Disclaimer: For full disclaimer, please see chapter 1.
A/N:
Ah, it's so nice to be back. I had really missed the whole writing-posting-being
happy about reviews routine... •g•
Thank you all SO MUCH for your very nice reviews. It's nice to hear that so many
of you have been looking forward to this story. I told Aragorn and Legolas about
it, and they did NOT understand. •g•
I wonder why? •innocent smile•
It's very kind of you to sympathise with poor Elvynd and Isál. Isál might
have been slightly impolite, but the poor elf was in shock. It's only
understandable, isn't it? •evil grin•
And you're right, of course, our intrepid heroes aren't TOO thrilled about
getting back home. They might be on to something though, since Elrond most
definitely is NOT a happy camper right about now. Then again, can you blame him
after all that's happened? I can't, but then again, I'm evil, or at least my
alter ego is. •g•
I've been asked a few times now whether I was planning a story in Lothlórien. I
have to regretfully inform you that I am not, however. For one, I am seriously
damaged by the movie versions of Haldir and Celeborn and could probably not even
begin to do their characters justice with THOSE imagines floating around in my
head, but the more pressing reason is that ... well, at least Legolas just
didn't go there.
You'll remember that, in FotR, he said that "...It is long since any of my own
folk journeyed hither back to the land whence we wandered in ages long ago (...)
but we hear that Lothlórien is not yet deserted..."(The Fellowship of the Ring,
Book Two, Chapter 6: Lothlórien). It is debatable how much time "long ago" is
for an elf, but I doubt that Legolas would consider 65 years a long amount of
time.
So, that's my interpretation of that sentence and several others that can be
found in FotR, Book 2, Chapters 6/7, and therefore I won't write a story with
both of them in Lothlórien. I'm a little weird with timelines and canon and all
that, don't tell me. •sheepish smile•
If you can think of a passage that contradicts my assumptions, please don't
hesitate to send me an email and let me know. It's been some time since I've
read FotR, and I therefore might remember it all wrong. Thanks.
•g•
Alright, enough of that! Chapter 2 is ready and waiting for you, and I
assume that these things are of only remote interest to most of you.
•g• So, what do we have ...
a VERY displeased and annoyed elf lord, a little bit more foreboding, a pair of
nervous elven twins, an even more nervous ranger, a gloomy reborn elf, and an
elven prince whose attempts to lighten the mood are quite in vain. Just a big,
happy family, eh? •g•
Have fun and review, please!
Chapter 2
Ten paces. Turn left. Twelve paces. Turn left. Four paces. Avoid the desk. Avoid the armchairs. Three more paces. Turn left again. Avoid the bookshelves. Stop at the picture window to look down on the dark valley. Scowl at the darkening valley. Turn left.
Elrond shook his head, therefore interrupting his internal monologue. He could remember few times when he had felt so anxious. In fact, he was rather certain that he had felt this particular kind of anxiety only four times before: During the twins' birth, during Arwen's birth, when a ten-year-old Aragorn had caught a mysterious disease and had almost died, and during the approximately three and a half seconds after he had proposed to Celebrían.
He smiled at the last memory, some of his unease slowly disappearing. Never before in his whole life had three and a half seconds appeared so long – to him they had appeared longer than it had taken Turgon to build Gondolin.
During the few seconds between his falling silent after stammering his marriage proposal to a rather confused-looking Celebrían (he had needed about ten minutes to form a coherent sentence) and her taking him by the ears and kissing him he had been firmly convinced that she would either start laughing uproariously or would order her father's guards to dismember him. Up to this day, more than 2800 years later, he was positively astounded that Galadriel's and Celeborn's beautiful daughter had actually married him, and for the first few centuries of their married life he had in fact sometimes awoken in the night, afraid that it had all been a dream.
These memories from happier days had served to pacify his anxiety and dark mood slightly, something Elrond was by no means willing to accept. He had worked hard to get into this kind of mood, after all – something that was not easy for a calm and tranquil elf like him – and he was highly unwilling to allow anything to interfere with that. Not even a memory of his long-departed wife.
With a determined nod he turned away from the window and the swiftly setting sun and took up his pacing again, trying hard to remember all the reasons why he had been so upset in the first place. There were a lot of them, and reciting them in his head took quite a bit longer than he would have thought.
Aragorn had left Lord Thranduil's palace – no, he had stolenout of the palace like a common thief. Avoid the bookshelf. The twins and Glorfindel – Glorfindel! – had done the same, with the help of young Celylith. Young Celylith should have known better. Aragorn should have known better, the twins should have known better, and Glorfindel should definitely have known better. Avoid the candlestick. Turn left.
The dark haired elf felt how the mixture of fear, rage, worry and indignation once again began to rise and grow inside of him. That hadn't been enough for his sons and best friend, no. Because disregarding the laws of hospitality and all but openly insulting King Thranduil hadn't been enough, the four of them had nearly got themselves killed – and from what he had heard, several times each. They hadn't been home for New Year's Day. Avoid the armchair. They had behaved reckless, stupid, rash, thoughtless, careless and a thousand things in between. He had spent days worrying himself half to death after he had received Lord Thranduil's letter explaining what had happened. They could have been maimed, they could have been killed, they could have…
The Lord of Rivendell narrowed his eyes and wheeled around, to the left and into the direction of the desk and the picture window behind it. Unfortunately he had underestimated the distance that still lay between himself and the wooden desk, and so not even his quick reflexes could prevent him from colliding with one of the desk's carved feet.
Sharp pain shot up his leg, and a vicious curse escaped him before he even knew that he had opened his mouth. For a moment Elrond was sorely tempted to grab his injured foot and hop around on one leg like a stork, but before he could make up his mind about it a voice cut through his silent study that made him very glad that he had resisted that urge.
"Cursing like that is unbecoming an elf lord, my friend. And so is pacing, I believe."
For a few moments Elrond felt another very vivid urge, namely to take up the large, unusually coloured rock he used as a paperweight and throw it at the elf who had so smugly interrupted his pacing. One of his hands was already moving to grab the large stone when a part of his mind reminded him of the fact that throwing rocks at other elves was most likely also unbecoming an elf lord, and so he ignored that impulse and turned around, inwardly still cursing darkly.
The relief he felt at having resisted the temptation grew even more when he saw who the other elf was. Erestor could be annoying sometimes, but he really didn't want to know what the rest of Rivendell's population would say if he actually threw a rock at his chief advisor.
"How very perceptive of you, my Lord Erestor," the half-elf ground out between still gritted teeth. "Mocking another lord, however, is also unbecoming an elf lord, I believe."
"Not according to Glorfindel's rules, my lord," the dark haired advisor pointed out calmly. "He may be a nuisance, but he isn't stupid enough to create rules which he does not intend to follow himself. 'If there is ample reason for mocking a fellow lord, do so to your heart's content.'" Erestor's forehead creased in thought for a moment. "That was Rule 38, I believe."
"You know them by heart?" Elrond asked incredulously while he leaned back against his desk to take some weight off his still smarting foot. "Not even Glorfindel knows them by heart!"
"There is a very old saying, my friend," Erestor smiled. "'Know thy enemy.'"
"Sometimes I wonder about you two. I really do," Elrond shook his head in amusement. "If I didn't know better, I would think that the two of you would love to kill each other."
"We would," the dark haired elf nodded calmly.
"You can try to tell that to someone who doesn't know you as well as I do," the other elf said with a small smile. "You are friends, and would do all you can to protect each other."
"Oh yes," Erestor retorted ironically. "I would risk my best quill in his defence."
"What about ink?"
"I would have to think about that carefully," the advisor frowned as if in deep thought. "I would sacrifice most of them, but the dark blue one I got from Lothlórien … no, I wouldn't risk that one. Not even for Glorfindel."
