Chapter 13

Despair

                  Celeborn greeted the party, an apprehensive smile on his face.  He glanced at the obvious work of Celebrimbor and shook his head; and then sighed.  No matter how much he found that Elf angered him, Celeborn could not ignore the Elf's craftsmanship.

*The Elf has a great talent.  I would have made a block of silver.

His eyes delved into his wife's, seeking any sign of change in her appearance.  She had left lifeless and he hoped it had changed.  His hopes took flight when a soft smile actually graced her lips.  Twas a good sign. He hated her gloominess and ever since their loss, even Morgoth had been cheerier.  Galadriel dismounted.

                  " Suliad Celeborn."

                  Ereinion chuckled at Celeborn's surprised look when Galadriel waltzed up and kissed her husband's cheek.

                  " Suliad, mae govannen," he shook his head, fingering the Elessar, " I like it."

                  " Celebrimbor made it."

                  " I know.  He is a Noldo.  He has skill with such things."

Galadriel fingered it herself, looking down at it.

                  " Tis the Elessar.  It will keep age from the things of the earth that I hold dear," she looked up, " Nothing I cherish shall fall."

Celeborn pressed his lips together slightly, swallowing quickly.  Ereinion touched their shoulders.  Celeborn pushed away the bout of emotion, looking up.

                  " I have need to assemble a council.  Would you please explain the situation to him, Galadriel?"

~*~

                  " What are we going to do?  As much as I dislike Celebrimbor, even I would not leave him and his people to be slaughtered by a Maia; the lieutenant of Morgoth to be exact," Celeborn said, his gray eyes dark.

Glorfindel looked up.  They had allowed Erestor and Glorfindel to sit in on the meeting since they too had been in Eregion.

                  " You know as well as I that Sauron is not just the lieutenant of Morgoth.  He was birthed by the Vala.  His spirit bows to that fallen creature.  He wants to rule us all," Glorfindel stood, adding emphasis to his words with his impressive height, " And he wants dominion over us especially.  We are the Elves, fairest of all, immortal and wise beyond the mortal's dreams.  If we fall to his power, then all is lost."

                  A gloomy silence fell like a sheet of darkness.

                  " What now becomes of us?  Is there hope left here?  Or do we forsake these shores, leaving the men and other free folk to their destiny?" Galadriel said softly, though her voice echoed in the silent room.

Ereinion leaned back, waiting for a strong declaration of aid to come from Elrond.  He turned his head when nothing came.  Elrond's eyes and face were floor bound. 

                  " Elrond?  Have you nothing to say?" Ereinion prodded.

Elrond looked up slowly, his eyes trying to not meet Ereinion's.  Elrond opened his mouth a little, closing his eyes and shaking his head.

                  " He wishes dominion over all, but I will not delve into the shadows to find out how.  There is darkness in my mind; darkness no light can illuminate."

Many heard the tremble in his voice and spirits fell even further.  Ereinion leaned back again with a sigh.

                  " When do you know all things are hopeless?  When do you know you have done all you can, but yet, it was in vain?" he stood, turning his back to them, his strong voice increasing with every word, " When do you know that your time is passed and your wisdom waned?" He faced them, " When do you know it has ended?"

~*~

                  Elrond entered the study long after the council.

                  " Tis wrong to despair."

Ereinion sighed.  He faced Elrond from the window, crossing to sit back at his chair.  Ereinion removed his crown, wiping his face with his hands before replying.

                  " I cannot help but despair.  I feel old.  I feel as if my spirit is failing; that I should have forsaken this land long before this.  I feel that my fate shall be the same as my father and grandfather.  I will die and have done nothing for this land."

Elrond shook his head.

                  " Can you not see it?  There is still hope.  Hope that is waiting for you to grasp it.  Surely the Númenóreans will aid us."

Ereinion shook his head.

                  " There is nothing here.  It is all meaningless."

                  Elrond's face hardened.

                  " Then go over the Sea.  Leave this land to ruin, but by Eru, I will not," Elrond leaned over the desk, " I will not forsake my brother's descendents to ruin.  Are you like Manwë, Ereinion?  Do you see all ends?"

Ereinion leapt up.

                  " Do not even try-"

Elrond shook his head.

                  " You are afraid to fail, afraid to fall like Fingon and Fingolfin," Elrond made a sweeping motion with his hands, " At least they died fighting for a land they loved.  They did something here, but you will never."

Ereinion's hands found Elrond's tunic, drawing the half-elven dangerously close.

                  " You are not my father, or my dictator, Elrond.  I am your elder and the head of this house, plus your king."

                  " I heed those of my family.  Elros was my family."

Ereinion's eyes narrowed.

                  " And I am just an orc?"

                  " Call yourself what you wish.  I can think of a few at this moment."

Elrond lifted his chin higher when the hands tightened.  He was angry.  Angry that Ereinion was about to give up so easily.  Never had Ereinion despaired so.  Elrond knew that he had gone about it wrong trying to incite a spirit back into the king.

                  " Excuse me, gentlemen."

                  Both glared at the Elf in the doorway.  Círdan crossed his arms, making a shooing motion at Ereinion.  Ereinion threw the tunic from his hands as if it was fire.  Elrond put a hand to his throat, grateful for air.  Ereinion looked at his hands somewhat fearfully. 

*What did I do in my rage?

Círdan glanced between them.

