I'm sorry guys that this has taken me a while, but I've been settling back into life. I have an announcement to make: I will be putting this story on hold for the month of November, because I'll be participating in the NaNoWriMo. But fear not, after November I promise I shall come back to you all!
But during that time, I want to give you guys a challenge, along with prizes. Yaaay! Okay, so I want all of those who want to participate to listen up carefully please, and read these rules.
The challenge is to write either a one-shot, two-shot, or series of drabbles about one of these topics. 1) Music in Middle-Earth 2) a character death or 3) A humorous piece on Aragorn's time in service to King Thengel of Rohan. As a judge. What I want to see in the fic is description, emotion, and good grammar.
For those who want to join or have a question, just shoot a PM my way and I'll be sure to answer. You can make it as long as you like, or as short, it doesn't matter to me. Make sure you PM me and tell me the name of your story and the topic you chose to write on once it is posted so that I can read it, please. ;)
The prizes will go to the winner of each topic. The prize for the winner will be any small one-shot, two-shot, or Drabble that you request of me.
So, may the Valar guide your pens and muses, and have fun! Be creative!
Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favorites, and please
Read!
Enjoy!
Review!
Chapter 7
It had been another year since the three had been reborn, and they had made many improvements in that time. Their motor skills were perfected once more, they were making better decisions for themselves, and Ecthelion and Eruanna were once more perfecting their flute skills.
They had already gone through several sonatas together, including a long paean of praise to the Valar. Ecthelion had been pleased with Eruanna's skill, helping her to better herself, to her delight and enjoyment.
However, the more the days went on, and the more she remembered her life in Arda, the more she began to become anxious for the future. She was eager to move on, eager to settle herself into a new life, eager to see Erestor and Eärendil again. Of course her brother too, but she knew that he most likely wasn't back in Aman yet. It might be several hundred years before he came back, actually, knowing Elladan and Elrohir.
Even some of the Lóriennildi, the elven healers under lord Irmo, had noticed Eruanna's distinct regress in emotional stability, but were unable to draw the elfling out of her ever-growing shell. Until it finally came down to explosion point that only one elf could properly fix, who just happened to be there at the right time in the right place- if one believed in coincidence.
Eruanna was sitting in a tree that was in the gardens of the Reborn, curled into a tight ball as she attempted to remember something more of her past. The tree sang softly, more than happy to cradle the little elfling in its branches.
"My dear, do come down. It's time for art class, and you mustn't miss it." A voice called up irritably from below, and Eruanna curled up even tighter, ignoring the voice.
She didn't like Marillien. The elven healer was only five thousand and yet she was always so snobbish around the Reborn as though they were mere elflings of one without any brains. She even spoke slowly and stressed her words as though attempting to speak to a child. It was degrading and insulting. Of course, Eruanna had to admit that in many ways the Reborn were much like elflings, but not to that extent. And Marillien needn't be so haughty about it.
There was an irritated sigh. "Come. Down. There is no time for games, Eruanna." Marillien said firmly, and Eruanna felt resentment blossom inside of her. She ignored the elleth.
"Ingil. Lisselindë." Marillien called, and a mingled scent of herbs and flowers filling Eruanna's nose indicated the presence of the Maiar.
"Is there a problem, Marillien?" Ingil asked politely.
"This Reborn doesn't want to come down from the tree." Marillien's smug voice indicated that she thought herself as having the upper hand now.
Eruanna uncurled from her ball, glaring down at the glowering elleth. "I'm tired of being treated like I'm one. I'm older than you, for the Valar's sake." She hissed venomously, surprising even the Maiar with her uncharacteristic outburst. "I may be a Reborn, but that doesn't mean you have to treat me like I'm stupid and dirt! Do you know how hard it is not knowing anything about your past!? Not remembering!?"
