Chapter 28 - Calling
SA 3385. Lorien.
It was times like this that Kimbela was overly thankful but yet utterly annoyed at the significant lack of clocks in Middle-Earth. The rhythmic ticking would drive her to insanity. Listening to her heart beat already did that for with every thump, her son was still not home.
Drumming her fingers on the kitchen counter as she leaned against it did little to abate the tense knot in her stomach. Was Taurion alright? Where on earth was he? Why was he still out this late?! One question after the other crowded into her brain along with images of Taurion lying under a tree, limbs askew or hanging on to a runaway horse for grim death. Had someone or something run off with him? Was he on his own or had one of his uncles led him on an extended excursion? While Kimbela knew Taurion would be more than safe with Orophin or Rumil - perhaps both - it didn't settle her already scattered brain.
Mentally giving her imagination the boot, Kimbela checked the 'orc-dar' she had learned to expand to encompass Lorien, she was relieved to find her chest didn't tingle. No orcs. And still no sign of her wretched son either!
Pacing the length of the talon did nothing. Drumming her fingers next to her now stone cold cup of tea did nothing. She was pretty sure throwing an hissy fit would achieve nothing either, and there was a lucky star shining when, just as she'd decided to pull on her cloak and go out to join her husband in looking for Taurion, the front door opened and a giggling blond boy almost as tall as his father and equally fair of face, came trotting inside with a silently relieved Haldir behind him.
"~What time do you call this?~" Kimbela's sharp voice cut Taurion's chuckle in half and left his once happy mood strewn on the floor. The young ellon turned to his petite mother, hands on her hips and looking most displeased with his tardiness. The hard lines of her face twisted towards demented worry rather than anger.
"~Sorry Nana, I lost track of time and-~"
"~That.~" Kimbela cut in, pointing out at the moon which was high in the sky at that point, "~is your indication to be getting home. There is NO excuse for scaring your father and me like this!~" Kimbela raised her voice, making her son flinch slightly in shame, then bristle with defiance. Haldir moved towards his fuming wife, hands held up in a calming manner, eyes warning her to calm down before this got out of ha-
"~Uncle Rumil and I were out celebrating Ingalad's begetting day!~" Taurion retorted, annoyed for getting such a rap for an honest mistake! Besides he'd been with his uncle, he'd been safe. Why was she so worried? He wasn't thirty anymore.
"Gott im Himmel Taurion!" Kimbela's voice boomed, reverting to her mother tongue as all her angst and stress reached boiling point. "~Then you do me the bloody courtesy of telling me BEFORE you go and stay out late! We had no idea where you were, if you were safe - do you have any idea how close I was to calling out a patrol to come and find you!~"
"~Oh yeah, call the patrol to come find me. Why didn't you just call aunty Gee down to come rescue me from the camp fire while you're at it!~" Taurion seethed, turning to storm towards his room. "~At least she would leave the house to come find me.~"
"Taurion!" Haldir's dark voice stopped the boy in his tracks, and Taurion realised his harsh words too late. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder in time to see his mother's sweet face crumple slightly, her arms wrapping across her chest as if to comfort herself, or hold herself together. Beside her, his fathers eyes gleamed with unbridled disappointment and hurt. It wasn't often the three of them argued - if ever - and usually over silly things they could all laugh about afterwards.
"~That was uncalled for.~"
Taurion's door slammed shut, leaving his parents in stunned silence across the hall. It took Kimbela a good thirty seconds before she could move again.
"~He didn't mean it Melui.~" Haldir tried to console her as she plonked herself numbly into her chair.
"~I know.~" Her sigh was anything but believable, and she didn't so much as wince when she absentmindedly drank a mouthful of her cold tea.
"~But you were a bit sharp with him.~"
"~I know...I'm sorry.~"
Haldir sat beside her as she buried her tired face in her hands. Gently taking her hands in his, he uncovered her face to reveal slightly red eyes as they teared up. He clasped her hands tight.
"~What's worrying you? You're very on edge lately.~"
There was a sniff and a nod, and then Kimbela produced a letter from her pocket and narrated Glenys' strange dreams from 'there'.
"~I just don't know what to think of it. It's too out there for her to have made up…but it's impossible all the same!~"
Haldir let out a small chuckle. "~Why impossible? Do I suddenly not exist?~"
Kimbela's features fell flat. "~YOU very much exist. And I'm not denying anythings existence…the whole cousin situation I get. We weren't as strange to each other as we thought we were. But-~"
"~May I suggest something Melui?~" Kimbela nodded, uncertainty lingering as her eyes met his. "~You wait and see if you or Gee have the same dream. If it really is her parents, they are bound to tell her soon enough. And take comfort in the fact that you three found each other when you did, and that you still have one another.~"
Kimbela smiled lovingly at Haldir, thankful for his constant upfront honesty and logical mind when her own deserted her.
Squeezing his hand she glanced over to Taurions door, and as much as she wanted to go to him now, she knew it was ultimately better to wait.
