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Return to Valinor
by DLR  2003

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Chapter Nine

Ondomar

Culurien looked at the young elven-female in exasperation.  "I thought you were watching him?"

Gwendolyn cringed.  "I was, my Lady.  I looked away for a moment and . . . and . . . it was only a moment."

Culurien turned her attention back to her wayward son.  "A moment is apparently all that is necessary for the advent of total disaster."  She sighed.  "Your Ada will not be pleased with you, Tithen-iôn."

Elethîr sat on Elrond's desk, surrounded by shredded paper, covered with ink.  He waved a bluish-black fist at his mother and grinned happily.  "Ada."

Culurien grimaced.  "I do not think you want your Ada to walk in and see this."  She turned to the unfortunate child-minder.  "Take him and wash it off as best you can, please."  She sighed again.  "I will deal with this . . . mess." 

She picked up the torn inky parchment with dismay, trying to decipher Elrond's precise, but rather ornate script.  He had been writing in Quenya, (with which she still had occasional trouble) using Daeron's characters, (which would be sure to give her a headache before long).  She used mostly Runic script to record household accounts and her own personal writings, although this type of writing was no longer as common as it once was. She bit her lip, wondering how important these papers had been. 

She laid out the scraps, putting pieces together like a puzzle.  It appeared to be some sort of formal lease-holding agreement, written to the tenants who farmed the estate.  Several copies, actually, all on the same theme.  Oh dear.  Elrond was not going to be happy about rewriting all of these.

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Elethîr slapped the water with force, chortling gleefully as it fountained high into the air, raining down on his smiling face.  He was rewarded with a scowl from his bath attendant.  Gwendolyn rolled her eyes.  "Stop that this instant, you evil baby.  I am in enough trouble because of you; I have no desire to have to mop up this floor as well."

Elethîr's response was a wide grin and another big splash.  Gwendolyn could not help laughing after all as she splashed him back, her dress becoming as wet as his skin.

"Bath!" squealed Elanna from the floor.  "Me bath too!"

"Nay, not now, my hands are indeed full!"

Elanna was insistent.  "Bath too!"  She proceeded to peel off her clothing rapidly.

"No, Elanna, please!"

The little elf-child froze suddenly, listening.  "Ada?"  In a flash she was across the room and out the door.

"Elanna!  Come back here at once!"  Gwendolyn paused, torn between chasing the fleeing child and staying with the one in the bath.  Finally she grabbed the dripping baby out of the tub and went in pursuit of the missing one.

Glorfindel scooped up the naked little girl in his arms as she raced down the hallway.  "Lorfi!" she cried happily.  "Bath me!"

"So I see, you little imp!  Where are you running to, eh?"

Elanna was still for a moment, remembering.  "Ada?"

Glorfindel smiled, shaking his head.  "Nay, your Ada is not here, I have not seen him."  He blinked in surprise as the child's very wet caregiver came up to them, carrying a (also) naked, (also) wet Elethîr.  He glanced at Elrond's son, then frowned and had a closer look.  "He is covered with black spots."

"Indeed, it is ink and I am attempting to remove it from him."  Gwendolyn blushed as Glorfindel raised his eyebrows, his gaze traveling over the thin wet dress that clung to her body.

A small smile curled the edges of his lips.  "May I be of assistance to you?"

"Bath, Lorfi, bath!" Elanna proclaimed once again.

He tickled her, producing yet another squeal.  "By all means," he murmured as he followed Gwendolyn back to the bath chamber.

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Elrond passed his hand over his face.  He stood silently for a moment with his eyes closed.

"I am so sorry, Mellhîr," Culurien whispered, distressed.  "He is becoming quite a climber, that one."

Elrond sighed and put his hand on her shoulder.  "Do not fret over this; I will have a talk with him."

Culurien snorted through her tears.  "You would attempt to reason with a fourteen month old?"

"Indeed," said Elrond gravely.  "It is never too early to show a child right from wrong."  He stiffened suddenly.  "Where is he now?  Please tell me he did not eat any of this."

"Gwendolyn is bathing him."  She shook her head.  "Nay, I think not, he had no stains on his mouth."

"Thank Eru there was not much ink left in the bottle, and its strength had dissipated somewhat.  Even so, his skin will suffer some irritation; it is quite an acidic substance."   He gathered up the torn parchment and dropped it into the fireplace.  "I had not wished to make use of a scribe, the position seemed unnecessary in this setting."  The corner of his mouth lifted in a wry smile.  "Perhaps I should reconsider that decision."