Eruanna slid down from the tree, and they could see the tears in her eyes. "So what if I was broken beyond repair? So what if I'm just an elfling of eight thousand? So what if I was used for orc sport for more than seven thousand years? Go ahead, call me a pae-channas! Go ahead and treat me like you're so superior and have had more experience than all of us! Forget about the fact that most of us died in ways unimaginable and suffered more pain than you can dream of!" She snarled at Marillien, eyes growing dark and fraught with memories and darkness terrible beyond imagination. Then she turned away, shaking.
Marillien gaped, mouth opening and closing like a fish as her face turned red. The she turned to the Maiar. "Well? Aren't you going to do something!? She's dangerous!" She exclaimed fearfully.
Eruanna bit back a scream, falling to her knees and weeping. Dangerous. Yes, that's what she was... All because of her past, because she was a Reborn...
"Nay, child, I think that it is you that is dangerous." A new voice said calmly. Eruanna didn't look up. "Dangerous enough to be put into confinement to think over your actions and words, for they were indeed uncalled for, Marillien." The voice went on, turning frigid. Eruanna forced herself to breathe, to stay calm, to center herself.
There was a gasp, and then a moan from the elleth, and without a word, the Maiar took Marillien and led her away with no expression disclosed on their faces. But Eruanna merely sat there, trembling and mind awhirl. A hand landed gently on her shoulder.
Out of pure instinct, Eruanna immediately grabbed the hand and whirled around, holding a finger to a point on the elf's neck- and then froze. The ellon stared back, his face turning sheet white. Eruanna gasped and let go, stumbling backwards. The ellon reflexively grabbed her to keep her from falling, and she just stared, feeling the darkness in her eyes melt away.
This elf- was related to her somehow, in some way. She could feel it in his aura. It held something familiar to her, something undefinable but still there. His hair was a silvery-gold color, and his eyes were as blue as the clear skies. His face was fair and noble, and the light of the two trees shone from his eyes.
He stared back at her. "You... You look just like... My Gwador..." The elf murmured, face still white. She blinked.
"Gwador?" She asked automatically. "You.. Seem familiar..."
"Your hair. These strands- I know of only one other elf that has such golden hair..." He picked up a piece of her hair in his hands. She slowly reached up, hand pausing above his cheek.
"My brother is... Glorfindel..." She murmured almost dreamily, and Finrod gasped, stumbling to his feet and staggering backwards.
"No- no- Glorfindel had no sister..." He shook his head frantically, and Eruanna felt herself at a loss of what to do. Then there was a burst of light, and Eruanna slumped into the arms of Nàmo, who immediately began to run his hands over her, face grim.
"Irmo, bring Aulë. She's going through shock, and may slip her leash." He said curtly, and Irmo nodded, going over to the ellon and gently leading him to a chair that appeared out of nowhere.
"Drink." Irmo said, and the ellon obeyed, hands shaking. Eruanna's breathing was shallow, her eyes unfocused. She could feel herself slipping away slowly.
"My child, come back here. I have not given you leave to leave your hroä." Nàmo's voice was forbidding and brooked no argument. Eruanna felt herself unconsciously obeying, and jerked with a gasp, eyes widening as her feä grounded itself once more.
Aulë appeared, his rusty hair and amber eyes standing out in contrast to Nàmo and Irmo. "Did you call?" He asked, smiling down at the elfling who just lay there, feeling disoriented and confused.
"She was about to go into a psychic break, but thankfully I managed to bring her back." Nàmo answered, helping Eruanna into another chair. "Now then, why don't we make introductions?" He asked.
"Eruanna, this is Finrod Felagund, also known as Findárato Arafinwion and Gwador to Glorfindel. Finrod, this is Eruanna Glorfindelithel of the House of the Golden Flower, sister of your Gwador and also one of the Reborn who will be released into your care when she is released." Nàmo said calmly, motioning to each.
Eruanna stared at Finrod. "M-Mae Govannen, hîr Findárato. iEneth nîn Eruanna." She stammered, switching from Sindarin to Quenyä in her confusion.
Finrod swallowed, visibly struggling for words. "Mae Govannen... Glorfindel never mentioned a sister!" He blurted, obviously confused and disturbed. Eruanna's lips trembled at the thought of her brother, not knowing what to do.
