The Eye of the Ice Dragon
by Elarin
to the readers: thank you for the reviews! I really love them! they make me feel so… talented (as if that word applied to me… lol). came back from my junior prom the other night (actually had a blast by myself!) and saw a vision of the full moon veiled by clouds amid the fragrance of lilac flowers highly inspired me to write the next chapter. So here it is…
*
Chapter 7 | A Place to Call Home
Telperial was covered in Elrond's heavy cloak as they took the skies and over the clouds in the cool night. Although the elves were not affected by it Telperiel became drowsy. She sat in front of Elrond as one of the great eagles, Ilmen, bore them up upon the roads of the winds. They flew beneath the stars which her blind eyes could not see under the pregnant silver moon.
Aiglos… she barely whispered in a silent voice but her heart spoke it yet louder as her eye lids grew heavy as they soared west toward Imladris.
Silme… came a resonant voice as if from deep within her and yet it was but a whisper of a breeze barely kissing the crowning leaves of a tree amidst the forest. She saw the two great blue eyes of endless depths within her mind's eye and she took in a breath of surprise.
That name, she thought, I know that name… Something deep within her began to sing, a cry, a high and lonely note among the silence of the night within her heart.
Suddenly she was not there anymore, she could not feel the winds upon her face nor the warmth of Elrond sitting close behind her.
And yet I hear his heart… came the whisper of her thought as his name crossed briefly through her heart.
And Aiglos knew her heart, his eyes ever watchful…
Aiglos… she thought longingly again and she felt as if she were balancing between the borders of pleasure of pain for once where gardens grew with bright and fair flowers and birds sang there was but snow, and bare limbs of leafless trees embellished only with the sunlight over glistening ice.
Vanarie… she thought wishing for warmth, wishing for a comfort away from the cold of winter.
Her thoughts frightened her and she was unsure why.
"Telperiel?" his voice seemed but an echo, far away, "Telperiel, are you alright?"
But she did not hear him. For the song grew within her.
Slowly another note wove itself into the first creating a heart breaking harmony. Telperiel hummed the tune slowly. The song was always the same for it was part of a great song and she heard it, deep within her, just as she heard Aiglos. But this song was woven not of winter, it was woven of spring and she hummed it, and something anew grew within her. Warmth. The warmth spread through her.. opening her up... starting to melt away the ice…
Silme…! called the resonant voice more strongly and urgently than before. She stopped humming her song broken away from it and now all she saw was a great and despairingly beautiful and terrible thing and its blue eyes drew her to him. do not leave me… he whispered his voice fading filled with sadness, beautiful one… not yet…do not leave me…
She suddenly felt terribly guilty and swallowed and once again and when she opened her eyes the world was but a dark blur of shadows and sounds.
Aiglos… she whispered and deep within the silence of her heart… she cried.
*
Elrond felt her fall asleep upon his breast but he was troubled. He tightened his arms around the girl to show her reassurance. She seemed not to notice having fallen into her dreams. Elrond sighed deeply, though he was somewhat happier at the thought that they would finally arrive to Imladris, and he certainly would be happy for the comfort of his home and to see his sons and Estel and Gilraen again. Part of him deeply missed Arwen, for he had not seen her a few years and he doubted that he would see her in a few more for she had found respite in Lothlorien with her grand mother Galadriel. And what were the years for elves, Elrond thought, but a few idle days and passing seasons in the stream of time? At least, he found some comfort in that thought.
They had passed away from the cold storm clouds and already the Misty Mountains were visible below them, he exchanged a smile with Glorfindel who was upon Gwaihir along with Gandalf.
The wind threw his hair and hood back and it seemed to grow warmer as the spring winds should be.
Elrond laughed with some mirth for the warmer winds from the west and Telperiel shifted in front of him opening her eyes lazily.
"Are we there yet?" she asked groggily.
"Almost, my little nimoth." he told her with a smile, "Almost."
*
Imladris.
The clouds were but a thin veil in the sky misting over the glow of the moon and yet spreading its brightness is a hallo upon the sky. Some stars shyly twinkled from under the slowly moving clouds and the Last Homely House seemed to glow among the dark leaved woven trees around it. Emerald moss made carpets upon rocky cliffs and on the forest floors accompanied by beds of flowers of endless colors and lilac trees released their sweet fragrance in abundance about the great and ancient oaks.
Telperiel did not need her sight to perceive the splendor around her. The essence of various flowers and of the trees and moss and sweet breeze teased her scent and the sounds of trickling water from streams and rivers and fountains and the wind playing upon the leaves of the trees and echoing through the valley painted pictures in her imagination of where she was.