"Good ink is hard to come by," Elrond nodded calmly.
"Indeed. Especially the dark blue variety."
"But we digress, my friend," Elrond reminded the other elf with a small frown. "I assume you came here for a reason?"
"Yes, of course, my lord," Erestor retorted, appearing rather surprised that someone would think that he would do anything without having a good reason for it. "The sentries stationed at the entrances to the valley have sent word. A group of riders is approaching, among them your sons and Lord Glorfindel. They will be here soon."
"I know," the half-elven lord nodded, his eyes looking strangely vacant, as if he was looking at something only he could see.
Erestor didn't say anything but merely inclined his head ever so slightly, more than accustomed to his lord's smaller or even bigger premonitions. If Elrond told you something would happen, it usually did, too. Erestor was a scholar, a person who trusted the written word and solid facts more than some half-baked feelings, but if his lord and friend told him Sauron had seen the error of his ways and wanted to open a flower shop, he wouldn't laugh. He would get a mallorn-seedling as a Welcome-to-the-good-side-present.
"They are all alright then?"
"Oh yes," Elrond nodded tensely. "They are just fine. But they won't be for long. Just wait until I get my hands on them."
"I'm not sure if 'You are not allowed to kill your heirs without a very good reason' is in fact one of Glorfindel's Things-a-proper-elf-lord-does-and-does-not-do-rules, but I am sure that it ought to be."
"'Without a very good reason'?" the dark haired elf lord repeated incredulously. "Without a very good reason? I would start reciting all the extremely good reasons I have for wanting to kill them if it wouldn't take more time than I can spare in this century!"
"Surely you exaggerate, my lord," Erestor tried to calm his so unusually agitated friend. "You must also consider that…"
"Exaggerate? Me?" Elrond arched an eyebrow in such an incredulous way that it impressed even his chief advisor. "I do not exaggerate, Erestor! I never exaggerate! I haven't exaggerated this past age!"
"Now you exaggerate."
If looks had possessed the power to kill, Erestor would have dropped dead right then and there. The dark haired elf carefully averted his eyes and stopped himself from actually checking whether or not Elrond's fiery glare had burnt a third eye socket into his forehead. Sometimes the intensity of his friend's look took even him by surprise, and he had known him for a long, long time.
"What I was trying to say, my lord," Erestor said as calmly as an elf being speared by the look could, "that there are always at least two sides to a story. You know as well as I do that your sons did what they did to save their friend. Glorfindel would never have allowed them to leave the palace unless they'd had a very, very good reason and no other choice."
"Are you trying to justify their behaviour?" Elrond asked with narrowed eyes. "They could have died! All of them! Have you read Lord Thranduil's letter, my Lord Erestor? Do you know how narrowly they escaped torment and death? Do you know how incredibly lucky they were? If the Valar hadn't shown so much mercy and kindness, my sons and friend would be dead now, along with the Prince of Mirkwood! I don't know about you, but I think that is good enough a reason to want to kill them!"
"Mellon nín," Erestor shook his head with a small smile, "You are trying to convince yourself of that fact, not me. You know that they didn't do it out of wilful disobedience. They did it to save Prince Legolas, who is dear to them like a brother and dear to you like a son. If they had stayed in Mirkwood, they would most likely never have found the prince, and he would be dead now. They helped the citizens of a town to free their home and have perhaps even prevented a war that would have engulfed all of us, but what is more important is that they saved hundreds of lives. Even if they hadn't and it would have been only Prince Legolas' life at stake, it would have been worth it. Every single life is worth it, my friend."
Elrond's look became even darker.
"Whose side are you on anyway?!"
Erestor merely looked at the other elf with a small smile on his lips, and finally Elrond bowed his head minutely.
"You are right of course, my friend," he told the dark haired advisor. "I know they did it only to save Prince Legolas, it's just that…"
"You were worried. I know," Erestor nodded. "Everybody in Imladris knows. I swear that at night one could hear your pacing for miles."
"I cannot stand it," the half-elf admitted softly. "I thought I had got used to my sons risking their lives, especially after … after their mother journeyed to the havens, but now I see that I have been deceiving myself. I cannot sit idly by while they are endangering themselves! Since Estel's arrival twenty years ago it has become even harder. With the twins I know that their elven blood aids them, but Aragorn … he does not have that advantage. His Númenórean blood is but a small comfort. Too small a comfort. Much too small."
"You cannot protect your children forever, my lord," Erestor shook his head sadly. "No matter whether they are of the Firstborn race or not. They are adults and make their own decisions, as it is their right."
"That doesn't matter," the other elf shook his head as well. "They will always be my children, even a hundred or a thousand years from now. I don't want to lose them, Erestor."
"To keep them here forever is no answer, my friend. To force them to stay here or anywhere where they are protected at all times would ensure that you do lose them as certainly as if you drove a knife through their hearts. You cannot treat them like the children they are not."
"No, I cannot," Elrond admitted softly. "I know that I cannot, and that makes everything even worse. Yet I have to admit that the thought of sending them to Lórien to their grandmother so that she can confine them to a talan has never before sounded so tempting."
"That wouldn't be very fair to the Lord and the Lady," Erestor smiled thinly. "I believe that after a decade or so they would pack their belongings and leave for the Havens on the fastest horses they can find."
"You might be right there, my friend, you might be right," Elrond smiled as well, a little hesitantly. "Celebrían would never forgive me if I allowed our offspring to drive her parents to the Havens. So that is unfortunately not an option."
"You could also drug them senseless and keep them like that for a few years," Erestor offered earnestly. "That should keep them out of trouble for a while."
Elrond shot his dark haired advisor a questioning look that was met by a completely unaffected, emotionless stare. Not even after all these millennia he was able to tell with absolute certainty when Erestor was joking and when he was not. Then again, considering that Erestor seldom joked in public or showed any other signs of open amusement, he was most likely serious, which was seriously disconcerting now that he thought about it.
"An … interesting proposal," Elrond nodded calmly, as if he was indeed entertaining such ideas. "I don't believe I have enough ingredients for sleeping potions, however. Besides, I would have to force-feed them. They know from experience not to eat or drink anything I offer them in such a situation."
"Highly unfortunate," the other elf nodded. "We will have to think about that sometime. We cannot allow children like them to outsmart us, after all." He paused for a moment. "Speaking of outsmarting people: The situation to the south…"
"Yes," the Lord of Rivendell nodded, immediately concentrating on the matter that had been raised. "Do you still believe that we should send a delegation to look into the circumstances there?"
"I do, my lord," Erestor inclined his head without hesitation. "Everything is about to get out of hand there. I know that it is not something that concerns us directly, but…"
"Yes," Elrond nodded. "Things could go ill, and we need someone to determine what exactly is going on there. The reports one hears range from unlikely to ludicrous."
"I agree," the dark haired advisor agreed quietly. "I think it would be best if you raised this issue during the next council meeting and…"
Erestor never got to finish the sentence because a faint noise could be heard in the distance, sounding remotely like a horde of shouting orcs. After a few moments, however, the two elves realised that it was in fact not orcs or anything of the like, but rather a lot of voices raised in greeting. In the beginning it was rather faint, but it rose quickly until it was so clearly audible that you didn't even need elven ears to hear it.
Without sparing Erestor a single glance Elrond turned back to the window and took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the valley below him. From where he was standing he could clearly survey the path leading up to gates of Rivendell. There were quite a few elves crowding the road at the moment, even it wasn't nearly as many as yesterday. That was something that was by no means unusual, of course. The valley of Imladris itself was a safe haven, and all of its inhabitants were welcome and free to wander through it at leisure.
