Eye of the Ice Dragon
by Elarin
*
Chapter 3 | Whispers of a Dark Past
Glorfindel had left his room, wearing the grey robes he had been offered, and looked about knowing Elrond had gone to speak with Gandalf. 'Alas!' He thought, 'I suppose Elrond will send me tidings later.' He heard soft footsteps behind him and turned around to see Lyra leading Telperiel. "My lord," bowed Lyra with a smile. Glorfindel smiled, the young mortal girl looked like a petal from a fair nimloth (white flower) glittering with dew. Her hair was braided down in several long braids twined with silver and pearls.
"A! Lyra, you have done a splendid job! I would have mistaken her for an elven maid had I not known better!" He told her.
-Glorfindel- said Telperiel with a smile. Glorfindel hooked her arm into him.
"And greetings to you, once more, Telperiel." He told her. 'now,' he thought silently looking at the silver of her eyes and the gleaming gown she wore, 'she truly lives up to the name we have given her.'
-unairya Vanarie, Glorfindel?- even though Glorfindel did not know the words he understood the question.
"He is with a friend, Telperiel, speaking of some important matter." Glorfindel said. It wasn't a lie. Not exactly. He laughed lightly at the puzzlement of her expression. "He will be along, I promise." She then seemed satisfied with his answer.
'Does she understand me?' he wondered silently. He also pondered on how a girl of fourteen years had been abandoned in Ered Mithrin. A puzzle it was indeed! But Glorfindel would hold to patience, he had an eternity to learn the tale at any rate, and it seemed as if Mithrandir knew something they did not. Lyra left to her duties and Glorfindel led Telperiel outside to the garden balcony. Some elves that saw the pair walk by let out complimenting exclamations of awe at the girl's innocent beauty making her look about all at once surprised and curious by the soft voices about her. Glorfindel smiled inwardly. She seemed like a child indeed.
"It seems that you fit in here quite well, Telperiel." Glorfindel told her laughter in his voice. They stopped outside a balcony overlooking the gardens where Elrond and Mithrandir spoke below. Her blind eyes turned to Glorfindel and she squinted as if trying to see him. Glorfindel sighed and kissed her fondly on the forehead. "May the stars someday greet your sight, Telperiel." He said quietly feeling a deep pity for the small mortal girl. Telperiel looked around sensing the presences below. Elrond and Gandalf turned to look at them and Elrond managed a smile.
"How fares our silver nimloth, Glorfindel, for she appears yet the fairest child among mortals." Elrond said. She smiled hearing his voice
-Vanarie!- she exclaimed laughter in her voice. Glorfindel laughed.
"She is always pleased to see you, my lord." said he. Gandalf idly stroked his beard heading up toward the balcony behind Elrond. As soon as he neared close Telperiel jumped up and embraced Elrond. Glorfindel smiled.
"I suppose she sees you both as long lost fathers." Gandalf said as if some insight had reached him.
"Indeed," said Elrond stroking the girls hair, "I am already father to one mortal, I suppose a second should be no new thing."
"And Arwen would love her." Glorfindel said with a smile. "But if I may ask, Mithrandir do you know where this girl hails from?"
-Mithrandir?- she asked.
"Yes, my little nimloth," said Elrond, "Mithrandir is a good friend of ours."
-Mellon?- She asked curiously.
"Yes." Glorfindel told her. "Mellon." He then turned to Mithrandir, "So, have you any knowledge of where she hails from?" Gandalf frowned momentarily.
"I believe I know, but I would not trouble you with my assumptions, until I am truly sure." Gandalf said. Elrond looked at him concerned.
"You still have not told me exactly what troubles you, Mithrandir, but I shall wait. But I see this child as no ill." said Elrond. Gandalf raised his hands up in defense.
"I never said the child was of any ill, Lord Elrond," the old wizard then laughed. "Indeed, she is young, and filled with life in her and she is cause of no harm. I do not fear that the child will cause anyone harm." He sighed deeply his expression changing to one of deep thought and he looked to the shadows of the north from whence they had come by boat.