                  " I do not know what this dispute is of, but I do not care much either," Círdan turned to exclude Ereinion, " We have an orc sighting.  I have gathered many Elf-lords, but we await you to join Glorfindel and I."

                  " Give me a moment," Ereinion replied.

Círdan stopped him with a headshake.

                  " No.  You are our king.  You will remain here drafting a letter to the king of Númenor like you promised the council."

Ereinion glared sourly.  Círdan glanced at Elrond.

                  " We will await you in one hour."

Elrond nodded.  Círdan brushed out.  Elrond paused, opening his mouth.  Ereinion glanced up at him.

                  " What?  Do you wish to try and chastise me further?"

                  " I was going to apologize."

Ereinion shook his head.

                  " Not accepted.  Now leave me."

Elrond nodded.  With every step he cursed himself and his mortal temper.

~*~

                  Elrond shook his head, looking over the map.

                  " There is at least a couple hundred of them and only eighty of us.  We will be easily defeated."

                  " I disagree.  If we can surround them, then we have the advantage," Glorfindel shook his head.

                  " No," Elrond shook his head.

Glorfindel leaned over.

                  " Elrond, it does not matter what you think.  I lead this group.  You are only an Elf-lord.  Ereinion is not here to back you."

Elrond shook his head.

                  " I need no Elf to back me."

An Elf ran in, eyes wide and open.  He began to speak but was cut off, falling forward.  A dozen arrows lay in his back.  With a chilling scream, the tent was ripped down and the war was upon them.

~*~

                  Ereinion played with his crown before throwing it across the room and hearing it crack with relief. 

                  " I do not deserve it.  Why did they burden me with it?  Why did Idril and Eärendil leave it to me?"

                  " Because they knew you were better suited than they for it."

Ereinion glanced up slightly.

                  " Why is it that they always send you or Elrond to me when I am angered?"

                  " Because I am the only one you respect now.  You are a fool sometimes, Ereinion," Galadriel ruffled his hair, kneeling by his chair.

                  " I know I am."

She smiled.

                  " Then you will apologize when Elrond returns?  You are like a gloomy thunderstorm in Lindon.  No one can function with you like this."

Ereinion sent her a smile.

                  " Aye, I will apologize."

She kissed his forehead.

                  " Now come on.  You need a long walk to clear your mind and Celeborn is consumed with the protection of Lindon."

~*~

                  Elrond came to, groaning when his shaky hand met blood on his face and in his hair.  A rough hand pulled him up by his matted hair.  Elrond bit back a cry.  A hideous face made the scene swim before his eyes.  He had never seen such ugliness.  Elrond tried to shrink back and away from it.

                  " Never seen something so 'ideous, 'ave ya, Elf?"

                  " Let me be."

                  " So ya spake?" the thing laughed.

Elrond winced.  The sound grated upon his sensitive ears, leaving him with a ringing in his ears.

                  " Come on then.  Wes got a long journey ahead of us."

Elrond closed his eyes, unable to bear watching the cruel mutilation they depicted before his very eyes.  They pulled him up, dragging him with them.

*May in Mandos they find peace.  May in Mandos I find peace.

~*~

                  " Elrond?  Elrond?" Glorfindel screamed until his voice was hoarse.

                  " He is dead," Círdan slumped down, tending to another wounded, " Ereinion will not be pleased."

*Not be pleased?  That is an understatement.  Elrond was Ereinion's link to…to…everything.

                  " What shall we tell him?" Glorfindel asked.

Círdan just shook his head.  Glorfindel kicked the ground viciously.  He stalked away, searching the battleground until he found it.  The blade was broken and stained with blood.  Glorfindel gently picked up the blade pieces, wrapping them in the cloak lying nearby.  Glorfindel strapped them to his back, before he put a hand to his forehead and wept.

~*~

                  " Take a rest."

They threw him down.  Elrond looked up at them.

                  " Why do you not kill me?"

One glanced at him, almost pitifully.

                  " You are known to us as the Peredhil.  Our master wants you."

Elrond found no comfort in those words as they pulled him up once again to continue their trek.

~*~

                  Ereinion walked out to join Celeborn and Galadriel.  There was a universal gasp seeing less than half returning.  The band was ragged.  Not even Glorfindel's regal appearance helped.  Galadriel shook her head, leaning against Celeborn.  Ereinion's eyes flew over the Elves, suddenly realizing Elrond was not at his rightful place in the front.  His eyes flew over them again.  There was no light caramel colored horse like the one Elrond rode in their midst.  Ereinion pushed forward to Círdan.

                  " Where is Elrond?"

Círdan did not meet his eyes, merely shaking his head.

                  " Ask Glorfindel," was the suspicious reply.

                  Ereinion ran after the golden haired warrior.

                  " Glorfindel."

Glorfindel turned, removing something from his pouch.  He went down on one knee in a way Ereinion remembered too well from his past.  It was a Gondolindrim custom.  Idril had done the same when she had presented the crown to him.  Glorfindel unwrapped the piece of cloth.

                  " I am grieved to tell you that Elrond Peredhil, son of Eärendil, and last relation of your house, is dead.  We found this at the battle, for he did not return to our ranks.  We fear he is dead."

Ereinion shook his head, staring at the broken sword.  He took up the pieces, ignoring the sharp ones cutting into his hands.  Rage filled his eyes.

*How dare they…

                  " Hear ye, hear ye.  All of fighting age are to assemble this evening.  We will destroy that band," Ereinion looked down at the broken sword, " Revenge will be dealt for the dead."