Culurien turned to gaze out the window across the fields.  "Is the administration of Ondomar so much different than that of Imladris?"

He considered a moment.  "Yes and no.  Imladris had more of a communal way of life, each person contributing to the whole, all on an equal footing.  In Ondomar they have lived within a landlord/tenant arrangement, the tenant paying a tithe for the use of the land, generally in the form of wares."

"So you are now a landlord?"

He smiled.  "Apparently.  When we were stranded here that week last year, I had no clue about the tenants living nearby.  They could have helped us possibly."

Culurien patted his shoulder.  "We survived."

He placed his hand over hers.  "Indeed we did."  He encircled her waist with his free arm and held her tightly for a moment.  When he pulled back, he lifted her chin with his finger and gave her a tender kiss.  "Time for the lesson, I deem," he murmured.  "Go and fetch them please."

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Elrond regarded his offspring gravely.  They returned his serious gaze, both of them sucking their thumbs in concentration.  Elrond pointed.  "Ada's desk.  No.  Not for Elethîr.  No."

"Elanna," Elrond said.  "Ada's desk.  No."  He shook his head and frowned.  "Do not touch Ada's desk."

His children were wide-eyed and subdued.  Elanna reached up a hand to her head and twirled a black curl around her fingers.

"Elethîr," Elrond said, raising his eyebrows.  "Ada's desk?"

The elfling shook his head seriously.  "No Ada dess." 

Elrond smiled.  "Very good."  He patted his son's shoulder and picked up the inkwell.  "No.  Do not touch.  No."  He set it down again and picked up a piece of parchment.  "Ada's papers.  No.  Do not touch Ada's papers."  He paused and his gaze softened somewhat.  "All right then.  Is this clear?"

Elanna nodded solemnly.  "Bad Elfeer."  Her brother began to cry.

Culurien's lips twitched.  "You meany," she whispered to Elrond as she picked up her son.

Elrond arched his eyebrows in surprise.  "Look to your daughter Lady, I made no distinction."

That little elfling had apparently decided to throw her sympathy towards her twin and began to whimper as well.

Elrond picked her up with a sigh.  "And what now ails you, Tithen-sell, you did not enjoy Ada's lecture?  Your reaction pains me, I am crushed."

Culurien's eyes sparkled.  "Perhaps your delivery was a little dry."

Elrond shifted Elanna onto one arm and with the other, reached for his wife.  "I would welcome suggestions.  What, in your opinion would incite interest?"

Culurien gave him a wicked smile as he pulled her close.  "I believe I have enlightened you previously about my preferences for your demeanor in public speaking."

"Ah yes," said Elrond, smiling.  "Somehow I do not think my present audience would find lack of attire as arresting as you would."

"Indeed no," she murmured.  "But if perchance you feel a need to polish your performance, please feel free to stage an exhibition at any time for me."  Elethîr twisted restlessly in her arms.  "I think your son, however, has need of a demonstration of your other skills."

"Hmm, yes," agreed Elrond, examining the red blotches on Elethîr's skin.  "A soothing application is in order, it seems."  He traded armfuls with Culurien.  "I will attend to this, and then perhaps you could assist me with the finer points of my public speaking style?"

Her green eyes held his gaze hypnotically.  "It would be my pleasure."

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Elrond opened one eye and closed it again, pondering the sight it had presented to him.  He ran his fingers absently through Culurien's hair as her head lay nestled against his chest.  "Can you think of any reason why Glorfindel would be chasing Elanna?"

Culurien chuckled.  "I would imagine it is not Elanna he is chasing but Gwendolyn."

Elrond pushed himself up onto his elbows for a clearer look across the meadow.  "Hmm, yes, you are quite possibly correct," he remarked as the golden-haired elf abandoned his pursuit of the child in favor of the child minder.  He raised his eyebrows in surprise.  "Is it serious do you think?"

"For Gwendolyn's part, I should think it likely, but we are discussing Glorfindel here and I need not explain your friend to you."

Elrond smirked.  "Should we meddle and warn her?  She is quite innocent it seems."

"You would do better to speak with Glorfindel; he is less likely to resent interference."

Elrond looked at her, grinning.  "Ask him his intentions?"

