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Return to Valinor
by DLR 2003

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Chapter Fourteen

Lindir stood in the entranceway to the dining hall and caught Elrond's eye.  Culurien was preoccupied conversing with Elrohir, and Elrond was able to reach his servant's side unnoticed.

Elrond did not like the expression on Lindir's face.  "What is it?"

"I cannot find them, Lord.  I have looked myself and also asked around, there is no rumor of them."

Culurien looked up to see her husband standing with Lindir, his arms folded seriously, having a whispered conversation.  She crossed the room quickly.  "What is wrong, tell me?"

"Do not worry," Elrond cautioned her.  "We just have not located them as of yet."

She stared at him speechless for a moment.  "Pardon me, but that seems a good enough reason to worry."

Elrond shook his head with the calmness of an experienced father.  "What could have possibly happened to them?  It is a large house, they are simply playing somewhere."  He turned to Lindir.  "Continue the search, enlist the aid of others."

Culurien made a move to the door and Elrond stopped her with a hand to her arm.  "Linariel, please.  Lindir can handle this, we have guests."

She regarded him coldly before continuing on her way.  "Pray make my apologies.  Apparently our young children are less of a concern to you than your grown ones."

Elrond stared after her nonplussed.  She worries without need, he argued inwardly.  I am sure they are fine.  If they were not, I would have had some vision of it, a sign.   He had nearly convinced himself of this by the time he returned to the table.

Glorfindel raised his eyebrows, ever sensitive to his friend's moods.  "You are troubled, what is ailing you?"

Elrond sighed and waved his hand.  "Hopefully nothing.  Culurien is not comfortable unless she knows where the children are every second of the day."

Elladan looked up.  "Children?  You and Culurien have children?"

"Indeed yes, twins again, a boy and a girl."  Elrond frowned.  "It was my son Elethîr that brought the news of your arrival, were you not introduced to him?"

Elladan shook his head.  "I recall the young fellow, but nay, we were not."

Elrond looked at Erestor who coughed in embarrassment.  "I am sorry, I was too excited, forgive me."

"Ah yes."  Elrond smiled.  "I recall hearing of your excitement."

"So what is amiss?" Glorfindel asked.  "What is Culurien worried for?"

"Well, the children, as I said.  Have you seen them?  They are missing."

Glorfindel was taken aback.  "Indeed they are, I had not noticed."

Elrond sighed.  "Apparently we all did not, in the midst of the confusion earlier."  He sat down and Elrohir passed him the wine.  "How old are they, about eighteen?" *

Elrond nodded.  "They will be twenty this year."

Elladan shrugged.  "That seems old enough not to require constant supervision."

"True," Elrond agreed.  "That is not really the issue, though.  It seems they have not been seen for quite a while."  He raised his eyes to look in turn at the faces around the table.  "When was the last time any of you saw them?"

"In your study," was the general consensus, Elethîr at least.  Most of them had not seen Elanna since luncheon.

Elrond studied his wine goblet and frowned.  "Why did Elethîr not come to the dining hall with us?"

Glorfindel shifted in his seat uncomfortably.  "I . . . ahm . . . sent him on an errand."

Elrond looked up and raised an eyebrow.  "Yes?"

"To apprize his naneth of the visitors," his friend explained.

Elrond looked at him blankly.  "But Culurien has not seen him."

Glorfindel stared back.  "Apparently he did not complete the errand?"

"The mystery deepens," said Elladan in an ominous voice.  He grinned.  "Shall we go and look for them?"

He moved to rise from his seat and Elrond waved him back down.  "Sit please, finish your meal.  You have just arrived and you are weary, there is no need for you to be unnecessarily chasing around to hither and yon.  There is no call for panic, I am certain."  I would know, surely I would feel it.  He opened another bottle of wine.  "A toast to a wonderful reunion of family and friends."  Glasses clinked and everyone smiled.  "Hear, hear." 

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Culurien stood in the center of the playroom, her eyebrows knitted in concentration.  There was something missing, what was it?  She closed her eyes and brought a picture to mind of the children playing, Elethîr building towers of blocks, squealing with glee as he knocked them into rubble, Elanna, watching him with an indulgent smile before she turned back to . . . of course.  Her dolls.  Culurien's eyes narrowed as she realized that all of her daughter's favorite dolls were absent.

