Tondgaladh in Sindarin means "Tall Tree"
Chapter 26
Strength And Honor
Life in the House of Elrond was downright gloomy. Thranduil was walking around with a frown on his face, snapping angrily at everyone and otherwise making everyone's life as miserable as was his own. Eomer, being the consummate gentleman and diplomat that he was, tried to ignore the doom and gloom attitude that was so prevalent but even he was beginning to find it difficult to maintain his sunny disposition. Elladan and Elrohir had been unusually quiet as they waited for word on their missing siblings and Lord Elrond could often be seen walking through both house and gardens, rubbing his temples as if his head hurt. Gandalf, well, Gandalf was Gandalf, stubborn, impatient and cranky. In other words, Gandalf remained unchanged. Lord Glorfindel, of all the inhabitants of Imladris seemed to be the only one who had managed to retain his sunny disposition, but then there were those who claimed that Glorfindel would laugh at anything.
The weather wasn't helping matters any. The sky remained overcast and the temperatures were dropping until even those who live within the walls of Elrond's house were beginning to feel the chill.
The twins had attempted to take their minds off the tense mood of their home by going on a hunt. Earlier that day, and accompanied by Eomer, they had set out, only to return that night empty-handed. Their hearts just had not been in it.
Though there were many elves in the Hall of Fire that evening, there was little laughter and singing. The air was one of waiting.
Here and there, small groups were gathered, talking quietly, when finally, what they had all been waiting for ... happened.
There was a loud bang as some heavy object was knocked over. Then Elurin, the imperturbable elven butler could be heard running about and yelling, "You come back here right now!" and "You can't do that!", followed by more bangs and crashes of things falling over and breaking. Whoever the butler was yelling at was apparently not listening to him and was continuing to rampage through their home. The twins and their father went to see what had their butler so upset but no sooner had Elladan opened the door of the hall than a large black blur flew through it and began to fly excitedly around the ceiling and about the heads of those assembled as it looked for someone in particular.
"Ada, its Shakir!" Elrohir said excitedly.
Lord Elrond grabbed a cloak that was laying nearby and after wrapping it securely around his left forearm then holding it up, called to the excited falcon.
"Shakir. To me!" he commanded.
The bird who had, in fact, been searching for Elrond, came quickly and sat on the offered and protected arm. Padded though it was, the Noldor Lord still groaned as the birds talons clutched his arm painfully. The falcon did not fold its wings as it gazed into Elrond's eyes. They were still extended for flight which only seemed to emphasize that the message it gave to the Lord and Master Healer of Imladris was extremely urgent.
"What does our friend have to say?" The grey wizard asked. When Elrond thanked the falcon and once more it took flight, he also saw that Thranduil was standing close by, anxiously awaiting to hear the message the falcon had come to deliver.
"She is only about a half mile out and coming in fast," he said as he turned on his heel and ran for the front door.
If the elves and guests thought that things had been chaotic before the falcon's arrival, it was nothing in comparison to what was happening now. Elrond was issuing orders as quickly as he could. The Healing Wing was opened up and medical supplies were assembled. Water was set to heat and more wood was put in the fireplace to raise the temperature of the room. Then, when all was as ready as possible, the group of kings and lords ran out the front door like elflings and waited for Anayah to arrive.
They didn't have long to wait. Soon the sound of a horse galloping toward them could be heard. Soon afterwards, Elias entered the courtyard at a fast gallop and slid to a stop at the bottom of the steps. He reared slightly as he tried to bring his forward momentum to a halt, but when he settled to earth once more, it was gently. Anayah's usually impeccably braided raven black hair was coming out of its braid from the swift riding she had done since leaving the cave, and her complexion was almost grey with the fatigue and worry she was feeling.
Thranduil's face fell when he saw that the horse carried only one passenger besides its rider. He soon moved beyond the moment of disappointment and went to the horse's head and stilled him so the others could quickly and gently remove the wounded man from the great stallion's back.
Ignoring the questions that were thrown at her, she went up the steps two at a time then entered the house at a run.
