Disclaimer:
Like I said in the last chapter, and in the chapter before that, I own nothing to do with The Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to JRR Tolkien. The only things that I do own are the posters that are up on my wall, and the various books written together with The Lord of the Rings. (And the whole character of Ëariel Mirëlómë)
Author's Note:
Well, the last chapter was about the Undying Lands and the Valar and other elves that sailed there. This chapter goes back to Middle-Earth. I hope you enjoy this, and once again, reviews are welcome!
Thanks to Crow for your review!
Here's chapter three! Enjoy!
Chapter Three: A Sign?
It was the Year 1428 of the Fourth Age. Middle-Earth was still at peace, and people rejoiced at the gift of peace given to them, and guarded for them by the High Powers of the Land.
On this particular day, however, people rejoiced more, and the atmosphere surrounding the nearest dwellings of the races living in Middle-Earth were more pleasant than before.
It was only the 1st of March of the Year, and, although it was the King of Gondor, Elessar's birthday, it was unusual for so much celebration and happiness everywhere.
There was a more important reason for the cheer around the area of Middle-Earth that was close to Minas Tirith. For on the very day, though many many years later, as King Elessar's birth date, a son was born to him and his Queen, Arwen Undómiel. A son who they named Eldarion the Fair, for he had the likeliness of both an immortal elf and a mortal man.
Arwen smiled at the bundle in her arms, her hands tenderly stoking the baby's bald head. Beside her, looking equally happy, was Elessar, who was also called Aragorn, and Estel.
"Legolas and Gimli will be here short – " Elessar was cut off when the doors to the chamber were burst open. Both he and Arwen turned towards the doors, rather surprised. Legolas strode into the room, looking as though he had been riding through a tornado, with his hair blown all over his head. For once in his life, the elf didn't bother about keeping his hair neat and tidy.
His gaze landed on Arwen, seated on the bed, and to Elessar standing beside her. A smile broke out on his face as he walked up to them, towards the other side of Arwen.
" … Can I hold him?" he asked, simply. Arwen nodded, handing the baby boy to him. The Sindar elf took the baby in his arms carefully, half afraid that he would do something to hurt the little thing. Two things happened at that precise moment; Gimli ran into the room, breathing heavily, and the baby opened his eyes and started crying.
Legolas shot Gimli a dirty look before handing the baby back to Arwen, who held him close to her and whispered softly into his ear. Whatever she did seemed to have worked, as he stopped crying, and settled for looking around, dazed.
Gimli walked up to them, peering down at the baby from beside Legolas. "Well?" he asked.
"Well what?" asked Legolas.
"Does he have pointy ears?" asked Gimli. Elessar and Legolas exchanged amused glances, which did not go unnoticed to the dwarf. "What? I just asked a simple question!" he said. "Does he have pointy ears?"
Arwen shook her head slowly. Legolas fixed her with her searching gaze as he saw her caress one of the baby's small, round ears. The smile on her face seemed to look weak to him.
"No, Gimli," she said. "He … will not be of the race of Elves …" Gimli opened his mouth to say something when an 'accidental' nudge from Legolas made him turn towards the blond elf, only to see his warning glare.
"Oh …" was all he said in return. Legolas smiled as a thought struck him.
"Undómiel, do you remember your brothers' stories about what Estel over here did when he was a child?" he asked. Arwen thought for a moment, before nodding vigourously.
"Yes, how can one forget those?" she asked, shooting a smirk in Elessar's direction.
"Since Eldarion … is his son …" said Legolas. "I think the two of you will have a lot to deal with." Arwen laughed merrily.
"Yet … I think that Estel will have the most to deal with," she said. "I remember when Elladan and Elrohir were young … they left Naneth alone, not bothering her with their pranks. They mostly annoyed … Ada … Glorfindel and Errestor." Arwen fought slightly more than she had expected to, to keep the smile on her face as she mentioned her father and Glorfindel. Two elves that were close to her – her father the most – that would never see … her son …
"True …" said Elessar, smiling and seeming not to have noticed the very slight falter in Arwen's voice at the mention of her father. "Looks like I'll be getting grey hairs sooner than expected …" Gimli chuckled.
"What makes you think you don't have them already?" he teased. Elessar grinned.
"I look nowhere near as old as you do, my friend," he said. Legolas sighed as he watched Arwen's eyes become dazed. He knew that she didn't regret what she had done … it was just sadness at the thought that she wouldn't get to see her father again …
"Well, I must be off," he said rather reluctantly.
"What? So soon?" asked Elessar. Legolas smiled.
"I, unlike you, O mighty King of Gondor, am a busy man," he said. "Or rather a busy elf."
