SECRETS IN LOTHLORIEN
PART FIVE
Celemedril strode up the great ladder stair that led upwards to the house of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel in the city of Caras Galadhon. He had saluted the guards at the foot of the stair and had listened for the answer to their horn call that granted him permission to start the upward journey.
The great house was built at the top of a giant mallorn tree, the likes of which was seen nowhere else in Middle Earth. He came with haste from his guard post on the borders of Lorien, in obedience to an urgent summons from Lord Celeborn. With both hope and dread, he suspected it had to do with his sister Eloessa.
In the last several months, he had seen Eloessa but once since the day he bore her to the apartments of the Lady Galadriel, their foster-mother and ruler. Eloessa had been cruelly attacked and despoiled by a Dunlending soldier in the Misty Mountains. His sister had, to his shame, been forced to kill her attacker herself.
Celemedril had desperately borne her back to Lorien for Eloessa had slipped further and further into a stupor after her rescue. Nothing, not even finally, reluctantly, a sharp blow from her brother, had roused her. When he arrived he had given a brief, bare account of events to Lady Galadriel. His sister had been taken away to rooms within the house and put under the personal care of the Lady.
He had then gone to report to Lord Celeborn. He managed to collapse in the midst of his recital, due to the poisoned and unhealed leg wound he had taken in the Misty Mountains in his battle with the Wargs. He had slept for more than three days and finally awoke much recovered, due to the leech- craft of Lorien's healers.
Celemedril found that while he slept his brother Eomeril had arrived, following them from the Mountains. Eomeril had taken on supplies enough for a long journey and then left again without telling anyone where he was going. He had stopped only long enough to learn that Eloessa's condition was unchanged and that Celemedril was trapped in a troubled sleep seeking to throw off the poison in his body.
Celemedril had gone to see Eloessa as soon as he arose. Lady Galadriel herself had been sitting with her handmaiden day and night. The healers had dealt with the bodily hurts they found but could not heal the mind and spirit fled far away from the horror she had endured.
"Eloessa is unchanged since you brought her to me three days ago," Lady Galadriel said. "I fear she will not come back to us without great help. I have tried to reach her, but even the love between us is not enough to overbear the grief her mind seeks to hide from and deny."
Galadriel moved aside from the bed carved in the shape of a great swan and gestured for Celemedril to approach. Eloessa lay pale and still beneath the sheets, barely seeming to breathe. Celemedril was startled, for his sister's light blue eyes were open and staring out the open window, where late afternoon sunshine filtered through the mallorn leaves. He looked questioningly at Lady Galadriel. "Her eyes are open, but she appears to hear us not and does not respond in any way." She said in explanation.
Celemedril moved closer and knelt by the bed. He said, "Eloessa, sister, it is time to be up and doing. I am sure the Lady has much to tell you for your visit in Rivendell was long and she missed you." He knew he was rather abrupt and his words shorn of tenderness. But he was a warrior, not a bard.
And his heart was still heavy with shame and regret that he had not protected his sister, nor even managed to avenge her attack. She had done that herself. He had not yet admitted this to anyone in Lorien. To his shame, he so far had allowed them to believe that he had slain her attacker. Even his brother did not know the truth. When his sister awoke, he would have to face his failure, but not until then, he thought.
But Galadriel continued to look at him expectantly so he tried again. He did not know what else to do, so he took his sister's hand in his. So slender and fine, he thought. But he remembered well how she wielded the sword and sliced from his neck the head of the man who hurt her. Shame threatened to choke him again and warred with the pride he felt at her feat and his fear that her suffering had overturned her mind.
So his voice was rough with emotion when he spoke. "Come back to us. Come back to us, gentle flower." He gave her the childhood name she, little warrior, had always despised. He hoped the old name would get some reaction from her, for her irritation had always been his brotherly, if affectionate, goal.
But Eloessa gave no response. She lay still on the bed. Her eyelids lowered slowly over blank eyes, and raised again with no change in expression. Though her brother tried to draw her back for several more hours, he had no success.
