Chapter 26
If anything, my 'chat' with the Lady Galadriel had raised even more questions in my stubborn mind, but this time I need to talk to Haldir, but he is on guard duty with his brothers. In lieu of anything else to do, I decide to go back to my room, and read some more of Mother's diary.
The sun is starting to wester, though there are a few hours of daylight left, when I reach my rooms. I dismiss my nervous young maid, poor child she is even scared of me since the public revelation that Elrond is my father, for she terrified of elves. The fact that Haldir is often arrogant with those he does not know well, as a cover for the fact he is really a very shy person, has not helped little Veronica at all. I must make her realise that Elves are not dangerous, and decide to ask my sister to help me, and maybe Galadriel, as I think Veronica will be less intimidated by women.
I have made myself some herbal tea, and once more take up my seat by the still open window, and open the diary.
Author's Note: the next section is all Gilraen's P.O.V.
The last weeks have been hard, we are skinny and dirty. Of the little available food, I have given most to my son, and now as we lie by the fire, wrapped in my now threadbare cloak I hear him crying with cold and hunger. I wonder where we will be tomorrow, and how long we can live like this.
A few people have been kind to us as the dead Chieftain's wife and son. My family, and Arathorn's family threw me out of my modest little house within a day of learning of my husband's death. Aragorn my parents-in-law wished to keep with them, and rear him as their own, but I had come back to their dwelling by night and stole the boy away. Since then we had been on the run, hiding by day, moving only by night.
I hear hoof beats in the distance, many horses are coming this way, and I realise with horror we are surrounded. I can't fight off the number of riders coming in, and resign myself to capture, probably by my stepmother's brothers.
The horsemen are close now; there are six of them in the firelight. The foremost, mounted on large white horse dismounts. He throws back the hood of his cloak, and a very beautiful blonde male elf is revealed. Terrified by weeks of being hunted, I clasp my child close to me, and pick up my husband's sword.
'Lady Gilraen, be at ease, for we are not here to harm you or your child. We are come from Rivendell, seeking you, for we have heard you wander the wild, unable to return to your home', says the blonde, seating himself on the far side of the fire, ignoring the naked blade in my hand.
'You know me Lady, though you remember me not. Search your mind, and you will recollect'.
'I beg of you, don't take my child from me'. The words come out, not bold and brave, as I had wished, but desperate, pleading.
'Is that why you stole the boy, and live now in the wild? Has someone tried to take him from you?' One of the other five riders, still mounted has spoken. I assume them all to be elves, like the one by the fire, whose name is, is 'Glorfindel?' I ask.
'Now you remember', he says pleased that I have. 'You met me briefly on your wedding day as part of the delegation from Rivendell.'
'Yes, you stood with Lord Elrond, and his sons whose names I can't recollect at all'.
'Elladan, and Elrohir, at your service, Lady', says the elf that had spoken a moment ago, dismounting and sitting by the fire next to Glorfindel. 'I am Elladan, the fellow on the ugly bay horse is my brother, Elrohir. He is cross with you, you know, for we have been seeking you nigh on a month, and he misses his comfortable bed at home.'
'Leave the lady be, brother, can you not see she is cold, hungry and frightened?' says another elf, as like to Elladan as peas in a pod. Instead of sitting down, he takes off his cloak, and settles it around my shoulders, where I wrap it firmly about Aragorn and I, thanking the dark haired elf for his kindness.
'We are come to take you to Rivendell, to Elrond's hospitality.' Glorfindel holds something out to me, and I take it, wondering what it is.
'It is only food, Lady. Bread and cheese, eat it, and relax, no one will harm you.'
I hand a piece of bread to my son, and he starts stuffing it in his mouth at great speed, this is the best meal we have seen in two weeks. The other elves have dismounted, and are tending to the horses. More wood is placed on the fire, and the elves bring out cooking gear, and start to prepare a hot meal.
'What of my son? Does he accompany me to Rivendell?' I ask.
'Yes, both of you. My father wishes to extend the offer of Rivendell's hospitality to both yourself and your son.' It was Elladan who spoke.
'Oh', was all I could say, too shaken by the thought of being safe, warm and having enough food to speak more.
Soon the elves have prepared some stew, and hot tea, which we eat with bread. Full and warm my son is soon asleep, and the elves spread out bedrolls. Still frightened I continue to sit by the fire, nodding but determined not to sleep. Finally Glorfindel speaks, 'Lady, sleep, none will harm you'.
