Memories drifted in and out of his mind as Elrond stood at the window. Below, the river seemed to quietly sympathize, its waters droning in a hush beneath the stars. 'Like an old friend,' Elrond thought. Out of habit, he rubbed the finger where the ring used to rest. It felt suddenly strangely absent.
What now was there to go to, to escape the grief? Elrond's life of losses was a heavy burden that weighed him down until his feet dragged and his shoulders drooped like wilting roses. When he thought of them… His long lost brother Elros, Celebrian his beloved wife, his good friend Isildur, Gil-galad his once great leader and countless other comrades who fell in battle beside him, now his daughter Arwen who wed a mortal king, his sons all moved away… Sometimes he considered just letting himself fall into the river. How beautiful a drowning would be! To sink into those last watery arms without another care! It would be a romantic death, and he wondered vaguely if there might be stories written and songs sung if he allowed such a thing to be.
But then he'd think of all those who still looked to him as a leader. They depended on him for guidance and advice on important things in the world. How they could come to depend on him so faithfully and blindly, sometimes he could not understand. Yet it was enough to stay him, as it did once again in this instance, and Elrond drew himself away from the window.
'Perhaps Elladan was right… To move on, to put these sorrows behind me or replace them with newfound happiness. Mayhap that is what I am to do, though how late it is to realize this!' The old elf rubbed his face with both hands to wipe away the last traces of sadness. He felt incredibly old at this moment. 'Who could ever care to share a life with so elderly a person?' Was his next though, but just then his ears gave a twitch as they caught the strains of jolly music drifting up from below.
'I supposed it couldn't hurt to try…' Plastering on a smile as best he could, Elrond Peredhil took a deep breath. 'All right then, I'll join their revelry. It just may take these troubles from my conscience for the time being, granting me some much needed mental rest.'
With a lighter step than he'd had since he could remember, the lord of Imladris left his study for the great hall.
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When he arrived at the grand doors, Legolas could scarcely believe his eyes. "Look!" Cried he, giving Elladan's sleeve a tug. "The lord of Rivendell graces us with his presence!"
The prince's dark-haired companion smiled, his face lighting up at the sight of his father. 'Ada is recovered!' Inwardly, he still felt terrible for opening old wounds in that old heart with his words and then leaving him to face those pains alone.
A roomful of noise greeted Elrond. He usually did not attend these galas and everyone knew it. Hardly was he barely arrived when the poor half-elf was accosted by several of his kin, all chattering excitedly about this or that.
He was doing his best to answer their queries when his ears prickled at the sound of a familiar voice under the festive music. Elrond stood on his toes to peer over the heads of the small crowd that had formed around him. And there was Haldir. Loose ivory-colored hair gleamed. Rather than his usual grey garments, he was dressed in the imperial silver of Lothlorien. He was talking to Erestor off to the side, but as Elrond gazed at him, he looked up.
Their eyes met, lingering in an extended moment.
Then the March Warden looked away, leaving Elrond with a lightheaded feeling and a heart thudding excitedly in his chest.
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Haldir heard the loud eruption in the hall of elven voices and laughter. It had been the first time he's gotten a chance to talk to Erestor since that elf had made his official report to the Council. He'd been ill then, still recovering from the journey. At this time, he looked much restored. There were questions that the March Warden had been eager to ask him about the Dark Elves and their city.
This new commotion had interrupted them, however. It had caused the pale-haired Lorien elf to look away momentarily from Erestor, and to his surprise, he saw Elrond at the doors. 'Ah, so there's the reason.' He smiled absently, watching the elves cluster around the lord of Imladris.
Suddenly, their gazes locked. Peredhil stared, a disquieting concentration in his eyes, his lips slightly parted as though he wanted to say something. However, the room separated them and the elf lord was surrounded by guests now who called his attentions.
Haldir ripped his eyes away from those that held them. The memory of his dream…nay, his nightmare… forced itself into his mind like a knife. He brought a pale trembling hand to his forehead. 'So many dead…' Came the thought. His throat went dry, making him feel parched. "Come Erestor, let us have a drop to drink…" the Lorien elf said quickly as he took his arm.
"Certainly!" The Rivendell councilor nodded with a smile, and Haldir was grateful.
Escape from that room brought instant relief, though Haldir could not think of a reason why he would feel so utterly trapped so suddenly. 'Perhaps it was the noise, or the press of the people…' He thought to himself, though he did not believe one bit of it.
