How long they had been traveling or how far they had gone, he did not know.
A deep chill and emptiness had taken up residence within him. A pain he
recognized from the day he had learned of his fathers death…the day he had
seen his mother slain upon the battle field*.
He and Elrond had been traveling for weeks and still they saw no sign of Ondiel or Elros. Gil-galad had not slept in that time, to afraid that if he did he would be too late. His exhaustion would have gotten the better of him if every time he looked back, Elrond was not there, but he always was, keeping a slightly slower pace behind his King. Gil-galad drew from his strength and pressed on every time despair came to him.
They came upon a small camp of elves from Beleriand, all of which looked very depressed. They seemed uplifted at the sight of their King but Gil- galad learned that of all the parents there, non had escaped with their children. When it was decided that they would stay at the encampment for the night, Gil-galad found a solitary place to go and asked that he be left alone.
"Elbereth, I beg thee to help us. I know that we have asked for much and you have given as much as you could, but I ask you now, help us." It was a whispered plea to the Lady. Maybe it was for less than to help them all… "Return them to me, return him to me, do not allow him to be lost like so many others." Gil-galad was seldom found on his knees, begging, but he was desperate. He had only asked such things of Elbereth when he had been separated from his father.
Gil-galad returned to the camp to find Elrond curled up by the fire, his lengthy frame compacted to a ball as he had drawn his legs up to his chest. Spreading his cloak over the boy, Gil-galad sat down next to him and finally allowed sleep to bring him down.
The next day, the King and his Prince set out once more in search of the younger brother. It was not long ere they came upon a group of travelers, also former inhabitants of Beleriand. Often they met such elves along their way but Elrond paid special attention to this band for he heard the familiar voices of an annoyed elf and an impatient younger elf. Gil-galad heard it as well and with a look to his Prince, ran to the group.
"Elros!" They shouted in unison. When they came close enough, Gil-galad saw a younger elf clinging to the cloak of an older elf, staring in their direction. His face lit up as did Gil-galad's and Elrond's when they recognized each other.
"Ereinion!" Elros cried out, the brothers had always liked using his first name when it mattered to no one but them. The older elf looked up to see Gil-galad as well.
"My King!" He was beaten to Gil-galad by Elros who sped from him to his brother and King. Ondiel stopped short of reaching the King when he saw him embracing the two younger elves.
"Elbereth be thanked." Gil-galad whispered as a look of serenity came over his face.
Within a few months, it was made official that the first age was over. It was not the only thing that was over, for the half-elven had to choose now which race they would belong to. Gil-galad paced constantly and was ever present with the boys for he feared separation from them. Feared that his Princes would grow to be Kings and leave his guidance and protection. Elrond was not drawn to the life of a man and kept his promise to remain by his Kings side forever. Elros, however, was swayed to the mortal life.
"I know it seems the wrong choice."
"It does not seem, it is." Gil-galad said as he looked down at the boy with hard eyes.
"But it is mine to make, wrong or not. Thank you, my King." Gil-galad stooped and hugged the child, now of the second born, now no longer under his kingship. "I love you, my atar." Those were the last words Gil-galad heard from his prince ere he left to claim a land of his own, young as he was.
'But he isn't young' Gil-galad thought to himself.
Over the next few years, Gil-galad saw his eldest Prince grow fully of age, the confusion of his body now resolved as it grew to a tall, slender elf. He also, much more noticeably, saw Elros mature into a man, thicker than his bother and King but with the fairness of an elven face. What startled him most was the beard, something he never grew used to when he looked at his youngest prince, now much older. The separation was made truly official when Elros sailed to the land of the second born, Númenor.
Ondiel became concerned for Gil-galad now rarely ate full meals or slept full nights. If the burden of his crown was not enough to break his shoulders, then the loss of his youngest prince surely was.
Gil-galad took his mind from the passing of his youngest prince when he created a haven in Lindon, followed by Elrond, he dwelt there, ruling over the elves and ever anxiously awaiting news from Númenor.
*Poetic license, I know squat about his mom.
K, this chap was kinda fast forwarded cause I had to cover lots of things with the half-elven's choice and Elros' sailing. I liked the contrast of his gaining Elros as a child and loosing him as an adult, still, poor Gil- galad.