"But I would not doubt," Gandalf said warily and mostly to himself, "that there is something about her that may…"
*
The night had been one of merrymaking and a joyous feast to not only welcome the elven representatives from Mithlond, Imladris, and Lothlorien but also to celebrate a recent victory against the orcs to the east. Legolas and Glorfindel amused themselves teaching Telperiel how to dance for she seemed much to enjoy the songs and laughter about her as if she had never heard such pleasant sounds. Elrond had watched the seen some satisfaction filling him just as he had felt the same feelings when he had watched Elrohir teach Estel to string a bow.
'I bond myself to closely to mortals whose lives are but a flicker of a note upon an endless theme of song in which I live,' Elrond thought sadly as he drank from his goblet. Telperiel could be the little sister of Arwen for in image, it seemed, they were almost likened. Silver were her eyes even if she was blind they were beautiful, and long and dark her hair and fair her features. It seemed that her leg had healed as well for she now moved easily with Glorfindel in the quick dance they did. Elrond smiled but a strange foreboding filled him.
"Mithrandir," Elrond said not taking his gaze off the mortal girl for he suddenly felt protective of her, "You still leave tales untold and I would hear them." He said repeating the wizard's earlier demand of him, quietly so that only his ears would hear. Gandalf sighed.
"I told you I would not…"
Elrond turned his gaze toward him, hard, and sharp.
"I have lived long enough to suffer enough ills and troubles in the world, Mithrandir, one more will not make a difference." Elrond told his friend somewhat stolidly for his thoughts were suddenly on his wife Celebrian who had passed away to the West. He winced at his thoughts and closed his heart to them lest his grief overtake him. Gandalf's eyes softened as if reading the elven lord's thoughts, and Elrond did not doubt that it was exactly what he did.
"Yet one more trouble would make all the difference." Gandalf said softly, "And I would not yet put another burden upon your heart, my friend." He told him. Elrond sighed inwardly turning to the laughing Telperiel. He silently wished that somedays Gandalf's wisdom would not get the better of him but Elrond knew the words he spoke were true. Celebrian's passing may have been many years prior but to an elf's heart the memory pierced him like a wound yet fresh, and Arathorn's passing was still in his memory, as well as Isildur's betrayal, and Gil-Galad's death, and his own brother's choice to be mortal among men, and his foster father was bound to the shores, for Maglor wandered aimlessly with his hands seared by a Silmaril and forever was he chained to Ulmo's song and thought and Elrond had never seen him again.
Elrond closed his eyes for a moment flipping the pages of his life.
His father and his mother had also vanished across the sea. Earendil the Mariner now a star bound to the sky until the end of time, and his mother whose face and voice he barely remembered she had thrown herself to the sea... Elrond swallowed. Why did such sadness plague his life?
And one day, he thought with a bitter taste in his mouth, Estel will go forth into his destiny and someday fade away too, as will Telperiel and I will be filled with grief once more.
Gandalf put a comforting hand on the elf lord's shoulder feeling his burdens. "Perhaps, Lord Elrond, you should focus on the present than the past and the future for each day brings a joy, no matter how far forward or back." Elrond opened his eyes slowly and managed a grim smile. It seemed that Mithrandir had an adage for everything, even for an elf lord whose age had enlightened him and yet Elrond found comfort in the istari.
"Indeed," the elf lord said quietly, "you are right."
Glorfindel jumped up before them suddenly a smile playing on his lips.
"Won't you come dance among us, my lord Elrond?" He asked as he turned to glance at Telperiel left in Legolas's care. Elrond smiled genuinely exchanging a glance with Mithrandir.
"With much pleasure, friend!" Elrond said and stood up to enter among the circle of dancers.
Gandalf smiled and lit his pipe.
*
From far off, a dark horse's hoof stamped on the ground entering into Mirkwood leaving a smoke of dust as it moved in. Its rider was glad in black and blood red ring glowed on his finger. A wraith, a shadow in the darkness, and it seemed that even the starlight avoided touching his form making his a void in the forest. Yet the trees quivered when he ran past and winds about him were cold with warning. Inward rode the faceless rider, one of the shadows of Mordor long ago claimed by Sauron.