While she was grasping this fact, there was the sound of quick footsteps in the hallway and Lindir entered the room.  "My Lady."  She turned to him and waited.  "There is an odd piece of news from the kitchen.  It seems there is food missing."

She stared at him.  "Food missing?"

"Yes, a platter of seed-cakes and another of sugared fruit."

Culurien's heart sank as she tried not to leap to the worst conclusion.  "Perchance they went on a little outing?"  Lindir raised his eyebrows and was silent.  She sighed.  "Nay, I do not think so either.  They are upset and have run off somewhere."

Lindir nodded.  "I agree with you, Lady."

Culurien pursed her lips.  "Perhaps then you could convince my husband of the seriousness of this matter, my opinion seems to carry no weight with him."

Lindir looked as though he was about to pat her on the shoulder, but then thought better of it.  He simply inclined his head as he left the room.

Culurien closed her eyes in deliberation, trying to place herself in her children's shoes.  She finally shook her head in despair.  I really have no clue as to where they might have gone. 

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Elanna awoke with a start.  She opened her eyes and then closed them again, unable to distinguish any difference.  A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she felt her brother's arms around her.  Unfortunately her relaxation was short-lived.  She stiffened.  "Elethîr," she whispered.  "What is that noise?"  He jumped a little, apparently dozing as well.  They clutched each other tightly and listened.

Elethîr swallowed.  "Probably they can smell the food."

Elanna paled.  "What can?"

"The rats," he whispered.

Her eyes widened in fear.  "Rats?"  She could feel him nod.  "Oh no, what shall we do?  Will they attack us, do you think?"

"I know not, I suppose that would depend on how many there are."

Elanna summoned up some bravery.  "Perhaps if we stamp and shout they will fear us and run off."

"A good idea."  They rose to their feet.  "Ready then?"  The children put up quite a loud display for a few minutes and then paused, listening.

"It seems we have a reprieve."  Elethîr picked up the sack with the sugared fruit and handed it to his sister.  He then located the spoiled seed-cakes and threw them into the inky darkness.  "Let them feast on those.  Perhaps they will be poisoned."  He returned to sit next to his sister and there was a long pause until Elanna became fidgety.  "Elethîr?"

"Yes?"

"I . . . uhm . . . that is . . . uhm . . ." 

"What?"

She whispered in his ear.

"Well, I have the same problem. Come with me and perhaps we can find a corner or something."

They felt their way along the wall for a while; it seemed the room was quite large.  He stopped finally.  "Go ahead."

Elanna was uncomfortable.  "Here?  Just do it here?"

He shrugged.  "Well it is not as though we are in the middle of Ada's study, it is a cellar after all and we have no choice.  I hardly think there will be any punishment."

"Yes, well . . . you go first."  She could hear the sound of liquid hitting the floor as he relieved himself.  "It would be easier if I had something to sit on."

Elethîr did not have much patience with her problem.  "What do you do if you are outside, in the woods?"

"I return to the house," she replied.  "I will try to just squat down a little, hold my shoulders so I do not lose balance."  He complied with her instructions and she was able to overcome her awkward plight.  They returned once more to the unyielding door and Elanna sat back down with a sigh.  "How long do you suppose it has been?"

Elethîr lowered himself next to her.  "I have no clue, really, since we were both asleep for a while."

"Well, it has been long enough to know that I am hungry again."  They split the last seed-cake and ate some of the fruit.  "And thirsty."

Elethîr sighed.  "Try not to think about it.  Perhaps it is time to start shouting?  Although they did not hear us when we frightened the rats away."

Elanna perked up immediately.  "No matter, that was a while ago now.  Indeed yes, we should try."

They made enough noise to penetrate the Halls of Mandos for a short time before they grew breathless and paused, panting.  There was no response.

"Again," said Elethîr and they put up another impressive display, before stopping and holding their breath, waiting expectantly.  Still there was nothing.  All of Elanna's hopes deflated instantly and she began to cry softly.  Her brother hugged her as they sank to the floor, his tears mingling with hers. It was not long before they fell asleep once more, overwhelmed by the increasing gravity of the situation.

They were so soundly asleep that they did not hear the rats return . . .