Exhausted, I have choice but to trust the elves. As I lie down on the bedding indicated by Glorfindel, and pull my son close, the elf tucks the blankets closely about us. As I fall into sleep, I hear a voice, 'Mortals! Must they so cruel to each other!' Now disgust tinges the voice, 'Throwing a woman and child into the Wild at this time of year is nothing short of murder.'
'Be still, Gildor, our people are not so kind to each other always'.
That is all I heard for that night, and woke in the morning feeling refreshed. The elves give me a spare horse, and after a small meal, we head out to Rivendell.
Two days later, we reach Rivendell, and I am breathless with the beauty of it. Other elves take our horses, and I am lead into the house by Glorfindel, who carries Aragorn. On a wide balcony I met the Lord, Elrond, who greets us kindly. I remember meeting him nearly four years ago, at my betrothal, and again at my wedding. Then, as now, I was taken aback by the kindness in his eyes, and the beauty of his face.
'Welcome to Rivendell, my Lady.' His smile is sincere, and he holds out his arms to take Aragorn from Glorfindel. 'This must be Isildur's heir, young Aragorn'. My son looks curiously at the elf lord, and smiles at Elrond, who smiles back.
Glorfindel has now left, and Elrond says quietly, 'the boy cannot be known by his true name, so as the hope of all the free people of Middle Earth lies in this small child, I think tis best he be known by the name of Estel, at least for now. What say you, Gilraen?'
'As you wish, my Lord'.
He did not answer, but looked sharply at me, and instead said, 'you and the boy will wish to bathe and rest, I will show you to your rooms'.
And thus I began my stay in Rivendell.
Now back to Elandra……
Again Mother's diary has made me cry. What a sad life she had! Such hardship and pain for a young woman. I feel disgust for myself that my only real difficulty is whether or not to marry Haldir. Speaking of my elven friend, we are supposed to see my brother tonight, to further discuss our mission to the Harad, after dinner.
I call my maid, and ask for a meal to be brought to here, as I don't want to dine in public tonight. The food is good, and I am nearly finished when I hear a soft voice, 'Haldir' I greet him, and he sits on the floor next to me, his arms around me, his face buried in my loose hair.
'Your hair always smells beautiful, Elandra, he says breathing deeply.
'Silly elf, take a chair', I laugh my own fingers tangled in his blonde locks. He lifts his head from my shoulder, and sits in the chair next to me.
'Have you eaten?'
'No' he says, 'but I spoke to your maid, and she is bringing me up some food'. He takes his cloak off and lays it over the spare chair beside him.
Veronica appears with another tray for Haldir, and leaves immediately and quickly.
'What is wrong with that girl, she acts as though I am an orc!'
'She is afraid of all Elves, and now she knows I have Elven blood, she fears me too'.
'Fear Elves! Why?'
'I don't know, but I am going to see that she understands Elves are not dangerous', I poke him in the ribs, 'you can help too, by being nice to her.'
'Ow, there is no need to poke me that hard.'
'Be nice to Veronica, or I'll poke you harder'.
'Do that, and I shall tickle you until you cry', he says, with a sly smile. He knows I am very ticklish, and will do nearly anything to avoid being tickled. 'Truthfully, I shall be nice to the girl because you ask me, and for no other reason.'
'Thank you'. I look at our plates, we have both finished eating, and I say, 'well, we have council with Aragorn tonight, we had best go.'
'With your hair like that, a wild tangle, Princess?'
'I'll just tie it back, then', I say, reaching for my hairbrush, only to find Haldir has beaten me to it.
'I shall tidy my Lady's hair.' And he proceeds to do so; carefully brushing my hair smooth, and then tying it back with a ribbon for me. I am surprised by how much I enjoy this attention, his hands as well the brush moving through my hair. As he finished he pushed my hair softly over my shoulder, and leaned in to me, and to my intense surprise, kissed the back of my neck, his arms sliding around my shoulders.
'I love you, my Elandra', his voice is barely audible, as he turns me to face him.
He takes my face in his hands, and kisses me. A different kiss to those he has given me before, his lips are soft, and he pulls me close, the pressure from his lips increasing. Strange feelings flood me, as I realise that I don't mind, in fact this is rather enjoyable. His lips leave mine, and I feel soft kisses on my throat, and then my shoulders, through the stuff of my gown.
Abruptly, he pulls away from me. 'We should go,' he says standing up.
I feel most strangely disappointed, and Haldir notices. 'If we stay now, my love, I will make love to you'.
'Oh' I blush, and understand he is serious.
He laughs, and takes my hand, and we walk together to see my brother.
