Chapter 7

Not even Mandos can sunder them

Ereinion shaded his eyes, hearing the hooves. Elrond hastily came and stood on his right side to greet the visitors. Both Celeborn and Galadriel's faces tightened when they saw who was leading the group of Elves.

" Celebrimbor, I welcome you and your people here. We cannot offer any shelter, for we ourselves have only begun our own havens."

Ereinion caught arms with the grandson of Fëanor. The bright red hair was a dead giveaway.

Celebrimbor nodded, his eyes scanning the Elves, his gaze falling upon Galadriel. His face brightened a little, but then dulled, seeing the faithful Elf by her side. Ereinion's eyes darkened, knowing what the Elf saw. He sought out Celebrimbor's eyes.

*She is wed, Celebrimbor. I will not condone any actions of yours if they be done to her.

Celebrimbor nodded, turning his attention to the new Elf he had never seen. Celebrimbor tilted his head a little.

" Eärendil, you have changed. Last I remember, you were not as tall."

Elrond pursed his lips with a slight smile.

" That would be because I am his son."

Celebrimbor chuckled, shaking his head.

" A perfectly reasonable explanation," Celebrimbor turned his eyes up to Ereinion, " So after all those years of pursuing my uncles, you found one?"

" I found both," Ereinion corrected, " The other dwells with mortals somewhere nearby."

Celebrimbor turned his eyes back to Elrond.

*Noldo and wise. He could be of some help with my craft. He could help me learn more of the shaping and making…

Celebrimbor caught arms with Elrond.

" Tis nice to meet you, Elrond. I suspect we shall see each other often."

~*~

Celeborn noted a clingy tendency in his wife. She had only been this way once before: when they had journeyed to Gondolin. He suspected it to be because of Celebrimbor's presence.

"Master Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, I have not seen you both since before Gondolin's fall."

Galadriel securely placed herself in Celeborn's arms as Celebrimbor went on.

" Twould be many centuries ago for it was when Ereinion was but three and Aredhel…well, I shall not speak of that."

Galadriel did not reply. Celeborn sighed, a smile surfacing.

" Tis nice to see you, Celebrimbor," Celeborn said softly.

" Thank you. Now where are they children? I would guess there is a host."

" There are none," Galadriel answered flatly.

Elrond chose that opportune moment to summon Galadriel away.

Celeborn put his hands in his tunic pockets watching Celebrimbor watch his wife. Celeborn's eyes hardened. It was not that he hated the Elf personally. He only disliked the Elf's unnerving gaze always on his wife.

" You married well, Celeborn."

Celeborn nodded, all too knowingly.

" Aye, she is my wife," Celeborn empathized wife.

Celebrimbor turned, his eyes lit with a dark flame. A flame that reminded Celeborn of Eöl's eyes, for that Elf had seen much darkness when he lured Turgon's daughter and wed her.

" You know I love her. There will never be another."

Celeborn's heart panged. They could have been friends, were it not for this fact. Celeborn looked up, his eyes unnaturally hard and his smile, a hard frown.

" Then that leaves us at odds, for she has chosen."

Celebrimbor came closer, a finger in Celeborn's face.

" Watch your words. You are a master of trees. I wield metal, sharp metal."

Celeborn calmly moved the hand.

" Is that a threat?"

Celebrimbor's smile sickened Celeborn.

" It is a promise."

~*~

Galadriel hurriedly approached the high king, seeing him doubled over on his knees.

" Ereinion?"

His head darted up and he glared at Elrond.

" I thought you were just going to get your bag."

Elrond shook his head. Galadriel noted Ereinion's wrist with a wince. She moved it so she would inspect and wished she had not.

" How does the king of Elves do this?"

The bone protruded at an odd angle from his arm. Ereinion glared again at Elrond.

" Tis embarrassing. That is why I did not want any attention from anyone, Elrond."

Galadriel looked up questioningly at him.

" Let me hear it."

Ereinion sighed, his shoulders falling.

" I tripped."

Galadriel could not help the smile.

" Elrond, let me hear your side of this."

" I did not touch nor push him, honest. He was walking and a guess caught a tree root. Then he," Elrond made a falling motion with his hands, " And when I came over there, the bone was, well, worse that that. I healed what I could, but it was too far advanced for me. I have only begun learning this."

Galadriel gave one giggle, and then tilted her head.

" Celeborn, would you fetch me my bag of herbs? Ereinion has christened this place with the first accident."

Celeborn chuckled, from nearby.

" It sounds like something he would do."

" I am right here," Ereinion grumbled with an eye roll.

" I know," Celeborn exited the brush handing the bag to his wife, " That will take a day or two to heal. You are out of the building for a week at my orders."

Ereinion's face fell.

" It is not that bad. I can help in someway. I can-"

" I agree, Ereinion. One week."