Elrond led her up through the paths he had come to know only too well smiling at the expression of pure wonder that filled her features.
But the sounds that she found most pleasing was the laughter and songs of the elves about the trees many who greeted Elrond and Glorfindel with joy at their return and placed garlands of flowers about Telperiel in welcome. She smiled, curious if elvish customs were different in different places for something shined about these elves, the same thing that shined in Elros and Elrond.
"Welcome to your new home, Telperiel," Elrond told her as he led her to the walkways toward the great house, "Welcome to Rivendell, Imladris in the tongue of the elves." She blinked at him her expression only sheer amazement and after a while she managed a reply.
"This must be the most beautiful in all the world." She said deep sincerity in her tone and she smiled gratefully at both Elrond, and Glorfindel whose presence she sensed nearby. "Thank you!" She cried out and embraced them both and they in turn returned her embrace.
Some of the elves nearby exchanged curious glances with a smile wondering how a mortal girl had met the two elven lords.
"I think though," Elrond said glancing at Gandalf who seemed a bit tired himself, "Now is a time for us all to get some sleep."
*
Glorfindel led Telperiel to her room and described it to her. It was spacious yet cozy at the same time with a large bed with a swan headboard and two large windows gave a view of the garden outside. She gave a deep sigh and feel upon the bed and almost fell directly to sleep. Glorfindel laughed lightly and tucked her into the woven white and green blankets.
"Goodnight, Telperiel." Glorfindel told her quietly and smiled as she mumbled a goodnight back.
For once, it seemed, Telperiel slept peacefully and no dark dreams nor perilous voices plagued her mind.
*
Elrond went to his library after he showed Mithrandir to his room. He stepped out into the gardens looking around. He gave a start when a pair of two strong arms wrapped around his shoulder from behind him but relaxed when he heard familiar laughter. "Father!" exclaimed Elladan with a smile on his face as Elrohir came in behind them. Elrond smiled and embraced both his sons and kissed them on the forehead.
"And where have you two been?" asked the elder elf, though he very well knew the answer.
"Teaching Estel how to use a staff, he's getting better at it each day." Elrohir told him.
"Ah!" exclaimed Elrond another thought crossing his mind, "And where is Gilraen?"
"Over here." said a woman's voice lightly. She stepped into the courtyard wearing a dark blue gown her dark golden hair tied back in a single braid and a smile brightening her grey blue eyes. Elrond embraced her as well.
"Have you been well, my lady?" He asked her.
"Indeed," She told him laughter in her voice, "With Elladan and Elrohir keeping me an entertained spectator to their games I have been very well." The other two laughed as Elrond raised an eyebrow in curiosity to their joke, "And how has been your journey, my lord?" She asked him. Elrond sighed.
"The usual." He told her, "The Northern lands are no safer than our woods beyond the rivers."
"As we have expected." said Elladan with a sigh, "But let us not trouble ourselves with that yet, for the rangers have been keeping close vigil to the West and to the North and their news has been brought to our ears as well."
"That is true." said Elrond.
"But there is another question we have." Elladan said with a smile, "Who is the girl you brought with you?" Elrond sighed hearing the question.
"And orphan." Elrond replied honestly, "A blind orphan with an unknown past and a clouded future. Glorfindel and I have decided to keep her here for as long as need be until Mithrandir goes out to unravel the mystery about her."
"A mortal girl?" said Gilraen with some surprise as well as motherly concern. "How old?"
"Fourteen years in mortal reckoning." replied the elven lord. Gilraen smiled at the thought of another mortal in Imladris. She did not have anything against the elves, on the contrary she loved them dearly, but sometimes she longed to have a mortal about to relate to.
"And where is she now?"
"Sleeping most likely." predicted Elrohir, "For I doubt after a trip through the skies she'd be awake for long." Elrond smiled.
"Yes, she is sleeping." Elrond said, "But I promise you may go and meet her tomorrow morning."
"I would be most happy to, my lord." Gilraen said with a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"Does this mean Estel gets a play mate?" Elladan asked. Elrohir laughed. Elrond shook his head and clasped the shoulders of both elves.
"If you can teach a blind girl to use a staff in her defense," Elrond told them seriously, "Then you will have my utmost respect as teachers."
Gilraen smiled, "That should be aught to see."
*
Telperiel woke the next morning and wiped the sleep sand from her eyes. Her vision was its usual blur but she could hear birds singing beyond her window as well as the smell of food: specifically toast, jellies, fruit, coffee, and tea and that her stomach grumbled at the thought. She yawned and stretched herself and looked toward the door as she heard it open. "Elrond?" she asked unsure.
"Nay, I am Gilraen, little one." said a woman's kind voice and Telperiel heard her smile, "I have come here to help you bathe and get you a change of clothes."
