Imladris
… …
Elrond looked up from the casualty list he had been writing as a young member of the guard rushed in. The ellon bowed his head respectfully before rushing into his report.
"My Lord, Saruman the White has entered the valley. He has a child with him." Elrond stared at him blankly for a moment.
What is Saruman thinking, leaving Mithrandir on his own? He thought. Nodding to the guard he left his desk and went in search of Celebrían. As one of the few blond elves in Imladris, she stood out. He found her reading to the twins by the main bridge. Elrohir was the first to see him coming, shouting out across the courtyard.
"Ada! Look Naneth!" Celebrían looked up and smiled. They were all in sombre clothes to reflect the huge losses taken on the slopes of Mount Doom. Elrond sat down beside his family.
"Saruman is about to arrive," he said to his wife quietly. Elladan cautiously turned the page and continued to read despite his mother having abandoned her tale.
"I thought he was to stay with Mithrandir." She absently stroked Elrohir's hair to keep him still.
"I do not know why he is here but the scout reported a child with him." Celebrían frowned.
"As far as I know there are no orphans in the Havens, maybe in Lindon but none that Saruman would know," she said.
"No matter who, soon we shall have a possibly orphaned child here." She took the hint and stood up, much to Elladan's discontent. He grabbed the book so as not to lose his page, pulling it onto his own small lap. Celebrían tucked a golden braid behind one ear.
"I shall prepare a room in the nursery for them then," she said and walked off to find the linen mistress. Elrond sighed; he had enough trouble already without Saruman foisting a child onto his household. Thinking of children he wondered how long Valandil, Isildur's youngest son, and his mother would remain. Elrohir suddenly decided that he was bored and ran off, giggling, towards the armoury. Elrond had found it impossible to impose the gravity of a house in mourning upon his eldest son, despite numerous attempts. Elladan sat there, engrossed in the book and showing no signs of moving anytime soon. However, the elf lord had other ideas.
"Elladan, you are going to meet a new playmate. They are arriving soon. Please make them feel welcome." The elfling looked up, his wide grey eyes serious.
"Yes Ada," he said.
"Go and find your brother," Elrond told him, taking the book as the boy ran off.
… …
Celebrían looked around the room, satisfied that everything was in order. Just off the main nursery, near to her family's apartments, it had not really been used much as most children lived with their parents. The nursery, however, was unnaturally full. As well as the twins, the baby Valandil also spent his days there as did a dozen elflings. The majority of the children from Lindon had been sent there for safe-keeping, except those from the Havens. The room was small, a half-sized bed stood against one wall, a chest of drawers below the window; but cosy and nicely decorated. An elleth tapped politely on the door.
"Saruman has arrived my Lady," she said.
"Thank you, I will come at once." Celebrían turned and hurried along through the house to greet the Maia. Saruman had gone with Mithrandir to see the recently bereaved wizard home safely. Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of Isowen, her friend, dead at the siege of Barad-dûr, leaving three children motherless.
Saruman rode into the courtyard just as she stepped out of the front door. A cloaked bundle sat in front of him.
"Saruman, what has happened?" Elrond asked as the Maia dismounted. The wizard lifted his passenger onto his hip, pulling back their hood. Celebrían gasped as bright golden eyes stared, bemused, at them all.
"Where is Glorfindel?" Saruman said shortly. The golden-haired Lady strode forward, in an attempt to take the child.
"Why did you bring Yarna here?" she asked. The elfling had no desire to be picked up her though, clinging onto Saruman's shoulder.
"I will explain but Glorfindel must hear me also," the powerful voice said. She nodded, leading the way into the house.
"He is much grieved by the death of his sister," Elrond told him quietly.
As is Erestor, the half-elven thought. He was worried about his two friends; they both seemed so upset by Isowen's death. Imladris needed its chief advisor and seneschal, especially now that Gil-Galad was dead. Elrond tried not to show his own grief at the passing of his King and mentor, reminding himself that he had to be the strong leader his people needed.
They reached Glorfindel's rooms just as Erestor was leaving them.
"Yarna? Saruman what is she doing here?" he asked in surprise.
"Is Glorfindel in there?" the Maia said. He nodded, opening the door.
"Fin? Yarna is here," the advisor called quietly. Glorfindel was sitting morosely by the window. He turned as they entered.
"Yarna?" Scrambling down the little girl ran to her uncle. He drew her up into a hug, burying her head underneath is golden mane.
"Why are you here tithen pen?" he asked after a moment. Saruman took a step forward as Erestor discreetly closed the door behind them.
"Mithrandir is too absorbed by his grief to bear to look upon Isowen's likeness. He bade me take her away," Saruman explained. Glorfindel frowned, a flush of anger rising in his high cheeks.
"I cannot believe he would do such a thing. If anything he should want her closer than ever," the balrog-slayer said thickly.
