Chapter VII: Sweet Dreams

Toron slowed as they approached the gate of Rivendale. There was a great arch before them, with beautiful intertwining carvings in the gate. The doors opened soundlessly, and an elf emerged with two armed elves behind them

The leading elf approached. He was tall, and had a fair elven face. Toron put his fist to his chest, and bowed. Latriel caught on immediately and did the same. The elf looked at Toron, and spoke to him in their natural language.

"I am Ealdor. Why do you approach the fair city of Rivendale?" He asked with his firm and proud Elven voice.

Toron bowed again with his fist to his chest. "Fair Ealdor of Rivendale, we seek Elmindel, wisest of the Elves. We are on a long journey home to Mirkwood, and we seek shelter for a day or two."

"Why have you come on the road west of the Misty Mountains? Your journey may have been lessened by many days if you would have stayed on the eastern road."

"Oh Ealdor of Rivendale, we were forced over Caradhras by a large company of Goblins."

"Caradhras?" Ealdor asked in curiosity. "Why did you take Caradhras?"

"It was our only choice. Please, Ealdor, will you allow us in?"

Ealdor looked at them cautiously. "I can see that you are plainly elves - but of what elven society to you belong?"

"We are of the Elves of Mirkwood, fair Ealdor."

"Ahh. Mirkwood Elves, they are friends here."

"I am also friend to Elrond," Toron added. Ealdor's eyes widened, and he quickly walked forward and put his arm around Toron's back.

"Any friend of Elrond the great is ours as well! Come! Let us take care of you!"

Ealdor led them through the streets, and past many beautiful houses. The sound of water crashing against rocks was ever present, and the fresh breeze was frequent upon their fair faces. They then turned, and started to walk up a winding path. Latriel looked before him, and saw the largest house in all the city. He looked at Ealdor. "What is that?"

Ealdor stopped and looked at Latriel. "That," He said, pointing. "Is the house of Elmindel, the largest, and fairest house in all the land." They then headed off to the house of Elmindel.

The house was tall, and the sleek roof rested upon many supports. Latriel leaned his head back to see the top of the house as they approached the stairs. They then started up the long stair to the door. The stairs were straight, but they were long and tiring. Ealdor stopped at the large arched door. There were two elven guards standing at the door. "Elmah" He whispered, and the guards immediately opened the door.

As they entered, Latriel noticed the long hall before him. There were pillars on either side, and statues were arranged in front of every other pillar. There was a brilliant light in the hall, for the roof had many openings. Ealdor turned and looked at Toron. "Do you wish to see Elmindel now? Or do you wish to rest first?"

Toron, looking back to Elmindel's blue eyes after he was finished looking at the beautiful hall, replied "I would like to rest first."

"As you wish." Ealdor turned and whispered something to the guards once more. "After you are cleaned and rested, we will then have a great feast, such a feast not seen in Rivendale since the beginning of our time here! Now go, rest! May your legs be rested and your hearts be merry! Do not fear, for you are in the care of Elmindel!"

They were then ushered to their room. Toron and Latriel followed the guards as they winded past several rooms - some, Toron noted, were libraries. Other rooms had elves talking together merrily, and others were empty, but had various statues and beautiful works of art within. They then turned left, into a thin hallway. The guard then stopped by a door, and said "Here you are, Toron of Mirkwood. The feast shall begin this eve, I will come to retrieve you soon enough. Do not hesitate to explore, for this is a large house with many, many things to examine and experience. Until later." The guard then walked down the hallway, and disappeared.

"Well," Toron sighed. "Lets get some rest." They then turned, and entered the room that was appointed to them. It was very large, and had many open windows overlooking the beautiful trees outside. There were two beds, and a basin for washing at the far end of the room. And many beautiful statues arranged here and there around the room.

Latriel was looking around the room in amazement, until Toron interrupted his thoughts. "Latriel!" He yelled.

Latriel jerked out of his daze, and looked at Toron. He was standing outside, looking out upon the beautiful waterfalls and rivers that wound around the city, and breathing freely the clean, crisp air. He then turned and sighed. "Latriel, get some sleep."

Latriel didn't argue, and made his way to his bed. He slipped under the thin covers, gold-trimmed and smooth as silk, and took deep breaths as he drifted slowly off to sleep.

Toron took another breath, and walked across their room to the door. He reached for the handle, but stopped. "I may as well get some rest now," He thought as he turned and walked briskly to his bed. He laid himself down, and breathed the sweet scent of Rivendale.

Drifting off to sleep, he kept his eyes on the intricate design of the ceiling, with many leaves carved into the curved ceiling. He was then transported into his own memory, into the last time he was in the protective borders of Rivendell. He could see what he saw that day he arrived in Rivendell, it's beautiful houses in all their beauty and he could feel the cleansing cool of the river upon his body. He then saw the green garden outside Elrond's house, the rock path bordered with tall green trees and flowers standing tall on either side of the path.

He saw the shadow from the beautiful green roof, but then it changed. The shadow grew, from it's small place under the tree's roof to the trunk of the trees, then to the ground. The shadow then moved, like pure darkness upon the ground. It then took form, right in front of Toron. The shadow then became the shape of a man, but could barely be made out, for the beautiful garden and all of its flowers and trees had withered and died in a matter of seconds, leaving nothing but darkness. Toron could barely see the shape before him. It looked like a man.

Latriel, hearing Toron struggle and gasp in his sleep, sat up in his bed and watched Toron, just in case he needed someone. Toron was breathing heavier, and Latriel could tell he was uncomfortable. He nearly said something, but stopped as Toron moved suddenly in his bed. His arms suddenly went upwards, as if defending himself from attack. Latriel looked at his face - it was scared, and dripping with sweat. Latriel jumped from his bed, and ran to Toron's side. He nearly said something again, but Toron interrupted him once more. Toron screamed, blood-curdling and intense. Latriel did not know what to do. He was shocked by Toron's scream, for he had never seen or heard Toron in this much fear. He thought about it, and discovered that he had never seen Toron this scared before. He took Toron's hand in his own and began to sing in his sweet Elven voice. After he was done with the first sentence, Toron's hand loosened and fell from his. Latriel looked at Toron's face and noticed it was completely relaxed. He was in a deep sleep, content and peaceful.

Latriel stood and walked over to his bed, quickly peering over his shoulder at Toron for a moment, and lay down again in his bed, and uneasily drifted off to sleep. He was worried about Toron.