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-kalurien
Imladris Revisited
By: DLR 2002
Disclaimer: The Same
Elrond/OFC
Rated:PG
Chapter 21
"Would you mind repeating that?" Elrond asked, his grey eyes hard.
"Not at all," Saruman replied, baring his teeth in what passed for a smile. "It is my belief the One Ring is forever lost, carried by the current of the Anduin out to the sea. Without it, Sauron is weak, helpless. He will never regain his former strength. We need not have any more concern for him."
Elrond and Galadriel exchanged a quick glance.
"With the One gone, surely the Three can be revealed openly," Saruman said, his voice smooth and melodious.
Galadriel's blue eyes glittered like ice. "Since when do Istari* concern themselves with the doings of the Three?"
Saruman smiled at her, showing every tooth. "O wise lady of the Galadhrim," he said soothingly. "We of the Istari are deeply concerned with all that occurs in Middle-earth." He looked at Gandalf and Radagast and smiled again.
"You will leave all talk of the Three out of your concerns," said Galadriel. "It is not permitted to speak of them."
Saruman's eyes flashed. "Surely we have called this Council to discuss openly the Great Rings of Power. Your evasiveness is hindering our objective." He paused. "Did you not wish to know what would happen to the Three if the One was destroyed?" He looked around the room. The elf lords' eyes remained guarded, unfriendly.
"Come, come," he said. "We are all allies, are we not?"
There came the sound of a bell, a long clear note heard throughout the house.
Elrond rose. "We will adjourn this Council for the noontime meal. I would speak, however, to the Edhelrim."* The Istari filed out, but not before Saruman gave them all a dark look.
Elrond waited until the door closed. He then looked at Círdan, Galadriel and Celeborn.
Círdan snorted. "I would trust him not one inch."
"He is concealing something," agreed Celeborn.
"The One Ring is not lost in the sea," said Galadriel.
Elrond sighed. "I am aware of that as well."
"Why does he state it as fact?" asked Círdan.
"He knows naught, but wishes to appear knowledgeable," said Galadriel. "He has never been a ringbearer, so he would be unaware of many aspects."
"So how can he know nothing, yet still hide something?" asked Círdan.
Elrond smiled grimly. "A question for the Wise to answer."
Círdan sighed. "Lunch, I think you mentioned?"
"Yes indeed," said Elrond as they left the council room.
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Elrond sat at a long wooden table. He had a very ancient book propped up in front of him and he was reading intently. His hair fell over his eyes as he read and he brushed it away, impatiently.
A hand came up from behind him and gently tucked the long braids behind his ears, but Elrond paid no heed. The hand lingered on the side of his face, stroking it with its fingertips. It continued down his neck and shoulders, rubbing him slowly. Elrond remained absorbed in the book.
The hand was joined by its mate and they moved leisurely down Elrond's back, caressing his hips and buttocks, moving forwards to stroke his thighs.
Elrond slowly turned and looked up to gaze into the hot eyes of his foster father.
"No Herdir," he whispered through clenched teeth, tears in his eyes. He struck out at him blindly.
"Stay!" Culurien exclaimed. "It is all right, be calm."
Elrond lay on his back, breathing heavily. He was drenched with sweat. He opened his eyes and saw Culurien above him, holding his arms down.
"I am sorry," he whispered. "Did I strike you?"
"Nay, I am fine." She sighed. "I suppose I should know better by now than to touch you like that when you are asleep."
He sat up and rubbed his hands over his face. "I would have the nightmare, whether you touched me or not. I have had it, many times in the past." He put his hands around his knees and looked at her.
"I was at the fall of Thangorodrim. I have witnessed onslaughts of terrible evil; balrogs, dragons, such creatures as the world has seldom since been troubled with. I saw the great evil of Sauron and his vile lieutenants at the foot of Mt. Orodruin." He paused. "Why do I not have nightmares of those traumas? Why do I dream always of this lesser matter?"
"It is not a lesser matter within your mind," she said. "It is a wound of your soul and that gives it importance."
"Cannot the soul ever be healed? The wound remains an open sore, festering, infected."
Culurien touched his face. "I can think of one thing only that would begin to help you."
"What is it?" asked Elrond, warily.
She paused and looked into his eyes. "You must forgive Gil-galad."
He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands again. He was silent.
"A difficult task."
"Indeed, yes," said Elrond. "More difficult than you could ever know."
She put her arms around him and held him for a long while, stroking his hair and singing softly to him.
"Im meleth le heryn,"*** he whispered.
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"What was accomplished?" asked Galadriel, looking around the room.
"Nothing," said Elrond, chin in hand, tapping his fingertips on the table.
Her eyes hardened. "As usual."
"We could take action anyway," suggested Círdan.
"It would be useless without Saruman," responded Gandalf.
Celeborn scowled. "We have strength without Saruman."
"He is head of this Council," said Elrond. "Do you wish to openly incur his wrath?"
"So we run around in circles." Galadriel shook her head. "Worse off than when we started."
Celeborn touched her arm. "At least we know where we stand."
"On shaky ground," sighed Elrond. "Very shaky ground."
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*Wizards
*Elves
*I love you, lady.