the conversation aside. "Now, I assume you wish to wash the road from your faces and change out of those riding clothes."
+++++++++++++++++++
The morning dawned clear and true as always in Imladris. Arwen awoke feeling much refreshed by the night's rest and hurried downstairs to attend the morning meal. Her father and brothers were not in attendance, but sometimes they forgot such things, and they showed up soon after her.
Following eating and catching up with friends and acquaintances, Arwen walked along the outer hallways, which were open air and smelt of the beauty of spring.
The morning had been prelude to a glorious day, and everywhere she turned, she was reminded of the magnificent beauty of her valley home.
Lothlorien lent its own allure, and its beauty was ethereal, but Imladris seemed more majestic, and its charms captured her heart no matter how many times she returned to them.
After she had been home a few days however, something about the place struck her as different than before. It was not that Rivendell itself had changed, per say; it was her family that acted different.
Elrond, ever a recluse since the death of his wife, seemed more buried in his work than usual. Elrohir and her father were now always absent from the evening meal. "Their work will be done soon," was all Glorfindel would ever say, and the thought of their work being 'done' seemed to sadden him.
When her father finally emerged from whatever it was he was doing, he seemed tried and cheerless. Arwen did not press the matter, but through word of mouth she learned that Elrond was spending his mornings treating a patient.
This was the extent of her knowledge on a rainy night in mid spring. This particular night was not unlike any other, and Arwen was standing on a balcony watching the tiny missiles of water pelt the ground when a noise caught her ear.
She recognized the figures of her father and brother standing in a gazebo at the edge of the garden. Exiting the cover and ignoring the showers that soaked her head, Arwen approached. "There is little hope for him," her father was whispering as she came into earshot.
"Little hope for who?" Arwen asked, and both males turned to look at her. When they saw who it was, they both became silent and Elrohir took her hand and pulled her under the cover.
"Has this not gone on long enough Adar?" she asked the peredhil lord, "I wish to know what burden so heavily weighs on my father and brother's countenances."
"Understand my Evenstar," Elrond replied painfully, "I cannot place this weight on your shoulders."
"Adar how can you say that! You barely eat and ever the worry is present in your eyes. This already weighs on my mind, and in my heart. I worry after you father!" Arwen cried, thoroughly frustrated by her father's reluctance.
Elrond looked at the ground before turning to Elrohir. "Tell your sister." he bade softly. Elrohir made no reply but looked to his sister. "Come Arwen. It is best that I show you." He pulled off his cloak and put it on her shoulders before leading her back out into the rain.
Elrond remained for some time, and even when the sun was fully gone and the candle soaked beyond usefulness he sat, long contemplating in the darkness.
"Arwen, do you remember long ago when the days were brighter and Elves still came from all across Middle Earth to celebrate the Starlight Festival?" he inquired. "It was not so long ago," she answered quietly.
"Of course not. But it has been a hundred years and more since the Elves of Mirkwood in particular have visited our borders." Her brother pointed out, and to this Arwen agreed but said nothing. She didn't see what it had to do with her father's preoccupation.
Elrohir continued, "Do you remember the last time they came? With them came a boy who I believe became your faithful companion during the days of the festival." Arwen stopped and turned to her brother, silently demanding further explanation as to why this particularly bittersweet memory had been awakened.
"While you were gone, a party from Mirkwood arrived in our gates, and among them was a certain warrior. It is he that is the source of father's unrest." Elrohir explained.
"Say now what you mean to say Elrohir, I'll have no more dancing around it." Arwen demanded, locking he eyes with his.
"Legolas of Mirkwood is the warrior of which I speak."
And I'm spent.that was the first chapter of the sequel to fighting for us! If you liked this, read the first one, and maybe you could.oh I dunno.review both? Hehe, wishful thinking I know. Anyway, thanks as always! -J.P.