He was reminded of his dream the night of the attack, in which she eluded him in a dark forest despite his desperate search. When the moon stood high above the trees of Lorien, Celemedril at last gently kissed the hand he held and turned away in defeat.
Lady Galadriel sighed. "It was no different with Eomeril, though I had hoped.they have always been so close."
Celemedril stiffened at the mention of his brother. "He came to see her? I am surprised he took the trouble. I thought he barely spared time to load up supplies and run off again."
"I know not what impediment has come between you and your brother, but you will not bring its pettiness in to the sickroom of your sister!" Lady Galadriel said sharply.
"Eomeril's departure was without my leave or my Lord Celeborn's, so he is not in my favor at present. He would not answer any questions about what happened. You have left many details unspoken as well, though I excused this due to your wound. But do not challenge my good will too far, son of Gilrond."
"Your pardon, my Lady." Celemedril bowed stiffly. "I am, as ever, at your service."
"Leave here and come not to your sister's presence until your heart is at peace. Think of her, and not your damaged pride or guilt. While you are in turmoil, you will not be the one to reach her." Lady Galadriel turned away, dismissing Celemedril, who thought as usual the Lady saw far too much.
Celemedril had left the Lady and his sister and gone to take up patrol duties on the far southern borders of Lorien. He ever kept alert for word of his brother, for the last report of him had been that he was heading south, toward Rohan. And beyond Rohan, Celemedril thought, lay Dunland.
After a few weeks on the border Celemedril had heard that his sister was responding at last to the constant care of the Lady Galadriel. He was relieved to know this, but mindful of the Lady's warning to stay away unless he himself was at peace, he continued his endless patrols. He remained ever at war within himself, eaten away with shame for his failure, his lies, and his treatment of his brother, but yet unable in his pride to confess any of it.
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Eloessa had risen from her bed and cared for herself. She undertook simple tasks. She refused to work any needlecraft, though her precious mithril needles had been returned to her. She spoke rarely and did not smile or sing.
One thing only she asked of Lady Galadriel. Eloessa begged leave to withdraw into seclusion, with just a single servant, to a tree talan some distance from the Lady's house. "My mind has come back to my body, but neither are at peace. I must have time to myself, my Lady. Please, mother of my heart, grant me this request."
Against her better judgment, but in an effort to give her foster daughter what comfort she could, Galadriel consented. Eloessa, like her brothers, had resisted all attempts to talk about what had happened to her.
Galadriel had lived long enough, through wars of Elves and Men and many other creatures, to know what sometimes happened to women, even Elven women, caught up in the violence of Middle Earth. Many Elves who suffered such an assault died of grief, but not all. Galadriel had feared greatly for Eloessa when her brother first brought her from the Mountains.
But her foster daughter was strong and now seemed as if she would survive. So if she needed time alone to heal completely, Galadriel thought it might be for the best. Lady Galadriel, for all her wisdom, could not always see what lay in the hearts of those closest to her and so missed the true cause of Eloessa's torment.
Thus, for many months, no one saw Eloessa except the serving woman she took with her. The servant Calmae, once served Evasta, Eloessa's mother. Her love and loyalty was ever first to the child of Evasta, even before Galadriel, though never before had this been put to the test. So Calmae served Eloessa and watched, but remained silent.
A spiral stair around the trunk of a golden-leafed mallorn reached the talan platform where Eloessa dwelt in solitude. The dwelling was simple, with just four rooms. All of them could be laid open to the sunshine with shutters, or closed at need in bad weather. Wall hangings woven by Galadriel's women, some by Eloessa herself, graced the wooden walls. They were forest scenes of Lorien in all its seasons or depictions of starry nights along the Silverlode. Calmae cooked the simple meals Eloessa preferred over a metal brazier. Carved chairs and one low divan with ample cushions comprised most of the furnishings except lidded chests for storage.