What was unusual, however, was the fact that the assembled elves crowded around seven horses that looked torn between long-sufferance and annoyance. The riders stopped for a few seconds to talk to the guards and the other elves who were surrounding them before they rode on and disappeared through the gates. The elves who had been crowding around them followed them into the main courtyard while the guards remained at their posts, the bright smiles on their faces easily visible even from here.
"They are here," Erestor's voice stated softly next to the half-elven lord, who in turn did his best not to jump in surprise. He truly hadn't heard the other elf step next to him, so busy had he been thanking Ilúvatar and all the Valar for protecting his sons and the others.
"It would appear so," Elrond nodded as calmly as he could, which was in truth not very calmly. He felt like jumping up and down with joy or alternatively running down the stairs to strangle his wayward children and most decidedly not like speaking calmly to another person.
Erestor looked fondly at his longtime friend, a small, quickly hidden smile flittering over his face.
"Why don't you go and greet them, my lord?"
Elrond turned to look his dark haired advisor in the eye, to equal parts hesitant and amused.
"Is that your official advice, my Lord Erestor?"
The smile the councillor had been trying to hide made a reappearance as Erestor smiled openly at his half-elven friend.
"Yes, my lord. It is."
There was not much he could retort to this, and so Elrond went to greet his sons and their companions.
Never before had he felt such sympathy with a mouse
which was
being cornered by a cat, Elrohir decided matter-of-factly. Or a deer being
cornered by a pack
of wolves. Or a rabbit being cornered by a fox, or…
Before his mind could come up with even
more depressing
comparisons, the dark haired twin forced his thoughts away from
that topic. 'Think of
something else,' he told himself firmly. 'Think of the way the mellyrn
glow in the moonlight whenever you visit Lórien.
Think of the sound of
the waterfalls beneath
your windows.
Don't think of the colour ada's face will assume when
you'll tell him what you've done, or the way he will arch his eyebrows, or…'
With an inward snort of disgust the elf admitted defeat. The
chances of him taking his mind off the present situation were as slim as the
chances of a dwarf walking past a pile of mithril. Then again, he asked himself
reasonably, what had he expected? They were riding up to the gates of Rivendell
and were only about a hundred or a hundred and fifty yards away from them, so how could he be anything but a nervous wreck?
The younger twin shot a quick look at his brothers who were
riding next to him, stiff as statues and looking quite a bit like delinquents on
their way to be executed – a comparison that wasn't even that far from the truth
now that he thought about it. He was rather sure that he hadn't seen Elladan so
stony-faced for … well, at least half a yén. Elladan might be prone
to flying into sudden fits of fury, but when his twin was truly anxious about and/or afraid of something, he didn't get
loud. He got so quiet and withdrawn that he could actually give a marble statue
a run for its money.
Aragorn, on the other hand, was quite another story. The
young man was much
paler than it was his wont, and
his eyes were darting from left to right
in a way that reminded the elf disconcertingly
of a cornered animal. Elrohir was sure that, with time and experience, the man
would learn to hide things even from those who
knew him well, but right now he could read him like an open
book, especially when he was worried about something. And at the moment
Estel was extremely
worried about their father's reaction, or at least so it would appear.
Not that he could blame his human brother, the younger twin
thought glumly. Even though he had to admit that Legolas was most likely right
and that he wouldn't kill them – at least not immediately, a wry voice inside
his head whispered softly – he himself was not exactly ecstatic with joy upon
returning to their father with the tale of their deeds either.
Elrohir's musings continued like this for quite some time, or
rather for exactly as long as it took them to reach the gates leading to the
main courtyard of Rivendell. He had been so concentrated on his inner monologue
that he hadn't even realised that there was a quite a large group of elves
waiting for them – something that shouldn't really have surprised him.
The sentries guarding the entrances to the valley would have sent word of their
imminent arrival, and if there was one thing he had learnt a long time ago, it
was that news travelled fast in Imladris.
With self-restraint and control he didn't even know he
possessed he put all other thoughts out of his mind and greeted the elves
crowding around their horses. He was, after all, truly glad to be back home, and
seldom had he been so happy to see his friends. Even the small group of healers
standing close to the right gatepost received one of his brighter smiles, which
was a rather obvious proof for his happiness – and besides, it had
never hurt
anyone to be polite to those you considered your adversaries, if not your mortal
enemies.
A lot sooner than he had thought possible they had crossed
the gates and had entered the courtyard. As soon as he left the dark, wooden
gates behind that were still decorated with wreaths of spring flowers Elrohir
felt how all the troubles and worries that had been preying on his mind lessened
and seemed to fall away. No matter how often this happened it never ceased to
astonish him, and now as always he closed his eyes and allowed the peace that
always seemed to lie over his home to wash over his senses.
He didn't really know if it was his father's power or not,
but entering Imladris always felt like entering a safe haven after having had to
weather a bad storm. Peace and calm seemed to envelop all those who crossed the
threshold of the Last Homely House, and even though it was a different kind of
peace than the tranquillity that filled his grandparents' realm, it was at least
as welcome and soothing to him, if not more so.
With a small smile adorning his face, Elrohir finally opened his eyes, deciding
that he didn't care in the slightest if their father really did kill him. If he
died here, surrounded by the comfort and beauty of his home, he would die a
happy elf. Strangely comforted by that rather morbid thought, he followed
Glorfindel and Elvynd over to the stables, all the while trying to answer as
many of the questions that were shouted at him
as he could.
It took him quite some time to persuade the elves around him
to make some room
so that he could actually dismount, but finally he managed to
do so. He was quite sure that he had trodden on the toes of at least five elves
by the time he managed to get off his horse and make his way over to the open
stable doors. Nobody really seemed to mind, however, something that was a rather
good sign. If the inhabitants of Rivendell were so decidedly happy to see them,
there was the rather realistic chance that their father would be equally
relieved.
A few minutes and a lot of shoving his way through the still
excited crowd later, Elrohir had managed to deliver
his rather
annoyed horse into the hands of a groom
and had pushed through the elves
surrounding him. He trod on another pair of feet and inadvertently rammed his
elbow into the ribs of an unseen person before he managed to make his way over
to Glorfindel and the others, all of whom looked quite a bit overwhelmed by the
attention their arrival was creating.
"Is this a good sign or a bad sign?" he heard Legolas ask,
one of the wood-elf's eyebrows arched high in something that was either
amusement or faint worry.
"This?" Aragorn asked and made a small motion with one of his
hands. "A good sign. Well, that's what I think, anyway."
"It is a good sign," Elladan nodded emphatically. "I am sure
it is. What do you think, Glorfindel?"
The golden haired elf raised an eyebrow in obvious amusement.
"I think I will leave you to your delusions, young ones,
while I compose my last will."
"For a person who has survived his own death you are
depressingly negative," Elrohir commented darkly.
"You call it negative, Elrohir. I, however, call it
realistic," Glorfindel shrugged with a small grin, the last rays of the setting
sun making his hair gleam like spun gold. Before the younger twin could retort
something, the elf lord turned to the two young captains who had
escorted them here. "Thank you for your assistance, Captains. It is greatly
appreciated."
Elvynd smiled and nodded, giving them a small bow. When the
dark haired captain realised that Isál was doing nothing of that sort, he thrust
his elbow rather forcefully into his friend's ribs. Isál finally wrenched his
eyes away from the gates and mimicked his friend's actions, a slightly
distracted expression on his face.
"It was our pleasure, my lords," Elvynd answered for the two
of them while he shot his friend a
dark look that would have made their lord
proud. "You will be joining us on
patrol soon then, my Lord Glorfindel?"
"Aye," the elf lord nodded with a small smile, "As soon as I
have … conferred with our lord."
