The After Ages
by Shauna
***
Part Six, Chapter Five
Confrontation
A/M Sorry this is a bit short. Thanks to all the reviewers! Please check out my other stuff, which are barely getting responded to. Y'all are the best.
***
As he entered the room, Throndil followed behind him, a protective hand on his shoulder. There was a subtle shade of menace in the eyes of all the Avari, and an air of twisted justice hung about the room. Thranduil looked tired but determined.
One of the dark elves, sitting towards the side, looked him firmly in the eye, and in his gaze was some small sense of compassion.
When Tsttay, at the head of the table, spoke, his voice was harsh and demanding. "You are Aragorn? Son of?"
"Aragorn son of Jonathan," he answered. "Aragorn Patterson."
The elves looked confused. "Patter's son? I thought you were the son of Jonathan."
"Jonathan Patterson."
"Do not play games with us!" Tsttay growled.
"I'm not! We all have the same last name. My mother and father, my father's parents, my grandfather's parents... the name gets passed down. But my dad's first name is Jonathan. So. Jonathan Patterson, Aragorn Patterson. Get it?"
Tsttay tried to regain his composure. "An awkward system, to say the least. Aragorn Patterson son ofJonathan Patterson, do you know the decision laid before you?"
"Well... no."
Tsttay slowly stood. His bearing was as regal as Thranduil's, if in a different, darker way.
"Once you intruded into our forest, you should have been killed. No one must know of our dwelling here. Even before the humans, with their destruction and useless rage, came forth upon this earth, we sought to be undisturbed and in secret. Nevertheless, we seek to do you no unnecessary harm."
Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief at this. Tsttay continued. "However, we must keep our land hidden. There must be no risk of discovery - no risk of your betrayal. Therefore, you will take an oath swearing on Iluvatar that you will not leave our valley, on pain of the lives of your guardians here, or else you will be killed."
"That's not a choice at all!" cried Aragorn. Throndil and Thranduil were glaring at the other elves.
"It is the only choice you have," said Tsttay calmly.
"Assarda ar arringa nar i Avari, i more Quendi!" Throndil cried, and Thranduil's eyes widened, but the Avari like Aragorn did not understand the words.
"Speak not in your High hidden language," Tsttay commanded him. "We will have no secrets here. Now, what is your choice?"
Aragorn felt overwhelmed. Sinking to his knees, nearly begging, he asked, "What about my parents? They'll worry about me - "
"Think you we do not worry when our elves are lost?"
"But they'll come after me. They'll bring the police here, to search for me."
"Do you threaten us?"
"No! I'm just stating the truth. My mother is an ambassador in this country, she'll get the whole guard to come out looking for me. They have heat-sensors and search dogs and..." Aragorn faltered.
"He speaks justly," Thranduil said. "We do not just harm him by keeping him here, we harm ourselves."
"What would you have us do?" asked Tsttay. "He cannot be free."
"It seems," said the Avari from the corner who had looked kindly on Aragorn before, "that we are again at the same issue. It is wrong to force him to stay, yet it is wrong to let him leave."
"Do you see another choice, Rvarry?"
"... no."
Thranduil rose, looking troubled. "I ask for at least one more day of council. It may be that we are overlooking something in our haste. It may be that this can be avoided, and a single day will not endanger us so much."
"Yes," Throndil said, supporting his father, "Aragorn has told us that these 'police' by their laws cannot come for him until tomorow. By then, we can decide."
Tsttay looked as though he would object, but Rvarry said, "It will be so. It takes but one member to delay the decision of the council."
Some of the other elves looked as though they might protest, but Rvarry spoke truly and Tsttay was forced to submit. Standing up, he said, "It ends. We will meet again tomorow."
***
They filed out of the room slowly, Aragorn and the Eldar going first. Thranduil immediately excused himself to go think upon the problem, his voice trouble and his gaze weary. Throndil took him by the hand and led him away from the Avari going past him, who deigned not to look at him. Only Rvarry gave him a grave nod.