About an hour later, Taurion emerged and sat with his parents on the sofa. No words were spoken as he snuggled into his mothers side (a bit difficult now that he was near fully grown). Apologies and forgiveness exchanged by all, they stayed up listening to Taurion tell them of Ingalad's begetting day and of Rumil's tomfoolery at the party. Their tiff seemingly forgotten, everyone retired to bed - bar Kimbela.
Her sons words haunted her. 'At least Gunda would leave the house to come and find me.' Kimbela knew they were untrue, but they still left a bitter taste on her tongue, for it brought to life a feeling she had suppressed and loathed. Had she become too comfortable?
Something inside her chest shifted and with a clenched jaw, she found herself calmly walking out the talon, down the steps and before she knew it she was running. Frustration fuelling her muscles as the mallyrn trees turned to blurs around her. When she was far enough away from Caras Galadhon, she found a spear length stick and with bitter battle cries, she took her anger out on some poor tree. Her body remembered how to wield a weapon, remembered and performed better than she had a right to expect!
Exhausted, aching but no longer boiling with negativity, Kimbela raised her face to the stars and let out a breath. She was a mother first and foremost. But that part of her that was begging to be set free again...she could not bury her wild spirit.
x x x
Mid May, Rivendell.
I was used to getting dragged off my horse when I arrived. But that was by two excited women, not two respectable ellyn! My feet didn't touch the ground because Glorfindel scooped me off my saddle and threw me over his shoulder and spun me around as his way of saying 'good to have you back'. Only thing I found odd about that was he'd only ever done that to Taurion when he was young. Someone was perhaps a bit overeager to be a dad! Then he and Elrond whisked me off to a meeting of 'great urgency'.
"~What's going on?~" I asked, eyeing both ellyn with growing skepticism when Elrond poured me a glass of sweet elderflower water. It relieved me greatly when the 'urgency' was a friendly catchup before Glenys 'got her hands on me'. The three of us laughed and joked as we usually did, and I found it curious how neither of them asked after the High-King for a long while, as if they were waiting for me to bring him up. In the end I had to because he wanted Elrond to review something on the border. Both ellyn cast each other pleased looks, and I frowned. Then they brought up their concerns about my sister.
"~She just won't sit down. Even on leave she insists on working, and I find I'm worrying more about whether or not she'll injure herself than my patients!~" Elrond explained, a kind but no less exasperated expression on his features. Immediately I looked to Glorfindel, his blue eyes twinkling still, but his jaw tensed. I could guess what might be haunting Glenys that made her a busybody in an attempt to forget her woes. Her mother hadn't exactly been a great role model, and here she was not long off becoming one herself. I nodded slowly.
"~I'll talk to her.~"
Glenys was exactly where Glorfindel said she'd be. In the herb garden, flute in hand and admiring the strange and wonderful herbs.
"I see what your husband means now." I called out, catching her attention and her contemplative features brightened as she turned to me.
"What's that supposed to mean?" It wasn't a question. She knew what her husband and I were on about. I shook my head as I went to hug her. Her loose gown hid how big she was!
"When are you due?" I marvelled.
"September."
"You should be taking it easy Glenys!"
She sighed wistfully, nodding her head. "I know…"
It was far easier than it should have been to get Glenys home and sitting down. I made us some elderflower drink and we spent the evening lounging on my bed, chatting about anything and everything. From the Mid-Summer feast coming up to her birthing plan. I relayed several messages; including that Alva would be here to help and seeing as she was visiting her parents in Greenwood, she'd ask Gilrîn to come down.
"Do you suppose Thranduil will accompany her?" Glenys grinned. I hummed in agreement, slowly running my finger in circles over her palm to calm her. For all the world Glenys seemed perfectly fine, but her eyes were clouded by something I just knew she needed to say.
"Where d'you learn this?" She asked, noticing my subtle use of magic.
"Thranduil taught me." My response was met with an arched brow. I huffed. "I don't go over to Greenwood just to hit Oropher's son over the head with a sword shaped stick you know." My joke had the desired effect when Glenys burst out laughing.
"I have to say, seeing you two duelling was the highlight of our last visit." She mused, giggling.
"Only 'cos he won." I pouted.
"You called him a sock muppet!"
"He deserved it!"
Glenys couldn't fault me there, and suddenly fell into silence with a waning smile. Watching me with those sad, dark eyes.
"Glenys, what's wrong?" I asked, shifting to look at her better. She glanced up at me, and within seconds, she deteriorated. Bursting into floods of tears, and I instinctively hugged her close to me. I comforted her until she had gathered herself enough to talk me through her worries. Most of which were normal for a new mother, but she needed to get it off her chest. Glorfindel had joined us at her request after he'd popped his head in to check on us, holding her securely and lovingly. Which is probably why she gathered up the courage to speak the words that would shake my world to its foundations for the second time that year.