Elvynd bit back a wry grin and bowed his head once more. He
didn't need to be told what Lord Glorfindel was really thinking: If Lord Elrond
didn't cut him into pieces or fed him to a pack of starving wolves. The chances
for that were rather good, by the way.
"I see," he nodded seriously. "We will be seeing you then, my
lords."
Before one of others
could retort something, Elvynd
had turned on his heel and had grabbed Isál's arm, insistently tugging on it. In
a matter of half a second the two captains had disappeared in the crowd,
leaving behind four elves and a man in various states of amusement and
confusion.
"You know," Elladan commented thoughtfully, "I almost had the
feeling that they were trying to get away from us as quickly as possible."
"You know the saying about the rats abandoning the sinking
ship?" Aragorn retorted wryly.
"Don't say something like that!" Elrohir
admonished his human brother while they walked – or rather were pushed – over to
the steps leading up to the front door of the main house.
"Say something like what?" a musical voice asked, and the
five of them came to a sudden stop. After a second the voice's owner became
apparent: To the left of the front door stood a lithe elf with fair hair who was
smiling brightly at them. "Or is it a secret?"
"Lindir!" Elrohir exclaimed and moved forward to clasp the
other's forearm. "It is good to see you, my friend!"
"And you, Elrohir," the fair haired elf retorted with a smile
while he returned the handshake, his eyes darting over their dust-covered
figures before they widened slightly when they came to rest on Legolas. "All of
you. I thank Ilúvatar and the Valar for your quick and safe return."
"Thank you, mellon nín," Elladan nodded. "Are
you here to greet us or to warn us?"
"Probably a little of both," Lindir admitted wryly.
"Your positive attitude is overwhelming," Aragorn said
dourly.
"Thank you, Estel," the elf smiled sweetly. He gave all of
them what he probably thought to be an encouraging smile and nodded into the
direction of the doors. "Go on, my lords. Lord Elrond is waiting for you
inside."
"He is?" Elladan asked weakly.
"He is," Lindir nodded laconically. "Go already. And after
you have greeted him, you must come and tell me everything that has happened to
you! I am composing a new ballad to greet the
new year and could use a
little inspiration."
"Let me tell you one thing, Lindir," Glorfindel told the fair
haired elf seriously. "Unless you are planning to make
your audience run
away
screaming in terror, you don't want to know."
The other elf failed to look properly impressed.
"I think I will take my chances, my lord. If nothing else, I
am sure that it will be highly entertaining! I even have a title for it: Glaer
Alidhor. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
"The Lay of Recklessness?" Legolas asked, suppressing a huge
grin. "How ... inspiring."
"If you do that, Lindir, we will have to do something
childish and painful to you," Elrohir warned the fair haired elf. "We would hate
to do it, but we would."
"We will see," Lindir smiled, unaffected by that threat.
"Quit stalling and go, my lords. I await your account of the events with
anticipation."
Aragorn shot the fair haired elf a dark look but took a deep
breath and nodded.
"You are right, Lindir." He turned to the other elves. "Let
us go then. I am sure that standing here all evening won't change anything – at
least not for the better."
"Very well," Elladan nodded as well and gave Lindir an
exaggerated bow. "Farewell then, mellon nín. Do us one last favour
and say something nice about us when you write
our epitaph, will you?"
"Of course, my lord," Lindir all but grinned. "I will try to
come up with something. I am sure there are some people who can still remember
your earliest days."
The twins glared at the fair haired elf, but before they
could say
something, Aragorn had grabbed both their arms and dragged them
forward over the threshold of their home. Now it was Aragorn who was being
glared at, which was something that didn't impress the young ranger in the
slightest. Glorfindel and Legolas traded amused looks while the three brothers
glared at each other (none of them seemed to be very affected by the others'
looks), but all thoughts of amusement or merriment faded from their minds when
their eyes had adjusted to the dim half-darkness of the house. It was still too
early for candles or torches to be lit, and so it took even the elves some time
until they could see their surroundings clearly.
Eventually their eyes did adjust, however,
and
they could fully
appreciate the sight in front of them. The entrance hall was empty as far as
they could see, and the shadows of the candlesticks and carved pillars cast
strange shadows onto the tiles of the floor. It was a little strange that the
hall was devoid of all other elves who were usually filling this hall as well as
the rest of the house, but they were most likely either discreet or wise enough
to keep away from here today.
A sense of peace and a certain serenity filled the light,
airy space, and
if their eyes hadn't been so keen, they could have thought that
the figure standing at the bottom of the stairs whcih
led
up to the upper levels
of the house was a statue, a
part of the decorations that attributed to the
tranquil interior. As things were, however, they could all see that the person
standing there was in fact not a statue. The dark robes the elf was wearing
rustled with every soft breath he took, but that was about the only sign that
indicated that he was in fact alive. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly on the
front door, and absolutely no emotions could be gauged from his face.
Glorfindel gulped inwardly and did his best to melt into the
walls. This wasn't the worst case scenario, but it was rather close.
The twins and Aragorn immediately
stopped glaring at each other
and straightened slightly, uneasy smiles on their faces. Elrohir and Aragorn
looked pointedly at their older brother, who merely glared at them but in
the end
grudgingly accepted his fate. With a last dark look Elladan turned back around
to the still motionless figure in front of the stairs and gave him a bright
smile.
"Good evening, ada."
For a few moments it was silent, and just when the five of
them thought that they would receive no answer, the elf standing in front of
them cocked his head slightly to the side in either amusement or mockery.
"Good evening, Elladan."
That wasn't exactly the answer any of them had hoped for, and
the brothers traded a desperate look. This was not good.
"Well," Elrohir said finally. "We are back."
"That I can see," Elrond commented
sarcastically. "Are all of you in one piece?"
"Yes," Aragorn confirmed as merrily as he could. "We are just
fine."
"And whose definition of 'fine' would that be?" the half-elven
lord asked with a raised eyebrow. "If it is yours, my son, please forgive me for
failing to be suitably impressed."
Aragorn couldn't think of anything to retort to this, and so
he elected to remain silent, which was most likely the wisest course of action.
Elrond's eyes travelled over the shame-faced figures of his sons and Glorfindel
before they came to rest on Legolas, who was right now rather successfully
pretending to be one of the carved pillars.
"Well met, son of Thranduil," the dark haired elf inclined
his head. "I have to admit that I am somewhat … surprised to see you here."
"Well met, hîr nín," Legolas repeated and bowed
slightly in respect. "I bear greetings from King Thranduil. He sends his kindest
regards and hopes that his messages find you in good health."
"That remains to be seen," Elrond muttered softly. "Thank
you, young prince," he added in a louder tone of voice. "Of course you are
welcome to stay as long as you wish. We can send word to your home with one of
the carrier pigeons to inform your father of your safe arrival."
The fair haired prince inclined his head once more.
"Thank you, my lord. You are most kind."
Elrond only gave him a benevolent nod before he returned his
attention to the three elves and the human standing in front of him. All
of them were currently staring at the tips of their boots in fascination.
"So," he finally said. "You are back."
Four mute nods were his only answer.
"Would one of you care to explain where you have been these
past few months?"
"In Rhûn, ada," Elladan explained quickly. His
brothers, Glorfindel and even Legolas nodded fervently. "To be exact, in
Baredlen, a town in the shadow of the Ered Dhuir, one of the foothills of the
Mountains of Rhûn."
"I know," Elrond nodded calmly. "Lord Thranduil was so kind
to describe everything in his letters. In detail."
Legolas almost winced openly. That was something about which
he would have to talk with his father. Aragorn on the other hand did
wince openly. This was not good at all. He had seen his elven father in
various stages of anger or even rage, and he had prepared himself for such an
outburst. To see the elf so disconcertingly calm and composed was something that
made him far more anxious than an angry tirade ever could have.