If anything, my 'chat' with the Lady Galadriel had raised even more questions in my stubborn mind, but this time I need to talk to Haldir, but he is on guard duty with his brothers. In lieu of anything else to do, I decide to go back to my room, and read some more of Mother's diary.
The sun is starting to wester, though there are a few hours of daylight left, when I reach my rooms. I dismiss my nervous young maid, poor child she is even scared of me since the public revelation that Elrond is my father, for she terrified of elves. The fact that Haldir is often arrogant with those he does not know well, as a cover for the fact he is really a very shy person, has not helped little Veronica at all. I must make her realise that Elves are not dangerous, and decide to ask my sister to help me, and maybe Galadriel, as I think Veronica will be less intimidated by women.
I have made myself some herbal tea, and once more take up my seat by the still open window, and open the diary.
Author's Note: the next section is all Gilraen's P.O.V.
The last weeks have been hard, we are skinny and dirty. Of the little available food, I have given most to my son, and now as we lie by the fire, wrapped in my now threadbare cloak I hear him crying with cold and hunger. I wonder where we will be tomorrow, and how long we can live like this.
A few people have been kind to us as the dead Chieftain's wife and son. My family, and Arathorn's family threw me out of my modest little house within a day of learning of my husband's death. Aragorn my parents-in-law wished to keep with them, and rear him as their own, but I had come back to their dwelling by night and stole the boy away. Since then we had been on the run, hiding by day, moving only by night.
I hear hoof beats in the distance, many horses are coming this way, and I realise with horror we are surrounded. I can't fight off the number of riders coming in, and resign myself to capture, probably by my stepmother's brothers.
The horsemen are close now; there are six of them in the firelight. The foremost, mounted on large white horse dismounts. He throws back the hood of his cloak, and a very beautiful blonde male elf is revealed. Terrified by weeks of being hunted, I clasp my child close to me, and pick up my husband's sword.
'Lady Gilraen, be at ease, for we are not here to harm you or your child. We are come from Rivendell, seeking you, for we have heard you wander the wild, unable to return to your home', says the blonde, seating himself on the far side of the fire, ignoring the naked blade in my hand.
'You know me Lady, though you remember me not. Search your mind, and you will recollect'.
'I beg of you, don't take my child from me'. The words come out, not bold and brave, as I had wished, but desperate, pleading.
'Is that why you stole the boy, and live now in the wild? Has someone tried to take him from you?' One of the other five riders, still mounted has spoken. I assume them all to be elves, like the one by the fire, whose name is, is 'Glorfindel?' I ask.
'Now you remember', he says pleased that I have. 'You met me briefly on your wedding day as part of the delegation from Rivendell.'
'Yes, you stood with Lord Elrond, and his sons whose names I can't recollect at all'.
'Elladan, and Elrohir, at your service, Lady', says the elf that had spoken a moment ago, dismounting and sitting by the fire next to Glorfindel. 'I am Elladan, the fellow on the ugly bay horse is my brother, Elrohir. He is cross with you, you know, for we have been seeking you nigh on a month, and he misses his comfortable bed at home.'
'Leave the lady be, brother, can you not see she is cold, hungry and frightened?' says another elf, as like to Elladan as peas in a pod. Instead of sitting down, he takes off his cloak, and settles it around my shoulders, where I wrap it firmly about Aragorn and I, thanking the dark haired elf for his kindness.
'We are come to take you to Rivendell, to Elrond's hospitality.' Glorfindel holds something out to me, and I take it, wondering what it is.
'It is only food, Lady. Bread and cheese, eat it, and relax, no one will harm you.'
I hand a piece of bread to my son, and he starts stuffing it in his mouth at great speed, this is the best meal we have seen in two weeks. The other elves have dismounted, and are tending to the horses. More wood is placed on the fire, and the elves bring out cooking gear, and start to prepare a hot meal.
'What of my son? Does he accompany me to Rivendell?' I ask.
'Yes, both of you. My father wishes to extend the offer of Rivendell's hospitality to both yourself and your son.' It was Elladan who spoke.
'Oh', was all I could say, too shaken by the thought of being safe, warm and having enough food to speak more.
Soon the elves have prepared some stew, and hot tea, which we eat with bread. Full and warm my son is soon asleep, and the elves spread out bedrolls. Still frightened I continue to sit by the fire, nodding but determined not to sleep. Finally Glorfindel speaks, 'Lady, sleep, none will harm you'.