"Perhaps, then, Eruanna should tell you what she remembers of her past." Irmo suggested softly, and the elfling looked down resignedly, beginning to tell her story almost mechanically, detached from emotion.
When she was finished, Finrod sat there, slowly coming to terms with the tale. Eruanna closed her eyes. So this was Finrod Felagund, once King of Nargothrond, the Gwador of which her Muindor had talked so much of, and the one who she was supposed to be released into the care of. And now, would he reject her?
After another moment of tense silence, she suddenly felt someone's arms wrap around her gently, drawing her into a hug.
"I can only imagine what heartache my Gwador went through when he found out, Eruanna." Finrod's voice told her gently, thick with tears. "And I can only imagine how much he loves you. I hope that you can come to think of me as your Gwador as well, for I love your brother and I know that my family would welcome you and love you." He said with such utter sincerity that Eruanna began to weep, instinctively clinging to the ellon who hugged back.
She never knew that Finrod looked up at Irmo and Nàmo with a tremulous, grateful smile, to which the two Valar had smiled in return.
"Ah, and Findárato." Irmo added almost off-handedly. Both Eruanna and Finrod looked at the Vala.
"You will also be Eruanna's counselor." Irmo added, sweeping away. Nàmo merely smiled briefly and then thought himself away in a burst of light. Eruanna looked at Finrod, who looked back with a sardonic grin.
"Well then... Would you like to tell me how you feel so we can, erm, deal with it?" Finrod asked dryly, to which Eruanna suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
"Who is your counselor, Eruanna?" Ingalaurë was asking, painstakingly etching words into his own journal. Eruanna missed hers, but she knew better than to ask for it, because she knew that it wasn't time to reread it again. She still hadn't remembered all of the events that were written about in there.
"My Gwador." She replied absently, shuffling through several sheets of music.
"What?" Ecthelion asked, sounding confused. She looked up with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. I forgot. You and I will be released into his care, otorno. He's Glorfy's Gwador, Finrod Felagund." She answered matter-of-factly, and Ecthelion gaped at her.
"Oh, I remember him. I liked him. We were Gwedyr too." Ingalaurë said absently, obviously lost in thoughts of said ellon.
"Otorno... A butterfly could fly into your mouth." Eruanna grinned as Ecthelion snapped his mouth closed, giving her a jaundiced look before shaking his head.
"How you manage to get into the favor of so many I don't know." He sighed.
"Because I'm an adorable elfling, unlike you, who whines too much." She snarked back with a smirk. Ecthelion glared.
"I do not." He grumbled. "You're the one who snivels."
"I do not." She sniffed.
"Do too."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Do-"
"Oh for the love of lord Nàmo you two, hush up already so I can write!" Ingalaurë threw a bottle of ink in their direction with a frustrated growl.
Eruanna, now ink-splattered, looked to Ecthelion. "You look like a raccoon." She declared solemnly. Ecthelion spluttered as Ingalaurë burst into laughter, nearly falling off of his chair as she smiled smugly.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
Eruanna held up her completed necklace with a satisfied smile. Ever since lady Vána had asked her for it, she had been making subtle changes to her design and improving it, doing her best to make it fit for a Valië, though she expected that was more than she could ever hope to achieve.
She had made it out of delicately twined strands of gold and silver, punctuated tastefully by carefully selected gems. The design itself was a pattern of alternating gold and silver, twined into the shapes of leaves and curling vines. Eruanna had borrowed her memory of the Huorns to make it as realistic as possible.
Therefore, it had been a simple piece, with each leaf bearing its own drop of aquamarine, sapphire, or emerald dew. The curls of the vines had also been periodically dotted with a small pearl or ruby.
The pattern was soothing in its design and pleasingly simple to the eye. She studied it critically, hoping that it was good enough. She had worked hard and long on it, with her whole heart, and had found to her surprise that she had very much enjoyed every minute of the work.
"Because it was done with love, child. It was made as a gift from the heart." A new voice rumbled, and Eruanna started, looking up to see lord Oromë staring down at her.