"Well, we are somewhat responsible for the girl."

"She is an adult; perhaps she should make her own decisions."

Culurien sighed.  "One word of reminder.  Glorfindel."

"Yes, I see your point.  He has managed quite well in the past without my assistance, though.  No irate fathers have brandished swords at him."  Elrond smiled.  "It is not as though he is threatening Elanna's virtue."  He hugged his wife tightly.  "Perhaps it will just come up in casual conversation."

Culurien's thoughts drifted as she watched Glorfindel and Gwendolyn play with her children; Glorfindel was chasing and capturing everyone, especially the elf-maiden.  Elanna and Elethîr squealed with glee, jumping on them before running off once more.  "It would be nice if he found love, after all this time."

Elrond was reflective.  "Glorfindel has lived the life he has chosen for himself.  He has had no desire for restrictions or conventions of any kind.  In spite of that, he has never lacked for companionship, trust me." 

The children came running up to them, as well as their still unsure footfalls would allow.  They breathlessly threw themselves on their parents, giggling.  Gwendolyn was close behind them, a bright flush coloring her cheeks.  Glorfindel, however, took his time, ambling up slowly.

Elrond chuckled.  "Ah, Mellon-iaur, age catching up with you at last?"

Glorfindel fell heavily to the grass next to him, exhausted.  "I have now learned why one generally begets children before the age of one thousand.  I have no idea how you can cope with it."

Elrond smiled wryly.  "You would do well to note that I am not chasing them."

Glorfindel smirked.  "Ah, indeed.  Point taken.  Lesson number one.  And for lesson number two?"

"Marry a young energetic wife and shamefully take advantage of her stamina."  Elrond noted from the corner of his eye a higher coloring on Gwendolyn's cheek, as Glorfindel coughed.  "Just so."

Culurien got to her feet.  "Come walk with me, Gwendolyn.  Let us see if it is possible to completely tire these two rascals out."  She looked meaningfully at Elrond who raised his eyebrow with amusement.

Glorfindel watched them depart, and then looked at Elrond enquiringly.  "Well, that certainly seemed contrived."

"Did it?"  Elrond was quite convincingly innocent.  "I had not noticed."

Glorfindel snorted.  "Perchance we are to have a serious conversation about . . . what?"

"Not a thing, truly."  Elrond paused for a moment.  "Did you have any subject you wished to discuss with me?"

Glorfindel's eyes narrowed as he studied his friend.  "Not that I was aware of.  Hmm, now, what could it be?"

Elrond decided to stop playing games.  "Gwendolyn is a very nice young lady, is she not?"

"Indeed she is."  Glorfindel raised his eyebrows.  "Are you poking your nose into my love affairs?"

Elrond nodded solemnly.  "Apparently I am.  Culurien feels a certain responsibility towards her.  She seems quite naïve."

"Naïve?  Really?"  He paused.  "Ah drat it, then.  She is a virgin, you deem?"

Elrond looked at him.  "I would certainly think so, have you reason to believe she is not?"

"Well. . ." Glorfindel coughed.  "She certainly has . . . ahem. . . allowed more liberties than most virgins would."

Elrond picked a blade of grass and chewed it thoughtfully.  "I suppose you can guess what must be in her mind then."

"Indeed," said Glorfindel with sudden gloom.  "Marriage."

"And are you prepared to take that step?"

Glorfindel looked at him askance.  "Perish the thought, please.  Me, marry?"

Elrond nodded.  "This is why it seemed so unusual, this dalliance."

"Indeed," said Glorfindel.  "I do not dabble in virgins."

Elrond tilted his head.  "No?  You have never . . . ?"

"Nay of course not.  Such an indiscretion would have to end in marriage, naturally.  I have never been intimate with any who lacked experience."  He paused.  "Leastways, no females.  Males, it is sometimes more difficult to tell, but they do not generally look for marriage from me, only diversion or instruction."

Elrond was surprised.  "So you have some morals after all, Glorfindel, son of Glorfindel?"

"A few, yes."  Glorfindel winked.  "Please do not tell anyone, though.  You would not want to ruin my reputation, would you?"

Elrond laughed.  "It will be our secret, I swear on it."

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Gwendolyn (Gwend: maiden, ol: dream, inn: heart, inner) S.  Poetically, maiden of heartfelt (sincere) dreams.