7. Family
"So, daughter," Elrond said, seating himself behind the expansive mahogany desk in his study, "tell me what brings you home so suddenly."
Arwen settled herself on a cushioned chair nearby, and Eleriel sat in a wooden chair before Elrond's desk. "I overheard something that... sparked my curiosity, you might say," Eleriel answered cautiously.
"Indeed?" Elrond said. "Might it involve a certain elf?"
"It might indeed," Eleriel said through clenched teeth. Her father and sister seemed to find this all very amusing; Arwen had always been very certain that Eleriel and Legolas would end up together someday.
"Oh, Eleriel! You and Legolas!" Arwen gushed. "Simply wonderful!"
Arwen stopped gushing when Eleriel looked at her. When Arwen had falled silent, Eleriel turned to her father. "I heard Grandmother speaking with Gandalf about something to do with Legolas and me. Something about some ordeal we'd have to go through together... and I wouldn't mind an explanation."
Elrond's expression did not change. He scrutinized his eldest child, and Eleriel gazed steadily back at him. Finally Elrond said, "those words were not meant for your ears, daughter. It is an ignoble thing, eavesdropping."
"I was passing," Eleriel said quietly. "It isn't my fault I overheard."
"The correct thing to do would be to forget that you heard the words in the first place. Eleriel, I wish you would..."
"Wish I would what?" Eleriel said, more sharply than she intended. "Behave properly? I'm sorry, father, but I refuse to behave 'like a lady' when people are discussing MY future so casually, like I'm a piece on a gameboard."
"Eleriel. We do these things because we love you, that is all," Elrond said calmly. His lack of emotion was starting to drive Eleriel over the edge.
"I fail to understand why you cannot just speak plainly with me," she growled.
"Eleriel, if you had just listened to one of the many lectures your mother and I gave you, you would have learned patience," Elrond sighed, some emotion finally starting to show through. "BUt you are impulsive; one small thing sends you running back to Imladris, all the way from Lothlorien! You need to settle down a little. Don't you know we worry about you?"
"I am more than competent with weapons, Father," Eleriel said, touched that he worried so. "I can defend myself perfectly well."
He shook his head. "It's not that," he said simply. "You know that I won't remain on Middle Earth for many more years." Arwen looked away, but Elrond continued, "I worry about your future. Arwen will probably end up forsaking immortality... forsaking immortality and marrying Aragorn. But you... will you remain a drifter?"
"A drifter?"
"Will you continue to place yourself in a role not suited for you? Eleriel, you are a lady. You are not meant to be fighting like this. Besides, as the first-born child of my house, you are bound by duty and honor to marry and carry on the family line."
"I thought that duty fell to the sons," Eleriel said.
"Elladan and Elrohir have their duties as Rangers to remember," Elrond reminded her.
"Oh?" Eleriel said. "Oh? Are my duties easier to cast aside than theirs? Do you forget that I was married at one point in time? Or have you found someone more to your liking?"
"Your duties are different than theirs, Eleriel!" Elrond snapped, finally losing his temper. "Honestly, sometimes I feel like Arwen is the older daughter! Must I always explain myself to you? Why must you test my patience so?"
Eleriel stared at him. He had always been disappointed in her, she knew it, but this was the first time he had voiced it. "I try, Father! I try! But you of all people should know that I am not like Arwen! I can NOT sit around all day being a lady!"
Arwen looked up, indignant. She finally entered the conversation. "Is it such a bad thing, being a lady?" she said. "Are you ashamed of it, sister?"
"I'm not ashamed of it, but it's not who I am!" Eleriel said. "I can't have people forcing me into being someone else, just to fulfill their own needs. If it's so important, then they should ask me, by all means, but I won't be forced into anything."
Elrond looked unhappy. "Sometimes, Eleriel," he said sadly, "we shouldn't have to ask."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means," said her father wearily, "that there are things that must happen, and sometimes the only way that those things will happen is to force it."
"You're speaking of the same thing Grandmother spoke of." Eleriel's tone was flat; it was a statement of fact. Somehow she sensed that this was the same thing. "This is that task or fate or destiny you have planned out for me. Why can't you just tell me about it?"
He shook his head. "I am sorry, Eleriel, but you must sort through your problems on your own."
"I wouldn't have these problems if it weren't for your meddling!"
"I meddle because you are my daughter. I meddle because some things are necessary. Thranduil knows this too. He..." Elrond cut off his words, knowing he had said too much.