The twins, followed everyone inside and as their father and other healers took Aragorn inside to the Healing Wing, they searched for and found Anayah in her room. She had her head stuck in the closet where she was finding what she wanted and was haphazardly throwing the items onto the bed behind her. Elladan caught a quiver of crossbow bolts just before they hit him in the stomach.
"Hey! Are you trying to hurt me on purpose?" He tried to keep it light hearted, but he had seen her face as she had run past him and hadn't liked what he had seen.
"Sorry!" was all she said as she continued to gather what she needed for the next leg of her journey.
Finally, with Elladan on one side of her and Elrohir on the other, Anayah was forced to stand still for a moment. She glared at the two of them as Elladan felt her forehead and his twin inspected her arm. Both areas of her body failed their respective inspections.
At the frown from his twin, Elrohir spoke of their concerns. "Sister, I don't know what you think you are doing, but you are ill. You are still running that fever and your arm still needs tending. You should have healed by now and probably would have if you had rested as Ada asked you to."
She turned to face her two brothers and they both took a step back when they saw the anger in her eyes.
"And you would have me laying her in warmth and comfort, being tended like a helpless elfling while our brother was being brutalized by those despicable Orcs or you would have our friend, Legolas remain without comfort at the hands of who knows what? How dare you think of me that way! How could you ever think I could be that way!"
Both twins could see the strain of the previous days in their sister's eyes and, as one, put their arms around her and drew her to them. It was then that she finally broke and sank to the floor, racked by the true sobs she had been holding in since she had first heard Aragorn scream in pain. For some time they sat, the twins holding their sister until her grief was finally spent and she quieted. Then they sat for a few moments more and drew comfort from the silence.
With a sigh, Anayah rose from where she had been sitting and with an arm around the necks of each of the twins, she gently squeezed as they continued to lean against her. After another moment or two she affectionately pushed them away.
"Now get out of here, the both of you. I still have a couple of things to do before I leave."
"Leave?" Both twins almost choked on the word spoken in unison.
Once more she turned to them and smiled gently.
"There's still someone missing, remember?"
"But can't you at least rest here for the night? Anayah you're exhausted!" Elrohir was almost begging her.
"Would my son expect you to kill yourself for his sake?"
Everyone in the room froze at the sound of the deep voice coming from the doorway. None of them had heard the approach of the tall Sindarin Lord.
Anayah spoke without hesitation. "No, King Thranduil, he would not expect me to kill myself for him but then what kind of friend would I be if I allowed him to suffer one more unnecessary moment in the hands of beings who have no respect for life, who would not spend one moment of their meaningless lives considering the pain they were causing another being?"
When the King didn't reply, she turned back to the bed then, gathering her equipment and supplies, turned to kiss her brothers on the cheek. As she left the room, the Mirkwood King stepped aside to let her pass. As she looked at him and smiled, she noted the tear slipping almost unnoticed down his cheek and, pausing briefly, put her right arm around his neck and gave him a hug.
Stepping back she said, "Be well Tondgaladh. I will bring your son home to you!"
The King smiled and inclined his head in respect.
* * * * * *
Anayah almost ran down the hall to the Healing Wing where she found her foster father sitting beside her brother's bed. The smell of athelas filled the air and for a moment gave her strength and hope. Quietly approaching the bed, she slipped her arm around the elder Lord's neck. Elrond's own hands then came up and covered hers.
"How is he?"
"Daughter, you left me little to do. Your care is almost as mine would have been and is also the reason he now lives and for that I thank you. You did well." Elrond turned and looked sharply at his disheveled foster daughter realizing that she intended to leave once more. "And where do you think you are going?"
"I must go and find Legolas, Ada. You know this."
Elrond stood and face her, gently laying his hand on her forehead and frowning.
"Then go with my blessings, daughter. A storm is approaching and I fear you are almost at the end of your strength."
"I will find the prince and I will bring him home to those who care about him. On my own honor I promise this." She brought her foster father's hand to her cheek and held it there for a moment as if to draw strength from it. Then she walked to her brother's bed and kissed him gently on the forehead.
As she exited the house and mounted her horse, she failed to notice the many eyes that watched her departure. She did not, however, fail to feel the strength of the well-wishes sent by each. With a sigh and added determination, she set her heels to her stallion's sides and once more exited the gates of Imladris.
