Ambush – Children's Hall

'But I'm their mother! I should be looking after them-'

'It's not quite that easy here I'm afraid. Everyone will want to teach them something, the children were just getting confused. Elrond decided that they could all go to 'school' and be taught on a more formal basis. If they show any gift towards something in particular they can study that as well. Your Joel will make an excellent bowman.'

'Yes, he's had a knack with the bow ever since my husband Jaryn gave it to him.'

'I would be honoured if you'd let me continue his training, while I'm around that this. Otherwise Glorfindel XE "Glorfindel"  is an excellent bowman as well.'

She nodded, 'That will be fine, but I must go and check on them.'

'I'll stay and watch Ada. Go down to the end of this hall and up one flight- that's the children's wing.'

Very soon she arrived outside a wooden door that had been split in two across the middle. Outside was a small bell, which she rang. She was greeted by a red cheeked tiny man, who had no shoes on, and wore what could only be described as short trousers.

'Hello, hello, you must be Joel and Eyomn's mother! Please come in. We keep the bottom of the door locked to keep the really tiny ones in. Not that I'm that tall myself, but I can just reach the catch.'

She entered through the door and was promptly nearly knocked over by her children launching themselves at her. They were rosy cheeked and freshly bathed, and wanted to tall her everything that had happened that day. Joel however being the eldest was concerned about Master Elrond who he had learnt was the elf man they had slept the night with.

Eoela, laughing with both relief and joy at seeing her children so settled, reassured them that he was slowly getting better. And yes she would tell him that they had ask how he was. They then took her to show of the teaching rooms, the sleeping rooms, the playing room and the bathing room. She was surprised at how many children there actually were, but found it extremely difficult to count them as they never seemed to settle, rather appearing to orbit the rooms continuously. Suddenly there was silence as a tall and very imposing looking elf lady walked into the room.

'Come now children, it is time for your dinner. Best behaviour everybody, and that includes you young Fanáon, or you won't get to dine in Elrond's Hall next Rodyn.[1]'

The children obediently formed themselves up into two orderly lines, boys on one side and girls on the other.

'Now remember young gentle elves and men, be sure that your lady is seated before you seat yourselves.' The boys all nodded, they were reminded every dinner time and unlikely to forget. 'You may enter the dinning room then, I will be in shortly.'

Eoela watched in fascination as the young boys held out an arm for their lady partners to take and with great solemnity they filed into the next room.

The elven lady stood tall as they filed in, her hands clasped across her stomach.

'No Joel, you lead your partner, you do not drag her. That's much better.' Joel grinned at the praise and Eyomn was positively glowing at being treated as a lady. As the last child entered the room, the imposing lady turned to Eoela.

'Mae govannen[2], Lady Eoela. Your children are a pleasure to be near. They have learnt their manners well, and are so keen to learn.'

'Please- I'm no lady- I'm just an ordinary women.'

'On the contrary you are a lady. Your son has told me that his father was the leader of your village and a great warrior.'

'It's going to take a bit of getting used to here. Please will you call me Eoela, if that's all right. I don't want to cause any problems.'

The lady smiled, 'I am very sorry, Eoela, here I am praising you and your children and I haven't even named myself. I am Arwen, daughter of Elrond. I've not long back from visiting my grandparents, and thought I'd spend some time with the children.'

'You're Elrond's daughter.' exclaimed Eoela, 'And you're up here with the children?'

'Yes, I love children. Has Ada been talking about me? He has a talent for doing that. Last midsummer he spent a good twenty minutes boring the ears off Celeborn telling him all about his lovely daughter and everything I can do. It's not as if Celeborn doesn't know me, he is my grandfather. Anyway how is Ada? Estel says that he's on the mend. Mind you, how you've kept him in bed is beyond me.'

'Oh, I have my means.' Eoela smiled.

'You must come through, the children will be eating now. Are Joel and Eyomn going to stay in the Children's Hall or with you?'

'I hadn't really thought about it. I suppose they should stay up here. Last night they slept on the bed with your father.'

'I'm sure he welcomed that, he was the one who took us into the big bed when there was a storm or something. Nana wasn't so keen. I think because she always lost out in the fight for space.'

Eoela spent a considerable amount of time with Arwen, watching the children as they learnt to interact together in a civilised manner. She was asked many questions about their journey, and how they had rescued Lord Elrond from the river, and about the nice feeling that had swept through the area yesterday.

Finally the red faced small man finished eating. Clapping his hands for attention he called out.

'Now children, as we have two such distinguished visitors today, I think that we should treat them to a song. Which shall we sing?'

A forest of hands erupted and various titles were suggested. The noise level began to rise again until Arwen raised her hand.

'I would like you to sing me….' there was a hushed silence '…the Cat and the Fiddle.'

This was greeted with howls of delight from all present. The little red-faced man very importantly stood up onto his chair and hummed a few notes.

'Are you all ready? Right then…one, two, three-'

The children sang.

