Chapter 19
Aragorn has had Therron taken into a small chamber that leads off from the main Hall. I am startled to find the Lord and Lady of Lorien there, as well as Haldir. Arwen enters with King Eomer and the scene is set.
'What do you have to say for yourself cousin, for you were caught trying to force yourself on the Lady Elandra.' Asks Eomer.
At this, Haldir, who had been standing in the background, sprang to my side. Legolas relinquished my hand, which he had been holding to Haldir, and I all but collapse on Haldir, weeping. 'Take her outside, Haldir, and do not come back in until I send word'; it is the voice of the Lady Galadriel.
'Yes, my Lady, I think it would be best', Haldir replies.
He leads me outside, and to my disgust I find all I can do is weep and cling to him. He holds me, and strokes my hair, murmuring softly in Elvish. After a while, I cease crying, and as I raise my head from Haldir's shoulder to see Elladan and Elrohir approaching.
'Haldir, Lady Galadriel has requested your presence', said Elrohir. 'We will sit with Elandra, as we wish to speak to her'.
Haldir stood, and said softly 'You will be safe with your brothers, my dear, I will return as soon as I am able'.
At this the twins glanced at each other, and then me, but before either of them could speak, Haldir again spoke, 'Elrond told me', he said as he vanished into the darkness.
'Well, well, a lot has been going on sister that we are not aware of', said Elladan.
'Only that', I reply.
'Haldir seems very protective of you, little sister', said Elladan, hie expression innocent.
'What do you mean, brother', I said.
'Are you going to marry him? You should, you know' this was Elrohir, now, his expression as innocent as his twins.
'I don't know, I don't anything anymore', I said
'You should get married, it would be good for you', said Elladan
'Oh yes, two single guys experts on marriage?' I query
'Arwen has been much nicer since she and Aragorn married', Elladan stated.
'Yes, she was a nuisance before,' said Elrohir, 'and you will be the same if you do not marry soon'.
'Really, thank you very much; I had thought you pair liked me', I reply, angry now
'We do, but you need a life of your own, Ellie, you need to settle down and stop being a Ranger, it is not good for you', Elladan remarked.
'You win,' I said throwing up my hands, 'first Aragorn, then Father, now you two, and when I go back inside, I'm willing to bet that Lady Galadriel is going to lecture me on this.' I glare at my brothers, who are now laughing. 'I promise to think seriously about my future, and keep you apprised of any interesting developments'
'That will suffice, sister', said Elrohir, the first to get his laughter under control.
'I expect you want to know what punishment Therron has been given', remarked Elladan, grinning.
'If you are grinning like that, it must be good', I said, then hopefully 'I don't suppose he'll be beheaded or anything really nasty?'
'No, far worse, he will have to marry Lady Rita', Elladan replied.
I burst into loud laughter at this. Rita was a fiery tempered woman with hair to match. Another distant cousin of Aragorn's and mine she would be considered a good match for a minor Prince of the Mark, and would keep her new husband in control. A young widow with 2 sons, she would likely give Therron children, and I her knew her well enough to know she would be happy enough if she and her children were given respect and consideration. In fact, knowing I was going to refuse Therron, I wouldn't be surprised if Aragorn hadn't already sounded Rita on the match, and had her approval.
'Oh dear, I almost feel sorry for him', I said.
'Why', asked Elrohir, whom I knew had never met the lady in question. 'Is she ugly or something?'
'No,' said Elladan, 'for a mortal she is quite beautiful if one likes red hair, but her temper matches her hair. I met her 4 years ago, you remember when you broke your arm, and Aragorn and I went to see some of his people?'
Elrohir nodded and his brother continued, 'Well, you know my tongue runs away with me sometimes, I upset Lady Rita when Aragorn and I met her, and she took to me with a broom, Aragorn too because he just happened to be there'.
Elrohir and I laughed till we hurt. The thought of Elladan and Aragorn being beaten up by a broom-wielding woman was too much for us, and we laughed until we cried.
'Did you tell Father', I asked Elladan
'Yes, we did'.
'What did he say', I asked.
He just said I should learn to control my tongue', replied Elladan
This made Elrohir and I laugh madly again.
Actually, Therron was getting away easily with his crime, and I daresay he knew it. As my brother, Aragorn had the right to give any punishment to Therron under Gondor law.
Then a thought struck me, 'How did you two and Father and Legolas just appear at the right moment?' I asked.
'Eomer saw you leave with Therron. He had been told you would refuse Therron's offer, and told Legolas of 'problems' with Therron in the past. Legolas recruited us to follow you, and Father really did just happen along.' Said Elrohir.
'Therron has done this sort of thing before?' I ask shocked.
'So Eomer said. Apparently there has been no real evidence against him before tonight', Said Elrohir.
I digested this. Then I spoke, 'Rita will kill him if she hears of Therron misbehaving again',
'Exactly what Aragorn said, and precisely why he wants Therron to marry her'. Said Elladan.
At this point we were interrupted by Haldir, coming to see how I was, and to tell us we where all wanted at a council meeting.
'I am fine now, Haldir', I said as we followed the twins inside. 'I had a bad fright, but I will be all right.' I hesitated and then continued 'Thank you for comforting me, I needed it',
'You are welcome, little one. Any time I can I do anything for you, just let me know' He replied
Aragorn has had Therron taken into a small chamber that leads off from the main Hall. I am startled to find the Lord and Lady of Lorien there, as well as Haldir. Arwen enters with King Eomer and the scene is set.
