Chapter 15
Ereinion carefully sat up once he was sure Celeborn, Galadriel and Glorfindel were gone. He had no reason to worry of the comatose Elrond waking suddenly if Galadriel's words were true. Ereinion pulled his knees to his chest in a childlike gesture, resting his chin upon his kneecaps.
*The last of my house is to die and then, once again, I am alone? Why do I linger here? What possibly keeps me bound to this land?
He sighed heavily, before standing and exiting the tent. A hand found his shoulder.
" How is he?"
Ereinion shook his head.
" Tis bad, Círdan," he looked up, " They do not expect him to last the night."
Círdan shook his head.
" I am sorry."
Ereinion held up his hand.
" Please, save the sympathy for the funeral. Excuse me. I need to be alone."
Círdan let him by without a word.
*There are no words in the human or Elvin mind to convey a sense of condolence to death.
Ereinion pushed his hands deep into the tunic pockets, cringing his nose at the slight horse smell. He strode up a hill, feeling the gentle wind becoming more and more violent. His eyes searched the heavens for hope, but on this night, as the clouds were closing in, the Gil-Estel never breeched the skies. Ereinion shook his head.
*Even faithful Eärendil has forsaken this land to ruin.
~*~
Galadriel rubbed her eyes sleepily, entering the tent late in the night. She leaned over to try and find a pulse, only to find there was no head on that pillow. There was not even a body under the blankets. He was gone. She sprinted away.
" Celeborn," she hissed, tugging on the covers he had curled himself in
" Hmm?" he grunted, opening only one eye, before they closed again, " He is dead?"
Galadriel shook her head furiously.
" Did you move Elrond?"
" What?" Celeborn sat up, beginning to pull on his outer robe to go investigate.
" Did you move Elrond? He is not in the tent that I left him in."
" You do not think Erein…"
~*~
Ereinion was roused from his sleep. He looked up at the worried faces groggily. Ereinion slowly unfurled his long legs from the tiny ball he had been curled into.
" What is this about?" he asked with a yawn.
" Elrond is gone."
" Oh," Ereinion's face fell.
Galadriel pushed Celeborn out of her way with a hint of irritation.
" Not gone as in dead, Ereinion. He has disappeared. He is no longer in the tent we left him in."
" Oh," relief was plain in his voice.
Celeborn rubbed his neck, glancing outside.
" Let us not draw too much attention to this than necessary. Why do we not split up and search the camp?"
The three went in their separate directions.
Círdan found them searching the camp still when he returned from his late night watch. He tapped their shoulders.
" Try in there."
" For what? We are not looking for an early breakfast," Galadriel replied.
" If you seek the Peredhil, I would look."
Three heads glanced at each other before scrambling towards the tent.
Celeborn peeked in first. As if he belonged there, Elrond sat on the provisions tent floor half supported by a saddlebag and half hid behind some weapons. A book was in plain sight.
" Elrond Peredhil."
Elrond's head swung around at the thunderous voice. He guiltily turned his eyes down seeing the four Elves.
" You seek to kill yourself with this sneaking out," Ereinion continued.
" Nonsense," Elrond protested.
" You are going back to bed. You are still unwell," Galadriel ordered.
Ereinion and Celeborn both carefully hoisted up the Elf. Galadriel stopped them from exiting.
" The book, Elrond."
Elrond sighed; releasing it to her before letting the two Elves escort him out.
" How did you walk all this way?" Ereinion asked.
Elrond shrugged with a wince.
" I did not walk. I called your horse."
Celeborn had to chuckle.
*If his spirit did not have the strength of the Maiar blood, I doubt he would be alive at this moment.
~*~
Elrond stared up at the ceiling of the tent restlessly. He could not sleep no matter how much he willed himself to. He squinted, wishing to see any form of starlight.
*I wish I had my knife so I could poke a hole through the tent top.
A loud rumble of thunder and the gentle patter of rain made him sigh.
*Never mind that.
