Chapter 2

                  Ereinion smiled as he entered a lavishly decorated music room.  His eyes found her scribbling furiously on a piece of paper before her instrument.  She began to turn back to the harp, oblivious to his presence.  He coughed into his fist, standing beside a beautiful mural of Maglor and his musicians.  She brightened visibly when she saw him.

                  " Come.  Sit.  I have just about finished that piece for Halmir you requested, melmenya."

                  Ereinion sat behind her, touching her lips with his in a tender kiss.  He placed his chin on her shoulder as she began to effortlessly strum the huge harp.  Her voice joined in, the sweet elvish words weaving a fine memoir of Halmir's life.  Ereinion closed his eyes, smiling softly as he was transported back into the memories.

Flashback

                  " Hold it steady, Ereinion."  Halmir readjusted his bow yet again. 

Ten-year-old Ereinion bit his lip in intense concentration.  The bow still slipped again.  Patiently, Halmir once again adjusted it.

                  " Come on.  You can do this, Ereinion."

Ereinion glowed under the encouragement.  At his young age, the just become of age Elf was his hero.  His praise meant the world to Ereinion.

                  Ereinion proudly let the arrow fly.  It wobbled weakly in its slow flight and fell a few feet short of its target.  Ereinion's shoulders slumped in defeat.  Suppressed laughter came.  Ereinion groaned inwardly as his other cousin came into view.

                  " Halmir, give it up, brother.  He is absolutely the worst archer.  He cannot even hold a bow."

Halmir waved a hand, unfazed by the critique.

                  " Give him time, Orodlin.  He will learn."

Orodlin sneered at the young prince.

                  " Sure he will; when Morgoth begins to skip through the flower fields singing as he goes."

Ereinion hung his head in shame, his cheeks burning with bright red flames.  Halmir crossed his arms protectively, seeing Ereinion's humiliation.

                  " All of us must learn this skill.  No one comes by it easy unless the One gifted it to be so.  Watch your pride, Orodlin.  It will cause you to fall."

At that moment, Ereinion had no greater pride for his teacher.

Years pass in the line of memories…

                  He stormed into his new study.  He was the king now.  His uncle had died.  Glorfindel had died.  Many Elves had fallen.  He threw the crown across the room, watching it bounce off the wall.  Halmir entered sometime during his rant, content to watch silently.

                  " Are you finished?"

Ereinion turned, crossing his arms.

                  " Shall you chastise me also?"

                  Halmir just raised his eyebrows, slowly pacing.

                  " This behavior is most unbecoming.  What bothers you?"

Ereinion shrugged, slumping into his chair and looking out the window.

                  " I wish this had never come to me."

Halmir perched himself on Ereinion's desk.

                  " We wish that a lot of things did not happen, yet they still do.  Time rolls on without our permission.  The stars wheel overhead and the sun rises and falls.  You must learn to take life as it comes.  It is like a fight."

Ereinion chuckled.

                  " And I am ducking punches?"

Halmir grinned also, tossing his hair over a shoulder.

                  " No, it seems to me that you took a punch and are letting it keep you down."

Ereinion looked down for a moment.

                  " Ok, I guess you are right."

Halmir scoffed teasingly.

                  " I am always right, Ereinion."

Ereinion grinned, his laughter filling the study.

End Flashback

                  Ereinion sighed mournfully, his spirit sad and glad for his friend: sad that he died; glad that he was finally welcomed into glory.

*He was one of the finest Elves and archer anyone could have asked for.  I put him in the highest position I could when I became king.

                  He glanced down then, realizing that the song's melody had died away long ago.  The light brown haired Noldo in his arms smiled softly, continuing to gaze up at him, watching his face change with the memories.

                  " Remembering?"

Ereinion nodded.

                  " Apart from my grandfather, he is my other hero."

Celebhiril leaned against him.

                  " Tell me about him.  Share with me your memories, your stories."

Ereinion rested his arms around her waist, securing her to him as he began to gather his thoughts. 

*What would I do without her?

~*~

                  Orodlin found the young Peredhil sitting by Ereinion's desk reading a letter.  Orodlin stared a moment, shocked at seeing his brother's empty seat filled.

                  " What are you doing?"

Elrond glanced up over the letter with a dull gaze.  He raised his eyebrows.

                  " Reading.  What does it look like I am doing?"

Orodlin constrained his anger.

*I hate the line of Fingolfin.  They are ever a thorn in my side.

                  " You are in my brother's chair."

Elrond put the letter down reluctantly, sensing that the Elf was not about to let the matter go.

                  " Ereinion asked me to meet him here and read the letter upon his desk.  I am following my liege lord's instructions.  Have you a problem with that?"  Elrond softened his tone.  " I did not know this was your brother's seat."

Orodlin crossed his arms.

                  " Tis my seat now."

                  " Not necessarily."

                  Ereinion brushed by his cousin, dressed in gray robes free of any adornment.  He sat down, slouching comfortably before looking up pleasantly at Orodlin.

                  " What do you need, Cousin?"

Orodlin held back a lip curl.

*He is far too trusting at times; far too lenient to be a good ruler.

                  " I have come to fill the duty of my brother."

Ereinion shook his head.

                  " That position is not given by blood alone.  I know it is usually a relation of mine, but the Elf is appointed by myself."

Orodlin's face fell a bit.

                  " I just assumed, Ereinion, since this is what I have been trained to do."
Ereinion shook his head again.

                  " I am afraid you thought wrong.  I will be training Elrond as my herald."

                  Both Elves stared at the King.  Elrond gaped, surprised at the high honor.

                  " Me?"  He nearly squeaked.

Ereinion nodded with a charming grin.

                  " Elrond Peredhil, the great debater, speechless?"  Ereinion then nodded again.  " Aye, though I believe I will test your skill with a blade and bow beforehand.  I know your advice is sound.  It has not led me astray yet."

Orodlin turned, slightly fuming.  He left the room, taking the darkness with him.

                  Ereinion rose silently, going to his window and staring across the bay.  He glanced back at Elrond.

                  " Come here, Peredhil."

Elrond rose also, approaching hesitantly.

                  " Yes, my lord?"

Ereinion sent him a skeptical glance.

                  " When did I of all people become 'my lord'?  There are no formalities needed between us, Elrond.  I have known and cared for you since you were seven.  Yet, that bond fell to ruin when Elros died."  Ereinion kept his eyes firmly to the Sea.  " You have cut yourself off from everyone.  I fear you will drive yourself to death."

                  Elrond had stiffened automatically at his brother's name.

                  " You need not bother yourself in my affairs."

Ereinion faced him.

                  " Do you think I cannot relate to you?  I too just lost my closest friend."

Elrond shook his head, sending Ereinion a doubtful glance.

                  " You have never lost yourself; seen your very essence fall to ruin."

Ereinion's brow furrowed, not fully understanding Elrond's statement.  He tilted his head before glancing at the guards below.  A smile slid across his face.

                  " What say you and I go on a hunt; like old times?"

A glimmer of a smile shone in Elrond's eyes.

                  " Like old times?"

Ereinion nodded, his eyebrows arching.

                  " Just like old times, rainy weather included."