"I had dreams from there." Her tone trembled slightly, and I squeezed her hand. "Different from the others." Her face twisted in uncertainty, as though speaking these words would cause her great discomfort. "Gee, your parents came to me and…to make a long story short, they told me that you, Kimbela and I are first cousins."
I felt as if my face had frozen at the words, but I nodded slowly.
"Yours and Kimbela's mothers and my father were siblings."
I was stunned momentarily, then a smile tugged at my lips. Cousins? Really?! This was great! A bit of a shock, but great none the less. This answered my long standing question of how my parents knew of the girls. I went to speak when she continued;
"They were elves. Kimbela and I are half elves. Your parents want to tell you themselves because they said your story is a bit different, but that's why we were sent here. To be kept safe."
And like a stone dropped in water my face fell. Into disbelief, then skepticism, then at last into something close to shuttered, but not quite. A long silence fell over us. Glenys shrank into Glorfindel's side, perhaps fearful of how I'd respond, perhaps wondering if she should have kept her mouth shut.
In all honesty, I didn't respond because I was spiralling down an endless funnel of thoughts; rapidly piecing scraps together and trying to get the full picture, but ending up with a Picasso instead of a Michael Angelo.
Those childhood tales of 'our world', of elves dancing in the mist - and my ability to control it. Our final destination…my brain went dead a moment.
"Gee?" Glorfindel asked, worried.
"Gee please say something." Glenys implored, becoming more distressed.
"Okay…" I said slowly, eyes drifting anywhere but her face.
"Okay?!" She squawked, jaw flopping open.
"What else do you expect me to say Glenys?" I asked, squeezing her hand again, trying to convey that I wasn't angry. I let out a ragged breath. "Thank you for telling me."
Glenys' eyes lit with surprise, so much so I chuckled. "Did you really think I'd get mad at you for that? We have no say as to who our parents are, nor does it change who we are now. Okay? We've always been this way. So let's focus on the positives. Now that we're related by blood you'll never get rid of me!" My words sounded more confident than I felt in that moment.
Uncertainty still lingered in her eyes, so I pulled her into a hug, rocking her from side to side gently. I cast a glance at Glorfindel and found him smiling fondly at us, so I opened an arm for him to join the cuddle.
Glenys seemed much calmer in herself as we sat to dinner, and we marvelled at the uncles and aunts we never knew we had. I gingerly admitted to having been visited by Ulmo, but with Kimbela absent, I didn't go into detail - which they understood.
I retired early enough, but was still awake around midnight. Finding it hard to fathom what she claimed about my mother. Having to reconfigure the basis of my existence. Not human, or at least full human. Had someone told me this at the beginning of our time here, I'd have thought them utterly barmy, whacko or deranged perhaps. But somewhere along the line, I'd learned nothing was as it seemed anymore. Now I was half elven and half something else?! Was Pappa an elf too, or some frog turned into a prince? A troll?!
'At least I'm not alone in this.'
I took my own council from earlier. I was still me, still in Middle-Earth, and still on a mission. Not being 100% human wouldn't change anything.
Kimbela arrived a week later, and us adults sat down in the living room while Lindir entertained Taurion. She hadn't had the dream yet either, and both Haldir and Glorfindel said there was little we could do about that except wait. We were all nervous, and I feared I'd make it worse when I produced the horn Ulmo had given me. It wasn't an easy tale to tell, but it backed up some of what Glenys had said - which lifted a great weight off her chest. We could all see it as she slumped into Glorfindel's side. But the warning made them uneasy. I was too. It's not exactly something you could just shrug your shoulders at and say 'fair enough'.
"So…what do we want to do?" Kimbela asked us when we were alone. Glenys calmly rested her hand on her belly, which was answer enough. The knot in my gut tightened when I said;
"I've decided I'm staying. There are things I must…see through till the end."
"What might that entail?" Glenys queried, dark orbs troubled - but not like her usual worry. It was a selfless concern brewing within her, and my gut screamed that it was aimed at me.
"Things. You know my knowledge is limited for now, but what I do know isn't great for those I'd be leaving behind."
"Is there anything we can do?" I shook my head, and she rested her hand on my knee. "You know you can come to us when you need, right?" Why did it sound like she needed reassuring of that? I could go to them with anything. They mightn't have the answers or be very helpful, but I'd always been able to go to them. I laid my hand over hers with a thin smile.
"I know. I'll tell you when I can think straight again. This has been a bit if a knock to the old brain cells."
"Yeah, they're tumbling out of your ear!" Glenys teased and I played along by frantically locking a hand over my ear to stop more falling out. We had a giggle about that before Taurion burst in to see his aunts who greeted him with equal gusto. The scamp had grown! Again!
We didn't dwell on our problems for long. Life got in the way, what with Mid-Summer approaching and helping Glenys 'nest'. We kept her busy with baby related tasks like crocheting baby blankets - which turned into the best idea ever! She kept messing up, unpicking the stitches and starting again. Elrond was over the moon because she was barely in the healing rooms, though she still visited the herb gardens to play music. She'd always had a gift with plants, her music seemed to encourage them to grow. She asked if that was an 'earth-elf' gift. I was sorry to say I could neither say yay nor nay, but I strongly suspected so.