Ereinion sighed ruefully.

~*~

Celebrimbor sat beside Elrond.

" So, have you read of the Silmarils?"

Elrond nodded, and then motioned to the book cover.

" Ah, I read that once. The wielding of Elvin magic."

Elrond looked up, sensing the Elf was not about to go away and let him finish his book in peace.

" Is there something you want, Celebrimbor?"

Celebrimbor sighed.

" Quite perceptive you are."

" Tell me. I do not like beating around the bush."

Celebrimbor sighed.

" My people are craftsmen. Do you know where we can find jewels and metals? We need to keep crafting," Celebrimbor asked.

Elrond nodded.

" I shall draw you a map, but I warn you. Dwarves do not like those that plunder their troves."

~*~

Ereinion watched the frames grow quickly. Twas amazing how much he could miss in five days. They were nearly done with the frames. He glanced ruefully at his wrist and then turned towards the Sea. He breathed in deeply, closing his eyes, and feeling relaxed for a moment. He opened his eyes, noting something white in the waves. He moved towards it and then quicker, noting it was a body.

He pulled the Elf from the Sea awkwardly with one hand. He pushed the body over and just stared. He swallowed, before shaking the Elf.

" Wake up, Master Elf."

The Elf coughed, turning to expel the water from his lungs. He wiped his mouth with a sandy sleeve, and then glanced up.

" Ereinion?"

Ereinion shook his head, putting a hand to it.

" Please tell me I am not seeing this."

The golden haired Elf grinned, wringing the water from his tunic.

" I am like a bad fish. They threw me back. Said something about it not being my time. I have a message for you, but I'm afraid it was not meant to be told right away for I cannot remember it."

Ereinion embraced him.

" How? Why?"

The Elf shrugged.

" I told you. They said it was not my time."

" Glorfindel," Ereinion was lost for words.

Glorfindel simply clasped his shoulder.

" It has been long since our last meeting. I missed you too."

Ereinion helped him up with his good hand, before beginning into a story of how he hurt his wrist, excluding, of course, the fact he had tripped.

~*~

Galadriel shook her head at the newly arrived messenger of Manwë. The fair faced Maia stood beside a large ship.

" You are all beckoned to come to Aman. All will be pardoned if you forsake these shores now."

Galadriel glanced at her husband nearby who seemed unmoved also. She was in a way glad he had never seen the Blessed Realm. His eyes knew not what he was missing, but at least it kept him by her side.

Many Elves began towards the ships, dwindling their number considerably, though they still were many. The messenger approached her.

" Your father asked especially to see if you would come back, Nerwen. He and your mother mourn for you every day."

Galadriel crossed her arms, pressing her lips together.

*Go.

She glanced back at Celeborn, who had whispered it into her mind. She lifted her head.

" I have no need of the pardon of the Lords of the West. They disgrace my knowledge if they think that I, the youngest of the house of Finarfin, have done wrong."

The messenger merely nodded. It was not his place to say anything.

" Where is…Elrond Peredhil, will you go?"

Elrond looked up from his book. He had not been listening. He had had enough of Manwë's messengers. They brought only ill news to him.

" Go where?" Elrond called back.

" To Aman. Do you not wish to be rejoined with your parents?"

Elrond's visage visibly tightened.

" My place is beside my brother, and then the high-king."

The messenger shook his head.

*The wise are always foolish in some ways.

" Where is your king?"

" There…" Galadriel clutched Celeborn's arm, " Is that…"

" By the Valar," Celeborn ran towards the two.

Elrond's eyes focused in on the tall, warrior looking Elf.

*Glorfindel, the golden haired, from the House of the Golden Flower. So what I saw was true. Evil is not destroyed. The fight has only begun.

~*~

Ereinion searched for Elrond. He found the half-Elven sitting under a large tree, the branches seeming to almost be protecting the young Elf.

" Is that Eärendil?" Glorfindel asked, " He did live."

Ereinion shook his head.

" You must have missed seeing Eärendil. He resides in the skies now," Ereinion replied.

" The Elf bears a striking resemblance of a mix between him and Lúthien," Glorfindel said.

" He is Elrond, son of Eärendil."

" Half-Elven also, I presume?"

Ereinion nodded as they approached the Elf.

" Elrond."

The Elf stood slowly, wishing he could pocket the book he read. He held a volume of both Doriath's and Gondolin's falls. Elrond wished to know how to fortify Lindon the best he could.

" Elrond, this is-"

" Glorfindel."

Ereinion was taken aback.

" How did you know?"

Elrond shrugged.

" Not too many have golden hair nowadays. All the Vanyar and light colored Noldor, save Galadriel of course, have fled to Aman, seeking grace."