It was silent for some more moments before Elladan finally
took a deep breath and allowed his shoulders to drop.
"Please, father, stop this." He looked up, grey eyes fixed
anxiously on the older elf's face. "Yell at us, or lecture us on our reckless
stupidity, or even have us locked in one of the cellars, but stop looking at us
like this, I beg you! If you want to punish one of us, punish me. It was all my
fault."
Before Elrond could even open his mouth, Elrohir's head had
shot up and he fixed his twin with a half-confused and half-incredulous look.
"Don't be silly, Elladan. We all know that's not true."
"Elrohir is right, my lord," Glorfindel said softly and took
a step forward. "It is not Elladan's fault. If there is someone to blame, it is
me."
"You?" Aragorn asked incredulously. "It was I who sneaked out
of the palace first! If I hadn't, you wouldn't have had to disobey King
Thranduil, wouldn't have followed me, wouldn't have got into trouble and would
certainly not have been wounded!"
"Oh yes?" Legolas asked, turning to shoot a dark look at his
human friend. "Well, it was me who got himself captured by Reran and his men, therefore prompting you to sneak out of the palace
in the first place!"
"So the blame lies with you?" Aragorn challenged.
"Certainly!"
Aragorn and also the twins were about to say more when they
were interrupted by the sound of Elrond clearing his throat. Rather startled by
the sudden interruption the five of them turned to look at him, apparently
already
having forgotten that he was even in the same room.
"Excuse me for interrupting this fascinating debate," the
half-elven lord began politely, a strange, emotional timbre in his voice. "But
you seem to be under a misconception here." He looked at the serious,
anxious faces in front of him, his eyes wandering from the twins over Aragorn to Glorfindel and Legolas. "You seem to be under the impression that I blame you
for what happened."
"Of course you do!" Elladan exclaimed, running a hand through
this long, dark tresses. "How could you not? We failed to protect them, either
of them!"
"I do not need to be protected, Elladan," Legolas said softly
next to him. "I already have Celylith to obsess over my safety; I do not need
you to do the same."
"I second that!" Aragorn nodded furiously. "Apart from
the fact
that you couldn't have protected me even if I had wanted you to, I did
not want you to! I am an adult and more than capable of looking after
myself."
His elven brothers didn't even grace that with an answer, and
Aragorn might have used even more unambiguous words to emphasise his point if Glorfindel hadn't seized this moment to speak, his blue eyes dark and troubled.
"Then what does that say about me?" he asked no one in
particular. "I failed to protect any of you. You three were almost killed, and
because of my foolishness young Celylith had most of the joints in his right arm
dislocated! And that was not all of it!"
"It was not your fault, my lord," Legolas shook his head. "He
does not blame you for anything; he has told you so more than once. You could
not have known that the person
you hoped could provide you with some information
about our captors was the one who was responsible for our capture in the first
place!"
"Couldn't I?" the golden haired elf lord frowned heavily.
"I don't know about that, young one. I definitely should have."
"Stop this! Now!" Elrond's sharp voice cut through the air.
"I don't want to hear another word about this! If one of you had actually
listened to me, you would have heard that I said that I did not
blame one of you!"
The three elves and the ranger frowned, Elrond's words
finally registering in their brains.
"You are not blaming us?" Aragorn finally asked cautiously,
as if he was afraid that he has misunderstood the dark haired elf.
"No, of course not!" his father shook his head. "I may not
agree with your methods, and I may not agree with some of your decisions, but I
know that you had good reasons for everything you have done."
The five beings in front of him were silent, appearing
totally stunned. Elrohir blinked, still not able to believe what he had heard.
"But, we … Yestarë …" the younger twin
stammered. "Lord Thranduil was very angry … Estel nearly died, and so did
Legolas, and…"
Elrond shook his head and smiled, a bright smile that seemed
to light up the entire room. He took a step forward and reached out to cup his
son's face with one of his hands, the smile on his face even growing.
"Do you really believe that I would
value courtesy and good manners
over your lives, Elrohir? Do you really believe that I would blame you for
wishing to save your friend's life and that of your
brother?"
Elrohir merely stared at his father with large eyes, and so
Elladan finally asked the question that was on all their minds.
"So you are not angry with us, ada?"
"Oh, I am angry, ion nín," Elrond shook his head
amusedly. "I was so worried that I very nearly drove poor Erestor insane! Of
course I am angry! I am so angry that I can hardly pronounce the word 'angry'!"
Glorfindel smiled slightly at Elrond's words, something which
the half-elven lord ignored completely. He looked from his hesitant-looking sons
to the equally hesitant-looking wood-elf next to them before he looked at his
longtime friend.
"Just answer me one question," he added calmly.
"Anything you wish to know, my lord," the golden haired elf
answered for all of them and
bowed his head slightly.
"How do you feel, Legolas?"
The younger elf blinked, clearly
caught off guard. He
exchanged a quick look with Aragorn and the twins, who all looked about as
confused as he felt, before sudden understanding began to spread over his face.
"Alive, my lord," the elven prince answered with a small
smile. "Very much so."
"Then you did the right thing," the Lord of Rivendell said
simply. He smiled at the relieved faces of the elves and the man standing in
front of him. "Why don't we try all this again?" he asked, the smile on his face
even widening. "Welcome home, my sons. I am very glad to see you all in one
piece."
"Thank you, ada," Elladan answered with a large,
very relieved smile. "We are very glad to be back. Forgive us for worrying you
like this."
"All is forgiven, my sons," Elrond smiled softly. "You are
alive, and that is all that matters." He raised an eyebrow amusedly. "Would you
like to join me for dinner?"
"Yes, ada," Aragorn replied with a smile that
threatened to split his face in two. "We would love to."
For a few moments, they all remained where they were, staring
at each other without saying another word. Then, as if on an unheard signal, the
twins and Aragorn rushed forward, and half a second later the three younger
beings had nearly swept their father off his feet. Only a quick step backward
saved Elrond from toppling over, and even that might not have been enough if he
hadn't been standing in front of the railing to the left of the stairs.
Legolas didn't even bother to try and hide his smile as he
watched his friends rush forward to embrace their father. From where he was
standing it was almost impossible to distinguish between the four dark haired
beings, and even Aragorn's shorter and slightly wavy hair seemed to blend with
that of his father and brothers. The three elves and the man were right now
forming a tight knot, and even Legolas' sharp eyes couldn't discern who was who
with complete certainty.
"Don't you ever do something like this again!" Elrond's soft
voice cut through Legolas' thoughts. "Rhûn! Honestly!"
"It wasn't our decision," Elrohir's voice protested, sounding
slightly muffled by his father's heavy robes. "We just followed the humans."
"I know that," Elrond nodded, one of his arms wrapped around
Elladan and one around Aragorn. Elrohir had somehow managed to squeeze between
his
two brothers. "I know that! Still, I don't want any of you to set foot
there ever again! Promise me!"
"Of course, ada," the young ranger nodded and
looked up at his father. "You could promise
me whatever you wanted and I still
wouldn't go there!"
The twins nodded as well.
"The humans there are all insane," Elladan told his father
seriously. "I mean it, ada. Insane!"
Elrond laughed softly and said something, but Legolas
wasn't listening for he was slowly moving backwards, into the direction of the main
door. If there was one thing he didn't want, it was to
intrude on his friends' and their father's reunion. After taking
a few dozen steps Legolas reached the door,
turned around and all but tiptoed out of the entrance hall.