That suspicion was further strengthened when, one day, Glenys asked to 'practice' something new with us. And by that she meant practice on me, innocently asking me if earth elves were fond of mischief and music, to which the answer was yes. She then played a short sharp tune on her flute, I instantly got vertigo and fell down a (mercifully non steep) flight of stairs.
"~Okay. Ouch but that was cool.~" I half grumbled, rubbing my head as Elrond helped me to my feet. "~Wish you'd picked a different spot to practice though.~"
"~Indeed.~" Elrond huffed, eyeing Glenys with disapproval. She had the decency to look shocked as she apologised. Kimbela resembled Nevil Longbottom after he got petrified!
"~I'd meant for you to go the other way!~"
"~Wait, you can control what way I fell?~" I half gawped at Glenys. She half shrugged.
"~I tried.~"
"~Training ground and we go again. There's no stair for me to fly down~" I commanded, marching the three of us to the grassy yard.
She couldn't control the way people went but whatever magic she had harnessed drove those she targeted into dizzying disarray. Taurion had tremendous fun trouncing me in hand to hand combat afterwards. Hand to hand was as far as Kimbela was willing to let him go for the moment. Being the cool aunty, I promised I'd teach him archery 'in secret' - cos I couldn't do that behind Kimbela's back in good conscience. Turned out she was glad it was me teaching him.
"I don't trust Rumil NOT to take him hunting on the first try." She chuckled. "He needs to know how to protect himself."
Of that I was all too aware. I was also aware of the fact that I had just under half a century to do SOMETHING about Dagorlad. I had faffed around long enough, pushing it to the back of my mind for another time. In all honesty, I wasn't sure there was much of a way around it - and I'd known that all along - and it dismayed me. I despaired because I wanted to save lives but couldn't do so without telling SOMEONE in power what I knew - even just a warning. If I told one of the kings, I'd have to tell all four - Elendil would then no doubt tell his sons and Isildur would most likely become suspicious of my visit to Minas Ithil and demand to know more, and the domino effect would begin.
This conundrum stole many hours of sleep from me, and although I kept myself busy, it did little to settle my growing guilty conscience. My sisters helped keep my head above the water, as did Ereinion's letters. Beautiful cream paper with scriptive calligraphy poetically dancing across the page. They were scented too, which is how they came to my sisters attention.
"Oooh, Gee has a beau!" They'd tease. "Oh do tell us who he is - no wait - give us a clue."
So I did by giving vague answers to their questions.
"Do we know him?"
"Yes."
"Is he handsome?"
"Well I think so."
It was rather amusing to watch them guessing away, they'd get close, then veer off in completely the wrong direction! They didn't let on that it bothered them. The only reason I knew they were was because I overheard my siblings discussing it as they sat on the terrace. Their husbands kept mum. Sorta.
"~We must have named every unmarried Lord or son of one in Mithlond by this point.~" Kimbela huffed, and Glorfindel chimed a musical 'correct', keeping his nose stuck in his book.
"~Well then, he obviously isn't a Lord.~" Glenys pondered and Glorfindel, again, teasingly sang 'correct'. "~Oh sod off, you're being no help! Haldir, do you have any ideas?~"
Judging from the silence (interrupted by two groans of mild annoyance) he'd shrugged his shoulders. He chuckled at their reaction and admitted to only knowing because Glorfindel had told him.
"~I wonder why she's never said anything.~" Glenys asked softly. "~And how on earth we missed it! Gods, I feel like a right lousy sister.~"
"~Dito.~"
Their words caused me to hold my breath, and for a split second I wondered if I'd done the wrong thing in not telling them sooner.
"~Some couples like keeping it quiet.~" Glorfindel explained gently. "~But remember, by our standards we rushed into marriage. And don't think you're bad sisters because you didn't notice.~"
"~You've all had a lot of things going on.~" Haldir added, a kind smile evident in his tone.
Both girls nodded as I emerged and plonked myself down between them with an innocent 'who's had things going on?'. To which the general answer was 'nothing'. Glorfindel took this opportune moment to smile and casually ask;
"~How's the High-King?~"
Caught completely off guard I somehow managed to coherently answer 'His majesty is well as far as I know', but the hopeful light in his eyes was snuffed out when NEITHER girl twigged it. Glorfindel cast Haldir an almost desperate look - only Haldir was equally lost for words. You could see them mentally facepalming themselves. Ereinion found it deeply amusing when I described the scene to him.
~ Do you wish to tell them yourself, or shall we do it together? ~ He wrote, and I responded.
~ If they haven't figured it out by the time we all come to Mithlond then yes, together. Have you any idea how to word it? ~
~ My sweet Raenwen, words shall not be needed. ~
Well that got me thinking, and more and more excited by what he could possibly mean by that. It made me smile randomly for seemingly no reason.
