Title: A Second Choice
Author: Amber
Type: FPS
Cast: Elrond
Rating: G
Beta: CGL
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters owned by JRR Tolkien. I am just borrowing them for now.
Summary: Elrond sails to Aman, thinking he knows his fate.
"We will delay our choice for now, until Arwen's time comes," Elrohir told his father.
Elrond stood, saying nothing, for he already knew what their final choice would be. Having the gift of foresight was indeed as much a curse as it was a blessing. Elladan stood off to the side and watched his brother, refusing to look at his father. His mind was already made but he would not force his brother's choice. Nor did he wish to cause his father further pain. He hoped that healing in Aman would enable his father to accept the choice they would make when the time came. While Elrohir was still undecided, Elladan knew that they would choose the same. They were too close to choose differently. When his father made no argument, the twins turned to leave.
"A word please, Elladan," Elrond said.
Elladan nodded to his twin. "I will meet you in our rooms," he said, "set my silver tunic and blue robes out for dinner." He turned to his father.
"Do not rush your brother with his choice. When the time comes, he will choose as you do," Elrond told him.
"So you know," Elladan stated.
"I have always known," Elrond told his son with a look of extreme sadness in his eyes.
Then Elladan asked the questions he had always wondered. "Why do you accept this? My whole life I have heard about the hardships and losses you have endured. How do you go on without fading, just watching as time and time again you are made to suffer? You are the kindest person I know, but you seem to be cursed with misfortune."
Elrond answered the only way he could. "It is what the one, Eru, asks of me. I have come to believe that some are created to suffer, so that others do not have to. I am one of these."
"Will you finally find peace in Aman, with mother?" Elladan asked.
"I can only hope," Elrond said to his son, for he could not bring himself to tell Elladan what he already knew. "Know that I will always love you and want nothing more than that you and your siblings find happiness," he said as he embraced his son. "Enough of this; your sister will have our heads if we are late for dinner. Go and make yourself ready."
He embraced his sons one final time before boarding the ship. "You have our letters to mother, right?" Elrohir asked.
"Of course my sons," Elrond said, "she will know of your love for her. I must go; the others are waiting. Remember that I love you and always will. Be well, and may Eru bless you." With a final hug, he boarded and walked to the back of the ship. He would watch his sons for as long as he could see, then grieve for them quietly in his room.
Erestor and Glorfindel both came and stood with him, saying nothing. They had been his friends for the last age and understood.
Then Galadriel came, "Elrond, why did you not tell them the truth?"
He saw the confused looks on Erestor and Glorfindel's faces. He sighed before answering, "I would not guilt them into changing their choice. They deserve their chance at happiness. Not knowing the truth will cause them less harm and pain. I would not have them choose between their mother and me."
"Elrond?" asked Erestor, not understanding.
Looking at the deck of the ship Elrond answered, "Celebrian did not just go to Aman to heal. She went to meet and bond with another she loved. I will be going to Mando's' Halls after being judged in the ring of doom." Not wanting to answer any more questions, he retired to his room.
Later that night on deck, Glorfindel approached Mithrandir. "Did you know of Celebrian's bonding?" he asked.
Mithrandir was silent for a while before answering. "Not all is as it seems. You more than most understand that, my friend. Elrond's destiny is not with her."
Glorfindel wanted to ask more, but suspected his questions would not be answered. The two spent the night in silence on the deck.
Elrond spent the next several of days avoiding people. Word of his fate had quickly spread among the others on board. Every time he left his room, he was approached. Sometimes they questioned his fate, other times they just showed their support. It came as a relief to know that Cirdan had limited who was on board the Ring Bearers' ship. Most respected his privacy. Even Bilbo and Frodo did not intrude much in this sensitive area. He had passed his sons' letters on to their grandmother to ensure their delivery to Celebrían. He knew he would not be seeing her upon his arrival in Aman.
As the days passed, he began to feel weak. His body began to ache and he did not sleep. At first, he thought he might be fading, but his symptoms did not match. The closer they came to Aman, the more he hurt.
He spent his days sunning himself on deck and enjoying the company of his friends. He knew not what to expect in the Halls of Mandos, but conversations with Glorfindel did not make things sound promising. When lunch was called, he stood and stretched. Sudden sharp pains lanced through his body and head. Glorfindel caught him as he collapsed. Galadriel rushed to his side and held his head in her lap. "Hang on my son," she told him as Erestor called Mithrandir for help. "What is wrong with him, Mithrandir? Why does my son suffer with these pains?"
After quickly looking over Elrond to confirm his suspicions, all Mithrandir would say was, "It has begun." Everyone looked at each other in confusion, but knew no answers would be forthcoming.
As the swan ship drew closer to Aman, Elrond's pain increased. He did not leave his cabin anymore, and someone was with him at all times. The seas rose and rain pelted the ship now, but Elrond did not notice. His whole being felt as if it were being torn apart. Mithrandir came one afternoon and sat with him to give the others rest. After a time of silence, Elrond asked, "What causes this pain, Mithrandir? Am I to die and go to the Halls without ever seeing the shores of Aman? I can see in your eyes that you know what is happening to me; please tell me."