Half a second later soft footsteps heralded the arrival of
Glorfindel who now appeared in the door, looking – for
someone of over
6500 years
of age rather
remarkably so – like an elfling who was just escaping an
inattentive teacher. Without really thinking about it Legolas gently closed the
right side of door while Glorfindel closed the left, and instantly the soft
voices of the elves and the young man inside the entrance hall were further
muted so that not even elven ears could make out what they were saying.
Legolas took a few more steps forward
until he reached the railing that
encircled the space around the front door, noticing with amusement that Glorfindel remained
right
where he was, namely
in front of the closed doors. It was clear
that the golden haired elf did not intend to let anyone disturb his lords,
which was just fine with him, of course.
"So," the elven prince finally said, leaning back against the
railing, "He didn't kill you after all, did he?"
"No, he didn't," Glorfindel admitted as he leaned back as
well, against one of the doorposts. "Yet."
"I am beginning to agree with Elrohir," Legolas frowned. "You
really
are exceedingly negative."
"Realistic," Glorfindel reminded the younger elf. "I
am realistic.
Let me
give you a piece of advice, young one: Don't eat or drink anything Lord Elrond
or a healer gives you unless you want to spend the rest of your stay in a
drugged stupor."
Legolas gave Glorfindel an almost pitying look.
"I wouldn't dream about doing such a thing, my lord. This is
not my first visit, after all."
"Good," Glorfindel nodded grimly. "These peredhil
are devious."
"I had noticed, my lord."
"So I had thought, young one. So I had thought."
TBC...
mallorn (pl.: mellyrn) (S.) - one of the large golden-leaved trees of
Lothlórien
mellon nín (S.) - my friend
talan (S.) - flet, wooden platform in the trees
ada (S.) - father (daddy)
yén (pl. of yéni) (Q.) - elvish unit of time, equivalent to 144 solar years
hîr nín (S.) - my lord
Yestarë (Q.) - 'First-day' or Winter Solstice; the first day of the elven year.
On a modern calendar, it falls on the 28th of March
ion nín (S.) - my son
peredhil (pl. of peredhel) (S.) - half-elves
•sighs contentedly•
They're all back home, isn't that nice? Elrond didn't kill them after all,
something that is highly commendable if you ask me. •g•
And they're even in more or less one piece. "More or less" being the main words
here, since we'll be having a nice, long conversation between Elrond and Aragorn
next chapter. I haven't had one of those since THOM. •shakes
head• That's far too long. Anyway, said chapter should
be here in six or seven days. Sorry again for not posting sooner.
•sheepish smile• Reviews,
however, are as always greatly appreciated, loved and cherished!
Additional A/N:
Isadora2 - •grummelgrummel• Ja ja ja, ich poste ja schon. Menschenskinder, wer haette denn geglaubt, dass eine einzelne kleine Person so hartnaeckig sein kann? Ich hatte schon fast Angst, meine Emails zu checken... •g• Trotzdem muss ich mich dafuer bedanken. Nichts geht ueber ein wenig Panik, um die Gedanken zu befluegeln... •g• Den Rest vom TWIN zu reviewen ist allerdings nicht notwendig. Wenn du allerdings darauf bestehst, werde ich dich garantiert nicht davon abhalten! •g• Es ist auch schoen zu hoeren, dass dir den Anfang bis jetzt gefallen hat, auch wenn ich zugeben muss, dass ich noch nie zuvor mit einer Fussballmannschaft verglichen worden bin! Eine ... dubiose Ehre! •g• Vielen, vielen Dank fuer alle deine Emails und deine ewiglange Review, und gibt dem grossen, dunkel-mysterioesen Schotten einen Kuss von mir! Vielleicht bin ich ja zu Ostern wieder da! •g• Danke noch mal! •knuddelt•
Ellyrianna - •huggles back• Thanks! I'm glad to be back, too, and I'm sorry I didn't post on Sunday. I really wanted to, but FF-net hates me. I know: What else is new? •g• LOL, it's good that the villains look villainous! That's the whole point after all, isn't it? •g• There won't be any real torture for a few chapters though, sorry. But there will be some angst. Angst is also good, isn't it? I know, not as good as torture, but still... •g• Yeah, well, nothing I can do. My alter ego's on vacation right now. I need to wait till she gets back. •g•
CSI3 - 22nd of September, huh? Well, we can do that! No problem whatsoever! Happy Birthday to you! I hope you'll have lots of fun - I'm sure you will - and will get lots of presents. That's VERY important, after all! •g•
Kathleen LaCorneille - •wide-eyed• You're very welcome. Really. It's great to be back! You can let go of me now. Really. •forced smile• So you're already addicted, huh? Well, that was quick! Yay me! •g• You are right of course, humans heal much more slowly than elves, and Estel is, after all, a man. So don't worry, Elrond will definitely notice. He's a father AND a healer, after all - now that I think about it, it's quite a scary combination! •g• And our nice, evil, mysterious woman is not Girion's wife, of course. I don't think we've met her before. •thinks• No, I think we haven't. It's nice seeing you again, btw! •huggles•
HarryEstel - LOL, yes, they would have been a great deal safer and happier if they'd just stayed in Mirkwood. Then again, they'd probably been eaten by a spider or something like that... •g• An update a week isn't really "soon", but I hope it's not too long. Thanks a lot for the review!
CrazyLOTRfan - •extricates herself from fierce hug• Thanks ... •cough• ... nice seeing you too ... •cough• really... •g• J/k, it's really great to 'see' you again! •g• So you 'adore' Isál and Elvynd, hm? That's nice, really. I'll tell them; they'll need some cheering up, I think. They've been rather depressed lately... •evil grin• I wonder why. Well, and let's just say that the object of Isál's affection is indeed one of the two elf maidens you brought up. It shouldn't be too hard to guess which one, should it? Great you like the female villain, btw. I modelled her after my sister. •g• Yes, I AM evil.
AM - Thank you very much for all your corrections. There are things I will never be able to learn, I fear, and one of them is when to use "that" and when to use "which". Our English teacher wasn't all that specific when he explained that aspect of English grammar. Then again, I never really listened. •g• I'll try to remember them, but there are times when I know something sounds awkward but just don't know what to change. •shrugs• I always liked Latin better anyway. •g• J/K. Thanks a lot for your corrections, they are really appreciated!
LOTRFaith - •hugs back• Yes, I'm back. Late, as always. •g• And you're not the only one who is sad that Galalith died and all that. It wasn't that I WANTED to kill him, mind you ... you know, my alter ego and all that... •trails off• Ah well, I am evil. I admit it. •g• So you already hate my villain, huh? That's good! That's her job, after all, to be hated and despised! •g• And I could kill her now, but that would be boring. And far, far too easy. •evil grin•
TrinityTheSheDevil - Yeah, I, too, noticed that there weren't too many female villains out there. So I decided to do something about it - all in the name of emancipation and sexual equality and all that... •g• I really hope that you're alright; I saw some pictures on TV, and being anywhere near the Gulf of Mexiko looks like a very, very bad idead at the moment. Poor you. •huggles•
Aratfeniel - LOL, glad to see that you're enjoying this new story already. And you already know where this story is going to go and how it's going to end: In blood, doom, destruction and all that. •g• Nothing new, I know. •evil grin•
Nikara - •sheepishly• Yes, I know, I have been neglecting poor Elrond for some time now. That's why I put an Aragorn-Elrond scene into the next chapter, to appease him - and you guys. More you than him, though. •g•
Cosmic Castaway - •blushes slightly• Thank you! It's great that you're enjoying my stories, and even greater that my stories don't begin to bore you. It happens to me quite often while reading a book (or a story): I just stop caring. I've just reached the middle of the book and realise that I don't care anymore what happens to the heroes. •sighs• It's sad, really. Thanks a lot for all your kind words, and I really hope you'll be enjoying this story as well!