Eloessa spent the summer and early fall looking out the windows of her bedroom, rarely leaving it. She watched the leaves turn deep gold, red and orange. The trees in Lorien kept their leaves late into the fall. The autumn air became crisp and bore the scent of change. Soon enough the winds shifted and winter storms brewed in the eastern Mountains, boiling down across the plains to the edges of the Golden Wood.
Galadriel finally decided Eloessa had spent enough time alone and arrived one frosty morning unannounced. She had stayed an unexpectedly short time, then left and closeted herself with Lord Celeborn. A messenger was soon dispatched to the southern border to summon Celemedril, which brought him hastening but unenlightened, to the presence of his Lord and Lady.
**************************************************************************** ********
Lord Celeborn was seated upon his great chair carved with curling mallorn leaves when Celemedril entered and bowed before him. Lady Galadriel, however, stood looking out a window that was open despite the chill air outside. Lord Celeborn looked grim, the warrior thought. He was shocked, though, by the strain in Lady Galadriel's face. She looked as though she had been weeping.
Celemedril could only think of Eloessa. "Does Eloessa fare ill?" He asked, without waiting for leave to speak. Lady Galadriel gestured to halt further words. She returned to sit beside Celeborn. Celeborn gave her his hand and Galadriel clasped it tightly, seeming to need comfort. Silence reigned for several moments while Celemedril's mind whirled in confusion.
Lord Celeborn finally spoke. "I apologize for leaving you to imagine that Eloessa has taken injury or has passed away. Neither has occurred. And yet, things go ill with her. Something of great, perhaps fateful, significance has come to pass." He paused, as if weighing his words. "Eloessa is with child."
Celemedril looked as if he wished he could sit down. "Why would she seek a union without my consent? Who amongst the men here have sought her out? Even if I was beyond consultation, no one would approach her without seeking your advise or the Lady Galadriel's." he said uncertainly.
Then another terrible possibility suggested itself to him. He asked with an expression full of pain, "Did the shock of her attack lead her to value herself less and offer herself outside of marriage? Surely she knew the fault was never hers. It was that of the foul carrion who attacked her. His and mine, may she forgive me! I failed to protect or even avenge her."
Finally his secrets came pouring out. "He took her from the camp while I lay senseless from my wound. Eomeril left her alone with me. I slept through the attack, and then woke to find them gone. I tracked them down but I was too late. He had already despoiled her."
The tall Elf's form was bent with anguish. "I tried to avenge her but my wound betrayed me and I was disarmed. Even hurt and bound, she managed to kill him when I could not."
He turned away from his foster parents, weeping in his grief at what he had done. "Bereft of my pride, I turned my rage at myself upon Eomeril. I struck him and accused him of cowardice and betraying my faith in him."
He struggled for a moment to find the strength to describe depths of his dishonor. "I later found he had been delayed in a battle with Orcs. He was alone and he slew seven of the creatures in his desperation to return to Eloessa and the brother he thought near death."
"Even when I knew the truth, I never sought his pardon. Now he wanders distant lands on a quest of vengeance believing that I hold him unworthy of my trust." He cried. "When it was I who betrayed him and our sister!"
He turned back to Lord Celeborn. "Whatever has befallen Eloessa, I will ever hold her in honor and she will always have my protection."
Celeborn shook his head sadly. "Would that you had told us of this sooner. Whether anything could have been done, our way might now have been clearer."
He pronounced judgment on his foster son. "I hold you blameless in failing to prevent the attack on Eloessa. It is to her honor with none taken from you that she was able to avenge herself. Your great pride caused you to assume more responsibility and guilt than was your part to carry. Your sins against your brother are gravest of all but must be reckoned between the two of you at some time in the future."
The Lady Galadriel now spoke for the first time. "While your confession has left you more at peace than at any time since your return, it is clear to me you do not grasp what Lord Celeborn first told you."
She said wearily. "You know that unlike the race of Men, women of our race conceive only when they are desirous of it. Whether that gift is granted to them is in the hands of Iluvatare. But never have I known a conception to occur when a woman was not moved to desire a child. Thus is each birth among the Eldar welcomed with joy."