The answer he received was not what he expected. "The answer to your questions, and pain, lies in your blood. Think on all you know about your heritage. It is not my place to tell you what is happening." Then Mithrandir fell silent.
Elrond spent the hours thinking on what was said, but could not make sense of what he had been told. The answer was in his blood, and somehow this caused his pain. His blood. His half human, half Elf blood….His half human, half Elf… Then it struck him. He was not half human and half Elf. His blood also was Maia. It was what gave him his healing abilities. Could this be the answer? But how would this affect him now?
Then Elrond heard the shouts. The rain was pulling back. "Mithrandir please, I wish to be on deck with the others when we pass the curtain."
Glorfindel was called to carry Elrond to the deck and hold him by the rail. As they passed through the curtain, a bright blue sky awaited. In the distance they could see the blue outline of land. "Do you see it Elrond?" a smiling Glorfindel asked. "It is home." He felt Elrond slump forward. As he looked down to check Elrond, he froze. "Mithrandir, come quick!" he shouted. "He is unresponsive." As he lay Elrond down on the deck, the others surrounded them.
After checking him over, Mithrandir murmured, "This is wrong, it is happening too fast." He dashed to the rail and called, "Ossie, quickly. We cannot wait for the ship to dock, you must take Elrond. I will have Eonwe await you on the shore." The water Maia, who had been staying near the swan ship, took Elrond's still form from Glorfindel and quickly headed for shore.
"What is happening to my son-you know more than you are saying, Mithrandir?" Galadriel confronted him. "Where is he being taken?"
"He is fulfilling his destiny," was his reply. "He is being taken to the circle of doom where he will be presented with a choice much like the first choice he made. You forget that he is also descended from the Maiar. Coming to Aman has enhanced this section of his blood and it is tearing him apart."
"What will happen to him?" asked Erestor.
"He will have to make a choice," Mithrandir said, "Before, he chose the path of the firstborn over that of man. Now he must choose between remaining one of the firstborn or taking the path of the Maiar." Mithrandir said.
He was awakened by a figure he had not seen in two ages: Eonwe. "Awake and be judged," he was told. As he rose from the floor, he noticed that, while not totally gone, his pain had receded to a manageable level. Looking around, he saw that he was in a circle of marble, surrounded by thrones of pearl. Upon each was a Vala. At the head of the circle was Manwe, and beside him sat Varda. He approached and knelt before Manwe. He knew what sentence awaited him since Celebrian had remarried. He would be condemned to Namo's Halls under the Doom of Finwe. It only remained to be spoken.
"Elrond Peredhel, you are before us for judgment upon your actions in Middle-earth. Know you now that there is little to judge. The One asked much of you and you responded without complaint or blame, despite what it cost you. Eru is well pleased with you." With a slight smile on his face, Manwë stated, "I know what you are thinking, young one, but not all is as you think."
Elrond could only stand there with a confused look on his face. There were amused chuckles around him as the other Valar looked on. Manwe nodded to the dark haired Vala beside him. Namo rose and approached Elrond.
"The One severed your bond with Celebrian the hour of her rebonding. The Doom of Finwe does not await you. Another fate is presented to you in the form of a choice. Of those descended from Melian, all have passed beyond Arda except your mother and you. Elwing's fate is special do to circumstances you know well of and she lives the life of the firstborn as per her choice. While all of Melian's descendants have possessed the blood of the Maiar, in none other is it as strong as it runs in you. The pain you feel is your Maian blood responding to the song of Aman. Therefore a choice is presented to you. Live as a firstborn of Aman, or embrace your blood and become Maia. Choose now."
After blinking in surprise, Elrond thought on all he had been told. He had known instinctively what he would choose back in the first age, for there was really no choice involved. He had been an Elf. Now it was different, and he was unsure. Elrond decided to do what he had done so many times before. "I choose whatever path Eru wishes for me," he said. There were gasps and pleased smiles all around as he answered. Namo nodded and stepped back.
Manwë stood, "I now pronounce Eru's wish. In compliance with the wish of Eru, Elrond, you shall go to the Halls of Mandos for a period of thirty days for healing. At the end of this time, you will be rehoused as a Maia. You shall proceed then to the Gardens of Este where you will be given the time you shall need to adjust. The only limitation placed upon you is one you share with you kinswoman Melian. You will be limited in form to that you have now. Know that we rejoice in your choice. Go and take your place in the song."
As Manwë dismissed him, Elrond could only wonder at what would happen next. He felt a tug on his arm. "Come little brother, we must go; others approach to be judged."
As Elrond was escorted away, it dawned on him who would be approaching and how much time he had spent in the circle. "Can I not wait and assure my friends that all is well?" he asked. Eonwe assured him they would be told, and that now was not the time to meet them. He allowed himself to be led off. Off to start a new adventure and life.