She rose and made her obeisance, and the Vala smiled and sat next to her. He had red hair and light green eyes, with a sharp, angular face that was nonetheless kindly and pleasant when she smiled. She smiled back hesitantly, then glanced down at the necklace, wondering dubiously if he thought it a fitting gift for his spouse.
"Why ever would it not be?" Oromë asked, and she blinked. Oromë chuckled at her expression.
"Child, you have been speaking your thoughts into ósanwe, though I am guessing that you were not aware of it." He answered, and she blushed sheepishly. He chuckled. "Nothing to be ashamed of, little one. Now, answer the question." He said sternly, though it was softened by a wink.
"Because- because it's... She's a Valië, more beautiful than anything I could create..." Eruanna answered hesitantly, as though she was unsure if it was a 'right' answer.
"That may be true, but gifts that come from the heart have their own beauty, and grace the wearer with their own charm because of the love and care that went into its making. If your brother had given you a painting, no matter how terrible, you would have accepted it, would you have not?" The Vala retorted, and she nodded.
"Do not disparage yourself, child. You have done the best you know how, and personally I think it beautiful in its simplicity. We Valar are much too fastidious anyway- that is, some of us." Oromë sniffed, and Eruanna couldn't help but giggle at the thought. He grinned and winked at her, ruffling her hair gently.
"There now, that's much better." He said in satisfaction. "Now, I must leave- my beloved is coming, and if she catches me..." He gave her a mock-horrified look that made her muffle her laughter as he faded away. She had barely managed to control herself when Vána appeared, smiling at her gently. The Valië raised an eyebrow.
"Is something amusing, my dear?" She asked.
Eruanna burst into muffled laughter, shaking her head, hand over her mouth. Then she thrust the necklace at the Valië, blushing as she shuffled, head down. Vána took the necklace gently, and studied it. Then she smiled at Eruanna, who peered up at her from under her eyelashes.
"Thank you, my dear, it is absolutely perfect. In fact, I know the very outfit to wear it with." Vána said in satisfaction. Eruanna smiled brightly in happiness, and Vána bent down to kiss her brow fondly.
Then she looked around before leaning into the elfling conspiratorially. "Don't listen to what my husband says. He hates it when I come home with dirt on my dress." She gave Eruanna a sarcastic look as the elfling veritably screamed in laughter, tears pouring down her cheeks as the Valië sighed exaggeratedly.
"Better not to tell tales, sister." Nàmo's amused voice broke upon their conversation.
"Says the one who used to stir up trouble by doing that exact thing." The Valië sniffed.
Nàmo sighed long-sufferingly. "I was what, several million old at the time?" He asked wearily, and Vána smirked as Eruanna shook her head.
Nàmo rolled his eyes."Off the subject, my purpose in coming here-"
"And there you go changing the subject oh so conveniently." Vána sighed, and Eruanna giggled wildly as Nàmo sent her a glare.
"As I was saying-" he punctuated the stressed word with a pointed look, "-I came to tell Eruanna that she and Ecthelion and Ingalaurë will be released soon." He said. Eruanna suddenly turned pale and refused to look at either Valar.
"You know that Finrod will take good care of you, child." Nàmo said gently, drawing a hand through her hair. She gave him a pained look.
"Yes, but..." She sighed wistfully. Vána and Nàmo exchanged looks.
"But what, dear?" Vána asked gently, kneeling next to the elfling who looked down at her trembling hands clasped in her lap.
"D-doesn't my lord want me?" She whispered, voice shaking.
Nàmo sighed. "Of course he does, child, but it's best for you if you do not go with him yet. You are not ready yet. There are things to be done before you may go to live with your lord." He said softly. "But you will see him soon, this I promise."
Eruanna looked up at him, and seeing the sincerity in his eyes, nodded gratefully, seeming to be somewhat mollified.
"Yes, Atto." She sighed, albeit reluctantly. Then she looked up at him despondently, and in reply Nàmo drew her into his arms where she buried her face, struggling not to weep.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
Finrod sat in the room where his family was gathered, his arm around his wife Amarië and only half listening to the evening chatter of the family. He swept his eyes around the room and smiled wistfully, knowing that it only needed Sador and Glorfindel to truly complete the otherwise perfect picture.
