Imladris Revisited

By: DLR

Disclaimer: Characters owned by the estate of JRR Tolkien

Elrond/OFC

Rated: G

Chapter   6

Elrond returned to his chair in the Hall of Fire and stared distractedly into the flames blazing on the great hearth. The singing and dancing still went on, and would continue far into the night. He wondered absently where Arwen and Aragorn were, for most of the chairs around him were empty.

A servant came up behind Elrond and touching him on the shoulder, whispered intently in his ear. 

Elrond looked around and spotted Glorfindel conversing with a group of elves a few dozen feet away.

Elrond caught his eye and beckoned to him. "I have need of you," he said when Glorfindel came within earshot. "Please locate Arwen and Aragorn then meet me in the library."

Glorfindel nodded directing the servant one way, and then he took the other.

The library of Imladris was not an especially large room, but appearances can be deceiving. What it lacked in girth, it made up for in height, for it was a full two stories tall. There were no windows, it being a central room, except for a small skylight in the ceiling far above. The fireplaces, which were kept lit continuously to protect the books from the damp, did nothing to dispel the musty odor which permeated the room.

There was not a single inch of space, from floor to ceiling that was not covered with books, many of them ancient and rotted despite the dryness of the air. The upper shelves were reached by great wooden ladders, which could be moved from side to side. Along one of the walls, a narrow balcony ran.

There were two elves warming themselves in front of the largest fireplace, one of them holding his hands out, the other choosing to expose his opposite side to the flames.

Their clothes were worn and travel-stained, their persons dirty and disheveled (for elves).  Their names were Elladan and Elrohir, the twin sons of Elrond, briefly returned from their toil with the Dúnedain, men akin to Aragorn who were the descendants of the kings of Númenor in exile.

There was not a ford or bridge, road or river that was not ceaselessly watched by these vigilant folk, guarding the North from the servants of the Enemy.

The door was opened and Elrond stepped into the room.  He embraced each of his sons in turn, very pleased to see them.

"What brings you hither?" he asked with a smile.  "You are finally taking a rest from your labors, I hope?"

"Nay, Adar," said Elladan, shaking his head. "Our toils increase rather than diminish, but they brought us to the borders of Imladris, so we have come for Estel, as previously arranged. He is of age now."

"Aye, I suspected that was the reason for this unaccustomed visit, I have all ready sent for him."

A shadow fell over the threshold and Arwen came in. She saw her brothers and shrieked with delight, hugging them both at once.

Elrohir looked at his sister with astonishment. "What are you doing here, Arwen?" he asked. "We thought you were in Lothlórien!"

Elladan became stern.  "You traveled across the high pass without us?"

"It was an unexpected journey," replied Arwen. "Adar knew I was coming and I was well protected, I assure you. If you had been available, you could have assisted me, but you were not and I knew not where you were."

Her brothers looked only a little less nettled. Elrond smiled at his progeny. His sons were as handsome as Arwen was beautiful and all were much akin to Elrond himself. There was a great stamp of family resemblance on the four of them.

At that moment Glorfindel came in, followed by Aragorn.

"Estel !" The twins cried in unison, coming forward and slapping him on the back.

"How you have grown!" exclaimed Elladan.

Elrohir smiled. "Well met, little brother!"

Aragorn glowed with pleasure at the sight of his older foster brothers. Arwen had not known Aragorn shared such comradery with her brothers, having spent his entire childhood away in Lothlórien.

Aragorn smiled happily. "You have come for me at last!" 

"Yes, indeed, for now is the time in which you begin preparation for the task long appointed to you," said Elladan. (He was the elder twin and therefore, more pompous than his brother.)

Arwen sank into a nearby chair, her face an unreadable mask.

Elrond stood, leaning against a bookcase, saying nothing as he watched his daughter with narrowed eyes.

Glorfindel was questioning the twins for information about events taking place in the outside world and Aragorn listened eagerly.

Finally, Elrond took Arwen by the hand.  "Come, Undómiel, for I would speak with you."

Arwen paled slightly, but allowed Elrond to lead her out into the hallway. They walked in silence for a while, away from the sounds of merry-making in the Hall of Fire.

After a short time Elrond spoke.  "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"

"I do not think so," Arwen whispered, looking at the floor.

Elrond sighed.  Seeing no point in mincing words, he asked bluntly, "what is there between you and Estel?"

Arwen did not answer. "Is it serious?" he persisted.

"I do not know," she whispered.

Elrond stopped and took her in his arms. "Undómiel, my heart is breaking.  I foresee for you the same fate as Lúthien the fair." 

Arwen looked into his face, the tears glistening as they ran down her cheeks, for she loved her father dearly.

"I do not see the road ahead as clearly as you do," she said. "But I know I will follow my heart, although the end may be bitter for some."

He looked into her eyes, his tears flowing as freely as hers.

"That is the wisdom I would give you, were you to ask me," he whispered. "For your heart will be able to distinguish lies from truths."

"But what if my choice should cause another grief?" she asked. "Grief so great that it might well be unbearable?" 

She laid her head on Elrond's shoulder and he stroked her hair.  "Do not despair for me, Undómiel, for I can see much of the future and I do not think death from grief is a part of it. At least not for some,"  he added in a whisper.

They stood, still as statues for some while.  Finally, Arwen tossed her hair back and brushed away her tears.

"Really, Adar," she said.  "You do jump ahead.  After all, I have only just met him."

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