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CHAPTER 21
Miriel continued to send regular letters, as did Legolas. Though, fortunately, they didn't repeat the same news. Legolas' was mainly about how the new colony in Ithilien was coming along, whereas Miriel's seemed to contain nothing more than the various love-stories that seemed to be springing up in Gondor and how they all went to this wedding or that wedding. Then, one day, one of her letters contained some news that had Thranduil wondering why she felt the need to include it, even if she was overjoyed by it, and Adindel spiralling down into another pit of self-pity. Ginny was pregnant.
When the two brothers heard this, they looked at each other. Personally, Thranduil felt something akin to pleasure at the news, for he had grown fond of the little human and knew how much having her own family would mean to her. Thranduil then looked to his brother, more closely this time, and was almost sure he saw some kind of deep emotion flickering in his eyes, but what it was, he couldn't quite distinguish – maybe it was a combination of emotions.
Although they wouldn't admit to it, over the next few months, both King and Prince were slightly on edge whenever a messenger arrived with a letter from Miriel despite the fact that after the initial announcement, she didn't really mention either Ginny or the baby apart from saying that both she and Eleanor would visit as much as they could.
For their part, both Thranduil and Adindel were slightly worried over Ginny's pregnancy, for it was relatively common, even in grand palaces, for a woman to lose her baby. And then, of course, there was the actual birth itself, far more babies and their mothers died during this time and the brothers knew that should such events occur, it would be a terrible blow to all concerned, especially since the arrival of a new baby was supposed to bring insurmountable joy. Thranduil was actually more worried for his children, for he understood the pain of losing someone in childbirth and didn't want them to suffer for it a second time.
XXX
In early January of 3021, Thranduil received another letter from Miriel, this time informing him that they were all travelling to Dol Amroth for the last month of Ginny's pregnancy. And so, they waited.
After what seemed like an entire Age had passed, but also paradoxically, what seemed like no time at all, Miriel sent a jubilant letter informing them that Ginny had had her baby, a girl, and that both mother and baby were fine, even though Ginny was slightly grumpy at being forced to stay in bed during the days immediately after the birth.
Both King and Prince visibly relaxed and for once, Thranduil didn't even notice Adindel's strange behaviour regarding the little human.
XXX
In September of the same year, a sad time for all the Elves of Arda came upon them: the final sailing of all the Ring-bearers, save for the Pereniath Samwise Gamgee. The sailing of so many great Elves only served to highlight how the time of the Elves was fading ever more, especially as the next year would mark the first in the Fourth Age and the beginning of the Age of Men.
XXX
As predicted, the only visitors they had to Eryn Lasgalen over the next couple of years were elven and the only times they saw any Men was during their very occasional trips to Lake-town.
And then they had another letter from Miriel, but this time, it was extending an invitation to them to attend the next Spring Festival with her acting in the role of Lady of Imladris. Both Adindel and Thranduil felt they should attend, if only to keep the spirit of the Elves alive in the beautiful Haven. They may not have been too keen upon all the residents of Imladris, but both Sindar could appreciate the fine craftsmanship that had gone into creating it. The feeling that they had to go was enhanced after receiving a letter from Celeborn informing them that he wouldn't be attending owing to the need to tend the ever-fading Golden Wood.
When they arrived, however, Adindel almost instantly wished he hadn't come, for, as he was being escorted to his rooms, they passed one of the sitting-rooms. Adindel stopped and took two steps back; in the room a small child was playing – a small human child. She looked liked she was playing with an old, nay ancient, elven toy, and then she looked up. Her pale blue eyes stared into Adindel's slightly darker ones.
"What is it, Rosie?" Adindel knew that voice, as did the child, for she got up and tottered over to one side, her attention now focussed on something else.
Adindel couldn't follow her progress anymore without entering the room, which he did. On one of the sofas sat Ginny and a man. Ginny was sitting up, her arms around the child, while the man was slouched lazily against the armrest, a book in one hand and the other at Ginny's waist. From their relative positions, Adindel could tell Ginny had previously been leaning back against the broad chest of Prince Amrothos, for Prince Amrothos it could only be.
When she saw who had distracted her daughter, Ginny blushed slightly, but this was the only sign of her discomfort, for she found her voice and, automatically switching to Sindarin, greeted him formally. However, nothing more could be said, for the Elf escorting Adindel coughed slightly, bringing the Prince back to his senses. Adindel shook himself and bowed before continuing on his way.