Review! I live off them!
He and Elrond had been traveling for weeks and still they saw no sign of Ondiel or Elros. Gil-galad had not slept in that time, to afraid that if he did he would be too late. His exhaustion would have gotten the better of him if every time he looked back, Elrond was not there, but he always was, keeping a slightly slower pace behind his King. Gil-galad drew from his strength and pressed on every time despair came to him.
They came upon a small camp of elves from Beleriand, all of which looked very depressed. They seemed uplifted at the sight of their King but Gil- galad learned that of all the parents there, non had escaped with their children. When it was decided that they would stay at the encampment for the night, Gil-galad found a solitary place to go and asked that he be left alone.
"Elbereth, I beg thee to help us. I know that we have asked for much and you have given as much as you could, but I ask you now, help us." It was a whispered plea to the Lady. Maybe it was for less than to help them all… "Return them to me, return him to me, do not allow him to be lost like so many others." Gil-galad was seldom found on his knees, begging, but he was desperate. He had only asked such things of Elbereth when he had been separated from his father.
Gil-galad returned to the camp to find Elrond curled up by the fire, his lengthy frame compacted to a ball as he had drawn his legs up to his chest. Spreading his cloak over the boy, Gil-galad sat down next to him and finally allowed sleep to bring him down.
The next day, the King and his Prince set out once more in search of the younger brother. It was not long ere they came upon a group of travelers, also former inhabitants of Beleriand. Often they met such elves along their way but Elrond paid special attention to this band for he heard the familiar voices of an annoyed elf and an impatient younger elf. Gil-galad heard it as well and with a look to his Prince, ran to the group.
"Elros!" They shouted in unison. When they came close enough, Gil-galad saw a younger elf clinging to the cloak of an older elf, staring in their direction. His face lit up as did Gil-galad's and Elrond's when they recognized each other.
"Ereinion!" Elros cried out, the brothers had always liked using his first name when it mattered to no one but them. The older elf looked up to see Gil-galad as well.
"My King!" He was beaten to Gil-galad by Elros who sped from him to his brother and King. Ondiel stopped short of reaching the King when he saw him embracing the two younger elves.
"Elbereth be thanked." Gil-galad whispered as a look of serenity came over his face.
Within a few months, it was made official that the first age was over. It was not the only thing that was over, for the half-elven had to choose now which race they would belong to. Gil-galad paced constantly and was ever present with the boys for he feared separation from them. Feared that his Princes would grow to be Kings and leave his guidance and protection. Elrond was not drawn to the life of a man and kept his promise to remain by his Kings side forever. Elros, however, was swayed to the mortal life.
"I know it seems the wrong choice."
"It does not seem, it is." Gil-galad said as he looked down at the boy with hard eyes.
"But it is mine to make, wrong or not. Thank you, my King." Gil-galad stooped and hugged the child, now of the second born, now no longer under his kingship. "I love you, my atar." Those were the last words Gil-galad heard from his prince ere he left to claim a land of his own, young as he was.
'But he isn't young' Gil-galad thought to himself.
Over the next few years, Gil-galad saw his eldest Prince grow fully of age, the confusion of his body now resolved as it grew to a tall, slender elf. He also, much more noticeably, saw Elros mature into a man, thicker than his bother and King but with the fairness of an elven face. What startled him most was the beard, something he never grew used to when he looked at his youngest prince, now much older. The separation was made truly official when Elros sailed to the land of the second born, Númenor.
Ondiel became concerned for Gil-galad now rarely ate full meals or slept full nights. If the burden of his crown was not enough to break his shoulders, then the loss of his youngest prince surely was.
Gil-galad took his mind from the passing of his youngest prince when he created a haven in Lindon, followed by Elrond, he dwelt there, ruling over the elves and ever anxiously awaiting news from Númenor.
*Poetic license, I know squat about his mom.
K, this chap was kinda fast forwarded cause I had to cover lots of things with the half-elven's choice and Elros' sailing. I liked the contrast of his gaining Elros as a child and loosing him as an adult, still, poor Gil- galad.
Review! I live off them!