"OF DREAMS AND RINGS"
CHAPTER TWO "Year 2617", 350 years before the birth of the RingBearer. The 23rd of April
It had been a hard winter…the hardest winter that he had ever seen In the valley. Elrond stood contemplating the past few months since Gailethil's birth with a grim expression. Three had left the valley, and for the first time in a thousand years the garden's flowers had not bloomed when they always did. One of his scribes sat nearby, she was nothing like Lomendil…but she would do. She was nervous, and did not meet his gaze. Young…for an elf…still in her hundreds. Sometimes he wondered about the people who revered him so much. He studied his hand.
"Put the following to record." his voice cut out like a whip. When he noticed the elleth flinch, he lowered his tone to a less harsh demeanor. He was irritable…and had been since he had heard of Torialas' pregnancy…but that was no reason to snap. "April 23rd…2617. Being the Journal of Elrond Perethil, Lord of Rivendell."
"I have mentioned it before, but not at length. It is six months since the birth of Gailethil, the last. The winter has been long and difficult in Rivendell. Three have left..and more I fear…soon to follow. I have spoken with Lomendil Firespring on the condition of his wife. Since she first came to us on his arm I knew that there was blood in her…blood that I did not want to ever have to acknowledge. She is falling to madness…slowly…but surely. I have reports from the guardian I placed at House Firspring. She does not pick up the child. She won't feed her." Elrond paused when he looked to the Elleth who was writing. She seemed to be blinking back tears and his lips curled slightly.
"To be a scribe, Mellon. You must put away your feelings." The Master directed. "Now gather yourself…I will continue."
"Whereas I do not doubt that Torialas loves her children…I fear that she is afraid of this one. The house is too quiet. Naridril's work does not bear the light that it normally does and he will not spend any time with my cousin Drinileth who confessed her love for him to me. I am concerned that a darkness clutches at the heart of Firespring. But Tis time to tell of who they are and how this all came to be." Elrond took a sip of wine before continuing. He looked towards the scribe who was watching him with both a curious eye and an attentive one. So far…she had pleased him and he would go on in her presence.
"It was during the Second Age when he met her. Just before the Rings of Power were made. It was the Spring 1500 when we journeyed through Lorien, and I remember it well. I will remember that year as clear as day until the end of time. We were walking with Galadriel when he saw her tending a shrine to Elbereth. Her radiance was enough to hit both our hearts and we stood there for many moments just watching. Strange…I remember it like that for Galadriel was with us, and it has oft been remarked that hers is the greatest beauty in Arda. But at the moment we saw Torialas…I saw Lomendil's heart stop. I looked to Galadriel who was staring in dismay at Lomendil, and then finally looked back at the elleth who tended the shrine. Somehow…she had diminished in my eyes….but my friend's was still struck, and I knew…he had found the one he loved at last. Galadriel and I both knew. I looked back into the Elleth's eyes and what I saw there turned my heart cold. There was no life in the beauty that cased the tortured soul within. Later, Galadriel explained the horrible truth. Torialas had been cursed for the evil deeds of her brother, and was struck by madness. To her credit…Torialas resisted Lomendil's charm for many years because she did not want to tie him to her curse. She refused him time and again, and it broke his heart. It was 11 years later when we returned to Lorien and he begged her to look in the mirror with him to prove to her what their future would be together, and that they had one." Elrond stopped talking for a long time, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he remembered that time.
He did not continue for so long that the elleth scribe shifted uncomfortably in her chair…wondering whether or not she should leave. The Master of Rivendell turned to study her like one might a curious project. "Do I bore you?" he inquired, his expression impossibly difficult to read.
"No Master Elrond." she shakes her head grimly, her words coming out a mere whisper, a little fear tingles in the back of her eyes. She did not want him angry with her, and yet, she did not think that he was. "I would like to hear the tale…please…"
"All right." he has been standing the whole time, and walks over to pour her a glass of cool red wine. The action is a simple enough one but he manages to make it a great deal more just an Eldar pouring wine. He waits until she sips, smiling briefly when he is certain she is ready to hear the rest of the tale.