"Who is that?" Aragorn asked Throndil.
"That is Rvarry, Ctctey's father. He is known for his caution - and his kindness."
Aragorn sat, wrapped in his thoughts, while Throndil watched the other elves walk off to their tree homes, to think and worry in the deepening darkness.
"What is to be done?" Aragorn said at length, trying to sound mature, but he was trembling.
"I don't know," replied Throndil. "But my father and I will get you out of this. Somehow."
"On pain - pain of death?"
Throndil regarded him with sad eyes. "I would that I had died long ago, and could have dwelt in the Blessed Realm if only in the Halls of Mandos."
"Throndil, how can you say that?"
"I have as long as I can remember wanted to go to the Undying Lands, now gone beyond the void, beyond my reach. I built my tree home so it opened up to the night, to the stars, and thought perhaps the Starkindler would look down upon me. But my father stays here, and so must I. It causes such disharmony in my soul..." his voice trailed off.
"Why must you stay with your father?"
"When my brother Legolas left, he nearly died of grief. Though I was not born until after, I see the scars left by his departure - Legolas - " Throndil's voice cracked. "Legolas, I would condemn thee if I could! But I would have done as you did."
"But surely he wouldn't ask you to sacrifice yourself for him," Aragorn said.
Throndil sighed softly and turned to Aragorn. "I love my father greatly, in a way that passes your understanding. For the loves of men are brief and therefore filled with passion - how can I put it? They are like flowers, which bloom but for a single season, and when the petals are ripped by a windstorm or a child's hasty hand, it is all the more painful for life's brevity. What right has anyone to take from a plant it's only flower? And it is gone, beyond forgiveness or regret. Now the love of an elf is like a tree, with roots that spread and deepen over the years. So many have I lived with my father, that I am dug into him as deep as the eldest oak into the earth, and might not ever live without him. For how do trunk and branches fare alone? They whither, they mourn... they die. Do you understand me?"
Aragorn could only nod.
"Yes... I believe you do. And so you see that, though he does not see it, he has condemned me with my love, even as he freed my brother? And he never meant to - so it is all the more painful. It was but a chance of time, for us to be born the last of the Sindar, the last of the Eldar elves..."
"Us?"
"Maylin and I, though her mind I do not know. Perhaps she is content here."
They sat a while longer in silence, then Throndil spoke, not to Aragorn but to the stars.
"Earendil," he said, "and all the fiery children of Elbereth. Will you not guide me?" A single tear, nearly hidden in shadows, ran down his face, and he began to chant,
"Unwilling were the Avari,
weaker and less graceful
but they are elves and never die
they remain to arda faithful."
"Throndil?" Aragorn asked tentatively.
He spoke softly but firmly, as if in his mind some great decision had been made. "I owe no loyalty to this land, and neither does my father. Nor to your race. Ironic, is it not? Yet we stayed for a purpose, and I would see that purpose played out. You are part of that purpose, I am certain. As my brother helped guide King Aragorn to his throne, I will bring you back to your people."
"King... Aragorn?"
"I was ordered not to tell you, but many commands must I betray this night. Aragorn, son of Arathorn, elf-friend and the first and greatest king of this age. For him you are named, by chance or by fate. Now come, I am going to take you home."
***
Translation:
Hardest and coldest are the Avari, the black elves.
Note: That is Quenya being spoken. I chose it because according to my theory, after so many years together the Eldar would know the Avari's language and the Avari would know Throndil, Thranduil and Maylin's Sindarin. So Quenya would be the only option for Throndil if he wanted to keep his words secret. Also, I actually know some Quenya, so it wasn't like if I used Sindarin and would just be taking random words from dictionaries.
2nd Note: For the Eldar, especially those who spoke Quenya, consonant clusters were deliberately avoided. Therefore I've tried to do the opposite for names of the Avari.
