Chapter 50
Preparation
Glorfindel sighed audibly on purpose.
He absolutely had no idea why he was there in the first place. It all started when Elrohir came up to him earlier this morning, chatted something about tours and stuff, that Elladan was coming; and the next thing he knew, he was accompanying some ten or more maidens from the Elvenking's little entourage. But it was not as if Glorfindel did not like their company. Of course not! His previous life in Gondolin basically revolved in social gathering, meetings, and he even hosted some of the festivities his High King would ask of him. If he was an excellent warrior in the battlefield, he counted himself as an excellent speaker.
A voice snapped him out of his daytime reverie.
Glorfindel looked down and met the dark eyes of an elleth. "Come again?" He asked in his most polite voice as possible while feeling rather silly for not paying attention.
The maiden smiled warmly, ignoring his lack of mind presence. "Have you been into Greenwood before, Lord Glorfindel?"
He nodded, suddenly remembering his rare visits in the forest. "Yes, I have been there many, many years ago, and you might have not been born back then." The maiden laughed good-naturedly. Glorfindel smiled and continued, "I went to visit Erfaron often."
She beamed at him, giggling. "Oh, Erfaron! Of course!"
Glorfindel smiled fondly at the thought of visiting his closest friend in Greenwood, though now there was no one to visit any longer. It made him feel rather incomplete. Back in the days, he mentally noted. Just hearing the made him feel so old.
Speaking of being old, his mind wandered again, thinking of that childish silver-haired girl. He had not seen her since this morning. He guessed Thranduil must have forced her again into staying with him, fawning over his future daughter-in-law. The King was obviously too excited for the upcoming celebration, and they were even starting to plan on it.
Glorfindel shook the thoughts away, literally, as his golden locks swayed back and forth. He heard a sweet laughter of the maiden beside him, completely amused of him. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, wondering what was laughable with his situation. His attention was drifted once again when the maidens around Elrohir laughed simultaneously, whilst Elladan was keeping a short distance away from them, and Glorfindel smirked.
"Enjoying yourself, Dan?" he called out, popping a nerve when he used Arestel's childhood nickname for him.
Elladan went beside the warrior and let out an exasperated sigh. "I could be in my room right now… doing basically nothing…"
Glorfindel laughed. "And you find it better than having a tour?"
"Of course!" Elladan cried. Suddenly, he noticed the presence of a Silvan maiden beside Glorfindel and quickly took his words back. "I'm sorry. I mean no offense, really."
The maiden smiled. "I don't see it as an offense, Lord Elladan. My name is Mirthel."
Elladan took her hand and kissed the back of it. "My pleasure, my lady." Then, he recoiled to whisper cheekily into Glorfindel's ear, "So… Mirthel, huh?"
The modest Golden Lord gave Elladan a surprised look. "What?"
The half-elf shrugged. "Nothing… You should save someone for yourself."
"Oh, please." Glorfindel snorted. "I'd rather babysit than think of those things."
"Speaking of babysitting," Elladan drawled, his eyes watching his brother closely as Elrohir led his crowd of Silvan maidens towards Elrond's observatory, "Where's Estel? I haven't seen her this morning."
"How should I know?" Glorfindel helplessly returned the question, leading his new friend Mirthel back to the line. She followed quietly, her attention both on Elrohir's explanation of the beautiful domed observatory, its wonderful scenery below, and on Elladan and Glorfindel's mindless conversations.
"She'd better not be in another mischief." Elladan nodded.
"I don't think she will be," Glorfindel said, leaning his back against a pillar. Mirthel finally excused herself from him to join her friends. "I mean… Legolas can handle her anyway, more than Elrond could handle his own daughter."
Elladan chuckled. "True…"
Elrond and Thranduil listened attentively as Erestor laid out the possible settings for the upcoming wedding. Apparently, the Elvenking was more excited about discussing it. It was only early September for somebody's sake! They had more time to sort things out, to discuss the matter of the wedding with important people such as the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. But here they were: Erestor explaining the importance of the white garment, the giving out of family heirlooms, and the giving of the rings.
Elrond shuddered at that thought.
Rings.
To think that roughly five months after the War, they would be talking about rings again.
Then, his memories took him back some thousands years ago, when he and Celebrían were younger and were so in love with each other. He could not last an hour without thinking about her, or even mentioning her name, despite all the casualties that time. She always gave him hope during his battles, during meetings, and even one of those times when he was simply the High King's herald.
"And that is why the wedding should be done in autumn…" the Elvenking concluded, smirking proudly at Elrond.
Elrond's elbow slipped from the armchair and he quickly composed himself, his eyes blinking fast. "What was that?"
Thranduil's smirk turned upside-down. "You didn't listen? Every single word I said?"
"Well, I did listen to Erestor about the importance of the heirlooms," Elrond pointed out. "I believe Lady Galadriel has already given Legolas the heirloom as accustomed to the Elves. The matriarch of the family shall give an heirloom to the groom. The revelation of the betrothal has already lasted for a year, and in November, as you say, King Thranduil, should the wedding take place, yes?"
"Absolutely," Thranduil said. "I would rather have it in November than any other months. And keep in mind that we should also return to Eryn Lasgalen to celebrate the wedding."
"Maybe we should invite the Dwarves of Erebor," Erestor commented, piling up his paperwork on the table.
