Ch 4

Galadriel entered Celeborn's study and silently walked up behind him, sliding her arms around him and burying her face in his neck as he stared out over Caras Galadhon.

She could feel him smile as he spoke, "To what do I owe this pleasure, meleth?"

She smiled and snuggled into him as he turned to face her, taking her into his arms, "Can I not seek respite in my husband as I fancy milord?"

He laughed and kissed her softly on the nose, "Always meleth nin but I also sense that you come with a purpose other than to distract me from my reports."

She sighed and pulled him down on the window seat, "You know me so well cormamin. The Kindi will be here by twilight, and Haldir tells me that the Queen of the Kindi is one of the Minyar."

Celeborn sat up straight and looked at her in shock. "One of the Minyar? But I thought they had all traveled to Valinor..."

Galadriel shifted positions to rebraid her husband's plait. "There were stories when I was a little girl in Valinor, that the Minyar were a group of 15 elves, not 14 like the loremasters say."

"But why would they change it? And why did not Imin correct them?"

Galadriel continued to run her fingers through his hair. "Imin did not set them straight because he was never around to. It is said that once he and Iminyë arrived they rarely left Taniquetil and after the darkening of the two trees they never left it again. As to why they changed it, I asked my grandfather once what had happened to the one that did not come to Valinor and he said it was such a painful memory that he could not bear to discuss it. So I would assume the loremasters left her out because eventually she was forgotten."

Celeborn smoothed his hair and kissed his wife, "Well perhaps we will finally come to the heart of the matter. Come, let us get ready, they will be here soon enough."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Kindi wearily made their way onwards to Caras Galadhon. Not having proper rest in several months they tired quickly. Noticing this, Haldir directed his thoughts towards the Lady, requesting horses and carts to transport those barely able to stand anymore. Haldir caught one of the younger elflings, scooping the tiny elleth into his arms as she collapsed in exhaustion. Iminselyë started at the noise as if she had almost drifted off herself.

She looked over at the elfling in Haldirs' arms and walked over to see what happened. "Here Haldir, hand her to me and I shall carry her. I do not wish to burden you more than we already have."

Haldir frowned and held the elleth securely, "Your Highness, you are not much better off than this little one. Let us rest for awhile, the Lady is sending horses and carts from the city. The healers and your supply carts can continue on ahead without us."

Iminselyë sighed and looked around to her people, "Very well Marchwarden, as you wish. We are a proud people and do not always give in as we should. It has been that way since Cuiviénen, I doubt it will ever change."

"My apologies if I have offended you, your highness, your people have endured a journey that not many have had to experience. It is not a weakness to accept help from kindred when having to endure such as this."

"You are right Haldir, forgive me, I do tend to be sharp tongued when I am this weary."

The queen advised her people of the rest and the coming relief of transportation and gave the orders for the carts to continue on. Many sighed in relieve and settled themselves at the boles of the trees, resting until the carts from the city arrived.

Haldir settled the young elleth against her mother carefully, making sure not to wake her. Now that he was free of his passenger he took the time to study the queen and her people. The Kindi looked most like their woodland kindred, dark hair and forest green eyes. There were some of the third clan among them as well with their silver starlight hair and ice blue eyes, but the most intriguing was the queen and her niece and nephew. They were very obviously Minyar with their tall stature, their honey gold tresses and bright ancient blue eyes. Now that the queen was at rest he could see the signs of her great age and the struggles she had endured. He could see the silver streaks of hair at her temples as she brushed her hair back and the fine lines of age around her eyes and mouth. He wondered if her slow movement was not entirely due to her weariness but in part to being in her third cycle.

Iminselyë relaxed as she leaned against the tree. Feeling it welcome her, she sent the tree feelings of thankfullness for its' shade and support. She marvelled at the beauty of the trees around her, smooth silvery trunks and silvery green leaves with golden blossoms. In all the yeni of her life she had never seen trees as magnificent as these. She felt the turmoil from her bond with Morwë settling as she rested and calmed herself. As she turned to ask the Marchwarden about the trees she noticed him examining her. He was clearly unaware of the fact that she had noticed.

"Did your mother never teach you it is rude to stare?" She smirked as she was rewarded with the look of an errant elfling having just been caught at some mischief.

The tips of Haldirs' ears blushed brightly at the rebuke, "Forgive me your highness." Haldir sighed in relief as he heard the approach of horses and wagons. "It sounds as if our transport has arrived, come let us organise everyone."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Erestor laid in his room feeling the different emotions flowing through him. Overall he felt extreme exhaustion but there was also relief and a deep longing tinged with sadness. He tried meditating and he tried blocking them out to no avail. They were definitely not his feelings, although, truth be told he was starting to feel a bit panicked. Who's emotions were these and why couldn't he block them out? Soon the feelings of exhaustion overcame him and he drifted off into a series of fitful dreams and memories full of darkness and despair.

Worried about his friend, Glorfindel brought dinner up to Erestor's rooms. Silently letting himself in he set down the tray and walked into Erestor's sleeping chamber. Noticing the fitful reverie Erestor was in, the golden lord shook his friend lightly to wake him. Erestor suddenly sat up screaming, swinging wildly, his fist connected with Glorfindel's jaw. Glorfindel stumbled back in shock as Erestor flew off of the bed and unseeingly stumbled and collapsed into the corner cowering.

Glorfindel approached him carefully, more worried about his friends' well being than his own personal safety. "Erestor, it is I, Glorfindel, I mean you no harm. Awake from this nightmare, you are safe and among friends. Let me help you."

Trembling, Erestor looked up at the Vanya with a dazed lost look. "Glorfindel....what is happening...my mind ...it...it is not my own.....these cannot be my memories....they are so dark..."

The golden lord felt his blood run cold at those words. Elrond had told him how they had found Erestor in the forest, with no memory of himself or anyone else, barely clinging to life. "I am going to get one of the healers mellon nin, they will be able to help you. Lay back down and I will return shortly with help."

Glorfindel helped the trembling elf back into his bed before swiftly making his way to the healer hall. Glorfindel found the master healer that was in charge while Elrond was away and escorted her back to Erestor's rooms. On the way back he summoned his assistant, "Dispatch a rider to Lorien at once, have them tell Lord Elrond he must return immediately, it concerns the Chief Counselor."

The healer examined Erestor and put him in a deep healing sleep. Glorfindel looked at his friend with worry, he seemed more pale and gaunt than he had earlier, like he hadn't slept in months. "Healer Neldaloth what has caused this? Why now has this started affecting him after thousands of years?"

The healer looked at him with concern, "It is as though all of the wounds to his feä have been reopened, he is reliving whatever torture was inflicted upon him. If we cannot help him through this or have him reach Aman in time, he will fade."

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A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long....it didn't want to be written. Thanks for all of the reviews! And as usual, not mine!