There is an inn, a merry old inn beneath an old grey hill,

And there they brew a beer so brown

That the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill

The ostler has a tipsy cat that plays a five stringed fiddle;

And up and down, he runs his bow,

Now squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle.

The landlord keeps a little dog that is mightily fond of jokes

When there's good cheer among the guests,

He cocks an ear at all the jests and laughs until he chokes.

They also keep a horned cow as proud as any queen;

But music turns her head like ale,

And makes her wave her tufted tail and dance upon the green.

And O! the rows of silver dishes and the store of silver spoons!

For Sunday there's a special pair,

And these they polish with care on Saturday afternoons.

The Man in the Moon was drinking deep, and the cat began to wail;

A dish and a spoon on the table danced,

The cow in the garden madly pranced, and the little dog chased his tail

The Man on the Moon took another mug, and then rolled beneath his chair;

And there he dozed and dreamed of ale,

till in the sky the stars were pale and dawn was in the air.

Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat; 'The white horses of the Moon,

They neigh and chomp their silver bits;

But their master's been and drowned his wits, and the sun'll be rising soon!'

So the cat on fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle, a jig that would wake the dead;

He squeaked, he sawed and quickened the tune,

While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon 'It's after three!' he said.

They rolled the Man slowly up the hill and bundled him into the Moon,

While his horses galloped up in rear,

And the cow was capering like a deer, and a dish ran up with a spoon.

Now quicker the fiddle went deedle-dum-diddle; the dog began to roar,

The cow and the horses stood on their heads;

The guests all bounded from their beds and danced upon the floor.

With a ping and a pong the fiddle strings broke! the cow jumped over the Moon,

And the little dog laughed to see such fun,

And the Saturday dish went off at a run  with the silver Sunday spoon.

The round moon rolled behind the hill, as the Sun raised up her head

She hardly believed her fiery eyes;
For though it was day, to her surprise they all went back to bed![3]

The adults present clapped their hands with delight and cheered the young ones' performance.

'I think that you should sing that in Elrond's Hall on next Rodyn, don't you think that they're good enough Eoela?' said Arwen

Eoela, not having the slightest idea where Elrond's Hall was or what Rodyn was, just nodded her agreement.

'Yes, they are very good. I've never heard that song before.'

One blushing young elf was pushed forward. He bobbed a nervous bow to the ladies and then stammered,

'Would you sing us a song, Lady Arwen?'

Arwen shook her head, 'No not tonight…'

The rest of her reply was drowned out by a chorus of groans and cries of disappointment.

'Please Lady Arwen, it's been soooo long since you last sang for us. And Eyomn and Joel have never heard you sing at all.'

Arwen couldn't help but smile at the cheek of the lad and she finally nodded that she would sing for them.

'However you've all got to be in your beds before I'll even start.'

This was greeted with cheers and much hurrying as the children dashed in various directions racing to see which room would have everyone in bed first. So they were all settled and Arwen took up position in the middle of the landing leading to the bedrooms where all would be able to hear her as she sang. There was a hushed, expectant silence then she began to sing, one of her favourites.

An Elven maid there was of old,

A shining star by day:

Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,

Her shoes of silver grey.

A star was bound upon her brown,

A light was on her hair

As sun upon the golden boughs

In Lórien the fair.

Her hair was long, her limbs were white,

And fair she was and free;

And in the wind she went as light

As leaf of linden tree.

Beside the fall of Nimrodel,

By water clear and cool,

Her voice as falling silver fell

Into the shining pool.

Where now she wonders none can tell,

In sunlight or in shade:

For lost of your was Nimrodel

And in the mountains strayed.

The elven ship in haven grey

Beneath the mountain lee

Awaited her for many a day

Beside the roaring sea.

A wind by night in Northern lands

Arose , and loud it cried,

And drove the ship from elven strands

Across the streaming tide.

When dawn came dim the land was lost,

The mountains sinking grey

Beyond the heaving waves that tossed

Their plumes of blinding spray.

Amroth beheld the fading shore

Now low beyond the swell,

And cursed the faithless ship that bore

Him far from Nimrodel.

Of old he was an Elven King,

A lord of tree and glen,

When golden were the boughs of spring

In fair Lothlórien.

From helm to sea they saw him leap,

As arrow from the string,

And dive into the water deep,

As mew upon the wing.

The wind was his flowing hair,

The foam upon him shone;

Afar they saw him strong and fair

Go riding like a swan.

But from the West has come no word,

And on the hither shore

No tiding Elven folk have heard

Of Amroth evermore.[4]

As the last note faded there was a collective sign from all the children and adult gathered.

'Now I want you all to get off to sleep quietly now for Bilbo. Otherwise no one will go to Elrond's Hall at all!' Arwen said. She then linked her arm through Eoela's and led her from the children's hall.



[1] Principle day of the week (like an old fashioned Sunday)

[2] Literally 'Well met.' Formal greeting when meeting some new, or of high status.

[3] Cat and the Fiddle – This belongs to Tolkien

[4] Song of Nimrodel- This belongs to Tolkien