Sorry this took a while. I had a mild case of writer's block. I was going to make this chapter a long one, but when I got to a POV change, I decided to just go ahead and make it two shorter chapters. At least, this one's shorter. The other one might turn out longer, I don't know. Thanks again to everyone who has followed/faved/reviewed! Remember, reviews are welcome-they let me know what y'all do and don't like!
"And you are certain that this Orc is truly good?" The Lord Celeborn sat with hands neatly folded on the table before him. He gazed at Alagos and Idhren piercingly, but his eyes were thoughtful, not angry. The Lady Galadriel rested regally on a chair beside her husband.
"Yes, my lord. I have met with her twice, and she does not feel evil. I believe her fëa is true, though she still has a distance to travel before she is truly out of the shadows," said Alagos earnestly. Celeborn's eyes turned to Idhren. "And you concur?" the Elf-Lord asked of the senior guard. Idhren inclined his head. "I do, my lord."
Celeborn stood and clasped his hands behind his back. "Yet you say you have never met the Orc," he challenged. "You will accept its claim of virtue without question, on nothing but the word of an impetuous youth? And you expect others to do the same?"
Her, Alagos wanted to say. Ski is a she, not an it! But he held his tongue. Lord Celeborn's distrust dismayed him, though he had expected it. What stung far worse was his implication that Alagos could not be trusted or taken seriously because of both his youth and his nature. My perception is just as reliable as yours or Idhren's, pe-channas! He seethed to himself.
Alagos suddenly became aware of the others' silence. Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he saw that all three senior Elves were looking at him. As he nervously attempted a smile, his jaw relaxed, and he realized he had been grinding his teeth. Celeborn was staring at him sternly. Galadriel possessed her usual serene expression, while Idhren gave the young Elf an amused look. "You may also want to unclench your fists," he murmured in Alagos's ear. "Otherwise I fear the joints of your fingers may become too stiff for archery."
The young guard felt the heat rising in his face. Embarrassed by his lack of control and impassivity, he looked down at his hands as he unfurled his fingers. There were actually marks on his palms left by his fingernails.
The Lady Galadriel rose, and spoke for the first time. "The guards speak the truth, hîr vuin. I myself have known of this Orc for some time now. I have watched her in the waters of my Mirror. She has a bright soul, and it is growing ever brighter as she grows in her knowledge and compassion. Though Alagos may be young, his spiritual senses are strong, and his judgment of others is sound." Here she cast a knowing glance at Alagos, a half-smile on her lips, and her voice spoke inside his head: Generally, that is. Another wave of humiliation swept over him at the same time as a rush of gratitude filled him. His humiliation came from the fact that he had remembered that the Lady could read thoughts, and he had mentally called her husband, Celeborn the Wise, an idiot. Alagos hoped he wasn't flushing again.
"I thank you for your confidence in me, my lady," he said humbly, bowing his head. Galadriel inclined her head slightly in return. She turned to Celeborn, who was looking somewhat perturbed. "Hiril vuin," he said, "you knew of this Orc, aware it was crossing our borders, and yet said nothing to me?"
"It was not yet your time to know," replied Galadriel. "Even now, with three wise Elves bearing witness to the Orc's goodness, your heart persists in doubting her." Her tone was gentle but reproving, and a faint tint of red came into Lord Celeborn's fair cheeks. "I understand your reasoning," he conceded, "and admit I have been somewhat unwilling to believe in the possibility of a virtuous Orc." He turned to Alagos, who was still glowing with pride at Galadriel's counting him as wise. "I must offer you an apology, young Alagos. I should not have allowed your lack of years to blind me to your keen perception. Perhaps we Elves have spent too long a time hating Orcs, and find it difficult to imagine one becoming good. Geheno nin, mellon." Celeborn bowed rather stiffly to the young guard, who stood and bowed in return.
"It is well, my lord," Alagos said, graciously accepting Celeborn's apology. They stood there a minute, Alagos fidgeting uncomfortably; finally the Lord Celeborn sighed. "You may go and see if your...friend is in the glade," he said exasperatedly. The young Elf, looking immensely relieved, managed to remember his manners enough to give a quick bow and a "thank you, Lord and Lady" before leaping off the flet, foregoing the ladder-stair in favor of bounding from branch to branch.
Watching him go, Celeborn sighed again and lightly rubbed his temples. Behind him, Idhren chuckled. "The boundless energy of the young, eh? Even the immortal youth of the Eldar is but a semblance of that which is found in the early morning of life."
Galadriel nodded assent. "Well do I remember the days of my youth, spent in Valinor, when Arda was but as a child…. Do you remember, Celeborn, when first we met?" The dreamy, memory-filled look in her eyes faded as she turned her gaze to her husband, to be replaced by sparkling mirth. Celeborn was still massaging his temples with his eyes closed, looking disgruntled. The Lady gave a light, musical laugh and put her arm around his shoulders. "Long have been your days, my love, and still you are of the mind that all young Elves should be possessed of greater wisdom than they are of energy!"
Celeborn finally opened his eyes. "Elves, yes," he muttered. "That one is more belike the offspring of Men. He has no control! Why ever did we agree to Haldir's making him a guard?"
"Because he is a good guard," soothed Galadriel. "Remember, not all Elves possess the gravity of one who has lived through Ages. Let Alagos savor the joy and freedom of youth, for it will pass all too soon. With experience is also gained sadness, and the burden of the Elves."
Celeborn huffed, but gave his wife a small smile. "As usual, Galadriel, you speak the truth." He turned his eyes west, where the Sun was just beginning her descent for the evening. "I pray that you and he are also right about this Orc."
fëa - soul
pe-channas - idiot
hîr vuin - my lord/beloved lord
hiril vuin - my lady/beloved lady
gehenno nin, mellon - forgive me, friend
