Title: In the Garden, Chapter 1
Author: Sorsha117
Fandom/Pairing: Elrond/OFC, others implied
Rating: PG-13, ratings will increase in future chapters
Warning: AU (Story set several hundred years after ROTK in Aman); Het.
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated.
Archive: OEAM
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Lady Victoria for betaing of this fic.
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to Prof. Tolkien. A quick check of my bank account should prove I'm not making anything off of writing my stories. Sigh!
Summary: Life in the Blessed Land has not been so blessed for Elrond. Can the happiness that has long eluded him be found in a red-bound journal, a grieving elleth, and a wish that none thought possible? Perhaps, in the garden…
Chapter 1 --- A Walk in the Park
The glint of gold lent her pale hair a depth often missing in the blond hair of many faired-haired elves. This was not the first time he had made this observation, but he had yet to devise a reason to take a closer look at those glistening strands. The laws and customs of the eldar were strictly observed in Valinor. The scandal that had attached itself to him had not been forgotten in the mere two hundred years since his wife had effectively ended their marriage. He knew most ellith were leery to be seen talking with him, their reputations being important to their futures. (female elves)
Sighing, Elrond forced his gaze back to the book in his lap. His arrival in the Blessed Lands had not gone as he had hoped. Celebrian, his wife of over three thousand years, had greeted him with great pomp and splendor, calling as much attention to herself in the process as possible. Once the public interest in the heroes of Middle-earth had waned as it inevitably had, she had suggested he find other accommodations… that his company in her home was no longer welcome.
She had taken great pleasure in informing him that she had never loved him, that she had married the Lord of Imladris to stop her parents from constantly lecturing her on her duty to the Eldar of Middle-earth. The poisoned arrow she had suffered at Redhorn Pass had turned out to be a gift, she had said, for once she had found healing in the Blessed Lands, she had been free.
While he had spent the remainder of his time in Middle-earth caring for their grieving children and doing what he could to help bring an end to Sauron, Celebrian had enjoyed the absence of obligations and commitments she had found across the sea. In Aman, she had reveled in the absence of her strong-willed mother, her over-protective father, and her too-serious husband. By the time he arrived, she had decided she liked her new life… one that had no place for him.
His move to a new house had not gone unnoticed by the rest of Valimar. Celebrian had taken the opportunity to reclaim the spotlight temporarily, whispering tearful lies to gleeful supporters that had flocked to her side in her 'hour of need'. Elrond, humiliated by the slander of his name and character, had refused to respond to the rumors of infidelity that had been the result. The fact that Celebrian had been unable to name those with whom he had supposedly dallied… or the fact that none had come forward to charge the Lord of Imladris with inappropriate behavior had not ended the talk.
Over time, the continued support given him by her parents and the loud, insistent outcry from those that knew him best had eroded her credibility. In the end, she had lost all public support when she had ecstatically welcomed the former Marchwarden of Lorien to share her life and home. Those that had initially flocked to her side to hear and spread her groundless innuendoes had professed shock and outrage at her behavior. They had turned to him and offered false shows of solicitude. Elrond, sick of the entire business, had turned his back on them all. Eventually, they had found new targets for their games.
In the years that had followed, he had further retreated from society, accepting the company of only a trusted few that had long shared his life. His days had become set in a pattern, a rut Erestor called it, and his daily walk to a park across the City from his house had become its highpoint. Elrond brought his sketchbook and his journal, seeking either distraction or expression for the deep hurt and loneliness that threatened to consume him. Some days proved more successful than others in achieving this end.
It had been many years earlier, soon after his sons had arrived with their grandfather, his advisors… and Haldir, that he had first noticed her. She sat each day on the bench by a fountain that featured a pair of entwined swans and wrote in a small red-bound journal. It had been the journal, of all things, that had first caught his attention. After weeks of careful study, he was certain that it was identical to the one he used… a gift from his mother-in-law.
Knowing the one he processed to have been made especially for him in Lorien, he had been intrigued by the appearance of its seeming twin in Valimar. It took him several more years to admit, if only to himself, that he had also become quite intrigued by the elleth that owned it. (female elf)
From days of careful study, he knew her features by heart. Her image had found its way into his sketchbook on many occasions. She was lovely to be sure, but beauty was the norm for the Eldar. Nay, it was not that her small, heart-shaped face was fair or that her waist length white-gold hair was all that unique. It was her eyes, the rich blue of cornflowers in sunlight that had captured his attention. They betrayed her thoughts and emotions more clearly than most could with all of the words of the elven languages at their disposal.
In the beginning, pain and a deep hurt had radiated from their soft depths… captured he was sure, in words that flowed from the tip of her quill. Then too, there had been days when anger had darkened their hue to indigo, and her pen had scratched loudly, as she vented her frustrations on the pages of her journal. Still other days, she sat quietly and stared off into space as memories swamped her thoughts, her journal forgotten at her side.
As the years passed, he had begun to notice small signs that she had taken to watching him too --- a sudden head movement when he glanced her way… a faint blush when their eyes met, that feeling of being watched that made the tiny hairs at the back of his neck tingle as he forced his gaze to remain fixed on the book before him. Elrond knew he had been caught on many occasions glancing her way, so he knew the signs. Still, after so many years, he did not know her name or if she was unbound.