"Eloessa is now six months gone with child. In her fear and confusion, she kept it secret until I discovered it two days ago. Her mind is nearly overborne with the weight of what has happened and what will happen. I do not and will not believe she desired this conception, though I cannot otherwise explain it."
Galadriel continued in the face of Celemedril's growing horror. "There is no doubt that the father of the child is the one who attacked her. He was a Mortal. You know that in all the ages that have gone before, there have only been two unions between Men and Elves, both of them born out of a great love that was blessed by the Valar."
"Even so, each joining set in motion many significant events, both fair and dark. Who is to say what fate this child, borne of Man and Elf in an evil and violent union, will work upon Middle Earth? The future is clouded indeed in this and I can see no path clearly. They all look dark to me now."
"Some heathen king from the Dark Years might have ordered such a child put to death." Commented Lord Celeborn thoughtfully. Lady Galadriel looked at her husband sharply, but Celeborn reassured her. "All life, especially a child, is precious here in the Golden Wood. Never would I tempt the dark and dreadful blood price such an act would call down upon us."
Celeborn continued, looking hard at Celemedril. "Still, we know nothing of this man who fathered the child. Not his family or his deeds, except his final, evil one. What sort of child will a daughter or son of his be? Did the man labor under some curse to venture such a dreadful crime? If the child remains here, what fate will it bring forth among us?"
"Such counsel regarding an unborn babe may seem cold," Lord Celeborn acknowledged, "but I must consider these questions, for the good of our people." Thus were his listeners gently but implacably reminded where his first responsibility must be.
Lady Galadriel now stated firmly, "We may not know the father but we assuredly know the mother, valiant and fair Galadhrim that she is. And we certainly know the grandparents, our faithful and beloved friends who left their children in our care. That is enough for now."
Lord Celeborn bowed his head in acknowledgement of her decision. "For now," he allowed.
Lady Galadriel looked then at Celemedril who stood still at attention, struggling to take in all that had been said. She gestured and he came to kneel in front of her. "Listen now to my will in this. Eloessa will remain here in comfort and protection to await the birth of her child. It may be wisdom after that time for her and the child to leave us for a while, but that need not be decided yet."
"You shall go to your sister and ask her forgiveness for the pride and turmoil that kept you apart these many months. In her mind also there was confusion and pain and she believed you were shamed by what had happened and did not wish to be near her." Galadriel watched grief wash over Celemedril's face at this pronouncement. "Be careful you do not burden her with your guilt, but leave her heart lightened with your love and care of her." Galadriel cautioned.
Celeborn now spoke in tones not to be disobeyed. "Do not speak of her condition to anyone. Until we know more clearly what all this portends, others must not know of it. I greatly fear this could be used in some way against Lorien by the Dark Lord, who is ever striving against us and seeking for a weakness in our defenses. This child must not one of them."
"Fortunately, Eloessa has been withdrawn from society all this time and only her maidservant knew of her condition ere I discovered it. I believe Calmae will keep silent, now that I have had speech with her." Galadriel's tone did not imply the conversation had been a pleasant one for the servant. Galadriel had been most displeased to find Eloessa's condition had been hidden from her for so long.
Galadriel continued her instructions to the kneeling warrior. "Take your leave of Eloessa within two days time. Be prepared then to go and find your brother Eomeril. I desire you to find him and make your peace with him. Turn him if you can from whatever path of vengeance and bitterness he may be traveling. But together find out what you may of the history and deeds of the father of Eloessa's child. Act not on this information but return to us here. The child will be born before spring. Try to be back in time."
She laid her hand on Celemedril's head in blessing. "Go in peace, Celemedril, son of Gilrond." Then she said softly, as if to herself. "When the child is born, perhaps the way of wisdom will become clearer to me."
With that, Celemedril knew he had been dismissed and rising from his knees, stood before the Lady of the Golden Wood. "Thank you for your love and care of Eloessa. This I can never repay. But I will not return until your will has been accomplished, my lady." He bowed once more and left the room. Galadriel and Celeborn, hands clasped, sat long after together in silent thought.