***
by Shauna
***
Part Six, Chapter Five
Confrontation
A/M Sorry this is a bit short. Thanks to all the reviewers! Please check out my other stuff, which are barely getting responded to. Y'all are the best.
***
As he entered the room, Throndil followed behind him, a protective hand on his shoulder. There was a subtle shade of menace in the eyes of all the Avari, and an air of twisted justice hung about the room. Thranduil looked tired but determined.
One of the dark elves, sitting towards the side, looked him firmly in the eye, and in his gaze was some small sense of compassion.
When Tsttay, at the head of the table, spoke, his voice was harsh and demanding. "You are Aragorn? Son of?"
"Aragorn son of Jonathan," he answered. "Aragorn Patterson."
The elves looked confused. "Patter's son? I thought you were the son of Jonathan."
"Jonathan Patterson."
"Do not play games with us!" Tsttay growled.
"I'm not! We all have the same last name. My mother and father, my father's parents, my grandfather's parents... the name gets passed down. But my dad's first name is Jonathan. So. Jonathan Patterson, Aragorn Patterson. Get it?"
Tsttay tried to regain his composure. "An awkward system, to say the least. Aragorn Patterson son ofJonathan Patterson, do you know the decision laid before you?"
"Well... no."
Tsttay slowly stood. His bearing was as regal as Thranduil's, if in a different, darker way.
"Once you intruded into our forest, you should have been killed. No one must know of our dwelling here. Even before the humans, with their destruction and useless rage, came forth upon this earth, we sought to be undisturbed and in secret. Nevertheless, we seek to do you no unnecessary harm."
Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief at this. Tsttay continued. "However, we must keep our land hidden. There must be no risk of discovery - no risk of your betrayal. Therefore, you will take an oath swearing on Iluvatar that you will not leave our valley, on pain of the lives of your guardians here, or else you will be killed."
"That's not a choice at all!" cried Aragorn. Throndil and Thranduil were glaring at the other elves.
"It is the only choice you have," said Tsttay calmly.
"Assarda ar arringa nar i Avari, i more Quendi!" Throndil cried, and Thranduil's eyes widened, but the Avari like Aragorn did not understand the words.
"Speak not in your High hidden language," Tsttay commanded him. "We will have no secrets here. Now, what is your choice?"
Aragorn felt overwhelmed. Sinking to his knees, nearly begging, he asked, "What about my parents? They'll worry about me - "
"Think you we do not worry when our elves are lost?"
"But they'll come after me. They'll bring the police here, to search for me."
"Do you threaten us?"
"No! I'm just stating the truth. My mother is an ambassador in this country, she'll get the whole guard to come out looking for me. They have heat-sensors and search dogs and..." Aragorn faltered.
"He speaks justly," Thranduil said. "We do not just harm him by keeping him here, we harm ourselves."
"What would you have us do?" asked Tsttay. "He cannot be free."
"It seems," said the Avari from the corner who had looked kindly on Aragorn before, "that we are again at the same issue. It is wrong to force him to stay, yet it is wrong to let him leave."
"Do you see another choice, Rvarry?"
"... no."
Thranduil rose, looking troubled. "I ask for at least one more day of council. It may be that we are overlooking something in our haste. It may be that this can be avoided, and a single day will not endanger us so much."
"Yes," Throndil said, supporting his father, "Aragorn has told us that these 'police' by their laws cannot come for him until tomorow. By then, we can decide."
Tsttay looked as though he would object, but Rvarry said, "It will be so. It takes but one member to delay the decision of the council."
Some of the other elves looked as though they might protest, but Rvarry spoke truly and Tsttay was forced to submit. Standing up, he said, "It ends. We will meet again tomorow."
***
They filed out of the room slowly, Aragorn and the Eldar going first. Thranduil immediately excused himself to go think upon the problem, his voice trouble and his gaze weary. Throndil took him by the hand and led him away from the Avari going past him, who deigned not to look at him. Only Rvarry gave him a grave nod.