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Culurien entered the dining hall only to stop in her tracks, speechless for a moment.  She closed her open mouth and approached the group of elves sitting at the table.  The laughter and singing died as she placed her hands on her hips and glared.  "I would speak with you, Hervenn."

Elrond set his glass down.  "Yes?"

Culurien clenched her teeth.  "Privately, if you please."

Elrond's lips tightened as he rose.  "Please excuse me."  He took his wife by the arm and escorted her away from the table.  "Linariel calm yourself, there is no need to take this tone with me." 

She stared at him, nonplussed.  "Our children are missing and you are concerned with my tone of voice?  Ye gods, could Lindir not even convince you of the seriousness of this situation?"

Elrond frowned and guided her further away.  "Lindir?  I have not seen Lindir, what tidings have you?"

"Elanna's dolls are gone."

Elrond raised an eyebrow.  "Yes?"

"There is also food missing from the kitchen."

"And this is reason enough to panic?  Linariel you are worrying to excess needlessly.  I am sure they were just a little bit hungry and began nibbling."

"Nibbling?  At a whole platter of seed-cakes and another of sugared fruit?"

Elrond blinked.  "Platters?  Entire platters?  This is indeed strange."  He thought for a moment.  "I wonder if they could be feeding an animal in the forest, or something of that nature."

Culurien looked at him with exasperation.  "Why are you unable to see this?  They are upset, they have run away."

Elrond regarded her with genuine puzzlement.  "What could they possibly be upset about?"

"Well I am sure I have no clue."  Her voice dripped with angry sarcasm.  "Perhaps it might be the discovery that their Ada has another family?  Other children?  It is not as if we have prepared them for this."

"That is true, but I still fail to see why they should feel threatened."

Culurien closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  "Apparently there is much that you fail to see.  It is pointless continuing this discussion with you.  I am wasting valuable time that could best be spent searching for my children.  I am concerned for their welfare even if you are not."  She spun on her heel and left the room before he even had a chance to close his gaping mouth.

Elrond stared after her and felt his anger rise.  For a long moment it eclipsed the important issue, the twins and what, if anything was amiss with them.  He passed his hand over his face and wondered why it was that the more insistent Culurien became, the more he felt exactly the opposite.  He reached out and gripped the back of a chair to steady himself as he brought his temper under control.

Glorfindel appeared at his side concerned, with a hand to Elrond's arm.  "What is it?  Tell me."

Elrond shook his head and looked up.  "Culurien is being completely unreasonable.  She is adamant that the children have suffered some dire calamity and that we should raise a general alarm.  There is simply no call for such histrionics, they are not infants in need of constant scrutiny and they are merely playing somewhere and have lost track of the time. 

"If they are hiding out of some mistaken notion of abandonment, they will emerge eventually and I will deal with any questions or troubles they have at that time.  I see no reason to turn the household upside down in a blind panic.  Several of the staff are engaged in searching already, this is sufficient."

Glorfindel smiled.  "I am sure hunger will see them out, sooner or later."

Elrond snorted.  "Well perhaps later rather than sooner.  It appears they have purloined a good deal of food."  He contemplated his closest friend and counselor for a moment.  "It seems you were the last to speak to Elethîr, how was his demeanor, did he display any distress?"

Glorfindel knitted his brow.  "No . . . well perhaps just a little.  He was trying to talk with you, but you paid him no heed." 

Elrond frowned.  "I did?  Not on purpose, certainly.  How terribly rude of me."

Glorfindel patted his shoulder.  "You do not always have such exciting visitors; do not fault yourself for being preoccupied.  He was barely speaking above a whisper; it is understandable you heard nothing."

Elrond nodded.  "And then . . . ?"

"Then I told him you were busy and to seek out his mother with the news."

Elrond stared at him.  "You told Elethîr I was too busy?   I am never too busy for the children, you know this, how could you say such a thing?"

Glorfindel began to look distressed.  "It was an offhand comment, I assure you.  I meant nothing by it.  I thought it would be a good idea to keep him occupied and useful.  I am so sorry . . ."

Elrond gripped his forearm.  "Stay, do not fret, you had good intentions.  I now am beginning to understand why Elethîr might be anxious and where those feelings originated."  He scowled a little.  "It is still no excuse to use that manner of speaking with me."