Celemedril strode up the great ladder stair that led upwards to the house of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel in the city of Caras Galadhon. He had saluted the guards at the foot of the stair and had listened for the answer to their horn call that granted him permission to start the upward journey.
The great house was built at the top of a giant mallorn tree, the likes of which was seen nowhere else in Middle Earth. He came with haste from his guard post on the borders of Lorien, in obedience to an urgent summons from Lord Celeborn. With both hope and dread, he suspected it had to do with his sister Eloessa.
In the last several months, he had seen Eloessa but once since the day he bore her to the apartments of the Lady Galadriel, their foster-mother and ruler. Eloessa had been cruelly attacked and despoiled by a Dunlending soldier in the Misty Mountains. His sister had, to his shame, been forced to kill her attacker herself.
Celemedril had desperately borne her back to Lorien for Eloessa had slipped further and further into a stupor after her rescue. Nothing, not even finally, reluctantly, a sharp blow from her brother, had roused her. When he arrived he had given a brief, bare account of events to Lady Galadriel. His sister had been taken away to rooms within the house and put under the personal care of the Lady.
He had then gone to report to Lord Celeborn. He managed to collapse in the midst of his recital, due to the poisoned and unhealed leg wound he had taken in the Misty Mountains in his battle with the Wargs. He had slept for more than three days and finally awoke much recovered, due to the leech- craft of Lorien's healers.
Celemedril found that while he slept his brother Eomeril had arrived, following them from the Mountains. Eomeril had taken on supplies enough for a long journey and then left again without telling anyone where he was going. He had stopped only long enough to learn that Eloessa's condition was unchanged and that Celemedril was trapped in a troubled sleep seeking to throw off the poison in his body.
Celemedril had gone to see Eloessa as soon as he arose. Lady Galadriel herself had been sitting with her handmaiden day and night. The healers had dealt with the bodily hurts they found but could not heal the mind and spirit fled far away from the horror she had endured.
"Eloessa is unchanged since you brought her to me three days ago," Lady Galadriel said. "I fear she will not come back to us without great help. I have tried to reach her, but even the love between us is not enough to overbear the grief her mind seeks to hide from and deny."
Galadriel moved aside from the bed carved in the shape of a great swan and gestured for Celemedril to approach. Eloessa lay pale and still beneath the sheets, barely seeming to breathe. Celemedril was startled, for his sister's light blue eyes were open and staring out the open window, where late afternoon sunshine filtered through the mallorn leaves. He looked questioningly at Lady Galadriel. "Her eyes are open, but she appears to hear us not and does not respond in any way." She said in explanation.
Celemedril moved closer and knelt by the bed. He said, "Eloessa, sister, it is time to be up and doing. I am sure the Lady has much to tell you for your visit in Rivendell was long and she missed you." He knew he was rather abrupt and his words shorn of tenderness. But he was a warrior, not a bard.
And his heart was still heavy with shame and regret that he had not protected his sister, nor even managed to avenge her attack. She had done that herself. He had not yet admitted this to anyone in Lorien. To his shame, he so far had allowed them to believe that he had slain her attacker. Even his brother did not know the truth. When his sister awoke, he would have to face his failure, but not until then, he thought.
But Galadriel continued to look at him expectantly so he tried again. He did not know what else to do, so he took his sister's hand in his. So slender and fine, he thought. But he remembered well how she wielded the sword and sliced from his neck the head of the man who hurt her. Shame threatened to choke him again and warred with the pride he felt at her feat and his fear that her suffering had overturned her mind.
So his voice was rough with emotion when he spoke. "Come back to us. Come back to us, gentle flower." He gave her the childhood name she, little warrior, had always despised. He hoped the old name would get some reaction from her, for her irritation had always been his brotherly, if affectionate, goal.
But Eloessa gave no response. She lay still on the bed. Her eyelids lowered slowly over blank eyes, and raised again with no change in expression. Though her brother tried to draw her back for several more hours, he had no success.
