3.Celebrations
~The next day~
Slept quite well last night, and found this morning Elrond is leaving for Gondor. My life is just getting better and better.
Went out into the streets with most of the population to see the leaving parade. Elrond was sitting on a big fat horse, ladened with many fine cloths and ornaments; it was currently having a crap in the middle of the road. Arwen was on a small pony behind him, and she wrinkled her nose at the smell. Behind him was his enormous entourage.
Elrond seemed happy, he waved to the crowd and told everyone his purposes and route as if we didn't know already, then went onto our part of the street and said something about needing a new banner-bearer, because his usual one had been fired. Nobody asked why.
No one wanted to apply for the job, since banner bearing for Elrond was not an easy task. No job for Elrond is. The banner of the House of Elrond weighed the same as a donkey. He insisted on decorating it with so many precious metals and gems that in the end it was more riches than cloth.
Seeing no volunteers he searched around the crowd, until his eyes landed on me. Oh dear.
"Haldir!!!" he yelled into the mass, a big cheesy grin on his face, "what about you?!"
The people by me dispersed, and I found myself singled out and alone. I gulped.
"Er...me?!"
"Yes! Would you like the opportunity to go on a free trip to Gondor's celebrations? I'm only giving you this because I like you!"
"Oh..er.."
"It'll be lots of fun, and you can hold my banner as well. After all, you deserve it. So whaddya say?!?!"
I gulped again. Whatever I said, the outcome would not be good.
He stared hard at me, his eyes daring me to say 'no', inside I felt like I had I a blade pointed at my throat.
I coughed and said: "uh...yah..alright then."
And everyone cheered.
In a matter of seconds I found the official red procession robe thrown over me, and the flag-banner of Earendil thrust into my hands. I nearly fell under the weight.
What have I done?
~
The parade continued and I found myself marching in it, I tried to keep up, and the huge wooden banner pole as well, and found myself beside a familiar face.
"Dr. Elanesse!" I called to the man marching next to me.
"Oh, hello Haldir." He said, with a lopsided smile on his face, " Please, call me Lamalas. How are you doing? Still infatuated with that girl?"
"For your information, I am in LOVE, ever heard of it?" I said angrily, the banner pole wobbling dangerously. "I am over he depression thing as well."
"Yeah, yeah, so...what are you doing here? I thought you were staying behind with the sensible people, you said something about wooing your lady last time. Wouldn't this be a good opportunity?"
"Elrond fired his banner-bearer, and volunteered me to fill up the vacancy." I said simply, motioning my banner. "What about you? What are you here for?"
"Unluckily for me, he also fired his horn blower." He said, patting a small trumpet that hung at his belt.
"That used to be Orophin's job in Lorien." I said sadly, looking down at my scruffy boots.
"I'm sorry", he said, and patted me on the back. "You must really miss him."
"Mmm."
"Hey, look," he said suddenly, pointing ahead, " It's that kid friend of yours."
I looked ahead and spotted Glindir, who was also 'volunteering' for the procession to Gondor. He seemed reluctant to go, judging by the way he was sprawled on the ground, clutching onto a nearby tree for dear life while Elrond's guards tried to drag him away by his feet.
As always, resistance was futile, and after much struggle, he came up to us, dressed in the same red robes as the rest of the unfortunate procession.
"You got dragged in too, huh, Glindir?" I said, as a form of greeting.
" 'Dragged' would be an understatement." He said wearily, and marched behind us.
" It's that bad? What task did you get?" asked Lamalas.
"Herald."
"Darnit." Said I, "you always get the easy job."
The parade started up again, this time with speed. I suppose Elrond got all his new applicants.
The wives and women of Rivendell waved their white shawls at us, cheering and clapping as we exited the city. Many threw packets of Lembas and oatcakes at us. Glindir was lucky enough to catch one. One of the larger packets hit my heavy banner, and I lost balance, the result being the huge wooden pole hitting Glindir over the head.
I apologised, and he said he was all right, but he was probably a bit dazed because he didn't notice me stealing his Lembas.
~~~
So the journey began, with herald, horn blower and banner bearer all going to Gondor.
I looked back on the procession as we left the city walls, and gasped at the number of Elves that come along.
"How big an entourage does Elrond need?!" I asked Lamalas.
" A very big one. He needs to look tough and mighty, you see. It's all about power. Elrond took his whole household along, his counsellors and everything. And Erestor also took his daughters along as well. It's all about number. Power in numbers."
"Erestor brought his daughters?! Why didn't you tell me sooner!?" I nearly yelled, my banner wobbling again. Glindir backed away from me nervously.
"Ah! Ah ha!" he stopped at turned to face me, his face alight, his eyes shining, " I get it now. The crush, the infatuation with the house of Erestor; It all fits together. Ha, and there was me, still thinking that you fancied Elladan."
"FOR THE LAST TIME, I AM NOT GAY"
"Fine, whatever. But I know you love Nariel."
"MARIEN."
"Fine, whatever."