"And I, unlike you, O busy Elf Lord of Ithilien, am not obsessed with my hair …" said Elessar, smiling as well. Legolas shrugged.
"Yes, well, even if you were to fuss over it in an attempt to make it look nice, it wouldn't work, so it's just as well that you're not obsessed with it," he said.
"True," admitted Elessar. Legolas grinned, before he took his leave, walking outside the room.
"I should get going too, Arag – Este – Elessar – " Gimli stopped, confused. "What the devil am I to call you?" Elessar smiled.
"Whatever you wish to," he said. "Aragorn, if that is what you are used to."
"Very well," said Gimli. "I must go too, Aragorn. Look after yourselves …" With that, he followed Legolas outside the room.
A few weeks later in Imladris:
Errestor was thoughtful as he entered the cellar. Six years had now passed since the departure of the Elves, and since the start of the Fourth Age. It was eight years since the end of the war with Sauron – and since the end of Sauron himself. And it was roughly five years since Elladan and Elrohir had come to him, telling him about the fears that they had about the rise of darkness – yet again.
So far, however, he had noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Things were much the same as they had been for the past couple of years … there had been no news of Orcs attacking any village, or killing anyone … and he knew that the Orcs were still around. They were simply too afraid to come out without a strong force to back them up, like Sauron.
Elladan and Elrohir had twice returned fruitless from their journeys to locate and exterminate the remaining Orcs. That bothered Errestor. Then again, almost everything bothered Errestor. He thought that it was strange that Elladan and Elrohir, expert trackers, could not find any trace of the Orcs. Either the Orcs had suddenly become invisible, or they were hiding, and planning something.
Neither of those thoughts pleased him much.
What did please him, however, was the news that they had received that Arwen Undómiel had given birth to a son. He, Elladan, Elrohir and the elves of Imladris (and, no doubt the Elves of the kingdom of Celeborn, East Lórien) had wanted to set out to Minas Tirith immediately, but had been stopped by a messenger coming from the capital itself, telling them that the Queen wanted to visit them, instead of them visiting her.
They had stopped their plans and had remained in their dwellings, awaiting the day that she would return to Imladris.
Then there was the fact that Lord Celeborn, husband of the Lady Galadriél, had left his own dwelling in East Lórien, and had come to spend the rest of his days with his grandsons Elladan and Elrohir in Imladris. Unfortunately for Errestor. Why was he unfortunate? Celeborn was, in many ways, similar to his wife. He always had something to say about the deteriorating condition of Imladris, and the improper care that its 'second-in-command' was giving it.
If that wasn't a hint saying 'I can run this place better than you or my son in law can and could, so let me do it,' Errestor didn't know what it was. He guessed that Celeborn had come to his grandsons out of loneliness, living in the woods without his wife, Galadriél. In fact, Errestor was beginning to wonder whether what Glorfindel had been saying about the pair was indeed true. Glorfindel had always said that Galadriél probably ill-treated Celeborn, forcing him to do what she wanted him to do, and not allowing him to do what he wanted.
Well, fine, Glorfindel's opinion was that Galadriél hung Celeborn from the tops of trees until he agreed to do what she told him to, and that she whipped him when he continued to be so stubborn. Her last resort, apparently, was to drag him, face down, through the forests.
That was slightly exaggerated on Glorfindel's part, he had to admit.
His mood was worsened even more when he noticed the empty shelves of the wine cupboard. That wasn't possible … the last time he had checked, there were at least 12 bottles left … He scowled. He had been hoping to sit down in the library with a thick book in his hands and a goblet of wine by his side, and read to his desire.
He was brought out of his thoughts rather rudely, when he heard the shouting going on outside in the corridors, doing nothing to improve his mood as he hated loud noises.
He was about to leave, when he saw a note lying limp on one of the shelves. Leaning forward, he took it. His eyes widened slightly as he read what was written on it.
It said; 'Wine isn't good for you, Restor, so I dealt with it. Enjoy your 'wine-less' life in Imladris! And don't forget us! Love from, Glorfindel the Great.'
That accursed elf had either, for some unknown reason, taken the wine with him to Tirion, or had disposed of it – heaven forbid. They were 12 of the best bottles of wine too…
"RESTOR!!!"
"RESTOR!!! WHERE ARE YOU???"
"RESTOR!!!" Errestor strode out of the now almost empty kitchens, a scowl on his face. Would those two never learn to keep quiet?
"What?" he asked, as he spotted the two brothers running around like madmen. They stopped immediately.
"You won't believe the good news!" said Elladan.