TBC
Chapter 26
Strength And Honor
Life in the House of Elrond was downright gloomy. Thranduil was walking around with a frown on his face, snapping angrily at everyone and otherwise making everyone's life as miserable as was his own. Eomer, being the consummate gentleman and diplomat that he was, tried to ignore the doom and gloom attitude that was so prevalent but even he was beginning to find it difficult to maintain his sunny disposition. Elladan and Elrohir had been unusually quiet as they waited for word on their missing siblings and Lord Elrond could often be seen walking through both house and gardens, rubbing his temples as if his head hurt. Gandalf, well, Gandalf was Gandalf, stubborn, impatient and cranky. In other words, Gandalf remained unchanged. Lord Glorfindel, of all the inhabitants of Imladris seemed to be the only one who had managed to retain his sunny disposition, but then there were those who claimed that Glorfindel would laugh at anything.
The weather wasn't helping matters any. The sky remained overcast and the temperatures were dropping until even those who live within the walls of Elrond's house were beginning to feel the chill.
The twins had attempted to take their minds off the tense mood of their home by going on a hunt. Earlier that day, and accompanied by Eomer, they had set out, only to return that night empty-handed. Their hearts just had not been in it.
Though there were many elves in the Hall of Fire that evening, there was little laughter and singing. The air was one of waiting.
Here and there, small groups were gathered, talking quietly, when finally, what they had all been waiting for ... happened.
There was a loud bang as some heavy object was knocked over. Then Elurin, the imperturbable elven butler could be heard running about and yelling, "You come back here right now!" and "You can't do that!", followed by more bangs and crashes of things falling over and breaking. Whoever the butler was yelling at was apparently not listening to him and was continuing to rampage through their home. The twins and their father went to see what had their butler so upset but no sooner had Elladan opened the door of the hall than a large black blur flew through it and began to fly excitedly around the ceiling and about the heads of those assembled as it looked for someone in particular.
"Ada, its Shakir!" Elrohir said excitedly.
Lord Elrond grabbed a cloak that was laying nearby and after wrapping it securely around his left forearm then holding it up, called to the excited falcon.
"Shakir. To me!" he commanded.
The bird who had, in fact, been searching for Elrond, came quickly and sat on the offered and protected arm. Padded though it was, the Noldor Lord still groaned as the birds talons clutched his arm painfully. The falcon did not fold its wings as it gazed into Elrond's eyes. They were still extended for flight which only seemed to emphasize that the message it gave to the Lord and Master Healer of Imladris was extremely urgent.
"What does our friend have to say?" The grey wizard asked. When Elrond thanked the falcon and once more it took flight, he also saw that Thranduil was standing close by, anxiously awaiting to hear the message the falcon had come to deliver.
"She is only about a half mile out and coming in fast," he said as he turned on his heel and ran for the front door.
If the elves and guests thought that things had been chaotic before the falcon's arrival, it was nothing in comparison to what was happening now. Elrond was issuing orders as quickly as he could. The Healing Wing was opened up and medical supplies were assembled. Water was set to heat and more wood was put in the fireplace to raise the temperature of the room. Then, when all was as ready as possible, the group of kings and lords ran out the front door like elflings and waited for Anayah to arrive.
They didn't have long to wait. Soon the sound of a horse galloping toward them could be heard. Soon afterwards, Elias entered the courtyard at a fast gallop and slid to a stop at the bottom of the steps. He reared slightly as he tried to bring his forward momentum to a halt, but when he settled to earth once more, it was gently. Anayah's usually impeccably braided raven black hair was coming out of its braid from the swift riding she had done since leaving the cave, and her complexion was almost grey with the fatigue and worry she was feeling.
Thranduil's face fell when he saw that the horse carried only one passenger besides its rider. He soon moved beyond the moment of disappointment and went to the horse's head and stilled him so the others could quickly and gently remove the wounded man from the great stallion's back.
Ignoring the questions that were thrown at her, she went up the steps two at a time then entered the house at a run.
The twins, followed everyone inside and as their father and other healers took Aragorn inside to the Healing Wing, they searched for and found Anayah in her room. She had her head stuck in the closet where she was finding what she wanted and was haphazardly throwing the items onto the bed behind her. Elladan caught a quiver of crossbow bolts just before they hit him in the stomach.