~The next day~
Slept quite well last night, and found this morning Elrond is leaving for Gondor. My life is just getting better and better.
Went out into the streets with most of the population to see the leaving parade. Elrond was sitting on a big fat horse, ladened with many fine cloths and ornaments; it was currently having a crap in the middle of the road. Arwen was on a small pony behind him, and she wrinkled her nose at the smell. Behind him was his enormous entourage.
Elrond seemed happy, he waved to the crowd and told everyone his purposes and route as if we didn't know already, then went onto our part of the street and said something about needing a new banner-bearer, because his usual one had been fired. Nobody asked why.
No one wanted to apply for the job, since banner bearing for Elrond was not an easy task. No job for Elrond is. The banner of the House of Elrond weighed the same as a donkey. He insisted on decorating it with so many precious metals and gems that in the end it was more riches than cloth.
Seeing no volunteers he searched around the crowd, until his eyes landed on me. Oh dear.
"Haldir!!!" he yelled into the mass, a big cheesy grin on his face, "what about you?!"
The people by me dispersed, and I found myself singled out and alone. I gulped.
"Er...me?!"
"Yes! Would you like the opportunity to go on a free trip to Gondor's celebrations? I'm only giving you this because I like you!"
"Oh..er.."
"It'll be lots of fun, and you can hold my banner as well. After all, you deserve it. So whaddya say?!?!"
I gulped again. Whatever I said, the outcome would not be good.
He stared hard at me, his eyes daring me to say 'no', inside I felt like I had I a blade pointed at my throat.
I coughed and said: "uh...yah..alright then."
And everyone cheered.
In a matter of seconds I found the official red procession robe thrown over me, and the flag-banner of Earendil thrust into my hands. I nearly fell under the weight.
What have I done?
~
The parade continued and I found myself marching in it, I tried to keep up, and the huge wooden banner pole as well, and found myself beside a familiar face.
"Dr. Elanesse!" I called to the man marching next to me.
"Oh, hello Haldir." He said, with a lopsided smile on his face, " Please, call me Lamalas. How are you doing? Still infatuated with that girl?"
"For your information, I am in LOVE, ever heard of it?" I said angrily, the banner pole wobbling dangerously. "I am over he depression thing as well."
"Yeah, yeah, so...what are you doing here? I thought you were staying behind with the sensible people, you said something about wooing your lady last time. Wouldn't this be a good opportunity?"
"Elrond fired his banner-bearer, and volunteered me to fill up the vacancy." I said simply, motioning my banner. "What about you? What are you here for?"
"Unluckily for me, he also fired his horn blower." He said, patting a small trumpet that hung at his belt.
"That used to be Orophin's job in Lorien." I said sadly, looking down at my scruffy boots.
"I'm sorry", he said, and patted me on the back. "You must really miss him."
"Mmm."
"Hey, look," he said suddenly, pointing ahead, " It's that kid friend of yours."
I looked ahead and spotted Glindir, who was also 'volunteering' for the procession to Gondor. He seemed reluctant to go, judging by the way he was sprawled on the ground, clutching onto a nearby tree for dear life while Elrond's guards tried to drag him away by his feet.
As always, resistance was futile, and after much struggle, he came up to us, dressed in the same red robes as the rest of the unfortunate procession.
"You got dragged in too, huh, Glindir?" I said, as a form of greeting.
" 'Dragged' would be an understatement." He said wearily, and marched behind us.
" It's that bad? What task did you get?" asked Lamalas.
"Herald."
"Darnit." Said I, "you always get the easy job."
The parade started up again, this time with speed. I suppose Elrond got all his new applicants.
The wives and women of Rivendell waved their white shawls at us, cheering and clapping as we exited the city. Many threw packets of Lembas and oatcakes at us. Glindir was lucky enough to catch one. One of the larger packets hit my heavy banner, and I lost balance, the result being the huge wooden pole hitting Glindir over the head.
I apologised, and he said he was all right, but he was probably a bit dazed because he didn't notice me stealing his Lembas.
~~~
So the journey began, with herald, horn blower and banner bearer all going to Gondor.
I looked back on the procession as we left the city walls, and gasped at the number of Elves that come along.
"How big an entourage does Elrond need?!" I asked Lamalas.
" A very big one. He needs to look tough and mighty, you see. It's all about power. Elrond took his whole household along, his counsellors and everything. And Erestor also took his daughters along as well. It's all about number. Power in numbers."
"Erestor brought his daughters?! Why didn't you tell me sooner!?" I nearly yelled, my banner wobbling again. Glindir backed away from me nervously.
"Ah! Ah ha!" he stopped at turned to face me, his face alight, his eyes shining, " I get it now. The crush, the infatuation with the house of Erestor; It all fits together. Ha, and there was me, still thinking that you fancied Elladan."
"FOR THE LAST TIME, I AM NOT GAY"
"Fine, whatever. But I know you love Nariel."
"MARIEN."
"Fine, whatever."