The two each took a cup of wine, retreating to a corner in the arched hallway outside the grand ballroom. After a few sips, Haldir shook his head to loosen his mind. Then he turned back to Erestor. "Now, about these Dark Elves… I want you to tell me every little detail that you can remember. Every detail…"
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Chibi Legolas: ^_^
What now was there to go to, to escape the grief? Elrond's life of losses was a heavy burden that weighed him down until his feet dragged and his shoulders drooped like wilting roses. When he thought of them… His long lost brother Elros, Celebrian his beloved wife, his good friend Isildur, Gil-galad his once great leader and countless other comrades who fell in battle beside him, now his daughter Arwen who wed a mortal king, his sons all moved away… Sometimes he considered just letting himself fall into the river. How beautiful a drowning would be! To sink into those last watery arms without another care! It would be a romantic death, and he wondered vaguely if there might be stories written and songs sung if he allowed such a thing to be.
But then he'd think of all those who still looked to him as a leader. They depended on him for guidance and advice on important things in the world. How they could come to depend on him so faithfully and blindly, sometimes he could not understand. Yet it was enough to stay him, as it did once again in this instance, and Elrond drew himself away from the window.
'Perhaps Elladan was right… To move on, to put these sorrows behind me or replace them with newfound happiness. Mayhap that is what I am to do, though how late it is to realize this!' The old elf rubbed his face with both hands to wipe away the last traces of sadness. He felt incredibly old at this moment. 'Who could ever care to share a life with so elderly a person?' Was his next though, but just then his ears gave a twitch as they caught the strains of jolly music drifting up from below.
'I supposed it couldn't hurt to try…' Plastering on a smile as best he could, Elrond Peredhil took a deep breath. 'All right then, I'll join their revelry. It just may take these troubles from my conscience for the time being, granting me some much needed mental rest.'
With a lighter step than he'd had since he could remember, the lord of Imladris left his study for the great hall.
--------------------- ----------------------- -------------------------
When he arrived at the grand doors, Legolas could scarcely believe his eyes. "Look!" Cried he, giving Elladan's sleeve a tug. "The lord of Rivendell graces us with his presence!"
The prince's dark-haired companion smiled, his face lighting up at the sight of his father. 'Ada is recovered!' Inwardly, he still felt terrible for opening old wounds in that old heart with his words and then leaving him to face those pains alone.
A roomful of noise greeted Elrond. He usually did not attend these galas and everyone knew it. Hardly was he barely arrived when the poor half-elf was accosted by several of his kin, all chattering excitedly about this or that.
He was doing his best to answer their queries when his ears prickled at the sound of a familiar voice under the festive music. Elrond stood on his toes to peer over the heads of the small crowd that had formed around him. And there was Haldir. Loose ivory-colored hair gleamed. Rather than his usual grey garments, he was dressed in the imperial silver of Lothlorien. He was talking to Erestor off to the side, but as Elrond gazed at him, he looked up.
Their eyes met, lingering in an extended moment.
Then the March Warden looked away, leaving Elrond with a lightheaded feeling and a heart thudding excitedly in his chest.
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Haldir heard the loud eruption in the hall of elven voices and laughter. It had been the first time he's gotten a chance to talk to Erestor since that elf had made his official report to the Council. He'd been ill then, still recovering from the journey. At this time, he looked much restored. There were questions that the March Warden had been eager to ask him about the Dark Elves and their city.
This new commotion had interrupted them, however. It had caused the pale-haired Lorien elf to look away momentarily from Erestor, and to his surprise, he saw Elrond at the doors. 'Ah, so there's the reason.' He smiled absently, watching the elves cluster around the lord of Imladris.
Suddenly, their gazes locked. Peredhil stared, a disquieting concentration in his eyes, his lips slightly parted as though he wanted to say something. However, the room separated them and the elf lord was surrounded by guests now who called his attentions.
Haldir ripped his eyes away from those that held them. The memory of his dream…nay, his nightmare… forced itself into his mind like a knife. He brought a pale trembling hand to his forehead. 'So many dead…' Came the thought. His throat went dry, making him feel parched. "Come Erestor, let us have a drop to drink…" the Lorien elf said quickly as he took his arm.
"Certainly!" The Rivendell councilor nodded with a smile, and Haldir was grateful.
Escape from that room brought instant relief, though Haldir could not think of a reason why he would feel so utterly trapped so suddenly. 'Perhaps it was the noise, or the press of the people…' He thought to himself, though he did not believe one bit of it.
The two each took a cup of wine, retreating to a corner in the arched hallway outside the grand ballroom. After a few sips, Haldir shook his head to loosen his mind. Then he turned back to Erestor. "Now, about these Dark Elves… I want you to tell me every little detail that you can remember. Every detail…"
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Chibi Legolas: ^_^