Glorfindel was puzzled.  "You refer to your son?"

"Nay indeed not, I refer to my sometimes exasperating wife."

Glorfindel smiled gently.  "She does not have the experience raising children that you have."

"That is a very good point."  Elrond nodded in agreement.  "Perhaps you can be of assistance impressing it upon her."

Glorfindel clapped him on the back.  "Indeed I will.  In the meantime, rejoin the family and friends reunion."

Elrond paused.  "Tell me honestly, do you think me terrible for my feelings in this matter?"

Glorfindel nodded in mock seriousness.  "Yes indeed, you are quite the ogre."  He shrugged.  "We are but mere males after all.  We cannot fathom the depths of the female mind."

Elrond smiled yet his eyes were troubled.

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Elanna screamed in terror.  There were rats all around them, scuffling, fighting over the meager food, snarling and biting at each other.  Elethîr was stamping and shouting, but to no avail, the rodents would not be distracted from their feast.  The children slowly edged away to a remote corner of the room, clutching each other in fear and whimpering.   "Oh Ada," Elanna whispered.  "Please help us."

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Elrond sat down at the table once more and accepted another glass of wine. He silently sipped it as an uneasy feeling in his stomach began to grow.  His thoughts were abruptly jerked into the present as he at first absently, then with concern listened to Elrohir relate a childhood story, long forgotten.

"It began as a prank," his son was saying.  "We were hiding."

"Spying on Glorfindel and a 'friend'," Elladan added. "And then they locked us in when they left."

"We were in there for what?  A day or so?"  Elrohir poked the blond elf in the ribs.

Glorfindel chuckled, embarrassed.  "I had forgotten about that really."  His eyes met Elrond's and the smile dropped from his face.

At that precise moment Elrond heard his daughter scream.  He rose quickly from the table, knocking his chair over backwards.  "I am here, Tithen-sell, where are you?"  Everyone at the table stood with him as he closed his eyes and brought his hand up to his temple.  "I cannot see," he muttered.  "Why can I not see her?"

Glorfindel broke into his thoughts, shaking his shoulder.  "What is it?  Elanna speaks to you?"

Elrond opened his eyes.  "She does indeed.  There is no longer any question in my mind, Culurien was correct all along, they are in trouble."

Elrohir laid a hand on his arm.  "Where are they Adar, can you tell?" 

Elrond shook his head.  "Nay, the surroundings are hazy.  Let me concentrate a moment."  There was a long pause as everyone looked at him expectantly.  He sighed finally and shook his head again.  "I cannot tell; it is dark, which is all I see."

Elladan looked around.  "That is no help, night has fallen, it is dark everywhere."

"And you two are unfamiliar with the grounds," Elrond added.  "Perhaps you should wait here and rest from your journey."

Elladan raised his eyebrows, looking for a moment exactly like his father.  "Adar, we have spent most of our lives roaming the expanses of Wilderland.  I do not believe the grounds of Ondomar will pose much of a challenge."  He paused.  "Uhm, what were their names again?"

Elrond smiled slightly.  "Elethîr and Elanna."

Elladan gripped his father's shoulder.  "Then let the search begin in earnest."

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Glorfindel sat at the table a while longer, thinking and drumming his fingers restlessly.  He reached a decision and walked through the corridors, making his way to the kitchen. He found Caladir seated at one of the massive work-tables, planning menus.  Glorfindel waved him back down as he started to rise.  "Sit, Mellon, go on with your work.  I have merely come here to poke my nose around.  You have heard the children are missing, of course."

The kitchen master nodded.  "Yes indeed, such a worry."

"I understand there is food missing as well?"

"Sweetened fruit and seed-cakes, yes."

"And sacks to put it in, naturally," mused Glorfindel.

"Well yes, I suppose so.  I do not keep a close inventory on sacks."

"Nay, of course not, pardon me, I am just thinking out loud."  Glorfindel sighed.  "So food and possibly sacks.  Nothing else that you have noticed?  No drink at all?"

Caladir shook his head.  "Nay, nothing."  He hesitated, frowning.  "Except for the lantern."

Glorfindel looked up quickly.  "Lantern?"

"Yes indeed, there was an oil lantern here on the table, I keep one handy for treks into the cellar store-rooms and it has seemingly walked off as well."