He was reminded of his dream the night of the attack, in which she eluded him in a dark forest despite his desperate search. When the moon stood high above the trees of Lorien, Celemedril at last gently kissed the hand he held and turned away in defeat.
Lady Galadriel sighed. "It was no different with Eomeril, though I had hoped.they have always been so close."
Celemedril stiffened at the mention of his brother. "He came to see her? I am surprised he took the trouble. I thought he barely spared time to load up supplies and run off again."
"I know not what impediment has come between you and your brother, but you will not bring its pettiness in to the sickroom of your sister!" Lady Galadriel said sharply.
"Eomeril's departure was without my leave or my Lord Celeborn's, so he is not in my favor at present. He would not answer any questions about what happened. You have left many details unspoken as well, though I excused this due to your wound. But do not challenge my good will too far, son of Gilrond."
"Your pardon, my Lady." Celemedril bowed stiffly. "I am, as ever, at your service."
"Leave here and come not to your sister's presence until your heart is at peace. Think of her, and not your damaged pride or guilt. While you are in turmoil, you will not be the one to reach her." Lady Galadriel turned away, dismissing Celemedril, who thought as usual the Lady saw far too much.
Celemedril had left the Lady and his sister and gone to take up patrol duties on the far southern borders of Lorien. He ever kept alert for word of his brother, for the last report of him had been that he was heading south, toward Rohan. And beyond Rohan, Celemedril thought, lay Dunland.
After a few weeks on the border Celemedril had heard that his sister was responding at last to the constant care of the Lady Galadriel. He was relieved to know this, but mindful of the Lady's warning to stay away unless he himself was at peace, he continued his endless patrols. He remained ever at war within himself, eaten away with shame for his failure, his lies, and his treatment of his brother, but yet unable in his pride to confess any of it.
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Eloessa had risen from her bed and cared for herself. She undertook simple tasks. She refused to work any needlecraft, though her precious mithril needles had been returned to her. She spoke rarely and did not smile or sing.
One thing only she asked of Lady Galadriel. Eloessa begged leave to withdraw into seclusion, with just a single servant, to a tree talan some distance from the Lady's house. "My mind has come back to my body, but neither are at peace. I must have time to myself, my Lady. Please, mother of my heart, grant me this request."
Against her better judgment, but in an effort to give her foster daughter what comfort she could, Galadriel consented. Eloessa, like her brothers, had resisted all attempts to talk about what had happened to her.
Galadriel had lived long enough, through wars of Elves and Men and many other creatures, to know what sometimes happened to women, even Elven women, caught up in the violence of Middle Earth. Many Elves who suffered such an assault died of grief, but not all. Galadriel had feared greatly for Eloessa when her brother first brought her from the Mountains.
But her foster daughter was strong and now seemed as if she would survive. So if she needed time alone to heal completely, Galadriel thought it might be for the best. Lady Galadriel, for all her wisdom, could not always see what lay in the hearts of those closest to her and so missed the true cause of Eloessa's torment.
Thus, for many months, no one saw Eloessa except the serving woman she took with her. The servant Calmae, once served Evasta, Eloessa's mother. Her love and loyalty was ever first to the child of Evasta, even before Galadriel, though never before had this been put to the test. So Calmae served Eloessa and watched, but remained silent.
A spiral stair around the trunk of a golden-leafed mallorn reached the talan platform where Eloessa dwelt in solitude. The dwelling was simple, with just four rooms. All of them could be laid open to the sunshine with shutters, or closed at need in bad weather. Wall hangings woven by Galadriel's women, some by Eloessa herself, graced the wooden walls. They were forest scenes of Lorien in all its seasons or depictions of starry nights along the Silverlode. Calmae cooked the simple meals Eloessa preferred over a metal brazier. Carved chairs and one low divan with ample cushions comprised most of the furnishings except lidded chests for storage.
Eloessa spent the summer and early fall looking out the windows of her bedroom, rarely leaving it. She watched the leaves turn deep gold, red and orange. The trees in Lorien kept their leaves late into the fall. The autumn air became crisp and bore the scent of change. Soon enough the winds shifted and winter storms brewed in the eastern Mountains, boiling down across the plains to the edges of the Golden Wood.