Silvertoekee - LOL, that's what foreshadowing is supposed to do, you know. Scare people. And characters, of course. •evil grin• And you're right, I wouldn't want to be in Isál's or Elvynd's shoes either. They're NOT very happy at the moment, no. •g• Then again, who can blame them? Not me, certainly. •g•
SadieSil - •g• Thanks! It's nice to hear that you enjoyed the last chapter; I hope you'll enjoy this one (and the rest of the story, of course •g•) as well! Thanks a lot for the review!
Galadhriel Vornionien - I'm sorry this story is addictive. Hm, no, I'm not sorry, but I'm evil. That explains it, I guess. •g• Don't worry though, I WILL post a chapter a week. Not much more I'm afraid, but definitely not less either. Scout's honour. •g• No need to get out the fire arrows. LOL, you want to start EAILF? Please, I beg you, don't let Firnsarnien hear that. She and the CLF are bad enough! It's unfortunate that you're already attached to Isál, because I have to admit that I have been thinking about ... killing him. Now I might have to reconsider... Might being the main word here. •evil grin• Ah well, we'll see. Thanks for reviewing!
Deana - Yay indeed! I missed all of you, I really did! Great to hear that you liked the first chapter, and thank you very much for all your reviews! •huggles•
Jera - Jera! So you found an Internet Café, I take it? Well done! •huggles• It's great to see you again, I really missed you - yes, and your reviews, I admit it. •g• But I know what you mean: Reading stories in an Internet Café is generally not a good idea. I had to do it for some time myself, and most of the time I received VERY odd looks indeed. •g• Hmm, you want to see more of Isál and Elvynd? That's not a problem, they're in this chapter, after all. There is a scene with Elvynd in Ch. 3, and another with Isál AND Elvynd in Ch. 4. So there are quite a few in the near future, and I can even tell you that they'll play quite a big role in this story. So there'll be quite a lot of scenes with one or both of them. Oh, and you're not the only one who can't keep up to date with our calendar. It hates me, I swear it does! I miss every single deadline or term there is, I really do! It's rather frustrating... •g• Your next words really made me blush, btw. I love Thundera Tiger, and I really can't think of a better compliment. Thanks! I am honoured, I really am. It's great 'seeing' you again, and thanks a lot for your reviews! •huggles•
Templa Otmena - •blushes• Thanks a lot! If you people are not careful, I will get delusions of grandeur, I really will! My brain will swell and my head will explode. •nods seriously• I can picture it. But then again, I AM morbid. •g• And I am not a very clever person, I am just more a language-person than a science-person. I hates Maths and Physics and Chemistry; the only thing I could stand was Biology, and even that I didn't really like. •shrugs• There are few people who can do both, at least few people that I know. And I don't think that is the reason for ff-net's strange behaviour. It's evil, it's as simple as that. Evil. It hates us. It wants us dead, or at least insane. Honestly! I'm not joking! •give ff-net suspicious look• It's evil, I tell you! EVIL!!! •g•
Grumpy - LOL, yes, to say that they'll get into trouble is a rather fair guess, I think. The title might be something of a giveaway, I think. •g• And if Elrond REALLY is clever, he would lock them up in their rooms. Unfortunately, he's far too soft-hearted. •shakes head• So it's all his fault. •g•
Noldo - Oh, don't worry, the disaster is already waiting. It's right now waiting in line, behind the catastrophe and the calamity. •g• And you're right, they're not really in one piece. Three pieces each sounds about right, I think. •evil grin• Great you approve of the female villain. Why should only males have all the fun, eh? We can be just as mean and insane as they! •g•
Tychen - Hmm, let me see. Friendship? Check. Loyalty? Check. Self-sacrifice? Check. Bravery (read: Stupidity)? Check. Angst? Definitely. Pain? Yes. Dark evil bad folks with twisted but clever plans? I guess you could say so. The greatest terror of all, 'The Cliffy': Check! So, yeah, you're right. There will be some of all that in here, don't worry. •g• And if Elvynd had any sense at all, he would leave for the Grey Havens immediately. •sighs• He's a little stupid, that one, isn't he? •g•
Radbooks - 'Your' Glorfindel, eh? And I think you're right, Glorfindel most probably isn't all that nervous. He knows that Elrond won't be really angry or anything, but I think he would feel guilty for having 'failed' to protect Elrond's sons and the others. •evil grin• There's nothing like a bit of irrational guilt to make things interesting, wouldn't you agree? It's nice to hear that you're enjoying this first chapter, thanks a lot for the review!
Elvingirl3737 - LOL, yes, you're right. I should have called it "An Ominous Beginning", not "A Small Beginning". Would have been much more appropriate. •g• Thanks a lot for your kind words, and I really hope you'll enjoy the rest of the story as well! Thank you for taking the time to review!
Alison H - Thank you, thank you! It's great to be back, I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy posting a story. •g• Almost. And you missed my sarcasm? Really? That's such a nice thing to say! My family and friend seem to be quite annoyed by it sometimes - I don't know why either. Sometimes I think they have no sense of humour. •g• You're actually printing all this? Then I really think you should pamper your printer. I have no idea how long this will be, but I have the sneaking suspicion that it will be longer than 400 pages, which is, in comparison to TWIN, not too long. Your poor, poor printer. •g• Thanks a lot for the review!
Katie - LOL, I like 'our hapless heroes'. It fits very well. •g• Thank you very much for your compliments; it's wonderful to hear that you like the way I write the characters - and Aragorn, of course. It's not him I struggle with anyway, he's always quite good. At the moment the the evil lady's seneschal is proving difficult. •glares at Salir• Just you wait, my dear. I'll figure you out sooner or later... •grimaces• I'm pathetic. I'm threatening my own characters. Hmm, let me see, more "Aragorn considers the universe"? Dear God, I write things like that? I must have missed that... •g• But I think there'll be a few contemplative scenes, if that is what you mean. •g•
Jazmin3 Firewing - I was only a few days late! Well, or a few weeks, it depends on how you see it... •sheepishly• So I guess you're right. I am a bit late. •g• And your celebration was scary. I mean it. Scary. •g• Hmm, I don't think there'll be a dragon in this one, BUT I am planning to include a smaller animal. It's usually black and can fly, too, but it usually ... flaps. Kind of. Ah, no, you didn't spell Celylith correctly, but don't worry about that. Lots of people spell him Celilyth, so I am beginning to get used to it. •g• You're right, btw, I haven't done much with orcs, which is why I am planning to include them in the next story. The thing about orcs is that they are generally stupid, and therefore don't make elaborate, evil plans. I love elaborate, evil plans. •g• And you'll find out the lady's name in Ch. 5. That's rather soon, isn't it? •innocent smile• Soon enough. •g• •DOESN'T huggle• Thanks a lot for your review, it's great to 'see' you again!