Glorfindel stood transfixed.  Why on Arda would they have needed a lantern when it was still daylight?  Unless . . .  "And the cellar is where?" 

"Right over here."  Caladir crossed the room and reached for the bolt.  He paused and blinked, talking to himself.  "It is unlocked, this is odd."

Glorfindel raised an eyebrow.  "You keep it locked?  For what reason?"

"Well, it is not locked per say, just bolted normally," Caladir explained.  "The only area actually locked down there is the wine and spirit storeroom, not that it is really even necessary, an old habit carried over from larger households."

Glorfindel opened the door and gazed down the staircase into the murky darkness.  "Have you another lantern?"

"Yes, certainly."  Caladir opened a nearby cupboard and pulled out a second lantern, setting it on the table.  He checked its contents and lit it, trimming the wick.

Glorfindel waited while he made these adjustments.  "Would you show me the storage areas?"

"But of course, Hîr nín."  Caladir led the way down the narrow stairs.  At the bottom they were confronted by the corridors branching off into several directions.  Caladir turned to the passageway on the left and Glorfindel stopped him with a hand to his arm.  "Stay a moment and hold the lantern high."  He studied the dusty floor and found what he was looking for.  "See here."  He indicated the right-hand passage.  "The dust has been disturbed, there are footprints."

Caladir looked over his shoulder.  "Small footprints."  Their eyes met.

"Give me the lantern," Glorfindel instructed.  "Return upstairs and tell Elrond we have found something."

The kitchen master nodded and retreated in the direction from whence they came.  Glorfindel followed the trail which led on for a while, marveling at the courage of the children to journey into such fearsome depths.  The tracks stopped abruptly at a closed door and he reached for the handle.  Locked.  He leaned closer, listening.  Nothing.  He raised his fist and pounded on the door.  "Elanna?  Elethîr?"  He paused to listen again.  Was that a voice?  Drat this heavy door.  He pounded on it again and shouted, then listened once more.  Oh dear Elbereth yes, it was Elanna answering. 

He silently cursed sending Caladir away before obtaining his keys and blessed the fact that he was still wearing his heavy walking boots.  He focused his strength before leaning back and unleashing a powerful kick to the door.  The lock gave at once and he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his foot could not have survived a second attempt.  He retrieved the lantern and entered quickly.  The sight that met his eyes filled his heart with horror; the room was overrun with rats. 

"Elanna!" he cried out and she answered him.  "Here Lorfi, we are over here!"  He turned up the wick on the lamp, increasing the light twofold and that dismayed the creatures somewhat.  He crossed the room to the cowering child and the rodents dispersed before him.  As soon as he set the lantern down, Elanna flung herself into his arms.

"Oh Lorfi," she sobbed and he stroked her back, comforting her.  She raised her head long enough to direct his attention to her brother.  "Help Elethîr, he is bleeding."

He turned to the elfling lying senseless on the floor.  The wounds appeared to be mostly to his hands, apparently from trying to fend away the rats.  Glorfindel was more concerned with his lack of consciousness.

"What is wrong with him?"  Elanna whispered into his neck.  Glorfindel raised the child's eyelid.  "He has most likely fainted, do not worry, your Ada will be able to take care of him.  I have to set you down, though, to carry him; can you pick up the lantern for me?"

Elanna retrieved her dolls, holding the sack in one hand while she held the heavy lantern in the other.  "Careful of the door," she warned.  "It latches itself."

"Ah yes."  Glorfindel looked at the lock.  "That will certainly have to be dismantled."  He looked down at her as she struggled with her burdens.  "Leave the dolls, we will send someone back for them."

Elanna burst into tears once again.  "I am so sorry, Lorfi, everything is heavy and I am so tired."

"Put the lantern down as well, then."  He shifted Elethîr onto one arm and leaning down, picked her up with the other.  He held both children close to his chest as he made his way back towards the kitchen staircase. 

Elanna snuggled against him with an arm around his neck.  "You saved us, thank you."

"You are quite welcome."

"I love you, Lorfi."

Glorfindel smiled.  "I love you as well, little Elanna."  Indeed I do.

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*You should all know at this point to divide that in half for the elvish equivalent.  ;)