Elrond extended his hand to Glorfindel. The golden haired one caught it with a firm grasp. Elrond's eyes narrowed a little.

" You bear a message."

Glorfindel sighed.

" One I cannot remember."

Elrond shrugged.

" You will remember when the time is right."

Ereinion ushered Glorfindel off. Elrond glanced back at his book.

*I knew if he came back, I would be only a child of his distant relation.

~*~

Elrond moved away from the festival. He climbed up into the trees, the branches moving to meet his feet. He found a branch to perch upon and stared across the Sea.

*Maybe I should have gone…

" Trees are comforting, are they not?"

Elrond's head whipped around, seeing Celeborn seated not too far away in the crook of a branch.

" Why are you out here?" Elrond asked.

" I grew sick of watching Celebrimbor stare lovingly at my wife."

Elrond shook his head.

" You may hate it, but I believe Celebrimbor's love in someone so wise may turn out for good in the end."

Celeborn turned a leaf in his hands.

" He has always loved her. Even before I knew her. I do not know why she turned him away."

" She can see the curse upon him. He may have repented of his father's sins, but the curse still lies upon him for power," Elrond said simply.

Celeborn sighed.

" You should be inside. If Glorfindel remembers the message, Ereinion will wish you nearby to hear it also."

" Yes, he will wish the advice of a child," Elrond's sarcastic tone surprised Celeborn, " I doubt he will ask for my opinion. I should have been Edain and gone with Elros."

Celeborn moved to sit beside him.

" Glorfindel cannot replace you in Ereinion's life. Glorfindel is drawn to the wilds, to fighting, to excitement. He will not remain here long. Ereinion will need someone to depend on."

*Dependable Elrond, that's me.

Celeborn shook his head, sensing Elrond's thought.

" Let us go back to the fireside. I fear for my wife."

" Go on ahead," Elrond turned his head.

" That was no offer, Peredhil. Twas an order."

~*~

Ereinion's eyes roamed all over the fireside, searching for Elrond. Glorfindel touched his shoulder.

" He is not here."

Ereinion sighed.

" I know. He left after he was through. I know what he fears," Ereinion replied.

" He fears losing everything," Glorfindel looked away, " He reminds me of me."

Ereinion chuckled.

" He is a lot like you. He is ever shirking his duties."

Ereinion rose, deflecting the feint punch with a laugh, and almost running into a standing Celebrimbor. Celebrimbor merely moved away, as if to take the empty place beside Galadriel. Galadriel's eyes met Ereinion's pleadingly. Ereinion lifted a hand to call to Celebrimbor.

Celeborn materialized from the shadows, retaking his seat beside Galadriel with a quick kiss and an almost smug look back at Celebrimbor. Elrond appeared also. Ereinion sat back down, relieved the Elf had returned. Elrond kept to the outskirts of the festival, his dark robes making him almost one with the night. Glorfindel openly admired the youngster's prowling ability.

" I bet he is one you take on ambushes."

Ereinion nodded.

" I am the only one he cannot sneak up on."

Galadriel turned her head, sensing the Elf behind her.

" Elrond, sing for us."

" Make that Galadriel, Celeborn and I," Ereinion corrected.

Elrond shook his head, wishing he could disappear into the shadows when the many turned his way.

" I have nothing worth listening to."

" What of the Noldolantë?" Celebrimbor asked softly, " They say other than Maglor, you are the only other to know it in its entirety."

" Tis too sad a song for-"

" Sing it, Elrond," Galadriel interrupted.

Elrond shrugged, coming forth a bit, so all could see him.

*If they wish to ruin such a festival, then so be it.

" Nay, sing something lovely," Círdan interjected, before Elrond could start.

Elrond's lips curved into an amused smile.

" When you can all agree on a song, I shall sing it."

" What of Lúthien?" Celeborn suggested, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

That was met with a chorus of approval from the Elves.

The Lay of Lúthien had always been Elrond's least favorite piece. He could not understand why a woman would give up everything for a man, or vice versa. Then again, Elrond's eyes had never turned to any maiden. They were steadfast upon his studies and sword.

Elrond struggled not to make a face at the choice.

" Aye, the Lay of Lúthien," Galadriel joined in.

Elrond looked around pleadingly, eyes catching Ereinion's. Ereinion leaned back with a smug smile.

" Go ahead, Elrond."

Elrond's eyes narrowed slightly.

*You will pay, Gil-galad.

Ereinion bit back a laugh.

" Will you sing, please, Elrond?"

Elrond straightened, though his eyes did not change.

" I lasse and I thâr calen, I thôl-amloth archal a bain (The leaves were long, the grass was green, the hemlock leaves tall and fair)," he began.

The other Elves son joined in, remembering the olden days of glory, as the notes were carried away up into the heavens, never to be heard again.