/Not that it matters! Tis folly for me to wonder about her, for I am most assuredly not free to pursue her. Celebrian may have disgraced our marriage vows… disgraced! She is openly living with another elf and is estranged from all her family. Haldir had only been here but a few weeks when she let him take up residency in the home my family provided her on her arrival! In the end, it matters not what she has done, for marriage is for all time… I am bound to those vows even if she ignores them. I have nothing to offer another, save sharing my disgrace./
Seeing his elleth /When did I start thinking of her as 'my elleth'/ begin to pack away the few items she had brought with her, the sudden need to know which direction she turned on leaving the park drove him to his feet. Taking no time to analyze his motives or what possible use he could make of this information, Elrond found himself walking slowly out of the park behind her.
Chastising himself for his uncharacteristic behavior, he quickened his steps as she disappeared through the archway, out of the small walled garden they had long shared in silence, into the larger public park surrounding it. /What reason is there for this? You cannot imagine you can follow her home and simply knock on the door requesting entry! I can hear it now! "Mae govannen. I am Elrond Peredhel. Perhaps you have heard of me --- former herald of Gil-Galad, Lord of Imladris… loremaster and healer? Also, husband of an adulterous elleth who left me for a blond, muscle-bound oaf? Surely you have heard of me, as I was much the talk of Valinor some years ago? If you are not yet married, would you care to have an illicit affair with me? Ai/ (Well met) (female elf)
Exiting the enclosed space, he looked quickly to his right and noted she had been slowed by a large group of elflings playing in the path that led to the south, out of the park. Forcing himself to walk at a sedate pace /there is no reason to give gossips any new fodder for their entertainment, he found himself mesmerized by the gentle sway of her hips as she walked. A smile threatened to overtake his face as he watched her stop to retrieve a ball that had rolled to her feet and throw it to a young ellon playing just off the path. (elven children) (male elf)
Out of the corner of his eyes, he detected a sudden movement headed in the direction of his unknown elleth. Looking to his left, he spotted a large grey dog bounding toward her at a rapid rate. Breaking into a run, he called as warning, hoping to alert her to the dog's approach. "My lady… look out!"
Arriving just as the dog pounced, he managed to catch her around the waist and swing her out of the way. Setting her back to her feet, he found his eyes locked with her surprised blue gaze. The dog bounded harmlessly past before dropping back to the ground to sit, looking up at the pair, his tail wagging a friendly greeting.
"Are you alright, my lady? I do not think he meant any harm… just an over-enthusiastic greeting," he asked. A faint blush stole over his features as he realized he had yet to let go of her waist. Dropping his hands, he took a step back to reestablish an appropriate distance between them.
Laughing softly once she realized what had happened, she smiled up into his flushed face. "I am fine… thanks to you, my lord. He must have thought I wanted to play, seeing me throw the ball. I once had a dog that would have done just that."
Taken by the soft, silky quality to her voice, Elrond felt himself relax as he smiled in return. "I think you are right. You seem to have made a friend."
Tilting her head to study the elf before her, she replied, "Perhaps I have. Thank you, my lord for coming to my rescue."
A tingle of pleasure coursed through his system at her reply, recognizing the possible double meaning it contained. "You are most welcome. I am glad to have been of assistance."
Bending down, he picked up the small leather bag she had been carrying and offered it to her. "Your bag. I trust there has been no damage to your property."
Before she could reply, a new voice joined their conversation. "Oh, dear. I do hope Fangorn has not caused any harm. Some days he is more a puppy than he should be!"
Glancing to their left, an elfling of perhaps twenty years of age had reached them and wrapped her arms around the dog's neck. "I take it… Fangorn?" Elrond fought the desire to laugh. "Fangorn is your dog?"
"Yes, my lord," she answered, ducking her head shyly. "He is a sweet dog… he likes to play."
"So I see. Well, no harm was done this time. You might want to keep him under a little more control in future," the elf lord suggested.
"I will… I promise. Is that your book, my lady?" the elfling asked, as she bent to retrieve a small red volume from the ground near their feet.
"Oh… yes it is. Thank you, penneth." Looking up at the tall elf beside her, she added, "And thank you again, my lord." (young one)
The two stood awkwardly staring at each other for a moment before she murmured, "I should be going."
Nodding his head reluctantly, he agreed. "Of course. Have a good day."
Sighing, Elrond watched her go. /It would not have been right to offer to walk her home. People would notice… talk. I would not wish to cause her embarrassment. I wish I had had the presence of mind to ask her name, though/ he mused, as he watched her walk away.
The elleth slowed as she reached the main entrance to the park. As she turned right, Elrond felt another small rush of pleasure as he noted her quick glance in his direction followed by a small wave. Stopping himself just before his hand raised to return her gesture, he remembered he was standing in the middle of a path in one of the largest parks in the City. Chastising himself for being so obvious, he took a step forward, intending to return home.
A small book skittered ahead of him. Looking down, he frowned realizing he had dropped his journal. /Just what I need… someone to find all my deepest thoughts laid bear! I would be the talk of Valinor yet again/
Sighing, he stooped to retrieve the red-bound book and slowly began his lonely walk home.
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A smiling pair stepped out from behind the cover of a large hedge. The taller of the two glanced down at his companion. Grinning, he commented, "That went quite well."
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A/N --- Fangorn means Treebeard; no wonder Elrond found the idea of a playful dog being named for the gruff ent funny!