Which led him to the object of this train of thought. Eruanna. Even after several months, he still could barely believe that Glorfindel had a sister, and was rightfully grieved for the sake of his gwador. However, as a Reborn, he also knew that Eruanna was happy to have her new chance at life and be as innocent as she could.
Finrod could feel his heart clench at the thought of what the elfling had gone through. If he, her mere gwador, felt such pain, he could only imagine what Glorfindel must have felt, knowing that he hadn't even known. Knowing Glorfindel, Finrod knew that the ellon would have stormed the very gates of Melkor's domain itself had he known that someone he loved was there. To think that such an innocent child should have suffered for the stubbornness of his cousin Turúcano-
"Findárato? Beloved? What's wrong? You're crying!" Amarië's concerned voice brought him out of his musings, and Finrod started, noticing for the first time the wetness on his cheeks.
He turned to his sister and brother-in-law, face contorted. "Please- tell me- what was Glorfindel like when he found out? What did he think of her? What he must have gone through, knowing what she had been forced to suffer, and knowing that he- for Eru's sake!- didn't know!" He pleaded, tears running down his cheeks as he buried his face into his hands.
"Damn the foolishness and pride of Turúcano!" He snarled, looking at nothing in particular with his face twisted in righteous rage. Then he sighed, turning back to them, the rage gone and instead only weariness left. Galadriel sighed, Celeborn's arm tightening around her. Arafinwë and Eärwen looked concerned, while Amarië wiped her beloved's face, not knowing what else to do.
"He was... heart-broken at first, and then enraged. I think- well, let's say that he's not going to be very happy when he gets here, and neither are the Valar." Galadriel looked for a moment as though she would shudder, before pressing her lips into a thin line. Then she looked at Finrod, who stared back with a thin smile.
"Don't think I won't join him." Was his only cold answer.
Galadriel merely raised an eyebrow. "He is very... possessive of her. Had it not been for her utter brokenness, she never would have come here without him." She shook her head.
"He was ever open and frank with her. There was nothing he didn't tell her, and she was the only one who could truly calm and control him. Even Elrond often would be forced to ask her for help if he ever became... restless." Celeborn gave Finrod a wry look, to which he snorted.
"Makes sense." He admitted. "And yet-" he gave them a discerning look. "There's more to her than that, isn't there? Besides what she is to the Valar." He said dryly.
"You have much in common, but that is something you may want to wait for her to confide in you before attempting to find out. Let's just say that its a... well, the reason she went to Mandos in the first place." Galadriel answered vaguely, and Finrod shot her a sharp look.
"Oh?" Was his only thoughtful answer, and Galadriel smiled.
"Something you care to share?" Arafinwë asked dryly, speaking for the first time, and Finrod gave his parents an apologetic look.
"My apologies, Ammë, Atto, Amarië." He gave his wife a comforting kiss. "It's just that this Reborn I have been counseling lately is one of the ones that we will be taking in." He shook his head. "I will leave it to you to figure out why Glorfindel would be so pleased to hear that we have taken her in." He gave them a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"After all, she is quite the tool of the Valar, hmm?" He asked rhetorically, his smile turning sour.
"From what I hear, she was- is- rather amenable to the idea, Muindor." Galadriel offered, though her mild tone didn't fool him. He smirked.
"That doesn't mean I am rather amenable to the Valar's manipulation now, is it?" He retorted, and Galadriel sighed.
"Don't be foolish and come to hasty conclusions, Findárato." Was her only reply, and he gave her a warm smile this time.
"Now, when have I ever done that?" He asked with a wink towards Celeborn, who snorted good-naturedly as they laughed.
Arafinwë and Eärwen and Amarië, in the meantime, were left to wonder at the conversation and make speculations as to exactly who this mysterious Reborn might be, who was so dear to the heart of their son and brother Glorfindel.