"Oh," Telperiel said and then minded her manners as Gilraen took her hands to lead her out, "Thank you,"
"It is a beautiful morning," Gilraen added, "And breakfast is being set up in the courtyard for us all, for I would bet that you haven't eaten something good in about a day, lass."
"Just about." Telperiel told her honestly. Gilraen laughed and Telperiel liked the sound of her laughter for it reminded her of running stream waters.
"Well, you shall get plenty to it! And I would almost guess you would have the appetite of a halfling from the Shire at any rate." Telperiel blinked at her comparison.
"What is a halfling?" asked the younger one as they entered into another room and Telperiel could smell the got water.
"Why they are short mortals, smaller than dwarves, but they have the pointy ears of elves. I have never seen one for myself but Gandalf the Grey has told me some rather funny stories about them." Gilraen replied as she aided her in discarding her old clothings. Telperiel laughed suddenly trying to imagine such a creature. Gilraen smiled as she led her to the pool of hot water. "Watch your step." She added.
Telperiel sighed happy to feel clean. She submerged herself for a moment then came back up.
"You have beautiful hair." said Gilraen as she began to wash it. Telperiel smiled.
"Thank you." she replied. Another sound caught her ears, small footsteps nearby.
"It is nice to have another mortal lady here." Gilraen told her, "Sometimes I miss being among mortals, though I am very happy here and love the elves."
"They are kind." Telperiel said quietly.
"Indeed they are." Gilraen agreed.
The little footsteps shuffled a bit. Telperiel was becoming somewhat concerned at this.
"Is there anyone here with us?" Telperiel asked and suddenly the sounds halted. Gilraen looked about.
"No. Why?" asked the elder lady.
"I hear someone else in here besides us." Telperiel told her.
"Hmm…" Gilraen said standing up from her perch from the bath and looked around and Telperiel heard her move something.
"Estel! What are you doing here?" she admonished.
"I… uh… was looking for something…" came a small boy's voice. Telperiel raised both her eyebrows hearing the voice.
"Oh really? Or were you waiting for the elven maids to come bathe?"
"No!" squeaked the other in denial, "That's gross…"
Both Gilraen and Telperiel laughed.
"Well, then, now, we shall have to kick you out."
"But I didn't find 'him'!" exclaimed Estel.
"What, in ye gods, are you looking for?" asked Gilraen.
"My polecat." Gilraen groaned at the mention of the weasel like creature Estel had found for a pet.
"It is in here?" She asked looking about.
"I don't know." The nine year old shrugged, "He ran away from me this morning." His mother sighed.
"Well if I find him, I'll give him to you, be off now! I'm sure Elladan is looking for you." said Gilraen.
"But…"
"Shoo!" she laughed and closed the door. "I am sorry, that was my son Estel, he is always finding some new mischief."
Telperiel smiled. "What does he look like?" She asked.
"Well," began Gilraen as she went back to work on her hair, "His eyes are grey as mine are but his hair is dark, like his father's and he is short for he is but nine years of age." Telperiel did not miss the hint of sadness in her tone but didn't press on with it.
"We found you a fair dress." said Gilraen after a while, "It is silver grey and matches with your eyes."
*
As soon as Gilraen had let him loose Estel sighed deeply and ran up the hall and began to turn a corner when someone grabbed him and picked him up, the waves of a maroon velvet robe smoting him. "Wou!" exclaimed the younger boy and then recognized the deep laughter that followed it.
"And what trouble are you getting into now, Estel?" asked Lord Elrond turning him in his arms to face him.
"What trouble?" asked the other holding on to the elf lord's gaze without flinching. Elrond smiled at him as he walked down through the halls.
"I heard your mother yelling." said the elf lord offhandedly.
"Why?" asked Estel getting into a verbal game. Elrond raised an eyebrow at him.
"You tell me, young one." Estel shrugged and smiled.
"Why?" Elrond laughed.
"Don't give me that." Elrond told him.
"Why?"
"Why do you ask?" Elrond said in turn somewhat seriously and throwing the younger one off guard.
"Because…"
"Why?" Elrond replied with a sudden smile. Estel's eyes widened seeing that he had been fooled.
"That's cheating!" The other one exclaimed and wrapped his arms around the laughing elf lord. The boy looked up suddenly, "I smell food."
"So don't a lot of other people." Elrond said dryly. Estel looked at him mischievously.
"Yes, well I smelled it first."
"Really?" asked Elrond looking at the boy's smug look.
"Of course!"
Elrond laughed, happy to be home.
*
AN: sorry it took so long to put this chapter up. but its here! more to come! promise…