Exhausted, I have choice but to trust the elves. As I lie down on the bedding indicated by Glorfindel, and pull my son close, the elf tucks the blankets closely about us. As I fall into sleep, I hear a voice, 'Mortals! Must they so cruel to each other!' Now disgust tinges the voice, 'Throwing a woman and child into the Wild at this time of year is nothing short of murder.'
'Be still, Gildor, our people are not so kind to each other always'.
That is all I heard for that night, and woke in the morning feeling refreshed. The elves give me a spare horse, and after a small meal, we head out to Rivendell.
Two days later, we reach Rivendell, and I am breathless with the beauty of it. Other elves take our horses, and I am lead into the house by Glorfindel, who carries Aragorn. On a wide balcony I met the Lord, Elrond, who greets us kindly. I remember meeting him nearly four years ago, at my betrothal, and again at my wedding. Then, as now, I was taken aback by the kindness in his eyes, and the beauty of his face.
'Welcome to Rivendell, my Lady.' His smile is sincere, and he holds out his arms to take Aragorn from Glorfindel. 'This must be Isildur's heir, young Aragorn'. My son looks curiously at the elf lord, and smiles at Elrond, who smiles back.
Glorfindel has now left, and Elrond says quietly, 'the boy cannot be known by his true name, so as the hope of all the free people of Middle Earth lies in this small child, I think tis best he be known by the name of Estel, at least for now. What say you, Gilraen?'
'As you wish, my Lord'.
He did not answer, but looked sharply at me, and instead said, 'you and the boy will wish to bathe and rest, I will show you to your rooms'.
And thus I began my stay in Rivendell.
Now back to Elandra……
Again Mother's diary has made me cry. What a sad life she had! Such hardship and pain for a young woman. I feel disgust for myself that my only real difficulty is whether or not to marry Haldir. Speaking of my elven friend, we are supposed to see my brother tonight, to further discuss our mission to the Harad, after dinner.
I call my maid, and ask for a meal to be brought to here, as I don't want to dine in public tonight. The food is good, and I am nearly finished when I hear a soft voice, 'Haldir' I greet him, and he sits on the floor next to me, his arms around me, his face buried in my loose hair.
'Your hair always smells beautiful, Elandra, he says breathing deeply.
'Silly elf, take a chair', I laugh my own fingers tangled in his blonde locks. He lifts his head from my shoulder, and sits in the chair next to me.
'Have you eaten?'
'No' he says, 'but I spoke to your maid, and she is bringing me up some food'. He takes his cloak off and lays it over the spare chair beside him.
Veronica appears with another tray for Haldir, and leaves immediately and quickly.
'What is wrong with that girl, she acts as though I am an orc!'
'She is afraid of all Elves, and now she knows I have Elven blood, she fears me too'.
'Fear Elves! Why?'
'I don't know, but I am going to see that she understands Elves are not dangerous', I poke him in the ribs, 'you can help too, by being nice to her.'
'Ow, there is no need to poke me that hard.'
'Be nice to Veronica, or I'll poke you harder'.
'Do that, and I shall tickle you until you cry', he says, with a sly smile. He knows I am very ticklish, and will do nearly anything to avoid being tickled. 'Truthfully, I shall be nice to the girl because you ask me, and for no other reason.'
'Thank you'. I look at our plates, we have both finished eating, and I say, 'well, we have council with Aragorn tonight, we had best go.'
'With your hair like that, a wild tangle, Princess?'
'I'll just tie it back, then', I say, reaching for my hairbrush, only to find Haldir has beaten me to it.
'I shall tidy my Lady's hair.' And he proceeds to do so; carefully brushing my hair smooth, and then tying it back with a ribbon for me. I am surprised by how much I enjoy this attention, his hands as well the brush moving through my hair. As he finished he pushed my hair softly over my shoulder, and leaned in to me, and to my intense surprise, kissed the back of my neck, his arms sliding around my shoulders.
'I love you, my Elandra', his voice is barely audible, as he turns me to face him.
He takes my face in his hands, and kisses me. A different kiss to those he has given me before, his lips are soft, and he pulls me close, the pressure from his lips increasing. Strange feelings flood me, as I realise that I don't mind, in fact this is rather enjoyable. His lips leave mine, and I feel soft kisses on my throat, and then my shoulders, through the stuff of my gown.
Abruptly, he pulls away from me. 'We should go,' he says standing up.
I feel most strangely disappointed, and Haldir notices. 'If we stay now, my love, I will make love to you'.
'Oh' I blush, and understand he is serious.
He laughs, and takes my hand, and we walk together to see my brother.