"Thranduil? Thranduil is in on this too?" Eleriel cried. "By Eru, am I the only one who doesn't know?"
Elrond leaned his elbows on the desk and put his face into his hands. "No, you aren't," he said softly. "You aren't. Eleriel, you must not pry. This is between Gandalf, your grandparents, Thranduil and me. You must not worry yourself with it... all will be revealed in time."
Eleriel looked at him in disbelief. "Father, I can't believe this."
"Believe it, Eleriel," Elrond said. "Eleriel."
"Yes?" she snapped.
Elrond shook his head. "No, I was just thinking... Eleriel. What a fitting name... your grandmother Galadriel named you, you know."
"I didn't, but I don't see how that matters right now," Eleriel sighed. She'd always thought her name was unusual. Eleriel. Lonely maiden of the stars. Sometimes she'd felt like a lonely maiden of the stars, but sometimes she felt like the total opposite.
"You're right. It doesn't," Elrond said.
"Father? Who named the twins and me?" Arwen asked suddenly.
"Your mother and I," he replied. "Galadriel had foreseen something special about Eleriel... something important. She foresaw things for you and the twins as well, Arwen, but for some reason she insisted upon naming you, Eleriel."
"I think I understand. I don't suppose I will find out what she foresaw?"
"Not yet," Elrond told her. "She foresaw the twins becoming rangers... she foresaw Arwen's choice." Eleriel knew that he spoke of Arwen's sacrifice for Aragorn. "What she has seen for you, Eleriel, has not yet taken place... but it will. But you must understand this, Eleriel: we keep this from you because we love you. You're not ready to hear it yet."
Eleriel shook her head. "I'm tired. I'll see you both in the morning." She turned and left the room before either of them could say a word. Silently she returned to her rooms. Remembering her promise to her grandparents, she called for a pigeon to carry a note to Celeborn. Attaching a short letter to the bird's ankle, she sent it on its way before collapsing onto her bed. She was so tired that she did not bother to change her clothes, and simply curled up beneath the blankets.
For the first time in many years, Eleriel cried herself to sleep.
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The next morning, Eleriel awoke feeling refreshed and slightly more upbeat. She'd decided that since her father was obviously not going to say anything to her that she wanted to hear, she might as well stop worrying about it and enjoy her visit home. She bathed and changed into a clean outfit. Tired of wearing dresses, she chose to wear the garb she wore in Lothlorien; that is, leggings and a tunic. Humming slightly to herself, Eleriel left her chamber. Walking lightly down to her sister's room, Eleriel tapped on the door. She heard a groan from the room. Arwen had always been a late riser.
Footsteps came from inside the room, and the door opened. Arwen peered blearily out at her sister. "Eleriel! Come inside," Arwen said, yawning. She pulled the door open and let her sister enter.
Eleriel came inside and seated herself on a chair in the front room. Arwen went into the bathing chamber to prepare for the day, and Eleriel spoke to her through the door.
"So how are you, little sister?" Eleriel asked.
"I'm well... Eleriel, are you sure that Aragorn is fine? I worry about him, you know." Arwen sounded very concerned, and Eleriel smiled.
"He was just fine when I saw him last, Arwen. As healthy as could be and the leader of the Fellowship. He's a natural born leader. You mustn't fret... someday, when this War of the Ring has ended, he will reclaim what is his and you..."
"I know," Arwen sighed from the next room. "But you must understand how..."
"I do." Eleriel said it softly. She remembered well how much she worried every time Legolas was away. Arwen came out from the bathing room, dressed in a flowing gown of pale blue. She smiled at Eleriel and shook her head.
"Eleriel, I will never understand how you find those clothes comfortable."
Eleriel grinned. "Walk with me, sister." The two elven women strolled arm-in-arm out into the gardens of Imladris. They'd always gotten along fairly well, even if their personalities were as different as could be. While they walked, they spoke of things of no clear immediate importance but still strangely important to each.
And as they walked, Eleriel found herself happy for the first time in years. Strange, she thought to herself, strange how confused and angry I was yesterday, but how content I am today.
Strange how the love of a father and a sister can do that.
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Yeah another chapter that is vague and short. But if you read carefully, there are several hints that Elrond drops… not going to tell you which! Next chapter… Elladan and Elrohir return! A message arrives for the Rangers, and Arwen begins making something important. I'll give you a clue: black banner.