"What go – "
"It's – it's amazing!" said Elrohir.
"What's ama – "
"The worry in my heart has faded for a while!" said Elladan.
"Why has it – "
"We have to go now!" said Elrohir.
"Will you two shut up and either tell me about this 'news' or go away and leave me alone?" asked Errestor, grouchily.
"Arwen – our sister – " started Elrohir.
"Really?" asked Errestor, sarcastically.
" – Arwen is – "
" – here!" finished Elladan. That was enough to surprise Errestor – pleasantly. He stared at the twins, trying to fathom whether or not they were joking about it. He wouldn't put it past them to be lying.
" … If this is all a lie, I swear upon the Valar that even Manw will not be able to save you …" he said at last.
"Restor! This is Arwen we're talking about!" said Elladan. "Would we lie to you about her?" Errestor guessed they were telling the truth.
"Where – " He was cut off when another elf – one of the last few inhabitants of Imladris – ran towards them.
"The King and Queen of Gondor are here!" he said, panting slightly. Elladan and Elrohir stared at Errestor, giving him an 'I-told-you-so' look.
"Very well," said Errestor. "Gather whatever elves you may and start preparing the rooms."
"Yes, sir."
"And spare a few of them to send to the kitchens. They must be weary."
"Yes sir," said the elf, turning around.
"Oh – and … do not touch Lord Glorfindel's or Lord Elrond's rooms …" said Errestor, thoughtfully. Elladan and Elrohir stared at him, surprised. Errestor shrugged. "I just thought … that we should leave them the way they were …"
"Good thinking!" said Elladan. "Come on Hir, let's go welcome her!"
"Sure thing," said Elrohir, grinning in joy. "Restor? Aren't you coming?" Errestor nodded slowly.
"In a while. I'll see to something and be there," he said, politely declining the offer. He knew that the siblings would want to be alone with each other for a while. "And do not forget to take Lord Celeborn with you …"
"Ve mer elyë," said Elladan, as the twins strode hurriedly down the corridor. (As you wish)
A few moments later:
Arwen stopped her horse gently, and turned her head around her, taking in her surroundings. Her eyes widened … in horror or in happiness, Elessar could not tell. He didn't see anything that Arwen would be horrified about … true, the gardens and forests surrounding Imladris were looking a little old … but that was it.
Arwen, however, could see more than he could, even though she was now mortal. The grace of the elves hadn't left her completely. She sensed the heavy atmosphere of sadness surrounding the once peaceful and comforting refuge. Everything around her – the plants, the flowers, the ground – spoke of weariness and loneliness.
They spoke of happier times that they had witnessed, when the refuge had been brimming with cheerfulness and with Elves.
Was this choice of the Elves … this bad? To have saddened even the plants around it? To have such consequences on all living things left behind?
"Evenstar?" called Elessar, snapping her out of her thoughts. Arwen turned towards him, smiling.
"Yes?" she asked. Elessar said nothing, though he continued to gaze at her for sometime. He opened his mouth to say something, but never got the chance to. It was at that moment that two familiar voices called out his wife's name, their voices ringing with joy.
"Arwen!" Arwen looked towards the main entrance to the refuge of Imladris, without needing to see them to know who they were. The black haired twins came into her sight, big smiles on their faces. For some reason, she found her eyes prickling with warm tears. Elessar gently took the child in her hands into his own, knowing what this 'family reunion' meant to her.
Flashing him a quick grateful smile, Arwen leaped gracefully off her horse, well aware that the guards that they had come with were watching everything closely.
In a few moments, she had thrown herself, rather childishly, on her older brothers, a few tears streaming down her face. Elladan and Elrohir hugged her tight, happy as well. They had not gone to visit her for close to 5 years … as they had thought that she didn't need any reminding of them to add to the slight sadness she was probably feeling.
Elessar found himself smiling as he watched the reunion, as he too got off his horse, ready to greet his own 'brothers.' Arwen, stepping away from the twins, found her attention robbed by an elf approaching them. He was robed in robes of bluish grey, and his hair was as white as it had been since his young days. His blue eyes were smiling at her, although she caught a glimpse of sadness in them.
She moved away from her brothers and stood before him.
"Undómiel …" said Celeborn, embracing her.
"Grandfather …" said Arwen, sighing. Celeborn let go of her and turned to Elessar, who had been receiving claps on the back from Elladan and Elrohir, his 'brothers.' He joined his grandsons as he too clapped him on the back.
"It is good to have you back amongst us … Estel …" he said. Elessar smiled at him.
"And it is good to be back in the place I was brought up in, Lord Celeborn …" he said. Arwen was now looking all around her, a small frown on her face.