The summer months passed by far to quickly, packed full of things to do. Training Taurion on the range - he had a sharp eye I had to admit. Setting up and decorating the nursery which Glorfindel and a few guards had toiled over rebuilding, going for gentle walks in the woods and watching Glenys' belly slowly become more rounded. As August drew to a close, the nursery was finished, Glenys had successfully knitted the baby enough blankets to make a blanket castle out of, and Alva, Thalion and Gilrîn arrived. No Thranduil - hugely out of character as for some years now he and Gilrîn had been inseparable!
"~Why no Thranduil?~" Glenys probed as we sat for afternoon tea. Gilrîn's lips formed a line as she tried to hold back a grin.
"~Oropher has him on duty training the troops. And I am here on diplomatic terms as much as I am to see you.~" She explained.
"~Diplomatic? Why?~"
Gilrîn had only to show us her right index finger, and we all lost our marbles! It took us a few minutes to calm down enough to let Gilrîn tell us how and when he'd popped the question. I was glad for it because Oropher, while he loved his son dearly, had not been keen on the match. "~An elleth unused to court manners mightn't cope with the pressures.~" Was his argument, to which I answered, "~Can't cope? You do realise you're talking about the ONLY elleth who told your son - to his face - to get stuffed because he was being a right twit.~" Needless to say, I won that debate.
"~So, what's the plan here?~" Alva asked, stroking the top of Glenys' belly, making her smile with anticipation.
"~Now we wait.~"
And wait we did. The next fortnight was long and full of anxiety. Every time Glenys so much as flinched we'd pause, waiting to see if she needed anything. Keeping her calm was nigh on impossible, so Thalion and I took on training with the guards to allow Glorfindel time with his wife. Everyone was a bit surprised when Kimbela took Taurion to watch and sat explaining various details to him. Kimbela hadn't asked about exactly why I'd stayed in Middle-Earth, but I glimpsed in her eyes as she watched me, that she suspected something dark. Something that was rapidly changing her mind about her son not training in serious combat skills until he was a hundred. She was smart and she'd have pieced it together sooner or later, but perhaps she never asked because she didn't want her theory proven right just yet. Wanting peace of mind for a little longer.
Between Alva, Gilrîn, her husband and us siblings, Glenys was well looked after. Waited on hand and foot which probably didn't help her grumpiness as she began to feel heavier. We did rather fuss over her, but we were damned if we were going to let her exhaust herself or go anywhere near the nursery to begin redecorating! Between huffs and frowns and falling asleep if someone massaged her feet, she'd sit on the balcony singing, patiently waiting.
"Ooh! Gimme your hand."
The surrender of my hand wasn't optional as Glenys grabbed it anyway and pressed it on her belly. I waited, holding my breath for a few tense seconds when-
"Oh my gosh!" I squealed, unable to contain my excitement at feeling the little one move. It was getting stronger by the hour it seemed. Just then the door opened and a flushed Taurion, fresh off the range, came in and Glenys encouraged him to have a feel too.
"~Wow!~" Taurion's eyes lit up with that wonder of life I vaguely remembered feeling when my mum was pregnant. "~She's quite lively.~"
Glenys hummed, nodding as she reclined in the chair.
"~When will she - or he - arrive do you think?~" Taurion asked, not taking his eyes off where his hand rested.
"~Whenever he or she feels like it.~" I grinned, picking up my abruptly discarded book from the floor where I sat.
"~I hope it's soon.~" He mumbled to himself, smiling as the baby kicked him again.
The baby must've heard him. Glenys went into labour early in the morning, and it wasn't until the evening when it progressed to active labour. Despite her having vetoed Glorfindel being present, when the pain hit her, she didn't care that he breezed in and took control of the situation.
Calm and collected, he was by her side every step of the way, holding her hand, mopping her forehead and I suspected using his magic to ease her pain, for she wasn't screaming as much as I'd imagined she would. Us 'midwives' just took a step back and when her labour progressed we ran about like mad things fetching towels and warm water and herbs.
Ecthalion made his appearance to the world at four minutes to eight, punctuated by a howling cry of pain and one of triumph from his mother before she took him in her arms and wept. I was in tears myself, and I couldn't stop my impression of a fountain as I ran to Elrond's study where he and other family members and friends waited anxiously. Bursting through the doors with a joyous cry of;
"~It's a boy!~" To which the answering cheers were 'Praise be Ilúvatar!'.
"~What have they named him?~" A positively buzzing Taurion asked, hugging me tight as if I'd been the one to give birth.
"~He is Ecthalion. In memory of the Lord of the Fountain and you Thalion.~" I beamed at our, now utterly stunned, friend. He was so overwhelmed that I had to physically lead him to the delivery room. Washed and comfy on her clean bed, Glenys was all too happy to show off her little dark haired babe. Taurion's face was set in a permanent look of utter adoration for his cousin, and Glorfindel and Haldir had some fun convincing him that he had been smaller - which he had been.
