Sorry this is slightly late, i had essay work. On that subject, do i have any reviewers who can think of any good sources about Livy's account of the rape of Lucretia, or about Romand morals (for women), preferably modern scholarly work? I'm having absolute hell find stuff on the subject.
Grey Dawn 25
Later that day, the rest of Eglel's family, the nomadic tribe which had brought Elurin and Elured up before they had come to Valinor and settled in the house of their father, arrived to meet the Chieftain's granddaughter.
The entire tribe had come and they camped on the lawn of Dior's mansion. It was pretty clear that everyone was used to this, though Mithiliel found it a little weird. She was immediately welcomed amongst the tribes-people, though they did test her skills in both riding and fighting. Her father and grandfather seemed a little surprised at her skill with a blade.
"Ivochyl decided to teach Celebrían and me to keep our minds off the fact they were insisted that we be separated for at least a year during our betrothal. We had plenty of practice time then." Dior smiled, but Eglel and her father frowned slightly.
"Year separated? I fear I do not understand?" he finally asked.
"It is a tradition amongst those who are settled; the couple are expected not to see each other between their betrothal and their marriage and the betrothal time is a minimum of a year," Dior explained.
"Foolishness! We expect the couple to marry within a month of betrothal and there is no separation. What is the point of that?" Mithiliel grinned.
"I have no idea, but I think I prefer your tradition, the time apart was agony even if it did result in us learning to fight." He nodded at her then frowned again.
"Who is this Celebrían, child?"
"Oh, my sister." His eyebrows shot up and he looked at his daughter in surprise, who also looked confused. "No, she is Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, my foster parents', daughter. We were brought up together and have always considered ourselves sisters. It is good that she is not my blood sister as she is married to my cousin, Elrond, Adar's nephew by his sister." The proverbial inner light went on in her Grandfather's eyes and he nodded.
XXX
Shortly after the tribe had left again to go somewhere, Mithiliel did not know where exactly, life chucked up another surprise for her. One day, she was sitting in the same sitting-room she had first met Dior in, when a tall blonde and rather supercilious Elf was shown in. His clothing was both clearly expensive and clearly the clothing of Greenwood the Great. Elurin's eyes went flat as the Elf entered, though he did not comment, or rise for the guest as was proper.
The Elf nodded his head negligently at her father and bowed a little more at Mithiliel.
"I am told that you, my Lady, are the person my son Thranduil chose to marry. I wished to meet the young elleth my son considered worthy to take to wife, as well as the mother of my grandchildren and heirs." She could already see what her uncle meant about 'up himself'. Oropher had been in the room less than five minutes and she already didn't like him. All the same, she rose and greeted him appropriately.
"It is nice to finally meet, my father-in-law. Thranduil and Ivochyl spoke often of you." A little bit of a lie and some careful misdirection, but that didn't matter. Mithiliel motioned at him to sit on the opposite chair, which he took.
"And how is my wayward daughter? I wonder how she took the death of her husband." He didn't really seem to care all that much.
"I have never met anyone so indifferent to being widowed, though of course he is not her husband anymore." Oropher raised an eyebrow at her, and was obviously surprised. "Haven't you heard yet, I know many of your Lords sailed in protest of Thranduil changing the law so she could divorce her husband and re-marry." Mithiliel saw his jaw work as he tried not to explode, clearly not approving of this.
"And, pray tell, who is the lucky Elf who my daughter chose to replace the one I chose for her, in her best interests?" Resisting the temptation to remind him that Ivochyl hated her husband and he clearly didn't really care about her at all, Mithiliel put on a sweetly polite expression and answered his question.
"Why, Lord Erestor of Imladris. They have three of the loveliest daughters, who are just as outgoing as their parents." Oropher shot to his feet in anger.
"SHE WHAT?" he yelled and glared at Mithiliel.
"She married Lord Erestor of Imladris and has had three lovely girls by him. You should be proud; she is a very proper Lady of Imladris now, as are her daughters."
"Are you stupid, girl? You want me to be proud that my daughter has gone Noldorin and married one of the filthy Kinslaying race, a scribe at best for a filthy half-human upstart, whom the fool Gil-galad was over fond of, and who was clearly warming the High King's bed for favour? My daughter disgraces me with every action. I should have found a way to get rid of her at birth!" he spat, voice rising throughout the diatribe.
Elurin rose from his space next to Mithiliel, who had been about to answer with a sharp comment about actually treating his daughter well if he wanted anything back. Oropher was too busy still ranting about Ivochyl to notice the movement right up to the point Elurin pulled his arm back and punched him in the face. It wasn't a round-house punch, but an over-the-shoulder blow that was substantially more effective. The punch was not for show, it was meant to hurt, and Oropher reeled back, grasping his face.
"Do not insult my daughter or my nephew, Oropher, and never imply that there was anything improper going on with any member of my family. As for Ivochyl, if you had treated her properly and not forced her to marry a little wastrel shit like the one you did, then maybe she would be more inclined to honour you. If you were to trying disowning her, then she would be well rid of you, as would your son. Now. Get. Out. Of. My. House."
Oropher stared at the fuming Elf and turned on his heel, storming out.
After a minute or so of absolute silence Mithiliel spoke,
"I think Uncle Elured was being too kind about him, and rather insulting to arseholes. It would be equally insulting to bastards to call him one of those as well." Elurin took a couple of deep breaths and laughed, softly at first, but that laugh grew into a deep, booming laugh that left him holding his stomach. Eventually, he recovered and pulled his daughter into a hug.
"I do love you, Mithiliel! He has deserved that for far too long. And I will never let anyone harm you or insult you. Now," he held up his hand, which was already swelling up, "I think I need to find a healer, I seem to have damaged my hand." It was Mithiliel who burst out laughing this time.
XXX
Mithiliel stood wrapped in the arms of her father in the Quay, watching the ship come in. A little time ago, she had received a message from the watchtowers that a ship baring Imladris' symbol, the Royal symbol, on its flagpole and knew that she would know whoever was on the ship.
She was not very sure how much time she had spent in Valinor; time seemed immaterial in the Blessed Lands. She wondered who the ship was carrying. She knew Elrond would have never left until the War was dealt with, and the same could probably have been said for the Twins. Surely she would have heard if it had? Not much news got through, but Sauron was a fallen Maia and the death of one such as him would definitely get through.
After what seemed an Age, the ship docked and the gang plank lowered and after a little more time, someone disembarked. It took a few moments for Mithiliel to recognise her and she gasped in shock and horror when she did.
Though physically she was well, Celebrían was utterly changed and not in a good way. There was no longer a healthy glow round her as there normally was around Elves and her skin was almost translucent. The once lively elleth's posture was listless and her eyes dead and she walked lethargically towards the end of the docking pier.
With a cry, Mithiliel broke free of her father's arms and ran to Celebrían and pulled her sister into her arms. Celebrían hugged back tightly, and promptly burst into tears on Mithiliel's shoulders. Mithiliel held her close and felt the coldness of Celebrían's skin against hers and whispered into her sister's ear.
"Oh my, what on Arda happened to you? What is wrong?" Celebrían raised her head and looked into her sister's eyes brokenly.
"Orcs."