"What's wrong?" asked Celeborn.
"Res – " Arwen stopped as she saw him there. She didn't know where he had suddenly appeared from. "Restor!" she exclaimed, hugging him as she knew that he would never hug her – being the awkward, serious type of person he was. Errestor patted her head slowly before she moved away from him.
A quick scan of her face told him that she was happy … although there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes. He guessed she had got that when she came back to Imladris, and read the signs of the trees, flowers and ground, for she still had the grace of the Elves.
"It is good to have you back, Undómiel," he said, smiling at her.
"I know," she said. "I bet you guys missed me!" She walked up to Elessar and placed a hand on the bundle he was holding in his arms. "Elladan, Elrohir, Grandfather, Errestor … meet our son, Eldarion …"
All the elves moved forward to get a look at the boy. Elladan and Elrohir smiled. They had seen Arwen like that, when she was born. Celeborn smiled as he touched the child's head. Errestor, to the twins' surprise, was standing a little distance apart from them.
Exchanging glances, they moved towards him and pushed him closer to Elessar so that he could see the child. At Celeborn's touch, Eldarion opened his eyes, to reveal startling grey orbs, similar to his mother's. Arwen smiled as she saw their joy.
"I hate to interrupt this," said Errestor, slowly. "But we should all go inside … it is getting quite cold, and I am sure that you are weary …" Elessar nodded.
"Good idea," he said, walking forward with Arwen. "Oh – Errestor … the peo – " Errestor smiled at the human he had helped raise, with Glorfindel and Elrond. He knew that Estel was trying to tell him that there were other Lords and Ladies with them, apart from the King and Queen of Gondor.
"I have always welcomed people to Imladris, and I know who people are," he said. Smiling in relief, Elessar walked away. Errestor turned back to the guards of the King and Queen, and to the Prince of Ithilien and his wife. "My Lord, Faramir, my lady Éowyn, welcome to Imladris, the Elven refuge," he said, pleasantly. Faramir and Éowyn got off their horses, and nodded their greetings at him.
"It is an honour to be here, Lord Errestor," said Faramir. Errestor smiled. Indeed.
"I do hope that our presence here will not trouble you," added Éowyn, looking around and the trees and plants in amazement. Edoras, the Capital of Rohan, never had anything like this. Then again, Edoras was a kingdom of Mortal Men … not of Elves. Errestor shook his head, smiling at her.
"It does not trouble us at all. Now, you must all be weary after your long journey," said Errestor, addressing the guards and the nobles. "Make your way inside – all of you – and leave your horses. The Elves will see to them."
With that, he waited by the entrance, nodding and smiling as everyone passed by. After what seemed like … quite a long time, he turned around to ask someone to tend to the horses.
He had only taken a few steps forward, when the sound of approaching hooves reached his ears. He looked up and turned around, surprised. None of the horses in front of him were moving … Then where were the –
His eyes widened in complete surprise as he saw the lone rider make his way to him. His horse stumbled wearily as it stopped, and he jumped off it, weakly.
Errestor stared at the elf, his eyes traveling to the red coloured stain that stained his shoulder and his right arm. The elf looked up and caught sight of him. Recognition flashed in his eyes.
"L – Lord E – Errestor …" he stammered. Errestor moved towards him as he stumbled, unable to hold himself up.
"What is the matter?" he asked, steadying him.
"E – East L – Lórien … Lord – Lord Celeborn – " the elf paused, breathing heavily. "The – Elves – we are – " Errestor frowned slightly, dread rising in his stomach.
"What is happening in East Lórien?" he asked, dreading the answer. He didn't need the gift of foresight to guess what was happening there.
"Orcs – O – Orcs ar – " That was all that the elf could manage, as his form went limp. Errestor stared at his limp form, his eyes troubled.
He guessed that Orcs were attacking the kingdom. He also guessed that the messenger probably came for help. And he knew that the messenger needed rest. Dragging the unconscious elf with him, he walked inside the refuge, dread continuing to rise up inside him.
They needed to send aid to the elves of East Lórien – the elves of Celeborn's kingdom … How was he supposed to tell them this news when everyone was happy?
Then again, why were the Orcs attacking now? After eight years of silence … why were they attacking now? Errestor paled as a thought entered his mind.
Had … had they found a strong force, similar to Sauron, to back them up?
Author's Note:
That was … a bit long, wasn't it? I hope it was worth it … I will be including the hobbits in this as well, although I wasn't planning on doing so at first. Then again, they are a part of Middle-Earth, so I thought I should.
Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, and that it interested you!
See you soon!
Siriusgirl1