'What do you have to say for yourself cousin, for you were caught trying to force yourself on the Lady Elandra.' Asks Eomer.
At this, Haldir, who had been standing in the background, sprang to my side. Legolas relinquished my hand, which he had been holding to Haldir, and I all but collapse on Haldir, weeping. 'Take her outside, Haldir, and do not come back in until I send word'; it is the voice of the Lady Galadriel.
'Yes, my Lady, I think it would be best', Haldir replies.
He leads me outside, and to my disgust I find all I can do is weep and cling to him. He holds me, and strokes my hair, murmuring softly in Elvish. After a while, I cease crying, and as I raise my head from Haldir's shoulder to see Elladan and Elrohir approaching.
'Haldir, Lady Galadriel has requested your presence', said Elrohir. 'We will sit with Elandra, as we wish to speak to her'.
Haldir stood, and said softly 'You will be safe with your brothers, my dear, I will return as soon as I am able'.
At this the twins glanced at each other, and then me, but before either of them could speak, Haldir again spoke, 'Elrond told me', he said as he vanished into the darkness.
'Well, well, a lot has been going on sister that we are not aware of', said Elladan.
'Only that', I reply.
'Haldir seems very protective of you, little sister', said Elladan, hie expression innocent.
'What do you mean, brother', I said.
'Are you going to marry him? You should, you know' this was Elrohir, now, his expression as innocent as his twins.
'I don't know, I don't anything anymore', I said
'You should get married, it would be good for you', said Elladan
'Oh yes, two single guys experts on marriage?' I query
'Arwen has been much nicer since she and Aragorn married', Elladan stated.
'Yes, she was a nuisance before,' said Elrohir, 'and you will be the same if you do not marry soon'.
'Really, thank you very much; I had thought you pair liked me', I reply, angry now
'We do, but you need a life of your own, Ellie, you need to settle down and stop being a Ranger, it is not good for you', Elladan remarked.
'You win,' I said throwing up my hands, 'first Aragorn, then Father, now you two, and when I go back inside, I'm willing to bet that Lady Galadriel is going to lecture me on this.' I glare at my brothers, who are now laughing. 'I promise to think seriously about my future, and keep you apprised of any interesting developments'
'That will suffice, sister', said Elrohir, the first to get his laughter under control.
'I expect you want to know what punishment Therron has been given', remarked Elladan, grinning.
'If you are grinning like that, it must be good', I said, then hopefully 'I don't suppose he'll be beheaded or anything really nasty?'
'No, far worse, he will have to marry Lady Rita', Elladan replied.
I burst into loud laughter at this. Rita was a fiery tempered woman with hair to match. Another distant cousin of Aragorn's and mine she would be considered a good match for a minor Prince of the Mark, and would keep her new husband in control. A young widow with 2 sons, she would likely give Therron children, and I her knew her well enough to know she would be happy enough if she and her children were given respect and consideration. In fact, knowing I was going to refuse Therron, I wouldn't be surprised if Aragorn hadn't already sounded Rita on the match, and had her approval.
'Oh dear, I almost feel sorry for him', I said.
'Why', asked Elrohir, whom I knew had never met the lady in question. 'Is she ugly or something?'
'No,' said Elladan, 'for a mortal she is quite beautiful if one likes red hair, but her temper matches her hair. I met her 4 years ago, you remember when you broke your arm, and Aragorn and I went to see some of his people?'
Elrohir nodded and his brother continued, 'Well, you know my tongue runs away with me sometimes, I upset Lady Rita when Aragorn and I met her, and she took to me with a broom, Aragorn too because he just happened to be there'.
Elrohir and I laughed till we hurt. The thought of Elladan and Aragorn being beaten up by a broom-wielding woman was too much for us, and we laughed until we cried.
'Did you tell Father', I asked Elladan
'Yes, we did'.
'What did he say', I asked.
He just said I should learn to control my tongue', replied Elladan
This made Elrohir and I laugh madly again.
Actually, Therron was getting away easily with his crime, and I daresay he knew it. As my brother, Aragorn had the right to give any punishment to Therron under Gondor law.
Then a thought struck me, 'How did you two and Father and Legolas just appear at the right moment?' I asked.
'Eomer saw you leave with Therron. He had been told you would refuse Therron's offer, and told Legolas of 'problems' with Therron in the past. Legolas recruited us to follow you, and Father really did just happen along.' Said Elrohir.
'Therron has done this sort of thing before?' I ask shocked.
'So Eomer said. Apparently there has been no real evidence against him before tonight', Said Elrohir.
I digested this. Then I spoke, 'Rita will kill him if she hears of Therron misbehaving again',
'Exactly what Aragorn said, and precisely why he wants Therron to marry her'. Said Elladan.
At this point we were interrupted by Haldir, coming to see how I was, and to tell us we where all wanted at a council meeting.
'I am fine now, Haldir', I said as we followed the twins inside. 'I had a bad fright, but I will be all right.' I hesitated and then continued 'Thank you for comforting me, I needed it',
'You are welcome, little one. Any time I can I do anything for you, just let me know' He replied