Thranduil's face turned sour and Elrond found it amusing. "Why not? Both Estel and Legolas have shared good friendships with them," he said. "I would also like to meet the new King under the Mountain, Thorin Stonehelm."
The Elvenking tried to compose himself. "Of course, of course," he calmly said. "Invite anyone you deem worthy. Hobbits, Dwarves, Men… they're all the same. I just want this to happen soon."
"We can spread out the invitation as early as now," Erestor said. "Elladan and Elrohir could disseminate the invitations throughout the fields with Gareth. Aragorn and Arwen must also be notified about this."
"They will be," assured Elrond, smiling at the idea of seeing Arwen once again. "The word should reach Arestel and Legolas first. Those two have been idling about for days. It even makes me wonder if they remember being betrothed or what."
"I'm talking Legolas out of it," Thranduil added. "That boy almost never tells me anything. Still quite shy, I guess. I don't even know where he gets it from. His mother was not nearly as shy."
Elrond and Erestor laughed.
"Erfaron was extremely humble, remember?" Elrond said.
"Oh, she was," Thranduil answered. "As I was saying, I'm talking things with him. He understands things quickly which is less effort for me."
Elrond sighed tiredly. "And my daughter is otherwise."
"Do you want me to handle her as well?" Thranduil offered, already ecstatic of spending time with his daughter-in-law.
"I can take her." Elrond shook his head. "Nothing should come between a father and his daughter, remember?"
"Whatever you say…" The King sighed. He moved to stand up from his cushioned seat. "I should better go see what they're up to. You know those kids…" He walked and went over to the doorway.
Elrond's eyes followed his trail and said, "They are hardly kids anymore, except Arestel maybe."
"The very reason why I like to deal with her, Lord Elrond," Thranduil answered and shut the door behind him.
"Lindir, Lindir, Lindir. Hey, Lindir, can you hear me?"
Arestel continuously tried to catch Lindir's attention, who was currently occupied in dusting all of Elrond's books in the library. It had been some time since the deed was done, and only few people visit the library. As the dark-haired minstrel purposely continued to ignore her, he couldn't hide the forming smile upon his lips. At the corner of his eyes, he could see Arestel flopped upside-down on the couch; her legs rested on the backrest, and her torso and head on the wide cushion.
"Lindir…" She groaned again, scratching her eyes in drowsiness. She had been going on like that since Lindir arrived in the library, and he did not even know why she was pestering him. Wasn't Legolas supposed to be around here something? Keeping his beloved out of mischief? Alas, the elf prince was not there, prompting Arestel to annoy Lindir instead.
"Say, think you can sing while you're working?" She asked hopefully. Indeed, Lindir was the best minstrel in the valley. No one could argue with that.
He wiped the hardbound cover of a book, and then finally decided to pay her attention. "What kind of song, Estel?" Then, he realized his poor choice of words.
"Something you like to sing every night," Arestel beamed at him. "You know… that one with the harp."
Lindir smiled and took another book to clean. "That song is exclusive only for special occasions. You know that."
"We don't have special occasions anymore," she whined.
"Oh, there will be. Soon, I think."
She moved her head to get a better view of him, despite still being upside-down on the couch. "What occasion?"
Lindir smirked. "The wedding, of course."
"You're saying it will be soon?"
"Are you against it?"
"No!" Arestel quickly answered. "I mean, Father and King Thranduil don't mention it that much. Will it really be soon?"
He shrugged and placed another book down. "That's what I'm guessing. Why would King Thranduil and his Wood-elven host travel all the way here for nothing? And they even brought wine barrels and chests full of jewels. Surely those will be offered as gifts during the wedding as customary."
Arestel groaned again. Elrond never gave much thought of educating her about the wedding customs of the Elves. Arwen never made mention of it either. Sooner or later, her father would be forced to discuss these things with her, and she would be stuck in another long sessions of studies. "Aren't there simpler ways?"
He chuckled. "I'm afraid there isn't, Estel." He noticed how bored she looked like, and Lindir did not blame her. It was indeed very boring to watch another elf silently dust off the books and shelves in the library. "Why don't you run along and find someone to disturb? Legolas and Tauriel won't be back until late in the afternoon, I suppose."
Following Glorfindel's little training session with the Silvan guards, King Thranduil had asked Legolas and Tauriel to continue the work, much to the pleasure of the female elf captain. She was too eager to get out of the lodgings and get rid of pointless maiden-ish conversations, especially those concerning the valor of Elladan and Elrohir, or the deep, dark eyes of Erestor, or the unbeatable fair face of Glorfindel.
"Go find Glorfindel and bother him instead," Lindir continued. "I heard he's with your brothers today."
Arestel frowned. "Nah. He's probably very busy and doesn't want to do things with me."
Lindir didn't know what else to offer. He was not Erestor to advise other people! But he felt the need to say something to cheer her up, and he blamed himself for not being a good speaker like Erestor.
"Well," he finally said, returning the books into the shelves. "I'm going to check on Gareth's tower. You wanna come?"
She rolled over form the couch and fell on the floor. "Count me in!"
With that, Lindir opened the door, his materials on hand, and an Arestel following from behind.
Author's Notes:
*gaarakabuto - Heeey! I missed talking to you! I am glad you're doing well, and that the chapters serve as your bedtime story! LOL. Thank you for dropping by!