"And so…despite her better judgment, Galadriel allowed the viewing. Each was tested...and each saw what was in store. I wish sometimes that she had refused, for if so…perhaps we would never have known and my friend would not have been forced to suffer as long as he has. To fall in love with a mad Elleth…" Elrond shook his head sadly, and his voice wavered with emotion slightly, "The vision gave them only one recourse. They had no other choice but to wed. For in the mirror five children came into Arda from their union. Each one would forge a great purpose in the world and the Last…the most important one of all. The last Fire spring would be Arda's final true seer. She would bring hope to those who have none, and right a terrible wrong. She, descended from a line of Ainur, would be the Last of the first born of that line. Her future was already devised by fate, she was needed for the last age. What will be. And despite protests from both sides of the family…my friend married Torialas the Mad because his love was such that would hold them through all the years of this world, and he brought her to live here in Rivendell."
He sipped his wine and looked out at the clouds that were brewing in the sky once again. "4 were born to the house of Firespring and it seemed…for a time that she would be a calm and loving mother. Her fits were kept quiet, and they stayed from society. Lomendil wrote, and she painted. The son that she bore to him…Naridil…is serving us as a blade smith. And last year, on September the 22nd, the Last came into the world. Galadriel was here for it…and madness has finally taken Torialas. Every time I visit, I can sense that the child is asking me a question, but I do not know what it is. Already intelligence gleams in her eyes, an eager yearning I cannot understand…I might send for Celeborn…perhaps his wisdom will help in this matter. Something wants the child, though, and watches her. I think…through a Planatir. Her room is always too cold. I will send for Celeborn tomorrow."
He looked at the scribe whose hand was trembing in anxious fear. "A Planatir…" her mouth round as her eyes. Elrond nodded. "This must not be said to anyone, do I make myself clear?"
"Absolutely, Master." she quickly finished up a few things and handed him the journel. Bowing swiftly she hurried out of the study as Elrond stood for several moments listening.
….What are you thinking…Elrond…Master of Rivendell…Whatever it is…I'll find out….
….And where are you … my precious …what era do you see now…I wonder…
A fell wind caressed the borders of Rivendell.
….Someday soon….Naneth will take you….
The baby stirred in her cradle…it was cold…and he was back…the dark haired boy. He was sitting alone against a tree, and tears were running down his cheeks. She shivered, wanting so very much to talk to him…to figure out how to make the tears go away…He looked around suddenly…as though he might have felt her…it was cold…suddenly…very...very…cold…
CHAPTER TWO "Year 2617", 350 years before the birth of the RingBearer. The 23rd of April
It had been a hard winter…the hardest winter that he had ever seen In the valley. Elrond stood contemplating the past few months since Gailethil's birth with a grim expression. Three had left the valley, and for the first time in a thousand years the garden's flowers had not bloomed when they always did. One of his scribes sat nearby, she was nothing like Lomendil…but she would do. She was nervous, and did not meet his gaze. Young…for an elf…still in her hundreds. Sometimes he wondered about the people who revered him so much. He studied his hand.
"Put the following to record." his voice cut out like a whip. When he noticed the elleth flinch, he lowered his tone to a less harsh demeanor. He was irritable…and had been since he had heard of Torialas' pregnancy…but that was no reason to snap. "April 23rd…2617. Being the Journal of Elrond Perethil, Lord of Rivendell."
"I have mentioned it before, but not at length. It is six months since the birth of Gailethil, the last. The winter has been long and difficult in Rivendell. Three have left..and more I fear…soon to follow. I have spoken with Lomendil Firespring on the condition of his wife. Since she first came to us on his arm I knew that there was blood in her…blood that I did not want to ever have to acknowledge. She is falling to madness…slowly…but surely. I have reports from the guardian I placed at House Firspring. She does not pick up the child. She won't feed her." Elrond paused when he looked to the Elleth who was writing. She seemed to be blinking back tears and his lips curled slightly.
"To be a scribe, Mellon. You must put away your feelings." The Master directed. "Now gather yourself…I will continue."
"Whereas I do not doubt that Torialas loves her children…I fear that she is afraid of this one. The house is too quiet. Naridril's work does not bear the light that it normally does and he will not spend any time with my cousin Drinileth who confessed her love for him to me. I am concerned that a darkness clutches at the heart of Firespring. But Tis time to tell of who they are and how this all came to be." Elrond took a sip of wine before continuing. He looked towards the scribe who was watching him with both a curious eye and an attentive one. So far…she had pleased him and he would go on in her presence.
