TA 2770
Lord Elrond was no fool. He knew something had happened on this day. He could sense it all the way from Erebor to his home in Rivendell. He had closed his eyes many years before and foreseen this day. Of course he had tried to warn them of what would happen. He had written and he had spoken of his worries, but no one had listened to him. Thror had been foolish to think that he could cope with no aid. He had been naive and his people had paid the price.
Opening his eyes, Elrond slowly shook his head back and forth and tucked his hands behind his back, holding his head high as he slowly left his chamber for the great feast that evening. It was soon to be his daughter's one thousandth birthday and he had no other option but to throw a great feast in her honour. But he suspected this news would cast a shadow over the festivities.
He knew better than most that this news would travel. The dwarves were disbanded and they had lost their home. Elrond should open up their gates to them, but he doubted that they would make it over the Misty Mountains to Rivendell.
"Something bothers you, Ada."
Elrond did not need to turn to see his daughter stood behind him. Her voice was soothing enough and he could not help but feel slight relief: relief that it had not been Rivendell that had been taken. He could only imagine the horror if such a thing should happen.
"Yes, my love," he replied in a soft voice, offering his arm to his eldest daughter as she took it slowly, wrapping her fingers on top of his arm. "The kingdom of Erebor has fallen. The dragon has taken hold of it. I saw it myself and I know it to be true. Your grandmother worries what shall happen now, as do I. So long as the dragon sleeps then there shall be peace, but how long will it be before a sleeping dragon is awoken?"
Arwen pursed her lips as her grip increased on his arm, trying to soothe him. The past hundred years had been difficult for her father and for their family. Nothing had been the same since his wife had left. Arwen could not deny that she missed her mother very much. She missed the female guidance she offered and her kind words. She missed her very much.
"I do not know," Arwen spoke in a small voice and Elrond looked down to his daughter before shaking his head.
He bent to press his lips to the top of her head, kissing her tenderly as they stood still in the corridor. They could hear the sound of plates being laid out as elves rushed back and forth in an attempt to prepare the festivities for the evening. How Elrond wished he could do something to aid, but his mind was elsewhere. His mind was on the Lonely Mountain.
"I shall offer the dwarves Rivendell should any of them seek refuge here," Elrond nodded. "There is no more that I can do."
Arwen took a moment to ponder over her father's words before they continued to walk towards the Great Hall. The sun was slowly setting over the great city, but it seemed to make the allure grander.
"Would they not seek aid in Mirkwood?" Arwen dared to ask. "It is much closer than Rivendell."
"I doubt that Mirkwood would offer help," Elrond admitted to his daughter. "King Thranduil rode to the Lonely Mountain with an army behind his back. He did nothing to help as he saw the people flee. I could see that much from the gift of foresight, but no help was offered."
"Why ever not?" Arwen wondered.
"Perhaps he did not wish to lose his forces?" Elrond spoke rhetorically. "The mind of King Thranduil is one I prefer not to delve into. I have met with the great King on many of occasions and have found him to be hospitable, but cold."
"The poor dwarves," Arwen managed to whisper and Elrond agreed silently with her. "It seems odd to celebrate when such a tragedy has taken place."
Elrond nodded his head to her and moved to stand before her. He slowly took hold of her hand inside of his, holding it tightly in his grip before kissing her knuckles tenderly.
"As peculiar as it seems, the celebration must continue. Your sister is now one thousand years old and everything is prepared. No doubt she is upstairs readying herself."
Arwen arched a brow and a small smirk fell on her lips as she shook her head. "You should know where she is, Ada."
It took Elrond a couple of moment to consider his daughter's words before he nodded at her. Giving her hand one last squeeze, the Lord of Rivendell dropped her limbs from his own and studied her for a few moments. His daughter had grown into a beautiful young elf. He could not deny that. She was charming, full of compassion and had been a mother figure to her younger sibling. How could Elrond fault her?
"I shall go to her," he assured Arwen. "Perhaps you can go and be certain that the festivities are well?"
"As you wish," Arwen nodded and turned on her heel to move towards the Great Hall.