Galadriel finally decided Eloessa had spent enough time alone and arrived one frosty morning unannounced. She had stayed an unexpectedly short time, then left and closeted herself with Lord Celeborn. A messenger was soon dispatched to the southern border to summon Celemedril, which brought him hastening but unenlightened, to the presence of his Lord and Lady.
**************************************************************************** ********
Lord Celeborn was seated upon his great chair carved with curling mallorn leaves when Celemedril entered and bowed before him. Lady Galadriel, however, stood looking out a window that was open despite the chill air outside. Lord Celeborn looked grim, the warrior thought. He was shocked, though, by the strain in Lady Galadriel's face. She looked as though she had been weeping.
Celemedril could only think of Eloessa. "Does Eloessa fare ill?" He asked, without waiting for leave to speak. Lady Galadriel gestured to halt further words. She returned to sit beside Celeborn. Celeborn gave her his hand and Galadriel clasped it tightly, seeming to need comfort. Silence reigned for several moments while Celemedril's mind whirled in confusion.
Lord Celeborn finally spoke. "I apologize for leaving you to imagine that Eloessa has taken injury or has passed away. Neither has occurred. And yet, things go ill with her. Something of great, perhaps fateful, significance has come to pass." He paused, as if weighing his words. "Eloessa is with child."
Celemedril looked as if he wished he could sit down. "Why would she seek a union without my consent? Who amongst the men here have sought her out? Even if I was beyond consultation, no one would approach her without seeking your advise or the Lady Galadriel's." he said uncertainly.
Then another terrible possibility suggested itself to him. He asked with an expression full of pain, "Did the shock of her attack lead her to value herself less and offer herself outside of marriage? Surely she knew the fault was never hers. It was that of the foul carrion who attacked her. His and mine, may she forgive me! I failed to protect or even avenge her."
Finally his secrets came pouring out. "He took her from the camp while I lay senseless from my wound. Eomeril left her alone with me. I slept through the attack, and then woke to find them gone. I tracked them down but I was too late. He had already despoiled her."
The tall Elf's form was bent with anguish. "I tried to avenge her but my wound betrayed me and I was disarmed. Even hurt and bound, she managed to kill him when I could not."
He turned away from his foster parents, weeping in his grief at what he had done. "Bereft of my pride, I turned my rage at myself upon Eomeril. I struck him and accused him of cowardice and betraying my faith in him."
He struggled for a moment to find the strength to describe depths of his dishonor. "I later found he had been delayed in a battle with Orcs. He was alone and he slew seven of the creatures in his desperation to return to Eloessa and the brother he thought near death."
"Even when I knew the truth, I never sought his pardon. Now he wanders distant lands on a quest of vengeance believing that I hold him unworthy of my trust." He cried. "When it was I who betrayed him and our sister!"
He turned back to Lord Celeborn. "Whatever has befallen Eloessa, I will ever hold her in honor and she will always have my protection."
Celeborn shook his head sadly. "Would that you had told us of this sooner. Whether anything could have been done, our way might now have been clearer."
He pronounced judgment on his foster son. "I hold you blameless in failing to prevent the attack on Eloessa. It is to her honor with none taken from you that she was able to avenge herself. Your great pride caused you to assume more responsibility and guilt than was your part to carry. Your sins against your brother are gravest of all but must be reckoned between the two of you at some time in the future."
The Lady Galadriel now spoke for the first time. "While your confession has left you more at peace than at any time since your return, it is clear to me you do not grasp what Lord Celeborn first told you."
She said wearily. "You know that unlike the race of Men, women of our race conceive only when they are desirous of it. Whether that gift is granted to them is in the hands of Iluvatare. But never have I known a conception to occur when a woman was not moved to desire a child. Thus is each birth among the Eldar welcomed with joy."