After half an hour, Elrond and I shooed everybody out, allowing Glenys and Glorfindel some time with their son. As I closed the door, I spied the Golden Lord kiss my sister with gentle passion, making me blush and smile in contentment for them.
Mithlond, November.
My siblings and I wandered through the Royal Gardens, pushing (a now sleeping) Ecthalion in his pram. Orange leaves rustled in the wind, a few scattering across the ground. Kimbela was half in a daze and a bit groggy after her recent ordeal. Now she'd had the dream too, confirming all Glenys had said and I knew it was only a matter of time before Mamma and Pappa came to me too. It felt oddly comforting to hear them speak of my parents, how they described their voices and of the way Pappa held their hand and Mamma finger combed their hair. How it comforted them hugely after finding out about their own elven parents. There was more to their stories than they were admitting, but I was glad they said nothing more.
"He's watching you again." Glenys chimed softly, the beginnings of a cheeky grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"I know. I can feel it."
Beside me, Kimbela squeezed our linked arms and rested her head on my shoulder. She didn't need to say she was happy for me, I knew they were. Ever since they'd been unable to stop looking like a pair of stunned mullets when Ereinion draped his arm over my shoulder as we all sat in the living room, then kissed me for all to see! They'd been pretty close to guessing anyway, but their expressions were priceless. My brothers in law had had knowing grins plastered on their faces, and Taurion's eyes widened with such uncontainable glee he almost started bouncing on the chair. My nephew and the King shared a glance and then Ereinion said;
"~I have not forgotten.~"
"~We should probably start getting ready.~" I sighed, glancing at the skies and guessing it was nearing midday. "~This is one event you can't be late for.~"
We made our way to Glenys' room and Kimbela and I went about picking out accessories to go with our gowns while Glenys fed Ecthalion.
"What time do the lads come back?" I asked as Kimbela tried to pull a rather tight dress over my head. Gil-Galad, Glorfindel and Haldir had taken Taurion to the range. Test his archery skills, and by extension, my ability to teach. The sods.
"No clue, but they'd better not be late!" Kimbela huffed as she finally got the stubborn dress over my body. "Why is it us women get stick for taking 'so long' to get ready, yet it's the men who, two minutes before we need to be out the door, are still in their underpants?"
I shrugged, sitting down on the bed to brush my hair. "I dunno, I must say I don't suffer from that problem. But they shouldn't run late. They'll return with Gil-Galad and he always leaves himself time to get ready."
I started on my hair, but Kimbela took over, so I stared at the wall, getting lost in my thoughts. Glancing over my shoulder when Ecthalion let out a tiny satisfied burp and smiling as his big eyes found me. He was such a sweet thing, small and pudgy and the spitting image of his mother with his dark hair and eyes which were already growing darker too. He gurgled in contentment and reached for us.
Kimbela promptly ditched braiding my hair for holding her nephew, cooing about how much she missed her little boy being so small. Not feeling like joining in on the motherly mush, I helped Glenys dress before sitting her down to do her hair.
"Funny how only now," she mused, touching my silver and lapis lazuli bracelet lightly, making me pause as I put the hairbrush down. "I'm noticing just how secretively open you two are…you wear his colours for all to see. I've admired these-" She indicated the bracelet and its matching earrings. "-for some time, but I never put the two together."
"No reason you should have." I shrugged, weaving a rose into her plait. "Its only obvious if you know what to look for."
"Anything else 'not obvious' that we should be aware of?" Glenys grinned, eyes glowing with mischievous hope, and I heard Kimbela groan. It took me a moment to grasp what she was getting at, but she added anyway;
"Any more pieces of that collection you are NOT wearing?"
I wanted to groan too. 'Really Glenys?'. Okay, I got that she was over the moon that I finally had a love interest, but no need to ring the wedding bells yet!
"No."
There was a momentary pause, one that made me all to aware of their questioning gazes, and it was a surprise when Kimbela was the one who spoke next.
"You sound a little sad about that."
Had I? My subconscious dragged its hand down my face because I hadn't meant to! And if I had meant to cover up that fact, I had made an utter shambles of it.
"It's complicated. Well, it's not, it's—we are happy the way we are for now." My tone was anything but convincing. I knew it because the silence that followed was full of questions and assumptions that waited to strike like an assassin's knives.
I finished Glenys' hair and patted her shoulders, smiling at her through the mirror. She returned it, but grabbed my hand before it left her shoulder, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand.
"I didn't mean to make you upset Gee. I got a little ahead of myself, as usual. I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when." Her features remained tranquil, and it reminded me an awful lot of Lady Galadriel. Something in my chest tripled in weight. Dread? Curiosity? I didn't know, but something inside her flickered with knowing.
"How?" Kimbela's voice was laced with a good dose of curiosity as she sat on the bed. We joined her, watching Ecthalion with amusement as he found great joy in clasping and unclasping his hands, then pulling at the ribbon to his bonnet. Glenys ran her finger down her sons cheek, but he was too preoccupied to notice.