But now it seeked. For it stopped abruptly in the forest not nearing the elvish settlements so quickly.
The faceless shadow looked up as if seeking something and its horse breathed in the scent of the air.
And when he caught a lace of it he violently bid the horse forward, iron shod hands clutching the black reigns.
A shadow sped through the night.
*
…a red eye stood from far away, watching… fire burned… seared her soul… an innocent child, was slain from inside… he called to her… he called her… he wanted her… he seeked her… hands, foul hands touched her…violating… her thoughts… her body… her soul… pain went through her and tears turned to ice… two great eyes of frozen blue opened themselves to her… and darkness descended… and all she felt was pain… and her memory faded away… and a faceless shadow turned to her… 'agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!' whispered a low and seductive tongue…someone grabbed her fiercely… ripped her soul… pain… frozen tears… he called to her… Aiglos…!
She screamed.
In the darkness of her chamber, where only moonlight filtered through the white veiled window Elrond jumped up from the couch where he was sitting deep in thought, now interrupted, seeing Telperiel roll up into a tight ball upon her bed and hearing her sob and scream unintelligible things fearfully.
"Telperiel, what is it?" asked Elrond softly careful not to come to close. She shook her head and cried still muttering fearful words in her own tongue as if she had forgotten him, "Telperiel, please do not be afraid." As he neared to lay a comforting hand on her she jerked away with a scream backing away to the headboard and clutching her knees closer to her breast.
Glorfindel came in quickly after.
"What happened?"
"I do not know, I believe she had a nightmare and I cannot near her for she strikes out at me." Elrond said softly looking at her and feeling helpless.
"Ai!" Glorfindel exclaimed looking at her. She had closed her eyes tightly, sobbing. Elrond sat back down on the couch nearby and began to sing softly.
A! Elbereth! Gilthoniel! silivren penna miriel o menel! Aglar elenath, na chaered palan-diriel o galadhremmin ennorath! Fanuilos! A! Elbereth! Le linnathon! Nef aear, si nef Aearon!…*
Glorfindel answered the song's second verse his tone soothing and calming,
Gilthoniel! A! Elbereth! Nef i fennas-calen linnathonna Earendil! Eria o mornie, eria o uren! Gilthoniel! A! Fanuilosmir! Le linnathon, A! Elbereth!*
She had stopped her sobbing and her blind gaze turned to the source of the voices and to their amazement she repeated Elrond's phrase in a soft and quiet tone, still trembling from her tears and slowly growing in strength, and yet her sad notes still hung to their praising words.
-A! Elbereth!… Gilthoniel! silivren penna miriel o menel… aglar elenath, na cheared palan-diriel o galadhremmin ennorath! Fanuilos! A! Elbereth! Le linnathon! Nef aear, si nef Aearon!-
"Telperiel," Elrond said carefully approaching her.
-A! Glorfindel! Vanarie!- she sang tearfully then jumped into Elrond's embrace still trembling. Glorfindel moved to sit by her.
"What frightens her so?" Glorfindel asked softly. Elrond shook his head having no answers but continued humming the song to Telperiel as if to calm her fears.
But a deep fear for Telperiel rose in Elrond and he decided that he must seek the answers from Mithrandir this night, without excuses.
*
AN:
translation to the song (found in LOTR)
Oh! Lady of the Stars! Kindler! Snow falls like jewels from the heavens! The glory of the star host having gazed afar from beneath the woven trees of Middle Earth! Snow White! Oh! Lady of the Stars! I sing to three! Beyond the sea, now beyond the Great Sea.
my added verse (excuse my bad Sindaren if its wrong)
Kindler! Oh! Lady of the Stars! Beyond the bright gateways I sing of Earendil! Rising from the darkness, rising from my heart! Kindler! Oh! Snow White Jewel! I sing to thee, Oh! Lady of the Stars!