"Hey! Are you trying to hurt me on purpose?" He tried to keep it light hearted, but he had seen her face as she had run past him and hadn't liked what he had seen.
"Sorry!" was all she said as she continued to gather what she needed for the next leg of her journey.
Finally, with Elladan on one side of her and Elrohir on the other, Anayah was forced to stand still for a moment. She glared at the two of them as Elladan felt her forehead and his twin inspected her arm. Both areas of her body failed their respective inspections.
At the frown from his twin, Elrohir spoke of their concerns. "Sister, I don't know what you think you are doing, but you are ill. You are still running that fever and your arm still needs tending. You should have healed by now and probably would have if you had rested as Ada asked you to."
She turned to face her two brothers and they both took a step back when they saw the anger in her eyes.
"And you would have me laying her in warmth and comfort, being tended like a helpless elfling while our brother was being brutalized by those despicable Orcs or you would have our friend, Legolas remain without comfort at the hands of who knows what? How dare you think of me that way! How could you ever think I could be that way!"
Both twins could see the strain of the previous days in their sister's eyes and, as one, put their arms around her and drew her to them. It was then that she finally broke and sank to the floor, racked by the true sobs she had been holding in since she had first heard Aragorn scream in pain. For some time they sat, the twins holding their sister until her grief was finally spent and she quieted. Then they sat for a few moments more and drew comfort from the silence.
With a sigh, Anayah rose from where she had been sitting and with an arm around the necks of each of the twins, she gently squeezed as they continued to lean against her. After another moment or two she affectionately pushed them away.
"Now get out of here, the both of you. I still have a couple of things to do before I leave."
"Leave?" Both twins almost choked on the word spoken in unison.
Once more she turned to them and smiled gently.
"There's still someone missing, remember?"
"But can't you at least rest here for the night? Anayah you're exhausted!" Elrohir was almost begging her.
"Would my son expect you to kill yourself for his sake?"
Everyone in the room froze at the sound of the deep voice coming from the doorway. None of them had heard the approach of the tall Sindarin Lord.
Anayah spoke without hesitation. "No, King Thranduil, he would not expect me to kill myself for him but then what kind of friend would I be if I allowed him to suffer one more unnecessary moment in the hands of beings who have no respect for life, who would not spend one moment of their meaningless lives considering the pain they were causing another being?"
When the King didn't reply, she turned back to the bed then, gathering her equipment and supplies, turned to kiss her brothers on the cheek. As she left the room, the Mirkwood King stepped aside to let her pass. As she looked at him and smiled, she noted the tear slipping almost unnoticed down his cheek and, pausing briefly, put her right arm around his neck and gave him a hug.
Stepping back she said, "Be well Tondgaladh. I will bring your son home to you!"
The King smiled and inclined his head in respect.
* * * * * *
Anayah almost ran down the hall to the Healing Wing where she found her foster father sitting beside her brother's bed. The smell of athelas filled the air and for a moment gave her strength and hope. Quietly approaching the bed, she slipped her arm around the elder Lord's neck. Elrond's own hands then came up and covered hers.
"How is he?"
"Daughter, you left me little to do. Your care is almost as mine would have been and is also the reason he now lives and for that I thank you. You did well." Elrond turned and looked sharply at his disheveled foster daughter realizing that she intended to leave once more. "And where do you think you are going?"
"I must go and find Legolas, Ada. You know this."
Elrond stood and face her, gently laying his hand on her forehead and frowning.
"Then go with my blessings, daughter. A storm is approaching and I fear you are almost at the end of your strength."
"I will find the prince and I will bring him home to those who care about him. On my own honor I promise this." She brought her foster father's hand to her cheek and held it there for a moment as if to draw strength from it. Then she walked to her brother's bed and kissed him gently on the forehead.
As she exited the house and mounted her horse, she failed to notice the many eyes that watched her departure. She did not, however, fail to feel the strength of the well-wishes sent by each. With a sigh and added determination, she set her heels to her stallion's sides and once more exited the gates of Imladris.
TBC