"The mirror. I'm still figuring out what it was trying to say. But one thing was for sure." She looked up at me and I cocked a brow at her. Kimbela, who'd had a puzzled look on her face for a while suddenly piped up - indignantly.
"So you knew all along, and you let me sit there like a berk guessing away!"
I couldn't swallow my snort of amusement, or my full on laughter when the two of them got into a faux bickering match - Glenys insisting the Mirror wasn't THAT specific and then something about me and Ereinion being on cloud nine while Kimbela stuck her nose in the air and wouldn't have any of it, and poor little Ecthalion looked up at his Naneth like she'd lost her senses.
"~Oh darling, mummy's only being silly.~" I cooed, taking the opportunity to snatch him into my arms, fixing his clothes which Berilwen had lovingly embroidered for him.
Glorfindel returned moments later (in nothing but a towel) and we promptly left so he could get changed. Which was fine because we mosied along to the great hall where we gathered with Berilwen and Círdan who, despite having had hours of cuddling the baby last night, wanted nothing more than to hold him again.
"~Looks like half of Mithlond will be here. You ready?~" Círdan teased Glenys as the hall began to fill with courtiers. Glenys smiled with certitude.
"~Absolutely.~"
My heart thumped with pride as my sister stepped up the dais with Glorfindel. Both looking radiant in the colours of the Golden Flower, and little Ecthalion made little fuss over being handed to a beaming Gil-Galad. It was a tradition I had heard of, a Lord's firstborn son being presented as their heir before the King, but never witnessed. The hall was silent as the High-King looked down at the baby in his arms for a long moment.
"~I welcome thee Ecthalion, son of Lord Glorfindel of the house of the Golden Flower, and of Lady Glenys. May you have a long and prosperous life, and may the Valar bless you and keep you safe.~"
I couldn't contain my smile nor stop myself from squeezing Taurion's hand as Gil-Galad gently handed Ecthalion to his very proud father, and I could only imagine what joking comment he made for Glorfindel's shoulders to shake with suppressed laughter. It was a bit strange to see Glorfindel in his finery again. I'd gotten used to seeing him in loose clothing with his hair tied back, very different from the stately ellon in his golden one shouldered cape and circlet.
Ecthalion hiccuped at the eruption of clapping and cheering, and quite rightly began to cry until Gil-Galad tickled his feet. Then he just looked down right scandalised!
Canapés and drinks followed and neither Glenys nor Glorfindel got a chance to escape the throng of Lords and Ladies coming up to congratulate them on the new arrival, so I brought the food and drinks to them. Glorfindel mouthed a 'Thank you' before being pulled into another conversation.
With all the attention elsewhere, I managed to have leisurely conversations with people I hadn't seen in what felt like forever. Even Lord Ondo came up to me, asking I pass on his well wishes to my sister.
"~I heard your visit to Gondor was successful.~" He commented just as I sipped my drink, because he usually didn't stop to chat. I swallowed a little to quickly but managed a smile.
"~It was. Osgiliath is a lovely city.~"
"~And Minas Ithil? You went there as well?~" His tone was a tad lower than usual. My gut tightened and I wasn't sure why. I nodded nonchalantly before stupidly taking another sip.
"~Tell me My Lady, could you shed some light on something for me?~"
That knot tightened but now he had my undivided attention. "~I will do my best.~"
His expression gave nothing away as he lowered his voice a notch. "~Is there any truth in the rumours about Minas Ithil?~"
"~Forgive me, what rumours?~" I asked, keeping my face straight by covering it with my goblet.
"~Perhaps it is nothing more than hearsay.~" He sighed nonchalantly, and I felt my mouth move to ask him to tell me anyway, but I didn't need to. "~Word from merchants from the south is that there are a considerable number of labourers moving into the city. I simply wondered if you had seen anything, for I remember hearing the city was finished some decades ago.~"
"~Cities expand. But no, I saw nothing. My visit was…brief.~" I spoke quietly, that knot now turning into a heavy weight. I had thought Isildur had been keen to keep my attention where he wanted it. Had I missed something crucial?
"~Indeed. Enjoy your day My Lady.~"
Without another word, Lord Ondo turned and left, leaving me with an unshakable feeling of 'what the hell just happened?'. Firstly, that rumour was cause for some concern, secondly, that was the most words Ondo had shared with me outside of a meeting. I liked him, but I felt he regarded me with a lot of wariness. Then again, having lived as long as he had, he might never be as trusting in strangers the same way others were.
"~He's not very talkative, is he?~"
I had to refrain from visibly shivering as that voice slithered into my auditory perception.
"~A busy man has little time for chit chat.~"
"~At least he talks to you.~" Gwendis huffed. "~He doesn't even acknowledge me.~"
I tried not to grip my glass so hard it broke, nor to let it slip from my grasp. Ondo didn't like the greed he perceived in her, or so Berilwen said. So the that fact he tolerated me meant a lot.