Red Tigress - •g• Great you liked the brooding. I wasn't really planning to write it, but they were all in such a foul mood that I really didn't have a choice. •shakes head• Really, I don't understand what their problem is.... •evil grin• Don't worry about the angst, btw. The next bit will be in Ch. 3, I think, and plenty more after that, so don't worry about that. I love angst. Who doesn't? •g•
Erana - Ah, yes, THAT problem. A lot of people told me about that, and I have written ff-net an email complaining about it. It's all their fault, I'm sure... •g• Then again, maybe not, but that's not something I am willing to admit. •g• I wanted to thank you again for your very nice and long emails. I wouldn't think you're a stalker, btw. I'd think you're just another really obssessed person. There are a lot of them, most of them on ff-net. •g• I hope your printer will survive this story without finally going on strike, and thanks a lot for all your wonderful feedback! •huggles•
Emiri-chan - LOL, yes, "quite cross" is as good a term as any, isn't it? Well, English really isn't my first language. That would be German, you're right, and my 'second' language would be Latin. We started with Latin at school, something I never regretted. It makes learning other languages much easier, and besides, it's easy. And quite beautiful, even though I like Ancient Greek even better. That is a seriously beautiful language. •dreamy expression• Be that as it may. I remember your story, btw, I think I've taken a look at it a few months ago while I was sitting in a horribly boring computer sciences class. It was the one about the twins being at Helm's Deep, wasn' it? Well, you know me and canon. I hated PJ for bringing the Galadhrim to the Battle of the Hornburg (especially with Haldir as their captain! Hello? That's just so wrong on so many levels! •shakes head•), and I have to admit that I don't really read AU stories. Well, mine is AU as well, at least in a way, but you know what I mean. The thing is that I have this horrible exam looming, and therefore really don't have the time to read anything. I haven't even read the last four C&S stories! It's really horrible! Anyway, I promise I'll take another look at it as soon as the exam is over. I really don't have the time now, sorry. Okay?
Crippled Raven - Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I remember such things at the most inopportune moments... Then again, most of the time I remember things like papers that were due yesterday. •shudders• Really, my memory for such things is abysmal. I hope you didn't spend too much time reading this, but it's great to hear that you're enjoying it so far. And these - • - are the substitutes for my stars. The things I was using earlier are deleted now as well. FF-net really, really hates me. No, it doesn't surprise me, but it's slightly inconvenient. •g•
Elvendancer - •g• You're right, that might be quite hard. At the moment they'd be happier if they'd be journeying to Mordor or Harad or something like that... •g• They ARE weird sometimes, aren't they? Anyway, thanks a lot for all your reviews, and I'm glad that you liked this chapter!
Snow-Glory - Hmm, yes. I think you're quite right. Elrond really IS going to kill them. At least he'll try. •g• No, j/k. You know our favourite half-elf. He's too soft-hearted for his own good. •g• Sorry about that Lothlórien thing, but I'm a little weird when it comes to canon. I'm not a big fan of the Galadhrim anyway, so it's not too hard for me not to write a story about them. What I might do, however, is having someone from Lórien visit Rivendell. But no, not Haldir. I don't like him overly much. •g• Lucky him, I guess.
Mornflower - Well, thank you! It's nice to hear that you liked this chapter, and I really hope you'll enjoy the rest of them as well! Thanks a lot for reviewing, especially if you didn't really have the time!
Amelie - Of course I remember you! You were that insane ... uhm, I mean, special girl. •innocent smile• How could I ever forget you? Besides, I love that French movie, Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Pulain, I don't know if you know it. It's wonderful. Anyway, every time I read your name, I am reminded of the movie, so how could I forget you? •g• But I totally understand, RL has priority, after all, or it should have. So don't worry about reviewing or anything like that. LOL, I could post the story in one go, of course, but you'd have to wait for .... hmmm, at least three months to read it then. I think it's better this way, huh? •g• And it's NOT my third or fourth year of posting! I posted AEFAE in January 2003, so it's been only 1 ½ years. Four years would be scary, somehow. •g•
AngelMouse5 - You're right, it's really a miracle that they didn't get injured during this journey. Miracles DO happen. Besides, I think they'd get really depressed if they were unable to go somewhere without getting into some kind of trouble. We can't have that, can we? •g• It's great that you like the beginning so far. Thank you very much for all your reviews! •huggles•
Arrina - LOL, yes, the lady is indeed evil. She's the villain, so she should be evil. It would be no fun otherwise, would it? •g• I can't allow you to kill her though, that would kind of ruin the story. Besides, it would be far too easy. •evil grin• Thanks for threatening me with death, doom and destruction. I love death threats! •g•
SeventhSpanishAngel12 - Yeah, you're right. We DO have a strong sense of doom floating around here. •sighs• I love doom. It's Elrond's favourite word, too, at least that's what my sister and I think. •g• Galadriel's is grief, though. •grimaces• Don't ask. Thanks a lot for your compliment, btw. It's nice to hear that you consider my insane little stories nice enough to review. I think I understand what you mean, though. I don't review other people's stories just to tell them how horrible they are, either. So, thanks for the review! •g•
Bailey - Glad to hear that you liked the bantering. It's supposed to be lighthearted and funny, so it's good that you laughed the whole time. •g• Don't worry about reviewing, RL DOES have priority. It's nice to know that you're enjoying it, though. •g•
LegolasGreenleafGil-Estel - There are viruses lurking somewhere on ff-net? I never had any problems like that with the site, and that means something since it has given me about every problem there is. •g• I haven't read the preview for C&S' story, but I know how annoying it can be when someone posts a story with a plot similar to yours. I don't think you have to worry though. You can give two people exactly the same facts, for example "Aragorn and Legolas go to Disneyland, get kidnapped by the Pirates of the Carribean and get nearly eaten by a purple octopus" (Hmm, that DOES sound interesting! •g•), and they'd come up with two totally different stories. And there ARE stories with female villains, didn't Siri write one like that? With the wife of a general from Harad as the villain? I think I remember something like that... So it doesn't matter. Just because you have the same elements as other people doesn't mean that it's boring or anything. •g•
Marbienl - I'm sorry to hear that ff-net is giving you trouble again. I really think it hates us, even though I really can't see why. We haven't done anything but insult it, have we? •g• As I said before, I didn't get the ecard, sorry. Must have been eaten by GMX, which doesn't really surprise me. They can be quite weird sometimes. •g• And you're right, of course. I never describe Legolas as golden haired. He isn't, poor him, that's Glorfindel. LOL, and I knew you'd notice that little sentence. Don't worry, Elrond will have a look at his reckless son, and let me tell you one thing: He isn't going to be happy. It's a good thing Teonvan is dead. •g• Estel still has Ráca, lucky him. I think Erelas was quite happy to get rid of it... •g• I think Legolas really plans to stay for a while. I think a summer or something like that isn't really long for an elf. •gives Marbienl careful look• Estel seeing ghosts, huh? I don't believe in ghosts. Do you? I mean, come on, that's ... well, HIGHLY unlikely. I mean, there is no reason not to write a story like that, just take the Army of the DeadI hated them in the movie, btw, but that's another story. So, why not? •g• Be that as it may, thanks once again for your long review! •huggles•
Claudette - •blushes• Thanks! That most certainly is a very nice compliment! •g• And you're right of course, our intrepid heroes won't be able to keep their noses out of trouble. It's their destiny or something like that. It might also be connected to the fact that my alter ego is evil. •shrugs• Anyway, thanks a lot for reviewing!
Just Jordy - Hmm, yes, I guess you could say that. The title IS a bit of a giveaway, isn't it? •g• Glorfindel will be in this story, too, even though I don't know yet how much, if you understand what I mean. I think there will be a bit more of Erestor this time. •Erestor runs off screaming• Too late, my dear, too late. •evil grin• And you know Elrond: He's really soft-hearted. He won't kill them, even though it just might be easiest for everyone involved if he did. •g•
Celebdil-Galad and Tinlaure - Well, yes, there is. How did you know? I am indeed planning to put some Erestor angst in here, something that surprises even me now that I think about it... The elf lord in question isn't very happy about it, mind you... •evil grin• And Glorfindel doesn't hate him, of course not. How could you hate Erestor? •pats his head• And I know it's Tuesday, but I always post in the evening. So I still have ... let me see ... about two or three hours till it will be 10 pm. Yay me! •g• Anyway, thanks a lot for the review! •huggles•
So, that should be everyone. Thanks so much for all your reviews, they really make my day! •g•