He fidgeted, the gauze and bindings itching, his bones aching and every other part of his body unable to even give thought to movement. He sighed again, this time mournfully.
*And they took my book.
Elrond turned his head, finding the book easily. His spirits fell even further. It lay beside Galadriel's head. She and Celeborn had moved their blankets in there to make sure he did not sneak out again. Elrond shook his head. What was he to do?
And then it happened. The tune came into his thoughts. That unbearable tune that he hated so much yet was so catchy infiltrated his thoughts, chord-by-chord, note-by-note. He let his head fall helplessly against the pillow with an audible groan.
*Any song but this one. Not the lay of Lúthien. Please, dear Eru, be merciful and save me from this torment. Strike me dead.
Then a plan formed in his mind. A smile formed. He glanced at his two sleeping guards.
*It worked when I was a child. I wonder…
Elrond began to hum the song softly. It was met with an annoyed grunt. Elrond kept humming, a bit louder this time. A book was suddenly plopped beside him.
" Be quiet," a growl came.
Elrond smiled victoriously. When Galadriel took something, if you annoyed Celeborn enough, he would get it back for you. Sleep was one thing Celeborn treasure highly. Elrond happily turned to page one and began reading.
~*~
Elrond trailed behind the soldiers and warriors. He could hardly bear to walk long distances himself for it dislodged his still tender shoulder. And now they wanted him to let his horse gallop? The horse began to try and take a quicker stride, but Elrond slowed it, putting a hand to his heart. He had hit it with the knife. Galadriel said he would be lucky if Ereinion ever allowed him to fight again. A sharp pang brought him from his thoughts. He dismounted, sitting beside the horse.
Ereinion turned, seeing Elrond's "fall" to the ground. He turned his horse back.
" Are you ok?"
Elrond nodded.
" I do believe I would rather walk."
" Come on you two," Galadriel called.
Ereinion turned.
" Go ahead. I feel like a good walk."
Galadriel shook her head.
" Fine. Your legs will be walked off by the time you return to Lindon."
~*~
Elrond was regarded with whispers and stares wherever he walked in Lindon. Elrond closed the door to his study in Ereinion's face.
" Elrond, what is the matter with you?" Ereinion entered.
Elrond was pale as a ghost lying on the couch.
" They think such stupid things," he whispered, " I have finally learned why I am stared at and such."
" Why?" Ereinion sat on a chair nearby.
Elrond chuckled a little half-heartedly.
" Apiece of my heart was cut out by the orcs, the Elvin piece, mind you, and they ate it. They think that I have a heart of stone now, since the orcs somehow cast a spell over me, making me a cold and hardened Elf."
Ereinion was in a fit of laughter. Elrond had to laugh a bit also.
" Oh my, what young maiden thought that one up?"
" I have no idea, but it may be entertaining to play along."
Ereinion rose shaking his head.
" You are feeling well though?"
Elrond nodded.
" A couple days and then all will be back to normal."
" Good. The council was quite dry today. You always seem to bring up interesting topics for discussion."
Elrond just sat up with a slight smile.
" Thank you."
Ereinion turned to leave.
" I shall enjoy watching the charade."
Elrond shook his head.
" Not as much as I shall enjoy playing it."
~*~
He held up each ring, one by one up into the light of the fire. He smiled proudly.
" Vilya, Narya, and Nenya, my greatest creations."
A knock came at the door. He hid the Three in his pocket.
" Celebrimbor, what work have you completed. I expect great things from you," Annatar purred.
Celebrimbor pulled out three other rings. They were beautiful, but dull. Annatar merely nodded.
" I thought you were making Rings of Power."
Celebrimbor shook his head.
" The other smiths are, not I."
Annatar exited. Celebrimbor looked down at the Three.
*What made me hide them from him? He has been nothing but a friend.
Celebrimbor's hand clenched the three again. He shook his head.
" They are my creations. No Maia shall hold them. They belong to the Elves for they are the greatest in power."