"~So, how long are they here for.~" She quipped, her eyes falling on the now dissipating crowd around my sisters and nephews and I couldn't help but notice her eyes narrow slightly when she saw Taurion was holding Ecthalion.
"~My sisters and their families are here by my invitation. And as long as they do not outstay their welcome, they may stay as long as they choose.~" I answered, a thread of steel running through my voice as I turned my head to look a slightly flabbergasted Gwendis in the face. "~And you would do well to remember that they are all members of this court in their own rights, and you shall treat them accordingly.~"
I had my silent moment of triumph when she remained silent, mouth ajar and eyes wide. Savouring this rare and ego boosting moment, I turned around and grabbed a salmon canapé from the table behind me.
"~You should hold off on the snacks Gee. Eating that much will do nothing for your figure~" Was Gwendis' parting comment and it was one of the nicer ones but still made me pause before popping the canapé into my mouth. Stuff what she thought, I was hungry and if I wanted to snack on fish crackers I would!
I didn't let her dampen my mood. There were more important things afoot now. That little snippet of gossip spiked my interest. Minas Ithil was already in a red zone in my mind, being the closest city to Sauron and ultimately his first target when he did attack.
I milled about some more, Gil-Galad found me and we had a small conversation with Círdan about how the brilliant morning was turning to a rather dull afternoon. Gil-Galad brushed his fingertips over my hand, one of his many small offerings of affection that still made me smile without knowing it. The brief contact was cut short when my sisters found me, Glenys deciding Ecthalion needed to nap.
I recounted the brief exchange between Gwendis and myself because Glenys had seen her leave with her little entourage looking like a thundercloud.
"Finally taking my advice!"
"Finally had enough of her snooty behaviour more like." I half sulked, munching on another cracker. "But she hasn't done anything to get herself banished from the palace yet, so it's not the last I'll see of her." I sighed as we meandered through the quiet halls towards the Royal Wing.
"Superglue her backside to the wall. She sits there so often no one would think she's stuck." Glenys suggested to our joint amusement, and I couldn't tell if it was a joke or not, it sounded tempting but the lady in me vetoed that idea.
"Doesn't her elitism stand against her?" Kimbela asked, arms crossed in deep thought. I shook my head.
"She hasn't expressed it in such a way as to offend someone in high enough power to request she be banished. Even then she'd get one strike first. She's not the only Ñoldo elitist in court, and they know to keep their mouths shut."
Kimbela swore under her breath, and I could only agree. But as Glenys pointed out, perhaps now Gwendis would think twice before using me to get inside the palace. I could only hope, and our conversation was promptly finished when we found Taurion staring out the window of the Royal Wing hall with what looked like a brand spanking new bow in hand.
"~Oh, this is a gift from Gil-Galad. He gave it to me this morning!~" He explained excitedly when I noted the Ñoldo recurve in his hands.
"~Very nice.~" Kimbela praised, smiling and eyeing her sons attire and the quickly darkening skies outside. "~I hope you're not going training in that weather.~"
He had hoped to, and had been on his way to find me but with the heavens looking like they'd open any moment, he thought better of it.
"~There is always tomorrow.~" I soothed, patting him on the shoulder as he went to return the bow.
"~Do you want to play a game of chess? I need to practice so I can challenge Celeborn without losing after five moves.~" Blue eyes lit with hopefulness and a small dose of mischief. I grinned.
"~I'd love to, go set up and I'll be with you in a bit. I have one last thing to do.~"
Taurion nodded, grinning from ear to ear and went on his way while I dived into my room. Emerging moments later and heading out of the Royal Wing.
Trying to keep my pace leisurely when all my feet wanted to do was run as fast as they could to find this person was excruciatingly difficult. It felt like I'd scoured the entire palace, maybe because I was all too aware of each second ticking by. I had seen him in the background during the presentation, heard whispers that he was departing and prayed to Ilúvatar he hadn't left already.
I had stumbled on a - positively questionable - idea upon Thranduil's absence in Rivendell. The need to do something with impact and to get it right weighed down on me like a tone of bricks. Which is why I found myself putting a lot of trust in my princely brother of sorts, and the ellon who thankfully turned to face me when I at last found him.
"~Lord Galdor, might I ask one last favour of you before you depart for Greenwood.~"
He smiled, as he always did when I spoke to him and nodded his head.
"~Of course fair Lady~" He chirped, eyes bright and full of readiness to help me. Looking around to ensure we weren't visible to anyone, I produced the letter I had spent hours drafting.
"~Give this to Prince Thranduil. It is imperative that no one see you doing so.~"
Emerald eyes dimmed, but he kept his smile bright as he took the letter and swiftly hid it in his tunic.
And with that, a vague plan began to set itself in motion.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you to DarkAndelLida, ColdOnePaul and daughterofthechief for your feedback!
daughterofthechief: Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it and I hope it continues!