"Eloessa is now six months gone with child. In her fear and confusion, she kept it secret until I discovered it two days ago. Her mind is nearly overborne with the weight of what has happened and what will happen. I do not and will not believe she desired this conception, though I cannot otherwise explain it."
Galadriel continued in the face of Celemedril's growing horror. "There is no doubt that the father of the child is the one who attacked her. He was a Mortal. You know that in all the ages that have gone before, there have only been two unions between Men and Elves, both of them born out of a great love that was blessed by the Valar."
"Even so, each joining set in motion many significant events, both fair and dark. Who is to say what fate this child, borne of Man and Elf in an evil and violent union, will work upon Middle Earth? The future is clouded indeed in this and I can see no path clearly. They all look dark to me now."
"Some heathen king from the Dark Years might have ordered such a child put to death." Commented Lord Celeborn thoughtfully. Lady Galadriel looked at her husband sharply, but Celeborn reassured her. "All life, especially a child, is precious here in the Golden Wood. Never would I tempt the dark and dreadful blood price such an act would call down upon us."
Celeborn continued, looking hard at Celemedril. "Still, we know nothing of this man who fathered the child. Not his family or his deeds, except his final, evil one. What sort of child will a daughter or son of his be? Did the man labor under some curse to venture such a dreadful crime? If the child remains here, what fate will it bring forth among us?"
"Such counsel regarding an unborn babe may seem cold," Lord Celeborn acknowledged, "but I must consider these questions, for the good of our people." Thus were his listeners gently but implacably reminded where his first responsibility must be.
Lady Galadriel now stated firmly, "We may not know the father but we assuredly know the mother, valiant and fair Galadhrim that she is. And we certainly know the grandparents, our faithful and beloved friends who left their children in our care. That is enough for now."
Lord Celeborn bowed his head in acknowledgement of her decision. "For now," he allowed.
Lady Galadriel looked then at Celemedril who stood still at attention, struggling to take in all that had been said. She gestured and he came to kneel in front of her. "Listen now to my will in this. Eloessa will remain here in comfort and protection to await the birth of her child. It may be wisdom after that time for her and the child to leave us for a while, but that need not be decided yet."
"You shall go to your sister and ask her forgiveness for the pride and turmoil that kept you apart these many months. In her mind also there was confusion and pain and she believed you were shamed by what had happened and did not wish to be near her." Galadriel watched grief wash over Celemedril's face at this pronouncement. "Be careful you do not burden her with your guilt, but leave her heart lightened with your love and care of her." Galadriel cautioned.
Celeborn now spoke in tones not to be disobeyed. "Do not speak of her condition to anyone. Until we know more clearly what all this portends, others must not know of it. I greatly fear this could be used in some way against Lorien by the Dark Lord, who is ever striving against us and seeking for a weakness in our defenses. This child must not one of them."
"Fortunately, Eloessa has been withdrawn from society all this time and only her maidservant knew of her condition ere I discovered it. I believe Calmae will keep silent, now that I have had speech with her." Galadriel's tone did not imply the conversation had been a pleasant one for the servant. Galadriel had been most displeased to find Eloessa's condition had been hidden from her for so long.
Galadriel continued her instructions to the kneeling warrior. "Take your leave of Eloessa within two days time. Be prepared then to go and find your brother Eomeril. I desire you to find him and make your peace with him. Turn him if you can from whatever path of vengeance and bitterness he may be traveling. But together find out what you may of the history and deeds of the father of Eloessa's child. Act not on this information but return to us here. The child will be born before spring. Try to be back in time."
She laid her hand on Celemedril's head in blessing. "Go in peace, Celemedril, son of Gilrond." Then she said softly, as if to herself. "When the child is born, perhaps the way of wisdom will become clearer to me."
With that, Celemedril knew he had been dismissed and rising from his knees, stood before the Lady of the Golden Wood. "Thank you for your love and care of Eloessa. This I can never repay. But I will not return until your will has been accomplished, my lady." He bowed once more and left the room. Galadriel and Celeborn, hands clasped, sat long after together in silent thought.