XXX
Never had Adindel been so tortured where Ginny was concerned, for whenever he saw her, she invariably had her daughter or husband or both with her. Inevitably, Adindel felt deep stabs of jealous-hatred whenever he saw Amrothos; even the child couldn't bring much of a smile to his lips, for she was dark-haired like her father and it served as too much of a reminder. Of course she couldn't help who her father was, but it didn't make things any easier. Thus, Adindel found himself taking many long rides out in the Valley just to avoid the House and the child herself, for she was so bubbly, vibrant, and non-stopping that he was afraid he would snap at her if it became too much. As much as Adindel was sure Ginny wouldn't forgive him if he hurt Amrothos, he was certain beyond all doubt that she would never forgive or forget if he hurt her daughter. Adindel felt he would have more of a chance of Ginny accepting his hand-in-marriage than of her forgiveness in that area.
One of the worst times was on the first day of spring, during the ball held in celebration of light returning to the world, when Ginny came dressed in the blue and silver of Dol Amroth, in a dress of Imladris-design. Never mind the fact that the dress barely covered what was necessary and that all the parts that were covered left very little to the imagination, the pale colours of the dress made her hair gleam like gold and the creamy colour of her skin ever more noticeable. In short, she was exquisite, just as she always had been.
Partway through the evening, Ginny and Amrothos left to put their daughter to bed. They didn't come back.
XXX
Over the next few years, Adindel didn't see Ginny at all, for after Imladris, he had sworn he would never go somewhere where she was likely to be again; Thranduil did, though, on occasion. Adindel never asked about her and Thranduil never said anything; although, Adindel thought he might have mentioned something major, so he was working on the principle that no news was good news.
However, he couldn't stop Miriel mentioning Ginny in her letters and since these always included other news, Thranduil always read them out in their entirety. Through these, Adindel learnt that Ginny's family continued to grow until she eventually had four more children, all boys. The first of which was born barely nine months after that Spring Festival; neither Thranduil nor Adindel needed to look very far for the most likely place of his conception. Privately, Adindel also hoped that Amrothos treated all his children equally, for he didn't like the fact that, certainly in Lake-town, men tended to favour boys.
XXX
As the years went by, Thranduil still visited his daughter at Imladris and his son in Ithilien, but he didn't stay as long as he used to, for more and more Elves were sailing and it saddened the King to see so many of his race leave so quickly, it was almost as if they were all going at once. That was one of the reasons why trips were never made either to Lothlorien or from it, for Celeborn was still not ready to leave his beloved Wood and was determined to keep it as a place for Elves for as long as possible, and Thranduil couldn't bear to see the once great Mallorn Trees fading away.
XXX
As ever, both Miriel and Legolas kept up a steady stream of letters; although, as the years continued to grow, so did the inevitability that either one or both of the letters would contain the pain-bringing news of the death of one of their human friends.
One of the first of the Fourth Age was in the year 33, when Prince Imrahil passed away. The news hit Adindel surprisingly hard – well, maybe it wasn't so surprising, given that Imrahil was Ginny's father-in-law. Thranduil also grieved particularly hard, for though he had met Imrahil but a few times, he had approved greatly of the man.
XXX
The 60s were particularly grievous, for the final ring-bearer sailed in September 61, and then King Eomer of Rohan died in 63, and then in 66, Prince Elphir of Dol Amroth also died, leaving rule of the city to Ginny's nephew, Alphros.
XXX
The winter of the years 74 – 75 was exceptionally bad, with many great snowfalls and a seemingly endless frost. Even the Forest River, large and strong as it was, froze almost completely. The few Wood Elves who were left in Eryn Lasgalen did all they could to soothe the bruised and battered creatures and plants that had made the forest their home.
Then, towards the end of February 75, a letter arrived from Miriel. Thranduil could see the slightly dirty patches where the ink had smudged – he soon found out why. Amrothos had died.
The news sent both King and Prince collapsing into their chairs in equal pain. For once, neither Miriel nor Legolas were the first things to jump into Thranduil's mind, even though he knew that this would be a terrible blow to them. Ginny's image had appeared first and foremost in his mind, for he had grown ever more fond of her over the past years and, for all his faults, had enjoyed watching her bring up her children immensely and he knew that losing Amrothos would break her heart.
Adindel's grief was born of guilt more than anything. If he'd ever regretted his treatment of Ginny, it was now. At a time like this, friends and family would be offering their support to Ginny, maybe offering to take charge of things, maybe just giving her a shoulder to cry on. Adindel hadn't seen her once during the past 75 years and knew instinctively that such support from him would not be welcome, even if it was sincere, which it would be.
Why oh why couldn't he have made an effort with Amrothos, for Ginny's sake if no one else's? Then at least he may have been able to say or do something to help, but he didn't even have the cushioning of a previous friendship with her to start off on.
Adindel was beginning to realise the hard way that pride really does come before a fall.
TBC.