"Who is that?" Aragorn asked Throndil.
"That is Rvarry, Ctctey's father. He is known for his caution - and his kindness."
Aragorn sat, wrapped in his thoughts, while Throndil watched the other elves walk off to their tree homes, to think and worry in the deepening darkness.
"What is to be done?" Aragorn said at length, trying to sound mature, but he was trembling.
"I don't know," replied Throndil. "But my father and I will get you out of this. Somehow."
"On pain - pain of death?"
Throndil regarded him with sad eyes. "I would that I had died long ago, and could have dwelt in the Blessed Realm if only in the Halls of Mandos."
"Throndil, how can you say that?"
"I have as long as I can remember wanted to go to the Undying Lands, now gone beyond the void, beyond my reach. I built my tree home so it opened up to the night, to the stars, and thought perhaps the Starkindler would look down upon me. But my father stays here, and so must I. It causes such disharmony in my soul..." his voice trailed off.
"Why must you stay with your father?"
"When my brother Legolas left, he nearly died of grief. Though I was not born until after, I see the scars left by his departure - Legolas - " Throndil's voice cracked. "Legolas, I would condemn thee if I could! But I would have done as you did."
"But surely he wouldn't ask you to sacrifice yourself for him," Aragorn said.
Throndil sighed softly and turned to Aragorn. "I love my father greatly, in a way that passes your understanding. For the loves of men are brief and therefore filled with passion - how can I put it? They are like flowers, which bloom but for a single season, and when the petals are ripped by a windstorm or a child's hasty hand, it is all the more painful for life's brevity. What right has anyone to take from a plant it's only flower? And it is gone, beyond forgiveness or regret. Now the love of an elf is like a tree, with roots that spread and deepen over the years. So many have I lived with my father, that I am dug into him as deep as the eldest oak into the earth, and might not ever live without him. For how do trunk and branches fare alone? They whither, they mourn... they die. Do you understand me?"
Aragorn could only nod.
"Yes... I believe you do. And so you see that, though he does not see it, he has condemned me with my love, even as he freed my brother? And he never meant to - so it is all the more painful. It was but a chance of time, for us to be born the last of the Sindar, the last of the Eldar elves..."
"Us?"
"Maylin and I, though her mind I do not know. Perhaps she is content here."
They sat a while longer in silence, then Throndil spoke, not to Aragorn but to the stars.
"Earendil," he said, "and all the fiery children of Elbereth. Will you not guide me?" A single tear, nearly hidden in shadows, ran down his face, and he began to chant,
"Unwilling were the Avari,
weaker and less graceful
but they are elves and never die
they remain to arda faithful."
"Throndil?" Aragorn asked tentatively.
He spoke softly but firmly, as if in his mind some great decision had been made. "I owe no loyalty to this land, and neither does my father. Nor to your race. Ironic, is it not? Yet we stayed for a purpose, and I would see that purpose played out. You are part of that purpose, I am certain. As my brother helped guide King Aragorn to his throne, I will bring you back to your people."
"King... Aragorn?"
"I was ordered not to tell you, but many commands must I betray this night. Aragorn, son of Arathorn, elf-friend and the first and greatest king of this age. For him you are named, by chance or by fate. Now come, I am going to take you home."
***
Translation:
Hardest and coldest are the Avari, the black elves.
Note: That is Quenya being spoken. I chose it because according to my theory, after so many years together the Eldar would know the Avari's language and the Avari would know Throndil, Thranduil and Maylin's Sindarin. So Quenya would be the only option for Throndil if he wanted to keep his words secret. Also, I actually know some Quenya, so it wasn't like if I used Sindarin and would just be taking random words from dictionaries.
2nd Note: For the Eldar, especially those who spoke Quenya, consonant clusters were deliberately avoided. Therefore I've tried to do the opposite for names of the Avari.
***