"It was during the Second Age when he met her. Just before the Rings of Power were made. It was the Spring 1500 when we journeyed through Lorien, and I remember it well. I will remember that year as clear as day until the end of time. We were walking with Galadriel when he saw her tending a shrine to Elbereth. Her radiance was enough to hit both our hearts and we stood there for many moments just watching. Strange…I remember it like that for Galadriel was with us, and it has oft been remarked that hers is the greatest beauty in Arda. But at the moment we saw Torialas…I saw Lomendil's heart stop. I looked to Galadriel who was staring in dismay at Lomendil, and then finally looked back at the elleth who tended the shrine. Somehow…she had diminished in my eyes….but my friend's was still struck, and I knew…he had found the one he loved at last. Galadriel and I both knew. I looked back into the Elleth's eyes and what I saw there turned my heart cold. There was no life in the beauty that cased the tortured soul within. Later, Galadriel explained the horrible truth. Torialas had been cursed for the evil deeds of her brother, and was struck by madness. To her credit…Torialas resisted Lomendil's charm for many years because she did not want to tie him to her curse. She refused him time and again, and it broke his heart. It was 11 years later when we returned to Lorien and he begged her to look in the mirror with him to prove to her what their future would be together, and that they had one." Elrond stopped talking for a long time, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he remembered that time.
He did not continue for so long that the elleth scribe shifted uncomfortably in her chair…wondering whether or not she should leave. The Master of Rivendell turned to study her like one might a curious project. "Do I bore you?" he inquired, his expression impossibly difficult to read.
"No Master Elrond." she shakes her head grimly, her words coming out a mere whisper, a little fear tingles in the back of her eyes. She did not want him angry with her, and yet, she did not think that he was. "I would like to hear the tale…please…"
"All right." he has been standing the whole time, and walks over to pour her a glass of cool red wine. The action is a simple enough one but he manages to make it a great deal more just an Eldar pouring wine. He waits until she sips, smiling briefly when he is certain she is ready to hear the rest of the tale.
"And so…despite her better judgment, Galadriel allowed the viewing. Each was tested...and each saw what was in store. I wish sometimes that she had refused, for if so…perhaps we would never have known and my friend would not have been forced to suffer as long as he has. To fall in love with a mad Elleth…" Elrond shook his head sadly, and his voice wavered with emotion slightly, "The vision gave them only one recourse. They had no other choice but to wed. For in the mirror five children came into Arda from their union. Each one would forge a great purpose in the world and the Last…the most important one of all. The last Fire spring would be Arda's final true seer. She would bring hope to those who have none, and right a terrible wrong. She, descended from a line of Ainur, would be the Last of the first born of that line. Her future was already devised by fate, she was needed for the last age. What will be. And despite protests from both sides of the family…my friend married Torialas the Mad because his love was such that would hold them through all the years of this world, and he brought her to live here in Rivendell."
He sipped his wine and looked out at the clouds that were brewing in the sky once again. "4 were born to the house of Firespring and it seemed…for a time that she would be a calm and loving mother. Her fits were kept quiet, and they stayed from society. Lomendil wrote, and she painted. The son that she bore to him…Naridil…is serving us as a blade smith. And last year, on September the 22nd, the Last came into the world. Galadriel was here for it…and madness has finally taken Torialas. Every time I visit, I can sense that the child is asking me a question, but I do not know what it is. Already intelligence gleams in her eyes, an eager yearning I cannot understand…I might send for Celeborn…perhaps his wisdom will help in this matter. Something wants the child, though, and watches her. I think…through a Planatir. Her room is always too cold. I will send for Celeborn tomorrow."
He looked at the scribe whose hand was trembing in anxious fear. "A Planatir…" her mouth round as her eyes. Elrond nodded. "This must not be said to anyone, do I make myself clear?"
"Absolutely, Master." she quickly finished up a few things and handed him the journel. Bowing swiftly she hurried out of the study as Elrond stood for several moments listening.
….What are you thinking…Elrond…Master of Rivendell…Whatever it is…I'll find out….
….And where are you … my precious …what era do you see now…I wonder…
A fell wind caressed the borders of Rivendell.
….Someday soon….Naneth will take you….
The baby stirred in her cradle…it was cold…and he was back…the dark haired boy. He was sitting alone against a tree, and tears were running down his cheeks. She shivered, wanting so very much to talk to him…to figure out how to make the tears go away…He looked around suddenly…as though he might have felt her…it was cold…suddenly…very...very…cold…