Elrond watched her go before he gathered his brown robes in his hand and turned to move back down the corridor. He walked with haste, inclining his head as he passed others. The flowing of water echoed through his ears as the breeze of the evening air fell around him. The coolness was soothing after rushing through the corridors and the beauty of Rivendell never went unappreciated to Lord Elrond.
Moving over the bridge towards the courtyard, he peered into the depths of the water as he went. The courtyard stood before him and was completely empty. No one sat in it, but Elrond could see one who wished to remain hidden. It took him a few seconds to inhale sharply before he continued with his walk towards the female elf. She stood before a giant white statue, her gaze focused entirely on it as her hands sat in fists by her sides.
"Ava."
Elrond spoke her name softly and she tossed her head over her shoulder to look to him. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide as Elrond moved to stand before her.
"Ada," she replied to him. "I apologise for my lateness...I...time seemed to pass quickly."
Shaking his head, Elrond took to stand beside his daughter, looking up to the marble statue as he did so. She followed his gaze and glanced back to the statue, folding her arms over her chest as she bit on her tongue to stop her from speaking her thoughts aloud. How could she inform her father that she had no desire to spend the evening in the company of elves happier than herself? He had gone to such an effort and Ava hardly longed to seem unappreciative.
"I miss her," Ava finally spoke to her father. "I wish that she could be here for all of us."
Elrond felt his face tense up as he did his best not to let his emotion show. Everything still pained him about the day his wife left him for the overseas.
"As do I," Elrond agreed with her. "But we shall be reunited one day, and for today she would not wish to see you upset."
"It is difficult not to be upset," Ava admitted and she moved to sit by the edge of the fountain next to the statue. "I appreciate all that Arwen does for me, but it feels wrong to celebrate when mother has only been gone for a few hundred years."
Elrond took his seat next to his daughter as she tucked a strand of curled brown hair behind her ear. She fidgeted with the sleeves to her long blue dress as she sat up straight and Elrond could not deny that she had the face of her mother. Her hair was his colour, but that was all. She was her mother's daughter; there was no denying that.
"It is what your mother would want you to do," Elrond tried to persuade her. "There are many guests who have travelled many leagues to be with us tonight, my dear."
"I know," she promised her father. "I am aware of that, and I shall dress momentarily."
"As you say," Elrond said and he wondered if it was for the best to keep his youngest daughter by his side when she was obviously in pain. "It pains me to see you so sad on a day which should be reserved for happiness."
A small smile escaped the brunette then and she moved to her feet as Elrond remained seated. Her lips were pulled up and her nose wrinkled as she tried to blink back tears. Her wide blue eyes looked down to her floor as she continued to push her hair behind her pointed ears.
"I shall go and ready myself," was all that Ava could offer her father.
"I shall ask for Arwen to help you and escort you," Elrond spoke and Ava bent down to kiss her father on the cheek softly. "Your gown should be on your bed. I had a dress made for you."
Not even the promise of a new gown could cause her smile to widen. She merely nodded and turned away from her father to begin the walk to her chamber. It took a few moments for Elrond to stand before she had gone. The sun was now well and truly setting over Rivendell as Elrond considered what to do for the best.
He could see that by staying in Rivendell there was nothing but memories for Ava. He would send her away if he knew that it would help, but he had not let his children leave Rivendell ever since their mother had been taken from them. Orcs roamed the hills and there was danger everywhere. He knew that time from Rivendell may be helpful, but did not have it in his heart to release her from Rivendell. Arwen herself had asked to leave to visit her grandparents, but he had declined what she had asked of him.
He suspected he could travel with his daughters. The Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn were his family too. Perhaps time with them would also help him? Elrond did not know, but he would ask the Lady Galadriel if it was possible to visit Lothlórien. Little did he know his visit would coincide with that of the King of the Mirkwood.
...
A/N: So this is going to be a Thranduil/OC story spanning the length of The Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings! I know Ava isn't the best Elven name, but I hope that doesn't detract from the story. Thank you for reading the first chapter and I hope you have the chance to review.