"It is grief Fin, it prevents us from thinking clearly," Erestor told him gently, coming round to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"What of Gandir and Alsea?" Celebrían asked. Saruman turned to her.
"He appeared to have no objection to seeing them. They however, do not have their mother's appearance." She nodded sadly.
"I suppose she had better stay here then, at least until he comes to his senses," Elrond suggested after an awkward silence. Yarna looked up at them all.
"Uncle Glor, when can I go home?" she asked; her voice small and high-pitched. Glorfindel tucked a strand of raven hair behind her ear.
"Not yet tithen pen, you can stay here with me for a while first." That seemed to cheer the little girl up.
"Alright," she said happily. He smiled weakly, patting his niece on the head. Celebrían opened the door, meaning to send for one of the little girls to take Yarna to the nursery. To her surprise the twins were standing there, each holding a stuffed toy.
"Elladan, Elrohir. Why are you standing here?" she asked.
"Ada said we were to make a friend in the new arrival," Elladan said innocently. Celebrían turned to her husband.
"Yarna, these are my sons Elladan and Elrohir. I suggest you three go and play." The elflings didn't need to be told twice. She hugged her uncle quickly then they scampered off. Glorfindel sighed, leaning his head on his hands.
"She can stay here until Mithrandir wants her back," Elrond repeated.
"Hannon le mellon nin," he said, his normally cheerful voice close to breaking. Erestor shot him an odd look. Something passed between them the other three failed to understand or even notice.
"Mithrandir knows I have her, if he comes for her he will expect her to be with me." Saruman's voice had a slightly commanding edge to it, as if he felt strongly about the girl's future. Elrond frowned, wondering why the Maia was interested. Glorfindel caught Erestor's glance.
"You have a point but the nursery is quite full here. I think Yarna should stay for the time being," he said quietly.
"Let us see how she settles in," Saruman suggested, somewhat primly.
... …
… …
Elladan picked up the toy boat lying beside the dark-haired elfling as they sat on the river bank. Strewn around the three of them were numerous stuffed toys and carved figurines.
"This is pretty, Yarna," he said, turning it over curiously.
"So is this," she replied, picking up a beautiful copy of Beleg the archer. Elrohir had amassed a hoard of swordsmen which he began to charge at Elladan's dragon. With a shriek the younger twin scorched his brother's battalion. Not to be deterred Elrohir used a group of archers he had 'borrowed' from Yarna to corner their former owner's one boat fleet.
"Hey Ro, Yarna is at sea. You cannot get to her there!" Elladan told him crossly. She laughed.
"No, I am in the Harlond. The tide is far too low for me to leave. Elrohir can reach me easily," she said. Elrohir grinned, aiming his archers at the wooden boat. Elladan frowned until an idea struck him.
"Yarna, quick! Climb on my dragon's back!" the great blue dragon then swooped down to rescue the ship's crew before it sank. Thwarted, Elrohir glared at the other two.
"That is not fair! Dan you took sides!" he cried. As Yarna dismounted Beleg from Elladan's dragon she moved him over to the other archers.
"That does not matter. Beleg can shoot further than any of your archers," she said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"I can shoot further than you," Elrohir taunted. Immediately they cleared up the scattered toys into a sack and ran towards the butts. Yarna hung back, slightly unsure, as the twins began showing off their skills.
"Do you not have a bow?" Elladan asked her suddenly. She shook her head. The black-haired boy handed her his own short bow and quiver. Carefully Yarna took up position beside Elrohir.
"Lift your elbow and bend it slightly," Elladan told her from behind. She released an arrow and watched it sail through the air. It hit the target, not quite in the middle but close enough.
"Not bad." Elrohir said, hitting the centre easily. Yarna handed Elladan back his bow.
"How long are you staying?" the younger twin asked her suddenly.
"For a long time I think," she said slowly. The twins grinned.
"Then we can have you as a little sister! Ada says he might foster Valandil so we would have a sort of brother. He might foster you as well, and then we could have a sister," Elrohir said happily. Yarna, however, didn't smile.
"I already have a brother, and a sister," she answered tersely. The twins' faces fell slightly. Seeing that she forced a grin. "But I can have some more!" They laughed and Yarna felt slightly better. She didn't know how long it would be until she could go home but if she had two big brothers who seemed to know more than Gandir ever did, then it would be alright.
… …
Saruman watched the little girl play with her newfound friends. He marvelled at the ability of the very young to live for the moment. In time, she would be angry of what her father had done, but for now Yarna's only worry was not to let herself be caught by Elrohir as they ran through the bushes.
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Author's note: Seven years disappeared somewhere along the line, sorry. To make up for it I guess it took Círdan and Yarna that long to build the boat so their parents were gone for quite a while. Either that or the siege of Barad-dûr went really quickly.